Chapter Text
Several months later
Seth opened his eyes, staring up into the darkness of the bedroom he shared with Horus in Heliopolis. It was early morning and still dark outside, long before most of the palace was awake. But Seth had the odd feeling that something had woken him up. But as he listened, he didn’t hear anything.
Seth looked over his left shoulder to see Horus still spooned up behind him, sleeping peacefully. His headdress was off and his eyes were shut. His dark hair was ruffled slightly, partly from sleep and partly from where Seth had grabbed it earlier when Horus had his head between Seth’s thighs. Horus’ had his left arm wrapped around Seth’s side. The tan blanket rested over their hips.
Warm fondness rippled through Seth as he looked at Horus, but that odd thrum of alarm, and maybe danger, kept him from drowning in his affection.
Seth sat up, pushing Horus’ arm off, and looked around. He couldn’t sense anything in the room. The palace was quiet. Outside their window to the city there was nothing visibly off. No screams in the night, no smoke or alarming number of torches, no birds screaming alarm…
“Mmm… Seth?”
Seth blinked and looked down at Horus, who had his eyes partially open now and was gazing up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I… don’t know. Something’s… off.”
Horus frowned and sat up, reaching out to rub Seth’s left arm. “Do you want to go for a walk?”
“…Yes.” They still walked the palace at night sometimes when Seth was restless. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they said nothing. Sometimes Seth would grow tired and Horus would carry him back to their rooms, and Seth relaxed into Horus’ presence. It was… good. Seth had more days than not where he could just rest normally, or be worn out by celebrations or whatever he was busy doing during the day, or could be put to bed by a very horny Horus’ hunger… but the walking was still helpful. And Seth always appreciated it when Horus suggested it. Seth still struggled to ask for things, though he was getting better with Horus’ gentle encouragement.
They got out of bed and put clothes on, and Horus took Seth’s left hand and led him to the bedroom door.
Seth looked at him thoughtfully. “You’re leading today?” It was a bit unusual. Usually Horus followed Seth.
Horus hummed to himself, his expression unreadable beneath his blue falcon mask. “I feel… something is off, too. I’m not sure what it is.”
Seth frowned as he followed Horus out the door. “Could someone be doing a spell?”
“…We should find Mother,” Horus said, walking down the torch-lit hall. “If anyone’s doing something, she’ll know.”
As they walked along, a light approached them in the distance, and Horus stopped them, frowning, to gaze ahead.
Shortly, Isis, with Nephthys running behind her, materialized.
Seth realized Nephthys’ face was covered in tears.
Isis was in her nightclothes, with her wig and make-up off, and her expression was furious, and she barely stopped before them before she started talking, “Osiris kidnapped Anubis!”
Seth felt like the floor vanished beneath his feet.
“Osiris?” he heard Horus say seemingly from a distance. “Where? Is he still in the palace?”
“No,” Isis said, her eyes blazing. “He’s gone back to Duat. With Anubis.”
“How did he get in?”
“He took the form of a servant,” Isis replied, “using a human as a carrier for his power. Who knows how long he’s been sneaking in? Nephthys and Tawaret were resting, so the servants were watching over Anubis. I was preparing medicine for a disease outbreak in one of the villages that requested aid recently. Osiris must have been biding his time.” She scoffed. “The servant is dead – Nephthys saw half of him go through a portal to Duat with Anubis, and the rest didn’t make it. But it turned into… strange green roots that dissolved. I mean to have the other servants questioned. I’ve had what remains of the servant collected for study and questioning.”
“…How did he take Anubis to Duat?” Seth said, feeling disconnected from things, trying to pull himself back from focusing on Osiris, and everything Osiris had done, trying not to be overwhelmed by rage because it wouldn’t be useful while Anubis was in Osiris’ clutches. Trying not to imagine what Osiris would do with an infant. “He can't make portals to travel. And Anubis is alive. He can’t go there.”
Isis grimaced. “I don’t know. It shouldn’t be possible.”
“Unless he…” Horus began.
Unless he killed Anubis, Seth thought as Nephthys sobbed.
“Anubis is alive,” Isis said, her expression firm. “I have protective charms on him and they’re at least telling me that much.”
“I do as well,” Horus said after a moment. “It’s likely what I was sensing earlier. Though it’s hard to track at this distance.”
Seth had one, too. A minor tracking and protection blessing, since Anubis liked crawling around so much. Seth reached out to the tracking blessing and couldn’t even detect it nearby, which wasn’t a surprise. He hadn’t made it for this long a distance, if Anubis was really in Duat. But he could also sense the blessing was still there. Anubis was alive, wherever he was.
“Why would he take Anubis?” Horus asked. “Did he say?”
