Emma emerged from the washroom the next morning to find Evy running around in a state of panic, with Alex trying desperately to calm her down.
'He's run away, I know he has!' Evy was shouting hysterically. 'I never should've tried to force him to come back to London with me – it's all my fault that my son is missing!'
'No, Mom, it's all my fault!' Alex said to her, almost equally hysterically. 'I should never have given him that purple sash before he was ready! We'll send search parties out right away. We'll find him; I promise we'll find him!'
'But where could he be?' Evy screeched. 'Where would he go?'
'We'll find him!' Alex said again.
'Like you found that vampire who killed Iqbal?' said Evy, sobbing now.
Emma kept her eyes trained on her father and grandmother until they had turned the corner of the passageway and passed out of sight. Adopting a determined expression, she went to her room and put on her Medjai robes. She then stole along to her parents' room, which was quite deserted. She opened the closet and took out a Medjai staff, then she left the room and made her way towards the main entrance.
Emma ran across the rope bridge, causing it to swing alarmingly, and hurled herself into the cave. She immediately discerned an unmoving figure slumped against a nearby wall.
'Mikey?' Emma said uncertainly. 'Mikey, is that you?'
Emma took a few steps towards the figure, then she came to a sudden halt and let out a horrified scream. Michael's skin was deathly white. His glassy eyes stared up at Emma, obviously struggling to focus on her; he was clearly all but unconscious. The top half of his body was barely covered by the ripped remains of his Medjai smock, and he was bleeding from an array of angry red wounds to his neck, chest and shoulders.
'Emmy...' Michael managed to croak. 'Emmy, you... you have to go! He's here!'
Emma threw herself to her knees at Michael's side and burst into tears.
'Mikey, what's happened to you?' Emma sobbed. 'I... I'll get you out of here, okay? The Medjai physician will patch you up in no time.'
'Emmy, I... I'm sorry I called you a silly little girl,' Michael whispered, wincing with pain as he spoke. 'You're not a silly little girl... you're the best girl in the world... and now I've told you that... I don't so much mind dying.'
'No, Mikey!' Emma wailed, as her tears fell onto his unnaturally pale face. 'You can't leave me! We've always been together and we always will be!'
She bent and kissed him on the forehead, then she took his right hand and grasped it firmly.
'I'm not going to let you go, Mikey!' Emma told him firmly. 'I'm going to save you, okay? I don't know how, but... ow!'
Emma collapsed into a sitting position and shook her head in an attempt to dispel the wave of nausea that had come over her, but she made sure to keep a firm grip on Michael's hand. Michael found his vision clearing and his breathing suddenly becoming easier. He looked at Emma with a puzzled expression on his face.
'Emmy,' he said, 'what's going on?'
'I think... I'm saving your life,' Emma told him, smiling through her obvious discomfort. 'I knew... I'd find a way to do it... ouch!'
Several wounds had opened in Emma's neck. Michael looked down at his chest and saw only bare, unsullied skin. He gasped in alarm and tried to pull his hand away, but Emma maintained her iron grip.
'You've seen... my dad... doing this,' said Emma. 'It seems... I can do it too. And I'm sure... just like him... I'll be able to heal myself... in time.'
'Emmy, you mustn't take any more!' Michael shrilled. 'That's more than enough – you'll kill yourself!'
Emma did not reply, but tightened her grip on his hand. Michael struggled and squirmed, and at last he was able to pull himself free. He jumped to his feet, and Emma collapsed in a heap.
'We have to get out of here, Emmy!' Michael declared. 'I'll carry you if you can't walk! We just have to -'
'That was extremely interesting, Mike,' said Spike, as he emerged from the shadows. 'I formed a few theories about how my experiment would turn out, but none of them involved a mysterious girl turning up here and saving your life with her magic powers.'
'Yeah, well,' said Michael, scowling at him, 'life's full of surprises, isn't it?'
'I wish I could let you and your little friend go free now,' said Spike, 'because you've definitely earned it... but unfortunately, I just can't do that. Believe it or not, I really do like you, Mike, and I've enjoyed talking and training with you more than I can say... but I'm going to have to finish you off now because, at the end of the day... well, like you said yourself, I'm a vampire! And no self-respecting vampire could pass up the chance to drain the lifeblood from the brother of the Supreme Medjai!'
'You had your chance to do that!' Michael snarled. 'And now it's my turn!'
