Disclaimer: I own nothing but those you don't recognize, especially the brand names I keep using, No idea on street names in Seattle, made this neighborhood and much other things up...big cities...

Summary: Storms in her area weren't that uncommon, some stranger coming and knocking on her door saying this was his home too before passing out was a bit new. What was going on? Each chapter has a song that fits it, I recommend listening to each song for the respective chapter to get a feel for the atmosphere of the chapter.

To Troth, horsequeen1379: Thank you for the fave and follows!

Chapter Four

Haunted by Evanescence

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Two Nights

Two long...horrible...grief stricken nights later that left everyone drained and unable to function properly. News of the museum's fire had hit the public and while the exhibits themselves had suffered no damage, none were able to put up with visitors and the late hours were canceled for the time being. The public was told one of the night actors had been injured in the fire...which was sort of true...but the reality of it was they'd lost one of their own and had no idea what to do.

Larry leaned on the doorway at the bottom of the basement steps, watching Lancelot punch and kick a make shift punching bag made from moving blankets and an inanimate mannequin. The knight took the loss of the youngest pharaoh hard, rarely speaking to anyone and locking himself away if they tried to talk. The former night guard was only daring to come see him like this because he didn't know what else to do.

With a pained yell, Lance put all his force into one last punch, collapsing against the mannequin before sliding to the floor, shoulders shaking as he sobbed.

"...all my fault..."

Larry's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, sitting next to the knight as he tugged off his gauntlets and gloves.

"What do you mean? Lance it wasn't-"

"I didn't check...I should have looked inside to see that he was there...the lid must have fallen shut in all the chaos of that night...I should have ensured my charge was within the building...we could have found him before..."

He trailed off, head bowing as he buried his face in his hands. Larry sighed, the same thing going through his mind.

Should have checked the sarcophagus, should have checked all the doors, should not have let the loading bay doors shut knowing they'd lock automatically.

Signs of Ahk's struggle were evident, on the back door not only was the small pane of glass cracked, but there were scratch marks around the handle and the lock was dented and chipped like Ahk had used his dagger to try and pry it open. Everyone had already been well away from the door by the time he'd been beating on it to be let back in. Larry had only been able to find that little piece of gold to show everyone because it was under the door frame, like it had broken off of Ahk when sunrise had crumbled him into dust...

There was nothing they could do...wax figures could be replaced...ancient one of a kind mummies could not...

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Larry and Lancelot walked slowly back to the Egyptian exhibit, partly because the lobby was full of either partying or grieving exhibits, and partly because Lancelot insisted on speaking with the other two royals in the museum. Shepseheret was still crying softly when they entered, Merenkahre sitting next to her as he stared at the tablet on the wall in front of him as they sat against Ahkmenrah's cold, empty sarcophagus.

The bright gold was almost a mockery, the color almost seeming to be an insult...it's warmth and power brought them to life...protected them from oblivion after death. But could not save them from the sunlight that had once been essential to their mortal survival.

The knight inhaled roughly, steeling himself with grim determination before stepping into the exhibit fully, making Teddy, Scajawea, and the two miniatures look up from where they were sitting against the other wall.

"Your Majesties, my king I cannot undo what the fates have written, I cannot bring back what was lost to us...I cannot even beg for your forgiveness at my grievous mistake that has cost us much. I only ask that you allow my to express my grief to you, and to know that I am honor bound to your judgement, do to me as you see fit...my fate cannot be as such mystical as our lives are now for what I have done."

With that the knight removed the collar piece of his armor and letting it drop to the floor before kneeling to Merenkahre when the pharaoh stood, offering his sword to the pharaoh as he bowed his head in shame. "I do not even beg for your justice to be swift, I do not deserve such mercy...the suffering I deserve to bear is of no match to that which my charge endured when I was not at my post."

The ancient pharaoh hefted the blade, fingers gripping the leather wrapped hilt with ease as Lancelot's hands dropped, shoulders slumping in defeat. The knight was resigned to his fate, and nothing would change his mind. Larry watched in silence as Merenkahre hefted the blade, his other hand wrapping around his first to better grip the sword as he raised it, staring down at the knight who had sworn to protect his son with his life and more, bound to the young pharaoh by duty and honor.

