Anna

"I don't care if he is the head of the dig! I found it! It's mine! I wasn't even there with him anyways. HEY! Hello? Aww. He hung up again!"

"Any luck there?"

It was 1953. Jonathon, Evie, Rick, and Alex were all twenty years older, and living quite happily. Alex had been married nine years to Anna, Ardeth Bay's daughter. (That's another story) They have an eight year old daughter named Kerena. Jonathon never settled down with a right woman, and Rick and Evie... well some things just never change.

On this particular Sunday afternoon, Rick was sitting on their sofa reading the Times, while Jonathon spent his time sitting at the kitchen bar, complaining on the phone about some ring he found.

"Oh yes, tons can't you tell?"

"Why don't you forget about this stupid ring?"

"Stupid ring? I have you know that this ring is very valuable."

"How so?"

Jonathon stared into space for a moment thinking of an answer. "You know.. I have no idea." He shrugged and climbed off the kitchen barstool.

Rick went back to his newspaper. "My point exactly," He said fixing his glasses.

Anna walked into the livingroom from the hallway leading hto the den. She had long black hair, that she never put up. One tatoo of a sun had been placed on her forhead to show her heritage. "Um I think I have some bad news."

Rick took off his glasses and watched Anna waiting for an answer. The two of them never really became close, although, both show high respect for the other one. "What is it, Anna. Go on."

"Kerena has run off again."

Rick put down his paper, sighed a long annoying sigh, and stood up.

"I didn't want to disturb you, sir. I know Sunday afternoon is your peace and quiet time."

"Oh it's fine. Don't worry."

"You're the only one who knows where she goes. Can you please get her home for me?"

"Sure. No problem."

"Thankyou so much." Anna turned around and headed down the hallway to the den, where she, Evie, and Alex have been reading their Egyptian books, and talking about the ancient pharos. Rick always prefered to stay out of it. He was afraid of too much knowledge. Jonathon never stayed in one place. He always came in and out as he pleased.

Rick followed her down the hall way. There in the den was what he expected. Three out of the four sofa-chairs were occupied. Evie was sitting by the window in the left hand corner. Alex prefered the right hand corner, and Anna was in the process of taking her usual chair by Evie on the other side of the window. Rick walked up to Evie's chair. I'm headed outside." He kissed her on the lips quickly.

"Don't be too long."

"I won't. I'll be right back." He kissed her again. He then turned to Anna and nodded his head.

"Thankyou again."

Rick smiled. "I know exactly where she is. You don't need to worry about her. She is perfectly fine."

Jonathon walked into the room. "Anna. You have a phone call."

"Oh, who is it?" She asked eagerly. She rarely received calls. Jonathon shrugged his shoulders. She got up quickly and trotted down the hall. Rick and Evie exchanged quizical glances.

Rick kissed her again, and stood up following the same path Anna did, but instead of the phone, he was heading to the front door. Jonathon slipped out right after him. Evie smiled knowing what a wonderful relationship her husband and their grandaughter had. She looked up at Alex who was consummed in a book about ancient water ducts. He hadn't a single clue to what was going on around him, but Evie noticed something more. He wasn't reading. His eyes were just glued to the page without moving. Whatever it was he was thinking about, sure wasn't making him happy. "Alex..?" She said softly. He shook himself out of his daydream.

"Yeh?"

To Evie, he sounded exaughsted. Not only physically, but mentally. "You okay back there?"

"Yes mom, I'm perfectly fine, must you treat me like a little kid? I hate it when you do that!" He couldn't think of what else to say. He didn't think his mom was being overprotective but it was the first thing that came in his mind

"Sorry. You just looked a bit upset." She knew her son didn't mean what he said. She knew something was bothering him.

"I'm fine." He dropped his book down on the little table beside him and walked sternly down the hall.

Evie was now alone in the room. She listenned to the silence for a few moments, trying to bear it, but then decided that she didn't want to be there. In fact, she never like being by herself anymore. Somebody has to be with her at all time. She never realized this, but her family sure did. But now she was stuck in her chair. She was afraid to get up. Her heart starting to race, pulsating throughout her body. Her breaths became shorter and faster. Beads of sweat were dripping down her face as she gripped the sofa-chair's arms. Okay Evie breathe. She thought to herself. But herself didn't listenned. The sweat beads were soon joined by tears. "Rii--" was all she could get out of her mouth. It came out in a squeak. "Jo--" Another sqeak. Her head started to get light and her body, heavy. Okay Evie, calm down. Why are you being like this? Herself started to listen. Her breaths became longer and her grip loosenned. She could now control everything. Her relaxation methods were slowly taking over.

"Look who I found!" Rick walked into the room holding Kerena's hand high above her head, watching her laugh. He stopped his smiling, when he saw the expression on Evie's face. It was one of trying to smile, but can't. It was panic. He stooped down to the girl. "Keray? Can you go find your mom or dad?"

"Sure thing." She kissed him on the cheek. And pranced down the hall.

Rick stood up and walked to Evie. He stooped down once again, this time, to Evy's level. He put his hands over top of hers. "Sweetheart, what happenned?" He said sympathetically.

Evie swallowed her tears. "I don't know." She sighed. She realized how pathetic she must have been looking so she made herself snap back into reality. "Oh it's nothing, Rick. It happens all the time, really."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure."

"Alrighty then." He knew not to argue with her. He also knew that he was going to have a little talk with whoever it was who left her alone. Once he found out who it was this time. She stood up, as did he.

"Come on. I want to know who Anna, has been talkin to this whole time." They walked out down the hall arm in arm. they came into the lobby where, the kitchen bar was on one side, and the livingroom was on the other. The floor was all oak wood, and the walls were white. The part of the walls, visible anyway. Most was covered in paintings, and bookshelves, and old artifacts. Anna was sitting at the bar talking on the phone. Jonathon and Alex were reading the paper on the couch, while Kerena was dancing around in the lobby.

Anna noticed the couple walk in. "Hold on just a moment. They are right here let me ask them." She spoke into the receiver joyfully. "Evie, Rick, Can I ask you a favor?" A nervous tint was in her voice. She hated asking people for favors. It seemed like a subtle form of mooching to her.

"Of course Anna, anything." Evie assured her nervousness.

"My very good friend from Egypt is on the phone. I have not spoken to her for many years. Is there anyway she can come up for a visit, and stay with us for a short time?"

"Anna, How many times do we have to tell you. This is your house too. Invite whomever you please."

"Oh thankyou so much Mrs. O'Connel!" Anna was full of joy now. She tooked the phone back in her hand and lifted it to her head. "It is fine with them. When can you come?"

Rick and Evie walked over to the couch. They didn't want to intrude on the conversation. Evie noticed again her son's lack of relality. She let go of Rick, and went to Alex pulling his paper down. "Okay, Come on. You and me are going to have a talk." Alex didn't fight back. He really did want somebody to talk to. He nodded plainly and lifted himself up from the couch and folloed his mom down the hallway to the den. They stood facing eachother for a few moments. "Okay talk to me. What is bothering you? And don't lie to me."

After a short pause, Alex finally spoke up. "How do you and dad do it? How do you stay so close and in-love with eachother?"

Evie wasn't expecting a relationship questioned. She let out a short smicker. "Is that what this is about?"

"Mom."

"Sorry."She wiped away her smile.

"Anna and I are growing apart. I can feel it. Mom, I love her so much, but its not like it used to be. Is there something I am doing wrong? Is this normal? You're a women. You should know these things."

"Oh honey, every relationship is different. You are going to have to figure these things out yourself."

"Can you talk to Anna for me?" Alex started to feel like he was in grade-school asking a friend to talk to a girl for him.

Evie knew he felt this was and felt the same, which is why her smile appeared back again. "Of couse." But this wasn't it. This wasn't what was bothering him. Call it maternal intuition, or what not, but Alex was really down for a reason he wasn't saying.

"She's coming tomorrow!!!" Anna's voice and footsteps sounded through the hall, getting louder. She ran up and gave Alex a big hug and a kiss. "Katee is coming tomorrow?"

Alex smiled widely as he lifted his wife in the air. "Who's Katee?"

"Oh that's right! I never told you about her." Alex put her down so she could continue to talk. "Katee and I grew up together. He father was my mother's best friend's brother..."

"Wait." Alex stopped her. "your mom's.. best friend's.. brother.. her father." His fingers were moving to his words. "Okay got it! Go on!"

"So anyway, after I found Ardeth, I moved closer to be with him, leaving her behind. I haven't seen or heard from her since, and now she somehow found me, and called and... she's coming!" Anna could harldy contain herself. She let go of Alex and ran back down the hallway.

Alex and Evie snickered. They turned back to eachother, back to their conversation. Evie stuck out her finger playfully. "You know... you are a lousy liar."

"Actually that was partly true..."

"Well then you still hid the other part. What is going on with you?"

Alex didn't know what to say. He couldn't explain what was inside his head. "Mom.. have you ever wanted to exist somewhere else?"

"What?"

Alex realized what he said would make no sense to anybody. "Nevermind. It's completely stupid. I have to go... somewhere." He turned to walk sown the hallway without saying another word.

Evie was left stupified. She wanted to know what her son meant. Was he okay? After thinking for a moment or two, she figured when the time comes, he'll come out of his shell, and figure it out on his own, or come back for more talk. This lessenned her worries. After a couple seconds she realized that she was alone in the room again, so she quickly fixed that problem by exiting down the hall. She walked slowly this time, taking in all the scenery. She never realized how warm colored everything was. The light marron carpet, with the light brown wooded walls fascinated her. The only difference was the white ceiling. She walked by noticing every design in the wood, ever thread in the carpet and every floor board of the wall. In the middle of her path, she started to hear chantings coming from a door in the center of the hallway. The oak doorway clashed with the light wood walls. This door led to another room, which the family rarely goes into. It was mostly used to store old things. The chatings grew louder. Curiosity came over her, so she decided to go into the room. She openned the door to find Anna sitting on the floor in the middle of a white circle drawn on the carpet. One tall black candle was in front of her. She had her eyes closed and she was facing the sky chanting to it in a language unknown to Evie. She must have sensed Evie's presence, because she stopped her words, openned her eyes and looked toward the door at Evie's frightenned face. She then blew out the candle, and smiled to reassure that everything was fine. "Hello." She said cheerfully.

"Hello. I'm sorry to bother you. Continue what you were doing. I just didn't expect any use of this room..."

"Evie. It's okay. Here, come sit down. Close the door behind you."

