Chapter Fourteen

"What are you wearing?" Sekhmet raised a brow at the full-length dress that Sigyn had changed into half an hour into their flight.

"I'm tired of being Amora."

"I'll pretend that I understand what that means and say that you can still be yourself and wear more practical clothing than that. How do you expect to fight Chthon in something you can snag on everything?"

Sigyn scowled. "I'd rather not go up against him wearing something revealing, considering what he wants with me, if it's all the same to you!"

"Then don't wear revealing clothing. Wear a tunic that covers your chest and arms. But don't wear a gown that's going to get us all killed, wear trousers."

Sigyn huffed in annoyance and stormed back into her room to change. Sekhmet felt Helblindi and Thoth staring at her.

"What?"

"Was that really necessary?" Helblindi demanded.

"Yes." Sekhmet put her feet up, flexing her hands. She truly did long to sharpen her claws on something! "She'd get us killed in that ridiculous dress!"

"I fail to see how her attire will affect us in the coming battle, niece."

"In that skirt she won't be able to move, let along fight properly, and then we'll be putting ourselves in danger to protect her."

Thoth nodded, plainly content with that. Helblindi still didn't look happy, but was prevented from arguing when Sigyn re-emerged, in a blue tunic and grey trousers.

"Better?" she snapped at her sister

"Yes. I don't know what you're all so testy! It's not like we're going to go fight a demon bent on the destruction of the entire universe."

"Except that's exactly what it's like!"

Sekhmet rolled her eyes. "Don't you understand sarcasm? Honestly, this is no way to prepare for battle. So," she stood, "what's the plan?"

The other three exchanged looks. "Er..."

"Please tell me you at least have a plan!"

Sigyn threw her hands into the air. "Things keep happening that I'm not prepared for. My only plan is to prevent Chthon from killing anybody for a single night. Then I've won."

Sekhmet looked thoughtful. "So if Thoth's spell works on the children, and we bring the rest of the populace where we can protect them..."

"I know some protection spells," Sigyn offered. "I don't know how effective they'll be though."

"Anything is better than nothing." Sekhmet turned to look at Helblindi. "Do you have anything to contribute?"

Helblindi looked frustrated as he shook his head. "I've never faced off with demons before."

"But you can fight? Any martial skills will help."

"Yes, I can fight. I just don't know how effective my skills will be against... him."

"We don't need to be effective, we just need to be distracting. Better than we were today!"

"That won't be hard." Sigyn muttered, her mood darkening.

"We canst do it!" Thoth said brightly.

"I admire your optimism, but... if I have to, I can still..."

"NO!" Helblindi yelled, startling everyone. "Sigyn, I won't let you!"

"I can distract him without giving him anything!"

Thoth blinked owlishly. "What art thou speaking of, niece?"

Sekhmet's eyes narrowed. "If you mean what I think you do, I will have to keep you locked up until you regain common sense. Understood?"

Sigyn folded her arms. "I don't have to sleep with him in order to be a distraction!"

Thoth bolted upright. "Absolutely not! Thou must stop this thinking at once!"

Sigyn wanted to scream. "Does anyone have a better idea, then?!"

"Yes!" Sekhmet stood. "We fight him. You do not put yourself in more vulnerable situations than you have to."

"And if I feel I have to do this?!"

"Then you're wrong."

Sigyn sighed. "Alright. Give me options."

"You stay by my side the whole time during this battle. That way, he can't get to you, and I can stop you from doing anything stupid. And that wasn't a suggestion, little sister."

"Alright. I can do this, though." Sigyn wreathed her hand in flame. "That will help."

"I suppose."

Helblindi cleared his throat. "Would ice help at all? That at least I can do..."

"Maybe." Sekhmet shrugged. "We have got to form an attack plan. Thoth, can you cast a spell to make sure that your uncle isn't listening on on us?"

Thoth nodded. "I hath already done so."

"Good. Now let's plan. We've got fire, ice, boiling blood and a birdbrain. How can we lose?"

Sigyn groaned. "Is this really the best time for sarcasm?"

"If not now, when?" Sekhmet flashed her a sharp-toothed grin.

"Maybe someday when we're not all facing probable death?!"

"That will never happen." Sekhmet snorted. "Have you any idea how many ways you could be killed by chance right now?"

"No, and I'd rather not. Chthon's enough to worry about at the moment, thank you!"

Sekhmet shrugged. Her yellow-eyed stare was making Sigyn uneasy. Helblindi tried to break what he feared would become an argument.

