Ariela answered the door the next night. She fumbled with the latches and opened the door.
Two men stumbled in.
"It is always raining whenever I come to your country," said the larger of the two. He shook the rain from his cloak and threw back his hood. He looked down at Ariela. "You must the latest addition."
"Yes. My name's Ariela."
"Good name," said Ardeth Bay as he took off his coat. "Means Lioness of God."
"Yes, I know."
Ardeth turned to the other figure. "This is my son, Amir Daren Bay."
The other man turned from shaking the rain off himself. He bowed his head. "Well met."
"Well met," said Ariela. Her sharp eyes turned back to Aredth. "He has a good name as well. Amir being Arabic for King or ruler. And Daren being Hebrew for Born at night. a strong name but no too strong so that it over powers." She turned and walked from the hallway.
Amir looked at Aredth. "I thought you said all British women where stupid, save for the lady Evelyn. She's smart. And beautiful as well."
Aredth laughed. "Leave it to you to find the only unmarried smart British woman for miles around. Come."
They went into the living room.
Aredth greet Rick, Evelyn, Alex and Jonathan and introduced them to his son.
"Well," Rick said, "I guess everyone knows why Aredth is here."
"Cause Mother read that blasted black book and now we have a raving mummy running around," said Ariela.
Aredth nodded. "Exactly."
"It is not all my fault," said Evy. "No one told me not to read the book."
"Really Evy, have you no common sense?" asked Jonathan.
"Speaking of common sense, Jonathan…" began Evy.
"Let's not argue about this again," said Rick. "The problem still remains that Im-Ho-Tep is back. Now, Ariela, do you have a permanent answer for this problem."
Ariela was sitting in a spinning office chair. She looked up and continued spinning from side to side. "Maybe. Through reading for years and decoding I have read about this curse that was placed on Im-Ho-Tep. There is one thing we can do. We can bring the Princess back to life."
"Why?" asked Jonathan.
"Her mummy was destroyed," said Rick.
"Jonathan has a good point," said Evy. "Why?"
"Shut up and let me finish," said Ariela. Her eyes where closed in concentration. "We can then restore Im-Ho-Tep. But first, he must be broken. He must be tamed. Im-Ho-Tep was not always an evil man. At one time, he was considered the must loved man in Egypt. He was especially a favorite…of children. But he was treated badly. And therefore he became considered an evil man. Im-Ho-Tep wants his Princess back. Once he is restored, you remember how he was always sand. If he is restored, he will remain sand but also be able to take his human form." Ariela's eyes opened. "What's to prevent us from restoring Im-Ho-Tep and leaving him to guard Hamunaptra?"
There was a moment of silence.
"That's your plan? Rick was staring at her.
"Do you have a better plan?" Ariela asked.
"Who's going to convince him?" asked Rick.
"Not me," said Alex and Jonathan at once.
"Certainly not me," said Evy.
"That's still on the table," said Ariela.
"Can you bring the Princess back to life?" asked Aredth.
"I'm not sure," said Ariela. "To do that, I would need the book of Love."
"Love?" asked Evelyn. "Why the book of love?"
"Because in Egypt, Love was greater than life."
"And where is the book of love?" asked Alex.
"That I'm not sure of yet," said Ariela. "That where Mother and Father get to help." She looked at her mother. "But I swear mother, you are not to read one word of that book aloud without me there to see what you are reading. Is that understood?"
Evy rolled her eyes.
Aredth looked at his watch and stood. "We had better get going. Train leaves in thirty minuets."
They left the house and boarded the train.
Ariela went out on the back of the train and watched the track stretch out behind them.
The door behind her opened. Amir stepped out. "Your father was wondering where you went."
Ariela leaned against the rail. "I've waited all my life for this moment to come. And now it's here."
"Are you frightened?" asked Amir.
"Yes."
"I admire a person that can admit their fears."
Ariela looked at him. "What do I have to gain by hiding them?"
"Imhotep might be waiting for us."
"He will leave Hamunaptra?"
"Yes. Last time he came all the way over here to England."
"Only because he was brought."
"True," said Amir. "But he can leave Hamunaptra if he desires."
"The more I think about, the more frightened I become."
"It is no bad thing to be afraid," Amir said gently. "You are a Lioness of God. I do not think Imhotep will defeat you."
"I am not going to defeat him. I am going to tame him," said Ariela with determination. "I think that in his heart, Imhotep is not truly evil. He is like a caged animal. Once a caged animal is starved, poked, beaten and made fun of, he too turned against the very hand that feeds him. Through his time in history, Imhotep was loved even more than Pharaoh. Even children and slaves loved him."
"You think it's possible to bring the good back out in him?" asked Amir incredulously.
"You think it impossible?"
"Nothing is impossible. But Imhotep is hopeless. He's a raving mummy! Ready to kill all in his path."
"We shall see, Amir. But always remember, nothing, nothing is ever hopeless, until it is dead." She dimpled a smile up at him. "Even then, I'm sure there are negotiations."
Amir stared down at Ariela. The moon was bright and her eyes where glowing like fire.
"Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are burning stars, fallen from the heavens?"
"No," Ariela said softly. "I have never had so rich a complement. Thank you." She was slightly breathless and didn't know why. She turned away, shaken.