Eternal Love Book Six: Eternal Love

Chapter Four: Memories of Death and Hell

Safiya woke up screaming, and there was Anubis sitting in a chair next to her bed, he immediately went to her and put his arms around her. She cried and shook, the memories had come crashing down, and the ones that stood out were not her lives but her deaths and the time after them. She had been dead a long time after her first death, and her grief for her child and losing Radames had made her death and afterlife a hell.

Anubis held her tightly as she relived it all. The years her soul was tormented, by all the sorrow, a sorrow she couldn't escape, until she started spending time with Anubis. He had been there and had helped her through the grief making sure she knew it was not the end for her. She would see Radames again at least.

They had spent a long time together, days, years, and a century of just learning about each other. But the time came for Bastet to be reborn, and so Anubis guided her soul to where she would become born again. The first time he had to watch her go, it made him a bit sad. Anubis had begun to enjoy her company. But she had a life to live, and he knew, she would be back in twenty-one years. So, Anubis waited, and when the time came and Bastet died of the black plague, there he was to take her back to the underworld.

This time, things were different, although sad she had to die again, she was happy to be back with Anubis. They had grown close and she viewed him as a best friend. This time she was quick to recover from her grief and she and Anubis spent their days watching over the underworld, and helping lost souls find their way. She was made to do this kind of thing, she was made to be a Goddess, and she should have been. At least that was how Anubis felt...

Years and years later the time came again for her to return to the living, it was time for her second rebirth. Anubis kissed her forehead and sent her on her way, the time came for her third rebirth. The more lives she had it seemed the less time she got to spend with Anubis. But he knew all he had to do was be patient, and as much as he hated having to drag her soul back to the underworld twenty-one years after her birth, he secretly enjoyed the time he got to spend with her.

When the time came and he had to go back to retrieve her soul again, this time he was angry, she had been raped and murdered and he would be damned if he didn't make sure the person who did it didn't suffer for it. So, he let it slip to Radames who it was. He knew it would be taken care of from there. But poor Bastet was suffering from this last death.

It affected her more than the others, but with Anubis's help and comfort she finally was able to be herself again. That was when he realized it, Anubis had fallen in love with her. Not that there was anything wrong with that, except for one thing, she was supposed to be his son's soulmate. Yet his son had done nothing to deserve her. He kept letting her die over and over again.

Anubis realized that he was having dangerous thoughts, but he didn't care, Bastet deserved better than this. She deserved to live forever as a Goddess, not as a helpless mortal who could only live for twenty-one years and then die, just to endure it again and again. So, Anubis went to the one person who he knew would help...

The Goddess Bastet had seen this coming from a mile away, she knew all that time spent with her name sake would have an effect on the God of War, and keeper of the Underworld. He had fallen for the Queen of Egypt, the same woman that was in love with his son. But Bastet knew something Anubis didn't, he wasn't the only one who was having conflicting feelings. Queen Bastet fought with how she felt, she couldn't be in love with Anubis, this was Radames’s father. That would be such a betrayal, and yet Radames had betrayed her so much.

She knew the truth now, although she wouldn't remember that she knew, right now she did, she knew he could share his immortality and refused. It made her wonder if he truly did love her...

Anubis was confused, and went to his old friend for help, Bastet greeted him with a smile, “Hello old friend. Having some problems?” She asked with a catlike grin.

Anubis let out a sigh, “We can't keep letting this happen to her Bastet, it isn't fair and my worthless son is being selfish and not making her immortal. I'm tired of his excuses and tired of him not taking care of her like he should.”

Bastet nodded her agreement, “I understand what you mean, but let me ask you, let’s say that this continues, what would you give up for her to stay alive?”

Anubis looks at Bastet, he knew where she was going with this and he smiled at her, “I know what it is you are asking me, and the answer is yes, if I had to I would. I would trade half of my life for hers, I would share my world with her, I would share my crown with her. She would be my equal.”

Bastet smiled, “Then you are willing to do what your son is not. I know you hate seeing her suffer like this, but it's only going to be a few more times. There are things she must learn and realize, your son not being worthy is something she needs to come to understand for herself. We can't teach her that or show her that. She must discover that herself.”

Anubis sighs, “Well at least that means I get more time with her. I hate watching her suffer. It has become clear though, Radames is not worthy of her love. And I will do whatever I must to prove that I am.”

Bastet smiles at him, “Well when the time comes it will be up to her to decide how to handle how she feels. For now, though, have hope that this won't last forever. She has only to suffer awhile longer and then it will be over.”

Anubis nodded, his hands were tied at the moment, but he would do something for her. He would make his home, feel more like home to her. So that was what Anubis set out to do...