Evie did so. She was still curious, but frightenned at the same time. "Can I ask what you were doing?"

Anna laughed. "I'm praying to Anpu. To help Katee travel safely." Now she started to feel embarrassed.

"Anpu? Isn't that another name for Anubis?" Evie started to panic. Horrible memories swept by her.

"Yes, but please don't be alrarmed. He is not evil. I'm just asking him for a safe journey for her."

Evie relaxed a bit. She knew Anna was right. "I'm really sorry to intrude."

"Oh, not a problem at all."

"Can I ask you one more question before I get up and leave?"

"Of course." Anna nodded.

"What language were you speaking? It didn't sound Egyptian or Greek."

Anna became embarrassed again. Her pink cheeks showed it. "It's a language I made up for me. Its kind of hard to explain." She could see that Evie was confused. "Umm..It's like a secret code between me and the gods."

"Oh I understand." Now she was embarrassed, because Anna was embarrassed. She got up from her position on the floor, and walked over to the door. "Please continue."

Anna looked down at her candle, and shrugged. "No it's alright." She stood up and wiped away the white cirle with her foot. It must have been some sort of chalk, because it brushed off quite easily, Evie thought. She picked up the candel and headed to the door where Evie was standing.

Evie didn't know what to think of the last few moments. "I'm sorry. I'm still terribly confised." She laughed at herself for admitting it. I didn't know you pray to.."

"I always have."

"But I thought you..."

"Allah is my God. I worship him first and for most. It's okay to be confused."

Evie's confusion was mostly cleared away. She understood now.. somehow. She nodded to show this. "I understand. Why are you using this room?"

"Well. Nobody ever comes in here, so I decided to make it useful. Plus, it is very quiet and full of peace in this crazy house."

"Now I completely understand."

"Come let's go see what our husbands are up to." Anna didn't really want to talk anymore about this. It was a personal belief that she keeps to herself.

Evie's insight took the best of her again. She could see right through Anna's mind. The conversation was making the young lady unconfortable. "Good idea. After you." Anna smiled and nodded, and walked out with Evie behind. Evie took one last look at the room before she shut the door. The smoke from the candle was still lingering in the air from where Anna was sitting. "Hm how odd." She said to herself. She closed the door, and the two women headed to the livingroom. Rick and Alex were sitting on the couch still reading the paper.

"Mom, have you got any scissors?" Kerena was sitting on the hard wood floor in the lobby drawing a picture. "Dad and grandpa don't know where they are. They said to ask you."

Anna looked at Rick for conformation. He shrugged his shoulders, to tell her that she was right. "I'm not sure where they are either? Why do you need them?"

"I need to cut out some yellow paper for the sun. I thought that would add a nice touch." Her said in her high English accent.

"Sorry hunny. I can't help you there. Evie do you know?"

"Last time I saw them, Rick was cutting out a newspaper article. Rick, you had them last."

"Well, I don't have them now. In fact, I think I recall giving them to Alex. Alex, you had the scissors last didn't you?" Rick said in a sarcastic accusatory voice. Alex just continued looking down at his paper. "I guess not.. Well okaay then. No scissors now, hun. We'll find them later I promise." He spoke to Kerena. "You just continue drawing your picture of..." He looked down at her drawing. "....of a big house." He couldn't tell what it was. "I think." He said under his breath. He looked at Evie with an 'I dunno' expression. Evie just laughed.

"Daddy, where are my scissors!?!" She laughed playfully accusing him to.

Alex snapped back into reality. "Huh? um I don't know where sweetheart." He looked at the granfather clock. It read just after 4:15. "Um I have to get goin. I'm meeting a friend." He picked up his wallet from the coffee table and put in his is pocket. He then felt his pocket for his keys, then found them in the sofa cushion.

Evie could see that he was really disoriented. "Are you going to be home in time for supper? I'm starting the oven at 7:35."

"I'm not sure, mom. Don't plan on it, unless I call you up saying I'm not coming." He walked over to her giving her a hug. He then walked over to Anna. He held her in his arms, and spoke close to her face. "I love you so much." He kissed her and gave her a hug. He turned to Kerena. "Will you be a good girl, while I'm away?"

"Aren't I always?" She said sweetly.

"Ha! That's a funny joke. He're give me a hug." He stooped down with open arms. She walked over embracing him. He got up and walked to the door. "See you guys later."

Everyone said goodbye at once. Now they were all concerned. "What's up with him? He' acting like he's never com-" Rick stopped, because he realized Kerena was in the room, even though she wasn't paying much attention, and in her own little world.

"I'm not sure. He's been acting funny all day." Evie spoke in. She looked over at Anna who now was off in HER own little world.

"I didn't get good vibes from that." She spoke softly. "Something's terribly wrong.

Evie thought back to their brief conversation. "Mom.. have you ever wanted to exist somewhere else?" This ran through her brain over and over again. She tried to analyze it, too see it at every angle possible, but nothing came to her mind. She decided not to bring it up to anyone, until she was fully sure what was going on.

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"Hey Bob. I have this great idea!" Jonathon was sitting in the local pub at a booth having a drink with another gentleman. Robert was medium build with dark brown almost black hair. He spoke in an American accent.

"Oh no. Not another Jonathon plan. What is it this time? Try and close his bank account again? Please. if you want that damn ring so badly, why don't you just pay him for it, or steal it from him."

"Very smart. I couldn't have thought of something better. Oh wait I did! I am going to sneek over to his office, and take it out of his safe. He shares his combination with everyone. I'm gonna be the last one to blame."

"Johny! You're talking criminal act."

"Okay so it was stupid. I just don't know what to do." He took another swig from his drink.

"Hey isn't that your nephew?" Robert pointed to the door. Jonathon turned around to find Alex walking to the bar. He had just come from the door.

"Yes Yes. You're right. What is he doing in here?" Jonathon started to get up when he saw who Alex sat next to and associtated with.

"Wow! Who is that HOT chick? Isn't he married?" Robert announced rather loudly.

"Could you talk a bit louder. I'm not sure ALL of London heard you."

"Sorry." They continued to spy. The girl had blonde frizzly hair. Her red dress hung down almost passed her feet that were propped up on the bar of the chair legs. Her back was turned to the two men. They could not see her face. After a few moments, she brought her hands to her face as if she were crying. Alex to her in his arms, and let her cry on his shoulder. He was rubbing her back. "What is going on down there?" Bob said now almost whispering.

"I have know idea. Do you think I should walk over there?"

"Well, its too late now. Look, they are already leaving." Alex got down out of his chair holding his hand out for the woman to take. She did and they walked out the door with his hand around her shoulders and her hear on his left one. Alex turned around as if to see if anyone had saw him. Jonathon turned around quickly in order not to be noticed.

After a couple seconds, he finally spoke. "Is he gone now?"

"Yeh."

"Good." He breathed a sigh of relief. He turned around just to make sure, then went back to look at Robert.

"Okay now how do we explain that?"

"I have no idea." Jonathon sighed again and shrugged. "Do you think I should tell anyone at home?"

"I think you should find more out about this first. Do you want to follow them? I'm up for an adventure."

Jonathon laughed. "Alrighty. Let's do it." He really wanted to too. They both stood up, and emptied there pockets on the table, then walked to the doorway then out. They looked around in the parking lot, then down each of the sidewalks beside him. "Okay where'd they go?"

The looked around for a couple more seconds. "Dammit. We lost them!" exclaimed Robert.

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"Mom! I'm home!" Alex walked into the front door. Nobody was in the front room, or in the kitchen. He looked at the clock. Not quite seven. " Okay. Where is everybody? Annaaa?"

"Hey." Anna spoke from beside the door.

Alex jumped. "Good Lord. I didn't see you."

Anna laughed moving closer about ready to kiss him. They did, but Alex pushed her away in the middle. "What's going on?" Alex looked down at the ground, but Anna pulled his head up. "Talk to me. You're scaring me."

He didn't say anything. He just turned around openned and openned the front door. "Come on in."

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?" Anna yelled.

"Hi Anna."

Anna ran up to give her a big hug.

"Oh my God!"

The girl just excepted the hug, but only hugged back a bit. She didn't seem very much excited, just nervous.

"Hey what's all the noise about?" Rick came out from the hallway.

"Rick remember Katee? The girl I was talking about today?"

"Yeh?..."

"Well this is her little sister, Merideth."

"It's nice to meet you." Rick walked over and put out his hand for her to shake. She accepted. "I'm Rick."

"Hello. It's nice to meet you as well. Anna. Can I talk to you alone?" Merideth cut right to business, as she usually does. She took Anna's hand, and they started to walk. Anna pointed to the other main hallway connected to the kitchen. they walked down there. They were headed to the guestroom.

Rick looked at Alex to answers his questions about what was going on, but he saw how distracted he was, and remembered how strange he had been acting earlier. "What's wrong?" He managed to ask.

"Huh? Oh nothing. Where's mom, and Kerena?"

"Outside playing. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I said that already."

"What's wrong?"

"Dad quit it."

Rick grabbed on to his collars and pulled him to the couch pushing him down on to it. "What's wrong?" He wasn't going to accept and bull-crap nothing answers. He was worried about Alex. And wanted to know what was the matter with him.

"NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS! OKAY? LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" He pushed Rick away and stormed down the hallway leading to the den.

"Woh... okaay." Rick didn't know what to do. He never heard an outburst from his son before. Before he could think of doing anything, the two ladies walked back in to the livingroom.

"Where's Alex?" Anna said coldly. Rick just pointed to the den. Anna went down it.

Rick and Merideth were left in the room alone. They were both uncomfortable being there.

"Uhh.. I'm going to follow them." She pointed to the hallway. Rick just nodded. "Ok.. uh. bye." She walked off quickl

y. "What the hell is going on around here?" Rick said to himself. He finally made up his mind to go check it out. He went down the hallway too. As he came to the den he saw Anna and Alex sitting on the floor hugging and Anna was crying.. Merideth was sitting next to them. "Can you please tell me what is going on?" Rick broke in.

Alex and Anna looked up from eachother. "Dad.. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell."

Rick put up his hand for him to stop talking. A way of accepting his apology. "I'm just really worried about you right now. You're not being yourself. And now you." He pointed to Anna. "What is going on?" Merideth started crying. Anna and Alex saw this and they included her in there hug. "Somebody please talk?" Rick was really confused. They didn't answer. "Fine. whatever. I hope you guys all feel better. I'm here if you need me. I'm going outside to find Evie."

"Dad don't tell her anything okay? I don't want her to get all worried."

