Chapter 2- "Surprise Meetings"

San Francisco, Present Day

Presley Carnavon sped down the street in his "new" used Cadillac convertible. He smiled as he waved to a group of his old high school friends, who were walking to the library. It seemed as if it was just yesterday when he'd finally gradated, and college was now just around the corner. His eighteenth birthday had been wonderful and getting ready for dorm life had been a blast! His mother had gone all out, and his Dad would even send him stuff, including this cool car! Walter and Elaine had sent him a couple letters, telling him of their wonderful time studying in Japan.

He sighed wistfully at the thought. He and Elaine had dated a little in school, but nothing ever spectacular happened, and they eventually broke up, mutually wanting something more. Elaine struck it at once with Walter, and they've been going strong for two years. When Walter's family moved back to China after graduation, both he and Elaine decided to go to school in Tokyo, where he could be near his family and she could be with him. He and Walter remained good friends and they wrote each other.

Walter had told him once, that his sister was still adjusting to moving and that she still hated it. He had laughed, knowing that when he said, "adjusting", that meant still throwing temper-tantrums and arguing boisterously.

Yep, that was just like Cynthia. He remembered having that horrible crush on her in grade school. Good thing he had matured and got over that! He would have been stuck with probably the worst relationship ever.

No, for now, he was with no one. He didn't miss having a girlfriend; he decided that when the right girl came along, he'd know.

Yes, he lived the life of any normal teenager—one full of ups and downs.

The only problem with that idea was, he wasn't a normal teen. He was living two lives…

He'd accepted some time ago, the fact that he was the vessel for the restless spirit of Rapses, an Egyptian prince who was murdered over 3,000 years ago. He'd accepted that also, there were many forces in this world that was beyond human understanding, and that the soul he carried was one of the keys within them. The spirit he carried was coveted by many an otherworldly force, some more dangerous than others…

However, the fates had not been so malevolent as to leave him to fend for himself. The powers that be, provided him with four bodyguards, four protector who would give their very lives for him if asked. In fact, they'd already do so once, without hesitation…

Yes, all four of his guardians were not among the living, but wandering spirits that inhabited the remains of their once used bodies that were now embalmed and wrapped as mummies. Now this might usually scare the average person—Heck! He was scared too when he first met them as an adolescent boy. But you can't believe everything you see in the movies. Truth be told, the four mummies were the greatest friends and mentors a guy could ask for. They were completely loyal as well, the same in the afterlife, as they were in life.

The four, had originally lived thousands of years ago, and had been the personal tutors and bodyguards of Prince Rapses, the boy whose spirit inhabited his body. They followed their prince in death as they had tried to protect him. Having failed, they were now to protect his restless spirit until it came to was put at peace. Now when that was, Presley had no idea…but until then, he still carried the prince within him and the mummies continued to protect him from harm. But they were more than just bodyguards, they were his teachers, his role models, and his friends, they were like part of his family…

Putting those thoughts aside, he parked his car in front of the museum his mother still worked for. He smiled, having so many fond memories of the place. It was another one of his homes away from home. Picking up his mom's lunch, as well as his own, from the side passenger seat, he locked the car then headed inside. The guard noticed him like always, and waved hello. "My, Presley, you sure have grown. It seems just yesterday, that you were a young boy, rolling in here on your skateboard. Now look at you! A grown, young man."

He smiled at the complement, "Thanks, Hank. Where's my mother? I brought her lunch."

Hank pointed down the hall towards her office. "She's talking with some hotshot archeologist who's with the new exhibit that came in the other day, can you believe that he only wanted to talk with her? Said he would only work with professionals or something like that. I guess he's rich enough to pick and chose… He's a nice guy though, not snobbish or nothing, and his—"

Presley quickly interrupted him before the guy went on for hours. "Thanks Hank, I'll be discreet."

As he went down the hall, he could hear friendly voices coming from his mother, Amanda's office. She worked a lot for the city museum, especially for the ancient history department specializing in Egypt. It was basically her job to get and manage new exhibitions and speakers. Sometimes that included some sucking up, but he guessed that his mom didn't really mind. She was as good as a saleswoman when trying to convince a person to come speak or get a world famous exhibit to come. He was proud of her, and very thankful! Without her, he'd have never known about the Egyptian part of him, or met his mummified guardian friends. Well, maybe now that people were willing to come to her, maybe she would be getting a raise. She deserved it! He himself, worked part-time at a local car repair shop, and he know knew how real work felt and the joy of getting a well earned raise in pay.

Well, if this guy is rich, I hope he gives her a big tip. I wonder who he is. He thought as reached for the door handle.

