Atemu lay awake, shivering uncontrollably. His left arm was bandaged from the elbow to the shoulder.
Pushing himself up, Atemu surveyed the room he was in.
Whitewashed walls and a tiled floor mixed with the smell of disinfectant meant he had to be in the infirmary.
A rosy cheeked, plump lady entered the room. Her frizzy orange hair peeked out from a sanitary cap.
"Hallo young lad. I see that yer up." She had a thick Scottish brogue to her words.
"Me names Mary, lad. Now then, how's this arm of yer's?" Mary lifted Atemu's left arm and gave it a rough shake.
"Ow!" Atemu cried. He jerked his hand away. "Do you have to be so rough?"
"Sorry love, but it's for yer own good. Let's have a look at it then." Mary took Atemu's wrist and unwrapped the bandages.
Large tooth marks had punctured the skin around Atemu's shoulder. An ugly, purple bruise covered it.
Below the teeth marks was the lacerated flesh. Soft tissue was exposed, uncovered by the torn skin.
A hint of bone peeked through the flesh, protruding upwards. Atemu's elbow bone had been smashed, the tiny pieces digging through his skin.
"Gross," Atemu said, looking at his arm. "That Ammut sure does have a nasty bite, doesn't she?"
His eyes opened wide in shock. "Ammut! Is she – did I –"
"Hush, kit." A musical voice said. Bast entered the room and sat on the bed beside Atemu.
"Ammut is defeated. She has been for several days now." She pushed a piece of golden hair back from Atemu's face.
"You did a marvelous job back there, kit. You sure showed them, didn't you?"
"I guess so. Wait – did you say I've been out like this for a couple of days?"
"Indeed I did. You've been unconscious for six days. We were all terribly worried about you."
"Wow." Atemu breathed. "So," He indicated his left arm. "Is this thing useless or what?"
Bast smiled. "Mary can fix it for you, but it will take time. She'll have to piece your elbow back together, and some of the shattered pieces may be missing."
"That's right, young'un. Yer gonna have a harsh time healing, ye will." Mary nodded.
"And those gashes will need stitches." Bast informed him.
"I don't mind." Atemu said. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
Almost immediately he fell over. Bast caught him and placed him back down on the bed.
"Careful, kit. That fight drained you immensely. You'll be bedridden for a few more days, I'm afraid."
"A few more days?" Atemu cried. "But I want to go now!"
"You can't kit." Bast said firmly. "The quicker you get back in that bed the quicker you can begin healing."
Grumbling, Atemu climbed back under the linen covers. "Did anyone miss me?" He asked Bast.
"Of course we did." Isis entered the room flanked by Nekhbet, Ma'at and Wadjet.
"We missed you a lot, little kit." Nekhbet sat beside Atemu and gave him a hug.
Wadjet and Isis followed suit, all embracing Atemu warmly.
"We're so glad you're awake." Ma'at said. "We thought you wouldn't wake at all after the first 3 days." Wadjet added.
The other goddesses nodded in agreement.
"Off with you all now!" Mary cried. She shooed the deities to the door. "My lad needs his rest, an' he can't get it if yer all standing there gossipin'!"
The goddesses quickly hurried out, giving Atemu a last farewell wave.
--
Two and a half days later Mary released Atemu from her care. She kept his arm bandaged, and told him to change it every night.
"Guess what Nekh?" Atemu cried happily. "Mary let me go! She's a monster, that one."
Nekhbet looked up from her work and smiled. She was putting the finishing touches on a weaving, and was sitting outside in the sun.
"Good morning, Atemu. I'm so glad you've been allowed out." Nekhbet rose to greet him.
"Well that's all good and wonderful but I still have these things on."
Atemu motioned towards his bandages and wrinkled his nose in disapproval.
"Kit, you know you need them. Anyway, it's so beautiful out. You can't stay in such a mood all day."
Atemu sighed. "I know, I know. Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. There are too many problems."
"You didn't think staying in the underworld would be easy now, did you?' Nekhbet asked, her eyes twinkling merrily.
"Speaking of problems, you next challenge is coming up. You should get ready for it."
"Another one!?" Atemu cried. "But I just got out of the infirmary! How can they expect to complete my third task if I don't even have the full use of my left arm!?"
"Oh come now, kit. It won't be for a few weeks. You arm should be fully healed by then."
"I guess so." Atemu said grumpily. "But I still wish people would pay me more respect."
Nekhbet laughed and returned to her weaving. "Whatever you say, kit. Whatever you say."
"No one appreciates me around here!" Atemu shouted. "I'm off to find someone who is aware of my prowess!"
Chuckling softly, Nekhbet shook her head and watched Atemu stomp loudly out of view.
Atemu rounded the corner of the barracks and bumped into none other than Alaya.
