"I...I'm not asking you to betray him, I wanted to talk about that girl..." She shifted nervously. "She...why is she here? She doesn't have anything to do with your brother! So what's in this for her?" She stated. "I, I miss you, still. I don't want to see you hurt..."

Set looked at Asima a bit confused, "Souban? She brought Melhet back to life. She brought my brother back to me, for that she has my gratitude but no more. She's no one I can't handle on my own."

"but, why, Set?" Asima bit her lip, trying to think of an argument. "Melhet has to kill Malum because that's who killed him...we know that. But why did she bring him back in the first place? What does she have over him, Set?"

Set paused, "... His heart. She's the only one who knows how to use it for or against him. She didn't want to tell me about it until it had been stolen." he looked at Asima again, "By you. Asima. Give me Melhet's heart." he demanded

"So he isn't actually loyal to her?" Asima chewed her lip thoughtfully, shaking her head at Set's demand. "Then what does she want with him? Once Malum is dead, and melhet is fine, it will come out. And what do you think, Set? You think she brought him back for love? I doubt she even knew him...she needed someone who had strong ties...And you would do anything for him...High Priest, someone the Princess of Egypt trusts and confides in...It's not a hard jump to make, Set! She wants power!"

"You think I don't already know that?" Set shook his head, "I'm not a fool Asima. Why do you think I've been trying so hard to keep you out of this? I don't trust her, but for the moment I need her help to keep my brother safe. If the heart is all she has over him than that's all I need to be rid of her. Now give it to me. Don't make me ask again."

She bit her lip. Well, that had failed. "Do you think she'll keep Melhet around, when he's not useful anymore? Or you, for that matter?"

"I don't think you understand" Set stood upright, "I'm not going to let her get that far. Once Melhet kills Malum and I have my brother's heart, I can figure out how to keep him stable myself. I won't need her after this and if she's tries to pull anything else on me I'll destroy her myself. Melhet comes first, you are second. I've spent enough of my life with nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I know it's true when I say that Nothing else matters."

"I..." Asima faltered, glancing behind her quickly. She shook her head. "I won't give you his heart." She stated, "Don't you think I would be estactic to learn how she does it, Set? I would kill to have my father back, no matter what horrible things he did. I would love to bring so many people back....but it's not right."

"I'm not bringing anyone else back." Set stated, "All I want is my brother, and since she's already done it then I don't see any harm in keeping him here. Now I'm not asking Asima." Set stated, lifting his right hand. The earth around Asima's feet became soft as several spires rose to trap her there, "Give me his heart."

Asima let out a startled cry, trying to move as the stone around her feet became mushy and moved. At the same time, she managed to shake her head once again. "It's playing with fire, Set..."

"It's my BROTHER" Set snapped, "or do you really think that I would betray you over someone trivial? Melhet was my life long before you Asima. He was the one who saved me from the burning hut that killed the rest of our family. We went from having very little to having absolutely nothing but each other. I was barely more than two when that happened, he is all I can remember, he is all I ever knew before Malum took him from me."
"If he was still dead, I wouldn't dare tamper with these things. I had accepted it and moved on. By the gods I had nearly forgiven Malum of all things! But now he's alive Asima. He's alive as you and me. I've talked to him, I've seen his soul in his eyes he's really there. How can you tell me that I can't help him now? He wants to live and I'm not going to deny him that because he deserves it. I owe him everything, and I never got the chance to ever pay him back." Set swallowed hard, for a moment he almost looked on the verge of tears but he hardened his gaze and stood straight again.
"If you won't give me the heart Asima" Set stepped forward determinedly, staring her in the eyes, "Then I will take it from you, at whatever the cost. Melhet's life is worth more than yours."


"Brother." Melhet spoke, he'd managed to find a way around the wall and now approached. He had removed his mask so that Asima could see him for the first time. Set had grown taller than his big brother, but only a little. They had the same hair, same blue eyes. Aside from the height, they could have been twins.

"Yes Melhet?" Set questioned, still watching Asima.

"Have I really done this to you?"

Set blinked, turning to look at him confused, "Melhet, you've done nothing-"

"I don't remember you being so cross before." Melhet stared at him, "you're so much stronger now, and all this magic... I never expected you'd become so great, but it makes so much more sense now."

"What are you talking about brother?" Set still seemed confused.

"Set, I think we need to talk." Melhet sighed, "Please, let your friend the princess free. I'm the one who asked her to steal my heart from Souban anyway. I wanted to speak freely to you."

Set hesitated but waved his hand and the earth surrounding Asima returned to normal.

