Review with theories, or if you just want to chat. I'm bored and alone so come and talk to me :). Definitely PG-13

Chapter 17

House of Ren

I'll admit it, I laughed and cried when I got to the next layer of the Du'at. Colton, however, wasn't so amused, "I'm going to kill her."

"Chill," I told my boyfriend with a comforting hand. "She's just trying to get to us."

Colton shook his head while stepping away from me, "These trials are her trying to get to us. This… this is evil."

Claudia had fallen behind, but now she clearly saw what we did. "Eve, Colton, is that a picture of you two, as babies…together?"

With a scowl, I nodded, "She probably kept us together for years and only split us up when we started remembering things. It explains why you felt so familiar, Colton."

Clearly unable to take the distasteful decorations, Colton turned and looked at me when he replied, "And I'd just assumed it was the spirits within us. Come on, let's look for clues as to what we're supposed to do. I want to get out of here."

"Colton," I called after him as he disappeared into the far corners of the replica version of my house.

"Look, Eve, I don't want to talk about it."

Now it was my turn to give him a look, "Well to bad because we have to talk about it."

I jumped, startled, when Colton slammed his hand on the table by his side, "How are you so calm about this Eve! Our whole lives are a lie!"

"NO THEY'RE NOT!" Why was Colton making this such a big deal? "I don't know about you, but mom was never around much. She wasn't a part of my life, not really. I MADE MY OWN LIFE! She had no say in what I do and hasn't for years. Maybe she wanted us to be little chess pieces, but I never once did what she wanted. Our lives aren't a lie."

Colton's grip on my shoulders was hard when he replied, "But they're based on a lie."

I could only shake my head because I couldn't escape his grip, "So? Whose parents don't lie to them? I'll admit, this is a bit bigger than most lies, but who cares? We can't change it! We just need to get out of here, figure out how to beat Raet, and make a new life. Maybe with our real parents or maybe we'll just have to make a new life with each other."

Colton's arms fell loose at my words, "I don't think you realize what you do to me."

Neither of us seemed to mind me standing on his feet when I replied just so I could get closer, "I do realize Colton, because you do the same to me."

"I love you Eve."

I smiled when I replied, "I should hope so, or this is going to get quite awkward." Before he could reply my mouth was open and connected to his. Soft hands met softer hair and not even a cell could slip through the gap between us. Before I even knew what was happening the door behind us had been pushed open, but I didn't fall because my legs were wrapped around his waist.

Colton, however, did fall- right onto the bed with me beneath him. The weight should have been too much, but it felt like nothing because it was his weight. Flurried hands moved expertly around both bodies, until finally Colton stopped and fell to his side.

"Eve… we can't."

I didn't need to ask him what he was referring to. My shirt had been tossed to the floor, and my silky black bra had come unclasped without my notice. Colton's belt hung half in half our of the loops and his boxers were peaking through the unzipped gaps. A firm chest pulsed under my hands naked and hot.

"I don't want this to be the memory of your first time."

"It wouldn't be my first time," I confessed pulling in a bit closer.

"It would be your first time with me," he corrected a soft kiss on my forehead, "And that's the only first that matters."

He was right. I knew he was right. But that didn't mean I wanted to stop. This, all of this, was the only thing in this place that felt right. Yet that was exactly the reason we needed to stop, "You're right. We really shouldn't go there with my sister looking for secret clues in the next room…"

"And especially not in a replica of our mom's room when we know she's probably watching."

Gosh. I hadn't even thought of the fact that no way had Raet designed these tasks so that she wouldn't know everything that happened within them.

"When this is over… when we're both safe," Colton promised with a kiss. "Now let's go before Claudia comes and finds us."

I should have felt embarrassed, but I didn't as I slid my shirt back on. What was the point in feeling embarrassed about something you didn't regret?

"Guys!" I heard Claudia call from down the hall. "If you're not too busy I think I've figured out what we need to do, but you won't like it."

"Why?" Colton asked opening the door the only hint of our actions being the one missed belt loop.

"This is the level of Ren," Claudia translated pointing to the writing on the wall of what would have been my room. "Basically your secret name. It's kind of hard to explain but in short it's your whole life in a single word. Only you and the person who knows you best can find your secret name in their heart."

I nodded in understanding, "So what's the problem."

Claudia looked a bit distressed when she responded, and I understood why quickly, "Because Raet only wanted the Chosen One and the Osirian to pass because you can't just say your own name. The other person who knows it, your soul mate, has to say it. My mom once told me that the Chosen One and Osirian always know the others name…Colton you have to say Eve's and Eve you have to say Colton's…"

"But what about you?" Colton asked looking at my little sister with worry after coming to the same conclusion we had.

"There's no one to say my name," Claudia told us voice barely cracking. "I have no way of moving on to the next level."

No. No way could I just leave Claudia here…

"I'll be fine," when the girl spoke I knew she was speaking to me. "It says anyone else can wait here. You have to come back this way with the coffin anyway so you can just pick me up then." She seemed so confident that I had to believe her, despite not wanting to. "I'll see you soon. Just be fast, okay?"

"But, but who's going to translate the instructions on the next level?" I asked with a smile and a voice crack. Claudia seemed so confident that she'd be fine, but I'd promised myself I wouldn't let her out of my sight. If I left her here I couldn't protect her.

Claudia wasn't crying, but her voice sounded like she was. "It will be a test of your sheut or your shadow. I think it will probably be something to do with Anubis because the sheut is said to be his servant and since you're his servant to Eve… I'm sure you'll be able to figure something out."

"And you're sure there's no other way." How could Colton, the born protector, really be okay with this?

Claudia nodded, "Either you go on without me or we all starve here in your creepy replica house."

Colton turned to me now, "We don't have a choice Eve. We have to go on and come back for Claudia."

I knew he was right, but that didn't make it hurt any less as I looked at my sister, pressed my hand against the wall, and whispered the name that explained all the reasons I loved Colton.