Horus
"You know," I tell Carter, as he's packing his things. "I've done all of this, thousands of times already."
Lovely, he thinks back. And have you ever tried shutting up?
"Leave now!" Sadie yells out of nowhere.
Carter jumps in surprise. "What's wrong?"
She tells us about her vision. I'm glad grandma's doing alright. Sadie proceeds to frantically search her pockets, then looks inside her bag. She takes out three plane tickets and a sealed envelope.
Bast examines the tickets. "Excellent! First class serves salmon."
"But what about Set's minion?" Sadie asks.
Carter glances at the window and his eyes widen. Something huge and black is sniffing the air. "Yeah, um...it's here."
Bast rushes to the window.
"The Set animal," she says, confirming our fear.
Far below, the monster is prowling the base of the monument. Its long legs leave tracks in the new-fallen snow. Its as big as a horse. Its body is unnaturally lean and muscular. It's gray fur is tinted with red. Its reptilian tail is forked at the end with triangular points. It's oversize ears stand straight up. They're curled inward and wider on the top than the bottom. They can also rotate 360 degrees and pick up even the softest of sounds. The creature's snout is long and curved like an anteater's—only anteaters don't have razor-sharp teeth.
"Its eyes are glowing," Carter says. "That can't be good."
"How can you see that far?" Sadie demands.
She's standing right next to her, squinting her eyes at the monster.
"To be fair, it is at least 5 thousand feet below us."
How am I able to see its eyes?
"You still have the sight of the falcon," Bast guesses. "And you're right, Carter. The glowing eyes mean the creature has caught our scent."
Carter looks at her and almost backs away. Her hair is sticking straight up around her head, like she's some mad scientist.
"Um, Bast?" Carter asks.
"What?"
Carter exchanges looks with his sister. Sadie mouths the word scared. Just like a cat, who's tail puffs up when something startles her.
"Nothing," he says finally. "How do we get out of here?"
"You don't understand," Bast says. "The Set animal is the perfect hunter. If it has our scent, there is no stopping it."
"Why is it called the 'Set animal'?" Sadie asks nervously. "Doesn't it have a name?"
"If it did," Bast says, "you would not want to speak it. It is merely known as the Set animal—the Red Lord's symbolic creature. It shares his strength, cunning...and his evil nature."
"Lovely."
The animal sniffs at the monument and recoils, snarling.
"It doesn't seem to like the obelisk," Carter notes.
"No," Bast says. "Too much Ma'at energy. But that won't hold it back for long."
As if on cue, the Set animal leaps onto the side of the monument. It begins to climb, digging its claws into the stone.
"That's messed up," Carter says. "Elevator or stairs?"
"Both are too slow," Bast says. "Back away from the window."
She unsheathes her knives and slices through the glass. Then she punches out the window, setting off alarm bells. Freezing air blasts into the observation room.
"You'll need to fly," Bast yells over the wind. "It's the only way."
"No!" Sadie's face goes pale. "Not the kite again."
"Sadie, it's okay," Carter says. She shakes her head, terrified. Carter grabs her hand. "I'll stay with you. I'll make sure you turn back."
"The Set animal is halfway up," Bast warns. "We're running out of time."
Sadie glances at her. "What about you? You can't fly."
"I'll jump," Bast says. "Cats always land on their feet."
"It's over a hundred meters!"
"A hundred and seventy. I'll distract the Set animal, buy you some time."
"You'll be killed." Sadie's voice is close to breaking. "Please, I can't lose you too."
Bast looks surprised. Then she smiles and puts her hand on Sadie's shoulder. "I'll be fine, dear. Meet me at Reagan National, terminal A. Be ready to run."
Before someone could argue, she jumps out of the window, plummeting straight towards the pavement. As she falls, she spreads her arms and legs. Bast hurtles straight past the Set animal. The monster lets out a horrible scream, then turns and leaps after her. Bast hits the ground with both feet and immediately takes off running. She must be going with sixty miles an hour. The monster is not as agile. It crashes so hard, the pavement cracks. It stumbles for a few steps, but unfortunately doesn't appear to be hurt. It chases after Bast and is soon gaining on her.
"She won't make it," Sadie frets.
"Never bet against a cat," Carter says. "We've got to do our part. Ready?"
She takes a deep breath. "All right. Before I change my mind."
Instantly, a black-winged kite appears in front of us, flapping its wings to keep its balance in the intense wind. A moment later, we are soaring into the cold morning air over Washington, D.C. Finding the airport is easy. The hard part is keeping Carter's attention on what we're doing. Every time we see a mouse or a squirrel, he instinctively veers toward it.
"It takes willpower to stay human," I warn him."The more time you spend as a bird of prey, the more you think like one."
Now you tell me.
"I could help! Give me control."
