FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

LYKOS

Third Age

-Prologue-

(Blood Dawn)

[26th Century BC - Egypt]

A steady, warm wind swept across the great dunes, shifting a few grains of sand at a time, building from a microscopic to a macrocosm until entire waves of earth moved like rolling mountains beneath skies of salmon, copper, gold and bronze. The sand had been drifting for centuries, building dunes and eroding them away in a single night, covering and reshaping the landscape as far as the eye could see. Beyond the borders of Giza, it seemed almost peaceful and serene, like an ocean of stone.

The dunes were timeless, stretching beyond the scope of man, inspiring the imagination of the one man that had traveled out from the city, climbing to the top of one of the dunes to absorb the serenity of the natural wonder. He was wrapped in cloth the color of limestone, his olive tinted skin visible only around his rich brown eyes. The hint of curly black hair peeked out from the top of the slit to expose his eyes. He was young and lean, a single stone cast into the sea of sand stretching all around.

Atsu had been born the same year construction had started on the great pyramid. As he grew, so it did too. It felt almost symbiotic. Every hour, day or night, a dozen massive stones were settled into place where they would remain for all eternity. Even from the dunes, Atsu could see the great paths wetted down by the workers, allowing the sledges to slide the massive stones toward their destination with half the effort it would have required otherwise. He still had a bit of desert clay beneath his fingers, another lubricant used in tricky spots.

The pyramid was nearing completion, in honor of and commissioned by the great Khufu who had passed before seeing his dream realized. The work rivaled the creations of the gods, but it hadn't been forged out of just stone and mortar. It had been made out of the dedication, the blood, the sweat and tears of those who created it, some of whom no longer walked with the living. It took more than just a village to raise a pyramid. Vast camps of skilled workers and tradesmen circled the site, some coming from as far as Canaan.

Atsu's eyes drifted away from the massive pyramid dominating the horizon, following the well worn paths into the sand until he gazed upon a temple of Osiris at the base of the dune he perched upon. It was one of the few places where the gods and mortal men mingled. The structure was small, dwarfed in comparison by the recent creations of Egypt. The hall made of stone was fifty feet long at the most, pillars holding up a hollow rectangular roof that allowed one to view the sun and the stars from within. Such a structure would disappear into the sands if built for man, but not a single grain of sand crossed the threshold into the temple, merely building up against an unseen force beyond the perimeter.

It felt so strange that a piece of the divine sat almost forgotten in the shadow of a monument to the eternal - remembered only when tragedy struck. Efforts were taken to preserve the lives of those that worked on the pyramids, but it was brutal work over long periods of time. Cemeteries were devoted just to those who passed, and a regular pilgrimage brought the fallen to the temple of Osiris. Atsu watched on from above, seeing it all through the vast opening in the temple roof. The bodies were laid out on stone slabs where the priests prepared them for the afterlife in the hopes they would find peace.

It was the god Osiris himself that would test their souls and carry them into the afterlife - Osiris, ruler of the dead and king of the living… but he had other names as well. Osiris was 'He who was permanently benign and youthful', the 'Lord of Silence', and the "Lord of love." He was a master of death, but also granted all life. It was Osiris that brought the spring floods, the growing of vegetation, and life itself. His duality came from his own murder and resurrection. It was that power over life and death that had lured Atsu out of the camps and into the desert.

Atsu hadn't merely grown up with the pyramid; he had grown up in its shadow. To work on the pyramid was considered a great honor for those considered worthy of the gods. Unlike the workers, Atsu had never been considered worthy. He had been born as a slave and spent years at the bottom of Egypt's great society… until his eventual liberation by a member of the thieves' guild. Life as a thief had been a welcome blessing to Atsu. It had given him a taste for the life that others lived, and the respect of his peers.

He had mastered pick pocketing and moved on to forgeries, misdirection, and ultimately grand larceny. He had liberated trinkets and baubles from the King's court and the entire guild had survived as a result… But none of that compared to what Atsu was contemplating, what secret desire he held in his heart. Mere survival for himself wasn't enough and the deaths of those that had not had his fortune were unacceptable. Atsu knew the temple of Osiris held the water of life, the blessing of immortality. It was a blessing Atsu intended to give to his people.

No longer waiting, no longer contemplating, Atsu began his descent. He maneuvered around with the light of the setting sun at his back to mask his approach, trudging down the dune, coming up to the temple entrance. With a quick survey to ensure no one had spotted him, the thief slipped behind the columns that held up the ceiling. As Atsu advanced, he couldn't help but look at those who had been prepared for the afterlife. Some were tall, some were strong, all showed signs of a difficult and wearisome life. Atsu chased away thoughts of his own body among them, focusing on the small oasis nestled at the back of the temple.

Atsu crept along, using the pillars for cover for minutes at a time, waiting until the priests moved to the next body and the next ceremony. He watched from the shadows as the old men dressed in red and tan gathered around the bodies. The construction of the pyramid had taken its toll on them as well. While the pyramid would stand the test of time, the priests had seen so many die before their time. Atsu watched them whisper the words, binding the souls to Osiris so that they would rise in the after life. Atsu's fingers dug into his palms, nearly cutting through the flesh. It was so hypocritical when the god held sway over life itself.

