Chapter 5: Off To England
"Safiya," Merenkahre led the way through his throne room, to where the golden Tablet named for his younger son was adorned, glowing in the sunlight that shone down. Safiya followed at a respectable distance, wondering why he had summoned her. "Since I met you in the markets of that small town, I have known you were destined for greatness," the Pharaoh explained with a smile, standing in front of the Tablet.
"Thank you, your highness," Safiya bowed low in response. "But I do not understand. I am a mere entertainer for your court," she commented, making him chuckle.
"You are far more than that, my dear. After all, you are soon to be family," the Pharaoh laughed lightly, not seeing her stiffen. He had made the announcement not that long ago that she was to marry his elder son Kahmunrah, and Safiya was still sick to her stomach at the thought. Merenkahre's smile faded. "But even that, had an ulterior motive," he explained, and Safiya's frown grew.
"My lord?" she tilted her head in her confusion.
"Part of the reason I have decided to pass my throne on to my younger son, is the same reason I have requested for you to marry my elder son," Merenkahre explained in a grave tone. "Kahmunrah is much too bloodthirsty a man to lead Egypt in a way for it to prosper. I hoped that his marriage to you will not only tame that cruelty, but allow you to ensure he does not bring harm to Ahkmenrah or anyone else in our lands," he explained.
"I...I see," Safiya nodded, guilt in her stomach. He was completely unaware of her true feelings for his sons. Her dire hatred for Kahmunrah, and her deep love for Ahkmenrah.
"That is why I have asked for you to join me here today. I have another request of you," when Safiya looked back up, emerging from her thoughts, she found the man holding the Tablet in his hands. "This Tablet, forged almost 20 years ago, was blessed by Khonsu, the God of the Moon, and Osiris, God of the Underworld," Merenkahre explained. "It needs a guardian, one who will be able to protect it for years to come," he told her.
"M-me?" Safiya stammered, overwhelmed by Merenkahre's words. "You wish for me to become the Guardian?" she asked, and he nodded.
"I do," he confirmed. Safiya swallowed, her heart slamming against her chest.
"My lord...with all due respect. I am but a simple commoner, I have no-"
"Safiya," Merenkahre laughed, raising a hand to stop her. He gave a gentle smile. "You are soon to become family. You are much more than your humble beginnings now. I have been searching for the Guardian that the wise Gods, Khonsu and Thoth alike, once told me about. Someone who could protect the Tablet, and as such, my family," he told her. Safiya didn't say a word, her dark eyes wide. "I know it is selfish of me to ask so much of you, my dear, but I believe you are the Guardian I have searched for. Please, help to protect my family," Merenkahre requested.
"I..." Safiya hesitated, looking up at the Pharaoh with wide eyes. Seeing his earnest expression, she sighed. "I will do it for you, my King," she bowed again.
"Thank you, my dear," the Pharaoh smiled gratefully, and held it. "Take it in your hands," he instructed, and Safiya did as he said. He held onto the other end, and began to chant, making her mind go blank.
"What have you done to her?" Larry demanded, taking another step closer.
"I have simply awakened her potential, which will allow me to utilise the full power of the Tablet," Kahmunrah explained as he began to press the buttons in the right order for the code. As soon as he pressed the last button, the Tablet began to glow and Beth sank to her knees. Al Capone stepped back, surprised.
"What...?" she gasped as her energy began to leave her.
"You didn't realise? To access my entire army from the Underworld, the Tablet will take the power of its Guardian," Kahmunrah's smirk grew. "If you survive, then you will become my queen. If you don't, then I am finally rid of you, little desert rat," he told her as the light began to fill the room. "Do you hear that humming sound? Do you you what that sound is?" Kahmunrah asked. Ivan raised a hand, and Kahmunrah rolled his eyes. "It's rhetorical," he told the former Tsar of Russia. Ivan lowered his hand. "That is the sound of the End," Kahmunrah declared, and began to chant. Beth looked up, her breathing in laboured pants, as she watched the Gate open. "Welcome to the new, extended reign of Kahmunrah, Fifth King of Egypt, and now, the world!" he declared, his victory claimed as Beth groaned, her world swimming.
The Gate to the Underworld opened, revealing a swirling portal of greys and blacks. Kahmunrah smirked as Larry watched helplessly. Black swirls began to gather, before taking the shape of humans with hawk heads as they emerged from the portal one by one, marching out and standing in formation. Al Capone, Ivan and Napoleon all ran off, making a break for it as Kahmunrah revelled in his victory. Beth was feeling slowly weaker, everything going blurry as tears ran down her face.
"Bet'anya...Bet'anya!" Beth blinked through the haze and looked up. A man crouched in front of her, seemingly unseen by everyone else. His eyes were a darker brown than hers. His hair was a strange green colour, cut neatly and slicked back out of his face, which was shaped in a worried expression. "Hold on Bet'anya, you can survive this my girl," he gave a small, worried smile as he reached out and put a hand to her face gently. "You're stronger than you believe. So just hold on. It won't be much longer," the stranger told her.
