A little chapter of Akh and Isis goodness! Thank you to all who have responded to this story!

Izzy sat at the front desk and watched the museum come to life again. It had been two weeks since her first night and she could still hardly believe it. She had already set up the museum for its residents and figured she had a good hour before she needed to check on anyone. She hunched over her notebook on the desk, deep in thought, writing down ideas that came to her before she could forget them.

"What are you doing?"

Izzy jumped in her chair and twisted around to see Ahk standing next to her looking apologetic for startling her. She had been so engrossed in her task that she had tuned out everything around her and hadn't heard him approach. Even the loud, tinkling, wind chime-like sound from his jeweled clothes hadn't alerted her. She held a hand over her heart to try and stop it from beating out of her chest.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," he apologized sincerely.

"It's alright. I just didn't notice you," she said, quick to alleviate his worry.

"What are you working on?" he asked.

"It's not much, just a few ideas. I'm trying to write a book," she explained as she closed the notebook hastily, embarrassed at her pitiful attempt at writing. "It's not even started. I need an idea first. I thought I could write some historical fiction. Working at a museum that comes to life is a valuable resource and I would be a fool to pass that up."

"Perhaps a story on ancient Egypt would be fitting?" he suggested.

"That sounds like a great place to start. Would you mind if I used you as a resource for facts?" she asked with only mild hesitation.

Ahk smiled. "I would be happy to help." Doubtless that had been his plan all along. He pulled up a chair and they began talking.

It felt very much like an interview. She asked questions and he answered to the best of his ability. He expanded on her knowledge of ancient Egypt and told her about his daily life as a pharaoh. She listened attentively, taking down notes on everything so she wouldn't forget.

"What sort of education prepared you for the throne?" she asked after a while.

"History, writing, mathematics, and languages were just a few subjects those ascending to the throne were expected to study. We were more than just figureheads. We were rulers, set in place to nurture our lands and protect out people." His words were sage and Izzy wasn't sure if he had been like this during his human life or if it came from millennia of introspection.

She smiled brightly at their progress. "If you keep at this I'm going to run out of paper." She set down her pen and shook her cramped hand, her smile morphing into a small wince.

"Your manner of writing seems quicker than using hieroglyphs," he commented, looking over the top of the notebook to see better.

"Well, it's the only way I know how," she quipped, but her brows furrowed when she saw the obvious look of curiosity and confusion on his face as he stared at the words she had written. "Can't you write in English?"

He shook his head. "I only learned to speak English from immersion at Cambridge University. I never saw English letters until I was released from my sarcophagus."

"Would you like me to teach you? It's the least I could do in return for you helping me with my book."

Ahk looked at her with gratitude. "That sounds wonderful."

"Great. We'll have to start tomorrow, though. I have to do my rounds and it's nearly dawn.

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Izzy arrived at work the next evening early, as usual, when Dr. McPhee found her and asked her into his office.

"Mr. Daley will be leaving his position as the full-time night guard here shortly. I wanted to extend the opportunity of taking his place to you." He pointed his index fingers at her and then laced them together, waiting for her answer.

"Larry is leaving?" she asked, shocked.

"Yes, it seems his business is taking off and he no longer has time to work here," McPhee said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"I suppose that's great for him."

"As the only other night guard, you have the first crack at filling his position. Will you take it?" he asked.

"Yes, that would be great. Thank you, Dr. McPhee."

"Good. You will start your full-time shifts next Monday. That's all I needed from you."