The young thief continued his quest, edging closer to the one part of the temple reserved for the gods - the oasis. The only way into the secluded space was a small door nestled in the back wall, surrounded by hieroglyphics. Atsu's dark brown eyes studied the door, then the priests. He had to wait for them all to turn the other way before he made his advance. There was no chance for stealth, merely for timing. The seconds ticked by, becoming minutes. Still the sun continued to descend, sinking ever lower before finally disappearing behind the great dunes. The sky above faded from salmon to violet as the stars emerged, unrivaled by any other source of light. The long shadows grew longer in the temple and the priests moved to light the torches so they could continue their work.

One by one, the torches were lit. Atsu remained perfectly still, hearing the torch on the other side of the pillar he hid behind start to crackle and burn. The priests moved toward the entrance and Atsu knew this was his moment. Without hesitation, he slipped out from cover and darted for the oasis. He could feel the change from the stone slab floor in the temple to the smoothest stone tiles he'd ever laid foot on as he crossed the perimeter and stepped into the room beyond. Atsu shrunk away from the doorway before taking stock of his surroundings.

The oasis was unlike anything Atsu had ever seen before. The walls were made of a rich black marble with veins of silver running through it. The floor was paved with hexagonal stone tiles, interlocking with perfect precision all the way to the edge of a vast, shallow pond. The tiles extended out over the edge, creating a geometric zig-zagging rim. The pond itself was crystal clear, pure and cool. It was disturbed only by a single lily pad with a lotus blossom growing from it, the many fronds curving outward into a colorful snowball like flower. Atsu gazed at the visage with wonder, finding it all so very wonderful. There wasn't a single grain of sand in the entire temple.

Atsu glanced both ways before he circled around, trying to keep the priests from spotting him through the doorway. The thief knelt down on the stone, looking at his reflection in the water. He'd never seen anything so clean or pure. Atsu unwrapped his hands before dipping them down into the water, cupping them to gather up as much as he could. He brought his hands to his lips, letting the pure water slip over his lips and refresh his mouth. It was more pure and perfect than any water he had in his life. Sip after sip, he drank from it, but as his hands broke the surface again, the pure water started to change color, tainted by something leaking into it - something bright and crimson… like blood.

The thief yanked his hands back, his eyes wide in shock. The crimson stain remained in the pond, the cloud disrupted only by the faint ripples on the surface. Atsu hesitated, but his curiosity outweighed his fear. He carefully reached for the pool again, slowly dipping a few fingers in. A shock of new blood appeared in the water and Atsu yanked his hand back. His heart was racing, his hands trembling. Had he lost that blood? Was his own life draining away? Had he triggered some ancient curse? His mind reeled with the possibilities, but Atsu had no time to think. He heard a foot step, then another. He spun around, facing the doorway, meeting eyes with the last person he had hoped would find him - Osiris himself.

Osiris was a being exuding perfection. His body was perfectly proportioned and refined, standing tall and broad shouldered. The god had perfect features, from his cheek bones to his eyebrows to his chin. The god stood tall and confident in the doorway. His hips were somewhat curved, his fingers unblemished by the ravages of life - but the perfection of his body paled when compared to the distinct, unique, inescapable feature that set the god apart from any mortal man. His skin was a rich, ardent jade green with paler scars across parts of the flesh from when he had met his untimely demise.

He was, as odd as it was for Atsu to consider, beautiful. A very thin, perfectly manicured chinstrap beard followed Osiris' jaw line before growing into a very thick, very long, artfully braided pharaoh's beard. Unlike the pharaohs who wore false beards held on with straps, there was no denying that Osiris' was real. His black hair was hidden beneath a tall white atef crown emblazoned with ostrich feathers on the side, an embellishment that contrasted with the mummification cloth wrapped around his feet and legs up past his knees.

Eyes the color of honey blinked a few times, taking in the thief before him. Atsu felt his heart weigh so heavily in his chest. In an instant he sprung to his feet and darted for the door with speed rivaling the creatures of the desert, but a faint gesture from the god's hand knocked Atsu off his feet, sending him skidding down across the tiles. Atsu panted as his curly black hair fell across his face. He reached up to brush his bangs back but froze when he saw the soft linen that now wrapped his arm. He glanced down, seeing that his robes had been replaced with a simple white shirt and puffy pants.

"Life… is a cycle. It cannot be taken like coins from a chest of treasure." Osiris' voice was light and airy, carrying on the wind with little effort. It sounded young, younger than Atsu had anticipated. "Birth, life, decline and death. This exchange cannot be broken or disrupted." Osiris explained, circling the pond as he tucked his hands behind his back, "Tell me, what brings you here today?" the god asked, gazing upon the Egyptian boy. Atsu gazed back up, his lower lip trembling.

"I… I came to take the water of life, to bring it to my people who are suffering and dying." Atsu whispered. "May…. May I speak without restraint your holiness?" Atsu pleaded in little more than a whisper.

"Of course." Osiris replied, gazing at the human with no hostility or empathy in his face. Atsu swallowed a bit, trying to collect himself, to focus on his purpose and mission.

"So many are dying with the construction of the pyramid; good, honest people that have done no wrong. They are worn out, life after life, all to create a tomb. Surely this can't be your plan." Atsu said, his voice daring to rise in volume. Osiris said nothing, looking into Atsu's eyes before a comment rose to the surface like a bubble through still water.

"Your king commissioned a monument that will stretch beyond the imagination of man, a monument that will last thousands of years and carry his name beyond the stories of his descendants. It defies the natural order and it must be compensated for." Osiris replied.

"You mean… No… Truly?" Atsu whispered unhelpfully, feeling a sense of dread wash over him, "You mean that for the pyramid to stand, they must die?"

