The room was smaller than he'd expected. The walls around him were only thick glass, nothing more. Around the room were scattered jackets and purses, random items that had been abandoned in the evacuation. He couldn't seem to spot either of the two groups anymore, which was a great sign to him. He walked around for a moment and tried to go over what he was going to do in his head.

Zalaam's back was turned when he found him. He was standing near the glass wall, peering out at the city. New York was lit up like a star, as if the chaos below did not exist. "Kahmunrah," his chilling voice began. "I must say, I am surprised to see you." He turned to face him and Kahmunrah saw a large smirk on his face. "I assumed I was going to have to hunt you down. Thank you for making it easier."

Here goes nothing. He cleared his throat and forced himself to look into Zalaam's eyes. "You weren't hard to find."

"Is that so?" Zalaam took a few steps closer and Kahmunrah gripped the khopesh in his hand a bit tighter. "And just what made you seek me out? Come to beg for your brother like your worthless father did?"

"Quite the opposite," he explained. "I've come to offer my assistance."

The man arched Ahkmenrah's eyebrow, intrigued. "That is...unexpected, I must admit."

"You and I are not so different. We are both after the same thing," Kahmunrah explained. "You were wronged by my father, as was I when he gave the throne that was rightfully mine to Ahkmenrah. Since then, I have wanted to prove him wrong by not just ruling Egypt but the world itself."

"I am more than powerful enough to conquer the world," Zalaam interjected. "Why in Ra's name would I need your assistance?"

"A very good point." Where in the world did they go? How long do they expect me to do this? "But you should know that Ahkmenrah was a very popular person. His friends will not allow you to keep him prisoner without a fight first."

The man laughed for a moment. "They are no threat to me."

"You would think so," Kahmunrah told him. "But they are smarter than they appear. When I attempted to conquer the world myself, I ended up in the Underworld because of Ahkmenrah's army. The army that is currently fighting your soldiers below us as we speak. I have been with them for days, I can help you fight them off. Together, we would be unstoppable. All I ask is to rule the world alongside you."

Behind Zalaam, he could see the two groups meet up once again. Larry started to make gestures and mouth words to Nick and Teddy. The moment was nearly at hand.

Zalaam narrowed his dark eyes and looked him over for a moment. A sickening grin came to his lips as he looked at Kahmunrah again. "You make a fair point. I do have one question, though." He came even closer and leaned in to hiss in Kahmunrah's ear like a serpent. "Are you aware the glass walls allow me to see behind me?"

Black sand wrapped around Kahmunrah's throat in an instant and his feet left the floor. Zalaam threw him into a wall and he sunk to the floor in a heap, just happy he could breathe again. That was a bad idea, he thought. That was a very bad idea.

He looked up, still trying to regain his bearings from being tossed around the room, to see Larry, Lancelot, Teddy and Nick all running up to Zalaam. With a flick of his wrist, Zalaam sent a wave of sand hurtling towards them. Like bowling pins, they were knocked over and pushed around the room. He watched as the Mirror flew out of Larry's hand and across the room, out of anyone's reach.

Kahmunrah looked around for the khopesh he'd dropped somewhere, wracking his brain to think of a plan, some way to stop Zalaam. There has to be a way, there must be some-

"Going to kill me, Sir Lancelot?" Zalaam asked. Kahmunrah looked to see the knight on his feet, his sword drawn and a furious look on his usually calm face. "Come, then. Let's see if you can bring yourself to murder your best friend."

Lancelot gritted his teeth...but made no move. The sword trembled in his hand a bit before he growled and sheathed it once again. Even from his distance, Kahmunrah could hear him mumble, "I can't. I can't hurt him."

"Fool!" Zalaam laughed. "You will not even try to fight! You care for your precious Ahkmenrah so much, it has weakened you! All of you! Oh, it is too easy."

Kahmunrah looked over to the Mirror for a moment and considered running towards it, but like the knight, stayed where he was. Not even he could chance condemning Ahkmenrah to that fate. It wasn't worth it.

"Ahk!" Nick yelled. "You gotta stop this! Please!"

