Thoth by Alessa Thorn

9

Thoth realized a little too late that his arm was still about Kema’s shoulders. She smelled sweet, like treats and the rose scented candles she burned in her fortunetelling tent. She hadn’t moved his arm either, and while he found that curious, he still dropped it, fingertips tracing down the soft navy blue fabric of her shirt.

Thoth couldn’t remember the last time he had been protective of anyone, but the way the man had leered at her made him want to smack him in the face.

Can you really blame him?

Kema had changed from her Madame Heka chiton to jeans, boots, and a button-up shirt, but there was still something about her that drew the eye.

The devastating smile perhaps.Thoth pushed the thought away quickly. He was on a ghost hunt. He didn’t need to get distracted by flirting. Although Kema seemed quite happy to flirt with him and all the world around her.

Are you sure she doesn’t have god blood somewhere? Set had asked him that again after the chimera incident, but Thoth didn’t want to think too hard about it. He didn’t want to think of the implications. He knew she wasn’t one of his bloodline, and that’s all that mattered.

And magic was her true love. Maybe they had more in common than he was willing to believe. It could be the reason they argued so much.

The white limestone blocks of the Roman amphitheater glowed soft and golden in the fading light. Tourists still mingled about, sitting on the steps of the semi-circle and taking photos, eating street food and kissing.

“How are we meant to catch a ghost with all of these people hanging around?” Kema said, looking about.

“I’ll let them have a few more minutes and then give them a shove if they don’t leave with the sun,” Thoth replied.

Kema leaned against one of the pillars and opened a book. It took Thoth a moment to realize it was his book.

“How did you…”

“You were distracted by protecting my virtue. What is this about?” she asked, flicking through the pages.

“It’s a grimoire written by an Egyptian mage named Abra-Melin, who lived in a town on the Nile called Araki,” Thoth said.

“Wait, isn’t he one of the guys that the Golden Dawn got all excited about? It’s supposed to be Kabbalist secrets or something,” Kema replied and then flushed. “What? Why are you staring at me?”

“I just…” Thoth began and then stopped. I just want to kiss you all of a sudden. Kema saved him from that embarrassment by turning back to the book.

“Is this the same version as the one that was translated? Or is this something different?”

“It’s one of the books I acquired in Cairo that is claimed to be written by him. I picked it up because it seemed to be different to the twelve other copies that were in circulation,” Thoth explained.

“Interesting. So is it a book about magic or a book of magic?”

Thoth smiled at the way she phrased the question because it highlighted that she knew there was a significant difference.

“As yet to be determined. I have no use for summoning my Holy Guardian Angel, and in any case, I doubt I would have one,” he said.

“My guardian angel is probably chain smoking and lost patches of hair from stress and is very unlikely willing to give me secret magical knowledge,” Kema replied, shutting the book and offering it back to him. “I supposed I’ll just have to take my chances with the god of magic.”

“Try not to sound so disappointed.”

Kema looked him over. “I can think of worse things I could be doing right now than hanging out with you. Better watch out, Thoth. We might end up being friends by the end of this.”

Thoth folded his arms. “And what makes you so sure of that?”

Kema’s hands suddenly had cards in them, and she flicked them expertly through her fingers. “Didn’t you read my sign? I can see the future.”

“Well, don’t go looking into mine. I’ve long ago learned that divining my future took the fun out of life, so I stopped it. Life is tedious enough without knowing what’s going to happen.”

For some reason, Kema shuffling cards made him uneasy. She only smiled wider. “Don’t you want to know if you are going to have an unexpected encounter? Or a visit from an old friend? A new lover perhaps?”

“I’m not in need of any of those things,” Thoth replied.

Kema bit back a laugh, and the cards disappeared into her back pocket again. “If you say so, sorcerer.”

“I do say so. I’ve already had my unexpected encounter by crossing paths with you again,” he replied, looking at the last of the sun disappearing.

“Well, I suppose we will have to wait and see about the other two,” Kema said, making Thoth feel flustered in a way that made him want to snap at her. She was a teasing creature and seemed to have no self-preservation when it came to back talking him.

He didn’t want to tell her that he had no old friends, and he had nothing worth offering a new lover. He had always been better off alone and always would be.

Unsettled by his train of thought, Thoth sent out a spell in the air. Kema straightened, sensing the magic. She turned in time to see the remaining tourists suddenly stop what they were doing and walk away from the amphitheater.

“Is that how you got rid of my clients today?” she asked.

“More or less. This way.” Thoth led her down the stairs and to the area of the stage. “The ghost has been sighted here the past two nights.”

“Okay, so do we make a trap like we did with the chimera? I remember the markings, so I can help you draw it up,” Kema said eagerly.

Curious, Thoth reached into his pocket and pulled out a charcoal pencil. He offered it to her. “Prove it.”

Surely, she’s bluffing…

Kema took the charcoal. “How big do you need the circle?”

“Better make it two meters at least, and center stage,” Thoth replied, humoring her.

Kema nodded and then began to sketch. Her glyphs were a little shaky around the edges, but they were accurate.

“How?” Thoth demanded.

“I have a good memory, especially for things that interest me.”

“But you don’t even know what they mean!”

Kema offered him the charcoal back. “Do I need to?”

Thoth suddenly knew why he had such difficulties with her and the cards she created. “You are wielding magic you have no understanding of and are doing it just because you know it works. You have no sense of self preservation.”

“If only there was someone out there that could teach me,” Kema said mockingly.

Muttering, Thoth scuffed out the charcoal glyph that represented a chimera and changed it to be for a ghost. Kema was behind him, peering over his shoulder curiously. She had already seen it and had therefore memorized it.

