I would like to formally introduce the two newest members of the Kane family at this stage.
Replies:
Thickneck: Just picture it Chiron during the battle of Manhattan: We're outnumbered, overwhelmed. There's little chance-
Percy: Hold up just one sec- here come the cavalry! 'Cue the entirety of Brooklyn House marching down the streets plus Amos and Desjardins and several other magicians, Carter and Sadie leading the way.'
I mean, it would be comical right?
Jubby1905: That is still something she can do yes, though at this stage she doesn't know and her most important use of it will probably shock you.
Ryan Fowler: Eh, Hades would probably cheer her on too. She is an Underworld kid after all.
Guest: It was still pretty desert like lol. No ice deities- which also just made me picture Felix meeting Khione and just being like 'Awe, why does the one ice goddess I meet turn out to be a bitch?' And I have plans for Setne.
Undeath9087: Annabeth's definitely going to lose her mind. And technically the Greeks should know, but they believe the Egyptians faded and uh, let's be totally honest, I think Zeus is arrogant and too far up his own ass enough to not notice and anyone saying something weird is happening would be dismissed out of hand by him.
Guest: Actually, the 360'th nome is in already in Antarctica. And it's usually a punishment assignment but this is Felix.
Guest 2.0: A couple of chapters but not too many.
Guest: I get that, but that would effect the frequency of my updating as I would take longer to write the chapters and I like daily updates if I can.
A moment later Percy and Sadie closed the distance to Carter- and Amos moved, pulling them into a hug again- "I really am proud of all three of you." and that much clear by the shine in his eyes.
And then Sally was there, and Percy grinned widely, "Mom! You had the babies."
"Two hours ago." Sally told them warmly, "You can meet them properly later- it's a bit of a rush now. I had to force the healers to let me come-"
"I have no doubt I will get complaints about that." Desjardins looked faintly amused, "Well done children."
"As much as I'm sure we'd all love to talk now-" Amos spoke up, "You three have somewhere to be." he gestured to the side of the dais- where a door of darkness had opened in the air. "Julius and Ruby would like to see you."
"What about you mom?" Carter tilted his head, "Are you coming."
"Of course." Sally shifted slightly, "Your father has to meet his newest children after all. But after that I think I'll have to go home with the twins and rest. Giving birth to two babies while worrying about my other babies was not a restful experience."
"Of course not." Percy would have hugged her mom but it was kinda awkward- since she was holding the twins, so she settled to patting her mom's elbow, "Well come on then! What are we waiting for."
And with that she was rushing towards the dark doorway, Carter and Sadie's laughter echoing behind her.
The Hall of Judgment had turned into Party Central. Ammit the Devourer ran around the scales of justice, yapping excitedly with a birthday hat on his crocodile head. The guillotine-headed demons lounged on their pole arms, holding glasses of what looked like champagne. Even the blue judgment god Disturber seemed to be in a good mood. His Cleopatra wig was sideways on his head. His long scroll had unraveled halfway across the room, but he was laughing and talking with the other judgment gods who had been rescued from the House of Rest. Fire-embracer and Hot Foot kept dropping cinders on his papyrus, but Disturber didn't seem to notice or care.
At the far end of the room Julius sat on his throne holding hands with Ruby. To the left of the dais, spirits from the Underworld played in a jazz ensemble. Percy was pretty sure she recognized Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and a few of Julius' other favorites. Being the god of the Underworld has its perks.
Julius beckoned her forward and Percy took off in a sprint towards him, crashing into his arms as Julius hugged her tightly, almost picking her up. "My baby girl- I heard what you did- you were wonderful- and there are your siblings and your mother." and Percy turned her head as her dad put her down and she looked over to the doorway, where Carter and Sadie had stepped through with Sally- and Julius' expression shifted, becoming awed, "My children- Sally-" his voice was soft.
