Amen Ra

The bartender, just starting to prepare for the evening's opening, looked up in surprise to see us pass. None of this was commonplace, I supposed, black dogs of death in the desert and golden raptors of the sun sliding through the air like ripples behind a plane that has just broken the sound barrier. Jackal was stopped by the door, but I, with death pounding in my ears, I crashed through the glass. Low, beneath where the lettering would have caused the glass to stick together, tangling around my wings. It hurt more than I expected, and I tumbled more than flew free, hitting the concrete outside as people in the world around stared. The world spun once, twice.
Black jaws closed carefully around the junction of wing and my body, but even his gentle hold was pain. Jackals are smaller than you think, and falcons larger, but he turned backwards, and pulled me, pulled me away. The others would be chasing in moments, but it was not myself I worried about. Death was no longer screaming, but lulling in my ears, crooning how soon it would be, my chest tight with a pain that spoke of glass and a door that had never meant to break.
It was not my safety that mattered, but I think it was important to Jackal, and so I let him carry me, sliding backwards over what felt like miles of concrete, and watching the sun - it was setting just as it emerged from the clouds, a last flash of beauty during the day, a triumphant sun, sinking to his nightly rest. It had been a long day for both of us. Tomorrow, I would have to find him again, but first, rest. The last thing I can think of is that old myth - there is a bird made of fire.
When the bird dies, it becomes ash, but from the ashes, it spreads it's wings again.
---
Things rose to stop me in the underworld that night, trying to make my journey longer than it allready was. Syrus was not pleased, not pleased at all. I noticed nothing of Jackal, but his white brother chased along behind me, barking up the souls of those that had followed us. In death, we still had some power, because nothing dissapears here. There are those here still waiting for me to raise them to live again. It can make a soul bitter, and it takes only the ululating howl of Ap-uan, pointing me out, to raise them, twist them together into monsters.
This was how I created the jackal gods. Soul singers, howlers of death, singing to twist the souls into what possibilities there were. They didn't have the power to really change anything, but they could awaken possibility, cause it to be realized, and today it reared up to try and strike me from the sky. It was a decision I almost regretted this night, as I was so weary, so weary from being alive for so long.
Jackal and I would find each other in the morning, somehow. Even if it meant I had to walk his path of death. I battled the creature that Wolfe had summoned against me with the spear of my beak and the arrows of my claws - things such as this are predictable, it is something I will win. I could perhaps, be pinned down, but it would cause an unbalance in the world - it had been written that my entrapment in the underworld caused eclipses. I did not have that sort of power anymore, and so they did not have the power to stop me, not here.

---
I woke up in an apartment in California, the sea loud in my ears. My body was younger than I would have liked, but a wide compensation in one direction meant a wide compensation in the other in order to balance it. The clock said it was almost 6 in the morning, and the window said that the sun was halfway over the horizon. We were both free today, it felt good to see it, after days in a room with no windows.
Blinking in the fall of light into his face, Jackal stepped into the room from the hall, his suit a dissaray, one hand pushing at his hair to try and reassert some semblance of order onto it. He had slept, though, by his yawning. I wondered how he'd found me, but it was not something that mattered enough to question. I surmised that it must have been really important to him, and that I had bonded him recently enough so that he could have found me had I woken up in India.
"I want to know what you know," I said, and I put warm fingers on the cold windowpane, feeling it warm under the sun's rays. It was time for some answers. Jackal was turning up the sheets on the bed, his mouth set in a firm line. He was torn between being defiant for my mistreatment of him yesterday. I had not yet even so much as thanked him - though he'd known he would be in trouble if he'd been caught, he had taken the time to ensure that my living body would not be recovered by any of the other gods.
His nose wrinkled, just over the bridge. He didn't want to tell me anything, yet. He sat on the edge of the bed, rifled through the inner pockets of his jacket and recovered a much tumbled pack of cigarettes.
