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Believe the Unbelievable

Chapter III

Like Father like . . . Daughter?

Charlotte walked down the hallway of the museum with nervousness – anxiety. Her back was up against the wall, and her head quickly darted up and down the corridors repeatedly. Her billowing sweatpants and ponytail would swoosh to the left and the right, as she carefully planned every movement – every step, she took. Paranoia was written all over her face like she was hiding from a serial killer. Something was obviously after her.

Fully loaded. Check. Everything's ready. Look to the right. Clear. To the left. All clear down the Northern hallway. East? West? All good. No sign of-

"Charlotte!"

Charlotte jumped out if her skin, and with a reflex of her legs, turned around and pointed her toy gun at Rebecca, thinking it was Nicky. But she took a glimpse, and didn't shoot. She dropped her guard, but kept her back pressed against the wall.

"Thanks for almost shooting me." Rebecca said with a smug expression.

"Thanks for the heart attack. I'm fifteen – too young for those."

Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"That's not the point-"

Charlotte looked down the corridors.

"All clear. Go head Rebecca. Talk. But make it quick. I got a monster to take down."

"Your playing with your Nerf gun when in less than seven days a war's going to break out in the museum?"

"A war? Remind me to bring my gun again, so I can really defend the territory."

Charlotte smiled, but Rebecca's face was still twisted with annoyance.

"You have to talk him. No more delaying. We knew about this for, what, several hours already?"

Charlotte shook her head, creasing forming in her forward.

"I did my research."

"What did you find?"

"Isis, Is-is, however the hell you pounce it, is his daughter, and Hondo is her cousin. They both died around my age."

"That's it?"

"Pretty much. All I had was a search engine, okay? If you want more info on the two, ask the man that's related to them."

"You're more closer to him."

"Nope. His tomb's that way." Charlotte said pointing down the hall Rebecca was standing in. "Physically, you're closer."

"I'm not talking literally."

"Fine. I'll tell him. I'll tell him his brother is coming, along with two other family members, and they are probably going to tear each other's heads off and die, again. But I would like to know a little bit about them."

"Don't ask him like that."

"Well. Maybe you should tell him, considering you know what you're doing."

"I'm not going to argue. In his eyes, you're much easier to talk too."

"Okay okay! Jeez. I'll talk to him -"

"Thank you." Rebecca interjected, before Charlotte could change her mind.

"-after I win."

Rebecca sighed, satisfied, but a little discouraged at the same time.

"Just make sure it happens."

"Yea, yea. Bye mom."

She said, shooing her off with her hands. Rebecca left, debating if she should keep pestering her, but she trusted her.

XxX

"All clear. Just the huns." Charlotte mumbled to herself. "Bet the little twerp is camping somewhere." She continued on. She constantly kept her back the wall, looking frantically back and forth.

She decided to stay still in that one random spot in the hallway and camp out. Just wait for Nicky right there.

"Charlotte?" A voice asked; it was gentle, and kind.

That's not Nicky. He doesn't have an accent.

"Hey Ahk."

He sucked in a breath. "I heard my older brother is coming – Rebecca informed me."

Charlotte looked down book hallways; she listened closely too. Nope. No little pitter-patter.

"Yea. Mcphee knows the museum comes to life, but he didn't know you guys weren't close - like me and Nicky . . . wait!"

She said, turning her head right, and snapping her fingers.

She pointed a finger at the Pharaoh.

"Weren't you locked up?"

"Yes." he shuddered at the memory. "But I still don't see how that's going to help."

Charlotte looked at him strangely.

"We just lock him up. It's that plain and simple. Only a blond like me could miss it. Wow, I feel like such a moron." She said shaking her head and letting out an exasperated sigh.

"On a brighter note, I hear your daughter is coming as well."

Charlotte added. He had to be happy to hear that.

A smile spread across his face and he nodded his head. "Isis."

Soo, that's how you pronounce the name. Isis. It's a pretty name.

"Mind me asking about her? I mean, I know we're an advanced society, capable of figuring out facts about humans, but historians haven't really figured much about her. All they know is how she died."

She spoke casually. His smile disappeared.

"How did she die?" He asked in a low whisper, his voice cracking.

By the tone of his voice, Charlotte than realized it was a touchy subject. True, it was a bit melodramatic for her, but she reminded herself that it was a father's love.

Her dad would worry about her attire, where she went, if boys were going to be there, who she was with, a set curfew – not to annoy her, because it was an unconditional father's love.

