Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter- there's a lil bit of sadness but it's mostly pretty happy. And Sally is too good for literally anyone let's be real here. She deserves the world.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Let's be real, Percy and Sadie together are like, the ultimate duo.
DannyPhantom619: It was wasn't it? I'm glad you liked it.
Georgia: I'm very glad.
Deborah Swenson: It is indeed adorable.
Guest: They're all doing it, Zia was just taking a break to check in on Percy. And yep, she doesn't have anywhere else to go after she basically defected to help the Kanes stop Set so she's staying at Brooklyn House.
Guest: I don't have any images I'd use.
Putting the house back together was a long job- and not an easy one, but with the five magicians working together it didn't take as long as it could have- especially when Percy was officially allowed off couch rest and she could help properly.
It still took them weeks, even with the five of them, together they fixed up the walls and ceilings, they cleaned up the debris until the house no longer smelled of smoke- and they managed to fix the terrace and the pool- which Percy had dove into as soon as she could- of course by that stage and with the help of potions she was already pretty much recovered, still, it finished the healing of her ankle- though it was too late for it to do much good for gash on her arm, and hand- that would be a permanent scar up running from the back of her hand up to her elbow.
Personally she thought it looked pretty badass.
They'd also returned Philip of Macedonia to the pool- Sadie had found the wax crocodile figurine and they'd realised that the loyal crocodile who had fought so
bravely against the Serpopards was actually a shabati- and that had even earned a ghost of a smile from Amos before he'd sank into a chair on the terrace and just stared at the Manhattan skyline for hours- a pained look on his face.
Honestly, even as the burned out wreck was slowly starting to turn into a functional home again that was the main worry- Amos just wasn't improving, no matter how hard the three youngest Kanes tried to distract and cheer him up- Sally had to an hour or two each day trying to coax him into even eating- the man had lost weight, a worrying amount of it.
Still, a month in the house was pretty much back to normal.
And it was also a month after the nightmare with Set when, shortly after dinner the Kane family and Zia got a visitor.
Amos had gone to bed early, as he usually did. Khufu was inside watching ESPN with Muffin on his lap. The others were all gathered on the terrace- Sadie was perched on the railings, swinging her legs, staring out at the city.
Carter and Zia were both at the table with Sally, who had baked a plate of blue cookies- both Sadie and Zia had been bewildered about that at first- but after tasting them they'd had to admit that blue cookies baked by her were far superior to any other kind of cookies.
Percy was in the pool- she tended to swim most days, and she'd made fast friends with Philip- sure she couldn't talk to him like she could sea creatures, but given how much time she spent hanging out with him it did make sense. She was kicking her legs slowly, arms folded, leaning on the edge of the pool as Carter talked to Zia about taking her to the mall.
One second everything was normal- the same as it had been most evenings- and then there was a stranger stood at the railing- Sadie let out a shriek of shock, toppling backwards- which would have ended badly but the stranger lashed out, catching her arm and steadying her.
The guy was lean and tall, with messed up hair and pale skin. He was wearing all black, and he looked around sixteen maybe. Percy could tell by the stunned look on Sadie's face that she recognised the guy. "Anubis!" and- and was Sadie blushing? Was her big sister actually blushing?
"Yes Sadie." the god gave a very faint smile. "Sadie, Carter, Percy- and you Sally, would you come with me please?"
"Sure." Sadie's voice was a little strangled."
"Hold on-" Carter held up his hands, "Where are we going? And why us-"
Anubis gestured behind him, a door opened in the air, a pure black rectangle. "Someone wants to see you- Kanes only I'm afraid-" that was aimed at Zia- who smiled, a glint of something in her eyes.
"It is fine- I believe I know what's going on. You four should go." she stood up, "I'll go and check on Amos."
And as Zia headed inside Sadie was hopping off the railing and grabbing Anubis' hand, stepping through into the darkness.
Percy exchanged looks with Carter and her mom before they rose to their feet and Percy hauled herself out of the pool, and together they made their way through the door.
Percy looked around in awe as they stepped into a large circular chamber- a great hall, with blazing braziers.
The first thing that drew Percy's attention was a set of scales- huge golden scales big enough that the dishes could hold a person. Black pillars marched off into the the gloom of the room- and there was almost an overlay, strange holographic images of the real world. It was a white living room with tall ceilings and huge picture windows. Double doors led to a terrace that looked out over the ocean. Percy didn't recognise it, but Sadie and Carter looked stunned.
