Fate’s Favourite Punching Bag

by Scobanala

Summary:

Seth would formally like to meet the God of transmigration and give them a good beating for thinking that making him a bottom in some stupid BL manhwa just after having murdered Osiris was a good idea.

Unfortunately, there is no such God, so instead he'll have to settle for bullying everyone else to make up for his horrid new life.

Chapter 1

It was cold.

Frigid, hard, blisteringly cold. A funny thing to admit, really, when Egypt is so often described as a hot place.

But it is night and the warm bliss of Ra's sun hardly has time to kiss them at every waking moment.

Ra...

Right. Ra. The Sun God. Or Goddess. It depends on the depiction, as most things do in mythology when tales older than the pyramids themselves have been passed through countless generations of unreliable narrators.

Though right now, she was not just a myth but rather a real, living, breathing God.

And he's...Seth. Set. Whatever. God of Chaos and Storms or the God of Sand and War. Sometimes father of Anubis and, in later depictions, Sobek and Maga. Known consorts being Nephthys, Anat and--oh, who the fuck knows? Maybe his own damn mother. Egyptian mythology being filled with the incest-loving freaks that they were makes it entirely possible.

He feels something cold and wet drip down his leg.

Oh yes, and siblings as well. Nephews, nieces, great grandmas. Can't forget those.

It's just...this wasn't meant to happen. Well, obviously. If he had known picking up that 18+ BL manhwa would have led to him becoming the fucking bottom, he would've chosen a different thing to read.

Seth—because apparently, that's him according to his vibrant red hair and defined abs—buried his head between his hands and screamed his throat raw.

Of course. Of course. Of course. Leave it to him to end up in impossible, world-shattering situations.

He's fuming, hurt, sad and damn it, he wants to have a bath.

Osiris is still on him, in him, looming, clawing, digging at his flesh and Seth knows, logically, that he has no memory of the event—of anything—but given that the man's love bites were on his neck, it was easy to imagine.

Right, this is the beginning. Of everything. Of what he's read, at least. Anubis is in the room over, maybe with Isis who's stabbing her palms while her husband fucks their brother, trying desperately to forget or, worse, to remember and despise them both more.

Maybe he could just...leave. Not deal with this. He doesn't have to go. Anubis is not really his child, Nephthys hardly counts as a wife or a sister in her current state, and Isis is probably plotting his demise. Or maybe that was after he threw her in that underground labyrinth.

Who knows?

Taking in a long, shaky breath, he wobbles to his feet and feels more disgusted than ever at the pain between his legs.

His legs. Because he's Seth, a mythical God. Right, he needs to get used to that.

Everything goes well for him before Ennead, right? Seth could probably just follow the script, enjoy a couple hundred years of drinking, fucking and crying his problems away before winning the three trials with his knowledge of the tricks at play.

And then he could just...rest. Do nothing. Not care. It'd be so easy, and he's so tired. He's hardly a good man, God—and Seth tries hard not to think how he could be the God in question—knows he's not.

Following the script would be easy.

But then again, leaving may be the better option. He could probably live as some lowly sand farmer in...Ancient Greece or Rome. Whatever he wants. Meet some famous philosophers, drink with them, debate what one should do if they become a God, drink some more, fuck Zeus because everyone else already has, maybe meet Jesus if the timeline is right.

Like, actual Jesus, the one from the Bible. Seth could witness the birth of Christianity. That's so insane.

Yes, leaving sounds amazing.

Unfortunately, he had already opened the door that contained Isis, who possessed a flow of furious tears streaming down her face.

"Seth." She greets flatly as he stares at her.

And stares.

And stares some more.

"Seth!" She snaps as he finally blinks.

Right, that's his cue. Say the lines. Ask her to marry him. Go insane and throw her in some underground labyrinth that he doesn't know the location of.

"I..." Seth feels his mouth dry like the sand that has been clinging to him since he woke up. "I..."

"I?" Isis prompts, her face that same flat, angry thing that has Seth wanting to bolt.

"I killed your husband." He blurts out at last. "I mean, sort of."

"Sort of?" Isis hisses. "You sort of killed my husband?!"

She blanches at the word 'husband' before clenching her fist, clearly having remembered his betrayal.

"Well, he's in Duat right now, probably throwing a fit." Duat, right, the land of the dead. Probably best not to die right now; Seth hardly wants to spend an eternity with the green bald brother lover. "You could visit...?"

Was that a thing she could do? She hadn't in the manhwa, maybe because of her loss of power. Or maybe she had more self-respect than to visit her cheater, rapist, evil son-of-a-bitch husband longer than she had to. Even despite her apparent love for him.

"You're telling me to kill myself." Despite her morbid words, Isis doesn't seem the least bit scared.

Actually, he really wasn't. But he can definitely see how it was implied.

"Don't do that." He commands as Isis' gaze hardens further.

Suddenly, Seth wished Ancient Egyptian Gods actually wore shirts with how completely naked he felt in front of this woman.

"I could...explain why I did it?" He offers, though it sounded more like a question. "If you want?"

No, no, no, those weren't the damn lines! Marriage! Ask for marriage!

But Isis, who once wore an unmovable expression of hate, faltered, looking completely shocked.

He feels like a child now, with the way he aches to fiddle with his fingers to avoid Isis. And right, he can leave, this is fine, this is all fine, just turn around and pretend this didn't happen before coming back in a couple more minutes and repeating this. If Isis confronts him he'll just say she was hallucinating.

However, with each second that passes, so too does his anger. Unbearably so as Isis continues to look at him dumbly, as though this had never been an option between them. Or an option she could have hoped for.

Frustration bubbles over into a white, static fury. He's read the damn manhwa, weren't those the words she wanted to hear anyway? That they talk about this? They can talk. They can talk right after he rages.

"Why the fuck am I even trying to comfort you?" He sneers as Isis jolts. "Isn't it meant to be the other way around? You--!"

She watched. She watched her husband force himself on him and just...turned away. Left.

He wants to leave too. Leave this place all behind and forget. Forget that he's Seth and not some average human living their average life. Understanding the action doesn't make him any more forgiving.

"Fuck off!" He yells before chucking a vase towards her head, to which Isis sluggishly dodges. "Leave! Fucking go! Isn't that what you want? What you always do?! Leave! Leave! Leave! I can't stand you!"

Like an abusive drunkard high on poison instead of alcohol, Seth grabbed another moveable object and slung it at the woman at top speeds.

Isis bolts.

And Seth...feels like he should chase. Scream some more. Chuck something else. Breaking stuff felt good, especially if it hurt someone. Because he really shouldn't be the only one suffering.

It feels so much better to drag someone else down too.

But he's tired, so tired. There was still semen between his legs and a bath to be had. The love bites were gone, at least, his healing factor having started up once some of the poison began to disappear. But still, he can feel the itches beneath his skin. Calling, sucking, biting and screaming for him to just lie down and accept it.

Seth lies down all right and stares at the ceiling blankly. There probably should've been more rage to his whole breakdown. More destruction, more vile words of hate. It certainly didn't feel enough.

Instead, he feels completely empty, like all the rage he once drowned in was gone. Sucked out.

Fuck, this is all a problem for future him to deal with. Right now, Seth just wants to sleep for a while among the broken shards of vases and plant pots, and sleep he shall.

And if Isis, in her righteous fury, tumbled back in here and slits his throat, Seth wouldn't even be mad about it.

Really, he just needed five minutes, and that was all.

Notes:

I hope you all liked the first chapter! It’s my first time publishing so if you have any suggestions feel free to comment them.

Chapter 2

When he awoke again—however reluctantly that may have been—nothing had changed and he was still Seth, lying down on cold palace floors with shards of vases surrounding him.

Groaning, he crawled to his feet and moved to find a hole in the wall that vaguely resembled a window before chucking himself out of it.

He landed in a body of water.

At least Seth managed to get his bath.

Someone screamed in the distance as he moved to flip them off. "Shut the fuck up!"

Can't even have a depressive episode in peace nowadays, how wonderful.

The person scampered off, leaving Seth to ruminate on what he should do next. Has Isis even left the palace? It's not like he forced her out or anything. She could be gathering an army of followers to kill him.

Which—no, that's bad, very bad. He can't fight. At least not as well as the actual Seth. That karate lesson he took once when he was five could hardly compare to the experience of a whole couple thousand-year-old God of War.

Isis would win.

He would die and meet down with Osiris in Duat.

Is now too late to admit he isn't actually Seth and beg for mercy?

Grumbling a stream of profanities under his breath, Seth swims out of the pool and onto land, only to be met with a string of manic laughter.

Who was that? They sounded deranged and mentally un--

Oh, it was him.

The laughter abruptly stopped as Seth stumbled along a path on his way back into the interior of the palace. A stupid idea, really, he should just go. But go where is the question. He isn't exactly well-informed on travel of this time period, and he certainly doesn't know the first thing about other countries.

Gold clothing dug into his back as he froze in place. Someone was behind him.

"Ah, Seth~" A feminine voice greeted him as he turned to see a very familiar-looking headpiece staring back. He was wearing one too, thankfully, or else the Goddess of Destruction may have noticed his shock. "How are you after last night?"

Would it be out of character for him to smack her across the palace? Who the hell asks someone that?!