"I canst start my protection spell the moment we set ground." Thoth scuttled off abruptly. "And I wilt do mine best not to get in thine way!"

"Good, though that'll be a first." Sekhmet muttered. The ship began its descent. "Sigyn, stay close to me."

"Yeah, that's going to help in the middle of a battle," Sigyn muttered, but nonetheless did as her older sister said.

The ship landed, and all four of them disembarked, heading for the palace.

"Tis not the world I thought it was," Thoth muttered, brow furrowing. "Perchance I canst throw the six-year-olds under protection as well."

"That would be helpful..." Sigyn trailed off as they found the palace barred against them.

"Oh goody we're dealing with scared, stupid people." Sekhmet began slamming her fist against the door.

Her arm is still broken, how is she going to fight? Sigyn wondered. She was about to voice the question when Sekhmet delivered a powerful kick to the doors, shattering them. Without further ado, the lioness walked inside.

"Are you three coming?"

"She's stronger than she looks," Helblindi muttered, feeling absolutely useless. Sigyn took his hand as they followed Sekhmet inside, Thoth bringing up the rear. The palace was oddly empty...

"This doth not bode well," Thoth muttered.

Fighting a rising sense of foreboding, they entered the throne room. It too was deserted.

"Where is everyone?"

"Art they hiding?" Thoth asked.

"Possibly..." Helblindi murmured.

"Maybe they've already fled this world." Sigyn suggested hopefully. "That will make this easier..."

Sekhmet looked grim. "We won't be that lucky. Sigyn, come with me," she ordered. "We'll go out in the city and search for them. Helblindi, you take care of Thoth."

Helblindi didn't want to leave Sigyn's side, but she nodded at him, letting Sekhmet lead her away. He sighed heavily as Thoth began digging in his satchel for something, muttering to himself.

"Could he have already killed everybody?" Helblindi asked, voicing his worst fear.

Thoth glanced up. "Mayhap, but I doubt it. Mine uncle enjoys leaving grisly souveneirs behind if he carries out a massacre."

Then what's going on? Is he just making it more difficult for us to protect them?"

"I knowest not! Now perchance thou wilt stop rambling and allow me to focus?"

Helblindi nodded. He walked around the edge of the room, trying to find some clue as to what was going on. He saw nothing. The empty coffin was still in place and it struck him suddenly that this was all his fault. If he hadn't pretended to know the old king, if he hadn't interfered when he saw the boy lying tied up in there... Sigyn would never have made her bargain with Chthon, and none of them would be here.

"Why was I so stupid?" He muttered, kicking the floor savagely. "This is all my fault!"

"Ha!" Thoth shouted. "Thou art so arrogant."

Helblindi whirled, eyes blazing. "What?!"

"Taking the credit for the actions of others, as though the universe revolves around thy choices is arrogant."

Helblindi glared at the avian god. "Be that as it may, if I hadn't chosen to stop here-"

"Then Chthon wouldst simply have targeted another realm, wherever you and mine niece happened to stop next."

"You really believe that?"

"Verily. Chthon hast targeted Sigyn for a reason."

"Well, he's not having her!"

"Agreed."

Helblindi fell silent again, nerves fluttering in his stomach. But how can I stop him? He had no answer ready, and began pacing nervously. "Do you think Sigyn and Sekhmet are alright?"

"Shh. I art working."

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Sigyn hurried to keep up with Sekhmet's long strides.

"Where are we going?" She panted.

"I can sniff the people out, we're going to see where they are."

"How many people can you detect?"

"I am not a scanner. I don't 'detect' people."

"Ok, I was trying not to say this outright, because I think it sounds rude, but how many people can you smell?"

Sekhmet stopped and gave Sigyn a puzzled look. "How is that a rude question? You lesser gods! I'll never understand you."

"Because, to me, that sounds either as if I'm insinuating that the people smell, or that I'm regarding you as an animal."

"Are you saying that you consider yourself above animals, sister?"

Sigyn blinked. "Well, yes." Belatedly, she remembered that Sekhmet was part-animal... "Uh, that is..."

"More of your lesser gods' foolishness! Just because you can't speak their languages."

"Animals have languages?"

Sekhmet actually growled at her.

"Alright! I'm sorry." Sigyn backed away. "But if I'm such a lesser god, why bother with me?"

"You're my sister. No-one harms my kin, however foolish they are."

"Thanks... I think!"

"You are very much like your mother."

Sigyn was silent for a moment. "No, I'm not. Mother is far braver and more confident than I am."

