Finding Contentus

Chapter 135: The Inheritance of Parenthood

"So, ask away."

The twins didn't have to think. They were synchronized, alternating between one question to the next, and as the oldest sibling, it was only right that Genesia began.

"Mina, Nephthery, Kamilah, Kaili, Aaravi, Brianna, Niccoli, Babaki... you've touched them all with your cheetah spots, haven't you? And the list goes on, doesn't it?" He asked.

"I have and the list does indeed go on. You're only scraping the surface of the sea of people I have touched with my spots. Why didn't you include yourself and your sister?"

"That goes without saying. I'd be cheating if I did." Genesia shrugged without care.

Bantii laughed that wonderful laugh of hers and rubbed his chin, making him purr like a big cat. "Narrow the list down to specifics, otherwise we'd be here all..." She clicked her tongue rapidly like a ticking time-teller. "For all of time."

"You taught Nephthery how to use her eye of Nepthys so that she could see the lines you traced for her to follow, didn't you?" Neosa asked.

"My astral self did. Nephy is and has always been my all-seeing apprentice. My dearest friend. She didn't know it was me. I made her see what she had to see. Though I suspect a part of her was aware, deep down, that it was the Racaan Chieftess spotting the path she had to embark on, the path that would free her and the children she would be forced to bear for her tyrant of a husband. She couldn't have been happier to serve me, to see Ra's descent, despite the toll her chronic melancholy took on her physical self, having to mourn constantly."

Genesia struggled to imagine that. Nephthery, happy? Genuinely happy? Then again, the former Queen made people see what she wanted them to see.

As did Bantii. So when she made a high chirp, rain fell, and from the raindrops, Nephthery was formed in a black dress made from shadow. She wore sadness on her sleeves. Her garden green eyes slid across to Bantii's. Without second thought, she kneeled dutifully.

Genesia's head leaned to one side, a bit baffled. Neosa's mouth hung open slightly.

Bantii motioned for her apprentice to stand, which she did.

Her gaze went to the twins. "Genie. Neokie," Nephthery said somberly. She was already crying, smudging her eyeliner. Except for once, the tears were gathered in thankfulness. It didn't stop the tidal wave of melancholy from caressing them, similar to Ramsis's death feedback.

"It was you," Neosa mouthed. "You planted the ideas of me and Gene in their dreams."

"I had to. Ramela and Ramoth needed something to believe in, something to hope for, something to pray for, something to..."

"Love more than anything," Genesia finished.

"Do not mistake my intentions." Nephthery wanted to set the record straight. "I didn't control or manipulate them into caring for you without any will of their own. That was their free choice. An idea is nothing if the individual discards it. I did not know how Ramela would perceive her wish granting lamp, or how Ramoth would perceive his door opening key. I feared they would not give the items second thoughts. I was glad the items continued to grow in their minds and desires until they took shape in you both."

Nephthery gave them a concerned look. "I did not know that their love would be this... impassioned," she said lightly. "It was the same for my younger brother Kesi. I wasn't sure if he would fall in love with Aaravi. The only two I felt the most confident in were Kamilah with Ramsis and Musawenkosi with Ramiya."

"Just as you knew that Papa would..." Genesia didn't need to say more.

"I mentally prepared Kamilah before Ra tortured her mind and overpowered me before pushing us and the children to your father who wasn't your father," Nephthery said neutrally.