Hey guys, I love this chapter so much- Percy's just like 'Oh shit!' But Iskander is amazing and we like him a lot. Also- there will be parts of the book that I don't include for reasons that will become clear- I don't see the point of just copy and pasting parts essentially when there's no significant changes.
Replies:
Seaweedbrain760: I'm very flattered- and as for the siblingness- there's a big moment that I'm gonna write today that's important to their bond.
Ryan Fowler: Horus inside of Carter's head 'She- she can't actually do anything to me can she? Can she?'
Jubby1905: I haven't written it- but it would be very funny because he very much shouldn't be intimidated and yet Percy's just fully ready to fight him if he hurts her big brother.
Guest: Zia's the same age as she was in canon yes, and yeah Percy is a bit jealous, and she desperately wants Sadie to be her sister- but doesn't want to admit it because she feels rejected.
Guest: I'm not getting too hung up on exact dates- year wise anyway, the priority is more ages and things which I spent ages figuring out lol.
Percy knew that she should probably have paid more attention as Zia showed them around the First Nome- if only to map out exit routes for when things went wrong- which would be sooner rather than later based on their track record- but- well, she found herself deep in thought- mostly wondering how long they had before they'd be running for their life again- trying to make plans for what they'd do when they got out- and of course a part of her, which she would deny if Carter or Sadie tried to ask, was desperately wishing that her mom was there- her mom could fix things, she'd make things better with a few words and then Percy wouldn't have to worry at all.
She didn't even enjoy the chance to walk through the Hall of Ages- which was one of the one thing's she'd wanted to do ever since her dad had told her about the gods- it had always sounded so cool- the history of the House of Life, of Egypt, all recorded as memories.
So it sucked that all she could think of was planning what to do, trying to figure out the best way to look after Carter and Sadie.
She didn't even really listen as Carter and Sadie questioned Zia as they walked.
She didn't snap out of her thoughts until Carter suddenly shook her, his eyes wide as he pointed at one of the images, "Percy- isn't that-" and Percy followed his gaze, her eyes going wide when she spotted what he was pointing at- and she smiled despite herself. Hatshepsut putting on her fake beard, ruling Egypt- one of the most awesome Pharaohs ever.
At Sadie's confused look Percy shot her a grin, "That one is Hatshepsut Sadie-"
"Oooooh." Sadie blinked before grinning, "Okay, okay that is kinda cool shortie."
And once Percy had managed to focus she found her gaze flicking around, taking in all of the images, the scenes flashing around them- there was Rameses Great leading his chariots into battle.
There were magicians dueling in a palace. A man in tattered robes, with a shaggy black beard and wild eyes, threw down his staff, which turned into a serpent and devoured a dozen other snakes.
"I-is that-" Carter's voice was hesitant, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Musa," Zia said. "Or Moshe, as his own people knew him. You call him Moses. The only foreigner ever to defeat the House in a magic duel."
"You're kidding right?" Carter's voice was suddenly breathless but Zia shook her head, ""We would not kid about such a thing."
The scene shifted again. There was a man standing over a table of battle figurines: wooden toy ships, soldiers, and chariots. The man was dressed like a pharaoh.
"Who's that?" Carter's voice was nervous- Percy gave him a worried look.
"Nectanebo II," Zia said. "The last native Egyptian king, and the last sorcerer pharaoh. He could move entire armies, create or destroy navies by moving pieces on his board,
but in the end, it was not enough."
Then they stepped over another line and the images shimmered blue. "These are the Ptolemaic times," Zia said. "Alexander the Great conquered the known world, including Egypt. He set up his general Ptolemy as the new pharaoh, and founded a line of Greek kings to rule over Egypt." that made both Sadie and Carter turn their heads to look at Percy, who forced herself not to show just how emotional that thought made her.
It was the very brief period in history when her two sides had meshed- Egyptian and Greek together, but it was shorter than the other sections in the hall, almost sad. The temples were smaller. The kings and queens looked desperate, or lazy, or simply apathetic. There were no great battles... except toward the end. It made Percy's heart hurt- Egypt had been great, and so had Greece, but when they'd merged Egypt had fallen- sometimes she wondered what that meant for her.
