Page 54 (1/2)

I saw the fractured light in his eyes, and I realized so that shocked me to the core Menshikov didn’t want this anythat Apophis had twisted his soul, s Vladiloat, but he didn’t feel any sense of triumph Inside he was terrified, defeated, miserable He was enslaved by Apophis I almost felt sorry for him

"We’re already dead, Carter Kane," he said "This place was never meant for hu into our bodies, withering our souls But I have bigger plans A host can live indefinitely, no matter what sickness he may have, no matter how injured he may be

Apophis has already healed ain I will live forever!"

"A host…" When I realized what he iant form "You’re not serious Menshikov, stop this before it’s too late"

"And die?" he asked

Behind s than death, Vladi toward the shore --a sic oar that rowed itself The eye of Horus was painted on the boat’s prow, and its lone passenger was Michel Desjardins The Chief Lector’s hair and beard were nohite as snow Glowing hieroglyphs floated fro a trail of divine words behind him

Desjardins stepped ashore "You toy with so much worse than death, my old friend Pray that I kill you before you succeed"

Of all the weird things I’d experienced that night, Desjardins stepping up to fight on our side was definitely the weirdest

He walked between a-kite like they were no big deal, and planted his staff in the dead scarabs

"Surrender, Vladihed "Have you looked at yourself lately, th for months, and you didn’t even realize it You’re nearly dead now I aician in the world"

It was true that Desjardins didn’t look good His face was alod’s But the cloud of hieroglyphs seeer around hio in New Mexico, when he’d battled us in the streets of Las Cruces and vowed to destroy us He took another step forward, and the nized the leopard-skin cape around his shoulders as a s," Desjardins admitted "But I will not fail in this I will not let you destroy the House of Life"

"The House?" Menshikov’s voice turned shrill "It died centuries ago! It should’ve been disbanded when Egypt fell" He kicked at the dried scarab shells "The House has as ypt is gone, less, ancient history It’s time to destroy the world and start anew Chaos alins"

"Not always" Desjardins turned to Sadie "Begin your spell I will deal with this wretch"

The ground surged under us, tre as Apophis tried to rise

"Think first, children," Menshikov warned "The world will end no matter what you do Mortals can’t leave this cavern alive, but the two of you have been godlings Coe to serve Apophis, and you could survive this night Desjardins has always been your eneift to Apophis! I will assure you both positions of honor in a neorld ruled by Chaos, unrestricted by any rules I can even give you the secret of curing Walt Stone"

He sirl I do kno The re the priests of Amun-Ra Kill Desjardins, join Apophis, and the boy you love will be spared"

I’ll be honest His words were persuasive I could i was possible, where no laws applied, not even the laws of physics, and we could be anything anted

Chaos is impatient It’s rando just for the sake of change, feeding on itself in constant hunger But Chaos can also be appealing It te matters except what you want And there was so much that I wanted Menshikov’s restored voice was sic to persuade mortals

That was the problem Menshikov’s promise was a trick His words weren’t even his own They were being forced out of hi a teleprompter He spoke the will of Apophis, but when he finished he locked eyes with hts--a tortured plea he would’ve screamed if he had control of his own mouth: Kill me now Please

"I’icians and gods have to stand together The worldWe won’t let Chaos win"

Then a lot of things happened at once Sadie opened her scroll and began to read Menshikov screaiant kite spread its wings, deflecting a blast of green fire from Menshikov’s staff that probably would’ve incinerated Sadie on the spot I charged to protect her, while Desjardins summoned a ind around his body and fleard Vlad Menshikov

I waded through derabbed his ankles, and swung hi his allies into piles of sand Sadie’s giant kite picked up two more in its claws and tossed them into the river

Meanwhile Desjardins and Menshikov rose into the air, locked inside a tornado They whirled around each other, firing blasts of fire, poison, and acid Deot too close melted instantly

In the midst of all this, Sadie read from the Book of Ra I didn’t kno she could concentrate, but her words rang out clear and loud She invoked the dawn and the rise of a new day Golden h the dried shells as if searching for life The entire beach shuddered, and far underground, Apophis roared in outrage

"Oh, noes!" Ra yelled behind est de the sun boat, wicked knives in all four of his hands Ra gave hi behind his fiery throne