-Sadie Kane-

It's been silent since I dismissed Carter as I had. Which I needed anyway, the space gave me time to register that I didn't want to dismiss my older brother like I had, but his attitude on the matter validated it. Who does he think he is telling me what to do?

Caroline had decided to sit next to me, breaking the five minutes I had to myself. I peer at her and see her glance back at me. "You okay?"

"Annoyed," I answer briefly.

She nods, a small understanding smile on her face. "You know he's just scared, right? You both lost another family member. He doesn't want to lose you too, just is terrible at expressing it like his father."

I inhale and nod as I process what she is saying to be more than likely true. "Mum told me that Dad wasn't exactly helpful when you approached him."

She chuckles a bit at that. "Yeah, but I'm accustomed to him being hard-headed. The amount of arguing Julius and I get into might shock you some. But I know he means well, and I know he's worried about his little brother."

I nod in understanding that, I already processed Dad's burst of emotion earlier. But still… "Why are they like this? Why don't they just say it? They look like complete jerks otherwise."

"I like to think of it as communication is too much for them," Caroline says rather easily. "Your father didn't grow up in a family that communicates verbally. And voicing your opinion that differs meant risking any safety they did have at home. Your grandfather, Sadie, is an asshole. The Per Ankh didn't make your dad the way he is, his father did."

I sigh in annoyance at it all, but we stay silent for a moment. Until Vika finally decides to approach after her pacing of the boat. The determination in her eyes makes me concerned she will say she wants to go to New York and abandon searching for Uncle Amos because my brother insists we come back. Preserve any chance she has at keeping the position she has with Per Ankh.

So I was stunned when she asked, "What do you know about Astarte and Anat?" Snapping her fingers in front of my face to make sure I was paying attention to the question she just angrily asked me.

I apologized quickly and explained that I had seen Astarte asking for help to stop her sister, in which Uncle Amos filled in the blank that her name was Anat for me at the time. "He said they were in the Duat, that Set had bullied them."

A click of the Russian's tongue stops me. "No, Astarte and Anat attacked us, and Set defended his host sending them back to the Duat. Worse, your vision implies that Anat is back to defend her consort's banishment into the Duat again. Litsemer."

I can't help but be confused, about to ask, but she reads it off of me before I can. "We went to Abydos to find your brother's ba a year ago. You recall the statuette he gave you?" I nod, recalling the hawk figure that Uncle Amos insists was rushed and judged himself for it, but for binding Carter to it, it did its job. "Was impressed he pulled it off," Vika adds. "We went to leave, and instead were ambushed by Anat, her sister joined after."

"Why?"

"They felt Set was trapped having Amos as his host," Vika answers easily. "Ironic, all things considered. They felt that Amos was holding the Red Lord back from his destiny for the throne."

I blink as I process that, inhaling as it settles in. "What? They expected him to fight us? What about the Red Pyramid-"

Vika dismisses this quickly with a wave of her hand. "They knew he wouldn't, so they wanted to free Set to find a new host to fulfill their want for that version of Set. Instead, were slapped down by Set's own hand for testing it. Fools perhaps never met the version of Set that upholds his role as protector it seems."

I'm reminded of what Jaz told me. That Set had stayed beside my uncle while he was recovering in the Pennsylvania Nome. Because helping fend off Jacobi and Kwai wasn't enough for him, it's pretty clear Set considered himself my uncle's bodyguard.

Why hadn't Uncle Amos told Carter and me about this? I thought he promised Carter that he would stop withholding things from him. That was a lie, as I processed that he had asked me to keep the vision I told him about between us. Which I had, until I caved one night and told Carter some of it out of concern about our uncle visiting Camp Jupiter.

"I'm more surprised that they're not celebrating his death," Vika sneers at the thought of it. "More of them have been harassing. Serqet, Ash, I'm sure there's more, those are just the ones he told me about."

"Why didn't he tell us?" I ask.

Vika pauses, taking me in as her expression softens. "He didn't want anyone to worry over it. He hardly told me about it, to be honest, but I already knew it was an issue. I doubt he would have wanted you two to know it was happening."

I close my eyes and sigh. The same old song and dance again. Why did he just refuse to ask for help from any of us? Annoying.

"Carter was never Amos' Horus," Vika speaks, and I open my eyes to see she seems to have fixed her expression to the normal cold look in her eyes. "Set learned that the hard way as he was trying to possess. It's why it was never a full possession he managed, because to Amos you both were his to protect. His Ra, in a sense. The part of Set he thought was buried in the sand long ago was staring him back."

