EDDIE'S POV
I have my duty to serve. I'm the oldest and the strongest of the descendants, and I need to be a leader.
Oldest and strongest physically, that is. Not mentally. Inside, I feel like a child lost in the woods, crying out for his mother. I am weak inside, afraid something will happen to the one I love. My visions are always correct. They're not cryptic; they're always truthful depictions.
But I have to be strong. I have to be brave for the rest of them. They too need to be led by someone with his head in the game and the right mindset. If I look weak to them, then they'll see reason to panic. I can't have that. I need to save Patricia.
I especially want to be strong in front of Cassidy. She's my sister. I need to be a strong big brother. Besides, this is the only power I have over her. She's only 13, yet she's a senior, has an eidetic memory, and a great personality. She is strong in her own way - now it's my turn to be strong.
In a sense, I almost feel like Cassidy doesn't need my strength. She's tough, tougher than I am. She has nothing to lose. But I? I have Patricia. My love. My life. My strength.
Cassidy senses my worry. I do not know if it is the fact that we have the same godly abilities or that she's my sister, but she already has a connection with me. She can already sense if something is wrong.
"It's this vision, isn't it?" she says. "I can see it's getting to you."
"Cassidy, what if I lose her?" I whisper solemnly. "What if my vision was real, and it wasn't meant to only scare me. I thought it was a warning from Madame, a threat, but now I'm scared it's more than that. I just wish I knew. I want to change it. I want Kahn on that surface, bleeding to death, not Patricia. Madame deserves to suffer, after all she's done to Patricia. She hurt Patricia, broke her to pieces. I want her dead. I wish I could change my vision."
"You know," Cassidy begins in a soft tone. "Sometimes, if we want to change something, we need only ask."
"Who am I supposed to ask to change my vision? I can't very well tell my mind to alter it, or tell Madame to go on that surface instead."
"Ask yourself, Eddie. How badly do you want to save Patricia? I'll bet that if you truly believe, you alone can change her fate. You just need to ask yourself, how much is she worth saving?"
"A lot. She's worth a lot."
"Then you're halfway there."
I manage a weak smile. "How did I end up with such a wise sister? There's no way we're related."
"You'd better believe it, dweeb."
"Oh, ok, now I see it."
Cassidy laughs half-heartedly. "I want you to save her, you know. As your sister, I am supposed to find this whole relationship thing disgusting, but I can't. You guys are perfect together. And I see how you feel when around her. You're happier when you're with her. I'd hate to see you lose that."
"Me too," I say sulkily.
She opens her mouth to say something, but I stop her. I thrust my arm in front of her protectively.
"What?" she asks.
"Shh, did you hear that?" I say. "I hear… voices. Evil voices. We're getting close."
I tell everyone to stop walking, to remain where they are as I continue on forwards. Patricia screams her disagreement of me continuing on my own, but I do not listen. I keep going.
I walk what I think to be only a few yards, but when I turn back around, none of my friends are there. I cannot see any of them. I tell myself that it is only dark, and that is why I cannot see them, but I fear that is not the case.
My fears are then confirmed.
I enter a wide clearing. Trees line the clearing in a perfect circle. And then, I see the thing of my nightmares; the thing that's been keeping me awake for months.
A golden bed - no, coffin. A golden coffin sits in the center of the circle. Outlining the bed is a row of dead grass, but it is not a perfect rectangular outline around the coffin. It swivels and curves in odd places.
I glance upwards, remembering the portion of my dream of the starlike symbol formed by lights in the trees. Sure enough, thick black lines of smoke form a pattern, each ray precariously jetting out of the treetops.
My palms sweat profusely at the sight of the coffin. The musty air around me thickens, and I have trouble breathing.
"Osirian." A snake-like voice hisses.
"Who's there?" I struggle to say, for my breath feels as if it is being sucked away. The air continues to thicken so profusely that I can almost see it form in front of me.
"You cannot and will not see me, Osirian. I have seen your dreams, your biggest fears. I know of the one you love. But if you try to stop me, you and the descendants of my family, I will place your lover within that coffin and send her to the Underworld with your predecessor, the god Osiris. She will be mummified, thrown into the afterlife."
"Never!" I emanate through strangled cries. I fall onto my knees, clutching my throat, grasping for air. "You will - never - take - her!"
I choke on my own words. The smoke swirls in front of me and builds immensely. A figure forms in front of me, but my eyes water so exuberantly that I can barely make it out. But the figure is recognizable.
It is Madame Kahn.
This doesn't make any sense. The voice I heard was masculine; I never would have thought it to be Madame's. I have heard her stupefying voice enough times to recognize the difference.
I blink numerous times in hopes to clear my vision. If I could scream, I would.
Madame's body is not the one speaking. Her body is shown through foggy blackness, beaten, bloody, and bruised. Gashes line her cheeks and foreheads. Her eyes are still open, and as they face me, they seem to cry for me for help. She is no longer the threatening demon I once knew; she is a helpless woman being manipulated by the god Set.
Set. That's whose voice I have been hearing. No…
If he has left his human host behind, that can only mean one thing.
Set has gained full power. He is rising once again.
The thought riles me up inside. I wish I could stand, I wish I could breathe properly. I would pounce upon Set, make him pay for all he has done.
"Eddie!" voices call behind me. I slowly manage to rotate my neck to see my friends rushing towards me.
Cassidy and Patricia gather my arms and pull me upright. They somehow are not affected by the air, but I am not even going to question that. Set has mysterious powers, but I know he only wants me to suffer so I'll give up. He knows I will want to save Patricia.