“No,” Nephthys said, still crying and wringing her hands. “at least not that I could hear! He was already in the portal when I woke up. And there’s no note or anything…”
“We need to have all the staff questioned to see if there are more of Osiris’ agents,” Isis said. “I’ll have to do a sweep of the whole palace.” She frowned. “But that can wait until after we recover Anubis.”
“Maat might be willing to help,” Nephthys offered. She was shaking, and Seth had the distant thought of comforting her, but couldn’t make himself move.
“Contact her, then,” Isis said. She looked at Horus. “I’m going to Duat.”
“As am I,” Horus said.
Seth blinked, then said, “I am, too.”
They all looked at him, and Seth refused to flinch. “Maybe we don’t know why he took Anubis, but… I have to wonder if…” It’s my fault. Somehow. He swallowed. “It’s possible Osiris did this to get me to follow him.” He was furious at the idea of Nephthys having me. If he wanted a bargaining trip and learned of Anubis' existence...
Isis’ frown deepened. “It’s possible, Seth. But you don’t have to go. Not just because it would be just what he wants, but also because I know it would be hard for you.”
“I’m the god of war,” Seth said, forcing calm into his voice. “This is a kind of invasion. I’m the best option for this.”
“We can contact Ammit,” Horus said. “Maat will tell us what to do.”
“No matter what, this is likely playing into his hands,” Seth said, quietly. “Osiris is smart. He knows, if nothing else, if he takes Anubis, we’ll follow him. He’ll be prepared.” Does he want a war? Does he think he's trong enough to stand against us? He knows none of the other gods up here are on his side. Or is he that confident now that he's been down there so long? But he knew they couldn't wait to summon him up here. The longer Anubis was in his position, the more dangerous things were.
“As will we,” Isis said, clutching her papyrus scepter, her expression grim.
“He’ll be more powerful down there,” Horus said. “Maat had word from Ammit that he’s been taking over Duat. His death changed some of his powers. Or, perhaps, he’s showing off ones he never had a use for before.”
“He can show off whatever powers he likes,” Isis nearly snarled. “I out-maneuvered Ra. Seth has defeated armies. You’re the Pharaoh. He’ll not beat us all.”
They didn’t go immediately. They set guards on the palace, and had Maat begin questioning people after she arrived. Thoth had scrolls on the kinds of creatures they might encounter in Duat, as well as areas they should avoid.
“I haven’t been there much lately,” Thoth commented, looking over the scrolls thoughtfully, “since I’ve just been working on a lot of things, but I’ve been chatting with Ammit more. She doesn’t like Osiris any more than we do.”
“Have you spoken with Osiris?” Horus asked.
Seth was too distracted staring at the kinds of monsters Anubis might be staring at right now. He clung to the fact his blessing was still there, somewhere, but he didn’t want Anubis terrified of all these horrible things…
Thoth laughed. “Not really. He never has an interest in talking to me. Besides, I’m too busy for conversation most of the time. I record for Maat, and then we leave.”
“You could guide us there,” Horus said. “You know your way around.”
Thoth flinched, “I, well… er…”
“You don’t want to go without Maat,” Seth said, frowning. “Don’t you have a spine?”
Thoth scowled, though his face was pink. “I do! I just… I can’t fight Osiris… Plus, maybe you’ll be fine because you’ll rescue Anubis and never have to go back there! Maat and I work there! We’ll have to return and deal with an angry king of the dead!”
“We will both go,” Maat said, stepping forward after a group of servants who’d been cleared were led away. Isis was at her side, dressed finely and clearly ready for war. “Although making sure the palace is secure is important, a grave crime has occurred here. Osiris must answer for it. And he knows the penalty for attacking me.” She smirked. “If nothing else, Ammit would make his days a living nightmare, even more than Duat already is.” She looked at Isis, “Your only other option is to get help from Ra again, but using her sunboat may take more time than you have, and it will be harder to get to Rostau. Thoth and I can travel there far faster.”
Thoth frowned, his expression worried, but he shook less when Maat took his hand.
“And without the god of knowledge, he’ll have plenty of issues keeping a handle on things,” Maat finished, smiling at him. “He wouldn't dare bother you, even without the rest of us at your back. Be brave.”
He smiled nervously at her.
“Then it is decided,” Isis said, looking to Horus. “Let us leave soon.” She looked at Nephthys. “Stay here and handle things while we’re gone. Tawaret and Bastet will support you.”
The hippo and cat goddesses standing by Nephthys’ side nodded, though Nephthys continued to look worried. Her face was still tear-stained.
“Be careful!” Nephthys finally urged, clasping her hands together.
“I must warn you,” Maat said, looking at them all, “When we are in Duat, limit your power usage until it is absolutely needed. The laws of Duat are not the same as up here, and the world reacts negatively to the powers of gods who do not belong there. You will likely weaken yourself if you casually use your powers as you do up here.”
