"In all of my years on this earth, under the tutelage of my father and many learned men through history, I never thought I would witness the power of God firsthand," Carlisle said.

"Technically, you are witnessing it third hand Carlisle," Emmett replied. "Even Bella isn't witnessing it firsthand."

"Alice, can you see if Bella is successful in what she's trying to do?" Esme asked.

Alice shook her head. "No. It's like with the return of her past, the little I used to see of her is now gone. Either blocked because of her link to something far older than any of us know, or because she is something entirely different from us."

"It's a little of both, I believe," Amun said. "Like I said before, my mother is pure life. Touched and marked by death, but her soul remains as alive as any innocent being. A blessing from Aset."

Amun's attention, which had shifted to them went back to the mirror. They watched as Daniels got impatient and left Henderson to fend for himself. "These gifts she blessed mother with. The ability to see the past. Bestow blessings on those she sees potential in. And fight as fiercely as any mother would for her child and more. To stay loyal, even through all of the heartbreak my father put her through. It is all her direct touch. The goddess's direct influence on all our lives. Just more so with mother."

~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~

Irisi watched Henderson play with his gun. Unholstering it and spinning it about before holstering it. Her anger had dulled to annoyance. Mostly because she knew these men knew nothing about anything concerning her culture. Yes, they had learned about what the canopic jars represented and held, but they still had no respect. Because they were more than 2,000 years removed from when it was common practice to use them.

The howling of the wind startled him. Rightfully so. Because not a moment after he had holstered his redrawn weapon, Imhotep had him and drained him of any life he had in his body. When he solidified, barring a few decaying holes in his features, Irisi beheld the face of the man she loved for the first time in millennia. She felt tears fall and a sad smile form on her lips. A scarab crawled from the hole in his neck to the one in his cheek.

"Well, that's just gross irony for you," she heard Emmett say. She chuckled at his statement and continued to watch. Imhotep entered Evy's room through the keyhole and approached the yet unaware and sleeping princess. He leaned over her and whispered the name of his lover. The simple word tore through Irisi, but she still watched.

Imhotep kissed Evy, waking her as his decay returned. The door was kicked open and Rick entered with her brother.

"Hey! Get your ugly face off of her!" he exclaimed. Imhotep, in his frustration at being interrupted said something not suitable for studio audiences in Ancient Egyptian. "Look what I got!" Rick held up the white cat that had been making the hotel her home. She hissed at Imhotep, who heeded the pull of the feline's influence with the underworld, and left in a dust devil.

Once things had settled, and both Rick and Jonathan had made sure Evy was okay, they headed directly to the museum.

"According to legend, the black book the Americans found at Hamunaptra, is supposed to bring people back from the dead. Until now, it was a notion I was unwilling to believe," Evy said.

"Believe it, sister. That's what brought our buddy back to life," Rick replied with sarcasm.

"Yes. And I'm thinking that if the black book can bring dead people to life, then-"

"Then maybe the gold book can kill him," he finished for her, following her chain of logic.

"That's the myth. Now, we just have to find out where the gold book is hidden."

They were distracted on the landing by the sound of chanting. All of the party made it to the window to see none other than a mob formed around Imhotep as they approached the museum entrance. Every chanting member of the mob had horrible pustules and sores all over their bodies.

"Last but not least, my favorite plague, boils and sores," Jonathan said in exhausted frustration.

"They have become his slaves," the Medjai said. "So, it has begun, the beginning of the end."

"Not quite yet, it hasn't. Come on." With this simple statement and command, Irisi saw a glimmer of her princess within the young woman. Determined and enduring are two words she would always associate with Nefertiti.

AS they found the tablet they were looking for and began to read, they heard Imhotep order his thralls to bring them their prey. Irisi knew time was not on their side and prayed to the great mother that this would work.

"Princess, hear me," she said to Evy with as much conviction as she could. "You are close. But the information is farther up. Look up, Princess!"

Irisi breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed the princess caught a phrase farther up and to the left of where she was reading. She followed it and beamed at what she had found.

"According to Bembridge scholars, the golden book of Amun-Ra is located inside the statue of Anubis," she began to her fellows.

"That's where we found the black book," Daniels insisted.

"Exactly!"

"Looks like the old boys at Bembridge were mistaken," Jonathan observed.

"Yes. They mixed the books up. Mixed up where they were buried. So, if the black book was inside the statue of Anubis, then the golden book must be inside-" she trailed off as she continued to read as fast as she was able.

The doors of the museum burst open with the weight of the mob. "Come on, Evy. Faster,"

"Patience is a virtue," she sang to her brother.

"Not right now it isn't!" Rick retorted.

"Uh…I think I'll go and get the car started," Jonathan said nervously as he ran out.

"Coward," Irisi heard on the other side of the mirror.

"No. That one is clever," she whispered to her audience in the throne room.

