The club was hot as she danced, drink in hand. She swayed to the music, nowhere near enough drunk but it was fine for now. She was having a good night out. She desperately needed one after the week she had but she wanted to forget so she drank the rest of her drink, quickly going to find another at the bar.
She ordered a rum and coke, leaning against the bar in her short black dress. It had no sleeves and a high neck and was comfortable.
Anubis stood next to her, sitting with his legs crossed on the bar. He grinned at her, jackal face pulling his lips back in a canine smile as his golden eyes winked at her. "Having fun, Dabria?"
She thanked the bartender, taking her drink and sipping at it to taste the alcohol. She nodded, side-eyeing him for a moment.
Dabria couldn't talk to him without seeming like she was crazy. While she didn't care for the opinions of others, she didn't fancy being kicked out of here because she was talking to seemingly no one.
Taking out her phone, she went out to the smoking area with her drink. She sat, sipping it while she pretended to take a call on the bench. It was cold but it was normal for an English night out. She didn't particularly care because she had alcohol going through her system.
"What do you want?" She asked, looking at Anubis who now stood before her, mocking her with a bow.
"Apparently," He began, standing upright as he glanced at his claws before he put his gold eyes on her. He grinned in a way only a canine could, pulling his cheeks back as his jackal head tilted. "Khonshu has been having trouble with his Avatar. The damn fool had to choose the one with two drastically different personalities."
"How's that my problem again?"
"Well… For starters, if you make Khonshu's life easier by helping his Avatar, it will make my life easier and thus your own life easier." He spoke. "Do you wish for me to make you guide every soul his Avatar ends across the afterlives? Because that number is increasing with each passing day. You sorting Khonshu's little situation would greatly help."
She sighed, "What's his situation? What's wrong with the guy he has?"
"The man he possesses has two drastically different personalities, one he made the Avatar pact with is fine but the other, Khonshu fears this other one will stop his Avatar from achieving his goals,"
"What the fuck am I supposed to do?" She asked. "How am I going to help the situation? I serve you, not him."
"If you are able to help his Avatars alter to accept the way Khonshu does and requests, you will help me too, " He tilted his head from side to side. "Isn't doing my bidding what you are here for?"
"I'm stuck with you because you took a liking to me," She said, before whispering, "At my own death of all things."
Anubis shrugged, lifting his hands up in surrender, "I took the opportunity. I needed a strong Avatar and I got one."
She rolled her eyes, "Fine. When do you need my help?"
"Khonshu has said that Ammit's Avatar has taken his Avatar hostage," He bowed at the waist until his muzzle was inches away from her face. It didn't scare her anymore, she was used to it by now. "I need you to help the poor bastard, Dabria. The alter has more control over the body than the original. Khonshu fears that this alter will get his Avatar killed."
"Where is he, the Avatar?" She stood, keeping the phone to her ear as Dabria downed her drink before leaving the glass. She walked through the throng of people, barging through but they split as she came forward and left the club.
The streets were cold because it was late. There weren't many people out, but she was careful to slink into an alleyway before she let Anubis' powers wash over her.
Her armour replaced the dress she wore.
From her shoulders down to her hips, the wrapping of a mummy covered her skin, letting the armour hug her torso and chest. A pair of shorts covered her hips and upper thighs, a skirt wrapping around her waist in its beautiful and expensive detailing of black and gold. A thick panel of golden fabric hung from her shoulders, hooking from one then going down to her shoulder blade until the other end went to her other shoulder
She wore black sandals, looking more gladiator styled as they wrapped up to her knees. A set of armoured wrist cuffs finished the look, besides from the dark makeup around her eyes and how her hair seemed to slick back until it was smooth and out of her face.
This was a good outfit, one she didn't wear much unless she was going to fight.
)(-)(
Dabria stood on the low roof of a building near an abandoned area of London, watching a nearby road where an idiot in white fought against a demon jackal. It was large, ugly and slightly deformed in appearance, nothing like a jackal should look.
Her outfit was shiny under the moonlight, including the jewels she wore in her ears. Besides her ears which were pierced beyond belief, she didn't wear much jewellery.
The only ones she truly cared for were the ones she was given, both by Anubis. A simple, gold Ankh necklace and a silver ring with a black gem. Both infused with his magic in case something happened.
"Where's the bird?" She asked, unafraid of the wrath of Khonshu.
He couldn't do anything but annoy her, so she didn't care for all of the superiority these gods tended to have. Her own god liked to tease her with the bowing and being subservient to him, but Anubis never expected it.
The last time she tried to bow to him, it took all of a few seconds for him to cringe and tell her to stop.
"Does your Avatar not know how to fight?" She asked the bird.
Khonshu's big bird head appeared, sitting on the edge of the building with his staff over one shoulder. "One of my idiots do but the other is hopeless. Do help them. Harrow released the jackals and Steven is not letting Marc have control. He'll get himself killed."
She sighed, "Of-fucking-course. Anything else I need to know before I'm sent in?"
"Marc's old friend is there," Khonshu sounded almost disgusted by that. "She is trying to help but it is not working. She knows of us and our type but she cannot see us."