Isis grimaced, but nodded.
Seth swallowed, wondering if it was all right, going down to confront Osiris when he wouldn’t be at his strongest, again. With no Sekhmet at his back this time.
Horus clasped Seth’s left hand, murmuring, “Seth? Are you all right?”
Seth nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.” He would master himself. He’d been in countless difficult battles before, and he’d survived them all. He’d survived Osiris. He would do so again, and rescue Anubis, too.
Maat stepped towards a wall and removed her ostrich feather from her hair. She raised it before herself, pointing at the wall. The feather glowed gold, and she drew an oval along the wall’s surface, which glowed gold, too. When the oval was complete, she stood back. The line of the oval glowed brighter, and morphed into a blue opening, almost like water. It was impossible to see what lay beyond it, but it wasn’t a stone wall anymore.
She looked back at the others as she replaced her feather in her hair. “Come.” She took Thoth’s hand again and led him through. Isis followed behind her.
Horus squeezed Seth’s hand.
Seth swallowed and stepped forward, his grip on Horus’ fingers tight. He would rescue Anubis.
The other side of the portal was not water, but rather a small courtyard in a palace with golden walls. Maat led them out of the courtyard and down some golden stairs into an open area surrounded by lakes of fire. Above their heads was a dark sky filled with stars. In the distance, they could hear demonic screams.
When Seth looked back behind them, he could see the tall golden-walled mansion they left, with tall golden columns, all decorated in intricate artwork, and guarded by tall falcon-headed guards carrying enormous swords, who ignored the group of gods departing.
“This is Ra’s palace,” Maat explained as they walked down the steps. “We’re close to Rostau.” At the base of the steps she stopped and looked back at them. “You must stay close. Duat is dangerous for gods who are not meant to be here.” She drew her feather again and wrote script in the very air, which flew away from her as it was written. Then she put her feather back on. “I’ve alerted Ammit to our presence. If she joins us, we’ll have a stronger united front against Osiris.”
Seth had his khopesh ready in his free hand, prepared to face whatever came their way. He felt a sense of unease about the place, and not just because he knew Osiris lurked somewhere around the corner. He knew part of it was his preparedness for a fight. It let him react quickly. Another part was worry, and a bit of fear he pushed down. He refused to run.
Duat didn’t scare him, on its own. It was a place he was distantly familiar with, after the calls of those killed in war reached to him. It was only one god who resided her that filled him with fear. Or at least, that's what he assumed that extra sense of unease was.
“So we wait?” Isis said, looking around, clearly uncomfortable. She was even sweating a bit from the burning water in the distance. Seth felt the heat, too, but it was nothing compared to desert heat.
“Yes,” Maat said, rubbing Thoth’s shoulder. The other god looked nervous, but not seemingly of their environs.
Seth looked at Horus, who was looking around the place thoughtfully.
“A part of your kingdom you’ve never visited,” Seth said, wondering if Horus felt unmoored now. Horus had volunteered to come along so quickly, and Seth hadn’t even spared a thought for how he felt about it.
He could be facing his father for the first time, Seth thought.
“Duat is not my kingdom,” Horus said, quietly. “Not yet, anyway.”
Seth frowned at him. “What do you mean?”
Horus looked at him. “Can you not feel it, Seth? My father rules here, like Ammit said.”
Seth blinked, and looked around, spreading his awareness out. There was sand here, and it felt different than in the living world, but it still obeyed him. He could tell what Maat said about how he might push himself too hard using it, though. It had a kind of wariness to it, like it might suddenly reject him if he pushed too hard.
There underneath the sand, though, he could feel it. Trickling throughout, creating his sense of unease. The same power that had grabbed him all those years ago, kept him bound. He used to be so familiar with it in a way: Osiris had used his powers greatly since they were young. But this…
He twitched when he felt Horus’ hand on his right shoulder. Horus had wrapped his arm around Seth’s back. “Seth? Are you all right?”
“He’s… in everything,” Seth said, his voice thin. “How…?”
“The underworld gods are scattered,” Horus said, “Performing their individual duties. But none of them hold sway over the others, really. There was a power vacuum. Osiris was Pharaoh in the land of the living. He naturally fell into the role. Ammit, Thoth, and Maat say he’s been making careful nudges for power almost since he came here.”
"...You let on earlier that you and Maat had spoken about this before," Seth said, annoyed. "You didn't say anything before this."
Horus grimaced. “Maat and I have discussed this before, a little. I didn't want to worry you."
"I don't need to be coddled," Seth replied, frowning. "I like to know the situation I'm walking into."
"I know," Horus replied. He bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
Seth sighed. "...I trust your judgment. But trust mine, too. The best battle plans aren't made with faulty information."
