Chapter 9

House of Anubis

The pain never came.

At first I thought that maybe death really was peaceful, but, had Ammut devoured me I wouldn't have just died, I would have ceased to exist. I was thinking, so therefore I existed. Something had gone wrong and the only way I'd find out what was if I opened my eyes.

The light hurt at first, but once my eyes adjusted, I saw another, less gruesome, demon with the head of clown. (I said less gruesome, not less terrifying.) he had a look of approval on his face and I understood- none of it was real. I was still asleep and it had just been another test, the final test. "Standing up for yourself, standing up to those you love isn't true bravery." The demon noted. "Standing up for those you've never met and never will again and then defending your choice to the death-that's bravery."

"So none of that ever happened," I made sure. "It was just some sort of simulation?"

The demon nodded, "Yes. I created a simulation out of your thoughts, your desires. I gave you a world of happiness and then gave you a choice that would take it all away. You made the right choice, so you can return to your friends, but I can't guarantee the same happiness."

I wanted to ask more, because this demon seemed wise, but I soon found myself being awoken for real this time by Eddie. "Nines, come on you've got to wake up!"

Sitting up quickly I hugged him tightly. "I thought for a moment I was never going to see you again! I was so scared."

"It's okay," Eddie assured me with a troubled look. "What happened?"

"You mean you didn't…" Why would I have faced the trial but not Eddie? What made him different?

"Some people skip certain trials," Nile, who seemed like he'd been honestly worried, informed me. "Even without the Osirian spirit bravery is in his DNA, so he didn't need to be tested on it. For you it's still a choice, and since you weren't killed by Clown who Eats children, I assume you made the right choice."

"Wait, she just underwent a trial?" An enraged Eddie asked. "I was back here shaking her awake and the entire time you knew what was happening!"

"Don't worry," I told him trying to wipe the images from my mind. "It's over now. We should get a move on."

"She's right," Raet told us forcefully. "We lost enough time as it is. I want to deliver you to your destiny and then be done."

"Let's go then," I told her wiping the dust from my clothes. "Lead the way oh great Raet."

The goddess scowled at my sarcasm, but Eddie's chuckle made it all worth it. Maybe if I distracted him enough I wouldn't have to explain.

Of course, I couldn't distract him once we hit the road, "So what exactly happened?"

"Look, Eddie," I told him softly. "All I want to do is forget, and I'm holding out hope that I still can. But, if I talk about it, then I know it's not going to happen. You understand that, right?"

"Yeah, I understand," he told me reluctantly. "Just if you want to talk know I'm here. I'll always be here."

Something about the sad way Eddie said his final line reminded me of what the demon said. He created an Eddie happy about being the Osirian again because that's what I wanted to see. But that wasn't the reality of things. Eddie was dreading this, he was dreading our connection and I didn't blame him. If I could stop being the Chosen One without dying or passing on the curse to a kid I would any day.

I wanted to say something and remind Eddie about the good times that came from our Osirian/Chosen one bond, but the gods walking ahead stopped before we could. "Anubis paid a little visit while you were out and told us to wait outside before coming in… something about weighings always making humans get sick on his carpet," Eddie explained. He sounded like he thought the idea was amusing, but after my simulation, I was glad not to have to live through another weighing-even a fair one.

"You look a bit pale Nina, is something wrong?" Yelping in surprise I turned to find the ever mysterious Anubis standing only an inch behind me. "Afraid I'm going to let Ammut eat you?"

The god was kidding, but I smacked him anyways. "I told you not to do that!"

Anubis found my anger amusing, but Eddie was only confused. I didn't blame him; to the untrained eye the banter between the god and I almost seemed like flirting. And maybe it was flirting, for him, but for me there was only one person in the world and he was as far away from the Du'at as I could keep him. (Which isn't far considering the Du'at is everywhere but… you get my point. I only love Fabian.)

"Manners nephew," the blue-skinned Osiris popped into existence with a hand on Anubis's shoulder. "Welcome," he told us with a wide beam. "I'm Osiris," he told Eddie with an outstretched hand the boy didn't take. Many gods would be infuriated by his rudeness, but Osiris understood Eddie's reluctance. "We met before," Osiris mused, "But as you were dead I don't think you remember."

"Thanks for that," Eddie finally said, "I guess."

"Not many are given a second chance at life," Osiris pointedly reminded. "Never mind a third." Looking towards the other gods Osiris gave a curt nod, "Long time no see. I'd offer you a meal, but something tells me that, if I keep Raet-Tawny here for a moment longer than necessary she'll burn me alive so why don't we just get this over with? Eddie, come with me, the rest of you wait here."

Eddie glanced nervously between me and the others as if worried that with 4 gods around I could get hurt. (Or he was thinking the gods would hurt me. It's a very similar look.)

"She'll be fine," Anubis assured him with a nod. "I'm very good at keeping Nina company."

"Shut up," I told the one god I knew was a friend with a laugh. Confused by the easy relationship between me and the god, Eddie was muttering about me (of all people) being mad as he trailed behind Osiris like a kicked puppy. Guilt filled me when I realized I was laughing as Eddie's life was about to be destroyed, again, because of me.

"It's not your fault," Anubis answered reading my mind. (And not even the metaphorical reading of a mind where he's actually just reading my face. The god had some literal mind reading abilities going on. "Blame Asim and his love fantasies, or even Ma'at and her concept of balance. Eddie was never supposed to live without being the Osirian and this is just destiny's way of fixing herself."

"Is it going to hurt him?" I asked knowing it was a stupid question. Having an ancient soul inserted into your body by a god had to hurt. Anubis, knowing that I didn't want the answer, just changed the subject.

"You're not scared of me because of the trial, right? Because I'd never rig a weighing nor hurt you for calling me out on it."

"Why, because then you'd have to find a new Chosen One and there are none available?" I teased with the slightest hint of true curiosity in my voice. Everyone seemed to think Anubis liked, liked me, even my subconscious, but I wasn't sure the death god worked like that.

"I do care about you Nina," he admitted. "I honestly care. I could easily fall in love with you if the situation was different, but it isn't. You're human and you love Fabian. I can't get between that. But how can I not find you the most interesting person on this planet? I know every single Chosen One who has ever lived, but you're the one who did it. You broke the curse I placed on Amnertis, you assembled the cup that over a hundred others didn't. And then, once you fulfilled your destiny, you carried on protecting the earth from these ghosts that even I can't keep under control. You're very special Nina, even for a Chosen One, but to answer your question, I like you, I could love you, but I accept it will never work."

Smiling sadly I turned to Anubis, "If things were different, if you were human and I met you first then maybe I would have loved you too, but now, now I only love Fabian."

"He's good for you," Anubis nodded despondently. "Many Chosen Ones have fallen for their Osirians, naturally, but the few that found others first… they are the happy ones. They are always happy in the end. It's a long hard road, but you'll be happy in the end."

"I thought you gods weren't omniscient," I told him with a teasing smile. "How do you know I'll be happy."

"Because I know you Chosen One, and you'll find happiness even if you have to create it for yourself."