Prologue:
Amanda Carnovan yawned as she entered her office. She had spent a late night working after taking a whole day to be with her son Presley. As a single working mother, days like this were a rarity.
She hung up her coat and purse on the door and then sat down at her desk. She unfurled the newspaper she had picked up on her way to work in front of her. She yawned again and glanced at the headlines. "Millionaire Harris Stone Still Missing-Police Are Baffled" was scrawled across the top of the page. This story had been making headlines for two months now.
Amanda had had many dealings with Mr. Stone over the last few years. He was a strange old man with an odd obsession with anything Egyptian but was otherwise harmless. She liked him, in a way, but he never seemed interested in making any friends. He was a recluse with an excessive amount of money he liked to donate to all the right causes. Other than that, no one seemed to know anything about him.
The fact that no one had any knowledge of his habits made it that much more difficult to discover what had happened to him. He had just vanished, without a trace, leaving all his belongings untouched. It was the biggest case in years.
Amanda was jolted out of her musings by a loud knocking at her door. "Come in," she invited the visitor.
The door swung open to reveal her boss, Mr. Hepplewhite. He glanced around the room nervously and shut the door softly behind him.
Amanda was puzzled. This was not like the museum curator. His behavior was out of the ordinary.
"Are you all right, sir?" she questioned.
"Yes, yes. It's just that... Can you keep a secret?" Mr. Hepplewhite queried.
"Of course, Mr. Hepplewhite. What is this all about?" Now, she was very worried. She noticed he was clutching a thin envelope in his hand.
"Here. Read this," he said, handing her the letter.
She took it and pulled the piece of paper from the envelope. Her eyes widened as she read the text. "I can't believe it. These are probably some of the most important artifacts of the century. Our museum is so small. Why send them here?"
Mr. Hepplewhite shook his head. "Never mind that. This is the biggest exhibit to come our way since that failed Egyptian prince one last year. Think of the draw it will have to the public."
Amanda was in complete shock. These items, found in the early 1940s and kept in a secret location by the organization formed for their study, had never been viewed by the public. The information said to be contained within supposedly would change all current knowledge about the ancient world. And, they were coming here, to be placed in the care of one museum for a whole year.
"How long before they arrive?" she finally managed.
"Two weeks. The contract states that the exhibit must be ready in exactly four months. Can I count on you to handle this?"
"Of course, Mr. Hepplewhite! I still can't believe our luck."
"Yes, well. Just remember, this must be kept a total secret for the next three and a half months. With all the recent break-ins, it's hard to know who to trust. The Xena Scrolls must be protected at all costs."
A warm breeze rustled the trees in the lush forests of Greece. These beautiful woods had been rumored to be the home of many during ancient times. One such group was the women warriors known as the Amazons. They were the ones Dr. Miranda Larson had come to prove actually existed.
Miranda had spent a great deal of time studying about the Amazons. As head researcher and director of the International Association of Xena Studies, it was a part of the job. A job she loved more than anything.
The Amazons were a very important part of the history brought to life by the Xena Scrolls. Xena's best friend and sidekick, Gabrielle, who was the author of the Scrolls, had been initiated into one tribe and had served as their queen for a short time. The bard had written a great deal about the society and culture of her adopted people during this period. It provided more information about the warrior women than centuries of research.
Miranda had recently received a tip about a strange finding in a Greek forest by a group of hikers. It was indicated that they had seen the remains of an entire village in the woods. She decided to investigate immediately. If this was the actual site of an Amazon tribe, it would probably be one of the biggest finds of the century. The existence of Amazons had only been speculated, never proven. She hoped to change that perspective.
She had entered the forest two days ago. Today, she had been walking through the woods for hours with no luck yet again. The sun was high overhead, beating down on her. Her blonde hair was plastered to her head with sweat. She was exhausted, but determined to keep on searching. She was not leaving the forest until she found the site. Even if that meant spending several more days there.
She had found the hikers who reported the sighting, but they had not remembered exactly where they had seen it. This had not discouraged her at all. She just became more determined to search the entire forest area. And that was exactly what she was doing.
