-Floyd Starr-

The door rattled harshly, and I move my head to face it as I grumble. "It's not opening time yet, woman!" I can barely yell out.

"We have guests, you drunk idiot," Tabetha is quick to scorn. "Clean yourself up, and sober up more."

Great. In the struggle to sit up and rub my eyes, I end up knocking over a glass that apparently still had some leftover whiskey that now poured over my foot. Fuck, I'm absolutely hungover as I'm processing the fact that the bottle that was accompanying is empty from last night.

It had been a slow night, I chose to sneak a bottle off as Tabetha closed us up for the morning. I thought I had been sneaky in doing so, but I should know better than to think she doesn't have eyes on the back of her head. She's just far too nice to be tolerating my shitty choices at my old age.

My old friend's words have been haunting me for a month now since the news. The way he bared his teeth at me as if I was his enemy, when we both knew it was his own head. I mourned him like a child having to put down their first pet. Then tried to forget the words he said in a sad attempt to justify having to kill my mentor in cold blood.

The arrogant way he spoke about the prophecy spat at him years ago is deeply embedded in my brain. Having shown itself like an angry ex that's returning after years of no contact to spit in my face. Worse, at the cost of another Kane's blood spilt.

I should have kept a better ear to the ground. I should have stopped the kid from stepping foot in the camps. He was the one that had so much promise. The one that despite every horrible thing thrown against him, he was willing to still extend a hand to help. The one that I knew would actively change the Per Ankh for the better. All that faith burning in my chest to hearing he had been cut down by a Roman demigod.

Alcohol wasn't helping but fuel the pain of it, but in the moment it's enough to numb it out until the following morning. Breaking sobriety in guilty grief. We didn't just lose Amos Kane. We lost a force towards improvement. Just for him to be cut down, like his father had wanted long ago.

Foolish diplomat taken by Death

I rub my eyes to try and wake up, ignoring the fact that I'm running some of the dampness out as well. Letting out an annoyed sigh as I process the wooden door that is barely hanging on still. Pounding ache in my head is making it obvious the best choice right now is to continue sleeping.

"Not another Rua? It already is!" Vika's angry words remind me I don't deserve rest, not in a time like this. For all I know, it could be the Russian magician that chose to visit.

I stumble some and reach for the bedside table to maintain something for balance once on my feet. Did I really drink that whole bottle last night? I rub the bridge of my nose to relieve some of the pressure built up in my head before hesitating to take a step forward. Another, and I'm reassured my balance is back as I make my way to the door.

Now, like I said, I was expecting the White Steppe Spider and the anger she throws around in her words and stabs with in her green eyes. Or hell, a leap of faith to find it to be Amos Kane finally emerging from some place he had chosen to hide until things calmed down some. Not Lady Teal getting Kurtz comfortable in one of our extra rooms that Tabetha had led them to.

I cross my arms over my chest as I lean against the doorway. Kyra is seeming to calm Sebastian some, but he seems highly stressed about something. Tabetha is just keeping to herself, fluffing up a pillow and putting it under Kurtz's head. Hey, at least it appears he is healing after his encounter with Mel.

"Don't-"

"I have to," Kyra responds quickly. "You're safe here, just listen to them when they ask you to do something, alright?"

I swallow that down. Is anyone actually safe anymore? Can I even say that I can protect people? When I couldn't even go toe to toe with Friedrich? Or allowing the Per Ankh's late General pass on without much of a fight?

I'm back in reality when Kyra is listing off instructions for medication to Tabetha, who is absorbing all of the information up like a sponge. Sebastion is still trying to get a word in, but Teal is making sure he can't get much out before she turns on her heels. I step aside to allow her through the doorway.

"Don't let her leave. Not like this!" The Animal Charmer pleas as I watch Teal clearly making her way to leave the place as fast as she can.

I inhale and follow after her. The last thing we need is more recklessness from this family right now. She makes it to the door, but I use a Divine Word to lock the door closed before she can reach it. It's enough to draw her attention to me, green eyes seeming irritated by my audacity to get in her way now of all times. I nod in respect to that, but doesn't mean I won't still ask.

"What are you up to now, girly?"

The anger fades some, but now I can tell she is barely holding herself together to keep from melting into a sobbing mess. "Does it matter?" She can barely voice back.

I take a step closer, but she takes a step back as her back hits the door. I raise my hands as a show that I don't intend to attack her. "From what I've been hearing, you may need to lay low yourself," I explain my perspective in hopes she will talk some. "Rumors are circulating that you just left as the Peru Nome turned on their Nome Leader."

