Eternal Love Book Six: Eternal Love

Chapter Six: Test of Love

The day before her twenty-first birthday Safiya finally got her answer to all the questions that had been plaguing her. Radames had come over and she asked him the ultimate question.

“I know that I can become immortal by sacrificing an innocent soul related to me by blood, is there any other way to become immortal?” She asks him.

Radames hesitated, as much as he loved her, he knew that she would come back if she died, and he was patient. Another part of him didn't want to share her anymore, her death would give him time to rid the world of her other soulmate before she returned, and so he lied.

“No, the only way is to sacrifice someone. I'm sorry I wish there were another way...” He tells her sadly.

And then it happened, Safiya smiled at him, and she looked at him in a way she never had before, she was absolutely disgusted.

“You and I both know that what you just said is a lie Radames. You see I've known that you could make me immortal by giving me half of your immortality for some time. This was your final test to see if you truly loved me as much as you claim. But it has become abundantly clear to me that, that's not the case here. You only love yourself, if you loved me and were truly my soulmate you would have willingly given up your immortality for me. But you didn't and now I know the truth. It doesn't matter, I don't need your immortality, I have my own. I was born from two gods; I was born immortal. And now it’s over between us.” Safiya tells him.

Radames didn't know what to say, what could he say. He had lied to her and she had called him out on it. Now for her it was over. He knew he needed to leave her alone so she could cool off, then he would try to make amends.

But before he could, suddenly he appeared. Anubis showed up out of nowhere and looked at them both. Safiya looked at him and smiled, and for a moment he smiled back at her. Then his attention turned on Radames and there was fire and death in his eyes.

“I never should have taken you in a called you my son. You are not worthy of my name.” Anubis tells Radames.

Radames had no idea what Anubis was talking about. “What do you mean by taking me in?”

Anubis stared at him, “You were not made from me, you have a different father, Zeus, he abandoned you as a child and asked me to care for you. I agreed thinking you would be worth it. I was wrong, you couldn't even save the woman you claim to love. You let her die repeatedly all because of your selfishness. You are no longer my son, and you will stay away from Bastet. She should be with someone who cares about her, someone who deserves her.”

Safiya smiles and says quietly, “Someone like you Anubis. You showed me what real love feels like. You were there for me at my darkest moments. I will never be able to thank you enough for that. I'm glad he isn't really your son because this would be really awkward if he were.” Bastet puts her arms around Anubis and kisses him.

Radames was beyond angry, “Have you both been together this entire time?”

Safiya looks at him, “Of course not, I really did love you, but your lack of care is enough for me to end it. Anubis has been there for me more than you have. You keep failing me and expect me to forgive you and keep running back to you. I'm done with that I want to be with someone who would be willing to give it all up for me. Some who actually love and appreciates me.”

Radames couldn't control his anger, he tried to attack them both and was instantly destroyed by Anubis. His life was over. Radames and Safiya's love was not eternal, all because he refused to be worthy of her. But there was one who did deserve her and that was Anubis. So Safiya let Anubis be a part of her life.

It was weird at first, after all she had spent most of this time thinking he was her father-in-law which now he wasn't because he was never Radames' real father. It figured that Radames' father would be Zeus the f**k boy. Bastet laughed at the thought, now it all made sense to her. Radames took after his real father, the god who caused most of his people's issues by not being able to keep it in his pants.

Radames had taken after him in the sense he couldn't think past anything he wanted. Now it was over and Safiya could be with her true soulmate, the person she should have been with to begin with. But was that really her soul mate, there could only be one way to know.

He must be put to the test. And she knew just who should test him. Safiya had been living on her own for a couple of years so she went and paid her mother and father a visit. She was very careful to knock before going in, she had walked in on her parents making love one to many times.

She knocked and then went inside where she could hear her mother laughing in the sitting room. The Cat Goddess was sitting on Aries lap and he was tickling her trying to get her riled up. Safiya came in and smiled and then plopped down into her favorite chair.

“So, I got a visitor today, as you all know I was testing Radames, he failed the test and then after finding out that I had feelings for another the moron tried to attack me and was destroyed. By the way, why didn't anyone ever tell me he wasn't really Anubis son? That would have been good to know. I was feeling kind of off about being in love with the father of my once soulmate, if he ever was.” Safiya says.

Bastet smiles, “Who ever said Radames was your soulmate?”

Safiya looked at her, “I was promised that my soul mate would be made for me.”

Bastet laughs and looks at Aries who shrugs his shoulders, he had no idea what they were talking about.

