Draiks and Angels: Deity

29 - Link

Satiya slept through the entire next day. As it was, Husani didn't wake up until noon. He restlessly paced through the various back rooms of the temple while Khait and Amisi worked on memorizing the magic words for the sealing. The Priestesses called someone to cart away the society men the night before and tow away the van, but everyone was nervous.

"Anything to eat?" Satiya asked that evening, walking into the dining room.

"I'll go see," Amisi said, and went to check.

"How are you feeling?" Husani asked.

Satiya thought about it for a moment, "Sore."

"That's odd," Husani commented, gesturing to the table so she would sit.

Satiya took a stool, and noticing the bruise around Huani's right wrist, reached out and touched it gently, "This looks like it hurts."

"Only when I bend it too far."

"I could heal it. I have plenty of magic now."

Husani withdrew his hand, "No, it's fine. You should save your power in case something happens. You can't rely on Kek's magic in that case."

"Speaking of which," Khait interrupted, "If you can't pull Kek's magic without being overwhelmed, how are we supposed to weaken him enough to seal him?"

Amisi returned with a leftover bowl of lentil soup to find the other three deep in thought. Assuming the cause, she said, "Can we ask Bastet for help again? Or at least advice?"

"She has been very helpful..." Satiya said, eating the soup. "But if she knew a way to prevent me from being overwhelmed, why didn't she tell me instead of just warning me last time?"

The High Priestess came into the dining room, apparently having heard Satiya's last question, "Maybe she needs you to ask. And I can provide some... environmental inducements that might increase her response to you. They help me, at least."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in the room with the pedestals, Satiya sat on a cushion with her back to the middle pillar and wings spread. On either side of her were enameled dishes with burning incense made from catnip. It smelled vaguely like mint. In front of her was a shallow dish of water with leaves of fresh catnip floating in it. On the right side of the room Husani sat on a cushion, and on the left side Khait and Asani sat on similar cushions.

Satiya began to breathe deeply and the others in the room joined her. Satiya could smell the incense, a mix of smoke and minty catnip. The stone floor on the sides of her feet. The seam of her jeans under her thumb. The sounds of the others breathing. The scrape of someone's shoe as they shifted. The halter top tie against the back of her neck. Her closed eyes began to grow darker.

As her vision grew, she knew something was different. It was the usual white blank canvas, but she could see her own body this time, where normally she just saw. She looked around and saw Husani. He was looking around, confused. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. He held his throat, concerned, and Satiya just shrugged. She had never been able to speak in a vision. But what was he doing here?

To her other side, a woman appeared. It was Bastet. Unsure how to behave in full-body form, Satiya bowed to her, and saw Husani do the same out of the corner of her eye.

"Tell me why you have come to me," Bastet said, waving her Sistrum at Satiya.

Suddenly aware that she could speak, Satiya responded, "As you said, the power of Kek overwhelmed me. But I still need to bleed his power to seal him. What can we do?"