Disclaimer- I don't own anything apart from the plot and my OC's (Kiya, Nefer, Tal, Aten and now Lily and co.). Wish I owned my very own fuzzy Sphinx though... :D
AN: Hello to everyone who has been awaiting the next instalment of the bookie; unfortunately (as stated in the placeholder chappie) I have had a run of bad luck for the past few months… first I had writers block!! Then it got worse… I got a dog (that's not the bad thing) and at one of our agility classes (he's a greyhound very, very fast!) trying to keep up with him I slipped, fell and bruised my vertebra, leading to an inflammation of the Spinal cord… much fun there. Then in October when I'm up and about and hale and hearty, the dog slips his collar and runs unto the road, I chase him like the muppet I am and end up hitting the car that stopped to not hit the dog… 3 weeks of amnesia and cooking without lighting the gas I'm finally able to sit up and look at a computer screen without being sick! Yay me.
So this chapter goes out to all you poor Sphinx-starved readers. I love you all!
BB
Oh yes a warning, if you don't like blood or cursing skip this chapter!
Chapter 4
Lily backed away as the door handle began to turn. Frantically she looked up and down the corridor looking for somewhere to hide. All she could see was a medieval suit of armour and a gilded Egyptian chest. Without thinking Lily dived into the chest and closed the lid; leaving just enough of a gap to see out of.
The study door swung open and two men walked out. One was old, stooped and hunched over, holding onto a large ebony staff topped with a red-eyed cobra. Lily shivered; it seemed as though the serpent was looking right at her. The other figure was tall and dark-haired, dressed in an old-fashioned shirt and waistcoat; he looked like something out of a trashy regency romance.
Lily has to stifle a gasp as she saw blood; her Uncle's blood spattered up a snow-white sleeve. The younger man was tucking a pistol back into a shoulder holster and half-heartedly listening to his companion's ranting.
"You impetuous fool! The Master will be most annoyed that you killed the Keeper of the Amulet!" the old man gesticulated wildly with his sake staff; Lily half thought that it might decide to bite the younger man.
The younger man shrugged, "Well he didn't have the stupid carving anyway. Besides you promised me fun," he paused, sapphire blue eyes glittering, "I suppose we could grab the two girls. The Master likes them young and the blonde looks like a delicious handful." He cast a sly glance at his companion, "Makes me nostalgic for the old London…"
"Silence Jack! The Master did not bring you back so you could indulge in your unsavoury hobbies; now help me find the whelps. Our spies say they often helped the Keeper with his works."
Jack sighed with an air of being much put upon, "Yes Achmeni,"
As the old man hobbled away Jack picked up a black silk top hat, settled it on his head, pulled a black greatcoat off of the coat stand by the study door and strode off after his companion; whistling jauntily.
Lily crouched in the dark, stuffy chest, waiting for the killers to leave; her thoughts racing in a panicked mess, "oh my god what am I going to do?! They killed Uncle Henry! They want to do something awful to me and Bel. Oh my god, Bel! Where is she? A phone! There's a phone in the office I can call for help!"
Panting in fear Lily pushed up the lid of the chest wincing at the seemingly deafening creak of the old leather hinges.
When no black caped assassin came sweeping down the corridor like some angel of death Lily scurried across the hall to her Uncle's study. The scene inside was shocking, papers were strewn over the desk and floor, the green-shaded desk lamp had been knocked over and cast frighteningly distorted shadows across the walls. A packing crate lay on its side, straw spilling out onto the carpet.
Lily took a few steps into the room, hesitant to walk around the large desk; afraid of what she might see.
A sighing groan made up her mind for her. She hurried past the broken statues and debris, "Uncle Henry!" Lily gasped and dropped to her knees beside her beloved uncle. There were four large blood stains soaking through his shirt
"Lily…Lily listen…not much time…"
Lily took hold of one cold hand and held it to her cheek, "Ssh Uncle, don't talk, I'll get help. You'll be fine."
Uncle Henry, usually so hearty and full of life coughed weakly, "Lily, those men were after something…amulet in the crate…keep it from them…all costs…"
Lily nodded and searched through the straw until her questing fingers found a small statuette. She clutched it to her chest and crawled back to her uncle, tears streaming down her face."
"Lily…"
Lily leaned closer, "You'll be fine, I'll call an ambulance and the police and, and the army! You'll be fine and they'll get those…creatures." Lily picked up the receiver of the phone and pushed the nine on the keypad, nothing. No dial tone, no static. Lily yanked on the cable and the end came free; it had been cut. There was no way to call for help. Lily bit back a very unladylike curse.
