Chapter 4

Angela walked back in the storeroom where they kept all the things they didn't have room to display yet. She had some books that she had token out of the library and she now headed back to return them. It had been a year sense she had worked there but she still knew her way around and most of the workers there. She remembered why she had come back to Egypt after living in Italy. She had gotten word of her grandfather, Winston's, disappearance and had come looking for him. She had followed his trail for a while and found out that he had left in his plane and had never been seen again.

She had followed the trail of people who said they had seen his plane fly over and it had led her into the desert. She knew that her grandfather had not quiet been in his right mind but she refused to give up hope, Winston had been her only living relative. The last people she had crossed paths with had told her that the plane had flown over 10 weeks before and showed her which way it had been heading. They also took her two camels and goods and left her out in the desert with nothing but the clothes on her back. She had kept going though more because she had no idea were she was and which direction was home. It had been the next day that she had stumbled across the ruins of her grand father's plane.

Tired and dehydrated she had just fell down and lay there crying. She had thought for sure she was going to die and she still wasn't sure why she hadn't. She didn't know how long she laid there and all she really remembered was feeling some one touch her neck. She had forced her eyes open but she had not been able to see very well. She remember a dark figure kneeling over her and it talking to her in Arabic but other then that it was a real blank. She couldn't remember, she thought she might have tried to fight the stranger or run but it was mostly a blur. The next thing she had remembered was waking up with water dripping on her face.

Three Arab boys had been looking at her and she had soon realized she was under a palm tree near a small village. The kids had been curious about her and had helped her up and showed her to their village. From there she had been able to get back to Cairo but according to the boy's they didn't know how she had got there, just that she had been lying there in the morning. Angela remembered telling Rick that once when they had been talking out on the deck, he had fell silent and it was like he wanted to tell her something but couldn't. He finely had told her that he had been with her grandfather on his last trip. All Rick had said was that they had been on a dig that had went terribly wrong, something Angela was just now starting to understand. But he had said that her grandfather had been happy in his last moment and it had comforted Angela some.

She had been off in space thinking about this when she started to walk past a screen that separated part of the large room, it was some what see through and Angela saw that there was a man on the other side. It didn't take her long to figure out who it was, for the man was dressed in all black, scimitar and knives in full view with a black turban. Ardeth had his back to Angela and she saw the chance to maybe surprise him for a change. He was looking very intensely at an artifact, it was a small Ankh statue that had writing on it.

"Its Aramaic." Angela said stepping out from the screen.

Ardeth started slightly and spun around to look at the girl. Ardeth stared at her for a moment he was not used to being snuck up on.

"Do you speak it?" He asked not letting his surprise show.

"A little, but its not my first language." Angela stepped up to him and took the ankh.

"That would be English?" Angela just nodded she felt like there was something more behind his question.

Ardeth looked the girl up and down she walked as if she was in no pain and the only thing to suggest that anything had happened was the slight bruise on her face, there was something not right about that. Ardeth had, had his share of being ruffed up and he knew that you were at least sore the next couple of days.

Thinking back to when he had seen Angela last he remembered very well her laying there holding a scarf that she must have found in the wreckage of the plane. She had been unconscious and looked near to dead, but she had stirred when Ardeth had tried to move her and had woke up enough to scream and push him away. Ardeth was used to getting beat up but the force that she had kicked him in the ribs had set him back on the ground. He still wondered about it, a girl strong built but that couldn't be over 5'7, half dead being able to bruise his ribs when not even a full strength man could have done it.

Luckily for Ardeth, Angela had passed out and Ardeth remember riding across the desert with her slumped over the saddle, his side killing him.

"Evelyn and Rick have been expecting you." Angela's words brought him back to the present but he still unconsciously rubbed his side.

"Yes, have they found out anything?" Ardeth had been glad to here that the Oconnels had come. They were a remarkable family and had become his trusted friends.

Angela put the Ankh back where it belonged and said.

"I don't know there talking to the curator now, I'm sure they will be happy to see you."

Ardeth nodded he didn't know the new curator that the Museum had chosen, which in fact had been one of the reasons that he had not gotten to the necklace piece in time. It had been much more useful having a Med Jai as the curator.

"How many languages do you speak?" Angela looked at the man for a moment and she slowly answered feeling like Ardeth was looking for something.

"A little bit of this and that, why?" Ardeth smiled to himself at the girl suspicion. (She's smart.) He thought.

