Hathor bit her lip. Anubis was extremely upfront about how demeaning it was to take a human lover, granted he wasn't too fond of all of the incestuous relationships within their realm either. Having an affair or marrying a deity from another pantheon was ideal for him.
" You stupid girl. I don't know how to protect you if it's a mortal. I- um- Okay, first thing is for both of us to calm down, yes?" She said after wrapping the young deity in her arms.
Kebechet held on to her tightly. " Should I tell Djedi?"
Hathor stroked Kebechets’ hair " Yes, you should tell him. Prepare him. Kebe, you both need to understand that this is extremely serious and it could be considered an offense on both of your parts."
Kebechet frowned " Why should he get in trouble? It's all my fault. I'm the one that confessed first. I'm the one that brought him to my bed."
"But he went willingly, perhaps he refused at first but in the end he went and kept going. You two should have just stayed friends. You tell Djeni that dumbo about the trouble you two have brought out and then come back. I'll go with you to tell your father."
Kebechet hiccuped looking at her close relative. " I'm sorry for bringing you extra stress Hathor.”
Hathor just gave her a motherly smile and helped Kebechet wipe away her tears. " Come, no matter what happens I will be by your side. Now let’s fix your make up."
After fixing her appearance Kebechet went back to her temple and looked for Djedi. As he always was, he was in the study. She closed the door and then set up a shield of silence. Djedi gave her a curious look. He hadn't aged much over the years, and took good care of his face and body. "What's going on?" he asked setting down the scroll he was reading.
Kebechet gave him a weak smile. " We've caused a lot of trouble." She said softly.
Djedi felt his heart drop. " W-what do you mean?"
Kebechet sucked in a breath through her clenched teeth. " Um, it's more like we did something that will now cause us to reveal things ourselves."
Djedi looked at her completely lost. " What? Kebi make sense please."
Kebechet opened her mouth to speak but couldn't get the words out. Suddenly she started thinking about what if he had wanted her to terminate the pregnancy so that they didn't have to reveal their relationship. Djedi stood up and walked around the desk to take her hands into his. " Kebi, what's wrong?"
Kebechet looked at him and then shut her eyes " I am pregnant." She said so softly he almost missed it.
Djedi tightened his grip on her hands " So what do we need to do? Run away??" He asked
Kebechet shook her head " No we need to confess, say that I seduced you and that you were just following orders from your goddess but then you grew to love me beyond just being devoted as a high priest.”
Djedi gave her a serious look “ I’m not going to put everything on you.”
Kebechet rolled her eyes “ My punishment wouldn’t be as harsh. You just do as I say. I’m going to tell my father later today and then we’ll go tell the pharaoh. I’ll say something like I want to keep you as a consort.”
Djedi frowned “ I had sex with you willingly, we knew what we were doing and maybe every once in a while we didn’t take preventive measures and this time it really got us. I’ll go speak to the pharaoh myself and you and Hathor go to your father. I’ll take my punishment from the Pharaoh and maybe your father will be easy on you.”
Kebechet pursed her lips but nodded, “ Okay fine.”
Djedi gave her a huge smile and moved to hug her close. He kissed her temple.
“ Everything will be fine.”
Kebechet smiled and kissed his cheek then vanished from his hold. She went back to Hathor who held her hand as they approached her father.
He was a big muscular man, with dark skin, a bald head and stoic face. He looked up when the two women walked into the room and gave a wide smile at his only child. His teeth shown bright and he stood to greet them. He enveloped Kebechet into his strong hug and gave Hathor smiled at him pleasantly and Kebechet gave him a nervous grin. Sensing something was off he let her go and took a step back.
“What has you looking so frightful my dear?” He asked
Kebechet felt her mouth go dry. “ Um.” She looked at Hathor for guidance.
“ Anpu” She started, “ You know how much we respect and love you right?”
Anubis gave her a suspicious look “ Yes I do, and what does that have to do with your strange behavior?”
Hathor scratched her head “ Well, with as much as you respect and love you I hope you think the same of us.”
Anubis blinked “ Have you been around that burning bush again Hathor?”
Hathor coughed at the mention of a former past time and blushed “ No, I am just telling you what I hope."
He rolled his eyes “ That’s such a foolish thing to ponder, of course I love her and respect her.”
Hathor grinned and slowly led him back to his seat as she spoke “ Wonderful haha, great that’s what I like to hear.” Once he sat down she chuckled nervously “ Because we have something to say.”
