-Vika Menshikov-

At least Set seems to be enjoying himself. But as I glance over at Sadie Kane, I realize we're both getting exhausted fast. We're not going to get very far here at this rate. The traps that Amos has set up ended up being very versatile to Set's benefit. And without a whole lot of free space, blood and the smell of burning are starting to overwhelm the space just as much.

Sadie dispels a dust devil that spawned from the trap she had been shoved into, but I can tell her use of Divine Words is wearing her out. Her hair is a mess, parts of it burned but the rest is disheveled. I'm certain I don't look any better at this rate.

"Aw, are the pair of you too tired to continue this confrontation?" Set taunts, his loud and arrogant laugh filling the silence that followed. "Possessing Amos was a harder feat. The Per Ankh has really fallen into boredom."

That ignited something in Sadie, her gaze gaining an angry edge in them. Well, at least she's not willing to roll over just yet. I'll need that perseverance here.

I raise an eyebrow to watch Sadie angrily slam the gramophone with her right hand. It's enough to boot it up, a very old beat taking over the space. Quickly followed with an angry bellow. He sends a blast of air her way, but she ducks behind the table.

I realize there's a protective barrier that the god's abilities strike, not harming the machine that is now playing duck sounds. Oh, it's a trap Amos made for the god. Sadie must have noticed sooner than I did.

And to Set's credit, this song is horrendous. His screams of bloody murder are justified as we get to hear someone talk as if they are a duck themselves now. Credit to Amos, I wasn't putting that much into the statement he had made to his niece earlier.

"Turn that shit off now! I'll spare you with a quick death!" Set screams, trying to blast the machine again to be further agitated that it was still unaffected.

"Bragging about possessing my uncle will not make me a sudden ally," Sadie screams at him over the wind blowing past her.

Set is now entirely focused on Sadie and this machine, moving from his spot by the wall in an attempt to attack at a different angle. I take the opportunity to move through the traps. I can now see the box just a little further away.

Meanwhile, the host of Isis seems to enjoy taunting the god of chaos. She's moved to the opposite side of the table from him to keep safe from the lightning he sent her way. But now, having had the time to puzzle out the chorus, is chiming in to add to the god's further upset.

"I will rip your skin from your bones if you don't turn it off now!"

"Killing me won't help you turn it off," Sadie chides quickly. "I can tell Uncle Amos set it like that on purpose."

"Or," Set manages to get a grab on Sadie's right arm now, "I can kill both of you and endure it having played once."

Sadie's response is to spit in his face. I jump over what I can only assume is the fortieth sand trap so far and watch in horror as Set grips Sadie by the neck. Do I help her and grab his attention briefly, or do I follow through with her intentions to be the distraction we need to get this far into the room?

Sadie pokes her wand into his right eye, and the god screams as he slams her back into the table now. Okay, she's still buying time, I push on towards this box. There's only so much time left, the music is slowly dying down now.

I make it to the box and realize just in time for the music to stop. Set gives off a chuckle as he maintains his grip on Sadie's neck. The poor girl is stuck trying to grip his hand for air at this point.

"You've both failed, congratulations!"

Only for the music beat to abruptly start again. It takes the god a second to register what is going on before scowling, releasing Sadie from his grip. "What?! I swear kid, the next time I see you…"

Sadie catches her breath as she laughs in response. "Hey, remember that time you told him to claim that Disco is better than Jazz?"

I roll my eyes immediately, I remember that. Mount Olympus, and demanding answers from Kane while he chose to keep protecting the initiates and demigods from my rage. After all, they had just stabbed our Pharaoh, I was well within my right to be furious. Amos persuaded them all to keep going, but not before telling them that nonsense. But it seemed to be what triggered Set to take over immediately after.

It coming back to bite the god of chaos in the ass is pretty funny. If Amos was going to pass into Aaru, he was at least going to annoy the god back in some way. On repeat at that.

I pause as I realize there's a shelf on the table the box is resting on top of. Peering down to see what is sitting there, my eyes widen to the red clay staring me back. He crafted a sha shabti. No wonder he didn't mention Set being here, he did the unthinkable to do it.