Shrugging her hold off of him, Seth cleared his throat. "Fucking amazing. Do you know where Isis is?"

"Oh, her?" Sekhmet circled him once before replying. "Well, the last I saw of dear Isis she was halfway across Egypt." She leans in, grinning. "Why? Got something planned for her? Want my help?"

Completely ignoring the woman, Seth wonders why on earth Isis would be halfway across Egypt. Was he that threatening? Isis didn't seem to be the type to be easily scared.

Before he could think about that topic further, Sekhmet spoke up once more.

"And I suppose it's only natural that you don't feel satisfied." The woman drawls as her fingers slide down his spine. "You tried to tell her the truth, and yet she wasn't understanding." Sekhmet sighs. "How cruel."

The irony of the Goddess of Destruction calling such an action cruel was not lost on him.

"I'm going to go declare myself the pharaoh." Seth abruptly stated as Sekhmet hums. "Let's see if that drags her out of hiding."

Probably not. If she hadn't in the manhwa, then there's no way in hell she's doing it now.

But still, Sekhmet seemed nothing but pleased by his 'idea'—if it could even be called that, really, this was more of a conscious effort to copy the original story. She even helped, in her own twisted way. Mostly by preparing a set of clothes for his 'coronation' along with a fake beard, which he promptly threw away.

It was the thought that counted, he just didn't exactly abide by Ancient Egyptian traditions and would honestly not be able to take wearing a fake beard seriously.

Once he declares himself pharaoh, he can just get drunk and forget what on earth is happening. Maybe train a bit, prepare for Ennead, win and then fuck off to live the rest of his immortal life in a cave until the internet gets invented. Or better yet, invent it earlier, he refuses to live in a world without Wi-Fi for longer than he has to.

And declaring himself pharaoh was...disgustingly easy. Seth was honestly prepared for a small riot, at the very least. Maybe a couple of treasonous comments that'd have sent someone to the execution block but...

There was nothing.

No one made a single noise when he took Osiris' nemes and smashed it into pieces.

No one made a peep when he destroyed the room he had woken up in, where Osiris was presumably cut apart.

No one protested when he ordered for Isis' capture.

But they do make rumours. Rumours of his madness, his tyranny. Killing his good brother all for the throne. Though they haven't started blaming Isis for that yet, it is a close thing that'll pop up soon.

What traitorous subjects.

And the Gods? Well, they mind their own business, apparently possessing enough self-preservation to not go up against the strongest of them all.

Until, of course, the Ennead is summoned. But he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.

It was all so easy, so perfect, so...simply made. Like it was fate. Which it was, in a way. This was all fated to happen through mythology or botched retellings of it.

Anubis was up and about now, presumably. Seth hasn't seen him face-to-face but he knows the kid is wandering around when he asks the servants for updates. They weren't part of the old cycle of workers. He had them all dismissed when he took over.

Nephthys was hiding away too. Probably in that cell of hers, asking for punishments that he could not give. Not when he knew the truth. That she was not entirely herself in soul and mind.

Honestly, that stung worse than the first life he had taken when the assassination attempts came. She was probably a good person before all this, and even now, in an altered state of mind, she's trying to be better.

And yet, he does not help her.

Because he doesn't know how. Because Sekhmet was still around and 'helping' with his reign from the background. Because Hathor is probably bundled up safely in her temple, looking into a mirror all too intently as she admires the destruction she has caused for reasons he never cared to read up on in order to know why.

So yes, he feels guilty for not knowing what to do. Had he been the original Seth, it would've been easy to barge into the Goddess’s temple, drag her out by her hair and make her fix this mess.

Maybe it would still be easy. Time has passed, and he's starting to get a handle on these abilities, but there's only so much raw power can do in inexperienced hands.

Had it not been for muscle memory, the first round of assassins would've got him along with the second and third rounds.

By the fourth, he started to get the hang of things.

Khopesh, Seth's most beloved weapon that could take the form of any weapon, was pretty useless in inexperienced hands that could hardly work around a kitchen knife.

Seth wonders then if making a glock would be too out of place in Ancient Egypt. Probably, but that doesn't make the thought any less funny.

It gets less funny after he downs another bottle and starts to realise that no one else would get how absolutely amazing his comedy was. That until around the tenth century—AD, which he never thought he'd have to specify as something that had yet to arrive—no one was going to have a single clue on what the God of War and Sand was waving around like a madman and laughing about.

It was depressing.

He was depressing.

Which is wrong. He isn't normally a sad person. He jokes, laughs, teases and is overall the most unserious person ever.

This was just...wrong. The drinking. The murder—even if said murder could be justified as self-defence. The crying. It's quite possibly the lowest he had ever been.

So on the eve of his first year in this hellhole, Seth resolved to visit Anubis and do...something. Maybe confess who he is or perhaps just comfort the boy that he doesn't hate him or his mother.

After a couple drinks, of course. Just one that turned into a few and quickly escalated to fifty, and suddenly, he wasn't in any state to visit Anubis.

But in the distance, he sees a small boy with short black hair that could only be him.

And Seth found himself beckoning the boy forward.

"Anubis." He mumbled breathlessly as he cupped the child's face between his hands.

It was clear the kid was malnourished with his sunken cheeks and sickly skin. Do the servants not feed him? Seth will have to fire someone after all this.

Anubis hiccuped in fear as Seth resisted the urge to flinch before pulling him closer. "Shh, it's ok, I've got you."

"Father..." He cried into his chest. "W-why are you doing this? I-I don't understand this, I--"

As the child sobbed, Seth felt every bit the monster people have claimed him to be. "It's ok." He insists, because if he doesn't, then he might start crying too.

Small hands reach out for him.

"Why did you ignore me?"

There was a baby in his arms, cooing at only him as a woman laughed in the background.

"D-do you hate me, father? Did I do something wrong?"

The baby was named Anubis, his son.

But was this really his child? Seth had raised him—or at least he had before all of this—but this was not his child by blood.

Though then again, did blood even matter in terms of paternal love?

"They say you've gone mad." Anubis whispers. "Father, are you mad?"

Seth blinks a couple times as his sight finally clears on the boy's face.

"Yes, obviously." How could this even be a question? "I'm insane out of my mind. Who isn't now, with how this world is?"

Must be all the sibling fucking. That amount of incest can't be healthy for a bloodline.

"Then," biting his lip, the boy hesitates to speak, "is it true you hate me?"

Hate?

"I could never hate you." Because despite the fact he had never personally raised him, Seth still felt unimaginable love for this child that was not his deep within his body.

"But--!"

"Never." He cuts in once more. "Never."

A second passes before Anubis devolves into a mess of tears. Another second moves on, and Seth finds himself in the same predicament.

For the first time in a long time, Seth felt alive.

Notes:

Thrusting parenthood upon Seth is honestly so cathartic. Anyway, I hope you all liked the chapter and thank you for all the support!

Chapter 3

Lately, Seth has been dreaming of a life he's not entirely sure is his. The original Seth—or the poor bastard, as he likes to mentally refer to him as—and his experiences were always at the back of his mind, but ever since seeing Anubis, those memories have been punished to the forefront of his mind.

Which, yeah, that's probably for the best. But then again, he really doesn't want thousands of years of tactical slaughter etched into his mind every time he tries to go to bed.

It's jarring as well as horrifying to realise how much blood lay on these hands of his.

And then there was Anubis, who he could sometimes overindulge and then abandon for weeks on end whenever a memory between both Osiris and Seth pops up. Which happens often, because before all this went down, the two siblings were quite close.

Honestly, the whole situation was dreadful.

Osiris in mythology wasn't even a half-bad person. He was a good and well-respected king who ruled Egypt with a firm but comforting hand and was eventually murdered by his jealous brother.

Well, that story was still up and about now, but twisted in ways the people he rules over could not expect.

There were times when he missed the normal mythological path and times when he had to really think about if he missed it or not.

Especially when he finally asks his servants to make him something to eat, and they come to him with a salad of all things.

It wasn't as though he hated salads, oh no. But it might have something to do with the birth of baby Thoth—who is a fully grown man right now and not even his son—due to a very special lettuce that has him chucking the entire bowl out of the window.

One more rule to remember. Never accept mysterious dishes of salads. He might get pregnant.

Maybe Ennead was pretty tame in comparison to actual mythology after all.

In any case, Sekhmet has been stopping by less and less since it became apparent that he was not going to murder anyone without reason. Or cause an undue amount of property destruction within his own kingdom. Either one would've satisfied the Goddess of Destruction in her endless quest for drama.

Like mother, like daughter.

Speaking of the mother, he really does not want to bump into her. If Sekhmet didn't catch on to his sudden turnabout in souls, then Ra certainly would.

At least he assumes that she would have the power to differentiate who resides in her great-grandson's body. Because if not her, then he doubts anyone else could.

Except Thoth, but the webcomic made a good show of depicting him as a bit of a loser, so Seth isn't all that worried about him.

In all honesty, the Gods aren't really the ones that bother him. No, it's mostly the people.

"Your Majesty." A nobleman kneels down, doing his best to look pitifully wronged. "Today, my slaves have rioted and destroyed my crops while breaking away from me. Please, this humble one begs you. Set this mistake right."