Asima had flinched back, not wanting to believe her friends words. She was so focused on Set, she didn't notice his brother until he spoke. She jumped, and moved her gaze to the older brother, her eyes widening. The resemblance was astonishing between the brother. She hesitated, before being released, then nodded to Melhet in thanks. She stepped back a bit, making it appear she was leaving, then crouched behind jutting rocks so she could hear.

She'd forgotten, it had been Melhet who had informed her about the hearts, in a way. But still, why would he tell her, when they were clearly very important? It was all very confusing...

Malum snuck up alongside Asima. He'd been watching, ready to interfere if necessary.


Melhet stepped forward, looking into Set's eyes as though searching for something before sighing and taking a seat on a nearby stone. "You've got no idea how long I've been trying to find a way back here. I swore I'd never leave you and I meant it, so as soon as Souban came along I jumped at the chance. Shame I didn't realize how much time had passed. Of course you had moved on..."

"that doesn't mean I haven't missed you every day since then" Set stated, "I've wanted you back since the day you left"

"But you don't need me anymore" Melhet replied, looking evenly at his brother.

"That's not true, I-"

"Have friends, and a new family" Melhet interjected, raising his hand for silence, "a life with so much more than we'd ever had before. I hate Malum for what he did to me, but now I wonder if it wasn't for the best. You're so much better off without me."

"No!" the priest exclaimed harshly, "Melhet, when you died I nearly did as well. I had nothing, I starved for days between finding scraps of food and stealing water. If it hadn't been for Lakar I wouldn't have survived without you. I need you."

"perhaps you needed me then, but not anymore." Melhet shook his head, "Hemset, look at you. You're all grown up, you've got everything you need and more. You've got some amazing magic and the power to control it-that's something I never knew how to deal with. I'm only interfering now."

"Wait, what?" Set hesitated, "what do you mean?"

Melhet paused, "I suppose I never got the chance to tell you... you don't remember the night we left home, do you?"

"... no... you said there was a fire, everyone was killed but you saved me."

"I didn't save you Set" Melhet explained, "you were at the heart of the blaze, crying your eyes out while everything burned around you. Nothing ever touched you Set. Honestly, for a minute you terrified me, but then..." he smiled a little, "you recognized me and reached out. You were always so innocent, nothing could corrupt little Hemset. Anyway, I grabbed you and got out of there."

"... wait... what?" Set stared at his brother in shock and confusion, "you don't think... you're not saying... I don't understand."

"Yeah, well neither did I" Melhet shrugged, "I just watched you carefully for awhile, made sure you never got in too deep with... with my new line of work. Nothing else too big came up so I wasn't too worried but all the same, I sent a message to the high priest Lakar. I guess he finally decided to check you out. Thank the gods."

"So I have you to thank for that as well" Set sighed,leaning against the stone wall. "but I still don't understand brother. Why are we talking about all this?"

"Because, just cuz I was there in the start, doesn't mean I've got to be here for the end" Melhet replied, "Brother, I'm sorry I left you back then, but I won't be sorry to leave you now. I don't belong here anymore, my own body is rejecting me as we speak and more importantly you're safe. That's all I needed to know."

"Melhet, you can't leave me!" Set protested, "not again! I've given up everything for you! You've done everything for me, now it's mine turn damnit!"

Melhet stood, "If you want to repay me brother, don't lose sight of who you used to be. I haven't seen you smile since you left the Pharaoh's palace last. You've become dark and bitter when you were once so carefree. I could always count on you to brighten up my day, even when it had been my worst. You keep saying that I took care of you, when if it hadn't been for you, I would have died long before my time. I would have given up long ago, lost my will to live and just died in the desert alone. You gave me everything I needed brother, now give me one last thing.
Let me go."

((And cue Souban?))

(I'd forgotten about her...>.> I'm sorry. I'm not used to playing multiple characters....)

Asima jumped slightly, glancing towards Malum. She lifted a finger to her lips, though she was sure it was an unneeded gesture. She listened for a while, biting on her thumb to resist the urge to speak up. She was glad she didn't, when that female's icy voice filled the air.

Souban had followed Melhet as soon as Solum was sufficiently tied up. She was cursing and glaring at the two males, and panting slightly. All this crawling around in caves and fighting men wasn't good for her. Plus, during the fight, two of the men she'd resurrected had been killed, their heads removed from their bodies. And the last one's soul had managed to escape it's body. "What are you two babbling for? Get a move on...Find my jars!" She ordered curtly, before turning of Melhet. "Fat lot of good you did me back there! What is wrong with you? You want to perish? Find them!" Souban repeated, turning away and muttering to herself.

