Nezzar

Part One: Do Not Blink

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Sekhmet twitched, fists tightening as her claws dug into the flesh of her palm. Try as she may, she could recall nothing but the knowledge that she was Sekhmet, a goddess of Egypt.

A groan to her right forced her eyes open. Blinking, she took in her surroundings. Everything was wet, from the dripping roof to the black stone walls of the large cave. Foamy seawater lapped at its mouth along with the assault of morning light.

Sekhmet twisted her neck in the direction of the groan and did a double-take.

Sobek was on his knees, arms limp and held up by thick writhing vines. His massive crocodilian head hung low. Lines of black mist moved in spirals around his muscular thighs before hardening to needles at the tip and piercing his skin. They wiggled like worms as they burrowed into his flesh, leaving smoking holes in their wake. Sobek moaned low as the swirling mist continued a steady upward journey, a map of grisly burns marking their path.

A growl vibrated past her lips, and with a jerk, she pulled at her arms. She frowned at her unexpected restrained state. Vines held her wrists, and ankles strapped to the wall of the cave.

"Awake at last I see. I see."

That voice. It was familiar. Reducing her eyes to slits, Sekhmet peered into the darkened corner to her right. Hidden in the shadow was a slouching form. Focusing harder, she sharpened her sight, forcing it to see through the camouflage.

Marduk.

A mixture of shock and disgust arose within Sekhmet. His eyes were gone. Tracks of something brown and slimy slid down the slits where eyes should be. He was fused to the wall by a tail shooting from his spine. Both feet were shrivelled from disuse. His leathery skin was crinkled. His head, save for his missing eyes, remained the only recognisable thing about him.

Marduk possessed a lizard-like head. Scaly and brown. Wide gecko-like lips. Two slits for a nose. No ears. Upon his scaly head was a wide iron crown. The thing was corroded with rust and fused to his head like a brick sunk in mortar. Momentarily forgetting her situation, Sekhmet marvelled at the sight of him. He had been one of the greatest gods of Babylon. Even to this moment, millions still offer worship to Marduk. How did he become this shrivelled—

"Yes, look upon me with disgust. Loathe what you see. But remember, I am not the one pinned to the wall like a prized game on display." His voice was rough and breathy, like one speaking through a throat lined with the thickest phlegm. "He would soon return and when he does... oh Sekhmet. You will be sorry. So, so sorry."

"Who would return?" Sekhmet flexed her fingers. Her powers were not responding. Yes, she could feel it resting, a great body of water in a well, but she was unable to awaken it for her use. "What am I doing here?"

"Ah, my shadow and his venom. Such excellent work we did. Sobek here recalls all. His skull is thick indeed. I envy you both. How has the worship been?"

Marduk sounded mad, a strange phenomenon among their kind. And what was this talk of worship?

"Release me at once. If Amon-Ra's—"

"Think of a little leaf caught in a hurricane of epic proportions. Amon-Ra is that little leaf." Marduk sighed, the sound rattling in his bloated chest. "I asked how the worship has been. Did you not hear me?"

The threads of misty shadow coiled around Sobek's broad shoulders, some wound around his arms and pierced. Burrowing deep. His skin sizzled. Sobek's eyes appeared vacant.