44- The Honoring

44- The Honoring
The man was beautiful. And sin. And all the wondrous things in between. Buttery, toffee-colored skin firm and muscled. She followed his bare torso down to the ridges of his abdomen, to the thick corded belt that held his black pants, that screamed industrial versus formal, to the boots that peaked from beneath the pants. And back up her eyes went, along the same path. Past the chunky beaded necklace he wore across his shoulders until she again met his eyes. They smirked at her, in their own silvery assessment. The strange feeling wouldn't leave her. Thoroughly snaking into her stomach.

Aisha felt her focus waver as she found herself tracing the cuts of swirls and sharp edges etched into his hair along the sides, leaving only a braid of dark dreads at the top, that fell towards his back. He was strong, commanding, and yet, a siren song. Sensual and lilting. She felt... she shouldn't have felt anything at all and yet... her heart sputtered. His eyes like liquid smoke. His chin, his jaw, his full lips, the subtle arch of his brows, the thick rope of muscle working the length of his neck, all of it a painting of something raw inside her chest. Something she couldn't make any sense of. Tai.

"And here I was thinking you were just another part of the entertainment," His brow raised, lips twitching at the corner. What the hell did that mean? That voice was a kiss, a caress, a promise, a lover's voice. Aisha recoiled. This was a spell, something ancient and... and she was being swayed by it. Steel slid into her mind as she willed herself to take two steps back.

"HA! Dear gods uncle, I've never seen a woman give you that reaction before," Anubis chuckled behind her. Aisha turned then, to meet his gaze, "Here to start more shit?" She willed venom through her veins. He had shattered her. And what made her feel embarrassed was that it had been so easy. A nice gesture here, a gentle word there. And she had leaned into trusting him. Even with what he had shown her already. Then, like an idiot, she had let him make her vulnerable.

She should hate him.

"Listen," Anubis cleared his throat, "About the other night, Aisha--"

Another god walked up to the bar, moving quickly and without speaking to anyone else. "I wondered where you had gotten to," Tai said in a conversational tone as the man approached, "Went to say hello to a certain goddess?" The other one gave him a reproachful look. He was handsome too. Strong and clear-eyed but the same as the other gods in the room. He didn't...make her feel anything...

He strode three sure steps up to her and from a breath away, her whole body went stiff. What the hell was wrong with him? His forest green eyes lit with amusement as he took a step back, "My apologies, lovely human, I am Thoth. I forget that I have to move slower with your kind..."

He brought two fingers under his chin, considering her face, "So we meet at last. I’ve heard a lot about you. I'm sure you already know Anubis, but this man who lives for the fight is Khentekhtai. We call him Tai. So can you," Thoth dipped his head slightly.

"She may absolutely not call me Tai. I am the fucking crocodile god, she will show some fucking respect," Tai growled at her back but she didn't turn again. She was afraid of those bewitching eyes.

"Ignore him, lovely, he's cranky is all. Tai's never been rejected before. Especially not when he's using his magic. I saw that from across the room," Thoth cracked an easy smile, handing her a lavender drink, "The green is lethal, especially for a human. You'd never walk out of here."

"Thank you, Lord Thoth," Aisha bowed, then grabbed the flute of liquid, still completely unsure of what humans did in the land of the gods, "I don't know what you put in those orange drinks but they were wonderful."

"Ah, so you've had the pleasure of sampling my work? This is another concoction I love. But be cautious how many you have they have a strong delay."

She took a moment to study his fine tunic and pants, both in forest green. He wore an embellished heavy robe and no jewelry. And pointed brown sandals.

"Can you believe he has an entire bar business in the human world?" Anubis tossed his hands up, "It's ridiculous that I have to ferry souls around and you get to make fruity drinks."

"Aht! I also have my studies," Thoth rolled his eyes, "And they take the majority of my effort." Thoth turned his gaze back to Aisha, "I hear you study as well?"

Speaking to Thoth was easy. But she knew she wouldn't turn back around to the other one. Not for anything.

"Yea I study Anthrolopoly. My specialty is supposed to be Egyptology."

"Wonderful! We'll have to have a chat soon, I could teach you many things."

