Greetings my loyal readers. Here it is, the next chapter for you all. I hope you enjoy. Also just to note. I own nothing of this.

"Ra talk"

"Percy/Ra talk"

Chapter 9 Ho, ho, ho It's magic

They took me to a different dormitory, so I don't know how the kids were. But I was alright since this was one of the rare times I got to dream. I awoke as the sun began to rise which I had to guess was because of Ra. So after a quick workout I was taken to the cleansing room. It was a chamber with a roaring waterfall. There was no ceiling, just a shaft above us that seemed to go up forever. Water fell from the darkness into a fountain, splashing over a five-meter-tall statue of that bird-headed god. The water cascaded over his head, collected in his palms, then spilled out into the pool. I instantly jumped in and felt even more empowered and really relaxed. It must have been hours since before I knew it Carter, Sadie, and Zia were standing beside the pool.

"I'll have a orange juice on the rocks." I joked to Zia.

"Make it a double."

"Sounds good actually." I thought. Zia gave me a look that said she was not impressed. "So how'd you sleep?" I asked the trio.

"Badly." The kids told me. I then looked at Carter and saw he frowned in Zia's direction. You didn't have to be a kid of Aphrodite to see romantic between the two.

"Are you having fun?" Zia asked me in a soothing tone.

"Yeah." I replied.

"Well then...GET OUT!" She shouted.

"Loud."

"You said it." I thought as I got out of the pool. Zia then went to a nearby cabinet and brought out three ceramic cups, dipped them into the fountain, then

offered them to us. "Drink."

"Is it sanitary?" Carter asked but I hit him in the back of his head. "Sorry."

"This is purified by contact with Thoth. It focuses your mind." Zia told me.

"I am extremely focused right now."

"I think i've had enough." I told her.

"Very well." She replied.

"Wow." Carter said after sipping from his cup.

"Now the tattoos," Zia announced.

"Cool!" I said.

"On your tongues." she added.

"Getting that lasered off will be a bitch."

"Ouch." I thought. Zia stuck out her tongue to show a blue hieroglyph.

"Nith ith Naat," she tried to say with her tongue out.

"Wanna say that again?" I asked chuckling with Ra and the kids. She realized her mistake and stuck her tongue back in looking mad at me.

"I mean, this is Ma'at, the symbol of order and harmony. It will help you speak magic clearly. One mistake with a spell—"

"We'll die." Sadie said sounding annoyed.

"Well I got a few in my travels before. So let's do this." I said making people looks at me strange.

"Yeah, then we can get one of a phoenix on our back."

"Maybe." I pondered as Zia took out a fine-tipped paintbrush and a bowl of blue dye.

"It doesn't hurt. And it's not permanent."

"How does it taste?" Carter wondered, Zia smiled.

"Damn it that's horrible. It tastes like a car crash." I swore making the kids not so sure about doing it.

"Who do you know what a car crash taste like?"

"Okay how old are you and what the bloody hell have you done in the past?" Sadie asked/demanded.

"I lost count and to fulfill my duties...I could be sent to jail for just telling you." I said making the three look at me wondering if I was kidding.

"Never mind breakfast. Lost my appetite." Sadie stated. After that Zia pulled a leather satchel out of one of the cabinet.

"Carter, you will be allowed to keep your father's magic implements. As well as a new staff and wand. Generally speaking, the wand is for defense and the staff is for offense." Zia started. "Although, Carter you may prefer to use your khopesh."

"Khopesh?" Carter and Sadie asked.

"The curved sword," Zia said. "A favored weapon of the pharaoh's guard. It can be used in combat magic."

"I'll stick with good old Riptide." I said pulling out my pen.

"That's a pen." Carter said.

"It a powerful weapon." I stated.

"That's a pen." He repeated. I chucked remembering this from my past, before I uncapped it and it turned into my sword. "Okay it's a sword."

"Sadie, you will need a full kit." Zia said.

