Sebak screamed, crashing into the side of the pyramid, and then froze, pinning me in place. At the same time the zombie army froze. With a burst of silver light, bodies flew in every direction. The silver crane rose in the air and headed toward the top of the second pyramid. I spied Asten’s human form running toward the smallest pyramid. Dr. Hassan let go of the chain and dropped, rolling to a stop several levels down from me. Wincing, he got to his feet and started climbing up to where I stood.
Sebak’s eyes followed us, but his body remained immobile. When Dr. Hassan reached me, he tried in vain to free me from the monster’s grip. When he was thwarted, he climbed farther, until he could reach the demon’s head.
“Sebak,” Dr. Hassan said, “do not throw away your life in this way. You are the most talented archaeologist I’ve ever worked with. Give up the power you have stolen and we will spare your life.”
“If you truly understood power, you would know that I would rather die a thousand deaths than give it up,” the beast replied. “No. The sun god is weak. He will not be able to complete the ceremony. The god of chaos will come, and when he does, he will raise me up and reconstruct the body you have damaged, and I will return to take my revenge upon you”—he paused and gave me a crocodile smile—“and on her.”
“I am truly sorry, my colleague. Sorry that you were deceived so utterly and that your lust for power has resulted in such devastation and the loss of a brilliant mind. Goodbye, Sebak.”
Dr. Hassan took a deep breath and cried:
We who will defeat you defile your body!
He pulled the ax out from his jacket and lifted it over his head, ready to swing it into Sebak’s giant demon eye, when I heard an achingly familiar voice.
“Stop!”
Amon blindly made his way up the side of the pyramid toward us. I sucked in a breath and pressed my free hand to my lips to contain a sob. His skin, where it wasn’t bleeding, was gray-tinged, and the sunglasses covering his eyes were gone. The empty sockets where his eyes should have been made my heart hurt. He was missing some fingers on one hand, and bites covered his shoulders, face, and neck.
“Hassan?” he called.
“I am here, Master,” Dr. Hassan cried out. “What is it? Why do you want me to stop?”
“Was he…? Is he speaking the truth? Is Lily here? Was she captured?”
“Of course she is here,” Sebak taunted. “She is not even damaged…much.”
There was a pause, and then Dr. Hassan addressed Amon. “You must believe me when I say that Lily is safe. Sebak has lost his mind.”
Amon’s head lowered for a moment, but then the muscles of his arms tightened. “Very well.” He reached out a hand and Osahar grabbed it, pulling him up the last few steps. Gripping the doctor’s shoulder, Amon asked, “Will you allow me to slay the vile beast?”
Dr. Hassan searched Amon’s face. “Of course,” he said, understanding Amon’s nonverbal communication, and placed the ax in his hand. “Do you need me to guide you there?”
Amon shook his head. “No. I will use the Eye.”
Seeing Amon approach, Sebak panted, “She is here! I am telling you the truth!”
“I cannot measure the truth of your words since you stole the power contained in my jars of death. As it is, I trust that my grand vizier would not deceive me,” Amon said quietly.