He had seen her twice within a short amount of time and while Yatzil had been the one to interact with Marc outside the Council Chamber that very first time, Steven would be able to recognize any of the other avatars, too. Their last encounter hadn't been that long ago and they had left a lasting impression with him.

So here she was; Isis' avatar, to be correct, not the goddess herself. Steven had no idea if she could even be seen by him. Maybe. Maybe not. He had never spotted any other deity/entity since he had been able to see Khonshu, so maybe only the avatar could see their god. That would make things simple, wouldn't it?

The woman inclined her head with a fine smile, confirming that it was the goddess, possessing her avatar.

He felt a mixture of curiosity, apprehension and fear run through him and Khonshu's presence was suddenly washing forward, enveloping him. Steven relaxed a little, though not completely.

He wasn't alone.

He wasn't just a sleep-deprived gift-shop worker anymore.

Marc might not be awake right now, and he wouldn't run around in a panic to rouse him, but Steven could handle this.

With Khonshu if necessary.

"What are you… what you doing here? Is something wrong? Did something happen?" he blurted. Then his eyes widened. "Am I in trouble? You… you're here for Khonshu?"

There was a sharp spike along the soul bond that had him almost flinch. Steven usually felt Khonshu's emotional reactions in a more muted way.

Isis' smile was now almost serene. "No, Steven Grant. Nothing has happened. I also didn't come to talk an old friend. I came to talk to you."

He frowned, a steep line forming between his brows, anxiety briefly skittering through him. "Me? Why me? Wouldn't you…" And then it registered. "You know my name?!"

Her expression was still calm and non-threatening. "Yes, we do know your name. Can we talk? Just talk?" She gestured toward one of the smaller shops that had a table and chairs outside. "I assure you, you are not in trouble."

The market stalls were empty, already packed up, but there were still boxes and crates stacked everywhere. Someone was sweeping up garbage. Steven's frown stayed, but he followed her as Isis walked through the market stalls, unperturbed by the people around her. No one took notice. No one at all. At least of the beautiful woman. Steven himself apologized profusely as he hurried after her, bumping into a vendor and evading a pram the next moment.

Isis looked a little amused as she stopped at the shop. Again, no one took notice as they sat down. Even the owner of the shop didn't spare them a single glance or complained that they were taking up seats without eating or drinking something.

Isis chuckled at his confusion. "We will have privacy for now."

"Oh. Alright. Lovely." He fidgeted a little. "Why are we talking again? And how do you know my name?"

Marc was the avatar. Only Marc was known. Steven Grant was the alter. Sure, he had been employed at the museum's gift shop and there was a pay-slip with his name, and he had an ID card, but to the other gods, Marc Spector was Khonshu's avatar.

Isis knew his name, though.

"The avatar of each of us is known to the others." The goddess folded perfectly manicured hands.

"Khonshu's avatar is Marc Spector."

"And you are his second soul. You are half of the soul-bound, the host Khonshu chose. You didn't introduce yourself in the Council Chamber, but you are now known, Steven. You were also quite… convincing and present in the hearing."

Khonshu's presence was more alert and more pronounced now, wrapped around him like the suit usually was. Steven fervently wished Marc would just front and take over from here. But, no such luck.

"I mean you no harm," Isis repeated softly. "You or Marc. Khonshu's revelations were… surprising, maybe more than a little shocking. But he is known for being blunt in that regard."

"Uhm, yes… quite… blunt. He does have a sledge-hammer method most of the time."

She chuckled. "What he did was unprecedented. The inherent danger of a splicing is too great for us to risk a binding as he did, but we never considered an avatar with your particular… condition either. In the past there were one or two of us who attempted to choose two avatars because they seemed to perfect. But it was always too dangerous. We would splice ourselves if the binding failed and either drive the avatars insane or kill them."

He winced, fidgeting with his hands. "We're not two."

"You are and you aren't. This unique situation is what allowed Khonshu to become what he is now. Tethered to you without splitting his essence, but also your anchor without enslaving your souls." Isis watched him with a soft, almost fond smile. "You all evolved. You all grew. I am truly happy he has found this."

Steven wasn't a suspicious person by nature. Actually, he was usually amiable, gave anyone a chance, would happily step back to make someone happy, and he wouldn't think a bad thing about anyone without getting to know them. He had even extended that courtesy to Arthur Harrow.

But this was… weird. He wasn't jaded by recent events, he wasn't influenced by Khonshu or Marc, and yet he couldn't quite believe in her words.

"That's why you're here?" he asked doubtfully. "A social call? Sorry, but that's… hard to believe."

"I came to talk to you, Steven Grant, because I was curious, but I also came because I agree with Khonshu on more topics than my old friend might think."

Steven's brows shot upward. His doubt rose. Khonshu's emotions spiked along the soul bond and he wished the god would cut it out.

"Uhm…"

"Osiris' creation of the dagger wasn't with malicious intent. It was meant to be a defense, a healing of sorts, though it cost lives."

The brows went down, knitting into a frown.

