House of Conflicts

"It's not going to work!" Mick complained as they talked about how next to proceed.

"What do you mean?" Fabian questioned, "Of course it'll work! It'll just take time!"

"No, it won't work. Period," Mick said.

"Explain," Noah said, coming to Fabian's aid here.

"If we go through every room and bring back everything that could be an answer, then what happens if something had to be there?" he asked, "What if we screw up the future?"

"That's…a good point," Fabian said, not having thought of that, surprised Mick of all people would, "But it might be a risk to take."

"Or we just take something that can represent the clue," Mara said, "Anything having to do with a protector."

"But that could be anything," Joy said, "A sword can protect someone. Does that mean a sword is the possible answer?"

There were swords in the manor. She had a good point with that one; many things could be considered protectors in various ways.

"You know, Joy has a point," Patricia said, "Medicine is also a protector, and medicine is sometimes made of plants, so a plant…well, you get the point."

"It could be anything," Nina said, cutting them off, "Ok, we get it. It's going to be difficult. Very difficult. But we have to figure out a way to proceed! We need to stop arguing and figure this out!"

Jerome laughed a bit, "Good luck with that."

"We need to make a plan, don't we?" Amber asked Nina.

"Yeah…," Nina said, looking back at the arguing members, "Guys!" she said loudly, but they remained ignorant of her, continuing their argument.

"We need groups," Noah said to Nina.

"My thought exactly, keep the bickerers away from each other. Guys! Everyone!" she shouted at them, but they continued to argue and ignore her.

Eventually Jerome took Mara by the arm and led her away, "Ok, we're done with that," he told her, "Just stay there," he told Mick and Joy.

"You stay where you are then," Mick told him. This put space between them, enough to at least stop them from arguing.

"Ok," Nina said, stepping between the groups, "Look, we need to figure this out. We need an idea of what to look for, and we need groups to keep this working and efficient."

Noah lifted the statue of Sekhmet, "Guys! Look at this," she said, passing it around, "Look at the material. If nothing else, look for that material and bring something back. No matter what it is. A sword. An image of a plant. Anything that can be a protector of man. Preferably related to light."

"It says slain," Mara commented, realizing this, "Whatever we're looking for is living, or was living. Maybe a plant, but 'slain' doesn't fit the killing of a plant…"

"That's really good," Amber said, "What do you think it means?"

"Possibly a God or Goddess," Noah said, "It could make sense."

"Osiris was killed, right?" Fabian asked.

Noah nodded, "That's right. Gods and Goddesses can be killed, that means. But that doesn't help if we don't know who died."

"Just look for any God or Goddess, anything related," Patricia said, "How does that sound?"

"Sounds fine," Nina said, "It could work. Everyone clear? Good, we need to split us up."

Jerome put his hand on Mara's shoulder, "We're together."

Joy grabbed Mick's hand and pulled him towards the door, "Same."

"I'm going with," Patricia said with a bit of a sigh, "Someone has to make sure a search is being conducted," she headed over towards them to join.

"I'll go with…," Noah got cut off.

"I'll go with Jerome and Mara," Alfie said, heading off with them, "I'll be sure to show them around."

"Fabian?" Nina asked.

He nodded, "Of course," he said.

"Guess it's us," Noah said to Amber, "Shall we?"

"Yes, let's go," she said, heading into the manor.

"Do you think it was a good idea?" Fabian asked Nina as they searched room to room at a deeper part of the manor.

"What idea?" she asked as she came out of another room connected to the larger one that Fabian was searching.

"Everyone being here, everyone knowing," he said.

She shrugged, "You know, I don't know. It could be very good, or it could go the exact opposite and be very bad. I'd like to think this will work out pretty well."

"So would I," Fabian said, "Doesn't mean it will."

"Have some faith," she said, heading towards the next room. He followed, leaving the door open to signify it had been searched.

"I guess it'll work out, as long as they stay away from each other," Fabian said, "But do you think this might get out? To the school, Mr. Wolf, even Victor?"

