Chapter 19: Unanswered Questions

"It was on a simple day, like this one that things changed for me. I met Isis and Nephthys¹, who was her assistant at the time. Isis sat and watched while Nephthys joined me to weave in the garden."

It was like watching a time loop, Tayet was constantly alone until the two joined her, and when they left, she was alone again.

"This was how the myth of us being a part of each other came out, they thought we were similar to the weavers of fate. After attending Isis and Osiris bonding ceremony, things changed."

She got up from her seat staring at her well wrapped fingers, she turned to look at Maaike who had gotten up with her.

"I was recognized as a goddess, my crown of divinity was revealed…but only the three of us and Imentet knew that it was incomplete. I ended up as one of the weaker gods, my image was never properly known to the human world."

Maaike looked at the young Tayet, with beautiful grey eyes, light bluish-grey hair wearing a simple yet beautiful garment. It was nothing like the mummy standing beside her, the only thing that was the same was the crown.

Noticing her gaze, Tayet continued, "Don't be fooled by her appearance, in the underworld I had always appeared as normal, but my true body is what you see before you…A dead body, I could never reach the peak of my powers, and eventually they were stripped from me."

Before the world could display the story behind that comment, Mya found herself back in the valley in its normal state, but still empty.

"Wait!" She called realizing that Tayet hadn't followed her back, "Why were your powers stripped, why were you Isis servant! How did you get children?"

"You are not qualified to know this…There are too many gods involved, it would do you better to know less." Came Tayet's voice, as though she was right beside her.

"Then why did you show me anything? Besides, why is the Heorte family hated?"

There was no reply, Maaike stomped in frustration, kicking up the dust when the seer reappeared before her. She grabbed Mya's shoulders, and they were thrown out of the space.

When Maaike opened her eyes, she was back in the dark room of the house, Alyssa was staring at her worriedly. She groaned, still dizzy from the unexpected return to her body.

Alyssa cradled her head, helping her sit up from where she lay on the floor. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…At least I think so." Mya replied absentmindedly as she tried to readjust to being in her body. It felt restrictive as well as strengthening, she was beginning to understand what Tayet meant when she said her lack of body caused her weakened divinity.

"Where is she?" she glanced around in search of the old lady that sent her off on a road trip to the past.

"She went to her room to rest, Alma always sleeps at 8pm, but it's already midnight."

Maaike's brows shot up, she had expected it to be the next day or few days later, it had certainly felt like she had spent longer than a day in that valley. As she opened her mouth to speak, a hand clasped over her mouth as Alyssa shushed her.

"It's better not to talk about stuff like this where there are listening ears. Alma said that whatever you experienced there is only meant for your knowledge and no one else's." Maaike nodded in agreement, before using Alyssa's arm to pull herself to her feet.

They fell into awkward silence, waiting for each other to speak. The silence dragged on, giving way to the distant sounds of clubbing, cars, and the nightlife of Florence city.

Frustrated, Maaike made for the exit, "I need some air, I'll see you at Illyan's" Alyssa made a small sound of agreement as she watched her friend leave, it was unknown what she was thinking, but she certainly wasn't comfortable with how things were now.

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There was a chilly breeze outside, Maaike rubbed the tips of her fingers together as she walked out of the hidden neighbourhood. Winter was rapidly approaching, and the stars were showing less and less.

Using the light of the streetlamps and the moon as a guide, she made her way back to the city park. She climbed onto a tree close to the street and watched as the city dwellers went about their business, making no secret of their supernatural backgrounds.

Her index finger tapped against her raised knee, she casually lounged on a branch, unaware of the passing time. At the sight of the first rays of sunlight, a beam stretched across her face, as she silently admired the beauty of the sunrise.

Slow approaching footsteps came from below, she tilted her head slightly to the side to see who was approaching. The person came to a stop staying in her blind spot, she scoffed and rolled her head back to look at the sky.

"Long day?" came the deep voice that seemed to vibrate through the air.

"Don't even ask." She sighed, peeling off a piece of bark and snapping it between her fingers, "It's a beautiful sunrise…"

"I prefer moonlight."

"Like a vampire?"

He let out a low chuckle at that response, stepping forward till he was beside the tree.

"I thought you didn't like to talk?" she asked, her sight fell upon her companion. Lothar simply smiled slightly before returning to his usual stoic expression.

"It doesn't make sense to speak in a silent forest now, does it?" he looked up at her, and she stared right back matching his piercing gaze. Feeling an inexplicable pull toward him, she broke eye contact, disconcertedly adjusting her posture that was already tipping off the tree branch.

"If you need to talk…"

"You're very curious about my problems, aren't you?" she interrupted, it was a silent for a moment as she thought for a bit, then she began to talk.

"I met a seer today…she showed me the past, a past that doesn't seem to have much to do with me."

"The past always has something to do with everybody."

She sneered at his comment, jumping off the tree and landing on her feet. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"No, it's supposed to help you think objectively, we learn from the past and we are products of the past. It's that simple." He said watching her as she walked a few steps away and bent down to pick a small pebble, she threw it deep into the park watching it disappear.

"It's as hard to see the past clearly as it is to find that pebble."

"But you still have an idea of the general location." She huffed at his reply and turned to leave.

"I don't think we'll ever agree on this. Have a good day Lothar!" she tossed over her shoulder and continued on her way back home. He shook his head and walked back into the woods, disappearing into a portal.