Chapter 18 My split personality

I have been married to Romulus for many years. We have had one daughter we named Prima, and a son we named Aollios. As you can tell both were names that stood under the roman standard. I was even renamed. They named me Hersilia. Romulus picked it when he had me proclaimed a true roman. The name means delicate. Romulus said it was because I was so precious to him.

Our life was good and very blessed. Our little family thrived. However, I could feel that there was change in the air. The town of Rome has been growing, and growing. Romulus says that before to long they will have to change the town statis to a city. We are very proud of what we have started here. As our children grow, we watch those around us growing and changing as well.

Romulus and I are getting older in our years and our children have been growing up. They are nearly both the right age to marry. It is a time of peace and prosperity. When our children do find their spouses, they will marry and move to start their own families. How I look forward to grandchildren.

Since marrying Romulus, life has been good. I could not have asked for a better life. Romulus has never once asked me to use my flame for betterment or detriment. As a matter of fact, he is the only person that knows of my abilities. He has said that my abilities are for a rainy day that may never come. I am his gift from the Gods and should be used wisely. Besides loving me and standing by my side he has no other need for me at this time.

I am surprised even now how I have grown to love this man. I felt when I first meet him, that it was doomed. But I have grown to love this man. He has only ever done right by me. Plus he is a good father. I do not know what the grand plan is. But I can understand why he was chosen, with his leading abilities, his open heart, and love for his country. He leads his people to prosperity.

We have had a few squabbles with the neighboring towns. But such are the issues when a town grows. Romulus has been talking about erecting walls around the outer perimeter to help protect our people. But he is afraid that he may be to old to see their completion. If he does pass before the construction can be completed, he wants me to oversee the project to fruition.

I have not told him, but I do not think that is how my certain condition works. You could call it like love bird syndrome. If my partner dies than normally that means that it is time for me to be reborn again. I have been praying about it. I think that God has sent me a possible solution.

Instead of me having only one egg, I will separate myself into different parts. God has given me the capability. One day, when it is needed I will bring myself back together. But for now, I can let bits of myself rest at a time. Sometimes all parts will be awake, sometimes none. Sometimes just a few will be awake. It all depends on what is needed in the world at the time.

Each of my separate selves will have their own power. Like being able to control water, or fire, or wind. All will have the ability to light ablaze. All will be able to fly. All will know when it is time to come back together. All will know who, what, why, and where this split happened. Because of this split, I will be able to withstand the construction of the walls. The day they finish, is my last day. That day I will burn.

Romulus does not know any of this. I just cant seem to figure out a way to explain it at the moment, or to decide if he should know. I have already laid three eggs. I know I will lay four more eggs. All the eggs are beautiful and made of gold. The three we have so far are red, violet and blue. I have taken them to my cave up on the volcano. They are tucked away neatly in a slow moving lava flow. I wanted to make sure no one could disturb my children.

It is not easy keeping such secrets from Romulus. He knew even before I did that we were expecting both our children. But I can not tell if this information is a need to know or not. He has so many burdens on his shoulders. I would hate to add this. Plus, he will never meet our children. Nor will i! They can not be born until we are both gone from this world. Also, it would give him the knowledge that it will be happening soon. I do not wish to give him grim news.

Oh! NO! I can feel another egg coming. Thank God it is late at night. I threw on my dark cloak and snuck out of our home. It was easy enough to dodge and weave through the crowds without being seen. I had surly had enough practice. My only problem was gagging on the egg stuck in my throat. It was cutting off my air supply.

As soon as I got out of the city limits, I dove into the river. I let the river do its work and cool off my heavily overheated body. It forced the egg back down. But now my stomach looked huge. I knew that meant it would be coming out the other end and soon. The less I walked the better.

I quickly did a quick check of my surrounding area. There was no one within sight. I let the fire take hold. The water around me began to steam. It made a thick mist for my quick escape. Just incase someone did see me. Then as I got hotter and hotter I began to float out of the cool water. I was floating in midair now. I slowly stretched out my fiery wings back behind me. Boy it felt so good to let myself go! Then with two huge flaps of my wings I was up and flying in the air.

