Hell's Gatekeeper (Chapter 6) (part 1)

I was right, and so was Daniel. The bus is packed, and it is very interesting. What else is interesting is how everyone makes a point of ignoring Daniel. I’ve gotten many strange looks from people too, and for the first time in one thousand years I have that annoying feeling of being watched all the time. I’ve never liked it, and I know I never will.

The bus stops next to a large shelter, and Daniel nudges me. People start shuffling off the bus, so I get up and follow. Daniel’s right behind me, and we get off the bus in one piece, right beside each other. I watch the bus drive off and gasp. Before me is a town with stores and houses and buildings of all kinds.

“You look as though you’ve never been to town before,” Daniel says in my ear.

“Only in Egypt … apart from that I … never really got out much,” I admit, though in fact I’ve been all over the world and seen many cities and towns. I think it’s because I can actually be a part of the world around me this time, instead of an observer, that has really got me happy.

“Come on,” Daniel says, pulling me across the road.

We enter a clothes shop, and Daniel follows me around. The clothes are sharp and crisp, not like the style I prefer. I walk back out with a dark expression on my face, and Daniel laughs.

“That place reminded me of being around Ariadne,” I grumble.

“Who’s that?” Daniel asks.

“Someone I know … long story,” I say quickly.

Daniel shrugs. “All right. Hey, lets go into this shop!” He says, and pulls me along with him.

We go from shop to shop, looking at toys and clothes and shoes and jewellery. My favourite shop was the lolly shop, but Daniel wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. I don’t know why, but as we walk away, I remember that his Mum used to take him there all the time before she died.

“Hey Danny, who’s this?” A large boy asks, standing in front of Daniel.

“A friend,” Daniel answers blandly. “Can you please leave me alone?” He looks at the boy pleadingly.

“Oh but Danny we haven’t seen you in ages!” Another boy says, stepping up beside the first.

“She’s awful pretty, Daniel,” someone else says. I realise we’re surrounded, and I prepare myself for a fight.

“Yeah, where did you find her?” A small boy with bright blonde hair teases.

“Guys, please, can you just leave me alone. Just this once please,” Daniel insists.

“Aw, did you hear that?” The first boy teases. “Danny wants to be left alone. I think we should give him and his girlfriend some space, don’t you, boys?” He looks around and the circle of rough-looking boys snigger and sneer.

Daniel tenses. But I only calm my breathing and grab Daniel’s hand. My muscles tenses and relax as I step forward, as if to walk away.

“Excuse me please, but we’ll miss our bus,” I say in a small voice.

“She’s real pretty Gus,” the small blonde boy says in earnest.

“Yeah, she’ll make a real nice trophy,” a tall, lanky boy says.

“How’d you get her, Danny?” The big boy, Gus, asks.

“We met near his place, happy? Now move out of the way so we can go,” I growl. These boys are starting to get on my nerves now.

The boys all gasp and suck in a breath. “She has a sharp tongue, she does,” one comments.

Gus doesn’t seem to be too happy that I’m talking like that to him, though.

“Hey, you might be Danny’s girlfriend, but we’re here for him, so you can leave,” he smiles evilly. “Danny will be with you later.”

Someone grabs me and pushes me out of the circle. I struggle and growl, and do the first thing that comes to mind. I scream for Daniel at the top of my lungs. From behind me, as I’m dropped onto the ground on the outside of the ground heavily, I hear the sound of a fist hitting flesh.

The boys start roaring and fighting, and I spin around to see several boys laying into Daniel. I rush forward to help him, but hands stop me. I scream at them to let me go, but the more I scream, the more the boys hit Daniel.

I close my eyes and dig deep into the depths of my mind. I know the tattoos on my body are glowing, and I embrace their warmth.

I call upon the powers of Apophis, Bastet, Horus, Sehkmet, Sobek and Wadjet to help me protect Daniel. I call upon their strength to help me through this strange battle where the odds are fifteen to one. Give me the courage to turn those odds around. I call upon the fighting skills Bastet taught me when I was young, to defend myself and the wronged when they need help. I will do you all proud!

I can feel strength pouring into my body, and when my eyes open, I become Cleopatra the Gatekeeper of Hell, not just Cleo that is on holiday on Earth.