"That's not very much," So Isis had suspected my plan, though I think she hadn't expected me to be so rude as to draw true names into things. Jackal glared in my direction, realizing the same. His look smoothed as he drew another lungfull of smoke, speaking as he exhaled. "They've got a plan to replace you. I don't know how or why. Ormandi may even be in on it, now that my brother's caught her."
It would have to be a very good plan indeed, to not only replace me, but also to convince Ormandi to pause in her persuit of me for even one day. Through the window, I watched the sun's reflection dancing along the waves. This apartment had a gorgeous view.
"You found me quickly." It was more of a question.
"I can smell you," He answered, trying to convince the filter of his cigarette to smoke further. "I came through the underworld."
"They didn't stop you."
"They were more concerned with -you-."
"I want you to give me a cigarette." He handed one in my direction, and I looked at him carefully. Isis could be using him as a tool, perhaps, a distraction. A few more nights and I could erase that allegiance (if, by then, it was not too late.) Likely, she wouldn't have tried. It didn't mean that I wouldn't take precautions, especially if he had followed me unhindered through the underworld. I took his lighter when he offered it, and we both lit, leaning in close in a surprising moment of intimacy. It seemed to remind him of something.
"My brother let me pass." Wolfe should have been guarding the gates, considering his failure to bar my passage.
"He was buisy trying to stop me." That could have been it, certainly, but I suspected it was Wolfe's hesitancy to harm his own blood. There were only the two of them, after all. That's all there would ever be. Unable to sire children, even if they could finde a receptable goddess, because they were creatures of death. Death has a rather adverse reaction to creation, indeed.
Of course, there was no likely event that would lead to their un-creation, either. I could do it, or perhaps the Nu - the waters of creation. Nu had not taken any interest in this world since it had given me the liscence to creat it. I didn't know if they had the ability to destroy each other, as I've said, things have grown since I originated them, or the world would be an awfully boring place. As for Syrus trying to replace me, that was utter nonsense. He'd tried it before.
It was vexing, I wasn't certain exactly what the plan was, and with only Jackal, I was unlikely to get the rest of the story. I was worried exactly what the plan entailed, if they'd wanted to put me out of commission while they enacted it. I doubted that it would work, but that didn't mean it couldn't result in personal harm to me, or to one or all of the rest of us. There are powerful forces in the numbers of the world, and if things didn't turn out to be exactly as described to them in their churches, it was not beyond them to -make- things so.
"Maybe," Jackal conceeded, sweeping his cigarette away from his mouth. I could see the impressions of his teeth on the filter - they were too sharp, it wasn't simply my imagination. It reminded me to pay attention to my own cigarette, half of the pleasure of the act is taken away by the knowledge of the fact that it can't kill me with cancer someday. If the fact that I died every evening wasn't enough of a curb, I could heal my body with a bit of concentration and a long sleep if things were bad. I'm fairly positive that Jackal only smoked for image. Maybe it was for his nerves, too, considering how he'd chain smoked recently.
He stood up, leaving me the bed if I wanted it. I wanted to ask about breakfast, hungry for the first time in a long while - that's a nervous habit of mine. Somehow, I doubted Jackal wanted to know if I took my eggs any special way, even if it was a morning after. No shower today, even though the bathroom was lovely and large. I scrubbed my face with nice hot water, and Jackal paced the bedroom - he was nervous, too. The apartment was fantastically well stocked, and for breakfast I had some toast, buttered and honeyed. Jackal didn't eat, though he did poke around in the refridgerator for anything remotely interesting. He came away with a beer, and though it was still pretty early in the day, I wasn't one to say anything.
I found a notepad - the top few sheets were covered with messy handwriting, but there were a few on the bottom that were still unspoiled. I took the time to map out who I knew was involved in this. At the top of the paper, I put Isis. On the next line, Syrus and Namir, with a line extending to Wolfe and Jackal. Ormandi's name was placed on the paper with a question mark - she hadn't showed up here, yet, so I had no idea. That was who I knew for sure. That left quite a few of us, but I could very well have some opponents that would prefer I not know who they were. This was in case the plan failed miserably, so that they could pretend that everything was kosher the whole time. Whatever the case, I was certain that I could count Seth and his wife out - they were not my allies, but enemies of Syrus, anyway.
