Next chapter up, its kind of small but the getting's good! Sorry for the wait, school's very hectic!

I do not own the gods and goddesses of Egyptology. But everyone else...yeah pretty much mine. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Embodiment

Jahi's mother was living in the women's department next to my father's harem. I'll make a note to visit mother while here. I let Jahi enter first into the apartment. I hear him greet his mother and then he beckoned me inside. The apartment smelled of peppermint, probably to settle her aches and pain. The room was decorated with charms and sage to ward off the evil eye and Anubis. And there resting on a love seat near her window was a woman with long auburn hair wearing a long sheath dress. Her chin resting on the back of her hand gazing out the window with an afar look in her eyes. "Mother," Jahi takes my hand and takes a step closer. "I would like you to meet my bride, Neferbennu. Neferbennu, my mother Maria." Jahi's mother turns her gaze toward us. Maria was strikingly beautiful. With a pretty round face from pregnancy, glowing tan skin with dark honey eyes. She was glowing with motherhood. She smiled warmly at me.

"Princess Neferbennu, praise to you. What a pleasant surprise to see you again. I remember you and your brother when you two were little babes. Such beautiful children you are." Jahi's mother spoke with a little Spanish and Grecian accent. Quite colorful, I now see the Grecian and Spaniard side of him. "Come closer," I let go of Jahi's hand and approached the woman. She took my hand and kissed it softly. "By Amun you look just like your mother. She was in here earlier keeping me and the baby company. Would you like to see her?"

"Of course." Maria nodded her head over to the small cradle near her bed. I went to the cradle and inside beheld a tiny baby girl. Onyx black hair crowned her tiny head and light skin marked her color. A little Greek baby she was.

"Beautiful isn't she? Yes she has the looks of a Greek, but she'll earn her color playing outside with the rest of the children." She chuckled.

"Very beautiful indeed. Her hair is black as night." I noted, running my fingers over her soft down hair. The baby shifted in her sleep, outstretching her arms before resting again.

"Takes after her father. You may hold her if you like." I nodded and gently cradled the infant in my arms. Jahi had gotten me a stool for me to sit. "Tiny isn't she?"

"Very so." I gazed down at her child, my little sister-in-law. A nurse then had come to take Maria to bathe and rewrap her wounds.

"I'll be back soon. Enjoy your stay here dear princess." Maria smiled and then left with the nurse. I sat here with my betrothed bouncing his sister in my arms. Jahi brought a stool beside me and hovered over my shoulder to gaze his sister.

"Her name is Shainefer." He said stroking my shoulders.

"Good Destiny," I mentioned the meaning. "Lovely." I then caught Jahi staring at me deeply for a long time, it made me laugh. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I was just thinking, seeing you with my sister in your arms. You will be a beautiful mother." I chuckled.

"Oh, you say that now. Jahi, have you ever been in a room of birth?"

"Well, one time when my aunt was giving birth in Espania," then he paused and I had to laugh. Shainefer roused a little with a short whimper and then settled back into her comforting state. "Your right." I nudged him and we both began to laugh. The wet nurse then came up to me and gently took the sleeping child from my arms.

"Come, let my mother and my sister rest. I want to spend some time with my future wife." We left his mother's chambers and went to the stables.

I wished to see my prized jewel Besa. When I entered the stable, I heard Besa whinny for me and kick the stall. "Hello, my Besa!" I cooed at my horse. Besa was my prized companion. A big and masculine black stallion he was, with a grey patch covering half of his eye and muzzle. He was my thirteenth birthday present from father; even though I despised horses Besa should me how to love them. Ampu, the caretaker greeted me and let Besa out. "It's okay Ampu, I have Besa." I took Besa from Ampu and led him into the corral. I let Besa's reins go and watched him prance and gallop around like a little foal. He galloped circles around me and whinnied with delight of the feeling of his long legs stretching.

"A beautiful horse you have there." Jahi smiled.

"Yes, my Besa is the best."

"Would you care if I rode him?"

"Umm, Besa doesn't really like men all that much. Especially if there near me." With that Besa neighed loudly and stomped his hooves as Jahi approached him. "Besa be nice!" Besa didn't care, he galloped away at every moment Jahi came closer to him.