Horus bowed his head. "I will. The truth is, I wanted to see if he’d make more of a power play. Even Ra hasn’t said anything about this in her trips on her sunboat. But I think they have… alternate understandings of how things are. After all, even as pharaoh, Osiris can’t affect Ammit’s work. And he can’t touch Ra. Thoth and Maat seldom visit this part of Duat, so their guesstimates of his power aren’t as strong, and they get to leave, unlike most of the other gods here.”
“His pushes have grown stronger in recent days,” Maat said, having heard their conversation. “Ever since Ra reported on him, I’ve been keeping an eye on him, since before that I couldn’t even sense him at all here. Rostau was an area he took as his own recently, to some extent, since he can’t fully control anything here, particularly with local gods still controlling areas here and there. But he’s subtle about it. Creeping along like a weed, not taking more dominance than he must. Now I barely feel any difference here, which is probably meant to make the locals feel a false sense of security as he reaches for more and more.” She frowned. “He likely spent those years since his death gathering his power again, restoring his body, planning whatever it was he means to do.”
Seth grimaced, wishing there was an army to fight or something. He hated this waiting for Osiris to do something. It only made him imagine just how terrible it could be and think too much again on things he’d rather forget.
Eventually, a large creature appeared in the distance coming towards them. Seth called his black bow instead, and Maat raised her hand.
Soon enough, the figure became clearer in the gloom: they were humanoid, whoever they were.
“It’s Ammit,” Maat said.
Ammit was tall, broad, and thickly muscular. In the light from the flame lakes, her green skin shone, and her long crocodile mask hid much of her expression. She wore a long, dark linen dress, with sides cut out like Sekhmet wore, to allow her more freedom of movement. Over it all she wore a long silk cloak. Her long dark hair had many golden bangles clipped in it, and fell heavily down her back. She was barefoot.
She came to a stop before them, considering them all, her painted green lips quirking at them thoughtfully. She looked to Maat. “So, you brought guests, Maat. You know you aren’t supposed to do that.” Her voice was deep and intimidating, and Seth had a sense of immense age from her. He’d only met her once before, when she ventured to the land of the living, but he’d seen carvings of her made by human priests, under Thoth’s guidance.
“A crime has been committed,” Maat said, her voice firm. “Osiris kidnapped a demigod from the land of the living, and has him here.”
“No god of the living resides here,” Ammit said, frowning. “I would have sensed it.”
“Anubis is a demigod,” Isis reminded her.
“Likewise,” Ammit insisted. “All who are here are dead humans, demons, or gods of the dead, and yourselves.”
Seth reached out for the blessing on Anubis, and felt it still there. It was stronger now, too. “He’s alive, though! He’s still alive!”
Ammit looked at him, her headdress’ red gaze somehow pulling him towards it, though Seth resisted it, holding his stance.
Ammit shrugged. “If you say so. Come, then. Let us confront Osiris about this horrible crime. But be wary, your presence here has attracted the curious.” She turned and walked back the way she came, through the lakes of fire.
Maat led them after her, and Seth walked alongside Horus, still holding his bow at the ready.
The trip through Duat was slow. Sometimes beasts would appear in the distance, with the heads of different animals and insects. Most scuttled away at the sight of them gathered together, but Seth could tell that more and more took to watching their group, perhaps gathering together to attack in greater numbers. He prepared himself should they do so.
Sometimes they passed ghost-like humans wandering the path, looking around, confused. Demons might come upon them, and the gods only watched as the humans were caught or somehow managed to escape themselves.
Horus once moved towards a human being beset by multiple demons, but Thoth pulled him back, saying, “You can’t, Your Majesty. It’s not our place to interfere. The journey to the afterlife is in their hands, not ours.”
Horus grimaced and kept walking.
Seth reached out and took his hand again, squeezing his fingers gently.
Horus glanced at him and smiled slightly.
“Will you be okay seeing him?” Seth asked as they walked along. He kept his eyes on the onlookers, but hoped to at least help assuage some of Horus’ worries, if he felt any. “Your father?”
“…I’ll be fine.”
“Horus?”
Horus squeezed Seth’s hand and smiled at him. “I’ll be fine," he repeated.
Seth frowned. “Just… let me know if… if something’s wrong.”
“Of course, Seth.”
They eventually passed a group of curious snake demons and moved into a dry, sandy desert. Seth felt more at home, but also more alarmed, as a rush of Osiris’ energy overtook them. He reflexively reached for the sand around them.
Who are you?
Seth blinked and stepped back, surprising Horus into stopping.
“Seth?” Horus asked, confused.
Are you the one Osiris talked about?
The sand started drawing menacingly towards Seth, who, for the first time in his life, felt intimidated by it.
