Page 12 of Hex You

“Is that why you’re not dying or turning gray or whatever here?” asked Emily.

“No, I have no ill effects from being in your realm because I’m a living being. Were I, say, an In-tep demon from my realm I would eventually sicken and die if I didn’t take another’s form,” explained Khenti.

“Gross.” Mercy shuddered. “Those things are disgusting.”

Xena looked up from lapping her cocoa and licked marshmallow from her lips before she said, “I am quite pleased you aren’t a dead demon, Khenti kitten, and I do hate to correct you when you have only just arrived, but what you said about your father taking away your status as a demi-god is impossible.”

“I do not mean to contradict you, but it is more than possible. Mercy witnessed it,” said Khenti.

“Khenti’s right. His dad’s bloody awful. A major bully. For basically no reason except that Khenti stood up to him, he took awayhis position as Gatekeeper, disowned him, and banished us to Duat. That’s why we were stuck in Egyptian hell,” said Mercy.

“Oh, I did not mean his father couldn’t disown him or take his magical position from him.” Xena licked her hand and smoothed back her hair as she continued. “I simply meant that he could not reverse what is Khenti’s through the right of his blood. Gatekeeper no more, but he is certainly still a demi-god.”

Everyone turned to stare at Khenti again who said, “How do you know this?”

“Oh, I know almost everything important,” said Xena before she returned to licking her hand and grooming her hair. Between licks she added, “You can prove it easily. You are a warrior, which means you should have a magical weapon under your command, correct?”

Khenti nodded slowly. “My khopesh.” His gaze found Mercy’s. “It came to me in Duat when I called. I assumed it was because I was still in our Underworld—which has a magic of its own.”

“Well, call it to you now, Khenti kitten. Then you shall see that your father cannot take away what was gifted to you through your blood. It is a simple fact. Let us pretend for a moment that our beloved Abigail had become angry at Mercy and Hunter. She could have stripped them of their duties as Gate Guardians, but she could not have taken their magic from them. That is a gift given through blood and ancestors—and it cannot be revoked.” Xena licked her hand again and reached out to rub a smudge from Mercy’s cheek. “Though our Abigail would never have done something so awful.”

Mercy leaned away from her and into Khenti. “Xena, I love you lots and missed you super bad, but you gotta quit putting your spit on me.”

Xena made a pouty face and sighed. “You let me lick you when I am a cat.”

“You’re not a cat now!”

“I’m always a cat!”

Mercy rolled her eyes and turned to Khenti. “You should try calling your weapon.”

“I—I am almost afraid to,” Khenti said softly.

“Why?” Hunter asked.

Khenti moved his broad shoulders restlessly. “Because if I am still a demi-god without being a Gatekeeper it will be as if I am only half whole.”

Hunter leaned forward. “Have you been a Gatekeeper since you were born?”

Khenti shook his head. “No, Cosmic Witch, children are not Gatekeepers. Like you and your magical sister, I had to mature into my power before I was named Gatekeeper.”

“Well, then, if you’re still a demi-god you’ll have your power and be free to decide what to do with it now that you’re not tied to a gate,” said Hunter.

Khenti cocked his head to the side and asked, “Could you simply walk away from being a Gatekeeper?”

“Yes,” Hunter said without hesitation. “As long as I was still a witch I’d still be me.”

Khenti nodded. “I shall consider what you have said.” He lifted his hand, and commanded, “To me, khopesh!”

There was a flash of light and a sound like a tearing cloth, and a weapon that looked like a cross between a sickle and a sword appeared in Khenti’s hand, gleaming the black of moonless nights and dark, bottomless waters.

“I am still a demi-god.” Khenti said the words softly as he gripped the weapon with both hands and bowed his head.

Mercy put her arm around his broad shoulders. “I’m so glad, Khenti!”

He met her gaze. “I must go back. I must save my mother.”

“You mean go back through the Egyptian Gate?” Hunter asked.