Annabeth
Rockaway beach had yet to recover from its latest disaster. First a hurricane then a freak wind storm bringing down an abandoned building. Some places never catch a break. Though no mortal would ever believe that an Egyptian/ Greek god came back into the mortal world and tried to create a domain for himself, out of the rubble of the mortal world. His rise had been the fault of Setne, an evil magician back from the dead.
Thanks to a team of Egyptian and Greek godlings. That was a new one. First you find out you're a halfblood then you find out there are Romans halfbloods too, now Egyptians. My head wanted to split open with possibilities.
Percy and I had gone to see Chiron in secret and told him of their adventures with Carter and Sadie. He had been teaching me the Egyptians myths since then. Man, I thought my myths were weird. The Egyptians owned weird. Gods were human with animal heads, Isis conceived Horus when Osiris was dead but was most disturbing was the myth about the book of Thoth.
Ramesses the Great had a son named Khaemwaset who called himself Setne. Setne was obsessed with books and learning.A prince of Egypt would normally spend his days training in battle or hunting. Setne was happiest in the royal library, surrounded by scrolls. The god Thoth, recorded everything in creation. History of the worlds, Egypt among others. He recorded each god in great detail as well as the creation of the world and every spell Isis herself created. The knowledge and secrets of the universe in one book. Setne desired the book and as a child of Athena, it was easy to relate to. How many times did she herself wish that the Caesar had not burned the Library of Alexandria? His act destroyed an ancient marvel, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and a collection of documents from Egypt, Greece, Persia, India. The library's scrolls were worth more than all the gold in the world. All of that knowledge was lost.
Setne tracked the book of Thoth down to Memphis where there was a tomb for the first prince whom had stolen the sacred book before. After a game against the prince's spirit using deceit, Setne won and stole the book. Thoth cursed him like the prince before him. Setne's son died during the trip back to Thebes and then Setne himself fell into wild dream where he had lost everything to him. The bodies of those he had loved were taken and hidden away as part of the curse. Only when he restored the book to its resting place, did the curse fade.
I paced the floor in the big house's living room. "If Setne stole the book before and was cursed into returning the book , why did he steal it again?"
"He still wants the book and its powers but he was stopped by the gods. He resents them and whatever his plans are, his power needs to be equal to the gods if not superior before he can go through with his schemes. " Chiron answered.
"Setne wants to become a god. Is it possible for him to use the book and become a god? Chiron, can that happen? "
Chiron sighed. "It is more than possible, it has happened once before. Imhotep was a vizier to the pharaoh Djose in the third dynasty. He was born mortal but soon became a god himself. He was jack of all trades you might say. A priest, scribe, doctor and was a patron of astronomy and architecture, all while he was mortal. According to papyrus scrolls, he designed the step pyramid at Saqqara for the pharaoh Djose. In legend, Thoth took a liking to him, perhaps due to his vast desire for knowledge or perhaps because Imhotep once returned the gods' sacred book to him…"
"The book was lost before? First lost then stolen now stolen again. Maybe the god should consider keeping an eye on his stuff." Percy quipped.
I resisted the urge to smile as Chiron continued.
"When Imhotep returned the book to its master, Thoth granted him immortality through the book. Because it is also a spell book in addition to being a record of history, it is capable of great and dangerous magic. The story is that Imhotep himself gave himself godhood by reciting a spell in the very book."
"How to become a god for dummies, Endorsed by Imhotep, god of lost and found." Percy smiled.
I nudged his arm.
"Joke as you may, Percy. This is no laughing matter. Raising a god is no easy task, anyone that can wield that kind of magic is dangerous. Becoming a god would make Setne nearly indestructible and the god he raised…..Sometimes things are best left in the past, Percy. Raising the god will prove to be as disastrous as raising Kronos again. " Chiron said.
"Is there any way to beat them? Setne and Serapis?" I asked.
"That seems to be the question, my dear. In war your greatest weapon is always knowledge, Annabeth. The more you know about an enemy, the greater your chance of defeating them. But in this, I cannot help. Though Ptolemy the First made him what he is, he was and is an Egyptian god. His history is recorded in a language I am not skilled in. Perhaps your new allies, the Egyptians might help you in that department. Consult with Rachel before you leave. I will tell the others at dinner."
Percy and I went to Rachel's cave and repeated to her their discussion with Chiron. Rachel looked between them as if trying to decide whether they were being serious.
"Ancient Egyptians? In Brooklyn."
"Romans in California, Greeks in Manhattan." I piped up.
"Fair point." Rachel shrugged . "I assume you need a prophecy for your quest?"
Percy and I nodded.
Green tendrils of smoke rose from the floor and danced around her.
A hissing sound overtook the evening's silence like a chorus of snakes singing or possibly laughing.
Across the sea, in the land of sand
The prince's ambition is again at hand
The sleeping queen must you wake
Worlds of gods lie at stake
Find the crown of eternal life
And bring an end to the god's strife
Rachel's knees went weak and she quickly sat down on her bunk. The green smoke faded away and the hissing stopped.
Percy looked at me. "What does it mean?"
He was used to me having the answers all of time. Rarely was I ever lost. Then the conch horn sounded announcing dinner.