"We need to get out of here," I gasp. "Patricia isn't safe."
The two begin to drag me out of the clearing when the smoke builds around the five trees. A wall of smoke entraps us in this clearing.
I want to yell, to tell them we're trapped, but my lungs feel as if they are on fire. I try slapping Cassidy on the arm, but she believes I am just delirious. She continues to the thick smoke wall that is invisible to her. When her body touches it, she screams out in pain, dropping my torso to the ground. She clutches her elbow, which is now covered in bloody sores.
"Cassidy!" Patricia screams. She gently sets me on the grass and tends to Cassidy's wounds.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Esmay examining the golden coffin.
"Yes, she will do just fine," Set's voice whispers. "The girl will be my sacrifice. Set will once again rise to power!"
I want to scream. I want to warn Esmay. But I cannot speak. I can barely breathe.
"Guys!" Esmay exclaims. "This line of dead grass around the coffin - it forms the Set animal! It's a symbol of his power. Set is rising!" Her eyes are glistening with fear.
Esmay, no…
Esmay climbs onto the top of the coffin to acquire a better perspective.
No!
"AHHHHHH!" she screams. Her body is thrust face down upon the gold. Blood spurts from her mouth as she writhes around in pain. Screams escape her bloody lips as her legs and arms contort.
Set's voice speaks again, and from the reactions on everyones' faces, I know it is no longer only me who can hear him.
"The girl will die! Her blood will spill, 'tis the last ingredient I need to awaken."
No. She won't. She will not die!
"GAH!" With all the strength I can muster, I bring myself to my feet. Set can no longer control me.
I finally figure it out. I was weak, in submission to Set because I let him. My fragile mind was broken and submissive to Set's power in the fear that either I or Patricia would fall victim to his schemes. I understand now that it was fear that was overruling me - not fact. I was afraid, and that is what caused my powers to turn on me. I let Set in. It was my fault he hurt Patricia.
But now I realize my fault. My fear was my undoing, but no more. I will not let Set control my mind any longer. I feel all terror egress from within me. I am suddenly strong. I stand up and can breathe properly again. Fear will no longer control my life. Set will no longer control my life.
"YOU CAN'T HURT ME SET! I KNOW YOUR TRICKS! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU! LET ESMAY GO!" I scream so vociferously that I not only surprise my friends, I surprise myself.
"You will never defeat me Osirian! Your fear will get the best of you. I will take everything you love!"
"You see, that's where you're wrong! I am not afraid of you! I let you control me, and I was shaken by fear. But I know your conniving ways, and those days are over. You can't take advantage of my mind anymore!" I asseverate tempestuously.
Set laughs haughtily. "You shan't defeat me. No one defeats Set - GOD OF CHAOS!"
Yeah, until now.
I fling myself over to Esmay. She gazes at my with glassy eyes and a bloody mouth and whispers, "It's all over."
"No," I tell her. "It isn't. I wont let Set hurt you."
She coughs and spurts blood in my face. I tried to reassure her, but now my words seem like carefree lies, promises I made out of desperation. Now, I wonder if that was the case. Can I truly save Esmay?
"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED, SET?" I detonate towards the dark sky. No stars are out tonight. "THIS IS MADNESS. HOW DARE YOU ATTACK MY FRIENDS!"
I am a ticking time-bomb. If this chaotic god does one more threatening thing to one of my friends, he is going to get it.
I know I have little time left before the immolation upon Esmay. In an impetuous, crazy act of strength, an instant where a surge of power rushes through me, I raise my hands vehemently towards the sky.
"LEAVE-MY-FRIENDS-ALONE!"
Furious rays of glowing orange, gold, and purple light hurtle into space, into nothingness. The Osirian within me is breaking down the walls, compiling all my power and energy into a hulking creature. I feel as if I'm mutating, growing into a monstrous creature of immense power and ability. I want to kill Set.
The lights from my palms continue to shoot and glow, then diminish. I have no idea if I have defeated my enemy.
A cry of murderous rage emanates from the earth and sky. Set is angry.
"You stupid boy! You cannot kill Set! Your powers may have deleted access from me to you for now, but know this - you cannot kill a god! The mighty Set will return one day! I cannot stay away forever!"
Set bellows and screams, and suddenly, the black smoke vanishes. Esmay violently shoots upright, her face swollen and bloody. In my peripheral vision, I see Madame Kahn stir as she examines her unfamiliar surroundings.
Patricia speeds towards me. She throws her arms around my neck and wraps her legs around my waist, causing both of us to topple to the ground. We laugh, and she sits atop me, kissing my lips, neck, and cheeks repeatedly.
"It's over. It's all over!" she repeats breathlessly. She's relived. Not overjoyed, not triumphant - relieved.
"It's all done," I say, echoing her words. "Set. Is. Gone. Forever."
Cassidy, her elbow still swollen and puffy, extends her opposite arm to me and lifts me off the ground. She throws her arms around me in a tight hug.
"Hey, big brother," she jokes. "I can't believe you stopped him all by yourself. The rest of us descendants were completely unnecessary. How is that even possible?"
"I just did what you told me to do," I confess. "I asked myself how badly I wanted to defeat him, how much you guys meant to me, and I had that rush of power, that surge of energy that brought him down for good. You really saved me, Cass. Without your life-changing words, I never would've been able to stop him. Thank you."
I kiss her forehead and hug her tightly. She really did save all of our lives tonight.