Slaves being legal commodities that could be owned outright was something that Seth was going to change and quickly. Even if he doesn't particularly care for being pharaoh, having power and not ending slavery is going to weigh on him.

"So your people broke free." Seth raised an eyebrow behind his headpiece. "What were your working conditions like?"

The man sputtered, clearly confused about why the hell Egypt's mad God of War would give a single flying fuck about his slaves working conditions before replying. "I treated them well! One meal a day for the men and two for pregnant women, as is required!"

That's the bare minimum? Wow, Osiris really was doing an abysmal job despite everyone singing his praises. Which, yeah, different times give different standards and all that, but that still doesn't make it less awful.

Aren't Gods meant to be better than this anyway?

"Clearly, this wasn't enough. Otherwise, they would not have broken free." He clicked his tongue. "Honestly! My prisoners are treated better than this. If you can't own people, then don't!"

"But Your Majesty, I--!"

Suddenly, the man stopped speaking as Seth rose from his throne. "Attendants!" He turns towards the men in the corner of the courtroom. "New rule. Slaves must have three meals a day, the last two weekdays off and suitable housing. If the owner cannot provide this, then they are to be executed immediately with their wealth dispersed to those slaves who will then be set free." Seth eyes the man in front of him for a moment. "Any protests?"

Because if so, he won't hesitate to put this man's head on a pike.

"N-no." The nobleman shook his head as all blood drained from his face.

Seth hummed, pleased as the attendants scribbled down his decree.

Abolishing slavery right then and there probably wouldn't have worked out as intended. They'd just be sold more discreetly under different names. It may take a couple years to make it more trouble than it's worth to own a slave outright before completely getting rid of it, but time is something he has an abundance of.

Once news spread, many noblemen, farmers and anyone else who profited from the suffering of enslaved people had some choice words for his new decree. Those words were soon put to a halt as Seth personally visited a couple of the owners.

Mortals and their opinions didn't really matter to the Gods, so when the followers came to complain to their pantheons, they were quickly turned away. No one was stupid enough to tell Seth to his face that they want their followers to continue treating human beings inhumanly.

Except probably Ra, but she didn't care here nor there about whatever was going on in the mortal realm, so Seth basically had free rein to do whatever.

Despite himself, he wonders what Isis is thinking about his decree from whatever hole she's crawled into.

Probably that he was insane out of his mind and is trying to dismantle their Kingdom from the inside out.

Or maybe she'd be proud. It's hard to tell with Isis.

Sekhmet thought it was hilarious, though. At least she managed to get her laughs from something that didn't involve his immediate suffering.

There was just one God that seemed to not care what he was doing but rather how he was doing. And that person sat behind a cell wall, looking both distressed and hopeful.

"Seth." Nephthys breathes, leaning forward to see him better before flinching away. "I-I'm sorry. Are you well?"

No, definitely not. What kind of question was that?

Still, Seth finds himself breathless at how...simple this conversation was. A quick apology and a change of topic. Had it been anyone else he was conversing with, this could almost be called normal.

"As well as can be." He replies blankly as Nephthys blanches. "And you? I can't imagine that cell is treating you kindly. Get out."

"I shouldn't."

"Well, I think you should." Seth opens the front door to her cell, which was already unlocked. "Come now, Nephthys. One of Anubis' parents needs to raise him into something respectable. And let's be honest, it probably won't be me or Osiris."

The woman fully body jolted at their eldest brother's name before lowering her head. "I'm serious, I really should not leave. I need to pay for my sins against you. Against everyone.”

Considering this for a moment, Seth nods his head before stepping forward. "You're right. I guess I should pay for my sins too." Treason is hardly praiseworthy, after all.

Sitting down right by Nephthys, he notes how the woman's eyes widen comically as she sputters incredulously. Still, she does not say anything more. Maybe because this prison was especially desolate and she was lonely, or it was another reason he was too simple-minded to understand.

Hours passed like this, with both husband and wife sitting in an open jail cell before the Goddess begins to laugh.

It was a beautiful, bell-like melody that Seth could find himself loving.

"This really is a bit silly now that the gate is fully open." Nephthys decides as she wipes a rogue tear from her eye. "Anubis shouldn't see us like this."

"But imagine if he did." Seth grinned at the woman. "Come on, you have to admit his reaction would be hilarious!"

The woman poked his cheek. "That's mean."

"But funny!"

"Mean."

Seth flung his head back as a cackle escaped him.

After a moment, Nephthys joined him too.

This was probably the most normal thing he's done since coming here. Talking to someone without an ulterior motive or with fear for their life was...refreshing, really.

He could grow accustomed to this. Waiting out his time until Ennead with Nephthys by his side. Well, if the Ennead is even called upon now. It's not like he's doing a great job of being a whole evil God that murders women and children.

So maybe he could just live like this forever. Or at least until the modern era rolls around and the Gods fuck off from whatever position they once held and go...somewhere.

Just how did Egyptian mythology end anyway?

Perhaps the Gods killed each other in a fit of rage; it seems on-brand for them.

If he were to kill a God, it'd definitely be Hathor. Because yes, he despises Osiris, hates him as much as anyone could. But at least that hate was because he hurt him specifically.

Hathor...she hurt Nephthys. Had she hurt Seth, he could take it because he was meant to be a bad person who could get back up from being beaten down. Hurting someone who's only tried their best was something he could not forgive.

Or maybe it wasn't Hathor's fault. Yes, it was Hathor's hand mirror that was suggested to have trapped Nephthys' soul, but what would she gain by doing so?

Nothing, really.

So perhaps this was also Osiris' fault. Most things in the webcomic normally are.

Either that or Sekhmet, those two are really the only ones that stand to gain anything for harming Nephthys.

A small hand covers his left as he takes in a deep breath, turning around to face the Goddess's big, sad eyes.

"I really am sorry, for everything."

He really couldn't bear to see that expression. "Then repent for it by just...staying here, by my side. Okay?"

Nephthys's eyes softened as she squeezed his hand tightly. "Alright." She agreed with a tight smile. "I'll stay with you."

Those few words meant more to him than she could possibly know, and for that, Seth could almost find himself feeling grateful.

Notes:

I adore my girl Nephthys and simply could not leave her to rot in a jail cell. I hope you all liked the chapter!

Chapter 4

Word around Egypt suggests that there is a woman in Khemmis that was healing the sick and injured with a description that matched Isis to a tee.

Seth—in all of his infinite wisdom—decided not to write down any knowledge he has from the webcomic in fear of it being discovered by the wrong hands.

Which might've been a good idea; Egypt hardly needs Sekhmet—or God forbid, Osiris—prowling around with knowledge of the future at their fingertips.

Thoth was already too much as is.

But thankfully, he does remember quite a bit thanks to Gods having an absurdly high memory duration, so he knows well enough that this is where he is meant to meet baby Horus with his freaky blue falcon eyes.

The real question is whether he wants to meet the boy or not. Which...yeah, no, not really.

Now it was nothing personal against the kid, Seth even admires him a little for having the balls to go up against the literal God of War and win. He just prefers staying away from anything that has to do with Isis.

In all honesty, she scares him. Just a little. Certainly not as much as he fears Osiris, but it's there.

He does not like feeling fear.

The God of War should not fear, and yet, pathetically, he does.

Though perhaps the human in him. The human that still winces at even a glimpse of blood, that flinches at practices he wouldn't dare have participated in before.

Or, even more unbelievably, this fear was Seth's and not his. Not the snivelling human, but rather the God.

He truly hopes that isn't the case, because that would be so much worse.

"Did you know Isis is in Khemmis?" Seth asks Nephthys who freezes in place, her expression unguarded for a brief moment at the sudden question.

His eyes narrow.

"I did not." She replied slowly, looking intently at his face to gauge his feelings about this topic. Anger, most likely, which was not found. "Are you...displeased by this news?"

"Oh, absolutely." He pauses before adding on, "but probably not for the reasons you're thinking about."

Any usurper would fear those they've overthrown. The reminder that their power could be taken away any minute now is probably something daunting on their mental state.

Luckily, Seth couldn't care less about who is on the throne and who's not. What matters in the end is if he can survive the throne being taken.

When he first arrived here, the answer to that hypothetical question would have been absolutely not. But now he's not so sure. There is no doubt he has gotten stronger, nowhere near the level of before, but stronger for sure.

Still, it couldn't hurt to see what he's up against in the future.

In the end, he does go to Khemmis, if only to ease his own mind.

There were revolts and riots in Khemmis. Something Seth had not previously been aware of by the council meaning someone—and he's certain it's going to be that freakishly tall man at the back of his court who seems a little too eager about signing off on executions—is getting fired.

And to think he found out from some wandering travellers too!

It really was hard finding suitable humans that give credible information to their Gods. Honestly, Seth isn't all-knowing, someone has to tell him what's going on in his own kingdom.

While riding his sand chariot down the almost nonexistent roads leading to Khemmis, Seth purposefully speeds up to get away from his entourage.

Truly, there really was no privacy among admirers and their idols.

Thinking about this annoying little fact, Seth only barely manages to catch a small child lying down in the middle of nowhere and stops his chariot before it could crash into the little idiot.

Where the hell were this kid’s parents? He couldn't be more than, what, twelve? Ridiculous!

