In which Percy and Sadie get some advice, and Carter's in trouble- also- he and Zia are very cute. I like to imagine that when they have anniversaries and stuff he'll take her to the Mall. Also, random thing I'm considering having Percy's hair go white for reasons that would be spoilers, what would people think- also if I do should it be permanent or temporary?
Replies:
Rage2091: I mean, she definitely makes stuff more entertaining.
Guest: I don't think any of the Egyptian gods would be that fond of the Romans given the fact that Egypt fell to them to be honest. And I have so many plans, you'll have to wait and see.
Guest: As would I. Percy was just like 'I am a battle hardened warrior but GROSS!
"What?" Percy's eyes widened and she glanced at Sadie- who's expression had turned very serious very quickly. If Carter needed them then they needed to get to him quickly.
"Can you send us to him?" Sadie directed the question to Ptah, who smiled at them.
"Thought you'd never ask." He pointed to the nearest wall. The stones dissolved into a portal of swirling sand.
"And, my dear, some words of advice." Ptah's milky eyes studied Sadie. "Courage. Hope. Sacrifice." then his gaze shifted to Percy,
"And you little Greekling. Remember Strength. Defiance. Perseverance." and Percy blinked, staring at him, she wasn't sure what it was about the words- but she felt something inside of her bubbling up, warm and comforting.
"You're beginning to understand." he nodded at them both, "Words are the source of all power. And names are more than just a collection of letters. Well done, Sadie. You may succeed yet. And you Persephone. You will have the hardest fight of your life soon but I have faith."
"That sounds bad." Sadie was by Percy's side in an instant, her arm winding around Percy's shoulder. "What exactly will we face on the other side?"
"Enemies and friends," Ptah said. "But which are which, I can't say. If you survive, go to the top of the Great Pyramid. That should do nicely for an entry point into the Duat. When you read the Book of Ra—"
He choked, doubling over and dropping his rifle.
"I must go," he said, straightening with a great deal of effort. "This host can't stand any more. But, Walt…" He smiled sadly. "Thank you for the beef jerky and juice. There is an answer for you. It's not one you'll like, but it is the best way."
"What do you mean?" Walt asked. "What answer?"
The farmer blinked. Suddenly his eyes were normal. He looked at them in surprise, then yelled something in Arabic and raised his gun.
Percy let out a startled yelp, leaping through the portal, with Sadie and Walt right behind her.
...
Carter wasn't happy- which was understandable as far as he was concerned. He, Zia and Bes had managed to find Zia's old village, and they'd found what Iskander had hidden- and Zia's breath had caught at the sight of the Crook and Flail-not just any Crook and Flail she'd told him, but the Crook and Flail- Ra's. Which- yeah it did make sense, he could understand why they might need them but still. It was terrifying.
And then, just when they'd thought that everything was going fine things had gone wrong, Menshikov and Desjardin's had shown up, and Bes had been captured, locked in a fluorescent glowing cage.
He was painfully grateful for Zia's presence at his side, comforting and familiar, and he was glad that Sadie and Percy were safe with Walt somewhere far far away from his mess.
The problem was that there was nowhere for them to go- not that he'd abandon Bes anyway but even if it was just him and Zia they were surrounded by red mud in all directions, dotted with wreckage and dead fish- there was no running or hiding. He only had two options, surrender or fight. And even with Zia backing him up- Desjardins and Menshikov were very powerful magicians, he was pretty sure that they didn't stand a chance.
He gripped the flail and crook tightly in one hand, clinging to Zia's hand with his other hand- and he shot her a sidelong glance and he could see his own determination reflected in her eyes- and her expression went soft for just a second. "I thank you Carter. For taking me to the mall."
And sure it wouldn't sound like the most romantic possible goodbye to most people but- well, it made Carter's heart twist painfully.
And gods but he hoped this wasn't the end.
"If we get out of this we'll go there again-" he was cut off by Menshikov's horrible wracking cough.
"If you're done with your goodbyes-"
"Like you care." Carter glared at the man- "You know how this goes-"
"Oh feel free to resist." those scarred eyes glittered cruelly, "Using deadly force would make my job so much easier."
"Vladimir, stop," Desjardins said wearily, leaning on his staff. "Carter, don't be foolish. Surrender now."
Three months ago, Desjardins would have probably loved the chance to blast Carter to bits- now- now he looked tired, sad, like it was an unpleasant necessity. Carter almost felt for the man- he couldn't be all bad. He had saved Percy after all. Maybe Carter could try and get through to him- or at least but them some time."
"What's your plan Vlad. You let us get away from St. Petersburg too easily. Almost like you want us to awaken Ra."
The Russian laughed. "Is that why I followed you halfway across the world to stop you?" He did his best to look scornful, but a smile tugged at his lips, as if they were sharing a private joke.
"You didn't come to stop the Kanes," Zia spoke up. "You're counting on them to find the scrolls for you and put them together. Do you need Ra to wake up in order to free Apophis?" her voice was horrified, "Have you truly lost your mind-"
"Enough, Zia." Desjardins spoke in a monotone, like a surgery patient counting backward waiting for anaesthesia to kick in. Carter couldn't understand why he seemed so apathetic, but Menshikov looked angry enough for both of them. From the hatred in the Russian's eyes, it was obvious that Zia had struck a nerve- and Carter got the urge to pull her behind him, to shield her- and she looked like she'd been struck as she stared at Desjardins.
"This is not you Desjardins-" her voice was almost pleading, almost, "You must listen- whatever he has done-"
"Silence Zia. You have done enough damage-" that made Zia flinch slightly and Carter almost growled.
