Appepa's Vengeance

Chapter 1

It was evening in Helios, Egypt. The moon appeared, her light tresses dancing upon the sky and dropping as clouds. Her ornaments were so many that they fell off of her, becoming the stars that were seen in the sky. 

The Helians welcomed evening, for it was when the wrath of the sun finally came to an end and he would send his lover to shower them with cool, breezy kisses. The sand finally became cool and it was far easier to journey in the night.

The Helians did no such thing though.

Why?

Because they loved their home. Everything they ever wanted was here. Yes, the days were hot. But many of them became accustomed to that heat as they spent their lives here, playing their ordained role in the stage of life.

There were far enough jobs to get everyone by and schools to educate the little ones. None of these children ever left Helios, some opting to study at the local university and others learning a trade under parents and relatives.

Every now and then foreigners came and fell in love with the idyllic life these people lived. Eventually, they stayed too, giving up the comforts that their lives offered for the one they saw here: contentment. Of course, some added to the Helian's comfort by introducing them to many labor-saving devices and methods.

There was a river that ran through the forested area of Helio. Some people lived there. It was said that only the poorest of the poor resided there. 

Yes, like any other society, Helio had their social issues. The poorest of the poor weren't even given a name, just regarded with a look of absolute disgust. These were people who had been exiled for minor crimes, like stealing fruit, fighting people and so on. 

At one point there were instances of foreigners coming to Helios and becoming attracted to the females there. Some stayed and married these females, earning the respect of the elders there. 

Others defiled them and fled the very next day. The birth of such children was not anticipated, for the Helians believed that they were conceived of evil intent and malice. Therefore, these females were exiled as well, along with their offspring. 

Anyone who opposed their exile would be exiled as well. Nobody ever did oppose the elders out of respect.

Every now and then an instance of a murder would pop up. This time, the punishment would be banishment, but to a far darker place.

It was the reason why Helians never ventured to the north.

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Ammon was just about to find out what this place was. A 28-year-old blacksmith, he learned the trade from his uncle. 

He was of muscular build, with dark brown hair that fell to his shoulders in cornrows. His eyes were a soft honey color and he had a beard that looked rugged but caressed his face. He was dark-skinned with a disposition to conflict.

Quite the looker, Ammon grew up earning the admiration of many women. But his heart went to a lady.

A foreigner by the name of Lucilla.

She wasn't beautiful according to Helian traditions but to him, she was.

With brown hair that was cut in a bob and emerald eyes, she won him over. She was skinny with the softest of caramel skin.

She never chased him, he did. He hated flowers but would pick them for her, a boyish smile on his face.

He was never a mushy guy but he fell apart for her. He let her in on everything he felt and dreamed about and she did the same.

Eventually, she fell in love with him, much to the surprise of everyone in the village. They married and had a daughter and lived quite well.

One girl committed suicide upon hearing the news of Ammon's marriage.

What followed was an intense mess.

And what a mess it was indeed, thought Ammon.

For her brother decided to take revenge.

One night, when Ammon was away, he came into the house and forced himself upon Lucilla, hitting her whenever she tried to fight him off and hurling insults on her. When Ammon returned home, his lovely wife was scarred and saddened. He begged her to tell him what was wrong, but she wouldn't even meet his eyes, let alone speak to him.

She eventually took her life, leaving a letter that documented what happened.

After reading that letter Ammon saw red. Armed with a machete, he barged into the man's house and stabbed him thirty times.

Sadly the elders did not think it just and banished Ammon, leaving his only child behind.

"What of my princess?" he asked.

"We will raise her. Your sin will not fall upon her," said one of the elders.

Head hung, he set out into the night, towards the unknown of the north.

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What awaited him was a mine.

There was something about it that drew people.

The elders called it a great evil and banned people from entering it.

Ammon stared at the entrance.

A voice whispered in his ear.

"It is cold outside, come in where it's warm."

He hesitated.

Maybe one day he would be able to return to Helio and meet his daughter. She will grow up to be such an amazing woman, the woman her mother was.

In order for that to happen, survival was indeed a priority.

With that in mind, he entered the mine.

As he entered, it became brighter and warmer. His eyes widened as he took in the many pieces of gold, silver, platinum, and diamonds.

He began to pick them up. His daughter will need money to sustain herself. Even if she does marry, he did not wish for her to be dependent on a man.

He sighed in regret as he thought of all he'd miss.

Her birthdays.

Her development.

Her smiles.

Her laughter.

Her eyes. 

She had gotten her mother's eyes and his hair and he knew that she'd grow up to be quite the looker. He would miss the opportunity to scare suitors off, much to her annoyance.

He'd miss it all.

But he knew that one day, he would meet her.

"You will never ssssee her again," came a menacing voice.

Suddenly the lights dimmed, and Ammon dropped the stones he held and ran for it.

"Oh come on," came the voice.

There was a loud crash as all the possible exits became sealed.

"Who the hell are you?" yelled Ammon.

His legs were shaking. Beads of perspiration dotted his forehead and shoulders.

Then a smooth and dry hand caressed his shoulders.

"My, my, my, aren't you handsome? Young too."

Ammon turned around quickly to come face to face with a woman.

She was beautiful, with dark brown skin, dark woolly hair and a shapely body. She wore a green robe and golden accessories. But her eyes, they were an oblong shape with a slit in the middle, like a cat's.

He gazed into her eyes and froze as he felt pure malice radiate from her. She laughed as if noticing this.

"Allow me to introduce myself, though it won't matter since you'll be dead soon. I am Appepa, the descendant of Apep and- well the rest of that doesn't matter. They sent you here to die, yes?"

Ammon gulped and took a few steps away. 

"Leave me alone. Please," he pleaded.

She cackled and turned into a snake. Large and dark brown she slithered across the room, hissing as she did so.

Ammon ran but kept finding himself at dead ends. Appepa's cackling petrified him.

This was the end, he thought.

He deserved it.

Lucilla, his beloved Lucilla was dead.

And now his daughter will grow up an orphan.

He got down on his knees.

"Serquet, please watch over my daughter. Anubis I accept my end," he said, the tears leaving his eyes.

In that swift instant, Apepa wrapped her body around him and, rearing her head, bit him. He let out a scream as the poison spread throughout his body, eventually stopping his heart.

This was the end of Ammon.