Not today, bird-head.
Finally, we reach the airport and land on the top of a parking garage. Carter wills himself to turn human. For a moment, nothing happens. Panic starts building in his throat. He closes his eyes and pictures his dad's face. He thinks about how much he misses him, how much we need to find him. When Carter opens his eyes again, he's back to normal. Unfortunately, Sadie is still a kite. She flaps around us and cawes frantically.
"Ha—ha—ha!" There is a pure terror in her golden eyes.
"It's all right." Carter crouches down, careful to move slowly. "Sadie, don't force it. You have to relax."
"Ha!" She tucks in her wings. Her chest is heaving.
"Listen, it helped me to focus on Dad. Remember what's important to you. Close your eyes and think about your human life."
Sadie closes her eyes, but almost instantly cried out in frustration and flapped her wings.
"Stop," Carter says. "Don't fly away!"
Sadie tilts her head and gurgles pleadingly. Not knowing what to do, he starts talking to her like to a scared animal. At first he's not really aware of it, but he is telling her stories about their Dad. Scenes sift around his head, each stopping by for a second before floating away again. In one of the memories, they are stuck in the Venice airport and Carter eats so many cannoli, he gets sick. In another, they're in Egypt. Carter finds a scorpion in his sock and his father kills it with a T.V. remote. They get separated once in the London Underground. Carter is terrified until his dad finds him. He talks to Sadie, sharing things he's never told anyone before, and she seems to listen. She's stopped flapping her wings. Her breathing is slower. She is very still, her eyes no longer filled with panic.
"Okay, Sadie," Carter says at last. "I've got an idea. Here's what we're going to do."
He takes out the magic box from the leather bag, then wraps the bag around his forearm and ties it with the straps.
"Hop on."
Sadie flies up to his wrist. Even with the bag around Carter's forearm, her sharp talons dug into his skin.
"We'll get you out of this. Keep trying. Relax, and focus on your human life. You'll figure it out, Sadie. I know you will. I'll carry you until then."
"Ha!"
"Come on, let's find Bast."
With his sister on his arm, Carter walks up to the elevator. A businessman with a rolling suitcase is waiting by the doors. His eyes widen upon spotting the tall black kid in dirty, ragged Egyptian clothes, with a weird box tucked under one arm and a bird of prey perched on the other.
"How's it going?" Carter says.
"I'll take the stairs." The businessman hurries off.
The elevator takes us to ground level. Sadie and Carter cross to the departures curb. Carter looks around desperately, hoping to see Bast. Instead, he catches the attention of a curbside policeman. The guy frowns and starts lumbering in our directions.
"Stay calm," Carter tells Sadie.
"I don't think she's the one on edge."
Resisting the urge to run, he turns and walked through the revolving doors.
Here's the thing, Carter thinks back. I know the cop is going to follow me, and I know I have to act calm and walk like I have a purpose.
"With a kite on your arm?"
He doesn't respond. Because of the holidays, the airport is pretty full. It's mostly families standing in line at the ticket counters, kids arguing and parents labeling luggage.
What is it like to live like that? Carter wonders. A normal family trip, no magic problems or monsters chasing you?
"Stop it. You've got work to do."
The only problem is, we don't know where to go. Is Bast inside security already? Outside? The crowd parts as we walk through the terminal. People stare at Sadie. With how lost we look, it's only a matter of time before cops-
"Young man." Shit.
Carter turns. It's the police officer from outside. Sadie squawks and the cop backs up, resting his hand on his nightstick.
"You can't have pets in here," he says.
"I have tickets..." Carter tries to reach his pockets. Then he remembers that Bast has the tickets.
The cop scowls. "You'd better come with me."
Suddenly a woman's voice calls: "There you are, Carter!"
Bast is pushing her way through the crowd.
I've never been happier to see an Egyptian god in my life.
"Hey!"
Bast's leopard jumpsuit has been exchanged for a rose-colored pantsuit, lots of gold jewelry and a cashmere coat. Ignoring the cop, she sizes up my appearance and wrinkles her nose.
"Carter, I told you not to wear those horrible falconry clothes. Honestly, you look like you've been sleeping in the wild!"
She takes out a handkerchief and makes a big shop of wiping Carter's face.
The policeman stares. "Uh, ma'am," he finally manages. "Is this your—"
"Nephew," Bast lies. "I'm so sorry, officer. We're heading to Memphis for a falconry competition. I hope he hasn't caused any problems. We're going to miss our flight!"
"Um, the falcon can't fly..."
Bast giggles. "Well, of course it can fly, officer. It's a bird!"
His face reddens. "I mean on a plane."
"Oh! We have the paperwork."
She pulls out an envelope and hands it to the cop, along with the tickets.
"I see," the cop says. He looks at the tickets. "You bought...a first class ticket for your falcon."
