-Walt Stone-

No, he was clear on his opinion of Nickelback's "Savin' Me".

I sighed as I shut my I-pod off. That was the fifth song for him to reject, and if I attempt to ignore him he'll protest and it's impossible to hear the actual song.

Hey, I am not annoying!

I almost retorted when Sadie shoved an earpiece into my left ear, softly playing "One and Only" by Adele. I could see Jaz smile in my peripheral vision as Sadie leaned against my shoulder now.

It had been a quiet trip into the town of Kane. Amos had been forced to sit shotgun, staring out the side window the entire time. Sadie was probably afraid she'd say something towards Max that she pulled her I-pod out. I got bored and attempted to listen to mine, as you already know it didn't really work too well. And Jaz seemed distant as well, except for the small smile she reflected just a few seconds ago.

Before I think any of us knew it, Max Hunter had pulled into a small local restaurant. "The least I can do, before sending you off to New York, is to feed the four of you," was his reply to Sadie's incoming question.

Sadie grumbled and quickly put her I-pod away. Jaz had been the first of us to follow Max into the building. "So, ditch now or eat and then ditch?" Sadie asked me, seeming to note that Amos had yet to show any signs of movement.

"Eat," Anubis seemed to agree with me on that decision. "But, uh, how do we plan to find the nome without Hunter's help?"

"It more than likely has glamor applied to it, a large building can't really hide in a forest. I think it'll be easier than we think." Sadie reassured with a slightly wicked smile.

That smile only manages to make me smile in response. She's a rebel, and she enjoys every moment of it. I enjoy every moment of it. My life would be a bore without her.

"Come on," she urged me to climb out of the jeep.

I turned my head slightly to see Amos was still out of it. "I think I need a moment," I pointed my index to my temple, blaming Anubis.

You always blame me!

She nodded in understanding, "Alright, see you inside."

I watched as she entered the building after I had closed the door to the jeep. My eyes immediately locked onto him, finding he still barely moved from that position, staring out the window.

Careful now, Anubis started as I had opened my mouth to start talking. One wrong word can trigger the plummet.

Amos doesn't know that I know. It's actually Anubis' fault that I know.

He had been so tortured by Set's possession, he had resorted to self-harm. Apparently he had been close to death from this practice his first week healing at the First Nome. However, he seemed to do a decent job of covering that up, especially since he stopped shortly after the near death.

Knowing hurts, because I bear the ignorance of everyone else. I've never dealt with something like this, and I have not the slightest clue as to how to ease someone from it. I highly doubt simply telling them it's okay will do any kind of justice.

Of course that doesn't work! Anubis sounded amazed that I even pointed it out. You tell them about their worth. Depression circles around hatred of self.

"You might as well spit whatever it is you want to say out," his voice literally made me jump.

He hadn't really moved, except his head that had lowered down for his chin to rest on his right arm that was still beside the rolled up window.

I cleared my throat, trying to find something to say. Jumping right into it is presumptuous; he probably isn't at that point just yet. "We should go inside, get some food." Even Anubis felt the need to sigh at how stupid I sound.

He tsked. Then his eyes finally peered at me. They weren't necessarily angry, more lost than anything. It finally hit me what he really needed, time alone.

Yeah, it meant the chance he might do something he shouldn't. However, things have become a rather big mess since he wound up here. I'm not really sure how big of a difference things are compared to what he was used to, but he needs some time to think to himself. No one has really given him that chance, especially once Kyra announced who he is.

"Not hungry," breaking the silence with an abrupt huff of annoyance, eyes back on the other side of the street.

I immediately frowned, but I already knew that was the answer I was going to get. "Alright, but you can still join if you change your mind," I made certain he knew this, but he didn't acknowledge it.

-Amos Kane (Fifteen-years-old)-

I took a deep breath when the door clicked closed to him finally leaving. That familiar aura off of him wasn't something I want to get too comfortable with. Though I still can't seem to figure out why it's familiar, it scares me that I recognize it but can't label it.

Why was he being so persistent that I go with them? This is Kane; I highly doubt something awful will happen if I was to go wander the streets to clear my head a bit. Well, considering the things a magician of the Per Ankh has to deal with, the town of Kane can try all it can to impress me.

