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Chapter Thirty-One
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Aiden gratefully stepped into the room. Immune to the unholy smell of weed and unwashed bodies. To him, it was as homely as the scent of flowers and laundry, it meant he was amongst his own people again, even with the knowledge that none of the men saw him as anything more than an insect to be crushed.
"It's a long story, but the guy, if you can call it that, who sent me was the one who did this," he gestured to his leg. "I'd say he sent me as he wants your help but I don't think he needs any. Regardless of that, he wants to strong ones in this city." His voice began to slur, his body weakened from exertion and blood loss. "Not one to tamper with."
Harrison gave a nod, and the two men grabbed hold of Aiden in their beefy hands, hauling him onto hard wooden chair, the legs screaming with the sudden weight.
"I-I honestly don't know how the describe things in a way that doesn't make me sound as if I'm on sort of loony acid
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The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Two
In Aaru the rushes grow tall and wide, along the banks of the Ka and into the veil of eternity. Where grand Osiris resides, protecting the souls who passed those many perils along the way, thwarting the armed fiends that guarded the doors. The boundless reeds signal rest and cradle the weary, concealing lush hunting and offering nothing but paradise. Where the sun rises, the soul sets, forever and for a day.When Isaac touched the book, left open by Am-Heh, the words flowed back, a droll intone of a dispassionate holy man. Ishaq had heard them spoken in his days of education, preferring the voice of his parents who breathed life into them. The valley to paradise was hard but if that was what lay beyond then every step was worth it. And they would live together again, until...?No one knew. That mystery had both thrilled and terrified him.The immense palace of Am-Heh had not been quite what had been written about. And scourin
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Three
Atum sat back, slowly sipping the potent cocktail of hard liquors. The fluid burned boldly in his throat, taking the air before settling in his stomach."From what you describe, I doubt the humans did such damage. I have seen them make some mess when it comes to murder but to tear another to pieces, even a cadaver, would take more strength and brutality than they possess. Unless they are mad and frenzied.""They were certainly not either of those," Shu stood rigidly near the window "and there was an aura in that room, of something unhuman. I fear that Am-Heh has awoken or encouraged something else also, much like when a mortal dabbles with the unknown and opens the gate to those who lurk near it. The damage was not his, it was too crude. Even before, he had a certain finesse in how he did things."Shu fell silent, a lump rising to choke his throat as he recalled the descriptions from those who had seen the carnage that h
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Four
"Have you lost your flesh?"Ishaq looked up to see the leering face of Zuberi close by. He jolted and hurriedly turned back to scrubbing the floor with more zeal than before."I'm not sure I understand." Ishaq dashed the brushed down, spraying cloudy water across the tiles. "I've had no reason to, surely. My nerve has not been tested enough to be lost."Zuberi circled him with the same self-satisfied and condescending manner. "You seemed highly disconcerted yesterday, when I saw you fleeing back to your quarters. What's wrong? Have the hounds gotten to you? They are rather a challenge from what I understand.""No," Ishaq gathered up the bucket, his face reddening at the memory of the day prior, still able to feel the powerful closeness, the warmth and intimacy. The mere thought ignited a need that boiled painfully deep inside. "I was flustered as I'd had a lot to do. It was my own folly; I'd left thi
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Five
The basement in the museum was full of unused or broken exhibits awaiting repair or rotation. Mr Montford was strongly against throwing anything away, not just due to financial constraints. It was easier to mend things or store them for later use, not to mention he adjusted themes to suit school studies.Dust hung in the air like spiritual mist and cobwebs balled in every corner they could find, the spiders long gone and only the dehydrated remains of past meals remaining.Am-Heh's rage was all too clear, cracks lining the walls and damp patches soaking through from outside, causing a rusted red stain, trailing like blood vessels over the stone.Ash hated it. Sensing ghosts everything, attached to the carefully relics of the past, still guarding the belongings that had been taken from their tombs.Once upon a time he had laughed at himself, snorting at the immaturity of believing in such nonsense. Now, he was more nervous than
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Six
While the humans worked their fingers to the bone in what seemed, to them at least, to be a fruitless endeavour, broken only by sparks of hope that were soon extinguished on closer view, the Gods were also working. Atum pored over his writings and observations, untouched and unread for centuries, jotting down the old formulas and calculations he needed to bring his powers back to the forefront and instil in his possessions. The ingredients made him cringe. The herbs and insects were not known in this country and some were thought to be extinct. "They will not be," he muttered, reaching for his pipe and pressing down the piquant mix of tobacco. "Only hidden and cultivating in the hands of one who appreciates their glory." He moved across to the bookcase where a domed crystal sat beside old and new books, the soft blue hue constantly glowing and crafting a strange light from its polished surface. Even the dus
