Yinepu I Command You
I read the passage in the scroll one more time and summoned Yinepu, the Egyptian God of the dead. The circle of candles died out. Smoke swirled concentrating in the middle of the circle. A man solidified from the smoke. His bare chest showed tanned muscle, but his head was a jet black jackal.
“It has been a long time since I’ve been summoned. Who are you?” Yinepu said, staring at me.
“Give her back to me,” I demanded. “I command you.”
His deep laugh echoed through the room. “No one commands death.”
“I’m Violet Star Silva and I command you!” I screamed, I lit a candle and burned the scroll. “Bring her back!”
“Silva, death by car wreck? You’re Evangeline Devon Silva’s daughter?” he asked. A smile playing on his lips.
“I’ve lost too many people. Give her back.” My hands were drawn into fists at my side.
“I’m sorry, she’s almost through the Duat. I can’t interfere with a soul’s journey.”
“It’s one of your freakin’ jobs. You’re supposed to guide them to the Hall of Judgement.”
“Yes, but I can’t bring the dead back to life. Ra can’t even do that. I’m sorry,” he said, solemnly.
I fell to the floor sobbing. “Why didn’t it work? Why did my mom die? I need her. Stupid scroll.”
A hand rubbed my back as I sobbed. Yinepu was on his knees in front of me. I knew I should probably be afraid, but I was too sad and too angry to feel anything else. I threw my arms around him and cried so hard I couldn’t breathe.
He froze. Unsure.
“She wasn’t supposed to die so soon,” I said, pushing myself away. I sniffed, rubbing my eyes.
He cleared his throat. “One of my titles is Opener of Ways. I could… I could help you to see your mother one more time,” he said, concern filled his face.
“Really?” I asked.
He waved his hand and a doorway shimmered into existence. “I can only do this once, or we risk Osiris’s anger.”
I hugged him. “Thank you.”
He led me through the doorway to the underworld. The doorway closed behind me, and I could see my body on the floor.
“Am I dead?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, your Ka is still in your body. I separated your Bâ to make this journey.”
I held his hand, nervously chatting as we walked through the underworld.
“Why do you do it?” I asked.
“What?”
“Help people find their afterlife.”
“It’s my destiny to help guide souls to judgment. Here she is,” he said, letting me go.
The absence of his cool hand made me nervous. “Mom?”
“Violet!” she yelled. Mom ran to me hugging me tightly. She still smelled like her perfume. “What are you doing here? You can’t be dead after everything.”
“What do you mean after everything?”
“When grandpa died last year he left you a lot of money, but you can’t touch it until you’re eighteen.”
“What? I had no idea.”
“Your dad wants the money. I tried to lose him, but my car swerved into the rail. I’m so sorry,” she said, squeezing my hand.
“I miss you, Mom.”
“I miss you too kiddo. How did you get here if you’re not dead?”
I screamed, clawing at my throat. Yinepu was at my side in an instant. “Something’s wrong,” I gasped.
He opened a doorway. I was back in my body fighting to breathe. Someone’s hands were around my throat strangling me. I clawed at him, fighting for air. Then he was gone. I took a deep breath coughing.
Yinepu had my father by the throat holding him up off the floor. “Time for judgment,” he said.
Dad’s scream was cut off. His body crumpled to the ground, leaving his Ka in Yinepu’s hand. They disappeared.
After being questioned by the police I sat alone in my room. Trying to process tonight’s events.
“Violet, are you okay?” Yinepu asked.
I jumped clutching my chest. Taking a breath, I sat back down. “I don’t know. My dad tried to kill me.” I paused. “Thank you for saving me,” I said, tears running down my face.
“You’re welcome. Osiris wasn’t happy with my interference.”
“I’m sorry. I hope you aren’t in any trouble.”
He shrugged. “I have something for you.” He handed me a golden necklace. It was a circle with a jackal in the center. Hieroglyphs were engraved around the edge.
“What’s this?” I asked, touching the engraving.
“If you need me or just want to talk you can summon me with that,” he said, touching my face. I looked up at him. “Just think of me while you wear it and I’ll be here.”
“I will,” I whispered. He disappeared.
I smiled and hung the necklace around my bruised neck. I started the day trying to command death and now I have a direct line to Yinepu.