Opening her eyes, Beth struggled for a moment to remember where she was. Once her brain woke up, having taken a moment longer than the rest of her body, she let out a soft sigh and relaxed.
"You alright?" Larry asked, noticing her actions. Between them, Nick was fast asleep, despite the music blaring from his headphones.
"Yeah," Beth nodded with a weak smile. "Just...dreams," she shrugged. Larry nodded, aware of her dreams from before. As he returned to his book, Beth frowned and looked out the window of the plane. She recognised the man's voice. The stranger who had appeared to her in a haze, that she'd completely forgotten about until her memories had come back in her dream. There was something familiar about him, but she just couldn't place him. And just why had only she been able to see him when the Tablet was draining her strength?
Her eyes then widened slightly at the thought of the Tablet. Her connection to the Tablet, which had been reawakened by Kahmunrah to open the Gate to the Underworld. "Larry..." the man glanced up when Beth spoke in a quiet voice.
"What's up?" he asked, seeing her expression.
"I just had a thought. About why my powers went crazy the other night," Larry frowned, having been wondering the same thing. "Kahmunrah," his eyes widened at the mention of the power-hungry Pharaoh.
"What about him?" he asked, not understanding.
"Remember when he opened the Gate? What he did to me, with the Tablet?" Beth asked softly, her heart pounding against her chest.
"Yeah...I didn't really understand...something about connecting you to it? That's why opening the Gate drained..." Larry's eyes widened. "You think your life is connected to it?" he asked. Beth nodded.
"It would explain why my powers went crazy, just like the others. And since the corrosion started, I've had a bad headache that won't go away," Beth admitted, putting a hand to her head. She then met his gaze again. "Tell me it's a ridiculous theory," she almost pleaded with him. Larry stared at her, and sighed heavily.
"Honestly, I would, but...I can't consider anything impossible any more," Beth smiled a little at his admittance. "But it means that if the magic runs out..." her smile was gone as quick as it appeared. "Will you just lose your powers, or...?" he trailed off, leaving the question in the air.
"Or my life," Beth finished for him in a voice barely above a whisper.
Stepping out of the van and shutting the door before stretching, Beth yawned widely and looked around. The sky was grey and the temperature was even colder than New York had been, with the threat of rain constantly looming above. Larry and Nick had gone for a walk by the river before they headed to the museum, and Beth was keeping an eye on the van.
Her discussion with Larry on the plane still remained in her mind, about the Tablet and her connection to it. Not only was the magic at risk; the magic that brought her friends to life, but she was also in danger.
Beth stared at the ground. She'd come to England to help her friends. And now there was a risk that she wouldn't come back at all, if they failed. Her breath hitched at the thought, and her hands clenched into fists. She couldn't help but think of her family, who she'd only called briefly to say she was going to London for work. And of Marie, who was facing her father about her engagement.
"Excuse me, are you okay?" Beth jumped, looking up at the pretty young woman who was standing in front of her. Beth blinked, taking in her gentle smile, and blonde hair cut to her shoulders.
"I, uh," Beth struggled for a moment to think, before she managed a smile. "Sorry, yeah, I'm okay, just waiting for some friends to get back," she nodded.
"Right, you just seemed a little upset, I couldn't help but check," the blonde tucked her hair behind her ear. Beth's smile grew at the genuine concern from the woman.
"Thank you. I'm okay," Beth insisted. The woman's smile grew, and her green eyes seemed to sparkle in the dull sunlight.
"I'm glad," she said, before glancing around as someone called out. Two young men approached, both much taller than both women, and the taller smiled easily.
"Making friends? You know we're in a rush," he said, his blue eyes brighter than the sky.
"Sorry, just checking she was alright," she shrugged, and smiled at Beth again. "Glad you're okay. Bye," she waved, taking the hand of the blue eyed man.
"Bye," Beth smiled at her as they turned away. The third man watched her for a moment longer; his dark eyes meeting hers. Instead of unnerving her, as eye contact often did to the woman who, up until recently, wore sunglasses to hide her eyes, they were familiar and brought a warmth to her. He smiled at her, nodding his head, before he turned and walked after the other too. Beth tilted her head as she watched them leave. "Huh. Weird," she commented, before shivering as a cold wind blew past. "Stupid cold," she grumbled, returning to the van to get some heat as she pulled her grey hoody closer.
"Dad, what's the plan here anyway?" Nick asked as the three drove to the museum. The sun had almost completely set, and the street lights were flickering to life.
"When the Tablet brings Ahkmenrah to life, he's gonna sneak us in," Larry told them. "Now get down," he instructed.
"What?" Nick frowned, not understanding.
"Get down man, it's part of the plan," Larry told him again. Beth giggled as Nick rolled his eyes and slid down to hide by Beth's feet.
