Evelyn was ecstatic. After the dream she had last night, she finally had something to go on. Although she could not find the Goddess Kanika anywhere, Tauret was familiar to her. In fact, she knew of a place very near Thebes, that was supposed to have been her home.
Now she had to convince Rick to go.
"Evelyn!"
"Look, I know you don't want to go there but I have to find out about this!"
"No, you don't! This is what we're trying to get away from!"
Evelyn snuggled up to Rick. "Please? I won't be able to rest until I find this." She started to nibble on his neck.
"No fair, you know my weaknesses!" Rick cried half-heartedly.
Evelyn knew they were going. Shortly after, they began to pack, and Rick made arrangements.
She could hardly wait to get to the bottom of these dreams.
"We leave tomorrow," Rick said when he entered the room.
"Great!" Evelyn said, slamming her suitcase shut.
*****
It had been nine long, agonizing months. Kanika had worried the entire time. Aswad was so happy. So was Kanika, but not quite for the same reason.
The baby wasn't his. It belonged to Fadil. Fadil knew. He was also happy. He constantly told her not to worry. No one could possibly find out.
She came to see him more nights than not, feeling greatful that Aswad slept heavily. Not once did he notice she had left.
One night while she lay in his arms, Kanika felt a stinging pain run through her. Fadil immediately jumped up and called for his neighbor, a midwife. The woman and her two daughters came quickly to help.
"This can't happen now," Kanika breathed.
"It can and it is," the woman said, getting ready.
Another pain wracked her body. She looked at Fadil. "Now it's time to worry," she said.
Fadil nodded.
Several hours later, Kanika held a squirming baby girl in her arms. Fadil looked down on them and smiled.
The door flew open. "You!"
Kanika gasped. "How did you find me?"
Aswad stared at her. "I woke to an empty bed. I came searching for you in fear that something had happened to the baby. I see that it has."
Guards filled the room. In the struggle that ensued, the baby disappeared from Kanika's arms and Fadil and the three women disappeared into the night.
*****
Ancient Egypt
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Asim stood in Anck-su-Namun's chamber. He was to guard her today. He had not expectd those to be her first words to him.
"What should I have told you, my lady?"
"Did you know Nefertiri prays to the guardian statue?"
Asim looked away. "Yes."
"Why is that?" She asked.
"It is her mother."
"That is what I heard her say."
Asim looked back at her. "Mandisa's soul is in her body."
Anck-su-Namun wasn't exactly sure who that was. "Did she tell you all this?"
"No."
This was not the answer Anck-su-Namun had expected. "Then how do you know?"
Asim sighed deeply. "I am Mandisa's father, Fadil."
Anck-su-Namun's jaw dropped.
*****
Thebes
It took Evelyn five frustrating days to locate the palace. It was half buried in sand. Quite obviously it hadn't been used for a long time.
They climbed in a window. Most of the inside was half-buried in sand as well. The roof was also missing. Evelyn was amazed that she could still recognize it.
Evelyn crawled through one doorway and screamed. Rick caught her as she began to fall headfirst. Once they could both sit back, Evelyn held Rick tightly.
"That room!" she cried. "It's empty!"
Rick frowned. "It can't be. The rest of the place is buried in sand."
"Look for yourself."
Rick looked. Sure enough, the sand stopped at that room, as if someone had recently dug it out. He jumped down into it and helped her down. "Do we really want to be here?" he asked.
Evelyn looked around. She saw the statue near the front entrance and went to examine it. "This is it!" she cried. "This is what we came here for!"
"Great, now can we go have a real vacation?"
Evelyn glared at him. She looked back at the statue and thought for a minute. "Now what am I supposed to do?"