The Mummy Returns . . . Again?

SW: Sorry for the delay. We would have put this up sooner, but Krenya didn't have free access to the Internet for most of the last semester and then forgot to take this home over break to post it and then still didn't get to it until now.

KA: Thanks a lot, Stormwing. She's right, though, readers. Sorry. It's still not finished, and you may not get any more for some time. So I apologize in advance. Stormwing, would you do the honors?

SW: Right. We do not own The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, or their characters. However, the elementals and the plot are mine and Krenya's, so do not touch them unless you wish to be tortured for the next hundred millennia.

KA: You're so wishy-washy. Oh, readers, we do appreciate reviews, so feel free to send in comments, what you like, what you dislike, and what you think could be improved. No flames, though, please.

SW: Or else I'll—

KA: Stormwing!

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Chapter 4

"So these . . . elementals . . . were demons," Evie said.

Jonathan nodded. "And any Egyptian who associated with them was condemned to death, by word of the gods themselves."

Evie pursed her lips, looking at the book. Rick sat beside her on the couch, and Jonathan was standing in front of them. Alex was already in bed. "What can we do about them?" Evie looked up at her brother.

Jonathan shrugged. "I haven't found anything else about them, not even the extent of their powers."

"Apparently not as powerful as gods, but they could still be more than powerful enough. Why should they want Imhotep?"

"What?"

"Oh, Alex had a dream about these two—" Evie pointed to the red- and green- haired women. "—bringing Imhotep back and killing Ardeth Bay, along with some of his Med-jai."

"Don't you think we should find out whether or not they have brought back Imhotep, not to mention killing Ardeth Bay, before going off on a wild goose chase?" Jonathan said.

"We? What we?" Rick muttered.

"We will. You are right, after all. All we have to go on is a dream. But since we know how true dreams can be, we can't just ignore this. We'll go see the Med-jai ourselves, and then if it is true, we'll already be in Egypt to stop Imhotep." Evie went off to the master bedroom.

"Why does she always seem so happy about going off to stop the bad guy?" Rick said.

Jonathan shrugged. "I honestly couldn't tell you. She's never been interested in the treasure."

Rick sighed and stood up. "Well, I'd better get my stuff, too. You coming with us?"

Jonathan laughed nervously. "Oh, I think I'll just stay here and take care of Alex."

Rick nodded. "Good idea."

* * *

Since there had been preparations to make and Evie had to tell the Bembridge Scholars that she needed some time off without knowing when exactly she'd be back, it was nine o'clock the next night when Rick and Evie finally left their home. London was quiet as they drove through the lamp-lit streets towards the train station. Rick turned onto the last, brightly lit stretch of road.

Fire overwhelmed the light of the streetlamps and threw into sharp relief the macabre remains of shop buildings, their walls crumbled to reveal the struts and beams. Surveying the damage, bathed in the gold-red glow, stood a tall, handsome, bronze-skinned man, his head shaven and his body clothed with black robes.

Rick braked; then, when the figure didn't turn, he slowly reversed into the shadows of the street they had just come from. "Honey, I think we can cancel the trip to Egypt."