Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I claim any ownership or rights to any plot, ideas, characters, or merchandise relating to the film The Mummy, which is owned by Stephan Sommers and Universal Studios. No infringement intended, so please don't sue. I do own the original characters, steal them and die. Ye be warned.

Authors Note: Since school had started updates won't be as often. I'm sorry about the inconvenience, and I promise to update as often as I can. Thank-you so much for your patience. Without further ado, here is the next chapter.

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Eve, Rick, Jonathan, and Corin rushed down the hall of the museum. No one said a word. No one needed to, and no one trusted themselves enough to even try. The passages were dark and deserted, the entire staff and all the tourists having left hours before. They all longed for the comforting fire and electric lights in the curator's office, along with the forcible presence of Ardeth at their backs. It had been a long night for everyone. Eve was trembling, so much that it took her a few fumbled tries to unlock the door.

But inside, it was a different world. A fire was burning comfortably in the hearth, the lights casting a familiar synthetic glow on the room. Instantly, the entire group sighed in relief, fears melting away for the time being. Nothing of the evening seemed nearly as awful here, so removed from the darkness of the world around them. Even Ardeth looked less frightening in the brightly lit room. Well, slightly.

The Medjai leader nodded as they entered. Eve was ready to begin gushing about how well everything had gone and how she was sure that Viktor would be packing off any day now. But one look at Ardeth silenced her. His face was dark, solemn, and vaguely upset. She knew at that moment that there would be no happy report tonight, no congratulations, so toasting, and no relief. Without saying anything, the whole room knew that there could be no good news.

"My friends." Ardeth began speaking at last. "My friends, I thank you for your help tonight. The Medjai are forever indebted to you." He bowed, offering a chance for a polite response, but no one could summon the proper words. After a moment he continued. "The events of tonight have convinced me that you are not safe in Egypt, not even under the protection of my people. I must ask that, after I have related to you all that I have learned tonight, you will seek to leave at once." Eve chocked, and Rick slapped her across the back. Still, no one spoke. He continued.

The whole story unfolded, Ardeth's voice never wavering, never changing pace. When he came to the part about the encounter in the bathroom Corin looked down blushing. How embarrassing. Oh God don't blush! She tried to ignore the tightening of her uncle's grip on her shoulder and the cry of shock from her aunt. She couldn't bring herself to look up throughout the rest of his narrative.

"I have sent a message to the keeper of the hall of records. They will investigate all Pharaoh's with ties to Hamunaptra and send a list of possible matches. Knowing whom we're dealing with will make the proceedings easier I hope. We will be ready to keep the creature contained at all costs, although, Allah willing, things will not get that far."

"That's all very chilling, but I don't see why we need to go so soon," Eve said stubbornly. "And besides, the creature is our concern as well-"

"Dear, why don't we listen to the man, pack our bags and go back to England? We'll only be getting in the way now Eve. We did what we set out to do, now let's get the hell out of here." Rick cut in.

"Capitol idea!" Jonathan chimed in. "I'll go round up the bags-"

"Sit down Jonathan." Eve commanded. "We are not done talking about this."

"Remember the last time we didn't listen to Ardeth?" Rick demanded. "Let me refresh your memory, we got chased around by an undead mummy and nearly died! Why don't we try heeding him this time, just for the hell of it, and see what happens?"

"Oh come now, surely no harm can come of staying a little bit longer."

"Yes, just like no harm ever came from reading a book?"

"Please my friends!" Ardeth interjected. "I had hoped to avoid speaking of this, but to send you from this place I will chance telling you. The Medjai are bound by sacred law to obey the will of the Pharaoh's, without question and without mercy. Years ago, in the times of the first rulers, our ancestors swore a powerful oath to the God's that they would forever serve their Kings, in any life. Their promise extended to their kin, and all their future linage, binding those not even born to this promise. To break it would herald the end of the tribe. We cannot disobey an order directed knowingly from one, no matter what it is. We are slaves to the will of the Pharaohs, should he exert his power."

"That's a wonderful story Ardeth, but I'm afraid I don't see the point." Eve snapped. "The last Pharaoh's were killed thousands of years ago, the whole royal line wiped out. There is no one to fulfill your promise to." Rick looked pale, and Jonathan absolutely terrified.

"Eve, he said in any life…" Rick trailed off.

"No matter what…" Jonathan finished.

"Oh God." Eve whispered.

#$&()&!#

Viktor Odlethorpe was angry, really angry. How stupid can I be? There she was, right in front of me and I didn't see it! Idiot! He was certain now; one of the two women was the girl from his dreams, Rhodopis. The problem was, which one was it? They both had the same wavy dark hair, the same almond shaped eyes, the same full lips. They were too similar; there was no way to be sure.

Eve. She would make a perfect queen. Intelligent, beautiful, regal, she was made to play the part. How many years had he secretly adored her? How many years had he wished to make her smile and love him? Perhaps this attraction was the result of millennia of unfulfilled love and feelings. Maybe he was so drawn to her because of past connections. There was only one problem. She's already married to that git O'Connell. Frowning, he considered the other option.

Corin. He didn't know too much about her. It seemed certain that she was a shy girl, right in that awkward place on the cusp of becoming an adult and beyond that, nothing could be said for sure. She was too quiet to make him certain of her intelligence. Could her silence be the result of modestly or ignorance? She was attentive to her relations with the care of deep affection, but who knew if she had ever experienced true love. I don't want some immature naïve child for a wife… But she was pretty enough, and in time she might even surpass her aunt in beauty. And behind the youthful blushes, he could see a care worn face and kind, keen eyes.

He needed to see them both again, as soon as possible. He would watch them, observe everything he could. There must be something, some trait that would reveal the true girl from the false one. It was only a matter of time.

"Someone to see you sir," the butler announced.

"Send them in." Viktor called without really looking. The door opened.

"Hello Mr. Odlethorpe." Viktor's eyes snapped up. What the hell? "I have something very important to tell you."

&()$!!#!&$$$

Corin looked out the window of the hotel room sadly, trying to soak up as much of Egypt as she could. It was already decided; they would be leaving in the morning. Ardeth, who had escorted them to their rooms, had promised that he would come to the docks with them to see them off. He'd also promised to write as soon as he got news for them. Part of Corin was sad to be going so quickly, she'd barley had time to see anything at all, and another part was relieved. As beautiful as everything here was, she couldn't help but look upon things darkly. Maybe she would be able to come back some day.

On the bright side, to make up for the botched trip, Eve had decided that they would stop in Paris on the way home. Corin was so excited to be going home, her real home. Paris was her air, her blood, her life. The city would be lovely at this time of year. But she also knew there was an exterior motive. Eve and Jonathan wanted to pay their respects to their sister's grave. She would be seeing Lydia again.