Amon continued. “The only consolation I had in leaving you behind was believing that you had a chance to live, to exercise the right every person born on this earth takes for granted—finding happiness. Now you have gone, left this world in search of the next. My greatest and only wish is to follow you, but my path is not the same as yours. My destiny calls me elsewhere.”
Dropping his forehead to my hand, he added, “Forgive me, Lily. Forgive me for taking you away from your home, for the burdens I placed upon you, for causing this tragedy, and, most of all, forgive me for the things I would not allow myself to say.”
Light coalesced a few feet behind Amon, and a handsome man appeared with a black dog at his side. If I hadn’t been almost dead, I would have loved to draw him. His thickly muscled torso was bare and he wore a pleated skirt, but his was black instead of white. He had a head of shiny black hair.
He looked like he was around my father’s age, but he had that kind of ageless beauty any woman would be attracted to.
“Amon? What is this?” the man asked.
Amon lifted his head. “Anubis,” he said. “This is Lily. A mortal. I was forced to rely upon her energy during this rising and it has resulted in her death.”
“How…interesting.” Anubis took a step closer. Leaning over to get a good look at me, he noticed that my eyes were open and I was watching him. He winked as he straightened up, and I concluded that I liked him but didn’t entirely trust him. “Tell me how this happened,” he requested of Amon.
The incarnation of the sun got to his feet, keeping my hand wrapped in his as he turned toward the nearby god but looked at a spot just beyond him. “Apophis and Seth lent a portion of their might to a mortal, the same mortal who took my eyes and stole three of my canopic jars, absorbing my powers into himself. This is why I needed Lily.”
“I see. Has this mortal been overcome?”
“He has. And Seth has been locked away for another millennium.”
“Then you have done your duty admirably. Are you prepared to relinquish your powers so that they may be stored for future use?”
“I am. Though there is now only one remaining.”
“I would not be too sure about that.”
Amon cocked his head. “I do not understand. Sebak’s dark shabti opened my three jars and his master absorbed their energy.”
“Yes, but as is often the case, there are certain…substitutions that can be made.”
“What substitutions?”
“You must never underestimate a willing sacrifice. Do you remember when Seth asked your fathers to sacrifice you long ago? You told your people that you were willing to go through with it.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“There is great power to be had when a person gives of himself to protect those he loves. This is why the gods imbued you with their energies in the first place.”
“What does that have to do with my situation?”
“In giving of herself so freely, this young woman restored that which had been taken.”
“You mean Lily’s death returned all of my powers?”
“No, not her death. Her love. Lily’s sacrifice for you was in every way as powerful as the sacrifice you made for your people. The gods cannot deny such a forfeit and have bestowed a great gift in exchange for it. Her love for you has returned that which was stolen. You will still need to give it back, of course, until the time of your next rising, but at that time you will be fully restored.”
Amon turned his back to the god and took a few steps away.
Anubis gave him a sharp look. “Are you not grateful for this gift?” he asked.
“I am…sorrowful that it was necessary.”
“Ah. I understand.”
“Would you…,” Amon began, “I know she is not one of us, but might you consider easing her journey to the afterlife as you do for me and my brothers?”
Rubbing his jaw, Anubis glanced quickly at me and smiled. “I might. If she were actually dead.”
“What?” Amon spun around and felt his way back to the altar. He picked up my limp hand and stroked it. “She is still alive? Then why can she not speak or move? Why can I not sense her?”
“Her energy has been depleted to the point of near death.”
“Is there anything I can do for her? Can I bring her back?”