Alex had been not only her brother, but a good friend. And she could always count on two things: Evelyn's advice and Rick's protection. She even enjoyed laughs with Uncle Jonathan.
Even thinking she hated Evelyn and Rick with every fiber of her being, she still had the past. Therefore when Sagira saw Evelyn lying there in a pool of blood, she actually felt bad.
Anck-su-Namun stood triumphantly in the middle of the circle. Sagira just knew Rick would turn his anger on her, and she stepped behind Anck-su-Namun for protection.
Sagira was not prepared for what happened. Rick drew his gun. Screaming, he pulled the trigger. Even Alex was in shock. The bullet went straight through Anck-su-Namun's heart and Sagira felt it rip through her. All became dark.
**************
Sagira woke to confusion. She thought she was in her bedroom, but something was wrong. It took her several seconds to realize why. Her room was cream colored. This one was white. Therefore she was not in her room.
"Welcome back."
Sagira turned her head and pain shot through her upper left half. A nurse gave her a sympathetic smile. "I bet you'd like something for that."
"Yes," Sagira whispered, finally understanding. She was in a hospital.
"Do you know where you are, who you are?"
Sagira said yes again.
"Do you know why you're here?"
This question took more time. She remembered a fight, between Anck-su-Namun and Nefertiri that she made possible. But that was all.
The nurse helped her. "You were shot through the shoulder. Lost a lot of blood. We almost weren't sure you'd make it."
Sagira frowned. That's right. Rick shot her. Damn him. He was supposed to be like a father to her. But then, she had killed his wife.
"Evelyn," Sagira whispered.
The nurse gave her a shot. "Hold on." She left the room.
When she came back in, someone was following her. The nurse stepped back outside. Sagira screamed.
"Evelyn!"
*****************
After Sagira had calmed down, she started asking questions. "How did this happen? The book I gave you was fake!"
Evelyn narrowed her eyes and smiled. "I know." She explained.
After Rick fired his shot, both Anck-su-Namun and Sagira fell. Alex ran to get the Book of the Dead, but when he opened it, there was nothing inside.
Rick grabbed Daniel, who was standing over Sagira and crying. "Where is it?"
"She's dead," Daniel sobbed.
No matter what Rick did, Daniel would only repeat those words. Finally, Rick knelt to check Sagira. "She's alive. There's a heartbeat."
Daniel started blubbering.
Rick shook him. "Tell me where the real book is!"
"My house," Daniel managed between incoherent sentences.
Alex took Rick to Daniel's house, leaving Daniel alone with the three women. Sagira was the only one alive at that point so there was no reason to mistrust him.
In Daniel's basement, Alex took the book from the table and they hurried back to the O'Connell home.
Rick took Evelyn into the house. Alex read from the book and brought his mother back. After the disorientation had passed, Evelyn helped them decide what to do.
Everyone piled into the car, including Sagira's unconscious form and Anck-su-Namun's now-uninhabited body. Daniel was dropped off at his home, with Sagira, to tell the hospital that an intruder had shot Sagira. Rick, Evelyn and Alex went to bury the body that had held Anck-su-Namun in a secluded spot. They would work out other details later.
**************
"And guess who is in the next room?" Evelyn finished.
Sagira couldn't think. "Who?"
"Ardeth Bay. You didn't kill him after all."
Sagira groaned.
Evelyn sat on the edge of the hospital bed. "Look, I know you hate me. I know you hate us. But killing me isn't going to solve your problem. We'll always have the book."
Sagira began to cry. "But they did nothing wrong!"
Evelyn sighed."Your parents were tortured souls. They couldn't have survived together or apart."
Sagira recognized her own thoughts in that statement. It had been why she chose to bring back Anck-su-Namun.
"I know you understand what I'm saying," Evelyn said. "What's done is done. Nothing can bring them back to a happy existence. They belong in ancient Egypt. Let them stay where they belong."
Sagira said nothing.
"Sagira, honey, I don't want to fight anymore. I can't keep explaining everything."
"You shouldn't just get away with this," Sagira finally said.
"I didn't get away with anything," Evelyn reminded her. "I died, remember?"
"That's not good enough."
"What can you do now? You know you won't try to bring your parents back. You can't kill us because we will come back. I'm willing to let this go, but if you try this again we'll have to commit you."
"So that's how it is?" Sagira sneered. "You threaten me?"
"You leave me no choice."
"Leave me alone."
"You'll stop this?"
"I make no promises," Sagira replied.
"You were like a daughter to me once," Evelyn sighed as she left the room.
Sagira cried again. "You were like a mother."
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~The End~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~