I was at my cave in no time. As I walked into the cave I could not help but to smile at the memories. I had brought things up here and there from my new home. I had baby booties from our children. Some of my favorite dresses that had gotten to old to wear now. A painting of Romulus and myself. Several small bags of coins that Romulus would give me from time to time (I never had been much of a shopper). And some jewelry.

I wanted the new phoenix's to see some of the things that they would remember fondly. If the volcano should every erupt, I wanted my memories to be saved in this cave. I made this cave with my own power. I knew it would withstand the test of time.

I walked over to the down filled mattress I had made with goose feathers. I laid down and let the pains wash over me. Because I did not let it come out the traditional way (through my mouth), it was now going to come out like a real baby. I had no midwife to help with this. I was all on my own.

As I lay there screaming in pain, I was glad with the though that no one could hear me why up here. However, I was proven wrong. In the midst of a particularly bad contraction, Romulus came in and took my hand. "My beautiful and silly wife, did you really think I did not know? I have been with you for the birth of all our children. This includes the three in the shaft. I am a proud father. But you are and even prouder mother. You sneak off like a cat to have her kittens. I know what this means. I knew before I married you. My end is near. But what a wonderous life it has been." He leaned down and kissed me on my forehead. "If you can my love, see the wall built. If you can't I understand as well. Now push my love."

I smiled, not knowing what else I could possibly say. I pushed and not one, not two but all of the last four eggs came into being. Romulus hugged me and told me what a great job I did, while I laid there recuperating. After a few minutes I was finally able to talk. "Romulus how did you know about all of this? I did not know how to tell you any of it. I thought it was better for you to not know. I never wanted to hurt you."

Romulus kissed my forehead, "My father told me all of it in a dream. I watched you have the first three eggs in that dream. I was there for their births as well as these. Even if it was not in person. I understand why you did not say anything. My time is nearing. I can feel it just as much as you can. But what you did not know is that I am going to become immortal. You are already immortal. You are passing on your Phoenix genes to your eggs. Once I become an immortal, you will no longer be a phoenix. You my love will be the bride of an immortal. You will become immortal as well. No longer human. No longer a phoenix. The genes will be passed on. Are you too upset my love."

I shook my head. We kissed and hugged. Romulus helped me to place the new eggs into the lava stream. Now there was a red, violet, blue, indigo, green, orange and yellow eggs. The eggs glowed in the light of the lava. I blew them all a kiss and Romulus helped me to walk back down the volcano.

I tried to flam up. But the flam would not ignite. I could still feel it. But I could not reach it any longer. Romulus was not bothered. He was happy as long as I was happy. He was not able to make it for much longer. His father called him to his side in heaven to get his immortal status. The wall was half way done.

When the wall was completely done Romulus himself came and retrieved me. He took me to our castle in the clouds. We stayed living there together from that day to this. We have been in love and the feelings have only grown stronger ever since.

My eggs did hatch and there were now seven new phoenix's in this world.

1. The Red egg hatched as the Fire Phoenix. The Fire Phoenix controls anything hot and fire in its entirety.

2. The Violet egg hatched as the Wind Phoenix. The Wind Phoenix controls all the winds. Which helps control storms, waves, and the tides.

3. The Blue egg hatched as the Water Phoenix. The Water Phoenix controls tides, water in general (even in the dessert)

4. The Indigo egg hatched as the Earth Phoenix. The Earth Phoenix control earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes and the sands.

5. The Green egg hatched as the Nature Phoenix. The Nature Phoenix controls plants, fungi, flowers and all things that grow.

6. The Orange egg hatched as the Animal Phoenix. The Animal Phoenix controls all living creatures.

7. The Yellow egg hatched as the Storm Phoenix. The Storm Phoenix controls all storms. From hurricanes, to small storms, to heavy winds.

They were identical except for the color of their hair. All with enormous possibilities. All knowing their past present and the possible future to come. Let me know if you would like this story to continue.