Story of my life

Chapter Nine

"I want you to kill me."

"What? No, Bella. I can't!"

I glared at him, "You can and you will." He started to shake his head, but I continued. "Do you want me to go back to him? Do you want me to be tortured, and forced to obey his will? I'd rather die, Cato. Do you understand? I can not go back to him!"

Cato jumped up and backed away, "No, Bella. Of course I don't want that, but I don't want you dead either. Much less by my hand!"

I bit my lip and tried a different approach, "But don't you see, Cato?" I asked softly. "I'm already dead. As long as Anubis hunts me, I'm dead. Do you know what its like to have to do something... to feel something you don't want to? To be forced to have feelings for the one who tortures you? Thats what this necklace does. And the more I fight it, the more I fight him... the stronger the feelings are."

We both stayed silent for a minute, before Cato spoke up. "We'll find a way to get it off, Bella, I promise."

I shook my head at his ignorence, "Just... go to sleep, Cato. We have a long day tomorrow."

I laid down, my back to him. I fought sleep, fearing the nightmares that would await. But eventually, my eyes drifted close.

"There you are, my love." I turned around to see Anubis. Nervous, I backed up, but he caught my arm. "Looking for Luke?"

"How'd you know?" I asked, as Anubis pulled me even closer.

"Mmmm" he murmured, as he kissed my neck. Even asleep, I could feel the influence of the necklace. I shivered as he slid a hand under my shirt. "I'm a god, Bella. I know everything."

He rubbed my back, his hand moving in slow circles. His other hand reached up to cup my cheek as he kissed me again. He backed me up until we were on the bed, his hands tugging my shirt up. I squirmed, fighting against him, against the pull of the necklace. I whimpered as the cold from his body seeped onto mine.

"Shh," he murmured, "Why don't we finish what we started, hmm?"

"No..." I whimpered, "Please Anubis, leave me alone."

His dark laugh rang out around me, "You're with another." He commented.

I looked up at him, confused. "What?"

His eyes flashed and his arms tightened around me. "I cannot force you, you're with someone else. Who?"

"Really?" I couldn't hide the excitement from my voice. Anubis' face contorted with fury, his hand whipping across my face. I kicked away from him.

"Well, you must not be to close, if I can still reach you." he sneered. "A little longer, and I'll have your location."

"No!"

He shoved me against the wall, "And when I find you," he snarled at me, "I'm going to hurt you so bad, you wouldn't be able to fight me even if you could." He kissed me roughly, and I knew I was running out of time.

I jerked away from him, spinning around and calling my staff.. I pointed my staff at Anubis, "Myar!" I shouted. Anubis deflected it easily, but it was enough time for me to spell myself awake.

I sat up, looking around for Cato. I shook him awake, "Cato, come on. We have to go. Like right now." He rolled over, groaning.

"Look, Bella, I know you're this super tough nature chick, but do we really have to get up so ear-"

Impatient, I yanked him up. "Snap out of it Cato! If we don't leave right now Anubis will find us."

Cato's eyes snapped open. "How-?"

"Don't ask." I told him. "Let's move." We grabbed our stuff and started running. We stopped for a moment and I almost screamed when I heard Anubis' ghostly laugh. I saw Cato turn pale, his eyes locked on something behind me. Slowly, I turned around.

"Hello, Love." Anubis purred. I tried to summon my staff, but with a twitch of Anubis fingers I was on the ground, burning. My body shook as I fought off the scream building inside me. "You never should have left!" Anubis screamed, "Everything was going perfect, until you left!"

Finally the burning eased up. "Anubis," I gasped. "How could I stop them? How could I have stayed? Your necklace caused me to black out, I almost died. Because of you." I forced myself back into a standing position, backing against Cato for support.

"If you had let me have free will, I would've stayed with you. I could have helped you against those traitors. My Lord, why would I want to leave you?"

"Your tongue is as slippery as a serpent, love."

I looked up at him, incredulous. "You think I'm lying?"

I saw a shadow move behind Anubis, and I tried hard not to let the glimmer of hope show through.

"I know you are, you fight me with everything you have." Anubis returned. But I could see the uncertainty building in his eyes.

"To keep you interested." I argued, "Think about it, if I had given in to you, would you still have wanted me?"

"Yes, I would have. Always." I ignored the cold shiver that sent through my spine and continued. "I mean, you're a god! How could you want a mundane witch like me?" I stepped closer, noticing how Anubis hung onto my every word. "I'd be crazy not to want you... except one thing." I paused for a moment, watching the shadow out of the corner of my eye. "I don't."

I spun around, calling my staff. Luke jumped out from behind Anubis, stunning him long enough for me to take my place beside him. Together we battled Anubis. How long it lasted, I don't know. But finally, with a last burst of light, Anubis was gone. Luke jerked Cato over to us, and with the last of my energy I spelled us back. Back to where it all started. Home.