Chapter Eight – A Long Awaited Visit

It took me by surprise to see that he wasn't in the opera house. It was actually quiet without his horrible guitar playing and the baboons doing their best to take it away from him. No matter how hard I tried to explain it to him, he still refused to see why they would try to disarm him of the instrument. The thought brought a small smile into my expression as I quickly turned to leave.

Half an hour of walking, I found myself standing before the University of Memphis. "Worth a shot I suppose." I grumbled as I slowly entered.

All of their students have left for the holidays, leaving it practically vacant for his use. The struggle was going to be where to find him amongst the many buildings. A few minutes of walking around, I found myself taking a peek into the basketball court. It was a three on three game, and it appeared the Grizzlies were winning against the Jazz.

I snorted to the thought; I managed to affect his gang of baboons just as much as Julius had. Julius introduced them to basketball when I was fifteen, just so we could try to sneak a peek into Thoth's library. I won't go into details, but we were caught five minutes into our search. My last visit, roughly five years ago, I pulled a few of Khufu's friends to the side to lecture them on the god's taste on music. I apparently must have made the mistake of mentioning Jazz.

I sighed and approached slowly, watching Fenyang bare his teeth at Donkor, who cowered and looked ready to leave the game with the rest of the Jazz team. "Who's winning?" I spoke up, smiling to their reaction as they paused their argument to take me in.

Akil, wearing a Grizzly jersey, was the first to jump me. Mind you, this wasn't an attack. The only ones I would be sincerely watchful of would be Fenyang and Adofo. No, this was their way of greeting me. I guess you could consider us friends, seeing as I socialized with them each time I came for a visit, which was almost every day up until Ruby's death.

"Yes, I missed you guys too." I laughed as all six managed to surround me, taking me in again as if I had changed a lot in the last five years. "I'm kind of in a rush, I wish I could stay. Could you point me in Thoth's direction?"

Badru quickly pointed towards what looked to be the library and grunted. "I realize that, he's going to know I need his assistance." I frowned to the thought; he will probably want me to do something thanks to our distance. "Thanks. Oh, and go Jazz!" I added, earning a visible death glare from Fenyang as Donkor rose his hands above his head to clap out of approval.

Gratefully Fenyang didn't keep focused on me for long, they returned to the game shortly after I walked off the court. I made my way to the library quickly but hesitated at the door. The sound of guitar strings being horrifically plucked at didn't help any.

After a while of drilling scenarios of how he could react, I finally sighed and knocked on the door. The guitar stopped, silence for ten seconds. "Sorry, the library is closed with the campus, wait until the tenth."

"Last I checked, the library is supposed to be a place of solace and study, not bad taste in music." I replied just as quickly.

Nothing for fifteen seconds now. The doors creaked, revealing a familiar face as he peered at me. "It isn't bad, thank you," he defended with a rather large grin. "At least, not as bad as your new dress code."

I smirked in reply, thankful he didn't find a reason to be angry. "I suppose I should allow your entry?" He continued, opening the double doors further.

I slowly entered; taking in the mess the library was currently in. I'm sure it was nicely organized before Thoth moved in. Now there were books lying open on top of each other, scrolls rolled out and flattened by other books, the bookshelves looked practically bare compared to the tables. "Take a seat, Amos," he encouraged after locking the doors again.

"I would like to," I started grimly. "However, I'm here to ask you a few questions and be on my way."

He frowned immediately, just as I figured he would. "I assume you've given up on it?" Thoth sounded somewhat broken.

I sighed, not sure of where to direction this piece of news. "To be honest, I couldn't after Ruby." I hesitated to explain. "They've been keeping a close eye on the entire Kane family. If they know I even thought of studying your path-"

Thoth waved it off, an understanding nod my way. "I'd prefer that didn't happen." He finalized, ending it there. "So, what is it that has you stumped?"

Julius called Thoth 'too wise for his own good', and I always brushed it off. Now I could see it as Thoth sat down in a chair in the middle of the tables, the guitar resting beside it. "Hosting gods," I hesitated to start.

Thoth snorted at the thought, picking his guitar up to rest on his lap. "I could have sworn I handed you three this lecture fifteen years ago-" he recalled.

"Using an amulet?" My right eyebrow rose, for I didn't recall him putting much detail in it.

Thoth frowned now. "Why are you interested in that?" He peered at me with curiosity.

He'd never given me that kind of look before, and it seemed to make me shrink a bit. "My nephew and niece, they are wearing the amulets of Horus and Isis."

His eyes widened, and then proceeded to narrow after a few seconds. "You can't just drop that kind of news and not expect me to demand details."

