Sekhmet

‘What is it you seek?’ Osiris hummed, circling the intruder slowly.
‘To be released.’ The coatl announced; eyes flickering about the cave.
‘Released?’ Osiris produced a deep, booming laugh that thundered through the underworld. He lifted his eyes from the figure before him momentarily, to command the nearby demons to leave.
‘Out!’ He shouted. The slaves shook in terror and sprinted away.
‘And what is your name, then?’ Osiris mused.
‘Sekhmet.’
‘Sekhmet?’
‘Yes, lord.’
‘So, you’re named after the great goddess of war and destruction, then?’
Sekhmet nodded confidently.
‘In this past week, sixteen thousand souls have begged me to release them,’
Osiris stepped forward to stare into Sekhmet’s eyes, ‘So why should I release you?’
Sekhmet stumbled backwards out of Osiris’s direct gaze, before plunging into a speech;
‘I’ve been here four hundred years, toiling at pits of flames and enduring constant torture and pain. Surely I’ve learnt my lesson?’
Osiris smirked.
‘You know, I killed the last few souls that tried to tell me that.’
Sekhmet gasped audibly, but didn’t back down.
‘You’ve been searching for a mate, have you not?’ She asked.
‘You think I’d choose a measly coatl soul as one?’ He countered.
‘Well you’re certainly not getting any other offers!’ Sekhmet yelled.
The cave went silent.
Sekhmet scampered backwards in a feeble attempt to leave the scene.
‘Don’t.’ Osiris grunted.
Sekhmet, for the first time the entire morning, suddenly looked scared of the towering god.

‘Confidence is a dangerous thing.’ He commented.
‘I- I didn’t mean it.’ Sekhmet stuttered.
‘Misplaced statements are the truest display of genuine thoughts.’
‘Are you going to kill me?’
‘I may, I may not, depends how good you are at bargaining.’
Sekhmet closed her eyes and desperately tried to piece together a reason for her to live.
‘Any ideas?’ Osiris taunted.
‘Do you have any jobs that need done?’
‘Well, I could use another executioner.’
‘I’ll do that then!’ Sekhmet grinned.
‘And exactly what qualifies you for such a vital job?’
‘The reason I’m down here in the first place is due to the fact I killed off half my clan.’
Osiris chuckled again.
‘What led you to do that?’
‘Spite, jealously, the usual.’
‘I see.’
‘So, may I live?’
‘For now, I suppose.’


Over the course of the next ten or so years, Sekhemet worked as the head executioner in the underworld, and became a relatively powerful figure. Her and Osiris formed something of a friendship, but a clear definition was muddied by lust and unequal power.
Osiris took a liking to Sekhemet, and Sekhmet to Osiris. The two begun spending more and more time together, until Osiris claimed Sekhmet as his mate, and she was promoted as secondary head of the underworld.


And so the cowering soul became the leader of hell.