Lost in Amon

Chapter Eight

The Cow of Fertility
Part One

Hathor was beautiful. She was tall with long legs and arms; lean and lithe. Her body was curvy in the way I could only dream of. Olive skin glowed in the sunlight and her deep brown eyes roamed over me with intrigue. We wore the same outfit, but she looked a lot better in it. She had a loose afro with a golden wire twining through it like a sunlit river.

The god Hathor was usually depicted by a cow in Ancient Egypt, but I couldn't see why. There was only one similarity Hathor had to a cow—her eyes. They were large, brown, encased in a row of fluffy eyelashes. Soft, deep, innocent. The type of eyes you look at and they instantly make you feel horrible for all the bad you'd ever done in your life, and all the bad you will do.

'Etta, this is Hathor.' Amon introduced us and Hathor smiled with a perfect set of pearly teeth. She moved fluidly and grabbed my hand, covering it with her soft ones.

'Etta.' Her voice was light and airy, yet deeper than I expected. 'How beautiful you are.' She pulled me in for a hug, wrapping me into her bosom and letting out a deep sigh. 'My daughter.'

I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes, sinking into the comfort of her chest. She smelled like memories—like the acidic scent that would fill the house when my mother made kimchi from scratch, or the simmering pot of beef stock she would prepare for tteokguk on Lunar New Year's Day. Hathor unfurled our arms and smiled down at me, patting my cheek gently like my father did when I was a little girl. She grabbed my hand and pulled it gently.

'Come, now.' We took a step towards a set of golden doors behind her. They were different to the ones I fell through, smaller. I'd never noticed them here before.

And then I snapped out of it, ripping my hand from hers.

'I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with Amon.'

I moved back next to Amon. I stood squarely at his side and glanced around at the three deities. Hathor nodded her head in understanding and Amon touched my shoulder, his large hand wrapping around it. I relaxed into its warmth.

'Hey.' Re interjected before Amon could speak. 'It was nice babysitting, but I've got things to do. Hathor, good to see you again.'

'I wish I could say the same.'

Re brushed his way past me and pushed the golden doors open, only sparing a single glance back at me before he stepped out. Remember what I said, his eyes seemed to say. I nodded and bit my bottom lip, looking away. If I fall in love with Amon, he would...die? The whole idea seemed ludicrous and any other day I would have dismissed it as stupid. But this wasn't any other day. This was a day where I was already somewhere ludicrous, doing equally ludicrous things with equally ludicrous people. Re—a god—gave me a warning. I'd be an idiot not to take heed.

'Etta?' Amon asked, leaning his face down until it was level with mine. 'Are you okay?'

'Fine.' I coughed and pulled my head back, avoiding his swirling eyes.

'You need to stay with Hathor for a few days.' I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off, placing one of his hands gently on top of my lips. 'It's just for a few days. I know you'll enjoy it and Hathor has some things to talk to you about. I thought you wanted to explore other realms?'

Well, he wasn't wrong there. I did want to explore other realms, but I didn't want to do so if it jeopardised my ability to see him. Actually, maybe that's what I needed. To get away from him. From Amon. It was no secret I'd started to become a bit...attached. I was used to his company, wanted it, even. But if what Re said was true, then maybe it was in my best interest—and in Amon's—for me to get away. Distance myself. Learn to be the Etta who lived for twenty-five years without the god called Amon by her side.