They both stared at each other in shocked silence. "What are you doing here!?" They both exclaimed at the same time.
"I'm staying here." They said in unison. Exasperated, Atemu shook his head. "You first." He told her.
"I'm staying in the underworld, idiot. I died in the battle." Alaya glared at Atemu.
She still wore her Amazon outfit, which made her stand out in an Egyptian underworld.
"I see. So, have you been here since? I haven't seen you before." Atemu said.
"Of course you wouldn't of." Alaya sniffed in disdain.
"I haven't been here very long. Unlike some special Pharaohs we don't get immediate access to the underworld. We have to fight our way through."
Atemu sighed. "Alright, alright. Spare me the details."
Alaya noticed for the first time the bandage on Atemu's arm. "What happened?" She asked, her voice suddenly full of concern.
"None of your business." Atemu retorted.
Ignoring his last remark, Alaya gently pulled back the bandages. She gasped when she saw his injury.
"What did you do to it?" She asked. "I didn't do anything to it! I killed Ammut and she didn't want to leave without taking me along with her."
"You killed Ammut?" Alaya gasped. "But you must kill a god with an immortal weapon. Which did you use?"
"I used her own venom-filled fang. I guess since it came from a goddess, it's classed as an immortal weapon."
"I'm still surprised you managed to pull it off." Alaya said, her mouth open in astonishment.
"It was no biggie." Atemu said indifferently, pulling his arm out of Alaya's grip.
He winced when part of the torn flesh came off. Alaya shook her head.
"Men." She muttered under her breath. "Let me see." She demanded, and took his arm again.
Taking the bandages off completely, Alaya rested her palm on Atemu's elbow.
She muttered several strange words, and a purple-brown glow spread out over Atemu's skin.
Atemu's elbow had been put back together by Mary, but several shards of bone were still missing, and cracks along the surface of the bone threatened to split open.
The gaps were soon filled by rapidly-growing bone. It hardened and became filled with marrow. The cracks shriveled up and disappeared altogether.
With Atemu watching in astonishment, Alaya repeated the process on Atemu's torn flesh and his bruised shoulder.
"Wow." Was all he said once Alaya was finished. Atemu looked his arm over, marveling at the healed limb.
"Thanks a lot Alaya. You're not half bad." Atemu smiled.
"Yeah, well, no problem. We were taught healing magic when we were young. I'm guessing the healing mages here didn't do anything because they were afraid to hurt you even more."
"I suppose so." Atemu said. "Now that my arm is fixed, I may as well get my next challenge."
"What?" Alaya asked, confused. "I've been set challenges by the deities to prove I'm worthy of staying here." Atemu explained.
"Once I complete them, I can ascend to godhood."
"You become a god?" Alaya breathed. "Wow. That must be so amazing."
"It sure is. I've already completed two. Why don't you come with me to get my next one?" Atemu suggested.
"Sure. I'd love to see more of this place." Atemu led Alaya through the maze of halls and corridors.
"I heard some of the goddesses gossiping today. They said my next task will be set my Sekhmet."
Atemu shuddered. "What? What is it?" Alaya asked.
"She and I don't really see eye-to-eye. Though that could be because she's half a head taller than I am..." Atemu mused.
Alaya rolled her eyes. "Well I'm sure it can't be worse than any of the other tasks."
"I guess you're right." Atemu said, brightening up.
He stopped when they reached the door to Sekhmet's rooms. Atem knocked on the heavy wooden door.
"Come in," A harsh voice said from inside. Nervous, Atemu entered the room, followed by Alaya.
Sekhmet was standing before a large hearth. The fire crackled merrily.
"Uh, Sekhmet? I was told you're going to set me my next challenge."
Without answering, Sekhmet beckoned Atemu to come to her.
The lioness goddess placed a claw under Atemu's chin and lifted his head to meet hers.
"Such pretty eyes," Sekhmet said softly. "I would love to see the life fade out of them."
She laughed harshly. "Indeed, I have your next task. But it will be your last."
"Oh sure." Atemu mocked. "I'm terrified. So what is your almighty plan of my death this time?"
He turned to Alaya. "She has this thing with repeatedly trying to kill me." He whispered to her.
Sekhmet growled. "Out in the forest is a pile of large granite boulders. You must use that as your castle, and guard it from enemies."
"Sounds easy enough." Atemu said. "What's the catch?"
"The catch is that you yourself must not leave the castle. You can have a team of five other people. They may go where you order them to."
"Cool." Atemu said. He lanced at Alaya. "So who's the unfortunate people that are goig to be my enemies?"
"The gods." Sekhmet said with a sinister smile. "The – the gods?" Atemu said weakly, his face paling.
"There will be an enemy team of 6 gods. You must knock all six out cold before you win."
"You mean I have to face gods?" And for the second time in less than two weeks, Atemu fainted.