Caroline decides to get up and see what the other bas are up to rather than be part of this conversation between Vika and I. Menshikov watches her leave before landing her eyes on me again. "Remember when you broke into our nome? Set helping you with your brother to get out?"

"How do you kno-"

"The report back from the magicians Vlad sent after you," Vika rolls her eyes as if I'm annoying her for even asking. "You two don't know, but you helped me realize what had been staring me in the face. Amos had tried to warn us, but it was quickly dismissed by the fact he showed interest in following Set's Path. I ripped Vladimir from his title as a Menshikov with the evidence he had lying around. He hadn't taken it well, of course, but I was able to fend him off. They had to report to me when they came back."

I guess I never really would have thought to ask. I always figured she was placed in her brother's position as Nome Leader after his death. This answers a lot. Despite the cold disposition she makes sure to have most of the time, it's clear she felt some kind of loyalty to us despite scowling the whole time. Or maybe guilt over her brother siding with the giant chaos snake?

"Back on point," She scoffs at the fact that she had to explain something to derail her talking point. "A part of Amos affected Set, he had to help you two get out of Russia. A sign that assured me that if Amos did crack and host the god again, that it wasn't going to be for power."

"But to protect us?" There's that sharp pain in my chest to saying it. He had turned to the god for help when the Per Ankh walked away from their Chief Lector in an effort to give us more time with a plan we weren't even sure would work. Friedrich…

"Those gods are unhappy that he buried the version they know of him. Set proved he doesn't care and would much rather protect the host that put him back in the old role he once knew." Vika gives a shaky breath, clearly trying to hold back emotions. "We lost that, in his death. Who is to say if Set will emerge back and wish to uphold those ideals, or turn back to his old barbaric ways."

I slump at the implication of that. The next time I see Set again, it could be to fight all over again. I'll have to question if he's scheming or not, and I just learned to start trusting him to a degree after everything he had done. Unfair, if I am to be truthful on the matter.

"I think I know where Anat is," Vika breaks the silence, earning my gaze on her again. "Unfortunately, we won't be able to do anything about it now."

I can't help but give an annoyed look at that. "We could tell Carter-"

"I'd much rather verify before accusing," Vika shoots down immediately.

Okay, fair enough, though I feel like we are a bit pressed on time for that. "I kind of figured you would have wanted to tell me we are heading back to New York. Try and preserve your position of Chief Architect."

Vika's eyes narrow at that. "I'm not much of an architect, if your brother decides he can fill my position with someone better suited, he can have at it. My highest priority is finding your uncle."

"You're really that loyal?"

"I want to scold him."

I smirk at her quick response back. Vika instead directed her attention to her brother Yev clearing his throat as he approached. "Lady Smith says we are almost to the goddess' residence. But she didn't want to disturb the conversation the two of you were having."

"Good, the sooner we can do this the better," Vika responds as she approaches the front of her boat where Mariano and Caroline are.

I take the moment to brace myself before standing again. We're beaching the boat, but there's a dusty wooden cabin nearby. Right, some goddess named Trivia, and Uncle Amos might be here as well. I ready myself with the idea that I might have to fight off the Roman deity.

You better be ready for that, Isis. I hope saying as much is drawing her attention to what is happening here. She hadn't been very talkative with me, a year exactly, after I dismissed her upset over Amos having Carter's ren.

Yev and Mariano already decided they plan to sit on the boat in case we need a fast getaway from the area. "Besides, your Setian doesn't know us yet. Not to say that I don't plan to get to meet, just might be bad timing for it now," Rua clarifies quickly.

"I don't imagine you or Yev can assist us anyway," Vika dismisses quickly before jumping off the side of her boat and landing firmly on the ground beneath.

I smile towards the couple as Caroline goes to drift off the boat as well. "I imagine you three will get along."

Menshikov has a doubtful look in his eyes, but his boyfriend grins at the encouragement. "Be safe Lady Kane."

I nod and unboard the boat. Vika cleared her throat to confirm I was unboarded and went straight towards this cabin's front door. I feared she would tear the door down, but relax my shoulders as she had simply knocked on said door.

It took a bit before the door opened. A woman with bright blue eyes and brown hair curtaining her face slips out and closes the door behind her. She takes us in for a moment, seeming annoyed that we knocked at all.