"Not really."

"And you know this because you've spent so much time in Asgard?"

"Because you are here."

"Running away with Helblindi was the most impulsive, insane thing I've ever done. I've never been reckless, not like this." Sigyn laughed bitterly. "And look where it's gotten me!"

Sekhmet struggled to think of a response- it would do no good if Sigyn was doubting herself before going up against Chthon. She'd be easy prey! "Better here where we can fight him than out there, isn't it? Or having him attack Asgard again."

Sigyn shuddered at the thought. "But what if we lose?"

"We will not."

Sigyn opened her mouth to continue the argument, but Sekhmet suddenly turned and kicked a door open.

"Come out of there now!" The lioness shouted.

"Ivan!" Sigyn cried, recognising the boy. "Are you alright?"

The boy nodded shakily, pale faced. "Y-you came b-back?"

"Yes. Yes, of course I did. Where are the others?"

"H-hiding." He glanced warily at Sekhmet. "W-who's this?"

"My cousin, Sekhmet. A daughter of Atum."

Sekhmet glanced sideways at her, but said nothing. Ivan slowly moved out of the room. Both women startled as they realised he was alone.

"Where's everyone else?"

"They left."

"What do you mean they left?" Sigyn demanded.

Ivan raised his hands. "They left."

Sekhmet lifted Ivan by the front of his tunic, bringing him to her eye level. "Why, where, and how long ago? And why were you left here?"

"They said that since I am of royal blood I was summoning the demon. They left hours ago. I don't know more than that."

Sigyn's heart raced. "Are you the only one left on this world?"

"No, there are others around here. I can smell them," Sekhmet said, her brow furrowing. "Besides, Chthon wouldn't let them leave. He needs to kill them all in order to cement his deal with you."

Ivan shook his head. "They s-said they were all leaving!"

"They might have left, but they didn't leave the planet." Sekhmet cursed. "Great, so now instead of organising them into a defendable system they're scattered about like rats."

"So what do we do?"

"We gather them, even if they don't want to be gathered." Sekhmet looked at Ivan. "He can come with us while we retrieve Thoth and Helblindi, then we track down the other natives." She set the boy down, shoving him towards the palace entrance. Sigyn followed her silently.

Meanwhile, Thoth was muttering incantations and looking fairly upset. Helblindi watched concernedly for a few minutes before interrupting.

"What's the matter?"

"These people! They art actively fighting mine protection spells!"

"But they said all their scorcerers were killed."

"They spoke falsehoods."

Helblindi was confused. "Why would they fight protection spells?"

"They art fools! Bah!" Thoth shook his head. "I canst still cast it, but only those two and younger will receive protection. I haven't time for anything else!"

Helblindi gritted his teeth. Stupid fools.. "Just do what you can!"

Sekhmet and Sigyn returned, with Ivan trailing behind them.

"Did you find anybody?" he asked instantly.

Several small groups of people, but they're scattered all over the place." Sekhmet's voice was disdainful. "We're trying to work out how to gather them."

"We could herd them like sheep," Helblindi muttered darkly.

Sigyn rolled her eyes. "Or we could just ask them!"

"That'll take too long. The Jotünn has a point."

"If you herd them like sheep, they'll never trust us!"

"They don't need to trust us for us to protect them!"

"T'would make things easier, though," Thoth pointed out. "But canst thou nieces of mine discuss this elsewhere? I art trying to concentrate!"

Sekhmet rolled her eyes. "No. We're talking here. You go elsewhere!"

Thoth flicked his hand, and Sekhmet opened her mouth - but nothing came out. She attempted to speak several times before her face contorted in anger and she lunged at Thoth. Helblindi stood between them, trying to shield the avian god.

Sigyn cried out as Sekhmet's claws raked Helblindi instead of Thoth. "Sekhmet, stop it!"

Sekhmet made a very rude gesture and resumed trying to get at Thoth. The avian god backed away, looking extremely frightened. "This is not my doing, Niece! I swear it on mine book of pslams that I collected from under the crystal rock!"

Even Sigyn didn't believe him. "So it's a coincidence that Sekhmet lost her voice after you gestured at her?"

"Erm..." Thoth wilted. "Very well, I have no book of psalms collected from under the crystal rock! But thou wert distracting me!"

Helblindi was struggling to hold Sekhmet away from Thoth. "Give her her voice back!"

"Fine!" Thoth gestured again. "Art thou happy? Now let me work!"

