-Sadie Kane-

I board the transportation bus with several families climbing onboard to leave the museum after visiting. The bus is jam-packed, but I was able to find a seat towards the back. Keeping to myself as much as possible, but making sure that I have the bench to myself once the other passenger had unboarded by stretching my legs out. I note other passengers giving me annoyed looks, but they don't have it in them to press the issue and find somewhere else to plant themselves.

Despite listening to the iPod, I ended up spotting a little boy across from me playing with the stuffed cat his dad had bought him earlier. I can't help but smile as his dad had played along as if the cat had actually bit him. I snapped out of it by the time they got up for their stop. I want to cry but switch to a happier playlist to try and stop it.

It's been a month and no news. Kyra had sat Carter and I down to talk about what she understood. "Keep in mind, this is all word of mouth." Because there isn't any solid evidence yet of anything concerning Uncle Amos still. Camp Jupiter still hasn't contacted any of us to my brother's frustration.

Despite Kyra and I saying otherwise, Carter had chosen to place the Florida Nome Leader as his new General of Armies. Kyra, respectfully, bowed out of consideration for the position. "Just keep an eye on her, Carter. I fear what she might do. I know your uncle would be annoyed if the work he's put in was to just lead to war."

"I understand, but if it's all true I require someone willing to stand against them."

Carter thinks I'm in London for Spring Break. I'm currently in California, making my way towards Camp Jupiter. Not having information on my uncle has been the most frustrating part of all of this. But I'm still hanging on hope that he's alive.

I step off the bus due to the smell lingering outside of the diner they stopped at. I hadn't eaten anything all day, wanting to leave as soon as I could before anyone could ask me any questions. Because I know that if anyone knew I was taking the chance, they would say something to Carter about it. He would be furious if he found out I'm here.

I order a BLT and force myself to finally call my grandparents. I'm tapping my fingernails against the table while it rings three times until it picks up. "Sadie," Gramps voice sounds, "where am I picking you up from?"

"Hey, I don't need to be picked up-"

"Nonsense, I'm picking you up."

I give a small laugh at that. It warms my heart some knowing that other adults care still. Makes me feel worse for failing to visit yet again. "Gramps, I'm not in London right now."

My food is set in front of me, and I give a quick thanks. "That's fine, I'm more than happy to drive out. Even if that means a ferry into France. We've missed having you here, especially your Gran."

I feel bad for even calling. "I'm in San Francisco right now, Gramps."

"Oh," there's disappointment heavy in his tone now. "This is you calling to say you won't be here then?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Something came up that I need to deal with," I summarize the best way I can.

"I understand. Harry updated us a week ago."

I had to think about who Harry is again. "Your rugby friend?"

"Yeah, him. Give me a second, I'm heading outside," I listen to Gramps stomp around their house a bit, hearing the door slide open and closed with the sounds of traffic around him. "Sorry, I didn't want your Gran to hear the rest of this. Her heart hasn't been what it used to be. She was really looking forward to having you around the house, even if it was just for a week."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. This is extremely important though; I'm upset I'm not there."

I take a bite of the sandwich as Gramps takes a moment before speaking again. "He told us about your uncle. I'm so sorry, honey."

"Wait," I hold myself back from crying to the empathy in his voice. "Is Harry not a rugby friend of yours then?"

"No, he's part of the House as much as you are. He'd visit to check in as instructed from time to time," Gramps admits. "Who cares about who he is or isn't, I hadn't seen him since your last visit anyway until a week ago. We didn't know your uncle that well, but we are mourning your loss. Is there anything we can do to help you and your brother?"

A tear landed on my sandwich, so I set it down and wipe my face of them with the back of my hand. "No, we're okay, thank you though," I tried to sound reassuring saying as much.

There's a pause before he grunts, "Lying about it does no one any good, Sadie. You can talk with me about it."

I sigh, considering if I should just talk it out or not. Not here, I decided to grab my sandwich and drink and leave a fifty on the table to pay and tip before leaving the diner. I explain what we've been told of so far concerning Uncle Amos, surprisingly keeping myself together as he keeps quiet to hear everything I'm spilling.

By the time I finished my sandwich, I'd told Gramps about what I'm doing in California. How I strongly believe my uncle is still alive, it's just a matter of finding where he is hiding. The first stop is Camp Jupiter, because we still haven't had contact with the Roman camp since.

"Sounds risky," he points out immediately.

"It is," I clear my throat. "But I need to do this. I need to know what happened, Gramps."