Michael grabbed Emma's abandoned staff and threw himself at Spike, who quickly dodged out of the way.
'Haven't you learned yet, mate?' Spike sneered. 'You can't get the better of me, especially not by prancing around like a magnificent poof! I know all your moves, Mike, and I'll always be a step ahead of you!'
Michael scowled, dropped into a crouch and kicked Spike's legs out from under him. Spike yelled in surprise and alarm as he went crashing to the floor. Michael rained blows on him with the staff for a few moments, then he ran back to Emma.
'Emmy, you have to try to get up!' Michael squeaked at her. 'We need -'
'You need to accept the inevitable, Mike,' said Spike, now back on his feet. 'You can't get out of this... or not if you insist on taking your little girlfriend with you, anyway.'
Michael ran at Spike again. Spike stepped out of the way, but Michael kept running until he came to the cave wall, then he allowed his momentum to carry him a little way up it before performing a back flip and launching himself at Spike again. Spike screeched as the Medjai staff cracked into the side of his head, and he crumpled to the ground. Michael landed on his feet and ran over to Emma; he immediately started gathering her into his arms.
'Mikey?' Emma mumbled, blinking at up at him woozily. 'Where are we? What's going on?'
'Don't worry about it, Emmy,' said Michael, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. 'Just leave everything to me.'
Michael turned and ran towards the cave entrance, but Spike's fist slammed into his face before he was halfway there. Michael and Emma both went crashing to the floor, then Michael found himself rising into the air with Spike's hand clamped around his neck.
'Good boy, Mike!' Spike declared in delight. 'You saved up a couple of surprises for me! And you could've escaped – you could've escaped twice! You could've run out into the sunlight and I wouldn't have been able to do a thing to stop you. But you wouldn't leave your precious Emmy, would you?'
'I... I'd rather die,' Michael choked out, 'than leave her to your mercy, Spike!'
'Well, if you insist!' Spike laughed. 'The world definitely will be a lot less interesting without you in it, Mike. But that's a sacrifice we'll all just have to learn to live with!'
'Please do me a favour,' said Michael, 'and leave Emma alone after you've killed me. Our deal was that you could have me and leave the rest of the Medjai alone, so take me now and honour your word!'
Spike laughed and said, 'Okay, I'll do exactly that. Say, here's a new proposal for you, Mike. I'll turn you if you want. Into a vampire, I mean. We can travel the world together, just you and me, leaving death and devastation in our wake. It'll almost be like you're my... well, my little brother!'
'No thanks,' said Michael, looking Spike squarely in the eye, 'I'm already someone's little brother.'
'That's classy, Mike,' said Spike, nodding in approval. 'Really, really classy; I can't deny it. I'll definitely have to spare Emma now, so she can tell the other Medjai warriors what a classy guy you truly are... or were, in the end!'
Spike shook out his demon features and opened his mouth. Michael winced and closed his eyes.
'STOP!'
Emma's screech echoed around the cave. She had dragged herself into a sitting position, and was now gazing at the scene before her with a horrified expression on her face.
'Don't kill him!' Emma screamed at Spike, tears cascading down her cheeks. 'Please don't kill him!'
Spike smiled nastily through his demon features and said, 'My dear, emotional young lady, why shouldn't I?'
'You... you like deals, right?' said Emma. 'Well, I've got a deal for you – one you simply won't be able to turn down!'
'Emmy, no!' Michael yelled, then he let out an agonised scream as Spike squeezed his throat to shut him up.
'I'm listening,' Spike told Emma.
'You want to drain the blood of the Supreme Medjai's brother,' said Emma, 'but there's something even better than the blood of the Supreme Medjai's brother!'
'There is?' said Spike. 'What's that?'
'The blood of the Supreme Medjai's daughter!' Emma declared. 'I'm the Supreme Medjai's daughter! You can take my life in exchange for Michael's. I promise I won't resist you in any way, and I won't scream.'
'Where's the fun in that?' said Spike, chuckling.
'Fine, I'll scream if you want me to!' Emma said desperately. 'You'll get your Supreme Medjai blood! Just let Mikey go!'
'No, Emmy,' Michael choked out. 'Let him take me, I'm not worth it!'
Emma looked down into her lap and said, 'You are to me.'
'Now, just let me get this straight,' said Spike. 'You're the Supreme Medjai's daughter, right?'
'Yes, I am!' Emma said firmly.
