I'm taking a new approach! Please give me your thoughts and feedback, and enjoy.

Crescent Nile

Chapter 1: Family Matters

"Your heart reveals your truth.

If lighter than the Ma'at, then you may continue your journey..."

The rapid beating heart bled and continued to pulse within my right hand as I strolled over towards the scale. This heart was just like any other heart I have held. It felt, pulsed, and smelt just like the last millions I've taken to judge. Being the God of the underworld scars me with the scent of both the innocence and the corrupt, but it's never something I'd complain over. At first the stench of the corrupt didn't suit to my delight, but that was mostly because my head is that of a Jackals, so other than my powers I also carry the abilities of such.

I'd often question if my father was truly Set instead of Osiris, but that's only because Set and I both have Jackal heads. ... I suppose that's a matter I'll think about another time.

"A-And if my heart is heavy? Will you have mercy on me, Anubis?" My ears twitched as the sound of the man evaded the room. I paused next to the scale and gave a slight glance at him past my shoulder as he timidly stood far off, staring not at me, but the demon tied to one of the nearby poles.

Turning my gaze back to the scale, I rose his heart high in the air before gently placing it onto the empty side of the scale. "... Mercy cease to exist when a humans life is already at its end, pharaoh-." "Anubis!" A higher voice called my name. I ceased myself from asking who dared to interrupt me in the midst of my work because the voice was all too familiar.

I completely turned around to see mother hurriedly running towards me, with a fist full of her dress to help her along the process.

As soon as I saw a look of distress plastered onto her beautiful features, I knew immediately that somethings was terribly wrong. So I quickly walked up to the red-head and stopped about a step away. "What's causing you distress, mother-?" I tried asking, but she had quickly shaken her had and breathed in deeply before looking me in the eyes. "Anubis, I need you to listen carefully to me." She started. I nodded my head and gave my full attention to her. "... Son, I'm going to have to send you away to the world of the living for quite some time."

"World of the living? What matter is there to have caused you to make a decision such as that, Cul?" I quickly questioned till she narrowed her similar, red eyes and said, "You are to address me as either Mother, or Nephthys. Only your father is allowed to call me such name. And as for the decision, it has a private cause that I need to settle." Her voice came out strong and assertive.

"Does father know about your decision?"

"No." She furrowed her brows and lowered her gaze towards the floor before taking in another deep breath. "There are just some things I have to settle with Set, and in order to ensure your safety along with everyone else's, I need you to stay in the world of the living till I say otherwise. ... I've already found a being for you to stay with, but his knowledge of your arrival is unknown. Plus to help you adjust to the living" She then trailed off as she took a step closer and stood on her toes to carefully place her hands onto either sides of my face, lightly blowing onto me and caused me to hear a faint sound of whispers around me.

After a moment or two, she let go and took a step back.

In an instant, something long a red fell graciously over my eye's till she brought a hand over and moved it away so I could see better. But as soon as she had done so, I then began to fix my vision onto the red strands of ... hair that was hanging loosely in front of my face?

Within a couple of seconds, I cautiously brought my hands up to my face and gently traced my fingers along the new skin on my cheek, quickly taking notice to the dramatic change. I was quick to eyeing the goddess before me and said, "You used a spell on me-?" I angrily questioned before she clapped her hands twice as a shadow-servant suddenly appeared at her side, kneeling on the floor as it held up a mirror.

I wasted no time as I swiped the mirror out of the servants grasp and looked at myself, only to be greeted with a man's face, though ... it wasn't man at the same time. Black kohl liner marked around my red eyes as black tear-like markings ran down from the kohl of my eyes, down my tanned cheeks. My hair resembled my mother's, but was shoulder length and messy. My ears remained the same as those of a jackal, as well as my fangs remaining the same.

I even took a chance to look over the rest of my body and saw how it remained the same.

The mixture of the black and gold arm cuffs remained on both sides of my arms and wrists. I remained wearing my black and gold Shendyt kilt wrapped around my waist, and lastly black neck collar that was around my neck along with the single gold hoop hanging from the left side of my ear. So this is what I look like with more human features. I thought inwardly to myself as I continued to trace my fingers along my face. Still have my black claws, I see.

"This form is another true form of yours, but it's up to you to decide if you'd rather keep this one, or to fully have your jackal head back. Till I bring you back, you must remain this way so Set can't identify you so quick, Anubis. And while you are in the world of the living, you may tell the boy, who will be quick to know your true name, to call you Anubis in closed doors. But while you're out, you shall be called by your nickname so you won't be pinpointed. So make sure you tell him to call you Akaito outside. Set only knows so much about you."

"Mother!" My head snapped to her as I rose my voice. "You must tell me the problem between you and Set. If it's something detrimental, then you should notify Osiris!"

"What's going on between me and Set shall stay out of your knowledge!" She yelled back.

"If this may cause danger to you, me, and father, I can help by getting my army of the dead!"

"That is enough, Anubis!" Her voice boomed throughout the chamber. And within that moment, I became infuriated with her and gritted my teeth in newfound anger. "I'll handle everything while you are away. ... You must hurry to the world of the living. The cross bridge have been set to your destination, and you are to not speak with another God or goddess except for Thoth and Haroth."

I gave a small tisk and avoided my gaze from hers. So with a quick stomp of my right foot, I summoned one of my warriors and wasted no time giving him instructions to help the new deceased and hold them off till I return.

So with one last look to mother, I quietly told her, "... Lies and secrets makes your heart heavy. If this is the fate you choose, then I guess I'll go. ... Farewell, mother." And with that, I turned my back from her and began to walk out the room and towards the bridge chamber.

To my surprise, I heard not a single goodbye escape her lips as I walked away.

I've always had my suspicions between mother and Set for the longest, but I wouldn't have guessed for this to happen. I know I'm going to have make contact with father in some point of time; possibly to put an end to this madness. But till then, I'm more shocked about going to world of the living. I continued to walk down the long, dark hallway and made several turns throughout the building till I came across the room.

Two guards stood at either side of the opening, blocking the entrance to bridge with their spears.

As soon as the two gazed at me, they became startled for a moment before the one on the left said, "A-Anubis?!" Kiyoteru stammered.

After a second, the two moved their spears to the side and opened the entrance for me, allowing for me to look across the bridge to see the portal opening.

But within the portal came a night sky being shun over the Nile river. A crescent was held high into the sky, causing the water to glisten and sparkle as if the stars were bathing in it. But what captured my attention towards the portal was the fair, yet lonely bluenette that sat within the water, wearing a poor midriff that clung to his body, tightly outlining the upper-half of his wet body, making the cloth see-through. His striking blue hair was a wet mess, framing his face quite perfectly.

The more I stared, the more I saw how close I was getting to the portal.

So this is the boy? ... He's quite frail looking. I would've expected a being of higher status, but I assume she picked someone of "his" rank on purpose. I contemplated. I'll have to deal with it. But how can one explain an arrival that they aren't even too sure of? ...

How long do I have to stay with this one?