I quickly grab the shabti, and turn on my heels to face Set's glare that answers it all for me. "You mentioned an arrangement between the two of you? He made you a shabti to float above the banishment of the duat so long as you protect this space?"

"How are you still unable to see the lengths someone will go when desperate?" Set scorns, approaching me slowly. He's trying to be intimidating, but it's not exactly working when the singer is talking about "shaking tail feathers."

"I know enough," I reassure, but threaten the god's new host if he steps any closer. "Amos didn't mention you being here. I can destroy it and banish you back to the depths. I was not required to spare you, Red Lord."

"Stop!" Sadie yells out.

I peer over to see her leaning against the table as she finally turns off that ridiculous song. "What exactly is it that my uncle has been keeping here?"

I have no intention of answering that, but hold a breath as Set peers at her for a moment. Don't tell her…

"What is it that Caesarean wants so badly?"

Set looks at me for a second, and I feel we both understand what is in the box and that Sadie was left out. "Tax reports," Set answers, and I let out a breath. "Oh, the humanity if the IRS could see it all now. All that money robbed from them!"

Sadie isn't content with that answer. Fair, what kind of magician would be heavily guarding silly normal paperwork like that? But I nod towards the god as reassurance I will keep with his lie. Anything is better than his niece being curious.

"Right, like my uncle of all people would be heavily protecting government paperwork?" Sadie judges quickly. "Let alone taxes of all things."

"Well, you know he's not very normal-world savvy," Set is keeping his eyes on the host of Isis now. "He owes quite a bit on property taxes on that warehouse your mansion is sitting on. He told me, Set, no one can know of my deepest embarrassment. I asked him, What? Financial ruin? Are you not a magician that can manipulate lesser minds, Kane? You know what he said?"

Set pauses for a moment to give her time to answer, which is just Sadie glaring at him. "If Julius found out that I don't understand how properties work, I'll never hear the end of it! So, I swore up and down I would protect his biggest secret." Set spreads his hands out to remind us briefly of the fact that we are in a trap-riddled space. "And here we are. And congratulations Sadie Kane, you now know your uncle doesn't understand taxes."

An insane lie to toss before Sadie Kane. "To be fair, I never understood it either," I add as I grab the box.

"Well, you are nobility, and that is all beneath you," Set points out, but his eyes read annoyance that I would dare grab the box.

"Why would he ask for Vika to grab this then?" Sadie asks.

"I promised I'd pay it off before your brother finds out," I answer easily, licking my lips as I face Set now. "All things considered; I'd be willing to have you join me to protect this intel until I can get it resolved."

"Why would Caesarion want my uncle's property taxes?" Sadie, finally landing on a good question.

Set gestures at her as if its mind-blowing that she doesn't understand any of this yet. "Woman, have you never heard of blackmail? Your family name will be in ruin."

The diviner rolls her eyes now, clearly not believing any of this. I toss the shabti for Sadie to catch. "Hold on to that, should keep Set in check that you are in possession of his newest host. Lest you blast more of that Disco Duck music." I can barely keep myself from smirking as I say it.

"I'm going to request that one of you destroy the whole setup before we leave here." Set grumbles. "That is flat out torture to anyone that hears it."

"I don't know," Sadie replies as she puts the shabti in her jacket pocket. "You're the one that challenged him to find it if you ask me."

"I second that, it's staying."

Set grumbles further about how all of this is really getting unfair. "So, where to next? Sadie asks me, noting some of her hair had been scorched off.

"We need to leave here first, then plan from there." I take Set in before asking, "Amos said it was safe above us?"

Set scrunches his nose but nods. "About as safe as it can get for the time being."

Great, I reach out to grab Sadie's arm and pull us out to be above the duat. I'm then stumped as I take in the place seems familiar around us. "First Nome?" Sadie asks, seeming surprised.

I guess it would make sense, he was here for a long period of time before it was swallowed by that goddess over a year ago. However, I know we are in the extended infirmary. Extended because it was taking up the space that was at one point the Chief Lector Advisor's space within the First Nome.