"It's a black kite, actually," Bast says. "But yes, it's a very temperamental bird. A prizewinner, you know. Give it a coach seat and try to offer it pretzels, and I won't be held responsible for the consequences. No, we always fly first class, don't we, Carter?"
"Um, yeah...Aunt Kitty."
She flashes him a look that says: I'll get you for that, then turns back smiling at the cop. He hands back our tickets and Sadie's paperwork.
"Well, if you'll excuse us, officer. That's a very handsome uniform, by the way. Do you work out?"
Before he can respond, Bast grabs Carter's arm and hurries him toward the security checkpoint.
"Don't look back," she says under her breath. When we turn the cornner, Bsst pulls Carter aside by the vending machines.
"The Set animal is close," she says. "We've got a few minutes at best. What's wrong with Sadie?"
"She can't..." Carter stammers. "I don't know exactly."
"Well, we'll have to figure it out on the plane."
"How did you change clothes?" Carter asks. "And the document for the bird..."
Bast waves her hand dismissively. "Oh, mortal minds are weak. That 'document' is an empty ticket sleeve. And my clothes haven't really changed. It's just a glamour."
Carter looks at her more closely. Once she points it out, the magic becomes ridiculously obvious. Her new clothes shimmer like a mirage over her usual leopard-skin bodysuit.
"We'll try to make it to the gate before the Set animal," Bast says. "It will be easier if you stow your things in the Duat."
"What?"
"You don't really want to tote that box around your arm, do you? Use the Duat as a storage bin."
"How?"
Bast rolls her eyes. "Honestly, what do they teach magicians these days?"
"We had about twenty seconds of training!"
"Just imagine a space in the air, like a shelf or a treasure chest—"
"A locker?" Carter asks. "I've never had a school locker."
"Fine. Give it a combination lock—anything you want. Imagine opening the locker with your combination. Then shove the box inside. When you need it again, just call it to mind, and it will appear."
A little sceptical, Carter imagines a locker. The combination is 13/32/33.
"Why?"
Retired numbers for the Lakers, obviously: Chamberlain, Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar.
"...Why?"
Carter holds out Julius's ox and lets it go. The box disappears.
"Cool," Carter says. "Are you sure I can get it back?"
"No," Bast says. "Now, come on!"
I've never gone through security with a live bird of prey before.
Yeah, you'd think it would cause a holdup, but the guards just move us into a special line. They check out the paperwork. The whole time Bast is smiling and flirting with the guards. Carter is retrieving his shows when we hear a scream from the other side of security.
Bast curses. "We were too slow."
Carter looks back. The Set animal is charging through the terminal, knocking passengers out of its way. Its weird rabbit ears rock back and forth. Foam drips from its curved, toothy snout. Its forked tail lashes around, eager to strike.
"Moose!" a lady screams. "Rabid moose!"
Panic ensues. Mortals start screaming and running in different direction, blocking the Set animal's path.
"Moose?" Carter wonders.
Bast shrugs. "No telling what mortals will perceive. Now the idea will spread by power of suggestion."
Sure enough, more passengers start yelling "Moose!" and running around as the Set animal plows through the lines and gets tangled up in the stanchions. TSA officers surge forward, but the Set animal tosses them aside like rag dolls.
"Come on!" Bast says.
"I can't just let it hurt these people."
"We can't stop it!"
Carter's eyes are fixed on the monster. We should run. He knows that. Running would be the logical, sane thing to do. But he doesn't move. He can't move. So many people are in danger, just because he's here. How can he let that go on? And, yes, the thought terrifies him. Yet it somehow feels right.
"Go to the gate," He tells Bast. "Take Sadie. I'll meet you there."
"What? Carter—"
"Go!"
He imagines opening his invisible locker: 13/32/33. Carter reaches out his hand, but not for his father's magic box. He concentrates on something we lost in Luxor. It has to be there. For a moment, nothing happens. Then his hand closes around a hard leather grip, and he pulls his sword out of nowhere.
Bast's eyes widen. "Impressive."
Yeah… First all the ba trips, then this. Carter really has a talent for accessing the Duat.
"Get moving," Carter says. "It's my turn to run interference."
"You realize it'll kill you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now, scat!"
Bast takes off at top speed. Sadie has to flap her wings to stay balanced on the goddess' arm.
A shot rings out. Carter turns to see the Set animal plow into a cop who's just fired at its head with no effect. The poor cop flies backward and topples over the metal detector gate.
"Hey, moose!" Carter screams.
The Set animal locks its glowing eyes on us.
"Well done!" I tell Carter. "We will die with honor!"
Shut up.
Don't get me wrong, I love fighting as much as the next war god. And, sure, my host's done some pretty incredible things by now. But the boy's never been in a real fight! And against a skilled hunter like the Set animal? It was nice knowing you, Carter. Really, we had a great time.
