*

The night sky was angry.  The gods seemed to be in furious battle this night.  Standing alone on a terrace, Meela watched the distant desert storm that raged on.  The atmosphere seemed charged as she felt the winds caress her scantily covered body.  She was home.

Her bare feet were starting to get chilled by the concrete beneath her.  An Egyptian day was hot and the sun spiteful, but the night was cool and refreshing.  Pursing her lips, Meela leaned over the alabaster rail and gazed at the street below, barely concerned for the smudged paint on her belly.  What did she care?  Let Seti be angry.

Below walked a procession of slaves, each headed towards their homes for the night.  Another day of gruesome work was finished.  Meela frowned at the sick and tormented souls that walked almost hopelessly on.  She held any slave driver in contempt.  Seti was just what she hated.  Arrogant and self-centered, he cared only that his wishes were carried out.

But seemingly unlike the Israelites that were now all but gone from her vision, Ancksunamun had a hope.  The god of the Hebrews was alien to her, but the one she served would end her vile servitude and place her in far higher a position than Seti.  "Asenath," she whispered in an almost prayer like voice.  "Guide me."

She could feel her mentor's presence even though the woman took great pains to remain hidden within Thebes.  The task that was before Meela pulled at her soul.  Her freedom would come at a price, most assuredly.  She would dare the anger of another god to serve her own and gain her place among the blessed.  The world would change soon and she would be on the winning side.  But the price loomed within her thoughts like a plague.  Destroy him.

She looked down at the sand that traveled the clearing streets below as a lone, dark figure headed towards the palace to retake his place beside his king.  Her lips curled into a hungry smile and her fists clenched in the desire to do the bidding of her god and take her revenge on Seti.

Meela's hair moved gently with the winds that headed towards her beloved Thebes, but she made no move to restrain the locks that touched her face.  Then, before he got to the gates of the palace, the priest of Osiris stopped a moment and looked up, his eyes interested and amused that she had been watching him.

She feigned a blush and smiled, retreating from his view and into her bed chambers.  The time was approaching.  "Ancksunamun," came a stern voice.  She stopped and Seti regarded her.  "The designs on your body have been disturbed."

Looking at the floor, Ancksunamun lowered herself to her knees and bowed her head.  "I offer myself for judgment, Pharaoh.  I was leaning over the edge of the terrace and disregarded the paint on my stomach."

Seti approached her slowly and she knew it could go one of two ways.  Each time she smudged the intricate work on her body she took a chance.  She felt a hand on her head.  "You must be more careful," he replied tiredly.  "It is time for dinner anyway.  Wash yourself and dress appropriately.  Tonight Imhotep has returned and we celebrate his arrival."

Meela raised her face, a smile spread across her lips.  "And will I be sleeping in your bed this night?" she asked, knowing he would forget any transgressions with that question.

True to her knowledge of him, he returned that smile.  "Your appetites are strong, my promised.  How can I hope to keep up?"

Rising with purpose, she returned his lustful expression.  "You can but try, my king."

Seti laughed at that and turned away from her, leaving her alone to her thoughts.  She started at the door with unconcealed hate.  "But you will not try for much longer," she added to the now gone pharaoh.  "And you will die."

*

There was much singing going on, singing that was happy and carefree and caused the locals there in London much irritation.  After all, it was growing close to midnight.  At the moment Jonathan Carnahan wasn't exactly prepared to care all that much, though.  Scotch had that effect on people sometimes.  At any rate, down the softly lit streets of London walked the slightly drunken brother of Evy.

The house they shared was not too far from the pub he frequented, which was a good thing in his view, but didn't sit well with his sister.  "Good old Evy," he mused, thinking on his favorite sister.  His only sister of course.  She would likely be irritated with him tonight for coming home drunk again, but that was okay.  She would get over it.

Rounding a corner and whistling to keep himself company, Jonathan padded along down the shadowy street and looked up towards home.  The house was just in view.  It was a large home with many lonely rooms.  Beni's little parting gift had given them this much at least, not to mention the headaches Jonathan had acquired from his habits and the trouble they got him into.

