Incest/Taboo Pharaoh’s Curse

"You... fought a goddess?!" Julián stammered; he couldn't wrap his mind around that very notion.

"I did, didn't win, but I did fight her," Andrew admitted.

"And you didn't stop him?!" Wilma exclaimed.

"There was nothing we could do, Wilma. There are just some things no one can stop, at least when it comes to Andy here," Anta said lovingly as she rested her hand on Andrew's right thigh. "You'll learn that if you're around when the Gods have a task for Andrew since he is their oracle."

"We understand how all this is very hard to take, but Andy's been hiding most of all of this from you so you wouldn't freak out. I can't blame you; I, myself, was on the verge of a massive one when Andy did something that no human could possibly do," Carla said, gazing longingly at Andrew as he interweaved his fingers with hers.

"And you're married..."

"We," Anta corrected, cutting Julián off. "As the Pharaohs of old, Andy, here has many wives. Alex is just the primary Queen due to her lineage, as is tradition," she said informatively.

"And you're okay with that?!" Wilma asked, testing the waters.

"Of course, this was meant to be," Anta said, flashing Wilma a warm smile. "You know it is," she whispered heatedly into Andrew's ear.

"You know Andrew, whoever you're using as your head of PR isn't doing you any justice," Julián said, while he couldn't understand an ounce of what his son had told him, nor did he believe it. He wasn't saying Gods didn't exist since he couldn't refute Bast. What he didn't believe was that Andrew was lying about not having a choice.

"Asking for a job?" Andrew retorted with a smirk.

"I might. If you trust me, I can make this bad press you're dealing with a thing of the past," Julián proclaimed. If this was to be his, Wilma's, and his son's life, then he was going to make sure he gave his son his best. He sat there as he watched his son pull out a phone and speak into it.

"Eight o'clock, you will meet with my PR office. Halima will find you some new personal guards once we arrive at my Palace for the week, they will see you safely to it," Andrew said, pocketing his phone.

"So Andy, how are you settling into things?" Wilma asked. She wasn't about to go up against a goddess. She wasn't that suicidal or insane. So, while she thought this whole mess was silly, she couldn't deny what she had seen.

"I'm trying, but even with all the memories of how court life was back then, it hasn't changed much; everyone wants power no matter how they can get it, it's still stressful," Andrew answered, trying not to show the strain running a Kingdom on his face.

"Andy, going a little overboard in this Egyptian thing, aren't you?" Julián mussed as the limo drove through the front gate, which was operated by four of the Medjay, two in the guard post and two standing on either side of the entrance. His eyes ran over the hieroglyphics that had been painted onto the inner walls that ringed the estate also saw whoever was doing the painting was putting on a base coat onto the current wall section she was working on.

"Nah... wait till you see the restoration that's been completed on Karnak. This is my twist on modernizing it," Andrew said, feeling the limo turning left to take the short drive towards the guest houses.

"Andy, don't let this all change you," Wilma said motherly, wondering if she or Julián had titles.

"They'll make sure I don't," Andrew replied, getting wide smiles out of Anta and Carla.

"Andy, what's this?" Julián asked as the limo pulled to a stop in front of the guest house that had been finished two weeks ago while its twin was still under construction.

"You're lodgings during your stay, for however long you intend to stay here," Andrew answered as Carla opened the rear driver-side door. He did note how the men who traveled with his parents were carrying their bags into their new home. A home he had paid to get professionally decorated once the drywall had been hung. Wishing the men well as they passed him as he guided his father and Wilma towards the front door.

"Andy... I thought Egypt was supposed to be hot, being a desert and all," Julián spoke as he trailed after his son. It was rather more pleasant than he would have imagined.

"This is how Egypt was back in Pharaoh Menes I's time and how it will be in the future as long as my line reins," Andrew said informatively as he watched the two of them checking out their new lodgings.

"So Andy, what's all here?" Wilma cooed. While it wasn't a penthouse, she knew it was bigger than it was. She didn't want to be too lost with whatever was on local TV.