I waited for what felt like two minutes before drifting my eyes, taking in the surroundings of the jeep. Walt must have entered the building, and more than likely distracted by Sadie. I will have to make it a clean slip, make sure Max and Jaz don't see me leaving.

I started off by closing the door of the jeep with a quiet click. Reassured that I have the clear, I immediately stepped onto the sidewalk. I took a glance back at the front window of the restaurant to find that none of the party was even seated close to it. So I dashed down the street, stopping after what must have been a blur of three blocks.

I paused to find that I was standing in front of what appeared to be a condemned house. Its gray paint peeling and rotten wooden boards rudely pinned across the windows. Across the street happened to be a somewhat thriving coffee shop, about as busy as the restaurant I had just left. Which isn't much, three cars total to be honest.

I don't have a problem with towns. People think that because I'm from New York that I'd rather stay there. However, I've noticed a huge difference between people of large cities and the people residing in small towns. Generally, the smaller towns are nicer. They don't look down on you like you might just steal all they're worth. Or perhaps contaminate them with an unknown disease.

The only somewhat bothering habit of small townsfolk is the fact that they are more willing to step into someone else's life. Most mean well, but some are just plain nosey and almost coming off as controlling. That is why I chose to slip behind the broken-down house rather than enter the little shop across the street.

The backyard was small but thriving in tall grass and a nice oak tree providing decent shade. I didn't think twice to sit against the tree, taking another deep breath to relax my nerves. I almost wanted to take a nap, except I just got done with a panic attack. One I don't particularly want to go down with again.

The mere thought brought the topic up again. Julius, did I kill him or not? Is (did) he host Osiris? Who wound up hosting the other three demon days? Too many questions and not enough information.

Annoyed, I decided to attempt at distracting myself. I went to summon a random book from the Duat. I managed it, but paused at the navy leather cover. I don't recall having come upon a book that looked like this.

"Ah, it would appear that you have access to Chief Lector Kane's duat safe. Interesting indeed."

So what if I screamed? I was alone last I checked, and that irritating wannabe scientist waltzed right up to me like I was just sitting at a public park instead of a condemned house's backyard. And he shoved a cup of coffee in my face before I could even breathe or get a good look at his face to make sure it was Thoth rather than some jerk running around in the same clothing.

I hesitated to grab the cup, only so I could focus on my abrupt company. Who grabbed the book I had apparently tossed a few feet away from me in the scare he gave. "You should take better care, I'm sure you actually value this journal when you have use of it."

Yeah, it's him. I've only seen him a few times. Iskandar had sent me to him on an occasion to get access to certain books. If you know Thoth, you also know that he doesn't hand things out just because he can. Everything is a test with him, and you usually don't have time to study before you get tossed into the situation. This sucks for me because I prefer to read up everything I can before I do step into it.

He promptly sat down, a two foot distance from me. He studied the book's cover for a bit before facing me. "Well, I would give it back, but you'd just read it. As cruel as it sounds, you haven't quite earned reading your notes just yet. After all, you need to write them down first, yes?"

What? I was about to ask when I instead watched him slip it into the folds of his coat, followed by him chugging some of his coffee. "Good day?" He promptly asked, as if it was completely normal for any of us to be here.

I glared right at him, which was apparently a good enough answer. "Don't be like that, your introvert ways will be the death of you."

I wanted to snap at him, something along the lines of greeting him to the backyard of whoever once owned the property. I managed to clear my head before it could tumble out, uncovering various questions.

Was he the one that's been following me since I left New York? Why he's out here rather than staying put in the opera house in Memphis? Is the cup of coffee a test by any chance? So now you know why I feel like a big dork when it came to what I actually asked first.

"Notes of what?"

Thoth was a tad thrown off before quickly smirking. "Why, it's the notes you took when I taught you. Of course, you haven't started that yet."

My stomach managed to do a flip, making me nauseous to the thought. I'm perfectly fine with the off-chance of running into the god, not taking lessons from him directly. I can't even begin to imagine how much of his 'teaching' is actually tests. With that, I promptly put the coffee on the ground, balanced thanks to the tall blades of grass.

"That's not a test," Thoth smiled to the mere thought. "You do prefer mochas, yes?"

