“Well, the fact that Amon is sending me packing means I won’t know if the three of you are going to make it through the final ceremony. I suppose I would know if you failed because then the world would end, darkness would reign, et cetera. Still, it would be nice to know that you, you know, survived to return another day, so to speak.”
Asten frowned as if trying to fully understand my speech, and then he looked at Amon, who sat with his sunglasses aimed at nothing. Amon’s expression was unyielding, his jaw tight.
“I see,” Asten answered slowly. “I thought we talked about this.”
“Lily is under my care,” Amon said. “I will decide the level of risk that is acceptable. She is returning to her life in New York and that is the end of the conversation.”
“The end of what conversation?” Ahmose said as he entered the room, tugging a too-tight shirt that said I ? EGYPT over his head.
After stifling a giggle that made all three brothers turn in my direction, I sat quietly, curious to hear what Amon would say.
“I was telling Asten that my wish is to send Lily home,” Amon said.
Ahmose sighed. “You know that the odds are not in our favor.”
“It does not matter. I will not risk her life.”
“Should she not be able to weigh the risk on her own terms?” Ahmose continued.
“It is not fair to use her for our gain. Lily goes.”
Asten joined in. “Brother, we are not saying we wish her harm. On the contrary, we, too, would wish to protect her from the perils of our world, but should the need arise—”
Furious, Amon spat, “Should the need arise? We have served the gods for millennia, acted as their sacrifices time and time again! Perhaps, in seeing our failure, they could deign to manage their own affairs for once. I, for one, refuse to compromise this innocent mortal girl simply to grant more leisure to those who have long been silent.”
“The gods have blessed us,” Ahmose started.
“They have cursed us!” Amon countered. “Abused us. Bled us dry. And for what? To stop a problem they allowed to fester in the first place. Why is it that we must continue to act as their cosmic gatekeepers?”
I bit my lip. Apparently, the information Dr. Hassan had shared with me about the gods protecting the brothers from Seth was not common knowledge. The Eye had shown him much. I felt a twinge of jealousy that I hadn’t been able to access it as well.
How nice it would be to have instant answers to any question. I glanced at Dr. Hassan, who gave a slight shake of his head. Evidently, he didn’t want to share that information with them just then. I decided to wait and question him about it later before I brought it up to the brothers.
“Brothers,” Amon went on, “we agreed to this bargain to serve our ancestors, but they have long since entered the afterlife. We protect the world, but the world fears us, or worse, does not care. We exist, but have no life. We do our duty, but there is no joy in it, at least not for me. I will not steal the precious opportunity to live, to be mortal, and to be free, from Lily. She deserves more. I will not take from her what was taken from us.”
Quiet descended, and finally Ahmose reached out and placed a hand on Amon’s shoulder. “Very well. We will respect your decision.”
“But—” Asten began, then stopped when Amon raised his head. Asten muttered unhappily, “We will respect your decision.”
“Good,” Amon answered as he rose. “Now, let’s get this over with. Dr. Hassan?” Osahar stood quickly and moved next to Amon, who placed his hand on the vizier’s shoulder. “Take us to the airport.”
“Yes, Master.” This time Amon didn’t protest the title.
In a matter of moments, Dr. Hassan and I had gathered our meager belongings and we were in a taxi before dawn, headed to the airport. After we arrived, Dr. Hassan purchased tickets for the three brothers on a tour bus headed to the pyramids of Giza. He told them he would join as soon as possible.
Ahmose and Asten held me close as they hugged me goodbye, wishing me well in life. Amon merely took hold of my shoulders and planted a brotherly kiss on my cheek. “Farewell, Lily,” he said stiffly.