Page 116 of Immortal Sun

Anubis appears by my side. “I don’t think this is the best way to?—”

I glare at him.

He lets out a sigh and nods his head toward Cleo. “Daughter of Chaos, shall I show you why Ra chases and why Chaos rises?”

A tear slides down her cheek. “You’re the God of the Underworld.”

“I am.” Anubis puts a hand in front of her eyes and then pulls it away, he’s suddenly in his jackal helmet, and full black armor with gold sewn in, wrapped around his arms and legs. “But I am not one to fear. I am one to respect. Now…” He holds out his hand to me. “A coin for the trip. Two if you plan on coming for the next few seconds.”

I tap his open palm twice. Two gold coins with my face appear on his hands. They melt into his skin.

The room goes still and then very dark.

She reaches for him, not me, and I’m instantly pissed. Does she feel nothing? And why do I?

“Chaos is everything, it’s in front of you, it’s inside you,” he rasps. “Wake up, daughter, wake up.”

Her breath shudders in front of her face coming out in short icy puffs, suddenly her eyes open, they burn white as she stares ahead at the mirror of the dead. It’s a picture of herself or herself the way the immortals see her. Eyes white, skin pale, nothing but unhinged power pulses beneath her skin, her eyes turn red then white then red again. Her image laughs at her, fangs appear and then she turns and starts ripping through a sea of people, killing them, confusing them, whispering lies into their ears. Disease spreads, confusion, miscommunication, she is the embodiment of what is wrong with the human race.

We’re on the river Styx on a boat, there are hundreds surrounding us with mirrors in each of them, showing people their true identities as they’re carried to the afterlife.

“Fear.” Anubis whispers. “Is not welcome here.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“Because.” Anubis points her toward the mirror. “Daughter of Chaos, you have been watched by the stars themselves, counted, from every breath you take, from every hair on your head, every wrinkle you earn through the years of living—you have had the honor of being watched by heaven.”

My chest burns while she stares at her own reflection, the stars burn bright for her in her reflection, a million, no tens of millions shine down on her.

Anubis continues. “They choose to fall, and they would if they could for you, but it would upset the balance between humans and immortals. Chaos created you out of his own selfish need to hide the very power that was bestowed upon him. He wasn’t always bad, he just wanted more, and now you have that within you.”

She touches the mirror with her finger and jerks back when a flame hits her fingertip. “I’m destined to die? How do I purge the chaos?”

“You misunderstand my words.” Anubis taps the mirror, tiny sparks fly from the glass while we continue our journey down the river. “You are the last daughter of Chaos. You’ll be rewarded for doing the one thing Chaos never did.”

“What’s that?”

“Give up the thing he holds most dear. His power. His life.”

“Sacrifice.” She repeats. “And if I say ‘no’? If I walk away, if I decide to fall into the river Styx? What then?”

“His power will continue to grow and Ra will continue to be stuck here fighting him until he can bring reprieve to humanity.”

She swallows and looks away. “Anubis, will you please bring me back now?”

“Of course.” He pulls her in for a hug. “You know, just because he’s Ra doesn’t mean he’s the only light,” He smiles and wipes her tears. “When you feel lost in the dark all you need to do is look to the stars the way they look to you.”

My heart feels like it’s cracking at the way hope fills her eyes and then we’re back in the cave. Anubis gone.

Rage at the way he spoke to her, the way he got through to her fills my veins until I can’t stand it any longer.

“ON YOUR KNEES!” I yell.

“No!” She jumps to her feet. “Just kill me now!”

“That’s not how this works, human.”

“I hate the sun and I hate you! Stupid, ridiculous immortal!” She spits on the ground.

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