'Of course...' said Spike. 'That's why you have magic powers... how you managed to absorb Mike's injuries. So... so he's your uncle?'
Emma nodded.
'And she's your niece?' Spike said to his captive.
'Yes, she is,' Michael replied.
'What's the age difference between you two?' Spike asked, a smile of amusement on his lips.
'A little under two years,' said Michael.
'And you're the Supreme Medjai's whole brother?' Spike persisted. 'You're not a half?'
'No,' said Michael, 'we have both the same parents.'
'Man, there's something weird about that!' Spike declared. 'Someone's definitely been doing something they shouldn't have... or doing someone they shouldn't have!'
'That's not true!' Emma piped up defiantly. 'Okay, my parents were pretty young when they had me – my mom was eighteen and my dad was sixteen when I was born – but they were in a loving, committed relationship, and they still are!'
'A loving, committed relationship?' Spike scoffed. 'Don't make me laugh!'
'It's true!' Emma asserted. 'My parents are deeply in love and they always will be!'
'That's what Dru used to say about us,' Spike sighed wistfully, 'but then...'
'Who's Dru?' said Michael, then he yelled as Spike tightened his grip and almost throttled him again.
'That's none of your business!' Spike growled. 'Hey, hang on a minute here, Mike. Emma's the girl whose heart you broke, isn't she? The one who's so firmly implanted inside your head!'
'Yes,' said Michael, 'she is.'
'And she's your niece!' Spike laughed in delight. 'I never imagined it would be your niece! I'm right, aren't I, Mike? You think about your own niece while you're tossing yourself off! That settles it – your family is definitely weird!'
Michael roared in anger and suddenly slammed both his feet into Spike's chest. Spike let go of him and staggered backwards. Michael landed awkwardly, but quickly pulled himself into a defensive stance. Spike glared at him, all signs of amusement gone from his face.
'You know you can't beat me, Mike,' he said quietly.
Michael smiled and said, 'I'd like to test that theory.'
Spike ran at Michael with his fangs bared, but Michael managed to beat him back with a series of fast and accurate blows. Spike stumbled on his heels and Michael kicked out at him, but Spike dodged the attack and punched Michael in the mouth. Michael's head snapped to one side and he spat blood. Spike lunged at his exposed neck, but he was suddenly hurled back by an unseen force and went crashing into the wall of the cave.
Emma was on her feet. She had thrust her hands in Spike's direction, palms outwards, and was now frozen in that position, breathing heavily.
'Emmy!' Michael exclaimed, wiping the last of the blood from his mouth, 'your telekinetic powers have activated!'
'Yeah,' said Emma, 'they sure have.'
Spike pulled himself to his feet and ran to attack again, but this time Emma was his intended target. She jabbed her right hand at him, throwing him back once more. Spike snarled and attempted another lunge at her, whereupon she caught him in a field of telekinetic energy and slammed him against the cave roof several times.
'Yes!' Michael exclaimed in delight. 'Go, Emmy!'
Emma exhaled heavily and slumped forward, grasping her knees. Spike yelled as he fell to the floor. He dragged himself to his feet, slowly and painfully. Emma forced herself to stand up straight again, and Michael moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
'You know what?' said Spike, laughing again now. 'Sod this!'
He gave Michael and Emma a curt bow, then he retreated into the shadows at the back of the cave.
'Where are you going?' Michael called after him.
'Someplace far away from Egypt, just like you said I should,' Spike's voice wafted back to him. 'You can keep your Medjai blood, and your Supreme Medjai powers! I'll miss you, Mike, and I wish you lots of luck with your future Medjai career... you and your – ahem! – niece. Speaking of which, it looks like you're not the next Supreme Medjai after all, doesn't it? Well, never mind. As for me, I think I'll give true love one more try. After all, if it worked for the Supreme Medjai, why shouldn't it work for me? You won't see me again – none of the Medjai Order will, you have my word on that. Ta-ta, kiddies – make sure you always play nicely together, won't you?'
And then there was silence. Michael and Emma both stared for some time at the point where Spike had disappeared, then Michael took a few tentative steps forward and peered into the darkness.
'I think he's gone down the tunnel,' said Michael. 'Do you think he's gone down the tunnel? He must've gone down the tunnel.'
He turned to find that Emma had collapsed to the floor. Her breath was coming in rattled gasps, and her neck had started bleeding quite badly. Michael let out a cry of distress and ran to her side.