Up ahead, she saw a clearing in the trees. It would be a good spot to set up a base camp for the night. She glanced at her watch, seeing that she had two hours before the satellite would allow her to call home. That gave her plenty of time to start a fire, pitch her tent, and set up her computer. As she entered the clearing, all thoughts of resting were evaporated. She had found the Amazon site.
Miranda could not believe her eyes. In front of her stood a perfectly preserved village. It has withstood the testament of time, remaining as it had been when the Amazons has lived there. It was better than anything she could have wished for.
Her first reaction was to begin the documentation procedure. She took out her camcorder and just filmed the find as it had been discovered. She found a main pathway through the village that gave her the best overview of the site. As she walked along it, she noticed a smaller side path that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Her curiosity piqued, she turned onto the new road and decided to see where it led.
Miranda decided to save her film, but pulled out her small camera just in case. The path wound deeper into the woods and the trees grew thicker and taller. The sun was almost completely blocked. She began to have second thoughts about this little venture and decided to turn back when her decision was made for her. The path came to abrupt end in front of a small cave.
She pulled out her flashlight and went in to take a closer look. She was amazed at what she found inside. The main chamber appeared to be a shrine for worship. There was an alter covered with ancient offerings and the walls were covered with writing. Miranda immediately realized that it had to be a shrine to Artemis, patron goddess of the Amazons. However, something strange caught her eye.
The writing on the walls was in two very different languages: Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphics. This was very unusual. She read the Greek text and realized she had been mistaken. This was not a shrine to Artemis at all. It was dedicated to another goddess. One Miranda had never heard of. A goddess named Tia.
Chapter One:
The girl walked down the corridor, heading for her room. She was unaware that she was being followed. All she could think about was going to sleep. Behind her, the gap was rapidly closed.
The other silently approached and gave the girl in front a hard, deliberate shove. The girl fell forward, hitting the marble floor hard. The golden helmet that sat on her head tumbled off. Long black hair fell around her shoulders.
She was momentarily stunned. What had happened? It was almost as if someone had purposely knocked her down. Then, she sensed a presence behind her. She was terrified to look. Whoever had seen her fall now knew her secret. Oh please don't let it be him, she thought.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the disgraced little girl coming back to where she isn't wanted," a cold cruel voice taunted.
No, no, no! Not her! It was the one woman she was more afraid of than anything. The woman whose hatred of her was almost pathological. To make it worse, she was now his wife. And, she would never let her forget it.
"Did you think I wouldn't recognize you? It's painfully obvious who you are. I can't believe anyone was fooled by this pathetic disguise," the older woman continued. She knelt down until she was at eye level with the object of her hatred. "Just remember, I'll always know the real you."
The girl slowly stood up and backed up against a wall. She was trembling with fear. This was the women who had discovered her shameful secret two years ago and made sure she was cast out of the royal court. She had been made an object of derision and disgust. Her own family had disowned her. All for the love of one man.
The woman came close and stood inches in front of the other. "I didn't think you had the guts to pull a stunt like this. Maybe I misjudged you," she said thoughtfully. "On second thought, this is a pretty cowardly way to come back. Pretending to be someone else. What is so important here that you couldn't do in another city?"
"I have been made royal charioteer and a guardian of the prince," she quietly managed. "I did not come back to steal your husband away."
"Good. Just remember, if you so much as look at him the wrong way, I will reveal to the Pharaoh who you are. Rather, who you were," she threatened. A cold smile played on her lips. "The penalty for disguising yourself as a man is harsh enough. Imagine what will happen when it is revealed that you were already banished once?"
The woman turned to leave the frightened girl alone. She began to walk back the other way. The girl knew all too well who was waiting for her at her destination.
Why had she fallen in love with him? They had never even spoken more than a few words. He did not even know her name. Now, he was her superior and only knew her as a man. She was determined to never let him know how she felt.
Down the hall, the other suddenly stopped and turned back. "Remember, no matter what happens, Ja-Kal is mine...."
Nefer-Tina awoke with a start. She sat up quickly and swung her feet over the side of the bed. For a moment, she just stayed where she was without moving. She felt the depression threatening to take over again. She had had the same dream over and over. But, it was not just a dream. It was a memory.
