C
A
R
T
E
R
Like all bad things, the first domino in the chain of events was a dream. Well, technically ba travel, but at the time Carter was still unaware of the difference.
He was floating through the Duat, something he'd only done once or twice since the execration of Apophis. He landed right smack in the Hall of Judgment. A very worried looking Osiris sat in his throne, with a slightly less worried Horus on the side.
"Hi Dad, Horus. Umm… why am I here?"
"The power of the gods is returning. We expect magicians to be able to channel us by sunrise," Horus stated, despite the fact a bird's beak should be incapable of such feats.
"How? I thought we… kind of messed with that ability."
Osiris explained, "The gods are tied to Chaos. If Ma'at is gaining power, so is Isfet." He saw Carter's expression, "Not Apophis. This is… new. I've never felt any thing like it."
"Never?"
"Never. This suggests something of another pantheon. Has Sadie told you of your mother's prediction?" At this point, Carter was lost. However, he was the Pharaoh of Egypt, and he had to at least manage not to look as lost as Sadie would be. Or just try.
So he pretended to understand when Osiris explained about the Greeks in Manhattan and the Romans in Oakland. And he somehow kept a straight face through the convoluted explanations of Hinduism, Shinto, and Norse mythology. In fact, he didn't break until the Aztecs.
"Gods that feed on blood! No. This can't be real. There can only be one set of gods. It's the founding principle of religion!"
It was Horus who replied. "Yet it is. At some point you must stop relying on the known and take a leap of faith. As for the Aztecs, they're minor players. Not very important. In fact, the only pantheon that could be responsible is the Greco- Romans. The rest are to far away, and have no grudge against us."
And with that, Carter's ba returned to his body.
P
E
R
C
Y
Percy hated demigod dreams almost as much as he hated his senior year. They could never be a godly parent just saying hi, it always had to be some sort of apocalypse or another. This conversation with his dad was no exception, but it was weird in its own way.
"So there are a bunch of other pantheons, one of whom is the Egyptians, whose plans for an attack on camp you intercepted?" Percy asked Poseidon.
"How are you taking this so calmly?"
"After about the fifth time saving the world you get used to it. Frank and Piper are gonna flip though. They're the least used to the really weird stuff."
"Try not to get stabbed when you tell everybody then. Better yet, have Chiron tell them. Well, err, guess that's it. Uh, bye son.
And on that awkward note, Percy regained consciousness.
To Chiron we must go.
C
A
S
S
A
N
D
R
A
The Egyptians had been planning an attack, and Cassandra was sick of trying to explain to Carter why his technique wouldn't work. She could be using this time to catch up with the people who were in the 21st Nome during the Apophis fiasco. Instead, she was stuck trying to explain misdirection to the one of the only two hot guys at Brooklyn House she was too scared to flirt with. (Zia is just that scary. They other guy is Walt, because she refuses to flirt with a god of death under any circumstances.)
"Look, you're a warrior, not a strategist. The trick is to make them think we're trying to come up behind them, then charge in through the front gates." She pointed to the corresponding parts on the map of Long Island.
"Isn't that typically reversed? Anyway, what do you know about strategy? When we found you, you were Las Vegas pickpocket masquerading as a magician."
Honestly, he hosted the war god a few times and now he thought he understood everything.
"Both of those professions deal with drawing someone's focus over here," she said as she extended her left arm completely and snapped her fingers. "While doing something over here." Her right palm turned upright to reveal a black leather wallet, which she threw to Carter.
"Fine, you've made your point. I thought you were working with Cleo to overcome your kleptomania."
"I have. But the incessant need to defy authority is still there. And I hate to break it to you, but you are authority."
Carter sighed and exited the room. Cassandra smiled. The boy made it far too easy.
A/N There it is! I've introduced one OC, and my conflict has been set up. I promise a new chapter hopefully by the end of the month.