Rick just shrugged his shoulders. He had enough. No body was talking to him. He was getting angry, plus really worried at the same time. He just turned around and headed down the hall.

"I have to call my father." Anna stood up, and walked out.

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"How's my tow favorite O'Connel ladies doing?" Rick walked into the back yard, where Kerena was swinging from a tire swing and Evelyn was reading a book under that same tree.

"Hello there handsome." She lifeted up her glasses and accepted a kiss from him.

"Grandpaa!" Kerena jumped off the tireswing excitedly landing on her face.

Rick ran to her rescue. He picked her up off the ground. "You okay there?"

"Just great."

"I give that one a 7. You're last was better?"

"I'll try harder next time."

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"How can you Anna?" Merideth was now confused.

"I have my ways. Do you have any clue where they took him?" She stopped herself from crying anymore. She wanted to be strong.

"No I'm sorry I don't. The last thing I remember was him being dragged off unconscious. They could be headed anywhere."

"Please. Merideth think hard. Do you remember any of them talking about where they are going?"

Merideth began to cry again. "I wish I never went there. The men would have never found him. If I didn't talk on the train, then this whole thing wouldn't have happenned."

"It wasn't your fault, Meri." Anna calmed her down. "What happenned this morning? Think of anything possible."

"Well, at the train station, in Cairo, Katee was talking to you. We wanted to surprise you so bad. But we couldn't keep it to ourselves. We had to call. We were in Cairo, because we got back from kinding your father, to find out where you had gone. I guess the men overheard us talking after she hung up with you. We were headed back to Ardeth to say goodbye. I guess they followed. We got there and they all came storming in with swords and guns. Katee got shot and, they took Ardeth. I took Katee to the hospital then flew over to London. It was a quick flight. That pilot was very odd. I think his name was Iggy or something." Anna rolled her eyes.

"Do you think we should tell my parents?" Alex spoke in quietly.

"I'm not sure." Anna was now talking charge. "Alex. Tell me again what you saw in your dream last night."

"I can't."

"Please." She held him close, and kissed him for safety.

"You and Merideth. You got.. ki-" He was closing his eyes trying to think hard. "There was something in the background. Oh my Goodness! They're at Karnak!" He openned his eyes widely.

"Good then we're going." Anna said strongly.

"No!" Alex put his put down. "I'm not going to let you. I'm not going to let you get killed."

"I have to go! This is my father. I spent years searching for him, and now he's missing. I'll be careful. I promise." She walked toward him and kissed him again.

"I just can't bear to lose you. That dream was horrible enough. If it really happend, I don't know what I would do with myself."

"You will never lose me." They held eachother close.

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"Rick, what's bothering you? You seem out of it."

"Huh? Nothing." Rick and Evie were sitting under the tree together, Kerena had run off somewhere to play by herself.

"Honey. You can't hide anything. You should have known that by now."

He wanted to talk, but Alex was right, if he said anything at all, it would worry her even more. "Evelyn. Nothing in the world can bring me down now. I have you. We have a son who's grown up, married, and we have a beautiful grandaughter. What could be better than that?" He put her and in his.

"You're right and that's very lovely, but your sweet talk isn't fooling me." She took her hand out and placed it on her hip.

Rick just laughed for a moment then stopped when he saw that Evie couldn't keep her sarcasm and began to look serious. "The kids are just acting funny. I'm just a bit irritated."

"Acting funny? How so?"

"I have no idea. honestly."

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"Rick? Evie?" Jonathon openned the front door to the house.

Anna was just exiting the hallway. "Oh. hey Uncle Jon." She tried to hide her emotions.

"Hey Anna." Now Jonathon was trying to hide his nervousness. "Have you seen Rick or Evie around anywhere?"

"No. I saw Rick about 10 minutes ago. I think he went outside. Evie's out there too."

"Thankyou." He turned around and headed back to the door.

"Hey Uncle Jon. Where you goin?" Jinathon turned around again. He jumped when he saw Alex walking out of the hallway.

"Oh hey there, old Alex. I'm just off to find you're parents." He laughed nervously and pointed to the door.

"Anna. Where's that book that you said might have some sort of information on who these guys are. What's the name of --" Merideth stopped her talking when she saw the stranger in the room. "Oh hello."

"Aah." Jonathon jumped again, when he saw the girl he saw earlier at the bar. He calmed himself down. "Hello."

"Uncle Jon. This is Merideth. She's a good friend of Anna's" Alex spoke in.

"Then what were you doing in the bar with her?" Jonathon said without thinking. He quickly regretted it, but there wasn't anywhere to turn back so her just continued his interrigation.

"What? You were there?" Alex asked.

"Yes of course I was there. Otherwise why would I be asking?"

"I asked to meet him there. We had something to discuss." Merideth spoke in. Anna's eyes started filling with tears. She turned away from them. Merideth looked down inorder to hide it. Jonthon looked at Alex for answers but he was looking down as well.

"Okay what's going on." Jonathon started to act grown up. "Alex are you having an affair?" He said again with out thinking. He quicly mentally scolded himself and moved on.

"What?? Of course not?" Alex was quick in defense.

"Than tell me."

Anna, Merideth, and Alex all looked at eachtother for answers. They all thought the same thing. What harm would it do to tell Jonathon. So one by one, they spilled out the whole story of how Katee and Merideth planned to visit Anna, but they got inturrupted on the way when they were talking with Ardeth bay. Each frightenning detail of the account.

"Oh dear." Jonathon sighed. "We must tell Rick and Evie. They can help."

"NO!" All three said at once. Alex spoke up. "What do you think that will do to them? They already have been through enough already. Mom's in the middle of a nervous breakdown. It's not a good idea."

"Maybe you're right." Jonathon thought outloud.

"Well whatever we must do, we have to do it fast. I can't sit around while my father is out missing." Anna cried. They were inturupted by a knock on the door. Jonathon openned it. "Katee! Oh my Goodness what are you doing here? It's wonderful to see you. what are you doing here? Now? You shouldn't be here." Anna ran to her to give her a hug, but Katee stopped her.

"Anna, Meri. I can't stay long. I came to warn you."

"Warn us?" Merideth questioned.

"They are coming. Watch out."

"Who? who's coming?" Anna asked.

"The same men who took your father. They are coming for you and your husband."

"Why do they want us?" Alex put in.

"You both are Magi descendents. Alexander. You're father is in danger too. He is also a warior for God."

"What? no. what do they want from us?" Alex was now getting angry.

"Quick! You must leave this place at once. They are coming!" With that, Katee blinked out before their site.

"Holy Hell! What was THAT?" Jonathon screamed. "Where did she go?"

"Jonathon, calm down." Anna said softly. "She astro-prejected."

"What? What kind of demonic monster is she?" Jonaathon was now getting chaotic.

"She's not a demonic monster. She's a witch. There's a big difference." Anna was now getting irritated.

"What?" Jonathon was dumbfounded.

"Listen people. We have to get out of here. She just said-" Alex tried to stop them.

"You're DEMON friend just said. How can we trust her?"

"JONATHON! Stop it!" Anna yelled. She was crying again. "Please, just trust her. Trust me. We have to get out of this place immediately."

A voice sounded from the second hallway. "Uhh okay. I thought you huys were acting weird, but this is alittle too much." Rick had come in through the back door.

"Dad!" Alex said surprisingly.

"Alex!" Rick mocked. "So why do we have to get out 'immediately'?"

"Oh my God!" Alex put his hands on his head in pain. He knelt down to the floor.

Anna rushed to his side. "Hunny what's wrong?"

"Oh.. it.. hurts.." Was all he can spit out. Visions were flowing in and out of his head. He couldn't quite picture them. He saw one of Ardeth Bay holding an infant child. He assumed it was Anna. Ardeth's mile long smile was spread out on his face. Then he saw three men take her out from his arms, and carry her away. Ardeth didn't do anything about it, which surprised Alex. It flew to Anna being seventeen years of age. It was at Jonathon's funeral reception. (A whooooole nother long story. Don't ask) She had just met Ardeth and Alex for the first time. Another vision of Anna at age 10. She was dancing on a stage. Ardeth was standing in the back row watching her. Then another vision which truly terrified Alex. Anna in her now age was being floated up in the air. Lightenning bults hit her from every side, and she was thrown in a fire pit. A man, who's face Alex couldn't see, was laughing hysterically. Ardeth stood next to him with his head hung low, again not doing anything. He saw the sky get thick in dark clouds or smoke. Fire rained the earth. All of humanity was burning allive. "Noooo!" Alex screamed. He fell to the floor.

"Alex." Rick rushed to his side as well. He lifted his head up from the ground. "Alex talk to me bud."

Alex quickly came about. "Anna! Where's Anna!?"

"Shh I'm right here. What happenned to you? Are you okay?"

"Anna we we have to get out of here. We can't let them find you."

"What?"

"You were taken from your father for a reason."

"What?"

Alex stood up from the ground.

"If a drop of blood from you and one from your father are united in anyway, all hell will break lose. Literally."

"What? How do you know this?"

"Oh where did I read this. I thought it was all a myth, until now. It make perfect sense now. The four sides of the square. If they all connect, then the family power can be released from each one create a whole new being. Why didn't I think of this earlier. The messanger's chosen by God. Magis. They have all the power in the world. They just don't know how to use it. I understand now."

"I'm glad you do, but I think I speak for everyone in this room, when I say wuhuh?" Jonathon added after a short pause.

"We have to find those men that took you away from your father. They look like magis. There were three of them."

Anna was starting to understand him. "Alex. what else did you see?"

"No I can not say. These visions were meant for me to view. I can feel it. Listen. You just have to trust me on this one." Alex held her arms in hers. They talked close.

"I trust you." She whispered. and kissed him on the lips.

"Uhhh people, I don't mean to be rude, and interupt you, but when were we supposed to leave again?" inquired Jonathon.

A crash from the back door was heard by them all. "Now would be a wonderful time." Rick added in. They all scrambled out the front door. "Evie!!!" They ran to Rick's car. "Evie!!!"

Evie came running from the side of the buuilding with Kerena in her arms. She ran to the car. "Rick what's going on. Who were those people?"

"Talk later. Get in the car." He lifted them up, and put them in. Rick climbed in the drivers seet and drove out the driveway withh all on board. A little while down the road, Rick finally started to talk. "Now will you tell me what is going on? Where are we going first of all."

"We need to find to Egypt. We need to find my Uncle's." Anna answered.

"EGYPT! You've got to be kidding me. We're in London!"