Sekhmet gagged, as if trying to cough up a hairball, then launched into a rant at Thoth. Unfortunately, since she was speaking Egyptian, only Thoth could understand her. The tirade went on for about five minutes.

"Sekhmet, stop!" Sigyn said eventually. "We're supposed to be rounding up people to protect, not fighting with each other! I wondered why Chthon let you come!"

"What?" Sekhmet snarled.

"You're not helping, you're just making it worse!" Sigyn shouted, the stress and anger overwhelming her.

"I'll remember that comment when you're about to die in battle, you useless girl!" Sekhmet screeched.

"He's not going to kill me, he's going to keep me in his bed!" Sigyn screamed back. "He's going to... to..."

Sekhmet's rage only built. "Maybe if your mother wasn't such a promiscuous creature, he would not have thought of it!"

Sigyn lunged, her hands wreathed with fire. "Was Gaea a whore when he took her?"

"How dare you-" Sekhmet started, but a blaze of fire cut her off. She snarled, bearing claws and fangs, and lunged for Sigyn's throat.

Helblindi and Thoth both yelped. Ivan screamed out loud. Sigyn used more flames to throw Sekhmet off course, but the lioness lunged again. The smell of scorched skin filled the room, and Sigyn stumbled, her flames faltering. Sekhmet took the opportunity to dodge in and flip her to the floor, claws extending against her sister's throat.

Sigyn gasped for air. At least Chthon won't be able to have me if I'm dead!

Something huge and blue knocked Sekhmet off to one side. She sprawled on the floor, winded. Helblindi helped Sigyn up.

"Are you alright?"

Sekhmet snarled, leaping back to her feet, but Thoth placed himself precariously between the two groups. "Is this aiding our cause?"

"Get out of it, birdbrain!"

"Calm thyself, ireful lioness! Killing thy sister wilt do no good!"

"Actually," Sekhmet growled. "I think it'll solve a lot of our current problems. This is only happening because Chthon wants her. If she's dead, all this will end soon enough!"

Helblindi hefted his axe, his eyes glittering.

"She's right," Sigyn said softly. Helblindi and Thoth whirled in shock. Ivan went pale, but stayed quiet.

"No, she isn't!" Helblindi spoke through gritted teeth.

"There's no way we can save these people. And if I'm dead he won't get what he wants!"

Helblindi really wished he could fight Sigyn's logic. He looked helplessly at Thoth.

The bird-brained god looked thoughtful and then shrugged. "Do it, then, Sekhmet."

Helblindi glared at him in disbelief, before pushing Sigyn behind him. Sekhmet lifted him and flung him aside almost effortlessly. He landed in a heap, dazed. No...

Sigyn stepped forward, face pale but head held high. Sekhmet unsheathed her dagger. The younger woman closed her eyes, trying not to think about what was about to happen... She felt Sekhmet's arms go around her. Is she going to stab me in the back? But nothing happened.

She opened her eyes, stunned. Sekhmet's dagger was on the ground. "What..."

"A lioness protects her family. She doesn't kill them, not for anything."

"You could protect millions more by killing me."

"'Millions more' aren't my kin."

"Fine." Sigyn pushed her away and reached for the knife. "I'll do it then!"

Sekhmet grabbed her wrists, snarling in warning.

"Let go of me! I'm not going to be Chthon's whore! I won't let him!"

A malicious laugh sounded. "Are you sure about that?"

Sigyn paled and cried out as the shadow began coalescing. Sekhmet snarled and shielded her. Helblindi and Thoth did as well. Ivan ran to her arms, trembling. She couldn't stop shaking, but did her best to shield the child.

Chthon formed fully and eyed them all, apparently highly amused. "Your plan is so very well formed. I'm quaking in my boots."

Sekhmet lunged at him with a roar.

"You want the other arm broken, niece? I'll be happy to oblige..."

"No!" Sigyn shouted. She grabbed Sekhmet and held her back. "We have to think logically."

Chthon laughed. "Yes, think logically!" He moved closer, mockingly. "Do let me know what you come up with..." He trailed his charred fingers down Sigyn's face.

Helblindi made to move forward, but found he couldn't move. Sigyn glanced about helplessly. What could she do?

"You can't defeat me, little one," Chthon laughed. "But it will be fun-"

"You're right, I can't."

Chthon paused, surprised.

Sigyn stepped forward before anyone could stop her. "I'm prepared to give you what you want." There were yells of protest from Sekhmet, Thoth and Helblindi, but Chthon grinned. His darkness enveloped Sigyn, and in an instant, they were gone.