“I don’t want to discuss it right now.” She indicated that she and Anubis were not alone.
“Ah. I see. Well, this conversation will be my first priority when we return.”
Tessa looked up at him, and he hoped she could see the sincerity of his words. Really, she had no reason to be jealous of Ma’at. She had been a friend and a bedmate, but she had never been his mate. She hadn’t meant anything close to what he felt for Tessa. Obviously Tessa felt something for him or she wouldn’t have insisted on including herself on such a dangerous endeavor. He clasped her hand tighter and took them to the place the locator had determined.
As soon as they arrived, there was an aura of malaise in the area. Anubis took the necklace out of his pocket. “Wear this.” Tessa gasped in surprised as he fastened it around her neck. “Don’t take it off,” he ordered. Tessa appeared slightly irritated, but it was tempered by the gift he’d just given her.
“I don’t know what to say,” she breathed, rolling the charm between her fingers; a golden feather.
“It was necessary,” Anubis answered as he looked around the area. When he glanced back at Tessa, the cold anger was back. He would never figure her out.
As he surveyed the place he realized that this would be the sort of spot the traveler would dwell in. It was heavy in vegetation, and the smell of fresh earth was strong. Long vines curled and choked other vegetation, declaring dominance. It wasn’t hard to notice that the insects were either gone or very still. Not one bird chirped in the immediate vicinity.
“Be careful,” he said, his voice low. “I can sense him, but it is faint. Our dark energy cloaks each other.” Tessa bobbed her head in acknowledgement as she looked around.
Anubis had every sense tuned in to his surroundings. He concentrated on the base essence of dark power, destruction. He felt the tiniest vibration of power other than his own and began to double-check the source to make sure it wasn’t feedback from him, or possibly even Tessa, since her conversion had tapped into his abilities. The vibrations became stronger and Anubis realized that the one they sought was getting closer. “Tessa, come.” He gestured for her to stand by his side. Another wave of irritation crossed her features, but she obeyed — this time.
She had barely reached his side before the ground at his feet suddenly spurted like a geyser. He put up a hasty shield so the dirt and debris wouldn’t come into contact with him and Tessa. As soon as the dirt settled, he looked upon the smirking hybrid. There was no mistaking the thrum of power that radiated from him. So much like his own. The long, thick braids had been pulled back, showing a disturbingly serpentine face. His eyes flashed from human to green diamonds in the span of a second. Anubis had seen arrogance such as this, on Apep. The Dark One had been justifiably arrogant. Anubis wondered if that was the case now.
“It seems we meet again. All of us.” The hybrid opened his arms as if in welcome as he looked at Tessa in surprise. “Well, you are resilient for a human.” He sniffed the air and his head cocked slowly to the side. “At least you were,” he amended.
“Who are you?” Anubis asked, trying to gain more time to ascertain the level of his opponent’s power.
“I am Teremun. Direct descendent of the one you have banished. But that will change.” His eyes flashed again.
“You will not succeed.”
“Ah. I know you, Dark One. Your power tastes a lot like that of my sire. Only he is much more powerful than you could ever hope to be.”
“We will see about that,” Tessa spat out. Anubis raised a hand, indicating her silence. The last thing he wanted was for her to become a focal point for the creature.
“Teremun, none of us have caused you harm.”
“Is that so? I remember being drained and—”
“You have been killing the humans. We are their protectors.”
“We? You mean the others like yourself. Like me.”
“We are not like you, Teremun. We protect the humans, you harm them.”
“They are insects. Yet they are useful, and tasty,” he added as his tongue darted out.
“It stops now, Teremun.”
As Anubis began to contemplate the best form of attack, the hybrid moved so quickly into the shadows of the trees and blended in with them that even his preternatural eyes had a hard time discerning him.
“Don’t. Move,” he warned Tessa. The creature moved again. It was hard to track him. Anubis had never seen anything move so fast. He was nothing but a blur, blending in and moving before Anubis could center on him. He’d had enough. Anubis flung his arms out and the huge trees immediately shed their leaves. Some began to bend, the very tops brushing the floor of the forest as he drained the life from the once flourishing vegetation. Sunshine flooded the area, making it hard to find a shadow anywhere. Teremun was now visible against the base of a very thick tree.
