Ari walked past the attendant at the front desk, heading straight to the elevator. She gently hit the button to call it, glancing around lazily. This was both to keep up the semblance of normalcy and to scan for any watching eyes, though if she saw any she paid them no heed. Finally satisfied with the area, she turned her head back to the elevator and began tapping her foot impatiently.
When the elevator finally dinged, Ari was about two seconds away from forcing it to move faster, laws of physics be damned. It was good she waited, though, since a large group of mortal tourists exited when the doors opened and flooded past her in a babble of noise. Checking to make sure nobody else was inside, she gingerly stepped over the threshold. Right as she was about to jam the button to close the doors she hesitated; her eyes flashing over the elevator's doorway as if looking for something. Finally, she smiled and proceeded to press the button.
The doors closed without a sound, being well maintained just as the primary elevator in the Empire State Building should be. Ari pressed the button for the top floor, then let out a deep breath, relaxing against the side of the elevator. She started mumbling to herself, forefinger and thumb spread across her eyebrows, massaging them lightly. About a minute later she pressed the hold button, pausing the ascent. She pressed a hand against the cool metal walls, letting out another breath. Turning around, she addressed the air itself. "What to do with you three?" she asked, shaking her head.
If there was actually anything present in the empty elevator, much less three other beings, they did not respond, though it could have been sworn a light gasp was heard. Ari crossed her arms, looking pointedly at one corner of the elevator. "Your invisibility spell leaves much to be desired, young magicians," she scolded.
A sudden yell of "Tas!" rang out, and pink ribbons extended out of nowhere to surround and entrap Ari. They bound her head to toe, winding tightly against her clothing, any movement made impossible. She could still breathe and speak, but not much more.
A dark cloud appeared out of nowhere in the corner the ribbons had come from, then faded into nothingness. It revealed three teenagers, all holding wooden staves and with offensive stances aimed at Ari. Two boys and a girl, dressed in very out of place clothing. More servant robes from ancient Egypt than the expected jeans and T-shirts of the 21st century.
"How did you detect us?" The girl demanded of Ari, the three of them stepping forward cautiously.
Despite her face being covered, Ari's smile was all too clear. Instead of responding, however, she spoke a quick verse of Latin. "Ordo, Chaus, perdere vincula."
Red and white sparks exploded into existence, shredding the pink ribbons like paper. When the light cleared, Ari was hovering in midair, her right hand extended and palm open. A loud, deep hum was heard, then a dark metal staff appeared in her hand, which she grasped. As soon as her fist closed around it, orange lines exploded outward across the surface, emanating from her hand. When the lines reached the top of the staff, it grew a pair of wings, made out of the same metal. Between the wings a harshly bright light flared into existence, a miniature orange star born anew. When the light died down, Ari's clothes had changed; now she was clad in a skintight suit of the same metal, complete with glowing lines, and her long crimson hair was in a ponytail. The source of the light had died down, with the star dim enough to look at directly.
Finally she touched down on the ground, twirled her staff in both hands, and leveled her gaze on the magicians staring at her in shock. "Ordo, addicere," she spoke, and grinned when their movements ceased.
"Simple. Your invisibility spell sucks," she finally replied, stepping around the captured teens. When she finished her loop, she frowned. "Woops, complete immobility. Let me just fix that," she smiled apologetically. "Chaus, enable sermonis."
All three of the magicians abruptly choked and coughed, one boy clearing his throat.
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"Straight to the point, huh?" Ari chuckled.
"Tell us," she demanded.
"My, my, quite demanding aren't we?" Ari tutted, crossing her arms. She had to let go of the staff to do this, of course, but it seemed not to care, given how it stood as if still being held in blatant disregard for gravity. The three teens eyed the orange star warily.
Though Ari was getting a kick out of their reactions, she was on a timer. Sooner rather than later someone would investigate why the elevator had stopped. Clearing her throat, she leveled a glare at the teens. "How about this? Even though you attacked me without provocation, I'll tell you just as much as you tell me. Fair exchange of information."
The girl looked as if she was about to tell her where to shove her 'fair exchange' before the boy next to the girl glared at her. "We accept," he hastily replied.
"Great. I'm going to set you free now. It would be unwise to resume hostilities," Ari said, glaring pointedly at the girl. All she got in response was an upturned nose and a 'Hmph'.
Sighing, Ari waved her hand, dispelling the bonds. The two boys experimentally flexed their arms, working out kinks in their muscles. The girl just crossed her arms and glared at her.
Looking to one of the boys, Ari asked the burning question. "What is her problem?"
The one she'd spoken to looked back and forth between them, then sighed. "Don't mind her. Sadie hates being beaten."
Ari's eyes lit up. "Sadie. Your name is Sadie?"
"What of it?" Sadie grumbled.
Ari didn't pay her attitude any attention, focused on the boy besides her. "You must be Carter, then. And… Walt, isn't it?"
The boy's eyes widened. "How do you know our names?"
"Oh, I know way more about you than you realize. You three have been busy these past few years," Ari said excitedly.
The third boy got into a defensive stance. "I don't like where this is going, guys," he said with a warning tone.
