Chapter Six
"Friday nights there's a weekly soccer game." I said as my parents watched everyone playing.
"You really have this place under control."
"Yeah, I was just as shocked as you were when I first discovered the tablet's powers, but I wouldn't trade this job for the world." My parents were happy to meet everyone. My mother had bonded with Sacagawea and my father had become good friends with Teddy.
"Why were those dog statues looking at us the way they were?"
"Dad, they're jackals. Also, they are mistrusting of those they don't recognize in case someone has bad intentions towards Akhmenrah. He's very nice, but his older brother is anything but nice."
"How bad could he be?"
"Kahmunrah almost killed me. He was jealous and angry because he was passed over for the throne in favour of Akhmenrah and decided that I was guilty because Akhmenrah and I are friends."
"He sounds angry."
"Angry, short tempered and rather violent." I joined in the soccer game whilst my parents watched. They were happy because I was happy. Dexter had also taken a strong liking to my mother, occasionally 'grooming' her as a sign of affection. I promised to take my parents to work with me at least once a week. When we were driving home from the museum that night, we had decided to go out for breakfast.
"Akhmenrah is very fond of you." My dad said as we were driving.
"Yeah, he's a really great friend. Always willing to offer support if I need it." I had not told either of my parents the extent of my friendship with Akhmenrah. I knew things wouldn't work out with him, and even though we were still close friends, it hurt us both.
"Well that's nice of him." After a little while, the winter weather came around again. It was now early December and Christmas shopping time was in full swing. People were buying passes to the museum as gifts, which was bringing more people in.
"You know, it's times like this that make me grateful I have this job. I loved coming here as a kid and I always wished the exhibits would come to life. I never expected it to be true."
"Isn't there a saying about that?" I nodded.
"Yeah, be careful what you wish for." Akhmenrah and I would often spend the long nights together away from the lobby in a more private setting.
"I still wish there was a way we could make things work."
"Didn't you say that your tablet can bring the dead back to life?" Akhmenrah nodded.
"Yes, but if the spell goes wrong, the consequences are horrible."
"But would that ever stop you from trying?" I could see he was thinking about it.
"Well, no. It wouldn't stop me, but I don't want you to get hurt." I smiled, giving him a hug.
"You're wonderful." We looked up at the tablet. I prayed silently that if Akhmenrah did make an attempt to do so, that it would work without complication.
"What else would be involved in something like this?" I asked curiously.
"Well, it's a simple spell, but it has to be performed on the night of an eclipse."
"Does it matter whether it's a solar or lunar eclipse?"
"No it doesn't, but a lunar eclipse tends to be more powerful for a spell like this, there would be a better chance of success." That night, Akhmenrah and I decided to perform the spell, but we kept it a secret from the entire museum as well as my parents.
"Here's a list of things we'll need." I looked at the list. It would be simple enough.
"I know where I can get all of this stuff, so that part will be very easy." When I got home, my mother was surprised I wanted to be out and about, but she didn't question it when I told her that I was doing so to better understand the theory.
"What is left on the list?"
"A one pound combination of salt and baking soda along with some olive oil." Once I was able to obtain the last of the ingredients required, I stared at them, praying to the gods of Egypt that this would work. Akhmenrah told me he had never asked them for much, but that they had always provided well for him.
'Please, let this work.' I said to myself. There would be a lunar eclipse that night, which meant that in a matter of hours, Akhmenrah could be alive just like I was. When I went to the museum that night, I took everything with me. Before I headed upstairs, I left a note on Teddy's glove informing him to keep all the exhibits away from Akhmenrah's exhibit so we could have total privacy.
"Do you have everything?" I nodded.
"Yeah, everything's here. My mom thought it was weird, but she didn't pester me about it." With the help of the jackal guards, I had them open up the window that was on the ceiling in the room so the moonlight would be stronger. I stood off to the side, hoping and praying with everything I had that this would work.
"Akhmenrah, before you do this, thank you for everything." We hugged tightly before the spell was set in motion in case something went wrong. The light was very bright, but I watched every second of it. It was both worrying and interesting at the same time. When the moonlight made contact with the tablet, it glowed even brighter than I had ever seen it do. It was only a few seconds before everything was all over. I went over to where Akhmenrah was. He was kneeling on the floor, clearly exhausted.