"Cool," She stepped off the building, letting herself drop to the ground before she landed in a crouch.
She began to walk, putting a hand to her mouth and whistling loudly as she called the demon over. Within moments a couple more appeared, startling the guy in the white suit and the woman he was with.
"Oh, bollocks!" He half-shouted, waving his arms.
The woman was surprised, watching Dabria cautiously as she walked over to them. The jackals sniffed each other, making sure they were all part of Harrow's group before they turned to them and growled.
"Why'd you call more over?" The guy huffed.
The woman narrowed her eyes at Dabria, "Who are you?"
"I'm Anubis' Avatar," She said firmly, watching the three jackals begin to stalk towards us. "A big birdy said you might need help."
"Hi," He greeted, sticking his hand out which she took to shake gently. "I'm Steven, that's Layla. I'm, uh, new to all of this stuff. So, I don't know ho—"
One of the demon jackals jumped, slashing its claws at him rather than her. It leapt towards Steven who just jumped back out of its way.
Dabria flexed her hand, activating her own claws. She attacked the demon's neck, clenching both hands onto its jugular veins before slashing them out. It wouldn't do much, but it shocked the creature enough for her to put her hand through its chest and rip out its unbeating heart.
The heart turned to ash in her hands, falling away to nothing. She shook the ashes off as Layla sighed and shook her head.
"I'm not," Dabria said. "Been doing this a while but it is my first time dealing with Ammit's demon jackals."
"Demon jackals?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's what I call these ugly motherfuckers. I think it's quite accurate."
"Steven, you need to let Marc take control," Layla said.
"What? No. This is my body. I can do this!"
While Layla stayed out of the way, Steven and Dabria got a demon each to themselves, she did fine while Steven was getting his ass kicked. He was thrown into a nearby bus, arguing with his alter until Steven decided he had enough and let Marc take over.
Unlike Steven who had a nice business suit on, Marc's outfit was much more Egyptian styled and looked amazing with the cape. She was almost jealous but she didn't want to think how the hell he would have gotten blood stains out if he wasn't magically wearing it.
"Get it out of here!" Layla said to Marc.
Dabria killed her demon, impaling it on her hand again before she watched Marc nod at Layla's instructions and jump onto a building. His demon followed, leaving the two women to talk to each other.
"Why are you helping us?" Layla demanded as she came over to Dabria, pulling her into an alleyway.
Dabria's armour fell away, leaving her in her dress again as she dusted her hands off.
"Because my god asked me to," She said. "If he didn't ask me, I wouldn't help either of you. What's even going on?"
"We're protecting a scarab that leads to Ammit's resting place," Layla said, getting into Dabria's face with a dark expression. "Harrow wants it to resurrect Ammit so we all would be judged before we did anything bad."
"Yikes," She sighed, rubbing a hand through her hair before Dabria shrugged. "I'm only helping with this situation."
"No, you're not," Anubis said, appearing over her shoulder so his head was laying over her shoulder. "You've got a long mission ahead of you, little jackal of mine. Help Khonshu's Avatar finish this mission will make your life so much easier."
She looked at him, glaring, "Why? Why do I have to help? Khonshu chose his Avatar, he can choose another."
"He doesn't want to. He has grown fond of his idiot as I have of you,"
"Oh, so I am your idiot?"
He grumbled. "I worded it wrong. "
"You think?" Dabria shrugged, getting his weight off her. She turned back to Layla. "Sorry about that. I was speaking to Anubis. Apparently, I'm going to be helping until this whole thing is over so… Fuck my life."
"Why do you work for one of them?" She asked. "Why would you put yourself through it?"
"It's none of your business," Dabria almost snapped at her. "All you need to know is that I'm an ally to you for the time being. Besides, do you really think your little friend has the scarab? He dropped it and I can almost definitely tell you that Harrow probably has it by now, or not, he will soon."
"Shit," Layla turned on her heels. "This isn't over."
"Of course, it fucking isn't," She muttered before turning to Anubis. "Where's the white guy?"
"Hmm, shouting at Khonshu at the moment," He said, laughing under his breath. "What a funny sight to see."
"Reminds me of us then," Dabria said. "Has he realised he dropped it yet?"
"Yes, the new plan is to go to Cairo. Somewhere there the tomb of Ammit is but even I do not know," He amused at that, frowning a little. "Do be careful with the Avatar of Khonshu. One is dangerous and the other is soft. Don't hurt them too badly."
)(-)(
"You were nothing more than a corpse when I found you," Khonshu began, standing on the rooftop above Marc as he berated him.
Marc looked angry and yet remorseful, scowling at the bird.
He jumped down to the low platform Marc was on, standing as Anubis joined his side and Dabria joined Marc's.
She walked over to Marc's side, glaring at both gods who stood next to each other now. "And I was dead when Anubis found me, what's your point? Treating an Avatar like shit and manipulating them to do your bidding isn't going to make them worship you."
"I don't need him to worship me,"
"But you want him to," He looked away, lowering his head as she scoffed. "You gods are all the same."
"What do you mean by that?" Khonshu asked. "There is only one of me."
