Knowing a person's past, present & future, has always been Balaur's curse, power, and responsibility. Ever since he was born, he was self-aware. By merely brushing his hand against someone's skin, would show him, that person's whole life. The only one's, who's life he could never see past a certain point, were his own people. As far as Bal could figure out, it was due, to his mother's time-travel. She had come, from a certain point in time in the future, and he could never see past the point of her departure. It was the most frustrating thing, to see everyone's lives, yet not be able to change them. Oh, he had tried to do so, on several occasions. Yet, every time, as if pulled by an invisible force, events would always happen, as they were meant to. For instance, there was this one war, Balaur saw, began with the actions of a single person. Bal changed things, in a way, that was supposed to dissuade the culprit, yet in the end, the noble, who's death began the war, still ran into the murderer, in the opposite part of the city. The murder happened, the war happened. Several more times, Bal tried changing things, the result was always the same. That's why he had resigned himself, to follow the most painless, for all, way, in the hopes of one day, witnessing, his parents awakening. Balaur knew, what had to happen, yet could never reveal the full story, to anyone, especially when it came to his immediate family. For, it was only them, for whom he saw multiple futures. Not knowing why, or how. Not even the others of their people, had multiple outcomes, only his family.

For that same reason, he had foreseen his uncle's beloved, and knowing what was awaiting them, had to make a choice. Balaur chose the lesser of two evils. It has now been two months, since Selene left Petra. The fact that she was kidnapped in the first place, meant someone in the city, knew of her real identity. As far as the world knew, Cleopatra's sons, were all dead. As far as Rome was concerned, they should stay dead. But Selene, she was another matter. As a Royal's descendant, she was a valuable bargaining chip. Rome wanted her, and if they got her, she could never live her life, the way she wanted to. In order to give her that freedom, Attar had to stay in Petra, and find Rome's spy. But most importantly, he had to let Selene go. Balaur had warned him so, otherwise, she would have a short life, trapped in a golden cage, instead of freedom.

The morning after the four's departure, Balaur, together with his grandfather Yang, set out for Egypt, where his grandmother, had spent the past 200 something years, working on her projects. Her way of coping. After they successfully managed to hide his parents bodies, inside the moon, thus ensuring relative peace, each member of Balaur's family, set out to do their own thing.

Yang, finally giving in, to his grief, had become way too clingy, for his wife's tastes. Thus, she threw him out, expecting him to return after a decade. Yang on the other hand, traveled the world, pissing off Yin, further, each day. So when they finally arrived at the Sphinx, Yin, first hugged her husband, then kissed him, and send Balaur back to town. One would think, his grandparents, were going to be intimate with each other, but in reality, Yin was so angry with Yang, for being late, that he was avoiding her.

Bal: “Hi grandma!”

Yin: “Bal, my boy! How are you? Is everything...?”

Bal: “All is well. Don't worry. Things are progressing as they should.”

Yin: “I see. That's good then. Now! You!”

Yang: “Gulp! Yes?”

Yin: “Where have you been all this time?”

Yang: “Honey!”

Yin: “Don't you “honey” me! Get inside. Now!”

Yang: “Grandson! Help!”

Bal: “Sorry grandpa! You brought this on yourself. I'll be back in a week. Have fun you two!”

Yin: “Fun? As if! You are in trouble, husband.”

Balaur left his grandparents, laughing on the inside, as he headed to Cairo. He wondered, what Selene and her brothers were doing right about now. Attar was definitely checking up on them, through the rings.

Rubbing around, the ring on her finger, her taught drifted to Attar. Selene wondered, how he was doing. That night, 2 months ago, when it was time for them to go, the moment she turned to face Attar, she couldn't say “goodbye”. She wanted to stay with him, even if it meant, living the rest of her life in a cave, never having children of her own. Before she could say out loud her decision to stay, with him, Attar, simply said: “Go!”. Her heart breaking to pieces, she turned around & ran, before her tears came out.

Just as Balaur had promised, the soldiers stationed in Petra, let them pass, without a problem. At the exit of the city, the checkpoint soldiers, seemed to recognize the 4 of them. Instead of stopping them, the soldiers bowed.

Selene: “Brothers, what's going on?”

Cesar: “Don't you remember what Balaur said?”