"Trivia?" Caroline breaks the awkward silence. "We're here for Amos."

"The Egyptian magician that I found befriending Chimeras?" She speaks, her tone sounding rather tense.

Caroline gives an awkward chuckle before continuing. "That seems to be a common theme with hosts of Set, but yes."

"And who are you three to him?" She demands arms crossed over her chest.

"Allies," Vika's answer is tense, glaring the goddess down as she returns the glare.

"Friends," Caroline quickly corrects. "Sadie is his niece."

The goddess takes me in for a moment. "I am his niece," I sound my annoyance at the judgment. I'm over people questioning the white girl and her relation to the rest of her family who have much darker skin tones at this point.

She raises her hand to my defensiveness on the subject. "No judgment here, girl. But I do recall hearing your name in passing. You were assisting the demigods, were you not?"

I nod, but Vika verbally confirms for the goddess that I had helped with the issue with Gaea. Trivia takes us in for a moment before relaxing some. "Your friend doesn't remember anything of his past life. I've been trying with potions, however, it seems to only have helped some."

"Some is better than not at all," Vika huffs out in annoyance.

"What he does remember is of death and destruction. He'd rather not talk about it, and seems scarred by it," Trivia lands her eyes on me. "You mentioned he was a host of Set?"

Oh no, it's happening all over again. It feels cruel that all he can remember is what he's felt guilty over for years since. Will he even remember me? Or any of us, for that matter? "Can I see him?" I can't help but ask.

Trivia's face scrunches up as if about to tell me no. But she opens the door and gestures us in. I enter first because I just want to see my uncle again, even if he doesn't know me. I pause as I take in my uncle, in ba form, taking us in from a wooden table with a book in front of him. The fear in his eyes immediately makes my heart sink.

"Uncle Amos?" I start, hoping there's something that registers.

Confusion was the answer on his face, and it felt more like he had stabbed me in the heart instead. Caroline inhales sharply before speaking to him now. "Wep, is it?"

He seemed to understand that much, but caution was still on his face. "What are you reading this time?" She asks.

I watch him immediately raise his defenses to the question instead. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"We're friends," I answer quickly. "We want to bring you back home. Your brother misses you."

Uncle Amos immediately disliked the sound of that. "I'm not going back. There's only death."

Vika's jaw clenches, but she turns on her heels and exits the cabin instead of saying anything. Caroline and I take each other in after seeing her do as much, before facing Amos again. "We wouldn't consider taking you back to Makan al Hamrah," Caroline answers him.

Wait, that's Zia's village. My eyes widen as I face Caroline, who dares a step closer. "I am so sorry that is all you remember. Please, let us help you, there's so much more you are missing."

He shakes his head. "If I don't remember it, then perhaps there's a reason for it?"

I take a step back, and Caroline immediately turns to give me a pleading look to stay. "Sadie can help you remember if you are willing to take her help."

"I don't need anyone's help, I want to be left alone," another verbal slap in the face.

Trivia clears her throat from behind me, earning my attention. "He's rather stubborn, I had to force him to take the potion to remember anything. If you can help him as you say, I can assist with whatever you need him to do."

Caroline seems uneasy about that. "I'm not sure how I feel about forcing him to remember."

"He's lucky I found him, Egyptians do not belong in our Underworld," Trivia scolds.

Caroline faces me again. "Do you need anything other than his ren?"

I take in what she is asking of me. Taking a breath, I shake my head. "You offering that information? Are you sure he'll be happy about it?"

"Like I said, he doesn't know I have it. So my cards are on the table if you can help him, Sadie."

-Kyra Teal-

I thought the Per Ankh's future queen having left would ease my nerves some. But it's now two in the morning, and I'm still wide awake. I've caught myself questioning if this is what it's been like in Cousin Amos' shoes. Anxious of what the next day was going to bring to the point that sleep was out of the question entirely. Having brushed most of it off when we were kids as him just having an active brain, I want to apologize now just for the assumption.

I was surprised when the door was knocked on to the room Palacios had offered. I move away from the window I had posted myself at to observe the Amazon, I take a moment to process it to be Maria with a bottle of some maroon-colored liquid and two glasses. "It's uvachado, I make it myself."

Understanding that she intends to share, I allow her to enter. "How did you know I would be awake?"

