Warning of language, blood, and acts of heroism!

The Mummy's Curse

Solomon startled awake, blinking drowsily as he searched the slumbering students and instructors. All seemed to be in a deep slumber, so what had woken him up? His eyes widened as he slowly rose to his feet while being careful to not disturb Arthur and moved to the flap. The youngest pilot, Marik, woke in time to see the elderly man open the flap ever so slowly but didn't move to deter him when no wind or sand came through the opening.

The storm had finally disappeared!

Weathered eyes rose to the sky, finding the stars glittering brightly from a dark navy canvas as if assuring them that all would be well, the lightening in the east telling that sunrise was not too far off. The silence in the air was welcomed after the screaming of wind and rustling of tarp that they've had to endure for the last five days. His shoulders rose with a deep inhale then slowly relaxed with a drawn out exhale while gazing out across the sandy plain.

Dings, chimes, alarms, even music suddenly blared from within the makeshift shelter that earned several exclamations as all who were slumbering awoke.

Marik left the side of his older brother to join Solomon, stretching his arms above his head with a grunt. "Guess that nightmare is over, huh?" When no answer came, his gaze shifted from the plane wreckage to find the Egyptologist's finger tracing patterns in the air. "Is something the matter?"

"Quick, young man! Before the stars disappear!"

"The stars?" His head tilted upward and instantly saw what the elder had: the stars looked to be congregating and gathering into a single point somewhere in the distance. What caused his blood to chill though were the shapes that were beginning to form. "That's impossible…" Sweat appeared across his being as he took a slight step backwards. "Those look like the beasts from the old legend that our grandfather once told us." He jumped as hands fell to rest on his shoulder, finding them to belong to Odion whose smile quickly vanished once he too looked up at the fading stars.

The tattooed man gave his younger brother's shoulders a squeeze. "The airport has sent the rescue team out to fetch us. They are not far now and should be coming into view." His dark hued eyes rose up to the sky once more before ushering the pair back towards the shelter. He knew of those shapes better than Marik did, recalling that in ancient times war was often waged with the assistance of sorcery that would allow kings to harness what were known as Shadow Beasts.

This was the Twenty-First Century though.

Electricity and man-made power had replaced the ancient arts resorted to perform tasks or wage battle.

Magic doesn't exist in this time and was considered nothing more than legend or myth.

His motions came to a stop when Solomon drew him off to the side while Marik disappeared inwards when called to assist in a matter. "What troubles you, elder?"

"I know what I saw, Odion, and I know that they were Shadow Beasts gathering for another battle." Solomon held up a finger when the pilot made to dismiss the sight and gave him his best "don't you dare" glare that he reserved for those who questioned his wisdom or musings. "I have studied Egypt lore my whole life from ancient texts to tomes full of things you could barely imagine, as I'm sure you have as well given your family's history, but do not for one second think that I am so senile to mix reality with that which is not."

Odion, a bit surprised by the slight outburst, quickly apologized and bowed his head.

"Several spoke of an alternate world, or dimension, completely inhabited by these so called Shadow Beasts. Most were described as fearful, ferocious, powerful beings that sorcerers would summon forth to do battle. There are rumors in the gaming community that a man in America is working upon a modern version of these ancient creatures to create a whole new experience that just may catch the interest of this younger generation so attacked to those small trinkets and social media." He chuckled lightly with excitement, clearing his throat when spotting Odion's amused side smile. "That is all beside the point. If the ancient words are true, that there is another plane of existence beside our own, what do you suppose this means?"

"I do not wish to jinx our luck and current hope of rescue," the tanned pilot sighed. "But I surmise that my brother's earlier words are about to be proven false."

. . . .

Her hands shook slightly while laying the person on the bed she'd been using. "Shit, shit, shit," she softly whispered while hurrying to find the satchel within her carryon that was a personalized first aid kit that she put together herself complete with surgical tools and a few select pain killers.

The falcon had retrieved the fallen phone, sending a silent "thank you" to her adoptive older brother for talking her into the case that it was protected by. Shock proof, weather proof and shatter resistant! It had been a pretty penny at the time of purchase but it certainly had earned its keep despite how hesitant she'd been initially. After all, the phones made by Kaiba Corp were state of the art to begin with so she highly doubted that it would have to go through such strenuous events that would surely spell the demise of any other brand. A spare headband that she'd found in the suitcase was used to attach the small device to her forehead so she wouldn't have to spare a hand just to hold it and took a deep breath.

