Chapter 3: Bast
Carter was freaking out. An invisible voice was dividing them, scaring gods and humans alike. It was terrifying what it had done to his sister and Anubis in less than a minute. And now it was attacking Bast, who had come to be like a mother to them. He wouldn't let it. "STOP!" he screamed, his shout amplifying in the darkened room. But the voice didn't care. It started talking. "My kitten," Bast whispered. "Be strong."
"You loyal, loving cat," it purred "Even you are not safe from me. Did you think you were? Ah, you were a fierce lion goddess, Lady of Flame, but you were always bitter that Sekhmet took your place. Your name, Bastet, means she of the ointment jar. Oh pretty kitty, you will never be safe. You inspired the feast of drunkenness. Why do you think that is, Carter? Huh?"
Carter was relieved so far. Nothing horrible had been mentioned. Maybe their protector was truthful after all. "What about your son, Maahes of Nubia?" the voice asked, annoyance plain. "Who was his father, huh?" Carter's relived feeling disappeared, replaced by a feeling of sick betrayal. If Bast had hidden something this important from them, what other secrets had she kept? Who could they trust if their loyal cat goddess, who had risked so much, hadn't told them everything?
Bast looked enraged that he had dared cross the line. She gave a yowl like a battle cry, but nothing else. She looked at Carter, and he realized that she was looking for help. Well, then. He felt torn, but he knew he had to help her. He took a deep breath, and despite the aching, sick feeling in his chest, started his speech.
"You have made an enemy of Bastet, cat goddess." he chanted, his voice deeper and more impressive than usual. Even Sadie stopped crying to watch. "She will hunt you to the ends of the earth and beyond like the rat you are. And when she catches you, your soul will be ripped into tiny pieces and thrust into the Land of Demons." The voice fell into what could pass for an impressed silence. Then it laughed. "On that happy note, let's move on to the next god: Bes."