Zalaam's laughter filled the air again. "Go on and beg, boy! Plead for your life!"

"Leave him alone!" Larry shouted.

Kahmunrah looked at Zalaam, at Ahkmenrah's body. Suddenly, as if possessed himself, he began to speak. "...You won't win."

Zalaam's eyes looked to him, intrigued. "What was that, oh, prince of Egypt?"

"You won't win." He spoke a bit louder this time. "No matter what happens here."

"Really?" Zalaam started to take a few taunting steps towards him, like an executioner taking his time sharpening his axe. "And what makes you say that?"

"Because," he staggered to his feet, "you don't have any idea who you're dealing with."

That got another laugh. A dark, twisted sound. "And just what do you plan to do? You're no match for my power!"

"Oh, I know. That's not who I'm talking about." The words were pouring out of him like water flowing from an old, rotten dam. "No, it's Ahkmenrah you should worry about."

For a moment, Zalaam broke his stride. "Ahkmenrah?" He said, as if Kahmunrah had magically grown another head. "I think I've got him pretty well subdued."

"For now," Kahmunrah countered. "But whatever you've trapped him in, whatever situation you've conjured, I can promise you this, he will escape it."

"Oh, I highly doubt that."

"Like I said, because you don't know him."

The man arched Ahkmenrah's eyebrow.

Kahmunrah continued even though Zalaam was still coming towards him. "Believe me, once he sets his mind to something, there's no talking him out of it. I've tried. Several times. He's stubborn. And naive. Always thinks everything will work out for the best. It's really annoying, honestly."

"Is there a point to this, or are you stalling?"

"My point is that you can kill us all right now, make your little sand men conquer whatever you wish, whatever, but it won't matter because he'll stop you."

"You're so certain."

"He's my brother. I've known him for a little longer than you have. And I know that whether it be tonight, tomorrow or whenever, he'll find a way to defeat you. You won't even know what hit you. He's determined. Disgustingly so. What he lacks in strength, he makes up for in brains. But hands down his worst quality is that he loves everyone, and I do mean everyone. Especially those in this room and down below, fighting your army. That's how I know you won't win, because every move you make will only make him stronger. You've threatened his home and his family. Nothing you do will matter! Go ahead, kill me!" He stretched his arms out to his sides. "But you'll only seal your fate."

Zalaam studied him for a minute, as if thinking about this. His lips curled into a smirk. "If you think his love is stronger than my magic, then you must be truly desperate." He brought his arms up and black sand was suddenly swirling in his palms. "You are just as pathetic and weak as your father was. I suppose those were decent last words, though, even with that ridiculous lisp."

Zalaam raised his hand up, preparing to strike. Kahmunrah braced himself for whatever was about to happen. He could hear Lancelot and Teddy shouting something, perhaps trying to regain Zalaam's attention, but he could not really focus on them. He stared Zalaam in the eyes, defiantly. The man narrowed them and scowled. Though he didn't break eye contact, he noted that the power in the man's hand must have been great, because it was starting to shake. Surprisingly, it was Zalaam who looked away. He followed the sand sorcerer's gaze and found him looking at the sand he'd been preparing to use. It was fading, flickering like a dying flame. Zalaam growled and repeated his movement. This time, his palm came up empty. Zalaam's dark orbs widened in annoyance. Kahmunrah watched in confusion.

Again, the man reached his arm back before thrusting it forward with gritted teeth. To Kahmunrah, it looked like Zalaam was throwing an invisible ball at him. Clearly frustrated, the sorcerer looked to his hands, which still trembled.

"...What did you do?" Kahmunrah could barely hear him. Suddenly, his head snapped up, as he shouted, "What did you do?!"

The two men locked eyes again, but this time was different. This time, Kahmunrah had found what he'd been looking for. Hidden behind Zalaam's black, deathly pupils was something that hadn't been there before. There was warmth underneath the cold, a small light in the seemingly endless darkness. He recognized it instantly. The glimmer brought a smirk to Kahmunrah's face. His arrogance returned to him, and he answered the man the same way he would answer his mother when he'd been caught getting into trouble. "Me? Nothing at all. It's Ahkmenrah."

