Horus was a problem and until he was dealt with there would be no peace.
"I take him the scarab, he kills me. I don't take him the scarab, he kills Gene, or worse."
I bit back a growl and sat up. "We need to get close enough so the scarab can take every last dreg of his power," I said. "Then I can deal with him."
Drew bit his lip and looked up at me, a sliver of hope in his expression. "You think I can help now I'm strong?"
I sighed and hooked my fingers under his chin.
"You've always been strong, my Drew. After everything you've been through, how hard you've fought to protect your family, how can you not see it?"
He didn't answer, and I didn't blame him. It was a difficult question to even contemplate. But I hoped even some of my words found root inside of him. And hopefully, they'd bloom soon enough .
"Yes. Yes you are, my Drew. You have nothing to fear now. We know where Horus is. We know where your brother is. It's time we finished this thing."
Drew barely moved his head when he nodded but the determination glimmered in his eyes and he shot up. "Right. No time like the present. Let's do this." He threw fresh clothes on and gave some for me to put on as well.
A few moments later we walked into the living room and I bent down, dug through the layer of sand and picked up the scarab.
Drew watched me for a moment before he walked out and down the hall and stepped down into the reception area. I followed close and just before he opened the door, he offered me his hand and I held him tight against me.
The stegi let us out into the entryway of a large house that looked out into a quiet road. The chilly night air tried to pierce my godly skin but its effects didn't penetrate my pores, instead it gave me goosebumps.
Drew barreled down the stairs and out of the front garden before I could stop him. I caught up with him before he did anything stupid without me just as he entered the front garden of the house next door.
"Is this it? What's going on Drew?" I tried to catch his gaze but it was focused solely on the front door of a Victorian house.
He banged on it and just as it opened everything went still.
Drew was standing in front of me waving his hand and when I blinked he sighed.
"Oh thank fuck. I was starting to lose hope," he said.
I cocked my head.
"Lose hope about what?"
He shook his head and turned to face the man standing inside the house.
"I've been trying to unfreeze you for fifteen minutes," he said and ducked under the hand of the doorman who was leaning against the frame.
I ducked too and snuck in after him. Everyone inside was frozen. Even the smoke of the cigarettes from the group of guys gathered around the table playing cards.
"Good job, Drew," I said.
He turned and grimaced. "I seriously don't know how long it'll last."
I took a deep breath and grabbed him by the hands.
"You just kept me frozen for well over an hour while you had your way with me. Trust me when I say you've got this."
His cheeks flushed red and he dipped his head.
"Yeah, but…that was just you. One person. This place is crawling with his men."
"His vassals," I corrected.
As much as I didn't care what happened to anyone other than Drew, those people were still prisoners to a sick god.