Because he knew he wasn’t controlling it.
“Everyone keep back from the sand!” He called out, pulling Horus away.
“It’s Seker,” Maat said, stepping back with Thoth. “He usually stays on the watch for Ra.”
Seth used some of his power to push the sand back from them all, though it was extremely difficult. Seker was powerful here.
A tall god with a dark hawk headdress emerged from the sand nearby. He was lithe and muscular, and had dark tan skin, and wore a dark blue shendyt.
“We have no quarrel with you Seker!” Ammit called, standing before them all. “We wish to speak to Osiris.”
“They trespass, Ammit. The gods of the living do not belong here.”
“Horus is the Pharaoh!” Ammit replied, nearly snarling back at Seker. “And Ra herself has marked Seth as one worthy to guard her sunboat! They have as much right to travel here as any!”
Seker snorted. “…Very well. They may pass.”
Seker’s power faded from the sand near them, and Seth breathed easier. He looked at Ammit, who was gazing after where Seker had vanished. “You knew Ra asked me to guard her sunboat?”
Ammit snorted. “She’s chatty sometimes, and covets different gods for the duty. You’ve come up a few times.”
Seth didn’t know whether to be honored or not about that. He’d rejected the idea before, and didn’t think he’d take Ra up on it any time soon.
They walked carefully across the sand, with Seth keeping watch, in case Seker should follow.
“You’re lucky,” Ammit said. “If he wished, he could make the sand drag you all down.”
“Seker is reasonable,” Maat said. “He’s ignored Osiris so far.”
“Hmph,” Ammit snorted. “That’s mostly because Osiris has been focused on other things. I’ve heard he got Seker’s help to open portals to the world above. Seker’s able to craft such things.”
Seth stiffened. “He made it sound like Osiris told him about me.”
“Mmm,” Ammit said. “Yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me. Probably to gain his favor, make him jealous. But in recent days, Seker lost interest in whatever Osiris was offering and moved back to his normal work. The problem with the portals he makes is that Osiris can’t travel through them himself. He can only send a little bit of his influence through, and it doesn’t go far.” She laughed. “He’s always furious about it, and rages. Might be that’s what drove Seker away.”
“But he might be able to learn,” Seth said. “Before this we didn’t think he’d be able to leave.”
“He can’t leave,” Thoth said, his voice thoughtful. “He’s dead, and stuck here. Whatever Seker is helping him with, it would wound him, to lose his essence like that. This whole effort may even leave him weaker.”
“Good,” Isis said. “He’ll be easier to deal with.”
“If he were a normal god of the dead,” Thoth added, “Seker’s training would be useful. But he’s not. Seker, Ammit, Maat, and I… we’re not dead. We just duties here, and so we can travel. He can’t. He can only struggle with his inabilities.”
“Do you know what else Osiris might be up to?” Maat asked Ammit. “Any other gods he’s spoken with?”
“He’s always up to something,” Ammit replied, “with that hideous tree of his…”
“Tree?” Seth asked.
Ammit snorted. “You’ll see. He built it out of himself. To restore himself after he was killed.”
Seth was confused. Sure, Osiris could grow plants out of his very skin, but there was something off in Ammit’s tone.
They soon reached Osiris’ palace: a tall, intricate structure nearly as intimidating as Ra’s, but made of white stone instead of gold. There were murals on the wall of Osiris as Pharaoh, and Seth found they made him a little ill, though he pushed it back.
“We got here quickly,” Horus noted.
“It helps to go with a god of knowledge,” Maat noted, making Thoth smile. “And to not tote the sun behind you. The dead won’t wait for the tide. Like I said, our ways are faster.”
There were hulking beetle-headed guards watching them, bearing tall, intimidating spears.
Maat and Ammit stepped up, making the guards bow, and the group pushed on. But the area beyond the doorway was a mostly open, paved, courtyard. It was a little dark, with the walls mostly hidden in shadow. At the center of the courtyard was a large tree, made of green limbs formed like… organs.
Near the tree was a small golden couch, where a pale-skinned toddler rested.
“Anubis!” Seth said with a gasp, restraining himself from leaping forward.
Horus took his shoulder, as if he knew Seth's urge to move. Before Seth could say anything, he let go, making sure Seth had room to move.
Seth glanced at him, and saw that Horus was gazing ahead, at the couch.
Before Horus was really internalizing the "not coddling" thing. Seth knew better than to leap ahead into what was obviously a trap of some kind.
He still hated this. Anubis was right there. Seth shut his eyes briefly and sent his senses throughout the room. He was disgusted by the density of Osiris’ energy here, clearly centered on the tree, which reached far up beyond their sight. The area was otherwise empty. There weren’t even other guards.
He didn’t like it at all.