Before his eyes, Zalaam's knees buckled and his legs began to quake. Kahmunrah could hear him breathing harder, like he was desperately trying to hold onto something. "Well, would you look at that?" Kahmunrah began. "It appears I was stalling after all."

Everything he heard was like a fresh cut piercing his skin. This was the worst kind of torture Ahkmenrah could have possibly imagined. Zalaam was hurting people. With his body. And he couldn't do a thing about it. If the redness around his shackles didn't show that he'd tried, he wasn't sure what would.

Hearing Kahmunrah was the worst by far. At first, he had to listen to him try to strike a deal with the psychotic sand sorcerer, and part of him had to wonder if he'd been planning this the whole time. But when he recalled the lava-filled temple, and their talk on the Nile's bank, he knew it had to be something else. Ahkmenrah was quick to discover that his older brother had merely been creating a distraction for Zalaam. His friends, his family had come to rescue him.

That was the worst thing they could have done.

You shouldn't be here, he thought, as if they could hear him. He hugged his knees so tightly, they started to ache. You should have run. You should be hiding. You can't stop him; he's too powerful. I don't want him to hurt you. I can't bear to hear him hurt you!

When Nick began to beg for him, the tears began again. Ahk was surprised he had any left. "I'm sorry." His voice was barely a whisper. "I tried. You have to know that I tried. I can't break the chains...I can't help you. You need to use the Mirror. Please, I don't care if it takes me, as long as it stops Zalaam. With me out of the way, you could kill him easily." Anubis, please don't let them die. I can't have them die at my hands. Someone do something, please, Gods, do something to stop this, anyth-

"You won't win."

Ahkmenrah's breath caught in his throat and he looked up, quickly. He had heard him so clearly as if he were standing in front of him. He had heard his brother. But no one was there but the darkness. Yet Kahmunrah's voice continued.

What is he doing? Ahkmenrah wondered. What I wouldn't give to see what was happening! Does he have some kind of plan? Yes, he must, I can hear it in his voice. He knows they're going to win. Brother, whatever you're doing, please don't get hurt!

"And just what do plan to do? You're no match for my power!" He heard Zalaam taunt.

"Oh, I know. That's not who I'm talking about," Kahmunrah told him. "No, it's Ahkmenrah you should worry about."

"What?!" Ahkmenrah shouted, his voice raspy from sobbing. His hands grabbed his head in panic. "Kahmunrah, no, no, you don't understand! I can't-"

"-whatever situation you've conjured, I can promise you this, he will escape it." His brother told him.

"I can't break these chains!"

But Kahmunrah continued, not hearing the young pharaoh's shouts. Without knowing, Ahkmenrah was on his feet, the chains on his wrists rattling a bit. He's going to kill him, he thought gravely. Zalaam is going to kill them all after they came to help me, and I can't...no. No, no, no, this can't happen. I can't lose my family, not again!

While Kahmunrah kept the sand sorcerer's attention, Ahkmenrah began to yank the chain once again. Though his wrists were red and aching, he pulled as hard as he possibly could. I've got to stop him, I've got to get him out of my body before he hurts someone! His teeth were gritting so much, it felt like they would shatter under the pressure.

"You're so certain," said Zalaam's chilling voice.

"He's my brother," Kahmunrah replied. Ahkmenrah found a burst of strength flowing through him. The ebony chain was trembling. "And I know that whether it be tonight, tomorrow or whenever, he'll find a way to defeat you. You won't even know what hit you."

Tread carefully, brother, this man is a monster, Ahkmenrah thought. I've got to break this, before Zalaam hurts him. I'm sure his patience is waning. Whatever you do, Kahmunrah, just don't egg him on.

"Go ahead, kill me!"

Oh, Gods, give me strength.

Zalaam's cold voice filled the room. "If you think his love is stronger than my magic, then you must be truly desperate."

The small, dark room was suddenly filled with a zoo of shouting. Lancelot and Teddy yelled to try to get the evil man's attention, but they were drowned out by Ahkmenrah's own inhuman shouting.

