~ Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Without you I can't go on! And Malathyne is right. I should state whose POV it is. So this is Evy's ~
I heard the knock on my door and answered in a low voice. I was violently pulled from 3000 BC to reality and I didn't like it. After all I wasn't expecting anyone. On the doorstep was a young woman, dark hair, dark almond shaped eyes, dark complexion. It took me a minute to put two and two together and realize to who I was looking at. At the meantime she was studying me. She had a very intense stare, not very kind or friendly. She looked as if she were weighing me, judging me. Then in a second, she smiled at me with a small smile that lighted her face. Now she was perfectly friendly. With a quick, confident pace she came in front of my desk. I got up, shook her hand and smiled back at her.
- You are Heterity I assume. Welcome. The truth is I have never heard that Ardeth was married, and suddenly I had this telegram and learned that Ardeth's wife was coming in London for something very important and that she was not really accustomed to… western world. I was very surprised and exited, couldn't wait to find more about her.
- I am glad I am here. I am glad to meet you too. Her accent was heavy, heavier than Ardeth's and the language didn't sound natural.
- How can I help you? I asked kindly.
- Well, it's a big story… she started but I cut her off.
- If it's a big story then let's tell it home. You are going to stay with us of course.
She didn't object, just thanked me, shook her head and smiled at me again with a strange smile that illuminated her face. I have already started to like her. We went home by bus, as she was looking with amazement outside at the buildings, the lights, the movement, the rain. She wasn't talking at all.
When we finally reached home we introduced her to Rick and Alex (thankfully Johnathan was not there) and sat down with hot cups of tea. She turned to me.
- I have something for you. She told me
- You didn't have to! I told her although I was full of curiosity. She went through her things and gave me a big package wrapped in thick brown paper. I opened it slowly and saw a chest. It was made of wood and was covered with ivory and semi-precious stones which made beautiful designs. Two cobras were curling at the sides and on the lid Thoth, god of wisdom was depicted dressed as a scribe. I was gaping in amazement and I opened it. Inside, four rolls of papyri were laying neatly. I opened one of them. Everything was in perfect condition, as if it were made yesterday. I turned at her.
- Where did you find it? I asked amazed.
- It used to belong to my brother. She smiled, this time as enigmatically as the sphinx.
- To your brother? This is impossible! I stated looking at the chest and its contents again. It looked brand new but it was ancient, I could not be fooled.
- Listen to me, and maybe you will not find it so impossible. She said lowering her tone to almost a whisper. Even Rick's face was interested as everyone was coming nearer to her, trying to listen to her words. As the thousand-year-old story unfolded in front of my eyes magnificently colored by her words I kept looking in her face, which showed little emotion as if this was someone else's story. I heard of pain and love, wisdom dedication and betrayal, ancient myths coming true and unimaginable threats. When she finally stopped nobody else could speak, as if her voice was still ringing in the silence. Finally Rick (who else!) broke the silence.
- And now what do you want from us? If there is anything we can do and any threat we can face by you, we will be eager to do so. We already owe Ardeth so much.
I nodded in agreement.
- Thank you. Thank you for your kindness and offer. But this time the world is not in danger. It is a personal favor I want to request from you. It is for my safety. She now looked worried and sad, the magic of her words had disappeared and she was simple again.
- What do you need? We will help you in any way we can. I assured her.
- I already told you about the lioness. She has mortally hurt Ardeth during their combat. I could not witness him dying, moments after I had him back. I used a power that was not mine, it was just placed in my hands to guard it. he came back to life and perfect health. But the goddess doesn't like losing her victims, and I have defied an agreement. So I was terribly punished. In two weeks from now I would turn into the lioness myself and finish the job. I decided that I would never let that happen. If I couldn't find I solution, then I'd rather kill myself before this. However my patron, a great goddess herself gave a solution. Or a little help at least. She locked the curse in a red stone, so that in the end of the period there would be no trouble.
- Then everything is alright! Alex said simply.
- If it were alright, I wouldn't be here, she went on. If someone finds the stone, he can possibly unlock the curse, either by mistake or on purpose. I have to find it and destroy it. And I believe it is here in London, in the museum. This is where I need your help.
I smiled relieved and took her upstairs with me to show her the museum records. We have something for every single item in the Egyptian collection. She looked through papers, some old and dusted or torn by time, some others brand new looking at the little drawings on top of them. I assumed she could not read English. She finally stopped at an item and showed it to me.
- This one! What is it?
I looked at it. It was a scimitar, when of our most beautiful findings made of pure gold and with a case with precious stones to match. I motioned to her to wait and went through another file, where we kept detailed paintings of the better pieces. I showed it to her. She took it in her hands which were trembling slightly as I noticed.
- What? I asked her. It's a stone we are looking for.
- This used to be mine. She told me in a husky voice. I lost it in a… confrontation.
I did not press the issue. She gave it back to me and started going through the files again. I suddenly noticed something. Just below the hilt, where the blade started was a small, tear shaped red stone.
~
Rick stopped hastily in front of the museum and we run inside with Alex on our heels. We could not leave him at home all alone and anyway he would insist very much in coming. We rushed through the doors to the Egyptian exhibition. The glass behind which the scimitar used to lie was broken. The weapon was nowhere to be seen. Heterity moaned in desperation. Rick frowned and scanned the area quickly.
- I can't believe it! she said. They found the correct time to steal it!
- It was the best part of the collection that was easily carried. I tried to reason.
- Errr… I don't think it was stolen because of that darling. I heard Rick's voice behind me. He was standing there holding the scabbard. Because this was more expensive that the thing itself, he went on.