Disclaimer: Mummies Alive belong to DIC
Chapter Six
"Pyramid by the river," Ja-kal muttered under his breath, "Pyramid by the river… by the river. OH!" he smacked himself violently on the forehead. "Why didn't we ever think of it before… It was right under our noses!"
"Yes but can we trust the said source?" Rath grumbled irritably. "He was a little strange if you ask me."
"Well you are rather strange," Armon pointed out practically. "And we trust you."
Unable to find a suitable reply Rath merely scoffed regally and turned away. "To the river then…"
Pharaoh had watched the scene unfold before him with a certain sense of wonder. Time had obviously had effect on his servants; no longer did they seem to grovel at his feet and look for his guidance. They had merely assumed they were going to the river…
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Amanda sat sullenly on the stone bench that served as a 'couch' back at the Sphinx. Her long elegant fingers wove tightly around a coffee mug which remained untouched and cold. Her breathing became laboured as she thought once more the peril that had befallen her unfortunate son. "Nefer-Tina…?"
"Hmm…" the female mummy lifted her head from her lap and glanced to her Prince's mother who was gazing at her with hopeful eyes.
"They'll get him back won't they?"
Nefer-Tina forced her shaking lips to form a resemblance of a smile. "Yes. I'm sure they will."
Amanda breathed deeply and felt a shudder run through her body. Her boy's guardian didn't seem confident that he would be safe. "I hope he isn't alone…"
"Hmm…"
"I'm scared…" Amanda's voice cracked and she left her sentence unfinished.
Nefer-Tina stood in surrender and annoyance. She was irritated she had been the one left with Amanda, who only seemed capable of talking about her son.
"Coffee…? Tea?"
Amanda glanced down into her full mug. "No. Thankyou. I'll finish what I have here…"
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Pharaoh looked up the steep slopes of the pyramid building before him. How anyone would think to live inside a pyramid was beyond him. He had Scarab buried alive in a pyramid for pity sake! And now he was choosing to live in one. It was a strange paradox.
"So," Rath muttered behind Pharaoh. "This is Scarab's humble abode."
There was nothing humble about the colossal building. In fact it was quite intimidating being dwarfed by Scarab's stronghold. Pharaoh had no idea on how he would find the prince in such a large amount of room.
"Well. I guess this is it," Armon said rubbing his hands together. Ja-kal tilted his head to the side as if listening for something. Then he curtly nodded his face a picture of serenity.
"What's the plan?" Rath inquired to no one in particular.
"Why do we need a plan?"
"We're not going to knock on the front door and politely ask Scarab to take us to the prince are we?" Rath shot back sarcastically.
Armon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't think that is a good plan Rath," he commented.
Rath's only reply was to smack his forehead with the palm of his hand before turning away from the jovial guardian's serious form.
Ja-kal had been ignoring the argument, as they had been becoming increasingly more common between the two. They were like an old married couple, or so the Prince had pointed out. He ran his eyes over the surface of the building and ran them up. "We need a point of entry," he stated sternly. "Stop arguing and help or I'll set the Prince on you both."
That shut them up. Presley had also become adapt at smart-mouthing his guardians and Rath in particular hated the Prince's clever comments.
"There," Pharaoh said in a bored tone raising his hand to linger on an open window. Ja – kal was wondering how on earth he had missed it. It had been very obvious.
"Rath you first," Ja-kal said nodding at the scholar.
Rath scowled at him and glanced upwards as if to say why me? He was about to heave himself up when they were distracted by headlights on full beam…
The black car pulled up in front of Scarab's drive way. The lights dimmed and a young man opened the car door and stepped out into the morning light. He was wearing long black robes, trimmed with white patterns. With deliberate steps he went to the passenger's side and opened the door for a frail old man. It was the same man that had told the guardians and the pharaoh where to find the prince.
The two coffee skinned strangers briskly walked up the stairs, the old man's eyes however scanned the darkness as if searching for someone. The door bell rang. Once. Twice. Thrice… And there was a moment's pause before someone answered the door.
"Mr. Stone, you have the prince?" the young man asked briskly.
"Yes, come in. I've been waiting for you," a raspy voice replied.
"Our apologies. We were delayed… on business."
There was the sound of footsteps before the door slammed shut.
"That was interesting," Rath commented.
"Ouch. Ja-kal you're standing on my foot," Armon complained.
Ja-kal stepped off Armon and simply said, "We don't have much time."
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Presley slept soundly in Paul's arms. Whether the water had been drugged as Ahmed wryly commented or from sheer exhaustion Paul wasn't sure. He himself was sore and stiff. He dared not to move his grip on Presley's broken arm which he had held securely since being left in the dank cell. Each time Paul moved slightly, Presley's brow would furrow as if he was in pain and a groan would escape his lips. Ahmed had suggested laying Presley on the ground but Paul would hear none of it. He felt if he let his son go… well…
The door to the cell creaked open slightly. Paul blinked his eyes to protect them from the slither of white light. The moment he had been dreading was being played before his eyes and he was powerless to stop them.
Scarab stepped into the cell. His eyes narrowed cruelly upon the sleeping form of Presley then to the defiant expression of Paul.
"You cannot have my son, you monster," Paul spat.
Scarab leered toothily. "You cannot stop me from taking him."
Scarab's companion's walked breezily into the cell at that moment. Ahmed fought hard to hide his expression but Paul's expression of anger could not be contained. "Jermal, Mukasah!" he turned heatedly to Ahmed making Presley groan in pain. "You called them to help us!"
Ahmed made no reply. Indeed he looked like he had not heard Paul at all.
"Take them!"
Scarab moved to the side. Paul fought with his might to stop himself being separated from Presley. But his son was easily taken from his grip and he himself was soon being frogmarched from the cell, Ahmed following behind like a lamb going to the slaughter.