Prologue

Born in Gold

Victor stormed out of the Anubis house, frustrated with his latest failed experiment. Years of tests and close discoveries have proven unfruitful and he was sick of it. The wind bellowed his coat as he walked through waves of trees and bushes. Once he came across a clearing, he stopped and inhaled sharply. His mind traced through all the years of work and the sacrifices he's made. In a moment of weakness, he screamed at the sky, letting all his anger and frustration out. The pale moon caught his eye and a calm feeling flooded his senses. He dropped to his knees, eyes never leaving the moon.

"I've done everything I can." He said desperately, "I've worked for years and nothing. Please," he whispered, outstretching his arms, "help me."

"Thoth, I pray you send me knowledge. Ma'at, I pray you bring truth and justice back to the order. Isis, I pray you protect us and give us life. And Ra," Victor closed his eyes and said his last plead, "I pray that your light will guide me."

There was an unsettling stillness as Victor stood up from the ground. He sighed in defeat and turned on his heels, walking back towards the house.

"It is awfully rude to call upon me then turn your back to me." A soft voice rumbled from behind.

Victor's movements pause as he felt his heart drop. It couldn't be...could it? Victor peered over his shoulder and saw a woman engulfed in a golden glow, dressed white linen, adorned in various exotic jewels.

"Who are you?" He asked, his trembling voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's eyes grew cold and the glowing light behind her grew in brightness, almost blinding Victor.

"Who am I?" She yelled, "How dare a mortal like you ask such a question. I am Isis, the giver of life."

Victor's hands started to tremble as he fell to his knees, in awe of the goddess in front of him.

"I-I-I apologize, divine one. Please forgive m-"

"Silence!" Isis shouted. With her command, Victor's lips became glued shut and he couldn't make a sound. "I'm tired of hearing you babble like a monkey."

She steadily walked towards Victor and took his face in her hands, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Victor squinted, blinded by her beauty and light. She threw his face back down and began walking around him in a circle, like a predator taunting its prey.

"You called upon us, and Ra has decided to answer you. It is time we begin to make our presence in your world made known again. We shall give you what you seek. The key to immortality."

Victor tried to open his mouth to thank the goddess but his mouth was still locked in silence.

"You know the prophecy but the ceremony will not work without one key ingredient." Isis continued, walking in front of Victor. "We kept it to ourselves so that mortals could not become like us, but we are willing to make the sacrifice if it means we can rule once more." The corners of her mouth turned up and she took a step back, the light increasing once more like before, but this time with a harsher, mystical glow. She shouted words in ancient Egyptian, words that Victor could not understand. Lightning crashed around them and the earth shook violently. Victor crouched on the ground. With one final word, Isis settled the earth and the sky, everything returning to normal. Victor looked up to find Isis cradling a gold trimmed white blanket. He stared at the goddess, noting how she now looked like a mother rather than a powerful enchantress. Isis felt his stare and her eyes grew cold once more.

"Get up, you ape." She commanded. Victor jumped up, regaining his composure. Isis's attention returned to the blanket and slowly walked over to Victor.

"There has been no other since Amun-Ra." She said softly. She was close enough that Victor could see what was in the swaddled blanket. It was a beautiful baby, cascaded in the same light as Isis.

"She is created with the blood of the gods Thoth, Hathor, Sekhmet and myself. She will be the knowledge and the protector of your quest." She said softly before handing the baby off to Victor. He took her carefully, holding her closely to his chest. Isis reached around her neck and removed a necklace from her. The eye of Horus was in the center, with two crescent moons facing outwards on the sides. She placed it around the baby and hovered her right palm above her. The golden glow around the baby was absorbed by the necklace.

"She can never know her true identity until the time is upon you," Isis warned, her eyes never leaving the small baby. "Keep her safe and keep her close. She will be needed for the final stage.You will risk the ceremony if her heart is not pure."

"What do you mean?" Victor asked quietly. Isis' focus shifted from the baby to Victor and it clicked in his mind. Victor looked back at the newborn baby. Her eyes opened slightly. Victor caught a glimpse of her blue eyes swirled with small golden flakes, and instantly teared up. One step closer to the elixir.

One step close to what his father could never do.

One step close to immortality.