Pushing himself up, Atemu surveyed the room he was in.
Whitewashed walls and a tiled floor mixed with the smell of disinfectant meant he had to be in the infirmary.
A rosy cheeked, plump lady entered the room. Her frizzy orange hair peeked out from a sanitary cap.
"Hallo young lad. I see that yer up." She had a thick Scottish brogue to her words.
"Me names Mary, lad. Now then, how's this arm of yer's?" Mary lifted Atemu's left arm and gave it a rough shake.
"Ow!" Atemu cried. He jerked his hand away. "Do you have to be so rough?"
"Sorry love, but it's for yer own good. Let's have a look at it then." Mary took Atemu's wrist and unwrapped the bandages.
Large tooth marks had punctured the skin around Atemu's shoulder. An ugly, purple bruise covered it.
Below the teeth marks was the lacerated flesh. Soft tissue was exposed, uncovered by the torn skin.
A hint of bone peeked through the flesh, protruding upwards. Atemu's elbow bone had been smashed, the tiny pieces digging through his skin.
"Gross," Atemu said, looking at his arm. "That Ammut sure does have a nasty bite, doesn't she?"
His eyes opened wide in shock. "Ammut! Is she – did I –"
"Hush, kit." A musical voice said. Bast entered the room and sat on the bed beside Atemu.
"Ammut is defeated. She has been for several days now." She pushed a piece of golden hair back from Atemu's face.
"You did a marvelous job back there, kit. You sure showed them, didn't you?"
"I guess so. Wait – did you say I've been out like this for a couple of days?"
"Indeed I did. You've been unconscious for six days. We were all terribly worried about you."
"Wow." Atemu breathed. "So," He indicated his left arm. "Is this thing useless or what?"
Bast smiled. "Mary can fix it for you, but it will take time. She'll have to piece your elbow back together, and some of the shattered pieces may be missing."
"That's right, young'un. Yer gonna have a harsh time healing, ye will." Mary nodded.
"And those gashes will need stitches." Bast informed him.
"I don't mind." Atemu said. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
Almost immediately he fell over. Bast caught him and placed him back down on the bed.
"Careful, kit. That fight drained you immensely. You'll be bedridden for a few more days, I'm afraid."
"A few more days?" Atemu cried. "But I want to go now!"
"You can't kit." Bast said firmly. "The quicker you get back in that bed the quicker you can begin healing."
Grumbling, Atemu climbed back under the linen covers. "Did anyone miss me?" He asked Bast.
"Of course we did." Isis entered the room flanked by Nekhbet, Ma'at and Wadjet.
"We missed you a lot, little kit." Nekhbet sat beside Atemu and gave him a hug.
Wadjet and Isis followed suit, all embracing Atemu warmly.
"We're so glad you're awake." Ma'at said. "We thought you wouldn't wake at all after the first 3 days." Wadjet added.
The other goddesses nodded in agreement.
"Off with you all now!" Mary cried. She shooed the deities to the door. "My lad needs his rest, an' he can't get it if yer all standing there gossipin'!"
The goddesses quickly hurried out, giving Atemu a last farewell wave.
--
Two and a half days later Mary released Atemu from her care. She kept his arm bandaged, and told him to change it every night.
"Guess what Nekh?" Atemu cried happily. "Mary let me go! She's a monster, that one."
Nekhbet looked up from her work and smiled. She was putting the finishing touches on a weaving, and was sitting outside in the sun.
"Good morning, Atemu. I'm so glad you've been allowed out." Nekhbet rose to greet him.
"Well that's all good and wonderful but I still have these things on."
Atemu motioned towards his bandages and wrinkled his nose in disapproval.
"Kit, you know you need them. Anyway, it's so beautiful out. You can't stay in such a mood all day."
Atemu sighed. "I know, I know. Being dead isn't all it's cracked up to be. There are too many problems."
"You didn't think staying in the underworld would be easy now, did you?' Nekhbet asked, her eyes twinkling merrily.
"Speaking of problems, you next challenge is coming up. You should get ready for it."
"Another one!?" Atemu cried. "But I just got out of the infirmary! How can they expect to complete my third task if I don't even have the full use of my left arm!?"
"Oh come now, kit. It won't be for a few weeks. You arm should be fully healed by then."
"I guess so." Atemu said grumpily. "But I still wish people would pay me more respect."
Nekhbet laughed and returned to her weaving. "Whatever you say, kit. Whatever you say."
"No one appreciates me around here!" Atemu shouted. "I'm off to find someone who is aware of my prowess!"
Chuckling softly, Nekhbet shook her head and watched Atemu stomp loudly out of view.
Atemu rounded the corner of the barracks and bumped into none other than Alaya.
They both stared at each other in shocked silence. "What are you doing here!?" They both exclaimed at the same time.