"You just had to go and stick your nose where it didn't belong then pull out the dagger that nearly killed a person from someone's freakin body to stab a monster in the back of the throat…" Cerulean slowly rose to the figure on the bed when bubbling audibly sounded from within their chest. She'd been so intent on running away from whatever was trying to break through those double doors that she didn't even pay any attention to how all the moving around must have hurt the person that she'd reflexively brought with her!

A shake of her being, along with a bite to her cheek, caused enough adrenaline to pound through her veins to stop her shaking and straightened her spine while moving the tools closer to the person completely covered in dirt and dust. Cleaning the wound was her first priority but they were covered in several inches of thick debris that she would have a hard time just getting to it. Caring of the consequences was not a luxury she could spare right now and whispered an apology while tearing open the front of their clothing where a dark stain had been forming and quickly cleaned what she could with a bit of water from the camelback.

All of those advanced lessons were about to pay off.

The falcon at her side kept quiet though it occasionally would move positions and instead nestle itself beside the person she was striving to save. It's head met their dirtied cheek, as if attempting to console them when they gave a grunt or twitch. Sand and dirt were so caked on this poor human that it had formed a hard yet flexible outer shell that cracked like pottery then shattered when removed by her movements to lay in pieces beside the bed. A crack appeared along the face part that revealed parched lips parted just enough to allow ghosts of breath to be felt from between them. The bird took a few sips from the clay bowl that she used to give it water then carefully dribbled the liquid between the lips of the person as they gave a soft grunt when the young woman hurried to remove the gauze that had become completely soaked.

Textbook diagrams, photos, even the video lectures that she'd watched sped past her like a movie reel on fast forward; bits and pieces of knowledge rising to the forefront when she came across something that caused a split second's worth of hesitation. Flashes of practice dummies were accompanied by the whispered encouragements from various teachers or tutors filled her ears as a flood of blood stained her fingertips that hurried to stem the tear that was the cause by applying pressure. More gauze was stuffed to absorb the liquid that was quickly moved away so as to continue once more and carefully secured the flesh around the tear so as to prevent it from opening.

"Don't die…don't die…" Anzu repeated like a prayer as she worked, azure gaze more focused that the tips of the tools she used to gain access to the person's innermost workings. Emotions were swallowed loudly as blood began to pool within the wound. Numbness took over her body as she worked with quick movements; clamping a few arteries here and there, stuffing chunks of gauze to absorb the red liquid threatening to obscure her vision.

It was then that she realized that her hands were beginning to shake. No! she internally screamed when the clamp in her hold threatened to fall, stop shaking! Stop shaking! Now was not the time for her to lose focus or make a mistake though! What could she do to calm herself down enough for it to stop? Damnit, Anzu, stop shaking!

A smaller voice, as if it were a disheartened version of herself, pipped up. I'm not even a trained professional, yet here I am just opening up a random stranger and performing surgery without their consent? What kind of person does that make me? I shouldn't even be doing this…

"Shut up!" Her sudden shout earned a startle from the bird who looked up at her as if concerned. "I know I can do this! Even if my training is incomplete and I haven't gone off to university yet, I can and will save this person!" A choke caught in her throat as the weight of knowing that whoever this was had their life in her hands. The pressure increased with each breath she took but delirium was beginning to seep into her tired body.

Was she fighting a losing battle?

Is this person destined to die even if she tried?

Should she just let nature take its course?

"Your goal is admirable but it is important to keep in mind that not everything will play out according to plan." Counselor Hawkins' wrinkled hand rose off the arm rest, as if debating on taking hold of her own, then it fell to rest upon his knee instead as he sighed. "Anzu, even if you were to master every medical study or procedure and perform with pristine precision there is no guarantee that the person will live. There is only so much that knowledge can accomplish." Though his tone was gentle and gaze soft, the pain of his words were visible within her being as she tensed. "It is up to the person in question if they are to recover or receive treatment in the first place."

A tear slid down her cheek to land with a splatter out of sight, unbeknownst to her it had fallen in the crack then disappeared between the cracked lips beneath, as a tune began to play within her ear. "You are my sunshine…" she sang as the voices of her deceased parents tickled her ears. "…my only sunshine…"

The falcon's head tilted in alternating directions. It had heard her hum several times whenever she had the earbuds in and became caught up whatever song that was playing but this was the first time she'd ever sung. Though the walls were bare, the floor littered with broken pots or jars, her soft voice filled the air with shaky notes that soon grew clear and steadfast as her hands ceased their shaking as the limp one that belonged to the stranger somehow found its way to touch her being.

That was as good a sign as any that they wanted to live.

