The ever-gloomy and foreboding grey clouds stretched above the heavens of Helheim. It cast a dull light across the land minimizing any sign of vibrance or joy. The moors and crags with their grass and wildflowers were the only ones with a speck of cheerfulness in this desolate environment. Besides the small animals dwelling among the shrubs and rocks. In this area, the empty settlement was nestled where the four travelers still stood, gawking at the staff of Anubis.

All of them wondered how it got there and thought that the enemy might have found them. This might not seem to be the case as no one attacked immediately when they found the staff. Anubis also wouldn't be so careless with his sacred weapon. He is known to be careful with his objects and would never leave them unattended. The continued absence of the god of death and his lackeys puzzled them.

If they haven't found them, then why is his weapon here? Is it a trap? Would holding it release a curse? Is it a diversion to sneak up on them and conduct a surprise attack? With these thoughts in mind, everyone hesitated from lifting the object even Hela herself. She might love Anubis but she is not so dull as to just scoop up his possessions because she misses him. She is aware of powerful Egyptian curses that involve taking objects that are not yours.

"Nothing happened to me when I grabbed it. Maybe it's just a random stick." Hrod suggested.

"Maybe it takes a while to work. Sometimes curses happen when you least expect them. What if you die when you move from where you are?" Hela rebutted, alarming her nephew. Hrod turned to Ruby and pleaded.

"Mommy, I don't want to die. Auntie Hela is mean and her food isn't very delicious. Promise to save me if I die?"

"I will try my best."

After minutes of debates and throwing rocks at the golden stick, Dyrroth took the initiative to take the staff from the ground. Once his fingers clasped the shaft, he was immediately stuck in a trance. He grew stiff and unresponsive and his eyes turned completely purple. Ruby and Hela tried to pry the staff from his hands but it wouldn't budge. Dyrroth had grown stone cold and began mumbling incoherent words.

"I knew it was cursed! Look what you've done to yourself, Dyrroth!" Ruby exclaimed as she pulled him by the arm while Hela tried prying the staff away from him. Hrod tried to help by pulling the hem of Ruby's hood but it did little more than annoy her.

Meanwhile, Dyrroth began seeing visions. At first, images flashed by quickly before his eyes while strange whispers rang in his ears. He could barely hear Hela's and Ruby's voices yelling at him and he paid them little matter. He focused on the apparitions dancing in his eyes.

"What do I do with this child?" At first, the voice was a bit blurred as if he was hearing it from underwater. Then another voice came, this one angry and full of pain and hatred.

"I don't care! Put it with the other stillborn children! Do whatever you want with it! I don't care, just get it out of my sight!" It was familiar but he couldn't remember who.

"What a beautiful child... I shall call you Nefer. I will become your father from now on and Hela will become your mother though she might not approve." It was Anubis's voice as he talked to a little bundle wrapped carefully in his arms. The child has pale wispy hair and it giggled trying to reach his face. The child did not look like him but it did look like Hela Somehow, it looked extremely familiar.

"Nefer... That will be your name. It means beautiful, good, and pleasant. I believe that you will embody that name very well." he said, affectionately rubbing his cheek with the little girl who grabbed a handful of his hair.

That vision came and faded before being replaced by a new scene.

"I'm sorry I could not come more frequently. I had to create new settlements because of the plague sweeping through the mortal realm. You must have felt rather lonely in this empty necropolis. I told you, you could add tenants but you don't seem to want that." Hela said, stroking his bandaged arm. This time she seemed calmer and her clothes were more refined.

Anubis lay on his sarcophagus instead of his bed. Hela thought it was very strange but Anubis explained that he finds his sarcophagus much more comfortable to rest on than his bed.

"Having you here from time to time is enough to liven up the place. Plus, I don't need souls who would gawk and worship me constantly. They get in the way of my ceremonies and duties. The jackals are more than enough to keep me company. Oh, and your murals and tapestries are all lovely to look at so I am content."

Ughhh... So cheesy. Why is he having a vision of them flirting?

"Hades sent a cornucopia and said that he was sad that you couldn't make it to the game. He misses you because Hermes and Thanatos alone are too obnoxious to spend too much time with."

Hela had a charming smile on her lips while tearing apart a pomegranate from the said cornucopia. She collected a sensible amount of seeds and fed her husband with them. The fruit was sweet with a hint of sourness which was delightful enough for him to enjoy.

"It's delicious. It seems to be from Persephone's garden and not Hades' or else I will be trapped in the Underworld. Tell them that once I recover I shall join them." Anubis opened his mouth to receive more of the sweet fruit. He never knew that being fed had some advantages to it. It is an enjoyable and intimate activity with a lover and Hela diligently wiped the juices that oozed from his lips. She is such a caring wife and he thought himself very lucky for his remarriage to her.

"So soon? You will not first indulge your wife?"

"Then tell them that I will join them once I recover and my wife has been greatly satisfied." Hela released a melodious laugh. Some color dusted her pale cheeks making him smile. She looks very lovely whenever she smiles.

