Evy knelt in front of the low table in Ardeth's empty room. In front of her was a small, gilt statue of the goddess Serqet and an imitation scroll depicting a prayer to the deity. Several candles of different shapes and colors were lit, releasing smoky perfume into the air. The window curtain had been let down, making the whole scene dimly surreal, like some sort of cult worshipping. Rick stood behind her with Alex, staring at her setup with one eyebrow raised. "Evy, was it really necessary to buy this stuff?" Evy lit the last candle and shook the match to put it out, setting the rest aside. "Yes, actually, it was." Evy placed her hands in front of her, trying to sense if the setup was just right. "Serqet is used to being called on in a temple with gold and jewels surrounding her. The least we can do is show that we made an effort to do the same." Rick was still very skeptical. "How can you be sure that Serqet even exists? I mean, we found her in a myth book." Evy rolled her eyes and turned to look at him. "Rick, darling, you're not thinking. After everything you've seen, how can you even begin to think that she doesn't exist? Anubis exists, doesn't he?" And with that, she turned around.

"Really, Dad," put in Alex, "You've battled a high priest from four thousand years ago and seen spells from an ancient book performed. You've been to two mythical locations and had a fight to the death with a completely nonexistent king who is a huge, impossible scorpion from the waist-down. Add some zombie pygmies and an ancient, secret society that doesn't exist either, and by now, you should pretty much be a believer of everything from gods to the tooth fairy." Rick looked at his intelligent son in resignation. "How can I argue with an eight-year-old that knows words I've never heard of?" He ruffled Alex's hair. "I really wish you wouldn't do that, Dad," complained Alex. Rick shook his head. "Just deal with it 'til you're eighteen and moved out of the house." Alex rolled his eyes. "Shush!" Evy reprimanded. "I'm going to start." The O'Connell men looked at her. "What exactly are you doing again?" She sighed and twisted around. "I'm going to call upon Serqet, tell her what Merserqet is doing, and plead her help. As simple as that. Try not to talk while I'm performing the ritual!" she said accusingly. The boys looked at her innocently. She turned and closed her eyes.

She began to speak in slightly faltering Ancient Egyptian. "Lady Serqet, Mistress of the Scorpion, Protector in the Afterlife, I call on you now to come to our aid." She repeated the impromptu request until a gentle breeze came from nowhere and blew out the candles. A sweet, musical voice replied in the same language, "Who has requested aid of Serqet?" Evy started, surprised to hear the answer so soon. "I am Evelyn Carnahan O'Connell," she answered excitedly. Behind her, Rick and Alex exchanged a look. They couldn't hear anything. "Evelyn… speak," commanded the goddess gently. Evy took a deep breath. "I come to you to bring you news of your favored one, Merserqet. She has deceived you." The breeze came back and circled the room in reaction. "She has used her gifts to promote evil ends, my Lady." The patient voice of the eternal goddess said, "How can I trust the words of one who holds secrets from even herself?" Evy frowned in surprise and a bit of indignation. "Mistress, I do not lie!" Inside she was a little unsettled by Serqet's words. What does it mean when a goddess tells you that you have secrets? I don't have secrets, she told herself for self-comfort. "Oh, my child, but you do," Serqet replied to her unspoken thought. "Do not fear. They will reveal themselves in time."

Changing the subject, Serqet continued, "What say you of my loyal servant?" Evy was feeling very unsettled. No one was supposed to be able to read your thoughts. She swallowed. "Merserqet has used your gifts to steal the Book of the Dead from where we had hidden it for safekeeping. We believe she will use it to raise the Scorpion King. Combining the powers of her Lord, the Book, and your gifts, she intends to persuade Anubis to raise his army once more. Or so we believe," she added hurriedly. She hoped to her own god that her family's theory was correct. There was silence for a moment. "What you say is true," sighed Serqet. "I have looked into my beloved's thoughts and seen evil." The melodic voice trailed off thoughtfully. It resumed after just a moment. "She asked me a time ago for the power to regenerate her Lord, the Scorpion King. She convinced me that he would do no evil as long as he was with her. I have already given her the power to raise him. She chants as we speak." Evy looked at her family in alarm. "Then we must stop her, Lady! Can't you break off the spell?" "No, my good child, I cannot," said Serqet firmly. "That would be a terrible breach of etiquette between Gods. Merserqet speaks directly with Anubis now. My beloved cannot be stopped in this; she will raise her Lord. However," she added with a thought, "if one can be found with the strength to defeat the Scorpion King once more…" Evy realized what that meant. "Oh, no," she said. She sighed. "Then I suppose we can send him and his army back to the Underworld again." "Indeed," replied Serqet.