“Please don’t try and use this kind of a circle without me,” he said quickly.

“I won’t. I just want to know what you’re doing,” she replied, the tip of her long braid brushing against his shoulder while she studied his work. Thoth’s hand reached for the silky lock, just as a ghost appeared at the right of the stage.

“Can you see it?” Thoth asked.

“No, but I can feel…something. It’s over there?” Kema guessed, pointing right at it.

“Yes,” Thoth said with a smile. He took her hand and traced a revealing glyph on it. The magic took effect, and Kema let out a small gasp as the ghost wearing a Greek tragedy mask and a flimsy robe appeared.

“Do you think it was an actor?” she asked.

“Most likely. Ghosts can be tricky because sometimes they can’t talk, and other times, they don’t know they are dead. It can be hard to get their attention—”

“Hey you!” Kema shouted, and the ghost startled. “Come over here. I got this great new script I want you to read.”

“You address me, woman?” the ghost replied.

“I do. Quick, or I’m going to find someone else for the starring role,” Kema replied.

Thoth could only stare as the ghost actually obeyed her. It didn’t notice the glyphs written on the limestone. It was enchanted by Kema like everyone else that met her.

“Where is this script?” the ghost asked, holding out his hand.

“Yeah, sorry, I lied.” Kema turned to Thoth. “Okay, sorcerer what do we do now?”

“Send it back where it belongs,” Thoth replied. Magic flared along his skin, and a glowing chain tumbled from his palm. It belonged to Anubis for wrangling wayward souls, but Thoth had taken possession of it when the God of the Dead went missing. Someone had to do the dirty job of capturing souls and demons.

“Step back,” Thoth told Kema, and she actually did as she was told. He swung the chain, the gold glow of the Duat filling it with power, and it curled around the cursing ghost. It fought and disappeared in a cloud of ash. Thoth flicked the chain, and it reeled back into his palm and disappeared.

“When can I learn to do that?” Kema asked, rushing back to his side.

“Never. As soon as Anubis is back, it will be his job, not ours.” Thoth scuffed out the charcoal marks on the ground with the toe of his boot. “That was a lot easier than I thought it would be.”

Kema grinned. “So I did okay for a sidekick?”

“I have never seen a ghost pay attention to a mortal like that. How did you know it would work?” he asked.

“I dated an actor once, and he was a whore for a new script, so I thought I would give it a go,” Kema said with a shrug.

“Clever of you,” Thoth replied, ignoring the strange prick of jealousy. “I’ll take you home.”

Kema crossed her fingers. “Magic door, magic door…”

“Oh, very well.” Thoth let out a huff of laughter and took her hand. “Close your eyes and focus on a space in your apartment for me. Picture it clearly in your mind.” Thoth’s magic curled around their palms, and for the first time, he felt her own magic pulse back in response.

Isn’t that interesting?

A doorway opened, showing a colorful lounge room, and they stepped through. Thoth hadn’t meant to go with her, but she didn’t let go of his hand, and she ended up tugging him through.

Kema immediately found a notebook and started writing in it. She held it up to Thoth when she was done. “The extra glyph you wrote tonight looks like this, right?” she asked.

Thoth took her pen and added a more precise version underneath it. “This is a sign for ghost, soul, or Ka, whatever you prefer.”

“Thanks,” Kema said, eyes shining with excitement.

Thoth knew she would make a good student, but still wouldn’t take her as an apprentice. That sort of arrangement came with too many rules, and he didn’t want any when it came to her. He realized he was staring at her and quickly turned his attention to the bookshelf. All the usual, and incorrect, suspects were there, including the Hermetica.

“Oh, don’t say it,” Kema huffed, sensing his disapproval.

“I wasn’t going to say a thing.”

“You were thinking loudly. I had to work with what I could get my hands on,” Kema explained. She nudged him gently with her shoulder. “Someone is hoarding all the real stuff where no one can get to it.”

“With good reason. I have had enough to do with only you causing rips in reality. Could you imagine if there were a legion of other wannabe sorcerers out there?” Thoth replied. He glared at the small statue she had of Hermes. “Really? This asshole is the god of magic you look up to and yet you give me such a hard time?”

Kema raised a brow. “You have something against Hermes?”

“He’s ridiculous,” Thoth replied. His feathers were definitely ruffled, and he wanted to toss the trinket out the window.

“You’re just jealous I don’t have a statue of you. The writings of Hermes Trismegistus are the more interesting things I found. Did you know him?” Kema asked.

Thoth’s blood pressure rose at the glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “Hermes is a drunk git that used to use Egypt as his party playground! That’s why people thought he kept being reborn. He used to waltz in every couple of hundred years, get shit faced, and cause a massive mess before leaving again. I was the one that always had to clean up after him.”

Kema held her hands up in surrender. “Alright, another sensitive spot. Sorry I asked.”

“I’m not sensitive. I just want to rid you of any false ideas you have that make you think Hermes is worthy of your regard,” Thoth replied. He fidgeted, the room suddenly too warm and Kema too close.

Thoth didn’t know why seeing Hermes in her house irritated him so much. He was going to say or do something he would regret if he didn’t leave. He didn’t want to argue with her over fucking Hermes of all things.

“I need to go,” Thoth said quickly, summoning a door to the bookstore. Kema’s smile slipped.

“Good night, Thoth. Thanks for the adventure,” she replied. “Try not to stay away so long this time.”

Thoth paused. “Why?”

“Maybe I like having you around.”

“You would be the first,” he replied, tearing his eyes away from her and letting the door close behind him.