The group drew closer to the couch and the tree, and Anubis reached his tiny arms out to them, crying out in glee.
“My desert, you came,” Osiris said.
Seth froze. Osiris’ body wasn’t visible anywhere, and his voice seemed to generally come from the direction of the tree.
Horus wrapped an arm around him.
“…Get your hands off of him," Osiris snarled.
Isis stepped forward as a giant green root lashed out. A bolt of lightning crashed down on the root, roasting it, and making it stop several feet away. Seth’s sand darted up a second after the lightning, blocking the root from advancing any further, and shaving the end off like a knife.
“Isis…” Osiris said.
“You trespassed, Osiris,” Isis said, glaring fiercely towards the tree. “You kidnapped our nephew. How dare you?”
Osiris chuckled. “I merely wished to see him. Is it not my right, as his uncle?”
“You have no right to anything,” Isis said, still glaring at the tree as she walked forward. “Not after what you’ve done.”
Seth tugged away from Horus to follow her. He didn’t want to leave her to deal with Osiris alone, since she didn’t bring the other goddesses with her who helped her last time. Though clearly she was handling things fine herself.
Horus quickly followed, with Maat, Thoth, and Ammit in tow.
More roots grew from the tree, but Seth was slightly more confident with the other gods around him, and he reached for more sand to bury them and cut them to shreds. Lightning struck some of them, essentially batting them away.
Anubis stayed untouched on the couch.
“This is hardly necessary,” Osiris said as the group neared the couch. “Seth, you could have simply come to visit.”
Isis scoffed and stepped forward, still ahead of the others, and quickly snatched Anubis up and into her free right arm. “You are transparent, Osiris.”
Up close, the tree was even more disturbing, and if Seth peered at it too much, he thought he could make out a face… But he looked away and focused on Isis and Anubis, and keeping a handle on the sand in the area in case Osiris made a move. Osiris’ power and Duat still pushed back at him.
“Will you even speak to me, Seth?” Osiris asked.
Seth swallowed.
“You don’t deserve to even see him,” Isis said, moving back to stand with the others and handing Anubis to Seth.
Anubis burbled at Seth – he wasn’t even in a blanket, just wearing his tiny white shendyt and smiling up at Seth with his gray eyes.
Seth formed a sand blanket around him and held him close.
Maat stepped forward. “Osiris, what you have done here breaks our laws. You will stand trial for it.”
“I didn’t harm the child,” Osiris replied snippily to her. “I just brought him down here.”
“You kidnapped him,” Maat said. “He was not yours to simply take as you wish. You made agents in Heliopolis and waited until night fell to take him, when you knew it would be easiest, as his caregivers were asleep. Not to mention that you killed a human to do it.”
“He was one of my followers,” Osiris replied. “He gave his life for my cause.”
Maat frowned. “Whatever the case, the kidnap stands. As you are already in Duat, there are limitations to what you can be punished with. But guards will be placed to watch you.”
Osiris laughed. “You think they’ll stop me?”
“If Seker is the one guarding you, perhaps,” Maat replied. She raised an eyebrow. “But do please admit to future crimes you plan to commit, so that we can plan accordingly.”
Osiris didn’t reply to that.
Maat turned to Isis, Seth, Horus, and Ammit. “Since we have Anubis, we should leave.” She glanced back at Osiris. “He must be contained, though.”
“I will stay,” Ammit said, settling down near the couch and looking content. “You do not need me on the return journey. I will call to Seker and explain things to him.”
Maat nodded. “We’ll send word for the trial.”
“Of course.”
Maat looked at Osiris and said, “How did you bring Anubis down here? He’s alive, he can’t travel here.”
Osiris scoffed. “Perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate my abilities.”
Maat rolled her eyes. “You’re not that powerful, Osiris. Only gods of the dead can freely travel between the worlds, unless you’re Ra or under her protection. And you weren’t born to it, so you lack that ability.” She blinked, and then her eyes widened. She looked back at Anubis. “…Anubis is a god of the dead?”
Osiris didn’t reply to that.
Seth’s arms stiffened, and Anubis made a quiet noise. Seth wasn’t necessarily against the idea of his son being a god of the dead. It was a good position, and gods of the dead were respected. But…
He’ll have to come back here, Seth said, feeling his panic stir. He’ll be around Osiris again!
Osiris laughed. “There is no escape.”
Horus spoke up for the first time, to Seth, “He won’t come back here until he’s a fully-fledged god, and Osiris will be no threat to him.”
“Really?” Seth asked quietly, grasping on to the bit of hope.
Horus smiled at him. The familiar smile Seth was so used to when he needed solid ground to stand on, like when he woke from a nightmare or doubted himself. “Yes, Seth.” Horus couldn't see the future, but he had an insight into things that Seth had grown to trust.