"I know," Gramps exhales. "If that idiot is still alive and well, you make sure to slug him good for me. Tell him to stop making me regret handing over guardianship, it's getting ridiculous at this point."

"The last thing I'll be thinking about is hitting my uncle when I see him," I give a nervous laugh in response.

"Oh, I know Sadie, it can wait until you feel comfortable doing so. Or hell, I'll do it, just update me when you see him." Gramps chuckles a bit after saying so. "Just stay safe, you're the last piece of your mother we have left."

I kick a small rock to that. There's still Carter, but I'm sure they think of him more as our Dad than our Mum. "I'll be careful. I'll be in London for my birthday, how about that?"

"There's no rush sweetheart, though we would love that. I know you have your priorities, if it pushes into or past your birthday, we have another birthday to look forward to." Gramps coughs and clears his throat. "Besides, it means I have another reason to threaten that brat of an uncle of yours."

"Okay, I gotta go. Love you, Gramps. Tell Gram I love her too."

"Will do, love you too." The silence that followed reminded me of the void of loneliness again.

"I was hoping for a break."

I jump into alarm, barely catching my phone before it dropped on the sidewalk. I immediately shove my cell phone into my jacket pocket as I take in the Chief Architect before me, giving quite an annoyed look to seeing me too.

"Nice catch, would be tragic if you destroyed it and couldn't update him, wouldn't it?"

I roll my eyes at that. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be sitting in Cairo pretending to work hard to fix shit?"

"Have you checked in with Cairo? I'm pretty sure they would tell you that I am there." Vika puffs on her cigar in annoyance. "I felt a godling around, was hoping it would be that arrogant Setian though."

"I'd rather see him over you two-hundred percent of the time, Menshikov."

She rolls her eyes this time, stomping her cigar out under her shoe. "I've been investigating our General's disappearance, if you have to know. As far as I understand, it sounds like you were planning to start doing the same thing."

"Carter promoted Whittaker to General of Armies, for your information."

Vika waves this away. "I refuse to recognize her as anything, to be honest."

"I can call Carter right now and tell him you are not even doing your job," I threaten.

"Yes, so he can ask why you are in California as well?" Vika suddenly grips my right arm, dragging me into the alleyway nearby.

I try to remove her grip, but she just pushes her fingers into my arm further. "Let go of me!" I scream out.

"Shut up, Kane," is the angry response I get, turning down another alleyway.

She pushes me against a concrete building, her hand still on my arm as she steps closer. "Why would you threaten me when I've been a month into investigating the same thing you are just now starting? Are you that much or an idiot, or is it something you inherited from your father?"

"What?" I process that for a second more. "Carter scryed you two weeks ago for an update on Cairo's progress."

"Yes, and I lied." Vika lets go of her grip, taking a step back from me. "If you were smart, you'd want to hear the information I've gathered so far. What good will it do for either of us if you rat us both out to Pharaoh?"

"Why are you so interested in my uncle's disappearance?"

"It's a Setian making deals with other pantheons that suddenly disappeared. It's everyone's problem even if they think it's not. I want to know if a war is destined or not between us. Kyra wants to know what happened to her cousin."

"Kyra?"

"She isn't here," Vika supplies fast. "But she is aware that I'm digging around. I was just handed valuable information from that demigod that had stabbed your brother that Whittaker failed to mention. Seems like an important detail, even for her case to claim Rome the enemy."

She flicks her hand and a small cheap camera is in her other hand. Vika hands me it and decides she needs another cigar, standing against the opposing building as I go to start the camera up. Pulling the pictures up, I look away from the first image to the sight of a donkey laying in a pool of blood. Vika's gaze narrows to my reaction in a highly judgmental way.

I force myself to scroll past the first image, seeing words painted against the walls. Seems like different languages. But how would someone know so many different ways to threaten someone? Let alone the hieroglyphics that clearly show distaste for the House of Life.

"That was left behind in the house they allowed your uncle and company to stay in, the same night they left the camp. Whittaker failed to mention that they were leaving the camp before being interrogated-"

"The absorbed deity asking about Iskandar's apprentice?"

Vika pauses, taking me in again before exhaling smoke. "You were given Melissa's entire report?"

"No, but I saw it," I hesitate to explain. "I saw a man in a purple toga with a khopesh and gold hieroglyphs around him. I told Uncle Amos about it; he said it was probably an absorbed Egyptian god. He also said that he doubted Iskandar had an apprentice."