"I'm staying here." They said in unison. Exasperated, Atemu shook his head. "You first." He told her.
"I'm staying in the underworld, idiot. I died in the battle." Alaya glared at Atemu.
She still wore her Amazon outfit, which made her stand out in an Egyptian underworld.
"I see. So, have you been here since? I haven't seen you before." Atemu said.
"Of course you wouldn't of." Alaya sniffed in disdain.
"I haven't been here very long. Unlike some special Pharaohs we don't get immediate access to the underworld. We have to fight our way through."
Atemu sighed. "Alright, alright. Spare me the details."
Alaya noticed for the first time the bandage on Atemu's arm. "What happened?" She asked, her voice suddenly full of concern.
"None of your business." Atemu retorted.
Ignoring his last remark, Alaya gently pulled back the bandages. She gasped when she saw his injury.
"What did you do to it?" She asked. "I didn't do anything to it! I killed Ammut and she didn't want to leave without taking me along with her."
"You killed Ammut?" Alaya gasped. "But you must kill a god with an immortal weapon. Which did you use?"
"I used her own venom-filled fang. I guess since it came from a goddess, it's classed as an immortal weapon."
"I'm still surprised you managed to pull it off." Alaya said, her mouth open in astonishment.
"It was no biggie." Atemu said indifferently, pulling his arm out of Alaya's grip.
He winced when part of the torn flesh came off. Alaya shook her head.
"Men." She muttered under her breath. "Let me see." She demanded, and took his arm again.
Taking the bandages off completely, Alaya rested her palm on Atemu's elbow.
She muttered several strange words, and a purple-brown glow spread out over Atemu's skin.
Atemu's elbow had been put back together by Mary, but several shards of bone were still missing, and cracks along the surface of the bone threatened to split open.
The gaps were soon filled by rapidly-growing bone. It hardened and became filled with marrow. The cracks shriveled up and disappeared altogether.
With Atemu watching in astonishment, Alaya repeated the process on Atemu's torn flesh and his bruised shoulder.
"Wow." Was all he said once Alaya was finished. Atemu looked his arm over, marveling at the healed limb.
"Thanks a lot Alaya. You're not half bad." Atemu smiled.
"Yeah, well, no problem. We were taught healing magic when we were young. I'm guessing the healing mages here didn't do anything because they were afraid to hurt you even more."
"I suppose so." Atemu said. "Now that my arm is fixed, I may as well get my next challenge."
"What?" Alaya asked, confused. "I've been set challenges by the deities to prove I'm worthy of staying here." Atemu explained.
"Once I complete them, I can ascend to godhood."
"You become a god?" Alaya breathed. "Wow. That must be so amazing."
"It sure is. I've already completed two. Why don't you come with me to get my next one?" Atemu suggested.
"Sure. I'd love to see more of this place." Atemu led Alaya through the maze of halls and corridors.
"I heard some of the goddesses gossiping today. They said my next task will be set my Sekhmet."
Atemu shuddered. "What? What is it?" Alaya asked.
"She and I don't really see eye-to-eye. Though that could be because she's half a head taller than I am..." Atemu mused.
Alaya rolled her eyes. "Well I'm sure it can't be worse than any of the other tasks."
"I guess you're right." Atemu said, brightening up.
He stopped when they reached the door to Sekhmet's rooms. Atem knocked on the heavy wooden door.
"Come in," A harsh voice said from inside. Nervous, Atemu entered the room, followed by Alaya.
Sekhmet was standing before a large hearth. The fire crackled merrily.
"Uh, Sekhmet? I was told you're going to set me my next challenge."
Without answering, Sekhmet beckoned Atemu to come to her.
The lioness goddess placed a claw under Atemu's chin and lifted his head to meet hers.
"Such pretty eyes," Sekhmet said softly. "I would love to see the life fade out of them."
She laughed harshly. "Indeed, I have your next task. But it will be your last."
"Oh sure." Atemu mocked. "I'm terrified. So what is your almighty plan of my death this time?"
He turned to Alaya. "She has this thing with repeatedly trying to kill me." He whispered to her.
Sekhmet growled. "Out in the forest is a pile of large granite boulders. You must use that as your castle, and guard it from enemies."
"Sounds easy enough." Atemu said. "What's the catch?"
"The catch is that you yourself must not leave the castle. You can have a team of five other people. They may go where you order them to."
"Cool." Atemu said. He lanced at Alaya. "So who's the unfortunate people that are goig to be my enemies?"
"The gods." Sekhmet said with a sinister smile. "The – the gods?" Atemu said weakly, his face paling.
"There will be an enemy team of 6 gods. You must knock all six out cold before you win."
"You mean I have to face gods?" And for the second time in less than two weeks, Atemu fainted.