-Jason Grace-
I could visibly tell that the Egyptian Pharaoh was distracted. I had noticed that the shield was now blue rather than red, but I obviously didn't understand what it meant. Thankfully, he continued fighting alongside me until Porphyrion turned out like a burnt oversized rock. He's lack of his spear was also handy, and he apparently couldn't retrieve it back from where it lay before the shield.
"Gaia will come back," he snarled towards me, "even if you defeat us today."
"I'm glad you can see it now," I continued, ready for another spark to strike him down with, "and you should trust me when I say we'll be ready for her."
Carter and I slammed him again, which he simply exploded into the golden dust. Once we took that in, Carter immediately approached the shield, which I noticed the place was now littered in the golden remnants of our enemies. In fact, everyone was now rushing towards the shield. I quickly followed route and watched the shield die to the Russian woman that had threatened us earlier standing beside Alyssa.
"Now, banishing Geb," Vika Menshikov started. "I believe our Chief Lector planned to do so himself, but I will have to be the next best thing."
"Where's Amos?" Carter snarled, ready to use his sword against her.
Alyssa cried in reply as Vika hesitated to move to her left a little. This revealed the familiar crimson clothed man lying motionless behind them. My eyes widened as Carter quickly placed his sword against the older woman's throat.
"Carter, stop!" Walt snapped as he took a step closer.
"She killed him so she could take lead, Stone," Carter defended. "As Pharaoh, I shall execute you myself!"
The woman narrowed her eyes to him now, "Your uncle sacrificed his life force to protect the host of Geb. I just took his place once he recklessly did so."
"Then why is his body still here?" Sadie piped up. "If he did, he would have evaporated by now."
Vika gave her an interested look now. "And when have you seen this occur?"
"We've witnessed it twice," Carter explained. "Desjardins and Kwai."
"Carter!" Alyssa snapped through her tears. "I was standing beside him when he did so."
Jaz, the magician healer, approached the Chief Lector and checked for a pulse before placing her hand on his forehead. "You kill her; you make enemies of the Eighteenth Nome again," An older Russian man snarled, staff ready for a fight.
"Please, stop!" A young boy with a heavy accent stepped between the older man and the Pharaoh.
"Carter, we need to banish Geb," Walt reminded.
"Yes we do, and then we can discuss Kane," Vika supported despite the fact that the Pharaoh's sword is resting just below her chin. "I found a shabti of Geb on Amos," she pulled out a small clay figure of a goose.
Sadie quickly took this from her and observed it for a second. "Carter, lower your sword," Sadie scuffed towards her older brother. "You plan to banish Geb yourself?" She asked Vika.
Menshikov rolled her eyes out of irritation, "I watched Amos stand in the background of the fight. I think that is proof enough that he isn't arrogant like Set. I will banish Geb, if you allow it." She directed the last bit towards Carter now, who hesitated to lift his sword from her throat.
Sadie handed the 'shabti' back to the woman. Carter glared towards his sister now. "Have you done excretion spells before?" He asked her now.
"Now that is a dumb question to be asking a Menshikov," Sadie scolded.
"Agreed," Vika supported. "Alyssa is in good hands. Now please, keep at a good distance."
Sadie and Jaz grabbed Amos and managed to drag him five feet away as we all kept at about the same distance from the two. Urgently, Annabeth rushed towards them, which I decided to follow close behind her. "-no magic, and no fresh physical injuries that could have killed him," Jaz explained as Sadie knelt beside her uncle, crying. "Menshikov is speaking the truth."
