The Serpent's Shadow

We’ve returned to Brooklyn House. The various catastrophes plaguing the world have lessened—at least somewhat—and we are dealing with an influx of new initiates as the school year gets properly under way.

It should be obvious now why this may be our last recording. We’re going to be so busy training and attending school and living our lives, I doubt we’ll have time or reason to send out any more audio pleas for help.

We’ll put this tape in a secure box and send it along to the chap who’s been transcribing our adventures. Carter seems to think the postal service will do, but I think I’ll give it to Khufu to carry through the Duat. What could possibly go wrong?

As for us, don’t think our lives will be all fun and games. Amos couldn’t leave a mob of teens unsupervised, and as we don’t have Bast anymore, Amos has sent a few adult magicians to Brooklyn House as teachers (read: chaperones). But we all know who’s really in charge—me. Oh, yes, and perhaps Carter a little bit.

We’re not done with trouble, either. I’m still worried about that murderous ghost Setne, who’s on the loose in the world with his devious mind, horrible fashion sense, and the Book of Thoth. I’m also puzzling over my mother’s comments about rival magic and other gods. No idea what that means, but it doesn’t sound good.

In the meantime, there are still hotspots of evil magic and demon activity all over the world that we have to take care of. We’ve even got reports of unexplainable magic as close as Long Island. Probably have to check that out.

But for now, I plan on enjoying my life, annoying my brother as much as possible, and making Walt into a proper boyfriend while keeping the other girls away from him—most likely with a flamethrower. My work is never done.

As for you lot out there, listening to this recording—we’re never too busy for new initiates. If you have the blood of the pharaohs, what are you waiting for? Don’t let your magic go to waste. Brooklyn House is open for business.

GLOSSARY

Commands used by Carter, Sadie, and others

Drowah “Boundary”

Fah “Release”

Ha-di “Destroy”

Hapi, u-ha ey pwah “Hapi, arise and attack”

Ha-tep “Be at peace”

Ha-wi “Strike”

Hi-nehm “Join together”

Isfet “Chaos”

Ma’at “Restore order”

Maw “Water”

Med-wah “Speak”

N’dah “Protect”

Sa-hei “Bring down”

Se-kebeb “Make cold”

Tas “Bind”

Other Egyptian Terms

Ankh: a hieroglyphic symbol for life

Ba: one of the five parts of the soul: the personality

Barque: the pharaoh’s boat

Canopic jar: vessel used to store mummy’s organs

Criosphinx: a creature with a body of a lion and head of a ram

Duat: magical realm that coexists with our world

Hieroglyphics: the writing system of Ancient Egypt, which used symbols or pictures to denote objects, concepts, or sounds

Ib: one of the five parts of the soul: the heart

Isfet: the symbol for total Chaos

Ka: one of the five parts of the soul: the life force

Khopesh: a sword with a hook-shaped blade

Ma’at: order of the universe

Netjeri blade: a knife made from meteoric iron for the opening of the mouth in a ceremony

Per Ankh: the House of Life

Pharaoh: a ruler of Ancient Egypt

Rekhet: healer

Ren: one of the five parts of the soul: the secret name; identity

Sarcophagus: a stone coffin, often decorated with sculpture and inscriptions

Sau: a charm maker

Scarab: beetle

Shabti: a magical figurine made out of clay

Shen: eternal; eternity

Sheut: one of the five parts of the soul: the shadow; can also mean statue

Sistrum: bronze noisemaker

Tjesu heru: a snake with two heads—one on its tail—and dragon legs

Tyet: the symbol of Isis

Was: power; staff

EGYPTIAN GODS AND GODDESSES MENTIONED IN THE SERPENT’S SHADOW

Anubis: the god of funerals and death

Apophis: the god of Chaos

Babi: the baboon god

Bast: the cat goddess

Bes: the dwarf god

Disturber: a god of judgment who works for Osiris

Geb: the earth god

Gengen-Wer: the goose god

Hapi: the god of the Nile

Heket: the frog goddess

Horus: the war god, son of Isis and Osiris

Isis: the goddess of magic, wife of her brother Osiris and mother of Horus

Khepri: the scarab god, Ra’s aspect in the morning

Khonsu: the moon god