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Seven
Shu was both pleased and relieved that the statue had been discovered, along with one of the amulets. But he shook his head when Marie offered it."No, I shall take the statue but keep the amulet, it is important but your safety is paramount. If need be, it can be used as a bargaining chip." He looked sorrowful, brushing a ringlet of her hair that whispered over her cheek. "You saw how it worked before. I will keep my hopes that it will not be necessary, but it is there.""Thank you," Marie nodded solemnly, slipping the piece into the folds of her cardigan. "I hope not too, but I'm fast learning that hoping doesn't give you anything."She swallowed, wanting to ask about Isaac but feared any answer. She wanted to ask about what the Gods were planning, but the same applied, fear tied a tourniquet about her vocal cords.Outside, a small group of the risen damned hammered at the door, not phased when spl
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Eight
'Be wary. For my favour to you cannot be made evident. I shall treat you no differently within the sight and ear of others. The envy of mortals is a perilous path that one should fear to tread.'Am-Heh would be cautious they were not seen together often. Aware of the challenges of observation. Despite their better knowledge, the humans earthly moral code was still engrained, strict and stern. And his status in their eyes, as one of the more ruthless deities, could not be wounded.Any show of softness on his part could be seen as weakness.And it would make life harder for Ishaq. Something he shouldn't care about, but did.He needn't have spoken. Ishaq was aware of the learned bias of others, as well as the catty envy that spurred them to peer for any fault or sense of favouritism that could be jumped upon, making everyone's day a misery.Bowing low, Ishaq backed from the room. The war
The Forgotten God Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ishaq couldn't air a scream as the beast crawled onto the stone tablet towards him. His voice had fled. His eyes riveted on the crude dagger held in the hirsute fist."You reek of purity," Babi leered, droplets of salvia dripping from his chin in anticipation. "And you have the added delight of being favoured and adored. It makes for a delicacy like no other."He leapt with ease, landing akimbo over Ishaq's form. The light from the failing lamp casting a ghastly flicker over his grotesque features and distorting them all the more.Ishaq could barely breathe, knowing it was soon to cease altogether. His head fell back, compelled by some unseen force, making his neck as weak as the stems that held the floral crowns in the fields.He stared at the darkness swelling above him, hoping beyond hope that this was a cruel dream he could suddenly awaken from."I yield my wrath against He that destro
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The Forgotten God Epilogue
Several Months LaterIt's strange how people react after disaster. You see the best of people and the worst. Thankfully, it's mostly been the former. Things are being repaired, getting back to normal with the help of big companies and small. Not to mention the dedicated do-it-yourself people.Scientists have been wracking their brains to find the cause of such a global phenomenon. The best they have come up with so far is an imbalance in the eco-system and perhaps in the space around. And, of course, religious nut-jobs have been having a field day preaching about how sin and immorality is the cause. They haven't pinpointed a particular sin this time, they can't, it's too wide. So, the whole world has been tarnished. Except for themselves of course.Funny. They're actually closer than the scientists when it comes down to it. Except that it isn't the doing of the God who watches now.Mysteries come out daily. Strange creatures spotted in the sea, too rapid for anyone to get hold of, a
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Seven
The dogs ran rampant through the living dead. Limbs flew, congealed blood oozed and the smell of rotting flesh permeated the air even more.Those who tried to fight back, biting and clawing were soon defeated, their blackened teeth unable to even scratch the thick skin.Blood and foam frothed at the mouths, neither willing to allow the rancid meat to drop down their gullets. They still remembered the luscious fresh meat that had been given in their best. Tender and prepared with care. What they caught now, on those rare occasions they needed to feed, was not a patch on it.And these beings were not fit for rats.They ignored the humans, save for knocking some over. None seemed injured, even if they hit the concrete hard enough to break a bone. They simply sat up, or lay there. Dazed and in a world of their own. With no voices ringing in their heads, their addled minds forged on to return to normal.They had long since given up on trying to understand anything.When they finished here,
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Six
You have changed me by your love.Thus say I in my heart,In my soul, at my prayers:"I lack my commander tonight,I am as one dwelling in a tomb."Be you but in health and strength,Then the nearness of your countenanceSheds delight, by reason of your well-being,Over a heart, which seeks you with longing.Time felt as if it were slowing down as Isaac made his way over the debris and towards where the horrors had occurred. Everything frozen in eerie stillness under the decrepit skyline.Dust puffed up with each step he took, his heart beating harder as the shell of the main room opened up to greet him.Immediately he saw Atum, shifting from one foot to another as if he had a cramp he couldn't release. The look in the older God's eyes immediately heightened his anxiety and he hastened forward, only to be stopped when Atum lifted his hand.What is written on the brow would inevitably be seen by the eye and his silence said more than his words."Do not allow yourself to weaken. Your st
