One of the two men carrying the sarcophagus pushed the door behind him open using his elbow. Together with his colleague, they dragged the heavy stone coffin in the middle of the room, until it stood directly next to a second sarcophagus, which looked similar to the other one, but was slightly bigger. Also, the face on the engraved surface was male, while the on the one the two securitymen just brought in, was a female.
With a heavy sigh, they dropped their load to the ground. The impact made the floor beneath their feet vibrate.
"Shouldn't we be, I dunno, a bit more careful with that stuff?" one of the men then asked his older colleague.
"It's made of stone, you think it's gonna break?" the other security guard chuckled. "Anyways, I wonder why the curator insisted on having another of these coffins in here. Wasn't the first one enough?"
"Who cares? As long as we're paid…"
"You're right about that." They both chuckled and turned around to leave.
A golden glow was suddenly emitted from the sarcophagus with the male face on its lid. A low, rumbling voice echoed through the room:
"For bringing me the coffin of my bride… I will grant you eternal life in my service!"
The two guards stopped and looked at each other. "Did… did you hear that?" the younger one muttered. They turned around and saw how the lid of the coffin was slowly raised by an invisible force. The golden glow was becoming stronger.
The older security guard gulped. "I dunno about you, but I'm not getting paid enough for this… I'm leaving!" And he turned around on his heels and ran.
He didn't get far.
Bandages came shooting out of the coffin and wrapped themselves around the man's upper body. They were old and dusty, but surprisingly firm. The guard let out a scream, which turned into a gurgle as another bandage wrapped itself around his neck. He then was lifted off his feet and dragged back towards the sarcophagus.
The second guard was stunned by the horrific scene displayed in front of him, but when another bundle of bandages came shooting at him, he gave off a yell and tried to leap away. The bandages still grabbed him, and within seconds, both men were pulled close to the sarcophagus.
Flailing around, they tried to escape, but it was to no avail. Their screams became shriller as their forms grew thin and bony. As their life forces were drained by the horror within the coffin, all the organic tissue of their bodies withered away until only their skeletons were left. Then, the bandages retracted back into the coffin and the lid closed itself.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, with jerky movements, the two skeletons climbed to their feet. Within their eye sockets, an unholy light was glowing. Again, the rumbling voice filled the room:
"Gather more servants… and bring me the Eye of Anubis, so I can live again!"
The skeletons nodded and left the room, searching the whole museum for other humans their master could turn into mindless slaves. It wasn't long until all of the museum staff was screaming in terror as they tried to get away from the undead horrors.
In the central room of the museum, the two coffins were still standing. And within one of them, an ancient king waited for his chance to walk the world again… but this time around, not alone.
"Soon, my queen…" Akmodan II spoke from within his coffin. "Soon, you will be at my side… and together, we will help Dracula spread the evil across the world."
At the airport, three teenage girls were standing at the information booth, while a fourth girl, who for some reason was dressed in a fedora, a wide trenchcoat and sunglasses, was waiting for them aloof.
"So the delivery from Cairo was already brought to the museum two hours ago?" Naru asked the young airport clerk. "I see… thank you for your time."
They walked back to where Minako was waiting. Makoto (who, like Usagi, was back in her human form) frowned at the blonde mummy's choice of clothing.
"What's with the hat?"
"Hey, in the old movies, they always wear a disguise like this," Minako defended herself. "Ya can't beat the classics."
"It's better than having to explain why there's a mummy walking around in broad daylight," Naru said. "Besides, I like the hat."
"Too bad Rei couldn't come," Usagi sighed.
"Well yeah, she does have certain problems with the sun," Makoto shrugged. "At least she only turns into stone. Be happy that you're not like a full vampire that turns into dust in the sunlight."
"But now what do we do?" Minako whined. "This is bad… now I've got the amulet, but not the coffin. "How does the old saying go: When it snows, it hails."
"Um, I think it's 'When it rains, it pours', but never mind that now," Naru spoke up. "They're bringing your coffin to the museum, where Akmodans original coffin is. Who knows what will happen when they are brought together."
"What's the worst that could happen?" Usagi shrugged. "I mean, they're just stone coffins, right?"
Naru shivered. "Usagi… I've read enough about this. Two egyptian coffins that are full of old magical energy? That's just asking for trouble. Don't forget that Mina's sarcophagus transformed her… and I don't even want to mention the evil pharaoh resting in the other one."
Usagi swallowed. "That doesn't sound good. In that case, we better head over there quickly."
"Yeah, before Dracula's goons get there before us," Makoto nodded.
"They still need the amulet to ressurect Akmodan, remember?" Usagi told her.
"Yes. But they know we have it. And if they know about Mina, they probably also know we're coming, so they might prepare a trap for us. So we better hurry."
The other girls nodded.