"T-Thank you, that would be amazing! And thank you for the drink," Aisha raised her glass and drank deeply.

"Don't mention it," his teeth flashed for a moment, "And your name is? It's the one thing I haven't heard through the grapevine."

"A'isha."

"Hmmm," he pondered aloud, "She who lives... consort to a death god. I see there are still some funny twists of fate in this old, old world... if fate was really what it was... Imset should be arriving any minute... should you like us to keep you company?"

"Uh, no! I-I mean n-no thank y-you," Aisha stuttered, stumbling back into Tai, before she turned and nearly ran back into the crowd.

"Enjoy the party," He called after her, his voice fading into the melody of the music.

She found Serket and the others gathered near the sarcophagi. Their bleak faces awash with some tense discussion that floundered as soon as she drew close enough to hear. Their expressions sprang back with earnest, forced merriment and suspicion reared in her head. She downed the drink in her hand. Something was going terribly wrong. And no one wanted her to know.

"Ah, Serket, dear!" a high-pitched female voice rang over Aisha's shoulder, "Everyone else... good evening to you all." She slinked around to Aisha's side until she'd closed in on the gap between them. Stunning wasn't a word that came close to her beauty. Hathor had been a shocking beauty to behold, Bast a sleek beauty, but this woman, this goddess, was made of everything lovely that ever dared to exist. Perfection.

"Ma'at," Serket drawled, a saccharine smile, "It's been too long, darling."

Behind the goddess of balance and justice, Bast strolled over to the group, "Ma'at I was wondering where you had scuttled off to!"

"For all of Ra's children," Nephy grumbled loudly, knocking her drink back, "Can she not just disappear?"

"Everyone! Aisha..." The bite of irritation laced in her name, had Aisha tossing a toothy grin back to the goddess. "Pleasure...as always."

Serket's smile was tight, pinched at her nose as if something smelled, "I don't believe you've met Imset's consort Ma'at, this is Aisha." Serket's face bloomed with venom watching Bast roll her eyes. Aisha could see that the two were using her a barb between them. She was a weapon, a thing to wound, and yet she couldn't understand how Bast would be wounded by anything or anyone. Not with divine beauty practically singing from her bones. Was it because Imset had not chosen her?

Bast hardly flinched as she turned to face the others, "Human, go to the bar for a bit. This isn't for your ears."

"She needn't move a single muscle, Bast, she's family," Neith seethed. That quiet roar, a confirmation that Bast didn't mean Aisha well and that Imset's family despised her for it. And perhaps, for other things too. Like the implication that she had slept with each of their husbands.

"Is she? I hadn't realized she passed her test... I hadn't heard anything about a wedding..."

"She will," Mutef growled.

"Eons and only three consorts to show for it..." she ran her tongue over her teeth, "But who am I to say what fate has in store. Human, go. I do not like to repeat myself." The threat was clear because everyone moved to pounce. Aisha didn't want that, she didn't want to cause a scene.

"It's fine, I'll... I need another drink anyway," Aisha turned on her heel. I guarantee it won't be pleasant...for either of you. That gnawing voice in the back of her head said not to fight. Not to make a scene, not amongst these powerful beings.

The steps back to the bar were harder to make. She felt eyes on her, everywhere. Why was she here? In this beautiful dress fit for one of them? With her human looks and her human body and her human flaws all on display among the flawless. Her cheeks burned and her eyes too, all the while her chest sizzled with regret. But for what, she couldn't say.

Aisha found Thoth exactly where she'd left him and Anubis stood opposite him at the bar. Though thankfully Tai was nowhere to be found. In one graceful swoop, she took up the empty space between them.

"Back so soon?" Anubis mused, turning a calculating gaze back from whence she came, "Ah... the claws have come out already I see." He slid another lavender drink to her. She downed it then reached for another.

"Careful human, just because it's not as strong as the green one, doesn't mean it's juice," his reprimand was gentle, merely a suggestion as if he had no plans to stop her one way or another if she intended to make a fool of herself, "I take it you haven't completed the final test yet..."

"How would you know that?"

