The Twilight of the Gods

SUMMARY: A not – so – peaceful distress call from the Gods of Egypt. Sadie disappeared on her sixteenth birthday. A ghostly empire rising within the depths of the Duat. Yeah, just an ordinary day for me and my sister.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, lovelies! :)

Author's Note: A rewritten first chapter. As I said, I was not satisfied with how I wrote this the more I read the original manuscript. I have no idea when I will post the second chapter but I'm writing it now. Yeah?

Chapter 1 – I Missed a Kiss from Death Boy

~SADIE~

Hullo. Sadie Kane here.

On the happy note, my brother, Carter, handed me the bloody microphone. As I said before, my brother is quite famous for being such a rubbish storyteller. I'll be leaving my brother for one moment, while he gets obnoxiously flustered around Zia, yes? Let me tell you this, and by no means do we intend to instill panic among you, but we fear another Doomsday successfully wormed its way from the Duat. Rest assured, it's not a vengeful serpent, not that I know of, anyway. This whole fiasco started on the night before I turned sixteenth.

I did not sleep well that night, and mind you, I was not that excited for my birthday. [Or maybe I am, happy, Carter?] I tossed and turned on my bed, but I just could not shut my eyes, but, eventually, I did. That was when I felt a force that pulled me – my ba – into the Duat. Typically, by experience, I tell you, ba dreams tend to frighten my wits, but when my ba dream involved a certain Death God, I think I made a certain exception for that particular occasion. As soon as I opened my eyes, his warm – chocolate eyes stared at me and twinkled in amusement. He stood in the middle of the courtyard, wooden torches burned that emanated a deep orange light, hieroglyphics hummed in soft whispers, and the scent of temple vanilla candles. He wore a black muscle shirt, black jeans and a black leather duster, finished with his combat boots. The shen amulet that matched mine gleamed with an orange tinge. His hair tousled in the most adorable way, as if he just woke up from his slumber. Anubis. Lovely.

His eyes unnerved me. Am I in my chicken form? Gods of Egypt, that is highly intolerable!

I frowned at him. "Do I look poultry to you?"

His lips twitched, as if he suppressed his laughter, but he smiled after a silent moment. His smile was that annoying lopsided grin, and my heart fluttered. "It's great to see you, too, Sadie." He said, as he tentatively took a step forward. "And no, you are not in your chicken form, as you phrased it." I smiled back, and as he held out his soft hand towards me, I stepped back. His smile dropped, along with his hand, and was replaced by an apologetic frown. Of course, I understood the fact that since Walt hosted Anubis, he would be constantly away, and carried the deathly duties of Anubis with my father, who, by the way, hosted Osiris, God of the Underworld. But to never show up for almost six months, five and a half months? It hurt me, when everybody else saw them, but I did not? I knew that I am deep sleeper, and I was asleep most of the time, but where is the fair in that?

"You were gone." I whispered crossly, and I sound almost spitefully petty, but I was hurt, so, so hurt. "Not a word. Not even a 'show – up' for me, while everybody saw you once in a while, Anubis." Anubis stared at me, his eyes filled with guilt and regret. He stretched his arm once again, and held his hand once again. I hesitated, but I didn't have the time to choose between my wounded ego and my heart, so I touched his hand gripped in tightly. Anubis smiled by a fraction, pulled me from where I stood, and gingerly wrapped his around me. "Sadie, I'm sorry." He whispered softly in my ear. "I'd be lying if I say I – we – were not guilty, but my visits were greatly limited by Lord Osiris for… certain reasons these past few months. I missed you, Sadie, more than you know. I always wished and hoped to see you every single day."

That was more than enough for my anger to melt unto my shoes. Anubis kissed the top of my forehead, and I pulled him closer. "It's fine. Besides, I'm pretty hard to ignore." I murmured against his chest, and he chuckled. It was a soft and melodious chuckle, and I tried to remember what in the name of Ra is breathing. "Where's Walt?"