None of them expected the pharaoh to drop the blade to the floor, the metallic clang it made as it bounced before lying still was deafening in the exhibit, the echoes ringing in everyone's ears as Merenkahre yanked Lancelot to his feet, the knight barely able to meet the old king's gaze.

"No forgiveness is due to you, but you are honor bound by your word knight to protect those affected by my son's tablet. He would not wish for your fall to accompany his when there are still those in need of your protection. I...cannot...bring my son back from the oblivion...but I can ensure his wishes are followed and the occupants of this museum kept safe. Return to your duties knight, it is all you are good for."

At that Merenkahre left, waling away with quick strides that no one dared follow or question as Shepseheret stood at last, arms wrapped tightly around herself as she stared at the knight before her. Lancelot bowed his head, kneeling before her as well to show respect and accept her judgement, pharaoh's ruling or not, the Queen of the Nile still had a hand in his fate.

The queen was shaking as she had Lancelot stand after a moment, staring at his forlorn gaze before her hand flashed out and slapped him solidly across the cheek. The echo of the hit made everyone else cringe, Lancelot merely bowed his head again as the queen shook her head and left. Sacajawea followed after a moment as well, knowing the pain she was feeling of losing a child.

Lancelot stood frozen, staring at his fallen sword like it was a foreign object before Teddy picked up the blade, resting a hand on the knight's shoulder as he offered the sword back to him.

"Take it son...you need it as much as this museum needs you. We cannot look to the past, but to the future."

With a grieved sigh, Lancelot nodded to the president, taking back his sword and sheathing it before leaving quickly, unable to remain there lest he lose his composure.

Jed sighed heavily from where he sat on Teddy's shoulder, Octavius on the opposite one.

"Well now...ain't that just a pickle...now what?"

Larry shrugged, offering a hand to the two miniatures to go with him to look for McPhee while Teddy went about his night, "I don't know Jed...I just don't know..."

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Dr. McPhee was on the phone when the three of them entered the office, motioning for Larry to take a seat as he sighed and rubbed at his face, trying to get a word in to the person on the other end of the conversation and failing.

Jedidiah and Octavius moved to the desk, exploring the small objects scattered among the papers and files for artifacts in the museum. One object that caught their attention was a silver Newton's Cradle, as soon as Jed lifted the first ball and let it fall, the resulting movement of the second made Octavius get knocked back a few inches. The two stood watching the balls swing back and forth on their own accord, their heads swinging in time with the clicking before Larry reached forward and stopped the perpetual motion, glaring slightly until the two wandered over to something else to amuse themselves.

"No! For the love of...why won't you listen to me?! Well what am I supposed to do about that?!...Oh Bloody hell Cassandra! It was one week and it saved the whole shebang...give me some credit here...no I have not, you told me not to get involved and I stayed out of it...no...no...NO! Fine...send it over...not like I haven't seen it before...fine..."

McPhee sighed loudly, rubbing at his eyes before banging his head on his desk. The vibrations made Jed and Octavius sway, falling to the desk top with soft curses to the two normal sized men also in the room.

"Dare I ask?"

The curator shook his head with a groan, sitting back before finally looking to his former night guard as the two miniatures regained their balance and began inspecting the papers strewn over the desk top.

"Nothing to tell...at least nothing worth the breath or time..."

Larry nodded, shifting to be more comfortable in his chair as he watched McPhee's hand fly forward and grab Jedidiah when the cowboy tried to climb a stack of papers that started to collapse at his movements. Octavius was ready to lightly punch the blonde's shoulder in scolding once he was set down.

"Thought you should know, Tilly and a few others were asking earlier and I told them what I'm telling you...there's no way to undo this..."

"What d'ya mean?"

McPhee sighed again, meeting Larry's confused gaze, "About fifteen years ago after a standard preservation treatment and examination over Ahkmenrah's mummy, scientists suggested for the mummy's integrity and safety to have a wax model constructed so that the mummy could be kept in a special environmentally controlled storage unit to prolong its lasting. The board of directors took a few years, but approved the proposal and a wax substitute was constructed, it was finally put in place and delivered about eleven months after you started here. That was the three nights the mummy was missing remember?"

