Flash Fiction Friday

"Sentinels Arise" ©2006, Tempest Knight "Your son requests an audience, Great One." However, Horus didn’t wait to be summoned. He pushed the golden doors of the throne room opened and strode toward the dais, circumventing the formalities. What he’d found out was too important, and he was in no mood to follow ceremonies. His parents would understand his lack of manners once they’d heard his news. The room was bursting with the usual sounds of lively chat. Isis got up from her throne, concern etched in her delicate features, as she watched her son approached. "Horus. What are you doing here?" Horus knelt before the dais and bowed. "My fair mother." Osiris stood next to Isis, his arm around her waist. "What news you bring, son." The room had grown silent. Horus noted the other gods’ eyes were now on him. Including Hathor and Anubis. His eyes returned to the tall woman wearing the horns-and-sundisk headdress on her long obsidian hair and attired in white and gold. "I’m afraid the demons have created their own creatures." A collective gasp went around the room. He straightened and looked around, his eyes connecting briefly with each of the gods assembled in the great chamber. "The demons felt with equal authority to expand upon the Creation," he went on. "Those who rule the animals have combined humans with beasts. At the turn of the moon, when it rides full up in the sky, they become weres. Half human, half beast. Stronger than humans, their senses heightened by the beast residing inside them. They feed of their fresh flesh. Other demons have found a way to cheat death by bring back from the graves those who have barely died. The undead. Unable to withstand the sun anymore, these creatures roam upon the Earth under the cloak of darkness feeding on the blood of those who live." Words like 'sacrilege' and 'blasphemy' could be heard over the curses. Isis closed her eyes. For some time now she’d sensed the disturbance in the natural thread that tied each creation to the web of life. So she’d sent her son to investigate. Now hearing the news... She sighed deeply, waging the implications. Seth stepped into the middle of the room and stared at Isis. "Then we must stop them." Horus glared at Seth, their long-standing hate seething in his eyes. "Stop who? The demons or their creatures?" Nephthys, goddess of the Underworld, turned to her cohort and placed her hand over his shoulder. "He’s right. We can’t attack the demons, Seth. Not now. There will be war. This new world can’t stand another full war between Gods and demons." Many remembering the previous war between the gods and the demons and the result of almost extinction of humanity nodded in agreement. "But how about their abominations? We can’t allow them to meander free. They must be destroyed," Bastet, still in her half cat/half human form, piped in. Ma’at, the goddess of Justice, shook her head. "Free will doesn’t allow us to interfere." Soon a heated dispute ensued among those in favor of an immediate attack to the demons, those who favored killing the creatures, and those who opposed both actions. Isis sat on her throne listening intently to each argument, her heart slowly sinking as the vision of what she must do gradually revealed itself. She closed her eyes and shuddered at the task weighting already upon her shoulders. "Enough," Osiris shouted, and the room fell silent. All eyes turned to him and then to Isis expectantly. She looked up at Osiris, her eyes bright with gratitude. Then she turned to the audience. "I must deliberate on this matter. Alone. Leave." At once the gods bowed and then filed out of the room. "Horus, stay," Isis called. Horus looked over his shoulder and nodded. He stepped to the side to let the last of the gods out, then closed the door behind him. Feeling tired, Isis leaned against her husband. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. She felt his warmth and strength slipping into her. She smelled the sweet essence of sandalwood and musk of his skin and smiled softly. She could never get enough of him. He placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder, and she closed her eyes, wishing to be elsewhere with him. Horus cleared his throat. "So... ah... What are you planning to do? I know you had a vision." Isis tilted her head. "Since the balance has been upset, then it must be restored." Horus frowned then his eyes widen in surprise. "I know that glint in your eyes. You can’t be serious." His gaze flickered from Isis to Osiris. "Must we fall as low as the demons?" Osiris gazed into the dark eyes of his beloved and nodded. "We have no other recourse." Horus paced impatiently. "Wouldn’t it be easier to give righteous men among the humans special powers?" She frowned considering the idea for a moment, then she shook her head and sighed. "The heart of men is easily corrupted by power. Even the most righteous among men have been known to falter and fall when encountered with power. No. We must create a balance." Horus stopped his pacing and stared at his mother. "I agree. But how—? "This is the only way," Osiris interjected. "At least consider the consequences." Isis nodded. "Please call the other gods." Horus turned and left her chamber. Isis watched the door closed behind him and smiled. Perhaps something good would come out of all this. A hour later all the gods were gathered in the throne chamber. With elegant grace, Isis stepped up to the center of the dais and raised her arms. "The balance of the New Creation is being threatened by these new creatures unleashed upon it. They must be dealt with, but not by our hands." She walked to the great basin set in the middle of the chamber. Grabbing a horn, she poured water from the Nile. Out of a silver and gold casket, she took sand from the desert. From the scorching sun, she added fire. And using the East wind, she blew life. While one by one the gods paraded before the basin, adding their own blessings to the mix, Horus stepped close behind Isis and whispered, "They will be soulless." She nodded slightly. "Only one powerful enough to stir their passions will grant them the soul they so lack." Before Horus could question her further, flames erupted from the basin. Then just as quickly they died out, leaving only but a blinding red light behind. Out of it a nude form rose. Isis stepped forward and touched his shoulder with her sacred ankh. "Welcome my Sentinel." -------------- If you liked this flash story and want to know more about the Sentinels, read the first story called Unforgiven Pleasure. It'd be released as a freebie - a treat for all of you - this Monday as part of the last celebration of Halloween.