He blew a breath from his nose, "Because if you'd failed you would be dead, and if you'd succeeded, Bast wouldn't be staking her claim on your territory. A smart god would see you are in a precarious position, being pincered in a way you cannot yet see."

"Do you know what the last test is?" she whispered, his eyes lighting with mischief and knowledge. Yes, she could tell he knew, "Please tell me... I need to pass."

"Why?" he studied her face, "Why do you need to pass? Surely not to save your life, as only one who didn't care about her life would have summoned a death god. So, why do you care if you pass, lovely human... Aisha?"

"Because-" a gasp sounded, then a shout and she slid her eyes towards the sound, spinning herself fully to face the center of the room. She couldn't see anything that would have made those sounds. The soft string music died in the air with a deafening reverberation.

"Ah, the entertainment," Thoth's grim words laced with some emotion she didn't know. His eyes leveled a silent accusation across the room to Osiris, who now stepped into the center of the gallery with flare. His red tunic was threaded with gold and jewels, his pants neat and tailored. He clasped his hands behind his back as he regarded the company. His eyes found hers and sharpened. Osiris' smile was calculating.

Anubis stiffened. Finished his drink in one swallow.

Aisha noticed Mutef first because he was the broadest man she'd ever seen, easy to make out in a crowd. He stood behind Osiris, though far enough to leave a sliver of clear space between them. Her eyes slid over to Hapi and then Qebe before settling on Imset. They each took up a place in line, circling a half-moon behind Osiris in their full regalia-- each truly terrifying and beautiful to behold. Imset's eyes were scanning the crowd, searching desperately for something. For her, most likely, Aisha realized before quickly ducking behind Thoth. He didn't push her away.

"He's stopped looking for you, now," he said quietly, "Though if you love him-- if that is the reason for wanting to succeed--I would not look upon him again if I were you."

What the hell did that mean? Aisha felt cold, biting dread settle in the pit of her stomach. All the alarms in her body begged her to stay behind him. Begged her to heed his warning. He had no reason to lie, she reasoned. And yet, her body moved of its own will. The men had changed, grown larger, skin glowing and taut as if filled with power, imbued. Each of them reached, blade in hand, to slash their palms and let the blood drip freely. An offering to their grandfather.

Imset took a knee before Osiris, exchanging words. Things ancient and slightly terrifying as the air seemed to thicken and chill. But she couldn't understand them, knowing only the way power seemed to crack through the room like lightning, splitting Osiris with a golden beam, then Imset. And with a whoosh, air and power left the room. Aisha struggled to breathe.

"What a joyous occasion! Is it not?" Osiris lifted his voice as the magic in the air finally settled. At each thunderous clap of his hands, Aisha felt the snap of fear. What she had seen was ancient and deep and it sent her head spinning. She reached back, almost on instinct, and grabbed a glass of the green liquid, bringing it to her lips until it was drained.

His words were met with thunderous applause around the room as Imset got to his feet. His eyes luminous, his body large and nearly bursting at the seams with restrained power. Imset bowed deeply as the crowd bellowed its approval. That man was now the ruler of death, not her lover. An ancient thing. A weapon. She did not belong beside that power.

Osiris seemed to speak only to her now, seemed to read her insecurity because he said, "It is my honor to introduce all the esteemed company to the new ruler of the underworld, my grandson, Imset. My he and his future wife rule for eons to come." Osiris grinned. And his smile told her he was planning something. Call it an instinct, but she didn't trust that smile. He knew it too for that grin only grew and ripened across his mouth.

Thoth's hand seemed to know that as it curled around her wrist as a mercy-- something for her to focus on.

Imset's eyes found her eyes immediately--his eyes like knives that razored to Thoth's hand on her wrist then back to her. His were... darkened, no longer luminous but molten night. Something like fear passed over his face briefly but she couldn't understand it. Her back ached at the rigid locking of her muscles. I thought you were a part of the entertainment, Tai had said. It twisted her. The sight of Imset, blood staining his hands, twisted her too until her insides were bent out of shape. Thoth had told her not to look. Tai had implied she would be involved somehow. And Osiris was smiling like a wolf. All these things did not bode well for her.