Balance (Book 9 )

Over the next week, Anubis stayed with me and shut the world out. Our room became both our prison and our sanctuary. He only left my side once. The windows and doors remained closed and locked, and the sound barrier covered the room. We connected intimately, physically, and mentally. My love for him grew deeper than it had before. My fear of ever becoming his slave washed away as I began to accept that I wanted to be his fully. I was under his spell, and I would gladly do anything he desired. I will no longer resist him. I trusted him with my heart, but now I trust him with my soul. Everything that is mine I give to him. I know he could hear my thoughts. He always could. Anubis gave no indication he was listening.

He stood before me with his hands cupping my jaw, looking into my eyes, studying my soul. I could feel his power touch me there, lovingly.

’Master, I am afraid. I cannot serve two masters. I want you. Please help me.’

I can still fill the icy grip from the death knight, but I feel more alive and more like my old self than I have in years.

“Your service has ended my pet. Shall we go back to work?”

“As long as I am with you.” The room opened up, and a flood of scents came to me. The world’s screams softened as it grew stronger.

“Kebachet has been busy.” I said half to myself. “The balance has finally started to shift. Our work is almost completed,” I said joyfully. “It seems Kebachet has his father’s ability to master many things.” I said seductively.

Gabriel appeared before me with passion and love in his eyes. “He is my heir. I would expect nothing less.”

I felt his love. There is something he is hiding behind his love for me. I cannot place it. Perhaps it is still the pain he feels knowing I will not be by his side for eternity.

“I love you.” I whispered in his ear as I embraced his powerful frame. It sounded apathetic compared to the depths of love I truly had for him. I felt I would die if he ever left me. As a vampire, I felt emotions deeper level than as a goddess. I would have allowed sorrow to take me if Gabriel was ever lost to me. I lost the ability to feel on such a deep level with my new body. I felt I had returned to those feelings toward him. He is my reason to continue breathing. He is my strength to continue fighting. Without him, I would be nothing. Nothing else mattered.

Gabriel held me close for a moment then pulled away.

“Come. Let us meet with Kebachet.” We got dressed, and Anubis led us through the underworld where Kebachet visited Osiris. When Kebachet saw us, he walked quickly toward us. I could feel excitement come from him.

“It is good to see you. I have missed both of you.”

“It is time we return to the living.” Anubis said.

“I have taken the Australian continent while you were away. It took much longer without the three of us. I spoke with Atum. Three percent of the population now calls to him. He has a flicker of hope that you will succeed, father.”

“I have no doubt we will succeed. He underestimated your mother.”

“Mother, you hide your true self well. It is a shame a goddess such as yourself hides in the shadows. You truly are a work of art.” Those words were spoken to me by Gabriel at one time. I frowned at Kebachet, and my eyes glowed brightly. Anubis held my arm.

“Son, your admiration is out of place.” Anubis warned.

“Forgive me. I am only in awe of the one who brought me into the world. I disgraced you and felt little of you as I grew up. I am now seeing why Father loves you. It is overwhelming.”

“You are forgiven. Let us go.” Gabriel took us to South America.

The people here were poor and filthy. Most of the living conditions were run down and looked abandoned. I had little hope souls would be saved here. Humans are a strange species. They sometimes will surprise me. If you give them hope, they may grab on to that little light and vow their souls to Atum.

“I will not use force on these people yet. The humans and vampires are already dying and are oppressed. They have lived on hand outs for far too long. The rich here will die first. They are the ones who deal in drugs and weapons. They rule their people to starvation. Instead of judgment, we must give hope. They will have a higher chance of accepting Ra.

“As you wish.” Gabriel said.

Technology was not as prominent here. We would need to visit popular points and speak to them. My skin began to glow as I separated my blades. Kebachet turned his chakram into flames. As we walked along the streets, people began to stare. I heard whispers of rumors about a man and woman destroying cities. The roads are broken, allowing soil to come up in certain places. The crowd began following us curious where we were going. Cars stopped as people looked at us. I stood on a patch of dirt and used my power to speak. My skin glowed brighter, making people shield their eyes.