So he did remember. I sigh as I process the effort I thought I had put in to brush off that he had forgotten to add it to his blueprint he had been working on before handing it over to me. Perhaps he was hoping to hide the exact positioning of this box. Counting on me to not point it out.

I take in a deep breath, noting I missed my chance to call him out for it as well. "Come," I instruct Sadie to follow me out of the room.

-Sadie Kane-

All things considered; the First Nome is close to being completed from the looks of it. They didn't really need Vika here after all. We are stopped by a man that was specifically looking for Vika, I suppose someone told him she was back.

"Horrible timing, Lady Menshikov," his French accent seems thicker than Desjardins' was. "I had the courtyard completed as a gift, but alas it is now ruined."

Vika raises an eyebrow at him now. "I do not understand Dupont. I only commissioned you for a statue. Were you not able to complete the project?"

"Oh no! The sandstone fountain is complete," he is quick to explain. "Come, I can only show you now. It's tragic you were unable to see it before they all died."

Weird, and it doesn't help that Vika seems confused on what the issue is then. But we follow him outside to the courtyard. There's a large fountain in the middle of the area, and decaying flowerbeds circling the perimeter. Magicians are currently ripping the flowers out, and making sure the roots are coming with before disposing of them.

"I didn't ask you to landscape," is Vika's first response to the scene.

Dupont clasps his hands together, turning to face the Chief Architect. "Like I had said, it was meant as a gift. I had transplanted Desjardins' garden here weeks ago, and they had been thriving since. Well, until last night. I wish I could understand what was different now that they all died like this."

That is a bit wild. Also, Michel Desjardins had a garden? I kind of want to laugh about it, but manage to keep it to myself.

Vika seems like she is suddenly hit with a thought. "Has Julius Kane ever threatened his garden before?"

Dupont gives a confused look to that. "He had a few times, mostly when they were butting heads of course. Said he would set his garden on fire if he didn't cooperate. None of us ever believed he would stoop that low, however."

Vika nods as she watches them rip another flower out of the bed. "That would be the difference, Dupont."

"How so?"

I think I understand what she is implying. "We just brought Uncle Amos to the houses."

Floyd Starr had mentioned this before. That Dad could control certain things above ground. He clearly didn't like something that happened last night, and took it out on Desjardins' flowers, I guess. Probably trying to keep calm to whatever Amos had told him.

I'm sure if I say it out loud, Vika would quickly say something about property taxes again. I'm not that big of an idiot, it's clearly whatever is in the box she is currently carrying with her.

It's just property taxes. I freeze as I recognize Set's voice in my head now.

Set… Isis warns quickly. You don't want to make an enemy of me right now.

When is that different from any other day? Set questions quickly. I have no intention of taking over your host, niece. Just having some fun.

"Lady Kane?" Dupont snaps me back into reality, I shake my head to make the fear that was creeping in disappear. "Sorry, I had asked you what you thought of the fountain? Do you trust Pharaoh would love it?"

I turn to take in the fountain feature he seems to be pretty fond of. The waterworks seem to be operating just fine, being made to fan behind someone and land at the base of it to be recycled. Then I take a moment to process the face of the person in front of the water fan. Yevgeni Menshikov?

Okay, I move to see the other figure out of interest to see what had been installed in the middle of the First Nome of all places. Then register its Uncle Amos' face, a familiar looking dog to his left.

I face Vika, realizing she had asked for this water feature to be made. "What is this?"

Vika hesitates, taking it in herself. "It was supposed to be a feature to respect our alliance, Kane. But I suppose one could say it's now on controversial leadership."

She turns to Dupont, letting him know of her approval of his work. "I appreciate the offer to bring flowers here. I may replace it with more native plants instead. But for now, I need to contact someone."

Vika moves to what will be the throne room soon, resting the box on the steps rather carefully. "I'm going to scry Leonid for him to pick up. Then I believe it would be wise for us to be in San Fransisco. Watch the box, yes?"

I nod in understanding, watching her move to the new war room. I wait for what feels like two minutes before approaching the box now. Couldn't hurt to open it, right? If it turns out to be what they say it is, then no harm no foul in it.