She shook her head and tried to collect her thoughts. She had fallen asleep while studying again. Kahti was curled up next to her, purring softly while she slept. Nefer-Tina gave the sacred cat a soft stroke as she stood up. She looked at the digital clock on the table next to the bed. It read 6:15 p.m. It was almost time for her to leave for class.
For almost six months now, she had been attending night classes at the local college. After the last battle, where Scarab was carried off by his own spell gone awry, she had decided to make good use of the freedom from duty while it lasted. She told no one of her activities. Besides, she mused, Ja-Kal would have a fit if he knew.
Ja-Kal. The man she had loved for over 3500 years. She sighed softly. It was a relationship that could never be. Tia had made sure of that.
At the age of sixteen, Nefer-Tina had come to the royal palace in Memphis to serve as a court musician. Each time she performed, she had noticed one man in the crowd. It was Ja-Kal, one of the royal hunters. She immediately developed a crush on him. At the time she did not know he was involved with anyone. It was just an innocent crush that young girls felt for older men. Unfortunately, Tia, his girlfriend, did not see it that way.
Tia was very possessive of Ja-Kal. She did not like the fact that another woman, who was very young and attractive, was looking at her man. She became incredibly angry and jealous and determined to protect what was hers.
She began harassing Nefer-Tina at every opportunity. She knew the girl was afraid of her; she was counting on it. Fear was a very powerful weapon. A weapon Tia knew how to wield expertly.
Tia made Nefer-Tina's life a living hell. For the five months prior to the incident that changed her life, she could not go a single day without Tia going out of her way to hurt her. Then, four months after that night she would never forget, came that horrible day when Tia found out her secret.
The following weeks had been completely humiliating. She had been put on trial for something she had no control over. No one had believed a word she said. Her condition apparently spoke for itself. She had been banished from the palace. She tried to go home, but her parents turned their backs on her, their only child. She had no one to turn to. She was all alone in the world.
In the two years that followed, she changed her identity. She became Nefer, a charioteer. Chariots had been her passion all her life. But, because she was a woman, she was not allowed to drive or race them in public. She had had to rely on her strong musical talents to make a life for herself. After her banishment, she had decided to start over, make a fresh start. Chariots were all she had left. Everything else she had loved was taken from her. By becoming a man, she could do things she had always dreamed of and no one would know her.
After winning the Nile Valley Championship, she had been drafted into the services of the pharaoh. The same man who had sent her away two years before. Luckily, no one recognized her. Except one.
Tia had not been fooled. In the two years that Nefer-Tina was absent, Ja-Kal had asked Tia to marry him, which she happily did. There was no more rivalry. The enemy was gone. Then, Nefer-Tina came back.
In the scene that played endlessly in Nefer-Tina's dreams, Tia let her know she still hated her and that nothing had changed. The fear had not gone away in 3500 years.
Nefer-Tina had come to love Ja-Kal even more during those two years. He had become the one thing that kept her going. If not for her love for him, she surely would have died. By the time she returned as Nefer, her feelings had far surpassed a crush.
She then found out that he was the head guardian of the then six year old Prince Rapses. He was her superior. She would have to spend hours each day with him and follow every order he gave her. She hid her feelings well over the next several years, although she felt an even greater love as she got to know him better. They became close friends in the six years that followed.
She knew she could never tell him the truth about her identity or her feelings. He would have been hurt by her treachery, and his honor would cause him to do the right thing by turning her into the pharaoh. He was also incredibly loyal to Tia, who he loved more than anything in the world.
Nefer-Tina never stopped loving him. Her feelings for him followed her into death and beyond. Now, in the year and a half since their resurrection, nothing had changed for her. She feared his feelings of friendship had been lessened by the revelation that she was a woman, and at first, she was right. He had been hurt deeply by her lack of trust in him and for a while it seemed he hated her. Over time, they had rekindled their friendship, but it was never the same. She could tell he felt differently about her.
Nefer-Tina gathered her school supplies and other important items in preparation for going to class. She still loved him, but admitted to herself he could never love her. He was dedicated to the memory of Tia and his infant son Padjet, whom he never really knew. She realized if she ever told him, it would destroy the friendship she had worked so hard to rebuild. She looked at her watch and knew it was time to go. She gave Kahti a few more strokes, which caused the cat to roll over on her back. Nefer-Tina smiled and left the room.