"Existence, life, energy… It cannot be created, nor destroyed, only transformed. It is true that this water brings life to the people… It brings the bounty of spring. It brings life to the children of these lands… Every living person is blessed with life once already. Its energy is transformed into the lives of your people, and then they touch the world with it, passing it on before journeying into the underworld." Osiris explained with an ease and comfort that didn't feel quite human. Atsu watched the god circle the oasis.

"The life that you and the other gods gave my people… it is wasted by the pharaoh, thrown away to build his pyramid. Every day so many die… But you know that already, you take the souls to the underworld." Atsu accused.

"I bring life into this world, and I take life out of this world. Life is just as the seasons are. There is a time to be born, to grow, to flourish and then to pass on. You cannot have anything enduring without something else passing." Osiris explained.

"The king's legacy is taking the lives of the people, using that life, for a pile of stone… This is something you have comfort with? Is there no compassion?" Atsu asked.

"It is not my place to decide. The king has dominion over his people as I have dominion over life and death… He guards his kingdom and I guard mine. To take the water of this pond, to use it to grant life unending, that would create an abomination unto this world." Osiris warned.

"The abomination is continuing to live under such tyranny. What could renewed life offer but a chance at salvation?" Atsu asked.

"To defy the rules of life and death… Only the creatures of the underworld have such a luxury." Osiris said, gesturing to the pond with his green hand, "Tell me, what do you see in the waters?" he asked. Atsu slowly gathered himself, standing up from where he had been tossed. He moved to the edge of the pond, stepping onto the hexagonal stones as he looked down at his reflection. He saw his curly black hair, his olive tinted skin, his dark brown eyes and a hint of stubble at his chin. Atsu wasn't sure how the god wanted him to respond.

"I see myself…" Atsu said.

"You see the reflection of your vessel. You see the fragment of your life that exists in this time alone." Osiris explained, resuming his pacing around the pond as his hands came to rest behind his back once more. The god's honey colored eyes gazed up through the gap in the ceiling, taking in the sight of the stars above. It was a brief moment, but Osiris' solemnity seemed to stretch out across time itself. The god slowed to a stop and brought his gaze back down, looking at the human, meeting eyes before he spoke again.

"You cannot give life without taking it. You cannot defy the laws of life and reflect upon your soul. You cannot walk beyond the grave and into the light of day. The consequences of doing so would be far worse than you could possibly imagine." Osiris warned, looking at the young thief. Atsu was silent and respectful, taking the god's words to heart.

"I understand my lord… And I am most sorry for what I tried to do. I hope that you can forgive me for my ignorance." Atsu said, lowering his head.

"There is nothing to forgive… Your actions alone will bind you to your fate." Osiris said shrewdly. Atsu turned, pausing only to give the god another boy of his head before he moved for the door.

"I will contemplate what you told me. I will gain the meaning of the words and remember them always." Atsu said, trying to sound as reverent as he could during his retreat. Osiris said nothing, watching the human depart, standing in a stillness and silence stretching well beyond human limits.

As Atsu emerged from the oasis, there were murmurs from the priests as they spotted a stranger. They cast the torches aside and rushed down the path between the stone pillars, peering in toward the sacred waters. The oasis was undisturbed, untouched and empty. Relieved that the vagabond hadn't disrupted the temple, the priests turned back to find the intruder but Atsu had disappeared into the night like sand on the wind.

****

The crescent moon hung in the sky, the waning shadow peering out like an all knowing eye. Torches marked the buildings in town, keeping it lit for those that had the unfortunate distinction of working at night. There were a few scribes available to the eccentric, a few merchants that had to be prepared for the markets to open at dawn, but most were workers on the pyramids. Atsu passed them, navigating the labyrinth of the narrower streets, keeping his gaze low.

Seeing all of the souls heading off to toil beneath the stars, working on something that had to progress day and night and still would take a lifetime, it didn't seem right… Then again, little did. He felt for the pyramid builders, but even they had it better than the slaves and indentured. At least the work of the pyramid builders was prized and heralded. Atsu felt fortunate to escape with such a prized possession, but now it seemed there was danger wherever he turned.

Atsu brushed his hair back as he approached the home of the thieves' guild. It had once been a carpet store but as the structures grew around it, it had become harder and harder to navigate to until the owner had been forced to consider other methods of keeping it afloat. Now the perimeter was patrolled by private guards and the thieves inside were closely monitored. Atsu moved on light feet, but even that was risky. He heard footsteps and ducked down behind a few steps, staying low.

The guard passed, continuing his patrols, his fine robes marred only by the blood of someone that had failed to produce a cut of their findings. Atsu watched his oppressor advance, motionless until he was sure it was safe. As the guard disappeared around the corner, the thief was back on his feet and traveled many more meters past the carpet store before he reached a tent set up to house the lower level thieves. Atsu glanced both ways, and withdrew a knife to cut one of the bindings. The rope snapped and the tent corner went slack. Atsu lifted it up and moved inside.

The tent had been set up to provide the minimum shelter needed to those that had to dwell within. There were mats to sleep on, a basin of water and a few pots to hold food, but nothing else. Atsu wondered if it was his age, if the spirits had incited rebellion within his heart, but everywhere he looked was an absence of just reward for efforts spent. The guild took most of what was stolen, the thieves had nothing to show for their work.

