"It's so dark in here." Alois complained as the group moved inside.
"I wonder why." Ciel muttered sarcastically, holding onto his children's hands and leading them further inside behind Sebastian.
"M-mommy, will they get angry that we came in without knocking first?" Rachel asked causing her mother to sigh.
"No Rachel, no one will be angry." Sebastian took out what he refered to as the light crystal and held it out in front of him. It instantly began to glow, illuminating the dark room.
"Look Mama, they have funny pictures on the wall!" Evian cried.
"Those 'funny pictures' are hieroglyphics, the way the ancient Egyptians would write." Sebastian explained.
"But... If we write on the walls, you don't like it." Vincent pointed out.
"That is because you should be -"
"Look Brother, It's pretty!" Luca said pointing to a golden statue of what appeared to be a dog.
"It's nice but its not why we came here. "Alois said gently.
"Mum, can we get one of those?" Rowan asked hopefully.
"No. Those only belong in places like this."
"Can we have a real dog then?"
"Certainly not!" Sebastian replied.
"You had cats, the deal was if you had a cat I can have a dog, and must I remind you Sebastian of how many cats you had?"
"Ciel, dear, must we go through all that again?"
"I want a puppy!" The twins shouted in unison causing a loud echo. The children giggled.
"I whole heartedly object to this dog business."
"You're out voted and your objection is overruled." Ciel said sternly.
"Can we get on with it?" Alois grumbled.
"Alois, your talking."
"Yes"
"Stop it." Ciel demanded.
"It looks like the passage ahead will lead us to the chamber containing the mummy." Sebastian said turning to his family.
"These places were designed to keep grave robbers from stealing treasure, there are traps and paths that lead to danger around every corner, as we are all demons, it is not likely to kill us, however we have no time to delay so please do your best to avoid such things. Ciel, I would like you and the children to stay close behind me ."
"Dad will protect us, he is good at that, right mommy?"
"Yes Rachel, your father is very good at protecting us." Ciel was amazed at the ancient writing and objects in each of the rooms.
"You know dearest, they worshipped cats here, they were seen as devine creatures."
"Right along with beetles. Dogs arw far better." Sebastian grinned
"I would expect such a comment from you."
"Sebastian?"
"Yes my love?"
"Shut up."
"Mommy, are you fighting with dad?" Rachel asked worriedly.
"No Rachel, I'm just giving him a helpful suggestion." Ciel replied gently.
"Mum, will we find the stone soon?"
"Hopefully. First we need to find the chamber where the mummy was placed."
"Will grandfather be all better when we get home?" Evian asked.
"That's what we're hoping for after the stones are given to him."
"Stop, everyone stand still." Sebastian said suddenly.
"What's wrong?"
"This room we have found is equipped with hidden traps, dangers and passages that lead to death if we were human, this is where the warning about no delays comes in. Do as I say and there should be no prouds."
"I'm scared brother."
"Don't worry, I'm right here, I'll take care of you." Alois assured his brother.
"Does anyone wish to go back?" The question was met with silence.
"Very well, Mey-Rin, Bard, join me please." At once the two obeyed and were at Sebastian's side.
"Your priority is Ciel and our children, should anything go wrong, you will work quickly to get them out, do you understand?"
"Yes Mr. Sebastian!"
"Course, just like old times. Except the little ones."
"The children walked very close to their mother, fear gripping them. They knew if their parents were here with them, nothing could hurt them but worried that something may be in the darkness. Vincent, Rowan and Evian were careful to also stay close to their sister. The brothers believed it was their responsibility to also protect Rachel thought the task was not given by either parent. Evian had been protective of his younger siblings since before they were born, and he was not about to stop now.
The group moved on slowly as Sebastian read the inscriptions on the wall.
"Do they say anything about the stone?" Ciel asked.
"I'm afraid not, it does tell the story of the Pharaoh and his family. Apparently he was one of the most powerful kings Egypt has ever known, which can only mean that there was something in his possession that made it possible. He may have believed himself to be a god, but he was merely mortal. Perhaps if we find the power source, we may find what we came for, Naveen, please bring me the book." Naveen rummaged through his bag until he pulled out the required object and walked carefully to his cousin.
"Thank you, we shall use this to identify the stones. Everyone keep searching, if you see any unusual stones, it may have been well hidden."
"We can only search as long as you, none of us have a light source." Alois pointed out.
"I was prepared for this occasion, Mey-Rin, please open your bag. I believe you will find a set of candle holder, there is also a box of candle sticks I pack in case of emergency. We can use them now and replace them." The maid did as instructed and Sebastian lit them. Mey-Rin gave Ciel, Naveen, Alois and Bard a candle before taking one herself.
"That should make it easier, now if you should-"
"Sebastian, look at these." Ciel said pointing to a painting on the wall.
"Have you found a stone dearest?" The older demon asked hopefully.