Meanwhile Bastet once again was forced to suffer, being reborn a fourth time, in the cold of winter. Her next death made Anubis even angrier, without the Goddess Bastet there, she would have died alone in the freezing cold. Anubis had damn near had enough, this time after taking her soul to a safe place he went to Radames and made it clear he was done being given chances.

Anubis took Bastet back to the underworld and woke up her soul, her body in the spirit world was a gift from Anubis. And when she awoke, she was crying, these deaths were becoming taxing, after all a soul could only take so much. But what she saw gave her comfort.

Anubis had made his home look like her childhood home of Egypt. He took her hand and walked with her and this was how they spent the next few years together. Until one night, one fateful night that changed things for them both.

Bastet had woken up from a terrible dream, she was alone freezing, it wasn't just a dream it was a memory and Bastet knew this. But Anubis was there the moment he heard her scream his arms wrapped around her tightly. She looked into his eyes and then she did something without any thought or hesitation. She kissed him, it wasn't a quick kiss to thank him, no it was a deep passion filled kiss one that she had only experienced with one other person. But this, this felt different. IT was more intense and there was so much more behind it then she had ever felt when Radames kissed her.

The kiss made her wonder, was Radames really her soul mate or had fate been playing a joke on her? Anubis pulled away and looked at her, his eyes full of sorrow.

“We can't, you know we can't.” He tells her.

Bastet looks at him, “There is no reason why we can't or why we shouldn't. I don't belong to him Anubis. Besides what good has loving him done for me. You though, you've been here for me in so many ways. More ways than he ever has and although it may seem and feel wrong, I have feelings for you.”

Anubis didn't know what to say, what could he say except the truth, “I have fallen in love with you and you're right all you have gotten is heart ache, death and pain by being with him. But this is a choice you must make not me. If this is what you want, I want you to be sure.”

Bastet nodded and she knew that she needed time to sort through how she felt. After all this was the father of the man she had loved for years. How wrong was this.

And think about her choices she did. But just as she was going to make her decision it happened it was time for her to return, and this time Anubis promised she would return with powers. At least from what he had been told. This time she would be free to make a choice, she didn't have to be with Radames, there would be another...

And another there was, he was sweet and kind and as Anubis watched from the Underworld, he thought that maybe just maybe she could find happiness with this man. But as always Radames found his way into her life and then it happened...

Bastet let him burn her at the stake, she knew she was going to die and this time she took matters into her own hands and died the way she wanted to. Thankfully, the Goddess Bastet kept her from feeling pain...

And then Anubis was there again for the final time to carry her soul to his realm. As he carried her, he thought to himself how different things would be this time. Would they continue where they left off or would things be different.

When he passed into his realm, she woke up a smile on her face and she kissed him. He was surprised. There he stood still holding her in his arms and she was kissing him. She pulled away after a few moments and looked at him. She had woken up remembering all her lives and all her time spent with him as she always did when she came to the underworld. But there was something different about her.

He looked at her and smiled. “Something on you mind?” He asked.

She let out a laugh and gestured for him to put her down. “I don't know I feel happy knowing this is the last time I have to go through that. But I do know this, my final life things are going to be different for me.”

Anubis looked at Bastet, “In what way?”

She smiled at him again and said, “You'll see.”

Their time together was short this time, and as he took her soul to be reborn, he was left wondering what she had meant...

Bastet woke up screaming, but Anubis was there to comfort her, he put his arms around her and calmed her down. Her tears were streaming down her face. All her lives, all her deaths, and all the time spent in the Underworld with Anubis had returned to her. She clung to him trying to piece everything together, it all felt like a whirlwind in her mind.

Finally, after a long while she stopped crying and shaking, her breathing had evened and she was calm. She looked at Anubis and she gave him a small smile. He smiled back at her.

“Are you alright?” He asks her softly.

Bastet nods, “I'm okay, I just have a lot going through my mind right now. It's all a lot to absorb and piece together. It's all clumped together, well most of it. There are some things that are not. Like you... And other things.”

She let out a sigh and ran her hand through her long hair. “Now I just need to figure it all out.”

Anubis nodded, “I understand. I should warn you though. Pretty soon he will be here, well they both will.”

Bastet tilted her head like a curious cat, “What do you mean by both?”

Anubis smiled, “Both of your soulmates, or at least the two who claim to be.”

Bastet let out another sigh and rolled her eyes, “Great, just what I need to be more confused than I already am. This time is going to be different though. I don't want Radames knowing I'm immortal.”

Anubis looked at her curiously, “Why don't you want him to know?”

Bastet smiles, “That's for me to know. You'll understand soon. I promise.” Was all she said before she passed out from exhaustion...