"And there is only one of Marc and Steven. You chose them to be your Avatar, treat them as such instead of scum because your last Avatar was shit," She half snapped, getting into his personal space and glaring at him. Anubis just stood next to him, arms crossed over his chest as he tried to keep his laughter away.
"Do not speak to me like that, child,"
"I'll speak to you however the fuck I want, bird brain!" She shook her head. "Do you know how many gods I've seen treat their Avatars like shit and then are shocked when they don't fucking want to do their jobs? Hundreds."
"Stop it," Marc grabbed her elbow, pulling it gently. "He's not worth the fight."
She turned to him, "You think you're the only Avatar that's been treated like this? Khonshu asked Anubis who asked for my help. That's right. Asked. I have my duty and I do it well but me helping you is not part of it but since my god asked, I will do as he requests. This is helping you." She turned back to Khonshu. "So listen. Keep treating him like shit, expect shit work performance from him."
"Stop it," Steven's voice came out this time. "He's threatening to use Marc's best friend as his next Avatar. Marc doesn't want to let Layla have to go through that."
Dabria almost laughed, "Really? Does she agree to it? A god cannot possess a human without their consent, unless super powerful. All he's doing is manipulating you both."
"Anubis, control your Avatar!"
He laughed, deep and fully bellied, "That's like trying to control a storm. You get what you get from her, Khonshu. She's helping but perhaps not in the way you might expect."
"So what needs to happen now?" Dabria asked. "Harrow has the scarab and Layla fucked off somewhere."
"Cairo," Steven muttered. "That's where we need to go. That's where Ammit's tomb would be." He switched to Marc as soon as Steven finished his sentence, "Stop it, Steven!"
She ignored that, glancing at the image of him in the broken mirror. Steven was back inside, looking scared and cold in his head as Marc took charge of the body. Steven glanced at her through the mirror, frowning.
She didn't know why she was able to see Steven when he wasn't taking charge of the body but she didn't question it right now.
"Okay," She began, "Cairo, it is."
"You're not coming," Marc glanced at her.
She just looked at him, raising an eyebrow silently and pointing to Khonshu and then to Marc, "I didn't listen to him, do I look the type to listen to you either?"
"I don't need help."
"Well, you're fucking getting it."
)(-)(
She sat in her car in front of the building of flats, waiting for Marc to hurry his ass up and get here. They had a flight in a couple of hours.
Marc got into the car, slamming the door closed as he shoved his bag into the back seat.
"Took you long enough," She said, starting the car. "If you took any longer, I would have gone to the airport myself."
"You don't have to come," He said. "It isn't your problem."
"Right, because Ammit judging everyone before they do anything bad is gonna be great for me and Anubis," She looked at him like he was an idiot, glancing at the side mirrors to see Steven. "Can Steven hear me 'cause I can see and hear him even if he's not in the body?"
Marc looked at her, surprise lining his nice features, "How can you see and hear him?"
"Anubis' Avatar," She said. "And my necklace has a bit of his magic in it. Keeps me safe and connected to him at all times. He can see souls because he guides them to the afterlife and so I can see them too. You both might share one body but you are two different souls in one vessel."
"What's she going on about, Marc?" Steven asked curiously, glancing between the two. "Two souls in one body? What does that even mean?"
"It means that, regardless of the fact that Marc is the host, meaning he was the original of the body, you are still a person in your own right, Steven," Dabria shrugged. "If the body dies, you both die. Two souls sharing a body isn't that uncommon actually, but having only two souls share it is strange."
"We're part of a system, Steven," Marc said. "I'm the original. Trauma can cause the mind to split into two, creating other personalities that are called alters. I'm the host but I am also an alter since you can take over too."
"Wait, are there any more of us then?"
Dabria shook her head, "No. I can only feel two souls in you."
"Cool, cool," Steven muttered in the mirror. "So, how long have you been... Whatever you were? I didn't have a clue about Marc and stuff until like a week or two ago."
"Uh, a couple of years,"
Marc just stated, "You're lying."
"I was sixteen, dying from a house fire. Well, technically I was dead," She said, driving through the dark roads of London. "Anubis found me, gave me a couple of years to be normal before I became his. So yeah, it's been a while. Yeah, so what was your origin story?"
"Dying, not dead. I found myself bleeding out on Khonshu's alter," Marc said as the other two listened carefully. "He gave me a choice, either die as I would have or become his Avatar. It wasn't much of a choice but it was better than what I had."
"I, uh, don't have an origin story, cause I always thought I was alone in here," Steven laughed shyly.
"Better to not need an origin story, Steven," She said. "All this Avataring isn't worth the pension because we never get it."
Marc laughed, low and short but it was a nice sound. "Too true. If it wasn't for Khonshu and his healing, I would be dead ten times over."
"Not the only one. I'd be covered in nasty scars if it wasn't for Anubis," She said. "We're going to Cairo. I booked a room but I can make it two rooms if you want. I got a nice place in the middle of the city, right near the pyramids."
"I'm not upset if we have to share a room," He said. "It would be easier. I work during the night anyway."
"Saves me from having to go to your room or you to mine to relay information," She said. "It's perfect."