Selene: “But why bow?”

Cesar: “No idea. Just go with it?”

Phil: “Where to now?”

Alex: “East. From what Pandora told me about China, we should be safe there.”

Phil: “How long till we get there?”

Cesar: “On foot, on horses, and avoiding other legions, about six months, at best.”

Selene: “Then what?”

Alex: “We'll see. Let's just get there.”

Selene: “So guys. The girls? I saw you holding their hands, what was that about?”

Phil: “They were so cute. Just 13, and as soon as they saw, each chose one of us, and very cutely proclaimed: “You'll be my husband!” So cute! So young, and already making plans.”

Phil, Alex, Cesar: “Ha! Ha! Ha!”

Selene: “They're not 13. The 3, are older than Attar himself. And he was our teacher, Setna.”

Cesar: “Wait! Setna! Our teacher Setna?”

Selene: “Brother! You don't know?”

Cesar: “Know what?”

Selene: “Let me tell you a very long story...”

The next 2 months of their journey, were spent in, traveling, hiding, and filled with the stories, Selene had learned from Attar. With the help of their rings, they even managed to unlock the vast library, hidden in the quartz crystal, Attar had gifted her. When her ring, was touching the crystal, a papyrus, glowing in a warm light, appeared in her hands. By sliding her finger on the surface, she could navigate the contents of the whole library. While absorbed in reading, Phil tried taking the papyrus from her hand, but his fingers just passed through it, as if there was nothing there.

As it was nearing dark, the glow from the papyrus, though soft, was still noticeable from a distance. They were walking in a valley, and without realizing it, suddenly found themselves, surrounded by more than 50 Thugs.

Alex: “Um! Sister!”

Selene: “A! What is it Alex?”

Phil: “We're surrounded!”

Selene looked around, then put away the glowing crystal, and reached for her sword. The Thugs, witnessing the magic before them, instead of being scared, they got greedy. Pointing their weapons at the four, the leader spoke:

Thug leader: “Hand over the magic items you carry, and we'll let you pass.”

Selene looked him in the eyes, and asked:

Selene: “Will you really let us go? Speak truthfully! Speak clearly!”

The Thug leader, mesmerized by her green eyes, spoke without realizing it.

Thug leader: “No, we won't. After taking your possessions, we will rape you, then sell all of you into slavery. If the men try to resist, we will kill them, and leave their bodies to rot at the side of the road.”

Only a second, was all that took, for Selene and her brothers, to draw out their swords. All 4, under their adoptive mothers, had become masters of martial arts. The Thugs attacked. The siblings countered. Each with their unique style, began taking down the enemy, one after the other. From 50, the Thugs had become half, in less than a few minute. Seeing his swords being taken down, the leader ordered the archers, to take down the four.

A volley of arrows, fell upon them.

In avoiding them, Cesar slipped on a small blood pool, and hit his head on a rock, sticking from the ground. Alex, got his legs and arm, hit with a few arrows. Selene, managed to avoid a few arrows, before noticing the one, headed straight for Phil's back. He felt a sharp pain, and the heaviness of a body, upon his back. When he looked down, an arrow head, was sticking from his chest.

Selene: “Phil, you ok little brother?”

Phil: “Sister?” -tears formed from his eyes, as he realized, that Selene had tried to stop the arrow, by blocking it with her body. It had gone straight through her, and into him.

The Thugs watched, as the siblings fell down.

Leader: “Too bad. O well. Take their stuff, and let's bury our companions.”

A few minutes leader.

a Thug: “Boss. Aside from their rings and weapons, they don't seem to carry anything of value. Such a shame.”

Leader: “Hm! Leave them rotting.”

a Thug: “Even the one with the arrows in his limbs? He's still alive.”

Leader: “Let him suffer from his wounds. Payback for our people's lives. Besides, no one ever comes on this back road.”

Selene, hearing all that, had only two wishes. Her brothers to live. And to see Attar, one more time. Her eyes closed.

In Petra, feeling as if something was horribly wrong with Selene, arose from his nap. His stomach, turned inside out. He quickly went to his tracking device. Just this morning, it had shown 4 bright, twinkling lights, indicating their position and heartbeats. Now, all 4 were dark.

A cold wave, washed over Attar, as he realized, that Selene and her brothers, were gone.