Origin of Evil
By Sinistral
Part
Three: Pandemonium
After his brief scuffle with Abydos, Horus had stormed over to the throne room where he found his mother and father sitting on their thrones staring at each other happily. When Horus raucously waded in, bleeding from the wound on his face, Isis gasped and raced towards her son.
“What happened my dear? Who did this to you?”
“Who do you think?”
Osiris frowned and let out a vigorous prolonged sigh. The King had grown increasingly cynical over the years and had begun to view the children’s regular altercations with mild annoyance.
“Abydos I do believe,” said Osiris, rolling his eyes. “Why? What did you do to upset him?”
“Nothing!” shouted Horus. “I might have said something about his father being banished.”
“You fool!” exclaimed Osiris, leaping off his throne, looking very irate. “I told you not to speak of what I told you. It is a very delicate subject. Now you have made it worse. I always knew that my story about their parent’s deaths would not suffice for long. I knew that they would one day want to know the truth. I was actually planning to tell them everything. Why did you have to mention it? I thought I could rely on you. If you have not also forgotten, you are to be the next King of this realm! The future looks very bright my son!”
“Abydos was trying my patience, saying something about Iras and Anquat,” said Horus, looking ashamed. “I was angry. I didn’t think.”
“Well it’s too late for your platitudes now. I shall have to attempt to repair the damage.”
“Do not be so hard on him Osiris,” said Isis. “Everyone makes mistakes. Even Gods must succumb to solecism once in a while.”
“How did the other brothers react?” asked Osiris.
“Abydos was the only one who overreacted. Athothis and Arbchee conveyed no particular emotion. I think they were just in shock. Anquat arrived afterwards. I assume that he has been told now as well.”
“What a mess. This was what I feared. I should have told them years ago. But I thought I was protecting their interests. All they know now is a fragment of truth and that is even worse than knowing a falsehood.”
Osiris fell back into his throne and put his head in his hands. Isis came to his side and put a comforting arm around his shoulder.
“Do not blame yourself Osiris. You were doing what you believed to be right. That is the best anyone can do. I still support your decision.”
“How can I not blame myself? I ignored the Book of Creation when it warned me. I’ve been the biggest fool. I’m not worthy of my position. Thoth should have been made King. He is far wiser than I will ever be. I posses no more than an empty title.”
Isis lifted his head up with her hands and looked into his eyes.
“You listen to me,” she said assertively. “You are the King of the Spirit World. You are brave, intelligent and kind. Everyone looks up to you. As the King you have to make decisions. They will often be very difficult ones. But your word is final. I know that you would not have made that decision about our nephews if your heart were not in it. You followed your instincts and you must never be ashamed of your own judgement. Believe in yourself.”
“You are right as always,” answered Osiris, smiling at his wife. “I have done nothing wrong. But now I must go to our four nephews and do the one thing that I have been afraid to do for the last eighteen years. The time has come for me to tell them the truth about Menas.”
There was suddenly a loud crashing noise, one that made the building tremble. Isis lost her footing and Horus had to run to catch his mother. Osiris looked around, panic flashing in his eyes.
“What in Ra’s name was that?”
Anubis ran into the throne room looking worried.
“Did you hear that?” he asked frantically. “It sounded as if it came from the northwest tower.”
“The Book of Creation!” cried Osiris. “What is that that little terror doing now?”
He flashed Horus a knowing glance that made the young Prince feel more than a little guilty. Osiris approached Anubis with an almost guilty disposition.
“Come brother. Let us investigate this disturbance. I prey that we can remedy this.”
“I’ll come too,” said Horus, eager to redeem himself in his father’s eyes.
“No. You must stay here and look after your mother. Do this for me Horus.”
Horus nodded dejectedly and stood by his mother. Isis put her arms around her son. Osiris and Anubis left the throne room and headed down the west hallway until they reached the turning that led to northwest wing. They followed the corridor until they could see the door to the tower room in sight.
