We Were Gods: Oleander: Book One

Pause

"Anu- Oleander," A shiver passes through me when I hear his voice, "We need to talk."

"I just want to be left alone." I grumble, waving Ra off. The God does not move, instead he lets out a small sigh, shoulders slumping very slightly. "I don't want to do this." I was happily hiding in my tombs for what felt like hours, considering my life up to this point. I clutched tightly to my cellphone that illuminated the darkness with my favorite picture of Lindie and my mom.

"You really do not have a choice, my son. Gods do not get a choice to be or not, just as mortals do not get to choose who they are." I want to argue with him. I want to yell at him. I want to escape him and everything still.

He passes a tanned hand along the golden walls, ancient sand clinging to him. "Were you able to find your room last night? You have the most comfortable bed. You demanded it, actually, about three lives ago." His full lips pull into a smile as he relives some memory. "You know, every God has some sort of problem when returning from being a mortal. All of us live among humans every now and then; and when we come of a certain age we are to learn of our heritage and continue as a God within a mortal shell until our bodies wear. From that point we are allowed to go onto a new life or we may stay only a God. It is typically the Goddesses that have no problem knowing who they are... But you, my dear boy, have had the most problem in this life. I do not know what it is or why, but this life has such a hold on you. I do not think you have ever been more unwilling to come back." He shakes his head and reaches out to brush my dark hair from my face. "You always have been my stubborn son." He lets out a short chuckle and it is enough to make my heart falter. "You are in there though, Anubis. And I would not have come to you now if it was not necessary."

"What do you mean?" I finally ask, voice harsh. "Why now?"

Ra's hand falls from my face and he turns his head away; a part of me screams from the loss of contact. "There is going to be a war, I fear. You must be ready for it. I will not have you unknowing when there is someone out there that wants you dead. I will not have you clueless when the world is in grave danger. We need you now more than ever, Anubis."

"W-who?" I whisper, body tensing. A part of me knows the answer, but it has yet to make it to my consciousness.

"I cannot tell you, child." Ra looks up, his face grim as he shakes his head. "It would make things unfair between the two of you. I am not allowed to take sides... the last time I took sides, Egypt fell."

"Well then why bother?!" I shout, annoyed with his "caring father" act. "Why the hell ask for my help if you're not going to tell me anything?!" My fists clench into tight balls at my sides.

"Anubis, please-"

"Quit calling me that! I don't want any part of this shit! I don't want anything to do with your God bullshit! I just want to be normal again! I just want to go to school, cook with my mom, fix cars with my dad, watch my daughter grow, and dick around! I'm not ready for any of this! I don't want any part of this!" It isn't until my throat burns that I realize I have been yelling. Angry hot tears gather at the corners of my eyes. "Please-" It's a small whimper before the tears fall freely. "Please, just leave me alone."

The silence gathers between us; hanging heavy on our shoulders. I can't bear to look at him, so instead I inspect the tears gathering on the floor; the sand hungrily eating them away.

"Oleander." He speaks so kindly that it forces me to look up. "If you feel so strongly about this then I will leave you. I will not contact you unless absolutely necessary. I will not request your time at work. I will not watch over you. I will not do anything to quicken your memories." He turns, about to leave my tombs. "But, if ever you are ready or if ever you need me... simply pray."

And with that, I am left in an empty tomb. Darkness surrounds me as I crumble to the floor, knees hugged to my chest as I cry.