What was considered tragic was completely subjective. It depended on who you asked. One could die violently in battle or peacefully in sleep. So would prefer the forr, while others sought the latter.
It took everything I had to restrain my emotions. My strong sensitivity about my girls made find Zanele's words offensive. What exactly did she an by that?
"Successor. I can feel your bloodlust. Please don't be offended. What I am about to say are things I witnessed with my own eyes. If you wish to stop here I don't mind. But I think you, of all people, need to know the fate that awaits you."
I clenched my jaw as I tried to process her warning. My mind kept going back to the dreams I saw. The apparent deaths of my girls, or more accurately, their past incarnations. Part of why I abhorred this topic was that it hit too close to ho.
"Yeah, sorry. Continue. My {Kindred}, please restrain by whatever ans necessary."
Wordlessly, seven bodies pressed themselves against .
Lilly and Jo took each of my hands and snuggled to my sides. Aki and Bella slipped their arms around my torso as they embraced from behind. Liv, who towered over everyone, ca behind them and wrapped her arms around my neck.
Not to be outdone, Jas patted and made stretch out both my legs. Then she and Robyn lay on them like spoiled cats. Their bodies, soft and warm, cald my emotions. I felt their determination in their touch.
Everything will be all right. We are here.
Though no one said anything, they all reassured as best they could. I found myself smiling in gratitude at their silent act of devotion. With my entire body wrapped in heavenly softness, I nodded for Zanele to continue.
"To put it simply. The Sins changed the Successors. As I ntioned, the Successors were heroes. They started out helping those around them. With ti, they would venture out and help more and more people.
"Along the way, without fail, they would co. Won of incredible beauty and strength. All of them would show the sa attributes: imnse attraction to the Successors. They would seduce, flirt, and captivate the Successors. Often succeeding."
Zanele then showed a vacant expression. Her eyes beca unfocused as she gazed into space.
"I see. Thank you, Exa. Then please do. I don't mind showing my mories."
'Exa?'
[As Zanele now exists in the Exa Network, I can extract her mories and share them with you. Here are the figures she called the successors.]
At my AI's words, portraits of five African figures showed up in my vision. They were all incredibly fit and had bodies that looked like they were chiseled from stone. The Successor all exuded imnse masculinity and all looked fierce.
[And here are the Sins associated with each Successor.]
Under each male portrait, seven smaller ones appeared. Each showing an incredible beauty that was on the sa caliber as my Sirens. The thirty-five won ca from a wide variety of races. The majority had dark skin, but about a fourth did not.
There were Asians, Europeans, and even Arab won in that fourth. Which ant that the Sins not only ca from those on the African battlefront. Sure there was more, I waited eagerly for Zanele's next words.
"As you may have noticed, a large majority of the Sins ca from Africa. So ca to this land in search of the Successors. While others were those the Successors t from foreign lands. I didn't get to et all the Sins, but I know of almost all of them.
"While their situations differed, there were a few things that remained the sa. The first was that each Successor always had seven. I didn't even know they were Sins until I t the third group. They were the ones that shared that it was what referred to their kind.
"Second, with or without the Successor's intent, he would et all the sins before going on a quest. And unfortunately, that was the start of where it all went wrong," she said, her tone somber.
Zanele's eyes regained focus as she exited cyberspace. Exa similarly removed the portraits floating in our vision. The matriarch in front of us took a minute to compose herself. Given how the Sirens and I acted, I was not surprised.
"I ntioned earlier that all the Successors were charismatic and powerful. But they also shared a trait that was uncommon in Reapers. An admirable one. It was the will and the noble spirit to end the nightmare of Hellsgate."
"WHAT?" I blurted out. Funnily enough, all the Sirens asked the sa thing.
Taken aback by our outburst, Zanele looked like a scared mouse. When she determined that there was no danger of being shot, she continued.
"It is true. What made the Successors charismatic and heroic was because all of them envisioned a future free of suffering. A world where the Reapers need not be bound to eternal servitude from a life of battle with Hellsgate.
"That was who they were. And through this vision, they acted and amassed power quickly. However, that changed with each Sin that they t. While all of them started out the sa, they also beca warped by the end without exception."
Zanele's mories of the Successors made feel like I was staring at my reflection. Even though we were different, the stuff we did and desired was mostly the sa. If it felt that way, was it the sa for the girls?
I felt the girls tense up from Zanele's last comnt. As if they braced themselves to hear terrible news, the Sirens all hugged tighter. Lilly then asked in a trembling voice.
"Explain."
The Soldat Matriarch nodded, "As I ntioned, as if by so manner of destiny, each Successor t with his Sins. The Successors would et a Sin, fall in love with her, and bed her. But that was when the change began.
"Upon waking up, the Successors would be distraught. They would all begin rambling about a future they had experienced. All of a sudden, their behavior and outlook would change overnight."
Bella clutched tighter, as she sought answers. "What happened to the Sin who slept with the Successor?"
Zanele took a deep breath. She then gazed at Bella. After a mont, she said, "There are slight differences, but it always ends in one of two outcos. They would either try to murder the Successor or commit suicide."
"…"
My girls audibly gulped at the answer we received. Their links were as tranquil as a calm river. But I knew my girls were struggling to process this. I tried to calm them down, but even I was a bit confused.
Jo then furrowed her eyebrows as she asked, "Zanele, can you explain further? What exactly happened to them? Use a specific example if possible."
Hearing my Darling without a chuckle drove ho how serious the situation was. There was no playfulness that remained as she spoke.
"I spoke to several of them, and they always gave the sa answer. It was that they misunderstood the visions," Zanele replied.
My Northerner then interjected, "Zanele, please refine your responses. What does that even an? Did the Sins ntion who sent them?"
The matriarch shook her head. "The Sins, upon expressing their discovery, always beca distraught. They would go into seclusion or confront the Successors. If the latter should happen, it always ended in their death. If the forr, suicide."
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