Soul Unleashed (Key to the Cursed Book 4)

by Jean Murray

  He held out his hand. “Come, you don’t have much time.”

  She stared down at her arm, somehow she already knew.

  Time was up.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The entire legion stood along the banks of the serpentine river, fortifying the golden gates. Asar lowered his staff into the water. With a recited prayer, a ripple formed and shot out across the river to the other side.

  Kamen positioned himself ahead of Asar, ready to defend him if necessary. The waters parted and revealed a large braided rope. The warriors filed into the water on either side and hoisted the towline. In cadence the dark warriors pulled the massive weight. The rope grew taut and more warriors joined to muscle the enormous boat tethered to the end.

  The wooden funerary Mesektet emerged from the menacing fog in the distance. The white canopy torn from its mast flapped in the wind. Blackness scored deep into the fossilized wood, a testament to the terrible battles waged night after night for millenniums.

  “I do not like this,” Kamen grumbled.

  “We do not have to like it, brother. It is a necessary evil.”

  “I will kill him, if he dare speak to you ill.”

  “Relax. Set has been waiting for this a long time. As have I.”

  Kamen narrowed his eyes on his brother. “You knew this would come to pass?”

  “Set’s message was all but clear when he stopped arriving at the gates. He knew I would call upon him eventually. He means to blackmail us, of that I am certain.”

  Kamen stared at the approaching boat. “He will use Kit against us?”

  Asar grabbed Kamen’s shoulders. “Set’s scheming started prior to Kit. Prior to Kendra and Bakari. The moment the reven curse was broken and all those souls arrived along his shores, Set knew he had the upper hand. Do not think I did not notice the look in your eyes at the meeting. You know as well as I, the gates are our weakness. Set knows it too.”

  “Set’s sentence prohibits him from joining with Apep.” But, Set was resourceful, if not cunning.

  “He does not need to join Apep to force our hand. Set not bringing the souls to the gates, only makes Apep stronger.”

  “What do you think he wants?”

  “We shall soon find out.” Asar turned back to the gates and waved the warriors from the towline. He lifted his staff, allowing the water to reclaim the riverbed.

  The current guided the boat the remaining distance and slowed to a stop, inches from the gate’s dock.

  Kamen’s muscles tensed, sensing his twin on the other side of the scrolled iron. Silence fell across the warriors.

  “Show yourself,” Asar commanded.

  Set emerged from behind the tattered canopy. “Before him stands the serpent god, called Set. The great Lord Asar and twelve amikhiu gods take hold of the towline and draw the god in his boat through the body of the serpent and bringing him out at his mouth.” Set rapped the wooden oar on the deck of the boat. “It is a rare treat, Asar,” Set said, yet his eyes remained locked on Kamen.

  Kamen held his twin’s stare. Set’s hair hung in long knotted dreds down past his hips. Links that should be bound through Set’s wrists, hung free on the oar. The boat’s master was no longer tethered to his boat.

  Once the larger and stronger twin, Set had dominated Kamen in their childhood. That was then. Kamen’s fear of Set died the day Asar forgave him. Set held no power over him.

  “Set,” Asar said in return.

  “Brother.” Set’s black eyes shifted to Asar. “To what do I hold this pleasure?”

  “Why have you not brought the souls to their resting place?”

  Set ignored Asar’s question and returned his attention back to Kamen. “Is this how Asar treats his prisoners? I appear to have received the short end of the judgment.”

  Kamen stepped forward, only to be blocked by Asar’s forearm.

  “I ask you again, Set, where are the souls?”

  “Souls?” A large grin spread across Set’s face. “Or soul?”

  “Kamen!” Asar hollered a second too late.

  Kamen growled and launched himself at the gate. He reached through and grasped his brother by the throat and slammed Set into the iron. “Where is she?”

  Set laughed. “She? You will need to be more specific.”

  Asar grabbed Kamen’s arm. “Release him.”

  “He knows where she is.”

  “I will not tell you again.”