"Rick, please." Anna was despereate.

"Okay fine. We'll call Izzy."

"Izzy? Strange kooky guy who talks to much?" Merideth asked.

"You know him?" Rick answered her question with another question.

"I met him once."

"OKay, now that we've established where we are going, why are we going there?" Rick now wanted an answer more than ever.

Again, each one of the three recounted their tale, with some addins from Jonathon this time.

"Jesus Christ! Why doesn't everyone just leave out family alone? So Alex, you're saying that we are all part of some sort of square?"

"I'm not sure. From the tale I can remember its quite certain. There's a passage that is highly famous. Um I think it goes. Two protectors one night the other day ride together with the sun and the moon, with a single star in the middle. The day and the night are seperated as the night and the sun. If they clash together.. um i think it says something about existence disapeereing. I can't remember. This is the basic. it's all Arabic."

"They are all people." Evie spoke. "Yes it make perfect sense now. The day and the night... Rick and Ardeth... are seperated. Well I guess we can concur that they are two sepreate human beings. As the night and the sun. Ardeth's the night.. the sun has to be Anna. You even bear the symbol fate." Anna reached up and touched her tatoo on her forhead.

"So if my father and I unite, then there will be nothing?"

"Well, that is what was written. I do recall in highschool, thinking of the idea that it was a curse of somesort. There is another part to it. Alex, do you know of it?"

"No I never heard of it before."

"What about the star, mom."

"Well the stars are always there during night or day. You just have to look sometimes. Um something that has to connect Rick and Ardeth, because they are seperate blood. Alex and Anna have marriage...."

"What about me?" Kerena replied softly. "I'm the connection aren't I?" She crawled to her mom's lap.

"But I don't think it mentions anything about the star." Merideth added. I'm trying to recollect the poem myself. It's not coming to."

"My uncles will have the answer. I know it." Anna spoke up. Suddenly she closed her eyes.

"Anna, do not let them find you."

"Father?" She looked up half expecting him to be right next to her. She heard his voice in her mind.

"What?" spoke Meri. The rest of the gang didn't hear Ardeth's voice either.

"Daddy, I hear you. Talk to me." She said outloud.

"You must stay as far away from these men as possible. We have eight days until you are safe again."

"Where are you?" She spoke with her eyes closed.

"The less you know the better. Please Anna, do not let them find you or your husband."

"Are you okay?"

"I must go. They are coming again."

"No daddy please don't go." Her eyes teared up. His voive stopped talking to her.

Back in Karnak, Ardeth was shackled and tied to a post. A hooded man came forward amongst many others who had been holding him captive. "As soon as we find that brat of yours, God's good in you will turn to wrath and vengence. Warriors will be created. They will fight to the end, and I shall take over leaving everyone as my slave. But untill then, rest well. We can not have you broken yet."

"You will never find her." Ardeth stated boldly.

"If I don't then your death will still be much pleasure to me. It is my last resort though. Let's hope it doesn't go there. For the both of us. Slow and painful. That is how I like it. My anger will much be taken out on you."

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"It was him! I heard his voice!" Anna couldn't contain her hysterics.

"Ardeth?" Evie asked.

"We have eight days to hide out."

"Are we still headed to Egypt?" Rick asked. He didn't know rather to turn around, drive in circles, or keep driving to Izzy's airport, which had become quite popular in the last twenty years.

"Yes."

"Well we are there now. Let's just hope he's here." Rick said as they pulled into the driveway.

"He should be. I was here this morning." Merideth spoke up.

They all climbed out of the car. "Izzzzy! Rick yelled loudly toward the gate.

"O'Connel what do you want now? I'm not going to Switzerland again. It took me forever to repair the air balloon after we ran it into the mountain. All because you needed that romantic vacation of yours. I swear. You people get more romantic every year!" Izzy came out of the gate with a bunch of papers in his hands. He stopped when he saw the seven people. "Oh great. now what? Family vacation? Jesus O'Connel. You better pay me double this time."

"No Izzy." Rick walked up to him and put his hand on his back. "We need a plane this time. The biggest and fastest you have."

"What's in it for me?" Rick pulled out of his pocket a wad of money like he always does. "Okay I'm in."

"Nice thinkin."

"I don't have any other choice. Follow me." He motioned for them to follow him. They did and turned the corner to find what Rick had asked for. A big plane. "I still think the dirigible is nice and quieter, more peaceful though."

"We don't need the dirigibly thing this time. We need to get out of here fast. And this thing is faster than the air balloon right?"

"Ten times."

"Alright Everybody hop on in." Rick openned the door and they all climbed in. "Thanks Izzy."

"Don't mention it."

"Hey if anyone comes here looking for us, we were never here."

"Gotcha." The plane off with all seven passengers on board. Izzy watched it as it took off from the runway. "I will never understand that man as long as I live. Oh well..."

-_~-_~-_~__~--_~-_~-_~-_~-_~--__~~--__~~--_~-_~__~-_~-__~--_~-_~~_~-~-~-~-~-~_~_~_~`_~_~_~_~--____

"They have to be here." Anna and the rest of the group stood in the market place of a small Egyprian town. "Uncle Gabai... Uncle Ranen... Uncle Shalem? They all three work here. One of them surely has to be around."

"Good Heaven's child. We have been so worried about you." A voice came from behind them. The man was tall and slender. He appeared to be in his early fifties.

"Oh Gabai! It's good to see you!" She gave him a hug.

"Yes.. Yes.. It is good to see you. It's been a long time, but we must catch up later. There is much to talk about here."

"Hey I know you! I've seen you before!" Alex broke into there conversation. He thought for a moment. "You! You took her away from her father! Along with those guys. He pointed behind him."

Anna looked up to find her two other uncles. "Is that our little Anna? Oh dear." One of the men spoke in. He looked about the same as the first guy, just a tad shorter and a pudgier face.

"Shalem! Oh its been ages!" Anna ran up to hug him as well.

"Anna don't trust these guys!"

"Alex, these guys are my only family right now, besides my father. I trust them with all my heart and soul. Uncle Ranen!" she gave the third a hug. He was average heighth, relly thin. Both the other Uncles appeared to be in their late fifties.

"Come. We must talk.This place is not safe." Gabai brought them all in his tent.

"Uncle, what Alex saw.. is this true?"

"Yes it is." Gabai.

"Why would you take me from my own father?"

"It is written in the stars that if the blood of the sun and the night, mix together, then the fifth apocolypse will take place."Ranen answered.

"Woh woh woh.. back up. Fifth apocolypse?" Rick asked.

"Well the fifth chance for an apocolypse. I think there about about ten of them." Shalem spoke.

"The point is that, we knew that it was you an your father. We had to seperate you. Ardeth knew this. He knew it was for the good of humanity." Gabai broke in.

"So that is why he didn't struggle." Alex finally put two and two together.

"Yes it is, but he was heart broken none the same." Ranen said. "We're terribly sorry we kept this from you this whole time."

"Why didn't you tell me when I found my father again?"

"Well, we didn't want to worry you both, first of all. Ardeth knew to take the precautions. And we did not know if anyone knew this that would take it to their advantage." Gabai said.

"The important thing to do now is to stay as far as you can away from these people." Shalem said.

"Yes we know. For eight days, well seven now." Anna interrupted. The three men looked at her wondering how she knew. She saw this and answered them. "My dad told me." She said quietly.

"Told you?" Ranen asked.

"He spoke to me while we were in the car to the airport. I heard his voice."

The three looked at eachother trying to get answers from eachother. "He's learning quickly." Shalem said to them both. They nodded.

"Uhh hello? Learning what?" Alex asked.

"This can be used to our advantage though." Gabai said to the other two.

"We must be careful." Shalem spoke.

"Anna. Hunny. Come sit down." Gabai told her. He pointed to a chair. "The rest of you need to leave the room." He waited for a couple seconds. "Uhh now would be nice."

"Yes of course." Evy registered. "Come on everybody." They all left the rrom except Alex who stayed behind. He still didn't trust these guys.

Anna sat in the chair a little nervous to what was going to happen next, but she was wooried at all. Alex walked up to he and held her hand. "I'm staying here."

"No, you mustn't. I know your love is strong for her, but it is a distraction. She will learn to use this destraction to her advntage later. But for now, please leave." Shalem spoke to him. Alex stood his ground.

"What are you going to do to her?"

"Alex, sweetheart, just go okay." Anna spoke to him. He looked down into her eyes filled with worry and love.

"Fine." He kissed her and walked away without looking back. He left the room to find Evy standing outside alone. "Hey mom. Where is everyone?"

"Your dad, Merideth and Kerena went to go check out the shops. I wanted to talk to you."

Alex could feel a lecture coming on. He wasn't sure about what, but it was dfinately coming. He was twenty-nine years old for cripes sake. Why did he need a lecture. "Okay. I'm here. Let's talk." He said cheerfully, hiding his annoyance.

"Honey. I'm really worried about you. What did you mean by wishing to exist somewhere else?"

Alex thought back to his previous comversation with his mom, and immediately regretted it. "Oh. that's what this is about." He walked over to a near stone bench and sat down on it. Evy after him. "It's nothing. I was just in a mood."

"Alex. If you're going to lie or use a cop-out think of something more creative."

"Sorry." His mom saw right through him. He turned the opposite direction from her.

Evie walked over to his other side. "Talk to me."

"Mom.." He finally started to feel himself giving in. "Have you ever felt angry inside?" Evie knew it was a retorical question, but still nodded anyway. "Its just that lately, I can't control things in my life the way I want them to be."

"Honey that's life though-"

"No its not just life. Please just let me finished!" There was a pause for a moment. "I don't know how to explain it, but everything seems to be going wrong. I just didn't want to exist anymore, well atleast now where I was then. And When Merideth called me and told me the story, that feeling grew. I just can't take anything anymore, mom. I can't explain it. I feel so angry at every little thing, and now this. It's driving me crazy. I can't bear to see Anna hurt. It's ripping me apart." Evie pulled her son close to her and held his head in her arms.

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Anna. we need you to close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Get in a meditative state, but still listen and respond to us." Ranen spoke seriously. Anna obeyed. "Now picture your father in your mind. Try and see him where he is now."

"Okay. I have a mental picture."

"Good. Okay. now hold this in your hand. Keep your picture of him." Anna held out her hand, and Shalem enclose a crystal wand in it. Anna immediately became disturbed with images. "I see him again! He is held captive. His hands are cuffed. He's leaning up against a pole which, I think He is tied to. Oh my God! Why are they treating him like this? He looks so weak." Tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"Anna. Child. We need you to calm down, just for now. Okay?" Gabai told her gently.