I immediately shoved my hands in my coat's pockets, quickly searching out how to explain the current mess as best as I can. "Julius released them last night-"

Thoth interrupted with a groan of disapproval, standing up and placing the guitar on a stack of five books on the closest table. "All five siblings, the Demon Days?" He snarled in disgust. "What is your concern over?"

I shot him a nervous smile. "How do I go about destroying an amulet of that kind?" I hesitated to ask.

Thoth's eyes narrowed, observing me as if he had never met me before. His expressions were starting to freak me out a bit. "Uh, Thoth?" I finally managed.

His eyes relaxed, a smirk in response as he nodded his head. "Trust me, you can't."

My eyes widened, shocked by his answer. "How did you get that from staring at me?" I demanded now, agitated towards such negativity.

"I am all knowing, Amos. Must I remind you again?" Thoth was in a much better mood now as he grabbed two glasses from another table. "Care for some ménage à trois?"

I blinked for a few seconds, taking in that he pulled out a red wine bottle. "When did you start drinking wine?" I finally managed after clearing my throat.

"You know that song Last Friday Night?" He started as he poured himself a glass anyways.

"Oh no, you can't be a Katy Perry fan," I quickly started. "If anything, stay as a fan of your own musical skill."

"Last I checked, Kane, you're not in control of what I listen to." Thoth pointed out. "And why must you dis my talent with a guitar? Are you jealous that I'm better at it than you are with your tenor?"

I pulled the collar of my suit from my neck, feeling like it was getting warmer in the building. "It's not that, Thoth. But why her? She can't sing if her life depended on it-"

"True, but her songs are catchy." Thoth raised his glass in agreement before taking a sip. "And besides, this is really good wine."

"You let her advertise wine to you?" My right eyebrow rose.

"Oh give me a break will you?" Thoth rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to keep in step with the modern world."

I snorted to that. "Trust me, you don't want to."

Thoth took another sip, eyes fixed on me as I felt like I was sweating. "You sure you don't want a drink?" Thoth offered again.

"No, I have a list of things I need to do already," I informed. "So if you would just tell me why I supposedly can't destroy these amulets, I'll be on my way."

Thoth sat down again, digging through his thoughts for a moment. "You can't because those amulets are what will protect your family."

I sighed now, taking my hands out of my pockets and leaning against the table behind me. "I think you've gotten a little mixed up, they are going to kill them."

Thoth aimed a large grin at me in reply. "Destroying the amulets will sever the connection they have with Horus and Isis."

"Yes, that's the goal." I was getting agitated the longer I stayed here.

Thoth rolled his eyes now. "Do you recall my lectures on balance?"

"Yes, but-" I started.

"You can't for the sake of said balance." Thoth explained, as if it was the best excuse anyone could come up with. "You getting a fever or something?" He suddenly changed the subject.

"No, I think you have a heater on," I admitted.

Thoth smirked, "I don't, actually."

I blinked a few times, trying to figure out what was so funny on his part. "You really should sit down. You look like you're going to collapse." Thoth urged, gesturing to the chair a foot away.

"This isn't a visit, Thoth. I thought I explained that already," I snapped. "I'm way too busy to sit here and chat it up with you-"

"Okay, then why are you still here?" Thoth asked me now, taking another sip of the red wine. "I already told you it's impossible."

"No, you said that I can't." I corrected quickly, the room starting to become fuzzy.

Thoth rolled his eyes out of irritation. "Okay, fine," his voice gained an edge now. "Since you are so insistent, I have an errand for you."

A wave of dizziness caught me off guard, which I found myself on my hands and knees as Thoth got up to move the chair beside me. "Sit," he instructed as he grabbed my right arm to help me up.

"Sorry," I managed once I got on the chair.

"You mind if I give you some water instead then?" Thoth asked.

I shook my head, bracing my forehead with my hands, taking it that it felt like I was sticking my hands in a fireplace. Great, now I'm getting sick. Thoth shoved a glass of water in my face anyways. "Take it or else, Amos," Thoth snapped.

I lifted my right hand out to grab the cold glass from him. Then proceeded to chug it all down, thankful Thoth forced me to take it. "I can't believe this." I muttered under my breath. "Like I needed more problems added to the list."

Thoth sat down and kept his eyes on me as I continued grumbling. "You're welcome to stay until you feel better." Thoth offered, keeping his voice soft.

My eyes started watering as they burned. I closed my eyes to relax a little, starting to feel claustrophobic. "Amos?" Thoth asked after a few seconds, but I could feel myself falling into darkness without anything to grab onto to stop it.