"Be still, you beast!" Jahi groaned trying to catch after him. I laughed at how Besa tricked Jahi every time. Letting him get closer and closer till Jahi was close enough then Besa would run away. Jahi got frustrated and sprinted toward Besa and caught his reins. "Got you!" Besa let out a hollering whinny and yanked his reins from Jahi. "Oww!" Jahi yelped clutching his hands. Then Besa stood on his hind legs and started kicking the air.

"No Besa! No!" I cried out. "Jahi look out!" Jahi gazed up at horror at how large Besa was. Oh no, dammit Jahi! As Besa was going to tower down Jahi, Tehuti emerged into view and caught held of the reins. Tehuti yanked Besa, pulling him back down with all fours to the ground and steadied him.

"Whoa boy!" Tehuti then yanked Besa another time as he tried to pull away. "I said stop!" Besa's tantrum immediately came to a halt and he calmed. Tehuti nodded to Besa who stared at him with big brown eyes. I hurried to Jahi, who had fallen to the ground and helped him up.

"Jahi are you alright?" Jahi nodded speechlessly and stared horrifyingly at Besa. Tehuti led Besa to me and handed me the reins.

"Magnificent horse he is. But needs to be a bit more obedient." Tehuti addressed me.

"How dare you." I said, but I smiled at him.

"And you sire, should listen to her. She is wise in many ways." With that he left. I beckoned Ampu over, mouth dropped for have seen the whole epidemic, closed his mouth and took Besa from me.

"Jahi are you—,"

"I'm fine. If you don't mind Neferbennu, I would like to retire early." He kissed my cheek and then hurried out of the corral. Besa had scared Jahi witless, for I hadn't seen him for the rest of the day and dinner.

To pass the time I played the harp while Hemen perched on top of the gilded arch. Jahi was supposedly going to stop by and visit me but I don't think he will come. Besa did scare him witless and I'm pretty sure he's trying his best to earn his color back. I sighed and called for Padmavati.

"Yes my lady?"

"I wish for a bath. Can you—,"

"A nice hot bath is already waiting for you my friend. You looked as if you needed one." I raised my brow in awe and just followed after her to the baths.

Oh the glorious water was pleasing to my body. I sat there, neck deep in hot massaging water. It smelled of lavender and orange blossoms. I ducked under the water and then surfaced, running my hands over my slick hair. I gazed at myself at a nearby mirror and wondered. I stepped out slowly and approached the full frame. There stood a girl with forming hips, round and somewhat large breasts. Her hair was long and wavy like a waterfall. That girl was me. I looked different. I no longer had the face of a young girl but a young woman. Nor the flat body I had at the age of eleven but a taut and shapely round one of seventeen. And I loved it. Then I heard the patter for footsteps. It was a rather late hour for a bath and knew no one was here. I dismissed it and continued gazing at my maturing body. "Oh my dear, such a lovely gift you have." A smooth and sensual voice had sounded behind me. Only one person could have that voice. I turned back around and looked through the fog of my steamy bath. Then suddenly a bronze body pressed against mine, causing me to grasp the mirror behind me. I tried to cry out but I couldn't I was mute. "Don't fight back," it said. A hand caressed my hip and grasped my breast. His finger pinched my nipple and I gasped in pleasure. "So round, it fills my whole palm." He breathed before kissing my neck, tracing and drawing his tongue against it. Who was this? Why is he doing this? Why am I enjoying it?!

"Who are you?" I managed to say. He didn't answer but continued to please me. Hell, I let him. "Do it," I demanded. Wait that wasn't me! And with that I finally could move. The body, the person was gone. What in the hell was that? Who the hell was that? I ran my hands through my soaked locks and shook my head.

"Oh princess," a hard Spanish accent said surprisingly behind me. I turned to see Maria and Padmavati behind her. Maria began to bow but I shook my hand and told her to stand. "Thank you. I apologize to intrude on you at this late hour but I just needed a bath." I took pity for her, having her baby this afternoon.