Would she fall, would the two sides to her make her weaker instead of making her stronger? Her daddy hadn't thought so but- well, history told a different story didn't it?
She desperately tried to push away those thoughts as she watched Romans march into the city of Alexandria. She saw a woman with dark hair and a white dress drop a snake
into her blouse.
"Cleopatra," Zia said, "the seventh queen of that name. She tried to stand against the might of Rome, and she lost. When she took her life, the last line of pharaohs ended. Egypt, the great nation, faded. Our language was forgotten. The ancient rites were suppressed. The House of Life survived, but we were forced into hiding."
Percy felt Carter grabbing her hand, squeezing it tightly and she swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as they stepped into an area of red light and the history began to look, well, less historical. There were Arab armies riding into Egypt, then the Turks. Napoleon marched his army under the shadow of the pyramids. The British came and built the Suez Canal. Slowly Cairo grew into a modern city. And the old ruins faded farther and farther under the sands of the desert.
"Each year," Zia said, "the Hall of Ages grows longer to encompass our history. Up until the present."
And Percy found her gaze being drawn away from the images when they reached the end of the hall- she saw Sadie grabbing Carter's arm out of the corner of her eye but she didn't focus on that, she focused on what was in front of them.
It was a dais and on it an empty throne, a gilded wooden chair with a flail and a shepherd's crook carved in the back—the ancient symbols of the pharaoh.
On the step below the throne sat the oldest man Percy had ever seen. His skin was like lunch-bag paper—brown, thin, and crinkled. White linen robes hung loosely off his small frame. A leopard skin was draped around his shoulders, and his hand shakily held a big wooden staff, which looked like the man would drop it any minute. But weirdest of all, the glowing hieroglyphs in the air seemed to be coming from him. Multicolored symbols popped up all around him and floated away as if he were some sort of magic bubble machine.
Percy knew what that meant- knew how powerful the man was despite how old and frail he looked.
Any thoughts about how old and frail the man was fled from her mind. Then his gaze shifted and landed on the three Kane, flicking from Carter, to Sadie to Percy and a shiver ran through her body as those milky eyes seemed to see into the depth of her soul.
A little voice in the back of her mind whispered Don't flinch, stare back and Percy did, fingers curling into tight little fists as she met the man's gaze.
His expression shifted to one of surprise after a long moment and he leaned forward very slightly.
Then he spoke- and Percy blinked in surprise, because she'd expected Egyptian, if she was honest, but it was Greek that he spoke, Alexandrian Greek. She could understand it- she could understand pretty much all of the ancient Greek Dialects- partly because of the fact that she had a natural gift and partly because her dad had spent a long time helping her learn.
"How interesting you three are- welcome to the House of Life."
At which point a familiar looking man stepped out of the shadows, the man from the museum Percy realised, and he glared at the three Kanes, "I am Desjardins," he said with a French accent. "My master, Chief Lector Iskandar, welcomes you to the House of Life-"
"Desjardins- you may not need to translate- tell me girl, what is your name." His eyes didn't waver as he stared at Percy- and Percy felt Carter, Sadie and Zia all staring at her as she flushed.
"My name is Persephone. Persephone Ariadne Kane. But I go by Percy."
That made the old man smile, an amused look on his face, while Desjardins and Zoe both looked shocked and confused. "You have a talented tongue, Persephone. You're young to have such mastery of my birth tongue."
"My father said I had a gift for it."
"I'm sure he did." Iskander chuckled softly.
"Master-" Desjardin's sounded stunned, "How could-"
"I have my theories-" And Percy shifted nervously at that but Iskander raised a hand, "Be calm- I don't believe you've done anything wrong child-"
"Hold on a second!" Sadie yelped, her eyes flicking between the three of them, "What the heck are you guys even saying?"
"The Chief Lector understands many languages, but he prefers to speak Alexandrian Greek, his birth tongue."
