Osiris Rising Chapter 12

Osiris Rising

Chapter 12

After stifling another yawn, Tari pulled the old lamp closer to her on the desk and continued writing down the long list of ancient artifacts into the binder notebook that served as a log. After another long day of excavations and documentations, Tari was more than ready to throw in the towel and take a nap. But after having begged her father that she would stay out of trouble and insisting she would help out as much as she could, she didn't want to show any signs of tiredness right now either.

When the thought of her father entered her mind, Tari's throat formed a little lump. From since a couple  days ago there had been an uneasy tension between them. Tari had been out trying to locate the child that contained Osiris's soul, but then Apep attacked, forcing her to battle him to protect a group of children from a local orphanage and school. When Tari came home, her father was livid, and nearly scared out of his wits when he couldn't find her after coming downtown to pick her up. He had heard about the attack and was understandably frightened for her.

It was only then that Tari knew how much her father was concerned for her. But then, she never really remembered him being so protective with her before, at least not since that day when she…..

Tari shook her head to clear her thoughts. Well, in any case, she was not a child anymore, and it was high time her father realized that. But then again, how would she be able to explain to her father that she had a mission to literally save the world from a power-hungry evil Egyptian god? Surely he would think she was losing her mind. Oh how she wished she could tell him everything, but in her heart, she knew it was impossible. As much as she wanted to protect other innocents from Set's madness, she also wanted to make sure her own family was out of danger, and if that meant keeping some secrets, well, that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

"Tari?"

Tari jumped a little at the unexpected voice, then calmed down when she saw it was just one of the excavation team members that worked with her father. The dark-haired women frowned with concerned as she walked towards Tari, letting the tent flap fall back into place and dimming the inside once more.

"Are you okay? I called your name twice and you didn't answer. You were just staring into space." The woman pulled up a chair and sat down next to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry Lisa, it's just, I was thinking, and, well..." Tari sighed and ran a nervous hand through her thick, dark braids. "It's just my dad and I, we had a bit of an argument, and sometimes, I just wish he'd stop treating me like a baby, you know?"

"Ah, I see." Lisa smiled a little a nodded her head. "It's funny, but a lot of people don't realize that there's always been a little friction between fathers and daughters, in all cultures, throughout all periods of times."

Tari blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Tari, no father, no matter what country or place or time period, is ever truly ready to see his little girl grow up. And no girl wants to be kept in glass casing and kept a child all her life. But life goes on, and children grow up. Just give your dad a little time, it's hard on him you know."

"Yeah well, it's hard on me too." Tari grumbled. If only he knew half of what growing up I've done since I barely set foot in Egypt.

Lisa chuckled and motioned for her to follow as she got up. "Your dad will be fine. Speaking of which, Sajid told me to come get you. It's after 3 and he says it's time you head on back home. You've done more than your share today of work today. You must be exhausted."

"Are you kidding? You call sitting here and writing down a list exhausting? I was bored to tears!" Tari rolled her eyes as she followed Lisa out to look for Sajid.

The tall Sudanese man smiled with relief when he saw her, and soon after, they left the dig site behind and headed back to the heart of the city of Cairo. But instead of heading back to her apartment, Sajid turned the jeep into an unfamiliar part of the city. He stopped before a business building and turned to Tari. "There's something here I need to do for your father before we head back. Do you think you will be alright for just a few moments?"

"Sure, if I can look around." At the unsure look on Sajid's face, Tari rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine! I won't go far, I promise! I just want to look around a little." And see if I can get a little more investigation done before getting home. Tari thought. If she could continue her search in a new part of the city, perhaps that will make her task easier.

After considering, Sajid nodded his head. "Alright Mistress Tari, but I shouldn't be more than just a few minutes. There's just some documents I need to get for your father, and -"

Before the tall man could even finish, Tari was already jumping out the jeep and heading down a street. "Okay, thanks Sajid!"  The Sudanese man could only shake his head with a small smile as he watched her rush off.

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Tari excited walked around the neighborhood, yet keeping a watchful eye out for any children and making mental notes of street names for when she had to come back here again. She only had a few moments and didn't have enough time for a true search.

After a few minutes, Tari sighed and was about to turn back, when she suddenly heard the sound of children laughing. She dashed down the street and turned a corner, and was surprised to see a medium-sized playing field where a small group of boys were playing soccer. "Okay, I have to make this quick." Tari said to herself. She took off her backpack on her shoulders and was about to take out the ancient crook that would indicate its former master's soul when she happened to look up and barely moved out of the way of a flying soccer ball as it came crashing down just where she was standing.

With an exasperated sigh, Tari chased after the ball and caught it before it went into a busy street. She turned to walk back to the field when suddenly, a little boy appeared right before her, watching her with large, curious dark brown eyes. He didn't look to be more than 8 years old, with tanned skin, dark, thick curly hair, and a thin face.