"When this was being built, I had this house spliced into my server, so you have the fastest internet around. So I had them programed the TV so you can find the app for the local news back home. Plus, every streaming service you can name," Andrew said, returning Wilma's smile when he said that. "The password for the Wi-Fi is on the back of the router, you'll find it... there," he directed, pointing to the small walnut cabinet.

"Thanks, Andrew," Julián said. He would hate to have to be asking people constantly how to work the TV, looking at his son oddly when Andrew called out for Halima, asking if she brought something.

"Of course, my Pharaoh, I was just making sure the cloning process was completed correctly," Halima stated, holding out the two advanced secured satellite galaxy-style phones to him. "My pleasure, my lord, I aim to see that the Royal family is protected at all times," she proclaimed.

"Here, use these from now on. It will keep people from being able to intercept your calls so you can be assured that what you say to one another isn't spied on," Andrew said, holding out the new phones to his parents that had the body style of the Galaxy phone series. "We'll let you get settled tonight, seven o'clock dinner in the palace, just family," he uttered, lovingly patting his father's left arm.

"Where's that crown of yours, Andy?" Julián asked, causing Andrew to look back at him.

"Here," Andrew replied with a pat to his chest, where the box Phat had made to store his crown sat.

"Introducing Mr. McCain and Mrs. McCain," the head butler said as he introduced Julián and Wilma. Julián and Wilma stood in the doorway in their best formal wear they had brought along. It was Wilma's idea, saying they couldn't show up in their normal everyday clothes. After all, they were about to enter the inner circle of Andrew's court they just had to make an impression.

However, Wilma's ire was raised when her archnemesis stood in one of the most elegant gowns she'd ever seen, even when they aired anything about the English Royal family. She had no idea what kind of fabric Alexandra's dress was made of, yet she needed to have one of her own. The Mother of the Pharaoh had to dress the part, and she wasn't about to allow Alex to upstage her in Andrew's life. What truly peeved her was the smug smile on Alex's lips as the diamonds that dangled from her crown, glinting in the light of the chandeliers as the stones laid lightly on her hair. Carla and Anta were wearing more modern style evening gowns still of the same quality. Wilma pulled her husband tighter to her as Alex ever so elegantly sashayed down the length of the dining table where she could imagine State dinners being held.

"Hello Julián," Alex said in a friendly tone as she stopped a few feet away from the two of them. "I'm sure you don't want to say something that would harm this dinner our son, set up so you two can have time together," she uttered, watching her ex-husband's emotions playing along his face as his jaw muscles clenched and unclenched as she spoke.

"Alexandra." Was all Julián said before leading his wife away from Alex's side. Not seeing the look, Wilma shot Alex from over her shoulder.

"Andy," Wilma called out to him motherly, holding out her arms to him as Andrew stepped up to them while he wore an oddly blue crown. Stepping back, Julián and Andrew shared a brief hug. "Andy, what are you wearing?" she asked quizzically.

"My war crown just came from a meeting with my Generals," Andrew informed them, gesturing to their seats.

"I thought your wars were over?" Julián spoke in a concerned tone as he sat on his son's right side while his ex-wife sat across from him.

"We were only discussing ongoing security matters in the conquered parts of Libya," Andrew said, taking his seat at the head of the table. When the old governing body that once was in power was cast away, he then reintroduced the ancient Battus family line that once ruled the City-State of Cyrene, reforming the kingdom of Cyrenaica. Slowly regaining control of what the Ptolemies once held before Cleopatra threw it all away to stay in power. He didn't voice to his father that he wasn't done expanding his empire. A soft bell rang out, announcing to the kitchen staff to start bringing in the food. Julián and Wilma stared in awe at the extravagant feast that was rolled in on three silver carts, they had a feeling everything on that tray was silver.

"Andy, don't take this as me admonishing you, but I do hope you aren't eating like this all the time," Wilma said, watching as the servants placed platers on the table.

"No, nothing this grand, only when special guests are being entertained by the court," Andrew stated, flashing his father a warm smile. "Mom, I have a favor," he said, looking right at Wilma, feeling his mother's glare on the back of his head.

"Sure, Andy, what is it?" Wilma inquired, dapping the corners of her mouth with the cloth napkin. She was feeling like a million dollars at that moment. Never in her life would she have thought her life would turn out like this.

