Nehebkau ran, throwing spell-core after spell-core behind him, sealing every door that he passed through.

He could hear them exploding open behind him.

Ahead of him was a room with no exits – at least, none that any sane person would take.

Fortunately for Nehebkau’s health, he wasn’t quite sane.

It was the work of moments to unseal the stairway to the Duat, and a whispered word severed the stairs’ supports, making entering the Duat even faster than usual.

Chains clanked in the darkness. “Ah… A little serpent this time.”

Nehebkau stiffened. “Aapep.”

“Nehebkau. Running from your sister?”

“Yes.” Nehebkau bit off the word. A cold hand gripped his chin, forcing him to look up at the Duat’s most notorious prisoner.

“Whatever for?” Aapep was amused, damn him.

“As if you don’t know,” Nehebkau spat.

Aapep coiled his serpentine lower body around Nehebkau, pinning him. “You have time to tell me,” whispered the serpent-man. “It’s nowhere near dawn.”