Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter- things start to get real here. Which is very fun.
Replies:
Undeath9098: Percy when Carter annoys her at some point: We all know Zia loves me more isn't that right Zia?
Zia, knowing full well that it's just teasing: Of course, who wouldn't?
Guest: Yeah Percy sorta knows she's special because of being a magician and a Greek, but she doesn't know being Big three also makes her more powerful, so she's sorta there like 'I have no clue what I expect from other demigods but I'm sure they can take on monsters without magic like me.' And no, she doesn't know the full extent of her powers.
Fugy: Interesting suggestion, though I feel like Sally dying would be too sad.
Deborah Swenson: They really don't.
Isaac Moura: I'm listening to the suggestions, I haven't decided what I'll do yet but I must decide soon.

Percy looked around slowly, taking a moment to take it all in- though she didn't really want to.

Where the burial chamber should have been was a throne room that Set had clearly designed for himself. It was about the size of a tennis court, but around the edges. The floor dropped off into a deep trench like moat. Far far below red liquid bubbled. Percy eyed it wearily- it didn't look inviting.

Percy's gaze shifted, the trench looked easy enough to jump, though- the entire floor was carved with red hieroglyphs, all spells invoking the power of Isfet. Of Chaos- and Percy shuddered, forcing back memories of a horrible dream, of the huge snake destroying everything good in the world.

Far above in the center of the ceiling, a single square hole let in blood-red light. Other than that there were no exits. Along either wall crouched four obsidian statues of the Set animal, their faces turned inwards towards them with pearl teeth bared and emerald eyes glittering.

All of that would have taken a lot more of Percy's focus usually- but there was something else that drew her eye, that made Percy let out a horrified sob- and Zia was too slow, she didn't manage to catch Percy's arm before the younger girl was sprinting forward, leaping over the trench.

"Percy!"

But Percy was already rolling up and on her feet, rushing towards the throne- a horrid misshapen thing like a red stalagmite that had grown haphazardly from centuries of dripping sediment. And it had formed itself around a gold coffin, one which was painfully familiar to Percy, which was buried in the throne's base,
with just enough of it sticking out to form a kind of footrest.

Percy felt the rage flooding through her at that, and she screamed, thrusting her arm out, summoning her Khopesh from the duat- but Zia caught her arm before she could bring it down on the throne- and when had she leapt across the trench? Not that it mattered much, Percy spun around, snarling at the older girl.

"What the fuck are you doing?" she demanded, "I need to get him out I need to get him out!"

"No- No Percy!" Zia forced her around, gripping her shoulders tightly as Percy glared up at her, "I understand I know you want to free him but if you destroy the throne now it will alert Set- we have the element of surprise. We must use it-"

"But-"

"What would your father say Percy? What would Julius Kane say to you if he was here right now?"

"I-" Percy's breath caught in her throat, because she knew the answer to that even if it made her feel like throwing up. "He'd tell me to wait for Sadie and Carter."

"Good." Zia looked uncomfortable for a second before she shifted, wrapping her arms around Percy tightly. "I know it must be hard-"

And Percy hugged her back, forcing back the sudden sobs that slipped past her lips, "Zia- I- w-what if we can't do it?"

"Can't do what?"

"I know how the story goes Zia. Osiris- he- he never-" and Percy felt Zia wince.

"He had to stay and rule the Underworld." her voice was soft, "I know Percy. But- I have no doubt that if there is a way to save him you will do it."

"Right." Percy let out a breath- then she stiffened- it was distance but she could hear footsteps, a group, from further up the tunnel, echoing down into the chamber.

"They're coming!" Percy pulled away from Zia quickly- and both girls turned to face the tunnel- and Percy resisted the urge to leap back across the trench as Carter, Sadie and Sally stumbled out of the tunnel- they all looked somewhat worn- but there were no visible injuries at least, and Carter was the first to spot them, his face lighting up. "Percy! Zia!" and he didn't even falter, taking a running jump across the trenches, and Percy moved forward quickly, meeting him as he hit the ground on her side of the trench, and he swept her up into a bear hug.