Carter and Sadie reached him first- and they got tight hugs from their father too- and Ruby moved to Sally's voice, her expression soft as Sally blushed slightly and shifted her grip so that the ghostly woman could look at the babies.
"Oh they'd wonderful Sally."
"A boy and a girl." Sally announced. "Ruby- it's so wonderful to see you-"
"It's thank to the children. I held on as long as I could, but the shadow was too powerful. I was consumed, along with so many other spirits." she turned to look at the three children, "If you hadn't destroyed the sheut when you did and released us, I would've been…well, it doesn't matter now. You've done the impossible. We are so proud."
"Yes." Julius nodded, "We really are. Everything we worked for- everything we've hopped for. You've exceeded my highest expectations." his eyes kept flicking to Sally and the babies- and his anxiousness was palpable- but he always had been the type to do what was needed first and then do what he wanted.
"Uh- dad-" Carter shifted nervously, "um…we didn't succeed at everything. We lost your prisoner. I still don't understand how he escaped. He was tied up and—"
Julius raised his hand to stop him. "I heard. We may never know how Setne escaped exactly, but you can't blame yourselves."
"We can't?" Sadie's voice was incredulous.
"Setne has evaded capture for eons," Julius told them. "He's outwitted gods, magicians, mortals, and demons. When I let you take him, I suspected he would find a way to escape. I just hoped you could control him long enough to get his help. And you did."
"He got us to the shadow," Carter admitted. "But he also stole the Book of Thoth."
Sadie bit her lip. "Dangerous stuff, that book. Setne may not be able to cast all the spells himself, being a ghost, but he could still cause all sorts of mischief."
"We will find him again," Julius promised. "But for now, let's celebrate your victory- and-"
"You want to meet your babies." Sally looked faintly amused as she stepped forward, tilting her arms slightly, "Estelle Ruby Kane and Alexander Julius Kane." she announced.
"Oh they're lovely names." Ruby gushed softly as Julius carefully reached out, taking one of the babies from Sally's arms- and Percy peered at the babies as her mom shifted her grip on the baby in her arms now that she had an arm free.
They were both tiny little things. The one in Julius' arms had wispy curls of dark hair on its head, and its skin was several shades lighter than Julius'- though from what Percy knew about babies that might change over the next few weeks.
"That's Alexander." Sally told them gently. And Percy nodded, staring at the tiny wrinkled face, determined to etch it into her memories before she shifted to look at the baby in her moms arms- and Sally tilted them slightly so she could see a second wrinkled little face- the main difference was the fact that Estelle's skin was slightly darker Percy thought- and she had more hair on her head.
"Sally-" Julius' voice cracked, "My love- I-"
"You don't have to say it." Sally's voice was gentle, "We're going to visit as much as we can- it won't be a conventional family but we're going to stay a family."
"I wish I could hold them." Ruby's voice was adoring, "Honestly Sally they're perfect they really are."
"Can I hold her mom?" Carter's voice was hopeful- and Sadie was instantly at their dads side.
"If Carter holds Estelle I wanna hold Alex."
"Of course." Julius laughed, carefully handing over Estelle, showing Sadie how to hold her as Sally did the same for Carter, and Percy pouted.
"How could you both get to cuddle a baby and I don't?"
"That-" Sally grinned, "Is because you're still my baby-" she swooped in for a hug, "Don't think I haven't heard what you did- I'm proud of you but jumping down the snakes throat? Really sweetheart?"
"It was a bit rash." Julius' lips twitched, "But then again, what else can we expect from Chaos."
Percy felt her cheeks flush. "It's- can we not think about it. It makes my head hurt." as she said that she reached up, brushing her fingers over the scar on her neck.
This was the longest she'd ever gone without it being covered up.
And it was funny, after all that had happened it seemed silly to be so upset about a scar- especially one that proved that she'd faced Apophis himself- especially now that he was gone.
