Episode Seventy-One
"Curiosity and the Cat"
Ally paces in the small unlit corner of the Leaky Cauldron. "We need a distraction. A really big distraction."
Naomi is peering around the large barrel towards the main room and decidedly not paying attention to the Ally ramble. "What's that in the fireplace?"
"Something that would clear the room would probably be best," Ally muses in continuation.
"It looks almost familiar," Naomi frowns thoughtfully.
"That way we could sneak over to that pail of powder and be unobserved," Ally peeks around the corner behind Naomi to look at said pail of Floo Powder.
Naomi continues to look at the shape emerging in the fire in the Fireplace. "It looks like a bird."
"And then we could Floo!" Ally cries somewhat triumphantly.
"Why would a bird be in the fire?" Naomi turns to look at Ally.
Ally looks back. "You aren't even paying attention to me are you?"
"Are you saying anything important yet?" Naomi asks kindly.
"Not really," Ally admits. "Just rehashing."
Naomi nods in understanding, and then her attention is caught by a flash of gold light above them. "Hello, What does that do?"
Ally looks up where she is pointing. "Not sure," She replies. "Let's find out!"
"Curiosity, Ally!" Naomi warns as Ally begins climbing her way up.
"Oh come now, what's the worst that could happen?" Ally waves her off. Naomi watches as Ally Cat continues to ascend towards the golden object. Naomi begins to feel she may be safer inside the barrel.
Meanwhile, in the Desert
Ashlee releases her hair from its tie and begins to redo it as she comes to stand next to Reese and Taylor. "Why are we stopping?
"We're here," Taylor says, looking straight ahead.
Ashlee frowns as she looks around at the dunes. "I don't see anything." Taylor looks over at her and smirks. He flings his hand out and the Dune before them explodes in a cloud of sand, which curls outwards and reveals the buried Temple of Ma'at and Thoth.
Ashlee shakes the sand off of her body. "Oh, well, now I do."
Reese shakes his head. "You enjoy that far too much."
"What?" Taylor looks back at Reese. "Would you rather have dug for it?"
Reese rolls his eyes. "Just open the door."
But Taylor pauses, looking up at the hieroglyphs above the doorway. "What is it?" Ashlee asks, following his gaze. "What does it say? There isn't a curse is there?"
Taylor doesn't respond right away. "Just reading," He says finally. "No curse."
Ashlee looks at him rather skeptically. "I'm not sure I believe you."
"Happy thoughts, Ashlee," Reese encourages as Taylor wills the door open. "Happy Thoughts."
Ashlee sticks her tongue out at the boy and follows Taylor into the Temple. Only the light from the doorway provides illumination and even that isn't very much.
"It's dark," Ashlee says. Then the door shuts behind them. "Now it's darker. Taylor?"
There is a flash of light then a glow fills the room. Ashlee turns to see Taylor standing with a ball of fire glowing in his hand.
There is a clicking sound. The three turn back towards the door to find a man standing there with a gun in his hands.
"Don't move!" Ashlee arches her eyebrow and shares a look with Reese as Taylor continues to hold his conjured fire. Was this man for real?
To Be Continued...