Percy's gaze shifted when she heard her mom's gasp, and Percy followed her moms gaze towards the throne- and Percy started moving instant, a sob ripping past her lips- she barely even noticed the creature curled up at the base of the throne- a strange thing- though she recognised it from the myths. It had the head of crocodile with a lion's mane. The front half of its body was lion, but the back end was sleek, brown, and fat—a hippo, she'd expected Ammit the Devourer to be bigger- it was maybe the size of a poodle but she didn't care- she even ignored it when it started to growl at her- because sat in the throne was her dad- he looked almost exactly as he had the last time she'd seen him- the long brown coat, the rumpled suit and dusty boots, his head freshly shaven and his beard trimmed. His eyes gleaming fondly.
Admittedly when Percy really looked his form shimmered with a strange light. Like the room itself, and when Percy looked closer she could see that he was still there, but taller and stronger, dressed in the robes and jewels of an Egyptian pharaoh. His skin was a dark shade of blue like the deep ocean.
Of course none of that put Percy off from sprinting towards him- and he rose from his throne, catching her mid leap, his arms wrapping around her as Percy let out a sob, pressing her face into his shoulder.
"Daddy- Daddy I missed you so much I- you were gone-" and his arms were tight around her, one shifting to cup the back of her neck, as he held her close.
"It's okay sweetie." his voice was soft, gentle. "You did amazing. All three of you did so good." she felt his lip pressing to the top of her head. "I am so proud of all of you. So so proud of you."
And Percy could hear Carter and Sadie approaching, though she didn't lift her head from her dad's shoulder.
"You-" Carter's voice was stunned, "You- you're blue-" and Percy's laughter might have been muffled, but their dads wasn't, it was loud and familiar.
"Goes with the territory. I'm sorry I didn't bring you here sooner, but things have been..." Julius trailed off, and Percy felt him shifting before Anubis spoke up.
"Complicated."
"Complicated. I have meant to tell you all how proud I am of you, how much the gods are in your debt—" and Percy lifted her head, turning it so that she could look at the others.
"Hang on," Sadie said. She stomped right up to the throne. Ammit growled at her, but Sadie growled back, which confused the monster into silence. "What are you?" she demanded. "My dad? Osiris? Are you even alive?"
And Julius looked at Anubis at that. "What did I tell you about her? Fiercer than Ammit, I said."
"You didn't need to tell me." Anubis's face was grave. "I've learned to fear that sharp tongue."
Sadie looked outraged. "Excuse me?"
"To answer your question," Julius said, "I am both Osiris and Julius Kane. I am alive and dead, though the term recycled might be closer to the truth. Osiris is the god of the dead, and the god of new life. To return him to his throne—"
"You had to die." Carter spoke suddenly, "You knew this going into it. You intentionally hosted Osiris knowing you would die-" and Percy stiffened. She could hear the fury in her brothers voice, and she couldn't blame him. She hadn't expected that. Sure she'd known it was risky but... but he'd known he would die?
"You- you knew you'd leave us?" Percy's voice was very small as she squirmed out of Julius' grip, her gaze shifting towards her mom.
Sally didn't look happy- she looked sad, resigned almost. Not surprised though. But then, her mom was smart wasn't she? She'd probably suspected for a while. And Percy darted over to her- and her mom wrapped her arms around her gently, letting Percy hide her face, though she didn't say a word- and Percy felt a flood of warmth when she realised that Sadie had moved so that she was stood right next to Sally. They'd grown closer during the month since Set.
"Percy- sweetheart- and Carter, Sadie, Sally my love- I've missed you all. I can't tell you how much. But we made the right choice. We all did. If you had saved me in the world above, we would have lost everything. For the first time in millennia, we have a chance at rebirth, and a chance to stop chaos because of you."
"There had to be another way," Carter's voice wavered in the way that Percy knew it did when he wanted to cry. "You could've fought as a mortal,
without...without—"
"Carter, when Osiris was alive, he was a great king. But when he died—"
"He became a thousand times more powerful," Carter's voice was quieter.