Charlotte swallowed air. "Well. Uh. She was stabbed, twice. In the head and chest. I have no clue who did it; that's something you're going to have to ask her." She said in an awkward tone. The whole scene reminded her of a doctor telling a family member has just died; it just wasn't like her. Breaking the news like that. She wasn't heartless, she was laid back, avoiding dramatic scenes. She paused, and continued. "But hey, she will be here, alive -sort of.- I'm sure we'll all welcome her. Maybe me and her would be really close friends." She said, hoping she would end the conversation on a positive note.

Before he could tell her that she looked and acted exactly the same, only Isis was more maturer, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Now. Can the Pharaoh do me a favor?"

"Of course. Anything for little I-Char." He corrected himself, patting her head, and messing her hair up. She smiled, not noticing his mistake. Fixing her hair, she readjusted herself.

"When was the last time you saw Nicky? I am not going to end this in a tie."

He grinned a toothy grin. "Down in the lobby."

"Thanks." She waved, and jogged down to the lobby.

Down a few more hallways, she was on the balcony overlooking the lobby. Sure enough, Ahkmenrah wasn't lying.

Nicky was behind the desk, looking paranoid and edgy, just like she was.

She hid behind a pillar, and kept peaking making sure he was oblivious to her.

"What did you guys bet on – I forgot to ask."

Charlotte jumped at the sudden voice.

What kind of accent is that anyway? British?

"Dishes. One week."

Ahkmenrah hid behind one of the pillars. "Why do you two bet on chores?"

Charlotte peered around to Nicky. He was still clueless.

"You were a Pharaoh of Egypt. You didn't have to a lift a finger. You don't know how irritating it is to do work around the house. Plus, a majority of the dirty dishes are, in fact, Nick's."

Charlotte looked down at Nick. She was quiet, stealthy, and patient even though she hated waiting - If it meant between scrubbing dishes for the rest of the week or relaxing on the couch watching her little brother do it– it was worth it.

"Charlotte!" Nicky screamed as he finally noticed her. He quickly readjusted his aim but she quickly shot her bullet, before Nick had a chance to do anything.

"Ha. You lose!" Charlotte screamed from the balcony as her toy bullet bounced off Nicky's head.

"Who helped you!" Nicky demanded.

The Pharaoh came into view and leaned on the railing.

"He told me." Charlotte said, nodding her head to the Ahk.

"That's no fair!"

"There wasn't any rule against it!"

He glared at her as she smiled triumphantly.

"Starting tomorrow." Charlotte reminded him, as she jumped down the stairs. She put her gun into her bag. She quickly checked to make sure everything was there. Dexter didn't steal anything. Amazingly.

"I swear one day when I'm taller than you I'm going to beat you up." Nicky threatened.

Charlotte propped herself in Rebecca's chair. She put her feet up in the counter and smiled in disagreement.

"Nah. Your going to be a squirt your whole life."

"No, I'm not. Dad told me. In a few years, I'll be able to step on you."

"No you aren't." Charlotte said.

"Yea."

"Na-uh!"

"Enough. Both of you." The Pharaoh interrupted before they started to attack each other. He tapped Charlotte's toe. "Off the desk." She reluctantly dropped her feet to the floor. Nicky stuck a tongue out at her. The Pharaoh raised his brow at Nicky. The three of them had their fun, but it was his adult job to bring order between the two.

"Nick . . ." He said with his thick accent. "You should really respect your older sister."

"You should." Charlotte added. He turned to her.

"I don't need an echo."

"Stupid." Nicky commented.

"Don't call her stupid." Ahkmenrah said pointing a finger at her.

"Sorry." Nicky said bowing his head in shame.

"If you don't have anything nice to say – don't say it."

Charlotte opened her mouth to snap something at Nicky, but a new voice rung.

"Tsk. And I'm annoying."

"Yes. Jed. That's is exactly what you are." Nicky said.

"Ouch. Left speechless by a twelve year old." Charlotte said.

"Listen you -" The little cowboy said, pointing a threatening finger at the girl.

"What are you going to do? You're three inches tall."

"I am a grown man."

"Who's three inches tall." Charlotte said for him. Everyone chuckled except for Jed.

"Leave him alone." Nicky said after an episode of a few giggles. What Charlotte said wasn't so funny but the cowboy's reaction. Like always he turned his body slightly away from everyone and sulked.

Octavius finally climbed up the counter.

"You really should treat a maiden honorably." Octavius said to Jed.

"And you Charlotte should treat him fairly. He is one of your elders." The Pharaoh nosed in, like a father.