“There’s the tower room,” cried Osiris. “We must be on our guard. I’m not sure what is going on but I would bet my…”
All of a sudden Osiris and Anubis were hurled back in the opposite direction. They got up slowly, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Osiris looked around. There was no one in sight. Nothing moved.
“How did that happen?” stammered Anubis. “I feel like I was forcibly thrown.”
“I don’t know but I’m going to find out.”
Osiris approached the spot from which he and Anubis had been hurled. He took very small steps towards the tower room. He was about twenty yards from the door when it happened. He hit something solid that gave him a nasty shock. He jumped back in pain and surprise.
“By Ra! There’s some kind of invisible barrier in the middle of the corridor. It won’t let me pass. I must say that I’m more than a little worried. This force field is a very advanced piece of sorcery. If it is Abydos in there, and I’m sure it is, then he has been very masterfully hiding his talents from us over the years.”
“What should we do then?” asked Anubis. “Surely this cannot continue?”
“Of course it cannot,” replied Osiris. “Stand back. I’m going to smash this barricade and deal with him once and for all.”
Osiris raised his hands and pointed them in the direction of the mystical blockade. A very large amount of energy soared from his hands. It did hit the force field but, to Osiris’s horror, the light simply rebounded back in his direction.
“Get down!” he shouted.
The brothers fell to the ground as the light whizzed over their heads and collided with the wall at the other end of the hallway. The noise of the resulting crash caused them to wince. Osiris was now very angry.
“This is too much. If I cannot break through the wall then I will call upon the Book of Creation to shatter it. Come to me great Book of Creation!”
The brothers waited. Nothing happened. Osiris did his best to display a puzzled look but Anubis could see that he was seriously worried. The King seemed completely bewildered.
“What is going on?” cried the King. “My spells are useless, the Book will not answer. There can only be an evil force at work here. I will return to the throne room and tell Isis and Horus. Where in Ra’s name is Thoth? I need him.”
“He’s assisting Iras with her children,” answered Anubis.
“Go to them quickly. Bring them all to the throne room. I would feel at ease to know that we were all together. See if you can find our other three nephews, if they are not with Abydos as we speak. Athothis is most reasonable.”
Anubis nodded and raced off in the direction of the west wing. Osiris went back the way they had come. His heart felt as if it was about to burst. All he knew was that he had to protect his family at all costs.
Anubis felt exactly the same as he hurried down the west hallway. His legs felt as if they would give way any second. The only things on his mind were getting all of his family to safety and then dealing with whatever was causing the disorder.
“Those brothers. I always knew they were not to be trusted. After all they were fathered by that fiend.”
“Anubis.”
Anubis looked ahead and sighed with relief. Thoth was standing a few yards down the passageway. Anubis was so out of breath that he ran straight into his older brother. Thoth caught him before he lost his balance.
“Why the rush brother?” he asked.
“You must come with me to the throne room. There is evil at work in this place. Where are Iras and the children? We must stop the evil! Where are…”
“Slow down Anubis. Here, I have something for you.”
Anubis looked at his older brother. Thoth was always a rock, dependable to the last. He always knew how to remedy a situation. Thoth reached into his robe and pulled out a very long black sword. Anubis was more than slightly baffled with the response. He gave Thoth a confused look. Then his eyes fell upon the dark blade and he gasped in terror.
“That sword! I’ve seen it before!”
“You have. It is the legendary Dark Destiny. Your destiny is at hand. Now meet it.”
Thoth quickly and suddenly thrust the sword through Anubis’s body. Anubis felt the life drain out of him like water from a colander. He hit the nearest wall and slid down until he reached the floor, leaving a vivid trail of blood behind. He took one last glimpse at his murderer.
Thoth was smiling down on him cruelly. Anubis noticed that his eyes were a turbid purple rather than his usual sky blue.
“You’re not Thoth,” he spluttered. “Only one person carries that sword and he was banished eighteen years ago.”
“He has returned,” said Menas, who was now in his own form.
