Chapter Three

Tally lay on her bed, her hand on the small bump of her stomach, dwelling on the child within. The sun peered through all the skyscrapers in the east, casting light into her apartment, casting a light on her stomach.

Something in her mind posed a solid argument for her keeping this baby. "After all," the voice in her head argued, "if Ra wants it, you should, too."

She sighed, her eyes roaming the ceiling. She couldn't really decide to keep this child on her own. It was Ahkmenrah's, too, so he had to have a say in what was going on with her body, whether to keep the child or not, and she knew he wanted to keep it.

There was, however, a slight problem, or, more exactly, two slight problems coinciding: the woman's wedding, and the Western dime novel scene, which, if Ahkmenrah was right, meant Jesse James was the protagonist of this dime novel harboring evil, whatever it was called. He had to finish the story, as far as she could readily judge.

She closed her eyes, her head rolling to one side, and she dozed off.

Ahkmenrah helped Larry lift the lid to his sarcophagus, from the inside, and climbed out, placing the crown on his head. "How is Tally?" he asked.

"Oh, she's fine. She's-" he began, gesturing to the hall.

"Here I am," Tally said, cutting Larry off. Ahkmenrah pulled her into an embrace and nuzzled her nose. "Three days until wedding night."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

"Time flies by so quickly."

Tally pulled away. "Have you figured out anything else about the dime novel?"

"All I can easily judge is that if it is a Jesse James dime novel we're dealing with, then Jesse James has to finish the story."

"Okay, good. We're on the same page."

"Anyone talkin' 'bout me?" Jesse asked. Tally turned, seeing him leaning against the doorframe, one hand on his hip.

"We're just discussing your display, is all," Tally replied, not hesitating a bit when she added, "As far as we can tell, we've got nothing bad on our hands yet."

"Yet?"

"Well, we don't have any idea if anything really life-threatening will come of this, but you do have to finish the dime novel, or so we think."

"Oh, 'kay, then. I can handle that."

"I hope you can. I fear there may be something lurking behind the facade that none of us readily see," Ahkmenrah said.

"Like what? Demons?"

"Yeah, more or less," Tally said.

"Is it safe for him to go do what he has to do?" Larry asked, gesturing to Jesse but looking at Tally and Ahkmenrah.

"Well, in theory, it should be, so long as he doesn't cross the paths of anyone famous."

"Fat chance that's gonna happen."

"Yeah, knowing Jesse," Larry conceeded. "Okay, moving on. We can worry about this later. We've got a late show on our hands."

Jed sighed and rubbed his eyes, and Octavius slid his arms around the cowboy. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I jus' hate the late show. So many kids, 'n their grubby hands all over everythin', and how they's always tryin' to get me."

Octavius pulled Jed closer. "You're safe," he whispered. "I'm with you." Jed turned and buried his face in Octavius' shoulder.

"'S nice a ya lettin' me stay at your place."

"Of course." Octavius kissed Jed's ear and added, "After all, I do love you."

"I love you, too, an' I ain't losin' you. 'N I ain't quittin' you either."

Octavius squeezed gently, and Jedediah sighed. "I shall never leave you."

Tally watched the late show more or less indifferently when the woman she'd watched talk to McPhee about wedding plans walked up to her. "You are Talia, I assume?"

"Who's asking?"

"What, you don't recognize your own mother?"

"You're not my mother, Johanna."

"I gave you life, Talia Johannson. Don't lie to me."

"You may have brought me into this world, and I have little question in your willingness to get me out of it, but you'll never be my mother."

"But you are still my offspring."

"Oh, kill me now."

"Oh, come on. Don't you want to be in my wedding?"

"I'd rather shoot myself."

Johanna slung her arm around Tally's shoulders, causing the latter to cringe. "Just think of how amazing, how much of an honor it is to be in my wedding."

"Again, I'd rather die."

"You'd really pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity of being a bridesmaid in my wedding?"

"Of course. After all, I have to work that day."

"Oh, please. Call in sick."

"I said I can't," Tally snapped. Johanna jumped back, and Tally soon realized why. A gold flash of light shot from the latter to the former, causing this reaction.

"Freak," Johanna shrieked, dashing off out the front door.

"Better run, bitch."

Tally walked to the Egyptian Wing, she found Ahkmenrah easily, and she allowed him to pull her into an embrace and nuzzle her nose. "Hello, Tally."

"Hi, Ahk."

"How are you and your little person?"

"Well, according to the doctor, we're both just fine, and it's about to develop into a fetus."

"So what is it now?"

"An embryo. I've only been pregnant for about a month."

"How does it feel?"

"Odd. I mean, I can do without certain things, but you wouldn't believe what I've been eating lately."

"Like what?"

"Jalepenos straight out of the jar, oh, and once I had bananas and cottage cheese."

"That sounds normal."

"Oh, yeah? Try pickles and Funions together on for size."

"What are Funions?"

"I dunno, onion rings, I think. I craved them for some reason."

"I've heard about those during pregnancy. It's quite common."

"Yeah. It's a pretty damn weird pregnancy that doesn't come with cravings."

Ahkmenrah chuckled and squeezed Tally gently, stroking her hair.