“Humans and vampires, hear me. The Ancient God Ra has come to save you. He is your creator, and you have forgotten him. In his mercy and wisdom, he gives you a chance to come to him. He will care for you. The God Horace means to pass judgment on you. You have heard of his power. Kneel and submit to Ra or Horace’s judgment will come.”

I could hear people murmuring about Ra. I sent more power into the earth and commanded it to shake and groan. The ground vibrated beneath their feet buildings began to sway and crumble. I let it end. The crowd began to kneel to Ra. I continued walking past the crowd, not looking back. The death knights will be collecting them. I was not to see them. The living that did not kneel was cut down by Kebachet’s chakram. Screams filled the streets. It would do no good to run. A couple people saw the consequence and bowed quickly. The chakram fed off their blood. They bowed out of fear.

We continued on, taking three days going from city to city working quickly. The further we went, the less destruction was needed. More and more people bowed. Dark shadows streaked by collecting the living as I passed. I could feel the chill in my chest grow. The longer I was around them, the harder it was to breathe. My skin began to burn. I lifted my hand to my chest, feeling the pull of my soul. My skin felt ice cold. I could hear death’s call. I must continue. I must finish. I pushed forward despite my body’s protest. One step at a time. The earth must be released.

The world faded, and my tree came into view. Gabriel took me from the harvest. Air seemed to be locked in my lungs. My hand shook uncontrollably as I took my hand from my chest. My hand is crimson with blood, and my side had a sharp pain. I touched my side. My clothes are wet and stuck to the wound. My body shivered from the cold. I leaned heavily on the tree. I must force air out of my lungs. Strong hands took my shoulder and turned me around.

“Anput, let it go.” His voice was so distant I barely heard him. I shook from the pain. Death’s grip held me strangling me. Gabriel shook me to stay focused. He seemed so far away. His lips said something I could not understand. He pulsed power into me.

“Let go!”

I did not understand. The pain was too much. Blood kept oozing from my wounds. Death’s call screamed louder, commanding me to submit. My vision clouded as I felt weak. Anubis’s eyes shined brightly.

“Anput, hear me. Let your pain out. Let the chill of death go.” His voice was deep and crystal clear, vibrating my body.

“Let go of me a moment.” I gritted through my teeth. I felt a determination to fight to live. “Leave me!”

“I will not.”

“Anubis, please! I know what must be done.”

Anubis quickly left. I willed the earth’s power into me. Its life must release death’s grip. As the earth’s essence came, I pushed death back. Light always overcomes darkness. Adrestia became two blades. Life over Death. A wave of power pulsed into me. I let death’s scream from my lungs. I did not want my husband to see my torment. I fed on the earth to heal my wounds. Life darkened. It would need a release soon, or it would crumble. I called through the earth for a human to come. Once a human arrived, I thrust Life into the body. The human’s life bled into the sword as my death entered the human. The human withered away before me and disappeared. I fell to my knees. Life and death reconnected and formed Adrestia. I let go of the earth’s essence. My breathing became easier, and the handprint faded away.

“Anubis, I am ready.” I whispered. Gabriel returned and took me to our chambers. Anubis studied me looking into my soul.

’I am tired.’

“You cannot do that again.”

“I do not understand. What happened?”

“You were right about giving the living hope. At least a third of the population there bowed to Atum. Many death knights came to collect. Your soul belongs to them, and it began preparing to leave your body. You were near them too long. Your soul has aged considerably. You will not survive another episode, Anput.”

“Then, we must work quickly.”

“Your work is finished.” Anger surged, then flickered and died. I vowed I would not defy him again. His word was law. I took Anubis’s hand into my own.

“Please, master of my heart. Please do not command me to stay. This is my task. I wish to complete it.” I said softly. I was not demanding him to change his mind. I would submit to his final decision.

