Erin Dameron-Hill (27 page)

“My name is Bast,” the cat creature said, “It is my duty to keep Anubis in check.”

Chapter
Twenty Eight

Bast towered over us like a giant in a field of ants. She was at least three feet taller than Anubis and more lean rather than muscular. She had grown into a cat, walking with unnatural ease for a human, stalking like a cat about to pounce.

She was smooth, and no longer black. Instead, her body had changed into light beige, resembling a lioness instead of a domestic cat turned large and statuesque.

Her eyes were the color of a stormy sea, frothy with anger and intelligence. Her blue eyes could penetrate even the strongest of emotional armor leaving a person weak and vulnerable.

She had an array of light brown and dark streaks running through a mane that surrounded her head like a halo. Her hair lightly rested on a necklace that was blue, red, and yellow and had gold cat figurines hanging like pendants or rather like a charm bracelet.

Across her ankles and wrists more jewelry could be found. She looked like an ancient picture of Egypt come to life or like a statue in a history museum. Bast was the epitome of an Egyptian goddess; time had not changed her appearance. Perhaps there was more to her and more to Anubis than just the were-forms. Granted, were-animals live unnaturally long lives, but living for a few thousand years is not a quality of being a were-animal.

Bast stood facing Anubis and I couldn’t help but compare the two. She was the complete opposite of Anubis; he was thick and masculine, she was agile and quick; he was dark with bright gold eyes that left a person haunted, she was light with dark blue eyes that spoke of experience and understanding.

I instantly wanted to run into her arms and just be held. Regardless of her size, she felt so maternal, so caring, so loving that I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to be near her. Her power rushed on me like none that I had ever felt before, it wasn’t strength that echoed on those orange curly-cues, no, it was love and knowledge. If she had been the one to curse me as a were-animal, I think I would have been happy. She just felt like a caring mother, like someone who would love you even if you failed. And as she stood there glaring at Anubis, I wanted to run to her side and protect her from the monster eying her so keenly. He was dangerous and he could probably hurt her.

Bast grinned with beautiful, sharp fangs in my direction, “No, sweetheart, he cannot.”

Okay, this is the third time I have had a conversation with Bast in my head. I wondered only slightly if she could read minds, because that would be a cool power and not only that, but that would be creepy.

“I apologize, then, Ms. Sophia Morgan,” she replied again and then turned back into the staring contest with Anubis.

So, she really can read minds. Creepy. And cool. It was cool because she knew exactly what I was thinking and very creepy that she could probe into my mind like that, it was almost as if she was trespassing on my inner most thoughts. My large black paws squeezed onto Morty’s and he moaned just a bit as I accidentally broke his pinky. I wanted to apologize but I was just so dumbfounded by the two idols that were standing before me. I may hate Anubis, but one thing is for sure, he is breath-taking. And so is Bast.

“Anubis,” she said to him with a nod.

“Bast,” he replied curtly, lowering his head just a tad, preparing for to jump.

“I think you know why I’m here.”

“I have done nothing wrong,” he snapped back now pacing slowly in front of her, “and even if I have, what are you going to do about it?”

“I have followed you for too long Anubis; there is much I could do to you.”

I had to know what exactly what was going on. If my brain hadn’t already exploded from the fact that Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead created my wolf for me, then the fact that Bast was standing here as well should surely turn my brain into mush, “What’s going on? Why are you here, Bast?” I said breaking the silent wall in front of me.

“I would have thought you would be more appreciative, considering I just saved your life. But you are quite curious, which is an interesting trait for someone who is not a cat.”

“I’m sorry, it’s just that…”

“You are confused, and rightly so,” she walked towards me with her otherworldly legs and then glanced back at Anubis, “Sit. Stay. Good boy.”