"I would like it if you could provide the orphans that are now residing in the old Presidential Palace with your skills as a teacher. I've already spoken to my Education minister. If you want, you're license from New York could be easily transferred over," Andrew spoke. He had to show that the Royal family cared about the citizens' lives.

"Would that help you?"

"Not me, but the children would benefit greatly," Andrew said, bringing his bite of the rack of lamb to his lips that was smeared in a pomegranate sauce.

"If I can be of some help to you, Andy, sure, I won't mind teaching a class or two," Wilma said sweetly.

"Thanks, I know the orphans would appreciate it," Andrew replied with a smile as he brought his glass to his lips.

"I won't disappoint you, Andy," Wilma said, flashing Alex a challenging look at her when she held Andrew's attention. She was all giggly when all Alex could do was glare at her from her side of the table. "Now, how about you show your father and me around this Palace of yours," she said once the servants had cleared the table of their meal.

"Sure," Andrew spoke, getting to his feet. "You want to come?" he asked, looking over at the three of them.

"Of course, our Pharaoh can't be seen without his Queens by his side," Alex said regally as she got to her feet, as did Anta and Carla.

"Yes, we can't let the people see our Lord without his very sexy wives on his arm," Anta cooed, flashing Andrew a coy smile.

Andrew could see the awe in his father's and Wilma's eyes at the refinement that dotted his Palace. Wilma did ask if it was fine to touch a few of the items, she had no wish to damage anything in Andrew's home. How she, like all girls at a young age, wanted to be a Princess. Now, while she couldn't be that, she knew she was officially royalty. She was so going to show Andrew just how appreciative she was for this rise in status. Once she knew it was fine with Andrew to take pictures. Pulling Julián into many of the pictures, she snapped off, showing off the splendor that she was now living in. It was one thing to be married to a very rich man, but she and Julián were on another level altogether.

"Andy?" Julián asked as they crossed over the threshold of the first garden dedicated to Ra.

"Hmm?" Andrew hummed as he peered over at his father as the sweet scents of the blooming flowers were carried along the soft breeze.

"Why do you glow?" Julián asked; ever since they arrived he had noticed something was very different than the boy who had left New York.

"Because I'm the true Pharaoh of Egypt, the oracle of the Gods, and a demigod with the blessing of Ra," Andrew said informatively.

"Then can't you just tell these Gods that you won't do this!" Julián exclaimed, thrusting his arms out before him.

"We've had this conversation before, I don't have a choice."

"Of course you do!" Julián barked.

"No, he doesn't," Ra spoke through Andrew, "the Pharaoh is needed to restore the land to its rightful place if mortals were not so easily corruptible." With that, Ra returned to the Heavens to command his barge down the River of Night.

"What the hell was that?!" Wilma shouted in fright.

"Ra," Anta stated, feeling Bast's presence on the air, the ancient magic that was stored within the bracelet that was gifted to her once she had ascended to her high priestess. "I understand your fright, Wilma. We were, too, when we first saw the strangeness that circles around Andrew. Yet..."

"I wouldn't be here to this day if it wasn't for his quick action," Carla said, cutting in, shooting Anta a look of forgiveness. "We know how hard this all is to take in, how your minds will try to find some logic in all of this. You won't. From what I know from what Anta and Andy tell us about the Gods, Andrew doesn't have a choice, or they will, I can't emphasize this enough, kill him if he does what you ask. I am not about to lose my husband. I might not like it, you might not like it, Andy doesn't even like it, but it has to be done," she stated sternly and firmly to finally make them see that crossing the Gods was a very serious thing.

"You can't be serious?!" Wilma gasped. She, like Julián, thought Andrew was just saying that since she didn't believe any deity interfered with a person's free will. However, when she saw how serious Anta's, Carla's, and she reluctantly included Alex's faces then she knew just how real Andrew's situation really was.

"They are, so am I," Andrew spoke, the blue light of his divinity burned in his pupils as he gazed at his father.

"And your eyes?" Julián asked, resigning to the fact that he couldn't get his son out of this predicament as he saw it.

"A sign of my heritage," Andrew stated as they continued onto the Horus garden.

