Chapter Three
Before the sun had fully risen above the gray mist that hung in the London sky, Jennifer was already halfway to London on a train. She had packed her few things in her rucksack, which was sitting in the seat beside her; on her other side was a small onyx statute shaped like a jackal. Before Jennifer and her captor had left the hotel Anubis had transformed himself into the onyx statue so that Jennifer could travel with him without people causing chaos for seeing the large jackal. Horus was perched upon her rucksack peering his feathers and watching the scenery flash by the train windows.
Jennifer laid her head back against the plush velvet back of the seat and sighed. Jennifer was full of mixed emotions; she hadn't seen her brother and sister since she was a baby, the night her parents died. Her sister was eleven years older then she, her brother was twenty-one; her sister had married an American ten years ago which meant she had a brother in law but she didn't know if her sister had had any children. In a way, Jennifer was happy that Anubis was forcing her to London to see "The O'Connells" but she was mad and afraid because she didn't know what Anubis would do with them once he had awakened his army from Amh-Shre. Shaking all her thoughts from her head -which was reeling- Jennifer began to stroke Horus's back feathers; Horus cawed and ruffled up his feathers, a sign that he was pleased. Horus climbed off the rucksack and onto Jennifer's shoulder, cuddling up closely to her neck. Jennifer smiled a little but was too busy thinking, within hours they would be in London. Though Jennifer didn't know where her sister and her husband lived she was sure she could directions from somewhere. Jennifer once again shook all thoughts from her head, thinking about what would happen would just make it worse; she turned to look outside, the sun was above the mist now and climbing into the sky, making the few remaining stars disappear from the blue tinted sky. The suns warm rays washed upon the green trees that filled the landscape; it was different from Egypt where there were almost no trees. Grasses fields and plains provided prefect-grazing land for cattle; the lush grass was a deep green, even when the sun washed onto it.
A few hours later in London the O'Connell family was beginning to stir; Alex was up and full of energy before the sun had fully taken it's morning position in the sky. Quickly shedding his bedclothes, the young boy was full of excitement. Today he, his mother, his father and his uncle would be going into the city to do some shopping and such. Alex loved the trips into the city, especially the trips to the bookstore and the toy store; he loved to eat in London's exquisite cafés and loved to look at the beautiful water.
Getting fully dressed Alex grabbed his rucksack -which was always handy and full of things such as his trusty sling shot- and headed downstairs. Halfway down the large flight of stairs Alex heard his mother and father already downstairs at the breakfast table. Alex entered the kitchen, greeting his parents with "good mornings" and taking his place at the table beside his father. The table only had four places: one for him, for his father, for his mother and for his uncle who would occasionally grace them with his presence.
"Excited about going into the city today?" Rick asked his son.
Alex nodded and smiled. Evelyn didn't say anything, she looked slightly mad. Alex guessed his mother had discovered the missing vase. Whenever his mother looked at him Alex shot her the most innocent grin he could manage, in between talking to his father about what he wanted to do in the city.
Jennifer was tried of walking; she sighed and sat down on a wooden bench that over looked the sparkling water. She dropped her rucksack on the ground beside her feet and commanded Horus onto her shoulder. She had been looking for the O'Connells for hours but it was no use, it seemed as if they didn't exist; Anubis, however, wouldn't let her quit. She was taking a much-needed break, despite the protests from Anubis that rang inside her head. Around an hour ago she had discovered that Anubis was fluent in "telekinesis"; this was bad for her because Anubis could yell at her all he wanted to inside her head, which throbbed from his constant yelling and verbal abuse. Jennifer wanted to yell "Shut up" but was afraid that people would stare, though it wouldn't have been too big of a deal because people had been staring at her since she left the train. After all she didn't look British with her tan skin, dirty rucksack and falcon perched on her shoulder. She didn't even speak with the English accent since she had lived in America all her life; her father was British and her mother was Egyptian but she never met either of them since she had been adopted by an American family and taken to America to live with them when she was only weeks old. She had never seen her sister or brother but knew about them from her adopted family.
"Get up! Find the O'Connells!" Anubis commanded inside her head. She felt the "necklace" around her neck tighten, a constant reminder of her task.
"Alright." Jennifer muttered, feeling the necklace's grasp loosen.
Back to a seemingly endless search for the O'Connells.
