Aoife lay on her bed and stared up at the ceiling.

She had no idea how long it had been. The narrow slits of light that shone through closed shutters had crawled from one wall to the other and gone from buttery yellow to deep orange. The muffled noise of the Bazaar had quietened for a while and then grown again but Aoife did not care.

She had eyes only for the ceiling. It was pockmarked with burns, where careless potion makers had been too keen in their brewing. A collection of items lazily circled above her head, held in place with her twirling wand; today's Daily Seer, a few empty potion bottles and even a chipped mug. Even these barely had Aoife's attention. She was looking without seeing, her mind elsewhere. Even the throbbing in her side could not distract her.

It was never far from her mind anyway, but to have relived it like that. She had not been ready. Would she have ever been ready? That numbness had not left her but there were no tears. If only because she had no more tears left to give, the trails cold on her cheeks. The hurt had welled up in her heart again, a physical pain so intense it was almost overwhelming. A potions bottle lay empty beside her with just a few pink drops left at the bottom. Even drinking that hadn't compared.

There was a little hiss from alongside her. She glanced down to see her little three-legged teapot was leaning against her side, a little steam escaping the stubby spout. It was only mildly warm, and Aoife welcomed the sensation against her top.

There was a knock at the door. She ignored it. Whoever it was could feck off.

There was a brief delay and then another knock.

"Sod off!" She shouted, frightening the teapot but it quickly pressed against her again.

"Aoife?" Bill's voice was muffled by the door, "It's me."

"So? Does 'sod off' mean something different in England?"

"Aoife, open the door please."

She did not answer. She had turned her attention back to the swirling items above her.

The silence stretched out for so long that she thought he had gone, but no, "Aoife, I need to speak to you."

Aoife did not answer. She turned back to the swirling items above her and changed their direction with a flick of her wand. It was a simple spell, easy to do, easy to hold. Let him get bored and feck off. Something however, niggled at the back of her mind. She looked to the door with furrowed brow.

"Bill?" She called.

"Yes?"

"Do you have nothing better to do?"

"You can have all the time in the world," Came Bill's muffled voice, "But I am not leaving unless you tell me to. If you need me, then I'm here. If you want me to leave, then I will. All you have to do is ask."

It was on the tip of her tongue automatically, the command to make him leave. Instead, she found herself hesitating, the words caught in her throat. Despite the anger and despite the pain, she didn't want him to leave. She didn't want to be alone.

With a sigh, she pointed her wand at the door and let the various items drop to the floor around her; "Alohamora."

She wiped her face to hide the tears and then pushed the empty potions bottle beneath her bedsheets.

Bill pushed the door open cautiously, as if he was afraid of incoming missiles. There was nothing but concern in his features. His fingers drummed against folded arms.
"Aoife," He said, "Are you okay?"

"Fine," She sat up cross-legged in the bed, "Did you have fun with the weird old hermit? You didn't end up a frog then?"

"Thankfully not," He replied as he looked around the room. His eyes fell on the little brass teapot that was still standing protectively beside Aoife.

"Pity. Here, take the seat," Aoife gestured to it and waited for Bill to sit before carrying on, "Did he say much when I left?"

"No," He said a little too quickly.

"Class. So that was a complete waste of time then."

"Not at all!" Bill leant forward eagerly, "The Scholar was able to see the inscription in the tomb!"

Aoife raised an eyebrow, "I thought he didn't say anything after I left?"

Bill waved that away impatiently, "He got the message; that's what's important!"

He took out his wand and with a deep breath, he began to write in the air with swirling red writing;

"- from - depths, - the - lay,

Returned - the -, where - can - stray.

- the - of -, where - battle - won,

Where - cousins -, where - become -.

- shall - sleep, - blades - ready,

Until - eyes -, his - gaze -.

- Ra - watching, - walls - arise,

But - warned -, you - your -."

Aoife stared up at the simmering red letters and broke her gaze only to glance at Bill's excited face. She took a deep breath as the pain and fear of the last few hours were quickly overwhelmed with a fresh excitement. She pulled out her own wand and began to write over Bill's letters in the same shining writing, though her own words were blue.

"Taken from the depths, where the Darkness lay,

Returned by the brothers, where it cannot stray.

To the city of souls, where the battle was won,

Where the cousins collide, where two become one.

