The Game Of The Gods Chapter 42

“Bishop, destroy the knight on four C, please.” I watch as the tiny white dragon walks diagonally across the board until it sits in front of the night. The white dragon stands up on its back legs, rears its head back and bites off the enemy knight’s head. The now headless piece walks off the board, its head regrowing as it walks. I take a sip of my orange juice. “So cool.”

The man in the Egyptian headdress moves his queen to take the bishop I’d just sent after his knight.

I’m only a little jealous that he can command pieces without using words.

“You are very good at this game.” He says, his tone decidedly less frosty than when we first met.

“I’ve had lots of practice.” I smile fondly at the memory of my dad teaching me the game. Then focus back on the board. “Although, I don’t believe I’m going to win this round.”

We both turn quiet as we contemplate our next move. 

“So, what’s your objective on earth anyway? Take over the world? Kill off the human race? Kill all the Beta Testers that oppose you?” I ask after a couple more moves, the boards slowly turning to his favor.

“You’ve finally decided to interrogate me for information?” His tone regains its frigidity. 

“Not really. I’m just curious. I have people that I care about after all.” I shrug, “You aren’t exactly the evil zombie covered in tissue paper I was expecting.”

He doesn’t respond until he makes his next move, taking my other bishop. “I have come here to kill the followers of certain gods. I do this to repay a debt I owe to Ra.”

I frown at the name, surprised that it’s not a god I’ve already dealth with, like Set, or Sobek. If I remember my reading of the annoyingly complex egyptian mythology correctly, wasn’t Ra, the sun god, a good guy? “I’m guessing that I am one of those Beta Testers you were sent to kill, right?” 

“Yes.” He moves his queen to put my king in check.

“That sucks.” I move my king out of check. I swear, the dragon that represents my king glares at me as he moves out of the way.

“Indeed, I do not enjoy killing young ones.”

“Then why don’t you stop killing young ones?” I lean forward, studying the board intently. 

I feel heat from the intense glare the man gives me.

Quiet descends on us again, only interrupted by me drinking the last of my orange juice. I put the empty bottle in my inventory.

“I do not know how to stop.” He says. 

“It’s pretty easy once you decide to do it.” I say, “It’s much harder to take a life than it is to spare one. You just don’t realize how hard it is, until it’s too late.” I smile, “And that’s checkmate. Good game.”

The man stares in surprise at my queen who had just check-mated his king. “Were you baiting me by sacrificing your pieces?”

“Nah, I was just lucky. You up for another? I’m trying to avoid a call with my mom, and I know that the moment I get back to proper civilization, I’ll have to call her.” I smile at the thought of my poor sister, who is probably facing the inquisitive nature of our mother at this very moment. 

I really should look into that boyfriend thing. 

“I’m afraid I do not have the time.” The man stands up, his chair and table disappearing into the sand. I race to get my chess set back into my inventory before the table completely turns to sand.

“That’s a shame.” I stand up as my chair disappears from under me.

“You realize that I must kill you now?” The man asks.

“Do you realize that you don’t have to kill me now?” My smile doesn’t leave my face as he looks at me.

“It was a good game, but it’s over now.” The man reaches towards his waist, where a sword and sheath materialize out of the sand.

“Is it?” I give him a wink as I activate my earring. The world starts to distort, “I don’t think the game ever really ended.” 

The man unsheathes his sword, then hesitates. The hesitation is all I need as the world’s colors blend together, and he disappears from my sight. Color returns to my world and I drop onto a familiar rug. 

Well. That was a fun game of chess.

I’m glad that I finally got to use that set.

I guess it’s time to play another game.

I plop down on my butt, and get into a meditative pose. Once I feel ready, I stimulate my crown chakra, the connection with god.

The difference isn’t immediately noticeable, but when I open my eyes, I’m in a familiar field, a large sycamore tree standing in all its glory right in front of me. 

“This is a surprise. I take it you succeeded in your quest?” Isis says from her usual bench next to the river.

I walk over to her and sit down next to her. “Nope. I was too late. Instead, we sat and played a game of chess. Speaking of, would you like to play?” I pull the board from my inventory.

“I’m afraid I do not have the time.” She smiles in apology, “I was not ware he would awaken so soon. If you didn’t stop his awakening, how are you here?”