Jackal watched me scratching away, appearing with a cup of coffee that I had not heard him brew. He looked over the list of names, then said simply, "They've got Terry, too."
Then he wandered off as I added the name, sipping his coffee, and leaving one hand resting in the small of his back. I got the feeling that he was looking for Ormandi's appearance. He had a score to settle. Well, I trusted that buisiness to him, and pondered my options. I could try to approach Seth for help with these matters, though he was likely to look on allying with me as a favor, even if we did have a common enemy. We had never had any amity, and I doubted that we ever would.
I gave up on trying to put together a plan around 11. The plan would fail, and that was what I had to have faith in. Either that, or I would have to wait for their next move in order to take any steps. It was October, but I decided, quite simply, that I would have a swim. I invited Jackal along - it wasn't like he could get any colder - and rummaged around in the dresser until I found swimtrunks for both of us. He seemed unhappy that they weren't black, but the idea of swimming seemed infectious, and it took him too. Frankly, he looked good in very little. It made him far less severe, and it drew attention away from his predatory mouth.
When we reached the beach, I drew a simple prayer in the sand in heiroglyphs - yes, I still remember them.
---

The water was like clarity, and I flung myself into it from the beach, the shock of being so very thoroughly -cold- was absolutely wonderful. Goosebumps don't often happen to me, and the novelty was enough to raise my mood remarkably. Jackal swam with more of a purpose, lean body knifing through the water as he ducked his head below to watch the shadows on the sands. One time, he came up with a shell containing a small creature - a hermit crab, and he showed me how it's legs tucked up inside. I remembered them, distantly, little hermit creatures, finding discarded homes to call their own. They reminded me of me, and I swept my hands through my suncolored hair and laughed, though Jackal looked as if I had grown an extra head.
He didn't bring me any more sea creatures after that. I wondered, to myself of course, if it was because he'd expected to be praised as a hunter. I resisted the urge to toss sticks for him, because I doubted he'd be very good at fetch. We both slid out of the water before very long - I because I could feel the salt caking in my hair and the moisture in my body turning my fingers to wrinkled messes. Jackal looked as if he was colder than usual, and we trooped up into the house in shivvering silence. Only I, I was smiling.

---
I stretched out on the bed in the early afternoon, watching the ocean through the bay windows. There was still no sign of Ormandi, and I was beginning to get restless and worry. The ocean's cold and salt lingered on my body, and I shook my fingers through my hair to dispel it. Jackal took the time to shower, though I didn't join him when he offered. It'd be some time before I confined myself in a bathroom with him again, willingly or not. The waves were hypnotic, and my thoughts wandered. I was just starting to doze, warming in the sun that was streaming in merrily, when my heart gave a sudden jump, a twinge.
Somewhere, Isis had used my true name. It didn't worry me terribly, because she didn't have the power of unmaking me - only the Nu had that power, because it had made me to begin with. Only those who can create can also destroy. She had probably cursed me, this was my guess, and I sat up, putting a hand on my heart.
Jackal's yell from the bathroom caused me further startlement, and I crossed the room in a hurry. When I pulled open the door, I found the two of them - Wolfe had crossed the underworld, I supposed, and made his way to our bathroom. He had taken human form at last, hair as white and long as icicles. They weren't fighting, in fact. Wolfe had his hands up, and was attempting to explain himself to a very naked and very agitated looking Jackal. I suppose the surprise served him right. I leaned in the doorway, after Wolfe tipped his eyes in my direction and made no move for my throat. Indeed, he seemed surprised to see me there.
"...threw me out, figured since Kei had you, I was too much of a liability." A bond of brotherhood was a difficult one to break indeed. I could see that my little party was growing. Of course, Isis would be wise to put Wolfe out as well. I had, after all, named him into existance, and I could call him as easily as I had Jackal, now that I had proven myself willing to do such a thing.
