The day's work was over, and Anya was allowed to go home. She collected her
papers and her handbag and casually strolled out of the museum, her home
away from home.
The first oddity Anya saw was a group of men dressed in red on the streets. There wern't many, but their unique crimson garments stood out against the sandy color of the locals.
They looked at her, and she directed her gaze to the ground as to not meet their stares. She had to pass them, and as she did, she heard one man whisper to another, who was covered head to toe in black cloth, except for his face, which had a black mask on it, "My Lord, it's *her*!"
The language was Ancient Egyptian, and Anya, being a smart young scholar, knew how to speak it. She sped up and walked as fast as she could, without running, away from the men in red. What were they doing here? And were they talking about her? Anya?
Anya just pushed this event to the back of her mind and walked to the O'Connell's Egyptian mansion, her home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hello, baby sister!" Alex called from the living room.
Anya left all her stuff on the chair in the front hall and sprinted into the living room, grinning. It had been ten years since she had last seen Alex.
She threw her arms around her brother's neck. Oh, how she had missed him! He had been 10 when Anya, which was short for Annikah, was born, and now Alex was 28, making Anya 18.
"Anya?!? My God, is that you?"
"Yup, it's me, Goldilocks!" She taunted, using her pet name for her brother.
He ruffled her hair and kissed her cheek. "Stand back, let me look at you. Last time I saw you you were eight."
Anya let go of Alex's neck and took a couple of steps back.
All Alex had to say was "Whoa..."
Anya chuckled. That was about the only thing boys said to her.
"Anya, you look gorgeous... I mean great. You look great."
Anya went over and sat sideways in his lap as a little sister would.
"Of all people you should be able to keep your head screwed on straight. I'm your sister, for heaven's sake!"
Alex looked at her face close-up. "You know, you look almost exactly like... nevermind."
Anya blew her bangs up and sighed. "I guess I'll never know."
"Know what?"
"Who I look like. Mum and Dad have been saying that, too."
Alex ran his fingers through her hair. "I missed you so much..." He started, deliberatly changing the subject. Anya rolled her eyes.
The first oddity Anya saw was a group of men dressed in red on the streets. There wern't many, but their unique crimson garments stood out against the sandy color of the locals.
They looked at her, and she directed her gaze to the ground as to not meet their stares. She had to pass them, and as she did, she heard one man whisper to another, who was covered head to toe in black cloth, except for his face, which had a black mask on it, "My Lord, it's *her*!"
The language was Ancient Egyptian, and Anya, being a smart young scholar, knew how to speak it. She sped up and walked as fast as she could, without running, away from the men in red. What were they doing here? And were they talking about her? Anya?
Anya just pushed this event to the back of her mind and walked to the O'Connell's Egyptian mansion, her home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hello, baby sister!" Alex called from the living room.
Anya left all her stuff on the chair in the front hall and sprinted into the living room, grinning. It had been ten years since she had last seen Alex.
She threw her arms around her brother's neck. Oh, how she had missed him! He had been 10 when Anya, which was short for Annikah, was born, and now Alex was 28, making Anya 18.
"Anya?!? My God, is that you?"
"Yup, it's me, Goldilocks!" She taunted, using her pet name for her brother.
He ruffled her hair and kissed her cheek. "Stand back, let me look at you. Last time I saw you you were eight."
Anya let go of Alex's neck and took a couple of steps back.
All Alex had to say was "Whoa..."
Anya chuckled. That was about the only thing boys said to her.
"Anya, you look gorgeous... I mean great. You look great."
Anya went over and sat sideways in his lap as a little sister would.
"Of all people you should be able to keep your head screwed on straight. I'm your sister, for heaven's sake!"
Alex looked at her face close-up. "You know, you look almost exactly like... nevermind."
Anya blew her bangs up and sighed. "I guess I'll never know."
"Know what?"
"Who I look like. Mum and Dad have been saying that, too."
Alex ran his fingers through her hair. "I missed you so much..." He started, deliberatly changing the subject. Anya rolled her eyes.