"He gave me a moment." He answered, and from the corner of me eye, he inwardly winced. Why, I have no idea. "Besides, I appear as Anubis, as we are in the Duat. I figured he'd be seeing you in Brooklyn tomorrow, so I thought a ba dream was enough, but, if truth be told, this ba dream never gave you any justice, Sadie."

My ears shot attentively to what I heard. "You're going home?!" I asked, confused.

"Why wouldn't we?" Anubis murmured, the steady rumbling of his chest as he spoke comforted me. "It's your birthday." He pulled back, and he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes and I am too certain he was hiding something. Why do I get the feeling it's something dreadful?

"What's wrong?" I asked, as I stared at his warm chocolate eyes, and his smile faded. His arms loosened by a fraction around me, his eyes trailed downward on to the marble tiled floor, as if the marble floor fascinated him to such an extent. [Carter says the marble floor was less annoying and more appealing to stare at than me. There, a pinch.] I nudged him slightly with my hand, and Anubis shook his head. "Sadie, I'm sorry." He said, his gaze wary as he stared back. "You were not supposed to learn of this mess. Not on your birthday, for that matter. Osiris – your Father – made it perfectly clear to me not to say anything."

I wasn't going to let him off the hook, now, am I? "Go on." I murmured. I shivered as the landscape started to ripple, my hand becoming less transparent than it used to be and I grasped him by the hand. I don't think I am waking up. Not yet, anyway. "So, what's wrong?" I pressed. "You wouldn't be so distressed if there's nothing wrong, Anubis. Tell me."

He grimaced before he led me on one of the benches at the end of the courtyard, created out of mummy linen. "The Gods of Egypt." He answered straightforwardly. "We are weakening, and we have no clue as to why. Some had already disappeared without a trace, Lord Sobek, for one. The fact that Lord Sobek was frail and weak, and lost control of his powers and eventually swallowed by a sarcophagus, it is very distressing, Sadie. Lord Osiris feared that we may disappear as well. Thus, he kept me and the other Gods of judgment working all these months."

"But those gods and goddesses from Sunny Acres?"

Anubis shook his head. "It's different, Sadie." He murmured softly. "And this time, no gods or goddesses are safe."

Like how Dad was swallowed by the sarcophagus on the night of Christmas Eve. I shuddered at the thought of reliving that memory, especially if it was Anubis inside that sarcophagus. That does not sound good. Not at all. I suddenly felt a sickening fear coursed through my veins and I shivered. Anubis placed a protective arm around me, and leaned slightly on my forehead. "Why?" I asked slowly, like I was expecting any answer, but Anubis turned up his palms, frustrated. The courtyard rippled once more, and Anubis' image became a blur, the colors merged into one, then back again. The frown on his face and the crease between his brows were evident, and I must say, it doesn't suit him. Really. He gave me a mournful look, and took my hands in his, and gripped them tightly, as if it were his lifeline. I gingerly craned my head to the side, and half of my body had already disappeared.

Bloody Gods of Egypt.

"I couldn't hold on to you much longer." He said, fleeting anger and distraught crossed his face. His face strained as he shut his eyes and attempted to keep my ba from disappearing. His eyes shot open, and he touched my face lightly. "I'll see you soon, Sadie. Happy birthday." Anubis slowly leaned in, and even before his lips reached mine, my ba was sent back to my body. How disappointing. Really, disappointing.

I awoke with a heart that banged too fast against my ribcage, as if I have run a marathon. I was back in my room, and I stared limply on my ceiling, my breathing erratic and heavy. That was one of the most disturbing ba dreams I ever had. What did Anubis say? Gods. Disappearing. Sarcophagus. This was beyond bad. I glanced at the clock, and it was three in the morning. Without a second thought on my messed up pajamas or tousled hair, I raced through Brooklyn House's quiet hallways and knocked frantically on Carter's room. It took three attempts of frantic knocking before I heard his feet shuffle against his carpeted floor. I do say that my brother is a heavy sleeper [But not as heavy as I am, unfortunately].