Disintegrating the chariot back into sand, Seth shoved the kid a little with his foot, earning him a slight groan. Great, it's alive.

Snapping one eyelid open, the kid gapes a little. "Am...I dead?"

Seth snorts. "Almost, kid." Crouching down, he poked him with his finger. "What are you doing here?"

Tears well up in the brats eyes, which were really blue now that he—oh, fuck no.

"Lost my mom." He mumbles, uncaring of who this strange man is, and damn it, Seth just knows this little shit will realise who the hell he is in due time.

"Right." Seth replied slowly, almost unsure of what to do. "Well, where did you last see her?"

"..."

This kid...

Isis, take care of your child, will you? He doesn't even know where you are!

Knowing that woman, however, there's no way she isn't freaking also out about this whole situation as well, so he really can't blame her. Something drastic must've happened to separate them.

This wasn't mentioned in the webcomic, right? He's sure it wasn't. Maybe he changed something. Maybe he came too early. Maybe he came too late.

Ah, wait, what's he even doing? Seth should at least confirm this kid’s name before doing anything drastic.

So he asks.

And the answer he gets isn't one he likes but expects.

Damn it, Horus.

"I'll take you to Khemmis." Seth decides at last, pulling the kid into his arms before summoning his sand chariot.

The sound of his entourage’s chariots begins to ring in his ears.

In that case...

"Woah!" Horus screams as the chariot pushes forward at impossible speeds.

Resisting the urge to smirk proudly, Seth mentally praises himself for this accomplishment. It took him way too long to get a hang of this thing. He was so close to making a modern car and using that instead of this unsafe method of transportation.

But no, he stuck by it and now Seth can ride on a chariot like some gladiator which knocks off another thing from his bucket list.

It didn't take long to make it to Khemmis.

"That--!" Horus wiggles in his arms, trying—and failing—to keep a massive grin off of his face. "Was so cool!"

"Wasn't it?" Seth preens at the compliment.

Of course it was cool! What nephew doesn't enjoy being put onto a fast-moving vehicle by their clinically insane uncle without their parents’ consent?

Remembering just who this boy was again, Seth suddenly becomes hyperaware of the ribcage poking out of the boy's skin.

Don't most uncles treat their nephews to meals? He should—what the hell is he doing?

No, he shouldn't indulge Horus. Not only is this brat going to usurp him, he's also Seth's main love interest. Which, sorry kid, you really aren't his type.

His type consists of people who aren't blood-related to him, actually.

Devastating news for two out of three of his siblings.

Placing the kid onto the ground, Seth nudges him a little. "You're here, go."

Horus hesitates.

"Go!" Seth snaps, causing the kid to flinch before running off, leaving tiny little footprints in his wake.

The first meeting is over, then. Seth can leave and not murder people who look like Isis and kids around Anubis' age.

Still, he understands that it would be a little annoying to his entourage who travelled all the way here with him for nothing. He can at least put down some riots and sort out the terrible political climate here.

And so he did.

In the three months of Seth's stay at Khemmis, not only has he discovered five underground slave rings, two serial mass murders and a plot for a coup on a God of all things, he also managed to somehow not manage to bump into Isis.

The only saving grace about this whole place, actually. She probably had the decency to flee as soon as she saw her son and caught word of a man on a sand chariot.

If she didn't flee, well, at least Seth has yet to catch sight of her.

There was one amazing thing about this whole place, however. And that was the existence of Nile, someone who actually knew how to properly inform Seth of what was going on in his own territory and quickly at that.

Seth isn't actually sure if Nile was a human or a really bored God—which wouldn't be much of a surprise, who on earth names their kid after a river—but either way, he couldn't care less. Nile did their job and that's what mattered.

Which is more than he can say for some of his subjects.

"How did they manage to steal an entire year’s worth of a budget?" Seth tries not to rip his hair out, he really does, but it was a close thing.

Nile shrugged before handing him a list of names of some scumbags that were going to be meeting the other end of his fist in five to seven business days.

Is it too late to abdicate the throne? Baby Horus can deal with this utterly deficient kingdom that insists on causing at least one economic crisis every other week.

Or, better yet, Ra. Because at least then every other God would be struggling to deal with that monstrosity to ever cause problems for him again.

Seth could retire, move into the Library of Alexandria, read every single shoddy piece of literature and debate philosophers who should be long dead and never have to deal with a corrupt official again.

Truly, that'd be the life.

He can’t wait to leave this place.

Notes:

Finally posted the fourth chapter, sorry for the wait!

Chapter 5

There is always at least one festival going on in Heliopolis. Seth would know, there's always a huge drain on the treasury before it inevitably goes back up with the number of people buying things to celebrate whatever was going on.

A newer festival was the Sed festival, occurring once every three years after his thirtieth year on the throne.

It was a festival to celebrate him.

Birthdays amongst Gods were rarely celebrated through mortals. Those were private affairs. So much so that the only way Seth realises he's a year older is when Nephthys peeks her head through his chamber doorway before mumbling happy birthday.

Afterwards, he'd bleakly remember that her birthday was the day before and congratulate her as well.

The Sed festival was really a jubilee and, in a way, also his birthday. For it was also the day of his first arrival.

It was also the only time other Gods poked their heads out from hiding, sending their followers with gifts to appease him and, most likely, keep their temples in good standing.

As much as the other Gods serve to get on his nerves, their gifts are quite splendid, meanings he can't exactly say their attempts at calming his wrath haven't worked.

Anubis liked the gifts as well.

Especially the ones of literature. For a child born of the God of War and the Goddess of Harmony, he truly does take after his mother in that regard.

They did love their books.

Not that there were that many. Most gifts were weapons meant to serve him. Which was stupid, really, what need does he have for other weapons when Khopesh can take whatever form he wants?

Besides, no mortal weapon could ever serve a God that was always in one battle or another.

Battles he had to attend to more often now after neglecting Egypt’s borders for so long. Seth truly had to commend the original for keeping it up so long; protecting this place was tiring.

Thinking of battle was something he tries not to do during festivals, the only actual time he has to rest, but it was hard not to think about when a gift far larger than the rest was delivered to the foot of his throne by followers of the highest God.

Goddess, he corrects immediately.

And what a troublesome Goddess she was at that.

"What is it?" Seth asked as his advisor, Nile, knelt down to pluck away the packaging.

"It seems to be a box."

"I know that. What's inside?"

"A hand mirror."

Leaning over, Seth eyes the mirror for a second, wondering why it had been put in such a large box delivered by Ra's followers. Was she mocking him? Or was it...

No. This can't be that mirror, could it? Would Hathor part with it that easily?

Or was this a test of some kind? Ra could be poking at him to see what he knows, if he was planning to lash out or not.

But that didn't seem like something Ra would do. No, she was far more content in watching things blow up from a distance.

In any case, Seth wasn't about to touch it like an idiot. Instead, he ordered an advisor he wouldn't miss to be accompanied by Nile to put it in his personal treasury.

The next order of business was finding someone loyal enough, experienced enough and enough of a liability not to miss to examine the hand mirror. Unfortunately, such a description matched exactly zero people, so he was all out of luck there.

Unless he just risked it and allowed Nephthys to interact with the object. Such a decision could cause things to go in any direction, maybe even for the better.

Still, he's not going to do that. Risking Nephthys isn't on the table, no matter how much it might help her in the end.

He isn't naive enough to believe that Ra would give him something that valuable with good intentions. Not when he and his siblings overthrew her through a trick.

In mythology, this was Isis tricking Ra to reveal their true name. In the webcomic he doesn't think it was ever revealed. Or if it was, he just didn't read up to that line.

That isn't the point. Ra might be an unserious character through portrayal, but this woman was now real and very capable of harbouring ill intentions for events of the past.

If he aggravates her then Seth very much doubts she won't absolutely smite him.

Or even worse, harm Anubis and Nephthys.

For now, he'll ignore and observe this 'gift' carefully until he finds someone that can confirm his suspicions.

Fortunately, despite that unnerving gift from Ra, the Sed festival ended in relative bliss.

This bliss lasted until Anubis began to ask questions about his Godhood. Or lack thereof.

Seth tells him to ask his mother.

He then begins to ask about his lack of ageing.

Seth has no answer for that.

It might've been the case that Seth himself had cursed him at some point in the webcomic but he hardly had time to do such a thing nor was under enough mental duress to do that now.

Nevertheless, Anubis has remained young for far too long and he does have a few ideas on who might've cursed him.

Isis, for one. Not intentionally, of course, no matter what happened between them he severely doubts she'd want to harm Anubis like this. Though perhaps in her despair she could've done something like that.

Then there was Sekhmet. Just the idea of causing trouble was enough justification for her to do this.

Osiris was also on that list of people. More so to get to him than care for destruction or obliviousness.

In the end, it could be anyone.

So he asks the one person he could semi-trust.

"How long has Anubis stayed the same age?" Seth asks Nephthys who tenses immediately.

"I think since...that day."

Almost immediately, a grimace crossed his face. There was no need to clarify which day, it was the day he murdered their brother after all.

If it could even be called murder, that is. It was more of an assisted suicide.

"It's a curse." Seth grumbles, folding his arms across his chest in contemplation. "Have you got any clue who could've done it?"