"Lily…I need to tell you something. I love you like a daughter…your parents love you too…but please…please take care of Bel for me…"
Tears coursed down Lily's face, "Don't say anything Uncle Henry. You can tell her you love her tonight over dinner. W-we have p-pancakes just the way you like them!"
"Hug Bell for me Lily…promise me"
"I-I promise Uncle Henry."
"Don't…cry…" Uncle Henry smiled and closed his eyes. Lily clutched his hand and wept.
000
Once the initial shock had passes Lily wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her jumper. Leaving Uncle Henry behind she tiptoed to the door, "Well the coast seems clear." Lily crept to the end of the corridor. She began to move faster as she searched for her cousin.
Lily turned a corner and shrieked as she ran into something hard and unyielding. Lily found herself grabbed by unforgiving hands; she looked up in horror.
"What do we have here?" The one called Jack leered down at Lily who struggled to get loose. "Ah the little Dove flutters her wings in vain. You'll not get away from jack my sweet Wren, no one does."
He tightened his grip on her arms and bent to whisper in her ear, "We shall have fun while we wait for the Master, no?"
Lily flinched away from his insinuations, "No! Let me go you dirty bastard!"
Jack chuckled and backed Lily up against the wall, "I like it when they are feisty." He reached up to stroke Lily's wheat-gold hair away from her face. Lily trembled, frozen with fear. "Such pretty green eyes my Linnet has."
As Jack tipped back the brim of his top hat he smiled nastily, "Perhaps the Master will let me have your little cousin when he has finished with her. You would make a fine pair for Jack's pleasure."
Whether it was his unspeakable suggestion or the sight of her beloved uncle's blood Lily found she had control of her body again
"You sick bastard!" Lily did the only thing she could think of; she drove her kne up as hard as she could into Jack's crotch.
He grunted and his grip on Lily loosened enough for her to pull out of his grasp. Lily turned and ran as fast as she could, unconsciously drawn to the cellar storage area.
She stumbled down the stairs, unsure if the pounding in her ears was just her heartbeat or the footsteps of the killers. Lily made her way through the darkness, weaving through the dust sheet covered statuary, "Please let Bel be okay. Please let her be in the fields." Lily looked down at the tiny statuette, "How can something so small cause so much trouble?"
Suddenly the lights flickered on; Lily jumped and crouched behind a statue of the Ram-headed god Amun.
"Little girl," it was the old mummy man's voice, "I know you have what I want; it calls to me. I also have something that you want." Lily peeked around Amun's legs; the wizened old man was standing at the top of the stairs, one bony hand resting on Bel's shoulder. "Give me the Key and you may have your cousin back."
"L-lily? Are we playing Hide and Seek? The funny man in the silly hat says we are and that Papi's gone on a trip." Bel's lower lip stuck out in a pout, "Lily I don't wanna play; I wanna see Papi!"
lily risked another peek, Jack was now walking down the cellar steps, "My Swan, there is no point in hiding, we know where you are."
Lily began to creep away from the area by the stairs, towards the new arrivals which hadn't yet been unpacked.
"How am I going to do this? I don't have any key; for God's sake I'm just a kid!" she knelt between the paws of a sphinx as she heard Jack come ever closer to her hiding place, "Please someone help me!"
The Portal God statue she sheltered beneath heard her plea; sensing the offering Lily held he opened his mouth and roared; a brilliant white light flooded the room.
"Annabel!!" Lily yelled as the light engulfed her. The last thing that she saw was the black-caped Jack lunging toward her.
000
"Goddamit!" Bel looked up as Jack swore.
"Mr Jack that's a bad word! I'm gonna tell Lily!"
Jack looked down at Bel, "I apologise Little One." He took her hand and began to lead her back into the house, "But please do not tell your cousin, she is fearsome!"
Bel giggled, "Mr Jack you're silly. Is this part of the game? Are we going to wait for Lily at your house now?"
"For a while yes Little One."
Achmeni hobbled along behind; Lily's necklace clutched in one withered hand. Although the Master would be deeply upset that they had lost the key perhaps the gift of the mortal's treasures would be enough to temper his rage.
AN: Well there, that wasn't too bad now was it? ;)
In the next chapter we return to where we left poor Kiya, fleeing for her life through the backstreets of Ancient Thebes! What will happen to Lily? Why is Jack being nice to little Annabel? Who is the Master?? Stay tuned for answers to some of these questions!! As always reviews are love and reviewers will have a chicken dinner sacrificed to their good health! Go on review, you know you want to!!