"Whittaker knows his name to be Theo. Our little demigod friend told me that he is a senator in their ranks. For the moment, untouchable for questioning unless he can have solid proof that he had anything to do with any of this." Vika pauses, eyes still on me. "You had a vision concerning all of this?"

"Yeah," I sheepishly answer, turning the camera off. "A goddess was warning one of our initiates of her sister too. Amos thinks it was someone named Astarte."

"Amos knew, how long before he disappeared?" Vika's interest seems heightened.

"About a year."

Vika nods, seemingly in approval. "He would be stupid to not listen. Especially after everything your mother saw ended up happening…" The Russian stomps out this cigar now, taking a decent amount of her attention on it with her foot this time. "The chances that we'll find your uncle alive got that much higher, Sadie." She explains as her eyes settle on me again. "I'm late meeting with Teal. I recommend coming with."

"Recommend?" I question as she grabs the camera from me. "Why do I feel like that's a lie?"

Vika huffs at that as she tossed the camera into the duat. "Are you not your own person yet, Sadie? Or do you still require your hand to be held through everything?" She eyes me for a moment. "The only deal I forced on you is to not mention to your brother that you are here if you give me the same respect. You can do whatever else, I don't care."

I watch her continue down the alleyway to process that she meant exactly what she said. Do I go with? She did just give me proof of how far she's dug in so far. And it makes sense to stick around and see what else she uncovers, wouldn't it? It wouldn't make sense to go backward in progress toward finding my uncle, even if it means having to deal with Menshikov of all people.

-Vika Menshikov-

Sadie had followed me right to the Sixtieth Nome. I knew she would, she's not stupid enough to not follow the strongest lead that I practically gave her. I open the door and wait for her to pick up her pace upon realizing I was waiting on her.

Closing the door behind me, I notice Kurtz approaching, but surprised to see I have an additional guest. "Um, hello Sadie. It's been a little while," he addresses fast.

Sadie immediately seems confused. "Wait, are we in your nome?"

"This is the Sixtieth Nome, yes," Sebastian answers as he faces me, seeming worried now. "Why-?"

"It would appear that his niece has resorted to snooping around," I answer quickly as I go to pass the Nome Leader. "I felt it best she stays around us rather than potentially get into trouble on her own."

Sebastian's sigh reflects his annoyance on the matter. "What if she tells Pharaoh?"

"We've already discussed that, right?" I turn to Sadie.

"I'm not saying anything," she clarifies quickly.

Sebastian is still not enthused. "In turn, we're not telling her brother that she's not in London." I continue to explain the matter before opening the door to his dining room.

Teal is sitting at the table, seeming slightly annoyed by the other guest in the room. I cannot blame her, crossing my arms as I glare down at him giving his stupid grin again upon meeting for the fiftieth time. "Why is it, Starr, that every time I start working, you are around to stick your nose right into the shit?"

"We both know why that is, Menshikov, and I know that we both don't want to discuss that in front of the kids." Floyd takes a swig of the brown liquor in his hands. "I brought drinks this time. Does that appease you somewhat?"

My right eye twitches in annoyance. "Normally it would not, but today, I could go for a strong vodka."

He grabs a bottle from the table and tosses it at me. I catch it and inspect the label before giving an approved snort. "I hope you considered bringing juice for the actual child attending this meeting." I step away from the door to pull a chair out next to Teal.

The entire room has their gaze on Sadie, and she is realizing that her relative isn't very happy about seeing her here. I tsk and gesture for Sadie to sit in the chair I am standing behind. She hesitates to do as instructed, and I go to sit a chair away from Teal.

"Why are you not in London?" Kyra immediately turns to scold her.

I pop the cap open on the bottle, wave off Floyd's offer for a glass, and take a sip. "I'm looking for Uncle Amos," Sadie protests. "I know he's alive, Kyra."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to approve of you sneaking off." Kyra glares in clear disapproval.

"Then what are you doing?" I snort at the quick turnaround from the girl. "You made it sound like you were giving up when you sat with Carter and I."

Kyra gives an annoyed tsk at that. "Just because I wasn't able to find anything on my cousin doesn't mean I gave up, Sadie. Especially since your father hasn't made it blatantly known yet if Amos is dead or not."

"He didn't act up when Desjardins died, why do you think Dad would act up this time?" Sadie questions.

"What does Desjardins have to do with any of this?" Kurtz questions immediately before Kyra could snap back.