'That really... took it out of me,' Emma panted, smiling up at Michael through the pain. 'I think... I'd like to go home now.'
'Emmy,' said Michael, grasping her hand, 'I can't ever thank you enough for saving my life. But why did you come here by yourself? Why didn't you tell someone where you thought I was? You shouldn't have put yourself in mortal danger for me!'
'I didn't know... that's what I was doing,' Emma replied. 'When your mom said... you'd run away... I knew you'd be here... but I didn't know you'd have a vampire with you! I thought you'd just... be sulking or something.'
'Oh my God,' Michael wailed, covering his face with his free hand, 'it's all my fault!'
'No,' said Emma, squeezing his hand. 'I still... could've told someone... but I didn't want them... finding out about our secret place. Besides... I wanted to find you myself... and to help you myself.'
'You sure did that!' said Michael, wiping his streaming eyes. 'Oh, Emmy...'
'I didn't realise... you were hoping to be the next Supreme Medjai,' said Emma, smiling wryly at him. 'I'm sorry... to have to disappoint you.'
Michael laughed, then he leaned in and brushed his lips against Emma's cheek to bestow the briefest, tenderest kiss in the history of the world.
'Do you think you can walk?' he asked, jumping back to his feet.
'I... can try,' said Emma.
'I'm going to help you,' said Michael. 'Here, put your arm around me.'
Michael helped Emma to her feet and supported her as best he could. The two took a few tentative steps towards the cave entrance.
'Don't be afraid to lean more heavily than that,' said Michael. 'I can take all of your weight if you need me to.'
'Okay,' said Emma, allowing her feet almost to drag. 'Thanks, Mikey.'
Michael approached the Medjai Academy with Emma's unconscious body in his arms, supporting her by the shoulders and backs of the knees. Almost collapsing with exhaustion, Michael was relieved to see the illusory entrance shimmer out of existence, then a familiar figure leapt down from the watchtower.
'Alex!' Michael called croakily, then he fell to his knees on the sand, making sure to maintain his grip on Emma despite his collapse.
'Mikey!' Alex called as he ran up to them. 'Emmy! What the hell is going on here?'
'Alex,' Michael panted, as he wept with exertion, pain and relief, 'I... you... we...'
'Okay,' said Alex, 'there'll be time for explanations when we've gotten you two straightened out. Do you think you can walk a little further, Mike?'
'Yes,' said Michael. 'I'll be okay in a minute.'
Alex nodded, then he bent to lift Emma into his arms. He gasped in horror when he saw the red marks and dried blood on his daughter's neck.
'The vampire!' he exclaimed. 'But how... no, don't tell me anything now – let's just get you two inside.'
Alex turned and strode towards the entrance. Michael groaned as he pulled himself back to his feet, then he limped along in his brother's wake.
Michael and Emma were both sitting on Michael's bed, drinking tea and eating biscuits. Alex was on a chair beside the bed, looking at Michael with an impassive expression on his face.
'So, yeah,' said Michael, taking another sip of tea, 'that's the whole story, Alex.'
'That cave...' said Alex. 'It's the one where the Scarab took Yanit, and where Elder Garth hid out. And now you two almost died there!'
'We thought you didn't know about that cave, Dad,' Emma remarked conversationally.
'You thought wrong, sweetheart,' said Alex. 'I checked there for the vampire myself the first day we went out searching, but there was no sign of him then.'
'I told Spike about the cave the night after you checked it,' Michael realised.
'So he was hiding there while we were searching everywhere else!' said Alex.
'I guess so,' said Michael.
'What happened to the vampire in the end?' Alex asked. 'You didn't tell me that.'
'Well,' said Michael, 'you see, Alex, the thing about that is... I mean, what actually happened was -'
'Mikey killed him,' Emma cut in. 'He drove a Medjai staff through Spike's heart and he, like, crumbled to dust.'
Michael gave her a look, but she avoided his eye.
'That reminds me,' she continued, 'we left two Medjai staffs in the cave; we'll have to go back and get them sometime.'
'Never mind about the staffs!' said Alex, suddenly looking grave. 'There are more important things that need to happen because of this little adventure of yours!'
'Alex, I know I made a huge mistake,' said Michael. 'In fact I made a series of huge mistakes!'
'I'll say you did!' said Alex.
