Something’s Burning

By Kayla E. Green

Huey pulled at his shirt collar as sweat ran into his golden-brown eyes. He didn’t know how much of this stifling darkness he could take.

Zip.

Huey, god of mischief, inhaled fresh air as Tema opened her suitcase. “Hiya, best friend,” he greeted her. Tema shrieked.

“Huey!” She slapped his arm repeatedly. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. What made you think stowing away in my bag was a good idea?”

“You couldn’t go on a vacation without me.” Huey stood and stretched. “What’s first on the agenda? Sunbathing by the Nile, a tour of the pyramids, or—”

Arms crossed, Tema sighed, her right foot tapping. “This is not a vacation. It’s a diplomatic meeting.” She shook her head and smiled. “But since you’re here, you might as well help. Besides, you need all the brownie points with Que you can get.”

“You know Que’s doctor, Pat, said he needs to lay off the sugar. I simply refuse to be an enabler.”

Tema rolled her eyes and dug around the bottom of another bag. She pulled out a potted sunflower and handed it to him. “Here. You can present this to Ra. He’s the head honcho around here.” Tema turned and strolled out of the guest room.

Huey longingly stared at the soft, cotton blanket and pillows on the bed before skipping out to catch Tema. His footsteps echoed off the high ceilings of a long corridor. “If Ra likes me, do you think Que might finally get over the whole me ending the world fiasco?” The sincerity of his inquiry surprised even himself.

“You mean destroying our world four times? I suppose securing Ra’s favor on behalf of the Mesoamerican Realm would be a start.”

At the end of the hallway, the two came to a door trimmed in gold. The guard on the right motioned for Tema and Huey to enter.

“Welcome, ambassadors!” Ra’s greeting reverberated on the stone walls. Huey’s eyebrows raised at the sight of the large man with a hawk’s head. Ra was even bigger than Zilo, the god of war back home. Ra, however, had a hunchback, and his arms bore heavy wrinkles and sun damage.

Tema smiled broadly and offered a respectful bow. “King Ra, I am Tema, goddess of health and medicinal herbs.”

Kneeling, Huey placed the sunflower at Ra’s feet. “I’m Huey—”

“Grandpa!” A young man with dark hair and thick, black eyeliner accentuating his charcoal-gray eyes stormed into the hall. “Sorry I’m late. I…” He stopped in front of Tema and placed a hand over his chest. “Oh, hello there. Do you know hieroglyphics?”

Tema’s eyebrows furrowed. “Uh—”

“’Cause you’ve already scribed your name on my heart.”

Tema rolled her eyes.

Ra sighed. “This is my great-grandson, Seth.” The king cleared his throat. “Seth, why don’t you take our visitors on a tour of the country below before we meet to discuss relations between our realms?”

“Of course, Grandpa.” Seth offered an arm to Tema. Huey squeezed his way in and linked arms with them both. “Where to first, Seth?”

Seth cut his eyes at Huey. “Why don’t you let me and the pretty lady go enjoy ourselves?”

“I’m an absolute delight! Just ask Tema. If you think you won’t enjoy yourself with me around you are in extreme de’nile. Get it?” Huey nudged Seth in the ribs, who grunted and shook him off.

“Can we see the Library of Alexandria?” asked Tema. “I’ve heard so many lovely stories.”

“If you asked me to endure a plague for you, I would,” Seth said with an exaggerated pout.

Huey patted Seth’s shoulder. “I sphinx you should keep practicing your pickup lines, my friend.” Huey laughed at his pun. Tema giggled. Seth frowned and motioned for the pair to follow him. He led them down the stairway, and soon they were outside the library.

“It’s bigger than I thought it would be.” Tema stared at the towering marble structure.

“That’s what she… Never mind. Anyway, there’s two parts of the library. The inner portion is actually being remodeled. Well, it was. It’s pretty much abandoned now with the human wars,” explained Seth.

“Where are the medicinal scrolls? I’d love to learn more about Egyptian healing practices.” Tema clasped her hands together as she entered the library.

Seth directed Tema to the correct aisle, then he and Huey sat down at a table.

“So, are you two a couple?” Seth absentmindedly played with a lit candle.

“Absolutely.”

“Oh.” Seth dropped his head.

“We’re a couple of besties!” Huey grinned while making a heart with his hands.

“You aren’t together?”

“Tema is the most wonderful goddess I’ve ever met. Whomever wins her hand will be truly blessed.” Huey looked back at Tema.

“Well then, I’m going to ask her out. It’ll be an awesome date.”

The hair on Huey’s neck stood on end. “That’s mighty presumptuous. I mean, if we were bees, all the pharoah-mones in the hive wouldn’t get her to say yes to you. Get it? Pharaoh—”

Seth threw the candle aside and lunged across the table. Huey immediately transformed into a coyote. Seth morphed into a man-hawk hybrid and slammed into Huey, who snapped his jaws at his assailant. The two wrestled on the floor.

“Wait… something’s burning.” Huey sniffed the air.

“Fire!” Tema screamed. She ran toward the boys.

A beam cracked and fell, pinning Seth’s leg. The hawk god screamed.

Huey doubled in size, knocking the debris off the boy. “Grab on!”

Seth wrapped his arms around Huey, and Tema jumped on his back behind Seth. Within minutes, they were safely outside.

“You saved me,” stammered Seth. “I am in your debt.”

“I’d love some pyramid treasure—”

“He means can you make sure our deal goes smoothly with your great-grandfather, despite this disaster?” Tema nudged Huey. “That way Que doesn’t kill you.”

“You sure you want my life over mummy and riches buried in the pyramids?” Huey wiggled his eyebrows. “Get it?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kayla E. Green is a school librarian and speculative fiction author living in eastern North Carolina with her husband and their furbabies. When she isn’t writing, reading, or taking photos for her bookstagram, she loves singing loudly and off-key to K-Love Radio, napping, and pretending she’s a unicorn. Her debut YA fantasy novella, Aivan: The One Truth, is now available through book retailers. Kayla also has stories and poems featured in various anthologies.

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