"But to heal a twisted binding, measure needed to be taken," the goddess continued. "With sad, mournful results. It was a mistake to leave these devices behind. Which is why I have made a list of those items that were imbued with… debatable spells."

Steven stared at her. "Thank… you…? I think. Uhm, why?"

"We do not want another incident as the one that has already occurred."

Right. Incident. Something about the word didn't sit all that well with him. This 'incident' would have cost Marc his life!

"Incident," he muttered. "Sure. An incident."

Steven sensed Khonshu like a twitch in the back of his mind and he knew that wasn't Marc, who was fast asleep. The moon god started to wrap himself around Steven's soul, so close now. There was a soft, reassuring hum. He felt… grounded. Calmer. Khonshu's presence calmed him.

He would have called anyone completely off their rocker if they had told him so just a year ago. Now he leaned into the solid feeling, drawing his own strength from it.

The moon god was perched on the building across the street, watching them, and Isis was clearly aware of the vigilant entity.

"None of these I remember are weapons. They were for protection only," the goddess explained.

"Like a blade," he stated.

Steven's voice was inflectionless, almost cold, and it surprised him. But whenever he thought of the injury, how Marc had suffered and bled, he only felt this unaccustomed anger. His protective instincts screamed at him to prevent this from ever happening again.

Isis' expression reflected an apology. "At the time when Osiris created the Unholy that hurt you, it was needed."

"For Seth."

"Yes."

"And you killed his avatar."

The remorse was clear to see. Something whispered through Steven, stronger now, feathering out over his body like a cape. Khonshu had changed from his perch and was now standing right across the semi-busy road, ignored by all and everyone, but Isis briefly looked at his representation. He stared right back at her, ominous, dark, foreboding.

Steven hoped this wouldn't end with some godly squabble.

"We needed to cut Seth's bonding to his chosen avatar," she explained as she turned back to Steven.

"Because Seth was dangerous," Steven said slowly. "That made his avatar dangerous, too? How could one person be so dangerous that you murdered another? You took lives, Isis. Human lives. Those of avatars, men and women who had been chosen, who had felt blessed, and who willingly served their respective god."

Isis' eyes took on a faraway look. Fine lines etched into the skin around her mouth and eyes. "Seth was always at odds with Osiris. Worse than Khonshu."

"Hard to believe," he muttered. "But go on."

"I'm sure you are aware of Egyptian lore, about how Seth supposedly murdered Osiris, cut him apart?" At his nod she continued. "While nothing like that happened, there were altercations, even in council rooms or while among humans. Seth… was losing control. It was our only way to cut him off from a possible return, imprison him for all eternity and deny him a possible connection to an avatar in the future. We needed the Unholy."

Steven chewed on that. It was clear that something terrible had happened for the Ennead to decide on such drastic measures. Something Isis didn't want to delve into.

"Seth was the reason this particular Unholy was created, but it was used on others, too," he finally said. "And this list proves more bad stuff was left behind… for whatever reason you created it in the first place."

"Looking back at what we did, I feel shamed," the goddess said softly.

"But you created more than one," Steven pointed out evenly. "And you left them behind." His expression was firm, unwavering, relaying what he thought of that.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a USB stick. "I cannot undo what was done millennia ago, Steven Grant. This contains a list of objects containing darker magic. I do not know where they are. Some might have been destroyed with time, but others could be in human hands."

Khonshu was right there.

Right.

There.

He was crouched on a van parked a few feet away from the shop, staff resting deceptively lightly across his knees. His psychic presence was sitting right behind Steven's eyes, staring at Isis, staring at the USB. Steven clearly felt the god's suspicion churning through him, his lingering disgust at his old friends and fellow gods, and his annoyance that Isis had approached his avatar.

"Why are you helping us?"

"We are not enemies, Steven Grant. Osiris and Khonshu never saw eye to eye and that won't ever change. Their relationship had always been strained, right from the start. As a god of vengeance and justice, Khonshu's temper always got the better of him."

"Well, it's hard to have a counter-argument there," Steven agreed, glancing at the deity in question. "He is a tad… intense sometimes."

Annoyance flooded him, this time directed at Steven himself. He briefly glanced at the god, a tiny smile around his lips.

"Yet you chose him again."

"Yes. We both did. We like the silly old stalker bird." And like Marc, he would do so again.

She studied his face and Steven didn't shrink back. That wasn't him anymore. He was Khonshu's avatar. He was Marc's shield and he was a fighter in his own right. He had a suit of armor, a very nice one, too, and he knew how to use the weapons that came with it.

So he met those dark eyes, reflecting the goddess inhabiting the body of her avatar.

"Khonshu was always known for his sometimes rather erratic behavior. He made questionable choices. He was temperamental, his arguments heated and filled with too many emotions." Isis raised her eyes to meet the empty sockets of the entity in question. "Hathor always believed in him, called him a friend, trusted him without fault."

Steven tilted his head, quizzical.

Isis smiled at him. "I believe that he has chosen wisely."

"Even though he bound himself to two souls?" he challenged.

"Yes. What he found in you and your other soul is something rare. Unique, probably. Something only done if there are emotions involved."