"That's fast," she mutters under her breath before sighing. "He attacked Maria."

I take a second to process what she meant by that. Palacios attacking the head healer of the Per Ankh? Let alone it being an outstanding member of his nome? Yeah, he would face mutiny for being so bold. "Then what are you in a rush for?"

She hesitates, and I can tell she really would rather not tell me. But caves, at least in a want to end this talk as soon as she can, or let me open the door for her again. "Sebastian told me that he believes Mel killed my cousin. They were talking about things that happened twenty years ago, and he thinks-" She stops to collect herself some. "He thinks Mel killed him because she didn't like the answer she got from him. About Caroline Smith's death. And pinned it on the Romans to wash her hands of it."

I frustratingly exhale to the sudden news, watching the combat magician's face to see that she seems to also believe in what Kurtz had to say. Probably more so the fact that Mel had tried to silence him prior. "So, you're looking to confront her?" I ask.

Kyra sighs, but licks her lips as the words are collecting along with the fury in her gaze. Vika and Kyra should get on rather well with that rage they seem to ooze out. "Cousin Amos trusted me, right? Showed it by giving me that stupid sword of Uncle's to keep safe for him. I'm wondering how he'd feel about what is happening since his passing. And if it's true… Why did I allow her to take his place as General of Armies?" A tear leaks from an enraged eye. "She's been questioning him since the Red Pyramid, it hadn't really mattered that much that he was possessed or not. I should never had trusted her. I don't know why he trusted her."

I lower my gaze, as it hurts to see this poor woman struggling with her emotions on this. I'm about to break if I keep eye contact, and I feel like I've been doing okay other than the drinking as of late. "What do you intend to do if I open that door?" I ask, still wanting to know.

"I'm taking the title of General of Armies. I'm going to prove that my cousin was right to trust me. I-I want to stand in his shoes and make the fucking Per Ankh accept the demigods even though it might kill them to do it." A pause. "I'm going to turn Narmer's Sword on the killer of Set's host."

I close my eyes and lift my head to open my eyes and take in the woman before me. She's allowed her anger to morph her. But for the second time in my life, it's a glorious sight to behold. I'm not really sure how these kids are managing this, wrath has always been an ugly beast. But when the anger is to fix something? It's still ugly, but by Thoth is it a shining beacon I can only hope others are seeing as much as I am.

I, while I don't know this Mel person all that well, am for the idea of stopping her actions. This war she is wanting to rage upon the Romans in an act of vengeance. I am unsure what deity has her back too, but it's not one that should be allowed to roam without a leash on it either. However…

I unlock the door with the wave of my hand. Kyra nodding in understanding to our silent agreement. "Just make certain, General, that you know for sure her reasons for her actions. Don't let one person sway you. I know your cousin would want to tell you as much if he was here. As to your intentions with Narmer's Sword, have at it. That stupid cycle needs to end, and I don't see a more fitting sign than that."

She nods in understand and leaves, the creak of the door shutting being the only sound after. I sigh, frustration or stress I'm not sure anymore. But that burning hope is reignited again, and I can only pray Kyra Teal is successful in her endeavor. If not, then I fear the Per Ankh may be a lost cause entirely.

Tabetha is at the front of the bar, starting the opening process for the day already. But mostly to check in, we've known each other for too long to pretend it is anything else. I face the tired woman taking me in.

"We good?" She asks. A layer of questions grouped into one. Do we need to do something about her? Are we good to keep Kurtz here under our protection? Do you need a drink to help ease that fucking hangover I know you have right now, old man? Are you about to cry on me, sir 'I trained under Jabari Kane'?

"I could really use a drink," I answer honestly. "There's nothing we can do as for Teal. …It's Khatri all over again."

Tabetha isn't happy to hear as much, but pours me a glass of whiskey anyway as I approach the bar. Not surprised, Tabetha wasn't happy with me when we had to let Kane leave our protection for Cairo to Desjardins' summons. We had a physical altercation over it, actually, she accused me of being on Jabari's side of things and allowing him a chance to take out his second son letting him go. It's not like I wanted the kid to go, but he took a part of us with when he did leave. Also, the woman has a swing to her that I learned of from that.

I slug down the brown liquor, wincing to the taste of it on my tongue as she maintains her eye contact on me. Letting me know exactly how she feels about us facing this all over again. "She intends to grow into her cousin's shoes," I mutter towards her. "Who am I to tell her otherwise?"