"How come he gets Dad's kit?" Sadie complained.

"He is the eldest," she said, as if that explained everything. I waited for mine but she just looked at me. "Percy you have everything you need for now."

"She's right."

"I guess." I thought.

"Now we will start with a basic test. Let us go to the library." Zia said. The First Nome's library was like Amos's, but a hundred times bigger, with circular rooms lined with honeycomb like a large beehive. Clay shabti statues kept popping in and out, retrieving scroll canisters and disappearing. Aside from them there was no one else. Zia brought us to a wooden table and spread out a long, blank papyrus scroll. She picked up a stylus and dipped it in ink.

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"You will create a scroll. Using your own magic,you will send power into the words on paper. When spoken, the words will unleash the magic."

"Any comment?" I asked Ra.

"Well you can do that but that is just a tip of what you can truly do."

"What do you mean."

"Before you were limited by your Olympian blood. Now that wall has been removed anything is possible. Such as manipulating the energy of matter. Try making a stylus."

"Strange." I thought.

"Your mind is the limit of your power now."

"Okay different but cool." I thought making the stylus.

"Interesting. How did you do that?" Zia asked.

"Just thought of it and made it appear." I replied.

"How much magical training have you had?" Zia asked me.

"Quite a bit." I replied.

"I see." Zia said, but I was not sure what she meant. I was lost in my own mind after that but was brought back to reality when a huge fire erupted. I was about to put it out with my water, but it died on it's own and Zia stood there looking astonished, her eyebrows singed and her bangs smoldering.

"Damn." I said.

"That was hot."

"Oh shut up." I thought as Sadie was scared that she was about to die.

"Now," Zia announced. "I think you are ready to duel." Using another magic gateway Zia summoned, we stepped out onto a circle of swirling sand and ruins.

"What a dump." I thought. "I hate sand."

"Sand, she be a cruel bitch with time." I rolled my covered as I noticed the kids had trouble seeing in the sunlight.

"I hate portals." Carter whined as he brushed the sand out of his hair.

"Next time we should use some of my travel methods."

"Like the one you use a gun and car jack someone?"

"Like?" Sadie asked having adjusted to the light.

"Never mind. So where are we?" I asked.

"This is Luxor!" Carter said."

"And?" I asked not impressed.

"It's, like, hundreds of miles south of Cairo." He replied.

"Okay then." I replied as we decided to see if it became hot enough we would see a mirage.

"Am I the only one seeing a oasis with skimpy clothed girls waving at us?"

"God of the sun and already his mind is baked." I muttered to my self as I turned to look at the ruins .Before us was a wide avenue flanked by broked human-headed beasties. A road that went on behind us as far as I wanted to see, also a rather large temple. The walls were at least six stories high with big stone pharaohs standing guard on either side of the entrance. Along with a single obelisk on the left-hand side, that I could swear once stood on the right

"Luxor is a modern name," Zia said. "This was once the city of Thebes. This temple was one of the most important in Egypt. It is the best place for us to practice."

"Because it's already destroyed?" Sadie asked. Zia, me, and Ra gave her a stern look be fore I said.

"No, it still has magic resonating off it."

"Indeed." Zia said looking surprised by what I said. "But it was also sacred to your family." She said the last part to the kids.

"Our family?" Carter asked. Of course she didn't answer, but lead us on our way in.

"I don't like those ugly sphinxes," Sadie mumbled as we walked down the path.

"Those ugly sphinxes are creatures of law and order," Zia said. "protectors of Egypt. They are on our side."

"For now." I said eyeing them. We entered a dusty courtyard surrounded by crumbling pillars and statues with various missing

body parts. Still one had to think it was once impressive in it's time. Still, I could tell the place had once been quite impressive.

"Oh wait till we get our own palace i'm sure it will be better then Olympus."

"One step at a time Ra." I thought before Sadie asked what I was thinking.

"Where are the people? Middle of the day, winter holidays. Shouldn't there be loads of tourists?" Zia of course made a nasty expression.

