Vladmir Menshikov

**Vladimir Menshikov** was a Russian magician who was in charge of the Eighteenth Nome. He was an assassin for rogue magicians, and was the third most powerful magician in the world. He is a descendant of the priests of Ra, the ones that wrote the Book of Ra, as well as the main antagonist of *The Throne of Fire*. He died when Michel Desjardins extracted Apophis from him.

## Appearances

### Appears in

The Kane Chronicles: The Serpent's Shadow

### Debut

The Kane Chronicles: The Shadow's Serpent

## History

Menshikov was the grandson of the infamous Prince Menshikov. He was once considered a hero by the House of Life, but recently, his behavior has become more chaotic. Menshikov may have heard the orders from Desjardins, but he had his own agenda; he wanted to help Apophis rise from his prison.

Vladimir's face, voice, and eyes were destroyed when he attempted to destroy the Book of Ra earning, him the name "Evil Ice Cream Man" from Sadie in *The Throne of Fire*. Sadie states that his eyes looked likes Gramp's favorite breakfast, soft boiled eggs with Tabasco sauce.

## The Kane Chronicles

### The Throne of Fire

Vladimir Menshikov was first seen when Sadie took a ba trip to the First Nome. Vlad and Desjardins were talking about Amos Kane. Vladimir was later seen in Russia, as he summoned Set and then attacked Carter and Sadie. It was later revealed to Carter by Horus how Vlad ruined his eyes. He attempted to awaken the sun god with one scroll. Instead of waking up Ra, the scroll blasted flames at Vlad that damaged his eyes and vocal cords. This was when he became an ideal host for Apophis. Apophis was hosted by Vladimir, and they tried to unleash Chaos into the world. Vladimir had put curses on the Chief Lector, Desjardins, to sap away his strength. Menshikov was "enslaved" by Apophis. After he tried to awaken Ra with but one scroll, he "turned bitter". In this state of mind he was an ideal host for the Serpent. Menshikov never wanted to host Apophis, but he was possessed. According to Carter, Menshikov was "a prisoner of his own hateful feelings". Apophis eventually took over control and forced Vladimir to say things that he never wanted to. He wanted to usurp Ma'at to some extent, but not let it collapse into the Sea of Chaos. Apophis did, and Vlad's foolhardy attempt to revive Ra led to his demise.

In the final battle deep in the Duat, Desjardins came to aid Carter and Sadie. He summoned a whirlwind and attacked Vladimir and distracted "that wretch" as Sadie started the spell. Desjardins subdued Apophis using the glyph for Turn Back (Heh-Seih) then tried to execrate him. Vlad died when his body collapsed as Apophis broke free.

## Personality

Menshikov was extremely cruel; he execrated his own servant to summon Set. The practice itself is forbidden by the House of Life. He hid his sardonic personality with a mask of loyalty to Desjardins. The only two beings he cares about are himself, and Apophis.

## Appearance

Vlad dresses in all white, wearing a suit and scarf and sunglasses. He has a chubby face, a pleasant smile, and curly gray hair. His eyes are ruined, however, appearing as if they have been "splashed with acid, then repeatedly clawed by cats". This was caused by him trying to awaken Ra with only one out of three scrolls. He wears a silver, snake-shaped pendant. According to Sadie, he looks like an evil ice-cream man.

## Powers and Abilities

Vlad can cast curses, as he did to Chief Lector Desjardins in *The Throne Of Fire*. He can also use a pendant to change enemies into snakes and making earth envelop his enemies "crossing like a DNA helix', as described by narrator Carter Kane. Apart from that, his powers over the elements shown in the end of *The Throne of Fire* all come from Apophis, whom he hosted.