The O'Connells trip into the city was already well under way; at the moment Rick, Evelyn, Alex and Evelyn's older brother Jonathan were taking an early lunch at Alex's favorite café by the water. The O'Connell family had already visited many of the shops that lined the streets near the café they were seated at right now. One of those shops included the exquisite bookstore that Alex and his mother could spend hours in -if Rick would let them. Alex had gotten a new book on Egyptian history, about the pharaohs and the Gods that the ancient Egyptians worshiped. While they were waiting for they lunch to arrive, Alex had the book open in his lap already in-grossed in the black print that told of his "ancestors".
Rick leaned his head back and sighed, the cafés in London were always busy on the weekends; their day so far had been filled with waiting, waiting in lines to purchase things and now waiting for their food at this café. Rick looked behind him at the bustle of the city streets; cars drove along the streets, couples with children or people walking by themselves filled the sidewalks and the crosswalks of the streets. There were many varieties of shops along the streets, bookstores, clothing stores and a picturesque pet shop that sold exotic birds, homely kittens and puppy-eyed puppies. Alex loved to look at the pet shop and would always ask for a cat or a puppy -and once even a snake to which Evelyn immediately put her foot down- and would always get the same answer. No; there was already enough stress in their life -which the constant threat of mummies and whatnot- without a pet to take care of.
Alex still liked to look in the pet store and Rick was sure before the day was done his son would get to look at the animals. Rick, however, did not know that Alex wanted to look at the animals now.
His son closed his new book and turned to his father. "While we're waiting for the food will you take me to look at the animals in the pet shop? Since it's right there." Alex asked, giving his father one of his innocent smiles.
Rick looked at his son with a look of doubt. "Dad, we'll be back before the food comes. I won't take that long." Alex pleaded.
Rick looked up at Evelyn, who shrugged. "If you promise not to take too long Alex." She said.
Alex jumped up in happiness, shaking the table, and grabbed his father's hand. "Thanks Mum! Come on Dad!" Alex said and smiled.
Rick kissed his wife good-bye before following his son out of the café. With permission from his father, Alex ran ahead. Rick took his time crossing the street to the sidewalk. He watched his son enter the pet shop; however, since he was busy watching Alex, Rick didn't watch where he was going and ran right into someone.
Both he and the person he had run into, reeling backward. Rick looked at the person he had run into it; it was a young woman, around nineteen or twenty, with long brown hair, tan skin, a sliver bracelet on her left wrist with various charms, an Egyptian style necklace around her neck and a peregrine falcon perched on her shoulder. Rick's first thought was that she looked a little like Evelyn.
"Sorry" He apologized.
"It's okay." The girl said, she didn't speak British, as he would have guessed.
He studied to girl for a second before saying, "You don't have a British accent."
The girl crossed her arms; she definitely looked like Evelyn when she crossed her arms. "You don't have a British accent either." She said. Her falcon screeched and flapped his wings as if he agreed with what his master said.
"Right; but what are you doing here in London?" Rick asked, he didn't know why he was bothering with asking questions; after all he didn't even know this girl.
"If you have to know, I moved to Egypt when I was eighteen -which was a year ago- and I decided I didn't like Egypt anymore so I moved here, to London, to still be near Egypt." The girl answered. Some of what she said was true; she decided to leave out the fact that an evil Egyptian god had made her come to London.
Rick was surprised how willing the girl had answered his question. "Why do you like Egypt so much?" He asked, she didn't seem like the "explorer" type.
"You see my father was a very famous explorer and he loved Egypt so much that he married my mother, who was an Egyptian and quite an adventurer herself." The girl answered, a proud smile playing on her lips.
Rick had heard that before, ten years ago. Last night Rick had over-heard his wife telling his son that she had a younger sister that she hadn't seen in nineteen years. Was it possible that this girl he stood talking to be her sister; it would be a hell of a coincidence but after battling mummies and half-scorpion creatures he would believe anything.
Jennifer stared at this man; she didn't know why she had answered his questions without asking for a motive. Inside her head Anubis was commanding her to ask him if he knew where the O'Connells were. Jennifer was tempted to give her rucksack a hard kick but was afraid of what the man would think. Horus screeched again and flapped his wings; Jennifer reached a hand up to stroke one of his feet. Horus climbed onto her hand and flapped his wings.
"Miss, you wouldn't by any chance have any brothers or sisters would you?" Rick asked, he decided it was worth a shot.
Jennifer opened her mouth to answer but was startled by Anubis's voice in her head. "Ask him!" He yelled.