"Usually, yes. I have encouraged them to stay away for a few hours." She stated.

"Clever girl." I smirked at her.

"Now, to the duel." She said summoning her staff and drew two circles in the sand about ten meters apart. She instructed me to stand in one of them and Carter in the other.

"You sure about this?" He asked her.

"I will oversee the duel," Zia promised. "We will start slowly. The first magician to knock the other out of his circle wins. Summon whatever power you can, use whatever you have available. Begin!" Carter drew his sword, while I pulled out Riptide and turned it into it's sword. Not now what to do, Carter swung his sword releasing flame towards me. I swung mine up, releasing a wave of ice that canceled Carters' attack and from him in ice. I then raised my free hand and flicked my fingers out releasing a wave of pressure that chattered the ice knocking him out of his ring.

"Child's play." I smirked as Sadie helped Carter up.

"Next time try fire."

"Sure." I replied thinking it over.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Sadie asked.

"Think like a game," I said. "you're lvl 1. While I would be lvl 50." I finished stabbing Riptide into the ground. "Not very clever." I turned to Zia. "even with my powers as they are. These kids would never have a hope of even moving me."

"We all must start somewhere." She replied. "Besides you are less likely to get hurt."

"She has a small point."

"Shut up." I thought.

"Sadie you're next." Zia said.

"I've got to duel him?" She asked.

"Yes." We replied.

"But I haven't been trained!" She protested.

"Whine all you want, but you will attack me." I stated. "Or I will train you as I was. By attacking you like I was going to kill you."

"How is that any different?" She asked.

"Attack me." I roared. She looked through her kit and took out her wand and rod which expanded into a two meter long white staff. I pulled Riprtide out and started swinging it around creating flames. Sadie was clearly scared as she raised her staff and created a small flame from the end of her staff. She then sent it at me, but my flame consumed it. I then stabbed my sword into the ground sending the flame to her. It stopped infront of her and created a wall of flames that knocked her back.

"You okay?" Carter asked his sister as he rushed to her.

"No," she complained.

"Not bad." Zia said as we walked to the kids. "However Sadie, you must be careful, you drew from your own reserves, not from the staff. You almost depleted your magic."

"Evert time you use magic, you expend energy. One can draw energy from themselves, but one must know their limits. Les they exhaust yourself, or worse." Zia and the others looked at me with mixed expressions.

"Like?" Sadie asked.

"Death."

However magic can be drawn from many sources," Zia said taking their attention. "It can be stored in scrolls, wands, and staffs. Amulets are especially powerful. Sometimes you can draw it straight from Ma'at using the Divine Words."

"But can it not also summon Gods?" I asked giving her a look.

"Yes." Zia nodded not looking at me.

"Hold on," Carter said. "You claimed this place was sacred to our family."

"It was," Zia agreed.

"But Didn't the pharaohs have a yearly festival here?" Carter asked.

"Indeed," Zia said. "The pharaoh would walk down the processional path all the way from Karnak to Luxor. He would enter the temple and become one with the gods. Sometimes this was purely ceremonial. Or with the great pharaohs like Ramesses." She pointed to one of the huge crumbling statues. "They actually hosted the gods."

"Any clues on how to removes them?" I asked.

"Say what now? Ra asked as I heard him playing pool.

"No. However you are interesting. Unlike them you have no relation to ancient chosen hosts."

"Thank the Gods." I said.

"You just thanked yourself you know."

"Shut up." I spat/thought.

"Wait, so are you saying that we are related to—" Carter said.

"The gods prefer the blood of the pharaohs." Zia stated.

"Not all of them." I groaned.

"Perhaps." Zia said as we noticed the kids uneasy looks.

"Our parents were from different royal lines." Sadie said breaking from her funk. "Dad...he must've been descended from Narmer, the first pharaoh."

"Or he's the guys' reincarnation." I said. "Just saying it happens."