That hurt look on her face forces me to look away from our eye contact. I get it. But Amos was right, they're not kids anymore. They have a higher standing within the Per Ankh's ranks, and I'm just some bar owner that likes to show up to stir problems up when needed. Doesn't mean it doesn't sting to know I just watched the girl I know as an innocent five-year-old I protected from the murder brought upon her family walk out that door just like I had watched Amos do.

More whiskey is poured into the glass. "Thanks, T."

-Trevor Starr-

My pulse is thumping, and I'm struggling to catch my breath as I watch the walls crumble away as if it was simply built of wet clay at the hands of the army of magicians bombarding it. I peer around to make sure I had been successful in shielding the debris from landing on any of the Roman demigods, finding they seem to be unscathed.

Julius Kane, the man, the legend, is immediately screaming orders to direct the Roman children to book it to the trenches they had built. He covers them as he slices through a hyena that went to launch on one. I get up to follow suit, sparing Max from a snarling hyena to quickly help him back on his feet. I quickly direct him to go with the Romans as well as further backup, which he is quick to oblige.

I freeze as Mel is in clear sight, peering down at Julius quickly disintegrate a lioness with a spell. Standing on the rubble they made of the wall the Demigods had built, red glowing eyes angrily taking in Kane as if he's her real target. I move to block her attack on the host of Osiris.

The force of the khopesh's clashing makes me fall, the metal ringing loud enough to make Julius very aware of the threat. I cough as I try to regain my breath, the ground having taken it from me at the force I ended up on it. Mel doesn't help when she shoves her foot on my chest, but clearly her eyes are on Julius and not me.

"Why are you defending them?" She snarls, clearly pissed off to be facing any opposition. Probably more so it being Julius Kane of all people. Nothing screams "you're wrong" than a literal recycled host coming out of retirement to tell you as much.

I watch Julius heave a breath before standing in a more defensive position. "You are not honoring Set. Release her, Anat. We don't have to fight like this."

Oh fuck. I'm reminded of Abydos again. Witnessing Set having taken over his host to beat the daylights out of Astarte and Anat for attempting to kill Amos. Horrifying, in all aspects if I'm to be totally honest on the matter. While Set having that much ease in taking over a situation in an effort to protect his host is terrifying on its own, the fact that he had gods that were looking to off his host was worrying in of itself.

"You are not in any position to tell me what honors Set or not, Osiris!" She snarls, twisting her foot to add more pressure on my chest that makes it hard to breathe.

Julius notes the situation rather quickly, but maintains his stance. "Amos didn't want this, Mel. Snap out of it." I can tell he is trying to intone persuasion magic in his words. "He wanted to protect these kids, you know that."

"They don't deserve to live!" The launch she takes to attack is blinding as all I know is a resounding crunch sound from the sudden pressure and that I can't breathe.

Metal ringing sounds so distant as I'm struggling to catch my breath. Takes longer to realize the bitch just fucking broke ribs. I cough and quickly try to direct my mind away from it as I roll to my side, my chest screaming at me for the movement.

It takes forever to finally, while blurry, see Julius is now in a dueling match with Mel. I close my eyes to try and clear my vision some, but opening makes me realize my vision is even worse off. The light-headedness makes me realize I'm on the verge of passing out, the only thing breaking out of the numb state is the pain in my chest.

Several footsteps sound off as I close my eyes again, feeling sick from the spinning. They made it past the wall, moving in to attack the demigods at the trench now. And I'm useless.

"Stop!" It takes a moment for me to realize that Carter screamed this.

I open my eyes to find I can't make anything out, everything is just a blurred mess of rubble. I give up on trying and close my eyes again. Something smells like it's on fire, but I note the stench of it is dimming down fast.

-Jason Grace-

The Egyptians are pushing past the wall. Credit to Julius Kane for calling it out as soon as he had, most of us made it to the trenches by the time they overwhelmed the first layer of defense. A knot is in my throat as I watch our Egyptian support try to hold their ground at the wall, but they had sent one of them with us to the trench.

The blue man is holding his own seemingly well with Mel. But what she is screaming at him? I face Reyna to see if she believes what I've been saying now. She only nods and turns to the others to give orders as we watch the Per Ankh numbers approaching the trenches, clearly not stopping any time soon.

Zhang on top of Hannibal charges through their numbers, reducing the number of them that are still fast encroaching. But it was enough of a surprise to make some stop in place and consider if it warrants needing to do something about the war elephant or not. Not enough to do anything to them though I guess as Frank does a sharp turn in consideration to do so again while the surprise is still there.