  Kamen tightened his grip for a moment and then shoved Set away.

  Asar hustled Kamen back along the dock. “Damn it, get ahold of yourself.”

  Kamen eyed Set’s smug look, which only infuriated him more. Asar planted a heavy hand on his chest. “Don’t.”

  “You have trained him well,” Set called out.

  Asar glared at Set. “Be grateful I stepped in, next time do not count on it.” Asar held out his hand and muttered a prayer. The metal gates groaned and opened wide enough for a security team to pass. Bomani and Bakari carried venom laden wrist and leg irons and bound Set.

  Asar remained between Kamen and the security team escorting Set.

  “I need you at my side with Set. If you cannot hold it together, tell me now.”

  “I am fine,” Kamen lied. He was holding on by a thin thread. Dread was churning in his gut. Kit was in trouble and he could do nothing. Helplessness reminded him of when the beast was in control. Something he despised and worse, feared.

  “Search the boat and then meet me in the interrogation room.”

  Kamen nodded. He forced his eyes to the Mesektet. A glimmer of hope forced his legs along the dock. He grabbed the bow of the ship and leaped onto the deck. Wooden benches lined up port to starboard. All empty for some time.

  Dried blood coated the sidewall along the oar mount. Based on the wounds at Set’s wrists, the oar’s shackles were ripped away. An impossible task since the shackles were bound by a spell. A spell that could only be broken by the Book of the Dead.

  “Nebt,” Kamen hissed. If Nebt had reached out to Set, there was no telling how much information their brother had gained about the Carrigan sisters. Or, what she may have offered him in exchange for his allegiance.

  He continued aft. A pile of blankets lay on the floor. He knelt down and dug through the wool material. Kit’s scent was nowhere to be found.

  Circling, he retraced his steps in the hopes of finding even minuscule evidence she was alive. The entire boat was covered in gray dust. Larger debris piled in the corners. He picked up a few pieces and ground them in his palm. Black soot colored the pads of his fingertips. Fire, a huge one, considering the amount of ash covering the boat.

  A whiff of bitterness stopped him in his tracks. Kamen leaned over the edge on the port side. He grasped the rope and pulled it up onto the deck. Although there was nothing visible on the line, the faint stench of death permeated the rope. He tracked the scent to the location where Set’s blood stained the deck. The scent matched Nebt’s.

  He had witnessed Nebt’s cruelty towards Inpu, her husband, and then Siya. Tearing their souls in half for the sheer pleasure of inflicting pain. Apep would do far worse, if he found Kit.

  Kamen stared at the oar leaning against the railing. He palmed the worn area of the wood. The vessel shifted away from the dock and pulled at the metal anchor. He released his grip and the boat eased back into place.

  His gaze shifted over the open water before he dematerialized to the interrogation room. He had wasted enough time. Set would tell him what he needed to know. Warriors scattered out of Kamen’s way as he stalked the length of the black stone catacombs. Bakari stood on the inside of the bars with his Mevt daggers palmed in his hands. As Kamen approached, his nephew nodded to the guards to open the door to the antechamber.

  “Has he said anything?” Kamen asked.

  “No.” His nephew eyed Set. “I always imagined him larger than he is.”

  Kamen agreed. The legend with renowned cruelty looked weathered and broken since being stripped
of his powers. For so long Kamen was forced to look up to the asshole. Now it was Set staring up at him. However he appeared, Set was far from nebulous. He could not be underestimated or trusted, not after years of battling Apep night after night. His brother was just as lethal and cunning as the day he was banished. “Do not get complacent. Set is a ruthless bastard.”

  “Father told me. Do not worry, I have no problem terminating his sorry ass if the need should arise.”

  Kamen slapped Bakari on the back. “That makes two of us.”

  Asar turned to greet Kamen. “Anything?”

  “Nebt definitely paid him a visit. Broke the spell to release him.”

  “She used the book to travel between the realms?”

  “I imagine so. The question is what did she offer Set? And, did he agree?”