Anubis motioned for them to continue.
Hathor put her hands on Kebechets shoulders “ Kebe has someone she loves.”
Anubis smiled widely “ Aha, this is why you were so nervous? I am happy for my daughter. What pantheon is he from? How did you meet?”
Kebechet froze and turned to look at Hathor who nervously laughed again. “About that, he’s not from an outside pantheon.”
Anubis’ eyes widened “Damn, she fell for the trap. So then, is it Thoth?” He asked with a resigned sigh.
“Ah no. He’s not part of our pantheon either.” Hathor said slowly
Anubis’ eyes narrowed “ Hathor, if he’s not from an outside pantheon but also isn’t part of ours then that only leaves the...No.” Realization dawned on him and he crossed his arms resolute in his decision.
“Listen to me Anpu, they love each other. Why can’t we let them be?”
“Because it’s foolish, to love a simple thing like a mortal. They are so feeble and their lives are like little specks of dust. It doesn’t make sense to love a mortal.”
“ But can you tell someone to control their heart?” Hathor asked
“ No, but I can make it so they don’t have one. That boy especially.” He said seriously
“ Well it’s too late.” Kebechet chimed in.
Anubis looked at her “ What do you mean by that Kebechet?”
Hathor looked between the two and was about to cover for Kebechet when the younger goddess spoke her voice sounding much more calm than she probably felt.
“ I am carrying his child.”
Suddenly the room felt ice cold and everything looked devoid of color. Anubis stood and walked over to his daughter. She gave him a stubborn look as she met his stern eyes.
“How could you be so foolish?”
Kebechet didn’t look away from his hard gaze “ Because no matter how fleeting it is, I love him.”
Anubis took a deep breath. “ You need to get rid of it.”
Kebechet and Hathor gasped “ How could you say that? If she wants to keep the child then let her.” Hathor argued
“ She can’t keep that thing inside of her.”
“It’s a baby.” She pleaded.
“Get rid of it, that boy too. You must stay in this realm for 90 days and 90 nights.” He sentenced
“Anubis, he’s already gone to the pharaoh. It’s too late too keep them apart. Just let them go. I’m sure Anput would agree with me.”
“ Well let’s ask my wife what she thinks.” He stood up and screamed his wifes’ name loudly.
A few moments later a figure showed up in the doorway. “ Was it absolutely necessary to scream so loudly?”
Anubis pointed to Kebechet “ You speak to your daughter.”
Anput looked at the room confused, her teasing manner gone. “ What happened baby?” She asked immediately going to hold her daughter.
“Mama.” Kebechet cried.
“What did you do to make her cry?” Anput asked glaring at her husband.
“Me? She brought this upon herself. I spoil her, I give her as much as I can and this is what she does.” He huffed in anger.
Anput looked at her daughter who had tears running down her face. She looked at Hathor confused “ What happened?”
“ She fell for a human.”
“Okay, they can just be seperated for a while and their feelings will go away.”
“Anput. She’s carrying his seed.” Hathor said softly
Anput pulled herself away from Kebechet. “ You silly girl. You know how your father is how could you be so foolish?” Kebechet bawled harder and Anput held her once more tightly.
“He said I have to get rid of the baby.” Kebechet managed to gasp out as she sobbed
“ Who said that?”
“Yt.” She said referring to her father.
Anput looked at Anubis who held a stubborn face then she looked at Kebechet. “ Let me speak to him we might find a way. In the meantime, just listen to what he says. I might be able to make it so the only punishment you have to serve is just staying in the realm for a couple of weeks.”
“ She has to stay in the realm for 90 day and 90 nights.” Anubis repeated.
Anput sighed “ Okay fine. For now it’s 90 days and 90 nights. Hathor can you go with her?”
Hathor nodded, took Kebechet's hand and then disappeared.
When they got to Kebechets home,Kebechet crumbled to the floor.
“Kebe please, try not to cry it’s not good for the baby for you to be like this. Let’s try to calm down.”
Kebechet hiccupped and looked like such a sorry sight.
“Come, let’s go wash your face and we’ll talk and keep planning. Your mother is speaking to your father and I’m sure that things will work out.”
Hathor helped Kebechet stand and then brought her to the bathroom and a servant brought her a basin of water to wash her face. After a while Kebechet was able to calm down but felt very tired. Hathor spent the night by her side. The next day Anput came to see her. The three goddesses sat in the sitting room and discussed the news of the day prior.