“Impressive,” he murmured before he phased out of view. “But not enough.” His voice surrounded them and Anubis began to shut out everything but his immediate surrounding trying to pinpoint him. Tessa gave a small cry as unseen hands flung her against a nearby tree. The thud from her body hitting the monstrous trunk echoed in his ears. She slid down the tree as blood trickled out of her mouth.
Anubis roared as large pellets of golf ball-sized ice rained down. He was careful not to hit Tessa as he concentrated on the essence of the dark power. He was rewarded when Teremun shimmered into view. He was on all fours, trying to shield his head from the onslaught. Anubis quickly phased to his side and stomped down on the small of his back, sending Teremun at least three feet into the dirt. He raised his foot to stomp again, only Teremun was no longer there. In the hybrid’s place was a large serpent and it began to twine its way around Anubis’s legs.
The snake began to squeeze and Anubis could feel the power of the beast as it began to test the durability of his bones. Anubis reached down with his hands flat against the coils and sent the cold chill of death into the creature. Gray spots began to dot the green snake and its hold began to loosen, but not before the head curled around. The eyes flashed human this time and it opened its gaping jaws. Anubis tried to phase out of its coils, but apparently that was one of Teremun’s powers, for he stayed put as the creature sank its teeth into his chest.
The pain traveled through his body, burning him, and for a moment he thought Teremun was pumping venom into him. But as Anubis grew weaker, he realized the creature was siphoning vast amounts of energy out of him. Whatever he did, he had to do it quickly. Anubis’s eyes darkened as he called upon the storms. Thunder rumbled in the background as the wind whipped into a frenzy. The creature was coiled more than halfway up his body, imprisoning him as it sucked energy from him. He ignored it, and instead called upon the destruction of lightning, hoping he had enough power to sustain it.
The first bolt hit the creature in its massive head. Instantly the incisors jerked out of his chest, ripping Anubis’s flesh. The wound was too deep to instantly heal, and his chest lay open, revealing the bone inside. Anubis ignored the pain; he had to subdue the creature.
He sent another bolt of lightning, singeing the creature so badly that it hissed at a deafening octave. The coils loosened as Anubis grew weaker. He had to contain the creature. He could not risk another traveler falling to this thing. He was dispensable, the others were not.
You are not. Tessa’s voice echoed in head. What can I do? Her voice held a note of panic and Anubis allowed himself to be soothed for just a second by the sound of her voice.
Go home.
I will not leave you. I can’t.
Anubis began to bombard lightning down upon the creature until it freed him. He fell to the ground, his chest healing, but not nearly fast enough. He had lost too much energy. The snake slithered a few feet away and shifted into a komodo dragon, its dangerous saliva already oozing out the sides of its mouth. It began to head towards Tessa. You can leave. The necklace around your neck gives you the power to do so.
Call the others, Anubis.
Make them come and help you!
This is my responsibility, Tessa. I have to do my part.
Anubis shut down the pathway that linked their minds. He was in too much pain now. He didn’t need to transfer it to Tessa. With great difficulty Anubis stood, gathering as much energy as he could from the earth. He ran to the creature, grabbing it by the tail before it could bite Tessa. She was still slumped against the tree and Anubis feared that perhaps she had broken her back.
He slammed the creature from tree to tree by its tail. It kept trying to reach back and bite him, but Anubis moved too quickly. Blood began to pour from the myriad of deep gashes in its side. Anubis slammed the creature to the ground, purposely smashing Teremun’s head sharply against a small boulder that rose up from the ground.
He fell to his knees as he summoned forth a funnel. It started small in front of him and built in size. It traveled at a dizzying speed towards Teremun, who had shifted back to his human shape and already risen. It would seem every time the hybrid shifted, he regained his energy. Teremun thrust his arms forward, preventing the funnel from imprisoning him. Anubis realized Teremun was still too strong, for he had the added strength of Anubis’s power. Energy needed to be drained from Teremun to hold him once more.
