Isis

The world turns upside down. With a sonic boom, a brilliant blue sky appears above us. Spread out below are the snow-covered fields of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The red pyramid is still intact, aside from some little cracks on its surface. The gold capstone is still glowing, straining to maintain its magic. But we aren't in Phoenix anymore. In fact, in front of us stands a tall white obelisk, the most powerful focal point of Ma'at on the continent: the Washington Monument.

"I will rend your limbs from their sockets!" Set shouts at me. "I will-"

"Die?" Horus suggests. He rises behind Set and swings his sword. The blade cuts into Set's armor at the ribs—not a killing blow, but enough to knock my dear brother off balance and send him tumbling down the side of his own pyramid. Horus bounds after him. In the Duat, arcs of white energy pulse from the Washington Monument to my son's avatar, charging it with new power.

"The book, Sadie!" Carter shouts as he runs. "Do it now!"

Sadie is still dazed from summoning the portal and it takes her a moment to process. By then, Set is already charging toward us. Thankfully, Carter and Horus intercept him halfway up the slope.

They grapple with Set, holding him back. The stones of the pyramid crack and crumble under the weight of their godly forms. All around the base of the pyramid, demons and magicians, who have been pulled through the portal and knocked momentarily unconscious, are starting to stir.

The book Sadie…

Sometimes it's helpful to have two people inside your head, so one can slap the other.

"Duh, the book!"

Finally!

Sadie holds out her hand and summons the blue tome we stole from Paris: The Book of Overcoming Set. We unfold the papyrus. The hieroglyphs are as clear as a new day. Sadie calls for the feather of truth. It appears instantly, glowing above the pages.

We begin the spell, speaking the Divine Words so few would dare use. As we read, we rise into the air, hovering a few centimeters above the pyramid. We chant the story of creation: the first mountain rising above the waters of chaos, the birth of the gods Ra, Geb, and Nut, the rise of Ma'at, and the first great empire of men, Egypt.

The Washington Monument begins to glow as hieroglyphs appear along its sides. The capstone gleams silver.

Set tries to lash out at us, but my son intercepts him. Once the red pyramid begins to break apart, however, Sadie's attention drifts away.

"Amos and Zia are trapped inside, under tons of stone" She almost loses track of the text.

Deep from one of the most sacred corners of my mind, Ruby's voice speaks up: Stay focused, dearest. Watch for your enemy.

Yes, I agree. Destroy him!

"This isn't what mum means. She is telling me to watch. Something important is about to happen."

Yes, we are about to win!

This answer isn't enough for Sadie. While trusting me to keep the spell going, she looks up and deep down into the Duat. Magic forms around us, weaving a white shield over the world, reinforcing Ma'at and expelling all chaos. Horus and Set wrestle back and forth as huge chunks of the pyramid collapse.

The feather of truth is glowing over Set. Usually he loves to steal the spotlight, but this doesn't seem to be the case now. As we near the end of the spell, our words begin to tear Set's form apart.

"I name you Set," we chant. "I name you Evil Day."

With a thunderous roar, the pyramid explodes. Set falls crashing into the ruins. He tries to rise, but Horus swings his sword. Set barely has time to raise his staff. Their weapons cross and Horus slowly forces Set to one knee.

"Now, Sadie!" Carter yells.

"You have been my enemy," we chant, "and a curse on the land."

A line of white light shoots down the length of the Washington Monument. It widens into a rift – a doorway between this world and Set's brand new Chaos Chamber. I was right: 'chaos chamber' really does have a certain ring to it. It will lock Set away, trapping his life force. Maybe not forever, but every moment away from him is bliss.

There is only one line left! - Deserving no mercy, an enemy of Ma'at, you are exiled beyond the earth.

This is an important line. It seals the spell, solidifies the magician's intentions. Thus, it must be spoken with absolute conviction. The feather of truth requires it.

Easy. Sadie thinks. I mean, why shouldn't I believe it? It's the truth. Set deserves no mercy. He is an enemy of Ma'at.

Why aren't we finishing the spell, then?

Watch for your enemy…

Watch for your enemy…

Ruby, what did you see?

Sadie looks up, towards the top of the monument. In the Duat, chunks of pyramid are flying skyward. The souls of demons are lifting off like fireworks. Set's chaos magic is falling apart. But the built up energy, the force that has been charging up, ready to destroy a continent… It's being sucked into the clouds. Energy cannot be destroyed nor created. Where is all this chaos going, then? Unfortunately, I receive my answer. As we watch, the chaos tries to form a shape. It is like a red reflection of the Nile – an enormous crimson river. It writhes in the air, struggling to become solid. I can feel its rage and bitterness. This is not what it wanted. There is not enough power or chaos for its purpose. To form properly, it needs the death of millions, the wasting of an entire continent.

This is not a river. Ra, this is a snake!

Watch out for the enemy.

"Sadie!" Carter yells. "What are you waiting for?"

He doesn't see it. No one does. Gods, if they could see it… Make him help.

Set is on his knees, writhing and cursing. White energy encircles him, pulling him toward the rift.

"Lost your stomach, witch?" he bellows. Then he glares at Carter. "You see, Horus? Isis was always a coward. She could never complete the deed!"

They look at us, showing the doubt on his face. Horus is, without a question, urging Carter towards bloody vengeance. And Sadie is hesitating. This is what turned us against each other before. We can't let it happen now.

But Sadie sees and something else in Carter's wary expression. She sees the way he would look at her on visiting days, when they were practically strangers forced to pretend to be a happy family.

I don't want to go back to that. I'm not pretending anymore. We are a family. And we have to work together.

"Carter, look." For a moment I consider stopping her. It's not a very long moment. Ma'at help me, but I trust this girl. Sadie throws the feather of truth into the sky, breaking the spell.

"No!"