"I do hope you have a good reason for waking me up, Sadie Kane." He murmured groggily. "Even if it is your birthday. Happy birthday, by the way." He yawned loudly as I entered into his room without his permission and he scowled at me. I plopped myself on his bed, and sat crossed – legged, whilst Carter followed suit. He must have read my expression, as he suddenly looked fretful. "Sadie." Carter started, one of his eyebrow raised in bewilderment.

"Look, I know you should be cross at me for meeting Anubis this late but –" His scowl immediately intensified, and his brotherly protectiveness decided to wake up and resurface from its hiding place.

"Okay, rewind." He said, greatly aghast. "You were with Anubis? Why were you with Anubis?! It's hardly dawn and –" I rolled my eyes, and shot a scowl at Carter's direction, which made him, of course, shut his blabbering mouth [I have gotten quite good at it, by the way. My brother talks way too much. Hey, ow!]. "In a ba dream, for goodness sake, brother dear." I said, my voice exasperated and quite infuriated for his taste. I smiled slyly as he shrugged his shoulders and yawned noisily.

"Moving on," I said, as he made no sign or pretence to further protest or rant about my actions, which is, I suppose, quite unsettling, bearing in mind the plate I was about to hand over to him. I realized that being reprimanded by my overprotective brother was more reassuring than having to deal with gods who were apparently dying, and I'm pretty certain that the word death was never in their vocabulary; well, apart from my godly boyfriend. "In my ba dream, Anubis he – told me… the Gods of Egypt… they're weakening." Carter paled as I spoke.

"How so?" He asked, his eyes trailing on his hands.

I choked back a strangled cry. "They're disappearing." I answered, my voice quivering. "Sobek, I never liked him that much, but he just did. Anubis informed me that he was weak and could not manage to control his powers, initially, and subsequently, a sarcophagus swallowed him, not long after." The fear that surged through my veins was horribly conspicuous, as I visibly shivered. An unwelcome picture of Dad or Anubis inside that sarcophagus before my very eyes formed a lump on my throat. Carter, not one for brotherly affection, took my hand and squeezed it reassuringly, as he seemed to have sensed my distress. I told him how strained Anubis was when he pulled me into a ba dream, and how difficult it was for him to hold on while in the dream.

Carter dipped his head lowly, as if he was in deep thought. "If the Gods are weakening, then our magic, no doubt, is also weakening, Sadie." Of course, those who follow the path of Gods will weaken, as well. Duh, logic. Does that explain my messed – up commands and spells over the past few months, like how I created a tiny chip on the plate, rather than completely obliterating it in pieces when I tried Ha – di? Or how I couldn't clean up the initiates' mess during mealtimes, training and war games with Hi – nehm?

So much for a welcoming gift on my sixteenth birthday. Yippee. "Why?" I asked the same exact question as I did with Anubis, crestfallen. "It's not normal that sarcophagus spring from nowhere, and then swallow such diving being!" I wanted to find an assurance that my geeky brother had an answer. He always did have an answer, and while it made things easier for me, it was essentially reassuring, and actually made everything possible [But I am never telling my brother that. Oh, hey, Carter, you're back, now where is my Ribena?]. I expected an answer, but Carter shook his head, defeated. He set his lips on a grim, thin line and I abruptly found the urge to cry, and Sadie Kane never cries.

"If that's how divine beings die, then this is the twilight of the gods." He murmured after a few heartbeats. "And unless we find and do something, the Gods might die."

It was my turn to actually pale. Deathly pale. Carter placed a hand on my shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. His eyes were tainted with regret, and he shook his head reverently. I have never been this nervous and wrecked ever in my life. Battling evil serpents and crazy demons were much, much easier than having to deal with my disappearing boyfriend. "And if there is any sliver of hope in it, Sadie, something, a force maybe, or someone might be banishing them deeper into the Duat and they couldn't get out of it. And the good thing about this is that we may actually save them."

