Author's Note-Deana, don't worry. I'm not going to do that to our favourite Medjai. I couldn't so that to him at all. (EVER! (Man! He's hot, cute, handsome, good looking, uh, seriously, need I go on here?)) Well, have fun! (With what do you ask? Shrugs shoulders. I guess with whatever you have fun doing.)

00000

Catlanda awoke the next morning to see Ardeth sitting in the chair next to the bed, eyes closed. She climbed out of the bed and up to him. He opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times before they came to rest on her. He smiled.

"That can't be comfortable," she told him with a smile.

"You're awake. Good. Evelyn's making some breakfast for us as we speak. Hope you're hungry. It smells delicious," Ardeth told her. "And no, it isn't too comfortable. My shoulder is beginning to hurt a little from it."

She nodded as she prepared to help him stand. She helped Ardeth to his feet, who stumbled a bit once he did so.

"Um, Father, are you sure you're up to going tomorrow? You're not fit to go anywhere; although that leg injury is bad it's not nearly as bad as your shoulder. You'll be so weak and tired from loss of blood," she asked him.

He looked at her in amazement.

"You haven't called me that since you were fourteen. Of course we had to change that so our enemies wouldn't find out and use you against me. I know it was just a promise to your real father to raise you, I've always considered you my own no matter what," he explained to her. "And yes, I'll be fine. Don't you worry about me. I faced off against the Creature twice and survived."

"I know that," she said. "But that's in the past. It's now that I'm more worried about."

The two walked downstairs, to be greeted by Evie, Marok and Jonathan.

"Good, you're up. Alex can't stop talking about tomorrow. He's excited to learn more about Egypt," Jonathan told them.

"Of course it will Jonathan. Rick, Jonathan and I are going as well as Ardeth. I think Erin and Kari are going as well Catlanda. Remember them from yesterday? I heard them talking about going while they were here so don't be surprised when you seem them there," Evie told her.

Ardeth was a bit confused as he glanced between them.

"We had company yesterday when you were upstairs resting from your trip here," explained Evie.

She placed the food on the table as Ardeth nodded in reply.

00000

Rick was working outside, thinking about what was said to him the day before.

'They are the only people who were after the Spire.'

The words echoed in his mind over and over again. He threw down what he was working with and gasped for air.

"What will it take before they're all gone?" he asked himself before heading inside.

He saw the three Medjai sitting at the table. He glanced at Marok, who seemed to be lost in thought. His stare went to the other two, who calmly sat, eating the food placed before them. Rick then wondered what the outcome of the incident with Ramses II would be if the Medjai hadn't been there to help stop him.

He sighed for he was afraid he knew the truth.

00000

Later that day, Ardeth sat on the bed and exposed his shoulder so it could be treated. Catlanda looked carefully at the wound. She put her hand on his back and tested the tenderness of the wound with her index finger as Marok stood behind her. Ardeth winced a little when she did so. She sighed.

"Still hurts though it's only been a day," he sighed.

"By the looks of it, it doesn't look infected yet. Hope it doesn't get worse. We better keep an eye on it until it heals and be careful Ardeth. Just don't overexert yourself," she told him. "Nobody here wants you to get worse."

"Alex and Jonathan still don't know it happened. All they know about is your gunshot wound," Marok put in, sounding upset.

"It's good they don't know. They don't need to know how close to danger they were," Ardeth told him.

The two looked at him as Ardeth covered the wound again. Ardeth looked at the two. His gaze came to the young woman sitting next to him and he saw the bandaged wound on her arm.

"Catlanda, have you been hiding your injuries again? You know you should've told me about that already," he sharply told her.

"I'm fine, really," she told him.

He stared at her with a look that read 'let's just wait and see.'

00000

Ms. Langrid walked into the house after the school day was over to greet Pyram. He watched her as she smiled, causing him to smile a huge smile.

"They took the bait," she said with evil happiness in her voice. "It's sitting out in the open."

"Perfect. Now all we have to do is wait until they fall in...and destroy them once and for all," he said, starting to laugh. "Then, we'll have enough power to take over the world."

She joined in and wine was poured and they drank it.

"This is to our plans finally succeeding," Pyram said. "After we get it, we have to thank Alex O'Connell and his parents for delivering the Spire right to us."

"Most definately," agreed Ms. Langrid.

Pyram gazed out the window as the day died down and the night overtook the land. He could almost taste the victory he would be faced with. The Spire would be his, the protector would be dead and so would another Medjai.

Caroline walked up behind him.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" he asked.

"Yes, it is. The kids know she's coming. Too bad she won't leave the school alive along with that accursed friend of hers," she replied.

"All we have to do now is wait until the time comes. I know we shall win the fight in the end though," Pyram told her. "They won't even know what hit them until it's too late!"

TBC...