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we’ll figure that out later! Our first step is to complete my new lighthouse. It will be a beacon to the world – drawing the deities of Ancient Greece and Egypt here to me just as it did in the old days. I shall feed on their essence and become the most powerful god of all!’
    Annabeth felt as if she’d swallowed a tablespoon of salt. ‘
Feed on their essence.
 You mean, destroy them?’
    Serapis waved dismissively. ‘
Destroy
 is such an ugly word. I prefer 
incorporate.
 You know my history, I hope? When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt –’
    ‘He tried to merge the Greek and Egyptian religions,’ Annabeth said.
    ‘Tried and failed.’ Serapis chuckled. ‘Alexander chose an Egyptian sun god, Amun, to be his main deity. That didn’t work too well. The Greeks didn’t like Amun. Neither did the Egyptians of the Nile Delta. They saw Amun as an upriver god. But when Alexander died his general took over Egypt.’
    ‘Ptolemy the First,’ Annabeth said.
    Serapis beamed, obviously pleased. ‘Yes … Ptolemy. Now, there was a mortal with 
vision
!’
    It took all of Annabeth’s will not to stare at Sadie, who had now completed her magic circle and was tapping the hieroglyphs with her finger, muttering something under her breath as if to activate them.
    The three-headed staff monster snarled in disapproval. It tried to lunge forward, and Annabeth barely managed to hold him back. Her fingers were weakening. The creature’s aura was as nauseating as ever.
    ‘Ptolemy created a new god,’ she said, straining with effort. ‘He created you.’
    Serapis shrugged. ‘Well, not from 
scratch
. I was once a minor village god. Nobody had even heard of me! But Ptolemy discovered my statue and brought it to Alexandria. He had the Greek and Egyptian priests do auguries and incantations and whatnot. They all agreed that I was the great god Serapis, and I should be worshipped above all other gods. I was an instant hit!’
    Sadie rose within her magic circle. She unlatched her silver necklace and began swinging it like a lasso.
    The three-headed monster roared what was probably a warning to its master: 
Look out!
    But Serapis was on a roll. As he spoke, the hieroglyphic and Greek tattoos on his skin glowed more brightly.
    ‘I became the most important god of the Greeks and Egyptians!’ he said. ‘As more people worshipped me, I drained the power of the older gods. Slowly but surely, I took their place. The Underworld? I became its master, replacing both Hades and Osiris. The guard dog Cerberus transformed into my staff, which you now hold. His three heads represent the past, present and future – all of which I will control when the staff is returned to my grasp.’
    The god held out his hand. The monster strained to reach him. Annabeth’s arm muscles burned. Her fingers began to slip.
    Sadie was still swinging her pendant, muttering an incantation.
    Holy Hecate
, Annabeth thought, 
how long does it take to cast a stupid spell?
    She caught Sadie’s gaze and saw the message in her eyes: 
Hold on. Just another few seconds.
    Annabeth wasn’t sure she had a few more seconds.
    ‘The Ptolemaic dynasty …’ She gritted her teeth. ‘It fell centuries ago. Your cult was forgotten. How is it that you’re back now?’
    Serapis sniffed. ‘That’s not important. The one who awakened me … well, he has delusions of grandeur. He thinks he can control me just because he found some old spells in the Book of Thoth.’
    Behind the god, Sadie flinched as if she’d been smacked between the eyes. Apparently, this ‘Book of Thoth’ struck a chord with her.
    ‘You see,’ Serapis continued, ‘back in the day, King Ptolemy decided it wasn’t enough to make 
me
 a major god. He wanted to become immortal, too. He declared himself a god, but his magic backfired. After his death, his family was cursed for generations. The Ptolemaic line grew weaker and weaker until that silly girl Cleopatra committed suicide and