The corners of my lips lifted for a fraction, as a semblance closer to a grin. I hope that it was the latter, because saving them is easier than having to face the reality that if they weren't as immortal as we thought about them to be? "Did Anubis say anything else?" Carter asked.

All I could do was to nod. "No one is safe." I murmured.

Carter was guilty. Obviously. He kept on apologizing for raining down on my parade, also known as my birthday. And so were Walt and Anubis.

As soon as I was finished the talk with my brother, it was already five in the morning. Knowing my brother, as much as he wanted to sleep once again, he was horrified at the thought of nightmares that plagued him with every newfound crisis at hand. After he greeted me another birthday greeting and shooed me out of his room, he showered and dressed and marched into his scrying bowl. Probably seeking comfort and reassurance from Zia from the First Nome. She was hardly in the Brooklyn House, too, and I knew my brother well enough that he didn't like the distance, no matter how he tried to hide it. [Come on, Carter, you're an open book.] While he wallowed in our newfound crisis, I trudged the hallway back to my bedroom, and felt the heaviness of exhaustion.

So much for my sixteenth birthday. I was in no mood to celebrate it anymore.

As I opened the door, Walt stood beside my bed, and found my iPod extremely appealing as he scrolled through the endless songs. From the corner of his eye, he saw me, and gently placed back the iPod beside the speaker. "Hey, you." Walt said, as he smiled with a hint of an apology. He walked up to me and his arms wrapped around my shuddering form. "Happy birthday, Sadie." He wore the same clothes as Anubis did in my ba dream. I didn't answer back for a moment. I wrapped my arms around him, as if a sarcophagus will shot out from the ground, and disappear right in front of me. I felt Walt's lips on my hair. "Anubis said he is terribly sorry, by the way." He murmured. "He didn't wish to upset you on your birthday."

"I know." I answered. My eyes unfocused as I slipped my vision through the Duat. Anubis stood at the same spot as Walt, his arms cradled me, and he contritely smiled. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his less warm eyes. It wasn't there when I saw him in the Hall of Judgment. He shook his head, and it was a warning for me to slip back to reality. I felt the biting sting of tears behind my eyes. "It's getting worse, isn't it?" Walt didn't speak for what felt like an eternity. He must be having a silent conversation with Death Boy, with the way emotions were fleeting on his face. "We'll talk after you celebrate your birthday." Walt said, as his voice quivered. I wanted to protest, but I couldn't find my voice. I just bobbed my head, with a semblance of a smile. "I should leave you to get dressed, then, Sadie. Meet us in the dining room, yes?"

Walt started to loosen his arms around me, but I gently pulled him closer, closer than I have ever been with the both of them. "Don't disappear, will you?" I said, and it sounded like a desperate plea. "I forbid it. Or you have to deal with me being cross for an eternity." He smiled and a low chuckle escaped his lips. "Wouldn't dream of it." Walt said, and I heard a trace of Anubis' voice. I felt his lips on my forehead, and it lingered for quite a moment. "I love you, Sadie." He parted soon, and his words were left hanging in the air of my room, and probably, just by a fraction, a flicker of hope was lit inside me. Maybe, just maybe Carter and I can save the Gods of Egypt. [Even if some of them tried to kill us and hate us, no?]

I probably stared into space while I showered, and as soon as I got off the shower, steam already flooded the entire expanse of my room. Great. The sun had already gone up slightly in the east, and bathed my room in an early morning radiance, which, I found honestly comforting. Shuffling of feet from the Great Room echoed throughout the house. I shrugged as I dressed myself with a black shirt, dark blue jeans and my trusty combat boots and streaked my hair with a blue color, matching my eyes. The shen amulet hung limply around my neck, and it was enough to give me relief when Walt and Anubis are not around.