Sadie cleared her throat. "Sorry, his birth tongue? Wasn't Alexander the Great way back in the blue section, thousands of years ago? You make it sound like Lord Salamander is—"
"Lord Iskandar," Desjardins hissed. "Show respect!"
"Sadie Magicians can live a long time." Percy said quickly.
"But that'd mean he's like super old, like- literally ancient- how-"
"How dare-" Desjardin's started to speak- but Iskander chuckled, holding up a hand.
"Persephone, perhaps you can translate for me."
Desjardin's expression twisted at that, but he looked away sharply as Percy nodded.
"Uh, okay. Yes sir I can do that."
"Good, tell your sister I said thank you for noticing that I am, in fact, super old."
Percy giggled despite herself, her gaze shifting to Sadie. "He said to tell you that he said thank you for noticing that he is, in fact, super old."
"Why's he sat on the step not the throne then? The throne would be more comfortable wouldn't it?" Carter asked after a moment.
Percy's gaze swung back to Iskander, who gave a small nod. "That throne is for the pharaoh child. It has been vacant since the fall of Egypt to Rome, it is symbolic. The Chief Lector's role is to serve and protect the pharaoh. I am the Cheif Lector, and so here I sit, at the foot of the throne."
"He says that the throne is for the pharaoh." Percy told Carter and Sadie, "It's been empty for years so it's symbolic now. He's the Chief Lector, his job it to serve and protect the Pharaoh so he sits at the foot."
"I guess that kinda makes sense." Sadie said after a moment.
"It does." Carter gave a small nod, looking at Iskander nervously. Which was reasonable, since there was no Pharaoh the Chief Lector was the single most influential and powerful person in the House.
"Tell your brother not to worry child." Iskander spoke up, "You will not be held responsible for the past crimes of your family. At least not until we have investigated you further-"
"Crimes?" Percy demanded, bristling at that. "They tried to warn you what was coming and you wouldn't listen! Who cares about stupid laws when Apop-" Percy was cut off by Desjardins.
"How dare you speak to the Chief Lector like that-" the man surged forward, and Carter and Sadie moved almost in unison, grabbing Percy's arms and yanking her backwards, but Iskander threw out an arm.
"Desjardins stop. She is just a child, she will not harm me, she's hardly that strong, not yet in any case. If you wish to talk with me child, then we will talk once this is over. A private discussion if you wish. Now calm your brother and sister- before they do something foolish."
Percy let out a breath, "S'okay you guys. Iskander-" Desjardin's expression twisted again- and Zia was almost gaping at her, "Said that we won't be held responsible for what dad did. Not until they've investigated further anyways."
"Gee thanks." Carter muttered the words- and you'd have to be deaf to miss the sarcasm in his tone- which Percy thought was very reasonable.
"Do not mock our generosity, boy," Desjardins warned. "Your father broke our most important law twice: once at Cleopatra's Needle, when he tried to summon the gods and your mother died assisting him. Then again at the British Museum, when your father was foolish enough to use the Rosetta Stone itself. Now your uncle too is missing—"
"You know what's happened to Amos?" Sadie blurted out.
Desjardins scowled. "Not yet," he admitted.
"You have to find him!" Sadie cried. "Don't you have some sort of GPS magic or—"
"We are searching," Desjardins said. "But you cannot worry about Amos. You must stay here. You must be...trained." and the tone the man used made it obvious that wasn't what he was thinking- which made Percy shoot him a dirty look.
"And what if we don't want to?" Percy asked darkly."
"Child." Iskander's voice was almost chiding. "You know more than your brother and sister- you know the danger you are in. The Demon days begin tomorrow at sunset. You must all be kept safe."
"But our dad needs us!" Percy threw her hands up, "You know what's happening you have to! Someone has to do something about Set!"
There was a beat of silence before Iskander spoke again. "I wish to hear the story. From all three of you."
Percy let out a breath, glancing at Sadie and Carter, "He wants us to tell him what happened."
"Right." Carter breathed out slowly. "We can do that."