"I'd like to have you on my side," I spoke before Jackal did, he was trying to yank his pants on, still glowering like his tail had been unexpectedly set aflame. Wolfe looked back in my direction, blinking. I could tell he was curious as to my sanity. A creature that had come directly from Syrus's side, here. But he hadn't come to me, but rather directly to Jackal - whom he'd had no reason to suspect had found me so quickly. He turned his gaze back to Jackal, asking.
"Well, he's not lying." Jackal said, showing all his teeth in his best doggish grin. His eyes darted in my direction thankfully. I suspected he was loath to loose his brother again, though I doubted Ap-uan would go out of textbooks again for quite some time, if, indeed he ever did. Rediscovery was an important thing. Scientists love to flaunt the fact that they were the first to 'find' something, and studies would be conducted on his nature, that sort of thing.
Besides, they were better as a set. I'd created them that way, and I was fond of how they matched. Wolfe seemed allright with that answer, slicking his hand through his hair - I noticed that his fingernails were done in a pearly white shade - it was strange, but appealing.
Wolfe was sharp contrast to his brother, as I've explained. Brothers could hardly look different and still clame familial ties. Really I would only know them to be brothers because I made them so. Differences aside, there was a unity to them, an ease that spoke of a long relationship, a familiarity of guesture which was almost hypnotic to watch. Wolfe relaxed after a while, though he did not go so far as to ask my forgiveness for his prior actions. I would not have asked him to, either. He watched Jackal intently at first, as if uncertain weather my control was going to effect his very nature. He had a good eye for detail, but there was nothing amiss - of course. Jackal had all but given himself to my control.
He watched me, next. I simply moved into the bedroom and waited for my best opportunity to ask - in such a way as I could - about Ormandi. He had taken her, perhaps he knew her decision. The time to ask was not yet, he and Jackal were catching up on matters, so I simply watcehd the sun while Wolfe kept his eyes on me. I'm not sure what he was expecting.
"Syrus didn't follow me," Wolfe asserted, settling on one corner of the bed. Jackal dragged a chair into the middle of the room, swinging it backwards when he occupied it. "But it's best if we stay away from the underworld."
"He set the souls against you." Jackal reached and Wolfe extended his hand, revealing to me a jagged series of scrapes and cuts along the back of his forearm. I recognized the signs of infection - such were the wounds one recieved fro the dead. With time, they'd heal. Wolfe was a god after all - to be killed by creatures of his own realm would be far too embarassing. I'm not certain how Jackal had detected the wounds without seeing them or touching Wolfe - likely he'd smelled the blood. I was surprised to see them, but it made sense for Syrus to try and hinder the Jackal god's travel, so that they could not easily aid me. When I died that evening, I may well have ended up in Africa the next day, or China, or even Egypt herself.
"He's set them against all of us." Wolfe allowed Jackal to push his sleeve up, and turn the injured limb over in his hands. He seemed distantly worried about the injury, but he knew as I did that it would heal with rest. He released his hold, and Wolfe took his hand back into his own lap, and looked up at me, answering my question before I could even ask. "He didn't win Ormandi as an ally, but he is keeping her captive, so far as I can tell. And he aims to seperate you from us as quickly as possible."
Isis was the one behind holding Ormandi - she was a powerful sorceress, knowing poisons and prisons that even the strongest of us could not bear. As for keeping us apart, I had only to glance toward the lowering sun - it did set so quickly in October - to know that we would be seperated by my rebirth very shortly. It left only only one option, really.
---


I mentioned, at the beginning, that I was more interested in women, right? Let me reassert that, now.