"Apparently he was like a dad to Dad and Uncle Amos," Sadie answers easily, immediately alarming Starr and Teal.

"Who told you that?" I ask out of mere curiosity amongst the stunned expressions at the table.

"Francis Sabat told Carter about him being a secret admirer of my grandmother," Sadie huffs as she takes in the expressions at the table. "It's in the journals he was writing in, I guess."

"Well, that kind of explains a lot now," Kurtz speaks out from the dazed look on his face. "I doubt that Julius knew that though."

"He did, as much as I do," Kyra admits. "The only one that doesn't is Amos."

"I'm here to inform you that he does know about it," I speak up. "He is just choosing to act ignorant on the matter."

"Anyway," Sebastian is deciding to get a grip on this discussion before it derails even further. "If your uncle is in fact with late relatives, we strongly believe your father would have made it known by now, Sadie."

Sadie crosses her arms over her chest. "Dad isn't able to do much other than his duties as Osiris."

"Yeah, he's one with Osiris," Floyd points out. "He can control certain things above ground, plants blooming, harvests, the Nile suddenly flooding if he wanted. Or just simply express his annoyance, we know he can send messages to some degree to his children." Floyd raises his right eyebrow to ask her to test him on that information.

"If Amos is gone," Kyra quickly grabs Sadie's attention again, "it would mean that someone within Camp Jupiter had attacked them. I know that Julius would have said something to Carter if that was the case. Carter wouldn't be sitting on the fence on how to approach Rome as we speak, he would have wanted to declare war by now."

Sadie processes that and nods in agreement. "So, Uncle Amos is alive then."

"Maybe, kid," Floyd corrects, much to Kyra's annoyance. "I'm just being real on this, sorry."

I summon the camera and hand it to Kyra before taking another drink from the bottle. Kyra hesitates but grabs it from the table before looking through it. "What is this?"

"Grace says he found the housing he got them looking like this the day they were supposed to do negotiations," I explain. "He seemed annoyed that neither of them approached him and had instead left, but he understood if they couldn't trust him after walking into that."

"This Grace being your Roman contact that Teal mentioned?" Floyd asks.

I nod and watch Kyra turn the camera off, not even offering for anyone else to see it. "Mel didn't mention this in her report."

"Which is rather intriguing when you consider that would be solid evidence to go to war with the Romans, wouldn't you agree?" I ask her.

I see despair hiding in her gaze, but she nods to my point. "Do you think it's enough to question her further?"

Sebastian seems tense now, odd considering he also believes that Whittaker may be lying. "What were the images?" He asks.

"Threats painted on the walls," I summarize. Honestly, it's quite disturbing to look at, even for me. I'd immediately leave as well upon seeing it. It further validated my trust in the demigod knowing how angry he is with the idea that someone did it.

"Do you believe that Mel did it?" Kyra asks me directly, and I can tell the hurt is still in her gaze. She's been against the idea that Mel would do anything to her cousin, but I can tell she is starting to consider the thought despite how much it pains her.

I lean back in the chair, "I don't know. But I would like for Sadie to explain her vision."

Kyra quickly turns to her now. "What is Vika talking about?"

Sadie gulps to the stare she is receiving but explains what she had seen. As it had for me, the others in the room seem confused. "So, Mel is no longer a suspect?" Sebastian asks for clarification.

"I wouldn't take her off the hot plate yet," I speak up. "She still withheld information that was important on the matter."

"Amos knew," Kyra's voice is filled with hope now, that just makes me feel worse on the matter. "He could be just hiding for now."

I don't have it in me to speak on that. I've done so much digging around to only find heartbreak. I don't have the energy in me anymore, and the further I dip my hands into this, the more I fear we'll just find a very dead Kane. Floyd glances my way, and I know he feels the same dread. I just don't have it in me to destroy their hope, maybe I'm hoping that I'm wrong.

"But where?" Sebastian asks now, surprisingly a question that has yet to be asked yet. "You'd think he would have shown himself if he's still in San Francisco, it's been over a month."

"Has anyone asked Set?" Sadie pipes in.

I listen barely to them discussing addressing the god of chaos on the issue. But I had already tried that, and he didn't accept my summons. Could be him telling a Menshikov to fuck off, fair considering my brother's treatment last time. Could be him keeping busy with the foolish host of his. But I am fearing he is deep in the duat, looking to claw his way back up to speak on the subject just as much as we want him to.