Atsu knew all of the young men that slept on the mats, but there was one he had known since his youth. Atsu crept over, looking at his companion's face. His skin was somewhat darker than Atsu's, his hair a straighter black and braided into a long ponytail. His arms were scarred, as were his shoulders. He boasted the muscle of a well worked man. It seemed so far removed from the boy Atsu had grown up with; his best friend, the shaved headed, weak little boy indentured before he was old enough to shave.

"Ravi…" Atsu whispered, but the man didn't wake up. Atsu glanced around before nudging him harder, "Ravi!" he insisted. The thief awoke with a gasp and bolted upright, ready to defend himself. Seeing Atsu instead, he froze. It took his wearied mind a few moments before realization clicked in.

"Atsu, what are you doing here? Where were you?" Ravi whispered, looking as concerned as he was confused.

"I went out to the pyramids, I went to the temple of Osirus… I found something to help you, to help all of those in need. I came to give us another chance." Atsu said, withdrawing a water skein from under his robes. In the moment Osiris had looked at the stars, Atsu had all the time he needed to sample the gifts the oasis had to offer.

"What could you possibly have to help us? What fool's errand have you pursued?" Ravi asked dubiously, frustrated by his friend's recklessness.

"It is the water of life everlasting, taken from Osiris' temple… It will protect you from death, from everything this life tries to take from us." Atsu said. Ravi's face changed, his hesitation becoming complete disbelief.

"You took the water of life from a god?" Ravi whispered.

"I took a chance to help our people. How many die beneath a whip? How many are sacrificed for the vanity of the pharaoh? How much blood runs in the Nile? Do you not see how dark and twisted our future is? How many more years will you survive this life? Two? Three? The blood of the innocents soak the sand and bond it together. I do not wish to lose you or anyone else." Atsu said sternly, offering the skein to Ravi. Ravi said nothing for a long moment, seeing the seriousness in Atsu's eyes. He had always been passionate, but his passion was stronger now, focused. He had been wrong before to think it was a mere errand. Atsu was committed to this… and to him. Ravi swallowed softly, remembering what they had shared the night Atsu had liberated him from the land owner he had worked for.

"What do I do? Merely drink?" Ravi asked, his voice nearly quaking with uncertainty.

"It is water… Surely that must be how one embraces the eternal." Atsu considered. Ravi looked around the tent, hoping no prying eyes had seen what Atsu had stolen. The others were sleeping so deeply they wouldn't have awoken if an elephant came wandering through. Some were worked to the bone by the guild. Others had been caught for their wrongdoings, a few had lost hands in the process. Ravi had gained so many scars that the scribes could practically read his back. The idea of living that way, knowing only suffering and then death, it was too much.

Ravi took the skein, pulled out the stopper and tipped it back onto his lips. His eyes closed, expecting a quenching relief, but his face tightened as an unexpected flavor blossomed in his mouth. The water tasted like iron and copper, of salt and brine. It was the taste of life itself, the taste of blood. Rather than spit out the stolen gift of the gods, Ravi swallowed before he pulled the skein away, twisting his face up at the flavor… at least for a moment. It had been strange, but invigorating.

Atsu grinned, surprised by Ravi's variety of faces. The thief wasn't sure how he felt between the exhilaration and exhaustion, but the smile he had shared so briefly with his friend faltered just as fast. Ravi grunted before he began to pull in on himself, feeling his stomach churn and broil. He doubled over, groaning louder, unable to restrain himself. His hand clawed at the dirt, digging into it, his fingernails bruising and darkening with blood as they started to stretch.

"Ravi!" Atsu gasped, but Ravi was in too much pain to respond. He groaned louder, choking back a scream. The others may have slept through an elephant, but no good thief slept through a scream. A few moved over before freezing, seeing a trail of red leaking from the corner of Ravi's mouth. Murmurs and questions spread. Atsu grabbed onto Ravi, trying to hold him. Outside there was a scuffling and the tent flaps opened up as a large, clean shaven guard came stumbling in.

"Go back to bed! There will be no-" The guard stopped mid sentence, spotting Atsu, a smile crossing his face, “You… You missed curfew, no doubt to keep what you found to yourself?" he asked. The guard's sword was drawn in an instant, glinting in the dim light. He charged for Atsu but Atsu sprung to his feet, dodging the blow. The guard swung once, twice, then three times. Atsu was always just out of reach, but there was nowhere to retreat to, no clever way out.

Atsu backed up as far as he could, but he felt the cool alley wall behind the tent material. He closed his eyes, waiting for death to come, for his soul to be weighed… but the only blow that came was the sound of the sword falling to the floor. Atsu slowly opened his eyes, seeing the guard standing stunned before him… with Ravi's mouth latched to his neck. The guard reached up, trying to pry Ravi loose, but it was to no avail.

Blood leaked from Ravi's lips, newly formed fangs breaking the skin of the guard's neck, puncturing his vein. Ravi drew in the crimson tide, sucking and slurping on the wound he had just made. The guard's knees grew weak before he fell onto them and then slumped to the floor, his eyes vacant and glassy. Ravi was left standing above his victim, his lips stained red.

Atsu stared in shock, in clear disbelief of what happened, what his friend had done, but Osiris' words echoed in his mind. To give life, life had to be taken. Ravi's life had been enhanced, but it had cost the guard his. Ravi wanted to pant, or gasp, or to feel his heart race… but he felt fine. He felt calm. He licked the last drops of blood from his lips as he looked at the body of the guard. His body had moved unnaturally fast, almost faster than the thought had appeared in his mind. Ravi had gone for the neck instinctively, but he wouldn't have caused so much damage if not for the fangs in his mouth. Ravi looked up at Atsu with wonder.

