The Undead Articles

Prologue: Anubis

    1323BC
    Anubis was brought to his knees so abruptly, he heard the sickening sound of bones cracking on the polished marble floors echo throughout the throne room. He grimaced, trying to breathe. His ribs were broken, his limbs bruised. The guard grabbed his hair, threw his head back and Anubis gritted his teeth to keep from screaming out in both anger and pain. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
    Ra, the god of the Sun, sat on his throne, peering down at Anubis with his fiery golden eyes. The torches around him made his eyes shine from amber to the color of the sun, which he controlled with immortal power.
“Anubis,” his voice echoed through the empty room. Anubis fiercely glared at him with one eye, the other swollen shut.
“You’re guilty of hiding your heart, hiding your desires from me. Do you deny this?”
Anubis struggled against the guards that held him, growling loudly. His dark curly hair caked in blood fell in front of his eyes.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I had a choice.” The guard hit him in the stomach; he bent in half, wheezing in pain.
“Such a rebellious soul.”
Anubis’ heart was beating like crazy when he heard the voice; he raised his head to look at the god that had just entered the room. Set.
Set, the god of chaos, smiled evilly with his silver eyes. “You’ve looked better, Anubis.”
Anubis tried getting up, but was again held down by the guards. He screamed in anger, “You told Ra!”
Set didn’t answer, but the sadistic smile on his face was answer enough. Set turned from Anubis, walking to stand beside Ra.
“Set obeyed,” Ra corrected. “He told me you hid your heart. You’re the one who disobeyed, and for that you will be severely punished.
Anubis’ heart beat sped up with panic when he was jerked to his feet. He was weak from the beating and torture he received before coming here. The eyes of Anubis rushed to the side of the throne room where Sebek and Khor stood, arms crossed over their broad chests.
Both gods wore hats ; Sebek, the head of a crocodile, and Khor, the head of a hawk. The god of the Nile and the god of the sky looked at him, but Anubis did not see their eyes. He felt how sorry they were; they were friends, but here they were powerless.
Ra stood to his feet, setting his ancient scepter before himself. 
“Anubis,” his voice thundered imperiously. “You will lose your power until you atone for your guilt. You will be separated from your powers.” Ra lifted his hand, clenching it tightly into a fist. 
The pomegranate pendant that hung from Anubis’ neck stirred, then was ripped from him by an unknown force. Anubis’ knees buckled as his power flowed from him. The guards held him up and he watched the pendant fly into Ra’s hand, where it stayed.
Ra studied it carefully. “After four thousand years, your soul will wake up, you will be given a second chance to atone.” He held up the pendant. “Whoever wears this pendant, you must offer as a sacrifice in the name of Osiris. You must cut their heart out and call upon Chorus.” The young Chorus lifted his head upon hearing his name. Ra continued.
“He will bring you back to us. You must bring the heart with you, only then will you be forgiven.
“If you fail, you will never be Anubis,” Ra warned, wrapping his fingers around the pendant and squeezing. When his hand opened, the pendant was gone. It was locked somewhere, waiting for someone to find it.
“Anubis,” Ra called again. “You are banished from this kingdom and doomed to sleep for four thousand years.”
“No,” Anubis gasped, panic seizing him. “Please..”
Ra waved his hand, a hidden door appearing in front of Anubis. He trembled in fear as the guards dragged him to it.
“Ra!” the god shouted, fighting the guards. Ra said nothing as the guards grabbed Anubis by his arms, pushing him into the gaping hole. Anubis fell, screaming into the void. He curled up, falling into nothing. He closed his eyes as his world dissolved into black.