Ja-Kal watched as Nefer-Tina "sneaked" out yet again. This had been her daily routine for almost six months now. He could have stopped her at any time, but decided, with Scarab gone, there was no need to always be ready to protect the prince. He had let her continue with whatever she had been up to.
Tonight was different. He had been aware that something was wrong for about two weeks. Nefer-Tina was not acting like herself. She had become withdrawn, solitary, reclusive. This woman was not the fun-loving, carefree Nefer-Tina he had known since they met. He needed to talk to her.
It was normally easy to get Nefer-Tina into a conversation. Usually, with him, it was an argument of some sort. Lately, however, she had been avoiding him. He did not know why. Had he done something to her that he was unaware of? It was pointless to ask Rath or Armon. They were too caught up in their own interests to notice anything unusual. However, he did observe her talking with both of them. It was only him that she was staying away from.
He began to follow her, wearing his street clothes. Rath and Armon were recharging in their sarcophagi, so they would not notice his absence. He was a hunter. This was what he did best. He was determined to see where she went and what she did every night. Hopefully, he would find an explanation for everything. He was worried about her.
Yes, he was worried about her. He had tried to convince himself that he was just concerned with how her behavior would affect the team, but it rang false. Deep down, he knew he had started to care for her as more than just a friend or teammate. She had come to mean a lot to him in the past year and a half.
He had been so cruel to her in the beginning. He had been hurt by her betrayal of his friendship. She had not trusted him enough to let him in. She had been afraid. He had told Nefer things that he never even told his wife. He had come to think of "him" as a part of his family. Family did not keep secrets from each other. Unfortunately, his own brother, Arakh, had not believed in this philosophy either.
Ja-Kal followed Nefer-Tina into the park. Where in Ra's name could she be going? She was on foot, so it could not be very far. She headed for a public restroom and entered it. He waited behind a tree. As soon as she came out, he would be able to continue following her. Ten minutes later, she finally emerged. He hardly recognized her.
Her face appeared to be the color of normal flesh, not its usual hue of bluish-gray. Her hair was still white, but she had neatly braided it. She wore a long sleeve blouse and a long flowing skirt. On her feet were a pair of sneakers. Two gold hoops hung from her ears while her Bastet amulet was still around her neck. She no longer appeared to be a mummy.
He was stunned at the transformation. She had finally found a way to fit in perfectly without the aid of a magic spell. She would no longer stand out from the crowd. For all intents and purposes, she had become a normal person once again. Now, Ja-Kal wanted to know why.
Nefer-Tina started off again with Ja-Kal still on her trail. She crossed the park to the other side where she caught a bus. Ja-Kal called his armor and flew after it. The bus pulled up across the street from what appeared to be a school building. Nefer-Tina got off and headed there. He could not believe it. She was going to school.
This explained a lot. Almost everything she had been doing now made sense. The leaving every night at the same time. The hours alone in which she probably studied and did homework. Was she possibly avoiding him to keep him from finding out? Did she think he would be angry? He thought she knew him better than that. Why would he begrudge her an education?
That was it. In Egypt, women had not gone to school. They had been taught all they needed to know by their mothers. Education was a male institution. But in this modern world, all people were entitled to get an education. Ja-Kal smiled at the thought. Nefer-Tina had finally found a place where she could be herself. A world where women could do everything men could.
He realized there was little he really knew about this woman he had known for over 3500 years. He never once thought that she had an interest in getting an education. She was an enigma to him. Yet, he was pleased with her dedication to her dreams. He felt happy for her.
He found himself once again thinking of her in a way no leader should think of one he commands. Nefer-Tina was a beautiful woman who frequently talked of finding the one true romance in her life, but she was his subordinate. He did find himself extremely attracted to her at times, but it would not be right. After all, he was married. One day he would be reunited with his beloved family. He knew Tia would be waiting for him with open arms.
Nefer-Tina opened a classroom door and disappeared from sight.
