Shadows of a Life

Chapter 9: The Story Behind a Madman

     I wasn't expecting Anubis to come flying at me weapon ready. He cut me across the arm. I had no idea what I had just done. Why was I on a roll at pissing people off today? I summoned my katana and started blocking Anubis' rage slashing. The shadows of miscellaneous objects changed to take form of huge jackals, silhouettes of barking and growling beasts. A few of them peeled themselves off the wall and started advancing on me. Each ones snout could easily reach my face without even moving its head. Anubis was beyond angry and insane. He was an absolute madman. Anubis came flying at me again and I defended myself with my katana. The sharp creaking noise of metal against metal erupted from both weapons.

     Anubis' face was split by a malicious grin showing off sharp white canines. "I thought I told them to kill you," Anubis yelled, "BUT I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO THAT MYSELF!" He attacked me again. This time his sickle was swifter than my blade and it cut across my stomach. I fell over as blinding white pain coursed through my body. I dropped my katana and it clattered next to me, just out of my reach. Anubis chuckled slightly. I reached for my weapon but Anubis stepped on my hand, crushing my fingers. Anubis said something but the sound of blood pounding in my ears made it impossible to hear. I closed my eyes trying to fight off the pain of the wound and Anubis standing on my hand. My life would be over anyway, Anubis clearly had the upper hand on me.

     When I opened my eyes again I found myself staring into Anubis' cold yellow ones. A deep barking sound erupted from behind me. The barking wasn't as dark and evil as the jackals, but more protective and enraged. Aeron. My hellhound burst through a portal in the side of the wall tackling Anubis giving me enough time to grab my weapon and sink into the shadows. I watched my beloved dog bite the god multiple times in the neck and arms. Aeron had yet again failed to impress me. Anubis threw my dog across the room. Anubis howled loudly before shapeshifting into a huge jackal and ascending on my pet. He grabbed Aerons neck in his huge maw and shook him once before throwing him. Aeron went flying through the wall, breaking it entirely, screeching on impact.

     I turned back to normal and ran to my dog. He was breathing shallowly and was barely alive. Anubis, still in jackal form, was in the other room pacing and growling. I heaved my hellhound over my shoulder and fled to my room. Aeron was still alive but for not much longer. Laying my dog on my bed, I pulled one of my spellbooks off the shelf and flipped through the pages. Placing my finger on the spell I needed, I began to chant. Aeron glowed a soft green as the healing magic coursed through his body. I finished the spell and Aeron looked a bit better then before. His breathing was still shallow and there were a few small punctures but he would at least live now.

     I was so concerned about my pet that I had forgotten completely about myself. The gash across my stomach had only become noticeable after I saved Aeron. The wound wasn't too deep, but it wasn't just a scratch either. My flesh seemed slightly off color compared to usual which lead me to believe that Anubis had some form of poison or something seeping off his sickle. I had wasted all my magical energy on Aeron so healing myself magically wasn't an option. I was honestly terrible at medicine and wounds when it came to myself.

     I fell over on my bed next to Aeron. A portal opened in the center of my room. Ra walked through. He took one look at me before asked "What the hell happened?"

"Anubis." I said bitterly. Ra put his hand on my shoulder and healed me.

"What did that dog want from you?" Ra asked sitting on the edge of my bed next to me.

I looked away because the reason why he attacked was my fault, "Nothing....I kinda just pissed him off,"

Ra sighed, "He isn't exactly the best person to piss off Dark..."

"Why is Anubis, so...well...insane?" I ventured.  I had a feeling Anubis' insanity was linked with Ra so it was risky asking Ra something more personal.

"Well," He started even though there was a slightly angered expression on his face, "Anubis wasn't always like this. He used to be fun and a lot more adorable when we were young. Always playing with me and the other gods. It wasn't until I was considered the king of the gods did he go sour. I guess it could have been jealousy, or power lust but he snapped, lashing out on the kingdom, threatening to release the Master of Chaos." Ra looked a bit more sad then angry now. "So many divine people died because of him and I banned him from our realm entirely. Now I guess, he is seeking revenge."

     Knowing Anubis' story better, I honestly felt bad for him. I realized, that Anubis and me were a lot more alike then it seemed. Both of us kicked out of our home realm (At least I was allowed back into mine), both causing destruction in pursuit of power, and both of us hungry for revenge. I shook my head trying to get the thoughts out of my head. I was almost positive that they weren't mine, that maybe Anubis was trying to trick me. Gods seemed to have a knack for messing with peoples heads. I bit my lip in thought while Ra stared out the window. He looked a bit more sad compared to before I made him tell me about Anubis.

"Are you alright?" I asked him.

Ra turned to look at me and smiled, "Yeah, I'm fine, I was more worried about you since you got attacked."

I smiled back, "I'm okay," To be honest I was quiet far from fine. Anubis clearly was out for revenge, my sister will probably be after me again later and Ra clearly has something on his mind. I looked over at my poor hellhound who was sleeping soundly. He probably lost all faith in me. I could have done something to save him from Anubis, but I just hid like the coward I am. I have no idea what Ra sees in me or why he even cares about when I can't even summon up enough courage to save my beloved dog. I rolled over onto my face.

"What's wrong?" Ra poked the side of my face gently.

"Nothing," I muttered, my voice slightly muffled by the covers of my bed. Aeron stood up suddenly on my bed and prodded over to me flopping down and licking my face as though accepting my apology. I pets his head and sat upright. Aeron turned around and pushed his face into Ra's hands not showing any fear of him. Ra pet his face gently and I laughed a bit smiling. I moved over so I was close next to my godly boyfriend. Aeron sat on his lap licking his face affectionately and Ra tried to push him away laughing. The sun was setting outside giving the room a warm coloring. Ra who also seemed to notice the setting sun looked out the window.

"I have to go back to the Divines now..." he muttered regrettingly, "As soon as the sun finishes setting I'm not allowed to spend anymore time on Earth"

     Ra stood up and hastily kissed me on the cheek. I blushed slightly while me and Aeron sat on the bed watching as he waved goodbye while fading away