Thanks to my two lovely and consistent reviewers HBHS12 and Violinrocker12 (what's with the 12's).

Also all credit for the ship name Anuce goes to HBHS12. I love it!

Anyone in the mood for a love triangle? I can sense one around the corner.

Chapter 10

House of Allegiances

I woke up to the alarm as normal and dressed in silence. Sarah, clearly more nervous than I about the thing with Andy, stood awkwardly at the door waiting for me. (So I could be evil, but it was still better for us to go together than her have to go alone?) Before heading in Sarah placed her hand on my shoulder spinning me around. "I don't believe you're evil," she told me in a none-to-kind way. "If anyone is working with Apophis it's Andy." What. A. Compliment. Basically Sarah was saying I wasn't out to destroy the Universe. That totally made up for all the things she's told people about me. Not!

"Thanks," I told her unsure whether or not she was trying to compliment/ apologize.

"That doesn't mean I trust you though," Sarah finished holding up a hand. "Whenever I see you I feel like I should run to France. It, you're just not right. Sorry if that sounds horrible, but it's true. Every bone in my body says you're dangerous and the best thing you could have done for this school would have been to leave."

With her harsh words uttered Sarah led the way into Andy's office where Alice stood with her skin-deep confidence flaring.

"Does anyone care to tell me what happened last night?" Andy asked passing back and forth beating his hands with a ruler like a Drill Sargent. He didn't actually plan on hitting us, right? That couldn't be legal... or maybe it was. I haven't been in this country long enough to know.

"I don't know, sir," I lied easily considering the other two girls were completely tongue tied. "I went to bed as normal and then around one Alice comes in and starts yelling at me!"

Alice looked ready to say I was lying, but she too had no better explanation. She was the one out of her room and she was the one caught yelling. Sarah certainly wasn't going to fight my claim either as it took her out from under the bus.

"Well Miss Miller, "Andy asked expectantly, "Care to explain why you were yelling?"

Alice opened and closed her mouth looking for a response. We might not agree on much but we agreed that telling Andy about the tunnels and the Egypt stuff... not a good idea.

"That's probably my fault," Anubis told him sliding into the office. "You see Alice and I used to date, and she just discovered that Lucy here is my new girlfriend. I bet she was wild with jealousy and sleepwalking, you know how she does that. Ally probably couldn't even control her actions, being asleep and all."

"It's true," Alice told him with a nod. "I was furious and I had a dream about yelling at Luce. I had no idea it was actually happening. Luce, I'm so sorry for anything I said I didn't mean it."

Glaring at her I smiled and replied, "It's no problem. I understand completely."

Andy didn't seem very sure that our story was the truth, but with no other stories presenting themselves he nodded. "Fine. Since you were unable to control yourself you will be punished Miss Miller only by having to help Trudy, who really is getting old, with the chores. The rest of you are free of all punishment. Now leave!"

Scurrying out of his hearing range I burst out laughing. "Now THAT was a good one. Considering that we, who are practically opposites, could ever be a couple... I didn't realize what a riot you were."

For a split second I thought I saw a wounded look on Anubis's face, but it disappeared so quickly I probably imagined it. "Yeah. You know how spur of the moment lies go. They always turn out to be the most ridiculous thing possible."

"I hope you're happy, snake," Alice huffed. "I could have gotten grounded with you throwing me under the bus like that! Not that I'd expect more from the likes of you."

Now Alice turned to Anubis, who she literally slapped, "And if you're too blind to see that Luce is going to get us all killed, you especially, then you deserve to be stuck with her!"

As Alice stormed away Sarah cast her brother an apologetic glance before scuttering off after her friend.

"Ignore her," Anubis told me even though her words clearly stung him more than me. "She's always been one to put others down to make herself feel better. I don't think you'll get us all killed... a few, maybe, but not everyone."

Wow. The Rutter twins are just fantastic at giving compliments.

As soon as I walked into the kitchen I knew something had gone down last night at the COE meeting because Nick had taken my rightful place as the one no one would talk to. Actually, from the looks of it, he was the one who would talk to no one. When Nick saw Anubis and I however he came right over hand out. "We never really got formally introduced and for that I apologize. I'm Nick Mort and I'm very sorry for the way you've been treated around here."

If any of the COE were to come over to my side it would have been Nick considering that he had never participated in the Luce bashing. He didn't stop them, but being a bystander is better than being the perpetrator in my book.

"Welcome to the dark side Chosen One," I whispered ominously. "We have cookies don't worry about it."

As soon as I saw Nick's look I wished I hadn't mentioned the Chosen One thing... oops. I'd assumed he knew as Sarah knew she was the Osirian. "I... I guessed," Nick admitted reading my face. "But no, it was never confirmed. How do you even know that?"

"The last Chosen One, Mrs. Rutter, she told me. Nina's the reason I even a doing this."

"By this do you mean trying to find the scales without Alice and Sarah in charge?"

Smiling at all the things our new recruit could tell us I nodded. "Yes. Why don't you walk over to school with us and you can tell us exactly what we're up against in the COE. By the way, welcome, to Sibuna."