"Okay, now listen to me." Gabai continued. "Try and talk to him. Pretend like he's standing in front of you."

Anna nodded. "Father." She tried. In her mind, she saw him look up to the sun. "Father can you hear me?"

"Anna, darling I hear you perfectly." He spoke weekly.

"He hears me!" She became excited, then soon realized her excitement was fading his image.

Ardeth must have heard her say this because he laughed. It felt good for him to laugh again.

"Daddy, we are coming in and gonna to get you out of there."

"No!" All four of the men said at once.

"Anna if you go." Ranen started. "Then they will capture you as well."

"I'm going to have to take that chance." Anna spoke to them.

"Anna, listen to me. You must not come here. Stay away from here." Ardeth spoke harshly yet lovingly. "Stay safe where you are."

"But daddy-" She cut herself off when she saw another man start to approach him.

"No buts! You must follow my orders and the advice of your Uncles. I will always love you my daughter." Ardeth thought he cut the communication link, but Anna was still watching.

"Another day went by Ardeth Bay. A week now until the world is under my control." The hooded man spoke.

"Never!" Ardeth spoke angrily.

"We shall see. We will put word out to your brat that if she doesn't show up, her precious little daddy will persish and she'll never see him again. That is less vilent then capturing her. Don't you think? Once she hears this, she will run to your rescue, and then my plan will be fulfilled."

"You low-life bastard!" Ardeth yelled. The man kicked him hard in the gut.

"Daddy! No!" Anna became hysterical again. This ruinned her visual of him. The last thing she saw was him lying on the sand writhing in pain. She got up from her chair, and threw the wand down. "I don't care what he thinks! We are going to Karnak! He's going to be killed if we don't!"

Alex came running in the room. He rushed to in front of Anna in order to block her from harm. He pulled out a gun from his back pocket and pointed it at the three men, "What's going on. I heard her screaming. What did you do?"

"Hunny, calm down." She pushed his arms down. He unclicked his gun and put back in his pocket.

"Why were you screaming?" He was still sort of blocking her, even though she tried to get pass.

She didn't say anything for a whiile. "We are in an awful predicament.... They are going to kill my father if I don't show up."

"Child, if you show up, they will kill you and him both." Gabai told her.

"Nothing will happen to me. I'll be careful. I just want my father back."

"Don't worry nothing is going to happen to him. I promise." He slowly went from blocking her to holding her. Her tears fell down into his chest. All she wanted to do was to stay in his arms forever. He didn't believe what he just said. He looked up at the Uncle's for clarity. He saw it in their eyes that it was denied, but they knew he was just trying to calm her down. He kept picturing over and over again in his mind the lightning bults hitting her, her body being flown into fire. The look in Ardeth's face of pure misery, and heart break watching his only daughter being killed in front of his eyes and him being powerless to stop it. "You are not going there, Anna." He said sternly. "We will get him for you."

"I have to go. I can't just sit around and wait. You don't understand. At least I have some power to stop these guys.."

"Anna! You must not speek of such things in front of an unknowing one." Shalem said.

"Uncle, he is more knowing than you think." Anna looked up at Alex who looked confused. "Don't let his looks fool you. He's actually quite smart, and open minded."

"Hey now!" Alex finally caught on to the joke after a couple seconds.

"Sure." Ranen said sarcastically.

"Don't worry hunny. I like how you look, no matter what other people think." Anna laughed.

"Same goes to you." He kissed her.

She kissed him back. "Hey wait a sec!" She stopped. Everyone else in the room just laughed.She did too.

"Okay, so how can you stop these guys." Alex went back to the conversation.

Anna looked up at her Uncles to see if it was okay to talk. The resisted nodding, but thought it for the best anyway. She told him about how since she was a little girl, she had been given special gifts. It started with little things like healing and reading people's minds. Now it has advanced to bigger and much stronger things, that can come any time she wishes. She didn't mention exactly what, but implied that it was very powerful. She has the potential, but she is still an amature at the bigger stuff. She also spoke of how when growing up with Katee, she had special gifts as well. They were destinged to be together as friends. Katee was only beginning to realize her potential, so Anna guided her along her path.

"It's getting late." Rick walked in just as she was finnishing. "Oops. Sorry to interupt."

"It's okay, Rick. We were just talking."

"Well, we're going to find an inn to shack up for the night."

"I wouldn't dream of it!" Shalem exclamed. "Nonsense. you are going to stay with us tonight. We have many extra rooms for you." The other two nodded in agreement.

"We're going home?" Anna said excitedly.

"You get to sleep in your old room tonight." Gabai told her.

Anna became very happy.

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Twelve years go by, and it still hasn't changed one bit." They all stood in front of the three story mansion in the driveway. Anna had the biggest smile on her face. The rest of the group stood there with their mouths open.

"It looks.."Evie started.

"Kinda.." Jonathon continued.

"Spooky." Rick ended.

"This is very freaky." Merideth said.

"It's very.. big." Alex said uneasily.

"I like it!" Kerena laughed. She became excited too.

"That's my girl." Anna picked her up, and held her close.

"I've seen this house somewhere before." Rick said outloud. He thought up for a moment. "Oh my God!" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a peice of folded white paper. He openned it up. In big purple letters it read 'TO GRANDPA LOVE KERENA.' Underneith was the picture of the house Kerena drew, equipped with a bright yellow sun with yellow paper she finally found the scissors to cut out with. He held it up beside his view of the house. It matched perfectly, except Kerena's version was a little childlike. He handed it to Evie.

"Oh dear." Evie handed it to Alex.

"Woh." Alex handed it to Anna.

Anna took it. She didn't say anything, just handed it to her three uncles."It seems as if she is taking after her mother quite quickly." Ranen spoke up.

"Anna, hunny. Have you seen this house before?" Anna asked her.

"Yup! Grandfather Ardeth showed me it." She said happily. They all looked at eachother. "When did he show you?"

"Well, they are just dreams, but I've been coming here for the last two weeks. I didn't think they would come true." She was still excited.

"What did Grandather Ardeth tell you about this place?" Anna continued her talk with her.

"I don't really remember, Mom. They were dreams. But he did say something about being safe here. This house is blessed. I think we should listen to him on this one."

"Well.. let's not just stand here. Can we go inside now?" Rick said sarcasticlly impatient.

"Yes. I don't know about you all, but I'm really exaughsted." Evy said after him.

Ranen, Gabai, and Shalem led the way into their house. Inside, it wasn't as fancy or as it looked. It had the country homey feel Rick thought. As you walk in the front door, the first thing you see is a giant staircase to the left, then the rest of the house to the right consisting of a hallway, and the den. From the den, the kitchen was visible. Anna stood in the center of the floor and looked around. She breathed in the air and sighed it out. Alex could sense a peace and happiness around her. "I'm home." She sighed happily.

"The house is very happy to see you again." Shalem told her.

"As am I happy to see it." Anna responded. "It's good to be here again."

"Come upstairs. Your room is waiting for you." Gabai took her bags and motioned her to follow him upstairs. The other two took the rest of the luggage, and walked upstairs as well. The gang followed. "Now we sleep. Tomorrow we will give you a tour of the house, and have a day of rest. Here's one bedroom. There's another right here. " He openned a door right accross the hall "There's another right here, and three more down the hall." He pointed to another right beside the first one. "And Anna. This one belongs to you." Anna ran right up to it. She openned the door, and just smiled. It was just how she remembered it. The huge window and the oak window sill she used to sit on at night watching the stars. Her king size bed with silky sheets on the left. And on the right, her chair, her lamp, and book shelf filled all sorts of variety of books. In the middle of her room was her rug, with the purple and red swirl effect with white sparkles laid on the white carpet. Everyone else stood at the door watching her inside breathing in the moment. They didn't see the same thing she saw in the room, but understood why it fascinated her so much. She saw them staring at her, and blushed with embarrassment. "Is it to your liking?" Gabai broke the uncomfortable silence.

"It's wonderful." She answered.

"Well. I'm off to bed." Rick spoke in. He turned back into the hall. "Hmmm I chose...." He closed his eyes and spun around pointing. He stopped at the one diagonal from Anna's. "...that one. You coming Evy?"

"Yes." She went up to Alex and kissed him on the cheek and gave him a hug. "Good night sweety." She said. Then walked to Anna., and gave her a hug. "Sleep well." She then followed Rick to their room.

"Can I have this one?" Kerena asked as she pointed to the one beside Anna's.

"Sure sweetheart." Alex picked up her bags and took them into her room.

"Well I'm just gonna go into this one right here. Good night everybody." Jonathon said then walked into the one next to Rick and Evy.

"Our rooms are downstairs." Shalem said. "Good night."

Anna walked to her three uncles. "Thankyou three so much. I surely missed you." She gave them each a hug.

"It is nice having you home." Ranen said. "The house seemed dead after you moved out. Your energy brings it back again." They then walked down stairs and out of view. Anna turned to find she was left alone with Merideth.

"I am so glad you are here to help." Anna said to her. "Thankyou so much." She gave her a big hug. Both girls started crying.

"It's okay." Merideth said wiping away her tears. She couldn't think of anything to say. "You're like another big sister to me. I will always help you anytime you need it. Whoever is doing this will not get away." She then walked into the room on the other side of Anna's. "Good night Anna." She said.

"Good night Meri."

Alex walked out of Kerena's room. "I swear that girl packs more stuff than you do." He stopped his talking when he noticed Anna's solemn expression. He walked over to her. And put his arm around her. They walked into Anna's room together and sat down on the bed. Anna's tears were now falling freely. She buried her head on her shoulder. All her emotions were now coming back again. "Ardeth is one of the strongest men I have ever met. In a week this whole thing will be over and our lives will go back. Trust me. That is always the story."

"I just can't believe this is happenning." Anna spit out. They conitnued their embrace.

Down the hall, Rick and Evy were having their own converation while getting ready for bed. "Oh, Rick I'm just so worried about the kids."

"Evy.. we raised a strong boy, and our daughter-in-law is one of the wisest people I know."

"I just wish there was some way to help them."

"We are helping them right now. Being for them is all they need." Rick put the suitcases under the bed.

"Rick! Your tattoo! It's gone!"

Rick looked down at his naked wrist. "Jesus Christ! When did that happen?"

Evy rushed by his side "I'm not sure. I just noticed it."

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

Evy sat down on the bed. "I'm not sure." She sighed.

