As the group arrived at the dig sight, Jonathan got off his horse and approached the door. "Jonathan, wait for us." Evie said, dismounting hers as well. "I know, I know. Not like I can open it with my bare hands." Jonathan said. Evelyn walked up to the door that was now fully exposed, but still sealed tight.
"Get my tool bag. I need to decipher these hieroglyphs." She looked at Jonathan. He nodded, and grabbed her bag handing it to her. Rick watched her doing, then led Alex over to one of the tents set up for the diggers and them. "Hey, I want you to promise me something." He said, looking Alex in the eyes.
"What is it dad?" Alex asked. "I need you to listen to us. We do not know if it is safe or not. So, the moment we say we must leave, or do not touch something. Listen. Okay? You and your mother are my world. And I do not want either of you hurt." Rick said, still feeling uneasy. He had an odd feeling something was going to happen.
"Yes dad. I understand, I will do as I am told." Alex said. He could tell his father was genuinely worried. "May i ask. If you are so scared. Why even come here?" He asked. Rick sighed. "I ain't scared. As for why I came. Your uncle. He was going to come here on his own. But when your mother heard, she insisted coming as well. To make sure he stays safe. She seems to feel his contact. May not be trustworthy." Rick explained.
"She don't trust the Sam guy. Me neither. Why keep hidden all the time, and never take credit for the findings he is responsible for?" Alex asked in a matter of fact tone. "Heh, you truly are your mother's son. That is exactly what she said." Rick smirked, rubbing Alex's head.
Rick went back with Alex, to see what Evelyn had discovered. "So, what does the door say?" He asked, kneeling down by her. "May the Flower of the desert find eternal peace. And may the snake who crushed her, never find rest." Evelyn read, tracing her fingers over the hieroglyphs.
"What exactly does that mean?" Rick looks at her. "The Flower of the Desert. The princess who was killed." Jonathan spoke up. Rick and Evelyn looked at him. "Old legend. No proof of her existence. But some say she may have been on of King Seti the first's children. Story claimed she was killed by a slave practicing dark magic. Her body was lost to time though." Jonathan explained.
"How do you know this?" Evelyn asked. "Ah, heard the story once in a bar. Among some old timers who used to look for treasures." Jonathan shrugged. Rick raised an eyebrow, then looked at Evelyn. "Any warnings or curses?" Evelyn shook her head no. "Nothing on the door warning us to not enter. Just condemnation of the snake." She said, pulling out a small hammer and chisel.
"Seriously, Evelyn...?" Rick asked. Evelyn sighed, and let him grab his larger tools. The door came down relatively easy. As the dust settled, the four looked into the entryway. It was dark, and a staircase leading down. "Well, ladies first." Jonathan looked at Evelyn. "Jonathan!" Rick glared. "I was kidding! Give me a torch." Jonathan laughed nervously, reaching for a torch to light up the staircase.
"He wasn't joking." Evelyn sighed, following her brother once he began heading down with the torch. "Yeah, i know." Rick sighed, following. "Alex, stay here. We will check the first level to make sure it is safe, okay?" Rick asked. "Okay dad." Alex nodded, watching them head down.
The stairs led down to a large chamber. Looking around, Jonathan used the torch he had to light several other torches on the walls. The chamber lit up, making it easier to see. The room was large, and musty. The wall to the left had a mural of what appeared to be the mummification process. And in the center of the room a altar like table.
"Ah, a preparation room." Rick sighed. Jonathan walked up to the table, tracing a hand over the stone. The stone appeared to have once been white. But centuries of dust had darken it greatly. But even odder. The top and sides had dark brown stains running down.
"Blood?" He wondered aloud. Having never seen that much on a preparation table before. His hand then felt something, and his eyes scanned to it. Chains. What was left of some form of chains on the table. Two at the bottom for feet. And two near the center for hands.