Chapter 11: Mephiles' Deal
Meanwhile in the Underworld, Mephiles was at the Weighing of the Hearts ceremony, which would determine his face. Anubis stood there, looking at him. The Scales were in his hands and he placed the Feather of Ma'at on one side, and Mephiles' heart on the other If the heart balanced against the feather then the deceased would be granted a place in the Fields of Hetep and Iaru. If it was heavy with the weight of wrongdoings, the balance would sink and the heart would be grabbed and devoured by a terrifying beast that sat ready and waiting by the scales. This beast was Ammit,
"Mephiles," Anubis boomed. "You will now be charged for all your crimes in the Overworld. This will decide your fate. After this, your fate is sealed. Is that understood?"
Mephiles nodded. "I understand."
"Very well. BEGIN!" The hedgehog sighed as the Weighing of the Hearts began. Anubis put the heart and the feather on the scale and watched. "What offenses have you committed?" Anubis asked him.
"I've been a guard for the Pharaoh. I would keep slaves in line by whipping them, hitting them, or attacking them in any way. I stabbed slave named Shadow with a poisoned spear after he killed a guard named Silver. He was to die soon after he killed me. I'm not sure if he is dead yet," Mephiles said, and hesitated.
The scale leaned a little as it grew heavier than the feather.
"And your good deeds?" Anubis asked.
"Not many. I've spent my whole life growing up to be a guard, to protect and do the Pharaohs work. I trained my whole life for it, and that's exactly what I did. Is that not enough?"
Anubis frowned. "I am afraid that your bad deeds outweigh the good," he said, pointing to the scale. The feather was heavier than the heart.
"No please wait!" Mephiles shouted. Anubis paused.
"The scale shows your fate. So unless you have a really good deal for me, there's nothing I can do," he said.
"Send me back. Allow me to kill that damn slave if he is not already dead."
Anubis stared down at the ex-guard.
"And what, may I ask, would I get in return if I did send you back?" he asked.
Mephiles smirked evilly. He thought about it for a few minutes, and told the god. "His soul will belong to you," Mephiles said.
Anubis thought about it, and nodded. "If you are that desperate, then I grant your request. But if you die again, there is nothing I can do," Anubis warned.
Mephiles nodded and vanished. Anubis chuckled and sent his soul into Shadow's. Tails was in the process of covering Shadow's wounds when he jerked up suddenly. He groaned in pain as he turned into a jackal, then looked at Tails.
The fox blinked in surprise. "Shadow?" The jackal shook its head. "What the...?" Tails said, startled. The jackal started towards the door, but the fox blocked it. "Oh no, you aren't going anywhere."
"You do not understand," the jackal said as it fell on all fours, still transforming into its full form. "My name is Anubis, and I have taken control of Shadow's body. You may know me as the Egyptian God of Death."
"What is the God of Death doing, possessing a convicted slave" Tails said, giving the jackal a disapproving look.
"How are you not afraid of me? Do you know what I could do to you?" Anubis snarled.
Tails nodded, and Anubis smirked. Once he finished transforming, he looked at the fox. "So will you get out of my way or will I have to force you out of my way?" Anubis said, but the fox stood his ground.
"What are you going to do?" He asked the god.
"I don't think that's any of your business, petty mortal. Now out of my way!" the jackal snarled, leaping forward.
It hit the fox, who fell to the ground. Anubis snarled as it ran out of Tails' house. It had a job to do. Tails got up and tore after the jackal.