13.03.2015

Set

Finding the first part of the Book of Ra turned out to be harder than we imagined.

Fortunately, I was beside Ra when his last orders were given out and the book was parted. It was our last journey together. I had never seen the Mesektet Barque so empty. 'Only the necessary' were called to guard the Sun that night. That meant Sobek, Bast, Thoth and me. I was younger then and… we all were. I don't think any of us was fully aware of what was about to happen. When we reached the Forth Gate, the Barque stopped. We left the Evening Sun there. It was my job to write down Khnum's names. After the invocation was finished, I tore it from the scroll and gave it to Sobek and he returned to the mortal world. There was something in Khnum's expression when we left that made us all go quiet for the rest of the journey.

We were never to tell each other what we have done to our parts of the Book. Of course, this was not the case anymore. Still, Sobek refused to speak with Isis in the room. 'What happens on the Barque stays between its warriors'.

"I don't know much." he admitted when we were alone. "You know how confused we all were back then. I just couldn't handle being responsible for the scroll. I gave it to your father. Do with that what you will."

That one was for Isis to deal with. The longer I could go on without seeing our parents, the better. Apparently the scroll had been given to a potter in Esna, along with very specific instructions – the scroll to be hidden inside a Khnum statue. After this, both the statue and the scroll fell into oblivion.

To track the statue, we needed someone who was good at connecting details and researching for extra information. So here we were, sitting in Thoth's new office as his annoyance hung over us like a cloud.

"You know," he said. "There is this thing called Google. Nowadays humans use it to ask questions and receive answers and, oh, I don't know, do their own research."

Isis smiled. "How fascinating. Maybe you could use it to help us."

Thoth sighed. "If it wasn't for the younglings, we wouldn't be talking right now. I hope you realize this."

He got up from his desk and turned to the shelves behind it. The entire wall was covered from floor to ceiling with millions of books, each in a different language.

'If it wasn't for the younglings' - that was a phrase I would end up using a lot. If it wasn't for the younglings, I wouldn't be stuck working with Isis. Maybe the world would've ended. Maybe it wouldn't have. Either way, I wouldn't have had to listen to the annoying smugness in my sister's voice. Every time she learns my secret name, she becomes insufferable.

After some thought and a couple of discarded scrolls, Thoth picked up a yellow book.

"Aha! The Excavations at Esna." He read. "If the statue in question was found, it would be here."

He flipped through the book, put it back in its place and turned to us.

"The statue was sent to New York in 1906. It should be in the Brooklyn Museum."

I nodded and smiled at Isis. "Looks like it's our lucky day, eh?"

She ignored me. What's the point of trying to be friendly when she doesn't even acknowledge my efforts? It takes a lot of willpower to not strangle her, you know?

"Thank you, Thoth. The Pharaoh will appreciate your help."

Thoth shook his head. "I doubt the Pharaoh even knows you are here. But do send him a message, could you? When the day is over, all we have left to do is await the sunrise."

I raised an eyebrow and Thoth winked at me.

Once we were out, Isis finally decided to acknowledge my existence.

"Is it just me or did Thoth just wink. What was that about?"

I shrugged. "Maybe I know something you don't."

She crossed her arms. By the time we were on the street, the sun was setting.

"If this is all for today, I'll be heading out." I smirked. "Try not to miss me too much, sister."

Cairo, 2:05 am.

One of the biggest buildings within the New City of the Sun was the Nome of Nomes. It was called so because its first floor was taken up by the official residencies of each nome within the House of Life. If people remembered what was on the other floors, they would have referred to it as the 'Royal Palace'.

When you enter the Nome of Nomes, the first door on the left will take you directly to end of the Hall of Ages. The walk from Giza to here is just to impress any new initiates. Then there is the canteen, the Chief Lector's office, the Chief Lector's suite and the Chief Lector's private infirmary. And then the rooms start the long count from 2 to 360.

At first Amos had been in the First Nome infirmary building, two streets away from here. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Michel had decided that Kane should be moved to his nome's apartment. It was just pure coincidence that 18th's was right across the hall. And you definitely shouldn't think twice about how Vladimir Menshikov arrived later that same day.

And speaking of the snake…

A figure all dressed in white (An awful choice for middle of the night lurking, btw. It wasn't even a flattering fit.) was fidgeting with the doorknob of the Brooklyn Suite. It hissed in pain when a stream of fire hit its hands. It backed away from the door and its head snapped towards me, its reptilian eyes fixed on my staff.

"Away!" I snarled.

The figure melted into a puddle of red wax, which disappeared under the floor.

I sighed and sat down, leaning on 21st's door. I closed my eyes. It was technically my fault. I had raised the energy he needed, I had been foolish enough to be manipulated. And it is my energy he is sensing on Kane. He probably thinks I'm still in him, probably thinks killing Amos would be his revenge on me.

I felt like screaming, but I couldn't risk waking up Michel. I knew for a fact he kept a close eye on Kane. I knew who the snake was using as a vessel! I knew where he was! And I was too weak to do anything about it! Even if I had a host, even if I could take Menshikov down, he knew my secret name! The least I could do, the only thing I could do, is hope the younglings take him down before its too late.

And they needed their uncle.

"If it wasn't for the younglings" I whispered to the sleeping men on the other side of the door, "I wouldn't be here right now. I hope you realize this."

Being on guard during the night felt almost… right. And so I waited.