Stop, Isis insists as I approach the steps. Touching that box could be the end of you.

Right… But also no one is saying what is so important in there. I inhale deeply and open the box anyway. Nothing crazy from the box upon doing so. I exhale and look inside.

It's one of those stupid hats the pharaohs would wear. Great, so Uncle Amos commissioned a crown for Carter? I don't understand the big deal here.

Sadie, Isis snaps, clearly enraged at this point. Close the box, now!

I instead go to lift it out of the box.

I'm no longer in the new throne room in Cairo. I'm outside of Cairo now, and freeze as I recognize the panic and chaos around me. Foolish Isis, you again reach for what you cannot have. My eyes go wide as I recognize the voice.

My heart is pounding in my chest as I see the Lord of Isfet peering down at me, snake eyes seeming thrilled by the thought. His large body is starting to encircle my space, and I realize I don't have any weapons on me, let alone Carter here.

"You are alone, and so very fragile too. Isis didn't protect you well enough, did she?"

"Why would my uncle have a crown that you are in?" I demand of him, doing my best to keep myself leveled, not show him any fear. But my hands are shaking, and I think he knows as much anyway.

"That pathetic human hosting Set?" Apophis chuckles to the question, tightening the space further. "I can show you if you want to know so badly."

The speed at which his body wraps around me is blinding. I can barely breathe, but I'm trying my best to keep from screaming. This isn't just pressure against me now, it burns as if wrapped in chaos itself.

Foolish child, your curiosity will bring my rise, daughter of Cleopatra.

"I will not aid you!" That's not my voice, but I know I screamed it.

Then perhaps the son of Narmer will.

Panic rises in my chest, but I'm getting slightly confused now. Well then, a love interest of yours? His large red orbs took me in with amusement. Shall I torment him for you?

I suddenly was sitting upright in bed, back at home. I take a moment to catch my breath, relaxing my nerves some before getting up to splash water on my face. Wiping my face with the towel nearby, and I notice I am not myself at all. Aunt Caroline?

She is rattled, I can see it in her eyes, but she is quick to tell herself that she must have imagined it all. She cleans up some more and leaves for the library. She takes a moment at the entryway to see a younger Uncle Amos seeming to keep himself busy with a pile of texts and scrolls. A shabti on standby for anything else he may suddenly request of them next.

The crown in arm's reach. Caroline is glaring at it, and I'm sure she would love it if she could have things explode if she stared at it long enough.

"You are up early," Our facial muscles relax immediately as they make eye contact. She could probably melt under his gaze.

Except she's on edge some, having seen red tendrils snaking around the crown on the table. She immediately fears that it's trying to reach him, but feels she might be just hallucinating because he doesn't seem to notice it. She forces herself to sit at the chair opposite of where he is sitting. "I had a nightmare."

Being closer to him now, Caroline notes the bags under Amos' eyes. "What about?" He worries.

We sigh and wave his question off. "It appears you are having the same problem."

Uncle Amos smirks at that as he shifts a few of the books away. "No, just avoiding them as usual."

The hissing in the room seems to intensify, enough to make Caroline wince to it. But she notices that Amos doesn't seem to hear it. "We should consider putting this somewhere safe."

His head tilts to that in confusion but is quick to realize she is talking about the artifact that they had dug up a few days ago. "I thought we wanted to use it for research?"

Researching what had happened in Alexandria. But Caroline has a pit in her stomach that makes her think she has a pretty good idea of what had happened. She just can't bring herself to explain it to him. Can't explain the threat. Is he blind to it? Can he not hear it? She starts to shake her head, about to go crazy from it all.

His hands stopped the motion, brown eyes seriously worried as he took us in. "You know you can talk to me; I wouldn't judge you."

Caroline feels as if he had slipped a knife into her heart instead, closing her eyes. Refusing to cry in her frustration and terror. "Please," she can barely manage.

There's a sigh. Caroline opens her eyes to find she's brought unknown fear into his gaze now. "If you are insisting, then yes. Besides, I don't think we can gather much from it." His gaze shifts towards the crown resting on the table still. Frowning, I can tell he is starting to blame it for her weird behavior at this point. "Aging doesn't appear to have been kind to it."

