50. Ammit Spills the Beans
Aleiraah
I haven't stepped out of my chamber in three days. Strangely, the husbands have not bothered me. They continue to send trinkets and food through Helida and Rozalin, but don’t show their faces.
I’m relieved yet annoyingly enough, I also feel...neglected. I’ve grown so used to their hovering after Duat that their new-found respect for my space has rattled me.
Mentally berating myself and my hormones for being fickle, I consider contacting Anubis through a mirror spell.
I’m a bit apprehensive to take a lust-capsule, my uncontrollable power surges making me wary of what I might do.
I still feel guilty about hurting the husbands, even knowing they don't expect an apology.
Within moments of finishing the spell, three of them pop into the mirror's frame, wearing happy smiles.
“Look at that glow, Aleiraah!” Bastet purrs with a wide grin and I thank Anput for the lust-capsules which makes Anubis rub his snout with his large paw, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Bastet snickers while Anput graciously accepts my gratitude and promises more capsules if needed. Anubis is pulling at his dreadlocks by the time she finishes, so I decide to put him out of his misery and ask after Ammit.
Duat's fearsome yet beloved pet shows up into the frame, shaking out her lion's mane. Cooing, I promise hugs in person for next time. I catch them up with all the drama that's been unfolding around my husbands and they soak it all up like gossiping pixies.
Anubis shortly gets called away because some self-important deceased is demanding additional luxuries in the afterlife.
Bastet has to go as well since a few of her worshippers are up to some mischief within their tribe, leaving me alone with Anput and Ammit.
I holler my thanks to her for sending a plushie replica of her toe beans I’m currently cradling to my cheek, marveling at its softness. She blows me a kiss before vanishing.
Anput watches me patiently with those kind yet knowing eyes until I crack and start blurting out my insecurities. "Anput, do you think I have been too harsh on my husbands?" I look at her hesitantly, my voice heavy with self doubt.
"In what way, Aleiraah?" She queries in a calm voice.
"I've been in a polygamous marriage for over a decade. Some of my husbands...they've shown interest in other females. Maybe it's just for begetting offspring, maybe it's more. But do I really have the right to be angry about it? To feel betrayed?"
The question has been gnawing at me. Because we aren't regular mortals. Supernatural society’s norms are more fluid.
Ribbons of golden sunlight spill through the windows, mocking my mood. I can't untangle the knot in my chest, especially now, when the seven hang onto my every word, as if their existence hinges on my smallest decision.
Case in point––them giving me space and acting like reclusive wraiths.
"They act as though I'm their whole world. As if their happiness rests entirely in my hands. Their attention clings to me like a scent—warm, protective, almost worshipful. And I don't know whether it's love, guilt, or something far more dangerous."
Anput remains quiet until I gaze back at her then asks, "If you were in their position, how would you have handled things?"
"I...I kissed an incubus, Anput. He is an old friend. I wanted to see if I could feed and he was just there. I was tired of my body rebelling against me. Guess that makes me a cheater too." The confession feels like a boulder sitting on my chest.
"Was that the only reason? Were you hungry?" She probes gently.
"Not really...I was mostly feeling cranky. Azael had just burned off the separation decree, again, like I was a foregone conclusion. I think I also wanted to prove that I wasn't without options, you know?" Shrugging, I rub my forehead in frustration.
"Aleiraah, you are a succubus. Yes, you are in a committed polyamory but things have been tumultuous for a while. The lines are blurred at present, and maybe you felt a little vengeful?" She smirks and I sigh.
"But you didn't answer my question, if you were in their shoes, what would you have done?"
Without a second thought, I snap, “I’d never consider other males, my husbands were enough.
But I had seven of them, and they just had me.
That’s the conundrum. If the situation were reversed, I’d talk to them.
I wouldn’t listen to others spill venom behind their backs, and I’d never sneakily cheat!
Hell, I even kissed Herouk openly before everyone!
” I tug at the braid Helida made, wishing my hair was loose.
“I trusted them enough to be honest about my needs.
They made things worse, and I kept giving them one chance after another.
That's on me. But I was devastated when they stood between me and the mortal who attacked me—shielding him instead of me.
They should have been looking out for me.
I'm their wife, dammit!” A sob catches in my throat.
I swipe at my eyes with trembling fingers, old fury curdling in my chest.
Taking a deep centering breath I try to push back the horrible memory, as it makes my insides burn with an ugly feeling.
"Oh, Aleiraah." Anput's voice is full of compassion.
I lift my gaze and she suddenly steps straight out of the glass. Surprise has me bolting up from the bed as Anput envelops me in a warm hug. My jaw drops in shock as she pulls back slightly, holding me at arm's length with a tender look. "Feeling better?" She asks with a smile.
"How? How are you here?"
She chuckles as I give her another quick hug and offer a watery smile.
"You have Ammit to thank for that. She can travel literally anywhere, at any time. Your tears distressed her greatly and she nudged me to be by your side. Quite literally." Anput glances behind then steps aside revealing Ammit staring up at me with her soulful eyes.
Sliding to my knees I immediately bury my face in her soft wild mane, squeezing her tight in a bear hug.
"Oh, I missed you so much!" I choke out, happy to be reunited. Ammit purrs, resting her long crocodile snout on my back and bracketing my thighs with her lion's paws.
Eventually, Anput leads me to the reading nook and sits by my side. Ammit places her crocodile head on my lap, letting out a sigh. Snow, who had been exploring in the garden outside, flies in through the window and perches on Ammit's head as if they've been long lost friends.