"You should heal more quickly with Egyptian physicians. They are very good with healing and medicine, my people are not as good as yours when it comes to intricate medical care. We can bind wounds and treat them but your balm and methods are far more effective. Plus, I fear that the healers would only use witchcraft healing and I do not want that upon you. I should invite Sekhmet and Heka sometime soon, though I doubt they will respond to me given that no one in your pantheon is fond of me."

"That is not true, my love. They respect you greatly. You are a fair and just goddess and you accomplish your duties well. Anyone who belittles you shall die. I will make sure of it." Anubis rebutted. He would like to cup her face with his hands but he couldn't seem to move them as well. Having a spare body like Jörmungandr comes in handy and he wished he knew how to do that so he could embrace his wife.

"But I do not have a pleasant personality and whenever I walk into a room, all I bring is gloom and uneasiness. Nobody wants a ball of gloom near them."

"That's not the case, my love! They are just intimidated by your mighty countenance."

"You mean scared of my resting bitch face."

The goddess snorted at the look on his face which was a mixture of shock, grimace, and disbelief. He looks as if he's going to try to refute her but decided that it was pointless because she was correct.

"Then perhaps they cannot appreciate the beauty of your "resting bitch face." Only a true God could behold it without turning into stone." Hela laughed again.

"That is true. No God is more mighty than Anubis who has gazed upon my resting bitch face without cowering."

The fond smile on her lips slowly died and transformed into sadness. Anubis did not fail to take note of this and asked what the matter was. "I'm afraid that I must leave you. New souls will be coming into my realm. I must prepare their place and welcome them."

"I understand. I must not keep you from your duties then."

Anubis became downcast, disappointed in losing her company but he mustered a small smile. He will miss her but he needs to be a supportive husband who is not clingy and needy. Hela will hate him if he becomes bothersome and leave him for younger boys from Gaul. At least, that's what he imagined she'll do if she gets annoyed with him. Anubis never really tested this theory and he never wanted to experience it. He has no intentions of getting evicted as her prince consort.

"Regarding your duties, I will ask your brother to be more patient and send him more gifts and offerings. It must be difficult doing your job and his because of me."

"Wepwawet is a good brother. He will aid me."

"I must be off, my love. I cannot trust Ganglöt and Ganglati to handle things in my palace by themselves. Their names mean lazy and they embody it too well."

"I shall patiently await your next visit. Have a great day, my love."

"You too, despite your condition." After bidding each other well and kissing far too many times, Hela finally left.

"Even if you hide, we all knew that you were there. Come out now, Wepwawet."

A man with the head of a white wolf emerged from one of the colorful columns. He was dressed like Anubis denoting that he was from the same pantheon as the Jackal God. He wore the same intricate broad collar of gold and gems, the same linen kilt, and the same headdress. Aside from being a wolf and the distinct arrow-filled quiver and bow on his back, he looks absolutely like Anubis but white.

"Greetings, Anpu. I hope you are recovering well." Wepwawet spoke in a foreign language but Dyrroth found that he could understand what he was saying.

"I am. It is nice to see you visiting me, brother. Is something the matter regarding my duties? I am sorry that I have to leave everything to you but I hope that my jackal familiars were of help to you. The best I could do was give them my appearance so that the souls wouldn't be so alarmed. But don't worry, it won't be long before I return to my prime self."

"I am glad to hear that. But, your wife and daughter should know of this. They are entitled to that right." Anubis sighed disapproving of the idea.

"I don't want Kebechet to worry. My wounds are not severe. As for Anput... I won't hear the end of it. And you know, brother, that even if our marriage is still intact, Anput and I have been separated for quite a while. Hela is now my wife but I will still provide for Anput. I am obliged to do as much."

"She requires more than that and we both know it. A jilted wife has a limit before she goes over the edge. Be very mindful of that, brother."

Anubis released a deep sigh and stared at the ground. He respects his first wife and he still holds some fondness for her but his heart had been stolen completely by Hela. He feels bad that he broke his vows and neglected his duties as his husband but he does not regret meeting and loving Hela.

"I will not mind if she hurts me or curses me but I hope that she doesn't harm Hela. That's where I'll draw the line."

"If she does manage to destroy you by some stroke of fate, you can always count on me to put you back together piece by piece. We may come from different mothers but you are still my favorite brother."

"Don't let Horus hear you saying that. He will get very offended." Anubis chuckled, appreciating his reassurance.

"I'm sure he will, that's why I should say it louder to his face. But, if you find yourself in trouble and in need of my help, tap your staff three times on the ground and call my name and I shall immediately come to your side, brother."

"I will."

The scene melted again and a new one replaced it. It was in the same location but something else was happening. Anubis was helpless and bound by golden chains. Mummified entities surrounded him all wearing jackal masks. They held several paraphernalia and jars but the mummies were the least of his worries. Anput was mutilating Anubis and removing his organs one by one before replacing them with false organs. When she finished with him she shut him in his golden coffin while her servants chanted around him.

He came out a changed God. He was more beautiful than when he entered but he was only an ideal version and not the true version. He was a mere golden copy.

That was the end of the vision before he returned to reality.

