Lena was asleep in her bed, but Marc stayed awake.
"Set keeps moving. More lights are going out. We need to act." Khonshu told his avatar.
"I know. But if he keeps running, how will we find him? We need to get him in one place." Marc pointed out.
"Hathor and I can summon him into the meeting place of the Ennead, whatever is left of it. But it will drain our powers."
"Will he go through the portal thing? He'll know it's a trap."
Khonshu nodded. "He will also know Hathor will be with us. And she does not agree with our ideals."
"Khonshu, we are killing Set. Not Hathor. There is no our ideals."
"We no not need to spare Hathor."
"No, we do need to spare Hathor. Your vengeance, your justice. Where does Polly fit in all that? If you give me any of that "the needs of the many outweigh the one" bullshit, I'll start swinging." Marc warned.
"It is true that girl did nothing wrong, but Hathor without the Ennead is dangerous. You saw how she killed Kauket for a different point of view."
"You're saying you'd let Polly die if it means killing Hathor?"
The god thought about it and decided not to speak.
"No, you're not saying that. Because then you'd be no better than those asshole Gods who think humans are nothing. If you can figure out how to kill Hathor without hurting Polly I'm all ears. Until then, you need to focus on Set."
"There is no way to kill me without hurting my avatar." Hathor said from Lena's mouth.
"Can Polly hear us?" Marc asked.
"No, she's sleeping. Having a dream about… butterflies." She smirked "She admires their freedom. Since hers is nonexistent."
"When did you become such a bitch?"
"When my brothers and sisters were slaughtered! If I had not used this avatar, with her woe-is-me attitude and pitiful demeanor, you and Khonshu would have killed me and joined Set. The idea of world peace is a wonderful fantasy. But it is just that. Because in actuality, there must be a balance."
"Says who?" Marc looked at her, ignoring her young appearance.
"Says the universe. You cannot have good without evil. Darkness without light. The moon without the sun. There must be a balance. Any upset in the universal scale and it turns to chaos. That's why Set was part of the Ennead. So we could keep watch of him. But, I'll admit, through the years we became sloppy. Ignoring his requests and actions. Until he could not be ignored any longer. I am not the bad one here. I am the one trying to keep the universe from collapse." She shook her head "If that makes me a bitch then so be it."
"You are trying to stop peace!" Khonshu yelled
"Yes I am, Khonshu. The world might be cruel but it is balanced. For every person killed, one is saved. That is how the universe works. If we stop the killing, nobody will be saved. The universe won't let that happen. Imagine those dying of a disease the universe would have spared them from. Without the balance, those who should not die, will. And that will be on you. You, who prides yourself on saving humans. Enacting your vengeance. Peace means balance, Khonshu." Hathor demanded. "Set knows this. He knows throwing off the balance will cause chaos. Why are we fighting this? We used to agree, Khonshu. Once. Out of all the Gods it was you and I who saw things in a similar fashion. What has changed?"
"If the world is protected by more than just me, then it would be more beneficial to humanity."
Hathor looked at her friend. "That's not it."
"It is."
"It's not. You don't want to go it alone. Protecting the world, unleashing your vengeance. All those years of doing it yourself. How lonely."
He shook his head "Lonely? I have Marc Spector if I ever need conversation."
"Marc Spector, Steven Grant, whoever else is there in his broken mind. I wonder why you searched out a man with alternate personalities. Is it because his mind was easier to manipulate? Or was it because it leaves you with more people to converse with? Why have one avatar when you could have two? Or three? Oh, Khonshu. Years of banishment must have hurt you more than I can ever know. I am sorry."
"Don't pretend to know me! Talk to me as if we are friends! You lost that privilege when you and the Ennead banished me. You could have been on my side."
Hathor placed a hand on his shoulder, which he immediately shook off. "How lonely you must have felt then, too. Khonshu, if Set continues and all the Gods eventually die. What if only you survive? How alone will you feel then? You kill me, Set kills you, how alone will you be in death? You always were emotional. But logic must reign supreme here. It has to."
Marcs eyes glowed then he collapsed onto the floor. "Oh f-shit!"
He got up and looked at the girl on the bed. "You gonna go too?"
"I will." Hathor promised. "He's using you; you know."
"I know…" Marc sighed "I… I know."
"You are not his warrior, Marc Spector. You are his companion. His pet. Like a dog. Or a goldfish." She told him. "He will never let you go."
He thought for a moment. She was right. Everything she said. Why Khonshu chose Marc. Why else would a God choose someone so flawed to be an avatar? It all makes sense.
Of course, Marc won't give that she-devil the satisfaction of knowing she's right.
"You done?" He asked "Because, not to say I don't like the sound of your voice, but I'd rather cheese-graters to my skull than hear more."
She nodded, and Lena fell onto the bed, asleep.
Marc walked to his bed and sat down, his hands covering his face. "Oi vey."
"You alright, Marc?" Marc heard.
"No."
"Can I help?" Steven asked.
After a moment, Steven was given control of the body. No forcing or eye twitch or anything. It was like Marc gave up.
"This isn't exactly what I meant. But that's okay. You sleep, Marc. You've earned it." Steven said, whispering as not to wake Lena.
He rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes "You've earned it."