"Are you okay? How do you feel?" I helped him to his feet and hugged him, grateful he was still with me.
"I feel fine." I hugged him again. That was when I realized something.
"I can hear it."
"Hear what?"
"I can hear your heart beating. It worked!" We were just thrilled beyond belief. Now we could spend our lives together. At that moment, two figures appeared a few feet away from us. One of them was holding a box. I recognized them right away.
"Hathor and Isis." The two goddesses walked towards us. Hathor handed to me a box.
"This will contain all the required information and knowledge you need." She told us.
"Thank you." I said quietly, tears in my eyes. Never in my life had I felt such gratitude.
"We are merely doing our duties." Isis was quiet type, whilst Hathor was a bit more outspoken.
"We heard your prayers and request for help. I hope we were able to provide sufficient assistance." I nodded.
"Thank you so much." The two goddesses smiled in a humble manner. Before they left, Isis handed me a small pendant.
"This is a symbol of fertility. I wish you and Akhmenrah all the best in your future. I will do my best to bless you with healthy children." I then remembered that Isis was a goddess of several things, one of them being motherhood.
"Again, thank you." With that done, we parted ways. We took some time to go through the box we had been given.
"Everything's here." I said, putting the lid back on. "We're all set." We went downstairs to not only put the box away safely, but to inform everyone of what had happened. Everyone was floored at what we had done.
"This calls for a celebration." Teddy said. "I'm sure something can be planned."
"I think Akhmenrah will need some time to settle into modern life before we plan any huge parties. Now we have to go and tell my parents what we did." The entire museum was happy for us.
"I'm glad Akhmenrah will be able to have a happy ending." Sacagawea had become like a sister to me.
"We are all grateful it worked." Standing together in the lobby, I went to change into my regular clothes.
"Put this on for now until we can get you some clothes of your own." Akhmenrah placed the ceremonial robes he wore every night away safely. A side effect of the spell placed a duplicate mummy in his sarcophagus, but this one would not come to life.
"This way nobody will suspect anything." Going outside, Akhmenrah looked around in amazement at the outside world.
"My parents will certainly be shocked at what took place, but they like you. They'll understand." We went inside, and Akhmenrah sat down. I put my bag down.
"I'm home!" My mother came downstairs.
"What's going on?" We waited until my dad came downstairs and gave a brief explanation.
"So now Akhmenrah is alive, just like we are." I said. My mother just squeezed me.
"Can't...breathe." My mom let me go.
"Sorry. This is just such a big step!" Akhmenrah was given the spare room. My dad set some rules in place, one of them being that we could not sleep in the same room.
"I know it seems old fashioned, but I don't want anything bad happening." Akhmenrah had settled into his new life quite nicely. The box we had been given contained everything we would need.
"I convinced McPhee to let you come on as a second night guard now that the expansion to the Roman exhibit is in, so you have your first job." I said as I put my jacket on.
"Well at least most things won't change. Where are you and your mother going?"
"Just some window shopping and lunch. My dad will be home all day because of his cold." My mom and I left, leaving Akhmenrah with my father.
"You're very fond of my daughter."
"Alexandria is a blessing. I love her more than anything."
"She has always spoken very highly of you, and I am happy because not only is she happy, but you take good care of her."
"That's good. However, I wanted to ask you if you would allow me to have her hand in marriage. I wouldn't feel right asking her to marry me if I did not have your blessing."
"You have my blessing then. It's nice that old fashioned chivalry has not completely died out." Akhmenrah smiled.
"Thank you." Getting back a few hours later, I held the door open so my mom could bring the bags in.
"We're back!" We put the stuff we bought away and sat down in the living room for lunch. My parents had taken to Akhmenrah very well.
"Alexandria, I have a gift for you." I blinked.
"Okay, what is it?"
"First you need to close your eyes." I closed my eyes, excitement building.
"Okay, open your eyes." When I realized what was happening, I thought I was going to cry.
"You don't even need to ask, of course I'll marry you." I was thrilled beyond belief.
"Thank you." We were excited to go and tell everyone at the museum that night. I had been given my mother's engagement ring. When we got to the museum, we sat in the lobby waiting for everyone to wake up. However, it did not take long for everyone to come piling in with congratulations and gifts.
Things we really looking up for me after all.