Balance (Book 9 )
chapter 22

I waited several days for Anubis. I spent my time in meditation, studying the earth, and Adrestia. I sat cross-legged on the floor with Life and Death lying on the floor in front of me. I wanted to experiment with them, but I had to be careful with my body. Any more damage could cost me my life.

I wished I had some humans to experiment on. I connected with Life. It vibrated and hummed at my touch. I felt warmth flow through me. I felt at peace with it as I gingerly touched the flat of the blade and caressed it. It pulsed and glowed a brilliant white. The smell of the earth after a cleansing rain came to me. Whispers of longevity and health came with a breeze. It was able to give life to those worthy of its touch. It could heal wounds with its fire and use the body’s defenses to cure ailments. A life for a life. Death would be a part of Life. I touched Death. Icy chills shot through my arm, and the scent of decay filled my nose. It felt like the death knights touch. It would destroy anything I chose and would drink its essence. I could steal life instead of giving it. It only required a small amount of blood. It could siphon life from any individual it cut.

The doors burst open, and a very angry Anubis stormed in. He took his dagger in his hand. I quickly stood with Life and Death in my hands. Anubis cut his arm and presented it to me.

“What has upset you?” He did not answer. He took my wrist and teleported us to Kebachet. Anubis did not let me go, and I kept my eyes on him until he turned into Gabriel. I turned into Lara’s image, keeping my eyes on Gabriel.

“Mother? Are you well?” Kebachet asked as he approached me. His hands turned to fists as he resisted touching me.

I looked at him with my practiced blank face free of emotion. The image of Gabriel returned my gaze. He stands at the edge of a cliff. The smoke filled sky behind him gave him an ethereal image.

“Well enough, Kebachet. Thank you. Let us begin.”

Once Kebachet left. Gabriel took me into his arms, then looked down at my waist and left. He gently reminded me of my vow. He is not there by my side. I must call the jackal.

I took the medallion out and rubbed the surface, calling for the jackal it belongs to. His group came up from the ground and wordlessly surrounded me. The jackal’s red eyes looked into mine with understanding and reverence. He silently turned his back on me, and his companions followed his example. Each once gave me silent recognition as they turned to guard me.

I looked past the jackals and surveyed the area. Anubis placed me on top the tallest peak in China. The eastern continent is extremely large. It will take days to truly destroy it. China will be the first to fall.

This area used to be stunning and full of life. The soil used to be rich in nutrients making it perfect farmland for the mortals. Fields of flowers bloomed each year and perfumed the air with their sweet scent.

Sharp peaked mountains reached for the sky throughout the land. The mountains provided shelter for the creatures for myth. Running water flowed violently, carving the mountains and giving life to the vegetation.

I can no longer see the beauty that was once China. Where once the humans were proud and respected life, are humans blind to everything around them.

They are greedy and feed off the land with no remorse. The fields of grass and flowers have been replaced with freeways and tall buildings. Mountains have been removed, killing the creatures and creating more steel buildings for humans to live. It disgusted me. I can see the thick filth in the air hovering over the city far below. This shall not continue.

I began channeling power. Gabriel and Kebachet were both a lot further than previous times. Kebachet must have taken a bigger area. No matter. It will all burn. As I commanded the earth to burn, I could feel Gabriel’s and Kebachet’s strain to keep connected to me and control the earth near them. The drain is almost too much. I dug deeper into the earth, willing it to help us.

More jackals came from the ground near me. These are the ones who are being controlled by the impostor. I thought to fight alongside the jackals and kill the one who would disrespect the God of the dead. My duty to the earth takes precedence. Without the living’s vow to Ra, the gods are dead. If the mortals are left alone, the earth will be in eternal pain, and the gods will die.

The battle my husband must fight, he must do alone. I must concentrate on bringing the living to Ra and freeing the earth of its bondage while I am still able. Only then will the gods be able to live. I will be able to join my husband’s side and defeat our attacker. I will be next to him, drinking in the screams of the impostor as Anubis takes his vengeance.