But it was lonely now, especially since O'Connell had left them a few months ago.  The three of them had been quite happy in that house.  Jonathan smirked, remembering a joke he and Rick had played on the unsuspecting Evy.  They had had the good fortune to both arrive home before she did and having such an opportunity, had schemed together to frighten the poor girl out of her wits.

The house, being quite large, provided countless places to hide in.  Rick hid on one side of the house and Jonathan took the floor above him on the other side.  In the darkness they waited.

When Evelyn came home that night she had entered, called out for them and having decided they were gone, went on into the house.  It was then Rick began making noises.  Jonathan chuckled, remembering the sounds the ex-Legionairre had issued.  Of course Evy had yelled out their names again, and of course Rick answered with more strange sounds.  Closer and closer O'Connell had crept until frightened, Evy ran up the stairs.

At that point Jonathan began making sounds of his own.  They worked Evy up into quite a frenzy that night and when she found it was them she had been very angry.  Jonathan sighed then.  He wondered idly if that type of fun had been part of the reason Rick and Evy had broken up.  The hadn't exactly confided the gory details to him, but it had been a mutual choice by both of them that led to Rick's leaving.

O'Connell had moved to America and wrote back with a new address and a new life.  Of course both Evy and Jonathan delighted in reading letters from their good friend, but there had always been that look of sadness on his sister's face.  Jonathan surmised it was about time for another letter to end up in their mail box.

Upon arriving home Jonathan noticed that the gate was ajar.  He immediately sobered--a talent of his--and headed quickly through the gate and towards the manor to make sure Evy was all right.  The closer he got, however, the more he noticed something becoming apparent to his vision.  Gasping, he lunged behind a tree and peeked around at the moving form on their doorstep.  "Nice fine mess," he grumbled, not sure whether or not he should go for the police.

He took a breath and leaned against the tree.  He had to go over there.  There was no time for police.  Evy could be in serious trouble right now.  Steeling himself, Jonathan crept out from behind the tree and headed towards another one, tripping over a fallen branch.  He looked up in horror, but the form seemed to have missed his blunder.

That was it.  It was now or never.  Swallowing, Jonathan grabbed the large branch, hefted it above his head and attacked from the side, running towards the entrance to their home and yelling to startle the intruder.  What he hadn't really thought of was the fact that the person on his doorstep could dodge.  Moving every so slightly forward, the form let him pass and fall into the shrubs beside the steps.  "Hey, Jonathan," the man said nonchalantly.  "Comfy in that bush?"

Jonathan struggled a moment and wrenched himself from the pokey greenery.  When he looked up his eyes confirmed what his ears told him he would see.  There sat O'Connell, ripping up leaves and throwing the pieces to the ground.  He turned his head and grinned at Carnahan.  "I say old chap," Jonathan breathed, sitting beside his friend.  "What are you doing back?"

Rick smirked and looked out across the yard.  "I don't know," he replied truthfully.  "I just didn't like it where I was."

Carnahan nodded to himself.  "You know she's still got it in her head that you two aren't right for each other."

"Yeah," O'Connell said softly, throwing the shreds of a leaf down.  "I sort of thought she might and I still agree.  That doesn't mean I'm not..."  He trailed off.

"Lonely," Jonathan supplied, eyeing his friend.

Rick shrugged, then nodded.  "I guess.  I miss you guys.  By the way, where is Evy?"

Jonathan looked around, suddenly remembering where they were.  "Oh!  You've been sitting out here for a while now, haven't you?  Evy didn't answer the door?"

O'Connell shook his head and ripped another leaf from the shrub to his right.  "Nope.  I've been waiting here for about two hours.  I didn't want to leave with the gate jimmied open and no key to lock it back."

Standing up, Jonathan fished for his house key and opened the door.  "Well, come on in.  I can't imagine where Evy would be at this late hour.  That's got me a little worried."

Rick brought his bags in and set them on the floor.  "I don't like this.  Do you have an ideas at all?"

