-Zia Rashid-

After the 'excitement' Kyra stirred up, the initiates were escorted out. Sebastian managed to get him to relax enough to sit in a chair again. "I knew it," Sadie muttered to herself.

"You knew that the 'new guy' happened to be your uncle?" I challenged, which she just glared at me.

"No, but there was something weird about him!" She defended.

"I'm not sitting here listening to everything you're saying right now," Amos murmured.

I took him in again to see that he actually did have similar traits to the Chief Lector. "Okay, everyone calm down," Sebastian urged, sitting down himself. "Amos, you want some coffee before you get to explaining this mess?"

He immediately glared at him. "I have to explain? What kind of alternate universe is this? Gods sitting at the dining table with magicians? The Kane home turned into a playground? Demigod meetings? Oh, and let's not forget the wannabe Pharaoh sitting over there." Amos' glare landed on Carter now.

Kyra rolled her eyes. "Ignore him Carter, he's just confused," she quickly went to save him from whatever retort Carter may have been thinking up at the time. "And yes, if you want answers to that you'd still have to ask yourself, Amos."

"Qui serait même me laisser prendre charge de quelque chose?" Amos scowled.

Sebastian stood up to grab a mug from the buffet table, pouring fresh coffee in it. Then placed it before Amos on the table, sitting down again. Amos didn't cave, though he did note the attempt to calm his nerves down. "I'm not explaining anything," Amos returned to English again. "Help me find the book and I'll fix it myself."

"Okay, a book?" Kyra noted quickly. "What did this book do?"

"Throw me here; I don't remember you being this blind Kyra. If that's who you actually are," Amos challenged.

Kyra's right eyebrow rose questionably. "Do you really want to challenge me on that? I get the feeling you wouldn't appreciate it-"

"Because I appreciate what is going on right now," Amos pointed out, lifting his hands to hint at the ribbons.

"Hey," Carter finally spoke up, eyes stuck on Amos. "Let's dedicate a minute to calm down, alright?"

"Oh right, because I would take orders from the likes of you," Amos shook his head.

No one answered, keeping to themselves for a minute as Carter had asked. This teenage version of the Chief Lector started fiddling with his hands on the table. "How old are you?" Kyra was the first to finally break it, keeping her tone calm.

"Look," Amos straightened, keeping his eyes strictly on Carter now, "this isn't my first time kidnapped, okay? And I'll tell you that I also put those connards through enfer during my stay."

Kyra's posture straightened, "You never said anything of the sort before-"

"You really think I would go around taking people that look like my uncle hostage?" Carter snarled.

Sebastian peered at Kyra for a second. "Perhaps we should allow Kyra to talk with Amos alone."

"Uh no, you're not dismissing us!" Sadie stood her ground, Walt looking more than willing to persuade her otherwise.

"Yes, a removal of everything not as familiar to him may calm him down," Bast added on despite Carter's and Sadie's stance.

"Alright, everyone out. Sebastian, stay here," Kyra finalized.

I gently squeezed Carter's wrist as I led him out, Walt and Sadie ahead and Bast making sure the doors are locked. Once she finished this, she turned to take in the two Kanes pretty much in need of answers themselves. I mean, I am too, who wouldn't be? Someone you see as an older figure suddenly shows up as your age?

Bast crossed her arms; apparently Sadie must have had a look stating she was going to sneak back into the veranda anyways. "We've been trying to figure the best way of confronting him; the best way so he won't get too aggressive anyways."

Carter went to protest, "Amos isn't-"

"-your uncle," Bast finished quickly. "Not that Amos, he has yet to actually experience being an uncle yet. Nor has he matured as much as the uncle the two of you know." Bast sighed to the sight of Carter's fist forming in his left hand. "More pressing matters, we all need to prepare for this group that wished to pay us a visit."

"It's not something I'm overly worried over right now," Carter spoke through clenched teeth.

Bast's gold cat-like eyes took him in quickly. "Let us fix this, at least get him to warm up to everything. Then I'll let you make if part of your problem."

"Come on Carter, you can't do anything right now," I urged, hoping he'll drop it.

He refused to let it go, as if he was quickly thinking up ideas to get himself involved anyways. "You can show me how to make hot chocolate," I pressed on.

Carter hesitated, allowing his tension to ease of as he faced me. "Actually, I think I should contact a few Nome Leaders. We arranged to hold a meeting the same day of the demigod meeting."

"See about rearranging it?" I asked to see if I was on the same page.

