Hey, sorry it took so long to put this up school is just about killing me. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I hope that eventually, this story will live up to your expectations! After the semester is over, I'll most likely update every week. Oh, I don't own any characters that arent mine. Go figure.

Donkor stared at his young charge. "What did you just say?" he asked archly. Surely not. There was no way.

"How did the lady in the kitchen float up to get that jar of brown stuff?" Tem asked innocently, eyes wide and clear as he looked up at his rescuer. "She was flying!"

The Egyptian groaned to himself, coving his eyes as he tried clearing his thoughts. The boy knew nothing of magic. "You've never seen anyone levitate themselves before?" he asked vaguely. He needed to stall, give himself more time to figure out how he was going to handle this totally foreign situation.

Nefertem shook his head, his shaggy black hair falling into his eyes. "I've never seen anyone do that. If Aunt Petunia couldn't reach, she just left it alone."

"Ah. I see." That was right. He'd almost forgotten that he'd lived with muggles all his short life. Donkor's hope that if he remained silent long enough the boy would forget his question turned to sand before his gaze as bright emerald eyes stared up at him trustingly. He could never ignore eyes like that…his two godsons proved that to him long ago. "Sir?" The man winced. Nope, there was no way he could wait till they got home to let someone else handle this.

"Nefertem…what did I tell you about how you were to address me?" he asked gently. His lips twitched when he saw the small face scrunch up in serious thought.

"Call you by your name?"

"And what is my name?"

"Donkor!" the boy said proudly.

Donkor gave him an impressed grin, patting his head. It was amazing how a week at sea had the boy blossoming before his eyes. He'd decided that it would be best to let the boy get used to his new place in life gradually, and had chartered one of Pharaohs ships for the voyage home. He'd told the boy he could ask him anything, and explore anywhere on the ship, hoping that it would put him more at ease once the initial elation of having a name wore off. He'd been a little too right. "Come, Nefertem. Let's go for a walk and I'll explain."

Nodding, Tem grabbed his hand and let himself be led up on deck. They sat down on one of the wood-framed benches, the older man helping the younger as he climbed gracelessly up to sit next to him. Donkor had yet to figure out how he was going to get the child to stop clinging to him. By his words and his law, he was not allowed to be a father to the child, despite the bond connecting them. He would think more on it later. "Tem…do you know anything of…magic?"

The boy winced. "Magic doesn't exist," he said firmly.

"Who told you that?"

"My uncle and aunt."

Donkor frowned, turning his face away so the boy wouldn't think he was upset with him. Stupid muggles. "Your relatives were wrong, Tem. Magic does exist. That was how the cook was floating. She used a simple levitation spell so that she could reach the spices."

Eyes wide and disbelieving, Tem opened and closed his mouth numerous times in shock. "Really!" he finally squeaked out.

"Yes, small one."

"Can you do magic too?"

"Yes. So can you."

The child shook his head. "No I can't. I can't do anything."

Donkor placed a hand on his head and let it rest there. "In time, you'll be more powerful than I, Nefertem. I'm sure of it." He blinked when it looked like the child was going to cry. What had he said? He hadn't even looked at him funny, and he was ready to break down into tears. What was going on? This was why he had no children of his own. "Tem? What's wrong?"

The boy shook his head. "Nothing."

"Have…have I said something to upset you?"

"No."

Donkor was utterly lost. "I'm sorry?" he tried as a last resort.

Tem giggled a little. "I'm glad you like me so much," he told him with a small grin. "No one's ever liked me before."

The admission twisted the man's heart painfully. Such a sad child this was, with so much hope for the future nestled within his pure heart. "I like you very much, Nefertem. I'm sorry for upsetting you."

"It's ok. I'm not really sad." He paused, thinking. He couldn't figure out how to say what he was feeling, so he just smiled up at his mentor.

Donkor sighed in relief. Crisis averted. He'd have to ask someone what he'd done later, to make sure he didn't do it again. He didn't know what he would do if the boy had broken down into full-blown sobs. "How are you feeling?" he asked after a time; just making sure they were both really ok.

"Hungry."