Chapter Two:
In one of the many rooms of the Pyramid, a rip in the fabric of time and space appeared. A purple armored figure burst out, firing energy blasts at unseen targets. An angrily spoken incantation sealed the portal. Scarab had returned.
"That could have gone better," Heka commented sarcastically. She wiggled out of Scarab's grip and dropped to the floor.
Scarab did not hear her. He was furious. Another victory taken from him by those accursed mummies. They would pay dearly for these last two weeks in hell. He would have his revenge.
"I was so close this time, Heka," he told the golden snake as he recalled his armor. "I almost had my immortality!" In his rage, he blasted a nearby table.
Heka curled up in a ball, trying to protect herself. "Cheer up, boss. At least we got a vacation out of it."
"Vacation? Vacation?! Do you know what they put me through? The indignities?" he raged. "Do you even have a clue?"
Heka gulped. She had been left alone by the locals since she was an inorganic/non-biological entity. Scarab, on the other hand, was a perfect specimen for the residents of this strange dimension. He had not told her the humiliations he had experienced. She hoped he kept it that way.
Scarab turned away from his cowering sidekick. He had sufficiently punished her for now. No one would ever know what he had experienced. No one.
It had all started out so well. He had discovered a spell that opened a gateway to other worlds, other dimensions. He planned to send the meddling guardians through one, not even caring to where. With them permanently removed from the picture, the spirit of Rapses was his. Finally, he would gain immortality and the world.
So, he had set his plan into motion. He lured the boy and the mummies into the open. Unfortunately, he had not counted on Rath being familiar with the spell. The two wizards fought a magic struggle which ended badly. Scarab was knocked into his own trap, taking Heka with him. He was so sure of his victory, he had not really bothered learning the counter spell.
He had found himself on a world of scientists. Biologists, to be more precise. Ones who prided themselves on their thoroughness. Scarab had been seen as the ideal subject. During the two weeks it took him to remember the spell to free himself, he had been the recipient of numerous test and experiments. Many were too humiliating to ever forget.
Now, he was back. It was time to end this little war once and for all. The mummies would regret ever having crossed him. They had made a fool of him once too often.
Scarab left the room, leaving Heka alone. She was out of the path of his anger for the moment. She breathed a sigh of relief and decided to watch some tv. She found the remote and hit the on switch with the tip of her tail. She began flipping from channel to channel until something caught her eye.
"Uh, boss? I think you need to see this," she called.
"What is it this time, Heka? I'm in no mood for games."
"Well, um, you remember how we thought we were only gone for two weeks?"
"Yes, I know how to keep track of time. You're trying my patience. Out with it," Scarab told her bluntly.
She pointed with her tail. "It seems we were gone a little longer than that."
"What?!" Scarab could not believe his eyes. On the bottom of the screen, the date was displayed. It was a date six months after the time he had become trapped in the other dimension. How was this possible?
Six months! How had he lost six months? It was unthinkable, unacceptable! Blast the space-time continuum! He was running out of time as it was. He needed to get his hands on that stupid child soon.
Then a thought occurred to him. If he had been gone for six months, then that was six months in which no one had tried to attack that pathetic boy. It was very likely his guardians believed he would never return. He could use this to his advantage. It was perfect. All he needed now was a plan.
"Heka! I am going into my study. I do not want to be disturbed for any reason. Is that clear?"
The snake nodded. As he walked off, she muttered to herself about never getting any peace and quiet. She resumed her channel surfing. The only thing on now appeared to be the news. How boring, she thought. She was about to turn it off when Scarab knocked the controller out of her reach. "Hey," she began indignantly.
"Quiet!" he ordered.
On the screen, a reporter was standing outside the Bay Area Art Museum. With her stood Mr. Hepplewhite, the curator. They were talking about an exhibit that was about to open in two days.
"This a very important exhibit for this museum, " Hepplewhite was saying. "The Xena Scrolls are some of the most extraordinary finds in this century. We are honored to be allowed to host them for a full year."
"The Xena Scrolls? What are they, boss?" Heka wanted to know. She did not see what was so interesting about a bunch of old papers. She still recalled the last time Scarab got his hands on an ancient scroll. The results had been disastrous.
