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"Stop!" She reignited the tip of her staff It blazed hts You’re just like the nightmares"

"You know I’m not" I probably should’ve shut up, but I couldn’t believe Zia would actually incinerate me "Before he died, Iskandar realized the old ways had to be brought back That’s why he let Sadie and ether You--your shabti realized that, e fought together at the Red Pyraently "We really should go"

"Come with us," I told Zia "I know you’ve always felt alone You never had anyone but Iskandar I get that, but I’m your friend We can protect you"

"No one protects me!" She shot to her feet "I am a scribe in the House of Life!"

Flarabbed for my wand, but of course I’d lost it in the river Instinctively my hands closed around the symbols of the pharaoh--the shepherd’s crook and the war flail I held them up in a defensive X, and Zia’s staff shattered instantly The fire dissipated

Zia stu from her hands

She stared at me in absolute shock "You dare to use the symbols of Ra?"

I probably looked just as surprised "I--I didn’t ot food and water back at the pickup truck--"

"Carter!" Bes tensed "So white light exploded around him When the spots cleared fro like fluorescent tubes Standing next to him were the two people I least wanted to see:

Michel Desjardins and Vlad the Inhaler

Desjardins looked even older than he had inand unke loosely on hi off his left shoulder

Vlad Menshikov, on the other hand, looked well rested and ready for a good game of Torture-the-Kane He wore a fresh white linen suit and carried a new serpent staff His silver snake necklace glinted against his tie On his curly gray hair sat a white fedora, probably to cover the head injuries Set had given hiht’ve been convincing--except he didn’t have his sunglasses anye of scar tissue and red welts, those horrible eyes gleamed with hatred

"As I told you, Chief Lector," Menshikov rasped, "Kane’s next irl and attempt to turn her"

"Desjardins, listen," I said "Menshikov’s a traitor He su to free Apophis--"

"You see?" Menshikov cried "As I predicted, the boy tries to blaic on me"

"What?" I said "No!"

The Russian turned to exae "Carter Kane, you claiods Who have we here? Bes the dwarf! Fortunately,spell for this particular creature Grandfather also taught me many spells of torod I’ve alanted to try them"

Desjardins wrinkled his nose in distaste, but I couldn’t tell whether it was because of me or of Menshikov

"Carter Kane," said the Chief Lector, "I knew you desired the pharaoh’s throne I knew you were sche the crook and flail of Ra, which were recently discovered to befroression"

I looked down at the weapons in my hands "It’s not like that I just found them…"

I stopped I couldn’t tell him the syht get Zia in trouble

Desjardins nodded as if I’d confessed To ht Amos assured me you were an honorable servant of Ma’at Instead, I find you are both a godling and thief"

"Zia" I turned toward her "You’ve got to listen You’re in danger Menshikov is working for Apophis He’ll kill you"

Menshikov did a good job of looking offended "Why would I wish to harm her? I sense she is free of Nephthys now It’s not her fault the goddess invaded her forlad to see you safe, child You are not to bla you here, softening his attitude toward these Kane criminals Come away from the traitor Come hoe dreaently "This is natural Your shabti was relaying its memories to you You saw Carter Kane and his sister make a pact with Set at the Red Pyrao Do you remember?"