There shall it sleep, our blades ever ready,

Until Ra's eyes open, his aurum gaze steady.

Once Ra is watching, the walls shall arise,

But be warned intruders, you face your demise."

There was a long silence as both stared up unblinking up at the shimmering words.

Aoife licked her lips. It felt like a long time since she had taken a breath.

"Wow," Was all she could say.

"Wow," Bill agreed a little breathlessly.

"The City of Souls," Aoife repeated the words over and over, running them through her mind, "Our lost capital? Isetba?"

"That seems a pretty safe assumption," Bill nodded.

"Pretty cheery name," Aoife's eyes were still scanning the words, "I wonder what it means by cousins."

Bill shook his head in frustration, "I know I've heard the term before."

"And Ra's eyes? It sounds familiar, even to me."

Bill closed his own eyes, head tilting back to the ceiling as he massaged his temple, "Ra's eyes…Ra's eyes…I know Barcroft mentioned it. Do you remember? From training?"

Aoife snorted, "You think I ever listened to what Barcroft said in training?"

"He mentioned a book…" Bill's eyes shot open, "Of course! Do you have a copy of 'The Great Mysteries of the Kingdom' by Chadwick Sponge?"

Aoife screwed up her face in mock thought, "I think I do, it's over in my library." She gestured to a mountain of books piled haphazardly in the corner, "Take a look."

Bill gave her an incredulous look, pointed his wand at the pile and said, "Accio book!"

A thick leatherbound book burst out, sending volumes in every direction.

"Cheers for that," Aoife ducked as one such book flew over her head, "Remind me to kick your table over next time I'm at your place."

Bill snorted as he caught the book in his hands and began to flick through it. Aoife spent her time piling the debris back into the same corner with a wave of her wand.

"Here it is!" Bill turned the book around so that Aoife could read.

"The Aurum Gaze of Ra:

Little is known of this figure as there are only a few contemporary sources which mention it. Our primary source is from the writings of the ancient Greek traveller Ambrosia. She mentions a mighty statue in the desert of the sun god Ra, though uncharacteristically she made no note of its location. She mentions that the figure is hidden from muggle eyes by many powerful enchantments. Local wizards she spoke to had no knowledge of its purpose but elders recalled the 'Eyes of Ra' being part of the statue. These were described as golden wreaths with one having a great ruby in its centre and the other a sapphire. Alas their location had been lost long ago."

Aoife read the text again and then looked at Bill's excited face, "I always thought this was a terrible book."

His face collapsed into a frown instantly, "Don't you see though?"

"Of course I do Bill," She chuckled at his annoyance, happiness bubbling in the pit of her stomach. She jumped off the bed and began pacing around the room, "The statue of Ra is the key to the city."

"Exactly!" Bill nodded as he jumped up and paced with her, "Dumbledore said the ancient magical community tried to hide any evidence of the Five, right?"

"If the City of Souls was the capital, then they would have concealed it. It must overlook the city!"

"It must be how to reveal it! We find where this statue is-"

"-and we find the city!" Aoife finished as their pacing brought them together. Without even thinking, she threw herself around Bill, determined to share her happiness.

It was a long awkward moment before she realised what she had done and hurriedly pulled away. Bill was staring at her, his ears slightly pink. She could feel the burning sensation in her own cheeks. She hurriedly cleared her throat and ignored the raised eyebrow of the knight on the wall.

"So," She said as levelly as she could, "That's great and all. I can think of just one tiny dragon in the potion."

"What's that?" Said Bill with his own cough.

"The Golden Eyes of Ra? If they were taken thousands of years ago, they could be anywhere. They could be in any country in the world. They could be at the bottom of the Nile for all we know."

"Well," Bill leant against the door as if he were determined to stay as far away from Aoife as he could without standing outside, "The poem refers to the brothers, who we know are Asim and Ankhtifi. If they were responsible for hiding the city, then there's a good chance they took the eyes to protect them. They must be in their tombs."

"Brilliant, so that brings us back to our dragon problem, does it? I don't suppose the old nutter fancies a go at it? Does he have a potion or something that could turn it into a mouse?" Aoife flopped back on the bed. She felt something rustle between her shoulders and twisted her hand in to find today's edition of the Seer. On the front page was a black and white image of two large men; one was turning away from the camera while the other was reaching out to grab it. Beneath it was a headline:
"VOLEZ DENY INTIMIDATION"

Aoife scanned the article, where Curse Breakers from other banks were accusing Volez of threatening them with curses and hexes if they did not abandon their research. She snorted in derision and handed it to Bill.