He grinned down at the bashful face of his charge. "Let's go back down to the kitchens then, and I'm sure the cook will be more than willing to find you something to nibble on."

"Will she do magic again?" Tem asked hopefully, green eyes wide in undisguised excitement.

The man stood and helped the boy down. "I'm sure we can figure something out," he said lightly. He'd make sure of it. Even if he had to bribe her with a free dishwasher for the next few days, he'd make sure the boy saw some more magic.

"Donkor!"

The two stopped in their tracks, looking at the young guard trotting towards them. Tem backed away and hid behind Donkor's legs while his temporary guardian raised a hand in acknowledgement. "Yes, what is it?" he asked his friend and comrade in arms.

"Sir, the captain requests your immediate presence in his quarters," the younger man gasped out. He'd obviously run most of the way.

Donkor patted the man on the shoulder. "Thank you. I'll go straightaway." He looked down into Tem's curious eyes. "Nefertem, I'll be but a moment. You can go ahead down to the kitchens if you want…" he trailed off at the frightened look he was given in return. "Or you can wait right here. I'll be but a moment, I'm sure." He patted the fluffy black hair, soothing the terror away. "Lateef, do you have the time to stay with him while I see to this?"

The guard puffed out his chest and straightened his back in pride. "Of course, Sir. It will be my honor."

Donkor nodded to him and with one final pat upon Tem's head, left to find the captain. As it was, the Captain had apparently lost patience with him and had come searching for him himself. "Lord Donkor."

"Captain. You needed something of me?"

The large, darkly tanned man shook his head, drawing them both to the opposite side of the ship. "Take a look at that, Lord." He pointed directly ahead of them, right along their course.

Squinting his eyes against the last rays of the setting sun, Donkor looked out at the sea. An island that he was sure hadn't been there yesterday was looming just out of easy sight, green and lush to his shocked eyes. "What on earth his that?" he asked.

The captain shook his head. "I don't know. It wasn't there this morning…it wasn't there half an hour ago! I've looked through all my charts, all my maps, and that island does not exist."

"Then what is it doing there?" Donkor asked. Why did the speck of land look like it was…glowing?

"I have a guess," the older man said in a tired voice. It was clear that he didn't want to say anything more on the subject.

"Yes?" Donkor prompted.

With a grunt and a sigh, the captain gave in. "I think it might be The Blessed Isle."

Donkor let out a snort through his nose. "Punt Island?" he asked. "Surely not, Captain. One muggle's account of being shipwrecked and abandoned on some unknown island doesn't instantly mean that it exists. That story was told thousands of years ago."

"I know, I know. I've tried thinking of something else, but nothing else fits. Some have tried studying the mysterious place, and say that it appears once every year. The position varies, but it's all I can find on the subject."

Donkor looked at the island again. "The Isle of the Serpents…Wouldn't it be amazing if it were true?"

The captain's response was swallowed by the sudden boom of thunder, the ship rocking dangerously as waves assaulted its sides. They grabbed the railing and held on as water rushed up and over the deck. They both turned at the high pitched scream from behind them. Donkor's heart restricted. "TEM!" he shouted over the storm, making his way on unsteady feet to where he had left the boy only minutes ago. He grabbed the nearest guards shoulders and turned him around to face him. "Where is Nefertem?"

The group looked down at the black water.

"Why hasn't anyone gone in after him?" he shouted, enraged. He quickly started stripping off his clothing, making sure to take off anything that would weigh him down. He had to find him; he had to get him back. He couldn't loose the boy; he had not saved him to send him to an early grave!

Several of his guards grabbed his arms and shoulders, holding him back. "Lateef jumped in after him when he didn't surface. Neither of them has surfaced. You can't go, the undertow with kill you too."

"NEFERTEM!" Donkor shouted, struggling in vain as those around him refused to let him go. "NEFERTEM!"

"Captain, look!" one of the sailors shouted, pointing. All on deck turned to stare at what had been an island seconds before. They watched as it melted away into large waves, the towering water caving in on itself as it vanished. And then the sea was calm once more.

They waited for the sea to give back the two she had taken.

She refused.