//------------------------------// // The shadows // Story: The Amulet of Anubis // by DemonWriterX //------------------------------// The Amulet of Anubis CH 2. "The Shadows." Ahuizotl stepped out of Daring Do's cottage. She followed, not giving him the chance to catch her off guard in case he decided to try anything funny. It would be all too easy for him to grab her if she even looked away; with his tail he could easily grab her and take her prisoner in the blink of an eye; she knew from experience from trying to sneak up on him a few years ago. Over the years she had learned to be more wary when it came to Ahuizotl. As soon as she stepped outside, she came face to face with a member of Ahuizotl's tribe. He was an old stallion, the white tribal paint coating his chest and eyes didn't hide his faded orange fur. His left eye stared menacingly at her, the other was a milky white. Decorating his neck and wrists was an assortment of gold and green glass. With one hoof he held a long staff. Phoenix feathers were attached at the top with a thin line of vine. “Who is this?” She demanded, taking a step to the right, “You said that you came by yourself.” she said accusingly. Even if the warrior was an old pony, Ahuizotl’s tribe was ruthless and bloodthirsty; age was insignificant. Besides, it wasn't like Ahuizotl would bring an unable warrior with him. If you let your guard down, they could surely drive a dagger into you before you even knew what hit you. Ahuizotl pressed his lips into a thin line as he turned back to her. “If you recall, I said that I only came without my cats. I did not say I came by myself.” He replied. “This is my personal advisor: Izel. He is my most trustworthy warrior. He is the only one who knows of my meeting with you.” Izel bowed to Ahuizotl, only breaking his stoic expression to throw a glare Daring's way. Daring shot him a glare of her own, she had a feeling the old pony didn't like her very much. She flicked her mane, “Won’t your tribe get suspicious of you and your advisor?” “As far as my tribe is concerned, it is not in their business to know. No pony questions me or my doings. They only live to obey and follow.” “I’m guessing there's no health benefits then?” she said cheekily. Ahuizotl narrowed his eyes, a hint of irritation appearing in them. He turned his head towards Izel and barked a command in their native language. To an archaeologist like Daring Do, who had come to know many ancient languages, it was unfortunate not to know the one Ahuizotl’s tribe spoke. This was however because his tribe used a different dialect, one unwritten of, making it difficult for Daring to understand fully. She only managed to learn three words: food, water and blanket. Useful words to know whenever she was thrown in one of Ahuizotl's dungeons. At his master’s command Izel dropped the satchel he was carrying on his back. He opened and revealed its contents. Clothing only worn by the mares in Ahuizotl tribe. With the hand on his tail he reached in the bag and tossed the garment to Daring Do. It was a simple blue dress with a dark blue slash in the middle. “Let me guess, this is my disguise?” she asked picking up the dress as if it was garbage. "You shall wear these clothes. No one must ever know that you are “The” Daring Do.” he said with sarcasm. “Is that some kind of compliment, Ahuizotl?” she said unable to hide a small smirk. “Take it however you want Miss Do… if boosting your ego helps you do your job better then yes.” As she picked up the dress, a gold feathered crown fell to the ground. Daring frowned, there was only one group of ponies who wore these... “You recognize the uniform, no?" She looked up to see Ahuizotl smiling smugly down at her, "You will act as one of my new servants.” “Lovely...” she started dully. “Do I get a feather duster to match?” Ahuizotl let out a sniff, “If it is needed.” He replied. Daring scowled. She couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. “My lord…” Izel started hurriedly with a raspy voice. He had a deep voice, but it shook when he spoke, not in a sense of fear or nervousness, but because his vocal cords did not work like they did when he was younger. Daring looked at him. “And so he speaks. And here I thought you didn't know Equish.” He ignored her as he continued, “We must hurry back to the tribe, it is almost nightfall.” “Yes,” hummed Ahuizotl. He turned back to Daring, “Change, quickly.” He commanded. She glared at him, but did as she was told. Snatching up the dress, she unbuttoned and folded her vest, and yanked the garment on. She traded her helmet for the crown and she looked exactly like a member of the tribe, minus the face paint. As if recognizing what was missing, Ahuizotl took a step towards her and took out a dagger. That was skillfully hidden away, something that Daring failed to miss. Her pupils dilated, she watched him carefully for any hint of him trying to harm her but instead he pressed the blade to his right palm and gave himself a slice. Droplets of blood hit the earth, but he didn’t wince at the pain. He put out his left hand lifting Daring’s chin roughly up to him, and began tracing the blood over her forehead, drawing a square. She