Isis
Sadie zones in and out during the ride. The sun is already setting on the horizon when the RV comes to a stop.
Bast goes to wake up Carter, who is sleeping on the RV's couch. Sadie snickers. Carter's head is in Khufu's lap and the baboon is foraging his hair for munchies.
"We're here." Bast announces.
Carter blinks a couple of times. His eyes focus on Khufu.
"Dude." he sits up groggily. "Not cool."
"But he gave you a lovely hairdo," Sadie says.
"Agh-agh!" Khufu agrees.
Bast opens the door to the trailer.
"Come on," she says. "We'll have to walk from here."
The RV is parked on a dangerously narrow mountain road. Rugged mountain ranges stretch out on either side. The desert floor between them seems to go on forever. In a valley to our left lays a colorless city. A large river traces its southern edge, glinting red in the fading light. The river curves around the base of the mountains below us before snaking off to the north. That's where we'll find her.
"We're on the moon," Sadie murmurs.
"El Paso, Texas," Bast corrects. "And that's the Rio Grande." She takes a big breath of the cool dry air. "A river civilization in the desert. Very much like Egypt, actually! Er, except for the fact that Mexico is next door. I think this is the best spot to summon Nephthys."
"You really think she'll tell us Set's secret name?" Sadie asks.
Bast considers. "Nephthys is unpredictable, but she has sided against her husband before. We can hope."
My little sister, of course she'll help. As unpredictable as she might be, she's always loved me more than Set.
"Why did you park us on the mountain? Why not closer?" Carter asks.
Bast shrugs. "Cats like to get as high up as possible. In case we have to pounce on something."
"Great. So if we have to pounce, we're all set."
"It's not so bad. We just climb our way down to the river through a few miles of sand, cacti, and rattlesnakes, looking out for the Border Patrol, human traffickers, magicians, and demons—and summon Nephthys."
Sadie whistles. "Well, I'm excited!"
"Agh!" Khufu agrees miserably. He sniffs the air and snarls.
"He smells trouble," Bast translates. "Something bad is about to happen."
"Even I could smell that," Carter grumbles, and we follow Bast down the mountain.
Maybe the danger is spraining my ankle. This is ridiculous.
"We can always fly down to the river."
That shuts her up.
We're a couple of steps away from the bank, when Carter grabs Bast's arm. "Stay away from the water."
She frowns. "Carter, I'm a cat. I'm not going for a swim. But if you want to summon a river goddess, you really need to do it at the riverbank."
Carter seems troubled. We double check the river, just in case. It's quiet, waters maybe slightly too still.
Sadie tosses a rock into the murky brown water. It sinks with a loud splash.
"Seems quite safe to me," she says and we trudge down to the banks.
Khufu follows hesitantly. When he reaches the water, he sniffs at it and snarls.
"See?" Carter says. "Even Khufu doesn't like it."
I send my power outwards, scanning for any magical imprints around us. Nothing.
"It's probably ancestral memory," Bast says. "The river was a dangerous place in Egypt. Snakes, hippos, all kinds of problems."
"Hippos?"
"Don't take it lightly," Bast warns. "Hippos can be deadly."
"Was that what attacked Horus?" Carter asks. "I mean in the old days, when Set was looking for him?"
"Haven't heard that story," Bast says. "Usually you hear that Set used scorpions first. Then later, crocodiles."
"Crocodiles," he repeats, as if tasting the word. "Bast, does the Rio Grande have crocodiles?"
"I very much doubt it." She kneels by the water. "Now, Sadie, if you'd do the honors?"
"How?"
"Just ask for Nephthys to appear. She was Isis's sister. If she's anywhere on this side of the Duat, she should hear your voice."
Hopefully she's around. A part of me feels guilty about not seeking my sister until now. She's one of us, too, a Demon Day by divine blood. Still, she has a way of staying out of trouble. But if Carter's visions are true, then Nephthys in as much danger as we are. Yet I don't know what's going on with her. It didn't even cross my mind until I realized we need her. I would never forgive myself if Set got to our little sister before us.
Sadie is doubtful, but she kneels next to Bast and touches the water. Her fingertips cause ripples that seem much too large, rings of force emanating all the way across the river.
"Hullo, Nephthys?" she says. "Anyone home?"
"Maybe try a different approach?" I propose.
Nah, that'll work.
At first, it's quiet, the ripples spreading through the waters, reaching out to their mistress. Then a faint voice, almost a whisper, echoes through the current.
"Aset…" It's so nice to hear my sister's voice again.
"Wh-" Sadie begins to speak, but I stop her.
"Let me."
I'm not letting you speak with my mouth. What if it allows you to take over?
"It's my baby sister we're talking about."
…I'll speak for you.
"Aset." The voice is a little louder now, more clear. Still, it's hard to hear.
"Nephthys?" Sadie whispers.
A whispers follows almost immediately: "Iry."
Huh?
"Go on, I'll translate: Yes."
"Will you help us?" Sadie asks.
Her whisper is strained, as if coming from the other side of the world.
Bast tilts her head, listening intently. "What's she saying?"
"I can't make it out," Sadie whispers. "Very faint."
"You can actually hear something?" Carter asks.
"Shhh," Sadie and Bast both say at once.
The ripples move once more.
"Ink m-xnu han-nter imn."
"She says she's…" I hesitate. "Offff. Not locked. Umm.."
The meaning of the word appears in Sadie's mind, but not and the translation.
"Imn, imn, imn, imn, imn… What was it in English? Caged?"
"'Caged'..." Sadie says. She turns to Bast. "No, what is that word in English?"
"Sheltered," Bast suggests. Yes, that word! Thank you! "She is sheltered far away. A sleeping host. What is that supposed to mean?"
Tragically, I don't know. A host taking a nap shouldn't muffle a goddess like that.
"What do you mean?" Sadie asks.
"Um, Bast—" Carter speaks up.
"Carter, we can barely hear Nephthys," Bast says. "Please."
"Fine. Khufu and I are going to check something—"
"Shh!" Sadie concentrates again on the river, cold water gently dancing around her fingers. "We need help." She says. "Can you tell us Set's secret name?"
No response.
"Let me speak." I tell Sadie.
No.
I sigh. "Lift one of your hands out of the water then. With the palm facing the skies."
She raises an eyebrow, but does it anyway. I concentrate on her hand and send a part of my soul there. Soon I, or rather a very small holographic version of me, am sitting on Sadie's palm.
"That should work." I say.
"Interesting." Bast sounds impressed.
I nod towards the river and Sadie lowers her hand closer to the water.
"Nebet-Het," I whisper. "Can you hear me sweetheart?"
Don't forget to translate. Sadie reminds me.
Right.
"Tay.i snt mert." My loving sister. Her voice sounds even quieter from here.
"I am so sorry, Nephy," I tell her. "But we need to know Set's secret name again."
"Im dd.t ink m hat.k," I have to be in front of you when I speak it.
"Where are you?"
"Ni xai…" Can't appear…
"Sister, where are you?"
The ripples around Sadie's fingers get smaller. Nephthys's voice weakens.
"Wput…" A message…
"What message?" I ask. "Nephthys, please-"
I'm cut of by an explosion. Water shoots upwards towards the skies. My holographic image flickers as Sadie's vision goes black. Bast is shouting something, but soon our hearing, too, shuts down.