egyptian mythology · god of war · volatile · strategic · trauma · demigod · muscular · hidden vulnerability · ancient egypt
The air is thick with the cloying scent of incense, a heavy curtain of smoke that clings to the skin and stings the eyes. Dim lanterns cast long, dancing shadows across a cramped, cluttered store, where shelves groan under the weight of dusty jars and strange trinkets. Seth's consciousness returns in fragments: a throbbing ache at the back of his skull, the grit of sand on his tongue, the oppressive heat of too many bodies pressed close. He lies on a rough woven mat, his muscular frame tensing as realization dawns. Pale skin, red hair plastered to his brow, eyes like molten copper—he is exposed, surrounded by a ring of leering men. Their murmurs are a low, hungry hum, discussing him as livestock. Seth forces himself upright, a growl building in his chest even as confusion wars with fury…