pulled away from him in spite for grabbing her so harshly and put her hoof up, ready to wipe off his disgusting blood. The smell of iron filled her nostrils. “Do not touch it-” He said sternly, sounding like a hiss. “That is my symbol, no one would look at you twice when they see this symbol.” Daring put down her hoof, the blood beginning to dry. “What does it mean?” She asked. He let out a dark chuckle. “It means, Untouchable….no pony would look at you twice.” “How convenient.” she said, now she felt as if she has a contagious disease. Ahuizotl lifted up his wounded hand and pressed it up to his mouth. Giving it a lick. She cringed her muzzle slightly, but notice that when he outstretched his palm, the wound slowly began to heal itself. She tilted her head, her mouth agape slightly in awe. Now she understood how he healed himself so quickly after their battles. “Fascinated, Miss Do?” he said, noticing her look. He curled his fingers inward watching as his wound slowly closed itself like a zipper, leaving no imprint or scar. “My kind, can heal with the use of our saliva….consider it as one of the many things you didn’t know about me.” He looked back up at her and turned towards the forest. “Come, we have wasted enough time, the bodies might have obtained flies…” It was sunset when they arrived. Daring walked beside Ahuizotl as Izel followed from behind. Daring was surprised that he could keep up considering his age. She kept her cool until they arrived at Ahuizotl's camp. There she found at least a hundred tribe ponies. They had small huts built, to fit at least one or two ponies. They separated their jobs into two groups, one group prepare the meal for the night, the other sharpen the weapons. The majority were males, it was rare to find a mare as a warrior but it wasn't long until she passed a group of them in their own side of camp, sharpening their arrows and spears. They all wore a orange tunic, with white face paint, their mane cut shorts and pulled back to look like one of the males. As they walked passed them the mares glanced up to see their leader, a look of respect shined through with a hint of fear, but their eyes glanced down at Daring and she saw the same thing directed at her and they looked away. She notice the same thing from the males, one look and not two. All with the same sense of respect and genuine fear. She had to keep a stern frown when she walked through the camp but inside she felt a sense of pride and power. It felt liberating. At the end of the campsite was a larger hut, it looked like a mansion compared to the others. She knew immediately that is belonged to Ahuizotl considering that when they walked up to the door, the same symbol, that was on her cheek was there. Once the trio was inside, Daring found that the floor was covered with fine red rugs that had golden designs, and at the sides sitting on their own beds were Ahuizotl’s precious cats. Their heads immediately shot up getting a whiff of Daring’s scent. The bengal tiger was the first to step down from his bed, bearing his teeth. Daring held her breath ready for the tiger to come in charging, without giving him a glance, Ahuizotl gave out a command in his language, making the tiger go back to its place ignoring Daring Do, as if she never came at all. His command also put his other cats at ease, but ears perked ready to hear the next. The trio walked through a set of curtains at the end of the hut. On the other side they found five mares standing at attention, each holding a long staff in their right hoof. Their dress was identical to Daring’s, even right down to the same symbol on Daring’s forehead. She was immediately taken aback by this. Ahuizotl raised his tail and flicked his wrist. The mares bowed and took their leave, passing Daring as if she were invisible. Ahuizotl walked over to the middle of the room to a large arrangement of pillows. He sat down and faced Daring Do. “It is safe to talk now.” he said. Daring relaxed, her face was beginning to hurt from trying to constantly keep a serious composure. “So what is this, a harem?” she questioned. Ahuizotl let out a deep chuckle. “No… consider them as my personal bodyguards when we camp, the mark they bear is called “Untouchable” for a reason. Only the most violent and strong bear it, and so far… it has been females.” he let out another chuckle from the absurdity that none of the males had succeeded. “That means, I’m your bodyguard…” she mused. They were far from simple servants. “That must be a dream come true for you.” “Far from it, I still prefer for you to be a corpse.” He stated bluntly. He moved his right hand towards the left side of the tent. Daring followed and saw a red cloth hanging from the ceiling to the floor. “The bodies are behind.” She blinked at him as he said that and walked up to the cloth. The sound of buzzing filled her ears as she pulled back the red. The smell hit her, but it wasn't the smell that make her reel back. Her pupils shrank in horror as she lifted her hoof up covering her nose from the smell of rotting flesh and decay. She stared at the two dead ponies, laying side by side. Their faces frozen in agonizing pain, the white of their eyes