"So you think we're hosting gods?" Sadie asked.

It's possible, after all I am." I stated.

"That's completely daft." Sadie spat.

"Then prove it!" Zia spat back. "Duel, and show me how weak your magic is!"

"Hey bitch." I growled swinging Riptide as flames encased it. She barely dodged the attack and the next one with no time to draw her weapons. I was about to continue when Sadies' stall landed between us. The ground immediately transformed into a snarling she-lion before us and we were both surprised. The lion turned to me charged and in a split second I donned Ra armor. The Lion stopped and then decided to go after Carter.

"Oh Shit." Then the cat attacked which lead to Carter's form flickered. He rose off the ground, surrounded by a golden holographic shell with a giant image was a warrior with the head of a falcon. Carter swung his sword, and the falcon warrior did likewise, slicing the lion with a shimmering blade of energy. The cat dissolved in midair and Sadies' staff having been cut in half fell to the ground. Carter's avatar disappeared as did my armor as I saw the kids seemed to be energized.

Well how was that?" I asked Zia. Of course Zia looked to be in shock.

"The falcon. He—he summoned—"

"Snap out of it."I said running up to her and slapped her.

"Hey that looks like fun, can I have a try?" Sadie asked. Before we could saw ra, footsteps pounded on the stones. A young initiate raced into the courtyard, looking panicked. Tears streaked down his face as he whispered something to Zia in hurried Arabic. Zia snapped to after getting the message and sat int he sand. She then covered her face and started to tremble.

"Zia?" Carter asked. "What's wrong?" After trying to compose herself, she looked at us with red eye. She told to adept to leave a looked at me specifically.

"News from the First Nome," she said shakily. "Iskandar..." Her voice broke.

"Αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη." I said knowing what he was saying. The kids looked at me confused before I asked "How did it happen?"

"In his sleep," Zia said. "He—he had been ailing for years, of course. But still..."

"Oh Zia I am sorry." Carter said finally catching on.

"So what happens now?" Sadie asked. Zia wiped her tears and rose with shaking legs.

"Desjardins is next in line. As soon as he is named Chief Lector, he will order you executed."

"And then he will sentence all those that try to death."

"Even you can not fight us all." Zia warned.

"But we haven't done anything!" Sadie said. Zia's eyes flashed with anger.

"You still don't realize how dangerous you are? You are hosting gods." I pointed my sword at her neck and glared.

"Now I know you have suffered a great loss, but if you become our enemy. I will depose of you before you can say Ra." I threatened. "What will the fool do next?"

"Desjardins will order me to bring you in," Zia warned, "and I will have to obey."

"Again you are not getting that I will kill you before you could." I repeated. "Besides Set is the concern not them." Zia was deep in thought before Sadie told her that she had talked to Iskandar last night and said Zia was his best pupil. Also that Zia would know how to help us when the time came. Again Zia was in thought before she replied.

"Use the obelisk. You have five minutes, perhaps less, before Desjardins sends orders for your execution."

"Fine but tell him that if he comes for us. I'll crush him." I warned before Sadie stopped us.

"Hold on, Zia should come and help us! We can't even use an obelisk, much less destroy Set!" She stated.

"I cannot betray the House," Zia said. "You have four minutes now. If you can't operate the obelisk, you'll die."

"Alright take care now, bye bye then." I said leading the kids.

"Perseus."

"Come on." I groaned stopping to look at Zia again.

"Desjardins will order me to hunt you down. Do you understand?" Zia'said eyes full of bitterness. I smirked and summoned the water from the air and encased her in hollow block of ice.

"Well that should keep you busy for awhile." I smirked as Zias' face turned to pissed off.

"Will she be okay?" Carter asked as we got to the obelisk.

"Yeah she just needed to cool off." I replied.

"Ice puns? Really?"

"Shut up." I spat.

Okay that's it for now, sorry for the delay. Please review so I can have more motivation which turns into faster chapters. I will finish this I swear to you. Later all!