"And you're really a demigod?" Julián asked. He still couldn't wrap his mind around that. He didn't think anyone could.

"I am, after all, I am Ra's great-fifty-some odd generations grandson, hence why only I can do this," Andrew said. He knew his father meant well, and he wasn't going to put up a fuss about his father's behavior. Since he knew soon he would have to do something so dangerous, he didn't know if he would live past getting Nu beyond the walls of Yahweh's domain. So he was going to treasure every second he had before he had to finish this task if everything he had set forth didn't instantly dry up.

"So you're something like Hercules?" Julián inquired, finally letting go and enjoying the beauty around him.

"Something like that," Andrew nodded.

"Any special abilities?" Wilma asked, joining in the conversation.

"Mom, I need you not to freak out," looking at Alex and Wilma, "Dad, go kiss Mom like you mean it. You will do this for your Pharaoh, yes?" Andrew mused as he peered back at his mother.

"Very well, but I expect compensation for this," Alex flirted with a smile to match.

"Andrew, I'm not going to..." Julián's words were still on his tongue as he felt a compulsion on his body. His eyes darted back and forth as his body wouldn't heed his mind's command as one foot after another took a step. "Andrew!" he stammered nervously as he drew very close to his former wife. Taking a few steps back when he felt control over his own body once again.

"Sorry, Dad, I thought I'd show you versus telling you about one of my gifts from Ra so you two will understand," Andrew apologized.

"Andrew, have you ever used this on people?" Julián asked in an accusing tone, looking hard at his son.

"Not to that extent, just a little bit to see if it actually worked without crossing that line back in New York," Andrew said, omitting a few facts. He knew how much he could abuse that gift if he was that vain.

"Good," Julián grunted with a nod. He and Wilma stood off to the side when they had gotten to the path that would lead them back to the guest house. Growing a little uncomfortable at how Alex was touching their son before the two separated. Alex, Carla, and Anta head back to Andrew's palace as Andrew strides towards him.

Wilma smiled lovingly at the two men in her life as she looped her arms around theirs as she stood between the two of them. Ignoring the men who were walking along the walls with weapons at the ready, she knew that would never sit well with her. Nevertheless, she knew that would come with being a part of royalty. Sharing laughs as they walked up the steps, greeted by the butler who managed the two guest houses, bowing low at the sight of Andrew. Hearing how Andrew thanked the man before dismissing him for the night. Wilma thanked the man when he told her the tea she had asked to be set out for them for their evening refreshments was sitting in the formal sitting room. Little did the man know the moment the front door closed, Wilma pulled Andrew towards one of the spare bedrooms, she and Julián had already discussed this while they waited for Andrew. Once she was alone within the walls of the room, Wilma showed Andrew just how appreciative she was.

"What the hell is going on?" Andrew asked as he walked into the situation room after an explosion rocked the western portion of the city.

"From reports, a gas main exploded beneath the street," one of the Generals spoke as he turned to peer at Andrew as the news feed streamed onto the TV screens. "Our own reports indicate that as well..." Turning his eyes back to the screens and then back to Andrew, wondering what could make Andrew appear to have a very confused look on his face.

"What is that?!" Andrew muttered aloud at the most disgusting thing he'd ever seen before as the things ringed the gaping hole.

"See what, sire?" General Salah asked, knowing it had to be something only Andrew could see since he noticed the perplexed looks on everyone else's faces.

Andrew looked down when he felt Bast brush her body against his lower leg. "Those are Djinn, another of Yahweh's creations," she spoke into his mind. An amused light played along her eyes at the question Andrew asked her. Her eyes smirked when Andrew hung his head when he figured out what she meant.

"General, see to what help the authorities need to shore up the road and any injured from the blast," Andrew ordered as he followed Bast out of the room.

"Sire? Might I inquire where you will be if we need to be in touch?" General Salah asked, watching how Andrew pulled out a box he knew very well, seeing it in action, and how Andrew placed his crown on his head. As he did, the armor that Phat had made him shimmered into existence, replacing his normal clothes.

"To deal with the creatures that caused that," Andrew said with authority. Not caring if the other men shared a look that he had gone insane, or they were equally insane listening to Andrew. He didn't wait for General Salah's retort as he stepped into the dark hallway before disappearing into the shadows.