"Ammit and Anput, meet Snow. She found me in the forest bordering the Nephilim castle and has been my friend ever since." I stroke her downy head as she fluffs her wings with a chirp like soft chime of bells.
Ammit purrs and Anput greets Snow with a smile. "A living pharos...how intriguing."
I frown, wondering why she calls Snow a beacon of light, but the thought vanishes as Ammit settles her massive hippopotamus butt onto the plush rug with a heavy thud.
Anput takes my hand into hers. "I understand your doubts, Aleiraah.
And it's natural given what’s been happening recently.
But as you stated, you would have acted differently.
Polygamy requires trust and strong bonds that stretch in multiple directions.
Your husbands fell short in the aspect of trust I believe, due to their own insecurities. That's not on you."
I must have looked skeptical, because she pats my hand, “Tell me, Aleiraah…if they had been honest about wanting other females, about their priorities, what would you have done?”
My heart clenches painfully even considering it.
Because they’re mine! But I force myself to think past the swiftly rising jealousy.
"I'd have let them go. Dissolved our marriage.
I wouldn't be able to witness them having younglings with other females.
Cavorting without a care. I'm not that big hearted.
" Shaking my head I grimace at the idea.
"Then that's how you roll!" She says in an upbeat tone, drawing a laugh out of me. Snow lets out a series of excited chirps, as if she too is happy seeing me laugh.
"Anubis and Bastet's linguistic skills have been rubbing off on you." I bump her shoulder with mine.
She chuckles, then turns solemn. "Perhaps they feared that exact outcome and kept quiet.
Regardless, hiding things and treating you this way was wrong.
Right now, they are trying to make amends, but don't blame yourself for their faults, Aleiraah.
They married you knowing you might not be biologically compatible.
If they changed their minds, they should have come clean instead of acting like idiots.
" Her eyes flash like flint, and the doubts plaguing me dissipate with every word.
"I don't...hate them. It’s too heavy a burden to carry, like a slow poison corroding my insides. But I haven’t forgiven them. They’re to blame for my inability to feed from others and my present state." I point at my protruding belly.
"Aleiraah, you have come a long way since I met you Duat. You have become so much more.” She emphasizes, her voice almost resonating.
“Life will test you, and you might feel like you've relapsed, but it's only momentary.
This pregnancy feels like a burden now, but give it time, this phase will pass.
Decide how you truly feel once the babies are born.
Don't stress yourself now." She peers at me with ancient eyes, and a profound calm settles over my senses.
"Thank you, goddess Anput." I squeeze her hand, filled with affection and respect for her.
Bestowing a kind smile she pats my head affectionately.
"There'll always be people, near ones and distant ones, who'd judge you or try to smear your character.
Don't pay heed. Believe in yourself. And remember, you always have friends you can lean on.
" She presses a kiss to my forehead and a wave of warmth washes over me, reminding me of my mother.
Anput stands and nudges a snoozing Ammit. "Come on, Anubis is surely losing his mind by now without you terrorizing the deceased by his side. He always needs emotional support after dealing with the difficult type of crowd." She shakes her head, making me smile.
Ammit huffs in exasperation but gets up. Snow flies away and sits on her perch drinking honeyed water. Poor thing must have been thirsty.
Ammit nudges my hip, staring deep into my eyes as she speaks directly into my mind.
“The babies are healthy, Aleiraah, and so cute!
We spoke a lot. They are excited to meet you and love the whisperberries you keep eating, especially the fae-dragonlings.
But feed them lots of meat, too; the cubs love that.
They are curious about their fathers, but since they rarely hear their voices, they aren't familiar with those idiots yet.
Don't worry, they already love your voice and you! I will visit again to talk to them. Take good care of yourself and them for me!” She shakes out her mane, then bumps my chest with her snout.
I stare at Ammit, entirely speechless, my mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the revelation. They can talk? The thought that these tiny lives already know my voice and love me stirs something fierce within my chest. I look down at my balloon belly as if in a daze.
I'm having fae-dragonlings and cubs? How am I even having a dragon? Hirsute mermaids and bohemian bigfoots!
By the time I look up, both Anput and Ammit have stepped back into the mirror, waving.
I wave back mechanically, stupefied, until the glass returns to my normal reflection.
I place a trembling hand over my massive stomach, my thumbs tracing the skin where a series of sharp kicks just hit.
“Are you saying hello?” I whisper, feeling stupid.
But if Ammit can talk to them, maybe they understand me, too.
My belly feels heavier, as if it popped some more.
It's absurd—Anput’s presence must have expedited my pregnancy again. Sighing, I sink back into my seat.
"Look kids, I don't know how to feel about you yet.
Sorry if that makes me a bad mother, but just hang in there.
Your fathers fuc––fudged up royally, and I just learned that at least one of you—gods, I don't even know how many are in there—" I rub my face, groaning in frustration, "—is a half-dragon. "
A series of strong kicks rains on my stomach and ribs.
"Ow! Hey! Slow down!" I scold and the kicks die down as I exhale.
"No kicking me in the ribs! I get that you all might be feeling cramped in there, but I'm growing big as a kraken-cave day by day.
As I was stating, I don't know how any of you might be a dragon.
Dragons are not born this way!" I wail looking up at the ceiling, blowing a raspberry, feeling out of depth.
Things just got even more complicated. On the upside, at least now I know what I'm having. Well mostly. I should have not turned into a statue and instead questioned Ammit more. I didn't even talk about my powers with Anput. Ugh!
Well, next time.
If only I knew that there won't be a next time, I'd have asked all the questions in the world.