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Five
The door shook with the force of the crowd outside, throwing themselves against it blindly. Three had moved to the window and already, their palms were bleeding as the glass cracked and pierced their skin, staining the shards red. Mr Montford and Ash hauled a small book case across the room. The carpet and their haste making it all the more difficult. If there was something for it to snag on or get caught on, then it did. Penalty, perhaps, for dumping its contents into an unsightly pile as if they were logs for the fire. "Is there an attic?" Marie called as she leaned against the sideboard they'd positioned at the door. The drawers already flung from their cubby with the force from outside. "A basement is no good, we'd be completely trapped. But an attic...that seems safer." "I didn't see," Mr Montford answered, sweat pouring from his brow and impeding his grip. "I doubt it. I remember these houses being built. People exchanged attics for garages, easier to access." "And they didn
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Four
Shu beckoned the mortals down one of the alleyways that cut through the buildings to the once bustling streets. People had emerged, loitering hopelessly about the abandoned cars, their eyes glazed and their ears deaf to anything but the words of an unseen being."I cannot guide you to safety," Shu said, his voice full of remorse. "I must find Atum. This battle will ricochet about the world, and you humans do enough damage without the added help. Please," he looked at the four imploring. "These humans are bedevilled. If you can avoid harming them, I would be grateful.""We won't," Isaac spoke up, still struggling with the tight ropes about him. Try and they might, the bonds refused to give. "But you must tell Atum that Am-Heh is not behind all of this. There has to be mercy in him." Tears stung his eyes. Glistening droplets he swiftly blinked back. His voice becoming soft. "I don't want to lose him."Shu gazed at him. Lost for words. No reassurance could be uttered, he couldn't read At
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Three
A shrill shriek shattered the atmosphere as Babi tore towards Am-Heh, the sword raised high. It swung down, shattering through the arm of the reaching demon.One bite from the blade meant agony. And the wail that left the putrid mouth told of it.The eyes glazed with bubbling anger, and it swung, showering the area in burning blood. All the while trying to rise further, stopped only by the undigested meal in its stomach.Mr Montford grimaced as the warm blood descended, trickling in thick droplets like the vilest of rain. It wouldn't stop him. One dig he was on, many moons ago, never stopped even when they hit a sewage pipe.Although it delayed them when trying to clean. And when the local authorities got involved to remedy it.He slipped on the gore, trying his best to avoid it as he made his way over to where Ash indicated. As he neared, the air seemed to become thicker, as if he was walking through tar or against a high wind.His breath became harsh as the pressure became stronger.
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-Two
Am-Heh didn't baulk at the chaotic sight that met him. Instead, he looked with disdain at the gangly beast that was struggling to free itself and the summoned spirits that hissed at it.It seemed humans were not the only beings that refused to work in tandem.He offered a curt nod as the injured Templar. His use, and that of the others, were over. The last thing was to strengthen the rising forces, and his blood would suffice.It would give the might to break the chains but keep him tethered until, and if, he was required.He didn't watch as the broken body struggled to its feet, stumbling over the remains of his shattered horse, wielding his sword. He heard the clang of steel, the swing striking tough, leathery skin that refused to break under the blade. In the corner of his vision, he saw sparks as the steel chipped, flakes of flesh flying amongst them. He could picture the defeat from the violent, wet noises that sounded beh
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty-One
In Egypt; Anubis watched as the city smouldered. The cyclone sliding back down from the bubbling skies like a reverse volcano, sweeping away the crumbled remains of homes and business.He hung his head, feeling powerless for once in his long existence. The help he could give was like sharing a grain of rice among a starving village.Worthless.In London; the Thames bubbled. Strange beasts rose and fell in the boiling water that threatened to burst the banks and roast alive anyone who fell in its path.People sheltered in basements, in attics and had even pried the covers off manholes, only to find the threat beneath just as great.In Africa; the rich were crushed by the opulence they had hoarded, money unable to save them from the rage of nature. And the poor cowered, finding dents in the ground or concealed hidey-holes in desperate attempts to shield the most needy of them all.All over the world, s
The Forgotten God Chapter Sixty
Kyle had no idea on how to approach the gathered dead. It seemed, rather stereotypically, a blow to their skulls finished them, but there were more than ten of them. Not to mention the mounted templar who, eyeless as he was, looked thirsty for more blood to stain his hands."Why are you listening to him?" Marie whispered, lifting her voice enough to be heard over the grunts and groans. She wasn't sure why she was showing him any pity, not after what he'd done. She assumed it was just her social conscious, and the strict teaching of her mother, never to turn ones' back. "You could do so much better.""Shut your mouth," Kyle snapped, feeling Babi's icy gaze on him. "You don't know anything! This is my only chance in life to get anywhere, to get anything. Life doesn't care about people like me.""I thought that. Once."Kyle wrinkled with nose and picked up a fallen plank. It would do. With enou
