The Moonlight Demon

19 | Matariel & The God of Cemeteries

NADIA'S POV

~Cairo, Egypt~

"Welcome to Cairo." Said Matariel, the fourth child of Asura. From head to toe, he doesn't look like Asura slightest bit. He just took his looks from his father.

"For your entertainment, I hope you enjoy." Matariel smiled.

"Oh wow

"Oh wow," I mumbled while can't take my eyes off of the girl with the sword on her head.

I know I should be faithful to Asura but ... all these girls in their belly dancing clothes made me want to look at them from day to night! The way they greeted us with their dance just .... wow.

"I saw that." I froze when I heard Asura's voice beside me. "So, girls with amazing curve also your liking huh?" I slowly turned to her. "Of course yours look more amazing than ever. That .... child-bearing hips." What the hell am I saying?!

Her eyes widen while crossing her hands. "Childbearing hips huh? What am I to you? Baby making machine?" Matariel took a step back from me while waving me goodbye. Come back here, boy! I sighed while giving up.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault. I'm ready for my punishment." Asura chuckled before she lightly punches my cheek. "I like how you know it's your fault and apologize after." I smiled.

When the music stop, they all bow to us and excuse themselves. "Anyway, Thank you for coming on such short notice mother, mom. I just ... I don't know who to ask for help anymore. I did the best that I could but ... that beast.. still linger."

He seems down for some reason. "It's fine Matariel. Don't worry about it. I'm so glad you even call me! Mommy misses you so. But, I do feel weird about the claims you made. Why would Anubis go amok like that?"

Matariel shrugged his shoulder at his mother.

"I don't know and when I try to consult him, he nearly kills me." Matariel pushed the door towards his office and present us with a series of files and pictures from his investigation. "I heard from Kushiel that you're investigating about the man in the red mask."

Matariel pointed at one of the figures in the picture.

"This person was seen wearing one before going into the pyramid. After that, everything turns chaotic. Some who came inside the pyramid, never seen coming out. The one who escapes made in clear to us that they didn't find any exit. They were being tricked by some power. They heard loud noises, like weighing sound.

Weighing sound? Asura took seems rather intrigued by this. Again with the man in the red mask. Just who is this bastard.

"So, are we seriously going into the pyramid?" I asked just to make sure.

"Of course. Anubis need to stop. If he keeps this up, I don't know what will happen to the balance between the land of the dead and the living. For thousands of years, my family has kept the balance between the world of the undead and the living on par. Anubis is simply had enough and now he's in the rampage state."

Asura seems to be thinking of something. She only touched her chin when she's thinking of a strategy.

"Anyway, we need to rest for a little while. Maybe we should enjoy Cairo before going to our death? Is that alright?" I suggested when these two seems to indulge into the world of the dead.

I mean, it's not every day we will get to travel like this.

"Nadia is right. So Matariel, I heard from Kushiel that you ..." Matariel raised his hand. "Shhh. It's a secret." Secret. What secret? "This is a historical city. It's filled with amazing facts and all." So Matariel is a history geek huh.

I never would've thought that someone so handsome like him is like that. I chuckled. "I know exactly where we should go first." Asura smiled.

"He's always the history enthusiast. I was once like him too." Hold on, Asura was a history geek as well?!

"I was fascinated by the history of the human world, I ended up studying about it for years and am still studying about it. My work, some of the mission require me to go through memory lane and because of people like the man in the red mask, I need to fix it back to the supposed order." Asura explained as we followed Matariel towards his car.

"History taught us that everything happens because of the human's selfishness and stupidity. Whether it's for your own desire or for the country, your family, it's all written in the history known to man. All we have to do is avoid the same mistake they made." Asura ended her speech with a smile when we got inside the car.

It didn't take that much time when we arrived at the weird looking shop.

"Where are we?" I asked Matariel. "This is a tavern. It's one of the shops I built for devils residing here in Cairo. You know, some of the archaeologist that in charge excavating is from the Demonix domain."

Whoa! That's news for me.