“ So after speaking to your father, he’s still not calm. He’s very upset since he’s made it known how he feels about mortals but he also knows that you can not stop the heart. His want for love and need for an equal partner is what created me in the first place. The mortal went to the pharaoh didn’t he? He’s probably confined in his home as well, or jail if the pharaoh thinks it’s a lie. But once your father eases up then you can go and speak to the pharaoh.”
Kebechet spoke in a clear manner and Kebech understood there wasn’t much left that she could do but soon she and her love would be reunited and they’ll have a happy family together. They both just needed to hold on for a little bit.
The days passed and Kebechet continued her duty in helping her father in the afterworld. She was only allowed to oversee those who had passed and purify them. One day the last person she expected to see came into the room she occupied. Her eyes immediately swelled with tears as the man sat in front of her.
“No.” She sobbed repeatedly and grasped the mas hand “ Not you.”
Djedi just looked at her with tears in his eyes and moved to wipe her tears away.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ll be fine I just have to follow the steps and I’ll be in The Land of Two Fields. When I’m there, it could be possible for ou and the baby to visit me sometimes, no?” He tried to comfort the weeping Goddess.
“ But this wasn’t supposed to happen Djedi, how-how did this happen?”
“ I am a priest who thought so highly of himself that he’d sully the body of the goddess who refreshes the pharaoh and brings water to souls waiting for their mummification process to finish, with my seed.”
Kebechet choked back a sob “ B-but I wanted you to.”
He gave her a sad smile “ That doesn’t matter to him. To think I’d do such a thing, in a way was a threat to him, especially since our Gods don’t ever take a human lover and the first time they do, it’s with some priest not even the pharaoh. I understand that.”
“ But why did you die?”
“ Because the Pharaoh declared that sleeping with a God is subject to treason. I went even further and impregnated you. So I had to die.”
Kebechet cried for a while and then stood up and left the room. When she returned she held a bowl filled with water. “ This water is from my private lake. Drink and let it refresh your soul.”
Djedi took the bowl of water and drank it all in one go. Right after, a wall shifted and slid to reveal a long hallway. “ Continue to the end of the corridor then knock three times slowly, in that room you will be judged. Confess all of your sins and proclaim why you deserve to move on to afterlife.”
Djedi nodded and kissed her temple “ I love you Kebi.”
Kebechet gave him a worried look and hugged him quickly before pushing him into the corridor “ I love you too.” The wall slid back into place and then she waited. She waited and waited until she couldn’t anymore. She peeked into the room of judgement to find that the room was empty she went into the adjoining room to see her father hanging a scale on the arm of a woman. The Goddess of judgement plucked a feather from her hair and handed it to Anubis. He placed it on the scale and then hung another scale on the opposite arm of the woman. On this scale he placed a heart. He then adjusted the scales so they were both equal. Kebechet saw Djedi standing tall and proud. She was sure he’d make it to paradise. Her father stepped away from Ma’at and then let the Goddess do her work. As soon as he let go Ma’at hands shifted up and down before finally sticking to a position. There was a heavy pause and even her father looked upset bt not surprised. Djedi’s heart was heavier than the feather of Ma’at. Before Kebechet could say anything Ammit snatched Djedis heart from the scale and devoured it. Kebechet gasped loudly and Djedi turned to her, he made to run towards her but his body began to disappear and right when he reacher her, he completely vanished. Kebechet screamed at the loss of her love.
“No, he was good. He was so good.”She cried
Anubis moved to hold her but she slapped his hands away. “ You did this.”
She wasn't wrong. Her father had told the Gods that Djedi went against his principles and took his daughter without permission. Even when Djedi confessed his sins they didn't care much for what he had to say, they had heard that the pharaoh had ruled it to be a treason to sleep with a God. In the end his heart worked against him. The following weeks Kebechet found herself in such stressful conditions or made to do such strenuous tasks she knew her father was trying to make her lose the baby. She called upon her mother and Hathor to think of a way for her baby to be born. Hathor came up with a brilliant plan. " Divine birth" she called it. Her father removed all of the priests from her temple and had the pharaoh appoint females in the empty positions. Hathor suggested they place the fetus in the womb of her newly appointed high priestess. Kebechet went to the woman in a dream and tld her of what was to come. The High Priestess readily agreed and the transfer proceeded. The Goddesses told Anubis the baby was lost and Kebechet needed to rest her body. A few months later her baby was born. She named her Na'eemah, meaning benevolent. As she hoped for her child to be just as sweet and kind as her father.
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