Ari laughed at that. "You don't like where this is going? You three are damn lucky I was here today. The only reason you haven't been destroyed is because of me, I reckon."
"What are you talking about?" Sadie asked, also getting into a combat stance.
"Let's cut the bull, alright? Simply put, you three are Egyptian," Ari declared.
All three narrowed their eyes.
"If you know what we are, you know it's not a good idea to cross us," Sadie growled.
Ari crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any idea where you are right now?"
"...The Empire State Building?" Carter tried. The third teen, however, was white as a sheet.
"Carter, Sadie..." he spoke, barely a whisper.
"Yeah, Walt?" Sadie said, not moving her gaze off Ari.
"We need to leave."
"Why?"
"We just... we need to get out of here right now," Walt pressed.
Ari smiled. Carter gulped.
"Sadly, you're currently on an elevator paused mid-ascent, so you aren't going anywhere," she shrugged.
"We could always go through you," Sadie grinned, pointing her staff at Ari.
"You could try," Ari smiled right back, unmoving.
"Hey! Both of you knock it off!" Carter yelled, "Nobody is going through anybody today."
Sadie glared at her brother, but lowered her staff. Suddenly Ari started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Sadie asked.
"You're exactly like what I've heard," Ari grinned, wiping tears from her eyes. Smiling happily, she extended a hand to Sadie. "Sadie Kane, my name is Ari, good friend of Percy and Annabeth. Pleased to meet you."
All three teenager's eyebrows looked like they were going to jump off their faces.
Sadie grudgingly took the offered hand. "Any friend of theirs is a friend of ours," she stated, with an amused smirk on her face.
Once their handshake had dropped, Ari's face took on a dangerous look. "Seriously though, how exactly were three Egyptians planning on getting into Mount Olympus alive?"
Carter and Sadie's mouths dropped open. "Olympus is in the Empire State Building?"
Ari nodded. "The elevator to it is. What the heck are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous this is?!"
Walt's face was now the color of flour. Seeing this, Carter made a guess. "Very?"
"You only remain undetected because of me now. The second the Olympians are aware of your presence, excrement hits the rotary device. The fact my cloak covered you in the first place is a freak accident. Consider yourselves very lucky you're still alive."
Walt looked confused. "I don't sense any kind of concealment from you."
"Why design a cloak that can be detected?"
"All spells have a weakness," Carter stated.
Ari raised an eyebrow. "Who said it was a spell?"
"You're a magician. It has to be a spell," Sadie reasoned.
"Where do you keep pulling these conclusions from? I am no magician," Ari said with an exasperated air.
The three Egyptians looked at her like she was mad.
"But you did magic," Carter insisted.
Ari banged her head against the wall. "Yes, I can 'do' magic. That does not mean I am a magician."
"Then what are you?" Walt asked.
Ari slumped against the wall she'd just used on her forehead. "Gods, you three are thick."
"Hey!" Sadie and Carter protested.
Ari rolled her eyes and gestured to the staff, which had stood defiantly in the middle of the elevator this whole time. "Alatum Stella," she said. The star at the top of the staff seemed to grow brighter in response.
"What?" Carter asked.
"Alatum Stella," she repeated, "Winged Star. My symbol of power."
The three teenagers tensed up. "You're a goddess?" Sadie squeaked out.
Ari looked like she was about to correct them, but gave up. "For all intents and purposes," she sighed.
"Are you Greek?" Carter asked.
Ari shook her head. "No. I don't belong to a pantheon. Well, not one you'd recognize anyways," she explained. Seeing their disbelieving expressions, she sighed again. "Technically I could be linked with the Romans. Same difference though. You two must be new to this world, but your companion over there knows how this stuff works quite well. Isn't that right, Anubis?"
Walt choked on air for a few seconds, before a different personality seemed to come to the fore. "Who exactly are you?" Anubis, speaking through Walt, questioned.
"You lot are not privy to that information yet. But suffice it to say, I'm something these children have never seen before. Mind your attitude, death boy," Ari grinned.
"Death boy?" Anubis shrieked, actual steam seeming to come out of Walt's ears.
"Yep," Ari affirmed with a smirk.
"How dare you?" Anubis yelled, barreling towards Ari. She merely smirked and held up a hand; Walt's body froze in mid stride. She got up and walked around him, poking him in various places.
Both Kane siblings had eyes the size of baseballs. "Uh…" they said.
"Gods seem to like charging those who disrespect them," Ari commented, tilting her head to the side.
"Let… me… go…" Anubis demanded.
"Will you calm down?" Ari asked, tilting her head to the other side.
Anubis glared at her.
"Really, Choobis," Ari sighed irately. "Why are you so violent now?"
"Choobis?" the Kanes repeated, snickering.
Anubis' eyes might as well have been dinner plates. "Progress?!" he gasped.
"I go by Ari now, old buddy, but yeah. It's me. Long time no chat, huh?" Ari said, smiling. She also allowed him to move again.
"Long time? It's been over five millennia!" Anubis said. "What took you so long?" he asked, pulling her up into a tight hug.