"You dare enter my domain, the domain of the Pharaoh!" Andrew's voice thundered as Ra spoke through him, causing the Djinn to focus their attention on him.

"Demigod, unclean one, blasphemer!" they hissed as one. Andrew simply smirked at the names like they meant anything to him.

"And yet I don't serve a thief," Andrew countered, glancing up, noticing the drone that was still hovering overhead. Also, the news reporters who were still at the scene were having a field day when he simply appeared out of thin air. "Hear me, Bast, and reveal the unseen to those that cannot see," he whispered his prayer before he moved his crook horizontally in front of him, revealing them to his citizens' eyes. He knew he was going to have to have a conversation with Ira. Andrew was sure he would know what those things were. A cry rang out on the air as a falcon came soaring down to land on top of his crown. Outstretching its wings, the sun disk appeared over the falcon's head before Horus made his presence known to the mortal world as his avatar rose over Andrew's body. Andrew looked down when a flaming Khopesh appeared in his hand to mirror the one in Horus' own.

Andrew dodged in a roll to the thing's left when the Djinn lunged at him, its claws leading the way. Swiftly dropping into a crouch and going into a spin, Ra's flail materialized in his left hand, striking the stomach of the nearest creature while his Khopesh cleaved cleanly through the torso of the creature he had dodged. Feeling Horus' strength flowing through him as he and his avatar rose his right arm and sundered most of the Djinn that stood against him. He continued to ignore the voices that continued to rise as he fought off the stronger of the Djinn. Even going so far as to lure one of the creatures into thinking that he was trying to flee, hearing the thing gloating as it thought it had him pinned against the wall. Andrew didn't think running up the building's outer wall was something the Djinn thought a human would do or could do. Nevertheless, Horus' Khopesh vanished from his hand in its place was Ra's crook, snagging the Djinn by what Andrew thought was its throat, its holy flames cutting into the Djinn's skin, bringing it down to the ground with him. As its bulk thumbed hard on the pavement, Andrew raised his flail and delivered a powerful blow to the thing's face, destroying it altogether.

While Andrew was dealing with the Djinn that he had just sent back to the ether. He should have known the others of its kind wouldn't just be idly sitting while he killed their ally. He had no idea what they were saying, nor did he care to know. He assumed they were gloating when he was held by some invisible force. Yet it was magic, magic he knew.

"Do you know who I am? I am Pharaoh!" Andrew growled, stilling their murmuring as his eyes burned brightly as his connection to his godly side grew. His mortal blood cells swirled within his veins as the spark of his divinity arched and sustained its link amongst every cell of his body. "I am the son of Ra!" he shouted as his own might surged out and broke the hold that held him bound. He didn't waste a second. There was no telling how long he could sustain his current harmony with his godly side as Gab lent Andrew his power, causing two giant hands and arms made from the sand from the gaping hole in the road. His chest was heaving as he channeled so many gods at once. Andrew didn't look at the gore of the two that was smashed to bits beneath the hands of sand while the last one was ripped apart, thus ending the Djinn's attack on his city, or so he hoped. Exhaustion flooded his body when his godly half subsided. It was one thing to use it in the Duat it was another to use his godly powers in the mortal realm. Panting hard as his fingertips pressed on the asphalt when he had taken a knee when his body was far wearier than he imagined it would be. He knew if he didn't get better at it, then his task would be that much harder if he couldn't stand, much less walk under his own power.

His blue-green eyes peered back at the reporters as they shouted out questions to him as he looked over his left shoulder. He did see General Salah, along with some men from his army's engineer core, it wasn't hard to miss their shocked faces as he bit back his groan of tiredness as he got to his feet. His armor faded back to the Duat, and the suit he had been wearing reappeared. Making sure his tie was sitting correctly before he turned to face the cameras.

"General Salah," Andrew's voice carried his authority as he stood on the other side of the police tape they had set up to keep people away from the disaster, "make sure that hole is stabilized and see that repair crews are out here as fast as possible," he ordered, seeing Salah nodding then turning and doled out their orders. Holding up the police tape as the engineers flied through then the General himself joined the men to oversee the work.