It helped cool some of Seth's panic.
Osiris scoffed.
Maat shook her head and led them back out of the room.
Horus kept to Seth’s side, with one arm over his back.
“You think you can just leave like that?” Osiris demanded.
There was a rumbling and Seth called his sand to surround them as he turned back to face whatever Osiris brought forth.
But in a moment, wind cut through the giant green roots and black brambles Osiris sent out towards them. Ammit also leapt on them, biting down and clawing on anything she could reach. Lightning crashed down, burning more of it and making Osiris cry out.
What remained barely even touched the sand barrier Seth created before collapsing on the floor. Seth used the sand to shred it.
“What is going on here?” Seker demanded, stepping into the palace from another entryway, with large lions at his side.
Maat met his gaze and said, “Seker, we have a request for you.”
“Do not listen to her!” Osiris roared, making the ground shake.
Seker snorted. “Control yourself, Osiris. This is undignified, even for you.”
Horus snorted on a laugh.
Ammit sat down on a bunch of brambles, which were crushed beneath her heavy weight. She grinned at Seker. “Come listen to our tale, Seker. I’m sure you’ll have fun with it.”
Nephthys nearly snatched Anubis from Seth’s hands when they returned to Heliopolis. Tawaret was at her side, looking wary of the portal Seth’s group emerged from.
“Is he all right?” Nephthys said, crying again and checking Anubis over for injuries. “Did Osiris curse him?”
“No,” Isis said with a sigh as she stepped forward. “At least nothing that I can detect. I’ll run more tests on him, though, just to be safe.” She grimaced. “And there are some other things I need to check.”
“What things?” Nephthys asked, alarmed.
Isis grimaced. “He’s going to be a god of the dead.”
“…What?”
“It’s how Osiris was able to take him to Duat without killing him.”
“…What?”
“It does bear some thought,” Maat said. “And it’s possible Osiris’ original plan wasn’t kidnap. But once he got hold of Anubis, as the god of life, he realized. And… changed plans.”
“He really planned to kill Anubis?” Nephthys said, hugging Anubis slightly tighter.
Maat grimaced. “Anything is possible. There’s to be a trial, and we’ll… ask him there. For now, rest easy knowing that Anubis is unharmed and back with you.”
Nephthys hugged Anubis to her, nuzzling his face. “I’m so sorry I let him take you. I’m so sorry…” She was crying again.
Seth felt so drained even though he’d barely done anything. He was at least glad Anubis was back.
In a way he wondered if this was the price he paid for being too relaxed. For falling into routine with the return to his regular duties, being at Horus' side, spending time with his sisters... Osiris would be there, reminding Seth, I will always be here and you cannot escape me.
His hands clenched into fists. I am not yours! I never was!
“You should all rest,” Maat said, looking between them all. “Duat is draining for those unused to it. Without rest you might collapse.”
Seth looked at Anubis in Nephthys’ arms worriedly. “What if Osiris comes back? He could strike while he knows we’re weak.” He knew Horus had said Anubis was safe, but…
“Bastet has been patrolling,” Nephthys said. “And Khnum is here as well, on guard. Tawaret and I set up wards.”
“And I’ll set up more,” Isis said, bowing her head slightly to Nephthys. “He won’t get in this time.”
Horus reached out to squeeze Seth’s right shoulder. Horus hadn’t let go of his arm the entire time they’d left Osiris’ palace, nor had he really said anything other than to check on Seth.
And Seth only appreciated it. He needed the support. He’d been ready to attack anything that tried to snatch Anubis out of his arms.
“Rest, Seth,” Isis said. “You can patrol yourself in the morning.” She smiled at him. “You did well.”
Seth bowed his head. “Thank you, Isis. For everything.” He nodded to Maat. “And thank you. For your help.”
“We’ll discuss how to proceed soon,” Maat said. “Thoth and I can handle the administrative side.”
“Thank you, Maat,” Isis said.
Horus added, quietly to Seth, “Would you like to stay with Nephthys and Anubis tonight?”
Seth blinked, and then met Nephthys’ eyes. He’d held Anubis tightly through their return journey in Duat, and Anubis had eventually fallen asleep. Now he was still sleeping in his mother’s arms.
Seth had never stayed overnight with Nephthys. On rare occasions, Anubis had stayed with Seth and Horus, or Seth had been with him alone. But Seth never stayed with Nephthys to watch Anubis. And Seth couldn’t imagine asking to take Anubis with him and Horus.
He could see Nephthys thinking it over, though.
“…No,” he said, finally. “It’s fine. I’ll… Nephthys, just… get a hold of me, if…”
“Of course,” Nephthys said, her cheeks reddening a bit. “Of course. Thank you. For helping to get him back.”