"I'm a Celestial, buddy. You know that. Despite how much I wish it, Terra cannot be my only focus," Ari said, a slight tone of apology in her voice.
The Kanes were looking back and forth between them. Sadie didn't look too happy about the hug. "Guys? Want to clue us in here?" Carter finally asked, before his sister could lose it again.
The two deities cleared their throats and stepped back from the hug. Anubis turned to them and introduced Ari properly. "Carter, Sadie, meet the Force of Progress." When he caught Sadie's expression, he hastily added "We're old friends."
Sadie glared at Anubis. "Just friends?"
Anubis rubbed the back of his head guiltily. "Well…"
Sadie growled.
Ari looked between the two, and it finally hit her. "You two are dating, aren't you?" she realized.
"Yes. We are," Sadie seethed, turning her glare on the Force.
"Anubis!" Ari scolded, hitting him on the arm. "You're dating someone and you hug me like that?" she asked in disbelief.
"I haven't seen you in five thousand years!" he protested.
"No, I don't care. She's your girlfriend now, go be with her for existence's sake," Ari continued, shoving Walt's body at Sadie.
Sadie, to her credit, changed her glare to a thankful expression.
"Sadie, I'm sorry about that. However, you are dating a god," Ari pointed out, "You may meet his previous lovers. It's something you'll have to get used to."
Sadie sighed. "I know."
Something occurred to Ari then. "How does Walt factor into that relationship? Better yet, why are you possessing him, Choobis?"
Anubis glared at her. "Stop calling me that!" he demanded half heartedly. This sent the Kanes into another round of snickering.
"Nope. Answer the questions," Ari shot back, rolling her eyes.
Anubis sighed, and his personality seemed to change again. This must be Walt speaking, Ari surmised.
"Anubis and I love Sadie. We're both dating her," he said.
Ari's eyebrows rose a little. "That must be… interesting," she commented.
"You have no idea," Carter complained.
"Why the possession though? Or is it only for Sadie's benefit?"
Walt shook his head. "Not only. I'm descended from Akhenaten," he explained.
"Ah. The curse?" Ari guessed.
Walt nodded. "Anubis keeps me alive. Without him, I'd die in short order."
"I could solve that for you," Ari offered.
Carter's mouth dropped open, followed quickly by Sadie's. "The curse is supposed to be impossible to remove," Walt protested.
Ari shrugged. "No being of Terra could do it, true," she conceded. Stretching a hand towards Walt, she smiled. "I'm not only of Terra, though. Do not move."
It all happened in a few seconds. Dark tendrils of smoke rose up out of Walt's skin, flowing through the air towards Ari's outstretched hand. As they got close the darkness caught on fire. It caught. On fire. The darkness. It shredded too, leaving behind solid streams of white light. These light streams entered Ari's hand, and then it was over. She lowered her hand and smiled.
"There. Done!" she exclaimed.
Walt looked at her in wonderment. "That's it?
"That's it," Ari agreed.
"That didn't take very long," Carter noted.
Ari shrugged again. "It's a pretty simple curse, really."
"Simple? No god could remove it!" Anubis cut in, shock evident in his tone.
"It's an amateur curse, Choobis. Plain and simple," Ari said. "Powerful, don't get me wrong, with several high-level Terran entities involved in the creation, but quite easy to unravel for something like me."
"Something like you? Just how powerful is a Force?" Sadie asked warily.
Ari smirked. "Are you guys familiar with Chaos and Order?" she asked.
"You mean Isfet and Ma'at?" Carter asked.
Ari nodded. "Those are their names in Egyptian, yes," she agreed. "They are called Structurals. I'm their niece."
Both Kanes stopped moving, talking, and almost stopped breathing in shock. Anubis had a self-satisfied smirk.
"What?" Sadie managed to say, barely above a whisper.
Ari sighed. "They are the siblings of my mother," she repeated.
"Your mother!?" Carter gasped.
"Yes?" Ari offered hesitantly.
"I was going to fight you," Sadie realized with a gasp.
Ari snorted. "Not your best decision ever, though I'm told it's par for the course," she commented.
Carter rolled his eyes while his sister did her best impression of a white bedsheet.
"You use a lot of terms we've never heard before. Celestial? Structurals? What do they mean?" Walt asked.
Placing her hand on her chest, Ari explained. "As the child of a Structural, I belong to the Celestial pantheon of beings. It's a pantheon that exists on all worlds across the universe, irrespective of local pantheons. Usually we don't announce our presence either, to preserve the local belief systems."
"That's why you said we wouldn't recognize the pantheon," Carter realized.
"But what's a Structural?" Walt asked.
"They are the beings that make up the universe. So incredibly powerful, they literally are aspects of the universe. Thus, they are called Structurals."
"And you're the child of one?" Walt continued. "Not now, Anubis," he whispered.
"Yes, and I'm pretty sure Anubis has met her before," Ari continued. "My mother is Entropy, otherwise known as Energy itself."
Sadie apparently was brought out of her stupor by the mention of science. Her brow furrowed as she attempted to wrap her mind around what Ari had just told them. "Isn't entropy a concept of physics?"
''That's what Annabeth said," Ari commented with a chuckle.