Rick sat down next to each other. "Let's not think about it right now. Tomorrow morning, we'll ask the three strange guys okay?"

"Okay" They climbed into the covers and turned out the lamp.

Down the hall, Kerena was already fast asleep. Her dreams about Ardeth were in her head again. Kerena and Ardeth were sitting on the swing in the front of the house talking.

"But Grandfather, why can't we tell mom that I'm talking to you?"

"You're mother is a strong lady, but breaks easily when loved ones are involved."

"What if I already kinda mentionned it?"

Ardeth sighed. "Well don't mention it again. Pretend that you have no idea what she is talking about."

"Okay that seems easy enough." Ardeth put his arm round his grandaughter holding her close to him. She hugged him back. Kerena looked up to see him staring off to space. A single tear rolled down his cheek. "Why are you so sad?"

He snapped in back into reality. "Some things can't be controlled." He said.

"What's that supposed to mean." Ardeth didn't know how to explain to the nine year old that he probably wasn't going to be around after a while. If his daughter knew what was good for her and stay away. He was trying to bear the fact that he wouldn't see his family again, but also grateful that they would be okay, but fearing that they wouldn't. "It's about the ugly man isn't it?"

"What ugly man?"

"He's going to do something bad isn't he?"

Ardeth soon realized that she was talking about the hooded man. He took his arm away from her and put both hands on her shoulders. "Kerena, when did you see the ugly man?"

"When you leave, he comes right after you."

"What does he say to you?"

"I don't know. I don't listen to him. I just get this bad feeling from him. Like, he's corrupted by evil or something. I don't think he's up to any good, Grandfather, please tell me something. My parents aren't talking about it to me. I'm not a little kid you know. I can handle stuff."

"This man is evil. And you are doing the right thing by not listenning. Stay away from him do you hear me?" He started to yell.

Kerena was taken back. "There is no such thing as an evil man, grandfather, but there is such thing as a man that is corrupted by evil. No one is born evil, except evil themselves. We can take the evil out of him.. somehow. Can I help?"

"Kerena listen to me, didn't I just tell you to stay away from him?"

"Yes bu-" She stopped when she saaw the look he was giving her. "Fine, but what is he going to do?"

"It doesn't matter right now, what matters is that you and I are here talking."

"Can mom join us one night, after you are gone I mean?" Kerena figured out waht was going on.

"I'm not sure if I will be able to come visit."He said sadly.

"But you aren't gonna be gone. You're gonna be around forever."

"I hope so." He said without the hope in his voice. He then looked up at the setting moon. "It's almost time for me to go for tonight."

"Are you going to visit tomorrow night?" Ardeth didn't answer her. "Grandfather, please say something."

He kissed her on her forhead. "Remember that I am alway around," He said. "If you can see me or not." He put his arm around her again. She put her head on his chest.

"I don't want you to go yet. It's only been a little time. Please stay."

"Dreams are always shorter than actual time."

"Nooo... please!" Her tears started to flow.

"Shhh. quiet now." He said trying not to cry himself. "I love you child."

"I love you too, Grandfather. Pleeeease. Not now. I like our visiting times." Ardeth just conitnued to stare at the dawn sky. She held on to him think that if she does, then he won't leave, but knew it was not going to work. He held on to her too.

"Kerena. Kerena hunny, wake up. You've been sleeping half the morning." Alex's voice was heard from around them.

"Not now. don't wake me up yet!" She yelled in her dream. In reality, she was just sound asleep with a slight stir."

"Is still sleeping?" Anna's voice was heard.

"Should we just let her?" Alex asked.

"Yes! Yes let me stay!" Kerena yelled. She looked over at her grandfather and hugged him tight. He still had his arm around her."

"I think you're parents need you right now." Ardeth said solemnly, but he knew her leaving was for the best.

"Yeh maybe you're right." She agreed, but didn't want to. "I will see you again."

"Of course." He said.

Suddenly the hooded man came forward. "Alright, meeting time is over." He walked toward Kerena like he was going to harm her.

"Noo! Stay away from me." She was yelling in her dream, but muffle talking in her sleep. "Grandfather don't let him hurt me!" This time her voice was heard in the reality world as well. She openned her eyes to see her father and mother sitting along side of the bed. She realized she souldn't show her panic so she decided to hide it. "Uhhmm Good Morning."Anna and Alex didn't know what to say. They saw the look in their daughter's eye that she was terrified. Kerena couldn't hide it for very long, when she started crying. "Mom!" She cried.

"Shh. I'm here. It was just a nightmare, sweety. What happenned?" Anna didn't believe it was just a nightmare, not with everything going on, and she also cried for Ardeth."

"Mom, it's Grandfather. He's gonna-" Kerena started.

"You mustn't tell her, child. Not for now anyway." She heard Ardeth's voice in her head.

"Keray, what is it?" Anna said impatiently.

"-I don't remember. I don't know. I just forgot. It was something stupid anyway. You know how dreams are."

"Okay fine." Anna said, still not believing her. "You get up and get dressed now. We all had breakfast two hours ago, so we'll all have lunch together."

"What time is it?"

"Umm about eleven thirty." Alex told her.

"Wow. he's right! Time does fly faster in a dream!" Kerena said excitedly. She saw her mother questionning her. "It was in a book I read."

"Alright. We'll be downstairs." Anna said. She knew the truth would come out eventually. Escpecially from her daughter. Kerena could never keep her mouth shut for anything.

Anna and Alex both walked downstairs to find the three uncles, Jonathon, and Rick sitting at the dining room table with books and papers scattered everywhere.

"I can't find anything about you losing your tatoo." Ranen said exaughstedly closing a book.

"Nothing in these either." Shalem closed his three books. Gabaii agreed by shutting his book.

"Likewise." Jonathon did the same. "You know if Ardeth was here now, he would have some answers for us." Anna looked down to the ground. Jonathon soon realized what he said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to.."

"No you're right." Anna started. "If Ardeth was here, he would have answers. But right now he's not." She turned around and walked straight out the doors without saying another word.

Everyone turned to look at Jonathon. "Sorry." He said again.

Alex started to go after her. "No wait." Rick stopped him. "Can I go?"

Alex didn't know what to say, but he had a feeling his father knew what he was doing. "Um yeh go ahead."

"Thankyou." Rick ran out the door. He found Anna on the porch swing on the swing. He went down to go sit next to her.

After a few moments, Anna started talking. "See those flowers over there?" She pointed to the small garden in front of her.

"Yeh." Rick said listenning hard.

"I used to wake up every morning and the first place I went was to that garden. I'd pick a flower for my mom. Every morning, I'd bring it to her while she was cooking breakfast......When I was 13 she got really sick.... I'd still bring her flowers, though... Well one morning when I brought her her flower, she handed me a box. I openned it, and you know what was inside?"

"What?"

"Everysingle flower I had brought her. She saved them all, and took care of them. They were all dried out and beautiful... I still hnave them... A couple day later she died. My whole world fell apart. I could barely live with myself. I was there too. I sat right by her bed. It killed me inside. It took a while to finally go on with my own life. Well, when I was 17, I found Ardeth. The whole inside of had been filled up. There was still the absence of my mother, but he gain alot of strength that I had lost throughout the years. When we first met, he recognized me right away, but he looked angry at the fact that I was there, but he seemed relived and overjoyous. He told me that I shouldn't be near him or seen with him. I didn't understand this. His overjoy took over him though, as was mine. I packed up all my belongings, and moved to be closer to him, leaving everyone and everything I knew behimd. As time went on, we became closer, and shared a connection that nobody could ever dream about. It was wonderful. .......... If I lose him, then the hole would reapeer. I can't let this happen, not when I can stop it. Rick, we have to go to Karnak. We have to get him out of there. We only have six days left." She started to cry. Rick put his arm around her, and gaveher a half hug.

"Okay." He said sponaneously agreeing.

"What?" She was confused.

"Let's go."

"What?"

"Right now. Let's go."

"Are you serious? Because, it's really not a funny joke.

"Listen to me." He took her arms. "I'm dead serious. I want him out of there too."

"Oh my God!" She jumped up excitedly. "We can't tell anybody."

"Definately not. Atleast not right away. You think they'l let us go?" He said sarcastically.

"Of course they'll let us! What are you talking about. Once we untie ourselves from the chairs, breakthough the locked door and knock them all down from standing in from of the doorway, we're free to go."

Rick laughed. "They'll be that lenient? What an understatement."

Anna suddenly became serious. "When are we goin?"

"Anytime would be fine. Right now if you aren't too busy."

"Okay, I just want to talk to Kerana first."

"Let's tell everyone we're going to just take a drive to talk, and say our goodbyes." Rick got up, taking Anna's hand and pulling her up.

"Listen.." Anna started. "I know you and have had our differences."

"I know I ju-"

"Let me finish... I know you and have had our differences, but can we forget all about the past?"

"I was just gonna say that. Anna, I know I could NEVER replace your father, and I won't even try for that, but you have been like a daughter to me. Alex loves you so much. And Kerena is my grandbaby. The reason I acted all weird in the beginning.."

"Is that you were jealous that I was taking your son away." She laughed. "It okay, you don't have to admit it outloud. You and Alex have a connection, like me and Ardeth. You didn't like me from the start, because you didn't trust me yada yada yada. I was a little attention getter, and you weren't sure that I was speaking the truth half the time about my feelings toward Alex, you thought I was in it for the money... anything else?" She smiled.

"Nope you about covered it. How did you know all this."

"Well, most was easy to figure out. And the rest, well, I have an unnamed source."

"Evy?"

"The source remains unnamed. The sourse also said you were just being a big baby and grow out of it eventually, and when you did, you were too much of a man to admit you were wrong. It's quite alright." Rick blushed. "I'm sorry too, for not giving you a chance. I always thought you were just a big grump, who only acts happy to try and fool people."

"A big grump? Am I that bad?"

"No, I just had that set in my mind... So are we both forgiven?"

"I don't know. Big grump? That's harsh." They both laughed, and hugged. "Come one, let's go inside." They both stood up and went over to the door. He openned the it for her and they both walked in.

"Anna, I didn't mean to upset you I ju-" Jonathon started.

"It wasn't you. It was just.. the situation. No worries." Anna interupted him.

"Anna and I are going to take a ride around for a while. Just for sight seeing." Rick told everyone.

Anna was already grabbing for her coat from the coat rack. "Yeah. Where's Kerena. I wanna talk to her for a second."

"She's still upstairs." Alex immediately sensed something wasn't quite right, but didn't know what to do about it.