Nephthys remained silent, looking painfully guilty as she lowered her head.

Her gaze flickered to him for a moment as he got the idea of what she was thinking.

"I know it wasn't me." He clarifies immediately. "To curse someone like that requires words with intent. I didn't speak to Anubis that day."

At least to his limited knowledge that was the case. Since he was not corrected, Seth assumed that this is the general belief.

This time, Nephthys frowns, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Then it could've been me."

That...maybe.

It was hard to remember just how that day went, actually.

Seth remembers confronting Isis who he thinks was in Anubis' room, and yet the boy wasn't there. Or maybe he was and he blanked him out.

Either way it was weird, but that does give the possibility of both mother and son meeting.

He doesn't know when Nephthys could've done this, but a parent who has just been exposed in their affair would probably want their child to remain unaffected despite what was bound to go down.

"What now, then?" Seth asks after a moment passes between them. "Even if it was you, which it might not be, how should we proceed?"

"Hm, I think Isis had a few curse-blocking treasures." Nephthys informs him helpfully. "It probably won't be that effective, but something is better than nothing."

Indeed, that would be helpful.

Having Nephthys, who was close with Isis before all this went down, helped a lot with finding information about this curse. Apparently she had been investigating before as well yet didn't want to disturb him by asking for help.

Something he resents, actually. How could it be considered an annoyance when his son’s livelihood was on the line?

In any case, with both time and resources, Nephthys was making a great deal of progress finding ways to fix the curse.

On the matter of Anubis, the boy continued asking a great deal of questions he could not answer.

Perhaps this was that phase all parents seem to be complaining about. When their children suddenly gain consciousness and seek answers about the world.

Now he can empathise. Anubis truly refuses to shut up.

"Father." The boy speaks as Seth gulps down a mouthful of wine imported from a country that certainly won't exist in a couple thousand years. "Why aren't I strong like you?"

"Because you are a child." He answers simply. "And I've been the God of War for longer than this palace has been constructed. Of course you wouldn't be as strong."

Anubis' fists clench by his sides. "But I don't want to be weak."

"No one wants to be weak." Seth scoffs. "It isn't something you can change in a day."

"Unless I become a God." Anubis stated plainly as he nods.

"Unless you become a God." He lowers the wine bottle in his hands to look at the younger male. "But you're nowhere close to becoming one."

"Why?" The boy demands, his face flushing from a mix of both embarrassment and anger. "Why haven't I become one yet?"

"It just isn't your time."

"But it is!" Anubis yells back, his expression flinching at his own volume before lowering his voice. "You were a God at my age. Every other demi-god was, so why am I the only one who doesn't fit that mould?"

"Because you're different!" Seth snaps, though he immediately regrets it when Anubis looks as though he'd been stabbed. "Every God is different. You're a generation away from my own, of course you wouldn't be the same."

As time goes on, he doubts their bloodline would even be able to become Gods.

Perhaps that’s where the human pharaohs claiming they’re descendants of Gods come from. All that inbreeding to keep the bloodline ‘pure’ would have some genuine merit then.

Not that it was working in any case.

If Maat ever decides to stop pegging her husband and test to see if a child with blood from someone other than a sibling could make a child with more potential for Godhood, he would not be surprised if the child did indeed have more potential.

“…you will ascend, though.” Seth continues after letting the tension thicken between them. “I have no doubt that you will, Anubis.”

The boy huffs, turning his head away in discontent. “Why? I’m not strong like you.”

“No.” He nods along at the assessment. “But neither is your mother. In the end, you are our child and we have faith in you.”

And a parent, if nothing else, should always have faith in their child.

Especially when said child is suffering from things that they cannot control.

Notes:

I hope everyone liked the chapter!

Chapter 6

Ships tended to be the main method of trade in Egypt. Whether that was because Egypt had an abundance of rivers or because it simply provided better storage size than a carriage, he was honestly a little unsure himself.

Either way, there was one major problem to be had when ships crossed into their land through bodies of water. This problem being that random Gods had a tendency to smuggle themselves in this way as opposed to being detected by Seth's endless barriers of sand.

Not that he has a problem with this. These Gods are mostly travelling ones who don't cause much fuss.

It's the ones that barge into his land, titles ablaze as they try to cause a revolution that he has a problem with.

Most of these Gods are thankfully ones who don't come from prominent modern-day mythological paths, or else he might've truly had some trouble. But that doesn't make it any less annoying dealing with one's from more obscure mythologies.

Especially this asshole, who is seriously getting on his last nerve.

"Listen," Seth starts with a deep breath lest he lose the last of his self-control and strangle this guy, "just tell me what pantheon you come from and you can be on your way."

"And I'm telling you I'm just some normal human!" The man insists with exaggerated movement.

Yeah, right. Like any mortal can just beat up a couple of Nile Gods who, if they are to be believed (and honestly, he doesn't), were just trying to do their jobs.

"Look." He hissed once more, silently wishing he had sent Nephthys instead. "I know you're a God, I would rather avoid angering any relatives you might have but I will not tolerate you walking into my land and beating up my Gods."

That was his job.

"Thank you, Lord Seth!" One of the beaten-up Gods chirped. Though in all honesty, the guy didn't even look that bad for someone who was crying about being in a life and death battle not five minutes ago.

"Shut up." He scowls back as they wilt.

Looking back at the other God who clearly had ill intentions, Seth was a second away from just kicking him without further questioning before the man suddenly sighed in resignation.

"I guess I have no choice." They spoke solemnly before turning on their heel and promptly running away.

"..." Seth was honestly a little speechless by the audacity.

Commanding his sand, golden dust swirled around the man's ankle before latching on and dragging him down so that he could not escape. Using a slow and deliberate walk, Seth nudged the man's restrained body with his foot as a slight grimace crossed his face.

That's another God who's getting thrown into the dungeons until a foreign dignitary comes to bail them out.

The fifth one this decade as well. Surely, that was not a good sign.

"S-sekhmet!" One of the Nile Gods yelped in distress as Seth felt the air behind him shift.

Careful not to let go of the God, Seth turned his body so that both the prisoner and Sekhmet were in view for any potential attacks.

"Seth." The Goddess of Destruction grinned, her painted blood-red lips peeling apart to reveal a set of razor sharp teeth. "I see you've found one of your sister's friends. I'm sure she's very happy about you lot finally meeting."

There was no need to clarify which sister. She obviously meant Isis.

"I wasn't aware she had friends." Seth hummed, sending a very pointed look behind his headpiece towards the two Nile Gods that had reported an attack in the first place.

Could this be...?

A distraction. This was definitely a distraction.

If Isis managed to scrounge up any allies at all, it would be with the Nile Gods she is known to work closely with. And all these foreign Gods storming the lands in recent years probably meant she was getting help from the outside.

Though that is only if Sekhmet is telling any sort of truth about Isis knowing this man. And really, Seth has his doubts.

Would Isis, who loves her country so dearly, put it in jeopardy by calling on external Gods for help just because she lacks support?

He finds that unlikely.

"What's going on?" He asks at last, not in the mood to indulge in the Goddess's mind games right now.

"Ah, you know." Sekhmet swirls around him, her grin turning more and more vicious as the seconds slip by. "Isis is finally making her move. And what better move is there than to seize the capital?"

Well, fuck.

Nephthys and Anubis are in Heliopolis, probably residing within the main palace. Though he very much doubts Isis would harm either of them, he does know she would convincingly pretend that she will.

Rushing in like a headless chicken would be a bad move. Something both Isis and—for entertainment's sake—Sekhmet would be counting on.

But it isn't easy to think about what he should do logically given the situation.

It isn't like the main palace is totally defenceless, it's just that such defences mean nothing in face of the Goddess of Magic.

And he doesn't put it past the other Gods to lend their assistance to Isis just to get him off the throne, regardless of how much they fear his wrath.

At a certain point, he is more hated then he is feared.

Speaking of which, there is at least one thing he can do that will only work in his favour.

Sand danced within the air as the Gods who had clearly sworn their allegiance to Isis began to ready for an attack. The foreign God squeaked something about wanting no part in this and to be let free.

He was swiftly ignored by every party. Except Sekhmet, who seemed overjoyed to mock him.

"You both better hope your followers are praying to you right now." Seth speaks while summoning Khopesh into his palm. "You're going to need those prayers."

The battle was fast. Significant blows on both ends were received as the Nile Gods had the advantage of being completely close to their element.

It's just too bad that in Egypt, Seth was always at his own element.

Seth could admit it, he was actually enjoying the fight.

Something he could identify as a rush filled his body. Not adrenaline, Gods probably don't have hormones, but a rather innate response Seth would associate with a lone lion encountering a pack of wild antelope.

Cautious at being outnumbered, yet utterly enthralled by the chase.

Because Seth would win. There was a primal fear, of course, that something may go terribly wrong should he lower his guard for even a second. But that didn't erase the sheer difference in levels of power between them.

He was faster. More powerful. More experienced. Just--

Better.

Stamping down one of the river Gods with his foot, Seth felt a surge of pride in himself at the win.

That pride was quickly dampened as he found that Sekhmet was no longer in her original position, gone as quick as the wind. She was once close to the foreign God when the fight started. Said God was now also gone.

