The Curse in Her Blood

Chapter 42

Robin

Set refused to talk to me for the rest of the voyage.

After I got the Seti Heb onto both Ra and Set he just walked away and wouldn't come near me. So I stayed by the bow, staring out over the railing at the stars and strings we were drifting on. Every now and then a string would call me, this pinching desire to reach out and just take a hold of it.

Whenever it got too strong Ra would call out: "Don't touch that." So maybe it was a good thing that he knew everything in advance.

I would turn back to him with a sheepish smile and I'd see that Set had turned back to look at me but it would be a glare on his face.

"Secure your mortal, Set," Ra had called at one point and finally Set spoke to me.

"Come on... I'll get you below..."

"But I want to see," I had told him. I mean... how many times am I going to be on a space boat descending back to the otherworld below? This was a once in a lifetime event and I wanted to witness it firsthand.

Obviously Set was not impressed but he nodded. He took me to stand by his father, turned me so that I was facing the bow and then slowly and deliberately wrapped his arms around me.

I could feel every inch of him, his chest pressed against my back. My whole body was electric, my breathing staggered to stop and I hated myself for this reaction.

"Hold on or you'll fall," he whispered into my ear.

My hands reached up for his arms the second the bow tipped downward.

I barely felt the wind whipping through my hair, all I could see was the streaks of color flashing by us. It was like the northern lights were trying to cushion our descent.

I found myself laughing giddily, cheering wildly, letting out loud whoops of joy like I was on a roller coaster. I had never liked roller coasters but this one I did like.

We settled in on the dock by Set's Palace and I was all smiles.

"Looks like someone enjoyed that," Ra said. Set had let me go and was going to throw the rope below and tie us off.

"I did," I tell him. "Thank you. It was great."

"Not many would call this a fun experience."

"Well I wouldn't say fun but it sure wasn't boring," I say trying to smile.

Ra's eyes seemingly soften at me. "You'll make a wonderful queen, and an even better wife for my son."

At that I find myself frowning. "No... I'm not... I'm just a place holder. Once he gets his powers and crown back, he's going to resurrect Astarte and I'm going to go home," I tell him. "I... he's not interested in me, not in that way... we're just... friends..."

I'm not even sure I can call us friends, but it's the closest thing to what we might be.

"Is that what my son told you?" Ra asks and I nod. He's got that knowing look in his eyes, like he knew I was wrong.

I wanted to ask him what he knew, what he saw in the future, but I also didn't want to get my hopes when he was inevitably wrong.

The God of Everything couldn't be right all the time.

"We're secure!" Set calls and I turn right away.

Sure enough the gangplank is ready he is waiting for me at the bottom. He's rolling his shoulders as if he's in pain all of a sudden though I'm not sure why.

I disembark, heading towards him and the outstretched hand he's offering me. "Did you hurt your back?" I ask softly when I get close.

"No... well... actually I think I might have reopened the lashes...or they reopened on their own, they've started to sting..."