Uncle Amos had then instructed his shabti to hide it rather than keep it on the table any longer. Caroline feels horrible for Amos having to have posed up an excuse for her, for having him worry. Though he seemed like he understood to some degree. He refuses to share what keeps him up on most nights. Why he hates closing his eyes.

There is a leap of hope, however, that things are done and over with. Up until the nightmares kept rolling in. Fear has a tighter grip now, watching over Amos sleeping. The tendrils of red are encompassing. Amos seems to be having problems breathing. Worse of all, the large snake orbs beamed in the darkness as if grinning knowingly at us.

Again, waking with another start. Dad and Mum are eating on the veranda. Amos joined later on in the morning. Though he had managed some sleep, it was obvious it wasn't of any peace.

"Amos, you really need to find something to calm that head of yours," Dad teases playfully.

He just snorts at him before chugging some coffee down. Dad and Mum take a moment to glance at each other. They're visiting for the week since their mother's passing because Dad is worried about what his brother will do if left to his own devices.

"I don't suppose finding the lost crown is helping much," Mum speaks. "Admittedly, it is exciting that the two of you even found it."

Both Amos and Caroline catch themselves blinking at Mum, waiting for whatever she is trying to say. Dad laughs within the two seconds of silence. "Look, I'm demanding the two of you go and watch a movie. If not, at least do something outside of the mansion and Egyptian magic for the day."

Amos snarls towards his brother on the matter. "We're just worried," Ruby interrupts before the fight can have a chance to start. "The two of you appear to be lacking rest."

Caroline likes the idea, a chance to ask him if he had noticed anything 'weird' with the crown personally. Vocalizing her support of the idea, Amos still hesitates. They had gotten lunch at the local café a few blocks away from the mansion and then proceeded to pick a movie at random to watch. It was a nice getaway, and it seemed he started to lighten up a bit more. Caroline's mood improved in spurts but quickly disappeared anytime a glimmer of red light would flash on her companion's face.

It's dusk now, and they are walking back to the mansion. "Caroline, I can't help but ask. What is it about the crown that scares you?"

We take a moment to take him in. Caroline quickly concludes he is still clueless from his eyes. She inhales sharply and shrugs at the question. "It was a nightmare, Amos, I'm certain it was nothing of significance."

He doesn't believe in the lie she had quickly posed up. "I've never seen you that shaken up."

She bites her lip in nervousness. How should I even approach my question? She's almost lost in her thoughts if it wasn't for his gentle grip on her right hand to anchor her back.

"It feels misplaced," she hesitates to start. "Almost as if the wrong energy would make it shatter."

Amos considers her words for a moment. "It is older than Iskandar-"

Shaking our head, "No, not because of age."

The brown gaze on us tells us he doesn't understand. But Caroline can't bring herself to make him fear it as much as she is either. "It's just a vibe like you get when you meet people." She tries to dismiss, but wonders if he shared her feelings on it.

He nods, but it's clear he doesn't share her thoughts on it. "Okay, you hate the headpiece. We won't tamper with it."

She's happy to know he'll take her fear seriously, even with little to no information. But it hadn't lessened the nightmare that came that night either. Amos was pulling another all-nighter, glancing through some more books on Roman and Egyptian relations. Caroline is pretty sure the tendrils are more concentrated than they have been the past two days. Red orbs stared hungrily at him.

"Stop!"

Does the disgraced daughter want to share some words? His eyes turn on us now.

"Let him go," she pleas.

Ah, it's not as easy as you think-

"Take me instead," she continues. That makes the giant snake tilt his head some. "You're hunting for a host, two at once is taking you a lot of effort. Just take me instead, let him go."

His laugh is haunting and sends a chill down my spine, Caroline is more surprised Amos hadn't heard it. You'll willingly host me to save him then?

"Yes," her voice doesn't shake this time, confident in her decision.

Apophis considers this for a moment. You are almost correct, Cleopatra spawn. I'm only going for one host, not the both of you.