“It is too dangerous, Anput.” I bowed my head disappointed. My willingness not to defy him warmed him. His hand took my jaw and lifted my eyes to meet his.

“Allow Kebachet to work the people. I will come for you when it is time to command the earth.” He looked up at the ceiling. “It will not take long until it is time for South America to fall. I will allow you to give council. You are not to stay in the cities.”

“As you wish.”

Anubis vanished, leaving me alone with my despair. Anubis fights for a way to save me. This is not his burden. I must find a way to defeat the death knight. I am a goddess. Surely there is a way.

True to his word Gabriel was not gone long. He came and took me to where Kebachet waited. Kebachet embraced me and looked concerned. The love in his eyes made me uncomfortable. He looked just like Gabriel.

“This continent is large enough to separate us. Take me to the center and separate from me.” Kebachet vanished, and Gabriel hesitated and looked at me. “I understand, husband. Go.” I sent my love to him as he vanished.

I waited until I felt their power. Kebachet’s power came first. I connected to him then connected to Gabriel once I felt him. I dug deep into myself and looked into the earth. I used friction to heat the ground. There were no underground cities here. Everything was above ground. Fire erupted. I sent power into the flames and fed it, making it hotter. Gabriel and Kebachet followed my lead and commanded the flames to consume everything. Water was scarce on this continent. I could feel my power pull as streams became protected from the heat of the land. I called more power from the earth to quicken the flames.

Buildings burst into flames. Birds flew to the air to get away from fire. Screams of death filled the air as the flames roared and consumed everything in its path.

I felt a presence. I closed my eyes and ignored it. The icy chills of death began to come.

He will not take me.

I commanded more of the earth and pushed back death’s grip. The ground vibrated beneath me as growls and howls erupted. I concentrated on the flames demanding them to continue. The earth helped heal me from deaths touch as I continued feeding it lives from the living. It took a day for the fire to completely consume the land. I disconnected from Kebachet and Gabriel and opened my eyes. I was surrounded by jackals. Their backs were to me. My heart yearned for Anubis. He did his best to keep me safe. I worried he would not let me continue. The death knights confirmed Anubis’s fear. They desired to take my soul. I must work quickly, even if that means harvesting the living alone.

I quickly went to a water source. The vegetation was untouched by the flames. It was a success. I crossed Life over Death. A pulse of power went out, allowing the grass to grow, giving it a head start to restoring the land to life. Gabriel and Kebachet found me. They both had the same look of concern. I embraced Gabriel. His heart beat rapidly in his chest.

“I am well, my mate. You kept me protected.” He is quiet and furious. His body is ridged from restraint. And his jaw is clamped tightly. “Let us continue on.” I said, breaking the silence and ignoring his displeasure.

Kebachet flinched and looked at Gabriel and quickly vanished. Gabriel’s green eyes pierced mine and glowed with a red hue. I could feel his power, nothing more. Gabriel wordlessly took my arm and went to Kebachet. We stood on top of a very tall building. Millions of people walked among the streets. Roads were packed with cars trying to make their way to their destination. Sirens echoed off the buildings. Large television screens were attached to the surface of tall buildings. They showed images of my family telling the living to be aware of us and warned anyone watching my family brought destruction. We were in Japan.

“You must find television stations as we did on the Hawaiian Islands. They already know of us. You must confirm our intentions of judgment.”

I heard nothing and felt nothing. The only indication that they were behind me was the familiar aura of power emanating from them.

“Come, my mate. I will take you home.” Gabriel’s voice came to me. I could tell he was saddened. He prefers to speak through the mind. I cannot hear their thoughts or feel their emotions. My link to them has been severed.

“Wait! Please. If you find any libraries with old historical texts, save the building as I did in the western world. These books will prove to be invaluable later.”

The world vanished, and our bedroom appeared. Before Gabriel could leave, I took hold of his arm. “Please come back for me. I beg you not to leave me here.” Gabriel nodded and left.