Should've done something but I've done it enough

By the way your hands were shaking

Should've saimethmething but I've said it enough

By the way my words were faded

Rather waste some time with you

~ "Blue and Yellow", The Used

"My lord," Anubis bowed his head as he sank to his knees before him. "When shall my beloved Set come? It has been almost a year since I last felt his lips on me." Anubis kept steady eye contact with him and he did not flinch like so many others did when his own eyes met the blood-red eyes of Anubis. Why would he? He also had crimson eyes of his own. Anubis gave him a slight smile as he brushed his golden hair away from his face. "I have heard the war goes fine in the South. You are his brother, my pharaoh. When will he come back to me?"

"Aye, he is my brother. Don’t worry, beautiful Anubis, he will come back, to you. You care for him very much, do you not? Whoever thought my stone-hearted brother could ever catch someone like you?" he drawled from his throne. He felt a movement in his lap and he looked down to his blonde pet, which was moving his head for more attention. He suspected his pet was getting jealous of Anubis and he should not upset his toy because he would not please him even at the threat of a whip. When his pet was jealous, he would throw a fit and nothing could sway his judgement. He removed his hand from his cheek, where he had been holding it for support because he was beginning to nod off before Anubis came, and began to caress the light blonde hair in his lap. He could -feel- his pet purring happily and nuzzled his lap, burying his nose between his legs.

He noticed Anubis’ eyes staring quizzically at the back of Apophis, probably wondering why he was in such a wanton manner, in the full view of the Royal Court no less. And in front of the Queen. He turned his eyes to his Queen who smiled tightly, her eyes carefully guarding her thoughts about Apophis. He knew she hated the blonde man for driving such wide chastweetween them; he no longer went to her bed, no he went to Apophis’. The man in question lifted his head from his lap, amethyst eyes devious, tongue sensually licking his lips, and whispered, "Dismiss him, my lord. If you do, I shall do anything you please during the night." He felt himself tighten, loins burning, as he watched Apophis licking his finger, eyes locked on his, knowing what effect this was having on him.

He stole his eyes away from the tempting proposal, but not yet. He still had to deal with Anubis.

"Well, your brother is a man of hidden passion and I’m glad you gave us- him permission to marry me. I owe everything to you, my lord," Anubis put his forehead on the cool stone in a total humble position before him and whispered, "Please bring him back."

To see the submissive body laid so invitingly before him, how could he refuse such a pretty face? Yes, he did have the power to send his brother wherever he pleased and if it suited him. No, not yet. Set cannot come back home so soon. He had to find a way to drive them away from each other. Frankly, he was jealous of the love between Anubis and Set. Ever since they married, Set had been more distracted from his duties and spent more time with his blonde lover than with him, the Pharaoh of Egypt, his brother. The brother who was always there for him and loved only him until that damn blonde came to his court and destroyed everything he and Set shared.

"I have not dismiss you yet, Anubis." He stopped, face turned down at the floor and Reshed was by his side, a hand holding his elbow once he started to stand. "But yes, you may go."

"Your Highness is generous, forgive my impudence," Anubis said out loud, his hand gripping Reshed for support as he stood upright. White-haired Sokar came out of the shadows to look over his charge and was assured Anubis was all right when the wheat-headed one nodded at his whispers, putting a hand protectively over his belly. As he left the court, Anubis bowed again to him and his two faithful shadows followed his suit.

Anubis turned around and walked out, black cape and ebony kilt flowing behind him as he left, not knowing the countdown to his doom was drawing nearer and nearer...

Wisps of steam whipped above the dark red liquid as it cooled in the hot desert sand as it spread further, soon it would dry and be long forgotten.

The only sound heard throughout the Shadow Court was the heavy, wavering breaths of a creature on its last dying breath.

A creature that was his brother.

Set laid on his back where he had fallen, one hand was holding his wound, trying to stifle the flow of blood and the other hand was thrown above his head. His decorative headdress had also fallen, leaving his hair to dance with the blowing wind. His blank, wide eyes stared towards the heavens, looking but not really seeing.

His brother was dying.

The wind blew the last words of his brother towards him, his speech wavering as breath escaped him. "Anubis.... Anubis.... where are you?....... Forgive muot;uot; Even in death, Set cried out for his beloved, not for him. He heard him cough, specks of blood flew from his mouth, staining his always-meticulous priest kilt. The pool of blood grew on steadily, surrounding the fallen once-proud form. His beautiful Blue Eyes White Dragons laid also with him; they had also fallen once he had given the fatal wound on Set’s side. The dragonse fae fading rapidly out of the real world, going back to the Shadows to be called once again though no one knew when it would happen because once a monster’s master was dead, they would never respond or go into service for another person. The dragons’ master was dying and so were they.

Dying because of his hand.

Soft whimpers, muffled by his chest, reached his ears and he looked down at his nephew. He gently stroked the long ebony hair of Horus and pressed thild ild closer to him, protecting him from the sight of his dying father. His hand twitched when his hand reached the tattooed back of the child, engraved on his back was the hieroglyphics on how to summon the Gods to strike down the enemy.

The Sennen Eye glowed on his forehead as he stared hard at his brother and again his right hand twitched. He mustn’t do it. But Set lost. Lost to the Shadow Game.

But as he heard the last breaths of his brother, agony and shame came through him. He killed his brother! He was the reason he was dying! But he could save him, ye coe could save him from dying from the mortal wound. His brother could forever lived in the Shadows with his dragons.

He closed his eyes and his grip on his nephew tighten once the child figured out what he was going to do. The child knew the consequences of losing. "No, Uncle. Don’t do it! My daddy will die along with Papa! Uncle!!" he shrieked, struggling to pull away from him and shuddering when he felt the blast of dark magic passed through him and going to his father. "NOOOOOO!!!"

Soon the cries of the child was joined by an unearthly shriek as the lifebonded* of Set felt Set’s mind going to the Shadows.

And then sudden silence, the son of Anubis and Set shivering violently in his arms and tears running down his pale cheeks. Wide grey eyes stared up at him once he released him from his death grip. He turned away from the boy and glanced at the unmoving body on the ground.

He felt silent tears on his face, dripping onto the floor.

So this was the end.

The end of Set.

The end of everything.