Rejuvenated confidence flooded her veins as she used an arm to clean her eyes of lingering tears. "Alright, here we go, Anzu Mazaki. You got this." And with newfound purpose plunged into the task at hand.

If she had looked up even once as she continued humming, the young brunette would have seen veins of gold veins similar to those she'd seen previously form around the person. They crept up the walls, crawled across the floor, but they never touched the girl as she worked against time to save the life in front of her. Through the streets they went with faint pulses of light that corresponded with each weak heartbeat that was felt by her fingers whenever she took a moment to check for it until they congregated upon a platform that was higher than any structure within the sunken desolate city. Each pulse though weak was enough to shift the mound sand resting within its center and with the help of a breeze revealed a mighty throne made of ivory, gold, and obsidian that was facing the entirety of the city's limits where each entrance gate, one in each protective wall, as well as a position where the sun's rays would always touch whoever was worthy of sitting within it.

Recalling the loneliness of when she'd discovered herself within this wretched place came back full force to collide with her chest, as if encouraging her to use every bit of knowledge and tool she had to save this person not just because the thought of living out the rest of her days here was frightening but that if she succeeded then perhaps her goal of mastering the surgical world was a possibility. How odd that finding the falcon would not only keep her from losing sense of herself and that it had become as attached to her as she did it. She made the mental note to give it a proper name later once the task was done while reaching into the set of tools.

Doom filled her when reaching for a tool that wasn't within its designated slot. Had it fallen out in her carryon or worse on the battlefield she'd found herself in?! A chirp sounded from the side, earning her gaze, and could have sobbed with relief when the falcon readily deposited it into her waiting palm. "You're such a smart little birdie, aren't you? I'll thank you properly later with a bit of jerky but right now I have to keep working-"

The air itself froze as a new sound filled it.

Was she imagining things…or was that the sound of an airplane?

Her motions remained careful but were faster now as she finished making stitches that would repair the damaged muscles and arteries then sealed up the would with calculated precision. The person's breathing had leveled, their heart rhythm back to normal, and coloring returning to their skin from beneath the layers of filth; their life was no longer in immediate danger. Dressing it with gauze and ensuring that it was secured, she rose to her feet and sprinted from the room with the blazing hope that this meant someone was nearby.

Conscious will wasn't needed as her feet took the path that they'd walked on several times previously that would lead towards the entrance she'd come in and slid to a stop between the twin sphinxes who guarded it. Whatever aircraft that was above the sand had come to a stop right where she stood, meaning that they were directly above her. She had to do something! Anything to catch someone's attention before it moved on! But what could she do buried beneath possible miles deep under the sand?! Tears burned the backs of her eyes. She had to try! "Can anyone hear me?! Hello?! My name is Anzu Mazaki, I'm one of the students from Japan that was caught up in a sandstorm!"

Heavy footsteps caused her breath to catch, counting them quickly and discovering that no only was there a plane but people were walking around up there!

"I'm down here!" Cerulean eyes widened as a muffled voice reached her ears. "Counselor Hawkins, it's Anzu! I'm buried in the sand!"

What he was saying was lost to her as sand began raining down from the ceiling in streams. Unadulterated panic filled her as something large impacted with the ceiling. The plane must have landed but its weight may be too much and cause it to cave in. She would be buried alive it didn't move soon!

The fine hairs across her body rose as faint purring filled her ear.

Besides the falcon and the person she'd just finished treating, no other living or breathing being had been found within this place.

Flashes of the monster that had tried to devour her filled her mind. "Nah, that must have been just some," she swallowed nervously, "lack of sleep maybe?" Pain throbbed in her neck as if in protest against the very words that had come from between her lips. Fingers still stained with the blood of the stranger rose to brush against her slender neck, feeling ridges of imprints that were definitely real. "Okay, let's not jump to any conclusions yet. There's gotta be a logical explanation for all this. I definitely have been eating and drinking just enough that I wouldn't be suffering from-"

Instinct flared in time for her to dodge to the right in time for something large to impact the ground where she'd just been standing with her back against the gate's right side and felt the ground beneath her disappear when she found herself transfixed by a bright green gaze of something that towered several feet above her. Whatever it was, it had to be as big as an elephant! Her legs quaked dangerously as its head bent downward until their faces were inches apart, the cellphone's light fully exposing the face that should belong to a model or famous actress framed by long cherry red hair. Anzu would have been confused by the sight if she wasn't so fixated upon the razor sharp teeth that were slowly exposed by the creature's lips lifting into a frightening smile, the purring becoming deafening as it sniffed the young woman from head to toe.