"Can't you move any?" he complained as Larry turned into the museum.
"It won't look very natural if I have my feet up," Beth grinned back at him.
"Enough guys, just keep quiet," Larry rolled his eyes at the pair's bickering. He slowed to a stop, rolling the window down as he reached the security booth, and the window was pushed open.
"Hello, welcome to the British Museum," a woman with curled blonde hair resting over her shoulder smiled. "My name's Tilly," she introduced.
"Hi, thank you, I'm Larry Daley from Natural History, New York. This is Beth Agriosa," Larry returned the greeting. Beth raised a hand and smiled. "We got a delivery for your conservation department," he handed over the paperwork.
"Alright!" Tilly drawled, looking over it. "So they...they let you travel?" she asked, curious.
"Well, this is kinda unusual-"
"They let me travel, do you know where?" Tilly interrupted.
"No?" Larry frowned.
"Home...here...home...back here...off to the toot-toot, five minutes maximum," Tilly shrugged. Beth blinked, not quite sure how to react. Larry gave an awkward laugh. "It must be well wicked, being a security guard in America, with your gun, with a silencer, with your ninja swords," this continued as Larry tried to correct her, before she revealed a hammer and continued with her bizarre conversation. Nick, sitting by Beth's feet still, looked totally baffled as Beth struggled not to laugh.
"Is it uh...cool if I just make my drop?" Larry asked, finally steering the conversation.
"Oh, yeah," Tilly nodded.
"Wonderful-"
"But I will have to confirm," she told him. Larry swallowed.
"Oh, that's not necessary, cause they already confirmed it on the slip," Tilly turned away, seeming to ignore Larry's words.
"Yeah, alright, confirming," Tilly started dialling the number on the slip. Beth shrugged as Larry turned to her with a pleading look, hoping for her to be able to do something.
'Hello?' they head McPhee answer on the other side. 'This is Doctor McPhee,' he spoke.
"Oh, yeah, this is the British Museum sir, just calling to confirm a delivery for our conservation department," Tilly told him.
'Yes, I signed the paperwork,' McPhee answered in his usual crabby voice. 'Now if you'll excuse me, I have a museum to run. You, boy, get those grubby fingers off my Ming Vase,' he scolded in a poor attempt to pretend he was still in the museum. Beth giggled, and Larry nudged her. 'See? Bye,' there was a click as he hung up.
"Oh..." Tilly blinked in surprise.
"Good?" Larry feigned innocence.
"Alright, you is legit," Tilly nodded, handing back the paperwork.
"I is legit," Larry agreed. "Wonderful."
"Confirmed it," Tilly smiled. Beth sighed in relief. So far, so good.
Tilly continued to chatter as Larry and Beth moved the crate into the store room, talking about her hair and her boyfriend. Larry looked defeated as Beth couldn't help but laugh, and once she'd secured the crate, Tilly stepped out to see the van starting.
"Bye Larry, bye Beth!" she waved. Beth leaned out the window and grinned at her, and Nick started to drive out.
"She's funny," Beth decided as they drove out.
"She's weird," Nick told her. Beth shrugged.
"Just because you've lost your sense of humour," Nick rolled his eyes at her comment, and shot her a glare.
"I haven't lost my sense of humour," he argued, parking the van a street across. "I just grew up, unlike you," Nick told her, unbuckling himself and opening the door. Beth sighed, shaking her head.
"You never wanna do that. It sucks the fun outta everything," Beth did the same and stepped out. "Come on Nicky, try to enjoy yourself tonight, you never know what'll happen," Beth smiled as she patted his shoulder, leading him back to the museum. Nick rolled his eyes and sighed at her carefree attitude, unaware of her worry.
The sun was almost completely set, and when they got back, they found Tilly fast asleep in her security booth. Larry emerged from his hiding place and ran over to the gates, only to find them locked. "Well, that's not good," Beth commented as Larry studied the lock.
"How do we get in?" Nick asked, touching the bars of the gate.
"Uh...we could get the guard's keys..." Larry glanced around, and Beth sighed.
"Way too risky, and she could get in trouble," she shook her head, before smiling. "I have an idea," Beth told them, and Nick looked at her, just as her eyes turned silver. He gulped, backing away.
"No, no way," he stumbled, before Beth caught his arm. With a laugh, she pushed them into the air, and Nick yelped.
"Shush, you'll wake Tilly," Beth laughed quietly as they moved over the gate, and landed beside Larry as Nick clung to her. As soon as they landed, Nick pulled away from the young woman, glaring at her. "Problem solved," she grinned as her watch beeped. Golden light shone from the window, and they hurried over.
"I'm not an expert," Nick started as Larry knocked on the door. "But this is feeling just really illegal," he told the pair.
"What? Oh, they have a totally different legal system over here," Larry lied, and Beth giggled as Nick rolled his eyes. The door opened as Ahkmenrah unlocked it, and they slipped inside unnoticed.
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