Then Alex let out a snuffling little cry and Sally laughed softly at the panicked look on Sadie's face, pulling away from Percy, "Give her here Sadie-" she carefully took the baby from Sadie's arms, "She's probably hungry-"
"Come with me." Julius straightened up quickly, "I'll take you somewhere private if you'd like-"
"Thank you love." Sally quickly followed him- and Ruby gave a small grin, turning her focus to Sadie.
"I was hoping to borrow you for a moment honey. I know you have Sally for this sort of thing but- well I am your mum too-"
"What sort of thing?" Sadie looked bewildered but Ruby just smiled and gestured for Sadie to follow her across the room- and Percy shifted her gaze to Carter, who was bouncing Estelle gently.
He must have noticed her stair because a moment later he was carefully passing Estelle to her, and he helped her hold the baby, showing her how to support the head and neck just as Sally had shown him.
Percy looked down at Estelle- and those beautiful chocolate brown eyes blinked up at her.
And Percy really was captivated by the babies. They were so tiny. It was a dizzying thought, how close they'd come to never being born- if they'd been born two hours before the gathering in the Hall of Ages then it had been after Apophis' defeat.
Percy swallowed hard.
She didn't like that thought, it was kind of terrifying.
"Carter-"
"They're okay Percy." Carter's fingers brushed her hair out of her face, "Everyone's okay. We made it Percy. It's over, the war against Apophis is won." he let out a shaky breath himself, "Once we get home I'm going to sleep for a year."
"What happens next?" Percy tilted her head.
And Carter did hesitate for a second at that question.
"Life." he decided after a moment. Life happens. I'm gonna do what I said. I want to go to school, do all that normal teenager stuff- hopefully Zia will come with me.
"Do you think that I can go to school too?"
"I don't see why not. Brooklyn Academy takes in kids from like, eight to eighteen I think. I know that Felix attends and he's only a couple of months older than you."
"Feels weird." Percy admitted, "Talking about stuff like school- being normal-"
"I don't know about normal." Carter snorted, "Not us Kanes. But we don't have to live in terror of the world ending any more. That seems pretty good to me."
"It does huh." Percy grinned- it was a nice thought. And she glanced around at all of the celebrating gods and spirits. "Everyone's happy 'cause of us."
"They are-" Carter paused, his breath catching before he smiled widely, "Look over there." he nodded towards a jazz band.
A familiar big redheaded man in Western clothes sat at a steel guitar, grinning and tapping his boots as he traded solos with Miles Davis. Next to him, a pretty blond woman played the fiddle, leaning down from time to time to kiss the redheaded man on the forehead. JD Grissom- and the woman had to be the wife he'd rushed off to save before Apophis had killed them.
"They look happy." Percy grinned.
"They are." Carter declared. "They get to party forever."
"Children." the voice came from behind them, and Percy and Carter turned at the same time, Julius was smiling at them very gently, "I mean it when I say that I'm proud of you."
"Dad-" Carter flushed.
"Carter- son. You did well in the Hall of Ages. You will make a good leader. A wise leader." and Carter looked like he wanted to cry as he took those words in. "
"I know it's been hard," Dad said, "but you will lead the Kane family into the future. You have truly stepped out of my shadow."
"Not completely, I wouldn't want that. As dads go, you're pretty, um, shadowy."
He laughed. "I'll be here if you need me. Never doubt that. But, as Ra said, the gods will have a harder time contacting the mortal world, now that Apophis has been execrated. As Chaos retreats, so must Ma'at. And I cannot go to the Mortal world in any case, being Osiris. Nevertheless, I don't think you'll need much help. You've succeeded on your own strength. Now you are the one casting the long shadow. The House of Life will remember you for ages to come."
His gaze turned to Percy, "And Percy- my sweet baby girl. You're undoubtedly the fiercest warrior the House of Life has. And- while we don't really use the term- you're a true hero." and then Percy was in her dads arms again, though it was a more awkward hug since she was still holding Estelle, and she smiled softly as she closed her eyes.
"I love you daddy."
"I love you too darling."