OK, People. I'm back! Didja miss me? J OK. So. This chapter's a little short, but work with me, ok? I had to kinda rush. Sry this chapter's late....;) OK. So. Here we go:

Chapter 8

Shanala awoke the next morning with sweat trickling down her back and her mouth dry with terror. She jerked up form the floor as soon as she awoke, breathing heavily, tears glistening in her eyes. She almost screamed, but she stopped herself before she did. She lay back and looked up at the ceiling, chills racing through her veins. She licked her lips and swallowed, closing her eyes and forcing herself to be calm.

 "It was a dream," she whispered, "Just a dream..."

 Still, her heart trembled violently in her chest, blocking her throat and making her gasp. She finally just stood and went outside, the still-cool dawn air hitting her like a slap. She breathed in the fresh, sharp aroma of the Nile, and then went over to the fire, plopping down between Ardeth Bay and Rick. Rick raised an eyebrow at her, "Morning." He said it like a question: "Morning?"

 Shanala nodded, not meeting his eyes, "Morning."

 She could feel his eyes on her and she self-consciously tilted her head away, looking off into the distance. There was nothing but white sand for miles and miles, running along the horizon like some infinite-long snake, stretching and writhing its way up to the sky, where it finally stopped and melted into the pinks, oranges, and purples of dawn. Shanala stretched slightly, savoring the heat from the fire that washed over her, drying the cold sweat form her face and neck.

Rick finally looked away and was stoking the fire when he casually asked, "How'd you sleep."

 Shanala bit her lip and shrugged, "Ok, I guess."

 Rick arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.

They were all silent for a while, and then Ardeth spoke, "You say you slept well?"

Shanala nodded, "Yea...ok, I mean...y'know..."

Ardeth said nothing more, simply watched the flames as he handfed Shanala a canteen of water.

Rick cleared his throat, "So. What was the dream about?"

Shanala, who had just been taking a sip of the slightly warm water, gasped, choked, and dropped the bottle. Rick had obviously expected that, as he reached out and snatched the bottle before it landed on the ground and spilled. Without a word, he set the bottle on in front of Shanala, and gave her a 'I'm still waiting' look. Shanala frowned ion confusion, running her hands through her hair.

 Finally, she croaked, "How'd you...? I mean..."

 "The dream?" Rick shrugged, "Nearly fourteen years of being a dad has taught me a few things: One, kids aren't as dumb or as weak as they can sometimes look. Two, never force a kid to eat vegetables, cuz they'll eventually tell you to eat yours too. And three, when your kids wake up sweating and pale, ask about the dream they had."

Shanala stared at him blankly for a second, looked at the ground, and then back at him. Opening her mouth, her face a mask of confusion, she asked, "Is that all you learned?"

*****************************

Alex had seen his mother have a vision before. Her face went blank, her eyes went dull, and her entire body went slack. It was too unreal to explain properly, except to say that it scared the bajeebies outta him every time it happened. So, that next morning, when Evelyn suddenly fell against the tent walls and began gaping into mid-air, Alex was scared. He backed away a few steps, watching her; her lips were moving. Swallowing, he tried to ask what was wrong, but all that came out was a soft groan.

Finally, he choked, "Mum? Mum, are you ok?" She didn't; answer; instead she simply sat, her eyes wide and her lips moving, speaking silently. Alex stood then, keeping his eyes on his mother, and backed even further away until he was at the opposite side of the ten as she was. He then sat and stared, watching her like she was some kind of fascinating picture, only real and live...or so he hoped.

******************************

She was boiling up.

The silk dress she was wearing stuck to her skin as sweat slid over her tanned complexion, leaving tiny trails of liquid behind them. She was sitting at a fountain, skimming her fingers along the water's edge, humming to herself. The water was coo, and clear, and the fountain bubbled joyously, spitting forth more crystal liquid. Nefertiri looked up at the sapphire sky and sighed.

 "Nefertiri?"

Nefertiri glanced down at her feet, where a young girl was sitting, her head tilted back and her deep eyes focused on her.

 "Hmm?"

 "Koiña altu morsa canstro Anck-su-namun?"

Nefertiri thought. Finally, she shook her head, "Nai. Anck-su-namun..." She searched her brain for the right words, and then finished, "...Anck-su-namun enkoiña."

"Enkoiña?" The girl frowned, "des...des Anck-su-namun enkoiña...des torse...de torse le mada?"

 Nefertiri's gentle, relaxed spirit disappeared in a single second. Leaping to her feet, her eyes  blazing, she snapped, "Nai! Nai, Shanala! Sterwre coste lusnte! Psyna londe!"

Shanala winced, covering her face with her hands, and Nefertiri angrily turned form her, her arms crossed and her fists clenched. Shanala timidly looked up at her, "Kies sjuana, Nefertiri..."

Nefertiri sighed heavily and collapsed onto the fountain's rim. Her face dropped into her hands so when she next spoke it was muffled and hard to understand, "Shanala, nai. Nai sjuana. Kies sjuana. Nai yas tron."