"Tavern?" Asura chuckled.

"Oh, Matariel. Does Hexen know about this little shop you built?" Matariel froze up.

"Please, Don't tell that witch. She's evil!" Is he calling his own sister a witch? I find that funny somehow.

"Anyway, let's just enjoy our time for a little bit, okay?" Matariel completely avoided the talk about his sister.

Matariel ordered something from the bartender while we searched for a table.

Not long after Matariel came back with travel brochures. "Mother told me that you haven't been to Cairo before. Since we wanted to avoid being seen by the public eye, I'll show you the famous places here using this brochure, is that cool, mom?" I nodded.

He seems like he would tell me anyway if I said no.

"First of all, the Babylon Fortress

"First of all, the Babylon Fortress. It's an antique castle located in the Coptic Cairo, was a part of old Cairo. It was the oldest ancient monument that separates Lower Egypt from middle Egypt. Though the fort was first built in the sixth century BC by the Persians near the Nile River, it was relocated to its present location by the Roman Emperor Trajan."

How was it possible for a castle to be moved? An ancient civilization is mysterious.

"There's also this famous Hanging Church

"There's also this famous Hanging Church. It's one of the largest and oldest Christian churches in Cairo which was built in Basilican style in 3rd or 4th century A.D. although I haven't been here for some obvious reason, from the looks of the picture in the brochure, it's beautiful. I am also a fan of ancient architecture."

He took another brochure that seems like about the facts of Cairo.

"From this brochure, it's stated that Cairo was hit by the plague, one of the most shattering pandemics, for more than fifty times during 1348 and 1517. This case reminds me of the Poveglia Island because the mishap is termed as Black Death, same as the case in Poveglia. In the books, it was caused by a bacterium carried by Oriental rat fleas that live on the black rats."

He seems excited about this one.

"Have you heard about the seven ancient wonders of the world?" I nodded.

"The only remainder of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World is the pyramids of Giza, built by the pharaoh Khufu

"The only remainder of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World is the pyramids of Giza, built by the pharaoh Khufu. That's where we headed later on. But, I'm pretty sure mother will try to talk to Anubis rather than having them slaughter." He sighed.

"You seems to hate the idea of communicating." He shakes his head.

"It's not that I hate the idea. It's just... well, Anubis killed several of my devils already, I can't shake the feeling to avenge their death. But, mother's orders are absolute. I can't defy them or ...." he uses his finger to depict a sign of being slice on the neck.

I can relate to that. Even I don't want to make Asura mad. That's a dumb move.

***

I heard Asura sighed heavily when we arrived at the pyramid. "What's wrong?" I asked when she pointed at his son. "That son of mine looks like a tourist rather than a devil." Ahh, She's right.

"Just let him be. He's enjoying his time now." I said.

"You know, if this not about work, I probably am all over you now. I don't know why but conceiving a baby inside a tomb is something I love to do. That's how Hexen has conceived after all." Oh wow.

Inside a tomb?! Is that why the unexplainable evil inside Hexen mind? Is that the effect from the tomb? If so, I should rethink because... my kid shouldn't be that evil. Right?

"It was fun?" I asked. She thinks for a moment. "Not really. I was torture. But the s*x was okay. At least I manage to have a child from it." She laughed it off.

Just what kind of monster was her ex-husband?!

"Anyway, let's find Anubis." Asura went to the entrance and knock on the stone door before she flicked it opened using only her fingers. She didn't move for a couple of minutes while looking at her fingers.

"My nails... it's chipped! This not acceptable. Anubis will pay for this." She's worried about her nails more than her surrounding?! I was shaking my head when Matariel places her hand on my shoulder.

"It's best to let her be. The mother cares about her beauty more than anything." She's already the beautiful Asura. Why does she need to care about her beauty?

"Hey wait for us." I jogged towards Asura when we're inside the pyramid.

Is it just me or there's a mild stench of blood lingering in the air? Asura and I looked at each other before grabbing on Matariel's collar and pulled her back to us. "Do not wander around just yet. Something is not right."