'I was lying to myself all along,' said Michael. 'I thought I could get something out of my deal with Spike; I convinced myself I was still in control, no matter what happened. I was sure I could get the better of him when the time came, but I should've known he'd be several steps ahead of me. I've learned the most valuable lesson of my life, but I put us all in danger to do it. I'm sorry, Alex.'
'You really think that's enough?' Alex said darkly.
'Of course it's enough, Dad,' said Emma, squeezing Michael's hand. 'Mikey really came through in the end – he was super brave and he totally kicked Spike's ass! I think we should chalk the whole thing up to experience and get on with the rest of our lives.'
'It's not that easy, Emmy,' said Alex.
'Alex, I don't know what else I can say,' Michael said helplessly, looking at his brother with pleading eyes.
'You've said enough, and you've done enough!' Alex snarled. 'You stupid, stupid little boy! You can't possibly realise the seriousness of what you've done! How could I ever have given you a purple sash? I'll never forgive you for endangering my daughter's life – never!'
'But... but Alex...' said Michael, blinking back tears.
'Shut up!' Alex yelled. 'You're way more trouble than you're worth, Mike, and you always have been! Do you know why Yanit isn't here right now? She went out looking for Emma, even though she's heavily pregnant! That means you've endangered the lives of both my children today!'
'Alex, I haven't!' Michael wept.
'You have!' Alex bawled.
'But Yanit's only fairly heavily pregnant,' said Michael. 'I'm sure she'll be fine, and the baby!'
Alex gave Michael a filthy look, then he took Emma firmly by the arm and guided her to her feet.
'My daughter needs to get some sleep now,' said Alex, 'and I need to take care of her, but after that...'
Alex left the sentence unfinished as he turned his back on his brother and hauled his daughter towards the door. Emma threw a helpless look over her shoulder at Michael; Michael jumped to his feet and ran to put a hand on Alex's free arm.
'Alex, pl... -'
Michael was cut off as Alex whirled around and punched him in the face. Emma screamed as Michael flew across the room and slammed into the far wall, before crumpling to the floor. With tears in her eyes, Emma got a final fleeting glance of Michael dragging himself into a sitting position and crying bitterly into his hands before she was hauled from the room.
Emma was lying with her head in Yanit's lap, having her hair stroked. Alex sat down on the edge of Emma's bed and peered at her neck.
'Those puncture wounds have almost healed,' he remarked. 'At least that's something.'
'It was Mikey who actually got punctured,' Emma reminded him, 'not me.'
'You're still the one who ended up with the wounds!' Alex pointed out.
'Emmy, you've been so brave,' said Yanit. 'We couldn't be more proud of you, could we, Alex?'
'No, we couldn't,' Alex sighed, placing his head in his hands. 'Emmy, I owe you a massive apology. I should've talked to you about your Supreme Medjai powers – I should've done it weeks ago! I really meant to and I knew I was a coward to hold back, but I kept putting it off because... well, I just can't believe you're growing up so fast and I guess I was kind of in denial. But most importantly of all, sweetheart, I didn't want to mess with your head because I know how unhelpful that can be to a young Medjai, but now I've ended up doing it worse than ever!'
Emma gave Alex a small smile and reached out to hold his hand.
'It's fine, Dad,' she said. 'I totally understand how you felt and why you didn't tell me, but there's something else that I don't understand and I simply can't forgive you for.'
'There is?' said Alex. 'What's that?'
'The way you treated Mikey,' said Emma. 'You shouldn't have gone off at him like that and you definitely shouldn't have hit him, Dad! It was really brave of him to give himself to Spike to protect the rest of us, because that's what he did, however you cut it! He made a mistake and he learned his lesson, and that's all anyone should ever ask of anyone else! Mikey's your little brother, but you treated him like he wasn't even a person! Just think for a moment, Dad – what has he done that you have not done yourself?'
Alex stared at Emma for a few moments, then he went red and looked away.
'You're right,' he said quietly. 'What Mike did, I did myself many times, and I was always forgiven by the people who loved me. Emmy, I'm ashamed.'
'Don't be ashamed, Dad,' said Emma. 'Do something about it!'
Evy chose that moment to enter Emma's bedroom, looking worried and grave.
'Michael says he's going to drop out of the Medjai Academy and come back to London with me,' she announced.
'Isn't that what you wanted, Evy?' Yanit asked quietly.
