Realisation
As Zahra walked around the house, she wondered why she was so drawn to the place – why all of the mail had her name scribbled onto it. She saw pictures with multiple people on them, along with Egyptian artefacts and maps, everything an explorer would have in their house.
Omari had gone to check that upstairs was clear as well, also sensing that Zahra wanted to talk to the god he knew was present by the way Zahra was relaxed. Nephthys cared a lot about not putting Zahra in danger that didn't serve a purpose and her avatar trusted her in return.
"You lived here," Nephthys commented. "This is your house."
"I don't remember it," Zahra replied.
"I can only see what you have done in your past," The god replied. "I cannot see your past possessions, your friends...I'm sorry."
"So what do you know?"
"I know that you have a good soul, not perfect, but good," Nephthys explained with sympathy. "You have killed few and those that you did, they had tainted souls. You always gave the offer for them to be saved but in the end, all chose death. Much like now."
"Then why are you okay with me murdering people if you are the protector of souls?"
"I am also the goddess of death, Zahra," Nephthys replied carefully. "Before all else, we protect the innocent, even if it involves the death of a tainted soul...but we never kill anyone, even the tainted, unless we have to. Unlikes some gods..."
Since she became an Avatar, Zahra realised that she had never purposely gone after someone to kill them. She went after, found and rescued the kidnapped, harmed and criminals but she only ended their lives if there was no other choice.
And which other gods was Nephthys referring to?
"I need to find out who this is," Zahra demanded. "This man, there are so many pictures of us...this looks like a wedding!"
"We do not have time, Zahra," Nephthys replied sternly. "We have things to do. You have a large mission that I have received word on."
"What–"
"Zahra! Look what I found," Omari went running down the stairs towards his trusted friend,"Your birthday!"
"I thought you had something serious, Omari," Zahra sighed. "My birthday is the least of my concern, really."
"I'm going to tell you anyway. Your birthday is on June 28th and you are thirty-five...which is crazy because I wouldn't have put you above twenty-three–"
"Mari, stop," Zahra placed her hands on his shoulder. "I understand this all excites you but this is serious. I'm looking for anything that tells us I'm not welcome in other countries for whatever reason."
"It looks like you had a normal life from what I can tell," Omari replied. "You had a husband...not many friends apparently and no kids but something tells me you were planning on that because–"
"Was there any sign of me being a criminal, Omari, or being chased?"
"No."
"Okay then," Zahra sighed in relief. "I think that we should–"
The door of the house swung open and an arm was wrapped around Zahra's neck. In a quick motion, Zahra summoned her armour and threw her head back, spinning and pinning the intruder against the world. Omari gasped from his place, soon standing next to Zahra with his gun.
"Zahra?!"
"Who are you? What do you want?" Zahra demanded.
"It's Layla! What the hell?"
Zahra slowly stood back from Layla but kept her armour on without her mask, which still allowed 'Layla' to clearly see her face...and her two swords attached to her back.
"You're alive," Layla exclaimed. "Marc said you died! Where the hell have you been?"
"Who are you?" Zahra questioned, raising her eyebrows. "Who is Marc?"
"This isn't funny, Z!" Layla cried out. "Marc was devastated, he said he held you in his arms and you weren't responding...that you had been stabbed."
"I'm sorry, I don't know you or Marc," Zahra replied. "I don't really remember anything outside of the past two months. How did find me if you thought I was dead?"
"This is your house," Layla replied in confusion. "Marc and I bugged it in case... in case someone ever tried to raid it. We kept it as a safe house. And, who are you?"
"Omari at your service, Zahra's emotional support human! Oh and a certified assassin astronomer."
Zahra ignored him.
"You need to leave before. I don't know you and I don't know why you think I do," Zahra replied. "If I hurt someone close to you, I'm sorry but–"
"Zahra, drop the act. I've searched the perimeter, there's no one here. Just tell me what happened!" Layla cried out. "You've been gone for months and I don't know if Marc lied or you did some kind of stunt..."