"Looking a tad rough out here," as if the god of war had shot me with lightning to his voice behind me. "What happened to honor and glory?" Mars questions, eyes settled upon me as we all take in his appearance.

"There is none here," Hazel spits out angrily. "Only confusion and hurt feelings. What honor is there in defending ourselves from those that are misunderstanding?"

Mars shrugs at her words. "None of you are interested in making a stand today? Rather amusing turn of events. And why is Osiris' dead host out there fighting them off?"

"It's Kane's brother," I answer for the deity fast. "He wants to help us, but wants Theo as payment."

Mars brings his right hand to his chin as he takes that in. "You all agreed to that? Is that why Hunter and Starr are here as well?"

The Egyptian in the trench with us has now pointed his staff towards the Roman god. "Alright, who are you? Why do you seem to know as much as you do?" His anger is still on the god as the Romans have now pulled swords on him in reaction.

"Calm down," Mars seems to chuckle some. "I'm here to cause further disarray in our favor. However," his eyes settle on me again as an unnerving smile reminds me of someone else immediately. "I want Theo since you are freely giving him up to my brother of all people."

"What?" I'm confused by what he means by his brother.

Red smoke takes over the space where he has been standing. As it clears, we realize he is no longer there. A booming voice ahead of the trench grabs our attention. "Stand down, Per Ankh morons!"

Crimson suit and hat to match, braids with red beads fluttering in the wind from the blast of air he just sent at the Egyptian army in front of him. My eyes widen, this can't be real. Amos Kane is dead, so who is this look alike?

"It's Set," Percy Jackson's voice seems to answer the question we hadn't asked yet. "But pretend it's the Egyptian Vizier anyway."

I take in the Greek demigod, noticing every bruise and mark on him as if to read as much as I can about what had happened to him while he had been missing. But the son of Poseidon just smiles at me as if to reassure he is fine. I open my mouth to start asking questions, but Reyna is faster as she steps between us.

"Why would I agree to another deal from an Egyptian god for one of our members?" She demands, as if Percy is really going to have the answer for her. "Let alone one that just pretended to be Mars?"

"That's not him pretending," I start before Percy can. "Set is Mars' Egyptian counterpart. We witnessed as much when the Per Ankh was assisting us."

"He's just rougher on the edges," Percy adds. "More like Aries. But anyway, why wouldn't you hand over Theo to him? Or did you miss the part where Amos was Set's host?"

"What did you find on Theo?" I finally asked what I wanted upon seeing the Greek's face. "You've been missing for some time; I almost launched an attack on him myself."

"Glad you didn't," Percy adds. "Theo is complicated, but trust me when I say he isn't who he has been pretending to be. He's more Egyptian than Roman, and he's much older than any of us."

"W-What?" Hazel stammers out, alarm on her face.

Percy swallows before nodding to the confusion on our faces. "He wants this mess that is happening right now. He wants the Per Ankh to sweep over us, hence why he kept Camp Jupiter under lockdown. Then-"

The barrier, I realize. That isn't something a Roman demigod would just be able to do. It would have been a god if anything. Egyptian magic in play. Is that why we are unable to contact anyone either?

"-he plans to strike their Pharaoh down. Earn our respect enough to just blindly follow him in taking his throne back as Pharoah of Egypt and Rome."

My grip tightens on the hilt as I recall the coin I had left at the border. Now it's all starting to make sense. "Who is he?" I demand from Percy.

Anger is bubbling up as I put the pieces down to see the bigger picture finally. Guilt, for having asked Theo to welcome Amos to the camp originally, allowing the jerk to get close. Rage from the blindside of killing Kane, then feigning innocence to continue to instill confusion between us all. And he expects his plan to just work? That none of us would see through him and blindly follow instead? If he wanted to unite us, then why hadn't he just shown full support for our alliance?

Because he doesn't want that. He wants to lead us all, be in control. And he's made us look like damned fools having just fallen in line as he had wanted.

The Egyptians helping us right now, they know. It's why they are trying to defend us from the angry mob of magicians wanting vengeance for the death of their General of Armies. Amos must have told them. I'm not sure how, and don't quite understand how things work on Egypt's end of things. I just know deep down that Kane must have still spoken. Perhaps a plea to spare us, clear the confusion that has had a firm hold on all of us.

"There's still honor," I face Hazel as I say this. "We need to go find Theo, now."

"Glad we're on the same page," Percy adds. "Reyna, you got this side of things, right?"

My fellow Praetor frowns but dismisses us with a wave of her hand. "Make sure he understands his mistake in turning on us."