Authors Note:
Yep, I really am writing House of Anubis fanfiction in 2020. Blame it on the quarantine boredom. This stands to be a pretty substantial work if I keep up with it. Updates will be semi-regular and hopefully the whole story will be done in about a month. I've been re-obsessing over watching the show and got inspired to write what would've happened years after Nina left Anubis House. I'll be honest, I never watched Season 3 or Touchstone of Ra, so I may reference aspects of those shows for continuity but I'll largely ignore big plot points that happened in those, like Eddie losing his Osirian powers. Basically I'm writing as though Nina did leave, but what happened to Fabian and the gang wasn't exactly what happened in the show. Hope that makes sense. Anyways, if anyone is left in this fandom to read this, I hope you enjoy!
Introduction
It had been so hard, leaving the house behind. She missed its whispers, its secrets, its history. It seemed, no matter how many secret tunnels and hidden treasures they unearthed, there was always more. She wondered if the house was sad to see her go; it had always seemed alive in some way, like a friend of hers. But she'd probably never know. She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.
There were many things Nina wish she could've done before she left. She wished she could've finally let Amber do that makeover on her. She wished she could've gotten on better with Joy. She wished she could've solved one last mystery with Sibuna. And she wished, so very much, that she could've been held in Fabian's arms one last time.
But it was over. She'd written her final goodbyes down and sent them in the post, kissing away her first love and sealing their fate. She'd bequeathed her locket to Eddie, just in case they needed it. It hadn't been easy to think up the proper excuses to leave them all; they knew her well enough to call her out on her lies. The best she could come up with was the Osirian; so little was known about the relationship between her powers and his that she felt no one could argue. She hoped they would buy it; after all, she couldn't have them looking for her.
The hot sun beat down on her brow, oppressive to her New England skin. She wasn't used to the heat, or the sand, or the dryness especially. She shouldered her bag one more time and took her first steps in Cairo. There was a lot she needed to know.
He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't. After everything they'd been through, the Cup, the Mask, her almost dying several times…he couldn't believe she was gone. He thought back on all those cold nights in the attic, hunched over a phonograph, to all those elated smiles after they found a new clue, to all their nervous kisses: He couldn't very well forget her, that was for sure. What was he supposed to do now, alone? What if the teachers tried to make the elixir again? What if there were more tunnels under the house? What would he do, without his Chosen One?
"Fabian, we have to go to class! Get your nose out of your books!" Amber sang, grabbing him by his jacket and pulling him along. His thoughts were in disarray, and he quickly tuned out her chattering as he wondered what had gone wrong, and what he would do now she had left.
Chapter 1: Two Years Later
Fabian grabbed the final case from the baggage claim conveyor belt, plonking it down on the ground with a resounding thump.
"Okay Uncle Ade, I think this is the last one," he said.
"Oh good, thanks Fabian my boy," his uncle said over his half-moon glasses. "We should make it to the museum in no time. My friend will be here to collect us at any moment."
Fabian had been excited about this trip for months. To be able to follow his uncle on an actual excavation was a literal dream come true. Since graduating Boarding School he'd felt a bit listless. Life seemed so…boring, after everything he'd experienced at Anubis House. Luckily, Uncle Ade had been due for another trip and was gracious enough to invite him along. He hadn't realized exactly how much gear would be required, he grumbled to himself as he lugged pounds of tools and cameras out into the heavy sun. Cairo was such a beautiful place, and it took his breath away.
The ride to the museum was relatively easy; Their liaison with the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Dr. Ramses, conversed lightly with his uncle in the front seat, so Fabian really didn't have to say much. He focused on the book he'd brought with him: Ancient Egypt's Valley of Kings. He wanted to absorb as much as he could about the place before he actually got to visit there.
Wow, I'm finally going to see it, he thought, a soft smile playing on his lips. Ever since he'd first laid eyes on the Cup of Ankh he'd wanted to see where it came from. It was one thing to read about Tutankhamun's tomb, but another to step inside it. He was trying to play it cool, but his inner geek was jumping for joy.
"And on your left, you see, the museum!" Dr. Ramses announced. Uncle Ade whistled. It was huge, flanked by rows of palm trees, its brick red walls stretching high above them. So many artifacts housed there…so much history.
The main hall was even more spectacular. Hundreds of coins, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, scraps of ancient papyrus: it was perfect. Fabian could've spent a whole day there, but it was not to be. They were here for work, not play.
"If you'll just follow me this way, I'll give you the proper tour later. You simply must meet my assistant, a real bright mind on that one, such a passion for Egyptology. Taught me a thing or two, to be frank!" Fabian and Uncle Ade trailed behind Dr. Ramses through a labyrinth of labs, offices, and archives until finally they reached his office. "Welcome!"
Fabian's heart dropped. For a second, he felt like a teenager again, scuttling up to the attic under Victor's nose. It was crazy how time seemed to have never passed at all, and he was back at Anubis House, back in her orbit.
"My assistant, Nina Martin. From America, although I believe she spent a few years on UK soil. She's been helping me catalogue relics in the archive for quite a while now."
Nina looked just as shocked as Fabian. It had been over two years since they'd even seen each other, and almost exactly two years since she disappeared off the face of the planet. No matter how many times he tried to write or call, it seemed like he was simply shouting into the void. He'd given up on ever seeing her again and yet, here she was, standing in front of him.
"Why, Nina! I remember you. Upton my dear friend, I believe Fabian and Nina attended school together. What are the odds?" Uncle Ade said, shaking Nina's hand vigorously.
"It's nice to see you again Mr. Rutter," she said calmly, her voice not betraying her surprise. "I didn't realize there would be two Rutters coming on this expedition."