Asura kneels down and touched the sand. "He's on the move. He's coming to us." I heard some distance footstep coming our way but it's good the second I try to find from where it came from.

"Anubis, son of Osiris, we've come here to speak to you." I was taken aback when a creature appeared in front of us.

Is this the Anubis Asura mentioned earlier?! He doesn't look like the handsome kind of God she convinced me to believe!

Is this the Anubis Asura mentioned earlier?! He doesn't look like the handsome kind of God she convinced me to believe!

"Anubis, God of cemeteries and embalming. Guardian of the land of the underworld, I am humbly presenting myself to you." Anubis showed his recognition.

"Now that that settles... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" Asura suddenly screamed at the creature. Anubis tilted its head and looked at Asura.

"Asura ...." Matariel touched my shoulder and shake his head when I turned to him. "Trust me on this. Nothing can stop her from being herself. Just follow her lead." I nodded. What in the world is she trying to do talking to a god like that?

"What happened to you? You look horrible. You should be taking care of yourself more Anubis." How can she be talking to him casually like that? Aren't she afraid that he would attack any seconds from now?

"Say Matariel... I don't know what happened between them but, there's history isn't it?" Matariel nodded at my question. "Anubis used to date mother before he found his wife, Anput." I'm not sure how to ... react to that.

So, let me get the facts right. "You call us, because your mother has history with him?" Matariel nodded. "Asura actually dated a god?! GOD?" Asura turned her head to me.

"Yes, I did. I was foolish and he was hot. But I can't say the same right now. He looks horrible." Anubis seems ... hurt hearing that. I'm not sure myself because ... his expression is the same as always.

When he began to talk, Asura was taken aback. She took a couple of steps back and nearly hit me with her back when she stops in time. I wish I could understand what he's saying!

"There's no need to be hostile Anubis. I'm here just to ask what's going on. You've been on a rampage. This is not you."

Anubis replied her using his own language and even growled at us. He pointed at the walls and Asura chuckled. Wait, where is she going?!

***

"Someone broke the seal. Anubis wasn't trying to go amok. He was trying to tell you something. Humans don't know how to interpret his language so they threatened him and he has to kill to survive." Asura turned to Anubis.

Seal? What seal?

"You know you should learn to speak human language. Why didn't you told my son about this?" Asura asked. Anubis explained to her in his own language. When Anubis sighed, Asura turned to Matariel.

"My son, come here for a second." Matariel shakes his head.

"Matariel, honey, come here." Asura .... gave him her creepy smile. "MATARIEL!" Asura's eyes turned slightly red. "COME HERE!" She almost growls at him for taking his time.

"Mother." Matariel looked Down.

"Don't mother me! Anubis said you were trying to rob the tomb of the dead, why?" Matariel kneels down, still looking down to the floor.

"Matariel Demonix! You were trying to rob the tomb of the dead! That's not acceptable!" Matariel suddenly hugged Asura's legs.

"I'm a sorry mother. I was blinded by greed." Asura kicked her son away from hugging her legs.

"You're a disgrace to my name Matariel. What do you seek? Treasure? Fame? Did I ever taught you to be greedy?" Matariel was trembling in tears.

He should know better than to lie to his mother like that. "You shall be punished by yours truly after we're done here."

Asura glared at her son. "You, of all devil should know what is right and what is wrong. I can forgive you if you kill a human or two but, trying to rob your own mother like this, this is untold for." Asura nodded her head to Anubis.

"I apologized for my son's behavior. You were right to injure him. He deserves it. I can't believe he's slowly turning into his father. It's enough you have his outer looks, you shouldn't have his attitude. I was the one who raised you from you were a baby to the way you are now. I taught you everything I know, hell, I even taught you to to be a distinguished devil. Is this how you repay me Matariel?"

Matariel by now can't contain his sadness and tears to himself. I never saw a man cry like this before. He truly did regret his own doing.

"Mother I'm sorry." He begged.

