Ennead || Unseen

Like ive never seen the sky before

The unmatted parts of your hair curled around your arms as you lay your head in the magical lap of a dead god, peering up at him. You know he is dead, all the kingdom knows but here he is, alive by the light. Yet it's so obvious he's fake, like this was all.. prerecorded. Whatever that means.

Anubis seems to absolutely melt around him though, limbs dropping and his eyes taking a doughy softness, as if he's one mean word away from crying. Somehow you can be held by this... hologram? What's a hologram?

You had asked him plenty of questions, voice hoarse, not used to talking that much.

"What's his name?"

"Khonsu, god of the moon and travelers and... other stuff." Anubis simply said, though it's definitely not as simple. You looked towards him.

"What did he do?"

"Flew around, controlled the moon, ate people-"

"No I mean... what did he do?"

He looked at you confused until you huffed, it should be obvious what you're asking.

"What did he do that made your father kill him?"

To that, Anubis stilled. Like a corpse.

"I... I don't know. All I know was there was a fight and... and my body hurt and then the next day, both my uncles were gone. I couldn't find mother and.." he sighs, looking up at the cloud of light in the shape of a loved one, "and then my life has been hell ever since."

"...sad" you mutter.

He turns to look at you, his face looking like he is in pain but also... of anger? "Do you really feel that?"

"...no" you answer truthfully, looking at him.

He simply settles back down, curling into himself as if this mirage could do any comforting. it's eerie, you don't like it, you can't really smell him so you can't fully relax like your friend is. Everything feels weird like.. if you sleep, you'll have nightmares. Unwillingly though, the ambience of the room lulls you into a security...

You're proven right.

You close your eyes, just for a moment... and then a blur later, it all comes so fast. Water is running alongside you... you're being pulled. You struggle and struggle, limbs flailing uselessly against the current. You dream of drowning, of being pulled under by something more powerful than you, of your breath being stolen away.

Of flowers growing out of your rotten body.

You're on a slab of stone, viewing your corpse presented on it like a vase of flowers, a vessel. You're not breathing, you're still drowning. You're drowning, you've been drowning forever. Your waterlogged corpse makes a pretty garden.

Large hands colder than your corpse grip your shoulders, tar black eyes staring down at you-

You quickly wake up and launch yourself away from it all, hissing. It's enough to wake him up as well, obsidian eyes honing onto you.

"Are you okay?"

You don't answer, crawling away as you cough horrendously. Anubis slowly approaches as you tremble. "Apep-"

"SHUT UP- just- shut up" you seethe before breathing in deeply, the feeling of air rushing into your lungs giving you solace. He sits there in front of you, painted with concern.

"...you had a vision, didn't you?" He asks. You look at him, bewildered. He just laughs, looking more and more like a tired old man than a boy.

"It's okay. I have them a lot too. Usually it's of someone holding me in water but... sometimes it's scary." He admits. His eyes look to yours, hesitant for a moment... before putting his hand on yours. You look down at his hand.

You quickly look up at him. "Don't abandon me." You bark. He's surprised, a bit confused. You clarify, turning your hand and gripping his hand tightly.

"You want to be my friend? don't abandon me" You plead, desperation replacing the demand. He softens.

"I won't do that. Not to a friend." He reassures, smiling at the new connection. "I've never had a friend that wasn't an animal."

You hold his hand still, as he holds yours. It's dangerous. This isn't what beasts do. Beasts tear each other to shreds. Beasts don't hold each other's hands and declare friends. He does surprise you when he leans in a bit closer.

"But I want you to promise me something too..." he says, looking down before looking up at you. "Please don't hurt me."

The words trigger something unawakened in you. Your mind flashes images of his Father. Did he hurt Anubis? Your bloodlust for that man rose above the mountains now.

"I promise. I won't ever hurt you!" You bark out, slapping your hand to your heart like you've seen grown adults do. He laughs, finally real mirth bleeding into it.

"This is... weird. But I'm happy"

For once, you could agree.