"I've got it. The golden book of Amun-Ra is at Hamunaptra inside the statue of Horus. Take that Bembridge scholars!" Evy exhaulted. They ran to catch up to Jonathan, but Irisi stayed at the window. She watched as it would seem he would be taken over by the mob, but in a stroke of pure genius, he began to chant Imhotep's name is an exaggerated mindless voice. The mob followed and soon passed him.

"See. Told you."

"I can't believe that worked," Jane said.

He got the car started just as the others were rounding the corner to him, Daniels in the lead. "Get this thing in gear, boy. Let's get out of here."

The unhappy last of the party who found the cursed chest was most anxious to get as far away from the undead in the museum as it was possible to be. Not that Irisi could blame him.

Beni yelled for his master as he saw from the door that they were getting away. Imhotep joined Irisi at the window and roared his frustration.

"Can you hear me, my love?" she asked him. "Can you feel my agony? The pain of separation. Betrayal. The weight of time."

Imhotep did feel the emotions but did not completely hear the voice. He was convinced it was Anck Su Namun, though he couldn't figure out why she would feel betrayed. Surely he had done nothing in his life to make her think that he had betrayed her. Perhaps it was how long she had to have waited. All those centuries in the underworld, waiting for him to keep his promise.

Irisi faded with the spell as Imhotep left to seek his prey. The jump wasn't so large. May have only been 5 minutes from when they left the tablet in the museum to where everyone was cornered by the mob and Imhotep was emerging from it. Whole and with the curse fulfilled. Beni was translating into English for those that didn't speak the language.

"Come with me, my princess. It is time to make you mine, forever," he incorrectly relayed.

"For all eternity, idiot," Evy said. Imhotep spoke again, and again, it was translated.

"Take my hand, and I will spare your friends." Rick scoffed, ready to fight.

"Oh, dear. Have you got any bright ideas?" Evy asked.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking."

"You better think of something fast, because if he turns me into a mummy, you're the first one I'm coming after," she states looking right at him. Rick jerks his attention to her just as she makes her way towards Imhotep.

"No," he says in disbelief.

"Don't," she says as she is pulled into the mummy's side.

"No!" Ricks arm was restrained by Ardeth.

"He still has to take me to Hamunaptra to perform the ritual," Evy explains.

"She's right," Ardeth pushes. "Live today, fight tomorrow."

Rick holsters his gun and looks at Evy in hopelessness before looking at Imhotep challengingly. "I'll be seeing you again."

Imhotep smirks and guides Evy away from her group. Then he shouted the words he had promised would spell doom to her brother and friends. She fought to get back to them, but his grip was punishing and unforgiving.

~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~

It was day now. Irisi found herself in a familiar and comforting scene. The desert when the sun is high. She breathed in the untamed merciless dry heat and smiled a true smile. She was home. That was until the hum of an airplane broke her tranquility. She turned to see that it was following a small sand tornado. That said tornado then spat out two people left no room for doubt as to what or who it might be. Turning about, Irisi then had the explanation as to why this area felt so much like home. Because they were right outside Hamunapra's walls.

Evy exclaimed at being returned to a city that she was slowly beginning to hate. Then all three of them looked up as they heard the plane above them. Evy's spirits were boosted. Imhotep was annoyed. He decided to channel that annoyance into an overly dramatic display of his power. Creating a sand storm then swallowing the plane.

"Not to encourage your evilness," Evy thought to herself, "but all you had to do was conjure the storm and walk away. Anck Su Namun has made you cocky."

Irisi got jealous when she saw the princess kissing Imhotep. Irrationally given the circumstances, but still, feelings don't just disappear.

~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the throne room, Amun could tell something big was coming. If this were a movie, this is where the big climactic scenes were due to start. Ones that would piece together the whole story and give a possible ending. If that were the case, however, then this story would be way too easy. Trials are never usually so cut and dry.

"Do you think it is almost over?" Alice asked.

"No, Darlin'" Jasper answered. "I think this whole adventure is just really kickin' into gear. Think. When has Bella ever been that easy in her adventures. There are even surprises enough for me."

Amun nodded. "I think you are right, young Major. And the goddess's tests aren't meant to be easy. Though I think mother learned the lesson of this teaching long ago, I think it's more to get it through my father's thick head, more than anything."

"What's that? Value what you have in front of you?" Caius posited. Amun shook his head in the negative.

"No. His lesson would be to always be careful of what you ingest. You never know what anyone could slip you. Just because you are immune to poisons, doesn't mean you are immune to everything," he replied.

"Harsh lesson for something so small. What of Bella? What was her lesson?" Carlisle asked.

"To remain true. Though you may be betrayed over and over. Though you may cut others and bleed. You must remain true to yourself. I don't know about her other lives, but in this one, considering she found herself a mortal amongst all manner of vampires. I would say she has succeeded in learning her lesson. Wouldn't you?"

A/N 2023: I'm sorry it took so long guys! Life has been very lifey the last year and a half or so. Got married. Got a promotion. and a stepdaughter who demands attention on weekends I don't work OT. So cute. XD Hope every one has been doing well and keeping safe. ~Angel