He glances behind to make sure Bast and Sadie are out of sight. Then we approach the creature.
"So you've got no name?" Carter asks. "They couldn't think of one ugly enough?"
The creature snarls, stepping over the unconscious policeman.
"Set animal is too hard to say," Carter decides. "I'll call you Leroy."
Looks like Leroy doesn't like his name. He lunges. Carter dodges his claws and hits him in the snout with the flat of the blade. No use. We have to stab him, kill him once and for all. Leroy backs up and charges again, slavering, baring his fangs. Carter slashes at his neck, but the sha is too smart. He darts to the left and sinks his teeth into Carter's free arm. Thank Ma'at for his makeshift leather armguard, otherwise we'll be missing an arm. Even so, Leroy's fangs bite clear through the leather. Red-hot pain shoots up Carter's arm.
Yeah, no way he's doing this alone. He yells, a primal surge of power coursing though his body. The golden aura of my avatar shines around us. The Set animal's jaws are pried often so fast that it yelps and lets go of our arm. We stand is the air, encased in a magical barrier twice Carter's size. He kicks Leroy into the wall.
"Good! Now dispatch the beast to the netherworld!"
Quiet, man. I'm doing all the work.
If you insist so. We are vaguely aware of the security guards trying to regroup, yelling into their walkie-talkies for help. Travelers are still screaming and running around.
A little girl shouts: "Chicken man, get the moose!"
Thanks for the vote of confidence, random little girl! Can't believe that's what my life's got to. Carter raises his word, which is now in the middle of a ten foot long energy blade. Leroy shakes the dust of his ears and lunges again. The avatar is strong, but it takes a lot of practice to use it efficiently. Carter's movements are slow and clumsy. Leroy dodges the sword easily and lands on our chest, knocking us down. The beast is a lot heavier than he looks. His claws and tail rack against our armor. Carter catches the monster's neck in a glowing fist and tries to keep his fangs away from our face. Everywhere the animal drools, the magical shield hisses and steams. Our wounded arm finally starts going numb. Alarms blare. More passengers crowd toward the checkpoint to see what's happening. We have to end this before Carter passes out from pain.
Or before more mortals get hurt.
"Yeah, sure, wanna wait and see which happens first?"
Our strength is fading. The shield is flickering. Leroy's fangs are an inch away. Then Carter remembers his locker in Duat.
I wonder if other things could be put in there too...large, evil things.
Carter closes his hands around Leroy's throat and wedges his knee against the monster's rib cage. Then he imagines an opening in the Duat—in the air right above us: 13/32/33. The locker opens wide. With a final surge o strength, Carter pushes Leroy straight up. The Set animal flies towards the ceiling, his eyes widening with surprise as he passes through an unseen rift and disappears. I'm not sure if I'm surprised, proud or impressed. Maybe a little bit of all.
"Where'd it go?" someone yells.
"Hey, kid!" another guy calls. "You okay?"
The energy shield is gone. Carter feels like he's about to pass out, but we have to leave before the security guards come out of their shock and decide to arrest us for moose fighting.
Carter gets to his feet and throws his sword at the ceiling. It disappears into the Duat. Then he wraps the torn leather around his bleeding arm and runs for the gates.
We reach our flight just as they are closing the doors. No one mentions the chicken man incident. Good. The gate agent gestures back towards the checkpoint as she takes our ticket.
"What's all the noise up there?"
"A moose got through security," Carter says. "It's under control now."
Before she can ask any questions, we race down the jetway.
Carter collapses into his seat across the aisle from Bast. Sadie, still in kite form, is pacing in the window seat next to him.
Bast lets out a huge sigh of relief. "Carter, you made it! But you're hurt. What happened?"
He tells her. Bast's eyes widen.
"You put the Set animal in your locker? Do you know how much strength that requires?"
"Yeah," Carter says. "I was there."
The flight attendant starts making her announcements. Thankfully, the security incident hasn't affected our flight. The plane pushes back from the gate on time.
Carter doubles over in pain. Only then does Bast realize how bad his arm is. Her expression turns grim.
"Hold still," she whispers her healing spell and Carter's eyes get heavy.
"You'll need sleep to heal that wound," she says.
"But if Leroy comes back—"
"Who?"
"Nothing."
Bast studies him for a second. "That was extraordinarily brave, Carter. Facing the Set monster—you have more tomcat in you than I realized."
"Um—thanks?"
Bast smiles and touches his forehead. "We'll be in the air soon, my tomcat. Sleep." She says gently.
Exhaustion washes over Carter as he closes his eyes. And then we float away again.
A.N: Is it just me, or is that the moment when Bast decided to officially spiritually adopt Carter, too?