I put away the board and touch my left earring, “My little lifesaver.”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“I do have a question for you.” I cross my legs as I turn my gaze to the river.

“I expected as much.” Isis says.

“Why does Ra want me dead?” 

Isis doesn’t answer immediately, and when I turn to look at her, her expression is a thoughtful one. “It’s a long story, one of the few that your myths remembered correctly.” She pauses, her gaze looking past me into memories I can’t see, “When I was much younger, thousands of years ago, all I wanted was power. I knew that if I had enough power, I could do the impossible, I could bring my husband back from the land of the dead. In a sense, I was right.” She lets out a breath, “But my husband was no longer meant to be be in the land of the living.” She looks down to her hands. “I only got one day with, and for that day, I did many things I regret.”

****

Ra was an emperor, he was not a bad emperor, nor was he a good emperor. He was an Emperor. 

Some might say he was ruthless, and cruel. I would not argue with them. Ra brought the wrath of the sun on those who angered him, killing women and children alike. But he also oversaw the greatest time of his people, bringing life and wealth wherever he ruled.

Ra held power to rival Nut and Geb, the skies and the earth. I knew that with his power, I could accomplish my dream of seeing my husband again.

All I needed was the smallest piece of him. I waited for my moment, and eventually it came. On the night he fought Apep, the great snake, he shed blood.

I used that blood in my magic to create a creature in the likeness of his enemy, a snake. Then one day, he was bit by the creature I created.

No word of power he used could free him of the poison of the snake, since the poison was made of his own flesh. Terrified of the poison that would one day kill him, he called the greatest healer in the land to free him of his poison.

I was waiting for his call.

As he lay there dying, I told him there was only one way I could heal him. I would need his true name. He knew to not give his true name away, for with it, someone could have power beyond imagining. But fear of death twisted his mind, and he told me.

With knowledge of his true name, I forced the poison out of his body, and gained the power I desired.

It would take him a long time to find the truth of my actions, but eventually he did, and it made me an enemy I will never lose.

***

Isis finishes her story, her face unreadable.

“So, you were a manipulative bitch, and now you have one of the greatest gods, who controls the power of the sun, as your enemy.” I give her a look.

She laughs, “That is fairly accurate, yes.”

I sigh, “Well, that really sucks.” With that said, I cut the connection and return to my room. 

I know I’m being rude, but the mummy’s casual acceptance of killing me had struck a nerve. It reminded me of how fucked up the world can be sometimes.

I get out of my room and walk downstairs to the kitchen. Nobody is in the house at the moment, so I take my time in creating some proper food. 

I’d packed rations and quick meals for my trip, but they weren’t the same as a proper meal.

I make something simple, frying a few eggs, then putting them on some toast with cheese.

My first bite is heaven. My second bite loses its taste as I think of Isabelle, the Beta Tester who had almost killed me in Korea. I can’t help but wonder what she’s up to right now. Does she feel regret for the deaths of the people in our group? Or is she continuing to live her life as if nothing happened?

I finish my meal, trying to get the feeling of my first bite back. 

It’s official. I need a hug.

I take out my phone to message Rose, only to realize that it’s still out of battery. I scrounge up a charger and plug it in.

I should also call Blake. We really need to talk about what’s going on, and what the future’s going to look like.

I don’t know how he and Damien are going to survive without some kind of protection.

I pause, a thought occurring to me.

Can I introduce them to the system without having them kill a Beta Tester? 

I need to ask Taylor.

Once my phone is done charging, I message Rose.

Can you come over? I need a hug.

I watch as the three little dots move up and down, signaling that she’s typing.

Rose: Where have u been? I’m busy rn, but I’ll c u after dinner?

I’ve been out of town looking into some stuff. I’ll see you then.

Oh good, I have a hug incoming after dinner. I should probably shower before that.

I sniff my shirt.

Yep, definitely need a shower.

I hurry up to the shower, and enjoy the hot water for a good thirty minutes before I feel like facing the world again.

My poor shirt and bra end up in the trash bin, then I put on my pajamas.

Today is definitely a pajama day.

I lounge in bed until Rose arrives, then we cuddle and watch the newest romcom. 

It’s a good ending to a stressful day.