Chapter Fourteen

Voices

CARTER POV

I poured over Ancient texts and modern history books, trying to make sense of what was happening. It was becoming increasingly difficult each passing day. I couldn't let my sister know. She doesn't need to worry anymore than she already does, but I'm messed up. She always acted like I was a genius, which to be fair, isn't too far from the truth. Now, though, I felt like a schizophrenic. I had at least a thousand voices talking to me all the time- various gods and goddesses. They all tried to talk louder than the others, drowning every other voice out. Eventually, I couldn't even hear distinct phrases anymore. It was just a constant buzz growing louder and louder. I clutched the side of my head and yelled in frustration. Suddenly everything stopped. Dead silence swept over the room. I blinked, listening to my own breath for a moment. I looked around. My study was beginning to dissolve. Black vapor rose steadily through cracks in the floor, like chimney smoke on a snowy day.

"Carter."

I recognized the voice. I swiveled, staring into the face of a Jackal. A very familiar Jackal.

"Anubis? What's going on?

"You're hearing voices, aren't you?" he asked, dodging around my question. I hated Ancient deities. They were always doing that. Sometimes I wish I could be told something straight up without having to solve a riddle. I swallowed, his charcoal eyes seemingly staring into my soul.

"Yeah, why? Why me?"

Anubis laughed.

"Seriously? That's a pretty basic answer. You're the most powerful magician in existence right now, Carter. You have the power to destroy the world."

I hated having this much responsibility. Not that I shy away from responsibility, it's just that I always receive apocalyptic levels of responsibility.

"What about Percy? I've never felt a more powerful life force than when I'm around him. Or Annabeth, she's definitely smarter than me."

"They're not magicians, now are they, Carter. I think you're getting too caught up in the logistics. Perhaps Annabeth is smarter. Perhaps Percy is a more powerful warrior. But you're more powerful than both of them-in a different way. You can harness a special power that neither of them would be able to handle – all because of your bloodline. Because of your studies. Everyone will have their decisions they have to make that will shape the way things turn out, but you will have the most important one. And I'm pretty sure Percy has already made his. I can feel him."

I felt like I had been punched. If Anubis could feel someone, it was never a good sign.

"Percy is. . ." I started

Anubis' silence spoke for him. This couldn't be happening. I had a vision. Percy was an important part of this. He couldn't be gone. As I pondered this, something else struck me. Years ago, when Sadie and I saving the world, our friend Walt died. Anubis was dying as well. Anubis took Walt's body as a host so that both of them could live. Now, neither of them can separate or they'll both die. But here Anubis was, in his godly form.

"Anubis, what happened to Walt? I thought you had to coexist with him?"

Anubis gave me a glance as though we were sharing an inside joke.

"The rules have kind of flown out the window, haven't they? Death has always been powerful. Ever since that beast appeared, I've been testing the limits. Walt and I do not need each other. At least not right now."

Anubis started to say something else, but a shrill whisper cut him off. I clutched my head. Anubis cursed.

"I must go, Carter. You'll figure everything out. Give Sadie my best. She hasn't seen me in a while. Tell her I'm sorry"

Without another word, he disappeared, leaving me on the ground, trying to fight off the voices.

MAGNUS POV

I couldn't process what the Hell had just happened. I thought that maybe Loki was still playing tricks on us, but I knew better. This was real life. I blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. Percy had rescued his daughter only to fall off the cliff in front of a fiery tree. I was at a loss for words, so I just said the first one that came to mind.

"Fuck!" I pounded my fist in the ground and looked over at Alex. She seemed visibly shaken. I grabbed her hand in a comforting gesture and she gazed at me with a thankful expression. She hated having her emotions her (other than anger) but over the years, she had become a lot more revealing to me. Her eyes also told me the same thing I had been thinking. That man in black was Surtr. I had felt that presence before and there was hardly anything else like it. I shuddered, picking Alex up and hurrying in the direction of Sophia. She was sobbing into the ground, uncontrollably.

"Daddy!" she shrieked. I tried to calm her down.

"Sophia, shh, it's okay, it's oaky,"

"I want my Daddy!" She swatted at my hands. I twitched. She was raising my anxiety levels. I wasn't great dealing with kids yet. I peered over the edge, making sure he had really fallen all the way. A log seemed to form in my chest. I looked to Alex for help.

"Sophia, honey, calm down. I know you miss him already. It's okay. Want us to take you to Mommy for now?"

Sophia sobbed louder.

"Daddy!" She writhed about on the ground. I gripped my sword. I wasn't really liking her having a mental breakdown in the middle of a place like this. Muspelheim smelled like sulfur and that's all there really is to say about that. It made me gag, and I didn't like it. Sophia wriggled around a while longer before she tired herself out and fell asleep. I gingerly picked her up. She looked so pitiful, I wanted to cry right along with her.

"Where do we go?" I asked Alex. She pointed in the distance.

"How about an old shack that's destined to have an eccentric old man that will give us details on our journey?"

I sighed. "That sounds about right."

So we began our trek to the shelter, our hearts beating mournfully amongst the flames.