"Joy is the one I don't trust," Nina said rather selfishly.

"How so?" he asked. Joy was still his friend, even if they hadn't talked much recently, or done much together.

Nina had nothing to say. She was trying to think of an answer, but couldn't get one.

"You're jealous," he smiled.

"I know that we're together, I know she knows, and I know she's with Mick," Nina said, "But she still likes you."

"She tried over the summer, and it didn't work," Fabian told Nina, "There's nothing to worry about. We're safe. Joy won't be with me, or ruin things. I'm sure of that. If anything, I'd guess she might try to screw up Jerome and Mara's relationship, just because of Mick's history with Mara."

"Yeah, Mara's been kind of mad recently," Nina said, "Or…not mad, just…I don't know what word to use."

"I get it," Fabian said, "I can imagine. That's…I've tried to not pay attention to that mess, but the little I've heard is enough to make me understand."

"Understand Mara or the situation?" she asked.

"Mara. I have no idea about the situation," he said.

She smiled, "Me neither," she fell in beside him, taking his hand, "Guess not everyone can have a relationship as good as us."

He smiled back, "That's right," he said, looking around to make sure they were alone, and then he gave her a quick kiss, "Now let's keep looking. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we can determine who stays and who goes."

"You don't think they'll all stay?" she asked.

"No," he admitted, "I doubt it. But it might be wishful thinking, with the possible fighting that'll remain."

"Let's hope that it doesn't get worse," Nina said.

"We made them go separate ways. Alfie and Patricia are with them. It should be fine," Fabian said.

Patricia looked at the large room, "Well…this is kind of odd," she said, looking at the small pyramids and other pyramid-related items. There was even brick lying around; huge blocks of stone. It was everything related to the pyramids and tombs, including tools.

"I wonder why he would have a room like this," Joy said, running her hand over one of the blocks, lifting it up and looking at the thick dust that had settled on her hand.

"I can't imagine this stuff is too good to touch," Mick said, "Probably rotten wood in the tools, if nothing else."

"Yeah, I wouldn't touch much," Patricia said, looking to see another door. "I'll look this way," she said, walking over and opening it, stepping into another room, a smaller room. It was dark, so she used her mobile for a light.

Very soon Mara and Jerome were entering the room, not seeing Mick and Joy towards the corner. They looked around, then saw the others.

"We have this covered," Mick told them.

"Are you sure?" Jerome questioned him, "I wouldn't trust any room you approve of finishing, Mick."

"And why is that?" he questioned.

"You don't have an eye for things," he said, putting his arm around Mara, "Or you wouldn't have let her go and chosen…Joy…," he let out a groaning sound at Joy's name, showing his rather distaste for her.

Mara smiled, Joy looked annoyed, "And what is that supposed to mean?" she questioned Jerome.

"What it sounds like," he said.

Alfie hurried into the room, "Hey! You guys, out!" he told his two wards, "We're not supposed to be arguing!"

"Oh, someone has to fight your battles?" Mick questioned at Alfie's insistence, aiming it at Jerome.

"You have a chaperone too," he said, "Difference is, I can control mine. Alfie, no."

"But…"

"No," he told Alfie. Alfie remained quiet for now.

"Where's Patricia?" Mara asked.

"Why? You want to order her to make us leave?" Joy asked, "You want this room?"

"No," Mara said, "I just want to know what she knows."

"Then ask me," Joy said, "Or don't you trust what Mick and I know?"

Her condescending voice was getting on Mara's nerves, "Look, Joy…"

As they continued their argument, Patricia was using her mobile as a light and looking around. She felt around the wall, knocking the door closed on accident. As soon as it closed, the room lit up somehow. She span around to look at the wall.

A shrine. An altar. There was a Goddess she wasn't able to identify on it; a woman with the head of a snake.

She tried to open the door, but it wouldn't open. She panicked and started to shout and bang on the door, but nobody would answer her. She was trapped.

But outside, in the main room, the doors sealed on the five, locking them inside. They were all trapped.

They had all just triggered the wrath of a Goddess.