I turned toward the doorway, and as soon as I twisted the doorknob open, a loud, piercing explosion ripped throughout Brooklyn House, enough to knock me to the floor. Panicked screams reverberated all through the house, followed by another explosion on the balcony of my room and another two floors down, and sent broken glass and wood splinters across my room. I distantly heard Walt cried out for me. I felt tugging pain on my face and arms, and the cuts on it were wet with blood.

Was that a chicken sporting a sheep's wool? Or a sheep with chicken feathers? No, definitely a chimpanzee. A purple one. With cheese on its head. I couldn't quite describe the demon that stood by my window, but I'm sure the rotten cheese on its head added a comical effect. [Note the sarcasm, will you?] I ripped through the fabric of reality, into the Duat, and hoped and prayed to whatever Gods of Egypt can hear me, that I could grab my staff from the Duat. I nearly lost my concentration when the demon stepped through my window, and knocked off my iPod from my bed stand, along with my speakers.

I wanted to scream bloody murder. My bloody iPod and my bloody speakers!

Just my luck, I couldn't get my staff. Another demon popped out of nowhere, which looked like the purple chimpanzee with rotten cheese, but instead of cheese, it had blueberry and waffles. And another appeared on my bed, with oatmeal bars, and ripped my bed coverings. How they got those breakfast meals on their heads, I decided I don't want to know.

"N'dah!" I summoned a spell without my staff and bright blue hieroglyphics floated around in the air and enveloped me in a curtain of blue light. The chimpanzee with rotten cheese [And rotten stench, I might add.] pounced on me, and hit the curtain of protective hieroglyphics squarely on the face. Normally, it would have withstood such rubbish form of physical attack; however, the blue light flickered and died down. Rotten cheese didn't hesitate to pounce on me once again, and I made a mad dash towards the kitchenette at the end of my room. Blueberry and waffles lunges for the refrigerator filled with my Ribena.

Gods, I am so tired. I felt I have ran an eternal marathon with that single spell.

"If the Gods are weakening, then our magic, no doubt, is also weakening, Sadie."

Ah, great!

Another explosion ripped through the defenses of Brooklyn House and the chimpanzees screeched deafeningly. Explosions of magic from the first and second floor resounded in my ears vaguely. I heard Carter's shouts. I heard Jaz usher the young initiates to a safer area. Howls from the jackals stridently echoed. I heard Khufu screamed "Agh!"

"Sadie!" Walt bellowed angrily, worriedly, frenziedly, no, Anubis. No. I don't know. Their voices were muddled together.

Oatmeal bars charged at me, caught me by my shoulder and I crashed on the floor with a sickening thud. Someone screamed, a high – pitched voice, and I realized it was me. Dark spots danced before my blue eyes. Windows shuddered and burst. Something held me tightly around my neck. I can't breathe. "Walt!" I struggled to scream, but it came out as a breathless plea.

Then, nothing.

Darkness.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for reading, my lovelies! My first story from a book fandom. Yaaaay. Updates might be irregular, but I'm pretty sure I will be updating sometime in the future, whenever that will be. :) Title's lame, I know. Some concept from Norse mythology, and I am weirdly fascinated by it. Sorry about that. Might change if I can come up with something. Read and review, please. Favorites and follows are very much appreciated. Tell me how to improve my characterizations and the flow of the story.

UPDATE [March 27, 2014]: Yep, that's done and dusted. Rewrote it, okay? Reread? And while I was rewriting this, I received my grades, and I think I'm crying. I can't even. The feels. If I get a certain number of reviews, not that I am a review – hoarder, but, anyway, if I get that certain number of reviews, I will be writing certain chapters from Anubis/Walt's point of view, since the whole story is an alternating point of views of Sadie and Carter. That okay? :) I'll try my very best to keep them in character :D