"Ah yes! Well, you see, it was sort of last minute. I'm not as young as I once was, and I thought we could use some young blood!" Ade explained.
"It's good to see you Nina," Fabian smiled softly. She glanced briefly at him, but didn't smile back.
"Let me help you with your gear, we have a room all set up…" Nina lifted a bag out of Ade's hand and turned away, disappearing from view. Fabian sighed. Clearly she was just as intent on keeping her distance as ever.
Nina splashed some water on her face, trying to wake herself from this new nightmare. She'd been nervous enough knowing Fabian's uncle was coming, and now this. She'd left Anubis House behind with the intent of never facing him again. It'd been hell to lose everyone she cared about. She didn't exactly want to relive it.
Things had also changed quite a bit since she last saw Fabian. She was no longer the dewy-eyed, naïve little schoolgirl she'd once been. Back then, her role as the Chosen One was still unclear. Time had revealed what powers she possessed, and not all of them were admirable.
It's a two-week expedition. We go into the tomb, we come out. Easy-peasy. She hoped she was as confident as she was telling herself.
Fabian was in the hall when she exited the bathroom. He looked…older. It was a little spooky, really. His jaw had become more defined, his face less round. He was the same height, just a little leaner. He'd grown from boy to man.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," she mumbled. She felt an ache in her chest, a longing for the easy banter and shy smiles of their youth. She hated the awkwardness, the gaping emotional chasm that stood between them now.
"Would you maybe…I mean, my uncle and Dr. Ramses could be working for hours. I was wondering if, I don't know, you might like to get supper? Catch up a little? Not in like a weird way, just as, you know…"
"Friends?" Nina finished. Fabian nodded. She noticed the way his hair fell onto his forehead, shaggy as ever. At least that hadn't changed a bit. "Sure," she answered. The frown line on his forehead smoothed, and she saw the visible relief in his posture.
"I don't really know Cairo yet, do you have any ideas?" Fabian asked.
"There's a café around the corner. You good to go?"
"Yes, yeah, I am!" Fabian stuttered.
"Well then, let's go."
The walk was quiet, neither really sure what to say. Nina didn't know how to explain, or apologize for, her disappearance. Fabian had so many questions, but wasn't sure where to start. It seemed exceedingly odd that they would end up here, in a foreign country, two years later, on the same archaeological dig. I mean, what were the odds? Then again, what were the odds Nina would just happen to get accepted to boarding school in the UK where her destiny awaited? These coincidences that surrounded here generally weren't accidents, and Nina couldn't help but wonder if Fabian finding her was meant to happen.
"So…Cairo, huh?" Fabian finally asked as they tucked themselves into a corner of the café.
"Yeah. I guess I felt like there was so much I didn't know about my bloodline, about my destiny. I mean, my powers didn't exactly stop when I put the cup back together. I was no longer cursed, but, all the same, there's still more for me to do," Nina said. "And so Egypt just kind of seemed like the place to go. I mean, if my powers go haywire in a house with a few Egyptian artifacts, how much more could there be for me here?"
"And? Did you discover anything?" Fabian asked, leaning forward in his seat slightly.
"Short story, yes. There's more to being the Chosen One than even Sarah knew, and I've been trying to get more clarity on that. That's why I work with Dr. Ramses, he's the definitive expert on Egyptian mythology. There's been very few writings on the Chosen One, but he knows them all."
"Does he know who you are?"
"Not really. The only people who have really known were at Anubis House, and I haven't told anyone since."
Fabian face fell slightly when she mentioned Anubis House. She couldn't blame him. "Look…I am sorry I left. It was just too dangerous—"
"For you and Eddie, yeah I know," Fabian sighed.
"…Right. Yeah," Nina bit her lip, hoping Fabian didn't notice the lie. It wasn't fun lying to your best friend, but it was better he thought she left for Eddie. It would hurt him more to know it was her own choice. They were stuck in silence for several minutes after, both reminiscing about past wounds, and what could've been.
"Anyways," Fabian said, finally breaking the tension, "Did you learn anything more about your powers? What you can do?"
"Well, as I suspected back when I was stuck in the tunnels, I can kind of speak to ghosts."
"What?" Fabian gasped.
"Yeah, I know," Nina grinned. "I spoke with Victor's dad there, and since then I've been seeing a few people here and there. Egypt is full of old Pharaohs and Queens and troubled souls. Generally no one's been helpful, but a few have spoken with me. Mostly when they have unfinished business they think I can help with."
"That's amazing. Creepy, but amazing," Fabian said.
"I think it's because I got my powers from Anubis. I mean, he's the one who gave Amneris's descendants the power to assemble the cup. And he is the patron god of lost souls, so it stands to reason that I've inherited a few of his quirks."
"Quirks, huh? Anything else I should know about?"
"Well…I'm not going on this expedition for no reason. And I didn't just pick Dr. Ramses because of his research. He's been planning this visit to Tutankhamun's tomb for years now, there's so much paperwork for it, and, well, just look at this." Nina pulled a wrinkled sheet of paper from her bag. It looked old, wildly old, almost like papyrus. Fabian raised an eyebrow, but unfolded the parchment as gently as he could.
"This is a map of the tomb…sort of?" he said. "But there's passages here I've never seen before. Nina where did you get this?"
"One of my ghostly visitors was more helpful than the others, and gave me this. Apparently Carter didn't discover all of the tomb. In fact, no one has. According to this map, there's an extra chamber that's never been seen before."
"And what's in it?" Fabian asked, suddenly nervous.
"If I'm right, and I think I am, it's a chamber dedicated to the Chosen One and the Osirian," Nina said, biting her lip again. Fabian's eyes grew huge. "If I'm right, then the secrets to our history and powers should be in that chamber."