Chapter 6 - Fighter
Angelica woke up later than usual. It was her day off. Helena left her a note:
"I went to my mom's house. Behave!
xoxo
Helena".
She had breakfast with Rick and Evy in that morning.
-So my bestie had just met her birth parents last night.
-Your what? – Rick asked
-My best friend.
-Oh, I see.
-That's very good! - Evelyn said.
-Yes, it is but… I didn't like them one bit. I think they're lying. I don't know.
-Maybe it's just your first glance. –Rick said.
-Yea, sure. – Angelica remembered the curious Ardeth Bay. He seemed crazy, but God knows why she wasn't afraid of him. Rick and Evelyn didn't cause a bad impression either. Helena's parents seemed much scarier.
-Evy, do you know any martial arts? – She asked
-A few… Rick taught me! –She looked at Rick and they both smiled – Why?
-Well… I was thinking about learning how to fight too… sometimes, I feel insecure or followed…
-I think this is a great idea, you should learn how to fight. – Rick encouraged her.
-I agree. And you can trust Ardeth, he's a good person. - Evelyn said
After talking with the O'Connells Angelica decided she was going to meet Ardeth in that evening. But before, she deserved a tour in Cairo city. She went to the museum, hoping to find the box that took her in that world, however, a painting called her attention instead. It described the weighing of a heart. Whemple came near her.
-This is a beautiful painting isn't? –he said admiring Angelica's beauty. She was so exotic.
-Is that Isis? – She asked pointing to a detail in it.
-No, this is Maat.
-Who is she?
-Everything good. She's usually the goddess of truth, law and balance, but sometimes she was only a concept.
-You seem to know a lot. –Angelica smiled to him.
-Yes, I know. –He smiled - I could show you some interesting stuff if you'd like…
-I do.
Whemple showed Angelica the most precious artifacts the museum had. She liked them all though none was a magic box to another dimension.
Helena loved to know her mother. Anck su namun gave her the little Cleopatra doll.
-That was supposed to be yours, my little queen. But I never got the chance to give it to you.
-It's beautiful! –Helena loved it.
-Now you're too grown up for that... and everything else. – Anck su namun answered sadly. She had missed her daughter's childhood completely.
-Not everything. You still can teach me how to fight! –Helena said in excitement.
-Who told you I can fight?
-Your weapons room.
In fact, Anck su namun had a great collection of ancient weapons. Most of them were sais, but she also had spears, axes, swords and many others. She taught the elaborate sais fight to Helena. She was as skillful as her thanks to her street days. They were having a very good time.
Imhotep arrived and watched them. Anck su namun still could move as charming as a cat.
-Let me show you how truly fight. – He said, choosing a long ax.
-That's dangerous, she's still learning. –Anck su namun warned him.
-Are you afraid again?-Imhotep teased her.
Imhotep and Anck su namun were fighting with axes now. Helena was observing their moves. Imhotep won. Anck su namun glared at him.
-My turn! –Helena said and started to fight with her father.
Imhotep wasn't as careful as Anck su namun and soon Helena used her powers in a reflex, hurling Imhotep's ax away. They were surprised.
-You have my powers! – Imhotep gazed at Helena.
By sundown, Angelica took Ardeth's dagger and went to the building he told her. The place was in poor conditions. She called him and a man opened the door. His face was covered.
-Hello, I'd like to speak to Ardeth, please.
Two Medjais pulled her in. Inside there, Angelica saw Ardeth and more six Medjais, their faces were covered. 4 of them were women and 2 were Rick and Evy. Angelica could only see their eyes.
-What a great reception! –Angelica frowned at him.
-Why are you here? –He asked her.
-You-You said you were going to teach me how to fight…
-I didn't. I said you were going to learn… by yourself.
Ardeth raised his left hand and two Medjais rushed at Angelica. They grabbed her wrists. Luckily, she remembered some tricks Helena taught her. She freed her wrists and punched one of them, later she got her dagger and she made a deep cut on the other man's arm. She was free now.