Scarab did not answer her. In fact, he had begun to laugh hysterically. Heka rolled her eyes. She knew this mood and it was not a good one. He had come up with yet another of his hair-brained schemes. Sometimes she wondered why she still put up with him. It was not easy being the evil sidekick.
"Oh, Heka, this is perfect! I will use the knowledge contained within these scrolls to defeat those blasted mummies once and for all. I can almost taste my immortality!" he raved excitedly.
"How do you know what's in them? I've never even heard of them," Heka replied. She was not impressed with these turn of events.
"My dear, uninformed Heka. These so-called 'Xena Scrolls' are said to contain all the knowledge and power of the ancient world. With them in my possession, I will be unstoppable!"
"Uh-huh," Heka said in a sarcastic tone. She once again shook her head and crawled into her urn to go to sleep. Maybe he'd calm down in the morning. She wondered if those scientists had done something to his mind. He was making less sense than usual.
Scarab was ecstatic. The Scrolls would allow him to explore the magic of ancient cultures other than his native Egypt. He could not fail. There were endless possibilities to explore. The world had just inched closer to his grasp.
"Oh, Mom! Do I have to go?" Presley Carnovan complained. "It'll be so boring!"
"But, I thought you liked the ancient world. Besides, I really want you to see this. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," his mother, Amanda, countered. She glanced at the thirteen year old across the dinner table. "We've been spending so much time together lately. I've really enjoyed it."
Presley smiled. Ever since Scarab disappeared six months earlier, his life had not been endangered once. He had begged Ja-Kal to give him some time away from his studies with the mummies so he could be with his mother. He saw so little of her as it was. The leader, stubborn as always, had quoted yet another animal morality tale before Nefer-Tina had stepped in to support her prince. Ja-Kal finally gave in and Presley thanked both profusely.
Amanda had noticed an immediate change in her only child. There was no more coming home very late or mysteriously bruised. The convoluted explanations of his whereabouts had ended. They had been getting along better than ever. She was so happy that she never questioned it.
"Oh, okay. I'll go," he finally answered.
"Thank you, honey. This means a lot to me."
"What's so special about some scrolls about a girl? Who was this Xena?"
Amanda laughed. "This 'girl' was one of the greatest warriors who ever lived. She was a powerful force for good. However, at one time she was an evil warlord. She was known as the 'Destroyer of Nations.'"
"Cool! Maybe this won't be so boring after all," he finally conceded.
She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm glad you think so. I'll have to tell Mr. Hepplewhite that we have your seal of approval."
"Mom!"
"Just kidding!"
They ate in silence for a few more minutes. Presley realized he would have to tell Ja-Kal where he was going. Man, that guy never let up with the protection! If it wasn't for Nefer-Tina, he would never have gotten to spend any time alone with his mom. At least he'd have someone to talk to at the opening. His mother would be too busy running things. He imagined it would be fun explaining to them that the entire exhibit was dedicated to a woman. Nef would get a real kick out of it. He'd bet anything that Rath would try to act like he knew all about everything mentioned in the Scrolls. And, Armon. Well, he'd probably spend the whole time at the concession stands. He wondered what Ja-Kal would think of it. You never knew with him.
A thought suddenly occurred to Presley. "Mom, have you heard from Dad lately?" Ever since the incident in which his father met his guardians and fought Scarab, Paul Carnovan had been making an effort to pay more attention to Presley.
Amanda hesitated. She had gotten a letter from him all right, but Presley would not like what it contained. Paul had gotten himself thrown in jail in South America. He had been caught smuggling priceless museum pieces out of Brazil. She knew that he had always been a liar but not a thief. He must have really fallen on hard times, she thought. She decided to keep Presley in the dark about this for now. "I'm sorry, honey. I haven't heard from him," she lied.
The boy frowned. "Oh. He must be really busy with his job."
Amanda got up and walked over to him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll hear from him soon."
"I guess." Suddenly, he grinned. "So, do I have to wear some monkey suit to that opening?"
Amanda laughed and tousled his hair. "Hmm, I don't know. How about that cat suit I had to wear during the Bastet exhibit?"
"Mom!"