He scanned through the headline as well, "Volez being accused of intimidation?"

"I've no idea where they get this reputation, honestly."

Bill began flicking through the paper. At a random page, his eyes widened in shock. He jumped away from the door with a cry. Aoife flinched at the sound and her teapot fled with a frightened squeal of steam.

"Aoife!" Bill looked as if he had just seen a ghost. He glanced up to her then back to the paper again, "I don't believe it. Surely not."

He tossed the paper back to her. Aoife caught it and scanned the page. It was an older wizard with long and fashionable swept back hair.

"Prodis Pavone? The Opera Singer?" Aoife raised an eyebrow at Bill's wild look, "I didn't know he was your type, though the long hair should have been a giveaway."

"Look a bit closer please," Bill was tapping his arm impatiently.

With a sigh, Aoife went back to the photo. He was wearing ornate dress robes and was waving with an indulgent smile at the cameras. He was definitely at some sort of social event, judging from the equally posh people who were moving behind him. Hanging from his neck was a golden-wreathed eye with what looked like a large ruby in the centre.

Aoife looked up, "You are taking the piss."

"It has to be it," Bill said eagerly, "Pavone has the biggest private collection in Egypt! If anyone is going to have it, it would be him!"

"But where did he get it?" Aoife was frowning. Something was wrong, quite literally, with the picture, "I don't know, Bill."

"It's at least worth checking," He looked at her pleadingly, "Come on?"

Aoife considered it and then sighed in defeat, "Alright, but if he starts singing, I'm jumping out the nearest window and leaving you to your fate."

It would have been much simpler if Prodis Pavone had lived in a nice wee side street off the Grand Bazaar but no, he was much too famous and rich for somewhere so mundane. Instead, he lived out in a well-to-do area known simply as 'The Oasis'. It was to there that Aoife and Bill apparated with a pop. As ever, Aoife hid the pain in her side, not difficult to do as her companion was much too distracted taking in the view.

The Oasis was well named; at it's centre was a large pool of what looked like blue glass, lined with palm trees and flanked on all sides by massive dunes. Dotted all around the lake were the homes of the rich and the powerful of Egyptian magical society, each larger and more ostentatious than the last. The one before them happened to be the largest and most ostentatious of the lot.

Hidden as it was from prying muggle eyes, the home had given absolutely no consideration to the statute of secrecy whatsoever. The high walls were topped with purple flowers which swayed in the wind and hummed in harmony with one another while the gate was a pair of solid gold harps.

Aoife whistled, "Makes you wonder why that smelly hermit doesn't up sticks and move here."

"I don't think this is really his scene," Bill said as he approached the gates. He tapped them with his wand, and they opened with two long and loud notes.

"Really? How could he not enjoy a musical gate?"

The manor itself was at the end of a long garden path. Sheers moved freely through the air around them, cutting hedges into the shapes of dragons, chimera and hippogriffs. Around the edges of the path were tall marble statues of muscled men who scratched their noses, ran their hands through flowing hair or yawned. Luridly coloured peacocks strutted amongst brightly coloured flowerbeds, their plumes on full display.

The house in contrast looked a bit boring, even with the bright pink smoke rising from its chimneys. The lion doorknockers livened it up by roaring as the doors opened. Aoife couldn't help but laugh at Bill's offended look as he leapt back in surprise.

The grand hall was quite the sight. It was like an ancient Egyptian palace designed by someone who had only a vague idea of what an Egyptian palace looked like; all tall marble columns, mosaiced floors and elaborate chandeliers. There were artefacts perched on stools and hanging on every wall which gave it the air of a particularly tacky museum.

"Some gaff," Aoife looked in particular to the fountain in the centre of the room with moving mermaid around the central figure which she recognised as Pavone's own, "Modest too."

"He is the most popular opera singer in the magical world," Bill said though his expression betrayed his true thoughts, "And he is known to be a bit…extravagant."

"Just a bit," She was watching the fountain Pavone flex its muscles, "But at least he's kept it tasteful."

"I take it you're not a fan?"