replaced by blood. Their underbelly had been ripped open far enough that their ribs stuck out like claws reaching upwards. The first one that was laid out before her was a young stallion at least a few years younger than her, with orange fur that was now stained and had lost its’ color making it look like a rust cover. The second, a slightly older and bigger stallion, lay behind the first victim. Their heads were contorted to her direction, their mouths agape in a silent scream. She felt them staring at her. She closed her eyes tightly and cursed under her breath. She has been through temples, saw mummies, skeletons, and had even saw her own fair share of dead bodies, but she had never seen them mutilated in such a way. “Where…” she began dropping the cloth, shielding them from her sight. “Where did you find them?” she asked, her archeologist nature kicking in. “The young one I found a mile away from the campsite two days ago.” He replied looking to the side, as if not wanting to look at that side of the room himself. “Alone… I noticed he was gone for a few hours and I went looking for him.” “By yourself?” “No, Izel went with me.” Izel cleared his throat letting out a soft cough before putting himself in the conversation. “We have no idea who was with him that did this.” he shook his head. “He was just a youngling, my lord just... just accepted him as a warrior into our tribe.” Izel let out a shaky breath. Daring frowned slightly, she thought that he might have shed tears but he pulled them back, the stern look of the tribe returning on his face. Ahuizotl looked at his advisor, she could have sworn there was a look of concern in his eyes. “That is not important,” Izel continued. “We found him in that way, and the second we found just yesterday evening. I saw him enter the forest, I thought he was merely looking for food for the tribe but...when nightfall came, I told my lord, and we went looking for him and we found him, hidden away in some brush, just a hundred feet away from our tribe. No one… no one heard anything.” “Do you have any suspects?” Daring asked. “No.” Ahuizotl replied. Izel let out a scoff. “My Lord, what about your enemies, what about the other tribes?” Izel questioned. “Other tribes?” Daring’s ears perked. “That could be one possibility.” “Nonsense.” Seethed Ahuizotl, shooting a glare at Izel for bringing it up. “We have been in peace since I first came to power, they would never be so idiotic to kill our brothers and risk starting a war.” “All right,” Daring let out a sigh. “How about here in your tribe, anypony have any problems with them?” “None.” Daring rubbed her temple. No suspects will get her nowhere, she would have to look at the bodies more closely. To find a “smoking gun”, as the saying goes. Something that would lead them straight to the killer. She pulled back at the curtain and held her breath at the young pony, his life cut short. Her eyes lower in contempt towards the killer. The facts she had so far, is that their injuries look the same, they were alone, and they were killed not far away from the camp site. The characteristics of the deaths now is leading her to a serial killer. She turned back to Ahuizotl voicing her opinion. “A serial killer?” he repeated slowly. “.....just as I thought.” “That’s right.” Daring nodded. “I will know more once I look at the bodies more closely.” “Izel, I am now enacting a curfew, everypony shall be in their tents in an hour once they have eaten, no one goes alone, they must all be in twos.” Ahuizotl commanded, Izel nods in understanding and walks out of the tent. Ahuizotl faced back to Daring. “Do what you must, my people already know of their deaths, so far...not one has tried to escape since their discovery.” he said lowly. “Do you still believe that it wasn't a pony?” she asked pulling back the curtain. She glanced back at Ahuizotl who was staring at the corpses. He let out a soft laugh. “It seems like something I would do.” He admitted. “Are you confessing?” she said keeping her voice stern. He laid his head down on the pillows, his arms tucking under him like one of his cats laying down. He let out a click with his tongue. “Of course not.” He replied calmly. “It was you and Izel that found “both” of them.” She pressed. “That is because…” Ahuizotl paused. She looked back at him. “They were acting strangely.” “How strange?” “Of course, I might be wrong but...it was little things, little things that no one else seemed to noticed… we spar daily, the young one constantly lost against his partners but before his death, he won.” “And this was strange?” she said turning back to the young pony’s body, she peered into his open cavity as Ahuizotl continued. “It was how he sparred, he was new, inexperienced, he was still learning how to wield his weapon and suddenly he was winning every match.” He let out another laugh. “I was so proud of him that day.” He said almost sound like a proud parent, until his tone became darker. “I thought to myself that perhaps another warrior was training him but that is how far my thoughts went. Then- then I saw him enter the forest alone….” “This is strange….” Daring muttered. He looked up at her, “What is it?” “His liver is