  “No better time to find out.” Asar searched Kamen’s face. “Are you up for this? I need him alive long enough for us to get the information we need.”

  Kamen exhaled a long breath. “Let us make this quick.”

  Asar placed the key in the lock and opened the inner chamber. Kamen followed Asar with Bakari a short step behind.

  “Quite the welcoming party.” Set leveled his gaze at each one of them in passing.

  “This can be as pleasant or painful as you like, brother.” Asar slammed the chair down in front of Set and sat to face him. Kamen positioned himself behind Asar, so he could look his brother in the eyes. If Set lied, Kamen would know it.

  “I have given myself up freely. There is no need for animosity during our long overdue family reunion.”

  “Cut the bullshit, Set. You have obviously broken your mandate. I want to know why, and do not give me some sorry ass excuse. It will make this a lot easier if you just lay it all out on the table.”

  Set huffed. “You have not changed a bit, big brother, even the dead version of you lacks the decency for idle conversation.”

  “We are not here to hash out the past. I want to know what is going on in Duat.”

  “A storm is brewing. But you already know that, don’t you? It is interesting you know, watching from the other side. Waves of dead flooding the banks, and I wonder, has the world fallen into chaos. After all this time, what does it look like with all the carnage that is arriving on my shores?

  “We are not here for a history lesson. Why have you broken your mandate?”

  “I did not ask to be released, if that is what you are asking.” Set raised his arms, displaying the ragged wounds.

  “We know Nebt is responsible.” Kamen moved forward, impatient with his twin. “What did she ask in exchange?”

  “Nothing actually, except maybe an opportunity,” Set smiled, “to see you suffer.”

  Kamen’s vision bled orange, fury of the beast within. “It is you who will suffer if the human is not returned to us,” Kamen snarled.

  “Nebt did say you fancied the lass. Hair black as midnight. Eyes blue as the sea. Body…” Set whistled.

  “Where is she?” Kamen’s bellow rattled the room.

  “Your call was poorly timed.” Set turned to Asar. “She was on the shore not far from my boat.”

  Asar stood and stepped between Kamen and Set. “Kit is alive?”

  “I thought her name was Katherine, huh.” Set tapped his finger on his chin.

  “Tell us what you know.” Kamen fisted his hands, barely able to hold himself together.

  “She is alive—for now. Flowers are delicate, you know, and will wither without the sun.”

  “Stop talking riddles, and get to the point,” Asar snapped.

  Set sighed as if this whole encounter bored him. “Apep has made ready the path to the human realm, scorching the hallowed field of reeds with his foul breath. And, if you must know brother, I have not arrived to the gates because there are no souls to deliver. Apep consumes them before they can even reach the waters. There is nothing to deliver, my dear brother.”

  “So you just sat back and watched the destruction of souls? I’d say that violates your penance.”

  “I do not remember interfering in the souls journey or preventing war as part of my mandate. An oversight on your part perhaps.” Set smiled smugly.

  “He’s lying.” Kamen knew his brother too well not to pick up on the tick in the corner of his eye.

  “Which part?” Set leveled his stare on Kamen.

  “All of it,” Kamen growled.

  “Here’s a truth. You are dying to dip your dick into that cunt but were too much of a pussy to do it. Apep will be sure to make up for your shortcomings.”

  Asar exhaled a breath and stepped out of Kamen’s way. “Now for that, you will pay.”

  Kamen slammed his fist into Set’s jaw. His brother’s head snapped back into the black stone he was sitting against. “Watch your words, or I will rip the lungs from your chest.” Set’s wide eyes reflected the orange glow of Kamen’s fury. Kamen shoved his twin against the wall with his forearm thrust against his throat.

  “My, how you have changed,” Set sneered.

  “A fact you will remember.” Kamen pushed off and stepped back. “You will answer your Lord with the truth, if you want even a chance to live the next few minutes.”

  Set spat blood onto the floor next to Kamen’s feet. “You would be doing me a favor.”

