Everything And The Kitchen Sink

The Palace – Alexandria, Egypt: July 25, 204 BC

As they walked into the court, Tobias shuddered. Something didn't feel right about this place.

"Zephyrus, I don't …"

Zephyrus nodded at his manservant. "I feel it too. Darkness. Anger."

As they speculated about what could be causing this discomfort, a pale-skinned man in a falcon mask approached. His eyes were barely veiled by the mask, but it was clear that they were discolored and pale as his skin. As he spoke, his voice echoed in the mask, soft, effeminate, and strained.

"Hail, children of time. We are the lord of upper and lower Egypt, the great Horus Ptolemy. Welcome to our kingdom, though we wish you had come here under better circumstances."

Kurios gestured for them to kneel. They complied, though Mira opted for a low curtsy that showed off her upper body. Kurios coughed awkwardly.

Zephyrus raised his head. "My lord Ptolemy. We have come to retrieve your lost artifact. Can you tell us what it looks like?"

Ptolemy sighed. "It is a flail. It is said that he who possesses the flail has the power to rule over the whole world."

This statement alone made Faith raise her eyebrow in curiosity. "Well… that makes pretty much everyone in this building a suspect," she whispered.

Susie just looked at her companions in growing concern. Something was very wrong here… "Sir," she addressed the pharaoh, "can you tell us more about this flail please? I mean, do you know its origins? Or even where it was when it was lost?"

He nodded. "It is a very ancient object. The base is made from the bones of a snake created in magic. And the rods of the flail are filled with straw, the kind the ancient slaves used to make bricks. These were encased in precious silver from the southern kingdom of Nubia."

Susie sighed. "That's all well and good. But how well known was it that this artifact contained such power? Did everyone know? Or are we looking for a select few who knew of its properties?"

Suddenly, Faith snapped her fingers. "Straw! Snake! From the time of the Plagues! That's when the artifact was made, correct Pharaoh?"

He nodded gravely, mask cold and dark against his pale skin. "Yes. It was a secret object, passed from Pharaoh to pharaoh for generations since the last priest of Aten forged it. It has never left the royal chambers until now. And I fear its loss has had grave consequences."

Kurios shook his head. "My lord, there is no need. . ."

"There is evry need, Kurios." Ptolemy removed his mask slowly, revealing his pale white skin and hollowed eyes. He looked like a mummy already, shriveled and pale, all skin and bones.

Faith's eyes widened in shock, but then softened into compassion. "So it is tied to you," she whispered.

Zephyrus stared in horror. "But why? Why is it causing this?"

Mira nodded. "Zephy's right. This wasn't one of the original plagues. Why this?"

Ptolemy smiled slightly, looking even more skeletal. "It draws power from my body. Because I am the pharaoh. Its power runs through me. And someone is using it in a way it was not built for. To destroy worlds."

Faith's eyes widened. "Oh dear. How much time do we have to find it?"

As if in reply, Ptolemy shuddered, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Kurios rushed forward in alarm. "I'm sorry, but he's not doing very well. Master Ambrose, will you get us some water?"

Zephyrus nodded, running off towards the courtyard.

Mira looked at the young Egyptian with horror. "How long? How long does he have?"

Kurios sighed. "Days. Hours. Who knows?"

New West End, London: Sept. 30, 5090

After they finished their meal, Lucian grabbed Violet by the hand, no longer as stiff and awkward when touching her. He led her towards the fountain in the middle of the shopping centre. Violet didn't know quite what to say about this new-found courage that he had when being around her, but she liked it.

"Lucian? So what do we do now? It still seems like a dream…"

She looked up hopefully. He blushed.

"Do you know what this fountain is?" he groaned slightly. "Oh, you're gonna think it's corny."

She stared at it. "Umm.. it's a fountain… other than that? No, I don't know. Oh you look so adorable when you blush!"

He smiled slightly. "It's the Trevi Fountain. When Rome burned in the 4000s, it was moved, intact, to London. It's said that it's good romantic fortune to throw a coin in the water."

She blushed at the word romantic. "So this is it? I had no clue that this was the Trevi fountain. Though I have thrown many coins in this fountain since coming here. . ." She blushed even more and looked down at her feet. "Most of those wishes were so that you would notice me eventually. Apparently those weren't wasted."

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, cradling her against him. "How couldn't I notice you? Violet, I never stopped noticing you."

Violet leaned back into his chest "How was I supposed to know that? You didn't say anything . . . I guess neither did I. But neither one of us have to be alone anymore, do we?"