With his chest bleeding, Anubis stood with great difficulty. Breathing was even more laborious. It was too hard not to kill the thing. He had never faced an opponent that he couldn’t kill outright, except Apep. That made it difficult to fight. With a growl, Anubis ignored his weakening body and the pain that traveled through it. He began to make his way towards Teremun, sending a second, then a third funnel towards him. Teremun now had a hand trying to stave off each funnel, but the third one was much more difficult to control. Anubis could see his odd eyes flicking wildly as the hybrid tried to keep it at bay.
Then something on the ground caught his eye. Tessa was crawling towards him. She crawled as if both her legs were broken. No! He shouted at her, but she continued. Teremun would drain her, and become even stronger. He tried to phase to her side, but midway between phasing his body collapsed. He fell just yards short of them. She reached out a hand and clasped it around Teremun’s ankle. Tessa, go away! he begged her. She closed her eyes, and Anubis could see her knuckles turn pale under the strain of grasping the hybrid’s ankle so tightly. Please let go. She ignored him and held on.
Anubis concentrated on the energy from the earth and ripped it away. He had never been so cruel to the life-giving planet, but right now it needed to be done. Energy entered his cells, somewhat invigorating him, but not nearly to his full capacity of strength. It would have to do. Again he stood, letting the funnels dissipate as it took too much energy to keep them harnessed. As soon as the funnels disappeared, Teremun sneered and kicked his leg free. Tessa’s fingers uncurled and she rolled away, landing on her back with her unblinking eyes to the sky. Anubis’s heart lurched at the sight of her lying there motionless. Raged filled him. He stomped over to Teremun, his tightly wound fist immediately cutting across Teremun’s jaw.
Teremun’s head snapped to the side from the impact. As he turned to face Anubis, he was already positioning his jaw back into place. Anubis hit him again, but this time Teremun was quicker, catching his fist in one hand and squeezing. Anubis could feel bones breaking but he paid them no heed as he head butted the hybrid, making him release his hand and stumble back. Quickly Anubis advanced on him, hitting and never letting up. It did not escape Anubis’s attention that Teremun was not nearly as strong as he used to be. Tessa.
The blows came faster as Anubis remembered the sound of her body hitting the tree. The way Teremun had kicked her away like an unwanted pet. His madness was now bordering on out of control as he placed a kick in the center of Teremun’s chest. The hybrid reeled back. The sharp branch of a tree went clean through his shoulder. Teremun hissed as he reached back, breaking off the branch before he pulled it from his shoulder. Anubis took the opportunity to phase forward, once again bringing the funnel with him to imprison the creature. As Anubis slammed into him, shock went through him as he kept Teremun in a confined embrace, draining him of energy.
Despite the pain, despite knowing what was happening to his body, he held on. As soon as he deemed Teremun weak enough he let go, the funnel enveloping him, trapping him. He stepped back, watching as every so often he got a glimpse of the diamond-shaped eyes as they looked at him from inside the funnel. The funnel would keep Teremun for a long time. Anubis looked down in shock at the branch that was embedded in his side. It had been coated with Teremun’s blood. But it wasn’t blood. What flowed through Teremon’s veins was in actuality venom. Anubis pulled the branch out as he called the others to finish the plan.
“Anubis,” Tessa was at his side now. She had no idea how she healed, and didn’t care. “You’re hurt. Let me take care of you.” She whispered as he collapsed to his knees. But Anubis somehow backed away from her. He couldn’t afford to touch her with the venom running through him. Still new to her powers, she could accidentally siphon it from him and poison herself. She was safe and that was all that mattered. He phased out just before he collapsed.
Chapter Eighteen
“Where did he go?” Tessa clawed at the ground where Anubis had been just a moment before. “No, no, no, no,” she chanted to herself as she looked around, hoping he hadn’t made it far. “Stubborn ass, where are you?” she yelled at her surroundings.
“Tessa, what is the matter?” Rene’s voice cut in as she put her arms around Tessa, forcing her to stand.
“He’s gone. I have to find him.” Tessa gripped Rene’s forearm. “Take me to him. You can do that, can’t you?”