Caroline swallows that information down, processing the manipulation. Explains why Amos hadn't felt his presence within the crown. But she doesn't intend on backing out now, wanting to solidify any chance she has to protect Amos from it all.

-Vika Menshikov-

Leonid will be here any moment, taking careful notes of where I would like him to store this box upon entering the Eighteenth Nome with it. I take a second to yawn and straighten up before entering the throne room again. "Alright, Kane, we'll be moving soon enough."

I freeze at the sight of the steps. Sadie Kane is crumpled on the floor, the god of chaos trying to soothe her. Her eyes are rolled up in her head, and she is whimpering but unresponsive to Set's words.

The last time I had seen this, Amos had ended up 'attacking' the First Nome, the day before leaving for New York again. Immediately, my anger is directed towards Set. My staff is immediately in my hands as I approach angrily.

Set looks up and is not happy with the sight. "Menshikov, get that hat back in the box."

What. I take a moment to see beyond the crumpled form of Sadie. The box is now open on the stairs, the royal crown having been taken out of it. Without another thought, I urgently grab the box to sit upright, shoving the damn thing back in. I use the locking mechanism on it and quickly place a locking spell on it for added measure.

"Why couldn't she just leave it alone?" I demand, but I fear I already know the answer. This is what Amos was concerned about.

Set ignores my words though, keeping a firm hand on Sadie to ensure she stays on her side. "She's not seeming to get out of it on her own," Set grumbles. "Isis is actually useless."

The god takes a moment to face me. "You're not going to attack me, are you?"

I think about this but decide to back off instead. Set nods and turns back to the girl who is shivering on the floor before him. Red smoke snakes from his hand, sinking into her clothes.

I hold a breath, but the whimpering stops and Sadie seems more relaxed before he retracts his energy. "What did you-?" I can't help but ask, but relieved he had been able to cease whatever was happening.

"I dug through her old memories and pushed a happier one forward for her," Set answers casually, as if that's just a normal day for him at this point. He backs off from her to let her lay on her back now. "She is currently in London, causing trouble with her friends there."

"So, you manipulated her thoughts?" I question. Except, I suppose for the better?

"Human minds are like clay in my hands," the god answers easily. "Isis is simply not willing to manipulate her hosts as much as I am."

I suppose that means it can be a good thing at times, like this. I swallow that down some. "Amos didn't say which god is in there."

Set scrunches his face up some to that. "Good, it's best you don't know."

There's silence between us for a solid minute. "Before he passed, I had him remember the first time he had met his nephew. It helped calm him some, at least from the pain of dying." The god's mood dips. "Couldn't save him from death, but I was at least able to help ease it some."

I clear my throat at that. "How long until his established impression on you disappears?"

Set snorts to the question. "So long as that shabti of his is still intact, never. My current state is imprinted on it. That's why I pushed for it in the first place." The god faces me now, and I can read the despair in his eyes. "That's why there's a clear difference between the Horus in that stupid sword and Carter. Different states of mind, different humans to lead us where we end up."

I take a moment to process this. Set didn't want to lose what he and Amos had managed. Asked him to make a shabti for him to inhabit, and probably told him he'd only use it to protect this stupid artifact. Asked him to do the unthinkable, but for the right reasons.

"The House is about to attack Camp Jupiter?" Set asks now.

Right, Sadie had mentioned that. "I'm planning to put a stop to that. But Leonid needs to get here first."

Set nods in understanding of that. "I can point out Caesarion."

Hmm, that could prove to be handy information to have. This Theo seems to have been playing a cat-and-mouse game with the Roman camp for some time now. He would try to make it hard to find him amongst the other demigods. He won't be able to hide himself from Set, however.

"If I agree to your assistance, you have to let me be the one to decide his fate," I start.

Set gives a look of disgust to that. "Can I still rip an arm off at least? Just one?"

"Absolutely not. I doubt Amos would be very happy you did as much."

The god rolls his eyes at that, but he pulls the shabti out of Sadie's jacket, tossing it over to me to catch. "I suppose it's better than nothing. A deal is a deal, Lady Menshikov."