The moon was full, its bright light making the Egyptian desert less sinister and frightening in the middle of the night. This somehow gave him the audacity to stray from camp and walk alone to the excavation site. He knew it wasn't safe, it wasn't in their protocol to go alone without company nor without any safety equipment but he had with him his mini flashlight which would help him find his way inside the crypt. He after all did not need any digging device.

The way inside the underground chambers was steep but he was in shape for the exhausting and quite precarious trek inside the catacombs. He found his way back to the chamber believed to be a princess' burial ground because of an ornate sarcophagus in the middle of the room, surrounded by several skeletons believed to be the bodies of servants buried with the princess. The mummy lay undisturbed inside the sarcophagus till arrangements for it to be moved to England were made. He uncovered the left ring finger and it revealed a glistening diamond ring embellished with black stones. He tried to slip it off the finger but for some reason it wouldn't budge from the mummy. He felt his heart pounding wildly as he scrambled to take off the ring. He was afraid someone would catch him if he doesn't go back to the campsite soon. In his haste, he accidentally tore off the finger and the magnificent ring fell to the ground.

Doctor Jones sat up in bed, perspiration covered his body despite the chilly night. He rubbed his aching head as he recalled every detail of his dream. The man appeared to be young, not more than twenty five, must be a young archaeologist. He didn't appear to be greedy or ruthless. He was merely excited at the sight of the ring in his hands as he uttered a name, "Eloise".

Doctor Jones stared at the page containing the mysterious ring. It was indeed the same ring in his dream but he wondered if it was precisely the same one in Angela Bower's finger. He had to see her soon or else he would not get any peace of mind...

He caught sight of her immediately as she entered the Italian Restaurant, her tall personage and striking delicate beauty stood out. She smiled at him as she noticed him seated at the corner booth. He tried not to stare as she walked towards him, her long legs revealed by her garnet coloured, three quarter sleeved dress seamed A-line above her knee.

She told him she was bringing her fiancée with her. Doctor Jones half expected her fiancé to be the man in his recurrent dream but the man closely following her was a colleague from Marshall College.

"Hi Angela!" he greeted as he shook her hand.

"Hi Tony! Pleasant surprise. I didn't know you were Angela Bower's lucky fiancée," he said pleasantly as he shook Tony's hand before inviting them to seat.

"Henry! Good to see you. I really want to thank you personally for giving Jonathan another chance. You know he is a good kid, a real honest one. It's unfortunate that he was put on a tight spot. I would have explained the whole thing to you but Jonathan didn't want me to interfere...with both of us being professors in school...he didn't think it would proper. But I'm glad all is fine now," said Tony before ordering a glass of wine.

"I always knew he was a good kid, and a smart one at that. Being one of the exceptional students I invited him to join us in an expedition this summer. I was hoping it would influence him to take archaeology as a profession. I really think he would go places with his analytical mind and his passion for history and anthropology but alas...he has his mind set on being a businessman. He said he plans to put up his own software firm some day," said Dr. Jones.

"His father's job took him away from home most of the time and which led to our divorce. I think that may have led Jonathan to consider a more lucrative job that wouldn't take him away from home so much," replied Angela pensively.

The waiter arrived with their dinner and as they were in the middle of their meal, Doctor Jones broached the subject about the ring.

"Your engagement ring is quite unusual. Where did you buy it, Tony?" he asked.

"I was so anxious about finding the right ring for Angela. I couldn't make up my mind when the owner of the jewellery shop in New York City offered me this ring-it's on display, it's her own ring given to her by her husband. I don't know...she have an immediate liking towards me and offered me the ring. It's beautiful, it's creepy-it's awesome so I grabbed it. It was the last present from her husband-it came from Egypt I think..."

The news perked up Doctor Jones. He was now eighty percent certain that the ring was genuine. It was the ring given by King Rameses III to her daughter, the ring that could possibly lead him to open the golden gate leading to the legendary treasure.

Doctor Jones carefully took Angela's hand and looked at the ring carefully. Tony and Angela stared at him in confusion. He smiled at them without letting go Angela's hand.

"Did you know that your ring bears the symbol of Nephthys, the daughter of the Egyptian god Nut and Geb whom Egyptians believe to be the protector of virtue. King Rameses III gave his daughter Princess Melacorta a ring just like that to protect her virtue. You see he wanted to offer her daughter to the gods in exchange for power so he wanted her to remain a virgin but unfortunately, he died before he could make such offering. Her daughter had inherited all his gold, all his treasure and it was believed to have been buried somewhere in the Valley of the Kings."

"Oh come on, Doctor Jones, I'm sure it's just a legend. Just like the legend of my ring. You know some scientist we met at Vermont said the same hogwash..." recalled Angela thoughtfully.

"...you can take it with a grain of salt...A couple of archaeologists are going on an expedition in two weeks...at the Valley of Kings to check out this legendary treasure...would you like to go with us?" invited Doctor Jones.

"I can't. I'm giving Summer Classes to advance students," said Tony.

"I would love to go... I have never..." exclaimed Angela in excitement which unfortunately was short-lived as Toy stopped her from going.

"No! I don't think so, Angela. That's quite dangerous..."

"There will be several archaeologists and we are well-equipped..."

"I'm sorry, Doctor Jones. I'm sure if you were in my shoes you wouldn't want Angela to go on a dangerous expedition without you."

"But Tony..." Angela began to protest.

"No Angela, that would really make me sick with worry. If you love me, you will not go."