Aoife snorted, "Pauline Barnsdale thought he sounded like an angel. I always thought he sounded like an elephant had stood on his foot."

"Aaaaaaaaah!" Came an operatic greeting from the main staircase grand enough to rival Hogwarts' own. Pavone was skipping down the stairs, wearing a purple robe so thick it made him look like a sheep, "Gli intrepidi avventurieri! Welcome! Benvenuta!"

"Mr Pavone," Bill straightened up, his tone suddenly polite and formal, "It's nice to meet you."

"Ah, you are welcome, prego, prego," Pavone glided straight past Bill's outstretched hand as if he were one of the preening statues and approached Aoife. He took her hand in his and before she could react, he had brought it to his lips. Aoife was immediately struck by the scent of perfume so powerful it was like being hit by a frying pan, "Molto bello. And what is your name?"

Aoife pulled her hand back in revulsion, "Amanda. Amanda Huginkiss."

"Ahh, senorita Huginkiss, it is so wonderful that you could visit my humble little boudoir." He had still not backed away.

"Oh, it's a real pleasure alright," She replied, "I can safely say I've never been anywhere so…unique in my life."

"It has been a labour of love, Bellissima. Certainly not without its challenges."

"I can only imagine. I mean, how you restrained yourself to only one fountain of yourself, I'll never know."

"Indeed, indeed, but I simply had to have my unicorns," He waved a hand in front of his tanned, wizened face as if even discussing it were too much, "You know of course, I can trace my ancestry back to the halcyon days of Rome!"

"So, you designed your home to look like Egypt?"

Bill coughed to get Pavone's attention for which Aoife was incredibly grateful. It gave her the chance to take a step back while he wasn't looking and mock gag behind his back, "Thank you for seeing us at such short notice."

He waved his hand dismissively, "Non ti preoccupare. As soon as I heard that you knew my dear Tobias, well I simply had to have you visit! You know we go back a very long way, he and I. Why, just the other day," He stopped suddenly, "Oh, but that would be teasing, haha."

He gave a high-pitched laugh. Aoife looked at Bill with disbelief.

"Well, anyway," Bill cleared his throat again, "There's one item in particular we'd like to see. You were wearing it in the Daily Seer yesterday."

"Ah yes, the Grand Opera Gala Dinner. A ghastly business you know, so very tedious. So many people with no talent and nothing better to do than to preen and purvey themselves for the cameras."

"I'm sure you felt completely out of place," Aoife muttered under her breath.

"It was the necklace you were wearing, Mr Pavone. We were wondering if we may take a look at it."

"Oh but of course! My, but it is popular!" He clicked his fingers impatiently, "It is the latest addition to my collection!"

"And where did you get it?" Aoife had folded her arms and was frowning. The sooner she was out of this place, the better she would feel. How could it feel like a smell was sticking to the back of her throat?

"Ah, ah," Pavone waved his finger playfully in her face, "My dear Amanda. That would be telling and no fun at all!"

"Try me."

Perhaps sensing the rising devilment in his companion, Bill intervened, "We would only like to take a quick look at it, just to see if it matches an artefact we are looking for."

Pavone threw his head back and laughed again, "You Curse Breakers and your strange requests, you're all the same."

At that moment a winged tray flew down from the upper level of the hall. It fluttered down in front of Pavone who gestured it towards Bill and Aoife.

There it was.

Aoife felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked down at the Eye of Ra. It was not solid gold but what looked like hundreds of fine strands weaved into a braid and formed in the distinctive shape. It could not have been made by muggle smiths, that much was certain. In its centre and held in place with more gold was a large and circular ruby, cloudless and perfect. There were inscriptions around the jewel, hieroglyphs she recognised from the tombs of both Ankhtifi and Asim. Even from here, she could feel a tingle of ancient magic from the necklance.

She looked to Bill and saw the same excitement in his eyes. It had to be genuine. It was too intricate and too fine a work to be a forgery. All thoughts and questions of how and where the wizard had found it were suddenly irrelevant.

"May I hold it?" Bill asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Not quite yet, my man," Pavone seemed to be revelling in their reactions, "I have a few more guests who wish to see my centrepiece." The house filled with the two-tones of the harp gates, "Ah! And here they are!"

The front doors opened with that same lion-like roar. Two figures entered, one with long, black hair tied back and the other with a blonde crew-cut and a moustache. Aoife recognised them instantly from the temple of Asim. Ulysses Birch and Antonius Vorona.