Charlotte put her hands up in surrender. "Alright. Fine dad. I'll treat him with more respect and apologize, because apparently I'm the grown up." Charlotte said. It caught the Pharaoh by surprise he would call her that. She really didn't take it in consideration though. Every time some elder commanded her to do something a parent would tell her to do, she would call them mom or dad. Like she always did to Rebecca. It brought him back a bit. He missed being a father and to have someone, that looks exactly like his favorite daughter, call him dad; it made him glad he'd be reunited with her soon.

He was so drawn back he almost missed Charlotte's apology.

"Jed. Look at me. I'm sorry I called you tiny."

"You should be."

"I am."

"Well than . . ." He said taking her pinky in truce. Charlotte had to bite her tongue till she tasted blood in her mouth. She wanted, so badly, to crack a snide remark. How does it feel to act mature? She thought. But she resisted as hard as she could. She just didn't want to get into more arguing.

"Hey guys. It's almost daytime so back to your exhibits." Larry said, looking at his watch.

"I'll take these two up." Charlotte said scooping the two figurines in her hand. Nicky walked up with the Pharaoh, while Larry was downstairs making sure Rexy was in proper position.

After Charlotte placed the two in their proper exhibits she waved bye to them and wished them a good sleep.

"Jed?"

"Yea Char?"

"Make sure no little kids put you in their mouth today."

But before he could respond, the museum froze.

"Night guys." Charlotte mumbled in the empty room.

On her way back down to the car, she stopped by the Egyptian Wing.

"Sup giant jackal guards." She said entering. They were lifeless, everything was lifeless, but she knew they could all hear her.

She knocked on the coffin three times, and looked around the darkened tomb.

"Sorry. I forgot to say good night. Don't worry about your brother. We'll just lock him up in his own sarcophagus. It'll be funny watching him try to get out. I'm really excited about Isis. She sounds awesome. Promise me tomorrow night you'll explain everything about her. And you didn't really talk much about Hondo either. Promise me tomorrow we will sit down and talk about them. Sleep well." Charlotte said skipping out the museum.

XxX

"Charlotte! Jeez! Wake up! You can't be anymore lazy!" A girl screamed as she jumped on Charlotte's bed. Charlotte quickly covered her head with her soft pillow, trying to dilute the buzzing sound out.

"Waking . . . " Charlotte started, but was interrupted when the girl came crashing down on the bed again, forcing her face in the covers.

". . . Me . . ."

". . . Up . . ."

" . . . On a . . ."

" . . . summer morn- . . . "

"-ing is a . . . "

". . . Crime!"

Charlotte screamed between the girl's jumps. When she finished talking, the girl plopped on the foot of the bed, causing Charlotte to jump one more time.

"Please."

Charlotte sat up in bed, and rubbed her eyes awake.

"What's up Sunshine?"

"School been out for two months."

"I know that."

"And that means we only have one more month to chill out and enjoy this, before it all comes crashing down and we start sophomore year. Do you know how hard it's gonna be? I can't believe I made it passed freshmen. I can't tell you how proud my mother was when I brought my F's up to D's. And I passed, and no summer school. I don't know how you manage your grades like that, with all the A's . . .than again you are a nerd. . ."

Charlotte wanted to tell her that her dad said perfect grades or she couldn't skate in competitions. She continued to talk but Charlotte tuned her out.

This is the reason she got her nickname 'Sunshine.' She was the only girl Charlotte knew that could be so preppy at such an early time.

" . . .But me and you never get to spend much time together anymore. You're either at the museum, sleeping, or practicing. It's so annoying. Hey, wanna do something today?"

"Uhh. Sure."

"Perfect. How about since you have practice tonight we go to the mall, and . . ."

"Sunshine?"

"Yea."

"Please shut up."

"You have to get up!" Sunshine protested, ignoring her comment.

"Hey Gloria. Dad cooked some breakfast." Nicky said in the doorway.

"Nicky!" Gloria said, sliding off the bed, and picking Nicky up. To Charlotte, Gloria was a lot of things, but mostly, she was strong. Gym was her favorite class. She was also the only girl that could pick Nicky up, and not struggle.

She spun him around, and placed him back on the floor.

"Man. I missed you." She said ruffling his hair, Nicky just blushed.

"What did dad make?" Charlotte said, rubbing her face, not being able to take the preppy, happy aura in this room. "Pancakes."

Gloria snapped the blinds open. Charlotte hissed and Nicky laughed at her, as she hid her face behind her hands, shielding them from the blinding New York sun.

"Ha ha!" Nicky laughed.

"Ha ha. Don't you have dishes to do?" Charlotte said coldly. Nicky stopped laughing and glared.

"Oh. Har har." Nicky said, leaving the room.

"Dumb little kid."

"Hey. I rather have a little brother than older sister."

"Tsk. Tsk."