Jonathan looked around, then met Rick's eyes without an answer.  "Not a clue.  She's been working late at the museum, but...hello, what's this?"  He looked at a table in a nearby sitting room that was in view.  There was a strange paper there.  Picking it up, he read, "'Jonathan, I've come across some very interesting information about a hidden temple in Egypt.  I know how much you dislike the idea of returning there, so I didn't bother to ask you to join me.  I should return in hopefully a week.  Until then, try not to get into trouble.  Love, Evy.'"  He grunted and handed the note to Rick.  "Well, fancy that."

The American sighed and read the note over, then tossed it to the table.  "What do we do?  Chase after her or wait it out?"

Jonathan looked a bit startled at the suggestion of chasing her.  "She's a big girl, O'Connell.  I'm certain she can handle herself."

"You're afraid of what exactly?" Rick asked, unamused.  "Imhotep's in his grave, Jonathan.  There's nothing there to harm us."

Carnahan smirked and held Rick's gaze.  "Then why are you afraid to let Evy go out there?  Besides, she's likely not alone.  She's been hanging around with some bird at the museum that takes a fancy to Egypt almost as much as she does.  Meela something or other...I can't remember."  He flopped down in a chair and rubbed his now throbbing head.

Sitting down beside Jonathan, Rick exhaled tiredly.  "I still don't like her running around out there without some sort of protection.  I say we catch the next boat to Egypt and give her a surprise visit."

"I suppose," Jonathan gave in.  Rick was right.  There was nothing out there that could harm them now that Imhotep had been bested.  Nothing but thugs, Med-Jai and scorpions.  Jonathan looked at Rick.  "I'll pack some guns tonight."

Rick grinned at that and stood.  "I'll take my room back if it's not a problem," he ventured.  "At least until I can find a hotel or something."

Rolling his eyes, Jonathan settled into the comfy cushions.  "Don't be silly," he yawned, closing his eyes.  "I want you out tonight."  He opened an eye and grinned.

"Goodnight," was Rick's mock sarcastic reply as he shook his head and grabbed his bags.  Jonathan was out before Rick even left the room.

*

Evy yawned and gazed out the window at the pink and orange Cairo morning.  Egypt was always beautiful.  Always.  She was quite happy to be back again.  Still, seeing the streets where Imhotep had walked brought back many unpleasant memories.  Drawing her soft, white robe around her, she pulled back from the window and sat back down on the bed.

She wondered what Jonathan was doing right now.  Likely sleeping off a hangover or getting beat up by some ruffian that didn't take to well to Jonathan's habit of picking up items that weren't his.  At least he would be home.  Truth be told, Evy would have preferred he come along.  Meela was good enough company and trust worthy enough Evy supposed, but was very quiet and distant at times.  Sighing, Evy stood up and went to her suitcase.

Dressing herself for the day, she decided that she didn't need Jonathan's company or for Meela to be more talkative.  The task ahead of them would provide enough distraction.

For centuries there had been scant rumors eluding to a secret underground temple that actually wasn't too far off from Hamunaptra.  She supposed that might be because of who the temple was dedicated to.  The Temple of Horus, as the myth went, had been a sacred place to those who followed the God of Sky.  Hamunaptra was the City of the Dead, a place where the priests of Osiris would take the bodies of their kings for mummification.  It didn't seem strange to Evy that a temple dedicated to the son of Osiris would be created only a few miles north of the Dead City.

Still, she and Meela would have to be very careful to avoid the site of Hamunaptra.  Only a year ago the city had sunk beneath the sands, but Evy would prefer not to chance that there could be something left behind to make Meela curious.  Not only that, but she had no wish to rouse the Med-Jai.  Ardeth Bay would not harm them if they accidentally trespassed, but she wasn't too certain that the rest of his people would be so kind if they didn't know her or happened upon she and Meela without Bay in their presence.

Taking a breath, Evy looked herself over in the large mirror on the vanity nearby.  Of course she realized that these memories would always accompany Egypt, but she wasn't sure she wanted to consider them too closely.  That one week had changed her life and outlook forever.  Not all for the bad, honestly, but as many good times she had shared with Rick and Jonathan during that little adventure, it had also been one of the scariest times in her life.

"But that's over with," she reminded herself, pinning her hair back and taking one last glance in the mirror.  Satisfied, she left her room and entered the small sitting room that adjoined.  Meela was already awake.  She sat by a window, gazing out.  Her clothes were different than Evy wore.  Meela sat clothed in all black, her skirt mid calf and straight and her shirt short sleeved and low cut.