"Pharaoh?! Pharaoh?! What was that! Was what we witnessed real?!" the reporters asked as they thrusted their microphones into Andrew's face.

"What those were, as Bast informed me, Djinn, and yes, what you all witnessed was real. That is why I asked the goddess to show you all here and at home watching this or will be watching this as I'm sure you all will be having a field day with this," Andrew said, trying to bring levity to the situation, knowing many of the people of his kingdom and the world would be losing their minds as any normal person would.

"What's the meaning of these things?"

"You are?" Andrew asked, peering at the new female reporter who held a Fox 5 logo-printed microphone in his face. "You're a long way from home."

"When a homegrown New Yorker steps up to claim a title that hasn't been used in centuries..."

"Twelve hundred years roughly," Andrew interjected in a friendly tone.

"Right. Anyway, when the news reached us, and your grand coming out, so to speak, to the world, I knew there had to be a very interesting story behind all that. So I'm Nikky Serrano, I'll be here on assignment. If you care to explain to the world why you're doing all of this to the people back home," she said with a coy smile. Knowing if she could land the interview, she would be able to use that to spring board herself onto a more national news station.

"Speak with my PR office on that matter," Andrew uttered before answering questions pertaining to the event they all experienced. "What you all saw," answering the question asked of him about the avatars that overshadowed his body, "was the Gods showing all of you that they are real. That they are here to protect their people from those who wish us and this kingdom harm. That is a question I think you don't want me to answer. You wouldn't like what I would divulge to you," he said, looking at the man from the local Muslim news station. He had no wish to upset anyone's faith in their region, and he knew if he said what he knew, it would cause a riot. "Excuse me," Andrew said when General Salah called him away from the shouting reporters.

"Sire," the head engineer greeted with a nod, which Andrew returned.

"How does it look?"

"The sounding ground seems stable, we should be able to get the pipe repaired quickly, no more than a week to get it back up and running."

"I see; pull from the civilian contractors if you need to get this up and running as soon as you can," Andrew said, patting the man on the arm, seeing Carla stepping out of the back of the car that she had arrived in. Seeing the loving smile on her face as he ducked beneath the police tape. He knew he only had a month and a half left to train himself to handle that kind of strain on his body, or he knew he wouldn't be walking out of his domain alive.

A month and a half later...

Andrew leaned back in his throne as the memories of his wedding played out in his mind as he listened to a griping Governor over the land distribution that he and a few other Governors were fighting over. Then his mind flashed back a millennia where court officials never changed. He was growing impatient the longer the man ranted. His father was standing off to the side, watching how he governed. His father had been spying on him ever since they came to live with him. Not that he minded. He knew he would need one of his parents to snap him back if he grew too conceded.

"Enough!" Andrew growled, causing the man's words to come stumbling to a halt, as did his pacing. "You seem to forget I allow you to have power. It's through my blood that you have far more than anything you had before. You pace my throne room, demanding that I give you what you want. Are you a child?" he asked, glancing to his right when he felt Anta's soft touch on his elbow when she could hear his annoyance about to erupt. "You know my decree. I, for a fact know you didn't waste a second in grabbing as much land as you could before I reined you in down in our southern lands. Since this discourse has caused enough strife within my court, since neither one of you can bring an actual factual argument to these proceedings it will be set aside as a wildlife preserve.

Where cedar trees will be imported from the Levant and planted throughout the preserve. Which I hope will take root and bring back the very trees that used to grow here in the age of Menes I. With it, Egypt and its people might regain what was lost to us by our own greed," he responded in a commanding tone. His eyes glanced to the left when something caught his attention. He knew no one else could have seen what he had seen or felt. He's been around cosmic beings enough to know how one felt, especially who he thought it was. "Leave us. We'll finish up our discussions tomorrow," Andrew directed, waving the council of Governors out of the room, knowing if Ira showed up, he might not see tomorrow.

"You can come out now," Andrew ordered, getting to his feet, feeling Anta's fear on his back as he watched Ira exiting the shadows along with Samuel in tow. "Why are you here?"