With a quick twist he pulled the sword out of his brother. Anubis’s body fell to the floor and vanished out of sight. Menas laughed out loud. He had always hated Anubis the most. It was a pleasure to see him finally disappear for all eternity.
“You will never again interfere with my plans wretch. And now I move to the others. Who should I dispose of next?”
Thoth and Iras were in the nursery when they heard the bang resulting from Osiris’s failed attempt to break the barrier. The room shook slightly and two off the four children began to cry.
Horus and Iras had been overjoyed with the births of their four daughters. They had been named Sundowna, Senchurna, Sandorika and Setmekh. Sundowna and Sandorika were now crying loudly.
“What was that!” cried Iras. “It feels as if the whole Citadel is moving!”
“Don’t worry my child,” comforted Thoth. “Remember that your children come first and at their age they are especially vulnerable. Stay here with them while I go to see what is happening.”
“But what do you think is happening? That was a very loud crash. It sounded serious. Perhaps someone is hurt. I should come too.”
“No. I would not have you abandon your children. Iras, you are a wonderful mother, I’ve seen you with your daughters. But you are still very young and impressionable. Do not let your wild instincts overpower and cloud your rational judgement. If you were to rush out into the unknown, how do you think your children would fair? Who would be there to protect them when you were hurrying off to save another?”
“I am sorry Uncle. I just have a bad feeling. I have not felt so scared since the time Abydos tried to throw me off the roof all those years ago.”
“I understand your concern. It does you credit. But at this place and time your children must take priority. It is your responsibility. I shall investigate this commotion. I am sure that it is nothing to worry about.”
“Be careful Uncle.”
“As always my dear.”
Thoth left the chamber, smiling kindly at his niece. When the door was closed his expression turned into a serious one. Thoth was ever a master of tact. He knew well the reactions of those around him and was aware that the truth was not always a positive policy to employ in all situations.
“That was no ordinary noise. There has been peace here ever since the banishment of Menas eighteen years ago. There is an ominous atmosphere that I have not felt for many years.”
He glanced into the distance and suddenly noticed Osiris, only meters away, bleeding from a gash in his throat. He was coughing up blood and cursing in agony.
“Osiris!”
Thoth ran to his side and tried to help him up. Osiris felt limp in his arms. Thoth’s usual rational mind was now somewhere else. It had departed to be replaced by an overwhelming panic.
“Leave me brother, I am done for. I have no more strength left.”
Osiris collapsed onto the floor and stopped moving. Thoth looked down in shock. Osiris was dead. He could not believe it. He would not believe it. He felt the tears brimming in his eyes. Several of his tears fell to the body of his dead King. As soon as the tears touched his lifeless body, Osiris broke out into a fit of wicked laughter. Thoth was taken aback by the sheer ludicrousness of the situation. Osiris then began to speak.
“I just thought that it would be nice for you to see what will surely come to pass. By that I mean the death of Osiris. You will not be able to see the actual event as you shall precede him.”
With that the ersatz Osiris pulled out the Dark Destiny and hurled it at Thoth. The combined force of the mighty sword and the strength of his throw sent Thoth flying backwards, up against the nursery door where the sword cut deeply through the wood behind, pinning him where he was.
The monstrous individual that looked like Osiris began to converse horribly, as if someone was underneath his skin trying to break through. Then, in a flash of light, he was gone, and Menas stood in his place. The barely living Thoth drew in what little breath he had left.
“Menas! It cannot be!”
“Oh, I assure you that it is. Now that you and Anubis are destroyed it will only be a simple matter to annihilate the King and Queen and their wretched children. Then I will obliterate the Book of Creation and rule over this once virtuous land! None shall stand in my way!”
“You will never succeed,” spat Thoth, coughing up a large amount of blood as his body began to close down. “Your overconfidence has always been your weakness Menas. You may have destroyed me, but you will never conquer the Citadel. Evil may never prevail over evil, that lore is as old as time.”
“Enough of your wisdom Thoth. This time you shall be proven wrong. As we speak my sons are preventing the Book of Creation from coming to aid of Osiris. Without the Supernova to protect him he shall not able to prevent himself, and his wife and children, from being obliterated.”