She sets everything in her hands on the table before facing me. "Cariño, I am not the head rehket of the Per Ankh for nothing." She proceeds to pour the drink into the two glasses as I turn the lamp on to help her some. "Uvachado is made from grapes, honey, and our Peruvian Pisco. You let the grapes sit for two weeks after you remove the seeds, and then add the honey and pisco and sit for a few more days. Helps give you energy, give you joy."

She hands me a glass of the drink, and I can just smell the sweetness of it as I take it from her. "It's clear you've had a hard month, and I need to ask you some questions."

I sit at the table, and she sits on the opposite end, taking a sip and nodding in approval. I cave to take a sip, immediately enjoying the liquor before cradling it back in my hands. "Amos' death has been a hard hit on the Per Ankh," I start.

"I'm too old to care about the Per Ankh," Maria starts. "I can tell you're barely holding yourself together, Teal."

I take another sip before placing the glass on the table. "I lost another brother, Maria." Because in the end, Vika was right, we were beyond just being cousins. I grew up around Julius and Amos. The constant being told I don't belong in Kane matters from people who knew my parents and grandfather hurts even more. Being told I shouldn't care or get involved just because they would much rather disregard any relation to them.

"I know," Maria responds. "But you should know, he is with loved ones. He wouldn't want you to keep hanging on. He wouldn't let Julius go, undeserved guilt maybe. I doubt he would want you to experience the same thing too."

I bite my tongue from saying anything about Amos having not entered Aaru yet. She doesn't need to know, and I acknowledge she is trying to be comforting. She takes another sip of her drink. "What do I need to know about Kurtz's situation?"

I inhale sharply at that, taking in the misery in her gaze. "I'm not sure I understand the question, Maria."

"The impacts to his head are obviously someone using the hilt of their khopesh against his skull. Who is using that kind of aggression on an Animal Charmer that keeps to himself?"

I swallow that information down. She processes that, "Sorry, but I'm asking so I can better prepare for anyone that decides to sniff around here. Like Rashid."

I nod in understanding her point. "Pharaoh has decided he will go to war with the Roman camp for answers on what happened to his uncle. Mellissa Whittaker has been promoted to General and showed up in the Sixtieth Nome. Sebastian refused to cooperate in her want to turn the nome into a base. Trevor Starr and Max Hunter found him in a sealed shed on the roof and brought him to Seattle. He's been having seizures since they found him."

Maria frowns at that but decides to chug down the rest of her glass. "There's a reason this is my favorite drink, Kyra," she explains as she pours herself another glass.

"I don't intend to get anyone here involved," I explain quickly.

"Your intention is good enough, Teal," Maria is quick to scorn me. "I've lived almost three hundred years now and have managed to stay a neutral party throughout. That will not suddenly change now."

"And if Palacios-"

"He knows better than to turn on me," Maria smirks at me before taking a sip of her drink. "There's a hidden bonus being a caregiver for as long as I have, Kyra. Most members of the Per Ankh know better, but I won't halt whatever happens if someone dares to challenge it."

I take a sip of the drink as she finishes hers. "In the meantime, consider this a sanctuary for the time being. A vacation from the Per Ankh, if you dare to believe it."

"Did anyone challenge you for healing Amos?" I ask, telling myself I'm prepared for the hard truth on the matter.

"Not at all, not directly anyway," Maria answers rather easily. "Though, I will state that Vladimir Menshikov was testing what he could get away with. Russian assassin didn't have it in him to say it to my face directly, however."

I nod in understanding, watching her stand up now. "You can keep the rest, consider it a gift. You can use it more, I reckon. I will keep you posted on Kurtz's progress."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

"Brayan is not a very good host, someone has to properly welcome our guests to Peru." She hesitates a moment at the table. "You should know, I wasn't sure if your cousin was saveable. Especially after he tried to take his life. But posing faith seems enough to rebuild another, no matter how helpless it seems."

I swallow that down. "I didn't know he tried to kill himself."

"I know, Michel demanded it remain between us. Took some angry prying from Michel, but he told us he thought he was purging the evil out." She sighs after saying as much. "Hard to change a man that thinks that something like blood of all things is also evil. However," her right-hand lands on my left shoulder to keep my attention on her, "The rest of us have seen the good in his actions over the years since. While I'm certain he still believed he was evil incarnate."

I inhale to reign in my emotions. "I'm sure Jabari played his part in it, not just the Red Lord."

She pats my shoulder before leaving, taking her glass with her. She nods at me before closing the door silently behind her. I sigh and drink the rest of my glass as I peer out at the Amazon River again.