You Can Deceive Anyone

Other gods perched around to watch, none of them had any intention of stopping them.

An'ur from the Bull sector of Anhur's men. He threw a punch, one that Khaldun had already perceived. Khal blocked the punch and gave him a strong right jab on the chin. That one sent the god staggering back.

"You punch well," he spat gold. "Let's see how well you do against me in my armour," An'ur did what no one was expecting, transforming into his armoured bull form.

A few gods there knew An'ur was a high ranking officer in the bull sector.

He dashed like a ranging bull and he and Khal held fists escorted by gusting wind, pushing each other.

An'ur frustration was clearly visible even behind his silver armour. He wasn't expecting to struggle with a demigod.

As the gods would have it he managed to force Khaldun to the ground. He was proud of himself. A proud fool. For only a fool would believe that was enough to take out a demigod.

"Weakling. Demigods are so fragile. One hit was all it took," An'ur boasted. His bull tail swerved behind his partially covered ass.

"An abomination." He continued, spitting on the ground while he addressed his audience.

Khaldun was already on his feet. An'ur turned surprised. The demigod was not happy.

"I told you I have a name and it's not 'demigod'" the winds were still and teeth gnashed. Khaldun freed his wings and in that same instant, he dashed too fast for An'ur to react, he brought the heavy bull's face to the concrete floor of the streets of Egypt.

Gold littered where his face grazed. The armour around his face was lost. Khaldun lifted and threw him into an abandoned house.

An'ur's body quaked, his armour retracted, he lied flat on his belly filled with shame. Khaldun wasn't done with him yet. He turned him over with his legs.

"My name is Khaldun," a heavy blow landed on the already disfigured face. The name made An'ur realized he made a mistake. He had heard of Khaldun but didn't know him. It became clear to him why he lost. He thought of begging for mercy, another blow disrupted his thoughts.

Khaldun raised his fist again to land another punch when a voice stopped him, "Stop," Horus commanded above him. Khaldun looked up immediately, he let go of An'ur.

Horus eyed around, no primordial god was around, "Fly with me," he told his son. Khaldun followed hesitantly.

Bomani watched his friend fly away. He pitied An'ur but he had it coming.

"What do you think you are doing?" Horus asked as Khal landed on a flattop tower behind him.

"I don't think I understand that question," Khal retorted, rubbing his nose.

Horus sighed, "You know people like you make it hard to tell the difference between good and bad, black and white,"

"There it is," Khal lifted his hand.

"What?"

"You primordial gods think everything is black and white but there are not. People aren't born bad or good. People make choices based on their circumstances. You think everyone who steal, do it because they want to. Some do it because they have no choice,"

"Why would stealing be a choice for any person in his right state of mind?" Horus questioned bitterly.

"Except life circumstances are never in the right state. You can't see it because you fly over it. I lived down there and I know what it's like. They push people. The way that guy push me."

"So you're justifying your actions now,"

Khal was silent. Horus continued, "Okay… maybe you're right. Maybe we do ignore some of these things," he paused, "But what do you want? What are you trying to prove?"

"I want people to hate me for who I am not for what I am. The second they hear I'm a demigod, boom! Abomination blah blah blah! It's like hating a person because they're a girl,"

Horus was stunned. "Hard truths," he nodded and touched Khal's shoulder. "Not everyone hates a person for being a girl. Same way not every god hates a demigod. I don't hate you or any of the demigods out there. You know this right?"

Khaldun nodded slowly. Horus welcomed him into his arms.

************

The streets were cleared almost immediately. The woman was helped up by her neighbours and sympathizers. The little audience slowly disappeared.

"Your friend got into a fight again," Sekhmet announced to Bomani. "I know. I was watching," Bomani retorted, turning to face Sekhmet.

They stared at each other, till Sekhmet broke the stare contest, "Don't worry I won't ask why you didn't stop him. Jeez, if eyes could kill." She sighed and Bomani chuckled.

"Did any of you happen to see my sister?" A distressed voice asked. Tahirah looked tired. As if she had searched the whole of Egypt.

"No." The other two echoed. She was stunned by their unison.

"Why are you searching for her? Did she steal something?" Sekhmet teased the stressed goddess.

Tahirah gave a sour look, "She didn't and I haven't seen her since yesterday."

"It's possible she went registering for the tournament tomorrow. We seem to be getting a lot of female contestants this year and I still don't know why," Bomani rubbed his lips.

"Seriously? Who do you think won last year's tournament?"

"Oh!" It was now clear. "Well check places she likes going to," Bomani suggested to Tahirah, one hand on his goaty.

"But I have and –" Tahirah stopped when Sekhmet suddenly whispered in Bomani's ear.