“So you have persuaded your sons to aid you. How resourceful of you Menas. But you will still fail nonetheless. Evil always has a weakness. I am only sorry that I will not be there to witness Osiris finish you and your wretched offspring.”
“Enough! Bother me not with your nonsensical logic. My success has been prophesied. It is controlled by greater forces and cannot be halted by reason or force. I shall walk these halls as the King of this realm. My baleful legacy will last forever.”
Menas stepped forward and violently wrenched the Dark Destiny out of Thoth’s stomach. The limp and broken body dropped to the floor and disappeared. Menas was about to leave the scene when he heard a muffled cry come from behind the wooden nursery door. He kicked the door open in a rage. Thoth’s comments had irritated him greatly and he wished to find an outlet for his unbounded anger. To his surprise Iras stood all alone in the small chamber, trembling vigorously. He broke out into an uncharacteristic grin, an almost licentious expression.
“I don’t believe we’ve met my dear,” said Menas in his mock-charming voice. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Menas, the brother of King Osiris. You, I take it, must be the Princess Iras. That makes me your Uncle.”
“You can’t be!” she cried. “You were exiled years ago!”
“I am back now to claim my throne.”
“That throne was never yours to claim. I know what you did, you monster. You murdered your wife and then tried to destroy everyone else who stood in your way.”
Iras looked at him with a face that displayed both anger and bitter hatred. Menas, in comparison, gazed at her as if he was admiring a beautifully coloured bird in a golden cage. He gleefully noted the truth in her words and was by no means ashamed by them.
“It is true. I do not deny any of it. By you must understand, my sweet, that nothing comes between one and their destiny.”
Menas looked at Iras strangely, as if he had noticed a new quality.
“You are beautiful, so like your aunt. I could almost mistake you for Charmian. I must destroy Osiris, Isis and Horus, but you could still be saved. Join me and become my Queen. We will rule together, forever.”
“Never! What kind of a person do you think I am?”
“Whatever you want to be Iras. Come, come, why does my proposal seem so ridiculous? I am offering you eternal power. Perhaps I should prove that I am serious.”
Menas advanced on his young niece. She shrieked and backed up against the wall, until she could go no further. She tried to run but Menas held her there. He moved his head close to hers and attempted to kiss her. She squirmed in terror but it was useless. He was much bigger and stronger. In her desperation she called upon all her powers.
Menas was thrown back against the wall in a burst of light. He yelled in pain and anger. Menas had concentrated so hard on seducing Iras that he had been off his guard. He was fully vulnerable to her attack.
“Very well,” he said, gritting his teeth in a snarl. “If you will not accept your destiny with me then you shall meet yours here and now.”
Menas pointed the terrible Dark Destiny at Iras and let loose a ray of red light. She tried to dodge it but she was not quick enough and was hit on the side of the head. She collapsed and lay motionless on the floor.
Without looking back, Menas left the nursery and stormed off up the corridor.
“Wretched girl. She was lovely but not as malleable as I would have hoped. No matter. I will soon have all the power in the Universe. All that stands between me now is Osiris, Isis and their precious son. Osiris’s time as King of the Spirit World is about to end. And what an end that shall be!”
At this time Osiris was in the throne room once again, telling his wife and son all about the magical barrier that he and Anubis had encountered. Isis and Horus both looked at him, and at each other, incredulously.
“Have you no idea as to what may be causing the barrier?” asked Horus.
“If I did then I would have dealt with it,” replied Osiris with a shrug.
“But why would a force field suddenly appear like that?” posed Isis.
“One thing I do know,” began Osiris, looking at his wife and raising his eyebrows. “I am sure that the location of the barricade is no coincidence. Whoever put it there did it deliberately to stop us from getting to the northwest tower.”
“And that person is Abydos, right?” said Horus.
