Kurou woke up with Riddle pulling his arm, the jackal's sharp teeth carving through his flesh.
"OUCH, is that how you treat your friend? Come on...just because you're a God's avatar it doesn't mean you get to mistreat me like that, you know?", he said, desolated at the canine's roughness.
Riddle answered with a high pitched bark. Kurou interpreted that as a call to action and got up on his feet.
"Alrighty then, snouty", he told Riddle. "The only problem is that I don't have a flying idea where Abydos is".
The jackal's ears pointed up and he looked out as a woman came running towards them. She was a pretty, brown-skinned, short-haired young woman, dressed in plain clothing. She looked frightened.
"You!", she said, breathless. "You are the Post-Mortal, aren't you?".
"I go by many names", Kurou said with a ridiculous low-pitched voice. "But you can call me Doctor".
"What? What are you talking about? I need to talk to the Post-Mortal. Just answer me, are you him or not?", the woman said, flustered.
"If I tell you I'm not, it will probably bring me trouble sometime in the future. If I tell you I am, YOU'LL cause me trouble right now. I really don't like these odds".
"I knew it was a waste of time. You're just a useless coward like the others", the woman said.
Kurou grabbed her by the throat, lifting up her frail body and causing her to kick the air.
"Mind your manners, little girl. That's not how you treat someone you're asking help from", he growled.
He released her and she coughed loudly, breathing heavily. Passers-by looked at them with disapproving looks, causing Kurou to feel uncomfortable, but that wasn't enough for him to regret his attitude. Riddle didn't like the attention, though, and went into hiding.
"You're speaking Ancient Egyptian. Who are you?", Kurou asked her.
"Ankhesenamon", she answered curtly, still breathless, looking at him from the corner of her eye, disgusted.
"So that's how it is", Kurou pondered. "You're Tut's girlfriend".
"I'm Tutankhamon's wife, and the Queen of this land. You'll regret this violence against me, Post-Mortal", she said, enraged.
"You royalty are such a bunch of pampered, self-indulgent, arrogant brats", Kurou said. "Now I'm a coward because I'm not submitting to your will?".
"This isn't about me, it's about Tutankhamon", she said, impatient.
"What about him?"
"He's in danger. I can feel it", she said.
"And why do you come to me? He's a Pharaoh, and I'm just some guy. Also, he was the one who decided to part ways, so I'm barely responsible for whatever happens to him. I might have killed his step-mother, but she tried to kill me first, so I guess it was self-defense", he said.
"YOU DID WHAT?", Ankhesenamon yelled, and Kurou snorted, annoyed.
"Never mind. Where is he now?", Kurou asked.
I don't know!", Ankhesenamon answered.
"GREAT HELP!", Kurou yelled.
"I know", a male voice answered.
"Parennefer?", Ankhesenamon asked, troubled.
"Indeed I am, Princess", he answered.
"What are you doing here? How come you are alive?", she asked.
"The time will come when all your questions will be answered, Princess. But, for now, I need to know where the Queen Nefertiti is, if you happen to know", he said.
"Nefertiti is sleeping with the fishes", Kurou answered maliciously. "Who are you, old man?", he asked.
"I'm just a humble butler in search of a simple answer", Parennefer retorted.
"I don't work with simple answers and I don't like butlers, Parennefer", Kurou said. "And what's up with those names? You guys are weird".
"Look at yourself before saying that about an Egyptian", Ankhesenamon admonished.
"I'm not going to fall into the trap of losing my temper with you, young man. I know you're quite...resilient and trying to kill you would be a waste of time", Parennefer said.
"THANK YOU", Kurou said loudly. "At least someone who's slightly less stupid than the others". Parennefer frowned at Kurou's provocation.
"It's easy to offend others when you are immortal, don't you think?", Parennefer asked, rhetorically. "But I'm not here to argue. Instead, I offer you the answer you seek the most: I know Tutankhamon's location".
"Then tell us, Parennefer!", Ankhesenamon said, frustrated.
"I will, Princess, but first that man has to come with me to see the King Akhenaton", Parennefer said.
"A shameless bluff, I see", Kurou said. "Look, I don't need someone's butler to get my problems straightened out".
"Oh, but you do. In a fight against the false gods of Egypt, only the true God of this land can help you prevail", Parennefer said, dignified.
"The gods of this land disturb my peace more than anything else, old man. I can assure you I don't need their help", Kurou said.
"And how do you intend to defeat Sutekh, Ammit and Ramses without help?", Parennefer asked with a triumphant face.
"You're well informed for a butler", Kurou said, expressionless.