"Yeah, if they show up before the meeting, I'm afraid some Nome leaders would take advantage of the situation," he dryly admitted. "Want to accompany me?"

"Of course, I'd love to."

So far so good, the Nome Leaders of North America agreed to hold it off until next week. Carter then called for St. Petersburg, and I could tell he's worried about how this conversation is going to turn out. I leaned myself against his right side, gently squeezing his hand in mine. "It's going to be okay, take a deep breath," I reassured, hoping to calm him down from his obvious tension.

The scrying bowl's oil revealed a young girl's face, roughly ten; give us an alarmed look in her eyes. "Eighteenth Nome, how can I assist you, Pharaoh?"

Oh good, even a girl her age can recognize the Pharaoh. Though it might be because Lady Menshikov is planning something against us. Carter cleared his throat, "Yeah, is Vika Menshikov in?"

The girl quickly frowned. "No, she actually should be in Brooklyn by tomorrow."

My right eyebrow rose to that. "Why so early?"

The girl smiled, a rather youthful and energetic smile. "Vika likes to be early; it allows her to evaluate the situation better than those that show up on time or late," she praised her Nome leader. "Also, she did mention that she wants to challenge the Chief Lector."

"Hold on, we haven't been told anything of the sort-" I started to protest.

The girl shrugged. "She thinks she can do a better job than Kane."

"Yeah, so I've heard," Carter spoke through clenched teeth. "Okay, is there a way we can contact her?"

The girl thought for a moment. "Hold on, I might be able to contact her for you if you'd like."

"Sounds good," I answered immediately.

The girl disappeared for a second before the oil switched to a more snowy background, a woman with her eyes hidden with her fur coat. "Hmm, you're about as impatient as your father, Pharaoh," Vika's voice snarled.

Carter frowned to that bit, "Vika, we need to talk about the meeting."

"I'm heading to New York as we speak, we can talk face-to-face," Vika insisted. "And dear Zia, are you still playing the Chief Lector's secretary?"

Oh great, she just had to bring it up again. Carter stepped in before I could snap thankfully. "I've already arranged to postpone the meeting for a week."

Vika stood a little straighter, her hazel eyes quickly taking us in again. "Postpone? This is important, Kane."

"I completely agree, that's why I haven't canceled it instead," Carter continued. "I discovered having two meetings in one day is extreme, so it's probably for the best to space them out."

Vika's eyes hardened, a distressed look aimed at us. "It's something else, isn't it? Those pesky demigods threatening you?"

"No," Carter was quick to answer. "Actually, having a problem with some magicians that don't like the idea of allying ourselves with them."

"Carter," I hushed out. We had agreed not to say anything because some Nome leaders just like Menshikov would take advantage of it.

Vika blinked out of confusion before her eyes narrowed. "Good, I'll be there early tomorrow morning. I'll defend you better than your baby of an uncle."

Wait, did she just say that? Carter squeezed my hand back when I realized I started snarling at the older woman. "If you insist, we'll see you soon," Carter replied.

She had ended the talk, returning the oil to its dark color. "I thought we decided not to tell anyone about it," I reminded harshly.

Carter rolled his eyes. "Didn't you hear her? She wants to help, not overthrow us."

"How can you trust her so easily? Don't you remember her brother?" I took a step back, hands on my hips.

Carter frowned to the reminder, "Zia, I think he was messed up from Apophis in the first place. He was probably a better person than that, right?"

"I wouldn't praise the family if I were you. They are backstabbers, they pretend they're loyal and then proceed to make you slip up just before you realize the mistake-"

I was interrupted by Carter kissing me. That kind of irritated me further, but I let it go. A harsh cough from the doorway stopped us, finding Kyra smirking at the two of us as I took a step back. "I can wait if you want," Kyra offered.

"No, it's alright," I reassured.

Carter cleared his throat, "What's up?"

Kyra straightened her posture from leaning against the doorway. "I would like to have a few words with you, Carter."

"Alright," Carter agreed, a pause taking place for a minute.

"I need you to follow me to the library, if you don't mind," Kyra clarified.

"Oh, okay," Carter turned back to me as he gently took my hands in his.

"I'll contact the other Nome leaders," I spoke up.

"Thanks Zia, you don't know how much it means." Carter squeezed my hands a bit before letting go, following Kyra out.

Translations:

Qui serait même me laisser prendre charge de quelque chose? = Who would even let me take care of something?

The rest are curse words, so I won't be translating those.

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