Thoth by Alessa Thorn

15

Kema didn’t think she would ever get used to seeing two gods of magic together. She was starting to think they annoyed each other simply because they were so much alike. Both were massive know-it-all’s who thought they were smarter than everyone else. To be fair, they were smarter, but they didn’t have to rub it in.

Thanks to the glyphs Thoth had placed on her to read and understand languages, Kema had been reading the books of magic during the day in between customers. Her notebook was filling up with anything she thought could be helpful to stop the creatures she had unknowingly released.

“Saqqara has changed dramatically since you were there last. The temple of Hathor Aphrodite would be ruins by now,” Thoth said.

“But the energy of the place would still be the same,” Hermes argued. “If we can separate it to identify only god power, maybe we will be able to lock onto Anubis’s unique signature and get Set to track it that way.”

“That’s a big if, Hermes.”

“Better than nothing.”

Kema was having the time of her life, just quietly sitting and watching them argue about magic. Thoth’s mouth was still a little red from her lipstick, and she liked that too.

Kema hadn’t been sure how he was going to react to the kiss from the previous evening and had stayed out of his way all day.

You and I have unfinished business. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily, Thoth’s voice whispered to her, low and husky.

Kema had spent every second Thoth had been digging around in Hermes’s memory thinking about that. It was equal parts threat and promise, both making her heart pound and core warm in anticipation.

What are you doing messing about with a god, Kema? You know from the stories how mercurial they can be. What if you ever want to break up with him, and he turns you into a bug? Do you really want to fool about with someone that’s going to cause that much drama?

Kema looked across the workshop to where Thoth discussed theories with Hermes. Dressed in black jeans and a white button up shirt, a little rumpled around the edges, and tattoos flashing up his arm, Kema decided that maybe her life would be more interesting with his kind of drama in it. Even if it was only for a little while.

“How long have they been at it?” Selene asked, coming in quietly to stand next to Kema. Her blue eyes sparkled when she looked at Hermes, and Kema wondered what it would feel like to be that in love with someone.

“A little while. They are bonding over magic,” Kema replied.

“About time. I don’t like how much they argue.”

“I’m pretty sure Thoth sees all conversations about magic as an argument.”

Selene raised a dark brow. “I honestly never thought I would find someone more argumentative than Hermes. How do you stand it?”

“Thoth generally doesn’t mean anything malicious by it. He processes things out loud. I’m sure there’s a reason why he feels the need to do it, but I haven’t figured out what it is yet,” Kema replied with a small shrug.

“But you want to?”

“Sure, I do. I like knowing what makes people tick. Gods are an interesting challenge.”

Selene patted Kema’s shoulder. “Good luck with that. I’ve been around Hades’s court in Styx for years now, and they are so old, you’ll go mad trying to figure out why they do things the way they do. They’ve probably forgotten themselves.”

Kema doubted Thoth forgot anything. Hermes’s smile went radioactive when he spotted Selene.

“Silver! Come and check me over. Thoth’s done something to my memory from the inside. I think it’s working.”

“Don’t act so surprised,” Thoth said, folding his arms. “Are you accompanying us to Saqqara?”

“Sure, I am. I want to meet Anubis,” Selene replied.

“Kema? Are you in?” Thoth asked. She was a little surprised that she wouldn’t have to fight him to let her tag along.

“Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to go to Saqqara,” she replied, hopping down off the stool.

“It will be a good learning experience for you, Kema,” Hermes said. A devious glint sparkled in his eyes. “You know, if you did want to learn magic properly, you would always be welcome in Styx. I would be able to teach you so much, and it’s obvious you have a real talent for it.”

“And why would she go all the way to Greece to learn inferior magic that’s a poor cousin to what she can find in Egypt? Anything decent you’ve been able to come up with has been stolen from us anyway,” Thoth argued.

“I would like to learn both,” Kema said, and the two gods raised brows at her. “I have blood from Greece, but Egypt is where I was born. I’m going to learn about magic from both, and then I’ll move onto somewhere else. I don’t want to limit myself. I want to know…everything.”

Hermes laughed and gestured with his head toward Thoth. “You sound like him. Always wanted to know everything about everything.”

“There are worse people to sound like.” Kema shrugged unapologetically. “Magic is my true love. Now that I have found so much of it, I want all of it.”

Thoth was staring at her, his eyes glowing softly with magic and hot with desire. If he kept looking at her like that, Kema would spontaneously combust.

“Okay, enough chit chat. Time is running out,” Hermes said and tapped the butt of the caduceus down on the stone tiles. His golden magic sliced the air, and a doorway opened. Through it, Kema saw the lights of a new city.

Thoth snorted. “Always so showy.”

“Says the god that leaves bronze glitter in the air after the slightest bit of magic,” Hermes replied.

Kema walked through the doorway as they were still bickering and onto a field surrounded by buildings. The air smelled different than in Alexandria, less humid and salty and carrying the arid scent of the desert. Warm fingers brushed down the soft skin of her inner forearm, making goosebumps rush up her spine.