"This gift… is marvelous." He whispered to his friend, elated by the rush and thrill of his feast, and of exacting revenge on a guard that had caused so much harm. The grin grew wider, showing off the fangs that glinted in the torch light, "Atsu, how can I ever thank you?" he whispered. Atsu was petrified, realizing what Osiris had meant.

"I… I am so sorry my friend; I never meant to do this to you…" Atsu whispered, cowering a bit in fear, grappling with the consequence of his actions. Ravi looked shocked at Atsu's hesitation, almost offended.

"Apologize? Nonsense… Did you see what I just did? The guard was attacking you and now he isn't a threat. This is all because of you, Atsu… Surely you can see that." Ravi spoke with such certainty, reaching out to rest a clawed hand on his friend's shoulder. Atsu wanted to be afraid, and honestly he still was, but there was something about Ravi's voice that was so comforting, so embracing… and then Atsu looked into the eyes he had known for so long - eyes that weren't quite the way he remembered them.

The deep brown of Ravi's eyes had started to shift, growing more intense as they took on the hue of the blood he had just consumed. The earthy brown gave way to a tainted, corrupted crimson. It was like gazing into twin suns at sunset, the light now burning into Atsu's mind and soul. The thief swallowed slightly but he couldn't move, paralyzed. Ravi advanced closer instead, lifting his other hand to brush Atsu's faintly stubbled chin.

"Atsu, you have made me into something more, something better. It is time I return the favor." Ravi whispered with a confidence he had never before possessed.

"Ravi, we must go to Osiris, to confess what I did, we must…" Atsu trailed off, his focus slipping as he gazed deeper into Ravi's red eyes. They were like pools of light, washing over him, embracing him, reassuring him. The thief's arms slowly dropped to his sides, limp and useless. Ravi licked his lips again with a growing hunger unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

“Ravi, what have you become?" One of the other thieves whispered. Ravi turned and hissed, startling the thieves. Many turned and broke into a run, slipping out of the tent. Of the few that lingered, Ravi paid them no mind, focusing back on his target. He began unwrapping Atsu's outfit, freeing his hair and revealing his neck. Every passing moment carried the water of life eternal through his veins, changing every cell in his body. Ravi's scars fizzled and sunk into his now flawless skin. His muscles firmed and the flesh around his stomach grew healthier, as if nourished from the life he had just taken. Even his hair gained a shine like moonlight on the river.

Atsu was motionless, standing but weak, feeling like a ghost in his own skin. He knew he had to flee, to run, to beg Osiris' forgiveness and ask what could be done, but Ravi's confidence, his surety, his gaze, it all seemed to lock Atsu in place. Ravi leaned in closer, nuzzling against the one that had given him the drink of life, licking his lips slowly before his tongue emerged from his mouth. He dragged it up Atsu's throat before licking his chin.

"You have no idea how amazing this feels… I haven't felt like this in my whole life. Nothing hurts, nothing is wrong. There is just strength and pleasure…" Ravi whispered. Atsu shook his head weakly.

"Ravi, what you just did to that guard…" Atsu whispered.

"I did what he deserved, what they all deserve." Ravi hissed, licking Atsu's chin more, "And what we deserve is to be on top, to earn our freedom." Ravi whispered.

"I don't know what I did to you. We need to get you help." Atsu pleaded. Ravi chuckled.

"I remember being afraid like that, but not any more. I know I can do anything, especially if I have you to help me." Ravi whispered before he moved, nuzzling Atsu's neck. Atsu tried to pull away but his whole body felt like it was tingling and throbbing. He felt so good he groaned, unable to fight his impulses. Ravi could feel Atsu's heart pumping, his veins thick with blood. His fangs started to trace the exposed skin. He didn't want to drain Atsu, he wanted to pleasure him, but the pull was so strong.

Each beat of Atsu's heart was like a drum in Ravi's head. He could hear it… the drum beat, the march of life… Ravi craved it, he needed it, and without any further restraint he sunk his fangs into Atsu's neck. Atsu gasped, his hands balling into fists. He could feel his blood start leaking out, drop by drop. Ravi took a swallow, then another, letting the blood play over his tongue… But as big as the temptation was to drain the human in his fangs, he wasn't going to - not this human.

Ravi pulled back out, leaving the puncture wounds in Atsu's neck before he moved to kiss the human. Atsu's eyes went wide in shock, especially as he tasted the salty metallic taste of his own blood. Ravi's mouth pushed the crimson flood into Atsu's mouth as they kissed, but a quick nip of his teeth to his tongue allowed Ravi's blood to mix with Atsu's. The thief's eyes were wide in surprise and shock at the flavor, at the kiss. It really was too much to take in. Nothing about it made sense, but ever so slowly his eyes slipped shut and his lips began to return the embrace.

Encouraged, Ravi pushed Atsu tighter against the pole of the tent, grinding against him, sharing their embrace. Ravi could feel Atsu's body against him, the beat of his heart changing, his body shifting. Atsu's blood ran cooler, his muscles tightened, his flesh softened while becoming more resilient at the same time. Old wounds knitted together, scars disappeared… and then ever so slowly the bite on his neck closed. Atsu's kissing changed too, shifting from soft and surprised to desperate and hungry. Atsu began pushing back, his hands clinging to Ravi's tighter before he pushed him to the floor, knocking a table over.