I didn't answer, and I wasn't interested in the drink anyways. "You mind explaining why I need to take training from you? I think I'm perfectly content with the Chief Lector's-"

"Iskandar urged you to pursue your learning under me," Thoth answered swiftly. "A smart move, a human isn't capable of sharing the amount of knowledge that I happen to have."

At least said human doesn't send me off into trapped underground tunnels like a certain god I know. I fumed instead of snapping, and it took me a minute to find his eyes practically staring right at me before he adjusted his glasses. "This truly is odd. You must have swapped magic reserves. The rest of your soul seems intact…"

Well, I guess that answers another question. "You're studying me? Why?"

Thoth seemed to wake from wherever his mind went off to. "Ah, well, to be honest I thought I knew the situation years ago. However, it's a tad more complex now that I know the rest of the story."

"One of the first things you did was visit me, of course after you stole the book that did this in the first place. I noticed your soul was adapted to chaos; however it seemed to be soaking in order's power. I brushed it off as returning to Ma'at. However, your soul is aligned with order, yet soaking in chaos. I suggest you don't try any powerful spells in that condition; you might seriously injure yourself doing so. Especially considering that reserve of power is much larger than what you are used to."

"What?"

He sighed, emptying the rest of his coffee before continuing. "Okay, I'll break it down for you. As of now, the Chief Lector is currently using Ma'at to fuel chaos. This is perfectly normal to be honest, that's how most chaos magicians start off in the first place. The only issue there is the fact that he's back to day one, and if he wants to get strong enough he's going to have to convert the reserve into chaos." He raised his right hand quickly as if to calm me down, "Which he doesn't, you get to return to your very normal Ma'at reserve once this is all situated."

"You, however, happen to be swimming in a lake of chaos energy. It's okay to use it for small spells, spells that you're adapted to and don't wear you down much. However, you're not capable of wielding the destructiveness of such power. Take too much in and you very well could combust before the spell you considered preforming ever happens. Even if it wasn't tainted in chaos, it's too large for you that you'd burn up the rest of your soul before you could even use half of it."

Well, that just sounds lovely. I was on the verge of freaking out when Thoth smirked. "Good thing you're Statuary, yes?"

Right, because Statuary worked well against Torsten Friedrich. I stood up from the grass, and that seemed to be enough to dissolve his smirk. "A suggestion? You abandon this trip and stay posted in Brooklyn. It's best you don't put yourself in a situation where you will be tempted."

"Why would you care?" I snapped, kicking the coffee over to watch its contents soak the grass surrounding it.

Thoth blinked in response, "I have various reasons. One being that if you die the other you goes with. Time itself will warp and Chaos wins. Rather simple, to be honest."

"Yet you think I can just sit back, knowing that these three are plotting to confront Friedrich?" I glared right at him, wanting a better answer than keeping balance.

He finally stood up, keeping his eyes on his coat as he brushed some grass residue off of it. "You make it sound like it's hard, Amos."

I snarled at him, almost wanting to just punch his nose into his head. "You have no idea what he is capable of. I can't let them go without me."

"It's not a matter of can or can't Kane," Thoth's voice gained a sudden edge to it as he faced me again. "We both know that confronting him will force you to go to extreme measures. Measures Ma'at cannot afford you to take. You must go back to Brooklyn."

"And how do you plan to get me to comply?" I demanded, right hand clenched into a fist.

He seemed surprised by my question. "I just told you why!"

I immediately huffed it off, "Then you can continue attempting to balance the universe Thoth. I'm storming that nome, and I'm going to get some answers."

I made my way back to the restaurant, hearing bits and pieces of whatever Thoth was trying to yell at me. He had stopped two blocks into my walking, hopefully getting the hint that he can't restrict me.

I was somewhat happy by the thought, but it disappeared quickly when I noticed Sadie glaring right at me from where she sat on the front of the jeep. "Where did you go?" She eyed me as if she was going to get an answer that way.

"Took a walk," I summed up, slightly annoyed that I needed to defend myself.

Her right eyebrow raised, "No need to get so aggressive over it."

"Whatever," I promptly took the passenger seat of the jeep, closing the door before she could say anything else.