'Not like this, and I only wanted him to take a break, not drop out!' said Evy. 'He feels he's disgraced both the Order and his family, and he doesn't blame you, Alex, for hitting him or for not trusting him anymore.'
'Oh my God,' Alex breathed, wiping his streaming eyes. 'Mikey...'
He jumped to his feet and dashed from the room, followed closely by Evy. Emma adopted a determined expression, pulled away from her mother, rose to her feet and started to follow.
'Emmy, where are you going?' Yanit fretted.
'I'm going to see what happens with Mikey,' said Emma.
'You mustn't, darling,' said Yanit. 'You need to rest.'
'I need to see Mikey!' Emma insisted, then she ran from the room.
Michael was sitting on the edge of his bed with a bruised, swollen, half-closed right eye, turning his purple sash over and over in his hands. He looked up when Alex entered the room, then he hurled his sash away.
'You're right, Alex!' Michael wept. 'I don't deserve it – I don't deserve any Medjai sash!'
'You do, Mikey!' Alex told him tearfully. 'I was wrong; horribly, selfishly, thoughtlessly wrong! Please don't drop out of the Medjai Academy – I want you to stay, I really do!'
Michael's lip wobbled and he burst into fresh tears. As Evy and Emma watched from the doorway, Alex ran to his brother and threw his arms around him. Michael hugged Alex back, sobbing relentlessly onto his chest.
'Mikey, I'm so sorry for everything I said to you!' said Alex. 'I didn't mean any of it and I'm utterly ashamed of myself! You're not a stupid little boy – you're brave and loyal and loving and wonderful and I'm really, really glad you're my little brother – I couldn't have asked for a better one.'
Michael stopped crying and looked into Alex's eyes. Alex smiled at him, and Michael smiled back. A red glow started to appear around Michael's black eye. Michael frowned and pulled away from Alex.
'No,' said Michael. 'I want to keep it and wait for it to heal naturally, to make sure I'll always remember the lesson I've learned.'
'But darling, it'll be agony!' said Evy.
'No pain, no gain,' Michael said firmly.
Alex smiled and said, 'I'll make a deal with you, bro. You can keep the black eye if you also keep your purple sash. No matter what anyone says, you have earned it and you do deserve it! The Supreme Medjai has spoken.'
Michael smiled and nodded. Emma went to where the purple sash was lying on the floor, and picked it up. Michael came over to her and she slipped it over his left shoulder.
'Come on, Mom,' said Alex, rising to his feet, 'I think we're done here.'
Alex steered Evy from the room, leaving Michael and Emma alone. They smiled at each other.
'You look wonderful in this,' said Emma, giving the sash a light stroke.
'You should be moved straight up to orange after what you did, Emmy,' said Michael. 'We should've realised your Supreme Medjai powers were activating – that's how you managed to break all those arrows at once.'
'I've felt it happening for several weeks now. I wanted to tell you, but you seemed so distant.'
'I'm so sorry, Emmy. I'll never forgive myself for what I've put you through.'
'Well you should, because I've forgiven you,' Emma told him firmly. 'But I have to admit, I wish you would've told me how you were feeling about what your mom said, instead of some random vampire.'
'So do I,' Michael assured her, laughing slightly, 'now.'
Simultaneously, they moved into a close embrace and then clung on to each other in silence for some time.
'Why did you lie about me killing Spike?' Michael suddenly asked.
'Because Dad wasn't going to let it rest,' said Emma. 'Spike killed Iqbal. But I just wanted the whole thing over and done with!'
'Yeah, me too,' said Michael. 'But do you think it really is?'
'I'm almost sure of it,' said Emma. 'I think Spike will keep his word not to bother us again. You succeeded in defeating him, even though you didn't kill him, and I didn't want my dad to think you'd failed.'
'I didn't expect you to lie to Alex for me, Emmy. I mean, I'd never expect that of you.'
'I'd do anything for my favourite uncle.'
'I'm your only uncle,' Michael pointed out.
'Maybe so,' said Emma, 'but I also have a great-uncle, and I wouldn't do absolutely anything for him. I certainly wouldn't die for him.'
'You shouldn't have offered to trade your life for mine, Emmy,' said Michael. 'Yours is more important.'
'Like I said before, I don't think so,' said Emma. 'Besides, I only did for you what you did for me, when you told Spike to leave me alone and kill you instead.'
'You're the next Supreme Medjai, Emmy,' said Michael. 'Do you really think I'm worth the sacrifice?'
