I know it's been so long since this has been updated, and I apologize! I've been so busy! I recommend rereading the last couple of chapters if you'd like so you can get caught up. I had to reread the entire thing to make sure I had correct details when writing this chapter...

Graduation Day

CASSIDY'S POV

As I admire my sophisticated reflection in the mirror, the stunning silk cap and gown, an enormous, broad smile spreads across my face. The burgundy gown, the golden tassel, it all makes me feel like I have finally accomplished something important. I'm about to graduate. It is all too much to believe.

I descend the staircase where all of my housemates await me, all dressed stunningly in the gowns as well.

I smile as I make my way towards Liam and suppress a squeal. He embraces me in an enormous hug.

"I can't believe it," he says. "We made it."

"Yeah, we did."

I glance around the room, admiring everyone's smiling faces. Jerome places Joy's cap on her head, smiling at her lovingly. Beck and Amber hold hands, their shoulders pressed against one another. Fabian kisses KT's cheek. Willow and Alfie squeal and giggle. The only people I don't see enjoying themselves are Eddie and Patricia.

It crosses my mind that they aren't even near each other - Patricia stands talking to her sister on the phone, while Eddie talks grad party with Callan.

I stride over to Eddie, not realizing what I was about to do.

"Eddie," I say, a bit too loudly. "Is something going on between you and Patricia?"

Eddie ceases his conversation and turns to face me. "Um, Cass?"

The entire foyer turns and faces us. Patricia hangs up her phone and stares at me.

I bite my lip, realizing what I have just done. Something did happen to them. And I just brought it up. In front of everyone.

I see Fabian blush and shoot a glare at him.

"UhhhHHHHH…" he begins to shout, realizing what I want him to do. "Hey, guys!" he yells, calling attention away from my brother. "Don't we have some graduating to do?"

Everyone files out the door excitedly, forgetting about my brief embarrassment.

I stop Fabian in his tracks.

"What happened, and why didn't you tell me?"

Fabian turns red. "I'm sorry. I-"

"Don't you dare say you can't tell me. He's my brother, and if it has something to do with you-know-what, then I am definitely involved. So?"

"Look, Cassidy, they… they broke up. And-"

"And he didn't tell me?" I yell, annoyed and upset for my brother.

"No… obviously he did not… But you're right. It did have to do with… that. Eddie realized that Set would use Patricia to get to him. He might torture or harm Patricia if he thought Eddie cared about her. So he had to let her go so it wouldn't look like Set had weaknesses."

"Ok, I understand that, but how come he didn't just explain that to Patricia? She looked devastated."

"Because Set is always watching, Cassidy. If Eddie had just told Patricia to keep her distance, Set would know. He needed it to look like he really didn't love Patricia."

"That's vile," I say. "It's sick. I get it, but it's awful."

"Yeah…" Fabian says. "We should… we should go graduate."

"Yeah… we should."

I understand Eddie, but at the same time, I can't believe him. He's really hurting Patricia, the love of his life.

But I can't worry about this now. Graduation is just around the corner… literally, around the corner.

The auditorium looms into view. Red and gold banners drape the entrance way and a a plethora of people follow in excitedly. Parents link arm in arm with their children, couples stride through gazing at each other, senior boys race through, and herds of giggling, squealing junior girls watch the senior boys from afar.

This is it.

Graduation.

I maneuver through the crowd to find Liam waiting backstage for me. He left before me as I was… confronting… Fabian. His eyes light up at the sight of me and we walks towards me, embracing me in an engulfing hug.

"You're shaking," he whispers with a laugh as he hugs me.

I pull back and chuckle. "And you aren't?"

I slip my hand in his and set my head on his shoulder. We continue to slowly stride along the gymnasium floor for… the last time… ever.

"Can you believe this?" Liam whispers loudly so he can be heard over the commission. "We're about to graduate."

"Don't remind me," I say, dramatically putting my hand to my forehead as if I am going to faint. Liam laughs, and his smile suddenly gives me confidence. I straighten my posture and bravely stride through the center aisle of seats, my head held higher than it was a few moments ago.

Liam was wrong. I don't give him confidence. We give each other confidence.

We amble clumsily up the stairs to the stage and take our seats. Since my last name is Miller and his is Porter, we are separated by a Joy, Amber, and a couple of students from Isis and Hathor. But I can still see him. We smile at each other and he gives me a thumbs up. He's changed a lot this year. I like the new Liam.

Eddie is seated next to me, barely saying a word. I can tell he's worried about my prediction about Set and the prophecy of only four descendants surviving. But he's also upset. I can see it in his eyes. He's devastated over Patricia. Glancing down the rows, I see Patricia in Eddie's exact position - head tucked into chest, arms folded. I hate seeing them like this, especially after all they've been through together. I need to do something.

Amber suddenly gasps, only loud enough that I can hear her.

She leans over to me, her eyes narrowed and angry.

"What is she doing here?"

Two women enter the room. I don't know which she was referring to:

Nina, who enters through the back door and takes a seat in the final row.

Or… her.

Madame.

Yeah, she was definitely referring to Madame.

"Amber… you don't think…"

She looks at me with a weary expression and shakes her head furiously. "No no no no no…" she repeats like a broken record.