Larry nodded, Ahkmenrah's mummy had been moved to NYU for study while the wax figure had been fitted to the inside of the sarcophagus. Those three nights had been weird as the wax figure hadn't woken up like everything else had in the museum, leaving the museum without their pharaoh. Ahkmenrah had explained it was because he was the tablet's centerpiece and the only one able to work it, a wax substitute would not be able to connect the same way. He'd found it a little amusing to look at his "fake" self. Larry had just been creeped out.

"So there's no way of getting a replacement."

"No...wouldn't work...not how we'd want anyway...you know it makes more sense now why you were against a wax model all those years ago." McPhee had really changed his outlook to the night guard position at the museum after first becoming one and then finding out the real secret behind the museum. He was more relaxed in consideration to what goes on between sunset and sunrise.

The former night guard sighed heavily, rubbing at his face as stress made his eyes burn, that and just the let down and the realization of it all. He was pretty sure his eyes were watering at this point, the pressure at his temples only adding to how lousy things had turned.

"Well...now what...?"

Octavius cleared his throat, catching the two bigger men's attention, "Carry on my liege...that is all we can do...remember the times that bring light to our hearts to banish the darkness that present events have brought to us...and hope we may continue on in a manner that befits Pharaoh Ahkmenrah's honor and legacy."

The roman's words made the former night guard look away, unable to meet his serious gaze as McPhee sniffed slightly.

"Jus' gotta git back on the horse Gigantor...even if the ride ain't smooth..."

Larry nodded, resigning himself to the next step.

Just gotta get back on the horse.

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Seattle, Washington

Sydney Avenue

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Jana Magdalene Rivers had worked for the Viera family since she was old enough to reach a stove safely. Her mother and grandmother before her had all been cooks and housekeepers for the real-estate, stock market, and now fashion tycoons, caring for the family as if they were their own. Especially the two children now, Katalina and Jason were more Jana's kids than they were Cassandra Viera's, the housekeeper having been there for every marriage and divorce (to the same person), custody battle, alimony arrangement, and life events the two parents had missed when their disputes had made them forget about their kids.

Dishes were in the rack drying, and judging by the number of plates and utensils (and the clean frying pan but dirty stove top) Jason was home early. And there was a fourth occupant here. Katalina was good to her promise that every major grocery day the fridge and freezer would be empty so Jana could restock it for the rest of the stay in this estate. They'd finally gotten word from her mother that they'd be in Seattle for a few months so it was time to stock up the kitchen. Filling the fridge with fresh produce, beverages, and dairy was simple enough, the freezer took a bit of maneuvering to get all the meats stacked properly, the rest of the groceries were tucked into their proper places within minutes.

Henry Azaro was just beginning to open curtains for the morning as she trekked through the halls with her clipboard, taking notes as she inspected the place, shaking her head at a few things as she moved towards the bedrooms.

Jason's was a mess already and he'd probably only been in the house for a few hours at the most. His hair and a few scattered towels were still damp and she picked them up to keep the water from damaging the floor. There was still steam on the mirrors and shower stall glass in the bathroom when she put the towels in the hamper, Jason did his usual exercise til he dropped then sleep for a day post-travel routine. At least that explained why his luggage was scattered all over and looked like the suitcases had thrown up everywhere. Jana would need to come in and clean up after Jason had slept for a few more hours.

Katalina's room was the opposite of her brother's, she had her clothes for the next day laid out on her couch by one of the windows, other than that the room was spotless as always...probably because Katalina carried few of her personal possessions to every estate, preferring to keep them at her favorite one...far away from Seattle. She tread carefully, Katalina was a light sleeper.

The last bedroom she checked was one that usually wasn't occupied, being one of many guest rooms. The sleeping young man was definitely one Jana had not seen before, probably another candidate...would have to speak with Katalina later in the morning. He slept roughly, eyes squeezed shut tightly, a frown on his face, and he twitched unconsciously. Something troubled his dreams, and the maternal side of her couldn't keep her from lightly rubbing her fingers over his temples to soothe his sleep. He relaxed, breathing slowing down for the time being as she adjusted his covers.

A smile remained on her aged face as she returned to the kitchen, intent on beginning a hearty breakfast for those actually going to get out of bed before four in the afternoon.

Jana never said her time with the Viera family was boring...

I apologize that this one isn't as long as the others...couldn't flesh it out anymore than I did.

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Thank you!