"Don't talk to her like that-" he caught Menshikov's gaze again before pausing, "Wait- Zia's right, isn't she. Ma'at and Chaos are connected. To free Apophis, you have to wake Ra, but you want to control the summoning, make sure Ra comes back old and weak."
Menshikov's new oaken staff burst into green flames. "Boy, you have no idea what you are saying."
"Set teased you about a past mistake," Carter remembered. "You tried to awaken Ra once before, didn't you? Using what—only the one scroll you had? Is that how you burned your face?"
"Carter!" Desjardins interrupted. "Vlad Menshikov is a hero of the House of Life. He tried to destroy that scroll to keep anyone else from using it. That's how he was injured."
"He lied." Zia spoke up, "He must have lied-"
"You should do your homework, traitors." Menshikov fixed his ruined eyes on them, "The Menshikovs are descended from the priests of Amun-Ra. You've heard of that temple?"
"Of course." Zia's voice was stiff annoyed at the insinuation that she might not, "Of course we have-"
"They pretty much controlled Egypt for centuries," Carter remembered. "They opposed Akhenaton when he outlawed the old gods, maybe even assassinated him."
"Indeed," Menshikov said. "My ancestors were champions of the gods! They are the ones who created the Book of Ra and hid its three sections, hoping that someday, a worthy magician would reawaken their sun god."
"But if you're descended from priests of Ra—"
"Why do I oppose the gods?" Menshikov glanced at the Chief Lector as if I'd asked a predictably stupid question. "Because the gods destroyed our civilization! By the time Egypt fell and Lord Iskandar banned the path of the gods, even my family had come to realize the truth. The old ways must be forbidden. Yes, I tried to destroy the scroll, to make up for the sins of my ancestors. Those who summon the gods must be wiped out."
Carter shook his head. "I saw you summon Set. I heard you talk about freeing Apophis. Desjardins, he's going to kill you!"
Desjardins looked at them in a kind of daze. Amos had insisted the Chief Lector was smart, so how could he not understand the threat?
"No more," Desjardins said. "Come peacefully, Carter Kane, and you too Zia, or be destroyed."
"We cannot." Zia shook her head, "I understand your doubts Desjardins but the Kanes are right, Iskander knew that- please you have to-"
"SILENCE!" Menshikov yelled the word, "Silence traitor! You know nothing!"
"Don't talk to her like that." Carter felt a flood of anger as he moved to stand in front of Zia- Zia who was beautiful and fierce and brave- who he was pretty sure he was falling in love with. Zia who met his gaze when he glanced back at her, giving him a small nod, the two of them on the same wavelength, at least this time.
And Carter raised the Crook and Flail defensively, "We're not going peacefully."
Menshikov nodded. "Then, destruction it is.
He pointed his staff at them, and Carter's instincts took over. He lashed out with the crook.
He was much too far away to reach them, but some invisible force, the power probably coming from the Crook, ripped staff out of Menshikov's hand and sent it flying into the Nile. He held out his wand, but Carter slashed the air again, and Menshikov went flying.
He landed on his back so hard, he made a mud angel.
Carter blinked, looking down at the Crook and Flail in amazement- he'd never felt so much power before, never had it come to him with such ease. As if it was meant to be, as if they were meant to be his almost.
"Carter!" Desjardins staff burst to life with purple fire, "You dare to use the weapons of Ra?"
"You're not giving me much of a choice. You'll kill us no matter what I do!"
And Carter's body began to glow as he rose off the ground.
For the first time since the nightmare with Set he was encased in the avatar of the hawk god—a falcon-headed warrior three times his normal size. In its hands were massive holographic replicas of the crook and flail. Carter hadn't paid much attention to the flail, but it was a wicked pain-bringer—a wooden handle with three barbed chains, each topped by a spiky metal asterisk—like a combination whip and meat tenderizer. He took a swipe at the ground, and the falcon warrior mirrored my action. The glowing flail pulverized the stone steps of the tomb that had hid them, sending blocks of limestone flying through the air.
Desjardins raised a shield to deflect the shards and Carter could hear Zia's gasp from behind him.
"Combat magic," Desjardins said with disdain. "This is what the House of Life was like when we followed the path of the gods, Carter Kane: magician fighting magician, backstabbing and duels between the different temples. Do you want those times to return?"
"It doesn't have to be that way." Carter said. "I don't want to fight you, Desjardins, but Menshikov is a traitor. Get out of here. Let me deal with him."
Menshikov rose from the mud, smiling like he enjoyed getting thrown around. "Deal with me? How confident! By all means, Chief Lector, let the boy try. I'll be sure to pick up the pieces when I'm done."
Desjardins started to say, "Vladimir, no. It's not your place—"
But Menshikov didn't wait. He stomped the ground with his foot, and the mud turned dry and white all around him. Twin lines of hardening earth snaked toward Carter and Zia, crossing like a DNA helix.
Carter wasn't sure what they would do, but he knew he didn't want them touching him or Zia. He smashed at them with his flail, taking out a section of mud large enough for a hot tub. The white lines just kept coming, bleaching their way down the pit and climbing the other side, racing toward them. Carter tried to move out of their way, but the warrior avatar wasn't exactly speedy and he was painfully aware that if he moved then Zia would be exposed. And he knew how drained she was- how much returning to her destroyed home had hurt her. She was in no state to fight.
And Carter knew- he knew he'd take whatever pain he had to, whatever pain was necessary to protect the people he cared about- and so he had no way to escape, nowhere to go as the lines of magic met his feet.