"Hey kid, is this yours?" Tari asked, holding the ball out to him. The child blinked at her in curiosity before timidly walking forward and taking the ball.

"So, do you speak English? I'm Tari." she said with a smile, her heart melting at just how cute he was.

The boy looked at her shyly, and with a small smile of his own, nodded his head. "Not..good English." he admitted with a shaky, Arabic accent.

"Oh, well, it's still nice to meet you!" She held her hand out for him to shake, and just as he was about to take it, the small group of boys Tari saw playing began to gather together and shout, calling for the little boy to return their ball.

The little boy turned to look at his friends in surprise, as though almost forgetting they were there before turning back to Tari with a regretful look on his face. "Sorry." he whispered as he dashed off.

She watched him run to the group of boys, throw the ball back to them, then rush off down the busy sidewalk into a tall building where other children where rushing in and out of with adults. Suddenly, Tari realized the strong aura the little boy was giving out, the way his eyes seem to bore into hers and see her very soul. It was only then did Tari remembered why she was there in the first place and smacked her forehead in exasperation. "Hey, wait!" She was about to run after him, but stopped herself, knowing she wouldn't have time. "Oh great! And Sajid is probably waiting for me now!"

She turned to go, but only walked for a minute or so before she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned around, she was met with the youthful face of Horus. "Horus! What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

The young god placed a finger on his lips and beckoned her to follow him around a corner where no one would see.

When he was certain that they were alone, Horus looked at her in concern. "I heard about Apep's attack the other day, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Despite what everyone else says, this is as much my fight as everyone else's. But my mother, she thinks I can't fight, she thinks I'm too young!" He grunted deep in his throat and made a fist. "I just want to show her and everyone else they're wrong, I can fight against Set!"

"I understand," Tari said with a sympathetic nod. "I'm kind of going through that myself. But never mind, I think there's a way you can help now. You see, I just met this little boy -"

The words were barely out of her mouth when Tari stopped, suddenly feeling uneasy. Within a second, there was a loud explosion right in the playing field, throwing her and Horus back a good couple of inches, nearly into the street.

Tari landed hard on her back with a grunt, and Horus landed right beside her.

She struggled to get up, and when she finally did, she was met with a horrible sight; the boys that were playing so joyfully a few moments ago now lay limp and unmoving on the dirt ground, blood trickling down the side of their heads.

Standing over them, with his hands on his hips and an arrogant smirk on his face, was Set himself. Apep slithered up next to him, his eyes glowing red and hissing with glee. Crowds of people began to scream and run away, not understanding the imposing sight before them.

"You sssssee, My Lord?" the snake god hissed. "I told you I sssssensed sssssomething here! The child probably lays dead before uss now!"

Set narrowed his eyes and bent down slightly to take a closer look at the immobile children at his feet. He closed his eyes as he used his magic to read their aura, and then straightened back up. "It is not one of them." He saw one of the boys twitch just slightly and growled deep in his throat with annoyance. "And they are still living. Dispose of them. They are no longer of any use."

"We have to do something!" Tari whispered to Horus. The god looked at her with determination, and both nodded at each other, ready to battle Set once more.

"Powers of the ancients, I summoned thee!" Tari yelled with a loud, clear voice as she crossed her arms in front of her in an "X" formation.

Tari threw her head back and gratefully accepted the raw strength and power flowing through her, giving her everything she needed to become the one thing that stood in the way of Set's plan of bringing darkness to this world.

When it was done, they both rushed forward, hoping to save the boys before Apep struck.

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The snake god hissed once more with eagerness as he slid up next to the prostate young boys, his fangs already salivating with his poison. He arched back and was about to strike, but suddenly there was a flash of metallic light. He screamed in pain as a deep slash appeared across his large face, green blood leaking from it. He turned and saw Tari just landing expertly on one knee in front of the unconscious children, her sword ready in her hand.

"Stay away from them, you disgusting overgrown worm!" yelled out Tari, straightening up and daring the immense snake to come further as she stood protectively before the children.

Apep opened his mouth and spat out his signature poison from his fangs, but Tari threw up her arm with her bracelet, and with a red flash, a protective shield appeared before her and the boys. The poison hit the shield with a loud hiss, and smoke rose from where the toxin landed.

The shield dissipated  soon after, but before Tari could make another move, the tail end of Apep shot forward and wrapped around her legs. She fell to ground with a scream and was dragged a few inches before being lifted up near Apep's face, hanging upside down. Her sword disappeared with a soft flash.

"Poor, weak little girl!" Apep hissed with laughter. "Look, Massster, ssshe thought ssshe could beat ussss all by herself!"