((lol, that's fine. I can't help but wonder if Souban has another way of controlling Melhet though... hmm...))

Melhet turned as Souban approached, "No." he glared at her, "without my heart, what power do you have over me? I won't obey you any longer."

"Melhet, they'll kill you before we can get to Malum" Set argued, "we have to get it back. I'm not losing you again!"

"That's not your choice to make Set" Melhet replied calmly, "This is my life. I chose to return to it and I can chose to leave again. You'll move on again. Everything will be alright brother."

"No it won't!" Set exclaimed, "it's too late to go back!"

(Maybe a shut down switch? Like, she could have a keyword that shuts off his emotions, makes him like the other three she raised, but more effective?)

Asima hesitated, glancing at Malum. Should she go out now? If Set's brother was choosing to turn on him, Set would need someone to be there for him...

Souban's jaw dropped, and she stared at Melhet. "You think you have a choice, Melhet? Think long and hard before you decide to turn against me....You'd rather be dead? I'll grant your wish, after I use you to kill everyone you care about. I'll even use your soul up, so there won't be an afterlife for you, ungrateful whelp!"

Melhet hesitated for just a moment and Set stepped in, "You dare do a thing like that to my brother and I will tear you apart" the priest hissed, "Melhet, stand down or help me get your heart back, but dying is not an option for you."

"Set!"

"No!" Set shot his brother a look, "You don't understand. I'm not going through that again. I'm not-" he paused, a momentary dizzy spell causing the priest to waver. Quickly he took a swig from his water skin and stood straight, "I'm not losing you again. This isn't just your life Melhet." for a moment Set's blue eyes flashed like a storm was settling into them. "I demand you live."


Malum glanced uncertainly towards Asima, he had no clue how to deal with this.

The princess waited, peeking around the corner. She didn't actually care if she was seen or not, but needed to know if Set was alright.

Souban shrugged and grinned. "You think I'm afraid of someone like you? I'm not as weak as you may think. A pathetic little priest who can't function without his magic? Oh, that's right..." The necromancer's attention shifted to Melhet. "Did I forget to mention that? Your precious little brother has done so much with his life...He's addicted to magic!" She cackled loudly, and shook her head. "Melhet....reconsider. You would be such a great ally...We can rule all of Egypt. I'll have no problem sharing with you...."

(Do you like the idea or not? If so, what should his word be?)

((It's fine with me. Do as you please ^_^))

Melhet looked from Souban to Set, "brother..."

"It's just a temporary thing" Set retorted, "and I can still take you out Souban, with or without it. I'm more powerful than you. I'm the most powerful mage on earth." he glared at her.

('Kay! Yay! I get to play! :) )

"Can you kill your brother?" She questioned quietly. "كس أمك." (Kuss ummak.) She stated quietly, her eyes flickering to Melhet. It was a vulgar expression, and one she would never use, so it was perfect for Melhet's switch button. It was sad to do this, however, she needed obedient subjects. Not a companion. It was necessary.

At the mention of Set's addiction, Asima did stand up, though it was without thinking. She seemed to have forgotten about the other two. "Set...Is...is that true?"

"What are you talking about Souban, that's foolish." Set scoffed, though his attention was quickly directed towards the princess, "Asima... what are you still doing here?"

Meanwhile, just behind the priest, Melhet's eyes rolled back as a blight of dizziness struck him. It took a moment for him to refocus and when he had steadied the spark in his gaze was gone.

Asima shuffled her feet and looked down, ignoring his question. "So....you aren't addicted to magic?" Asima questioned him finally, biting her lip. Lakar had told her about that, and it wasn't pretty.

Souban smiled, viewing Melhet. "If he makes a move towards me, kill him." She ordered her pawn, then turned to Set. "Ignore her." She commanded, nodding towards the princess. "Will you fight alongside your brother, Hemset?"

"Asima..." Set shifted, a little awkwardly. "No. I'm not. I've taken some of the potion but only a bit. I won't need it once this is all over. Everything will be fine." he turned away, "... Melhet, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing brother" Melhet replied in monotone, "I have a king to kill."

Asima's face fell. "Set...You...you are?" She looked heartbroken, and stepped towards him as if she was going to embrace him. Though, Melhet's voice made her remember what was going on. Her arms dropped awkwardly, his threats from earlier echoing in her mind."

Souban's smile remained on her face. "I told you Set, no matter what, Melhet will not betray me. Get his heart."