"Hey man, no need to be like that," Ira said, a little hurt. "I know we are from different mythos and whatnot, thought we got over this," he said, walking towards the two thrones. "Hello, Queen Anta, this is my friend Samuel Goodall," Ira uttered, introducing the two of them.

"Hey Ira, Samuel, nice to meet you," Anta greeted, waving to Ira, wondering what was so special about Samuel when he appeared to her as nothing more than a normal man. That was when she felt it - Magic! Not like hers, but magic nonetheless. "Andy?!" she muttered worryingly, only to see how he peered back at her and offered a soft smile to calm her fright.

"It's okay, I know what he is. He's harmless, right?" Andrew reassured Anta when he peered over at Samuel.

"I fed before I came here. You have no worry about that; I'm simply here to lend you aid," Samuel said, sensing a vast change in Andrew. He could tell, it wasn't hard for him to see Ira too noticed it, that Andrew felt more divine in a cosmic sense than a mortal man.

"I know it's time, Pharaoh. Are you ready?" Ira asked, seeing the confused and surprised look on Anta's face when he said that.

"Andrew, what is he talking about?" Anta asked, rising from the throne she and the others shared.

"Finishing what I started," Andrew said vaguely. He knew they were going to hate what he was about to do, yet he knew if he saw them, he would lose his resolve. Spinning around, taking Anta by surprise when he hugged her tightly. "If I don't come back, tell everyone I'm sorry," he whispered to her before pulling away and quickly walking towards Ira.

"Andy! Wait! What did you mean if you don't come back!" Anta screamed out in worry as she raced after him only to be too late to stop Andrew from vanishing.

"I'm sure that was a wise thing to do," Samuel said as they appeared in front of the now-completed pyramid of Djed. The onyx base gleamed in the light while the pink granite shone from the hours of polishing the men had done. His cobalt blue eyes ran along its surface that rose five stories above him. While he could see it wasn't the biggest pyramid ever created, it wasn't hard for him to sense the magic that was being drawn to the site. "I see you kept to old ways," he joked, pointing to the gold cap at the top.

"Only way to pierce the Heavens," Andrew said factually, feeling his forebears' eyes on him as he gazed up at his pyramid. "You two might want to get prepared. This will take a moment," he informed them as he began to walk towards it. Horus' Khopesh appeared in his left hand, bringing up his right hand, wincing at the pain as the palm of his right hand ran sharply and quickly along the blade of the sword, slicing open his skin. The moment his hot blood painted the stones of his pyramid, the humming that had been slowly growing in intensity the closer he got to it. Now, with his blood the magic that's been gathered and stored within the whole temple complex began to arch off each and every stone as the pyramid started the spell to open the doorway. Praying to Heka as the heat of Horus' sword cauterized the wound, nevertheless, he couldn't do battle if his hand was out of commission. When the shadow moved over the land, causing Andrew to peer up at the sun only to see Khonsu moving the moon in front of the sun. Hoping this won't freak out the people around the world when news of an unexpected solar eclipse.

Sixteen streaks of light rocketed down from the sky, passing through the stone and into the very statues that lined the temple that guarded the entrance to his tomb. Ira leapt to the sky, taking Samuel by the collar of his shirt when he did as a wave of divine energy expanded from the temple to encapsulate the entirety of the complex. Ira had to summon his sword to shield him and Samuel as the field struck the flat of his blade. His wings flapped as he watched those sixteen gods encircle the pyramid. Samuel and Ira shared confused looks when they couldn't understand what was being said, nor did they need to know, as a beam of white light impacted the center of the darken moon. They didn't waste a second when they left, and the bubble returned to the ether to fly down to Andrew's side.

David Kushner's 'Daylight' was playing in Andrew's mind, knowing the moment he stepped into that light that was shining down on the spot a few feet before him, it all hung on his ability to channel his godhood enough not to burn out his body. Looking over each shoulder at Samuel and Ira, who nodded in response, telling him they were ready. Only to have a female voice call out, telling them to wait.

"Ba'al, what are you doing here?" Ira sighed. He had thought he told her to stay in Fourth Heaven and not to get involved.