Opening the door, he was almost shocked to see his mother, sitting on her desk in her desk with her legs crossed and her head in hands, not to mention the dreamy look on her face! She looked up at him, and so did the man in from of standing in front of her, who had been looking as if he had been in the middle of charismatically telling an exciting story of some sort.

She hopped off the desk, and walked up to him happily holding out her hands for a hug. "Oh Presley, you've come! Perfect timing."

He bent down and clumsily, but warmly embraced her. "Hey mom, I brought you lunch."

He looked up at the man who was approaching from behind her. "Who's this?"

She clasped her hands together in happiness, almost reminiscent of a schoolgirl, said, "Oh Presley! I'd like you to meet Dr. Jason Delphi. He's a world famous archeologist, and is one of the best in Egyptology. He's the discoverer of what will be our newest exhibit here: The Mysteries of the Nile. He and I've been working out the details, as well as telling me some of his prior adventures that he's had all around the world!"

The man, put a hand on her shoulder and said laughingly. "Thanks for the intro Amanda, but I'm not all that. You've probably scared him." He put his other hand forward, "Hi, I'm Dr. Delphi, but you can just call me Jase, everyone does."

As Presley shook the man's hand, he looked the guy over. He was about an inch taller than him, about six foot two, and he was a very muscular, rugged man who had clearly seen the outdoors often. He had sandy brown hair and soft hazel eyes, his handsome face was lined with weathering and slight age, but he still had a lot of youth about him. It was obvious of his profession as he dressed like he was ready for a dig right then and there! He wore tan khaki everywhere, his shirt was covered in pockets for tools and other knick-knacks, and his feet wore a pair of worn tan hiking boots. Presley could even spot the stereotypical fedora hat lying on the desk. He's an archeologist all right. All he needs is the gun and whip, and he's a regular Indiana Jones…

He smiled cordially, "Hi, I'm Presley Carnavon."

Jason smiled back, "Well, the way your mom described you, I thought you were a child, but you're a regular man! How old are you?"

He smirked at his blushing mother, "Thank you, I'm eighteen."

"Eighteen! That makes you just as old as my own little girl! I, like your mom, was only blessed with one child…but that makes her all the more special. You two should meet, I like you kid, and I'm sure you could help her out since she's a stranger here."

Jason turned back to Amanda, "I think that would be a good idea. What do you think Mandie?"

She nodded in total agreement. "Of course Jase, cause San Francisco can be precarious to those who are unfamiliar with it."

The smirk on Presley's face grew wider as he listened to them talk. Mandie? Jase? Well, well…it seems the two have taken to each other.

Jason waved away Amanda's constantly gesturing hands, "Precarious? Hah, she can handle it. Let me tell you about the time I went to the Amazon and we spent some night in the rainforest…"

The two immediately seemed to draw into a world all to themselves. Jason was vivaciously telling a tale, that was obviously one of many. His eyes seemed to dance as he spoke, and a soft tenderness was in them as he looked into his listener's own orbs. Mom, for her part, was listening intently and asking questions, a dreamy look about her as she stared back into his eyes.

The two had practically forgotten he was there, so intent on each other. Presley shrugged his shoulders. Let mom have some fun. She hardly ever got to go out with friends, much less date! If she was interested, then let her go for it. He could always spend some time later with her.

He put her lunch on table, just in case she ever broke away long enough to see and eat it. Then, tiptoeing to the door, he waved a goodbye that went unnoticed, and turning the doorknob went to exit—when he suddenly felt something collide into him!

Looking down, he was surprised to see a pair of eyes looking up into his own. They were sparkling bluish-green and—the most beautiful pair of eyes that he'd ever laid eyes on!

Helping the person stand up straight, he saw immediately that it was a girl—the most gorgeous girl he'd ever seen…

She was a small thing within his arms, and as she blushed and smiled she looked away apologetically, "Sorry, I was looking for my dad. I didn't mean to bump into you."

He shook his head, totally overwhelmed. "It was entirely my fault. I should have been looking before I stepped out. Umm…I'd be happy to help you look. My-My name's Presley Carnavon."

She looked at him and grinned, holding out her small delicate hand. "Thank you very much, Mr. Carnavon. My name is Delphi, Isis Delphi."

As he took her hand and somehow instead of shaking it, he felt this inner psychic influence to pulled him to kiss it instead. Something he'd never do…but felt so natural when he saw her.

What the two didn't notice, as the stood in the door way, was that the minute that their flesh touched. On the amulet around Presley's neck, the eye of Ra glowed for a split second! But even more mysterious, was that simultaneously glowing was the amulet around Isis Delphi's neck…a golden ankh covered in lustrous and extremely rare, rain topaz gems…

The wind swirled silently through the outside trees. The words spoken in a temple, on a night thousands of years ago in a land far away, were floating once again on the breeze:

Your vessel will bear my name, Our faces will be the same.