“Yes, that's true, you were told that your soulmate would be made just for you. But the specifics as to how were never made clear. Anubis was technically made for you by your own actions. Anubis has never been in love before; I wasn't even sure he knew what love was. You my dearest daughter showed him that he could love, therefore you created your own soulmate. Radames was and could have been your soulmate if he had proved himself worthy. Anubis already has, he is ready to give up everything for you. He has told me that himself. I know you're here because you want to test him. The question on my mind is how. He knows you're immortal.” Bastet explains to her.

Safiya sighs, “I know he's told you he would give up everything for me. I want to see how true it is. I want you to tell him that for him and me to be together he has to give up ruling the underworld and give the responsibility to another god, like Hades.”

Bastet smiles, “I can already tell you what his answer will be, but if you want to hear it for yourself then I will do this for you.”

Safiya nods, “Please mother, I don't want to give my heart and the rest of myself to someone until I know for sure this time that they are worth the effort.”

Bastet gets up and puts a hand on her daughter’s cheek, “I understand dearest one. Test him I shall. Do you want to be there when I do?”

Safiya was unsure, so she hesitated with her answer, “I'm not sure mother. I want to know what he says, but what if he only says it because I'm there. I guess I will hide so I can hear it and then come out at the right time.”

Bastet nods, “As you wish my dear. When would you like to do this?”

Safiya was impatient, she didn't want to wait to start her life with Anubis, she wanted it to start now. “Do you think he would suspect anything if you did it today?”

Bastet lets out a quiet laugh, “No my dear I don't think he will find it strange. I'm surprised he hasn't come to me yet. Well, I suggest you hide and mask your presence my dear so I can call him.”

Safiya nods, “Yes mother.”

She masked her presence and made herself invisible. She even hid in the next room so she could watch and hear. Just in case.

Bastet didn't waste time, she looked at Aries and smiled and then called out to her old friend Anubis. Moments later Anubis appeared with a yawn and a stretch. He looked around the room and was slightly disappointed not seeing Safiya there.

“Well don't be too disappointed Anubis,” Bastet says with a laugh.

Anubis smiles at her, “I can't help it. You know how I feel.”

Bastet nods, “I do which is why I have something important to tell you.”

Anubis looked at her, “Do tell.”

Bastet sat down near Aries, “You understand Safiya is a Goddess, she is what considered a hybrid, a Goddess of more than one thing. She is the Goddess of Cats and War, but also, she is the Goddess of Destruction by her own right. She can't take on another mantle, or another role. I know you said you would be willing to give up half your crown for her. What if you had to give it all up? She can't rule the underworld. She must remain here where she will soon rule. You would have to give it all up and find someone to take your place. You would remain a God of course and would become the God of something else. But I know how you love what you do. The question is do you love her more?”

Safiya held her breath as she waited for his answer, which she didn't have to wait long for. He answered immediately.

“Yes, I will give it all up for her. I had a feeling when you asked me this before that it would be something I would have to do. I have already found a replacement; someone I trust to take my place.”

That was enough for Safiya, she had heard what she needed to. She unmasked her power and made herself visible and came into the room. Anubis looked at her then at Bastet. A moment later Safiya was in his arms. She leaned her head on his chest.

“Thank you, I needed to know.” Safiya says quietly.

Anubis gently tilts her head up, “What did you need to know?”

“I needed to know that you would give everything up for me as I would for you. Now I know you would. Although I don't believe that it's actually necessary.” Safiya tells him.

Anubis was about to kiss her but before he could Bastet spoke, “Actually, that's not exactly true Safiya. You see one of the reasons I asked Anubis this before was to see if he was ready for what it meant to be with you. I knew what you would be before you were born. Just as I knew Radames would never give up his immortality for you. He was not meant for you. Anubis was. He always has been. That's why he has never found love before you.”

Safiya was actually sad about this, “I'm sorry Anubis, I didn't want you to have to actually give anything up for me. I didn't know.”

Anubis smiles at her, “I meant what I said, I had a feeling that Bastet asked me this for a reason, I was ready for it then, I'm ready for it now. It doesn't matter if I'm a god or not if I get to be with you. You are worth giving up everything.”

Safiya's eyes filled with tears and finally it happened, he kissed her, a deep passionate kiss that felt like something she had never felt before. This is what it felt like to be kissing the person who was truly meant for you. There was fire and passion and she could feel her power flowing with his in unity. It was a strange feeling, strange but wonderful.

It was a good thing she remembered her mother and father were there, if she hadn’t, she would have made love to him there and then. But after a long moment they both pulled away and looked at each other. Anubis gently caressed her face and smiled at her. He had a smile on his face. One she recognized, and she tilted her head.

“Why do I get the feeling you want to laugh Anubis?” She asks him curiously.

He does laugh gently before telling her, “Look in the mirror Love.”

Safiya turns and looks and lets out a quiet gasp...