A glance upwards revealed that the unaffected sphinx stature that had just been there was missing.

Words and voice failed her as the beast, now finished with its examination, fixated its green gaze upon her blue with a hungry glint. Her hands that had been wandering across the wall while taking steps back towards the city's limits took firm hold of a handle then swung it with all of her might. What must have been a spear was rendered to nothing more than splinters as the sphinx lazily knocked it away with a paw, causing the wood to completely shatter as it fell from the brunette's now shaking hands. Fur the color of cream, paws easily five times larger than a lion or any other large cat's, a tail waving behind it as the beast stalked forward until it had her cornered against the wall and a pillar. Large wings unfurled from its back as it gave a yowl so piercing that she was sure her eardrums had burst and slid to curl into a ball on the ground as it lunged, the air filling with the scream that tore from between her lips while clenching her eyes tightly to prevent herself from seeing the coming death.

A deafening roar sounded as the earth itself quaked, something coming at the pair with great speed and cerulean eyes opened just in time to witness a ball of blinding gold energy collide with the sphinx's side that sent it reeling as the ceiling above cracked. The same music she'd heard in the spring began playing from an unknown source at a near deafening volume as footsteps approached her from the path that would lead into town, the crunching of sand beneath fading to silence as near torrential wind whipped up as the sand that should have buried her became a twister that swept across the battlefield as the golden light combined with that now spilling into the space courtesy of the sun.

Actual sunlight!

Anzu could have wept with joy if it weren't for the sphinx who had risen back to their feet and made to attack her again if not for the figure that stepped between them.

Their left arm rose upwards, a strange contraption made of gold fanning out like a wing from their forearm, and pressed herself flat against the wall as much as possible as another sphinx with the head of a lion and covered in armor appeared from thin air that waged battle with the female. The air became filled with the sounds of their battle cries and impacts of their bodies but it soon subsided as the new creature forced the other into submission by forcing their face to the ground. They both disappeared as the sunlight from above met their forms, leaving just her and whoever the person was that had saved her.

The cape attached to their shoulders billowed in the wind as they turned to face her and it was the moment ruby pomegranate eyes met her own that the heart in her chest gave a jolt; those were the eyes she'd seen when trapped by the quicksand! Not only that but the air and presence that surrounded them was that which she felt back in the hot spring! Ebony hair that stood upright in a wild fashion that she'd only seen capable in animes had crimson tips and golden bangs that framed their face while others stood upright in a crown-like fashion. Their features were masculine with sharp eyes that were slanted slightly in the corners, strong jawline, tanned skin that reminded her of a perfectly toasted marshmallow, toned bare arms decorated with golden bands and an upper torso that was covered in lean muscles that caused her gaze to trail downwards to stop at the defined "V" of their abdomen left very extremely little to her imagination thanks to the torn fabric bunched lowly around their waist courtesy of the belt they wore- Her breath caught: the bandage that she had secured upon the person that should be back on the bed was on this guy! The contraption they wore was closed with a wave of their arm as they dropped to a knee, earning a confused expression from the girl as a language unknown to her came from between his lips.

Did her heart just stop beating the moment that rich baritone voice that came from him fill her ears even if she couldn't understand a single word he said?

Did her stomach fill with butterflies as he offered her a hand and carefully helped her to stand?

Did her mind just completely go blank as the warmth of his touch seared across her being?

Did her senses become completely enslaved with the scent of warm amber as he quickly moved to steady her when wobbly legs threatened to give?

"Yes" was the definitive answer to all the above!

Her head shook to show that she couldn't understand and felt heat flood her face when his own shifted closer as if to study her features.

More words came him but they were each met with a shake of her head until he fell into silence, his gaze never wavering from her own as he leaned back slightly to allow more space between them.

She'd seen her fair share of guys, in person and by other means, but none had struck her as this man before her way! He couldn't be much older than herself yet here she was fumbling and speechless as one of those other girls or fans who could barely function within the presence of their crush! Her head shook vigorously as a deep chuckle interrupted the racing thoughts in her head and offered the biggest smile while taking a step backwards, cursing internally when a sense of loss filled her the moment their hands separated; those were definitely the hands she'd felt helping her bathe but no rise of shame or shyness rose as the memory of them drifting across her body ghosted across her skin; if anything it sent thrills down her spine now knowing just who was the owner of them. "Thanks for the save back there. I owe you big time!"

His demeanor perked, eyes practically glittering with accomplishment. "English, I see, very well." Tanned lips lifted from the line to rise into the smallest smile in existence as both gaze and tone radiated with gratitude. "It is I who owes you a great debt, Anzu Mazaki."