There was a ripple from Khonshu, something like unease mixed with a warning, but Steven ignored it.

"He is very involved, Steven Grant. Don't think that anyone else would have simply accepted this partnership as he did with you. I am happy for him. I am happy for you. You protect this realm. All of you. I wish you luck."

"Thank you, Isis," he said quietly.

She rose elegantly and Steven followed.

Khonshu stood behind him, silently meeting her gaze. Steven didn't have to turn or look over his shoulder to know just how much the moon god would be posturing, warning her off. He was quite good at looming and staring at someone.

"You took a gamble, Khonshu," Isis told him quietly. "A risky gamble. I can see the strength of your chosen. I understand your motivations. I also understand the emotional connection and what you feel for him. You protect what is yours and the chasm between you and the Ennead only grew. No one can undo the past. Too much has happened and we all share our guilt and our burdens."

He wordlessly looked at the goddess, then disappeared into thin air. Isis smiled while Steven just rolled his eyes.

"No social skills," he mumbled.

"He hasn't changed," she agreed. "And yet, he is no longer the same as before. I wish you all the best. All of you." Isis inclined her head, then she just walked off.

Steven watched her join the pedestrians, turn a corner, and then she was gone. He looked at the USB stick he still held in his hands.

"We have a list," he said to himself.

He didn't expect an answer, since Marc was asleep and Khonshu had buggered off to who knew where.

Steven slowly walked home, mind whirling, the USB in his fist.


Khonshu was in the flat. No surprise there. He sat on the bed, looking a little darker than usual, a little too upset, a little too agitated. And maybe a little weary.

"Isis seems like a nice woman… goddess… entity," Steven said slowly as he dropped his messenger back on the chair.

There was a rustle of wind, but nothing toppled over, so that was a big win. "She was always the peacekeeper," was the grudging reply.

"Which isn't a bad thing."

He scoffed.

"Was she… there? I mean, like you?"

"No."

"She only possessed her avatar to talk to me?"

Khonshu harrumphed.

"It's… different with you… Why is it different?"

"Because none of them would show themselves in this realm." There was disdain and heavy criticism dripping from his voice.

Steven pondered that. "You… could have possessed me to talk to her."

There was another gust, ruffling his hair. "She didn't come to talk to me," the god pointed out.

"You just hung around to make a point."

The smirk was clear to see.

Steven brows lowered in thought. "Would I be able to see any of them should they ever come here?"

Khonshu cocked his head. "Possibly."

"That's not terrifying at all," he muttered. "Seeing some Egyptian god just popping up."

The moon god leaned in close. "You see me all the time."

"And I was scared out of my mind because you stalked me down dark hallways and empty corridors!"

Khonshu chuckled. "I know." He sounded darkly satisfied, but there was a playful edge that Steven had heard more and more often.

He glared for good measure, then dug out the USB drive. "Isis gave us this. That might be helpful."

Khonshu rumbled wordlessly, ribbons waving gently in the magical wind.

Steven placed the drive next to the laptop. "It's been a while since you last saw her. Well, aside from the whole messy business with Harrow and all." He shrugged. "But before that… it's been a while, right?"

"Not long enough. It is her way to clear her name of any involvement with the Unholies."

"That's kind of a dark way to look at it."

"It is the only way when it comes to the Ennead."

"You really don't want to give them any leeway."

Khonshu's head tilted a little. "Do you believe any of them would simply hand you a list of dark spells hidden in ancient relics? Do you believe any of them really cared about my avatar's injuries? No. By actively accusing them, you forced their hand, Steven."

"I… I didn't…"

"You confronted them with one of their dark secrets. It is now out in the open."

"But they summoned us!"

"Me. They summoned me," the entity corrected him. "To accuse me of destroying this dark relic. They didn't bet on you."

There was such vicious satisfaction in his voice, such pride, such a sense of achievement, it had Steven shiver a little, though not in fear.

"They had forgotten about all the darkness they left in this realm, but you reminded them. You forced Osiris' hand."

"Maybe it's a kind of apology?"

Another scoff. "Gods don't apologize. Least of all the one presiding over the Ennead."

Steven's brows shot up. Khonshu really was in a mood. Then again, he always was when it came to the Ennead.

"You have."

"To you." The entity leaned forward, his presence so intimately close and warm. "You are mine. I would never apologize to another."

"You're not going to give them the benefit of doubt?"

"No. This is a political ploy. Nothing else. A power play. Giving this scrap to us is nothing but a game."

Oh. Politics. And Khonshu hated politics, which Steven understood. Too many toes to tread on, too many words or actions taken differently from their original meaning. He knew he could have played this game at the museum, too. Report Donna for harassment. But he hadn't. It wasn't him.

So yes, Steven shared Khonshu's disdain for politics. Not everyone wanted to play in the sandbox full of sharks.

He decided he wouldn't get any further here. This was an old, old grudge, an old scar that never really healed completely, and things like that couldn't be changed within just a few months or even years. Maybe never.

He just made himself a tea, then settled down with the laptop and opened the USB drive.

It was no great surprise to have Khonshu hovering by his shoulder as he scrolled through the file's content.