“At the moment I can think of no other,” said Osiris. “But there is something that perplexes me greatly. That barrier is incredibly strong. I thought that even before the Book of Creation failed to respond to my call. The Book cannot be summoned. It is very advanced magic. I find it hard to believe that Abydos could have made it himself.”
“Maybe his brothers aided him,” provided Horus.
“Then they are working together,” said Isis. “I would not have thought that the other three would have been in for anything Abydos had planned. But why would they do this?”
Horus looked at the ground and sighed. He was pretty sure that he knew the reason behind the calamity. The fact that he was actually wrong was of no consequence to his disposition. He looked at his mother with a pessimistic glance.
“I think that might have been my doing. I should not have brought up the subject of Menas with them.”
“But this reaction seems a little too much,” countered Isis. “They could have come to Osiris and demanded the truth. What would they hope to achieve by this behaviour? There is something not right here.”
“The Book of Creation has always intrigued Abydos,” said Osiris. “Exactly what he wants is a mystery to me. If this is some strange way of teaching me a lesson then perhaps I deserve it for keeping the truth from them for so long.”
“Nonsense,” said Isis. “If our nephews were at all mature adults then they would have tried to find a sensible way to deal with the situation.”
“But why go for the Book of Creation?” said Horus.
“That also bothers me,” said Osiris. “The Book of Creation is much more powerful than they are. They could never dream to overpower it. Not if…”
Osiris stopped mid-sentence and looked painfully nervous. His eyes were wider than dinner plates.
“By all the powers that be! I’ve completely forgotten! I sent Anubis to fetch Thoth, Iras and the children. It has been much too long. I am worried that something has happened to them. At this time I cannot have any of us in the path of potential danger.”
“This time I am going,” said Horus sternly. “And you cannot stop me. If Iras is in danger then I must save her. I will return presently, with all of them.”
Osiris tried to dissuade him but Horus’s mind was made up. The young Prince walked quickly out of the throne room without looking back. Isis raced after him but Osiris held her back.
“No Isis. This is his decision and he has made it himself. You must respect it and let him go.”
“I only fear for his safety Osiris.”
“But if Iras is in any peril then he must be the one to defend her. He is strong and resourceful. I have no fear. He will be a great King one day, far wiser than me.”
Horus walked slowly down the long western hallway, looking over his shoulder constantly. He only had one thing on his mind – saving his beloved. He carried on in the direction of the nursery, following the path close to the wall. After a while he was sure that he could hear the sound of footsteps running up the hallway in the opposite direction to him.
Acting on instinct, Horus ducked into an adjacent alcove. Very carefully, he peered around the corner of the wall. There was someone charging up the hallway. It was nobody that Horus recognized. The person in question was tall and dark, with a flowing black cape and a strange helmet with curved snakeheads protruding out of the top. On his chest was a vivid symbol of a double-headed black snake with its heads crossed on a bright red disc. He was also carrying the longest and most powerful looking sword that Horus had ever seen. He was not sure why but he felt cold and unpleasant as the stranger got closer.
As he approached Horus hid himself again. He had been ready to confront whatever stood between him and his love but he stood astounded as his bravery and confidence turned tail and retreated out of sight. The stranger chilled him to his very soul and he felt as if he would do anything to avoid facing him. Horus backed up further as the footsteps became louder. Then they were right next to him. As the footsteps became even more profound the space between each one became longer as if the person had slowed down. Horus shut his eyes tightly and tensed every muscle.
“He’s seen me!” he thought franticly.
The stranger suddenly appeared next to the alcove. His head moved around. There was nasty smile on his face. Horus felt as if his entire body had turned into a block of ice. Then, to Horus’s amazement, the man turned around again, looking down the corridor in the direction of the central vestibule and the throne room.
“My victory is only moments away,” laughed the dark stranger. “Osiris will be destroyed and the Spirit World will be mine to rule as I please.”
He began to run again and disappeared into the distance. Horus walked out of the alcove. His heart was pounding so hard and fast that he could hear nothing else. His dilemma was staring him in the face. That sallow outsider was undoubtedly on his way to the throne room, with bad intentions. Should he follow and try to stop him? Or should he carry on in the direction he was going and save his Iras? His mind was made up and it was a terribly difficult decision.
