Eye of Ra (25 page)

“Thanks, I’ll take that under advisement,” Laurence chuckled.

“Then allow me to bestow upon you another prescription,” Thoth tilted his head. “Be as clear before the Council of Elders as you have been with me. It was an honor attending to you, Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra.”

Thoth bestowed upon him the Annunaki version of the curtsey once more before he and his familiar Seshaw exited the cell, which then sealed back up. Laurence silently watched as the armed guard escorted them away. He sat up and leaned against the wall, feeling better as the medication began to take effect.

Slowly he ran his hands across his bracers, wiping some of the soil of battle from them. After dusting his hands off, he smoothed out his skirt attempting to look presentable as he waited to be summoned. For the next fifteen minutes or so, he found himself getting up and pacing, sitting down, and then repeating the process several times until he heard the sound of footsteps again.

He decided to stand, knowing that this time they were coming for him.

The energy field to Laurence’s holding cell dissipated as an extremely large Annunaki warrior stepped in by himself. Much stockier than the other males he had encountered so far, he wore his raven-colored hair in long thick braids with half of the left side shaven off. It stood out against his slate grey skin. The beard on his chin, which hung down to his chest area, was also braided. His face, which appeared to have been ravaged by both age and battle, showed that he was Laurence’s elder by several thousand years or more. The silver and green armor he bore had the theme of a creature similar to crocodile. Laurence swallowed hard as the bruiser’s large and intimidating eyes peered right through him.

Without warning, he slammed his right forearm against his own chest plate, standing at attention, which made Laurence almost leap onto the ceiling.

“I am Sobek from the house of Set,” he formally introduced himself with a rumbling voice, “Chief High Guard to the Council of Elders. I have come to take you Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra to meet with the Elders.”

“Okay,” Laurence nodded, still shaken by the force of his presence.

He reentered the hall with Sobek and a two-man guard detail. Sobek took the lead, and Laurence fell in line as the guards flanked him, taking him out of the holding cell area back up the flights of steps into the main hall.

They ascended the grand spiral steps which led to the Hall of Elders. Unlike the others, this hall was constructed from pure silver Alder with etchings of hieroglyphics. Humongous Ember statues of past Elders stood in chronological order of rule. Each glowed brightly with eternal Awakening energy, making the hall shimmer. A chill ran down his spine as he passed the last three statues belonging to Set, Osiris, and finally Amun-Ra.

The massive circular chamber door before them rolled out of the way, allowing them to enter the Chamber of Elders.

As he entered the chamber room, his stomach imploded as his mind could barely comprehend what he saw before and around him. The Chamber was the exact opposite of the hall he walked through. It was bright gold, El Dorado bright, and half the size of a regulation stadium. Natural light beamed in from the crystal peak that he had seen before he entered the building. He walked through rows of towering golden columns that stretched as far as the eye could see. Each of them had gleaming silver hieroglyphics that appeared to tell some kind of history or story of the Annunaki.

His heart quickened, attempting to burst out of his chest as he approached the Council of Elders.

Although he knew they were not gods, it didn’t make him any more awestruck to stand before them. They were beings that had lived thousands of years, possessing knowledge and intelligence that surpassed any human genius living or dead on the planet Earth, and their names were well-known to anyone who had a sliver of knowledge about Egyptian mythology.

To Laurence, this was bigger than meeting a famous athlete, movie star, or music performer by a billion-fold and counting.

He took one final secret inhale of air as the procession came to a stop. He fought to keep his shaking under control underneath his armor as he peered up the sea of steps where they sat in thrones forged from pure shining gold and silver Alder, fashioned to represent each House. The House of Set, being the eldest house, sat in the middle. To its right was the House of Ra, and to its left was the House of Khnum. To the right of the House of Ra was the House of Osiris; while to the left of the House of Khnum was the House of Nu.

Laurence knew from his lessons that despite where they sat, all five houses were equal in power and respect.

Beads of sweat also began to form as he realized he was looking upon the familiar armor that he had been informed about, each standing guard behind its designated Elder. Fearsomely beautiful was the best description that came to his mind as he gazed upon the most powerful weapons unknown to any other humans in the universe.

Sobek and the guards that escorted him respectfully dropped to their knees, smacking their forearms against their chest as they bowed their heads to the Council. They rose once again and left him to stand alone before them. 

“This special Council of Elders has been called to order,” Isis announced. “Presently seated are Atum from the House of Nu, first son of Nu, Khnum the second, from the house of Khnum, first son of Khnum, Isis, wife of Osiris the third from the house of Osiris, first son of Osiris the second. Nephthys, wife of Set the third, from the house of Set, first son of Set the second, and Ma’at, first daughter of Amun-Ra from the house of Ra, first son of Amun.”

Isis’ voice made Laurence a bit weak in the knees. Her name in mythos was well known to him, and there she sat on high looking down at him. She was planet-shatteringly beautiful.

Her skin was a warm honey brown while her silky pearl black hair was bone straight and hung down to her shoulders. Certain things were inaccurate about the tales told of her. She had large, piercingly silver eyes and the toned, shapely physique of someone who had seen battle and won. Her facial features were those of a woman in her earlier forties – a mixture of motherly softness and not to be trifled with.

Her attire was in no way prudish. Her top consisted of a thick gold amulet with jewels and a bird emblem on the front. Two thick sets of colorful crystalline beads hung from the bottom of the amulet and connected around her torso to the back, acting as a brassiere over her bosom. Around her left bicep she wore a silver serpent that wrapped around her arm several times. He was able to see an ankle bracelet through the sheer white split-leg hip skirt she wore.