The icy chills of death touched me, breaking my fantasy. I could feel the drain immediately. My body is too weak to take much more. Life pulsed in my hand, filling me with power. It will keep me alive and battle death while I continue burning the land.

Howls and spears clanged against metal as a battle around me began. Gabriel’s power weakened as he pulled away from me. I grabbed him, telling him to stay. I must finish. The jackals and Life are fighting for me.

Again death’s touch touched my arm and left. Life pulsed in my hand again, fighting death’s call. I took more power from Kebachet and Gabriel to compensate for the weakness that grew from the death knights touch. The earth must be freed. The gods must live.

Gabriel released my connection and came to me in the form of Anubis. The ground vibrated from his deafening howls. Yelps and screams filled the air. Nails scraped on metal as a dark form flew in front of me and landed hundreds of feet from me. I closed my eyes and continued working the portion of the land I could reach.

Sweat poured from my brow, and my breathing became labored. I pushed my power, further giving my command everything I had. The fire roared, and the living screamed as the battle around me continued.

My chest became heavy, and my power began to weaken. Life’s warmth flowed through me, encouraging me to continue. I pulled more power from Kebatchet. I will not completely drain him; however, It may take him days to recover. He will live.

The battle around me became silent. I could feel Gabriel’s power requesting a connection. I grabbed him and hungrily fed off his power to finish the job. His strength became my strength. He allowed me to take what I needed from him as he struggled to cover his portion of the land.

It took three days to complete the task.

As I released Kebachet, I felt the heaviness of my body. I could not stand without his power’s support. My knees fell to the ground, and my arms seemed to become numb.

I released Anubis and struggled to breathe. My family’s power was the only thing that was sustaining me. My power has weakened to a tiny trickle. A newborn could easily overcome me.

Death’s call is strong. It tries to comfort me and tell me my pain will cease if I come. My time had run out. I cannot resist it any longer. I fought the tears as I realized I lost my battle. I have failed my husband and the god’s realm. I turned my anguish into fury and growled under my breath.

He cannot have me!

Death and Life whispered to me. I allowed Life into my soul and cut it in half. I felt the warmth of the blade’s power pierce my soul, and a scream echoed in my head.

I will be a slave to no one.

I brought the soul to my mind and imagined it to be in the vale between the realm of the living and the gods’ realm. It would be safe there. I will find a way to kill the death knight. The world became silent, and I felt numb to everything. It was all I could do to breathe. Life and Death laid on the ground before me. Life was dull like a normal steel blade.

Gabriel and Kebachet both came. A strong hand began helping me up. Life reached out to cut whoever dared touch me. The hand quickly left, and the sword missed its mark. I could not hear anything around me. I could feel vibrations in the ground, nothing more.

I looked up to see both Gabriel and Kebachet looking helpless at me. The jackals had parted to allow them through. I slowly stood and teleported to our bedroom. I felt fatigued. Every muscle screamed as I strained to stand. The handprint and the wound in my side are visible.

It is time.

‘They will fail!’ I vowed to myself.

I looked around the room and noticed everything is silent. I could not hear the hiss of the scones or the shuffle of my feet, or my own heartbeat. Death stole my hearing and weakened me. I felt like an old woman. Piece by piece, they would try to take me.

A hand touched my shoulder softly. I turned to see Anubis. I did not have the fight in me. I did not care who stood before me. His hand went to my jaw and gently made me look at him. His eyes studied me. I could feel his power go through me.

’Master let me go. It is time.’

‘Not yet, dear one.’

Fear then rage filled his eyes. He picked me up and took me to the bed. I did not resist him. What is done is done. The swords are too heavy for me to continue holding. I dropped them when Anubis lifted me. The bed is soft and inviting. I closed my eyes and immediately went to sleep.

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