missing.” At this revelation, Ahuizotl got to his feet and hurried to the body. “Are you certain?” “Yes.” She wiped the beads of sweat off her brow with a hoof, “It appears it was removed carefully.” Daring put her hoof to her chin and scrunched her eyes shut. After a few moments of silence she spoke, “If it is a serial killer, it might have took it as a souvenir.” “It could be cannibalism. It’s not unheard of.” He mentioned. She blinked, it took a while for her to register what he had said. The humidity of the forest was finally getting to her. Daring shook her head and sat down, she hadn't had a sip of water since they left her cottage. The thick air, combined with the concentrated stench of the two rotting corpses, was giving her a headache. As if he had read her mind, Ahuizotl held out a canteen with his tail for her. She gave it a wary glance, there was no telling what could be in that canteen. It could be poison for all she knew. “Drink. You are no use to me dead, Miss Do.” He stated grimly, shaking the canteen at her. The sound of water sloshing inside tempted Daring Do. Take it, her body demanded, but her mind refused to trust him. Her hoof reached out to grab the canteen, but she immediately snatched it back. Ahuizotl shook the canteen once again; she licked her parched lips. It was too much to bear. Without a second thought she snatched the canteen away from Ahuizotl. She curled her dried lips as she tipped the canteen back and drank a few gulps of water. Without a word of thanks, she turned to start inspecting the second victim. “What about this one?” She asked as she looked at his open cavity. “He was one of the strongest warriors in my tribe. I was seeing him sparring and he was winning over and over; throwing his opponents as if they were nothing but straw. I thought nothing of it…It was only until Izel came and mentioned that he was missing that we went to look for him.” “This one is different,” Daring began lifting her nose away, the smell of decomposing flesh overwhelming. “He is missing his left lung, another souvenir I bet.” She stepped back letting the curtain fall. “Whoever did this, cut open their body with so much force that it seemed that they had burst from the inside-out.” “By Xibalba,” Ahuizotl muttered cursing under his breath. “Once I find their killer, I shall do to it as it did to them!” he snarled his fist clenching until his knuckles turned white. “I notice that you keep calling their killer an “It”. “ She asked with suspicion. “You know something I don’t?” He jerks his head at her, shooting her a glare. “I call it and “IT” because that is what it is, you have seen what it has done to two of my warriors! your job is to find IT, and mine is to kill IT!” “Fine.” She scoffs. “I have already seen enough from the bodies, what are you going to do with them?” “Give them a proper burial.” He said with a straightened back, honoring the dead with respect. “They shall be buried with their possessions, and their family they left behind, I shall make sure they are taken care of.” He turned back to his bed laying down to get some well needed sleep, which is exactly what Daring needs. “Where do I sleep?” she asked. “Untouchables sleep outside.” He stated pointing with his tail. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I like sleeping in trees.” She said heading out the door. His head shot up. “I do not recommend that.” “Why not?” she said stopping in her tracks. “Untouchables are earth ponies, as of all of my tribe members, you must keep to your disguise, no pony must know you are a pegasus.” He said sternly. She let out a sigh rubbing her temple, already feeling a throbbing sensation in her brain. Ahuizotl rubbed his chin in thought. “You do not know our language either, we shall pretend that you are a mute...no one in the tribe will give it a second thought. You shall sleep here in my tent.” “No thanks.” She recoiled. The last thing she wanted is to sleep in the same room with her enemy. “And what if the killer goes after you?” he questions with a voice of concern. He had a point there. She narrowed her eyes, turning back at him. “I’ll be fine-it seems he goes after the males anyway.” she said lowly. “As far as I’m concerned, you are also dangerous to be around.” She smacked the cloth aside, leaving him. She walked past the cats, who eyed her closely, probably imagining how fun it would be to mangle her. The moment she stepped outside she found the bodyguards off to the side, eating their meal together. They all turned at Daring with bored looks. Daring let out a snort and looked up at the trees surrounding the camp. She needed to get up high without flying, or climbing equipment. She let out a tired sigh knowing that she couldn’t do it. She would have to sleep somewhere else. She heard the tent rustle behind and turned to find Ahuizotl leaning over her. He had a stern frown and immediately the bodyguards got back to eating, but their eyes kept watching over her and their lord. He leaned his head down going beside her ear. "Get back inside." He growled lowly, demanding it. She was ready to whirl at him but held her tongue when he continued. "You are going to attract more attention to