Fortunately, he could predict that much would happen as soon as his back was turned.

"You—!" The God gasped beneath him, blood trickling down their mouth and, wow, Seth had no clue a God could even bleed. "Isis will beat you in the end! Mark my words!"

"Oh?" Seth cocks his head to the side. "Is she truly going to beat me?"

Maybe. Despite all of his meticulous planning fate is an awfully funny thing. Though he isn't quite at the stage of thinking the world cannot be changed no matter what, Seth does have his doubts.

"Not you, Seth." The other God hissed in pain while being pinned down by half a dune of sand. "By Ra, look at the bigger picture here. Isis isn't against you. It's always been--!"

"You shut your mouth!" The God beneath Seth's foot screamed back. "It's always been the man that betrayed Isis that we've been against!"

Listening in on the conversation gave Seth a moment to pause. That truly didn't make much sense. Who would Isis be against if not him? Is this not how it's always been? In both webcomic and mythology, the evil God Seth should be on the receiving end of her ire.

So what was this about looking at the bigger picture?

Sure, he hasn't exactly gone on any mass murdering sprees, but Seth is hardly a beloved ruler. Or at least, he doesn't consider himself to be one. His rule was built on treachery, backstabbing and colossal change to the very foundations of this country.

While the changes are completely reasonable in his eyes, that's probably not a sentiment shared by the masses. Though in all honesty, he could care less what they think is right and wrong.

Glancing at both Gods one more time, he sighs upon noticing that they were still bickering like an old married couple before knocking them unconscious and burying them deep within his sand dunes.

He does not have time for long and drawn out questioning. He has plans to assemble and a sister to meet.

And, should fate choose to screw him over once more, a trial to complete.

Notes:

Sibling reunion in the next chapter as we finally reach the start of the webcomic!

Chapter 7

Sounds of heavy footsteps smacking against marble flooring that he favoured in most of his palaces echoed through the walls of said palace.

Seth glanced towards two men that seemed to be a part of his main forces and in a position he doesn't remember assigning. It was hard to keep track of them at this point; changes in leadership as the years went by were hardly something he could keep up with.

"What's the situation?" He asks bluntly as one of the men speaks up, their head bowed.

"A group of followers from Isis' temples have stormed the main palace. They weren't alone as many other followers from similar temples followed. We think--" The man paused, suddenly looking nervous. "We think Isis herself is amongst them."

Of course she is.

Why wouldn't she be?

Taking in a deep breath, Seth questions the man further. "And Nephthys? What about her and Anubis?"

"We don't know, My Lord."

Well, no news is good news. If there hasn't been word of their capture then maybe they got away safely.

"Very well. Evacuate the people in the surrounding area." His eyes harden. "There will be a battle."

Because despite his doubts about winning against Isis and any other Gods she has managed to recruit, he does know one thing.

He won't be going down without a fight.

He will not be stripped of his divinity.

And he will never allow anyone, God or otherwise, to have any power over him.

Half an hour passed before Seth felt confident in the evacuation of his people before approaching his main palace with a sour feeling at the back of his throat.

A feeling that resembled nervousness a tad too much for comfort.

At the entrance were two unfamiliar priestesses, both of whom were eyeing him with no lack of weariness. But, contrary to his expectations, a noticeable lack of malice.

And isn't that strange?

Why on earth would people who follow Isis ever hold anything but contempt for the man that overthrew their Goddess and forced her to run like a mutt for years on end?

Perhaps they were just better people than him, which is why he couldn't understand their lack of hatred. Had he been in a similar position Seth would've hated himself too.

Neither woman stopped him as he walked by them, easily breaking through whatever barrier of magic Isis had placed with such limited time as he summoned Khopesh into his palm. He was walking into Isis' playing field now. Never mind the fact that this was his home for the better part of his immortal life.

As soon as Isis was here for longer than an hour, she most certainly boobytrapped every inch of his palace.

Boobytraps...

Ah, that's it.

Commanding a whirlwind of sand to grab one of the priestesses at the entrance, Seth brought them to where he was now.

The woman looked at him in his sand confinement as she stayed levitated inches above the ground.

"Now, I would try to question you about any traps Isis may have laid down, but I don't think you'd answer honestly." Seth states with folded arms. "So, and I only semi-apologise for this, I'm going to use you as a human shield for anything she may have done."

The priestess did not respond, merely sending him a flat look of disbelief as he dragged her forward.

Surely, Isis wouldn't allow her traps to hurt her own people. That means there'll be a delay in any curses or arrays meant to hurt him if they have to ignore the priestess.

Though she could certainly make better arrays he doubts she had the time for anything too advanced, even if she is the Goddess of Magic.

Or perhaps that's him underestimating her far too much.

Somehow, he manages to make it to his throne room without incident. Kicking the door open he sees Isis sitting atop of his throne with Horus by her side.

"Seth." She greets coldly, her eyes sharp.

"Isis." He greets back, finally letting go of the priestess and allowing her to run off. "I see you've made yourself at home but I am going to ask you to leave."

"Ha!" The woman abruptly stands up. "Don't play around with me, Seth. You won't allow me to leave alive."

Wouldn't he? Seth doesn't think he would kill Isis.

At least, not unless she seriously tried to kill him. As far as coups and the subsequent murder of monarchs go for a serious murder attempt anyway.

Horus, on the other hand...

No, he doesn't really want to kill that kid either. Potential salad pregnancy aside he's still a brat that he'd feel bad killing.

Twirling Khopesh's hilt between his fingers, Seth uses its blunt surface to deflect a rogue dagger that Isis had managed to conjure before turning around to backhand Horus just as the man was about to reach him for an attack.

The man slammed into a pillar of sand with a thud as Seth morphed his sand structure around Horus, preventing him from escaping.

Isis leaped for him in his moment of distraction, though it proved ultimately futile as a wisp of sand grabbed onto her wrist before the woman's dagger could make contact.

"Is that all?" He taunts, pushing more sand onto both mother and son as he circles around Isis. "I expected more. Honestly, you thought you could defeat me like this? I'm insulted. Just how you managed to get past my guards is beyond me."

Despite his harsh words, Isis remained relaxed, if a bit aggravated.

Suddenly, Horus broke free of his sand bindings with a gust of wind, grabbing a spear from the ground and stabbing towards him.

Seth sidestepped his nephew and kicked the side of his knee, throwing him off balance and unable to catch himself when his sand grabbed onto his hands.

"Hm, wind?" Seth glanced towards the sky. "I suppose you wouldn't have come without help. Right, Isis?"

After all, Shu was the only one who could command the air to such a degree. It seems he's not his grandfather's favourite grandchild. Though in all honesty, he doubts he's anybody's favourite in this hellhole of a family.

Except for maybe Sekhmet, though being her favourite sounds more like a threat than a good thing.

And Osiris. Though the less said about him the better.

The woman did not respond, merely watching intently as her son broke free from his binds once more as the man backed away a couple paces.

And that's when the ground decided to rumble.

Ah, so not only was he unfavored by his grandparents, even his own parents stood against him.

How sad.

But something he was expecting since the beginning.

Geb's earthly body towered over him, mirrored closely by Nut's visage painted by the clouds.

Seth created his own sand body, intending to topple Geb and his measly structure before finding himself dodging Horus, who was using Shu's air like he had any right to it.

The structure of sand battled his father as Seth swiftly beat Horus back from the dirt he came from.

It was then that he felt it.

Chucking Horus a reasonable distance away he turned towards Maat who—accompanied by a small army and her husband—held out a scroll in her palms before letting it drop.

No Anubis or Nephthys in the crowd, however. Which means they've either escaped or are already sitting amongst the council of Ennead.

"God of Sand and War, Seth!" Maat's voice boomed, causing any remaining fighting to screech to a halt. "You have committed crimes against the throne by dethroning and killing the rightful King, Osiris, as well as killing hundreds upon thousands of children!"

"Well, if I've dethroned the rightful King we should charge Osiris for the same thing, right? After all, Ra--" His brain screeched to a halt. "What was that second charge?!"

Fine. Ok. He killed Osiris. Seth can accept that charge, along with treason and disturbing the peace as well as some war crimes if ancient Egypt even had those.

But killing children?

Just when did he have the time for that?!

His head spins.

Maybe he did kill children. Seth couldn't honestly deny what he might've done before inhabiting this body and even a bit after. He'll be the first to admit he isn't exactly the model for mental health.

Perhaps he did it but then forgot?

No, Nephthys or Anubis would've said something. They would have.

Wouldn't they?

"Your crimes have been written out on this scroll." Maat explains as Horus and Isis move to her side. "The council of Ennead has gathered to discuss--"

"Give me that." Seth demands, snatching the scroll out of her hands.

It really is on there.

Treason, mass murder, illegal experimentation.

And more, so much more.

Right, he's certain he didn't commit that one at least. What kind of God of War is doing experiments in their basement? Certainly not him. A crime like that is just too methodical to forget.

He certainly didn't commit it. However, to his knowledge—however distorted it's become over time—of a webcomic he never saw to finish is accurate. There is someone who has committed every one of those crimes. Or, at least, it could be implied that they did.

Someone who is green and mean and not the Hulk.