"It's just that not many people mumble in Arabic when it's not there first language."

Angela stared at Ardeth, had she been mumbling? She didn't remember that, though she knew sometimes she did start speaking Arabic for no reason. She always did have a problem with counting in Arabic, something that drove her friends in Rome crazy.

" My Nanny was a Arab woman who spoke no English." Angela explained. "I had to learn both English and Arabic somewhat at the same time, so I suppose you could say it is my first language."

Angela remembered that at the age of five she had a better Arabic vocabulary then English, something that had annoyed her parents but they were always off working that they had very little time for her anyway. Her father had been in the British Military and had been stationed in Egypt and her mother had been much to busy with socials to worry about Angela.

They stood in acquired silence for a minute, Angela finely said.

"Well do you want me to show you where Evie and Rick are?"

"Yes." Ardeth said indicating for her to lead the way.

Angela went back through the room the way she had come in. She saw a man named Zodack who worked there come through the door that lead into the main part of the Museum. She called to him and he smiled when he saw her, he spoke in excited Arabic.

"Angela! Where did you come from? I have not seen you in so long!" Angela went up and hugged the man smiling she answered him speaking Arabic.

"You know were I have been. In England working as a apprentice for Evlyn Oconnel."

"Be careful, the Oconnel's have a reputation for getting in to deep in with scrupulous characters."

It was then the man noticed Ardeth standing slightly back. He shout his mouth with a snap, Ardeth was obviously one of the scrupulous characters that he had been talking about. Angela didn't introduce them for she thought no good could come out of it.

"Um Zodack I have to take care of something." She started to hand the man her books.

"Would you do me a favor and put these back?" Zodack nodded still glancing at Ardeth.

He left and Angela turned to Ardeth, she had felt him staring at her when she had been walking back and even now. It was starting to get on her nerves.

"Were you looking up something important?" Asked Ardeth and Angela new he was looking for something, though she couldn't think of what. What could this man plossibly want from her that would be of interest for him.

"You could say that, I was just doing my home work on the Necklace if Isis." Ardeth nodded his head.

"Find out anything interesting?" It was obvious that he already knew what was in those books but Angela answered his question anyway.

"Well there does seem to be a pattern to it all, something bad happens to a Egyptian who lived a long time ago. Either for love, power or greed. But anyway they all make a vow or curse, if you will, so even when they have been dead for years some sucker lured by the riches will come, disturb the curse and the ancient Egyptian can have his revenge. Never mind its on a civilization that has no idea they every existed."

Ardeth leaned back on the wall and crossed his arms, he listened to her speel in silence and when she was done he just nodded his head.

"Yes that sounds about right."

"Angie." Said Alex as he came through the door and went up to Angela, he had a snake in his hands and he put it up to Angela's face as he said.

"Look what I found." Giving Alex a slight smile Angela pushed his arms away slightly moving the snake away from her.

"Yes, isn't that lovely."

"He was out side, I grabbed him and let him loose in the Museum you should of seen the people jump. One lady practically landed in Thutmoise's lap."

Alex then noticed Ardeth who stood off to the side. He was chuckling slightly (Alex Oconnel is defiantly Rick's son,) Ardeth thought.

"Ardeth?" Alex said.

"Young Oconnel." Ardeth answered stepping up to him.

"When did you get here?"

"Alex, please be careful with that snake." Angela warned and Alex rolled his eyes.

"It's not poisonise." Angela ruffled Alex's hair and said.

"To some people he is and I'm sure he rather be back out side."

Alex just turned to Ardeth and repeated his question.

"When did you get here Ardeth? We tried to catch up with you at the airport but you were already gone."

"I am sorry, but I had things that needed to be done."

"Mom and Dad are just over..." Alex made a pointing gesture and at the same time lost hold of the snake. It dropped to the ground and slithered under a table. Alex eyes went wide as he dove after it.

"Alex!" Angela scolded dropping to her knees looking under the table where Alex was. "Where did the snake go?"

Ardeth looked around for it as Alex and Angela went on their hands and knees looking under stuff.

"Alex if we don't find that snake I swear." Alex interrupted her as he saw the snake slither out from under a table towards the door.

"Look there he goes!" Alex and Angela dived for it but it was fast and slithered around a statue of a pharaoh. Ardeth kneeled down beside Angela.