Shanala gingerly got to her feet and walked over to face Nefertiri. When the older girl finally looked up at her, Shanala gave her a small, respectful smile, "Nai trunde, Nefertiri?"

Nefertiri sighed and nodded, "Tieu, Shanala. Tieu." Then, just as the vision began to dim, and just as Evelyn started to awaken, Nefertiri lightly touched Shanala's cheek and whispered, "Shanala...kies yae...ben saestaan."

Evelyn awoke with a scream.

***********************************

Alex jumped back with a yelp as Evelyn shrieked, and then stared at her, his heart thudding against his ribs.

 Evelyn looked around her, looking afraid, and then she sighed, "Dream...only...a dream..."

"Yea right!" Alex snapped, angry at his mother for scaring him, "It was a vision, Mum."

 Evelyn glanced at him "Oh, pish-posh."

 "What was it about?" Alex demanded ignoring her last statement.

Evelyn looked away from him, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

 "Mum! The vision! The one you just had! Tell me what it was!"

 "I...I don't want to..." Evelyn finally glanced at her son, "I...I need to figure it out first, Alex...and then I'll explain it..."

 Alex watched her, his eyes intense, his mouth a angry line. However, he simply nodded and turned from her, watching outside of their tent as soldiers walked by.

***************************************

Rick sat back comfortably, letting the sun beat down on his face as Shanala's voice went on, only a slight quiver in it.

 "...then Nefertiri touched my cheek and said stuff...and after that, Anck-su-namun came outside and walked over...and...she told Nefertiri that her father wanted her...and...Nefertiri left me all alone...with her...and...and..." Shanala broke off and looked away, biting her lip.

 Rick watched her for a minute, and then sighed, "Boy. Sounds scary."

Shanala nodded. Rick really wanted to know what the rest of the dream had been, but he decided against pushing her to tell and simply bit his tongue. Ardeth Bay, who had been sitting nearby listening, frowned slightly, thinking.

 That was when Jonathan spoke up, after he had been resting near the fire, "I think it's scary."

Rick looked at him dully.

Jonathan shrugged, "Well...I do..."

 "My only question," Rick started, running a hand through his hair, "Is...how do you know Nefertiri?"

 Shanala said nothing, and Rick could sense her discomfort. However, this time he did not simply bite his tongue, "C'mon. How?"

 Ardeth Bay and Jonathan leaned forward. Shanala looked at them all, and then back away. She opened her mouth a few times, and then closed it again.

Finally, she whispered in a dry, anxious voice, "She...she was...my..."

 Just then, there was a great commotion on the outskirts of the camp, and Rick jumped up, his hand automatically going to his waist for his gun. Ardeth and Jonathan got up too, watching the horizon, where a young Medjai boy was running at them, yelling in Arabic. Ardeth Bay ran towards him, answering his cries. Rick followed him, and Jonathan stayed behind with Shanala. They both stood for a while, watching as the two men reached the boy and then began talking with him. They looked uncomfortably at each other, and then back at the scene before them. Jonathan whistled. Shanala hummed.

Finally, Jonathan asked, "So...how'd you know her again...?"

 Shanala stared at him.

 He shrugged, "Just thought I'd ask..."

 Shanala sighed, "Ok. If you swear not to tell anyone else, I'll tell you."

 Jonathan nodded, "Cross my heart." He drew a 'x' across his chest as he spoke.

 "Ok." Shanala motioned for him to kneel down, and then she whispered in his ear. Ina matter of seconds, Jonathan's tanned face went completely white and he stumbled away form her, eyes wide. Shanala looked at him sadly and nodded, "Yes. I know."

************************************

"Mum? You...you do think Dad'll save us...right?"

Evelyn glanced over at her son, who was looking anxious and slightly afraid. She gave him a confident smile and hugged him, "Of course he will, Darling. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Yea. Cept living mummies, a freaky lady, and endless heat."

Evelyn sighed, "Darling, I would never let anything bad happen to you."

Alex nodded, and Evelyn saw tears brimming in his eyes. He angrily swiped at them and muttered, "I know, Mum. But...what if they hurt you...? Then what?"

 Evelyn bit her lip, absently straightening her son's hair, "I guess I'll just have to make certain nothing happens to me."

"Well, well, well...isn't that sweet?"

Evelyn and Alex looked up as Lock-Na entered the tent. They both glared at him angrily, "What do you want?"

 Lock-Na shrugged carelessly, but his eyes were dark with evil, "I'm simply doing what my mistress has ordered."

"Which is...?" Evelyn demanded, pushing Alex behind her, her eyes blazing.

 Lock-Na's face broke into a wicked grin, "She has asked that the two of you be separated."

 "Over my dead body," Evelyn hissed.

"So be it."

 Before Evelyn could do anything, two men entered the tent behind her and, after tossing Alex to the side, hit her on the back of her head with the handles of their swords.

*********************************************