Carter sat at the table, poking at his food. He glanced toward Sadie, noticing her occasional glance at the girl sitting next to her. He sighed, not really being able to blame his sister.

"No!"

"Walt!" Carter watched as he dove in after her.

He turned his attention back to Serqet and did his best, hoping that he hadn't drowned.

"You will pay for this!" Serqet hissed, pointing a finger past Carter. "You and your father!"

She slithered-or crawled-away and he looked at Walt, standing there, dripping wet, and holding the unconscious girl in his arms.

"She needs help."

Then they had gone into the "warehouse" that served as their HQ, and he had carried her straight to the infirmary. Carter noticed the two kids they had found. The blonde haired girl was eyeing everything-either looking for the best exit or wanting to build an exact replica-he couldn't tell. The other-a boy with dark hair and olive skin-was looking after Walt with something in his eyes-longing, confusion, hurt? His sister had joined them, her eyes full of hurt with Walt's attitude.

Carter returned to the balcony, still watching Sadie. Yikes. Her boyfriend had carried some girl to the infirmary without a second glance at her-and now he had been muttering over a hushed conversation with the dark haired boy for the past ten minutes. He couldn't tell what had brought them together-the boy had asked specifically for Walt Stone, even taking the blonde haired girl by surprise at the suggestion.

He turned his attention to the dark haired one. She would look up, eyes darting from Carter to Sadie, before she shook her head and continued poking at the food. She was odd, her face twisted into a scowl, and dark eyes darting around, clearly not trusting any of them.

Finally, the two others sat down and joined them. The dark haired one started to take the seat next to the girl, but instead took the one next to the blonde after receiving what he took to be a death glare. He winced slightly as Walt took the seat next to the girl. He could've at least acknowledged Sadie, maybe sat between them? What made him even more concerned was that he bent and whispered something into her ear before sitting. Who was this girl? Some past ex he hadn't quite gotten over? Either way, the clear hurt look on Sadie's face was all he needed to know she was hurting.

"Children," Amos Kane greeted as he sat down.

The dark haired one looked at him and tensed. Walt put a hand on her arm and whispered something else to her which made her relax-slightly.

"I see we have some guests." Amos eyed them.

"Yes." The blonde cleared her throat. "I'm Annabeth, he's Nico, and that's Alexan."

The dark haired one snarled, seemingly hating the name.

"She has a bit of an anger issue." Annabeth attempted a smile, trying to play it off as a joke.

Anger? I'd say more hatred. Carter eyed her, seeing the death glares she kept shooting them.

"Well, we are very grateful to have you come to our home." He cleared his throat. "I am Amos Kane, and these are my niece and nephew: Sadie and Carter Kane. The other one here is Walt Stone."

"Hi." Carter gave a slight wave. "So, Alexan? What's that short for?"

Her mouth twitched and she stayed silent.

"How did you come upon us?" Amos pressed instead. "Most do not simply stumble along."

"Um, we're looking for our friend Percy," Annabeth managed. "Nico thought there might be a lead here, so we came."

"Yeah." Nico glanced at Walt.

"And have you any success?"

"So far, nothing." Annabeth glanced at him. "Unless you found something?"

He shook his head. "Nothing." The kid was hiding something. What had they been talking about? What did Walt know?

"So, Alexan, do you know Walt?" Sadie spoke up.

"No." She narrowed her eyes at Sadie.

"What's this?" She grabbed her wrist and Alexan yanked it out of her grip. "A tattoo?"

Sadie emphasized the word, knowing how Walt didn't particularly like tattoos.

"What about it?"

"So you two are siblings?" Nico attempted.

"Stay out of this!" Alexan growled, muscles tensing.

"Relax," Walt whispered under his breath.

"You stay out of this too!" She stood and glared at him, clearly at breaking point. "All of you! Just stay out of it!" She turned her eyes to Carter. "And it's Alexandra if you want a death sentence."

She stalked off, leaving them in stunned silence. Walt sighed and went off after her.

"Nice job, Sadie. Poking the girl with anger issues."

"Not my fault, Carter!" she argued, crossing her arms.

"Actually, she's right." Annabeth sighed. "Alexan's been like that for awhile. It's just who she is. We've learned to manage."

"Yeah. Manage." Nico slumped in his chair.

Carter wondered how many times the kid had been on the wrong end of Alexan's anger problems. He made a mental note to not use Alexandra-getting the nagging feeling that she would carry out the threat if given the chance.

After a quick tour and basic background info, Annabeth and Nico left for the library to search on their friend with Sadie as "basic research guide", as neither of them could read hieroglyphics. Carter, meanwhile, decided to hunt down Walt, intending to knock some sense into him.

"Carter?" he opened his door, a half finished charm in hand. "What's up?"

"My sister."

He set the charm down and fully emerged. "Sadie? What about her?"