"Thanks hunny." She walked over to him, gave him a small peck on the lips and a big hug. She then turned around and walked up the stairs.

"Your welcome." He said to thin air. Now he knoew something was up. The question is is what.

Anna got to Kerena's door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Kerena asked from inside.

"It's me." Anna said giddily.

"Oh.. okay mom. um. Hold on one second. ok?" From inside, Anna heard whispering coming from Kerena. She tried to make out what she was saying, but it was too soft. "Okay come on in."

Anna openned the door to find her daughter sitting indian style on her bed. She was all dressed in normal clothes ready for the day. "Hey there. What's going on?"

"Nothin." Kerena replied. "Just about to go downstairs."

"Well, I was just about to head out and take a drive with your grandpa."

"Mommy. Don't go!" Kerena yelled suddenly.

"What?" Anna was caught off guard.

Kerena didn't know how to explain her sudden outburst. Both of them sat there with an unconfortable pause. "Can I come with you?" was what finally came out of her mouth.

Anna thought for a second, then realized what she was thinking about. She could never put her child in that much danger. "No. you better stay here and help grandma keep an eye on your father. Who knows what kind of trouble he'll get into. Him and Jonathon both."

Kerena laughed. But shortly became quiet. "Mom. Be careful. ok?"

Anna saw her daughter somehow knew her and Rick's plan. "I will sweety." She gave her a big hug. Questions will be answered later. Now was not the time.

"Making a little trip now are you?" A familiar voice came from beind her.

Kerena looked up past her mom and smiled. Anna smiled too and turned around. "Well hello there."

Katee's face was half smiling, half covered in disapointment. "Anna, you can't go to Karnak. They'll kill you."

"Not if I'm careful. Besides, Rick will be with me. He's done this many times before."

"Well, I can see there is no stopping you." She sighed and laughed.

"Damn right... Sooo. Where exactly are you right now?"

"About two miles away in the hospital in a coma." She said with no big deal.

"Has Meri seen you yet?"

"No! And she can't."

"I've been so worried about her, because I'm sure she's scared to death for you. I haven't really talked to her yet. I feel really guilty about it."

"Don't be. She's a strong girl. She knows everything will be okay."

"Annnna!" Rick's voice came from the stairs outside the hall.

"Coming!" She yelled back. She looked at her daughter again. "I'll be back in a few days hunny. Don't tell anyone where I'm going okay?"

"Okay mom. I promise." They hugged eachother again.

She looked up at Katee. "I wish I could hug you right now."

"This is good enough."

"Annna! Come on!" Rick yelled again.

"I think he's getting impatient." She kept a good look at Kerena. Taking in every moment of her. Se knew there was a small chance that she wasn't coming back. But she also knew she was going to kick these guys' asses and come straight home with her father. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, mom." They gave eachother one last hug, and anna headed to the door. "Promise not to tell. Our little secret."

"I promise. Now the sooner you leave. The sooner you'll come back. GO!"

Anna laughed. "Okay I'm gone." With that she turned out the door and left the room.

Kerena turned to Katee. "Will you watch her?"

"I will do my best."

"Sounds good to me."

As Anna walked downstairs she was met with Evy at the foot of the stairs. "Rick's acting very funny. Do you know what's going on?"

"No I can't think of anything. Where's Alex?"

"In the kitchen."

"Okay."

"Rick's out by the car waiting for you."

"I know." Anna became sullen. She started having second thoughts about all this.

Alex came walking in from the kitchen. "Hey hunny, you headed out?"

"Yeh, we're going for a drive." She said sadly not looking up from the floor. She was deep in the thought of what they were doin to her father at that moment, and what if she wasn't coming back.

Alex noticed her emotions. He walked toward her slowly and put his arms around her. "Don't worry. We'll get these guys, Anna. With all my heart. I promise you."

"I know." She hugged him back. She looked up to his face and gave him a kiss. She couldn't let herself utter the I love you words. She was too scared to. The reality of the operation was finally hitting her. hard. "I gotta go. Rick's getting impatient. I'm pretty sure of that."

"Okay. What time are you gonna be home?"

"I'm not sure. Don't expect a certain time okay?"

"Okay." With that she turned and headed out the door. she stopped and turned around again. "I love you." She said sweetly. Before he could answer she left.

"She's acting weird." He said to the room.

"So's your father." Evy was standing behind him. "I wonder what those two are up to."

Meri apeered at the kitchen door. She looked at both Evy and Alex, and the rest of the room then ran out the front door. "I think she wins that competition."

"Should we see what's going on?"

"Yeh let's go outside."

"Good Mornin Dad. Hi Grandma!" Kerena inturpted them from the stair case. She heard them talk about leaving so she quickly stopped them from doing so, thanz goodness she got there in time to interupt.

"Hey sweety." Alex said to her. "You're finally up."

"Yup."

Outside, Meri was standing on the porch watching Anna and Rick get in the car. She was trying to catch her breath. "Take me with you!" She yelled out to them.

Anna and Rick both looked up. "What is there an ad in the paper now. Who else knows where we're going?"

Anna debated the thought for a second. She looked at Rick for assurance. He nodded. She sighed and waved her over. "Come on." She said to her.

Merideth ran off the porch to the car. "I couldn't stay here alone worried."

"How did you know?" Anna asked her.

"Anna, I'm a little sister. I know the art of evesdropping. I used to listen to you and Katee gab all the time. I had the window open while you and Rick were talking."

Anna laughed. "I don't know whether to yell at you or hug you. Come on get in the car." She openned the back door for Merideth then climbed in her seat. Rick was in the drivers seat then they all took off. "Hey can we stop at the hospital first?" Anna asked Rick.

"Um sure.. what for."

"Katee is um.."

"Yeh of course we can."

Anna peered at the sullen Merideth in the rear view window. "She's gonna be fine. I promise."

"Oh I know that, it's just.. I dunno. I just worry too much."

"You have every right to."

A couple minutes later they pulled into the local hospitel. Rick was amazed at how small it was. It only looked like it had about five rooms. There was only a couple cars in the parking lot.

"Is Dr. Simon still here?" Anna asked Merideth.

"Yup. He's gonna be around forever. Follow me. Katee's this way." She led them through a door which led to a lobby. The lady at the desk looked at her and waved her through the other doors. As they were walking down the hallway, Merideth whispered, "That's Isabelle. She's the new receptionist. Boy, is she a pill. Every guy that walks through that door won't get past her for very long. Come one she's in room seven." They openned a door to a small hospital room. Katee was lying on the bed. She looked peaceful in her sleep. A window was open right next to her bed, and the cool air was blowing in on her.

Anna walked up to her bed. "Oh Katee.....We're gonna get these guy who did this to you. I promise."

Meri joined Anna. She knelt down and took Katee's hand. "Hey there. I know you can hear me. Whenever you decide to wake up, I'll be waiting for you okay? I know your watching us. You payed a visit once to us back in England. So, I can't be too worried about you. So everything will be okay now." Merideth was just spouting out all the jibberish that was on her mind. It made sense to her. That was all that mattered.

"Meri, didn't I just see you last night?" A high male voice came from the door.

"Hi Dr. Simon."

"And who are your guests?"

Rick tried not to laugh at his funny sxounding voice. "Hi. I'm Rick." He held out his hand to shake. The doctor did so.

Dr. Simon turned his gaze toward Anna, and lifted up his glasses. "My, you look awfully familiar."

"Well, I should Dr. Simon. You've been my doctor since I was three years old."

"I can't quite put my finger on it." He stared up at the sky, then over to Katee and Meri. "Oh wait a second. What other young lady would come see Katee? Well if it isn't little Anna."

"What if it is?" She laughed.

"You were always a little pistol. How many times did you break your arm falling off that tree in your yard 10? 20?"

"Only eleven. Once a year since I was five years old." Anna smiled proudly.

"Well, come give me a hug, child. Don't just stand there." Anna walked up to him and excitedly gave him a hug. "Hey now not too tight. I'm an old man now. I have week bones."

"Sorry." said Anna. "We can only stay for a few minutes. I'm so happy to see you."

"It's been eleven years since I have seen you. And you can only stay for a few minutes?" Simon was giving her a hard time.

"We'll be back. I'm sure of that." Anna said.

Just then, the receptionist came walking through the door. "I just came to see if everything is alright." She said.

"Isabelle, this is Anna. She's been a patient of mine for twenty-six years."

"Hello. It's nice to meet you." She said than she quickly turned to Rick. "Who's this handome man?" She walked toward him.

"I'm Rick." His voice cracked nervously.

"Hello there."

The two girls couldn't help but laugh a little. Even Dr. Simon was trying to cover his smile.

"Uh Hello. It's nice to meet you. Isabelle is it?"

"Yup."

"I'm married." He said spontaneously.

Isabelle quickly became uncomfortable, as was Rick. "Oh. How long have you been married?"

"Thirty two wonderful happy joyous splendid years."

"Well, I'm very happy to hear that. I'm uh going back to my desk now." She exited the room.

The whole room was laughing. "See what I mean." Merideth told Anna.

"Yeh. I get it now." Anna said between laughs.

Rick was standing on the other side of the room embarrassed. "I think we should get goin now." He said seriously.

They all stopped laughing out of respect, even though they really wanted to. "Yeh your right." Anna said. "We should. We only have six days left and I have no idea how we are even gonna get there."

"We can call on our old friend, Izzy again."

"That guy scares me." Merideth said.

Rick laughed. "He scares everybody."

"Alright I guess we're off then. Dr. Simon, I'm sorry we have to leave so soon." Anna said.

"Not a problem dear. You have to promise to stop back okay."

"It's a promise." She said.

"Bye. Dr. Simon." Merideth said to him.

"You come back too."

"Of course I will. Take care of my sister."

"I wouldn't dream of not."

The three of them walked out of the door, taking their last look at Katee. "See you soon, hun." Anna whispered softly so no one would hear it. Rick tilted his head at Dr. Simon for a goodbye as they left. In the lobby. Rick hid behind the two girls in order not to be noticed by Isabelle. They all got in the car and drove off toward the air port.

The chatter in the car on their way was filled with old memories. Anna and Merideth talked about days spent growing up, how they acted when they were little kids, things they did, special events, funny memories. For two hours their spirits lifted higher and higher. Rick also enjoyed hearing about it. It also gave him something to tease them about later.