His crown hit the floor as he fell onto his back, suddenly. Everything was silent. The chain was snapped in two. Breathing heavily, Ahkmenrah looked at his wrists and watched as the shackles dissolved into grains of black sand. His vision started to blur and for a moment he feared he was about to faint.

"...What did you do?" Zalaam asked. "What did you do?!" He wasn't sure if he was talking to him or Kahmunrah. When he heard his brother's response, Ahkmenrah could almost picture the smug look he must have been wearing. Suddenly, he felt himself leaving without moving a muscle. The darkness vanished as he heard Kahmunrah once more, and suddenly, he was on his feet, somewhere new.

A man stood before him, one he had never seen but now knew very well. He was significantly taller than Ahkmenrah was, but rather thin and lanky. His black hair matched the skirt and top he was dressed in. A sneer formed on the man's pale face.

"You should not have done that," Zalaam told him. "Did you not learn from your father's mistake? It's much easier to go along with my plans than to fight me. You only make this harder on yourself."

"This is my mind," Ahkmenrah countered. "You no longer have the power here."

"Very true, young pharaoh," Zalaam quipped. "But that does not mean I am defenseless." Ahkmenrah watched as the man unlooped a large, black khopesh from his side. "I suggest you surrender now, before you force me to make a mess."

"Is talking the only thing you know how to do, or are we going to fight?"

The man's cold eyes grew. "Bold words. Come then, I will let you strike first."

Ahkmenrah shook his head and waved the man forward. The surprise on his opponent's face gave him more confidence. Zalaam was thrown off.

The man tightened his jaw and advanced. Ahkmenrah watched intently as Zalaam rushed up to him and drew his khopesh back. He dodged the man's attack and swung his fist at him. Zalaam moved and started to attack once again, forcing Ahkmenrah to take a step back to avoid the blade. For a while, Ahkmenrah was on autopilot, dodging every attack and landing a few of his own. They fought in a blur, striking each other in silence for who knows how long until the sand sorcerer finally spoke again, not wavering in his attacks.

"Why are you making this so difficult on yourself? What's the point in fighting?"

"If you heard what my brother told you," Ahkmenrah began, "you know my reasons already."

"You are as foolish as your father!"

"Yes, I'm so sorry my father decided to be a decent person and declined to help you rule the world with an iron fist." The young pharaoh narrowly dodged the blade again.

"Why in the name of Set would you challenge me for these people when you know it would be much easier to surrender?!"

Even in the heat of battle, a smirk appeared on Ahkmenrah's lips. "You wouldn't understand it if I told you."

"Then you shall be the first of them to suffer!" the man yelled. "First you, then your prehistoric army. Starting with your-" A wicked grin came to the man. "- thupid, thtalling broth-"

The sorcerer's smile vanished as Ahkmenrah's fist connected with his face. It knocked the man back, slightly, and Ahkmenrah saw his dark eyes widen a bit. Zalaam's smirk wasn't the only one to disappear.

The man did not waste time, however, and quickly aimed for Ahkmenrah's neck. But the young pharaoh raised his hand up and grabbed Zalaam's arm. The khopesh was inches from his throat. He kicked the sorcerer square in the chest and knocked him back. In a flash, he seized the khopesh from Zalaam and spun it in his hand until it faced his opponent. Without hesitation, he thrusted the blade into Zalaam's stomach.

Ahkmenrah watched the panic form in the man's dark irises. "This - this isn't over," Zalaam croaked. "My soul can take any of them, any one of your little friends. How do you think they will fare against me?"

The only response Ahkmenrah gave him was to bury the rest of the khopesh in his opponent.

Zalaam became white as a sheet and his body went limp. Before Ahkmenrah's eyes, the man disintegrated into black sand, just as his shackles had. Ahkmenrah felt a rush in his head and it was suddenly hard to keep his balance. His final thought was hoping that his family would be safe now.

A/N: Posting this chapter is so bittersweet because I LOVE IT but that means the story is gonna end soon. :( Anyhow, I hope you are all staying safe, trying to stay calm and staying home. I hope you all stay well.