Chapter 4

Flames soared upwards in mocking praise of Ra. There was no sky, only the museum's ceiling. Flames licked upwards, scaling the columns and walls like scarabs. Ahkmenrah gasped as a spark landed on his shoulder, burning him. When would it all end?

"With your death," a mocking voice answered. He'd heard that man before. It was not his brother; even Kahmunrah had not been this cruel. Racing towards his tomb, he was stunned to find somebody already trespassing there. The silver-headed stranger stood before him, back turned towards the pharaoh. Calmly, the man swiveled around. "Never forget you are under my power, pharaoh," he smiled. "Now and forevermore." He chuckled softly.

Ahkmenrah failed to respond before a cobra's head reared above the stranger's head and its tongue wrapped around him.

He gasped as he jerked awake to utter darkness. Somehow the stillness unnerved him far more than the quiet laughter and crackling flames had, for now he was forced to listen to his own labored, restless panting.

Fortunately, his isolation was short-lived. Larry soon opened the sarcophagus, gently laying the lid down on the side. "Hey Ahk! How are you doing? You okay?" He asked, noticing the young man's clammy complexion. McKenzie peered in at the king from over Larry's shoulder.

"As well as can be expected," he replied, accepting the hand helping him out. The less the others knew, the less they had to worry about. What Larry failed to notice was Ahkmenrah's miniscule grimace as he rose. The minute the night guard's back was turned, Ahkmenrah snuck a peek beneath his collar; to his shock, there was a tiny blistering mark on his shoulder. He looked up in time to see McKenzie staring at him- judging by the severity of her glare, she'd seen him. Unsure how else to respond, he glared back with equal intensity.

Totally oblivious to his companions' staring contest, Larry rambled on. "Well, the Night Program's been put on hold for a couple of weeks, which gives you two plenty of time to get acquainted, eh? I've got some job applications to look over, so can I trust you guys not to get into any trouble while I'm gone? We don't want a repeat of the buffalo incident." Ahkmenrah shuddered at the last comment, but McKenzie only continued observing at her client. "Right. Well, have fun! I'll be in my office if you need me, ok?"

"Perhaps you'd be willing to give me a tour? I really would love to see the rest of this place," McKenzie suggested.

"It would be my honor, my lady," Ahkmenrah replied. Anything to get his mind off those visions.

"I am seriously beginning to disapprove of Larry's lack of supervision here," McKenzie sighed fifteen minutes later as they duck beneath a pair of mating pterodactyls. Ahkmenrah lacked the energy to respond. Already he'd saved her from a stampeding herd of zebras and a Native American tribe who believed her to be their Mother Goddess reincarnated; she's been flattered by the tribe until Ahkmenrah had informed her that they practiced human sacrifice. He understood she was new to the museum's way of life, but in some ways she was more of a danger to herself than Larry had been. She'd even managed to anger the Neanderthals with her lecture on fire safety!

And who else would be intercepting them other than Attila the Hun? Ahkemran groaned internally- all it would take would be for McKenzie to say something in the wrong tone, and severe risk to her limbs would follow. He tried steering them down a different hall, but McKenzie had already spotted them and, paradoxically, was skipping towards them. "Why hello, strangely bearded fellows! Attila the Hun, I presume? McKenzie McPhee, fascinated to meet you!" She extended her hand more enthusiastically than was necessary. Ahkmenrah translated for her, making it a tad more flattering. The Hun nodded his approval, grasped her hand briefly and mumbled something.

"He says a delicate flower such as yourself should be escorted by the bravest of warriors. He offers his men and himself at your service."

"Oh, why, of course, I'd be honored," she smiled. After Ahkmenrah translated her consent, the group was on its way. "Any chance you could teach me how to speak Hun? I have a knack for languages, if I do say so myself."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Excellent! We can start tonight after our therapy session!"

This is going to be an interesting evening, Ahkmenrah sighed to himself. At least teaching her would potentially help occupy his mind further, leaving less room for his anxiety. That his injury had carried into the living realm disturbed him greatly. He would've loved to dismiss the blister as a coincidence, but nothing else could have caused it. What else could be carried through from his visions? What would happen if he was killed next time?

"What's your favorite exhibit?" McKenzie asked.

"Pardon?"

"Your favorite exhibit."

"Oh! Truthfully, I enjoy many of the exhibits here, but none so much as the Hall of African Mammals."

"I'd be delighted to see it! I love lions!"

Perhaps they could enjoy each others company after all. "Sooo, what's wrong with your shoulder?"

So much for forgetting. "Nothing. I strained it during horseback riding yesterday."

She shrugged, seemingly accepting the explanation. "Then why did you feel it necessary to hide it from Mr. Daley?"

"He already worries too much for me. I did not wish to add more to his troubles."

"Ahkmenrah, you really shouldn't make it a habit to hide when you're hurt. It isn't productive to recovery, you know?"

The pharaoh could only look down in response. What else was there to say? It was easy for McKenzie to criticize him, but the previous two times his friends had been involved in his problems, they'd nearly been killed. The less involved they were, the better for them. Already, he regretted telling Teddy about the nightmares; he'd noticed the sidelong frowns of concern the president had cast his way. No, best to keep this recent development to himself. If his nightmares were any indication, whatever was to come could prove to be the gravest threat yet.

Meanwhile, in a run-down apartment cubicle on the poor side of New York City, an elegant silver-haired gentleman was carefully rearranging an auburn wig, making sure it covered every strand of frosty hair. Finally satisfied with the wig's position, he stenciled on freckles across the bridge of his nose and cheeks. A final transformation from gray-blue to murky brown eye color completed his disguise. There, more than enough to fool that oaf of a night guard. He doubted the pharaoh would be fooled, but that wasn't his main concern- he'd always been able to keep that boy in his place before. Time to see if he still had his touch.

Now to think of a suitable name for his new appearance.


Hey there! Sorry you guys had to wait so long for this chapter, I've been juggling multiple writing projects lately. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint! LOL

More will follow, never fear. I'm looking forward to McKenzie's character development as much as everyone else is! :)