I quickly assimilated that, to completely regenerate, I needed to kill the four men who had opened the chest and regain the other four jars and the Book of the Dead. My Princess and the men that my servant disdainfully referred to as Americans had gone off to Cairo. I was glad of my servant there, for he was able to procure me a much-needed disguise. A rotting mummy roaming the streets of Cairo would be a little too unsubtle for my tastes.

My servant led me directly to the man called Burns, whose eyes and tongue I now made use of. It did not take me very long to kill him and take all I needed from him, including the second sacred jar. I stood in front of the fireplace, feeling the thin layer of flesh stretch over my arms, legs, torso. They were coming, my Princess and the Americans. They made a great deal of noise in the hall. I prepared to meet them and turned around with a roar as muscles began to form in my limbs. Power filled me. The scream of my Princess seemed faint and far away as I crossed the room to confront the man who had dared touch her. I picked him up and flung him away from me as though he weighed no more than a sack of grain. Then I turned to look at my Princess, moving to comfort her.

"You saved me from the undead. I thank you." I bent to kiss her. Her eyes fluttered close as what passed for my lips drew near to hers. Just as our mouths were about to touch, there were some dissonant chords and I turned around to see a white cat. Fear took over my being and I disappeared in a cloud of dust. This served as a reminder of how imperative it was that I needed to regenerate fully. More killing. Let the games begin.

It did not take me long to find my second victim in the marketplace. Once I found the man, killing him was even easier than finding him. He carried with him the third canopic jar as well as the Book of the Dead. My new skin stretched tight and pale over my skeleton, but it covered most of my body, with a few notable exceptions in my neck and left cheek. I could feel my facial features become just that.

I looked up at the window of my victim's dwelling, where my servant had gone to look for the Book of the Dead in case the man had not been carrying it. Instead of my servant, the American stood there. Enraged, I opened my mouth and sent a swarm of flying insects at him. I did not watch to see what would happen, no doubt my enemy would find a way to evade them.

I walked slowly back towards the building where my Princess waited with my other intended victims. Two down, two to go.

The fourth jar bore Horus' falcon image and sat on the chair, gazing impassively while I killed the man. I smiled as my flesh began to thicken and grow strong. I was almost entirely regenerated, except for a few decomposing holes. A beetle crawled out of the hole in my neck and up into the hole in my left cheek. I bit down and it made a satisfying crunch. I chewed and swallowed quickly. Insects had never been one of my favorite delicacies.

I approached the closed doors that barred the way to my Princess. I could hear the sound of her deep breathing. Sleeping. Better not to wake her by crashing through the door.

I concentrated on the small keyhole and felt my molecules begin to shift into sand. It was only a matter of seconds before I was through the door and back in human form. Gods! How had I survived before without this awesome power?

I sat down on the bed beside my sleeping Princess. She made a few soft, whimpering noises. Nightmares? I lifted a hand and gently stroked her dark curls. So soft. With effort, I dragged my gaze away from her face and forced myself to think of Anck-su-namun.

I spoke my love's name aloud. "Anck-su-namun." A smile played across my lips as the memory of her perfect face filled my head. Suddenly, a new face, sweet and lovely and unpainted with cosmetics blotted out Anck-su-namun's. The same face that lay sleeping beside me. Unable to help myself, I bent to kiss her. Her lips were warm and soft. Her eyes blinked open and then closed again as she hesitantly returned the kiss.

Without warning, the door burst open and my enemy rushed in. I stood up and cursed him for intruding on the moment with my Princess. My enemy smiled impudently and thrust that accursed cat at me. Unnatural dread gripped me. It was imperative that I kill the last man and consummate the curse. I let my body dissolve into dust and I flew out the open window in a swirl of sand.

A/N: Thanks to Llarian for reviewing and sorting out the sacred jar thing with me. Everyone else… Well, I don't know if anyone else has read my story, but if you have, thank you. Please review, everyone!! Thanks!! *~Kitty~*