"No not at all. Please join me. Here let me help." I hurried to her side and helped her ease into the steamy bath. I beckoned for the masseuse to massage Maria while I soaked.

"Oh, I could get used to this. Even though it's nothing new." Maria chuckled sighing. I smiled and let Padmavati bathe me.

For a while after Padmavati bathed me, Maria and I soaked in a warm milk bath. The goat's milk would smooth our skin and remove all the other impurities. Maria hummed to herself and talked about how Jahi was growing up. One time when he was very little he loved to dress in her jewels, prancing around and proclaiming himself king. "I swear it was the cutest sight you will ever see!" she giggled. I giggled with her until the sound of the baths doors opened. A tall slim figure along with a dark short haired servant followed behind with towels in hand. "Oh, hello Kepi," Maria said while shifting herself to face Kepi. "Nice to see you. How are your parents?" Kepi kept her eyes forward and frowned.

"Fine." She finally answered after disrobing and her servant began to bathe her. I look to Kepi and her eyes cut at me with an evil glare and snapped at her servant to hurry. The servant girl hurriedly scrubbed at her skin till Kepi yanked herself away and ordered her to dry her. I'm a princess; even I don't order a servant around like a mule. Within minutes Kepi and her servant were out of the bathes and on to their business.

"I know what you're thinking, princess," Maria mused. "She's a handful isn't she?"

"Wasn't thinking exactly that." I corrected with a furrow of my brow.

"I know." she smiled and then looked to me. "I only say it that way so no ill misfortune will fall upon me. After all, I did just birth a baby and don't want little one ending up like Kepi. But you must know why she is the way she is." Was all Maria said before being escorted out of the baths.

I lay in bed thinking why is Kepi so sour? I know I have stolen Jahi away from her but still.

"Maybe you should ask her?" A familiar voice said from the balcony. Tehuti emerged from the flowing drapes, his amethyst eyes sparkling.

"What are you doing in my chamber!" I whispered, so Merit wouldn't hear me. He shrugged and had taken a seat on a stool. I covered myself with my sheets and sat up. "State your business servant!" Tehuti sighed and threw a loose strand of hair behind his ear.

"Once again princess, I wished to be called Tehuti."

"But you are in my palace, my home, in my chamber to be more exact!"

"Not your palace, it is your father's and soon your brother to own. Yes, it is your home and yes I am in your chamber. Your point is?" he rolled his neck and flicked his hand. Before I knew it I was standing over him and he was on his back. I had thrown my covers away from me and charged over to him, knocking him flat on his back.

"Who are you? Who the hell do you think you are?" I barked. His facial expression was surprising. His brows were lifted in an amusing way with a sidelong grin that soon turned into a devious smile. All the blood had drained from my face then and suddenly my arms were forced to my side and then I was lifted from the floor. I couldn't move! I was stuck! I tried fidgeting but it was useless, I was stuck and still as a statue. I was about to scream until I couldn't move my lips, they felt as if they were glued shut. Tehuti chuckled while getting up from the floor and crossed his arms. His purple eyes turned a darker shade close to being onyx as the gem. Tehuti jerked his chin forward and I went flying to the far corner wall. I was plastered closely to the cool wall with my arms now beside my face but my feet were still glued together. He then within a flash had his face directly between my breasts and his hand clasped around my throat. "Oh," he purred while glaring deeply at me. "Little bird is frightened. Don't say you aren't, because I can see it in your eyes."

He was right, I am afraid. I'm shivering and trying with all my might to scream, move, even blink. But I can't. "Who are you?" I said, but it came out struggled.

"The embodiment of all that is justice and truth." He answered absent-mindedly.

"Why are you here?" I questioned. His grip tightened and I gasped, the air leaving my lungs.

"My father!" he spat. His eyes blackened into pools of russet blood. From his back, wings had sprung, stretching longer than any span I had ever seen on any bird. They were glistening white flecked with gold. I let out a scream and Tehuti only laughed. "Louder Bennu! As hard as you can!" He chocked me even harder and my lips were once again shut. He smiled deviously before disappearing before my eyes. I fell from the wall and rolled onto my back as the air filled my lungs once more and I could finally breathe.

I screamed.