Chapter Nine – Michel Desjardins, the Other Big Shot

I woke up to dry wind striking my skin harshly. Covering my eyes quickly, I took in it was just a few dust devils picking up dirt rather than a sandstorm. Once the one throwing sand at me finally moved on, I sat up and looked around. Phoenix, Arizona.

"How the-?" I wondered as I rubbed my eyes, taking in that the fever was still lingering.

My expression hardened as I took in I was on the outskirts of Phoenix, heading towards the Camelback Mountain. "That's nice Thoth; I'll remember to bring this up the next time I visit." I grumbled. "Fucking dropping me off in a red zone."

Weird, Set's favorite color is red, I processed just as quickly.

I conjured myself a glass of water, chugging it down just like the glass Thoth had given me. Still, I felt like I was on fire despite how much water I had been ingesting. And dizzy, to the point that I really just felt like giving up and heading home to sleep it off.

Can't do it though, too many things on the to-do list.

One of the dust devils approached me again, shooting dry wind my way as I watched it do a few circles before heading back the way it came. I could see why the Red Lord would pick a place like this. It was a fairly hot day from being Christmas and the air was hard to breathe thanks to being just as dry.

I chugged down another glass of water, wondering why it didn't seem to help much. Then I peered to my hard right, taking in the mountain in all of its glory. "Okay, better investigate and go back." I prepped myself to stand up.

Once I managed to keep my balance, a swirl of sand appeared ten feet before me. Alarmed, I stood up with my staff and wand at the ready. To my surprise, Michel stepped out first, followed by the Chief Lector. It disappeared with the wave of Iskandar's hand as they faced me, a little shocked as well.

"You!" Michel started out of the tense alarm we shared. "What are you doing running around here?"

"Running around." I snarled, not willing to tell him anything yet.

Iskandar rolled his eyes and raised his right hand to stop our heated fight. "I assume you are looking into the situation with the Red Lord as well?" He spoke calmly.

I nodded in his direction. "What brings the two of you here?" I decided to ask, curious as to why the Chief Lector would come along as well.

"We were going to observe Set's plans for a moment." Michel started coldly. "So you can scamper back home."

"No, he'll come back to the First Nome with us." Iskandar corrected.

My eyes widened to his words. "Chief Lector, is this in response to my insubordination last-" I started.

He chuckled a little. "No, in fact I approve your actions." He explained, Desjardins glared at me. "However, the Twenty-first Nome has been broken into. It's not a wise decision to go back alone."

My eyes widened, about to ask about Carter and Sadie when Michel interrupted. "On that thought, where were you?"

I faced him now, the heat in my face rose. "I was coming here to get an idea of what we are dealing with-" I defended.

"And you left your nephew and niece alone in the mansion?" He judged quickly. "They are at more risk than you, and you run off instead?"

"They were protected-"

"With Bast! I thought you said you don't consort with the gods, and you lied to me on that as well. What else do you have hiding up your sleeve?" He snapped.

Iskandar shook his head out of disgust. "The children are safe, Zia is watching over them in the First Nome as we speak. Amos, you must come with us. It sounds as if Set has yet to reveal his host, or perhaps pick one if what they say is true."

"Set always picks a host, just like the rest of them," Michel reminded quickly. "It's a matter of picking amongst ourselves to find where he is hiding."

"Follow the Blood of the Pharaohs. The arrogant gods like to harass the purest blood compared to mortal," Iskandar explained.

"But that won't narrow it down-" I continued.

"From the last time we saw him," Desjardins continued, "he said something along the lines of choosing powerful hosts. We will need to start from the top and go down."

Iskandar turned towards the mountains now. "Soon, but not yet. We need to take a look. Then Amos, you will be undergoing interrogation when we return to the First Nome. You have quite a bit to explain for the events of the past few days."

"I have to explain?" I started.

"You're Julius's younger brother, closer to him than his own son," Michel stated. "And you broke numerous rules that you will have to take judgment on."

I almost felt like I was drowning in hate now. "I broke them for good reasons," I defended calmly.

"Oh yes, very good reasons," Iskandar nodded out of approval, "however, you still must answer as to why."

"Because the House of Life doesn't like rule breakers," Michel added quickly.

"Sounds like you're only after revenge on the Kanes to me," I snarled. "I'm sorry Desjardins, but I'm not my brother."

"I've always liked you, Amos," Iskandar started suddenly before Michel could retaliate. "Always the rule breaker, the one to test the limits. Always trying new ways to achieve the ultimate goal compared to the rest who follow the past. Why you two suddenly can't get along is beyond my understanding. But I will tell you it has nothing to do with blaming Julius's actions on you."

"Otherwise you would be dead by now," Desjardins added quickly.

"No, you would rather blame it on the entire Kane family instead," I started coldly. "I'm sorry Chief Lector, but it appears I no longer belong within the Per Ankh."

Michel took my words as a threat as Iskandar gave me a worried look in his eyes. "Amos Kane," he started calmly, "the Per Ankh doesn't blame you for Julius's foolishness. You tried to seek reason in him beyond the insane route he traveled yesterday, but you are not the cause."

