Chapter 25

The ever curious and ever searching warrior walked through the tunnels as she was led by two taller, slender muscular guardians. Exchanged no words, or converse any questions as she looked around herself as she followed through. Felt a deep familiarity to the hieroglyph's on the walls, but unable to read or translate them in proper accuracy. Holding the torch that she had carried slightly higher above herself, trying to read them then was approached by the guardian. "Must keep moving, goddess."

At first she ignored him, and placed her hand onto the wall then a vision engulfed her mind as the guardian spoke to her once more. Seeing the end. Multiple and endless fires, endless screams that ended in bloody silence. Standing in the very centre of the terrifying carnage as she witnessed all commencing around her, turned around as a horse approached in fast pace with the rider upon its back. Swinging a blood covered axe as a loud roar followed, and before she could scream as the weapon was driven to meet her flesh; all went black and then suddenly gasped. Breathing heavily, sweat pearled over then ran down forehead and cheeks. "Are you alright?" he asked. Stuttered in breathless reply. "I-I saw the end. The end of the world."

"That is not what is written here to be exact but if it does come to pass, as it will happen if not stopped. Come, it is time." He replied, led her further down the pyramid where her tasks awaited.

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After walking down three levels of stairs, finally reached the door where the hidden being known to be the task master dwelled and waited. The guardians remained standing by the staircase as one, pointed to the direction of where neesa should continue while the other still and silent. "Through that door, is where you shall find the task master. Only he will say otherwise if you are ready or not."

"Ready for what?" neesa asked, raising her eye ridge. "That is what the task master to answer." He replied, kneeling on one knee and bowed his head as his co-guardian did the same, following and said unison. "Good luck, you will need it."

Without a further word, turned on her heel then continued to the door and placed her hand on the stone door, gently pushed it then finally it opened. The light shined through the doorway, making a shape of the entrance as she stood in the centre. Slowly stepped inside, looked around the darkness and as the door closed behind her. Torches were alight, one after the other until the room was finally lit and revealed the centre, where a old man sat quietly and before a stone statue of the phoenix rising over above a stone figure that appeared to be a woman with the fire flickering around her feet.

Walking towards the man and the mantle, before she could speak. The man introduced himself and invited her to kneel before him. "I have been waiting, Neesa swiftstone-Hamato. Please, kneel or sit down. I am Menes. The pyramid protector." Neesa did as she was told, knelt before him and asked him as she was interrupted quickly. "How did you—"

"I know all as I am the pyramid protector and acquired to know these things as I am destined to test you in your trials." Menes explained, looking up to her with a smile. A pearl of sweat ran down her forehead as she was becoming uneasy and for the first time in her life, she felt intimidated and out of place. "It is quite alright." The task master assured her. "You are safe and it is alright to feel intimidated as this is a unfamiliar territory for you."

Breathing alittle heavier, her chest rose then lowered with each breathe as her sense of panic and loss of understanding was beginning to distinct from her very being then she had fainted. Menes sighed, understandably as he knew that was a lot to take in. Slowly stood up and then walked to her side, knelt down and touched the floor beneath her. A stretcher had formed underneath and carried by two strong loyal jackals, carried her to the bed within the room and allowed her to lay, soundly then disappeared as he returned back to his seating by the mantle and begun praying. Until she awoke when ready.

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Short time afterwards, neesa had awoken and looked around. "Where am i?" she asked. "You are in the realm of astral plane." A voice told her. Immediately reached for her sides where she kept her weapons than had realised that she was defenceless. "Looking for these?" the weapons appeared before her then disappeared as she tried to grasp them. Then suddenly the scenery around her had changed.

Seeing herself as a toddler, playing with her sister in the lake under the watchful eye of her mother. But the problem was, neesa didn't recognise her sister as a toddler only when she and tealana were little girls (aged 6). Ever curious and continued to watch as the events unfolded, but the happy scene were not to last. The dark cold cloud wavered and all changed.

Seeing herself, her sister and the woman she didn't recognise as to be her mother had changed. Over shadowed and only their eyes shined. Brightly like crimson blood red rubies with the loud cladding sound of the thunder that had stricken behind them. Followed by screams and pleas of everlasting terror for remorse or rescue went in the silence of dark veiled curtains. None was heard, she cried in horror as she watched, and Menes leaned in close and whispered. "You know this isn't what you are destined to be. Search inside yourself." Then faded away.

Closed her eyes and breathed in deeply then opened them once again as she said out loud. "This is not REAL!" Everything she saw, faded like sands of dust followed by a dark void. Slowly walked at first then begun to run as her name was called in endless echoes. "Neesa…Neesa. Help us!"

Endless lines of faces that she saved, or couldn't save cried her name. Soon she arrived to the end of the dark long tunnel or dark void, a red door appeared. Opening it and entered. A bright light had blinded her for a few seconds then finally lifted as the door closed and disappeared behind her. "Now where the hell am i?" she asked. "What does this got to do with the tests, menes?"

"Menes?" a voice cackled insanely. "Who's menes?" another mocked and laughed. Neesa prepared herself for the next part of the test and stood her ground, ignoring the insanity that could reside in this whatever it was that she had entered. "Show yourself!" she ordered. "Show yourself." The voices repeated, mocking her. "I said reveal yourselves." She commanded once again. The voices mocked and laughed, repeating every order until neesa remained silent and smirked, playing the game. "Oh well, I guess no body is here to play." The voices had silenced for a moment then spoke. "WE are here to play, mistress. What is that you command?"

"I command that you reveal yourselves."

"Are you sure that is what you want?" one said. "You may not like what you see." Another said. "I ask you to reveal yourselves." Neesa commanded once again and waited as she turned around and faced two small ginger curly haired girls. "You are just girls."

Both smirked and invited her closer. "Look closer, miss." Neesa did as she was instructed and what she saw was not, had expected. Hot tears streamed down her face. "You're my daughters."

They giggled and said. "Wrong again." Their appearances melted away and their true forms were revealed. "We are something that you created so many years ago. Why did you leave us?" neesa crawled backwards as she was afraid then searched for something to slay the beasts as they tried to devour her soul. Menes watched from the sideline and knew that she was in need of much learning and training. Sending a dagger to her side, she immediately reached and grabbed it, then drove through the throats of the beast and disappeared.

Her breathing grew heavy and raspy. Pearls of sweat streamed down her temples, pushing herself to stand but had fell through a hole of darkness. Then splashed in a hot pool of wet substance, rose up for air and wiped the substance from her eyes. "Neesa." A familiar voice called.

Looking to her right and she saw Leonardo standing with his arms wide open. "Leo?" she raspily replied. He nodded and continued. "Come to me, my love. Come to me."

Neesa wasn't sure that she was seeing before her, was actually the husband she knew. Something told her different. "No, you are not my husband." His face sadden and tears fell. "How could you say that?" he said, sadly. Neesa was still not convinced. "You are not my husband. Reveal yourself." She ordered.

The imposter walked closer and sighed, before he grasped her throat and his true form begun to reveal. "You will never be the one. You are going to destroy us all." His teeth grew long and sharp. "I am going to feast on your blood."

She gasped for air and fought her hardest to escape his grasp, using the dagger she grasped and drove through his jugular. The beast roared and released her as he choked on his blood. Menes watched on, commented mentally. "She just may be the goddess, the world has waited for. But still has much to face."

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to be continued in chapter 26