Nut

Clouds drift under my feet, dancing under the see-through floor of my flat. The city below is sleeping peacefully. A small fire warms the air around the leather sofa. I pour myself a cup of sahlab.

"Thank you for helping me." I tell the boy in front of the fireplace.

Anubis turns to me and smiles. "You're welcome, grandma. Is she asleep yet?"

I close my eyes and listen to the air. The moment I felt my daughter is in my domain, I tried to reach out. Her host seemed to be awake, however, for it was hard to reach her. Now her soul has finally entered the closest layer of Duat.

"She is." I tell Anubis when I open my eyes again."Go get her."

His image flickers and then disappears. After a moment, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn to see a beautiful young girl with caramel hair, decorated with red strikes. From behind her blue eyes, someone else is taking a peak. A beautiful young woman with dark braided hair, decorated with diamonds and rubies. Her brown eyes smile at me as I approach.

"Hello, my child," I say.

The girl gasps.

"You're the Nut," she says, then quickly corrects herself. "I mean...the sky goddess."

"Nut is fine. And believe me, I've heard all the jokes about my name." I smile and pour her a cup from my teapot. "Let's sit and talk. Care for some sahlab?"

"Uh, it's not tea?"

"No, an Egyptian drink. You've heard of hot chocolate? This is rather like hot vanilla."

"Um...yeah. Thanks."

We sit together on the sofa. Sadie takes the cup and sips.

I put down mine on the table. "I suppose you're wondering why I've brought you here."

"Where exactly is 'here'? And, ah, who's your doorman?"

I smile, maybe a little too tightly. "I must keep my secrets, dear. I can't have the House of Life trying to find me. Let's just say I've built this home with a nice city view."

"Is that..." Sadie gestures towards my starry blue skin. "Um...are you inside a human host?"

"No, dear. The sky itself is my body. This is merely a manifestation."

"But I thought—"

"Gods need a physical host outside the Duat? It's somewhat easier for me, being a spirit of the air. I was one of the few gods who was never imprisoned, because the House of Life could never catch me. I'm used to being...free-form."

As if to prove my point, the entire apartment flickers. A second later, it becomes stable again.

"Please don't do that again," Sadie says.

"My apologies. The point is, each god is different. But all my brethren are free now, all finding places in this modern world of yours. They won't be imprisoned again."

"The magicians won't like that."

"No," I agree. "That's the first reason you are here. A battle between the gods and the House of Life would serve only chaos. You must make the magicians understand this."

"They won't listen to me. They think I'm a godling."

"You are a godling, dear." I touch her hair gently. I can sense Isis struggling to come forward. Another one of my loved once, that I'm unable to truly be with. But if all goes well, it won't be this way for long. If all goes well, I'll get to hug my kids pretty soon.

"I'm Sadie Kane," the girl says. "I didn't ask for Isis to hitch a ride."

"The gods have known your family for generations, Sadie. In the olden days, we worked together for the benefit of Egypt."

"The magicians said that gods caused the fall of the empire."

"That is a long and pointless debate," I try to keep the anger from my voice, but I'm afraid some of it slips away. "All empires fall. But the idea of Egypt is eternal—the triumph of civilization, the forces of Ma'at overcoming the forces of chaos. That battle is fought generation after generation. Now it's your turn."

"I know, I know," Sadie says. "We have to defeat Set."

"But is it that simple, Sadie? Set is my son, too. In the old days, he was Ra's strongest lieutenant. He protected the sun god's boat from the serpent Apophis. Now there was evil. Apophis was the embodiment of chaos. He hated Creation from the moment the first mountain appeared out of the sea. He hated the gods, mortals, and everything they built. And yet Set fought against him. Set was one of us."

"Then he turned evil?"

I shrug. No point in arguing with someone who's not inn a sitchuation to hear.

"Set has always been Set, for better or worse. But he is still part of our family. It is difficult to lose any member of your family...is it not?"

"That's hardly fair."

"Don't speak to me of fairness," I tell her. "For five thousand years, I have been kept apart from my husband, Geb."

"What happened?" Sadie asks.

"Punishment for bearing my children," I say bitterly. "I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my own father, Shu—"

"Hang on. Shoe?"

"S-h-u," I spell out. "The god of the wind."

"Oh. Go on, please."

"Ra ordered my father, Shu, to keep us apart, forever. I am exiled to the sky, while my beloved Geb cannot leave the ground."

"What happens if you try?"

I close my eyes and spread my hands, bracing myself for the pain. Then I fall. The moment I reach the clouds, hundreds of lightnings strike me. The pain hits me in the chest. Strong winds push me upwards, back to my home. Then the wind dies. I sit back on the couch and look around. The wind has made such a mess. I wave my hand and the flat repairs itself.

"That happens," I say sadly.

"Oh."

My eyes drift to the city, far below us. "It has given me appreciation for my children, even Set. He has done horrible things, yes. It is his nature. But he is still my son, and still one of the gods. He acts his part. Perhaps the way to defeat him is not the way you would imagine."

"Hints, please?"

"Seek out Thoth. He has found a new home in Memphis."

"Memphis...Egypt?"

I smile. "Memphis, Tennessee. Although the old bird probably thinks it is Egypt. He so rarely takes his beak out of his books, I doubt he would know the difference. You will find him there. He can advise you. Be wary, though: Thoth often asks for favors. He is sometimes hard to predict."

"Getting used to that," Sadie says. "How are we supposed to get there?"

"I am goddess of the sky. I can guarantee you safe travel as far as Memphis." I wave my hand, and a folder appears in her lap. Inside are three plane tickets—Washington to Memphis, first-class.

Sadie raises her eyebrow. "I suppose you get a lot of frequent flyer miles?"

"Something like that. But as you get closer to Set, you will be beyond my help. And I cannot protect you on the ground. Which reminds me: You need to wake up soon. Set's minion is closing in on your hideout."

She sits up straight. "How soon?"

"Minutes."

"Send my spirit back, then!"

"Soon, Sadie," I promise. "But two more things you must know. I had five children during the Demon Days. If your father released all of them, you should consider: Where is the fifth?"

"You mean Nephthys, Set's wife?" she asks.

"Consider it," I say again. "And lastly...a favor."

I open my hand. In my palm is an envelope, sealed with red wax. "If you see Geb...will you give him this?"

"Least I can do," Sadie promises. "Now, about sending me back..."

"Safe travels, Sadie," I say. "And Isis, restrain yourself."

Isis tries to speak up again, but Sadie is faster.

"Wait, what do you mean restrain—"

But they're gone before she can finish the sentence. I shake my head, again alone in the skies. They grow up so fast.