"I'm getting the vibe that she's sort of thinking that you and that girl-the one with the anger issues-have history together. Like, actual relationship history."

"She's jealous?"

"Yeah."

Walt crossed his arms. "What would I do to make her think that?"

Carter shook his head. "Were you not there today? You were completely all over her!"

He frowned. "Sorry, Carter. Memory got all fuzzy after the whole thing with Serqet…." His voice trailed off. "I remember some bits and pieces, but not all too much." He narrowed his eyes in thought. "But I have a feeling I know who might have a hand in this."

"Who?"

"Anubis." Walt sighed. "It's just the feeling I have. He's been...off...lately."

Carter nodded, taking his word for it. If anyone knew what he was up to, it would be Walt-the new host of Anubis, god of funerals and death. Carter felt that Nico might be a good friend with him-they both looked like they would enjoy the same stuff.

"What do you mean by 'off' though?"

"He's been moody, quiet, hurt, and angry." Walt shook his head. "It's really weird though, and the weirdest part is that it's all linked to Alexan. I just can't explain it. The feeling I get when she's around-it's not like the same I have for Sadie-it's more like I should...protect her...you know? It's just me mostly getting my feelings mixed in."

Carter nodded. He had been host to Horus, and whatever Horus hated, he couldn't help but hate himself.

"The worst part, though, is that he feels responsible for something bad. I don't know what exactly, but he does." Walt fingered the charm around his neck-a black and gold arrow similar to the design of Alexan's knife, Carter noted. "I just can't explain it, but there's something important, Carter. Something that draws Anubis and her together."

They watched as she took down the dummies, swiftly striking down each with fluid and lightning fast reflexes. Carter was impressed with the blade she used-the way it shifted to adjust in her hand-the way she moved it almost as if she and the blade were one. He had seen Bast fight before, but not even the goddess of cats could move that nimbly.

Alexan sheathed her blade and they gave a slim applause. Carter glanced at Sadie, who seemed in a better mood today. A quick explanation from Walt had smoothed some things over-just not all of them. To Sadie: both Walt and Anubis had to be paying attention to her, and right now, Anubis's attention was all on Alexan and Nico.

"I still don't know how you learned all of that." Annabeth shrugged. "Even when you were being chased, I don't know."

She shrugged. "I had practice." Alexan kept her eyes avoiding them. "Lots of practice."

Carter looked toward Walt, who had been keeping his distance. He seemed annoyed-most likely Anubis was ranting about something in his head.

"Lots of practice."

Yeah. Lots of practice while she was doing his dirty work and especially when she was imprisoned!

Walt winced, trying to get used to the waves of anger he felt.

Chill, he thought. Or try to relax.

Relax? How am I supposed to relax? Look at what they did to her! Look at what they did to her! They stripped her of everything! And not just them-everyone!

"You okay, man?" Carter asked.

"Yeah. Just listening to a rant."

"Listening?"

He blushed, realizing that he had caught the attention of the others.

"Special thing," Walt lied. "We-I-can sort of hear whatever advice he-Anubis-wants."

"Who's Anubis?" Annabeth asked.

Carter and Sadie exchanged glances. Who didn't know about Anubis? What's going to be next? They won't know who Horus or Isis are?

"Dead," Alexan muttered before either of them could say a word.

Nico and Annabeth gaped at her and she sighed, arms crossed.

"To them: Anubis is god of dead, funerals, and the like."

"So kind of like Thanatos?"

Who?

"Different." She shook her head. "But somewhat similar." She made a face-like the name Thanatos brought back bad memories. Carter glanced and saw the same look on Walt's face.

"Who is he?" Carter asked, wondering why the name gave both of them a bad feeling.

"God of the dead for them." Walt sighed and rubbed his head. "Long, hateful history there."

"Maybe they know something!" Annabeth hissed at Nico.

Nico shifted his feet. "We came here on account of a prophecy-a quest-that would lead us to Percy."

" 'A deal is to be struck, a trade to amend the bond. Return where it began, and return you shall reap. The Lost Goddess for the Son of the Sea'," Annabeth recited. "Maybe you guys know something about a bond that was broken?"

Walt groaned. "Stop screaming at me, would you?" They looked at him and he pointed at his head. "Being very frustrating here."

Alexan glared at him rolled her eyes. "Just say whatever it is you need to get said and be done with it!"

"Being helpful, are we?" Walt sighed and shook his head. "I don't know the majority of it, but there is something to do with how there's a universal thing, and Anubis knows about it, so I can't really help you all that much when all he does is scream at me half the time."

"Death," Nico spoke up. "That's what he means. Death is universal." He shrugged. "I'm kind of forced to know all of that stuff-my dad, remember?"

So his dad is some kind of death freak? Carter glanced at Walt. They really would get along nicely.

"Well how do we talk to this Anubis then?" Annabeth pressed.

"We'll have to go to a cemetery," Walt explained. "He likes things to do with death."