"If you leave the Per Ankh, you are officially considered an enemy!" Desjardins declared.

"Like I don't feel it already!" I snapped in response.

"Cease this bickering at once!" Iskandar's voice roared over the sand, making Michel and I stand out of alarm to such anger leaving him. "Amos, we only need a firm grasp of understanding the damage Julius has caused. You are not an enemy." He faced Michel now, "And you must ease off on the rules. I don't see why you have taken such a strong position in following them when you used to break them as well."

Michel kept eye contact with Iskandar. "Sir, I didn't summon gods to destroy our world," he reminded coldly, "and I most certainly have not communicated with them on a friendly basis as Amos has. Amos has lied to us within the past few days. Placing trust in him is foolhardy-"

Iskandar shook his head before he could snap. "I trained the three of you because I saw the potential. You are sons in my eyes, despite being handfuls all the time I appreciate having such an understanding bond. I trust Amos as I trust you, Michel. Maybe even more because of his constant studies. Don't break off your past ties because of tension Julius and the gods have created."

Silence as Michel and I took in his words, Iskandar faced me again. "Amos, you happen to be the fourth most powerful magician, and the blood of the pharaohs run through you. I fear the worst, but I must look into it myself."

"You think Set has-" Michel started angrily.

"No," I answered quickly. "Set likes to possess. If it was true, this conversation wouldn't be on any friendly grounds."

Iskandar waved our words off. "Amos, meet us at the First Nome," he instructed.

"Sorry, but I said I would take a glance at his workings," I stood my ground.

"Sir, he obviously isn't going to obey," Michel started, "and he will break more rules if we try to stay on good terms."

Iskandar peered at me with upset eyes. "I would rather not have a wild card in our midst," he admitted. "If you refuse, Desjardins will have no other choice but to hold you off."

I was set on fighting Michel when he came through the portal. "Sorry Iskandar, I can't stand on the sidelines any longer," I finalized. "Don't blame Carter and Sadie for my actions; I stand alone on this score."

He sighed and took a step back, Desjardins ready to fight. Iskandar left without another word, leaving us glaring at one another. "Amos Kane, you stand as an enemy to the Per Ankh. You have broken our laws on repeated occasions. Now you turn your back to us in the midst of crisis. Prepare to be eaten by Ammit at your judgment."

I readied my staff in response, eyes still locked on his. Honestly, I never would have guessed fifteen years ago that we would end up hating each other as we do now. "Desjardins, I consider you a backstabbing friend of the Kane family. If anyone ends up getting eaten, it will be you."

He smirked in response as he slammed his staff to the sand, a small tremor under my feet as I told myself to move. However, I think the fever slowed me down a bit, as I barely got out of the way of the forming crevice.

Destroy the staff.

I aimed my focus on my enemy's staff, letting the word spill out from my lips with much familiarity. That threw him off as he had tried to slam his staff against the ground to find it disintegrate in his hands. "You dare to break a magician's staff?" Michel snapped, yanking a small shabti out in response.

I took in which one it was a little late as he tossed it between us as it grew into the towering giant. "Defend me and send Amos Kane to the Afterlife!" Michel commanded.

In reply, I threw my staff, which it formed into a very pissed off snake. It only last five seconds against the warrior shabti, earning me a little bit of distance as it turned back into the staff. Lame.

I proceeded to dodge the shabti chasing me down without second thought. Then narrowly missed a swipe of its sword to grab my staff, which Michel tried to go after himself. I blocked a strike from his sword with my staff and backed off as quickly as I could, but the helper, on Michel's end, ran towards me anyways. I summoned my shield with a quick slam of my staff to the sand for the shabti to only scratch it.

"A'max," I spoke quickly.

The shabti screamed as it melted into ash, Michel ready to fight me himself, khopesh drawn. In a different case, I probably would have laughed at this. Desjardins wasn't skilled in combat magic, he always kept to earth and Divine Words. He only picked one up because Julius mocked him, and he wasn't going to have someone shoot down his ego. This time, it was meant as a last resort.

Tornado, that'll stop him.

I paused, Michel ready to launch in seconds as I tried to understand why such a thought crossed my mind. Then my right arm rose, my lips moving without my control. Michel jumped right into a dust devil. He screamed in surprise as I stood in alarm, my mouth dry again. Then I waved my arm, slashing through the newly formed funnel to drop Michel.

What did you do that for? The voice continued, a little pissed off as my head pounded.

"A-Amos?" Michel started, fear in his eyes.

My head was racing, trying to figure out why the voice sounded so familiar. Michel finally stood up, brushing the sand off. Alarmed by his movement, I readied for the fight to continue. After a few seconds, I took in that Desjardins didn't look willing to continue, rather like he had been mentally stabbed at.

The chill from last night was now far colder than it was, and I now feared what pair of eyes were set on me as I took a step back. "Sorry Michel, looks like I have even bigger problems than you." I finalized before transforming into the ibis and took off.

"Amos!" Michel yelled out, but I heard only sadness from it instead of anger.