Nura and Anubis
Info necessary for this: Anubis can take the form of a man or a jackal (hound). His eyes are solid black, all pupil, no iris or white and as such they are extremely sensitive to light. He has Second Sight, among other powers.

Nura stood poised with her hands at the knot of her braided belt, waiting for Anubis to leave or at least look away. The trip had been hot and she was tired. She so craved a bath, having been in the habit of at least two per day at the Hall of Initiates as part of the rites of Cleansing.

Anubis was without the Jackal mask now for they were alone at a small ceremonial pool in a secret enclave of the Temple at Abydos. The starlight softly drifted down to them from the open ceiling and sparkled in the still and dark water of the pool. The effect was light enough for her to see him but not so bright as to hurt his eyes.

Instead of turning or leaving, Anubis stepped closer to her and took her left hand. His fingertips brushed across the coils of the golden asp wrapped around her wrist, tracing the ankh symbol upon it. "Are you fond of this trinket?" His gaze rose slowly up from her wrist to her face. She was again lost in the depths of onyx.

"I was proud to earn them, proud to become a handmaiden to Anubis. Of course, only the one bracelet remains."

He nodded slowly without taking his eyes from her face. "Then you would count this as a symbol of your devotion to me?"

Nura's eyes looked on him, searched his face, felt his gentle hand upon her wrist. "Once it was merely devotion. Now I think a truer belonging, for as long as you would have me." A small smile drew at the corners of her mouth.

A smile appeared on Anubis' lips as well. "Even if that may be eternity?"

Thinking this a jest, Nura giggled lightly. "I suppose you shall have to ask me again in a few thousand years, but yes, I would think, an eternity."

"Perhaps I shall." he said, still grinning. "I would wish to have such a token as your bracelet, something to show my belonging… to you."

She arched her brows then looked down at herself. "But I've nothing. We left my necklace. The other bracelet destroyed. I've nothing but my shift and belt." She looked back to his face and dark shining eyes, her own expression disappointed. "I have nothing to give you, Lord Anubis."

Still his gaze seemed trained on her face as she felt his fingers begin to slip the knot of her belt. "Does this not bear your mark, Little Light, and would it not serve to mark me as your own?"

Quietly she spoke a "Yes." but barely before he had freed the knot. He leaned in to wrap his arms around her waist then stepped back again with the belt in his hands. "Then I shall wear it… and if you will excuse me, I will allow you to proceed with your bath." He grinned and bowed to her then stepped away and left the pool chamber.

Nura watched him go. His long strides were so majestic. His hair shifting across his bronze back sent shivers through her. She let her eyes drift downward as he receded, past his belt and short garment to watch his muscular legs carry him away to an arched exit from the pool chamber. She hesitated another moment then turned to look at the pool, so inviting. Still, she had to take a look over her shoulder once more to see that Anubis was indeed gone. This confirmed, she reached down to gather the hem of her white linen shift and drew it up over her head. Her skin, though tan, was pale compared to the dark night. She was a silhouette of ivory against the blue black mirror of the pool's surface. Her raven hair caught what scant light was available and shimmered.

Deep in the shadow of an archway, was a stifled gasp which Nura could not hear, or so Anubis hoped. He watched her hair fall across her back, down to the small delicate curve of it and nearly to her smooth rounded buttocks. He watched her step gracefully into the pool and down the stair as the water, fortunate water, caressed her skin. A flash of light, reflected from her bracelet, brought him back from his reverie. The quartermoon was rising. Anubis turned to go into another chamber.

Nura took the last step into the pool then stooped to let the cool water cover to her shoulders. With another dip, she let her head sink below the surface and rinse the dust of travel from her hair as well. When she stood again, she dipped her hands into the water and cupped it over herself, smiling all the while for this was most pleasurable soft water and her skin had been parched by the sun. She began to sing lightly and then lighter still for the sound echoed in the chamber.

Silently he entered. Patiently he stood. Longingly he watched. Anubis had paused at the top of the stair into the pool, holding his tray of items with a rather tight grip. When Nura turned and caught him from the corner of her eye, her singing abruptly stopped in a scream and a splash. She crossed her arms over herself and stooped into the water to her shoulders again, looking wildly up at him.

Anubis' voice was solemn. "I am sorry there are no others here to bathe you, no attendants, no eunuchs... only me." He bent over and set the tray down in the stone recess near the stair then worked to remove his own belt and garment.

As he was unveiled, Nura looked away. In fact, she turned her back to him and shivered. She began to speak over her shoulder only after she heard him stirring in the water. "Tis I who should… I can at least bathe myself."

He waded toward her, hands dipping in the water and trickling as he raised a softening sponge. "But I have wish to."