The ease of which I spoke of earlier between the Jackal gods continued beyond a brotherly affection for one another. Jackal and Wolfe spoke to an extent about the plan, and I watched the sun set into the sea, until the glints on the waves began to hurt my eyes. By then, they had both settled onto the bed. Jackal had insisted on fussing over Wolfe's injuries, and had cleaned and bound the wounds with a deftness and attention that I hadn't expected from him. Time will reveal things that you did not expect, that's the one thing I've really learned. When I looked back up from the window, they had both fallen silent, and they were both watching me.
Jackal was looking for direction as to what to do. Wolfe looked as if he expected me to drop dead any instant, now. Death loomed tonight, it felt like it would take it's time. Good, it gave me the options that I needed, and I would certainly cheat whatever plans it had for me this evening. Well, I supposed there was no further pride to loose in this thing than I allready had. I allowed myself enough of a smile that Jackal's brow furrowed, and Wolfe appeared to be searching for signs of a heart attack.
I crossed to the bed, lifting my hands to where the simple robe I wore crossed over my chest, fingers still feeling of salt and the sea. In the morning, in the morning I would shower when I returned to this apartment. For now, it was up to us to create death. Jackal was allready rising when I let the robe fall to the soft, sky-blue carpet. Wolfe followed his lead, but hesitantly, and I turned my palms up to each of them. They both turned their mouths to my fingers, each finding a different reaction to the salt there, and for a long moment, we just stood. There was tension here, so very much tension, but it would all dispell so easily this way.
It's funny how simple offerings can turn the world around. We all found the bed together, a tangle of clothing leading from my robe to it's expanse, and I thanked my luck that it was king sized and that the view was so wonderful. I so rarely got to see the moon, and yet there she was, watching through the window from her place in the heavens. I found my way to the middle, their bodies both such a snug fit together that I felt like one misplaced puzzle piece, but minutes and shifting, and they found their mouths around me, and I found my mouth tracing paths over expanses of pale skin.
Even his pubic hair was the finest down-white, and I took a moment to play my fingers through it, admiring, before my mouth went there, too, onto his stiffening erection, my coaxing tongue helping matters easily enough. I spent long moments exploring his cool length with the very tip of my tongue, noting that he didn't take warmth as quickly as Jackal did. I explored every bit, taking things slowly - who says I shouldn't enjoy myself? It was Jackal growling his impatience that finally coerced me to sitting up, licking my lips for the few drops of salty gratification that I had gotten for my efforts - Wolfe was patient enough, but Jackal just about had me by the neck as I sat up.
He saught to drive me down into the bed and empower himself, but I took initiative. He had had quite enough power over me recently. It was time for me to return the favor. Wolfe sat back and let us toussle, his teeth locked on my shoulder, and me applying careful leverage of my thumbs in his kidneys. The struggle ended after a few bites on my part, when I managed to get ahold of one of his arms and twist it around in it's socket just so, until he gasped for breath and went lax. Wolfe obliged me with the lube, grinning smugly to himself. I could sense that he had one too many times been caught by Jackal's amourous advances.
Well, it was for him then, that I buiried myself to the hilt on my first rough thrust, Keeping Jackal's wrist twisted in one of my hands, and at a point on his back that was just below his shoulderblades. He was making soft noises into the comforter, something between a purring sound and a pleading whimper, and I suppose it was that which distracted me.
Of a sudden, I had cool hands on my hips, and Wolfe negotiated his entrance quite firmly. I did not have time to argue, just to release my hold on Jackal's wrist, stoop forward to allow better penetration on both sides, and grabbed hold of the comforter to hang on. I think I closed my eyes then, found my breath around the pleasure, and breathed, taking the opportunities of my breaths out to slam my hips against Jackal's with the added force of a very pleased sounding Wolfe. Jackal, when I think of it, did not sound as if he were protesting, either. He was actually crying out, and my voice was there too - higher pitched, wordless, and Wolfe's voice was in my ear, barely a whisper.
I came first, but I had time enough to feel the lock of Jackal's muscles together, before I slipped away, time enough to see Wolfe flip him mercilessly onto his back when he was weak from orgasm, and then the world was fading away. The underworld would mean struggle, that evening.