Anubis growled more fiercely than I had ever heard him before. He was beyond angry, more annoyed that he was being caged, being told what to do rather than independent enough to carry out his plans. If I wasn’t still horrified that I was in a swamp and bleeding profusely, I wouldn’t have laughed at the idea that a cat was telling a dog what to do. But still he remained in her sight, pacing and growling, thinking of his next move. I could feel him thinking, feel his anger as it bit on my skin, slapping me uncontrollably. As soon as Bast came nearer, his power slipped away. She was like cold water on a hot day, refreshing and desperately wanted. Her power was so much different from Anubis’. Although, I don’t know how.

“There is so much for you to know,” she continued, “But it is not for me to say. The only reason I am here, is for Anubis, and for him alone.”

“Ha!” Anubis yelled into the sky, “there is nothing you can do to me.”

The puddles of water beneath me splashed at my feet as the sky itself turned into a dark purple. The air grew heavy and harsh, pushing me to my knees. I felt Morty fall beside as his breathing grew more rapid.

“What’s happening?” he whispered to me.

“Power,” I said nearly choking on my words, “Power.” I had felt his power before but nothing like this. He could paint the sky with his strength, render it his own.

“Hmm,” replied Bast pushing her soft yet sharp power back towards him. It wasn’t heavy, yet it bit delicately into my skin and the sun nearly rose. I could see the soft haze of orange splatter through the sky as Bast took a small inhale and slightly closed her eyes, “so why do you listen to my commands, like a good little boy?”

“How dare you?” he snapped in her direction and stepped just a foot closer to her body. The power and strength were exuding from both of them, clashing and strangling me. I wanted to breathe, but I couldn’t. Their power had tied its hands around me and squeezed. I felt my tongue lop out as I tried pointlessly to swallow, to inhale but all I could do was fall further to the ground. If Anubis had this kind of power, they why hadn’t he used it on me before? Did he hold himself back for me?

“Don’t even try it, Anubis,” she hissed into the gathering haze of the swamp and released just a little bit more power into the air, releasing my throat from the grasp of Anubis. Anubis was barely ten feet from me and yet his power had nearly choked me to death. He had been holding back and Bast had saved me. I guess she was right; I should have been more appreciative.

“Let me tell you a story of the past thousand years that I’ve wasted my life on. You will stay put and listen to everything I have to say, because on that point, you owe me!”

She glanced back at Morty and I and for the slightest of seconds, I knew she didn’t care one way or the other about what fate remained for us; she was just here for revenge, “If you want to listen, then I guess curling up on the swamp floor isn’t the best way.”

We had all spilt blood and anger for what? A thousand year old revenge between two ancient gods? I lost so many people and now she was taking away my triumph, my victory. I felt Morty squeeze my paw as he lifted me up, and instantly I didn’t need a victory, because I had already won.

I wasn’t sure if the cat goddess had come to save us or not and even then, she was being petty. Just kill Anubis already. Let us leave in peace.

I managed to bend down on my shaking knees and I felt my jackal body curl up around the Hunter. I was still in wolf-form because if I changed back now, I would probably need several stitches for the gashes in my back that and I didn’t really know where my human body was or if I even needed it.

“Well, Sophia, there is one thing you should know first, I’m not your rescuer,” she said, “I’m here out of revenge. I followed you because I knew Anubis would chase you. How did I know Anubis would chase you? I was there when Anput first left Anubis with her bodyguard, I was too late when Sarah, more commonly known as Red Riding Hood left Anubis for the wood cutter and now I am here, watching as the newest version of his obsession runs off with a Hunter,” she turned back to stare at Anubis. I felt his power boil under his skin like a volcano about to erupt but I could also feel his fear, trembling deep within his heart, if it could be called that. He was horrified of Bast and knowing that this insane monster feared her, made me fear her just a little bit as well. She was only a cat though, how could she hurt a dog?

