Welcome to this week’s story, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.
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NEGLECTED VOTE
Bastet’s whiskers twitch in disdain as a beautiful dark-skinned woman enters the room. Her long black hair is hidden behind a golden silk scarf that’s wrapped around her head.
Another one of Ra’s unique fashion choices for Mafdet.
The goddess looks uncomfortable as she is the only one present in human form. Ra, in his falcon form, holds his head high as she glides across the floor to awkwardly stand next to him.
“Ah, looking as beautiful as ever, my dear.”
Bastet has to concentrate to make sure she doesn’t roll her eyes. Her claws scrape against the marble floor in a circle, finally getting their attention.
“Please don’t scratch the floor, Bastet. It’s very unbecoming.”
A mixture of embarrassment and anger makes her fur flush with heat. “My apologies.”
Ra ignores her to admire Mafdet for another few moments before clearing his throat. “Unfortunately, I have not called you both here for a chat. We have a situation in our hands that could turn dire if not dealt with properly.”
Bastet pricks her ears with interest, her earlier irritation regressing. Mafdet looks away as Ra turns to her and Bastet wants to claw her face for such disrespect.
When Ra continues to stare at Mafdet lovingly rather than elaborating, Bastet sighs. “What do you need my assistance with?”
His golden eyes flick back to her, though the love in them is gone. “Apep has somehow escaped from his prison. He is now dwelling in the human world.”
Bastet sucks in a breath. Apep is Ra’s archenemy. The two of them have engaged in too many wars to count since the beginning of time. The dragon god has been defeated every time, thanks to Ra’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. But he was supposed to be guarded by the falcons in Khonsu’s territory.
“How did this happen?” Mafdet asks before Bastet can, her eyes wide.
Ra shakes his head with a grunt. “Khonsu is investigating. But this is a massive failure on his part.”
Bastet feels her claws slide out once more, so she sheathes them. “Are we planning to strike Apep first?”
Ra’s eyes sparkle at her enthusiasm. “That is what we are here for. My most trusted confidante and my protector. Do we strike first, or do we wait for him to attack us? Khonsu and I have voted on this earlier, but I want your opinions also.”
“Attack first,” Bastet says without hesitation. “Lest he think us willing to turn a blind eye to his schemes.”
Mafdet taps her chin thoughtfully with her finger. “Wait. He is arrogant and will expect us to come to him.”
Ra nods his head with a smile. “We also agreed that we would wait. Thank you, Mafdet, for blessing me with your wisdom once more.”
Bastet shakes her head with a scoff. Of course, Ra would agree with Mafdet over his own daughter, his protector. It had never been a fair vote in the first place, just whatever Mafdet wanted, as always.
Jessica Turnbull is an author who mainly writes Young Adult Fantasy. However, she is hoping to also branch into Sci-Fi, Horror and New Adult. Books got her through her darkest years as a teenager, and she hopes that one day her books will inspire young people to keep going. She lives in the UK with her cat, Mishka.
If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash anthology.
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