"Not a stone, but these look familiar, I think I saw it in that book." Sebastian raised the crystal, to the image of the pharaoh sitting on the throne, in his arms which were crossed over his chest, he held what appeared to be a curved blade and what looked like a flag.
"I have seen those before, they are signs of royalty, kings would be placed inside his resting place with both objects to symbolize royalty. The flail and crook are etched into one of the stones of hell. Chances are if it was here, it currently resides with the pharaoh even now."
"You're saying it's... Inside with the-"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry but my children are not going to be subjected to such things." Ciel said sternly.
"If you're going to open it, I can't let Luca be there either." Alois said.
"Brother, I don't understand, why can't I be there?"
"Surely I could not suggest the children accompany us and witness the actual...taking of the stone. They would of course be excused as well as Alois and you my dear, someone must look after them, I shall retrieve it myself." Sebastian said as they began walking again. They wandered deeper, using caution with each step. Finally they managed to find a room which held the sarcophagus.
"Everyone stay right here, this should not take long." Sebastian said walking forward. He opened the large heavy lid effortlessly.
"Mama, what is in that big box?" Evian asked trying to see past his father.
"Nothing for you to see, turn around, all of you." All four children did as they were told.
"Did you find it?" Ciel asked after a moment, his question was met with silence.
"They're real." Sebastian called back, he pulled out a small box and closed the lid again before carrying a small box back to the group.
"Can we see it?" Vincent and Rowan asked in unison. Sebastian opened the box to reveal a medium sized red stone, an image of the flail and crook etched into it. There was a stunned silence as Alois moved closer to look.
"It's pretty." He said.
"Yes, they appear to be nothing more than ordinary gems to everyone else. It was great power but unless you know about them, it isn't something you would suspect. I doubt even the Egyptians knew what the power source was, aside from the royal family."
"That can't be all." Ciel said looking around.
"What do you mean, that can't be all?" Alois asked, Ciel turned to him.
"Nothing is ever this easy. There's always some sort of trap or something."
"Apparently not this time, we got what we came for and now we can just-" a loud rumbling sound surrounded them as the tomb began to shake. Sebastian looked around in an attempt to figure out what was happening. It was only then that he saw the large stone divider above them and the spikes sticking out of it.
He managed to call out to Ciel just as the stone came crashing down, creating a screen of thick dust as it landed.
when at last the dust cleared, Sebastian found himself in darkness, the cries of his children echoed loudly through the room. He picked up the crystal and found that he was not alone.
"Ciel, are you alright love?" He asked as the young demon brushed himself off and picked up the box containing the stone.
"Fine."
"What the devil did you think tou were doing, you should have been on the other side."
"Do you really want to lecture me, you should be thanking me."
"Whatever do you-"
"You dropped the box, if I didn't come over here the stone would have been crushed." Ciel glared at his mate.
"You truly are amazing." Sebastian said pulling him close.
"Mama!" Evian cried out.
"Mama, are you and dad okay?"
"Yes Evian, what about your brothers and sister?"
"We're alright." Three voices answered in unison.
"Sebastian, can you break this or pick it up or something?"
"I might be able to break through it however it will take some time.
"What the hell happened?" Naveen asked. Mey-Rin looked down at the floor.
"I'm sorry everyone, I leaned on the wall to get a rock out of my shoe and then-" a chorus of frustrated groans followed.
"Brother, will we ever get out?" Luca grabbed Alois's sleeve and sniffled.
"Of course we will, I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." Alois wrapped his arms around his little brother.
"What about you?"
"I'll protect both of you." Naveen vowed.
"Promise you won't let anything happen to my brother?" Luca pleaded.
"I swear it on my life." Naveen answered putting his arms around both of them, allowing Alois to rest his head on his chest.
"Mommy, we want you!" Rachel sobbbed.
"Rachel, I'm right here. Everything is going to be alright, I promise. Your father is going to try to get through it and then we'll be with you."
"Will you come to us soon mommy?" Vincent called sadly.
"As soon as I can. "
"Can we have hugs when you come back?" Rowan too had begun to sob. He had not been without his mother and father and found their absence frightening.
"As many as you like. Don't cry my little ones, we're right here." Ciel soothed, though his heart was breaking. The sound of his children sobbing was too difficult for Ciel to hear without reacting to it.
"Ciel, it's alright, they're safe. Our children may be upset, but they are fine." Sebastian whispered, he noticed Ciel was also close to tears.
"They need us, we're not there for them. Nothing will keep me from them." Ciel began to search the room for objects that could be used. After a moment of scanning the room, he turned to the spikes and attempted to break one off.
"Ciel, dearest, that will take forever."
"Then do something." Ciel snapped.
"This particular stone material is created to protect against many things, normally this would not present a problem, however some of their rituals are-"
"I don't give a damn about their rituals or rocks, my children are on the other side,of this thing, nothing stopped me from getting to them be for and this isn't going to stop me either."