Prologue-
Tsar Nicholas II was a great and powerful man, said to hold all the powers of the universe. He was the last, and the most ruthless, Emperor of ancient Russia. He was so bad to his people that they often called him by 'bloody Nicholas'.
He had fallen ill over the last few months of his life, and wanted somewhere to conceal his riches. His priests hid the gold, silver, and jewels deep down underneath the earth, where no person would ever find it.
Once he died, his coffin was lined with his most precious rubies and jewelry, protected with the sacred prayers his priests put upon it.
His extra gold was laced into the clothing of his children, who were also buried with him once they passed onto the afterlife. They remained sealed in the catacombs, waiting for all eternity.
London, 1960-
"Adam's grandma, tell us the rest of that mummy story!" all the second graders of Crest-lake elementary school squealed with delight. It was "bring your grandparents to school" day, so obviously, Adam brought Evelyn. While other grandmothers droned on about baking cookies or sewing clothes all day, Evi's stories were always filled with adventure and suspense. "Okay, fine. Where did we leave off?" Evi sighed. Practically half the class was in a circle around her and Adam. "Oh! It was the part when you looked into Rick's eyes, and couldn't bear to be without him-"
"-no it wasn't Sally! Go back to the part when you went through that trap door, then saw the dude with his eyes eaten out by the mummy!" the boys grinned.
"Uh, I don't want to be responsible for any brain trauma or anything!" Evi laughed, "Tell you what. How about when Adam's dad almost got eaten by little pygmies?"
Everyone cheered in unison. "Adam's grandma, I think you're the coolest person here!" Sally commented.
"Thanks, but I have a name you know." she smiled.
"Just get to the story!" Adam complained.
"Fine. So there I was, abducted by the evil mummies followers, tied up and defenseless, no where to turn..." she let the suspense settle in. "after the mummy was reborn, his ugly girlfriend tried throwing me into a humongous fire!" she said, seeing all their little faces lean forward to hear more. "Right before the flames touched me, Rick jumped over the fire and brought me to safety." she sighed, as if remembering the memory. "It's just so romantic!" Sally cried,
"Tell us more!" they all yelled. Even the dingy old grandmas put down their knitting to listen. "I was surrounded by bad guys, Ardneth on my right, Alex on my left,"
"Adam's grandma, can I speak to you for a moment please?" the teacher interrupted. All the kids groaned. "But she's almost done!"
"Now?" Evi sighed, "And again with the naming issues!" she got up, going over to her desk. "I'm sorry, Mrs. O'Connell. We've got some complaints about your stories."
"From whom?" she demanded.
"Parents. Students have been coming home going on and on about, quote, 'mummies sucking the life out of people' and other nonsense like that!"
"I see," Evi sighed, "what's that got to do with me?"
"You're corrupting our students minds with all this make believe!"
"Make believe?" Evi laughed, "It doesn't hurt to know these things early in life! I mean, look at Adam, he's a good student, no trouble, great grades, everything!" she smiled, glancing over at him. He was surrounded by overwhelming comments about how awesome he was. "so you're saying what you told them was all true?" the teacher asked. "Yes, I would never lie to little kids!" Evi said reassuringly.
"Security!"
"That's not necessary!" she said, struggling in the guards arms. "I demand you let me go!" she yelled, "You'll be cursed for this I tell you!"
"Grandma, can I call Acalan and see if he can come over to play with me?" Rick and Evi's precious grandson asked. His parents, Alex and Lin, were taking a vacation at the Caribbean islands, and wouldn't be back for a few weeks. Evi had told him about their South American journey a few years back, and ever since, he and Acalan had become best friends. Adam was only seven years old, almost half the age of their old friend from Caligua. Acalan came ever so often to visit, since he got that nifty time travel trinket from the sun god. They had taught him everything about the 20th century, and even bought him his own cell phone. For a village of 300B.C, they have great cell phone service. She and Rick were also teaching him and his family English step by step.
"Okay, okay. I'll give his parents a quick call!" Evi reassured, smiling at his anticipation. Adam really hadn't grasped yet the fact that Acalan was from another century. To him, he was a friend that was always there when it got boring playing with his grandparents. "Um, hello, I was just wondering if Acalan would like to come over to play some games with Adam." Evi said.
"Well he's almost done milking the cows, and feeding the parrot, so he'll be there in a sec," his mother answered, yelling to her son.
Evi put down the phone, looking at Adam. "He'll be here in a minute. Why don't you wait for him by the door?"
"Okay!" he grinned, running over to the window, peering out it eagerly. "I'll go see what your grandpas up to!" she said, leaving the room in a hurry.
Acalan showed up in front of the house shortly after. Adam was bursting with excitement by the door, swinging it open. "You're here!" he yelled, running to his side. "How's things been since the last time I've seen you?" he smiled.
"Well things aren't really exiting anymore since grandma and grandpa won't do anything fun anymore. They told me about all the mummies they defeated and all the fun they had; I don't think there's any more for me," he sighed. "Don't be silly! Rick and Evi O'Connell? Boring? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Acalan laughed, "Maybe you should talk to them,"
"Already tried that. All they want to do anymore is talk about my dad and smart stuff I can't understand." Adam said, looking down at the hot pavement. "So, what game did you want to play?" he said, trying to cheer him up. "Oh! It's this new one where you can make your own person and attack these zombies that come into your house and try to eat your brains!" he said delightedly. "You had me at zombies!" Acalan grinned, running into the house.
"Well the boys are getting at that zombie game YOU bought him," she grinned sarcastically, entering his den. "That's great. What've you been up to?" Rick asked, sitting her down next to him. "Working. Sleeping. Typical grandma stuff." she sighed.
"Oh please, you look great for someone that's fifty years old!"
"Oh shut up you!" she pegged him in the arm, "I didn't know being a grandparent would wear you out so much!"
"I know. It's hard to believe Alex has his own kid now. I still remember when he was that age!"
"I miss him too. But, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about." Evi said, looking into his eyes. "Anything," he said, curious what she had to say.
"It's about Jonathan. I think he might be in trouble."
Rick stared at her, knowing she was probably right. "Tell me everything." he sighed.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling that something is wrong."
"That's it?"
"You think I'm lying?"
"I never said that,"
"Well you got to believe me; we have to go help him!"
"Help him with what?" Rick said, getting annoyed. "Rick. Listen to me. Jonathan left for Moscow three weeks ago, and we haven't gotten a single word back."
"And you think that's unusual?"
"Ok you got me. But we still have to go!"
"All the way to Russia... with Adam?"
"Well I guess so,"
Rick got up, holding her in his arms. "When've you ever had a vision that didn't come true?"
"Then we're going?" Evi said.
"Do we have a choice?"
