Imhotep turned. Quickly he his shot out and he grabbed her and dragged her foreword. Just in time. The bugs where swarming. He slammed the doors shut.

"This is an illusion."

"No. It is not," said Imhotep.

They where in an enormous chamber, with polished marble floors. A beautiful gold bed was on one side with an enormous wardrobe and vanity beside it. There was a balcony, covered with gauze white curtains.

Ariela went over to it and looked out. She gasped. And jumped back. "Blast! Where am I?"

Imhotep had sat down and was studying her closely. "You do not like not being in control, am I right?"

"You'd better believe it." Ariela backed into the middle of the room. "Where am I?"

"You are in Egypt."

"Where'd he take her?"

"Rick, there's no telling," said Aredth. "The only thing we can do is wait. And hope young Ariela knows what she's doing."

"I'm pretty sure she does," said Alex.

"Oh Lord," muttered Ariela. She looked up. "I look like a blasted girl in this thing!"

Then the strangest thing happened. Imhotep laughed. He took a drink of wine from a gold cup. "If I am correct, that is what you are."

Imhotep had handed Ariela a white gauzy dress and instructed her to put it. He had gone out on the balcony and she had struggled her way into the thing.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"No." Ariela looked at him. "I thought you where supposed to be a monster."

Imhotep looked into his glass. "In many ways I am a monster, young one."

Ariela cocked her head and looked at him. "No, Imhotep. I do not think you are a monster. But yet, you where treated like one."

Imhotep looked at her.

"I think that inside, you are a kind and gentle man. Like I read about." Ariela sat down gracefully.

"You read of me?"

"It took much searching and hard reading, but yes, I read of you. You where told to be a kind man, loved by all, even the slaves. And that is how you caught the eye of the Princess." She crossed her legs gracefully. "Why, the first account I read of you was written by a slave. I believe that it what drew the Princess to you."

"How will you give her back to me?"

"I must find the book of Love."

"Ah love," said Imhotep. He sat back in his seat. "Love. More powerful than life, as you yourself had shown. Which is why I have chosen to let you live."

"How kind," Ariela said sarcastically. She picked up the gold cup Imhotep pushed toward her and held it to the light. Satisfied, she took a deep draft.

Imhotep raised his eyebrows. The wine was strong but yet she drank it like it was water. "You hold your drink well."

Ariela dimpled a charming smile at him. "Thank you." Then her face went serious. "What did you mean? About what I have shown?"

"You gave your life for your mother. I could have killed you, yet your love for your mother was greater than your love for life."

"That is the way it should be," said Ariela. She drained the cup and set it down. "Where can I find the book of Love?"

"I know not where it is. But it was buried the same way the other books where."

Ariela stood and began pacing. "So it is buried under a statue." Then she turned and her face lit up with a smile. "It's simple!"

Imhotep stood. "Where?"

"Under the statue of the goddess of love. Aphrodite!"

"Rick! Evy!" Aredth was running through the camp.

Rick's head appeared out of the tent. "What? What's happened?"

"Ariela."

Rick jumped to his feet and was already fastening his gun belt on. Evy was right behind him.

"What happened?"

"She's here."

"Where?" asked Evy.

"At the edge of camp. With Imhotep."

"Alex!" called Evy.

"Already there."

The three of them ran to the edge of camp.

Ariela was standing there on top of one of the ruins, Imhotep behind her.

She was speaking to Alex who was standing beneath her. The wind was blowing and tossing her hair about. Her white dress was whipping around in the wind and the veil on top of her head caused her to look like a ghost.

"You look like a girl!"

"Don't thank me," said Ariela. "It was all Imhotep's idea."

"Has he hurt you?" asked Amir.

"No!" said Ariela. She backed up until she was standing against him. "It was like I said. He's not truly a monster. Everyone just treats him like one." Her eyes landed on her mother and father. "Daddy!"

Rick and Evy skidded to a stop at the bottom of the ruin.

"Are you alright?" asked Rick.

"Yes."

"What are you wearing?" asked Evy.

"We've no time for that now," said Imhotep.

"Mother, I need to you find something for me. And you must do so with all speed. You must the statue of the goddess of love. All the statues are in the tunnels. You must find it quickly. Underneath the statue is the book of love. You must bring it back to this spot tomorrow night."

"What's the rush?" asked Rick. "Is there something I should know about?"

"Yes," said Imhotep. "When I awoke, the others also awoke."

"What others?" asked Alex.

"Don't you remember?" said Rick. "Those monsters that ruined my car last time."

"I can keep Ariela safe," said Imhotep. "That is all."

"Well, you make sure you do that," said Amir. He stepped foreword. "Or else not all the bugs in the world will stop me from getting to you."

Imhotep bowed. Then he and Ariela disappeared in a swirl of sand and wind.

Evy turned. "We've got to find that book."

Jonathan grabbed Evy's hand as she went by. "Don't even open it, Evy darling."

"Oh shut up, Jonathan!"