"Thank the gods you're here!" and Percy could hear her mom and Sadie landing moments later, and Sally was there, prying her from Carter's arms, brushing Percy's hair out of her face.

"Oh my baby, my sweet little girl I love you so much- I was so worried about you-"

"What the hell were you guys doing?" and when Percy turned her head she saw that Sadie had her hands on her hips. "You scared the crap into us. I should pummel you both."

"Do not blame Percy." Zia shook her head, and Percy noticed that Carter was stood next to her, staring at her- that was weird. "It was my fault. But we had good-"

"Amos!" Carter's voice was almost overjoyed- and Percy's eyes narrowed as she followed his gaze, up to the glowing red vent in the middle of the ceiling- a pair of legs were dangling from the opening.

Then the figure dropped down, using his cloak almost like a parachute so that he floated to the floor.

And yeah, yeah that was Amos, his clothes were smoking and his hair was dusted with as but it was him alright. He pointed his staff towards the ceiling and spoke a command. The shaft he'd come through rumbled, spilling dust and rubble and the light was abruptly cut off.

Then Amos focused on them, and his eyes widened in surprise, "Percy! And Zia, I was sure I'd see the last of you both- it's good to-" he didn't get to finish his sentence, one second Percy was in her mom's arms and the next she was flying at him- she could see Carter out of the corner of her eye, saw Zia lunging and grabbing him to stop him- and Sadie grabbed at Sally to stop her from rushing forward, probably to try and stop Percy- and then Percy was driving her fist into Amos' gut, and they both flew backwards from the force of the impact, hitting the ground so hard that they skidded across it, crashing into the throne even as Percy pressed the sharp edge of her khopesh to Amos' throat.

"What are you doing?!" Carter was screaming the words, "Percy no!"

"Let him go." Percy growled down at the man- and for a moment she saw a flicker in his eyes, heard him let out a choked terrified.

"Run- take them and run-" before his hand shot out, fingers curling around her throat, grip painfully tight as Amos started to convulse, his face racked with pain, his eyes a molten red.

Percy grabbed at his hand, digging her nails into the flesh of his wrist. "Let me go!" her voice was choked, strained- but- but she didn't want to hurt Amos- cause he was still in there he had to be. She'd heard his voice just then, telling her to run.

Then his grip suddenly went slack and red steam started to rise from his body as Percy tore herself backwards, landing on her butt- and then Zia was at her side, grabbing her arm and yanking her away, Carter grabbing her other arm a second later.

"What's going on?" his voice was frantic, "Percy-"

"Set was Osiris' brother!"

"Oh gods-" Sadie's voice cracked- and out of the corner of her eye Percy could see Sally pulling Sadie backwards, wrapping her arms around her as Sadie started to shake.

"That-" Carter looked horrified- and they all watched in horror as the steam rose from Amos' now unconscious body. "That's not possible-"

"We need to get away from him."

But it was too late- the steam was taking form, taking the shape of a seated man, a red warrior in fiery armor with an iron staff in his hand, and the head of a canine monster- the form was very familiar and Percy was not happy to see it again.

"Y-you-" Carter's voice was unsteady, "You possessed Amos- but- but he helped us-"

Set spread his hands, trying to look modest, "Well, you know...It wasn't a full possession. Gods can exist in many places at once, Carter. Horus could tell you that if he was being honest. I'm sure Horus has been looking for a nice war monument to occupy, or a military academy somewhere—anything but that scrawny little form of yours. Most of my being has now transferred to this magnificent structure."

He swept his arm proudly around the throne room. "But a sliver of my soul was quite enough to control Amos Kane."

He held out his pinky, and a wisp of red smoke snaked toward Amos, sinking into his clothes. Amos arched his back like he'd been hit by lightning and Percy snarled, "Stop hurting him!"