  “Really? Considering the alternative?” Asar interjected. “Your soul is condemned, the only thing keeping you from Apep’s hall of horrors is the fact that I have shown you mercy.”

  “Mercy? Is that what you call it, Kamen?”

  There were moments Kamen agreed with Set, but he knew Asar’s intentions were selfless and he would honor his choice, no matter the pain Kamen endured these past centuries. “Just rewards.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “The souls?”

  “They scattered during the attack. Most are cursed and not worth saving.”

  “That is for me to judge.” Asar sat back down in the chair. “Is Jonathan Carrigan among them?”

  “I do not know the man by name, but he shows up on the banks, searching for Katherine.”

  “Is Jonathan worthy?” Asar asked.

  Kamen knew the answer, as did Asar. Kit’s father had dedicated his life in honor of the Mother Goddess. Jonathan had raised and protected Mut’s children in preparation for the war, knowing fully he would make the ultimate sacrifice, succumbing to the reven curse.

  Set shifted in his seat and refused to look at Asar. He had to lie or admit he had neglected his mandate.

  “He refused to get on the boat, not without the girl.”

  Much to Kamen’s surprise, his brother spoke the truth. He nodded to Asar.

  “Like I said before your timing was poorly placed.”

  Asar rose to his feet and motioned for Kamen to follow. Bakari remained in the room with Set.

  “I will bring her to you,” Set called to Kamen from the other side of the bars.

  Kamen stopped and looked at his twin. Knowing this was why his brother had come to Aaru, a chill crawled up his spine.

  Asar walked back and joined Kamen. “I assumed his motive would be directed at me.”

  “Not this time,” Kamen said, watching Set through the gates.

  “Nebt’s interference probably influenced his decision.”

  “She has attempted to harm everyone else, Kit and I are the only ones left.”

  “Would Nebt know of your feelings towards Kit?”

  Kamen remembered the accidental brush of Nebt’s hand several months prior to the attack on the Underworld. The contact was brief but enough for the Underworld goddess to read his soul.

  “It is possible.”

  “I do not trust Set not to harm Kit, let alone return her to us.”

  “Nor do I, and that is why I will be going with him.” Kamen met Asar’s gaze.

  “We do not even know if you can pass to that realm.”

  “Set and I share the same blood. Ammut will protect me,” Kamen said, daring to speak the bea
st’s name out loud.

  “That is what I am afraid of. You said it yourself, you are barely holding on. If what Set says is true, evil is overwhelming Duat. You think it is hard controlling Ammut here, go to Duat and the beast may never relinquish control.”

  “Can we afford to lose Kit? The Mother Goddess said all three daughters must be present for us to win this war.”

  “Do not throw that in my face. I cannot afford to lose you either. My powers do not extend past the gates. I cannot protect you.”

  “Do not order me to stay,” Kamen warned. Since his sentencing, he never contradicted his brother. If Asar mandated him to stay in Aaru, Kamen would have no choice but to break his orders.

  Asar cursed and started pacing the length of the passageway. “What if Apep captures you both? I would not put it past Set to serve you up to the Dark Lord the minute you arrive.”

  “Then I go alone.”

  Asar froze. “You cannot be serious. Set is the only one who knows the river’s path. Not to mention Apep and his demons.”

  “I have consumed more souls that have made the journey. I trust it will be familiar enough when I see it.” Now Kamen was stretching the truth. Yes, he absorbed the memories of the shades, but they were fragmented at best. Certainly not clear enough to map but enough to settle Asar’s fears.

  Asar ran his fingers through his hair. “I do not like any of this. It is my job to protect you.”

  “No, it is mine to protect you and the women. Allow me to do this,” Kamen beseeched, happy to have the chance to make up for his past. A part of him believed this was what he was made to do. His role in this war had to be more than just consuming souls.

  Asar looked at him awhile, his eyes reflecting the statistical calculation of success. “No matter how much I hate this, this is our only option. I will leave the decision up to you about Set.”

  Kamen stared across the bars at his twin. Set wanted to see him suffer. Perhaps, he would get his chance.