Nura stood up and turned toward him, though she kept her arms crossed over her breasts. While the water level was near even with her waist, it struck across Anubis' hips. She felt her eyes linger there too long and looked down into the pool again. He began to coax the soapy oils and a citrus fragrance from the soaked sponge. Her voice was muffled since it was directed at the water but still the chamber magnified it enough. "Somehow it is easier to be seen by attendant or eunuch."

Anubis nodded though she could not likely see it. He continued to work the sponge, beginning to draw water up over his own shoulders with it as he slowly proceeded toward her. "Yes. There is the comfort of custom and… neither attendant nor eunuch shall ask anything of you, hm?" At last he came to stand before her, easily within reach. His voice became a whisper, almost so quiet that the chamber could not repeat his words. "My Little Light, if I can see from behind the mask of the Jackal, would it not stand to reason that I can see through linen or water, if I had wish to?" He calmly dipped the sponge again then drew it up across his chest while watching her.

Her eyes took a side glance at him first, from beneath her long lashes, then her face tilted up. "And… had you wish to?"

His solemn face then smiled. "That may be a question I should not answer or perhaps you can glean the answer for yourself." He dipped the sponge as he reached to her then pressed the water laden sponge to her shoulder and let the soapy scented water run over her skin. Nura looked aside at his hand, watching the rivers of bubbles cascade down into the pool. She felt his free hand slipping beneath hers and slowly he drew her arms away from her chest. She promptly wrapped them around her waist. She stood shivering in the water, watching his eyes as his hand drew the soft sponge across her neck.

Anubis' eyes followed the path of the sponge across her collarbone and downward to the swell of her breast. She gasped lightly as the sponge brushed across her nipple then released it and followed the curve of her breast around and back up to her neck again, all beneath his bronze hand.

"Tis just a bath. You needn't be frightened." His calm voice over the water's trickling sound dancing in her ears.

Nura's voice was shaking even as she was. "No. Not just a bath. Never by a god, never by Anubis… nor by any man."

Again he nodded slowly as his hand and the sponge descended to capture her other nipple and breast in the soft swirling motion. "Yes. I know the vows of the Initiates."

Trading the sponge off to his left hand, his right one drew up and slid along her neck, fingertips coming to rest at the nape of it beneath her hair. His thumb brushed gently along her jawline as his eyes seemed to look straight into her. She had not seen this before, this focus. His eyes seemed to verify his words. "I'll ask no more of you than you have wish to give."

With his hand he gently tilted her head back and closed his eyes as he leaned to press his lips softly against hers. She lost sight of him as well, but felt from their joined lips, a warmth that spread through her body. Her hands found his bare waist and arms wrapped around him. She felt the sponge in his hand travel around to press along her spine. Breaking from the kiss in a gasp, she turned her face from him and pressed her cheek to his shoulder.

Anubis easily drew her up into his arms and moved across the pool with her, sitting her on a stair, still within the water. As he settled her there, he sat himself a step below her and to the side where the tray of soap and sponges rested.

Nura looked at him and blinked. She watched his back stretch as he reached to the tray with the soap and ladled a portion onto the sponge. Anubis looked straight ahead at nothing while he lathered the sponge. When he turned back, he slipped his hand beneath her elbow, suspending her arm and washing it thoroughly, shoulder to wrist. He let the sponge float idly near her stomach while he cupped water over her arm to rinse her skin. The sponge was taken up again to wash her other arm similarly, with his gentle waterfall of rinsing.

As the sponge was then more thoroughly applied to her shoulders and neck, Nura lay her head back, beginning to relax just a little with his unhurried attention. The sponge and his hand again followed the curve of her breast. This time there was a deep breath against it and a slight shudder. She could not see him, but Anubis smiled.

Gradually, Nura lay upon the steps, willing herself to relax there as Anubis soaped the sponge again. Her head was resting back on the top step, out of the water, but black tendrils of her hair floated about her mostly exposed shoulders. When the sponge was once again applied to her skin, she felt it sliding across her stomach and downward into the water. One hand reached out and caught Anubis' other arm. This made him stop the sponge's motion.

Anubis rose up in the water then. Nura squeezed her eyes tightly shut for she was certain she should not look, however curious she might be. She felt him sit back down, closer to her side. His arm slid under the water and beneath her, supporting her back. His hand made a secure rest for her neck. He leaned over her then to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth which made her smile.

He raised up again and grinned. "Ah, my light is back."

Nura opened her eyes to look up into his face and the stark eyes were so close. "This light is often flickering, fading, sputtering with fright, at least in this new world you are showing me. Especially in this new world."

While Anubis held her, while he looked upon her, his hand once again brought the sponge up to her stomach and began a slow descent. "This is not a new world. Tis only new to you. If you wish to explore it…" The sponge slowly swirled just beneath the water and over her tummy. "Am I not the Guide?"