There was a long and tense silence.

"Gentlemen!" Pavone began but he got no further.

Birch had pulled his wand out from his black robes and pointed it at Bill, "Everte Statum!"

He was caught in the stomach and thrown back into the staircase with a cry of pain. Aoife had her wand out in a heartbeat. Her heart already thumping.

"Septum Sempra!" Vorona had been slower on the draw than Birch, he had just given her enough time to arm herself.

"Protego!" The spell rebounded up and hit the chandelier above them. It fell to the ground with a deafening crash, glass fragments whipping in all directions like shrapnel. Aoife leapt behind the fountain and felt the shards whistling above her. Where was Bill? She couldn't see him.

Please let him be okay. Not again.

Pavone let out a high-pitched scream and fled for the stairs. Vorona cast a hex at his back which Aoife barely managed to block as he disappeared.

"Accio!" Birch was pointing his wand at the hovering tray. It jerked in the air, trying to keep itself steady and resist but the spell was too strong. It slowly drew closer to the man.

Aoife pointed her wand at Birch but there came an accented cry of "Mobiliarbus!" from Vorona. She had to dive back behind cover as a large piece of bronze armour bounced off the fountain edge.

"Don't throw the artefacts, you absolute fecking heathen!" She shouted despite herself, "You call yourself a Curse Breaker?"

Her answer was a shadow passing over her head. He had thrown one of the plinths at her. It shattered against the back wall, its precious tiara falling to the ground.

Aoife sighed as a plan of action formed in her head. A stupid plan, but then when had her plans ever been anything but?

She pointed her wand at the ceiling, closed her eyes and shouted, "Illuminatos!"

Even through her eyelids, she saw the bright burst of light and heard the deafening boom. It might have worked, it might not. She had no way of knowing without wasting precious seconds to look. With only a moment to steady herself, Aoife leapt out from her cover. Birch was in front of her, eyes covered by his free hand. Vorona was to the side, eyes open. She pointed her wand at him, "Accio!"

Vorona brought his wand up to block his body but that was not where she was aiming. She was instead pointing at the rug at his feet. It shot out from beneath him and sent him crashing to the ground.

She turned and ran straight at Birch.

He had been blinded. He held his wand steady but his other hand was covering his eyes. He heard her approach though as he called, "Stupefy!"

She felt the heat of the spell just pass her cheek as she sprinted for the tray. She reached out, the Eye was just beyond her fingertips.

"Expulso!"

The tray exploded in front of her. Aoife was thrown back with a cry of pain, her fingers hot and stinging. The eye fell to the ground. Vorona was climbing to his feet, his wand pointed at her.

A spell missed him by inches. He flinched and spun to face Bill. He had recovered his wand and the two locked in a close-range duel, wielding their wands like swords.

Trying to ignore the sight of her charred fingers, Aoife looked around frantically for the eye. Where had it fallen? Please don't let that fecking troll have destroyed it.

There! A glimmer of light caught her eye. It had landed on the shoulder of the fountain Pavone, who was still checking out his own bulging arms despite the chaos around him.

"Reducto!" Birch pointed it at the statue. Its shoulder burst apart and sent the Eye tumbling down into the water.

Birch was closer. He was running for it, casting hexes that Aoife could only barely block. She felt panic rising up in her gut, the fear that he would get the Eye first, that their only lead would be gone.

He was at the fountain. He took his eyes off her for a split-second to reach in and grab it. Aoife took her chance, using the only spell she could think of.

"Impervious!"

She pointed her wand at the fountain. The water burst out like a ruptured pipe. Birch gave a gurgled cry as he was swept away into the corner of the room. There came more cries off to the side as Bill and Vorona were both knocked off their feet.

"Colloshoo!" Aoife pointed at herself and felt her trainers stick to the ground as the tidal wave washed over her. It hit her like a charging rhino but she did not fall, her shoes clinging stubbornly to the mosaic tiles. She quickly unstuck herself and rushed to the fountain. There was the Eye, lying at the bottom of the bone-dry fountain.

There was no time to dwell on this moment. She grabbed it, jumped over the still prone form of Vorona. She grabbed Bill, turned on the spot and disappeared, leaving a flooded mess behind in Pavone's immaculate hall.