The situation was worse than either of them could have panticipated. All around the museum, police cars and barriers were standing, the policemen using megaphones to control the crowd of onlookers. The building itself was sparkling with a strange energy, while tendrils of light crackled over its surface.
"Please remain calm," the police told the crowd. "We ask you to go back home and leave this problem to us. We assure you, we've got everything under control."
At that moment, three frantically screaming police officers came running out of the front gate, screaming something about monsters that were chasing them.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "Shows how much the police can do about this," she muttered. "So, what now? Looks like old Akki already has control over the museum… somehow. What's the plan? We just barge in there, braing fangs, blasting spells and cracking whips?"
Minako chuckled from underneath her fedora. "Sounds good to me."
"Don't be silly. That would cause an even bigger panic," Naru frowned.
"I don't know… this seems like a good chance to show everyone that we are NOT the bad guys," Usagi pointed out.
"I think you're going to need more than that to gain everyone's trust in this city, Usagi," Luna sighed from her perch on the vampire princess' shoulder. "I say we wait and try to come up with a plan before we go in there."
"I don't think we've got that much time," Naru said as she gestured over to the museum. "Look!"
The girls looked over to where Naru was pointing and saw how three dark shadows were silently sneaking up behind two police officers that were guarding one of the museum's side entrances. They couldn't quite see what was going on, but what they could see was that the two policemen suddenly fell to the ground… and that one of the attackers had a tail… and a lion's mane.
"Ortega…" Makoto growled. "So they're already here."
"So, no time for plans," Usagi sighed. "Okay… we go after them… without being seen by the crowd."
The three inhuman shapes slipped into the museum, unseen by any human eye. They closed the door and walked down the dark, empty corridor.
"Those humans won't rise ever again," a sleek, elegant figure smiled as she looked at her green-scaled, claw-tipped hand. "My venom is enough to bring a grown minotaur down."
"I could have done this all by myself," the were-lion next to her grumbled. "I don't know why Carmilla insisted you three come along."
"You're lucky Lady Carmilla gave you permission to come along," the third figure screeched. She almost looked like a normal woman with short, sandy blonde hair, but instead of arms she had big wings with yellow feathers and clawed bird feet. "Not only did you fail to bring her the amulet when she asked you to do it, you also were unable to kill the Lecarde boy."
"Calm down, Haruka dear," the woman with the green scales said to the Harpy in a gentle voice. She looked like any other of the aquatic merman that were in Dracula's service, even though as a female, she looked less bestial and had long, turquoise-colored hair that resembled seaweed. "He's just a brutish man who doesn't know how to express himself except for violence."
"Excuse me for preferring a good battle to all that sneaking around," Ortega grumbled.
"Michiru," the harpy suddenly said. "Something's coming…"
She was right. Of course, Akmodan's servant skeletons had already noticed the intruders and were surrounding them from both sides.
"Leave this to me," the merwoman smiled and stepped forth. "We have come to set free your master, Pharaoh Akmodan II of Egypt. Let us pass!"
The mindless creatures did not respond, but as they were the extended will of their master, they stepped aside when Akmodan recognized his allies. Michiru nodded as she, Haruka and Ortega continued on their way. "There are dark creatures following us that wish to interfere with your master's ressurection. Make sure their way inside is not an easy one."
As they kept walking, Ortega frowned. "What about the ambush we planned? You wanna meet the old mummy without the amulet?"
"I think we should let them have fun with the skeletons first," Michiru smiled.
"They won't stop them for long."
"Of course not, idiot!" Haruka snorted. "But they will wear them down so we can easily finish them off. Use your brain for once… if you got one!"
Ortega gritted his teeth. How dare Carmilla make him work with disrespectful subordinates like this. Who do they think they are, speaking down on him as if he were just a common grunt.
In the meantime, Usagi and her friends had already made their way inside.
Minako shuddered. "I don't like this… it's so dark in here."
Usagi smiled. "Just the way I like it." Like any vampire, she could see perfectly fine in the dark. By now, she and Makoto had already cast off their human forms just like Minako had cast off her trenchcoat.
Naru tightened her grip on the Vampire Killer. She was anxious, but she also felt some sort of thrill. Her Belmont blood was coming to the surface… she was willingly entering the monster's lair to destroy it, armed with the weapons of her forefathers. This was her purpose, her destiny. When the glowing eyes of the skeletons appeared in the darkness, she felt no fear, only determination. "They're coming…"
"Already saw them some time ago," Usagi smirked at her friend.
"I don't get it," Makoto frowned as she went into a battle stance. "Where did all those skeletons come from?"
"What do you think happened to the people working here?" Minako asked. "And unlike me, those guys have no trace of their old self left. They are just lifeless corpses, animated by magic."