Charlotte said, sliding off the bed and leaving the room as well, with Gloria on her heels babbling about something.

They both sat down at the table. Gloria got the plates, because Charlotte was too lazy, and too tired. She could barely keep her eyes open.

"Oh. Hey Gloria. How are you?"

"I'm good Mister Daley. And how are you?"

Gloria said, smiling a toothy grin at him. She looked so sweet, and innocent.

"I'm fine."

"How's work?"

"It's fun. Right Charlotte?"

"So. Much. Fun." Charlotte said.

"It must be really cool. Being at a museum at night."

"Well. Gloria you're always welcomed to come."

"Yea. Sure." Charlotte mumbled. She really didn't take account what they were saying. They were lucky she didn't drop dead in her food.

"Wait. Dad - you can't be serious?" Charlotte said, finally waking up. "Did Rebecca not tell you about Friday?"

"Right. Uh. Maybe another time Gloria." She saddened. "No problem Mister Daley."

XxX

"Oh hey! It's Charlotte?"

"Hey guys."

"How was your day?"

"Fun yet boring."

"How so?"

"See. I have a friend who can be really too relax with, but she can talk a lot – sometimes so much, you would want to hit her with a sledge hammer. She still wouldn't shut up. I swear, that girl would be talking when she's dead." Charlotte said, talking to herself – rather than talking to them.

"Can this girl in which you speak of babble more than Jed?" Octavius asked.

"Watch it." Jed warned.

Charlotte smiled and nodded her head. "Yes. Much more." Thinking about Gloria reminded Charlotte she had a conference to go to with a young Pharaoh.

"Guys. I'll be right back. I have to go talk to Ahk."

"See ya.' "

"Till next time."

Charlotte took long strides down the hall. She had to admit that she was curious about more teenagers in the museum.

She entered the tomb. Her footsteps echoed on against the wall. Every sound was amplified. Charlotte could hear her breath. It was so deadly quiet.

Charlotte looked at the two giant jackals. They were massive.

It must be really cool having two colossal bodyguards. Gosh. Why can't I have that. Right. I wasn't a pharaoh. Charlotte thought to herself. She got to the deepest part of the tomb to find the Pharaoh removing the last of his bandages.

"Mornin'." Charlotte called from behind with a New Yorker's accent.

"I thought it was night time."

"Well. Yea. But you just woke up. So it is morning for you."

"Alright alright." he paused. "So what do you want to know about Isis?"

"What's she like?"

Just like you.

"Well,"

The Pharaoh began, taking a seat on top of his sarcophagus. Charlotte leaned up on the decorative wall.

"She was above average when it came to academics. She excelled in math, astronomy, metallurgy, literature, and she liked learning about anatomy and life science."

"Really? I love life science. So much more exciting than physical science."

"She was fond of literature. She actually wanted to be a scribe. You know what a scribe is, right?"

"Someone who wrote down documents. But wasn't she entitled to the throne?"

"She wasn't royal, but I still made sure she would get it when I died."

"Wasn't she royal?"

He shook his head. "Her mother wasn't."

Don't push the subject. Somethings are better left unsaid.

"What did she look like?"

"Blond hair. Green eyes. Like this big." He said showing she was about four feet.

"Did she look anything like you?"

"Nope. All her mother. Except our skin shade is the same." Charlotte looked at her skin. It was extremely pale compared to his dark brown hand.

"Was she a cute kid?"

"She's was adorable. Mature too. When it was time to be polite and serious she would be. I don't know why her half brothers and sisters hated her so much."

"She was hated?"

"They thought she got all of my attention – which she did."

"Why? Why didn't you like your other kids?"

"They were poor in spirit, and extremely selfish. Two of my boys actually killed each other for the title. But Isis didn't want power. She just wanted to live a good life. She didn't want everything she could get her hands on. She was truly enlightened. Isis knew you didn't need material goods to be happy. That's why I gave her the throne. I made sure it was clear she would get the throne when I died."

"Do you mind? How did you die?"

"My brother."

Morbid. "Why?"

"Like I said, the royal family was selfish. He was always jealous he never got the throne. I knew he was going to do something to me since he was that outraged. That's why I gave my little girl the power first. So he didn't get it."

"Smart move. So she was the first pharaoh to be a girl?"

"Yes. I wasn't alive, but I'm such she did what she was suppose to do, and did a good job."

"Hey. We only have a few more days. She can tell you all about it."

"I can't tell you how excited I am to have my favorite daughter back."

A smile spread on Charlotte's face. That was cute – a father saying that.

"What about Hondo?"

"My brother's child? His, well, his-"