🦋🦋🦋

"Oh, good you're awake." Hrod's face was the first thing to greet him. They were in a new location. It was a forest and it was already dark. Not very far from him, he could hear the crackling of the fire and a conversation between two familiar voices and one foreign one.

"MA! Step Dyrroth is awake! Ma!" Hrod called out, alerting his partner. Dyrroth sat up and stared at his cute wife's worried face.

"How are you feeling? You've been out for quite some time. I was worried that you were passing on to a higher form of existence. Like a worm for example."

"Are you saying that I am lower than a worm, little wolf girl?" Dyrroth had a teasing smirk as he pulled her onto his lap.

"Yes, you are lower than an ugly slimy worm, Mr. Eggplant."

"That's so mean of you, Mrs. Radish Legs."

"Hey! My legs are flawless!" Ruby complained, touching his nose playfully. Dyrroth chuckled, missing her antics.

"I know. I've inspected them really well several times."

"Stop saying weird things! You're embarrassing me in front of our companions." Ruby covered his mouth, flushing a light shade of pink.

"Are you two done flirting?" Hela groaned, sending them a look of clear annoyance. The person beside her just squeezed their lips in a small smile while running their fingers through the goddess' hair. They were intertwining dried flowers and braiding her platinum locks.

Dyrroth noticed the new eyepatch that covered her missing eye and felt a sense of unease. Being reminded of Hela's fall from her throne means that he can't go back home. And now the stakes are higher with Ruby here. Now, he can't afford to fail. He needs to at least help Ruby get back even if it means... He'll stay here forever waiting for her again. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the stranger speak.

"Let them be, my goddess. It is young love. It is the sweetest part of a bond where these young bloods follow only their instincts and desires. It's a time of passionate touches and delicate romance. We should allow it to prosper and blossom until it reaches its untimely demise and ends in a spectacle of broken marriage and custody fights." said the stranger laughing fondly.

Dyrroth looked curiously at their new companion. They had pale milky skin and hair so dark it looked like it could devour any light that touches it. They had a long distinguished hawk-shaped nose and long pointy ears that stretched behind their head. Reeds dangled from the side of their face and some water plants were tangled from their long hair. Their face was beautiful but also ugly from a different perspective. It was confusing because it was hard to tell whether they are attractive or is it shifting to a truer, more hideous form. Dyrroth guessed that they are what would be called androgynous.

"Hey, Ruby, what is that person doing here?" Dyrroth questioned, gesturing towards the creature amicably chatting with Hela.

"Oh, that's Regn (rain). They're a fossegrim. They live in the waterfall in this forest and they helped us earlier to ward off pursuers with their amazing musical skills." Ruby handed him a sandwich with thin slices of cheese and some slices of smoked ham. He happily devoured his meal as Ruby sat beside him, stroking Hrod's belly.

She began to tell him what happened while he was in a trance. Shortly after they found Anubis' scepter, half-men and half-snake people began attacking them. They decided to run instead of facing their enemies to avoid wasting time. Hela summoned Helhest, her three-legged horse and Ruby conjured a wolf made of frost and wind for her and Dyrroth to ride.

It was a long chase. They traveled through marshes and meadows and climbed steep hills and crags to get away from the monsters but they were stubborn. No matter how far they go, the snake people always manage to tail them.

A few hours passed and they entered an enchanted forest. The group managed to reach a small waterfall leading down to a rapid river where Regn and a gaggle of Huldras helped them.

"This person played a concert to defeat enemies?"

"Yeah! Basically! It was really impressive. The piece was beautiful. They can recreate the exact sounds of nature and weave the most perfect song of the forest."

"Oh, you flatter me too much, dear. But do keep going." The fossegrim had a proud smirk as they finished the goddess' hair.

"It's all true. Without them, we would be dead. Jörm sent some really scary snake people that shoot acid venom from their mouths. It was hideous. Thankfully, Regn was around the area with some huldras. They helped us push back the snake people. And they even got us cheese and bread from a group of dwarves that lived nearby. They're so nice."

"Friends of the goddess of death are friends of mine. Besides, this is the least that I could do for the person who graciously welcomed me into her realm and gave me a great place to stay."

"Well, it was only because I heard that Regn was the best musician among all the Fossegrim. I fancied some music in my place. Anyway, since you're awake, why don't you tell us about the vision that you saw? If you've seen it because of Anubis' staff then perhaps it is a message from him."

Dyrroth began to tell them about the events that he saw in his dream.

Note: (No body reads this things why even bother)

Hi guys! Happy new year to all of you! I'm sorry for disappearing for so long. I just discovered Genshin Impact and became obsessed with it so I became very unproductive. Anyways I just want to announce that I will be publishing a new version of this book with its old title Fall into the Abyss.

I think that since this book was made to be originally 5 chapters long I failed to develop or tell how Ruby and Dyrroth's romance developed. Plus I want to show you the world of the Abyss. It's a beautiful fantastical place that is filled with danger, death, and everything sexual. I want to show you what being Dyrroth's pet really means for Ruby. Till then toodles!!