“I don’t know where he is.” Rene closed her eyes a second, then shook her head. “He won’t let me locate him.”
“There is no telling where he is.” Thoth came from behind them and gave Tessa a gentle squeeze at her shoulder. “When he is ready, he will return.”
That was it? Tessa looked at them all. Thoth, Rene, Ralabos, Hathor and Ma’at went about their work. Ralabos conjured up a small ball of flame, his hands going around it without actually touching it. The ball got larger and larger. She looked at Rene, who held hands with Ma’at, their eyes closed as they chanted. Thoth had a thick volume in his hand and he began to read aloud from it in a strange tongue. Anubis had already been forgotten. Anger welled up fast as she looked at them. Did it not matter to them that he was not here?
This was his life, Tessa realized. They were so used to him being the Dark One that no one really worried about him. They counted on him and yet seemed to discount him the moment he was no longer of use. Her eyes fell to Teremun, who had now sunk down low in the funnel. The fact that it was still going meant that wherever he was, Anubis was still helping. He was depleting his energy to save everyone but himself.
A large boom rent the air, followed by a tearing sound. Tessa looked up to see a dark hole hanging in midair. It looked as if someone had painted a black spot and left it there. Even though it was pitch black, there seemed to be a swirling motion inside of it. Dark purple ribbons made it easier to see and Tessa realized she was looking at some sort of tunnel. She looked at the others. The ball of fire was gone from Ralabos’s hands, and Tessa knew he was responsible for the rip in the atmosphere. “Hurry, Ma’at, get him inside,” Hathor encouraged. Thoth continued to read as Hathor, Rene and Ralabos took up the chant.
Ma’at closed her eyes. A wind that seemed to only belong to Ma’at blew around her, making her long strands of hair seem like snakes slithering in the wind. Tessa had had enough of snakes. Slowly the funnel traveled towards the swirling black and purple tunnel. Tessa’s heart skipped when she saw the funnel begin to hiccup. It was weakening. Was Anubis dying somewhere? “We have to find him!” she yelled to the others. They ignored her as they went about their task. “Don’t you see? Anubis is severely hurt; he can’t keep the funnel going. Without him, Teremun will be free!”
Hathor’s chanting faltered. She looked at Tessa as
understanding dawned. She broke away from the others and came to Tessa. “He has told you that you share a portion of his powers, yes?” Impatient to find Anubis Tessa nodded. “We need you to strengthen this funnel. It has to hold until we can get him completely inside.” They both looked at the funnel and it stuttered again. Teremun stood up as he realized his confines were weakening. His eyes flicked green and stayed that way. He was preparing, Tessa realized, to fight his way out.
“I don’t know how.” Tessa tried to keep calm. She was torn. Her hands went to the necklace Anubis had given her. You can leave. The necklace around your neck gives you the power to do so. She could try to connect to Anubis and find him, or she could stay and help. If Teremun broke free, Anubis would have fought for nothing. On the other hand, Anubis was somewhere fatally wounded and in need of help. She didn’t want to lose him. She thought of what Anubis would do; giving, unselfish Anubis. He had spent his life protecting others. The price he paid for that was to be forever alone.
“Please, Tessa,” Hathor begged. “I know what goes on inside your heart. Please. I feel for him as well.”
Tessa’s eyes bore into Hathor’s. “All of you have a very funny way of showing it. I will help, because I know it is what Anubis would want me to do. He will not have suffered in vain. Tell me what to do.”
“I know that you are angry with us. Use that anger and focus the energy on the hybrid.”
Tessa took a deep breath. Slowly the funnel moved towards the tear. Hathor took her place beside the others and began to chant again. So this is what Thoth meant when he said they had to get Teremun inside before Apep could get through. It was a slow process. She closed her eyes and thought of her anger at the others, at Anubis for leaving her and not letting her help him. Then she opened them and saw the funnel began to pick up speed. Ma’at smiled, but did not open her eyes. The funnel’s progress faltered less and Teremun hissed at Tessa. She ignored him. He mattered little to her; she wanted to get this over with so she could find Anubis.
Caress The Dark God [Scions of the Ankh 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 13