Chapter 13: Jason
The inside of the Pyramid was, in a way, just as impressive as the outside. Every wall was coated in artwork. Despite being thousands of years old there was barely a crack to be seen. In trepidation Jason walked deeper into the Pyramid. He ignited his lightning bolt, illuminating the passage. Behind him he could hear Annabeth and Leo bickering about the methods of construction used on the Pyramid. At the end of the corridor was a chamber. In the centre was an ornate sarcophagus. Using his bolt Jason lit the wooden torches surrounding the chamber. The light revealed that the sarcophagus was lacking its lid. Peering into the stone coffin Jason could see a mummy. The body was clutching a golden staff. At the end of the staff was a glowing red crystal. Jason felt as if he was within an Indiana Jones movie.
"That's Pharaoh Khufu. He built this Pyramid." Said Annabeth. Jason shuddered; he was uncomfortable around dead bodies but even more uncomfortable when the body was millennia old.
"Ugh. Gross!" exclaimed Jason. Behind him Leo was unrolling one of the scrolls he'd obtained at Hephaestus's workshop.
"Guys," Leo said, "that staff looks exactly like the designs I took. Look!"
"That could be what contains Chaos." Annabeth continued. "These staffs might be what makes the wonders into citadels."
"You're almost correct." Exclaimed a voice. Jason spun around to see the Pharaoh Khufu standing before him. Before he could reach for his weapon the Pharaoh raised his hand.
"You need not unleash your weapon. I mean you no harm." Said Khufu.
"How are you alive? And who is that then?" Jason responded.
"I had this elaborate tomb built for myself. It took over a decade. When I was ready to die Hermes visited me. I was taken aback at first; I was not aware of the Olympian deities. I failed to see the error of my ways. I was cruel. I was a tyrant. As a result I was cursed to never leave the mortal realm. I could never rest in this tomb. I protect the staff."
"What do the staffs do?" replied Leo.
"The staffs contain the malevolent force that is Chaos." Khufu continued. "When united the crystal and the staff are able to keep his power contained. However over the centuries the crystals and the staffs have been separated. I do know that the staffs are still within their citadels, but the crystals are lost. My staff is the only one resisting Chaos, but it is failing. I fear Chaos will return soon."
"Unless we can restore them." Said Annabeth. Jason turned to her.
"We will." He replied.
