Disclaimer: Mummies Alive belong to someone else.

Chapter Two

Presley led Amanda downstairs under Pharaoh Amenhotep's steely gaze. Deep down inside Presley knew that he would have to tell Amanda about being the reborn Prince. But how does one do that? Presley's mind reeled as he watched Amanda take a seat; her own dark green eyes searching his face patiently waiting for him to start.

'Mum I'm the reincarnation of Pharaoh's son? No that won't do. Mum I… erm…'

Presley cleared his throat but got no further. He was at a loss to what to do. He shook his head slowly and almost miserably. He had not expected this to happen like this nor so soon. He was not ready. He had never even thought of how to have this conversation with his mother.

In the end it was Amanda who solved Presley's dilemma. "Why was that perverted dressed up man a sorry excuse of a…" Amanda looked Pharaoh up and down with a clear look of distaste on her facial features. Presley winced visibly. "What was he doing in your room? I swear if he laid hands of you I'll…"

Pharaoh's arms dropped limply to his side. No one had ever dared speak about him like that and never in front of his face. He glanced sideways at his reborn son who was grimacing slightly. But the green eyes did not acknowledge him – they were trained upon the woman who was evidently gifted by the fates to have birthed his son.

Presley upon hearing his mother's rude comment pursed his lips tightly together to stop a nervous giggle. In any other circumstances he would have found this funny. Licking his lips he opened his mouth to make a reply but Amanda beat him to it again.

She was glaring daggers at Pharaoh before she opened her mouth again. "Don't you know Halloween is a few months away yet buddy. It's a little early for trick-or-treating."

Presley stared at his feet wishing the plush carpet would open and swallow him up. He felt his cheeks redden in embarrassment and somewhere in his panicking mind he hoped that Pharaoh would not punish or try to punish his mother.

"And this is private property," Amanda continued completely forgetting Presley, "and you're trespassing."

Pharaoh held up his hand for silence, which momentarily worked only because Amanda was too stunned by the gesture.

"How dare you…" Amanda hissed now seething. Presley was eyeing the door wondering faintly if he could sneak out of the room and leave the adults to it.

"I suggest that you allow our son to speak," Pharaoh replied calmly merely looking bored and regal all at the same time.

Amanda wasn't sure whether to be shocked or insulted. "What are you implying?" she asked darkly. "Who are you?"

Pharaoh touched a hand on his bejewelled chest. "I am Pharaoh Amenhotep and I have come from beyond the Western Gate."

"I see…" Amanda glanced at her son.

"Surely our son has mentioned to you his royal heritage."

Amanda looked like she was about to burst into laughter at the thought.

Presley sighed and looked up to the ceiling praying silently this was all a dream. "He speaks truth, mum," Presley said quietly in his corner.

Amanda looked incredulously over at her son. "Presley tell me this is some joke." Presley miserably shook his head sadly.

Amanda swore and slumped onto the couch moving her calculating glance to the Pharaoh and to her son again.

"Your son is the reborn spirit of my son Rapses, whom I lost all too early," Pharaoh insisted gently. He was unwittingly feeling sorry for the woman before him who seemed completely at a loss.

Presley sighed heavily and sat beside Amanda and took her hands in his own. "I'm sorry," he murmured apologetically, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

Amanda turned to Presley sharply and replied tersely, "Tell me you have not be brainwashed by this foolishness. Tell me you do not honestly believe…"

Amanda's protests were stopped by Presley tucking his hand inside the top his was wearing. He pulled out the amulet and placed it into her hands.

Amanda pressed her fingertips over the cool metal. She had seen the amulet many times before but never thought to question its origins. She brushed her fingers over the ancient hieroglyphics names and whispered the name in the gold. "Rapses…" she whispered hardly believing what she was reading.

Presley smiled weakly and swallowing hard allowed his gaze to travel to the Pharaoh whom he hardly dared to look at. He bit his lip as his heart skipped a beat. He remembered last time he thought he had come face to face with Pharaoh. It had ended up with him nearly loosing Rapses' soul to scarab.

"Please," Presley commented slowly swallowing hard, "but how do I know you are the real Pharaoh?"

Pharaoh Amenhotep looked amused for a brief glimmer of time before he took two quick strides to kneel beside Presley. Presley barely repressed a shiver of excitement as the Pharaoh pressed his large muscled hands over his beating heart. "What does your heart tell you?"

Presley flushed scarlet and turned his head to the side but he caught the Pharaoh's badly concealed smile which reached his solemn eyes. He took a shuddering breath and forced a reply knowing that was expected of him. "You mean no danger."

Pharaoh smiled regally clearly pleased by Presley's answer. It had felt strange to touch his son again after such a long time. And to feel the heart of this stranger; the stranger that was and is his son was unbelievably calming. He stood slowly and watched as bright green eyes followed his movements.

The moment was disrupted by the doorbell. Amanda woke herself from her daydream and left the room without a second glance with a mutter of, "Who in their right minds comes visiting this time of night."

Pharaoh watched her leave and shook his head at her retrieving back. Then his gaze turned back to his son who was still watching him intently. "It has been a long time, Rapses."

The boy before him smiled weakly and jumped as he heard his mother's strangled scream.