"Did it go in that whole?" Ardeth asked and Angela looked at him.

"Why don't you stick your hand in there and find out?"

The door opened and Angela looked up to see a short older woman standing there. With a huff the old lady began to lecher them about not being allowed back there.

"You do not have permission to be back here. This is for employees only-"

Angela spotted the snake heading for the woman and bighting her lip Angela looked from the snake to the woman, who hadn't noticed the it yet. Angela's eyes went wide as she saw the snake was indeed headed right for the old lady. Ardeth saw it as well and in one grand movement both Angela and Ardeth lunged for the snake at the same time.

As Angela and Ardeth both grabbed the snakes tale they smacked into each other and Angela stumbled and fell over Ardeth. There was a big commotion as Ardeth tumbled to the ground with a grunt and Angela on top of him. They both held on the snake and as Ardeth lay on his stomach with his hand stretched out holding the snake. Angela's was in much the same position except she was partly on Ardeth and had both of her hand stretched out holding the snake.

The lady stood there a moment not knowing what was going on but as she looked down at Ardeth and Angela, who were at her feet, she saw the snake. You wouldn't think an Archeologist like the renown woman wouldn't panic so much at seeing a simple snake. The woman screamed and attempted to stump on the snake except the snake had started to slither toward Ardeth and Angela and was very close to their hands.

The woman slammed her foot down on Ardeth's hand and with a curse in Arabic Ardeth snatched his hand back and on reflects rose up on his knees. This in turn flipped Angela over on the floor and she lost her grip on the snake. The woman frantically tried to stump on the snake but with no avail and it started to slither out the door. With another curse Ardeth went to catch it again and so did Angela. They both practically knocked the frantic old woman off her feet as they went out into the main area. The snake slithered for the back of a statue and once again Ardeth and Angela both doove for it. Sliding across the floor they both reached their hands in between the statue and the wall. They were in a position that their heads were practically touching facing one another.

"I got it." She told Ardeth and they both dragged the three foot long snake out. Angela held its head and Ardeth let her take it as he sat there on the floor. Angela smiled in pride as she looked at the snake but said angrily.

"Alex! Why don't you come get your friend here and show him out."

Alex slipped past the older woman who still stood in the doorway with a horrorfied expression on her face. Alex slowly walked up to Angela and Ardeth and gave them a weak smile.

"Nice job in catching it, I guess there's no harm done then?" At Angela and Ardeth's stare Alex just took the snake saying.

"Right then, I just let him outside." Angela nodded and watched as Alex took the snake and headed for the door.

Shaking her head Angela looked at Ardeth who still sat by her, he flexed his hand that the woman had stumped on and looked at the older lady with annoyance. Angela rubbed her head, some where in there Ardeth and her had butted heads. Looking at Angela, Ardeth nodded and touched his forehead. As they looked at each other a smile started to come across their faces. The lady, who seemed to have recovered from her ordeal, started in saying.

"What on earth do you think you are doing! Of all the childish things bringing a snake in here! I should have you throne out!"

Ardeth and Angela looked at each other again and Angela laughed and then covered her mouth trying to control herself. Ardeth started to chuckle at the situation they were in and that was it, Angela lost it and so did Ardeth they sat there laughing as the older lady still scolded them.

"I do not see what so funny!" She shouted at them. Still laughing Angela reached up and touched her head again.

"Ouch." Ardeth nodded still smiling and raised his hand up to show her. They must have looked rather odd to all the on lookers setting there laughing at each others wounds. Alex came back and he looked down at them worriedly.

"Ardeth? Angie? Are you guys ok?"

The lady looked around furious that no one was paying attention to her, she stormed away still muttering to herself. Ardeth got up and helped Angela up still smiling.

"Can you believe her face when she saw that snake?" Angela asked dusting herself off.

"What I don't understand is how she can miss stumping a three foot snake." Angela laughed again and looked at Ardeth's hand once more.

"Yes she got you for sure." Ardeth grunted and nodded his head.

"I hate to interrupt but I don't see what so funny." Said Alex, Angela shook her head and looked around at the people that were staring at them.

"Your not going to tell Mom and Dad are you? I'm really sorry." Alex pleaded.

"I'll make a deal with you Alex." Said Angela. "You promise not to do anything like that again and we won't tell your parents."

"I promise." Said Alex desperately he knew he would get in a heap of trouble if they found out.

"No more snakes for me."