Osiris had desired to use Anubis’ soul for their starter child, yet he doubts the man discovered that in the span of a day. He thinks, no, he’s certain that the man used the souls of other children in experiments to at least see if procreation between two male Gods was possible.

Or it could be that he was entirely wrong about this assumption and Osiris is actually innocent for once. This could simply be a false charge that he was overthinking.

Throwing the scroll back at the woman, he scoffs. "Ennead wants to discuss this bullshit? Fine, let's get this over with."

Whether he really did do all of those crimes, what does it matter now? There is only one way forward and the Ennead has already been called for.

It’s time to give the people what they want.

Notes:

I hope everyone liked this chapter! I honestly loved writing it even if it took me forever to do.

Chapter 8

The council of Ennead was, thankfully, not too far away from his palace in Heliopolis. Something that prevented things from getting too awkward between him and Isis as they walked in absolute silence to said location.

Even trailing far, far away from the main group hadn't helped with this awkwardness.

He sincerely doubts the webcomic ever showed the journey. If they had he would've remembered it just because of how ridiculous a bunch of Gods walking to their destination seemed.

Though he could get there almost instantaneously, it isn't like anyone thought to tell him where the Ennead was going to be held this time. All he knows is that it's close and that's about it.

But—and this does weigh on him heavily—he can't help but think of where Anubis and Nephthys are right now.

Hopefully safe. Or literally anywhere that is not Duat. As long as Osiris doesn't have them he'd be happy.

Hell, he'd even take Isis already having them because at least he knows she would never hurt those two. No matter what happened in the past between both her and Nephthys, he knows she can put it aside for a couple days if only for Anubis' sake.

If only he knew for certain. Maybe then the pit that had formed in his stomach would finally dissipate.

Vibrations echoed through his sand as Seth found himself glancing towards the right.

It wasn't anyone from Isis' small army, he would've noticed if someone had broken away.

No, this person was...new. But not truly. They felt familiar yet not the same as before. It was truly hard to describe.

As they came closer, he could finally see who had came. "Nile." He realises with no lack of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"My Lord." They bow with a grim expression. "I heard the news and had to come see you for myself, even if it cost me my life I must tell you this. I don't believe the crimes the council of Ennead has against you."

Glancing off towards where Isis walked a distance away, huddled between both Maat and their mother, Seth hummed noncommittally.

"You'd be the only one, then." He declares suddenly.

"...I don't think you're right about that, My Lord." Nile speaks after a moment to deliberate his sentence. "I doubt even the council believe these crimes either."

He doubts that Maat, the Goddess of Truth and Justice, would've ever charged him if she didn't believe her own words.

Still, it was nice to hear that some people may potentially be on his side.

Even if it would amount to nothing in the end.

Nile walked alongside him in silence for a while as Seth took a second to just breathe. He appreciates it, honestly. Nile was just a young boy he had once picked up from Khemmis who was deathly proficient in dealing with paperwork. Not someone who held ulterior motives against him.

And Seth liked that. The fact he could just relax for a while with someone who really did just want to talk.

To let him think.

"Thank you, Nile." He announces earnestly as the other person smiles at him.

"It is my pleasure, My Lord. There is no need to thank me. Any one of my ancestors of the Nile family who have worked for you would've done the same."

"Ha, I suppose so--" Seth blinks. "Ancestors?"

"Yes, My Lord. Over twelve generations of the Nile family have served you diligently and I'm sure each one would've done the same."

Twelve?

No. It couldn't have been. He would've noticed had twelve generations gone by just like that. He doesn't...

He doesn't think so long would've gone by.

And Nile—from the twelfth generation, apparently—looks so much like their ancestor.

That means...

His Nile is dead. Probably. Despite his jokes about them being a demigod he doubts a mortal could've lived that long till now.

They're gone now. Have been for a while and he just didn't notice.

For the first time in a long while, Seth truly feels his age. It's been hundreds of years since, well, everything began. Hundreds of years since he became a king to a country he knew nothing of.

Hundreds of years since he was last a mortal.

Somehow, the realisation doesn't make him sick to his stomach. No, he feels...calm. Unnaturally so.

"Thank you, Nile." He repeats again as a grand building finally fills his vision with stone pillars reaching for the sky. "Your family have served me well."

Sand cracks from between them, revealing a bag full of jewels and coins.

"Take them and go. Leave this place if you must. Just--" Seth closed his eyes. "Go."

"My Lord..." Nile begins but was cut off by his raised hand.

"That was an order, Nile. The future is uncertain and I can't ensure your protection anymore. Leave so that I may at least have some peace of mind."

Leave, so that he knows that if everything goes south, he has at least protected one person.

Nile presses their lips together but leaves. Something that fills him with an unprecedented amount of relief.

Taking in a deep breath he does not need, Seth steadies his gaze back onto the building where the Ennead are gathered before stepping forward.

Immediately upon entry he spotted a staircase that led him underground, where most of the important stuff was normally located. Hieroglyphics of battles and customs followed one after the other before finally coming to an end as the court of Ennead sat before him, each on their high thrones with judging eyes.

Isis was already in her seat among her great aunts and uncles. Her eyes being the coldest of them all.

It is time for this charade to come to a close.

A grin threatens to split across his face.

"My dear family," his eyes flicker to a white haired God, "and Thoth too, I suppose."

"Hey!"

"I'm so glad we can finally see each other again after all this time. Truly, I have not caught hide nor hair of any one of you lot for so long." He sighs in an exaggerated motion. "I thought you lot were hiding from me. Words cannot describe how upset I was when no one decided to show up to my inauguration."

His inauguration, which only occurred because he murdered his brother.

It was truly a wonder why no one came.

"Nevertheless, I suppose the wait was worth it." He turns to Ra with outstretched arms. "Our glorious God of the Sun has graced us with her presence after all! Something like this doesn't happen often. I really would've prepared gifts had I known you'd be here."

The woman smiles down at him, her presence warm and bright yet brimming with power, threatening to burn them all.

Yes, the God of the Sun certainly isn't a disappointing person to see at all.

"And the rest of you should've brought gifts for me!" Seth swirls his head around to the other Gods. "Really, not a single one of you decided to send me anything for my ascension to the throne. I'm upset. Do you lot even care for me at all?"

Probably not. He's certain they wouldn't spit on him if he were on fire.

Not even his own parents.

Though really, they couldn't be considered 'his' in a way. They were hardly parents to their four children anyway. How could they possibly be parents to him?

"Enough." Maat hushes as she stands before the Ennead, ushering Horus to the stands. "The Ennead is now in session. Horus, you may speak your case."

Nodding his head, the man stood at the stand before clearing his throat. "I am Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. I have come here today to reclaim my birthright to the throne which was stolen from my father by my uncle, Seth, who brutally killed my father and usurped the throne, using his position to commit multiple atrocities throughout the years. As the rightful king of Egypt, I wish to reclaim my position."

What a moving speech. It would be even more moving if Seth could give a single care in the world about these so-called 'atrocities' he committed.

Or, better yet, a single flying fuck about Osiris and his right to the throne.

"That's all well and good, but aren't we forgetting something? Now, I won't question how Isis managed to fuck our brother from beyond the grave to produce my dear nephew. I'm sure whatever hallucinogenic episode she was having with the real father distorted any memory of that time." The woman glowered at him from her seat. "But I do have a very fair question for the council, should they wish to hear it."

Maat gave a moment of consideration before nodding at his request. "Proceed with the question, Seth."

"Very well, then." He stares Isis down, and though she could not see his eyes from his headpiece, he finds her glaring right back.

How scary. She really is an older sister at the end of the day.

Only they could look like a rabid beast and a calm ocean all at the same time.

"If the throne is a birthright, as our dear Horus says it is, then why is it that Osiris is—sorry, was—on the throne and not, let's say, my dear grandfather, Shu? Well, I'm sure we all know the answer to that."

An uncomfortable silence overtook the hall as Ra's face slowly turned towards him, her expression unreadable.

"It's because my wondrous great grandmother was treacherously overthrown!" Seth sighs, placing a hand on his chest and stretching out the other to Ra. "Now, doesn't that sound familiar?"

Finally, Isis rises from her seat. "It was different back then and you know it! You murdered Osiris, scattering his body into the Nile, and now you want to compare such a thing with a battle we won fair and square? How can you stand there and say something like that when you were with us back then?"

"Is it so different?" Seth ponders aloud before shaking his head. "Ah, I suppose it doesn't matter. You're right and I'm wrong."

"No, continue." Ra commands bluntly as Isis freezes. "I want to hear what you have to say."

Hah, he's really done it now.

Come on now, Seth has been planning this for hundreds of years. He can't falter at the critical moment.

"Back to what my question was, then. If what I did was such a terrible form of treason and a theft of my nephew's birthright, then should Osiris not face the same charge as me? Or, do consequences for crimes only stand for me? I feel that this is unfair, Maat."

"Osiris is dead! How can you ask him to face charges for a crime after killing him?" Isis demands as he huffs.

"I suppose the same way you managed to conceive with him through the great beyond. Unless you're saying he only remains alive to sleep with his wife and then roll back into Duat after all is said and done. In that case I commend him for his will to have sex with you. I know I wouldn't feel the same with your face."

