– You said you wished to share your life with me – Bek told Zaya.
– And I shared-
– I've lost my life trying to bring you back while you were hanging around with a dead man! – Bek screamed.
Anubis hit his staff on the floor and shapeshifted into a wolf god again.
– More respect – The god roared as he raised his arms and moved they all to another place in a golden mist. Now they were on an empty island in the underworld.
– A god – Bek sighed – I should know. Gods are never trustworthy.
Anubis stared at him.
– Bek, I'm sorry – tears crossed Zaya's face – You made me the happiest woman while we lived together, but then I died and…
– And I've died for you! I've lost my life only to see you with another… god!
Zaya covered her face, ashamed. Bek turned his back on her. He couldn't face Zaya. Looking at her was painful.
Anubis approached Bek.
– Forgive her and forgive me. I wished to save her from doom by making her mine, So I seduced her. It was my fault.
– I'm a damned woman anyway – Zaya sighed.
Bek sat on the floor and held his head. He had wasted his life for a woman that didn't wait for him. Now there was no Zaya and no life left. The world was fine but he was dead.
– I want my afterlife – Bek told Anubis – please, I ask you to guide me to my final destination. Deliver me from the life I had so far.
Anubis was surprised and then he sighed.
– I can't – He sighed – Behold.
Zaya and Bek looked up. A beam of sunlight came from above and surrounded Bek and Zaya with its light and warm.
– What is it? – Bek asked.
– This is Ra. He is bringing you back to life.
– Horus – Bek smiled.
– No! – Zaya held Anubis arm.
– Zaya – He caressed her face as his eyes watered – I can't stop Ra. You deserve a long and happy life. Live. Have children. Grow old and then come to me.
– No, I can't! – Zaya cried.
– Remember Zaya – He held her hands – I can wait an eternity if I know you'll be with me.
Zaya held him tight but Ra's strength was bigger. Suddenly she and Bek were on fire, but they didn't burn. The beam of sunlight ceased and Bek and Zaya were gone. Anubis howled alone in the gloomy darkness.
~.~
When Zaya opened her eyes, she was alive. She met Horus and went to the divine court with Bek. Her memories in the underworld were like a distant dream now. A dream she couldn't remember clearly. Bek and Zaya were together again. In the absence of Horus Bek was regent of Egypt and Zaya was his queen.
Zaya had everything. Her life was glazed with gold and luxury, but something on her heart was cracked. She wasn't the same woman anymore. Her dreams were haunted by a young man whose body was painted with golden symbols. Bek was the perfect husband until he was tired of it. He didn't find joy in her company anymore, choosing concubines over Zaya. Zaya's only joy was helping the people of Egypt, but that had become tiresome too.
She used to visit Anubis' temple every week since she came back to life. She prayed to him but there was no answer, not even a sign. Maybe he wished her to forget death and enjoy life but she couldn't.
After one of these visits, she returned home and went to sleep. However, Zaya woke up in the middle of the night. She was alone and the moon was full. Zaya left her bed and walked in the royal garden, under the bright moonlight. Zaya was completely alone, not even the guards were in there. She removed her sandals and walked on the fresh grass.
Suddenly, Zaya noticed something wrong with the soil. It felt like a small earthquake. She looked down and a huge cleft appeared on the ground. Zaya got out of the garden, tripped and fell. She couldn't get up and run away, she had to see it. A spooky gray mist was coming out from the cleft. A huge hand got out of the ground and then a body. Zaya could see a huge wolf-like shadow coming out.
– Anubis – Zaya whispered.
– You owe me one – The shadow coughed. It was Wepwawet, the god opener of the ways. He was talking to someone else that was coming out from the soil.
– Geb may complain... Oh! Good evening, Zaya – He smiled at Zaya as he saw her.
– Good evening... Lord of the ways – Zaya said scared. She wished to know what was going on.
The mist was thinner and Zaya could recognize Anubis, The god of death.
– Don't be long – Wepwawet told Anubis and kept away from them, cleaning his gray fur.
– Zaya – Anubis called her softly.
– Lord Anubis – Zaya knelt on the floor.
– I've already told you, You don't need to call me lord. – He raised his hand at her as he shapeshifted into his human form: The long-haired man covered with scars of gold that Zaya had been dreaming of.
– Gods… It was real! – Zaya was astonished.
– Yes. Don't be afraid – He said as he embraced her.
– Everything really happened… You let he take me! – A teardrop fell from Zaya's eye.
– The power of Ra is unstoppable, Zaya. Besides, You deserved to live a hundred years – He caressed her face – My plan was to wait until you die to take you but… I have heard your prayers. I know you're unhappy. So I came to ask you if you want to come with me now… and remain with me forever.
Zaya looked behind. She heard the guards coming and then she looked at Anubis.
– My only wish is to go with you now and become your wife, for all eternity – Zaya smiled brightly.
– So be it.
They had a rapturous kiss. Wepwawet got inside the Earth first. Anubis carried Zaya in his arms as they entered together in the underworld. The cleft on the soil closed and there was no trace of Zaya or the gods left.
On the Underworld, Zaya married Anubis and became a goddess. She guided the souls to the afterlife with Nephthys and ruled the underworld with Anubis. Some years after, the mortals called her Anput and her hometown became the center of her worship. Zaya and Anubis had a daughter named Kebechet and they ruled and loved each other deeply until the end of time.