Emma smiled and said, 'Let's just hope we never have to find out, Mikey... because I know you won't agree with my answer.'
Neither of them seemed to have anything else to say for the moment, but they remained holding each other in the middle of the room, and seemed likely to stay that way for quite some time.
Alex climbed into bed next to Yanit, who immediately started stroking his chest and kissing his neck.
'I don't know how you can bear to touch me, Yanit,' said Alex.
'I can bear to touch you because you're my gorgeous love machine and I want to crank your handle,' Yanit purred. 'Or maybe handle your crank...'
'I'll never forgive myself for what I've done to those kids!' Alex said bitterly. 'First I treated Mike too softly, then I completely blew up at him for no reason, and I didn't talk to Emma about her powers even though I knew I should!'
'Oh, Alex,' Yanit sighed. 'You're still my poor, sweet, sensitive boy, aren't you? Remember, you did have a reason for blowing up at Mike, even if you went a little overboard.'
'I should never have treated him like that, no matter what he'd done,' said Alex. 'I'm a failure as a brother and as a father!'
'Hey, now you just stop that self-pitying rubbish right now, okay?' Yanit said sternly. 'You're not infallible, Alex, and no one expects you to be!'
'But I'm the Supreme Medjai.'
'So what? No one stops making mistakes, and learning from them; not even the Supreme Medjai! If you're determined to beat yourself up about all this, at least let me shoulder some of the blame. I'm the one who stopped you going to check on Mike the night he met the vampire. And that phenomenon is hardly anything new, is it? You've missed so many important danger signs over the years because the two of us have been having sex at the time!'
'That's my fault, Yanit,' said Alex. 'I've just never been able to get enough of you.'
'The feeling's always been more than mutual, Alex,' Yanit assured him. 'We can learn a lot from this whole sequence of events, but we mustn't let it eat away at us. Michael and Emma both did brilliantly against the vampire, they're both still alive, the vampire's gone... what more is there to say?'
'Iqbal's gone too.'
'You can't possibly blame yourself for that!'
'I don't... but it still hurts to remember that it's true.'
'Oh, Alex, of course it does.'
'I'm so proud of our daughter, Yanit,' said Alex. 'I don't think I made that clear enough to her; I must tell her again in the morning.'
'I hope you're proud of your brother too,' said Yanit.
'Yes,' said Alex, 'I am. I'll speak to him as well.'
'You know,' said Yanit, 'I always worried that Michael would lead Emma into mortal danger someday because of his carelessness, but as it turned out, she followed him into it to save his life because she loves him so much. Somehow, I can't think badly of either of them for that.'
'Nor can I,' said Alex, snaking an arm around his companion's shoulders. 'Yanit, I'm sorry I've been wallowing in self-pity. Do you still feel like handling my crank?'
'Always,' Yanit purred. 'Well, usually... including right now! Alex, you remember when we used to talk about taking early retirement from the Medjai life?'
'Sure,' said Alex, 'but that was when it was just the two of us.'
'True,' said Yanit, 'but maybe we really can retire five to ten years from now without even bothering to transfer your powers to anyone, if Emmy feels like becoming the next Supreme Medjai a little earlier than she might. We'd live in Cairo rather than on a tropical island, of course, but we could certainly afford to take a big step back, if we wanted to.'
'It's definitely worth bearing in mind,' said Alex. 'But we'd have to make sure not to become so wrapped up in each other that we started neglecting our children. That can happen, you know.'
'You don't think we've been doing it so far, do you?'
'No... no, I'm sure we haven't.'
'We'll have to be careful to keep watching for the danger signs,' said Yanit. 'Although I don't think there can be any harm in my doing this from time to time...'
'Aaah!' Alex exclaimed. 'Now that is definitely cranking my handle!'
'Has it got you ticking over?' Yanit asked.
'Very much so,' Alex replied.
'Good,' Yanit purred. 'Just let me know when you're fully warmed up.'
'Do you think Mike really staked that vampire, or they let it go?' said Alex.
'I don't know,' said Yanit. 'Does it matter?'
'I guess not, so long as it's really gone for good,' said Alex. 'It might matter to James and Saf, but they seem quite happy with Emmy's version of events so... ah! Do you know something, Yanit? I feel really warm now!'
Yanit grinned, then they both moved their positions under the covers, and Alex reached out to extinguish the light.