"Amber… Amber!" I shout, gaining a couple of stares from Hathor students behind me. I lower my voice and say: "How is she here? The five descendants… we saw her in the woods. She was mangled and beaten… I thought she was… dead."

Amber stares at me wide-eyed. "What? Dead? Patricia told me you guys saw an apparel… an apricot…"

"An apparition?" I offer with a chuckle.

"Yeah that. Like a ghost. But she wasn't there."

"I don't know if she was real or not. But those wounds looked real."

"Wounds? What wounds?"

I glance back at Madame and sure enough, Amber's right. There isn't a scratch upon Madame's leathery tanned face. My heart sinks. Was the night in the woods just a ploy by Set?

My worst fears are realized as Madame continues to walk… walk… walk… all the way up to the podium. She's voicing the graduation ceremony.

Shit.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" She begins in her wretched tone. It sounds raspy,instead of the soothing, siren-like voice she normally has.

"Eddie… Where's Mr. Sweet - er, dad?"

Eddie gives me a worried look like he found out his family had been murdered. Interesting, considering that may be the reason dad isn't here.

He shuffles in his seat, slouching down inch by inch as Madame continues to speak.

Great. So some psychopath woman who has tried to kill me all year and hosted a god who also tried to kill me is about to send me off in the world alone. Real reassuring. 'Oh, here's your diploma. Sucks you won't get to use it when I bite your head off!'

Just great.

"I will now announce our valedictorian, our most prized student, to receive the first diploma." Madame grins brightly, putting on her facade for the audience.

Something about her seems off putting.

Then again, what isn't?

I turn around to see Mara and Callan smirking at each other. I know one of them is going to win.

"Will Cassidy Miller please come up here to receive the first diploma?"

No.

No no no.

What?

The audience cheers, but almost every nerd, geek, and dork in the senior class glares at me.

I smile shakily and stumble my way to the podium.

Madame hands me a diploma, and I can almost feel Mara and Callan's eyes burning me.

I don't exactly want to be around Madame for too long, so I grab the scroll, nod a quick thank-you, and try to make my way back to my seat.

"Oh, not so fast!" Madame says in her singsongy voice. I know it's just a facade.

It's just a facade.

I stare at Eddie and we have a silent conversation without actually saying anything.

Me: Eddie? What should I do?

Eddie: Just get out of there!
Me: I tried! My GOD, I TRIED!

Eddie: *shrugs* Well… try again!

Yeah, I've got an amazing brother.

Amazing.

I walk back to Madame, keeping my head lowered. I fear she's like a gorgon with the ability to turn me to stone with one glance.

Madame fiercely latches her hand onto my wrist. She bellows a murderous cry that is definitely not feminine.

Set.

Shit.

She falls to her knees and raises her hands to the air.

I am the mighty Set! Fear me! Bow down to me!

The audience and students outside of Anubis scream and cause a frenzy. All of the Anubis students circle around me and watch Set escape from Madame.

A misty smoke egresses from Madame, and her limp body flails to the ground.

There is no use for the mortal body. Set will now dispose of it.

Osirian, I see that look of fear upon your face. Did you lie to me when you said you had no more fears? The smoke begins as it materializes.

"You can't hurt me, Set. There's… there's nothing that I love. You can't take anything away from me." Eddie regrets it the moment he says it. I feel a pang in my chest; I know he's lying, but I look over at Patricia, who's eyes cloud. One tear rolls down her cheek and I want to kick Set's ass right then and there.

Interesting, Set says. Considering the last time we convened you would stop at nothing to protect her.

Set's cloudy mist forms two eyes that stare right through me. What about you, girl? Your brother may be free from my control, but have you thought about yourself? I know you love someone.

Everything inside me breaks. I can feel the hope wash away from within me.

Liam.

I spent so much time worrying about protecting Eddie from love that I didn't realize throughout it all I'd fallen in love myself.

"Cassidy… Who's your brother?" Amber stares at me, her eyes riddled with confusion.

I stare at the ground.

It's time to face the truth.

"Eddie," I say, not able to say anything more.

The Anubis students stare at me, unsure of what to say. I can feel their eyes burning into me just as Set's did.

You have no power over me. Your heart is weak; it belongs to the boy and your brother. You cannot defeat me, for I will destroy the ones you love before you get the chance to try.

A ghastly hand emerges from the billowing smoke and casts orange flames that strike Liam down to the floor.

"LIAM!" I cry. I rush over to him. Blood seeps through his clothes in splotches.

"What did he do to you?" I begin to cry, my tears falling onto his chest.

Eddie's face turns red and angry. His fists clench, and I know he's ready to fight.

The auditorium is empty. No one except the Anubis students are anywhere to be seen. As Set continues to form, Madame's body lies unconscious on the ground, Liam starts to bleed more profusely, and the students rush to the back of the room.

Eddie, and Esmay stay close and Nina comes rushing towards us. They stand around Liam and me and stand tall, their postures firm and straight. They're ready to take down Set once and for all, to save everyone.

This is it. This is our final fight.

Sorry it's been, what, 2 months, since this has been updated! I've been writing other things, plus I'm the lead in a play and of course I have loads of homework. I promise I'm going to update this more frequently. It's almost over, my first work I published on here! I'm in the makings on a sequel about their children, including children of the newer characters. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and follow!