"Pfft--!" Ra cackles from her seat as Nut places a hand onto her daughter's shoulder in an attempt to stop her from leaping over and bashing his head in.

"Our faces are similar!" She yells back while pointing at him.

"Hm, I don't think so."

"They are!"

"I just don't see it. I'm far more handsome."

"In your dreams, maybe!"

"Silence!" Maat demands as Isis takes in a long, calming breath. "You've made your point, Seth. But this trial is about you and your crimes, not Osiris. Unless you can make this information relevant I will move on."

Taking in Maat's words, Seth pauses, his face taking on a considerate expression.

He knows that Osiris should appear rather early on in the trial, maybe even right now. Yet he has not. This could be because of his rather direct accusation against the man to come down with him in this trial and therefore chose to stand aside until the right time.

However, now would be the best time to dispel any doubts about Horus' parentage. If Osiris wants to tear him down, the man at least needs to make sure his son can get to a point of getting three tests against Seth.

So, just what is this guy waiting for?

Huffing out a breath of air, Seth decides to back off for now.

"All I'm saying is that my nephew cannot decide to take my throne because of a birthright his so-called 'father'—who was dead before his conception, might I remind you—has apparently left it to him."

Many of the Gods who were neutral began to side-eye each other at his words.

Most of them had doubts about Horus' parentage. Though Gods, it was still a little bewildering how Isis had apparently managed to bed a dead man.

Seeing this turn of events, Isis began to calmly explain herself.

"As we all know, Seth heartlessly chopped up my husband and threw his body parts into the Nile River. At that time I filled the river with Osiris' life energy while he was alive and was able to revive him." She states with an almost practised rehearsal.

"Oh? So you did revive him. Very well then, where is he? I'm curious as to where our dear brother is." Seth asks bemusedly.

And also curious as to why she decided to revive him while hating the guy. It was something Seth really couldn't understand.

Osiris betrayed her, yet she still held some tenderness for him even with such bitterness. Perhaps he was too callous because he could never imagine himself feeling anything for someone after doing something like that.

Lamenting this, Seth resisted the urge to sigh. Yeah, he probably was being too judgemental. Isis really loved Osiris before all this went down. Feelings aren't small things and are often irrational.

He sees the reasons but still can't understand it.

How utterly--

Huh?

Suddenly, Seth felt a low chill crawl up his spine as bile threatened to spill from his throat.

There was something behind him with a cold, clammy hand on his shoulder and he wanted to scream.

Somehow, he doesn't. But only barely.

"I'm happy that you're asking about me, Seth." A voice that was so familiar yet completely foreign filled his ears as he continued staring forward, not daring to look at the creature behind. "As you can see, I am right here."

Right, of course he is. Seth wanted this to lure Osiris out. He planned for this.

So why wouldn't his lungs work?

"I see you all have questions for me, I am willing to answer them."

And he'll do just that as soon as Osiris removes his big, green fucking hand off of--

"Osiris!" Isis exclaims as she pushes past Seth, embracing her husband, the man loosening his grip and finally, at long last, he could breathe.

Which was really quite funny; Gods don't need to breathe.

Except he isn't really a God, now is he?

The world moved in a blurred motion as he watched blankly when Osiris stood in front of the Ennead, confirming Isis' words and his oh-so-terrible murder on Maat's divine scales.

With steady words, the God of Life explained how they had been sharing a drink, getting drunk as friends—brothers—might do, and woke up to being dismembered.

It was all a lie.

It was also true.

The scales stayed balanced.

Osiris had such a way with words. The damn bastard.

And then Ra, with bright eyes and a detached expression, asked why he did not fight back. Osiris is a God, how could he do nothing under the inhibitions of alcohol? He was no mortal.

Any explanation was quickly shot down by Maat and Isis, the latter stating he is a victim while the former reminded them all how Osiris is not the one on trial and is merely a witness.

Seth chooses then to speak.

"Isn't this great?" His voice brings all eyes to him. "Osiris is just a victim, as Isis says. He was completely helpless against me."

"Just what is it you wish to say, Seth?" Maat questions as he laughs.

"I'm just confirming how terrible I am! Not only have I committed such heinous crimes, I also killed my poor brother. Terrible! I can't believe how awful I am!"

"Since Seth has clearly lost his mind, let's move on." Isis proposes as he all but snarls at her causing the woman to freeze.

"Well, I do have quite the tale to tell. Maat, if the throne was seized under a subsequent action of Osiris that is considered completely reprehensible, what grounds would I have to murder him?"

The Goddess furrowed her brows. "Under such circumstances, I would say there are very few crimes that excuse treason. What grounds do you have for killing the victim, Seth?"

"Many, actually. I have another question while we're at it. How can you call a man a victim for being killed when he all but raped another man's wife?"

Dead silence filled the courtroom.

He did not want to say this aloud. More so for Nephthys' sake than his own.

Originally, he wished to recount his own experience. But that would include putting his heart on trial and Seth has not always been Seth. It was a great possibility that the other Gods would find something he would rather keep hidden.

So, like a coward, he's throwing Nephthys under the bus. Though this won't absolve him completely, Seth figures he could pin the crimes originally given to him back onto the man with the right words as well.

"It was not adultery." He quickly speaks before anyone could fully take in his words. "If you asked Nephthys if she was willing, she would say she was. But at the time she was under the influence of one of Hathor's hand mirrors so her words aren't to be taken as fact. Go on, ask Osiris if this is true, I'm sure he was the one to influence her with that mirror."

Said owner of the hand mirror looked completely surprised herself at the outcome. He didn't know for sure if the woman had any connection to all of this, but this confirms it.

Hathor was not completely at fault.

Which meant his gamble may pay off.

This was all just an elaborate guess, really. Seth didn't actually know if Osiris was behind the hand mirror incident. He just used the evidence around him to find this conclusion.

He only had three suspects anyway. Hathor, Osiris or Sekhmet. And while he wouldn't put it past Sekhmet to do something like that, she would rather put the mirror in Osiris' palm than actually get involved.

Which, while still making her guilty, ultimately puts most of the blame on Osiris instead.

"Ah." Maat stumbled for a moment, looking momentarily speechless before her gaze hardened. "With new evidence coming to light, I will proceed with the questioning. Osiris, did you use Hathor's hand mirror on Nephthys in order to coerce her into having sex with you?"

The man did not speak, his face completely frozen over, a noticeable lack of his normally lax smile making the courtroom feel colder than it already was.

Seth feels almost hysterical at the realisation. Never has he been closer to the God of the Sun and he has never felt colder.

"I..." He opens his mouth, unsure for a moment of how to proceed before clicking his tongue. "Yes, I did do that."

Silence.

Great, he admitted it. Now all Seth has to do is wait for a moment for things to calm down before going back to his 'crimes' and absolving them. Things aren't completely over for Osiris. Even admitting to such a terrible crime doesn't put Seth in the right for what he supposedly did after that.

Not all was lost for the other side.

Only...

Osiris was staring at him, his face disgustingly calm, and Seth wanted to punch him, asking what right he had to feel any sort of calmness right now.

Luckily, he didn't have to. Isis was more than willing to do that for him.

"You piece of shit!" She screamed, moving to punch him again as Horus all but hauled her away from Osiris.

Not for the man's sake, of course. He just didn't want her to be near such a person for longer than necessary.

Great, his siblings are fighting against each other. This works out well for him. In fact, everything is going according to plan A.

He may not even need to touch those three trials at this rate.

So why does he feel so uneasy?

No, he cannot doubt himself now; that was just asking for things to go astray.

"What, is there a sibling you won't fuck?!" Isis demands, far too absorbed in her anger to care about what she was saying. "Are you not satisfied with anything?! Do you want me to just die from shame?! Probably! I'm sure you won't mind killing us all and keeping up in Duat for all eternity! Is that not right?!"

Silence.

"Well, answer me!"

By this point, Isis was crying. Not because she was sad, but because she was angry.

Rightfully, terribly, agonisingly angry.

How could she not be, when married to a man like this?

Osiris looks towards the ceiling, his neck raising further and further before his heart that was formerly placed on Maat's scale was dragged back to his chest.

The God's head then snapped back fully as his body disintegrated. Maybe he found the situation unfavourable and decided to make a permanent trip back down to Duat.

Wait. No, that wasn't right, the body moved. It didn't disintegrate.

Where did he--

What?

His chest--

"A-ah." Seth looked down at his chest, a green hand now poking through with a beating heart in its palm.

That was his heart. Oh shit, Osiris took his heart—along with a sizeable amount of blood he didn't know Gods had. After all, he has never bled in this body before.

Wow, how utterly unbelievable. He really didn't think this would happen.

It was funny, in a horrible, sick, way. So very funny.

"Ha..." Seth laughs as blood drips from both his mouth and wound. "Hahahaha!"

Osiris stole his heart!

"HAHAHAHA!"

What kind of stupid fucking romcom was this decision based on?!

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

It actually really hurt.

"Ha."

So, so badly.

"...h...a..."

He takes it back, this isn't funny at all.

"............"

The world finally moved to black.

Notes:

I wrote this chapter a couple days ago after a full all-nighter and completely forgot about it until today. Reading back I’m just as shocked as Seth about how this trial went. Anyway, I hope you all liked the chapter!