Chapter Seven

Cecil stepped forward and pulled the German's collar back so he had a decent shot at his face. Throwing him aside, he walked over to where Tally stood, staring at the strange golden substance that had seeped from her throat onto her hand when she'd tried to staunch the bleeding. "You couldn't get killed even if you tried."

"Cece, I had everything going the way I wanted it to, and then you had to show up and now who knows what's next."

"You'll just go back, nothing new or unusual."

"That's it? Going back?" Tally turned away from Cecil, letting the substance leak from her wound to cover the rest of her body. "If I don't make it back to my body in time? What happens then?"

"I...uh...I don't know."

"So, what? You expect me to take it on a leap of faith? Goddamn, Cecil."

"Actually, I want you to find your body exactly where you left it."

"Put a lid on it and just let me go back, already."

"Okay, okay, you're free to leave, now."

"Thank you." Tally vanished in a whisp of golden light, leaving Cecil to stare at the spot where she stood.

"I guess now it's really over," Reginald said.

"It's not over till it's over."

Larry and Brunden found themselves at the threshold of the Egyptian wing, staring at the nine heads of a raging beast. Brunden looked around and gestured to one of the stone guards farther down the corridor. Larry nodded and they snuck farther into the corridor. "Excuse me, could we borrow this?" Larry asked the statue, who lent him his spear. He and Brunden got a solid hold on the weapon and took aim.

The hydra charged, causing them to respond likewise. They thrust the spear into the belly of the beast, and she roared, but she didn't collapse.

"One clean shot to the heart, right?" Brunden asked.

"Yeah."

"Where's the heart supposed to be?"

Larry paused a moment. "Dammit." The beast pulled free of the spear and charged again. "Okay, new plan. What time do you have?"

Brunden glanced at his watch. "Uh...five fifty."

"Okay, here's what we do."

Tally expected to find herself in some part of the Museum of Natural History, but instead, she found herself face to face with Anubis in what she assumed were his private chambers in the underworld. "Can't you just let me get back to my body before I lose it forever?"

"It is so rare to find a willing emmisary to the underworld. Perhaps you wouldn't mind...sticking around."

"I can't. I have to go back or somehow, some way, I'll die."

"You picked the right place to visit, then."

"I can't die here, not now."

"Why not?"

"You're the Keeper of Divine Justice, right?"

"Yes."

"That's why."

"Excuse me?"

"How're you supposed to judge me properly if you have feelings for me that cloud your judgement?"

Anubis sighed and whispered, "I guess you're right." He waved his hand and Tally vanished again. "Have fun up there."