Jennifer shook her head but quickly nodded, thinking the man would think her shaking her was "no." "Yes, but I haven't seen my brother or sister since I was a baby." Jennifer answered and dropped her rucksack roughly on the ground.
Before Rick could say anything else Alex rushed up to him. "Dad, are you coming? There's a really cute kitten, come see!" Alex said and pulled his father's hand.
Alex noticed the woman that his father was talking to. More importantly he noticed that the woman had a falcon perched on her hand.
"Cool! I falcon." Alex exclaimed and his eyes will with delight. If his father knew this woman maybe he could hold her bird.
Jennifer smiled at the child; he was cute and looked a lot like his father. "This is Horus." She said and held Horus closer to the delighted boy.
Alex reached a hand forward and petted the bird's silky feathers. "He's really neat; you named his after the Egyptian God right?" Alex asked.
Jennifer nodded; she was surprised that a kid his age would be interested in Egyptian history.
"A friend of my dad's had a falcon but he got killed; I never saw the falcon though." Alex said, still petting the beautiful bird. After all a real falcon was a lot cooler then a kitten.
"You can hold him, if you want but be careful." Jennifer said and showed the boy how to hold his arm out so Horus would sit on it.
A delighted Alex obeyed her directions and watched as the falcon's owner placed Horus onto his arm. Alex looked up at his father and smiled his innocent smile. "Dad can I have a falcon?" He asked, showing his father how well he held the bird.
Rick shook his head. "I don't think so; I don't think your mother would like you to have one either." He answered. He turned back to the girl. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Rick O'Connell and this is my son Alexander." Rick said.
"Alex." The boy said, he didn't like being called Alexander, especially if he was in trouble.
Jennifer could feel her eyes go wide; O'Connell, without even looking -well, she did look- she had found him. Inside her head Anubis was shouting things but Jennifer paid no attention.
"Jennifer Carnahan" She said. "And you know Horus."
At his name Horus took flight from Alex's arm and landed gracefully onto Jennifer's shoulder.
"Carnahan?" Rick repeated, either this was the strangest coincidence he'd ever heard or this was Evelyn's sister.
Jennifer nodded; Rick smiled. "My wife's maiden name is Carnahan." He said.
Jennifer grinned as well; Alex just looked at his father and Jennifer, he didn't have a clue what was going on.
Before the sun had fully risen above the gray mist that hung in the London sky, Jennifer was already halfway to London on a train. She had packed her few things in her rucksack, which was sitting in the seat beside her; on her other side was a small onyx statute shaped like a jackal. Before Jennifer and her captor had left the hotel Anubis had transformed himself into the onyx statue so that Jennifer could travel with him without people causing chaos for seeing the large jackal. Horus was perched upon her rucksack peering his feathers and watching the scenery flash by the train windows.
Jennifer laid her head back against the plush velvet back of the seat and sighed. Jennifer was full of mixed emotions; she hadn't seen her brother and sister since she was a baby, the night her parents died. Her sister was eleven years older then she, her brother was twenty-one; her sister had married an American ten years ago which meant she had a brother in law but she didn't know if her sister had had any children. In a way, Jennifer was happy that Anubis was forcing her to London to see "The O'Connells" but she was mad and afraid because she didn't know what Anubis would do with them once he had awakened his army from Amh-Shre. Shaking all her thoughts from her head -which was reeling- Jennifer began to stroke Horus's back feathers; Horus cawed and ruffled up his feathers, a sign that he was pleased. Horus climbed off the rucksack and onto Jennifer's shoulder, cuddling up closely to her neck. Jennifer smiled a little but was too busy thinking, within hours they would be in London. Though Jennifer didn't know where her sister and her husband lived she was sure she could directions from somewhere. Jennifer once again shook all thoughts from her head, thinking about what would happen would just make it worse; she turned to look outside, the sun was above the mist now and climbing into the sky, making the few remaining stars disappear from the blue tinted sky. The suns warm rays washed upon the green trees that filled the landscape; it was different from Egypt where there were almost no trees. Grasses fields and plains provided prefect-grazing land for cattle; the lush grass was a deep green, even when the sun washed onto it.
A few hours later in London the O'Connell family was beginning to stir; Alex was up and full of energy before the sun had fully taken it's morning position in the sky. Quickly shedding his bedclothes, the young boy was full of excitement. Today he, his mother, his father and his uncle would be going into the city to do some shopping and such. Alex loved the trips into the city, especially the trips to the bookstore and the toy store; he loved to eat in London's exquisite cafés and loved to look at the beautiful water.