“I am so glad I have found you, Anubis. Did you know I was turned into a moon goddess by the Greeks rather than a goddess of the sun because I had to stalk you at night?” Her hand came clawing down through the air and slashed at his newly regenerated muzzle. She didn’t have to touch him, her power alone ripped straight into him. No wonder fear was preying on his heart, she was strong and if I haven’t used this word enough, powerful. Anubis whined just a bit and then snapped into the air chipping a few of his teeth but he didn’t do anything to her, instead she had just stepped back and thrust a wall of blue curly-cues in front of her. I suppose I could call the curly-cues magic or power, but I’ve felt too much of that power to keep lingering on it, I already felt as if the sky was falling on top of me.

“Everything,” she hissed, “everything about me changed when I began to hunt you. You are the abomination of ancient Egyptian society and you were given so much for it; we left you alone to rule over the dead, the mummification process and even the orphans. But that wasn’t good enough. No, you wanted to be more than the face of Death, you wanted more followers than Ra, so you created Anput as your partner. You stole my womb to make her! You stole my womb!” she cried loudly into the early morning sky and a few ray of lights gleamed down upon her. She took in another breath as a slight, chilling breeze danced around her, “You were a fool to do that to me! She had my traits as well. She carried my scorn and my hatred for you and to this day she still does. You cannot involve her any longer in your obsession because I have finally found you. And where I go, Ra will know. He will be upon you and punish you justly for the slaughter you caused so many thousands of years ago.”

Wait, what? Did she just say Anput was created from her? Isn’t Anput supposed to be me? This is all happening way too fast. I need to slow all of this down. I’m still trying to get over my loss of Billy, Charlie, Clyde, and my parents, I really don’t need something else that’s completely insane to make an appearance.

With my paw for a hand I grabbed hold of the Hunter’s hand and just held it tightly. I wanted something natural, something real because too much was going on. I needed an anchor for this conversation and fortunately enough for me, the Hunter wouldn’t let me go.

Bast didn’t linger on that groundbreaking sentence, though, she continued straight on like it wasn’t news that could shatter a person’s frame of mind, it was just a statement, “Instead of chasing a woman who will never love you, I would begin to chase my freedom by running as far away as I possibly could. Ra will be here within a heartbeat, so I would start running. And remember, when he catches you, I will be waiting to exact my revenge.”

Anubis’ bright gold eyes trembled under the weight of those words. He looked so pathetic compared to Bast. He was truly a coward. For a moment, I felt sorry for him. He was mortified of his consequences. I suppose I should be rejoicing, but I guess it’s difficult to rejoice in someone else’s pain. Or maybe, I’m human, that I’m not a monster because only a monster would find joy in pain.

“Run, Anubis, I want to see you run!” she growled.

And with that statement, Anubis took off. I felt his power ebb through the swamp until I could no longer smell the soft scent of rosemary and sage, all I could smell was icky swamp which was a relief. It’s odd that I would rather smell decaying logs than spices, but I guess when bad experiences are associated with certain smells, it tends to put one off.

“Ra and I,” she began adopting that loving and caring disposition that she carried so well, “do apologize for the misery that Anubis has caused you. He will be punished for his crimes.”

“What will happen to him?” I asked finally standing on my own two feet still clutching onto the Hunter’s hand as best I could.

“He will return to Duat and perform his sacred rituals of which he has left vacant for many, many years.”

“What are his sacred rituals?” I don’t know why I was curious about Anubis and what would happen to him, as much as I hate to admit this, he was a big part of me, a big part of my life. He had created both Anput and my beast so I guess I just wanted to know that he was out of my life for good, that I wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. I needed closure for all the pain he had caused me and I needed answers as to why.

“He weighs the hearts of man to determine who is good and who is evil.”

“Wait,” I interrupted, “he decides who’s good and bad? Seriously? He’s a monster! He’s killed countless in his search for me and he’s the one that decides who goes to heaven and hell?”

“
He
doesn’t decide,” Bast replied with a sigh filled with annoyance, “he compares the weight of their soul with a feather. Sins weigh much. All Anubis does is observe the scales.”