He shook his head, rocking her gently. "No. Now that I've finally got you, I don't intend to ever let you go."

Violet turned around in his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

The Palace – Alexandria, Egypt: July 25, 204 BC

Susie looked at the withered husk of a man critically, then turned to the others. "Toby, how well do you think these things work?" She held up her manipulator. "Think they're good enough to follow the signature of the artifact to where it is now?"

Tobias grinned at his fiance. "Brilliant!"

Mira nodded adamantly. "You two go find the artifact. I'll stay here and watch over Kur — I mean the Pharaoh."

Tobias sighed, grabbing her arm. "No, you don't. Let's go together."

Susie grabbed Mira's other arm. "Tobias is right. as soon as Zephie gets back, we're going. Not wanting to explain to Luci why I let you get killed, or worse, injured!"

Susie was also worried about the girl's sudden change in behavior. She'd never know Mira to be this reckless, this flirty, or this angry before.

"Screw that," she hissed, wrestling away from them. She stormed out, her eyes flashing in annoyance.

Faith sighed. "Pharaoh. May I approach?"

Kurios nodded at the girl. "If you think you can help, please."

She approached slowly. When she arrived not two paces before him she extended a hand.

"Possa la grazia di Dio ti protegga …. dal male e il dolore … dall'intento di coloro che vogliono strappare giù … e dalla malvagità del cuore …"

As she chanted, a white glow began to surround her hand and the Pharaoh. She held the pose for several seconds, and then collapsed to her knees, still conscious.

As the glow continued, Ptolemy's eyes opened wide. He began to scream, a bitter, angry, tortured sound. Then he lost consciousness.

Kurios pulled her away. "I'll go get Miss Jamerson. Don't try anything stupid while I'm gone, Miss Harkness. Again?"

Faith cursed under her breath. "I'm so sorry. I can't do anything right." She punched the floor.

Susie ran over to Faith and grabbed her fists. "Now honey, there'll be none of that! you tried what you thought might work, no use beating yourself up just cause it didn't!"

Faith pulled her fist away and stared at it, noticing that something was very off. Frowning, she tried to summon her glow again. Nothing.

A curse?

New West End, London: Sept. 30, 5090

Lucian deepened the kiss, pulling her so close it was hard to tell where one of them stopped and the other began.

Violet stopped kissing him but stayed close. "Lucian… people are going to stare… Can we go somewhere else? Not that I have a problem with kissing you, I don't. But the staring makes me uncomfortable."

He nodded, still not willing to let her go. "Baker Street?"

Violet smiled. "Yes, we can go there… as long as you agree with me not to go to far, I can't do much more then what we already have. I am sorry if that disappoints you. While I want you, I can't have you like that yet."

Lucian smiled gently, kissing her playfully on the chin. "I understand. I would never ask you to do something you weren't ready for."

Violet traced his smiling lips. "Thank you for not forcing me. Shall we maybe get going?"

As an answer, he grabbed her hand. They dashed off towards Central London. When they arrived at the apartment, he picked her up and carried her over the threshold to avoid getting blood in her shoes.

She snuggled into his arms but looked concerned. "Why is there blood around the door?"

Lucian smirked. "Oh. That. Just making the house safe. It's not human or anything."

The Palace – Alexandria, Egypt

A dark mist hung over them. Suddenly, a strange man in a long dark robe walked in, his eyes black.

"Oh, it did something," he said with a grin. "Like an alarm system. Good to know when my toys are acting up."

Faith glowered at the man. "Toys? What– ah? Who are you?"

Susie dragged Faith to her feet and pulled her back to Toby so the other two were on either side of her. "Oh look. More weirdness. Why am I not suprised?"

The man licked his lips. "You may have heard of me. I am Set, God of chaos. And master of the flail, though I do not wield it now. One even stronger than I has it. And you will have to go through me to get it back, I'm afraid."

Faith blinked in confusion. "Someone stronger? What? I'm sorry. I-"

Faith's legs gave out as if something were sucking her dry.

Susie rolled her eyes. "Set…Set…Nope, sorry mate, not coming up on the big bad radar, I'm afraid. Who are you again?"

Faith gasped. "Exactly as he said. He's a god of Egypt."

He laughed a hollow chuckle at Susie. "Soon, my dear. Soon."

He smiled eerily at Faith and swept out of the room.

221B Baker Street, London: Sept. 30, 5090

Violet was not reassured. "Um ok… are you ever going to explain what all is going on?"