“Don’t wander off and get lost,” Thoth said by her ear.

“I’m sure you would be able to find me,” Kema replied.

“He will as long as that brand is on your arm. The offer to remove it still stands,” Hermes replied.

“Stop provoking everyone,” Selene said with a sigh.

“Kema needs to know she has options—”

“I have the option to tell you to be quiet and focus on finding Anubis,” Kema snapped. She waved a hand at Hermes. “Come on, you were the one that said we could use energy to find where we need to go.”

“Yes, Hermes, by all means thrill us with your skills,” Thoth said wryly. “Do you even know what is lying beneath our feet?”

“The Temple of Ptah,” Hermes said without hesitation. He knelt down and placed his hand on the brown grass. “You can still feel the hum of power generated by thousands of worshippers. Selene? Make sure I don’t crash into anything.”

A golden glow emanated from the caduceus and wrapped around Hermes eyes. He holstered the staff on his back before it vanished.

“I can see how the city used to look,” Hermes said, voice shifting. “This way. I can follow the hum to where I believe Hathor Aphrodite’s temple was.”

They joined the nighttime crowd from a wedding that had spilled out onto the streets.

“Having fond memories of your own wedding?” Thoth asked. Kema turned to see if he was being an ass, but she saw the glimmer of teasing in his eyes.

A first time for everything.

“I have no regrets about that day whatsoever,” she replied.

“Not even stealing from me?”

“Especially not that. That book has kept me out of poverty every day since I stole it.”

Thoth managed a small huff of laughter. “I have gone over it time and time again. By all reasoning, you shouldn’t have been able to find the door of my store that day. I hadn’t even opened yet. Not to mention, there’s a spell against shop lifting, and you walked right out without paying.”

Kema nudged him gently with her shoulder. “What’s your theory? I can see you have one.”

“Your god blood makes the obvious sense.”

“And the less obvious?”

Thoth tucked his hands into his pockets. “Fate. Destiny. Providence. Whatever you prefer.”

“Ah. I bet you hate that,” Kema said.

Thoth groaned. “I do. That’s why I’m maintaining it’s Hermes blood that allowed you through the wards. It’s the god of thieves in you.”

Kema hummed. “Maybe you’re right.”

“You’re choosing Fate, aren’t you?” Thoth cast his eyes heavenward. “Of course you are.”

“It makes the most sense! God blood might explain being able to find the store to hide in. It doesn’t explain why I couldn’t find it again, or why our paths haven’t crossed since. We both live in the same part of Alexandria! I don’t mind either way. I’m happy to be here for the ride, as long as it lasts.”

Kema looped her arm through Thoth’s, and they continued following Selene and Hermes.

“I’m really happy you didn’t get married that day, Kema,” Thoth whispered a minute later. She beamed up at him.

“You see? I told you that we would become friends.”

“It must be my sparkling personality,” Thoth replied, giving Kema her favorite wry smile. She was bold enough to give one of his dark shoulder-length curls a tug.

“No, sorcerer. It’s because you’re so pretty.”

“You’re full of it. And we both know it’s because you want my books on magic.”

“Well, that and your—”

“This is it!” Hermes called back to them. They were standing in front of an unremarkable wooden door with a small plaque next to it that read Sycamore.

“Are you sure this is the place, Hermes? Or has your inferior magic given you a wrong turn,” Thoth asked.

“No, this is definitely the spot. Let’s see who answers the door. They might be willing to let a handsome god have a look around.”

“Then it’s a good thing you brought me along.”

Selene laughed. “Play nice, you two. Remember why we are here.”

“We really should let them strip off and fight it out,” Kema suggested.

“What does stripping have to do with fighting?” Thoth asked. Kema jumped because she didn’t realize he was listening. Kema, being Kema, merely looked him over slowly, grinned, and said nothing.

Hermes knocked on the door. The small window slid open, and a hazy red light illuminated a stern face.

“What’s the password?” the doorman asked.

Golden light buzzed around Hermes’s hand, and he answered, “Aphrodite’s tits smell of roses.”

The doorman nodded towards the women. “All pets have to be leashed before entering.”

Without hesitating, Selene’s magic had a collar appearing in her hands. “You have it wrong. He’s my pet.”

“Whatever. Can’t let you in until it’s done.”

“Oh, it’s that kind of a place,” Hermes said happily. He leaned down so Selene could fasten his collar, his golden eyes turning molten with lust. “Tie it nice and tight, my mistress.”

Kema tried not to giggle as Thoth visibly fought with the absurdity of it all.

“Don’t worry, master, I’ll be a good girl,” she purred.

“You wouldn’t know how.” Thoth cleared his throat before taking a leash made of silk ribbon from a pocket. “Try not to enjoy this too much,” he whispered to her and tied it loosely around her throat.

“I could say the same thing to you,” Kema replied, fluttering her lashes.

The door opened, and they stepped into the smoky red light, Kema wondering what they were about to walk into.