"Good," Naru said. "Then I won't have to feel bad about what I''m going to do…" She suddenly stormed up to one of the skeletons, kicked off its skull, used her whip to reduce another skeleton to a pile of bones, jumped over undead arms that were reaching out for her, threw a couple of daggers while in mid-air (which embedded themselves into the skulls of her attackers) and took out another undead with a diving kick.
Even Makoto had to gape at this display of skill. She whistled. "That… was awesome!"
"Just make sure to leave some for us," Usagi pouted.
"I wouldn't worry about that," Naru said, pointing down the corridor. "More undead freaks coming up at six o'clock."
The newly arrived skeletons didn't waste their time attacking the girls at close range, instead they took some of their own bones and threw them.
"I think I've got a bone to pick with those guys," Minako frowned as she extended a couple of her bandages to pluck some of the thrown projectiles out of the air. She summoned up a couple of balls of light, which she threw at her enemies.
"Well, they surely are making us work to the bone," Makoto growled as she tore into another couple of skeletons with her bare hands.
"Would you stop it with the bone jokes?" Usagi sighed as her bats blasted another incoming undead. "Your humor is as dry as a bone…"
Soon enough, there was no trace left of their attackers but a huge pile of bones.
Naru wiped her hands. "Well, they were just skin and bones…" The others just groaned.
"C'mon, let's hurry," Makoto then said. "I still have a score to settle with Ortega."
Not wanting to be left behind by their werewolf friend, the others hurried after her.
Just a couple of minutes later, they reached the double doors leading to the main exhibition room of the museum, where the two coffins were kept.
Makoto tried to open the doors, but they wouldn't budge. Angrily, she gave them a firm kick, but it was no use.
"Dammit! You think they locked us out?"
"Just leave it to me," Minako said as she raised her hands. "I'll blast it open in no time." Again, she summoned her light orbs.
"I sense the power of Isis…" a rumbling voice came out of nowhere. "So you finally arrived… come in… and bring your servants with you." And the door opened all by itself.
The others all looked at Minako. "Servants?" Usagi frowned. "We're your servants now?"
"H-hey, don't look at me. The door is open, so don't look a gift cow into its mouth," the young mummy stuttered.
Carefully, they entered… and the doors slammed closed behind them. Naru sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"
In the middle of the room, the two sarcophagi were standing, one of them glowing in a golden light. A werewolf, harpy and fish-like woman were standing around them.
"So, you finally made it?" Michiru smirked. "Took you long enough."
"Who the heck are you?" Usagi asked.
"Oh, I'm Michiru and this is Haruka," the merwoman replied, nodding towards the harpy.
"Lady Carmilla sends her regards," Haruka screeched, spreading her wings. "She's afraid she can't come by herself, so she sent us to take care of you annoying interlopers. Well, all except for the princess." She smirked at Usagi. "She's still waiting for the day when you realize that Lord Dracula's way is the only way for creatures such as us."
"She can wait for all eternity, it won't change my mind," Usagi firmly stated.
"Enough!" came the booming voice from Akmodan's sarcophagus. "Bring me the amulet so I can live again!"
"You heard the man, Mako-honey!" Ortega smirked. "Hand it over!"
Makoto bared her teeth. "Why don't you come and get it?"
"Gladly…" her rival growled. With mighty roars, the werewolf and were-lion leapt at each other.
"Finally, some action!" Haruka screeched as she took off into the air. "I take the Belmont!" And she dove at Naru with open claws.
"Wrong choice, monster!" Naru spat as she welcomed the harpy with her whip.
Michiru smiled at Usagi. "If you insist on fighting me, princess, I must warn you: I will not hold back!"
"What are you gonna do, spit on me?" Usagi snickered.
The merwoman giggled. "Good idea!" She inhaled and without a warning, spat a strong current of water out of her mouth. The pressure was so great that it showed Usagi backwards, until her back hit the wall.
"Hey!" she sputtered as she fought against the water stream. "I took a shower this morning, okay?" She turned a small part of her cloak into bats, which flew directly at Michiru.
The aquatic woman merely stretched out her claws and impaled the bats on them. The venom instantly destroyed them. "Don't underestimate me just because I'm out of my native habitat, princess," she smirked.
Meanwhile, Minako was approaching the glowing sarcophagus.
"So, the time has finally come…" came Akmodan's voice through the closed lid. "Tell me, what is your name, young one?"
"I'm Minako," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "You know what, you don't really look so tough in there… So you can speak and make your coffin glow, big deal. All I need are some matches and you're history… again."
"No… I have waited for too long for this day," Akmodan groaned. "You truly are beautiful… and a powerful disciple of Isis. It was only natural that you would be chosen by my second sarcophagus… after all, it was created to obtain the body of my wife."
"Your… what?"
