Immortal

Exchange

"There you are! Bring them here!"

The pharaoh gestured to the guards to dump us in the centre of the room in front of the dais. The room was large and ornate, clearly decorated to please the pharaoh and display his wealth to the gods.

I looked up at the ceiling praying to whoever would listen to spare us from this nightmare. Even if I wouldn't be spared, at least spare Nadia, I prayed, she deserves better than this.

"Come forth Set!" 

I trembled, Set , the most chaotic and destructive of the Egyptian  gods was being summoned to appear before us in this very room. Whatever the pharaoh wanted Set would demand a high price, and the pharaoh intended to make Nadia and I pay it.

There was a sudden darkness upon the dais and the smell of sickly sweet rotten fruit.

"Well well, the almighty pharaoh has summoned the mightiest of the gods for his bidding. You must be brave or very stupid." Set stood upon the dais in all his horror and looked upon us. 

" So is this to be my offering? These two immortals?" Set tutted, " you know I risk the fury of Isis and Osiris if I claim them both."

The pharaoh looked Set in the eyes, and I realised how stupid he must be to believe he is Set's equal. This being had destroyed cities with the twitch of a finger, had destroyed souls with a mere half thought and yet the pharaoh looked upon Set with disdain and no respect.

"Take one or none, I don't care!  But this is my offering in exchange for what I asked if you", Ramses said imperiously, " I want those rebel's spirits destroyed and for my empire to be the strongest that Egypt's ever seen!"

Set wet his lips and smiled a predators smile. I knew instantly the pharaoh was in over his head. Set would double cross him and take whatever he wanted, he was a god and the pharaoh was a mere mortal.

"As you wish", Set smiled, and he clicked his fingers.

The pharaoh blinked. "It is done?"

"Yes", Set replied, " your enemies have been destroyed, they have become shells ready to be filled with your words and carry out your bidding, as we speak your slaves are doubling in number and waking to do their work upon your monument of power. You will be the most famous of pharaohs for this day, and every man woman and child will know your name."

"That is all I ever wanted ", the pharaoh said gleefully. He turned to exit the chamber but a barrier stopped him. He turned back to Set. 

"What is this?!", he demanded furiously, " Let me go! Our deal is done!"

"Who said our deal was done?", Set exclaimed," You May have gotten what you wanted but I haven't! As I recall another also made a deal with me, and he has already paid his price, so I better keep my end of the bargain."

The pharaoh suddenly became fearful.

Set grinned an evil smile and lunged over us  for the pharaoh.

I kept my face forward to avoid the horror of what was happening but I could still hear the pharaohs screams until they stopped suddenly , coming silent except for the horrific dripping noise that echoed slightly in the large chamber. The guards ran for their lives, activating trips and switches that sealed the chamber shut. I couldn't breathe, the idiots had locked us in! It would be ages before we could safely dig our way out! I struggled to pull my thoughts together as I panicked about how Nadia would get out when I was taken.

"Now, which of you shall I take as my meal". Set wandered forward into my line of sight again and the sight of him made me tremble. His bloody maw was split in a grin as he eyed us both from the dais. Even so all I could think was "not Nadia, take me, take me".

"Take me"

I blinked and looked at Nadia, we had both mirrored each other and said it at the same time. Nadia smiled and shook her head. 

"No Kafte, it must be me that makes this sacrifice, you must go out back into the world, raise my children, safeguard the earth and spread hope", Nadia said sadly. She was smiling but there was a world of grief in her eyes.

"No! Nadia your children need you! The world needs you! I'm the cursed one you're the blessed one! You must stay here and live and protect! " I cried. 

Set laughed, " Neither of you get to choose and sacrifice yourself. It is my choice who's soul I will devour! Let me see.."

He turned and then clicked his fingers. Within moments green flames had enveloped Nadia. I screamed and ran towards her trying to summon water to extinguish the flames. Nadia was screaming  out in pain, but still managed to say "No! It has to be this way! I love you Kafte! I'll always be with you!"

Within moments she was a pile of ash, and I was sobbing over them. 

"Ahhhh delicious...", Set purred.

"You bastard! It should've been me!", I screamed and launched myself at him.

The next thing I knew I was slammed into the floor with great force. I gasped, I couldn't get enough air in and the pain was incredible.

"Now, now, that's no way to treat an all-powerful god", Set tutted, " Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson".

He snapped his fingers and the ashes reformed into Nadia's body, albeit gray and petrified.

"For your disrespect, I curse you to look upon the body of the one you love most in this world for a thousand years, never to touch, talk or caress again. You shall be forgotten in this chamber for a thousand years, no one will come for you and the earth shall start to die. You will remain here until your curse comes to an end and the body dissipates. You will have no help exiting this chamber when the curse is ended and only if you wish to leave shall you. You will be alone, perhaps for eternity."  Set looked as if he experienced great pleasure at this thought and laughed darkly.

"Enjoy your next thousand years or so", and with those final words, Set disappeared into darkness.

I looked at Nadia's ashen body, and cried until the torches burnt out.

I allowed the darkness to consume me.