Laron smiled as Ramses walked back inside the room.

"The young one does indeed have the Spire of Isis. She must know where the third piece of the jewel is. She must know for the secret was placed with the Spire. It must be around here somewhere that we haven't searched yet," Ramses said.

"They won't get past the traps and we've already searched everywhere around here. We found the first piece here and nothing more so it has to be someplace else," Laron told him.

Ramses looked at the man before staring at the wall.

"So where is it then?" the pharaoh quietly asked himself.

00000

Rick led the way on a small ledge. Another ledge could be seen on the other side. The sides sloped downward until there was a flat surface to walk on a few feet wide. Catlanda looked down before she found her way down to a raised spot on the floor. She knelt down and put her hand over it.

"This is where the first piece was," she whispered. "I know it."

"Catlanda, come back up here. You know it's very dangerous around here. The traps can be deadly," Ardeth told her sharply.

Isis growled and Geb neighed in agreement.

"Can't go against three opinions," Ardeth laughed.

"Ardeth, these traps haven't been in use since...since after Ramses' jewel was broken," Catlanda replied.

Evie looked down and saw Calanda's left arm. It almost appeared as if it was shaking.

"I wonder..." she started.

"Mom, what's wrong?" asked Alex.

"No, nothing," replied Evie.

The Medjai started on her way back up the slope to the others.

"I honestly don't know why those two animals are with us. They're useless," Rick said.

"Be careful what you say O'Connell. Geb and Isis have been a lot of help to not just the one they call 'master', but to all the Medjai. They've helped get important messages from one tribe to another and defend the temples against people nearing them and they shouldn't be there," Ardeth explained, reaching out for Catlanda's outstretched arm.

"They didn't help much against these goons," Rick mumbled.

Suddenly, water was heard in the distance. It came up them very quickly and so strong that both Medjai were swept away.

"No!" cried Rick.

He frantically looked around before his stare came to Geb. Isis had already started running down the ledge towards the two. He gave an exasperated sigh before climbing on and following them. Jonathan, Evie and Alex soon followed. Rick hurried on the horse towards the two, who were bobbing up and down in the water. Ardeth grabbed a pillar by the walkway. Catlanda soon passed him and he grabbed her arm. She cried out in pain. Rick stopped and climbed off the horse. His friend was holding on by only his fingers now and he soon lost his grip though Rick grabbed his arm at the last second and tried to pull them up. The others came up from behind and started to help. Ardeth was being pulled from two directions. Rick was trying to pull him up as the current was pulling away at Catlanda. She managed swim towards the side and hook the top of the Spire to the edge of the walkway, giving Evie and Alex a chance to grab onto it and pull her up. Ardeth let go of her hand and grabbed Rick's free arm, who then pulled him up. The two fell to the floor, gasping for air and shivering like crazy. Ardeth looked at Rick.

"Are you alright?" asked Rick.

Ardeth nodded as he continued to gasp for air, the adreneline rushing through him.

"Man, I knew this wouldn't have been different than our last two excursions. They always turn out to be weird and dangerous in the end," Rick angrily said. "Now tell me, what was that all about?"

Everybody except Ardeth looked over at Catlanda. He turned away, closing his eyes, unable to look at her and the others.

"One of the ancient traps here to keep people away. I know I said before that they weren't in use for a long time. I guess I was wrong," Catlanda replied as Isis snuggled up to her.

She stroked the cat and hugged her.

"Well guess what? Your assumption about there not being any active traps nearly killed my friend. I haven't trusted you since I first met you and I don't intend to start after this little fiasco," Rick yelled at her.

He began to walk away from them. He was several feet away before he turned around and pointed at her.

"And besides, you could have let that thing go, you know. It's just a piece of extra baggage," he added.

"Never. This has been in my family for generations. I have sworn to protect it until the day I die, and my descendants will do the same," Calanda snarled back.

She stood up by Geb and Isis before pointing a finger at him.

"And I've never trusted you since we first met so the feeling's mutual," she said, anger in her voice.

Jonathan looked between the two, unsure whether or not to take sides.

"Not to break up this little arguement, but why did we come down here anyway? It's creepy," he said.

"We'd better go the oasis before anything else decides to come upon us. Where do we go from here?" Evie interrupted, ignoring her brother.

"Be careful for these are underground tunnels. making a deadly and confusing maze. There's three exits: the one we came into, the one that leads to the oasis and the other one leads to the chamber room. Come with me if you want at least a peaceful rest than what you'd get in here," Catlanda explained.

She started on her way down the dark pathway. Ardeth stood up and followed her. Water dripped from their clothing as they went. The brother and sister soon followed, with an eager Alex behind them, leaving Rick standing by himself. He sighed before starting to run.

"Wait up!" he called to them.

He caught up with them as Jonathan began to speak.

"This chamber room: is there a lot of gold in it?" he asked.

"Jonathan!" cried rick and Evie in unison.

00000

A man ran into the room breathlessly.

"They triggered one of the traps. Water all over the place. I saw it all. The Medjai were swept away and the one never let the Spire go and this one and the American do not get along at all," he told them.

"Well, what do you know? They set one off and they survived it. We will greet them after all. Do you know where they went?" asked Laron.

The man nodded as the mummy carefully watched him.

"They went to the oasis, wherever that is," he replied.

"It is almost nighttime. We will wait until morning and they are on their way here," Ramses suggested.

The man bowed and left. Ramses turned and walked away.

"They are very close. I want to know why the one has the Spire. I must get it from her no matter what the cost. My jewel must be complete!" cried Ramses. "She knows too much about me."

"It is probably just a coincidence. I wouldn't worry about it too much," Laron told him.

TBC...