The two wrestled and rubbed, grinding and kissing. Ravi was still the stronger of the two, but he could feel Atsu's strength climbing. Atsu had to admit it, he felt it too. His blood was like fire, his muscles holding such trapped energy. He had never felt so energized, so alive, so true… and slowly what Ravi had done didn't seem so bad. For life to be given, it had to be taken, but if it was taken from only the bad people, what harm was there? Atsu broke the kiss, panting hard, feeling his breath pass over his growing teeth. Two had honed into sharp, spear like points in the front of his mouth, matching those that Ravi had taken on. Atsu looked up at Ravi, his creation and his creator.

"We can't stay here; we have to go somewhere, to decipher what Osiris meant." Atsu whispered. Ravi grinned.

"As we go, we could set the slaves free…" Ravi whispered, knowing how Atsu had cared about them. Atsu nodded numbly. Of course, of course that was the right thing to do. He had robbed the oasis for the sake of all the slaves, hadn't he? For the downtrodden? It was so hard to think, so hard to stay level headed. Atsu pushed himself up and Ravi rose to his feet easily.

Their actions had sent many scrambling into the night, a few shouts echoing in the streets beyond warning of monsters from the underworld. I wouldn't take long for the entire guild to wake. Ravi pushed ahead of Atsu, weaving through the alleyways. If they could get to the street they'd have a chance to pick up speed. Ravi still marveled at how easy it was to move. His body no longer fought him, it no longer strained. They had advanced several meters in seconds, but something had changed.

Ravi's perfect hearing picked up the sound of something thick and wet dribbling to the stone below. He turned around, seeing Atsu with a shocked look on his face as he looked down at a pole that had pierced through his back and stomach. Ravi's face widened in terror before he looked back the way they had come, seeing one of the guild members that had slept beside him for weeks. Ravi's lips pulled back and he bore his fangs, his red eyes gleaming.

"What did you do?!" he hissed. The thief let go of his improvised weapon and Atsu fell forward onto his knees, panting and wheezing. The slave looked at Ravi in defiance.

"You are an abomination, defying the will of the gods!" He exclaimed, the torchlight glinting off of his shaved head. He had woken during the sword fight, watching in horror as Atsu had been changed. Ravi's chest rose and fell with hatred, his hands tightening with rage. He stepped forward, but the step sent changes rippling through his body, his shoulders pressing outward. With a second step, his bindings grew tighter. Another step brought the sound of tearing, clothes giving way as flesh rippled. Ravi's ears throbbed and tingled as they began pushing out into points. His face popped and snapped, the bone reshaping. His nostrils stretched, his nose shifting and warping into a pointed hook shape.

The thief started to stumble back in shock, watching Ravi's body expand larger with every step, resembling the beasts and the gods more with every second. Ravi's thick, muscled arms pushed out from his sides, bringing with them a growing membrane of flesh connecting the two. His sharp fingernails extruded further and sharper, forming claws. His foot wraps came undone and a soft greyish-black fuzz began to grow out across his chest, his arms, and then his face. The fuzz grew up across his chin and around his mouth, covering his altered nose and his eyebrows. It pushed out longer and thicker, covering his head and neck, his torso and then his legs, wrapping around and covering his body.

The thief tripped as he retreated, falling to the ground, petrified by the monstrous vision before him. Ravi stalked forward before he spread his arms wide, massive wings unfurling beneath them. The slave nearly died of fright as he watched Ravi's body finish its transformation before he let out a deafening screech and lunged. The thief barely made a sound before sharp fangs pierced his neck and a hungry mouth was gulping at the wound. The blood didn't just flow into Ravi's mouth, it was pumped out. In moments his prey went limp, passing out and then passing away.

The body left behind seemed pale and lifeless, a lifetime of energy drained away in the blood that Ravi had taken. The crimson eyed bat looked around, knowing that any of the others could turn on him. Those that had remained all watched in terror… None had tried to help Atsu, the person that had struggled and strived to make life better for all of them. Ravi lunged and took out another thief, feasting on his lifeblood. Those that had not run at first attempted to scatter, but the alleyways were tight and twisting. Ravi caught another as his wide grey wing snapped out, a clawed hand grabbing his next victim by the neck.

The thief was slammed to the ground and pinned in place, squirming and clutching at the huge clawed hand on his chest while Ravi finished with his current meal before moving on to the next. As a bat, Ravi felt the strength of those he fed on magnified. Their life sustained him now, filling his veins. He felt their vitality, their youth, even their experience. It all drained down his throat like a hot silky broth, warming his stomach and nourishing his muscles. Gulp by gulp he finished his meal. Dropping the last thief to the ground, Ravi lifted his head, savoring the afterglow of the feeding. He felt so warm, so powerful, so amazing… but the darkness began to creep in almost immediately. He felt the dread, the loss, the fear fill his heart again and he remembered what had sent him into the blood rage in the first place.

"Atsu!" Ravi whispered in realization, sick with himself for forgetting even for a moment. He ran back to his fallen friend, only to see Atsu sitting upright against the wall of the carpet shop. Atsu had pushed himself back up under his own power, and despite his better judgment, he had eased the broken pole out of his stomach inch by inch. When he had finally liberated it from his body, he cast it aside, watching it land unceremoniously a meter away.

