Thumb!
The footsteps were getting even louder. Ozias's heart pounded and his eyes glowed, fangs and claws Elon ganging in his desire to fight anyone and defeat himself. He might not have the ability to use his powers because of the slavery mark but he still had his strength.
"Mortal. Wolf. What are you doing here?" A calm voice without much inflation asked from behind him.
Ozias' eyes' widened and he leapt back to fully face the person behind him.
The image of a gorgeous man reflected on his iris.
The man had slightly messy silver hair that swept past his shoulders and a long fluffy pair of dog ears sat perfectly above his head. He had a pair of bewitching Phoneix black eyes with golden kohl heavily marked around them.
His chest was bare safe for the golden bracelets and armlets leaving his muscled abs out for display. The white linen dress he tied around his waist popped against the deep bronze of his skin.
The man walked towards him. His every movement embodied an air of grace and elegance. He wore a calm expression without a ripple of emotion. A god that mortals can only gaze at from below.
A god? The word entered his mind as he could feel his eyes clear at once.
It widened as he instantly felt the power radiating from the other. His body exuded a majesty that made one want to kneel and bow.
An amused yet lazy hint could be seen flashing by, deep in the man's pupils.
Fighting a god. Impossible! Ozias was well aware of his weakness.
He turned and made to run.
"I would advise against that. If you run, I would hunt you." The man, no god said.
Ozias swallowed, "My Lord!" He squeezed out of his mouth trying his best not to show the hatred in his heart, "Sorry for trespassing. I beg of your forgiveness."
"You beg? You don't look like you are begging." The man cocked his head as he watched the little wolf.
His nose twitched. He liked the boy's scent, he smelt like the moon berries that was planted outside his temple.
Ozias gritted his teeth and made to kneel. However, a force held him steady on his feet.
"No need. You have not answered my question. How are you here? What are you doing here?" The man asked.
Ever since he retreated here after the Ragnarok, he had entertained just two visitors. Seth and Thoth Were angry at the hordes of monsters that they would have to fight to get to Hardai that they never returned.
It was fine by him, Set's visit never brought him anything good.
The sharp scent of fear and dread filled his nose and he glanced at the little wolf. Even when he had shown himself, the other had not trembled with fear like this.
Ozias swallowed as he remembered seeing Lord Hovodan at the port. He had not seen the other in action but he had heard tales.
A blade. A loyal war machine. That was what his mistress always called Lord Hovodan. She had always claimed that he was the one who was more loyal to Odin than her.
It was her ultimate threat, that she would one day sell him to Lord Hovodan.
She was so terrified of him, and while a huge part of him had been ecstatic to see her tremble in fear due to him, another part of him dreaded what would happen if such a person got his hand on him.
Lord Hovodan and the God before him. Ozias had accepted that Fates did not dance in his favour.
"My Lord, I boarded for Cynopolis but I activated the ticket before my location was set. My deepest apologies for disturbing you."
From the corner, of his eyes, he glanced at the long stretch of the desert he was currently in.
"Why did you activate the ticket before time?"
The man waved his hand and a seat manifested from the sand. He sat and indicated for Oziad to continue.
Ozias glanced at him before he lowered his eyes. Was the man treating him as a form of entertainment? He was a god, he did as it pleased him.
If he wanted to be entertained with a story, then sure Ozias would deliver. If it could save his life, it was but a small request.
"I was forcefully enslaved by a madwoman when I was young. Two days ago, I had an opportunity and I killed her. I was chased by Bounty Hunters from Vahalla till I reached the Crossroads. In my haste, I boarded for Cynopolis."
The amusement in the man's eyes increase irking Ozias. "How did you escape Valhalla?"
Ozias employed every storytelling skill that his ancestors left him as he embellished the story. Painting an almost heroic and tragic adventure of a slave scorned.
In the end after cooking, he liked at the man to see his ears resembling. Next, the man burst into laughter, clenching his stomach as he laughed loudly.
Ozias stared at him, almost dazed before he remembered himself and lowered his eyes.
"Kui Xing might take you into his Percherons after listening to that tale. I am no Kui Xing but I require entertainment and maybe a servant.."
He saw the frown on the boy's face, "A slave elevated to a servant and he is still not satisfied. Perform well and you can become much more." The man winked at him, his ears moving from side to side indicating his mood at the moment.
Ozias froze and he lifted his foot which was now bare. No crest. No brand.
He started at his foot and back to the god again. He felt like he was under-reacting.
Ozuas had imagined for years and years, what he was going to do when he was free. But now, he felt strangely empty.
Was there supposed to be fireworks? Why was everything so normal?
"Why?" He asked with a tone filled with so much suspicion that the man almost laughed.
He was really a wild wolf.
"Didn't I say it? I am bored and in need of entertainment. I can't drag the living here, it is against the rules"
A chill ran down Ozias spine and he moved a step back. "Living? What do you mean?"
"Well. You are dead. Not completely, more like half dead half living. Normally, entering the land of the dead is enough to drive one insane but you are fine. That's great.
"Speak English!" Ozias screamed, forgetting the fear he had when facing the god.
"What did you expect? You are in the second layer of Cynopolis, Hardai, the land of the dead. I am Anubis, the keeper of the keys, god of the dead. Nice to meet you."
Ozias slumped to the ground. All his hatred, everything seemed worthless now. Was this karma for killing his mistress?
He recalled the handsome boy he met and that warm pat. He should have never left Crossroads.
Tears ran down his face.
Anubis squatted beside him.
His hand touched the other's cheeks as he tasted the tears that streamed. It tasted like moon berries.
It was sweet.
"Don't waste your tears. You are not completely dead. Can a dead person cry?"
"Can I leave? If I leave, I will still be alive."
"Maybe. I don't know. No mortal that has ever entered Hardai has left." He got up and pulled the other up. "You are much too thin. You need to eat well."
Ozias cared nothing about how he looked. "Nobody. Nobody has ever gone." He glanced back.
Anubis smiled as he showed off sharp fangs. "They have tried. I said it before, didn't I? If you run, I will hunt you."
Ozias wiped off his tears and his eyes glowed as he stared at the god before him. He would leave this place, no matter what.
Anubis accepted his challenge with a smile, "Come with me."
****
Selene felt like someone was plotting against her. She had stood at the first trashy restaurant and yet there was no sign of Ozias.
"Is anything the matter?" A hoarse voice asked.
"I am just nervous but I believe I will be fine. I just have to work hard." Selene said, her voice dripping with both innocence and determination.
Ares glanced at the beauty. She was different from other girls. A girl ready to work hard and face the world was very rare.