"Come godling," Ba'al huffed and rolled her eyes as the two of them stared at one another. "Did you honestly believe I would allow you to enter my home without me tagging along? I want what is mine, plus you wish to give these two a chance to survive all this. That will not happen unless I come along..."

"But I can't enter Heaven, Grand," Ira said, knowing full well she hated to be called that.

"Just because my husband tossed me from the Heavens doesn't mean my influence over it has waned. Fear not; your demon will not be harmed, yet you do need an uplift to enter my home. So your demon will be suppressed. Do make sure you hold his attention for a very long time," Ba'al spoke like that hadn't occurred to Ira or the rest of them. "Well, demigod, we are waiting," she said, waving for Andrew to continue. For Ira's sake, she ignored the sneer on Andrew's face before he turned back around.

"You keep her away from me, or I will kill her," Andrew warned, knowing his threat would actually carry weight this time, and he was determined to ensure it would not go the way the first meeting did.

"Don't worry, I'll keep her with me," Ira said, seeing the truth in Andrew's eyes.

"Khonsu! Hear me, allow this simple mortal to control your chariot for a time," Andrew called out to the god. His arms rose on instinct as four argentine-filled leather straps erupted from the light and wrapped around his forearms.

"You're bargain is accepted Pharaoh." Khonsu's voice emanated from the light before pulling Andrew and the others into it and off to their destiny.
​

**********​

[1] is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is equivalent to a stretch of land bordering the Mediterranean in southwestern Asia,[4][5] i.e. the historical region of Syria ("Greater Syria"), which includes present-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and most of Turkey southwest of the middle Euphrates.

[2] the Egyptian goddess who has a scorpion on her head, was venerated as the protector against venomous creatures.

[3] The ancient Egyptian goddess Ammit (also known as Ammut and Ahemait) was the personification of divine retribution. She sat beside the scales of Ma'at ready to devour the souls of those deemed unworthy.

[4] in Egyptian religion, a god of the moon, of reckoning, of learning, and of writing.

[5] the Duat was the land of the dead in Ancient Egypt, the place where the deceased travelled to after death

[6] was an ancient Egyptian patron of childbirth and a protector of women and children.

[7] was the Egyptian god of war, chaos, and storms

[8] god of war and the sky

[9] a goddess of war and the destroyer of the enemies of the sun god Re. Sekhmet was associated both with disease and with healing and medicine

[10] was a minor[1] ancient Egyptian deity, a god of fabrics and clothes[2][3] and, to a lesser extent, of weaving and the deceased.

[11] was the ancient Egyptian goddess of weaving, textiles, and to a lesser extent mummification.

[12] To the ancient Egyptians themselves, their country was simply known as Kemet, which means 'Black Land', so named for the rich, dark soil along the Nile River where the first settlements began

[13] is the ancient Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance

[14] new temple complex and pyramid

[15] new spiritual center sits on the east back of the nile between Thinis and Dendera

[16] creator-god and maker of things, a patron of craftsmen, especially sculptors; his high priest was called "chief controller of craftsmen."

[17] were people who lived in the land of Canaan, an area which according to ancient texts may have included parts of modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan

[18] the Egyptian god of the earth and a mythological member of the Ennead of Heliopolis

[19] was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion

[20] The Karnak Temple Complex, commonly known as Karnak (/ˈkɑːr.næk/),[1] comprises a vast mix of temples, pylons, chapels, and other buildings near Luxor, Egypt. Construction at the complex began during the reign of Senusret I (reigned 1971-1926 BCE) in the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1700 BCE) and continued into the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305-30 BCE), although most of the extant buildings date from the New Kingdom.

[21] The seshed-circlet (ssd or mdh) is attested from the reign of Sneferu and later. At this early time, it is always combined with the atef-crown or the Double Feathers. Its primary function is to bear the uraeus.

[22] Baka is the name of an ancient Egyptian prince. He is known for his destroyed statuette. He is also the subject of a theory that claims he was pharaoh of Egypt for a very short time.

[23] Battus, became the first king, founding the dynasty of the Battiads, whose members, named alternately Battus and Arcesilaus, ruled Cyrene for eight generations (until c. 440 BCE).

[24] is the god of magic and medicine in ancient Egypt and is also the personification of magic itself.​