Ptah's giving me a sneak peak to crafts that'll be showcased tomorrow at the festival. You coming?

"Sure," Bomani was amazed and he grinned.

"I'm also coming." Tahirah announced to them.

"But you don't know where we're going," Bomani cocked an eyebrow. Sekhmet folded arms across her breasts.

"So? When Sekhmet whispers something… it's gotta be big, right?" Tahirah moved closer to them.

"Awwn Thank You," Sekhmet blushed in between chuckles.

"I thought you were looking for your sister?" Bomani questioned.

"Oh please! She's an adult she can take care of herself,"

Eyes widened at her words. "Wow!" Sekhmet said inaudibly.

Tahirah ushered them to get moving. Tahirah is often described by lose of focus sometimes. Yes, she's strong but she can be strange sometimes.

*****************

The temple of Anu as a lot of curtains. Curtains of all colours. One could get lost here. As colourful as it sounds, men in any form, god or man are not allowed in here.

But boundaries are only written on paper when it comes to this demigod, Sethos.

Sethos pulled curtain to curtain, not scared of being seen. He finally got to her.

Beautiful, every part of her. Long dark hair, stunned around with gold. White silk gown worn in their glory.

"Hello Suma," Sethos said and was greeted back by a knife to his neck. Suma had a servant dress like her.

"Hello Sethos. You failed the test. You couldn't tell the difference between the real me and a copy," She chuckled, one hand on the knife and the other on Sethos' shoulder.

"Except I didn't fail."

"How so?"

"Because I greeted you from the start and not her," he pointed at the servant.

"Nice one. But your lies are not as convincing as your illusions," she rubbed the shoulder gently.

Sethos closed his eyes and smiled, "What if I said me being here is nothing but an illusion?" His body faded into sand and dust like footprints in the desert. The real Sethos stopped behind Suma and held her knife hand, "And that me greeting you from the beginning was actually true," he added, his hands played with her hair.

Suma turned around and entered his arms, "I would believe it," she gazed into the demigods eyes.

"I love you," Sethos said. Suma rubbed his slightly broad chest, "Now that, I find hard to believe," Suma pushed him away from her.

"Why?" Sethos was a bit surprised.

"Come on! You can deceive anyone, god, man or beast. And they won't even know it. 5 days would go by and people will think they're living the longest afternoon of their lives. You can make your illusions the whole world's reality," Suma expressed herself or her fear.

"You know I have limits," Sethos moved closer to her. "No you don't. And that's what people think. They underestimate you because you're a demigod. But I'm the only who knows what you're really capable of," she stared at him and sighed, "I've seen them. Thoth's research on demigods. I –"

"Suma!" he placed a finger across his lips, "Someone could hear you." She complied. She didn't realize she was loud.

"You don't have to be scared. I'll never deceive you,"

"Really? You just did,"

"You trust me, right?" Sethos said in a small voice.

"Yes, I do," she held his hand, "And I love you too," lips reached for each other, then boom! Sour moment, she backed out.

"You gonna have to tell what you were doing here?" Suma slipped away from him at the last second before total intimacy.

He raised his lips, "To see you. Why else would I come here? Tomorrow's the festival, and I might not be able to see you,"

"Why would you say that?"

Sethos cocked an eyebrow and rolled his head, "You're the daughter of Anat, goddess of sexuality. All eyes will be on you, when you're on the high seats,"

"Ooh! So you're scared you might lose me to a god?" Suma giggled.

"Scared? Anyone coming in here to see you should be scared but here I am,"

"Nah! They are different," at this point it seemed as if Sethos had nothing more to say.

"You're cute when you're like this," she hopped in his arms and they had the get go. Forgive me for my poor choice of words.

*****************

At the heat of preparation and all and all, somewhere far the courts of the gods, a man walks into a dark building and navigated it as if he built it.

"How many of you are here?" The man asked the darkness.

"Enough. Just enough for the event."

"Then I'll see you there," The man started for the exit.

***************

Sunset embraced the world, but people are yet to embrace their homes. The festival kept men and women buzzing every street and road. Still, a different reason kept one demigod and a mortal together, "Take it," he offered an eye shaped size steel ball.

"What is it?"

"When pressed it produces a light that only my eyes can see. That's not all, I can see it from anywhere in the world,"

The mortals' face beamed, "I'll always have it with me," she took it in her soft hands, "And I pray you never doubt your eyes."

****************

Muffled sounds and sobs came from under the bed of a goddess. She quivered in fear and muttered the words, "Help me," she folded her legs and hands and forced her lips together. She was scared. The cause of this scare happened seven years ago. It was a long time but she had not heal from it and no one knew it.