Evy sighed again and furrowed her brows, trying to think of a plan. "Mistress… where is Merserqet now?" Serqet replied, "My beloved stands at the former place of Ahm Shere, chanting to Anubis and her Lord's spirit." Evy thought. "Does she have the Book of the Dead?" "Yes." Evy nodded. "Coud you get us there before the ritual is complete?" Serqet laughed lightly. "Of course I can, my child." Evy remembered the string attached to this venture. "And can you protect us from the one who will rise again?" "You do not speak of the Scorpion King," stated the Goddess. "No, mistress," replied Evy. "This I will do for you, child," said Serqet. "But I cannot take you to Ahm Shere until the other arrives." Evy didn't understand. "He is coming now." Her voice took on an amused tone. "He has secrets as well…" Evy had absolutely no idea what Serqet was talking about, but she had a suspicion about who was coming. She turned towards the door just as Ardeth burst in. "Rick! Evy!" he gasped. "Ashëla is Merserqet, the Scorpion King's-" "We know," Evy cut in calmly. "Her goddess and I are forming a plan."

She turned away from the bewildered Ardeth and back to the impromptu altar. "Is this the other?" she asked in Ancient Egyptian. "Yes," Serqet said. Out of sudden curiosity, Evy asked, "What is his secret?" She glanced at Ardeth, who was still standing in the doorway. He could not understand Ancient Egyptian. Serqet tsked. "I cannot tell you that, child." Her invisible breeze circled Ardeth, who shivered and looked around. He was keeping silent because Rick and Alex were. "He may tell you himself, when he realizes it. But come," she said abruptly, "let us go to the place of Ahm Shere." The breeze grew stronger, whipping Evy's hair, until it was roaring through the room. Evy found herself being lifted by the gale-force wind, carried out the open window and far beyond. She heard all of the boys yelling, and she shouted, "It's all right! We're going to Ahm Shere to raise Imhotep!" "Oh, great," Rick yelled sarcastically as Ardeth shouted, "What?!" Evy laughed as they flew over the city of Cairo. The sunset was to their left, setting the sky at a glow. There were many people on the streets below, but for some reason no one noticed the four people flying through the air above their heads.

Alex quickly got used to their new traveling style and started pretending to be a plane, making motor sounds as they flew. Rick soon followed his son's example, and they both pretended to be fighter planes flying over a war. Evy could only laugh. Ardeth could only stare in awe as the city fell away to smooth sand. "Allah," he breathed in wonder. Evy twisted her head to look at him. "No," she corrected, smiling, "Serqet." He looked at her, with her arms spread out and her hair streaming like some sort of angelic bird. With some effort he tore his gaze away to stare at the rapidly moving ground once more. Sand slithered under them in wind-swept patterns, and after about three minutes of flying, the depression that had been Ahm Shere came into view.

There was a tiny figure gesturing on the ground- and the swirling presence of Anubis was listening before her. They slowed down and landed just within earshot of the figure, who at closer range became known as Merserqet. The Book of the Dead was at her feet. The four adventurers hid behind a convenient sand dune. "What is she saying?" whispered Rick to Evy. She listened for a moment. "She's begging- now demanding that Anubis grant her Lord life." Merserqet was strikingly similar to Anck-su-namun, both in appearance and temperament, it seemed. Serqet whispered in Evy's ear, "I must go. If Anubis finds me here, he will be quite vexed. Do not fear!" The voice grew fainter. "I will protect you." And then she was gone. Evy sighed. "Serqet is no longer with us," she whispered. "We must do this on our own."

Quickly she filled the men in on her plan. "We cannot steal the Book until she has finished her ritual. When she has finished, she will be concentrating on the Scorpion King, so we have a better chance of succeeding. We must have perfect timing, I think. Ardeth, you distract Merserqet while I steal the Book. Rick, you distract the Scorpion King." Rick shook his head. "No problem," he said facetiously. "What do I do?" asked Alex. "Hide behind the dune," replied Evy firmly. "No buts!" Just then a hissing sound filled the air, and everyone turned to see Anubis' spirit dissipating. There was a deep, loud rumbling, and a tear opened in the ground. The hole opened wider and a translucent Scorpion King shot out, roaring triumphantly. "Almost…" whispered Evy. "Where are the claws and stingers?" Rick asked in a low voice. Ardeth whispered, "Anubis gave him those powers, and so he took them away. Anubis would not waste his gifts on a failed servant. He is mortal now, just as Imhotep was." Rick shrugged. "Well, at least it won't be as bad as last time." Ardeth shook his head. "Do not be so sure. The Scorpion King's fighting prowess is legendary." In the strangeness and anticipation of their adventure, Ardeth and Rick had forgotten for the moment that they did not want to talk to each other. Merserqet read a paragraph from the Book of the Dead without looking up, and with every word, the Scorpion King became a little clearer, a little better defined, until the man was standing there, breathing in satisfied air. "Now!" Evy shouted.