CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Josie sucked in her breath. "Anubis?" She repeated.

     "God of the Underworld. Formerly known as Christian," he replied.

     "You remember him?"

     "I remember all of my incarnations."

     "Are you the polar opposite of Christian like Trish is to Li?"

     "No, Josie. I'm pretty much the same guy I was before, only my head is attached and I have a family. Sort of. They don't pay much attention to me, but at least they didn't dump me on the street."

     Josie flung her arms around him. He seemed so much like her old friend. His body was different but his mannerisms were the same and so were his memories. Relief flooded through her. For a moment, she forgot about everything else. She held on to hope for the first time in months.

     "Did everyone we lost come back as someone else?" She asked.

     "No," Donnie replied sadly. "I'm pretty sure it's just me and Trish... Oh, and Kim, of course."

     "Kim?" Zane asked.

     "Hello, Ra. Yes, Kim. I try to ignore her. She's got a terrible attitude."

     Josie paused, then asked, "Serqet?"

     "Good guess," Donnie confirmed.

     "Where is she? Oh my Gods, Panya's going to be so relieved to see her... She feels so guilty about Alison..." Then she remembered. Her face fell.

     "Don't despair, Heket," Donnie said. "We're going to get them back. It's not their time."

     "No kidding. Their times were decades or centuries ago."

     "Not anymore. Trust me. Unless Chaos throws a serious monkey wrench into things, we'll find them. Alive."

     The doorbell rang. Josie had always loved the sound of Zane and Olivia's doorbell but now she was on edge. Who would be waiting on the other side? What other Gods were joining their battle? And how many of them would come out of it alive?

*

      Panya couldn't feel her legs. This was not entirely abnormal for her lately, but it still concerned her. There was so little Panya could feel most days, she had lost track of what still worked and what did not.

     "Daughter." He stood in the door and smiled his evil smile at her. Panya closed her eyes.

     "Do not worry, Panya," he said. "Today, we have other plans for you."

     She couldn't help herself. "What plans?" She asked.

     "You shall see, Child."

     He picked her up and carried her as though she were a rag doll. She was brought into a room she had not expected. It was lit much better than the others and decorated with jewels everywhere. The elaborate carvings depicted a snake triumphing over its prey.

     Jonathan lay unconscious at the foot of the throne. The door opened again almost as soon as Panya spotted him and another cult member tossed Alyxx into the room. She did not move from where she landed.

     They were left alone for a few moments. Panya pulled herself toward Alyxx with her arms. She reached her after some effort and shook her. "Alyxx... Please, Alyxx, hear me. Come back from where you hide. I know this place. I have one I visit as well. You must return."

     Alyxx did not respond. Panya sighed and forced herself to head in another direction. She crawled toward Jonathan. "Please wake up," she begged. "Whatever is coming is nothing good."

     Jonathan stirred. He groaned in pain and looked up at Panya. His eyes were so much darker than they had been the last time she saw him. This place had changed him. She was fairly certain it had changed all three of them, though it was hard to tell what Alyxx felt.

     "Panya?" Jonathan asked.

     "Yes. I am here. Alyxx is as well... In body, at least. Please, Jonathan, we have to escape. They have brought us here and I do not know why, but I do not trust them."

     "I... I haven't seen you in a while... Are you okay?"

     "We can discuss that later. For now, you must gather your strength."

     "I have none left to gather."

     "Do not quit. Please, Jonathan, I cannot do this alone and Alyxx is not aware. I need you."

     He nodded and tried to sit up. Panya could tell it hurt. "You are wounded," she said.

     "As are you. Don't you dare cut any more veins open for me, Panya. You need your blood as much as I do right now."

     She wanted to argue, but he was right. "Come. We must find our way out of this place. We will have to either summon Neith or carry Alyxx ourselves."

     "I can carry her."

     "Your shoulder says otherwise, Jonathan."

     "Well you can't. She's taller than you are."

     "Most are. I am stronger than I look. Remember, I have been a slave for most of my life. If it saves her life, I will find a way."

     "Still so self-sacrificing," a voice said with a smug laugh. Panya couldn't quite place the voice, but she knew it. "Panya, Jonathan... Wonderful to see you again!"

     As she stepped into the light, Panya recognized her shape first. She still wore her mortal form. Panya wondered how this was possible when she had seen the shape of her corpse. Even more confusing was the image she flashed on of her body being buried in a private ritual. She stared at her, still not comprehending. That was when Lily laughed and said, "Surprise!"