I didn’t do anything, Seth wanted to scream as he nodded and turned around to leave the room.
Eventually, Horus took his hand and guided him back to their room. It was night again, and Seth realized they’d been gone for much of a day. It had felt longer somehow in Duat.
It hit him how oddly easy it all had been. If they hadn’t had Maat and Thoth on their side, if Isis hadn’t been there… He felt he could fight against Seker, but it would be difficult to deal with a god whose powers he didn’t know, who was on a home advantage, as Seth grew weaker far faster than usual.
They’d been lucky, and Seth didn’t like fighting with luck. It was unreliable.
Seth walked over to the bed and sat down. Horus sat nearby and reached out to rub his back.
“Do you think what Maat said is true?” Seth asked, quietly, trying to move past his own self-flagellation. “About Anubis being… a god of the dead?”
“…It feels right,” Horus replied, quietly. “So I think so.”
Seth grimaced. “I just… He can’t go back there.” He ran a hand over his face. “I know you said he won’t until he’s grown and can handle himself, but…” He began to shake. “I just imagine him there with Osiris, with…” His voice trailed off. Would Osiris hurt him the way he’d attacked Seth? Out of revenge or…
Seth would rip him to pieces if Osiris dared, even if he dissolved in the doing. But it wouldn’t spare Anubis the pain of it.
Horus pulled him close. “You’ll train him, Seth. We both will. All of us will. He’ll be powerful. And you can protect him.”
Seth laughed sharply. “Like I protected him today?”
“That you went after him says much on its own,” Horus replied. “You were ready to support Isis and the other gods. You stood up to Osiris.”
Seth swallowed. “I was afraid. I was… I was terrified. You know I was.”
“And you know as a god of war that bravery isn’t about not being afraid. It’s about overcoming your fear to still do what you need to.”
Seth swallowed and looked down.
"What you did today was not nothing. It was far from nothing. I'm so honored to have been at your side for it."
Seth didn't have a reply to that.
“What do you need right now, Seth?” Horus asked, continuing to rub Seth’s back.
“…How are you doing?”
Horus blinked. “What?”
Seth’s expression hardened. “You met your father for the first time. And didn’t really say anything to him.” Seth dissolved his headdress into sand and looked at Horus, his expression a bit worried. “How are you doing?”
Horus hummed. “Osiris is a stranger to me. Yes, I know he fathered me with Isis, but Mother is the only true parent I have. I used to wonder so much about him… and even missed him. Wished he could be there with me. I hoped one day I’d become strong enough to go see him in Duat. But…” He grimaced. “It wasn’t to be. And since I learned about who he was, really? What he did to you and Mother?” He shook his head. “He is a stranger to me. That is all.”
Seth reached out and took his left hand, squeezing it. “It’s okay to… to hurt. Over it. Over what you didn’t have.”
Horus smiled at him. “Thank you. I don’t think… I am, really, but I appreciate it.” But there was something in his gaze that was a bit unsettled. Like perhaps even he couldn’t name what he was feeling.
“Is there something I can do?” Perhaps he couldn’t save future Anubis from his fate. He could train Anubis to be the best fighter there was, and even with Isis’ help it would be years in the doing. But Horus was here, and Seth… wanted to be there for him, too, as Horus had been, in both realms now.
Horus smiled and raised their clasped hands to kiss Seth’s fingers. “Stay with me. Let me love you.”
Seth snorted and said, "Of course," with a smile.
Horus dissolved his own headdress and leaned forward to capture Seth’s lips, pushing him down onto the bed. The moon shone on them: the way Horus kissed every bit of Seth’s skin he could reach, the way Seth clung to Horus, sometimes pushing his nails in to draw blood, which only made Horus hungrier for him, the way they clung to each other in the night. It was difficult to see where one started and the other began, as they pushed back the grasping fear of Duat and Osiris.
In the morning, they would plan. But for tonight, there was just this. And Osiris hadn't taken it from them. And as the days passed, even this one, Seth believed more and more that he wouldn't. And on days he didn't, Horus would be there, too, to remind him. Like today.
“You’re mine tonight,” Horus whispered into Seth’s neck much later, buried deep in Seth, with Seth’s legs holding him there. There was a hunger in those words. A want. And assurance, too. It made Seth's cheeks heat. "Mine." His left hand grasped Seth's thigh, his right supported the back of Seth's neck.
“Yours,” Seth confirmed, his arms wrapped around Horus’ chest to keep him close, feeling the life in him, the strength that kept them both going, through everything. The god he'd chosen to be beside, who chose him in return. Who stood by him when Seth couldn't stand by himself. “Not just tonight." He placed a kiss on Horus' shoulder and groaned as Horus lightly shifted his hips. "Always.”