Now she was sure that her body had melted into a puddle. There's no way he had just said her name in such a gentle tone, right?

A shrill call came from the city, a relieved smile raising her lips when she spotted the falcon, that quickly became one of disbelief as it grew five times its size to match that of a giant horse that halted before them and bowed its head deeply to the man beside her who greeted it warmly by running his hand across its speckled coat. It clicked its black as if exited, the swishing tail behind it wagging almost in the manner of a dog's as the mystery man's fingers tapped against its right wing joint. "It is a relief to see that the spell that confined you to that weak form has been broken, Wasiaaslama."

"Wait, wait, wait, hold on a minute!" she crossed her arms as its head made to nuzzle hers, holding up a finger as it tilted in confusion at her motions. "You were literally a falcon two seconds ago and this guy is telling me that you're in fact a giant gryphon?!"

Beast and stranger shared a glance, they returned their gazes to the young woman while nodding in unison. "You must have encountered him while he was under the spell's influence, Anzu, but this is indeed his true form. He is my noble mount, my steed, my divine protector when I partake in battle."

She blanched. "Yeah, sure, that makes perfect sense…if we were in the medieval era where magic was thought to exist!" Her hands rose to tangle within her chocolate hair, quickly removing the cell still secured to her forehead and slipping it within a pocket once turning off the flashlight. "You know what, I'm not even going to bother or worry about it anymore because I am no longer buried under the ground and can feel the actual sun on my skin! Not only that but the person I found in that weird chamber is not only alive but walking around too!" The brunette froze, slowly turning to meet his curious gaze. "You aren't…you know, a ghost or anything, right?"

He blinked as her hand hesitantly reached out to him. She was uncertain if he was truly standing in front of her? An expression of concentration filled his features as the ground beneath them rumbled loudly, as if about to split open in attempts to swallow them up, and took a firm hold of her hand. "We cannot stay here any longer." With ease, he swung up onto Wasiaaslama's back and settled while using their joined hands to hoist her up after to sit in front of him. A command was given and they shot upwards into the sky as rock crumbled.

. . . .

"I'm telling you, I heard her call out just a little while ago! I am not delusional!" Arthur struggled against the hold of two seniors who were attempting to force him into the waiting plane. "You don't understand, she is out there!"

Solomon looked to the brother pilots then to the new ones who shook their heads in unison. No one could have survived in a sandstorm like that without proper shelter or supplies and she'd been out there for five days. The odds of finding her alive were near nonexistent by this point. "Arthur-"

All froze as the sand beneath their feet shifted, a fissure appearing within the distance that was moving as quick as a snake directly for them.

Panic permeated the air as each scrambled to get within the plane's interior at the pilots's behest, quickly strapping themselves in the moment their backsides met the bench-like seats just in time for the doors to slam shut as the aircraft began to rise. A shout rose from those who were nearest the windows that became exclamations of disbelief as from the clouds of sand that billowed like smoke rose a dark figure with giant wings.

"Evasive maneuvers! It's going to collide with us!"

"What even is that thing?!"

An alarm blared loudly as it approached, its course setting it to impact with its side, then shifted just enough to the left so that it sped past to circle back and disappear back into the clouds of sand below.

Arthur had been struggling to remain behind but his motions and movements died the moment the unknown figure had passed by the window. His eyes wide, he clung to Solomon who also looked a bit on the pale side. "D-did you see that just now?"

"I believe I did, though I don't know how its possible…" The Egyptologist trembled. "There's no doubt about it. That was definitely Wasiaaslama from ancient lore that once carried a mighty pharaoh upon his back."

"But, Solomon, did you see who was with him? That young man who looked an awful lot like you when you were twenty?"

His head bobbed in a nod. "There is no doubt that was her."

"But how on planet earth did she find herself with someone that looks to be like your younger self while riding atop of a legendary beast?"

Marik and Odion who sat across from the stunned pair shared a glance then pointed out the window. "If you look closely into the billowing sand, you might just catch sight of the lost city."

"What?" They chorused.

The pilots nodded. "The Lost City of Aten, named after its last pharaoh whose name cannot be found in any record, both lost to the sands of Egypt due to a heinous betrayal."


Author Notes!

"Wasiaaslama"="guardian of the sky" in Arabic.

In 20200, the 3,000-year-old city known as Aten was discovered and hailed as one of the most important archeological finds. The preservation of buildings and artifacts let several in shock but none have yet to answer the question of why or how it had been lost in the first place.

Chao for now! She you next time!