Evy herself was garbed in a long sleeved, pink shirt and a gray skirt that reached her ankles.  Drawing herself up with little smirk, Evy undid one of her shirt's buttons and moved her hands away.  "Good morning," she greeted.

Meela turned for only a moment, smiled and replied, "Good morning, Evelyn.  Did you sleep well?"  Her eyes went back out searching the hustle and bustle of Cairo.  She always seemed to be reflecting.

Coming to stand behind Meela, Evy looked outside and wondered what the girl was so interested in.  "Oh, I slept well enough I suppose.  You?"

She didn't answer right away, something that she did - or rather didn't do - quite often.  "Look at it.  So beautiful Thebes is," she muttered absently.

Evy cocked her head slightly and shrugged at Meela's choice of words.  "Yes.  It is a beautiful city.  I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been in ancient times."

"Breathtaking," Meela answer with a mysterious little grin.  She then looked up, full attention on her companion.  "I slept well.  Are you ready for breakfast?"

Inhaling deeply, Evy nodded and scouted around for her gray hat.  "I suppose we should begin.  We can go to a little market I know of for supplies after breakfast if you'd like."

Meela nodded her head, that quiet smile of hers still written on her features.  "I am looking forward to starting our journey, Evelyn.  Exactly where are we going?" she asked, standing from her chair and grabbing her handbag.

Evy smiled as they headed out of the hotel room and down the stairs.  Her voice took a tone of enthusiasm as she began to enlighten Meela on the details of their pet project.  "Well, you see in certain circles there's a certain..." she waved her hand thoughtfully, "rumor or myth about a hidden temple dedicated to the god Horus.  Not just any amateur Egyptologist knows about this supposed place.  I only learned of it through my work at the museum.  Anyway," she turned and walked backwards out the doors, "no one is quite sure what the temple's purpose is, but some seem to believe it holds some ancient artifacts that haven't been seen in thousands of years.  Perhaps even some manuscripts that could clue us in more to Egypt's ancient culture."

Meela looked around the city and smiled.  "And your museum sent you alone to check it out?" she asked suddenly, her eyes twinkling.

Grinning, Evy rubbed her hands together lightly.  "I'm not exactly alone."

"But you are the lone representative of your workplace," Meela added.

"Oh," Evy playfully huffed as they walked the streets of Cairo to find breakfast.  "Fine.  You're right.  I don't exactly have permission to be here, but how else am I going to get them to take me seriously back in London?  I was very lucky to get the menial job I have."

Meela shrugged.  "I wouldn't call it menial, Evelyn.  You are a respected grounds keeper.  You're..."

"A glorified tour guide," Evy finished before Meela could.  "I'd like to be able to actually go on some of their digs and learn with them, or make some of my own discoveries.  Hopefully if we unearth this ancient temple, I can earn the respect I deserve.  Perhaps you could work at the museum with me."

The tan woman laughed and shook her head.  "I don't believe that's my place.  Perhaps later on in my life."

Evy gave her friend a sidelong glance.  "Just why are you trying to learn all you can about Egypt's history, Meela?"

Her eyes grew a little distant and the smile on her face was replaced with a kind of searching.  "I don't honestly know," she replied carefully.  "It's just a part of me, this place.  I want to know more about it."

They came quickly upon a small cafe that was surrounded by delicious scents that beckoned them in.  Evy opened the door.  "I can understand that," she said.  "I feel like it's a part of me too."

They sat down at a table near the front of the store and Evy took in her companion thoughtfully.  What was she thinking, coming out here with a stranger?  She smiled ruefully at herself.  Not that Meela gave her any reason to feel threatened, but there was something about the woman that bothered Evy and she couldn't put her finger on what it could be.  Perhaps it was her quiet eyes, always calculating or her smile that seemed to hint at things Evy wasn't privy to.  Perhaps she's just shy, Evy thought to herself.  Still, there seemed to be something about Meela that nagged at the back of her mind.

Whatever it was, she hoped to find out soon.

*