"I never thought the day would come, but I finally found someone worthy enough to stay at my side for all eternity. I welcome you at my side… now leave these unworthy mortals behind and be mine… Minako, my queen!"
Minako made a face. The idea alone was disgusting to her. "Blergh! No way, you creep!"
"You have no choice, you have been chosen… it is your fate. Don't resist me…"
"Yeah, nice try. I only have one reply for guys like you: get lost, jerkface!" And she gave him the middle finger.
"No! I will not be rejected!" Akmodan II shouted, and the glow of his coffin intensified. "You WILL be my queen, by force if necessary!"
A sudden burst of power made Minako stumble backwards. Slowly, th sarcophagus began to float upwards. "Anubis, lord of the death… I summon your power! Come to me and bring my dead body back to the world of the living!"
As Akmodan shouted these words, Makoto suddenly felt a painful, burning sensation coming from her pocket. "OW! What in the world…" She grimaced as the pain forced her to stop her attack on Ortega.
The lion-man grinned as he saw an opening. With one swift move, he brought his massive fist down on Makoto's skull. With a yelp, the wolf-girl went down to the floor. The Eye of Anubis came floating out of her pocket, glowing as brightly as Akmodan's coffin. And then, it slowly began to float towards it.
"Stop the amulet!" Naru shouted as she tried to intercept the floating artifact. But then Haruka came swooping down from above and pressed her body to the floor.
"Naru!" Usagi shouted, while still fighting against Michiru's jet of water. "Dammit… you're getting on my nerves." She pulled her cloak around her body and was suddenly transformed into a cloud of mist.
"What?" Michiru shouted in surprise as she stopped her attack. "Where did she go?"
The mist solidified behind the merwoman's back as Usagi turned back to normal. "Surprise!" she said as she kicked Michiru in the back of her head. The merwoman's eyes rolled up as she passed out and fell down in front of the half-vampiress. "Naru, I'm coming…"
"Don't worry about me! Stop the amulet!" the young vampire hunter shouted.
Usagi looked at the floating amulet, turned her cape back into wings and flew at it at full speed.
"Oh no, you don't…" Ortega grumbled as he body-tackled her from the side. Usagi grunted as she was knocked against Minako's sarcophagus. She pressed her hand against her ribcage. "Damn… that hurt!"
Realizing that it was up to her, Minako tried grabbing the amulet. But for some reason, she couldn't touch it.
"What's wrong, Minako?" Usagi asked. "Grab that thing!"
"I… I can't…" Minako muttered. "I can't touch it… my powers of Isis… Anubis… Anubis won't let me!"
And then it happened. The amulet attached itself to the surface of Akmodan's sarcophagus, the light surrounding it seemed to explode and the lid was violently flung aside. Slowly, the mummified body of Akmodan II rose from inside.
The mummy spread its arms. "I… have come back to LIFE!" he shouted while sparks danced around his hands.
Minako stepped back while Akmodan slowly came out of his coffin. "Now, my queen… come at my side and help me as we bring the glory of Dracula back to this world. Let us cover the world with darkness in the name of Seth!"
Minako glared at him. "I guess my first reply wasn't enough… I said NO!" And with these words, she created a ball of light, bigger than the ones before, and flung it at the undead pharaoh.
An aura of shadow surrounded the mummy-man and he laughed. "Foolish girl… the power of Isis is not enough to break through the might of Seth. Admit defeat and join me, then I'll promise you power you can only dream of."
"Never!" Minako yelled.
Akmodan lowered his arms. "Is that so… well, maybe you still need a bit more time. I will be back once you've realized your destiny." He then chanted some words in the ancient, egyption tongue, and glowing hieroglyphes appeared in the air before Akmodan, Ortega, Haruka and the unconscious form of Michiru.
"Hey, I wasn't done kicking their butts yet!" Haruka protested, but it was too late. Akmodan's magic whisked them away, back to where Carmilla was waiting for them. The sarcophagus of Akmodan disappeared alongside with him… and with it, the Eye of Anubis.
Usagi, Naru, Makoto and Minako were the only ones left in the room. Minako slowly sank down to her knees and hid her face in her hands.
Usagi used the other coffin to push herself back up to her feet. Her ribs still jurt like hell. "Minako…" she softly said as she looked at the distraught mummy.
"No…" Minako whispered. "I was so close…"
Author's Notes:
Okay, Minako has her coffin back, but now the amulet's gone. Not only that, but Carmilla just gained another, powerful helper... one who wants to make Minako his bride.
Oh, and let's not forget the other two creatures that came with Ortega. Michiru and Haruka... Hmm... I wwonder where I heard those names before...
By the way, Akmodan's words 'I have come back to life' are a reference to the movie 'Night at the Museum 2', where it was spoken by Kahmunrah.