The path led the three of them through the coast along a trail that was compacted by thousands of feet, or millions or perhaps even billions, it was hard to tell seeing as they were in the land of the dead and were on there way to greet the lady of the world, the queen of the dead. The path they walked down was made of a darker sand then the surrounding white colored beach, and on either side there was water, like hey we're walking on a bridge of sand that was only a few feet wide and on either side was the pounding sapphire and golden waves.

How this small spur of land survived in the pounding surf he had no idea, but there it stood, defiant of all.  But around them was not simply the waves, in those waves were the distinct forms of cities, of abandoned architecture that stood defiant of nature until the end. Tall white columns shot out of the water, piercing the sky like a sword thrust up as the warrior holding it sunk below, one last defiant stab before the bitter black.

The curve of arches of a city made of marble and gold was to the right, each of its white domes capped in a lustrous gold, proof of the skill and spirit of man, but this glory was only in passing as the waves surged and swallowed it up, covering the gold in azure that reflected the cloudless sky, defying the creation of those under it, and laying claim to all below its dominion.

As the waves receded the city was gone, as though washed away like all so much sand in the pound of the surf.  In its place lay another city, this one more recognizable to Dan, it had a distinct roman feel to it, the columns and arches, and what looked like a coliseum was in the silhouet.  As it sunk back beneath the waves a blood red slowly poured out of it.

The blood red tide spread like a rose blooming in the water and from it the moans and chorus of the damned could be heard, from the far banks of the shore in front of them they could see the bloody hands of the dead as they reached out of the water and beckoned to the three of them, one of them pulled itself onto the shore, and stood there dripping with blood and a hole in the place where his heart should have been and pointed at Dan.  Dan once again positioned himself in front of the three of them, and pulled out the khopesh,

He recognized the face right away. It was twisted and deformed, looking like that of a demon’s, covered in Akkadian runic dialect and bright glowing eyes that seemed to burn without light or life.

Richardson.

It pointed at Dan, shambled a step forward and pointed to the sea of corpses.

All of this is your doing.

Out of the see more people pulled themselves, all of them looked to be like Richardson before he had been turned into a Gallu.  Some wore clothes from the past, some from the future, some wore things he couldn't even describe, but all of them had a hole in the chest.

All of this is your fault.

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The versions of richardson kept coming out of the ocean of death, they called to him, each announcing themselves to him. I was a teacher, a priest, a father of four, a construction worker, a trader, a slave, a farmer.  On and on they continued millions of voices calling out, each proclaiming that they had done him no harm, had caused him no pain.

We died for your pride.

They each looked at him accusingly, and each of them had every right to do so, he had after all robbed them of their very lives. Their very souls.

We died for your hatred.

The guilt washed over him, pure and whole, like a dark cloud over the sun the beauty of the world faded away, he looked behind him and watched as Apate and Abyzou turned away from him, disgusted with his deeds. Sickened at the sight of how many he had killed, how many lives he had taken, he reached for them but they shrugged his hand away.

We died.

He felt there cold whisper in his ear and the touch of there hands and he turned towards them, swinging the khopesh.

“I killed you, I killed all of you so I could save one, it was my decision that you died.”  he growled, “I take full responsibility!” he roared at the multitude of death in front of him.

Then join us, repent and take your place.

“I cannot,” he said looking at them all, as they weep tears of blood and reached for him. “One day I will, but for now I must defy you, I have too much to do, far too much. I cannot join you today.” Gritting his teeth he rushed forward into the thousands, for Amani, Abyzou, Sara, Bastet, and even Apate he would carve through them if he had to, he would multiply his sin killing them all again if it meant he could accomplish his goals.

As soon as he reached the area the dead were calling to them they simply vanished,  in there place was a sweet song, one so at odds with the calling of the damned it seemed sweet and perfect in his ears.

“Do not listen Dan,” Apate floated around to the front of him, flying into view.  He closed his eyes and felt the tug, he could likely get to the song even with his eyes closed. He took a step forward, and then another, he would get to this one way or another, the pleads of Apate were of no concern, not to his mind as the sweet sounds found there way into his ears, and into his mind.

He would have taken another step if he didn't feel a soft feeling brush against his lips, his eyes flew open and he found himself in the embrace of Abyzou, she had wrapped herself around his legs and lower torso, and had positioned her upper body to match perfectly with his own, she had tears in her golden eyes, and a sad look on her face.  As she pressed her lips against his own he could feel the burning hear from her teas as they slid down his face.  She placed her forehead on his own and whispered to him. “Please, don't go, I don't want to be alone… never again,”  she cried, her eyes glassed over like she was not actually seeing what was infront of her, but rather what she wanted to see. “You promised me...” she wept, a single hand came down and struck hm on the chest weakly as she shook from tears.

What had prompted this?

This entire situation was out of the ordinary.

“The realm of death is a location that has a will of its own, it is a land as well as a woman, her name is Irkalla.” Apate explained looking at the sky above, “She is a seductress, but as she cannot seduce physically she lies in wait and attacks mentally.”  Apate looked at the two of them. “You almost drown in the sea, as she tempted you away from land, away from us.”

Dan looked around, and found himself on the same piece of land he had originally woken up on, as though nothing had ever happened.

But he could still hear them, he would never be free of that calling, not until he joined them.

We are dead.

you killed us.

We did you no harm.

And you killed us.

One more word range out in his head, and he was unsure if it was there calling or his own...

murderer.