Getting fully dressed Alex grabbed his rucksack -which was always handy and full of things such as his trusty sling shot- and headed downstairs. Halfway down the large flight of stairs Alex heard his mother and father already downstairs at the breakfast table. Alex entered the kitchen, greeting his parents with "good mornings" and taking his place at the table beside his father. The table only had four places: one for him, for his father, for his mother and for his uncle who would occasionally grace them with his presence.
"Excited about going into the city today?" Rick asked his son.
Alex nodded and smiled. Evelyn didn't say anything, she looked slightly mad. Alex guessed his mother had discovered the missing vase. Whenever his mother looked at him Alex shot her the most innocent grin he could manage, in between talking to his father about what he wanted to do in the city.
Jennifer was tried of walking; she sighed and sat down on a wooden bench that over looked the sparkling water. She dropped her rucksack on the ground beside her feet and commanded Horus onto her shoulder. She had been looking for the O'Connells for hours but it was no use, it seemed as if they didn't exist; Anubis, however, wouldn't let her quit. She was taking a much-needed break, despite the protests from Anubis that rang inside her head. Around an hour ago she had discovered that Anubis was fluent in "telekinesis"; this was bad for her because Anubis could yell at her all he wanted to inside her head, which throbbed from his constant yelling and verbal abuse. Jennifer wanted to yell "Shut up" but was afraid that people would stare, though it wouldn't have been too big of a deal because people had been staring at her since she left the train. After all she didn't look British with her tan skin, dirty rucksack and falcon perched on her shoulder. She didn't even speak with the English accent since she had lived in America all her life; her father was British and her mother was Egyptian but she never met either of them since she had been adopted by an American family and taken to America to live with them when she was only weeks old. She had never seen her sister or brother but knew about them from her adopted family.
"Get up! Find the O'Connells!" Anubis commanded inside her head. She felt the "necklace" around her neck tighten, a constant reminder of her task.
"Alright." Jennifer muttered, feeling the necklace's grasp loosen.
Back to a seemingly endless search for the O'Connells.
The O'Connells trip into the city was already well under way; at the moment Rick, Evelyn, Alex and Evelyn's older brother Jonathan were taking an early lunch at Alex's favorite café by the water. The O'Connell family had already visited many of the shops that lined the streets near the café they were seated at right now. One of those shops included the exquisite bookstore that Alex and his mother could spend hours in -if Rick would let them. Alex had gotten a new book on Egyptian history, about the pharaohs and the Gods that the ancient Egyptians worshiped. While they were waiting for they lunch to arrive, Alex had the book open in his lap already in-grossed in the black print that told of his "ancestors".
Rick leaned his head back and sighed, the cafés in London were always busy on the weekends; their day so far had been filled with waiting, waiting in lines to purchase things and now waiting for their food at this café. Rick looked behind him at the bustle of the city streets; cars drove along the streets, couples with children or people walking by themselves filled the sidewalks and the crosswalks of the streets. There were many varieties of shops along the streets, bookstores, clothing stores and a picturesque pet shop that sold exotic birds, homely kittens and puppy-eyed puppies. Alex loved to look at the pet shop and would always ask for a cat or a puppy -and once even a snake to which Evelyn immediately put her foot down- and would always get the same answer. No; there was already enough stress in their life -which the constant threat of mummies and whatnot- without a pet to take care of.
Alex still liked to look in the pet store and Rick was sure before the day was done his son would get to look at the animals. Rick, however, did not know that Alex wanted to look at the animals now.
His son closed his new book and turned to his father. "While we're waiting for the food will you take me to look at the animals in the pet shop? Since it's right there." Alex asked, giving his father one of his innocent smiles.
Rick looked at his son with a look of doubt. "Dad, we'll be back before the food comes. I won't take that long." Alex pleaded.
Rick looked up at Evelyn, who shrugged. "If you promise not to take too long Alex." She said.
Alex jumped up in happiness, shaking the table, and grabbed his father's hand. "Thanks Mum! Come on Dad!" Alex said and smiled.
Rick kissed his wife good-bye before following his son out of the café. With permission from his father, Alex ran ahead. Rick took his time crossing the street to the sidewalk. He watched his son enter the pet shop; however, since he was busy watching Alex, Rick didn't watch where he was going and ran right into someone.