He sighed. "The short version? Someone's unleashed the plagues of Egypt on London and possibly the whole world. Tobias, Zephyrus, Mirabell, Faith, Susan, you, and me seem to be the only ones not affected. So we have to go stop it. But I'm sure they don't really need us, right?"

She smiled up at him. "Mmm. . . They are doing fine so far without us. And I think we maybe having more fun then them also."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he said with a smirk. "My sister's with them."

The Palace – Alexandria, Egypt

As Seth left, Kurios returned, carrying Mira in his arms. He looked extremely distracted, as she was nuzzling against his neck.

"Stupid girl fell down a well," he muttered. "I rescued her, but she seems to have yelp broken her ankle."

Faith clutched a hand to her chest and attempted to stand.

Susie grabbed Faith as she stumbled, picking her up easily and holding her close. "Woah honey, what's the matter? You're not looking good at all!" She swiftly carried her over to a couch against a wall, lowering her gently.

Faith smiled up at Susie weakly. "Wrong? No, nothing's wrong. Just got a little dizzy. I'll be just fine, thank you." She looked around, dazed. "Oh. Mira's back. But…Where is Zephyrus?"

221B Baker Street, London

Lucian suddenly winced in pain.

Violet looked at him, concerned. "Lucian? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Violet," he gasped. "I just felt. . . Mira. . . she's alive, though. I don't think it's anything serious."

He pulled her close, kissing her passionately on the lips.

Violet accepted his kiss but wasn't fully into kissing him back.

"What's wrong?" He looked behind him and followed her gaze to the bedroom doorway. A tall young man with dark hair was watching them, leaning against the door frame, an odd intensity in his eyes.

Lucian turned on him. "And where the hell did you come from?"

The young man sighed. "Under the sink. Damned inconvenient place for a time portal."

He nodded at the couple. "Do continue."

Violet looked at Lucian and then back at the rather creepy guy. "Lucian? Who is this?"

The stranger walked over and offered her his hand. "Sherlock Holmes. This is. . . or was, I suppose, my flat, in the 21st Century. Lucian here and I have known each other for a few years now. Did you know he's afraid of the color yellow?"

Lucian glared at him. "Am not! What are you doing here?"

"I got an invitation." He handed Lucian a small card with what appears to be a dragon with its tail looped around its throat on it. On the back was scrawled three words:

PLEASE SAVE THEM.

The Palace – Alexandria, Egypt

Susie sighed at Faith. "See? Now you say something silly and brave like that, only your face is telling me a whole nother story! Having a hard time choosing what to believe here ya know?"

Faith looked up at Susie, her eyes clear with resolve. "Trust me, Susie. I'm fine. The room is just doing weird things to my head, is all."

Susie reluctantly pulled back from the younger girl, letting her sit up. "Fine. I guess I should trust you know yourself best. But another episode like that and I'm taking you away from here, got it?"

She rolled her eyes at Mira's continued attempts to seduce their contact.

Must run in the family.

Mira continued nibbling on Kurios. He protested, but it is clear from the state of his lower regions he was beginning to enjoy it. "M-miss Jamerson. . . I'm supposed t-to be a eunich! You're g-going t-to blow my c-cover!"

Faith ignored them and turned to Tobias. "You've been rather quiet, Tobias. Are you alright?"

He yawned. "Hmm? No, I'm fine. Just tired. I'm going to go lie down."

Susie looked at him in concern. That was so not a Tobias statement. She walked over to him and looked at him carefully. "Toby? What's wrong honey?"

He vomited black goo all over the floor in reply.

Mira squealed. "Oh, God, that's nasty! Kuri, honey, why don't we get out of here before things get really gross?"

Faith jumped up, suddenly horrified and worried. "Tobias…?"

He stared at his fiance in shock. "I. . . I. . . oh, I feel all squirmy inside. Susie. . ." He screamed in anguish. "Help me!"

221B Baker Street, London

Violet stared at the intruder from the past. "Who is it that you are to be saving?"

Sherlock sighed, pacing. "I'm not sure yet. Need more data. Lucian, can you tell me where Zephyrus is? I need to speak to him."

Lucian smiled slightly. "He's in Egypt at the moment."

Sherlock beamed at him. "Excellent! I haven't been in ages!" He ran into the kitchen, shouting under the sink. "Egypt, John!"

The voice that replied seemed less than enthusiastic. "Why do I always worry when you sound excited?"