"My master is a notorious man, and he has interests in common with you. He also shall not allow the Princess to be hurt, since she is Tutankhamon's wife", Parennefer said.
"Is your boss that nuthead of a pharaoh? The one who tried to erase everything? Oh I've already had my share of crazy people in this country", Kurou said dismissively.
"You foul-mouthed undead! You are coming with me whether you want it or not!", Parennefer said and grabbed Ankhesenamon, pointing a gun at her head. "Do it or I will kill her!".
"Now that's a good one. Aren't you supposed to protect the Princess, royal butler? And now you're taking her as a hostage like I even gave a rat's ass about it? I don't even know that woman, for fuck's sake. For all that I care, you could all die together".
"You are crazy", Parennefer said.
"Crazy? I'm talking to a mummy's royal butler. Everyone here should be dead, including myself. There are evil gods trying the destroy the world. There are people being raped in every damn corner of this place. And the beer here sucks! What did you expect?", Kurou said, agitated.
"Fair enough", Parennefer said, and released Ankhesenamun. "I made up my mind. I'll take you there".
"No you won't!", Kurou interjected.
"You have no option, hell reject. You may be immortal, but you're not strong enough to kill me as well. I'm coming along whether you want me to or not", Parennefer said, categorically.
Kurou went silent for a moment. He looked at Ankhesenamon, who nodded vigorously.
"Ok then", Kurou sighed. "But if I have even the slightest idea that you're trying to fool us, my friend here will eat your guts. Come on Riddle". The jackal jumped from a shadow like it came out of nowhere, snarled at Parennefer but ultimately settled down beside Kurou.
********************
Tut wakes up with another headache, but instead of sitting on a chair, he is lying on a table, tied up by his wrists and ankles.
"Somebody's going to pay dearly for this. The Gods will not tolerate this behaviour with the child of Amon", he growled.
"And what exactly will the price be, boy?", a man said, showing up with a grin in his face.
"Ramses!", Tut exclaimed.
"What an honor! The most famous Pharaoh in the whole world knows me", Ramses laughed.
"I didn't know you had red hair. Are you really Egyptian?", Tut asked.
Ramses frowned and went serious. "And what does the son of a heretic have to say about my hair color? Are you the living image of Amon by any chance, Tutankhamon?".
"I am nothing but a tool for the gods to bring peace and prosperity to this land, Ramses. But you seem to have different plans", Tut said.
"I am the living image of peace and prosperity, boy. And by living, I mean literally", Ramses said pridefully, looking at his own hands.
"I see you have managed to bring yourself back to life. There's only one god I can think of that would be insane enough to commit such a crime", Tut said, displeased.
"Wash your mouth before insulting Sutekh, Tutankhamon. You might not live long enough to finish your sentence", Ramses threatened.
"What do you want with me? Why am I here?", Tut asked.
"You're my guest! It's really rude to ask such questions to your host".
"Skip the frivolities, Ramses. I'm sick of this ill-natured banter".
"I guess you have a point, for once. Let's proceed with the ritual. Bakenkhonsu, would you read the first words?", Ramses said looking to the man who kidnapped Tut.
"That man!", Tut exclaimed. "He killed all that people!".
"Bakenkhonsu is a loyal servant", Ramses said. "He does what needs to be done".
"No point in being loyal if this country is destroyed", Tut retorted.
"Do you have any servants, young man?", Bakenkhonsu asked with a smirk. "Because I don't see anyone coming for your rescue".
"Tutankhamon has something better than servants", a female voice ressonated.
"Maatkare", Ramses growled.
"How disgraceful", Hatshepsut said. "Ramses, are you planning to use a young Pharaoh's life force to resurrect a fallen god?".
"That would be the greatest honor this useless boy could ever have had in his entire pitiful existence", Ramses said.
"You madman!", Tut cried. "You have forsaken Amon-Ra!".
"I'm just tired of all this mediocrity", Ramses said. "Egypt was once one of the most powerful countries in the world, a military giant, feared by all. Now look at what we have become. A museum of a country! A nation that thrives on the achievements of those long dead!".
"Times have changed, Ramses", Hatshepsut pondered. "You had your time to reign, and you reigned for a very long time, didn't you? This country is not yours to rule anymore".
"Times may have changed, Maatkare, but one thing has never changed", Ramses said defiantly. "Power is still the means by which anything can be accomplished. If I have enough power, this country will be mine to rule, no matter what you or anyone else might say".
"That's enough reason for me to stop you from acquiring such power", Hatshepsut said. "Even if I have to punch that idea out of your damn mind!".