-You lied! – She shouted, holding the dagger.
-I didn't lie, this was a bravery test. Congratulations, you passed. –Ardeth said proudly.
From that evening on, Angelica's training started. Rick and Evy taught her many things although she couldn't see their faces. She was only allowed to see it when she became a Medjai.
When she was learning how to use the spear she was hit on her ribs. She screamed of pain and fell on her knees. Immediately, Rick and Evie helped her. She cried a little. After some time resting she was fine again.
-Have you ever broken your ribs? – Evelyn asked, her voice was muffled by the veil.
-Yes, But I'm fine now it was nothing.
-How did you hurt? - Rick asked.
-Car crash. I'm okay. –Angelica returned to her lesson.
Actually, One of Angelica's ribs was broken by her father Carlos, in the night he beat her up.
On the next morning, Helena and her parents arrived early when Angelica was getting ready for work. Helena was radiant as never before. She greeted her friend with enthusiasm. She came with new clothes, shoes and jewelry, all gifts from her parents. They also gave Angelica a couple dresses and a pair of shoes. She thanked them and they all went downstairs.
-Damn! I forgot my purse! – Helena said and rushed upstairs again, leaving Imhotep, Anck su namun and Angelica waiting.
-Helena talks about you all the time. –Anck su namun told Angelica.
-She's the sister I never had. – Angelica smiled.
Helena had said the same thing to them about Angelica. Imhotep and Anck su namun looked at each other and stared at Angelica.
-It's a bright morning isn't? – Angelica looked at the sky. Their stares were uncomfortable.
"For who isn't cursed it is" – Imhotep thought.
-All mornings are bright now I have my Helena. – Anck su namun said. – There's nothing worse than being alone in this world.
-Do you have anyone in here, Angelica? Any relative? - Imhotep asked.
-No, I don't. I don't have anyone. –Angelica couldn't hide her sadness. Besides Helena, She didn't have anyone in this world or in the previous.
Helena arrived with her purse and she went to work with Angelica. Imhotep and Anck su namun left. Angelica felt like the loneliest girl in the world.
Later, she saw a man annoying a couple in a table. An argument was starting.
-Hey mister, do you know how do we treat Asian and communist people in here? –Angelica asked playfully.
-haha, tell me! – The man had a terrible alcohol breath.
-With respect! Please leave them alone or leave this place.
The man left.
-Thank you. – The Chinese lady smiled.
-We girls must help each other. – Angelica smiled back.
-And boys too! Can you please tell us how to get to my parent's? – The lady's fiancé asked Angelica some information and she helped them. That couple was Lin and Alex.
When Alex and Lin get to the O'Connell's house, Evelyn and Rick told them everything.
-Come on mother, that's impossible. – Alex laughed.
-No, it isn't. –Lin scolded Alex- Some Sorceresses in China swapped their children from womb to womb in order to protect their bloodline from enemies or give them away.
-Is there a way to be sure she is ours? – Rick was intrigued.
Lin thought for a moment and picked an old book in her bag.
-That was one of my mother's books. –Lin opened the book and showed them.
-But… all pages are blank! – Evelyn said.
-They're not blank. They're locked. My mother and I used to "lock" important things with our blood. This book's words can only be revealed with a drop of my blood or my mom's. We used to call it blood key enchantment.
-So if Evie or I "blood enchant" something and give to Angelica…
-We will know if she's our daughter or not. –Evelyn completed Rick's logic.
-I can teach you. –Lin said.
-Excuse us a moment –Rick went to talk to Evie in private.
-Honey, I agree to do this if you want, but you and I need to prepare ourselves for the possibility she may not be ours.
-I know. – Evelyn said calm – but I have hope she is.
-Me too. But I don't want you to suffer any longer.
-I won't suffer.
Rick embraced Evelyn and they kissed softly.