When the world feels dark, hope Random Voices 1 and 2 could make it a little be brighter, if only for a moment.
Random Voice 1
I feel like specializing in ba trips at this point. Turns out the author think I'm good at it. As if I'm nothing but a random voice to her! I don't even have a legit name! Just 'a random voice'. 'A movie-like omniscient voice over'. I have feelings, too, you know? Random disembodied ones, yeah, but feelings. And-
Random Voice 2: Bro, we've talked about this already. Just get on with the story.
Yeah, you're right. How unprofessional of me. Uh-hum.
Sadie Kane falls asleep, her racing mind calmed by the gentle rocking of the truck. Isis waits calmly. Though, as we know, she hates waiting. Once Sadie's soul is ready, the two of them float away. Or, technically speaking, inwards. Deep into Isis's mind, where the unconsciousness meets the consciousness. Where the real meets the imaginary. For a goddess, nevertheless the goddess of magic, there is no such thing as imagination. There is only the now and the possibilities, the real and the magical.
Host and goddess find themselves back in London, on the banks of the Thames. Cleopatra's Needle rises in front of them, illuminating them with its pulsating power. It's a gray day, cool and calm, clouds covering most of the sky. Still, the few rays of sunlight that hit them reflect off the diamonds in Isis's braided hair and dance down her cloud-white dress. Multicolored wings fade in and out behind the two, coloring the Needle like a neon pride flag.
"Your parents had the right idea," Isis says. "Bast was failing."
"She was my friend." Sadie says.
"Yes. A good and loyal servant. But chaos cannot be kept down forever. It grows. It seeps into the cracks of civilization, breaks down the edges. It cannot be kept in balance. That is simply its nature."
The obelisk rumbles, glowing faintly.
"Today it is the American continent," Isis muses. "But unless the gods are rallied, unless we achieve our full strength, chaos will soon destroy the entire human world."
"We're doing our best," Sadie insists. "We'll beat Set."
Isis looks at her host sadly. For a moment, she sees her through the eyes of her mother. It is time, for the little ones need to choose the right path. It's time to make things right.
"You know that's not what I mean. Set is only the beginning."
Cued by Isis's words, the image changes. Ruby's memory, one that hasn't happened yet. A memory of the future. London is in ruins. The entire city is leveled, rubble and dust cover all that's left. The Thames is choked with flotsam. Only the obelisk stands. Isis and Sadie watch it, from the same place where Ruby Kane stood moments before her death. Before their eyes, Cleopatra's Needle cracks open, all four sides peeling away like a ghostly flower unfolding.
"Don't show me this," Sadie pleads.
"It will happen soon enough," Isis says, "as your mother foresaw. But if you cannot face it..."
The scene changes again, the palace of the gods materializing around them. Gods gather, steams of light shooting through the throne room and curling round the pillars. One by one, they take form. Thoth appears, with his stained lab coat and wire-rimmed glasses. Horus, the young warrior, stands proud. His silver and gold eyes fix on his mother. Sobek, the crocodile lord, grips his staff and snarls at Sadie. A mass of scorpions scuttle behind a column and emerge on the other side as Serqet, the brown-robed arachnid goddess. Anubis hides in the shadows behind the throne, his dark eyes filed with regret.
He points at the empty throne. Every sound echoes through the throne room, making it seem hollow. The palace is missing its heart - the center of gravity it orbits around in unity. The room is cold and dark, a shadow of what was once a place of celebrations.
Isis turns to her host. "We need a ruler. Horus must become pharaoh. He must unite the gods and the House of Life. It is the only way."
"You can't mean Carter," Sadie says. "My mess of a brother—pharaoh? Are you joking?"
"We have to help him. You and I."
"Help him? Why doesn't he help me become pharaoh?"
"There have been strong women pharaohs," Isis admits. "Hatshepsut ruled well for many years. Nefertiti's power was equal to her husband's. But you have a different path, Sadie. Your power will not come from sitting on a throne. I think you know this."
Sadie's eyes linger on the throne.
"You've grown strong, Sadie," Isis says. "I don't think you realize how strong. Soon, we will face the test together. We will prevail, if you maintain your courage and faith."
"Courage and faith. Not my two strong suits."
"Your moment comes. We depend on you."
The gods gather round, staring at Sadie expectantly. They crowd in, pressing close, grabbing her, pulling her, pleading... Zia is shaking her arm, too, and the real floods into the magical, the tides of Duat spinning Sadie's soul till she snaps awake.