Lost in the depths of his eyes and beneath the gentle pressure of his touch, a whispered "Yes" was her reply. She concentrated hard on his face and within his eyes until his hand brushed her thighs and gently nudged her legs apart in the water. Nura's lips parted in a quick breath. Her eyes closed as she felt the soft texture of the sponge and the warmth of his hand gently caress her. Her heart raced almost as much as her mind. Again she felt this was not real. It was too much like her dreams, her wishes, yet she felt his attentions between her legs and the gentle pressure of his fingers supporting her neck. It must be real. Nura started to shiver again tho not entirely from nervousness.

Anubis looked down to her hand gripping his upper arm. He saw her swallowing against a knot in her throat. He continued the slow gentle motion between her thighs as he leaned to press a kiss to her cheek, then whispered. "You are no longer bound by those vows. That world is behind us." He drew back to see her eyes open again. She nodded and took a halting breath as the sponge slipped away into the water, replaced by his fingers lightly touching her. Then his hand lifted away.

Nura was both relieved and disappointed when his hand left her. He gently prompted her to sit up again then reached to catch the floating sponge. With great care but little more attention than the eunuchs, he washed her legs. He then motioned for her to turn and swept her hair over her shoulder so he could scrub her back. For a few moments, Nura felt this was all perfectly natural for this indeed had been done for her countless times.

The sponge left her skin, prompting her to look over her shoulder at Anubis. He was looking down thoughtfully as his fingers worked more soap into the sponge. After a moment, he looked up to her and there was something she could not define in those black eyes, something sad perhaps, but she really had no way to read them. "All is well?"

Anubis was brought back from his thoughts, "Hm? Oh, yes. I have finished. I suggest a good rinsing." He put on a smile for her and waved off handedly toward the center of the pool. She nodded then easily drifted from the steps into the deeper water, floating and half-swimming, stirring enough to rinse away the soap. She went under again and stayed long enough to swish the cleansing water through her hair. When she came up to the surface once more, she rose only enough to reveal her head and shoulders above the water, self-conscious again.

He seemed completely preoccupied with his own washing now. He worked the soapy sponge over his arms, chest, stomach, beneath the water and back up again to start on his shoulders. He didn't seem to notice that Nura was gradually emerging to stand her full height in the water, nor that she was walking toward him. When she was within reach, he gazed at her curiously, even more so when she took the sponge from his hand. She was blushed, but let him watch her as she ladled soap onto the sponge and worked it in before stepping behind him. As he had done, she swept his long black hair over one shoulder so she could scrub his back.

With her first touch of the sponge, Anubis shivered. Nura began very slowly, stroking at his neck then over his shoulder blades and along his spine. "Surely you have had any number of attendants to serve you in this way?" She eventually covered him in the lather, watching her hand and the sponge work against his smooth darker skin.

"Yes. Any number. Endless numbers." He barely breathed. His eyes had closed so he might thoroughly enjoy her attention.

Nura released the sponge into the water then and let her hands reach to him, very lightly running her fingers over his smooth skin, through the soap. Her fingertips traced along the ridge of his shoulders, then drifted down along his spine. She explored the contour of his shoulder blades, his taut muscles.

Anubis swallowed hard. His hands drew closed in the water as he forced himself not to turn to her. He forced himself to stand and not do anything to risk interrupting her.

She stepped in closer then closer still and pressed her body against him, laying her cheek against his soapy shoulder, her breasts pressing against his back. She could hear his quickened heartbeat and felt a long soft sigh escape him.

He tarried there a moment then abruptly stepped away from her and suddenly ducked into the water, surfacing again some distance away. There was confusion on Nura's face but a smile on his. His voice was husky, even though he tried to make it sound light hearted. "Seems to me you are again in need of rinsing." As Nura looked down at herself, Anubis disappeared under the water. She stooped in the water and rinsed the last of the soap off then began to ascend the steps to leave the pool. Anubis surfaced near the stairs and stood up, watching her. "Leaving me?"

"Just… finished with the bath, I think." On the top step she picked up her linen shift and held it in front of her as she turned to look down at him. He began to ascend the steps and since he was already only hip deep in the water, the first step revealed his manhood, the water level crossing his thighs. Nura briefly saw him then turned but did not step away. She could hear the water trickling back into the pool as he completed his ascent and came to stand behind her. She flinched as his hands touched her shoulders.

Anubis slid his hands down her arms then they left her. He leaned to the side to pick up his clothing, draped it over his arm and walked around her to the archway. Stopping there, he turned to face her again, careful to cover himself. He motioned for her to join him. "If you like. I have sleeping quarters here."

Nura held her shift in place as she crossed to the arch but he had already turned away. She found herself in a dark corridor with a low soft light several paces away and followed it.

( Continued Page 2)