Both he and the person he had run into, reeling backward. Rick looked at the person he had run into it; it was a young woman, around nineteen or twenty, with long brown hair, tan skin, a sliver bracelet on her left wrist with various charms, an Egyptian style necklace around her neck and a peregrine falcon perched on her shoulder. Rick's first thought was that she looked a little like Evelyn.
"Sorry" He apologized.
"It's okay." The girl said, she didn't speak British, as he would have guessed.
He studied to girl for a second before saying, "You don't have a British accent."
The girl crossed her arms; she definitely looked like Evelyn when she crossed her arms. "You don't have a British accent either." She said. Her falcon screeched and flapped his wings as if he agreed with what his master said.
"Right; but what are you doing here in London?" Rick asked, he didn't know why he was bothering with asking questions; after all he didn't even know this girl.
"If you have to know, I moved to Egypt when I was eighteen -which was a year ago- and I decided I didn't like Egypt anymore so I moved here, to London, to still be near Egypt." The girl answered. Some of what she said was true; she decided to leave out the fact that an evil Egyptian god had made her come to London.
Rick was surprised how willing the girl had answered his question. "Why do you like Egypt so much?" He asked, she didn't seem like the "explorer" type.
"You see my father was a very famous explorer and he loved Egypt so much that he married my mother, who was an Egyptian and quite an adventurer herself." The girl answered, a proud smile playing on her lips.
Rick had heard that before, ten years ago. Last night Rick had over-heard his wife telling his son that she had a younger sister that she hadn't seen in nineteen years. Was it possible that this girl he stood talking to be her sister; it would be a hell of a coincidence but after battling mummies and half-scorpion creatures he would believe anything.
Jennifer stared at this man; she didn't know why she had answered his questions without asking for a motive. Inside her head Anubis was commanding her to ask him if he knew where the O'Connells were. Jennifer was tempted to give her rucksack a hard kick but was afraid of what the man would think. Horus screeched again and flapped his wings; Jennifer reached a hand up to stroke one of his feet. Horus climbed onto her hand and flapped his wings.
"Miss, you wouldn't by any chance have any brothers or sisters would you?" Rick asked, he decided it was worth a shot.
Jennifer opened her mouth to answer but was startled by Anubis's voice in her head. "Ask him!" He yelled.
Jennifer shook her head but quickly nodded, thinking the man would think her shaking her was "no." "Yes, but I haven't seen my brother or sister since I was a baby." Jennifer answered and dropped her rucksack roughly on the ground.
Before Rick could say anything else Alex rushed up to him. "Dad, are you coming? There's a really cute kitten, come see!" Alex said and pulled his father's hand.
Alex noticed the woman that his father was talking to. More importantly he noticed that the woman had a falcon perched on her hand.
"Cool! I falcon." Alex exclaimed and his eyes will with delight. If his father knew this woman maybe he could hold her bird.
Jennifer smiled at the child; he was cute and looked a lot like his father. "This is Horus." She said and held Horus closer to the delighted boy.
Alex reached a hand forward and petted the bird's silky feathers. "He's really neat; you named his after the Egyptian God right?" Alex asked.
Jennifer nodded; she was surprised that a kid his age would be interested in Egyptian history.
"A friend of my dad's had a falcon but he got killed; I never saw the falcon though." Alex said, still petting the beautiful bird. After all a real falcon was a lot cooler then a kitten.
"You can hold him, if you want but be careful." Jennifer said and showed the boy how to hold his arm out so Horus would sit on it.
A delighted Alex obeyed her directions and watched as the falcon's owner placed Horus onto his arm. Alex looked up at his father and smiled his innocent smile. "Dad can I have a falcon?" He asked, showing his father how well he held the bird.
Rick shook his head. "I don't think so; I don't think your mother would like you to have one either." He answered. He turned back to the girl. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Rick O'Connell and this is my son Alexander." Rick said.
"Alex." The boy said, he didn't like being called Alexander, especially if he was in trouble.
Jennifer could feel her eyes go wide; O'Connell, without even looking -well, she did look- she had found him. Inside her head Anubis was shouting things but Jennifer paid no attention.
"Jennifer Carnahan" She said. "And you know Horus."
At his name Horus took flight from Alex's arm and landed gracefully onto Jennifer's shoulder.
"Carnahan?" Rick repeated, either this was the strangest coincidence he'd ever heard or this was Evelyn's sister.
Jennifer nodded; Rick smiled. "My wife's maiden name is Carnahan." He said.
Jennifer grinned as well; Alex just looked at his father and Jennifer, he didn't have a clue what was going on.