Standing to her right was her familiar armor designed in the theme of a hawk. Its color scheme was mostly silver Alder with gold Menos and green Ember gems pulsating with Awakening energy. Her armor had a set of massive multi-colored wings attached under the arms to the torso.

As she called each name, Laurence’s eyes nervously fixated on each Elder, taking in each of their regal appearances.

There was Atum resplendent in gold and silver, blue and green. With his gray skin and thick, midnight black braid off his right shoulder matching his braided beard, he appeared to Laurence like a Pharaoh of old.

There was Khnum the second, the oldest, largest and most intimidating being Laurence had ever laid eyes on. His bare-chested, onyx-colored physique was covered in battle scars that he did not even attempt to hide.

There was Nephthys, whose chilling, golden-eyed beauty recalled Isis, with a long sheer red skirt and gem-adorned golden necklace that covered the upper part of her breasts. Her thick silky raven and royal purple braided hair had a silver tiara perched on top of her head fashioned in the shape of a Seni.

Finally, there was Ma’at, his great, great, great many times great aunt, dressed slightly more modestly than Isis and Nephthys in a sheer white fitted skirt and bustier top made from several thick strings of golden beads. Her skin was a deep bronze color, and her pearl black hair hung straight down to the middle of her back. From her warm hazel eyes, Laurence couldn’t tell if she wanted to come down and embrace him or lop his head off.

Behind each of the Elders stood their fearsomely beautiful familiar armors: Atum’s stately emerald-black beetle-themed armor with sheathed long sword; Khnum’s minotaur-inspired armor hefting two heavy battle axes; Nephthys’ golden, forest-green graceful stork-like armor armed with a bow; and Ma’at’s eagle-themed armor with twin short swords. Knowing that any one of those living armors possessed the potential to obliterate a planet, Laurence wasn’t shocked at the lack of security.

He felt like a little worm on a big hook as Ma’at’s large eyes intensely locked onto him. He fought with every muscle fiber not to succumb to the chill running through his body as he stood tall and respectful before the Elders.

“For this session,” Isis continued. “We shall be speaking in the native language of Earth so that Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra can comprehend these proceedings.”

“Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra,” Atum’s voice boomed. “Under the laws of Anu, this Council recognizes you as a child under the bloodline of Amun-Ra. However, as you may know, Amun-Ra violated serious protocols when he sired your line.

That along with other disturbing information that has been brought to this Council’s attention shall be dealt with, but first we must attend to another matter at hand. Anubis may enter these chambers now.”

Laurence’s eyes widened as a big swallow ran down his throat. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck as he heard the footsteps of Anubis entering the chamber flanked by two armed guards. Laurence quickly glanced his way as he came into view standing several feet to his right. Stripped of his armor and familiars, he wore the regal garb of an Annunaki male of his stature and rank. He appeared to be fully healed and revived from their last skirmish.

Anubis with eyes only on the Council waited for his escorts to pay their respects and step away before he slammed his right forearm across his chest and bowed to the Council himself.

“Anubis, son of Set the third of the House of Set,” Nephthys spoke to her son with clear irritation. “You have been charged with violating Protocol 9756 of the Dominion Council forbidding further exploration to planets under quarantine. You are also charged under the laws of Anu with assault and attempted murder of a royal family member under the House of Ra.”

A stunned Laurence looked around at first wondering who she was referring to, until he realized she was talking about him.

“Both charges are considered capital offenses,” she spoke with a steely tone. “What do you have to say in regards to your actions?”

“I, Anubis, first son of Set the third from the house of Set,” he answered proudly. “Take full responsibility for my actions, and will receive whatever punishment this Council deems fit to administer to me.”

Laurence lowered his head and slowly raised and waved his hand, not believing what he was about to do next.

“Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra,” Khnum addressed him. “Do you wish to say something to this Council?”

His stomach felt full of metal lug nuts as he realized that all eyes and ears were now on him.

“Uh, if I may address the court …I mean Council,” he stammered a bit. “I would like to speak on Anubis’ behalf.”

The members each glanced at one another with subtle looks of surprise and pleasure at his request, as if he was a cute little child doing something grown-up. He would have found it a bit insulting had he not known that they had several thousand years of age and wisdom over him. He could also feel Anubis give him a quick glance, probably wondering what his endgame was.

“You may speak,” answered Nephthys.

“Anubis’ actions were that of a son … who loved and missed his father,” he found his words. “He wanted to know the truth about what happened to him. I would have done the same thing. And even though he did try to kill me, which was like mad foul. I think the knowledge that I, a mere half-breed, humbled his ass, being engrained in his skull for centuries to come is enough punishment, and makes us even.”

A slightly embarrassed Anubis briefly glared his way again with a scowl, while a slight smirk appeared on each of the Council of Elders’ face including his mother.

“And as far as him violating Protocol 9756,” Laurence continued. “Technically you can’t break a law that should not have gone into effect due to it being based on a lie. I can prove that, if you bring out my familiar.”

“Bring forth the familiar of Laurence Danjuma,” ordered Isis.

On command the female Annunaki warrior that retrieved his staff came forward with it. She respectfully bowed before Laurence handing it back to him.

“Transform,” he commanded.

On order it turned into its Seni form, wrapping itself around his right forearm. His eyes once again locked onto Ma’at who at the sight of the familiar tentatively leaned forward. He knelt down placing it on the floor, where it slid from his arm and coiled, standing at attention and awaiting instruction.

“Please play and recall the actual events that lead to the death of Osiris the third and Set the third,” Laurence nervously instructed. “And then answer any questions this Council requests from you in regards to those events.”

“Unfortunately I cannot obey that command due to protocols set by Amun …”

“Familiar, I am Ma’at, first daughter to Amun-Ra, Head of the House of Ra,” she interrupted it. “Do you recognize me?”