"I had...an accident of sorts that's caused me to lose my memories," Zahra emphasised. "I'm not lying to you. I might have known you...but I can't...listen, I'm not lying."
"What do you remember?"
"My name," Zahra sighed. "I remember the information I knew, such as books and poems but I can't remember people, faces or memories."
Zahra tried to take a deep breath in, picking up a picture of herself and the man from the shelf,"Is this Marc?"
"Yeah," Layla nodded."Yeah...the two of you were married."
Zahra stared at the corner of the room, where Nephthys stood with her head tilted. The goddess didn't want to interrupt at that moment but Zahra could sense that she wanted her to get onto more important matters.
"If this person knew you, your memories will begin coming back," The god spoke. "Every encounter with your past life will form them with the help of the symbol. But it cannot be forced."
"What?" Zahra blinked.
Layla went to reply until she noticed her friend wasn't even looking at her but starting intensity at the empty space.
"Who are you looking at?" Layla questioned before her eyes widened,"No, no, surely...tell me you didn't make yourself an avatar, Zahra. After everything with Marc."
"I don't remember whoever Marc is!" Zahra yelled. "I don't know him! I barely remember you and now you're telling me that I shouldn't trust my god because of a guy having a bad time with his?"
Omari was getting slightly agitated with how angry Zahra was getting, an emotion that was rarely brought out in her. Even when she faced moments of death, Zahra could dispatch from what she had done because she knew they had a choice.
"How did you meet Zahra?" Omari asked to allow Zahra a calm moment.
"Our fathers worked together," Layla replied. "We've known each other since kids, went on adventures together, and met Marc."
"You said this Marc and I are married," Zahra whispered. "What is he like?"
"He's an asshole," Layla laughed. "God, he could be so annoying but he was Marc. He's the kind of person who knows you can protect yourself but refused to let you go on missions anyway – not that it mattered, you would just follow him. You weren't anything alike in any way."
"That sounds...stupid..."Zahra stared at Layla.
"It was just how it was," Layla replied. "He was a terrible friend sometimes but he was always good to you, no matter what. You two weren't always perfect but you had this insane trust for one another."
Zahra nodded. It was a lot to process but she was glad to finally have someone who she felt she could trust completely...despite not really knowing her. It was just a feeling she had rooted deep in her bones.
"Zahra, we cannot stay here," Nephthys warned.
"Why not?" Zahra questioned. "Is something wrong?"
"Uh," Layla went to answer but saw Zahra wasn't looking at her again,"Right...god."
"Nothing is wrong but we have work to do and there is another god interfering!" Nephthys warned. "We must find Arthur Harrow before Khonshu messes it up–"
"Who the hell is Khonshu?"
"Now we have to find Marc!" Layla interrupted,"Listen, I can't see whoever that god is but I know Khonshu's avatar, okay? Just...just come with me."
Zahra stared at Nephthys, who seemed to have made a decision to allow Layla to see her. Zahra soon realised this went Layla's eyes widened at the sight of the god. It wasn't good practice for the gods to allow anyone but their avatars to see them but Nephthys had the power to choose.
"Right, who are you?" Layla questioned.
"I am Nephthys, I have many purposes but I serve as protectress of the dead," said the god. "I mean my avatar or you no harm."
"She's cool!" Omari nodded. "She likes to rush but I can't blame her, things need to be done."
"Uh, right," Layla turned back to Zahra,"Zahra, I don't know how to tell you this but Marc, the guy you're married to, is an avatar too."
"Of course, he is," Nephthys huffed. "Khonshu is the reason for my troubles. We must move now."
"Omari, can you stay here?" Zahra questioned. "We still had a mission and someone needs to take over while I'm gone."
"Stay safe, okay?" Omari warned. "Zahra, I don't think this house shows who you really were and I don't want to see you arrive back here in tears."
"You know me, Mari, I'll be fine," Zahra scrambled through her back and handed Omari files and a notebook. "Keep these hidden. Page 3 has all the singular people you should be able to go after alone. Stay safe yourself."
"Zahra," Omari moved to whisper to Zahra. "Remember that you don't really know if you know these people. Trust no one."