Their father nodded. "The Duat is the foundation for the real world. If there is chaos here, it reverberates in the upper world. Helping Osiris to his throne was a first step, a thousand times more important than anything I could've done in the world above—except being your father. And I am still your father."
His gaze shifted to Sally then. "Sally-"
"Don't." Sally held up a hand, "Don't Julius. I'm not upset for myself. And I know that you didn't plan for the children to get hurt- but it happened."
"I do love you." his voice was soft, "I will always love you- you're- there are no words Sally. Us Egyptians- we don't have relationships with mortals unless we have hosts- and while I do have a host it's more complicated for me, no matter how much I adore you-"
"Because you have to stay here." Sally finished. "You have responsibilities now that you didn't before. We can't have what we had anymore. You need to take care of things here and I have our children to raise." She paused, "Besides- I don't think you'll be alone will you?" there was a hint of knowing in her voice- and when Percy peered at her dad she saw guilt in his gaze.
"I didn't do this just so-"
"I know you didn't." Sally shook her head, "You did to because you know Apophis would rise. But I'm not stupid Julius. I know how much you loved her-"
"I love you just as much-"
"I'm sure you do." Sally smiled, "And you always will. Now where is she? I'd like to meet her-"
"Mom what are you-" Carter's voice was hesitant, almost nervous.
"She is here." Julius held out his hand and a woman in a black dress appeared next to him. She had golden hair, intelligent blue eyes, and a face that looked familiar. She looked like Sadie.
"Mom-" Carter's voice cracked at that, and the woman looked between Carter and Sadie in amazement.
"Julius told me how much you'd grown, but I couldn't believe it. Carter, I bet you're shaving—"
"Mom."
"—and dating girls—"
"Mom!"
"He's got a very pretty girl back at Brooklyn House." Sally spoke up, a smile playing across her lips as Carter went bright red, "I think they'll work things out- eventually."
And Ruby laughed, it was a warm noise. "Sally. Julius told me about you too. Thank you, for keeping our foolish husband from falling apart. I'm sure he would have without you. And thank you. For loving my children. For raising Carter alongside your own- and Julius told me much about little Percy too-" and Percy felt her face turning red.
"Of course I did." Sally's voice was firm, "They're mine too. In all the ways that matter."
"Mum?" Sadie spoke up suddenly, sounding very small, "Did you really- was that-"
"Yes, my brave girl. My thoughts mixed with yours. I'm so proud of you. And thanks to Isis, I feel like I know you as well." She leaned forward and smiled conspiratorially. "I like chocolate caramels, too, though your grandmum never approved of keeping sweets in the flat."
Sadie broke into a relieved grin. "I know! She's impossible!"
And they probably would have talked for longer but the Hall of Judgement rumbled and Julius checked his watch.
"We should wrap things up." his voice was reluctant. "The others are expecting you."
"Others?" Carter frowned.
"A gift before you go." Julius nodded to Ruby, who stepped forward and handed Carter a palm-size package of folded black linen.
Sadie helped him unwrap it and Percy peered over, though she didn't leave Sally's comforting grip. Inside was a new amulet, one that looked like a a column
or a tree trunk.
"Is that a spine?" Sadie demanded.
"It is called a djed," Dad said. "My symbol—the spine of Osiris."
"Yuck," Sadie muttered.
Ruby laughed. "It is a bit yuck, but honestly, it's a powerful symbol. Stands for stability, strength—"
"Backbone?" that came from Carter- and Ruby gave him a proud smile.
"Literally. Djed also stands for the power of Osiris—renewed life from the ashes of death. This is exactly what you will need if you are to stir the blood of the pharaohs in others and rebuild the House of Life." as she spoke she closed Carter's fingers around the amulet.
"The House won't like that," Sadie put in.
"No," Ruby said cheerfully. "They certainly won't." and that made Sally laugh.
"I see why Julius loves you so much."
"And I see the same when I see the way you are with the kids." Ruby told Sally, winking at the other woman.
The Hall of Judgment rumbled again.
"It is time," Julius said. "We'll meet again, children. But until then, take care."
"Be mindful of your enemies." Ruby added.
"And tell Amos-" their dads voice trailed off thoughtfully, "Just remind my brother that Egyptians believe in the power of the sunrise. They believe each morning begins not just a new day, but a new world."
And then the Hall of Judgement faded and they were stood with Anubis in a field of darkness.