I heard noise from behind and a stone door descended, preventing me to go back. My flashlight died and I was standing there in the pitch black, didn’t know what to do, when suddenly...
"Who dares to step here?"
A deep voice broke the silence, causing my heart nearly jump out.
Some torches lit up; I was standing in a chamber, larger from any of the previous and breathtaking sight opened before me:
Two large statues of Anubis, one from left and one from right were standing on pedestals, facing towards me, between them on a podium a large, ornate throne from gold encrusted with gems and on the throne sitting the god Anubis himself, with his left hand holding a long ankh scepter and his right hand resting on a crystal human skull on the tip of the throne handrail. Some skeletons were lying on the ground.
I just stood there, frozen, while he was gazing at me with his eyes glowing red.
"Who are you, mortal?" He asked again in ancient egyptian language, still with seemingly calm voice and lazily raised his right arm and I felt, as I started to walking towards him against my own will.
I stopped almost before him and immediatly kneeled, from myself. Thankfully, during the years his language became almost my second mother tongue.
"P-please, f-f-forgive me, Lord Anubis, I d-didn’t want to disturb you..." I stammered, but he interrupted.
"As you can see, mortal, you’re not the first interceptor..." - He hinted to the skeletons, - "... so tell me, who you are! Another treasure hunter perhaps?"
"No, I’m not, Lord Anubis. I’m an archeologist and explorer, interested in ancient Egypt." I answered.
"Correct answer, but if you would have found some valuables here, you would have steal it, wouldn’t you?"
"No, I don’t..." I told him, but he interrupted me again.
"It was nice try mortal, but never try to lie me again! So you’re just another treasure hunter." He said, while stood up and snarled to me.
"No!! P-please believe me and forgive me, Lord Anubis, because yes, I brought somethings with myself from other places sometimes, but just to get some money to my further exploration, like this one! But what I found here, surpasses every treasure of the world! I couldn’t imagine, that one day I will meet with one of the ancient Egyptian gods!" I tried to calm him desperatly, even raised my hands.
To my biggest suprise, he stopped snarling and sat back.
"Hmm... wise words, mortal. It seems, you are different, then these fools, who were the prisoners of their own greed and unlike you, some of them was even disobedient or disrespectful. Now they have to purify their souls in the underworld..." He said, while he watched me with unconcealed interest.
I gulped from the thought, that he will maybe send me after them for eternal suffering.
"... but I can see into your heart and mind..." - He continued - "... and I must confess, I haven’t met long ago with a mortal, who showed so much respect towards me, like you."
I couldn’t believe, what was happening with me; I just got a praise from a god!
"T-t-thank you, L-Lord Anubis!" I stammered from the excitement.
"So... you are interested in our culture..." He continued the chatting with me. I started arouse his interest.
"Yes, Lord Anubis, completely. The ancient Egyptian civilization, the gods, but especially You, have always fascinated me, always captured my imagination."
I showed him my amulet, which depicted his head. He leaned slightly in his throne and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I think, meeting with you is the best thing, what could happen with me. Maybe thereby I think I had to gave you the respect, what a god deserves." I continued and addition to my kneeling I bowed my head as well."
Because of bowing my head I didn’t noticed, but a smile appeared on his face.
"Even I can’t believe it, but it seems after many punishment someone has deserved a prise."
I glanced up to him.
"Prise, my Lord?"
"Exactly. A prise with a final trial. I offer you two options: Firstly, you are allowed to leave freely and with my permission you can take as much treasure from the treasure chamber, as you can carry, or secondly, you stay here and become my servant. More about this after your decision. You are allowed to choose... now!"
It wasn’t question for me.