The magic threaded into his voice and reached into my limbs like static.
This time I had no control. I dug into my pocket and retrieved the bejeweled scarab that would either be my salvation or my undoing.
Horus’s dark eyes lit up. His tongue darted out of his mouth, licked across his top lip as if he were staring at his next meal.
He reached across the desk for it but I closed my palm, no longer a prisoner of his command.
He’d asked me to show it and I had. I’d obeyed my order.
“My brother. Now," I said. "You promised."
I closed my eyes anticipating another command to hit me like a brick but instead there was a…
“Why are you laughing?” I asked.
He looked more demented than ever, if that was even possible.
He didn’t answer.
But then the door opened and I forgot all about him. I turned and found my brother, tall and lanky and so…defeated.
I jumped to my feet, ran across the room and hugged the little shit.
Everything I’d done was for him.
I hugged him tight. I hugged him so tight I could have broken his bones but I didn’t so I didn’t stop.
Had he lost weight? Had Horus touched him? Had he seen things? Had he…done things without his consent? I searched his face for answers, but there weren’t any. Just relief.
Relief and fear.
“My my, what a wonderful reunion. But that's enough now.”
The magic coursed through my very spine, making me still.
"Now, give it to me," Horus said.
I let go of Gene and returned to Horus, holding out my hand with the scarab. He was so impatient for it he didn’t even wait for me to open my fingers. He just snapped them back and snatched the damn thing.
He hissed, his eyes rolling back as if he was having an orgasm and squeezed the scarab.
“Oh, that feels so good," he said.
Maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it was my sixth sense, but I saw him change right before my very eyes. He grew taller. His shoulders widened. His head held higher and yet he hadn’t changed at all. It was the magic coursing through his veins that changed his stance, his whole demeanor.
This was terrifying.
What was he planning on doing with so much power? Why did he even need it back? Wasn’t what he had enough to do what wanted to do?
It didn’t matter. I didn't care anymore. I’d saved Gene. I’d done my duty and now we had the chance to be free.
I turned, took Gene’s hand and started walking toward the door.
Horus kicked his chair back and slammed his hands on the desk.
“And where do you think you're going?" he asked.
I froze.