“That stranger means harm to this entire world. I must peruse him. I hate to leave Iras but my inaction could mean the end of everything. I will go to her as soon as I can but I must stop him, whoever he is.”
Horus cursed himself for his earlier childish fear and raced off in the direction he had come. He knew that he would not get to the throne room first but he would be ready to fight to the death.
Osiris was, meanwhile, thinking over his decision to allow Horus to deal with whatever was threatening the Citadel. He was becoming rather concerned for his son, not to mention Thoth, Anubis and the others.
“What in the name of light has happened to everyone?” he cried, more to himself than to Isis. “I send Anubis to fetch the others and he disappears, there’s no sign of Thoth and Iras, and now I’ve been foolish enough to send Horus off, probably to his doom.”
Osiris paced up and down picking up the pace now and then. Isis watched her husband in deep thought. As always she wished to ease his mind. But this time she could not console herself, let alone her husband. She felt as if something was brewing, waiting to come to the surface.
“You did not send Horus off, as you put it,” she corrected. “It was his decision and you applauded it.”
“Yes. I am just wondering whether that was such a wise move. I hate to have only a partial knowledge of a situation. As lord and protector of this realm it is my sacred duty to look after my subjects. By Ra, what happened to everybody?”
“Well I happened to them actually, my dear naive brother.”
Osiris and Isis’s heads shot around. There was no one else in the room.
“Who’s there?” shouted Osiris. “Show yourself!”
“Over here.”
The royal couple once again turned around but nobody was there. Osiris was getting more and more infuriated.
“Who the devil are you? Abydos? Anquat? Come out where I can see you! You are responsible for this fiasco, admit it!”
“Guilty as charged brother.”
Osiris froze on the spot. He edged his head around to face his wife. Isis was staring at him with a look of utter terror. They had both recognized the voice.
“Menas!” cried Isis. “So it is you!”
“Very observant sister. It is always nice to end your existence knowing that you were right.”
Osiris watched in horror as a long, black sword began to protrude out of Isis torso. She let out screams of pain and her breathing became frantic.
“Isis!”
Osiris raced towards his dying wife. The sword retracted again, very quickly, and Isis fell forwards in her husband’s arms.
“Osiris, I am slipping away,” she coughed. “It is too late for me now. Protect our children. Swear to me.”
“Do not speak so,” said Osiris, his eyes full of tears and an unbearable lump in his throat. “We have years ahead. Do not leave me.”
But even as he spoke her neck fell back and she slowly vanished out of sight, off to her eternal rest in the Duat.
Osiris could not move or think. He did not care what happened to him anymore. Everything else was a secondary concern. His partner had been taken away from him prematurely. He had only been King for nineteen years. It was too soon. It was wrong. It was not real. He hung his head in wretchedness.
Suddenly he was hit by a force that flung him against the opposite wall, hurling him against his own throne. He trembled, feeling completely useless. He looked up. Standing above him was the menacing figure of his once trusted brother. Menas looked down on him with a cruel smile, revealing much contempt.
“The mighty Osiris, a quivering wreck,” he laughed. “You are pathetic.”
He kicked him hard with the corner of his boot. Osiris crawled back, still crying. Menas walked over to him and pulled him up by the neck. He then threw Osiris against another wall. Osiris keeled over, coughing and bleeding. He stared at Menas with a blank expression.
“I know why you do not fight back,” said Menas. “You wish for me to end your existence quickly so that you can be with your recently departed love. Not so Osiris. I have waited so long for this, the day that I trample over your broken body. I am going to make this last a long time. Time enough for you to be humiliated beyond belief, that is.”
Menas stamped his foot on the ground. His humour was slowly turning into frustration.
“Get up coward! Face me! I will destroy you, rest assured, but why don’t we have a little fun first. Many years I have waited to make a complete fool out of you. I want nothing to spoil this moment.”
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