I take a long drink this time, doing my best to halt myself from showing what I'm thinking to the members of this meeting. Because despite everything I fear has happened, I still want to help them get answers. I would have stopped once I saw those pictures Grace took. But I know he needs answers as well, a kid that respects Amos for extending a hand rather than a weapon toward him. I can't help but respect that.

I place the bottle down and clear my head of the negativity. "Does anyone know anything about Iskandar having an apprentice?"

Sebastian gestures that I have a point. Kyra shakes her head, turning to Floyd. He shakes his head as well, eyes on me. "I take it you have no idea either, Menshikov?"

"I barely interacted with him, it was my father that did most of the work he asked," I clarify. "Iskandar was always busy; I cannot imagine the idea of him having the time to teach anyone anything."

"Didn't he adopt Zia?" Kyra asks.

"Yeah," Sadie answers, "but she was mostly just training with the other initiates from what she explained to Carter."

"What if we just ask him?" Floyd speaks up, earning everyone's attention again. "He's not busy anymore, the man is dead and probably relaxing for once. Why ask anyone else?"

Though the man annoys me on sight, he tends to make decent points. "I've never made that trip, but I can attempt it," I volunteer. "That should leave both Kurtz and Teal to think where Kane might be hiding."

"I'll keep my ears and eyes open in the bar. There's a chance that if he is hiding, he could end up walking in. He knows it's safe," Floyd nods towards me, reminding me that he had indeed protected Amos from his father at one point.

"And you," Kyra turns to her relative now. "I'm dropping you off at your grandparents. I'm sure you worried them enough as it is."

Sadie protests this, of course. I stand from the table, thank Kurtz again for allowing us into his Nome, and make my way outside. Floyd had followed shortly behind. "I wanted to thank you for helping them out," he starts as I light my last cigar. "I can tell you are dreading what you'll find, but I know they appreciate the support."

"It's the only way to find the truth at this point," I growl in annoyance at it. "I need to know exactly who our enemy is. Attacking all of Rome's demigods is a foolish mistake."

Floyd snorts at that. "Vika, I know you are hesitating because you respect Amos. Otherwise, you would be acting just like this Whittaker girl is."

"I threatened the very kid that has been my contact. He had stabbed Pharaoh, and our Chief Lector was adamant the fault wasn't his." I puff on the cigar and exhale. "The fact that he wants answers and has been cooperating with me, I trust the brat."

Starr nods in understanding. "I'm here because Jabari reached me." My eyes narrow at him now, and he raises his hands for me to wait. "He's just being a concerned parent."

"Of all times, he picks to do so when he's dead?" I snarl at the thought of it.

"He told me that the Osirian has been peaceful. We can cross that off." Floyd swallows as he takes in the anger on my face. "This isn't another Rua, I thought it would put your mind at ease somewhat."

"Tell Jabari to fuck off the next time you see him. Not another Rua? It already is! I've been working in secret in search of yet another missing host of Set." I stop myself, holding back tears, and puff on the cigar again to try and calm myself. "Oh, but thank the gods it's not another sacrifice to Horus, it really put my mind at ease. Especially it coming from Jabari-fucking-Kane of all people." I storm off towards the river, wanting to leave as soon as I can now.

"I'm sorry Vika!" Floyd yells but chooses to go back inside rather than follow.

I summon my boat, wiping my face with my left hand before hopping in. I peer over and see Sadie Kane running toward me, waving her hands as she approaches. I immediately consider dipping into the duat, not wanting to deal with anyone else further. Blin, I calm myself knowing if I don't hear her out, it could be yet another mistake.

"I want to come with you!" Sadie spits out as she reaches me, stopping on the side of the boat to catch her breath.

"You should be spending your Spring Break in London with friends," I remind her yet again. "I'm far from being a friend of yours, Sadie Kane."

"Yeah, whatever," she clears her throat to finally catch her breath. "I've made the trip you're about to take."

Yebat'.

"I want to find my uncle. Please, let me help."

The look on her face kills me. I don't want to bring her, no matter how helpful she might prove to be. I don't want to be the reason she finds out her uncle has passed on. Why would I want to inflict that on someone else when I've dealt with that pain myself?

The truth is, she has already snuck off to try and dig for information on her own. She's lucky I caught her doing so. The chances of her still searching after I tell her to fuck off as well? And what will be the chances that anyone that cares finds her again before she ends up hurt?

"Hop in," I hate that I even say it.

"Thank you," Sadie says as she climbs aboard.

"We'll see," I turn to my demon to hand orders.