"We need to make a game plan," he said and took a sip. "We might have the scarab," another sip, "but he's tricked me before. This time I need—" A third sip.
The effects were instant.
The mug slipped from his fingers but before he could burn from the hot liquid, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed, dead to the world.
And dead to me.
Drew
Oh my goddess, what have I done?
My stomach twisted. Bile rose and caught in my throat. It made me gag.
A wave washed over me like a cold shower.
What had I done?
It had to be done. I knew that. I had no choice in the matter but it had still been my knowledge that had brewed the poison. It had been my hands that served the coffee. It had been my eyes that had watched him die.
The idea had been so much easier when I thought he was going to be like his brother, but Sett wasn’t a monster.
He was sweet, and kind, and giving, and beautiful.
He thought I was beautiful too.
But I wasn't.
I was ugly. Ugly on the inside. Ugly on the outside.
It didn't matter that Horus had compelled me to do it, that it had been his order from the start. Neither of those truths made what I’d done easier.
I looked up, searching for courage where there was none and took a deep breath before wrapping my arms around Sett’s shoulders and dragging his body into the bedroom. The last thing I needed was for Yaya to find him and realize what a monster her grandson was—if she didn't know already.
I left him lying there, in the middle of the bed, so peaceful and handsome. As if he was merely sleeping.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and walked out.
Out of the bedroom and out of the house with the scarab burning a hole in my pocket, as if it knew too what a horrible human being I was.
Spiti let me out onto the same road as the house of sins that was Horus's residence. I only had to walk up a few feet before I was at his door.
Tears ran down my cheeks like acid. If only they could burn me for real. I wiped my eyes before my knocks were answered.
I breathed in. And out.
You’re doing this for Gene.
That was my silver lining. Saving Gene. If I could save him maybe it was all worth it. Even if I couldn't live with myself afterward. Gene could live for me. He was young and talented and pure.
His soul hadn’t been tarnished yet. Or at least I hoped it hadn’t. But even if it had, he could get through this. He could use his art, his studies, anything to channel the hurt and pain into something useful.
One of Horus's slaves opened the door and let me in. I walked through his harem of men not daring to look any of them in the eye. As if they’d know what I’d done. I didn’t even dare throw them a glance because…what if I saw in them what I saw when I looked in the mirror?
Had he asked them to do ugly things like this? Had he made them betray? Manipulate? Cheat? Kill?
What was going happen to them after? Would I just walk out this door a free man and leave them here trapped under his spell?
My knees went weak and my gut twisted some more.