yourself standing here like a stranger." She bit the inside of her cheek in annoyance. He was right, in a way. She was going to attract more attention to herself by looking around like a tourist. She turned half-way towards him giving him a nod. He pulled his head back and shot a glare at his bodyguards. He barked a command towards one of the mares, followed by his hand motioning to Daring. She looked at his bodyguard who stood up immediately with a plate of food. She had a spiked black mane, with a series of scars that decorated her face, which made her face look fearsome, and more powerful. Daring knew that she must be the top guard. She comes up to Daring, holding the plate of food for her. Keeping a stern frown she took it without a word of thanks. Daring noticed that the mare's eyes lowered in anger at her, instinctively she gave her a glare back almost trying to push her to do something. The guard stomped her hoof towards Ahuizotl while keeping her head low as she began talking irritably to him. Ahuizotl stood in silence hearing her speak. "Tuchman Kai!" The mare continued. " osh' ma tenaknl am tengo, is mah woganda!" At the sound of the last word, Ahuizotl slammed his fist to the ground shaking the earth. Daring eyes widened slightly as Ahuizotl began barking angrily towards her with an accusing finger, while motioning to Daring. The mare took the attack of his shouts without a flinch of fear until Ahuizotl grabbed her chin harshly, lifting her up to meet his gaze while her hooves dangled an inch off the ground. She winced as he squeezed his fingers against her jawline, while speaking slowly to her. The tribe suddenly went silent, their eyes towards their lord wondering what he might do. The mare began to struggle against him as he squeezed harder still talking to her refusing to let her go until he was done. Daring watched as her face began to turn red, letting out cries of pain all the while Ahuizotl refusing to let her go. Daring mind began to race she couldn’t tell him to stop in her language. Her eyes darted back and forth as she racked her mind on what word means stop. She quickly grabbed Ahuizotl's wrist. "Espera!" She yelled desperately. The mare immeditaly fell to the ground clutching her throat, gasping and coughing slightly. Her neck was bruised. Before Daring could assist her she was grabbed from behind pulling her back into the tent. Once Ahuizotl pulled her through, she punched his tail off of her back. "Don't you touch me!" She hissed in a low voice, not wanting the tribe-ponies to hear. "Foolish mare!" He snarled. His hand shook in a threatening manner at her, wanting to strike her. "Do not do that again! What civil matters that go on in my tribe is my business! I have the right!" "To do what? Kill her?" She growled. He let out a snort. "I wasn’t going to kill her...." He replied, he pulled back his hand. "I was merely punishing her for her intolerable remark." "What did she even say? I know it was probably about me..." She said sitting down rubbing her chest slightly. She looked at the food bowl that she had in her hoof. There was a piece of bread, some cheese and cooked beans that were smashed into a paste. It looked disgusting but she felt her stomach growl. Ahuizotl rubbed the top of head. "She was asking me where I found you and wanted me to get rid of you because you did not belong. Hence why I grabbed her, she went over her boundaries. She is not allowed, as well as all of my people, to question my methods." He stated darkly. "She already knew of the consequences. As you will." "As long as you are here, you will act as one of my own and that mean upholding to my rules." "Fine-" she snarled. "But don't you ever grab me again! Touch me and I will break your fingers, you remembered what I did to them in Tencolihitan?" She replied with a sniff. Ahuizotl curled in his fingers from his tail. His index finger snapped in three consecutive pops, it was never straight again. He let out a primal growl at her. "Go to sleep-at dawn I will take you where I found my brothers." He turned his back on her, ending the conversation, laying on his pile of comfortable pillows. "Where is my bed?" She asked looking around. Ahuizotl motioned his hand to the bare ground. Her eyes lower in a scowl. "You’re joking." "Comfort is a privilege in my tribe." She let out a snort, and walked out of his room. She found a spot on the ground and laid down. She ate her meal quickly, surprisingly she kept it down. She rested her head against a large stone, not minding that the jagged edges poked her face. Her eyes and ears facing the cloth that separated her and Ahuizotl. She would have to sleep with one eye open. Her ears twitched hearing hoofsteps outside the tent, she laid still, hearing it closely. The hoofsteps seem to be circling the tent, back and forth in the front, and in the sides. She blinked letting out a soft sigh. As part of their duties, they must protect their leader and his bodyguards took it seriously. No matter what happened a few moments ago. Her eyelids slowly closed, the rhythm of the hoofsteps lulling her to sleep. While Ahuizotl stared at the blood red cloth, the sounds of the flies keeping him awake.