Page 43 of Immortal Sun

His laugh startles me. Straight white teeth are in perfect contrast to his tan skin. “I make your wizards look tame.”

The hair on the back of my neck rises. “You can let me go now.”

“Eventually, I guess I’ll have to.” He says cryptically releasing his arms from me. “All better now?”

“I can’t believe you’re actually asking me that after what I just saw!” I take a step back, reality slamming into me and making me question everything.

He smirks. “Makes you wonder why everyone wants to work for me right? It’s quite magical here. Enjoy your time, Cleo.”

He starts to walk away. “Oh hell no. I’m not staying in here by myself! I just saw freaking Anubis or at least I think I did, I’m not sure. Am I hallucinating?”

Cyrus shrugs. “You seem lucid.”

“Thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

“Stay.” I’m practically begging. “Or let me come with you.”

“But I got rid of the voices.” He smirks. “Do you need more assistance?”

“What are you a robot?” I shriek. “No. None of this is normal.”

“Do you want to forget it happened?”

“YES!”

“Ah, it was too soon. Alright.” He walks up to me and grabs me by the shoulders. “This spell is quite easier.” Before I can say anything, he’s kissing me. His tongue dives into my mouth. He tastes like sweet heat. I wrap my arms around him. He picks me up and sets me on the sacrificial table, exactlynotwhere I want to be—his taste is everything. I’ve never been kissed like this before. I’m jumping into the flames when suddenly it feels like cold water got dumped on me.

I pull away. Wait, what just happened? I blink, frowning at the close proximity of Cyrus’ face.

Why am I sitting?

Cyrus tilts his head at me. “Like I said, enjoy your time. I’ll see you soon.”

He leaves.

And I’m still sitting wondering what the hell just happened and why I blacked out the last few minutes of conversation. I frown the entire way back to the second chamber then sit at my brother’s workstation. I continue to frown for the next half hour. Something’s off I just can’t figure out what.

Annoyingly confused, I hop down from the stone altar, fleetingly wondering why on earth I’d ever choose to take a seatthere, and walk over to my brother’s desk. The only two books he has are part of The Book of Life with a listing of various spells for the afterlife, ones that involve people turning into light so they get a free pass to attack any snakes that may follow you to the afterlife.

The only topic I know about the books on Immortals and Book of Life is that one explains the Egyptian lifestyle of worship and the gods. I hazily remember a few names of people who have died and conjured spells into the afterlife. Every family member would record their line as to not be forgotten and earn a spot in the afterlife. I’m sure my history is a bit fuzzy since I’m not as far through the program as Jake but if this is what he was looking at, then I’m curious.

I frown and slowly crack open the first page of the historical book.

I read, thankful I actually know some Egyptian and Greek words. “These are the accounts of Ra, God of the Sun, the Forefather of Heaven, Earth, Hell.”

I almost drop the book.

The statue I saw earlier, that was Ra. I know him, he’s like…Cronus from Greek mythology, but according to the myths and legends he was chased by Chaos his entire life. Apep would stop at nothing to destroy him, so day and night, Ra would fight him with his spear. I gulp and look over at the wall and shake my head, even though the spears in the other room it’s like I can see it. It’s fine. It’s not real. He would fight him and in order to keep humanity human, he would spear the God of Chaos in the skies only to fight him again. The only reason the world exists, according to this mythology, is because Ra does as well.

I turn the next page.

Then the next.

And I see a picture of something I didn’t expect and almost shut the book.

Ra, shining like the sun, overlooking the earth, encompassing half of it with his body, and he’s smiling.

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