While Ravi had fed, Atsu's clawed hands had dug into his palms as the wound began closing up. It burned and stung, but the flesh seamlessly knit itself back together. Bones settled back into place and muscle reshaped around it all. Atsu's garments had been stained with blood and bile, but the hole in the cloth revealed perfectly healed, perfectly intact skin.

"Atsu…" Ravi whispered, looking down at his friend's torso. Atsu had survived being impaled, he had survived death itself. Atsu looked back up in wonder at the beautiful beast his friend had become. Ravi dropped down onto all fours, wrapping his leathery wings around Atsu, kissing him again. Atsu didn't resist this time, returning his friend's affections, pinned to the ground by the warm fuzzy behemoth above him. Atsu didn't exactly understand what had happened, and he knew it wasn't going to be easy… Osiris had warned him of a a great many consequences for his actions, but in that moment he didn't care. For the second time in his life, he was feeling perfectly wonderful. For that moment, all of time belonged to them.

[21st Century AD - Egypt]

The evening air rippled with waves of heat rising from the sun baked sand, distorting and bending the glittering light coming from the great city of Giza long after the sun had set beyond the horizon. The city had survived the centuries, the ancient pyramids standing as tribute as a bustling metropolis had grown up from the edges of the Nile. The light of day had faded, but a vast network of lights snapped on, showering the pyramids and the sphinx in a wash of unearthly illumination.

It was a battle between the waning grip of day and the spreading domain of night. Even the late hour wasn't enough to slow the constant stream of tourists coming from around the world. Feet trudged through the sand, tourists following their guide obediently from one landmark to the next, making memories from a single moment in a land that stretched beyond time. Cameras flashed into the night, the images failing to capture the soul of the wonders that existed longer than nations, languages and history itself.

There were benefits to the late tours; the temperature was lower, there were fewer competing tour groups, and the price was hard to beat. For Jameela, taking her guests out on evening tours gave her a feeling that they had exclusive access to the pyramids, that that tour and that moment belonged to them. The tour guide's long black hair was artfully wind swept, kept out of her face by a silver and pearl lotus blossom pin. Her skin was well tanned with hints of gold and olive and her eyes were happy.

Jameela led the tourists a little bit off the beaten path, heading up toward a particularly weathered stone that jutted up, half submerged in the sand. It might have been overlooked as a stray bit of stone, but every stone in Giza had history, and this worn down obelisk acted as a marker, guiding the eye to where the ancient pyramids stretched up toward the heavens. The guide looked at her group, seeing faces from Japan, the Americas, Europe and India… and even one well dressed Arabic individual that she could have sworn she'd seen around town more than once. Her smile glistened as she looked to them all with reverence.

"We stand now before the Great Pyramid of Giza, though it is also known as the pyramid of Khufu and the pyramid of Cheops. Of all the structures here in the Necropolis, it was the first. It is also the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Despite the turbulent history of our lands, it thankfully remains relatively intact." She explained. There was a slight guffaw from the back of the crowd, from the well dressed young Egyptian man in the black silk shirt and slacks, matte black oval sunglasses resting on his nose, gold earrings hanging from his ears. The guide said nothing, sure that his outburst was in reference to the missing capstone.

"How tall is it?" One of the American guests asked.

"I'm glad you raised that question." Jameela replied, “When it was first completed, it was almost a hundred and forty seven meters tall, making it the tallest man made structure in the world for three thousand and eight hundred years. But if you're looking for something that really measures up, I'll have you follow me so we can examine the entrance and discuss the three interior chambers of the pyramid." She said with her ever present smile before turning, leading the tour group through the desert toward their next destination, leaving only one traveler behind.

With the distraction of the tourists removed, it was easy to look at the pyramids and imagine no time had passed. The red sky bled away its color as the stars emerged. The wind cooled the desert as it blew across the dunes, reaching all the way to whip against the well dressed man's curly black hair, kissing his sunburned bronze skin. To so many the pyramids seemed ageless, timeless and immortal… but to eyes that had seen them built, the decay was painfully obvious. They were rough, rugged, uneven. The capstones were gone, the edges eroded by time. Even the Pyramids couldn't stand up to eternity.

Atsu had avoided Egypt for so long, trying to forget the pain and suffering of the past. He had struggled to make a new life, then another. Thousands of years had passed, but returning to Egypt had brought the memories back. He could still hear it all - the screams, the cries, the agony and defeat… and the fear. He felt the weight of those he had fought for, the ones that had turned on them. They had tried to free the slaves, to end Khufu's reign, but in the end they had been chased away as monsters. History had unfolded without them, in spite of them.

They spent lifetimes traveling the world, settling in Romania for many years before fleeing again to Tokyo, to Prague, and to New York and then the United Arab Emirates. Everywhere they went, they had inspired legends, created followers, and they had left a trail of blood and devastation in order to sustain themselves… but it hadn't just been for themselves, and Atsu couldn't keep hiding from his past. He had to come back; he had to see where the blood dawn had first risen above the sands.

The urge to return had been an unconscious one at first, a feeling that something more than usual was missing. It had bubbled beneath the surface for almost a decade until the blood moon eclipse, until direwolves had been revealed to the world. The news had called them monsters, social media had branded them abominations, and then the werewolves had been revealed as well. The secret was out, at least for them. It had been a shock to Atsu, at least at first… But as the stories circulated of the werewolves struggling for their rights, fighting for their existence, and then being experimented on and manipulated by a corporation, Atsu realized just how many lifetimes he'd been hiding - not just from the world, but from his past.