"As you wish." Set laughed and the red mist dissipated, "You're a brave one, I didn't think you'd last this long, but I suppose even without magic your demigod side gives you some power-"

"With- the potion-"

"Why of course." Set laughed, "I knew you'd be a threat so I ensured you wouldn't have your magic- and it won't come back for a week at least- by which
time you'll be dead."

"You're sick-" Percy ignored the confused looks on Carter and Sadie's faces as Set shrugged.

"Perhaps. As for Amos, well, there's not much left of him, I'm afraid. Amos fought well. He was very entertaining, demanding much more of my energy than I had anticipated. That chaos magic—that was his idea. He tried his best to warn you-" that was directed at Carter, Sadie and Sally "to make it obvious I was controlling him. The funny thing is, I forced him to use his own magic reserves to pull off those spells. He almost burned out his soul trying to send you those warning flares. Turn you into a storm? Please. Who does that anymore?"

"You're a beast." Sadie screamed the words.

"Really? Me?" Set gasped in mock surprise before his gaze shifted, "This has gone better than I thought though. It seems like little Percy and Zia knew- and I wonder how." the voice was thick with sarcasm- but Percy was startled to see that his gaze focused on Zia, "After all, you were there that night too." he rose to his feet, "Did my silly little wife warn you when I arrived? Did she tell you to flee- I imagine Percy convinced you to come here." and Percy blinked slowly- Set thought that Zia was Nephthys' host? But- then she hadn't believed she could be a host at first had she? Because of her Greek side. Not that it would give them much of an advantage.

"I-" Zia blinked slowly, pointing to herself, "You believe I host a goddess?"

"Why of course. How else could you have known of me?"

But Percy felt a set of eyes on her and she turned her head slightly, meeting her mothers gaze- and yeah, yeah her mom looked terrified but she had a look of understanding in her eyes- she must have figured it out in that moment.

Then Percy's gaze swung back to Set, who was advancing on them.

Carter lunged, clearly about to attack the god but Set waved a hand and Carter went flying backwards- and Sadie was grabbing Amos trying to pull him to safety, leaving Percy and Zia stood side by side- even if Set's attention was entirely focused on Zia.

But that was good right? Percy had, just for a few brief moments, the advantage.

We must work together now little one.

Percy resisted the urge to nod, that would probably be a giveaway.

"Zia- we can work with this-"

"I know." Zia did nod, a tiny little thing as the two girls took steps back, moving slightly away from one another. "Good luck Persephone."

Then Zia was raising a hand, making sure Set was focused on her- and Percy could hear Carter and Sadie crying out, and Sally was helping Sadie drag Amos to a safer spot- probably a good idea, it could get pretty destructive soon. "Set-" Zia's voice was loud and steady, "You will pay the price for what you have done-"

"Will I now?" Set was right in front of Zia now- and Percy smirked.

"Yeah. You will." she closed her eyes, focusing- and she felt herself and Nephthys working at once, towards the same goal, united and knowing what they were doing- and Percy thrust out her hand towards Set, water bursting from thin air, smashing into him and sending the god flying backwards into a column with such force that he cracked it- and it tumbled down on top of him.

For a heartbeat the only sound was the trickle of dust and debris- Carter, Sadie and Sally were all frozen, staring in shock at Percy.

Then Set rose from the ruins, tossing a huge chunk of stone to the side as he whirled on Percy, "How?"

"Didn't drink the potion." Percy gave a smug little smile as the water rose up from the ground again, swirling around him, she and Nephthys speaking at once, "What you are planning is wrong. We won't allow it."

"We." Set blinked before he let out a roar of laughter, "How clever of you, my treacherous wife, hiding inside of the youngest- the Greekling. I didn't expect that. But no matter, you were always the weakest of us. I think you'll make a nice appetizer before I take the complete set-"

"I may have always been the weakest of us five-" and it was Nephthys speaking alone for a moment, "But I am not weak- and I have the host with the most raw power!"

And the water started battering him once again, swirling in a circle around him- almost concealing Set from view as fists emerged from the water, hitting the god over and over as he roared his fury.