"Yes, will at least next time you can chase after your own snake." Said Ardeth and Angela nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Your going to get us kicked out of here and we haven't even been here a hour yet." Angela nudged Alex in the shoulder and smiled at him, he gave her a weak smile back. Angela smelled her hands and her face wrinkled some.

"They aren't the best smelling beast are they?" She said absently as she pushed her sleeves up past her elbows and started to wipe her hands on Alex.

"Oh yuck!" Alex said squirming away. Angela started to chase him around.

"What? Are you afraid of a little snake smell?" She asked enjoying torturing the boy.

When Angela had pushed her sleeves up Ardeth had notice some scars on the back of her wrest, they were crisscrossed and when looking from a certain angle they looked like a Falcons head. Ardeth straightened when he saw it for it set the hair on the back of his neck up. Where had he seen that before? He couldn't remember but there was something about it that he knew it was important. The older lady returned and with her she had two men who worked as security there.

"Show them out!" The woman said still wreathing. The men pause though when they saw Ardeth and how he was clad.

"Go on!" The woman said but the men still stood there. The woman then turned on her heels to face Ardeth. She was so short she had to look up at him for if she looked straight she would be looking at his chest.

"I am really not interested in why you are here or who you are. You are going to leave."

Angela and Alex stood back watching and both of them had smiles playing on their faces. It was quit a sight having the old, short woman standing up and scolding Ardeth who looked down at her with a black expression. In any other circumstance Ardeth might have found the woman amusing but not now, Angela wrest reeled around in his head and he knew it was important. Very important, he knew that it had something to do with what was going on. Ardeth had sworn he would not make the mistakes that he had made before with Imhotep and then the Bracelet of Anubis. He made up his mind to find out what this girl was and what she meant. Angela cleared her throat and cut the woman off from her rampage, she then spoke to one of the guards who she knew.

"Its ok Sham, we just had a slight misunderstanding with um-um."

"Shanel Deforce." The woman said turning to Angela.

"Right Mrs. Deforce here, there will be no need for your help." Sham nodded and gestured to the other man and the started to leave but Mrs. Deforce stopped them with her shrill voice.

"There is to a need for you, I want you to through these people out!" Alex and Angela both rolled their eyes. Angela looked at Ardeth and she could see by his furrowed brow and deep frown that something was wrong.

"What's the matter?" Angela asked and Ardeth looked over at her.

"I must go." He said shortly and headed for the door with much delight from Mrs. Deforce.

"And don't feel the need to come back." She said chasing him.

Ardeth stopped suddenly and Mrs. Deforce almost ran into him. He turned on his heels and the old woman had to jump out of his way as he strode up to Angela not paying any attention to the woman.

"Tell the Oconnel's to meet me at the docks tomorrow at 7 in the morning."

"But I thought you wanted to talk to them?" Angela asked confused. Ardeth shook his head and just said.

"Meet me by down at the river by the fishing boats near the market. Do you know were I speak?"

Angela nodded she still was confused.

"Yeah I know." Ardeth turned away and Angela had to chase after him to say. " Hey! You still have a lot of stuff to explain, like what exactly you want us to do for you?" Ardeth didn't look back at her but said.

"In time." As he headed for the door.

"Wait!" Angela sighed as Ardeth just kept walking. "There going to kill me." She said thinking of Evie and Rick.

Ardeth passed Jonathan who was coming from another door towards Angela and Alex.

"Ardeth?" Jonathan asked as Ardeth walked by him without a word.

"Leaving so soon?" When Ardeth disappeared through the door Jonathan said waving his hand in annoyance.

"Yes well bye then." He then walked up to Angela and Alex, he looked at the old woman, who stood by the two guard's and said.

"Mrs. Deforce? Long time no see."

"You!" Deforce said pointing her finger at Jonathan and stepping up to him.

"Are you related to him?" She asked Alex and he slowly nodded.

"Uncle Jon? Yeah why?"

"Well that explains everything then!" The woman glared at Jonathan again and then walked off, followed by the two guards.

"Friend of yours huh?" Asked Alex and Jonathan shook his head.

"That old bat? No, she doesn't have friends."

"Jonathan." Angela scolded and Jonathan shrugged.

"What? She is, but any ways where was Ardeth going in such a huff?" Angela shrugged as she looked at the door that he had disappeared behind.

"Your guess is as good as mine."