"She's not alone!" yelled out a voice. With a battle cry, Horus jumped high into the air from his run, and slashing down his sword, cut a large gash into Apep's side. He screamed with rage and agony, and while distracted, let go of Tari.

She fell towards the ground with a surprised yell, but before hitting the hard ground, she was caught by a part of strong arms. When Horus gently placed her on her feet when they landed, she looked at him gratefully. "Thanks," she breathed out.

"No time for that." the young god said. He looked up and narrowed his eyes as he watched Set approach them with a purposeful stride, the dark god's eyes glowing with rage.

"At first, I considered you children's involvement a bit amusing, then, a minor irritation. Now, I am beginning to get annoyed." the coal-skin colored god said, his hands beginning to glow. "And very few survive when I get annoyed!"

"Children? That's rich, coming from some freak coward who do nothing BUT attack children!" shouted out Tari.

Not even bothering to answer her, Set threw back his head and let out a yell of rage, his body now glowing. When he yell ended, he threw forth a barrage of red energy blasts at Tari, but quick as lightning, she called forth her shining sword with a thought and held it protectively in front of her. The blasts hit her sword hard and pushed her back a few inches, but she held on.

Meanwhile, Horus barely managed to jump out of the way in time from Apep's deadly fangs. The gash to his side was still oozing green blood, but the snake god still pushed on, determined to end the life of the infidel who dared strike him. Horus proved to be quick and agile, hitting his mark with each strike of his sword and dashing and flipping away from not just Apep's fangs, but also his swift tail end.

Tari back flipped a few times away from Set's onslaught of blasts before turning to face him bravely, determined to protect the lives of the boys that lay not too far away. Set paused, glaring down at her. "No matter what you do, your efforts to stop me will be futile! You are no match for me, child!"

"You're wrong, Set! I will stop you, even if it takes my life!" Tari said, breathing hard.

"So be it then." The evil god shrugged casually. He closed his eyes, and suddenly, there was a dark flash of light in the palm of Set's large hand. With a smirk, Set held up an immense, dark-colored sword that curved slightly at the blade's end. At first, Tari thought the sword was just a deep, brown color. Then with a gasp, she realized that it was not just a color, but a color made from dried blood from the way it looked slightly crusted in the late afternoon sun.

"Tari!" Horus yelled out. He growl with agitation, and just as he was about to rush forward and help her, Apep took this chance to wrap his tail around the god's muscular legs and squeezed until he fell with a painful cry to the ground. The immense snake then proceeded to wrap his whole body around Horus, stifling his cries and any chance to help to help Tari.

An evil grin spread across Set's face as he launched forward like lightning, slashing his sword around expertly. Tari barely managed to raise her own sword and block his strike as she backed away, her heart beating hard within her chest.

Thinking fast, she ducked to the ground as Set raised his sword again and rolled away from him. She watched in horror as his sword made a large crack on the ground where she was just standing. Tari narrowed her eyes, and with a deep breath, raised her sword and concentrated. The sword glowed and morphed into an elegant golden bow with a silver, tight string. She pulled back on the string as Set walked dangerously close to her, the sadistic smile still on his face. I can't let it end like this! Not when...not when there's a chance I'm so close! The image of the small boy she  met mere moments ago entered her mind, and she knew that if she made it out of this, she would not stop until she found him again.

She let go of the string, and a long, blazing arrow made out of fire, gold and light shot out. A small flicker of hope entered Tari then, but just as the flaming arrow was about to strike him, Set brought up his sword and batted it aside like an annoying fly.

Tari gasped with disbelief and pulled back on the string again. She let go, and the large blazing arrow appeared again, racing like lightning toward Set. Once more the black-hearted god brought up his sword and knocked it aside.

Set was before her now, and she had no chance to raise her bow again as he brought up a large meaty head and heavily backhanded her away from him. Tari landed with a painful grunt to the ground, the magical bow dissipating into thin air without her concentration.

Set walked up to her confidently and slowly bent down to grab a hard hold on her neck. He picked her up and brought her just an inch from his face, as he did when he first confronted her. "Still think you can defeat me, little annoying insect?" he whispered.

Stars appeared before Tari's eyes as Set squeezed. She brought up her shaking hands to beat at his arms, wildly kicked her legs, but it was to no avail.

To her horror, her movements began to slow, and Tari saw with a sinking heart the world go darker and darker as her life began to ebb away. This couldn't be happening to her, not now!

Suddenly, with heavy-lidded eyes, Tari saw a figure appear behind Set, and not even a second later, a large beam of white light flashed out. It knocked into Set with a loud thud, causing him to cry out and drop Tari. She fell to the ground, gasping for air, and before she lost consciousness, she saw a raggedly-dressed woman somewhat resembling Isis walk up to Set, a sad yet determined look on her face. She stopped before him as Set turned around with surprise, and with a calm voice, said "Hello....husband."


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To Be Continued...