Atsu had been back in Egypt for two weeks, searching for Osiris' temple, but there had been no sign, no mention, no legend. Time had forgotten everything, and they had forgotten their own gods. Only his memory remained of the little temple sitting to the side of the pyramids. Atsu crouched down and reached out, his fingers tracing across the sunken stone in the sand. The tour group had been standing right by a crushed piece of the great capstone without realizing it, but Atsu's reflection ceased as he heard something nearby.

The sound was one Atsu normally had no difficulty hearing. It was a heartbeat; fast, hot, strong… too strong to be a human. Atsu slowly turned his head, peering out from behind his black sunglasses. The tour guide stood close, alone… and different. Her eyes shimmered with an amber glow. Her ears were pointed and there were faint wisps of fur down her cheeks. Her fingernails had extended into ivory claws. Atsu turned to face her fully, an eyebrow rising.

"Not many can sneak up on me like that." Atsu admitted, his British accent perfected over the decades.

"What are you? What are you doing?" Jameela questioned. Atsu grinned wider, betraying the hint of his fangs.

"I should ask the same thing, a werewolf giving tours at night? Aren't you afraid that you'll be caught outside on the full moon? Treated as the spawn of Anubis?" Atsu smirked, "For a tour guide you should really be better informed… and for a werewolf. You do know what this place was, don't you?" Atsu asked, his voice rich with judgement. The tour guide snarled.

"I know everything about this place… And you don't belong, whatever you are!" She snapped. Atsu laughed, the sound carrying into the desert. As he lowered his head, she could see that his eyes had a glow of their own, a deep crimson as rich as the sunset. Jameela looked startled despite herself.

"You know nothing, child. I don't even know everything about this place and I was born when they laid the first stones for this monument. I lost my mortal life in those streets... and I was the second vampire ever created…" Atsu revealed. The tour guide paled, backing up slowly. Atsu could smell her fear and adrenaline mounting. He could hear her heart racing. He could almost smell the rich, vibrant blood pumping through her veins.

"It can't… No, the varos are a myth… Vampires do not exist." Jameela whispered. Atsu chuckled again, but it was weaker, tinged with sadness.

"Everything exists to a strong mind… Whether in this plane or the realm of the gods. I had hoped to find someone here that could shed light onto things lost, but this is not that time, and you are not that person. I can't keep looking to the past for answers the future holds." Atsu said, though the revelation had been more for his own benefit than hers.

The finely dressed man turned to walk away, taking several steps along the path he had walked so many times. Even as he left Jameela behind, he could still sense her, her heartbeat, her scent, everything working like a machine until every gear clicked into place and she sprung toward the threat. It was instinct, pure and simple. The wolf lunged to take out the threat it perceived, but Atsu had centuries of practice. He spun around, red eyes glowing brighter as his sunglasses fell away. His ears erupted into points as his silk shirt split open. Greyish black fur burst from his skin, cloth tearing as wings unfurled beneath his arms.

A large, long, clawed hand swept out, grabbing the werewolf by the shoulder, sending her tumbling and rolling into the capstone. Atsu flexed out his wings as his face pushed out into a muzzle, his nose taking on its hook, his fangs filling out. He craned his neck one way and then the other before looking at Jameela as she scrambled up onto all fours. The vampire spread his wings out for emphasis, intimidating her with his size.

"I am immortal, to give life I have taken life, I haven't seen the reflection of my soul in four thousand years, and I have skirted the line between night and day, forbidden to walk beneath the sun… You have no idea what that is like, werewolf... You can do nothing." He said, adding emphasis to the last word as he looked into her eyes. Jameela faltered, feeling her strength and resolve slipping away. It was as if a great wave of fatigue washed over her as his words haunted her. Having neutralized the threat, Atsu turned, spreading his wings as he broke into a sprint.

With every footfall he thought of his life as a thief, of how one wrong step in the shrine of a long forgotten god had taken him down a painful path. He picked up speed, thinking of the countries they had been to, the aliases they had lived under, and the fate that had befallen Ravi. The rage fuelled Atsu as he spread his wings as wide as he could manage and pushed off. With a few powerful flaps, the vampire ascended into the sky, his greyish black form indistinguishable from the night's sky.

Jameela watched helplessly as the vampire faded into the night. She tried to force her body to do anything, but her own muscles still refused to heed. They were obeying the command Atsu had uttered, his words convincing even a werewolf that she could do nothing. Little by little, her lycanthropic traits faded away. Her fur disappeared, her claws retracted and the glow faded from her eyes. She knelt in the sand, feeling the coarse grains against her palms, a tear rolling down her cheek as she fought to regain control of herself.

Minutes ticked by after Atsu had retreated until, at last, with no warning, Jameela collapsed, panting harshly. The relief of being able to move paled in comparison to the fear that any being could take control of her body so easily. The tour guide lifted her head, searching the sky for the enemy that had paralized her. She wondered who the vampire had been and if their paths would ever meet again… but her curiosity would have to wait. She had left her tour group with the pitiful excuse of a bathroom visit.

Jameela stood up slowly, brushing the sand from herself, pausing just long enough to crouch down and retrieve the lotus blossom pin that had fallen during their scuffle. The keepers had kept the secret of the werewolves for centuries, who was she to believe that they had been the only ones? She looked back up toward the stars, wondering what other supernatural creatures had been hiding for generations, and if any more of them were tired of keeping the secret.