"I will only forgive you if you did something to show you truly regret what you just did. Honestly, Matariel, trying to rob the tomb of the dead... that's not wise. What if you release her true body to the surface, even I can't defeat her again let alone Anubis himself."

Anubis said something that made Asura froze. "What?! Are you sure? Truly sure?" Anubis replied and that made her ran towards a dark hallway.

"She found out." I was surprised when I heard a female voice. I looked around but there's no idea person in this room.

"What? Don't you recognized your own familiar, Nadia." My familiar. Ra?

"Thanks to him I can go back to my body. Such a good boy he is." Back to her body? What does she mean by that?

"Ra? Where are you?" I asked. Usually, Ra would possess me just to talk to another person. But, I am still inside this pyramid rather than the void she always sent me every time she took over my body. This is weird.

"I'm here. As a spirit. No more, no less." She suddenly appeared in front of me. I was about to fight her off when she chuckled.

"Don't be dumb. Even if you try, you can't beat me. I am part of you." She's right. I can't win like this.

"What do you mean by going back into your body?" I asked, trying to understand what's going on.

"Thousands of years ago, Asura, was just an aspiring young devil who manages to control every elemental power. She's a rookie. But, rookie or not, she manages to imprison me inside this tomb that was a guard by Anubis, God of cemeteries and embalming, protector of the tomb."

Is this a flashback? I'm not sure.

"I was a powerful black witch, responsible for the plagues and Black Death that occur in the world. That time, the current seraphim angel require help from the devil to seal me off. Asura's father failed to do so but she successfully sealed me inside that dreadful tomb." She leaned into me.

"I was dubbed as her familiar for several hundred years before she found a better, more powerful familiar that she owned now, the fire dragon." So, she's jealous?

"Are you done spreading rumors, Ra?" Asura appeared from the dark hallways.

"You know perfectly well why I changed my familiar. You were on the rampage. You used me for your own selfish desire. You used the power I possessed." Ra clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"What kind of devil doesn't do anything bad huh. I was just helping you to be the devil that no one ever has seen before. But no, you have to be the balancer or some f**k up s**t. You and the rest of your family suck as being a devil!" What the bloody hell is going on right now?

"Now you have no choice but to let me have my body back or I'll kill your Nadia. The blood transfusion was already done and you can't stop me from being alive again." Hold the f**k on! She What?!

Blood transfusion? Did she own my body now?

"How dumb do you think I am?" Asura smiled when she turned to me. "Listen well Nadia, you have to stab yourself in the heart using that dagger I gave you. Trust me." I nodded.

"NO! YOU WILL NOT RELEASE ME FROM THE BOND!" I reached for the dagger and get myself ready for the stab.

"Now Nadia. Don't worry. I am here." I nodded before I stabbed my heart. I dropped to my knees and pushed the dagger even further in. I could hear Ra was screaming inside my body.

"Baal, laal, Aal, yumal." Is that an incantation?

"Power of the moon, the light, and the blood I share with the demon of the dark. I shall fully give myself to you, your servant, the one who carries the burden you have to bestow me upon. BAAL, LAAL, AAL, YUMAL!"

Asura pulled the dagger slowly from my heart. My eyes widen when Ra was pulled out from my body. By now I am posing my strength and was about to fall on my back when Matariel catches me from falling.

"Heal her," Asura commanded. Matariel did as told and apologized to me over and over again.

"The bond shall be destroyed. Anubis, would you do the owner of drag this useless spirit to the realm of the dead." Anubis suddenly changed his appearance to something rather ... beautiful.

He took the dagger from Asura and dragged Ra away from us into the dark hallways

He took the dagger from Asura and dragged Ra away from us into the dark hallways. How was it possible for him to change his appearances?

"It's all done. Now that's the Anubis I know and used to love. She's a handsome creature." I can't believe she even compliments others while I fell like I'm about to die here.

"Don't worry Nadia. You won't die from exhaustion. Anyway, what shall we do about this." Asura showed us a red mask.

That

That ... is that ....

"What is that mysterious man in the mask trying to do?" Asura asked herself.