"Well, we're here." Rick said as he pulled into The Magic Carpet parking lot. "Now to find Izzy." He openned the gate slowly. The place was empty. "Anyone here?" He yelled out loud. "Izzzzzy?" He yelled again. He turned around to face the girls as he walked backwards. "I don't see a sign of anyo-" His sentence was cut short as he tripped over something on the ground and stumbled to the floor. He looked to find that he stumbled accross a man. "What in the world?"

"Oh my God." Anna said outloud. Merideth covered her eyes behind Anna's shoulder.

Rick crawled over to the man on his knees and turned him over. "No one I recognize." He said.

"Is he dead?" Merideth asked.

Rick felt for a pulse, then noticed alot of blood on his shirt. "Yeh."

Merideth had walked over a small ways around a corner. "Oh my goodness look. They're everywhere."

Rick soon joined her. "What the hell happenned here?"

Anna joined them. "Oh dear." There was about twentyfive bodies laying scattered on the ground.

"Izzy?" Rick yelled again. He walked out into the feild of bodies searching each one. Anna and Merideth stayed behind. Merideth still wasn't watching much. "I don't see him anywhere. I guess we should take this as a good thing."

Anna was too, searching around with her eyes. "Rick." She said. "Look." She pointed to a nearby desk. Under it, Izzy was crouching down hugging his knees, covering his ears.

Rick made a worried sigh and walked slowly over to him. He crouched down touching him on the shoulder. "Izzy?" He said.

Izzy jumped far out of his sitting spot, hitting his head hard on the desk. "I don't know anthing I swear!" He yelled covering his head. When he openned his eyes, and saw Rick standing before him, he leaped up out of his seat and lunged toward him grabbing his collar. "There were fifty of them, O'Connel!" He yelled loudly. "Fifty! They killed all my men! They were looking for you!" He yelled in hysterics. Rick couldn't get Izzy off of him, so in the last resort, he punched him to the ground. Izzy put his hand to his cheek in pain, but it immediately calmed him down. "Ah. Thankyou" He said a little less hysterical.

"Don't mention it any time." Rick replied. "Now what the hell happenned? Who was here?"

"I don't know it was a big blur." He started talking fast. "There was about fifty men on horses. They came barging in. One guy. He looked like he was in charge asked me about you. I immediately told him I have no idea what he was talking about. I got the notion that he didn't belive me when his men came charging in with swords killing all of my men incase one of the was you. So I lost thirty men because, of you O'Connel. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Did he say anything else?" Anna called from afar.

"Oh you brought more visiters, did you?" Izzy said.

"Just answer the damn question."

"He told me to give you the message that he was looking for you. Something about less then a week left to show yourself."

Rick, Anna, and Merideth exchanged glances. "Izzy," Rick started. "How are you feeling?"

"Gooood. Why? What do you want from me now?" Izzy sighed.

"Well, I can see you are back to your old self." Rick patted him on the back. "We need the dirible." He declared.

"All right. I'll get right to it." Izzy sighed. He didn't want to argue. "Follow me." He led them around another corner to the dirible. "Always handy when you need it right?"

"How is that, by the way?" Rick asked.

"Well there is about four of them now. One's in London. One's in Sweden. And one here. I can't remember where the other one is at the moment."

"That's a very good idea."

"Yes they are quite popular." All four of them got into the air balloon. Izzy cut the ropes off the sides, and they flew off. "So where are we off to?" He asked.

"Karnak." Rick answered him.

"That will take us about four days, just to let you know. This one's not as fast as the original."

"Why do we have to cut everything so damn close in time?" Rick asked retorically.

-_~-_~__~-_~-_~-_~-_~__~-_~-~_-_~-~-`-_~-_~-_~__~-_~-_~__~-_~-_~

It was now nine o'clock at night. Everyone expect Rick, Anna and Merideth were at the mansion. Alex, Evy, Jothon, and Kerena were sitting in the livingroom waiting for any sign of the gang to show up.

"I'm so worried." Evy said. "What time did they say they were coming home again?"

"Mom, you were there with me, remember? Anna said don't expect a time." Alex said impatiently. "Hunny," He turned to Kerena who was sitting on the floor. "Did mom, say anything to you about what time she was coming home?"

"Nope. No clue on the time, Dad." It wasn't a lie, She thought. She didn't know the actual time they were coming back, no matter if it was a week from now or not.

"I wouldn't be too worried." Jonathon started. "The old girl can handle herself. And Rick is with her. I'm sure she's fine."

"Meri went with them too, right?" Evy asked to whoever would answer.

"She left the house when they left. It's only assumed. I'm pretty sure though." Alex answered her.

"I can't get a hold of her." Gabai came walking in from the kitchen door.

"Which means she either isn't aswering on purpous, cut the communication block or...." Ranen started then his voice trailed off.

"Or what?" Evy asked.

"Or she's really hurt." Shalem finished. "But there is little chance of that. We would know it if something happenned."

"Are you sure?" Alex got up out of his seat.

"Yes of course he's sure." Jonathon answered. "You are sure right?" He asked the uncles.

There was a pause before they answered "Yes we're sure." Ranen answered.

"How do you guys know?" Evy asked.

"We just...do" Shalem answered.

Kerena started crying. Alex walked down toward her and held her in his arms. "It's okay hunny. Just because we're acting all crazy and worried, doesn't mean anything has happenned. Mom, grandpa and Meri should be coming home any minute." Kerena nodded knowing full well it wasn't true.

"Excuse me." She got up. "I'm gonna go to bed early." She wasn't tired. She just had to get out of that room. She walked out without a goodbye or goodnight to anyone. Alex yelled out a goodnight to her, but she didn't answer. All she could think about was how her mom was being so stupid. How could she leave her like that. It wasn't fair. When she got in her room, she decided in order to keep herself from thinking about, she would read something. She pulled a random book out of the bookshelf, flipped to a random page and started to read. "Oh my God!" She said, then read out loud.
"The night and the sun together as one will perish.
The moon and the day will soon fade away,
willing the star to fall down afar.
causing the world will be controlled by no god ever before."
She put down the book. "No way." She read on to find more.
"The chosen ones come from a long line of ancestors. Two magi's will represent the day and night. A kartoosh on the first magi will slowly disapeer indiscating he is the day. This is a legend that was told by many around the dining room table. The tale soon became 'boring' to those who told it and heard it, thus slowly disapeering itself." She put the book down again. "What kind of book is this?" She asked herself then bringing the book back up to read. "More of the story goes that the offspring of the two magi's are keys to the fifth apocolypse. They will then bear a child who will be the inheritor of all evil and the leader of the new world." She read more on the book. "Okay so how can we stop this? How will they get together. Tell me something!" She yelled to it. She read on. "No one knows how to make of this story. 'well isn't that nice?' This is only the interpretted version. How and when have yet to be answered. Rest asure. It is only a mere fairy tale." Kerena stopped reading. "Fairy Tale my ass!" She said. "I'm this inheritor of all evil and it won't even tell me how? This is completely stupid." She decided that she should bring the book down to her great uncles to decifer. She left the room and went downstairs. "I think I found what you were looking for." She yelled out to them. She ran brought the book for them to read. The three uncles crowded around the book. Shalem was in the middle holding it.

"Dear God, how on earth did you find this?" He asked.

Kerena shrugged her shoulders. "I picked up the book, and just... turned to it." She told them.

"Well if that isn't some sort of sign then what is?" Ranen asked.

"What is it?" Evy asked. The uncles looked up to find her, Alex, and Jonathon all looking at them with wide eyes wondering what was going on. Shelm brought the book over, and showed it to Evy. She took it and took one look at it. "Oh dear." She sighed. She read on more.

"What's it say old mum?" Jonathon asked.

Evy read out the entire page Kerena did upstairs. Jonathon held his hand out asking for the book, and Evy gave it to him.

"Can't it be a little more useful?" Alex asked.

"Useful?" Gabai asked almost annoyed. "This is as useful as it comes, my boy."

"Well, why do these guys want to do all this, when Kerena will be the one who will control everything." Alex asked changing that subject.

"Maybe they think they can manipulate a child easier." Ranen put his thought in.

"Well then they obviously aren't a parent." Alex added his input. Then smiled at Kerena.

"Hey now." Kerena got the joke. "I'm not that bad." Alex gave her a funny look. "Well most of the time."

Evy walked up to Alex and leaned her chin on his shoulder facing Kerena. "She obviously takes after her father." Alex laughed making Evy get up. "She's an angel compared to how you were."

"He takes after his mother." Jonathon added in, then quickly hiding behind the book so he wouldn't look Evy in the face trying not to laugh.

"Alright I'm guilty too. He has more of Rick's wild side than I do."

"Well Kerena has alot of Anna in her."

"Then it's settled." Evy declared. "It's all Anna and Rick's fault.

"Alrighty then." They shook on it.

There was a pause of a few seconds. Jonathon was still reading. "Boy it's a good thing nobody is at Karnak right now. I hate to see this all happenning."

Kerena's face went from a smile to almost crying again, but she held her ground promising not to tell. Besides, if her father went, it would complete the square and like whover it was said, all hell would literally break loose, and would be in her. She should just trust that her mom and two grandfathers will be perfectly fine. The other's will figure out where they went soon enough when they still aren't home tomorrow. By the time they get to Karnak, the whole 6 days would be over and there would be no use. Her granfather's and mother would have already kicked butt, and everyone will smile and hug then yell for being irrisponsible, then hug some more. She could picture it now. Then she started picturing something else. Her mother not coming home. Her two grandfather's dead.

"Hunny what's wrong?" Alex saw the look on Kerena's face. She was deep in thought, and didn't look happy about it. He went to put his hand on her shoulder. When he did, a wave of images swept through his mind. This time of Anna and Kerena sitting on the bed talking with Katee with them. He could see Anna in the dirible with Merideth, Rick and Izzy. He saw how scared she looked, but felt her determination along with her fear. Then felt Kerena's fear, then felt Kerena's importance of her secret. He felt her lonely and crying inside. He felt her need for strength. He saw how much the whole thing was scaring her. He had forgotten that she was still a little girl. Being told that her parents are keys to an apocolypse, and she would be an equivalent of a satanic figure was really harsh on her. All this swept through his mind in a mateer of two seconds. The only thing he thought of to do was hold her in his arms and let her cry on his shoulder, because she was about to burst out. And she did. He took her by the hand and led her upstairs in to her room. He picked her up and sat her on the bed. He stood up, and looked up to the ceiling and around the room. "Okay Katee. I know you're here. Come on out."

"Yes. I'm here." Katee apeered. The first thing she saw was Kerena crying on the bed., then Alex's worried face. "What's going on?"

"Where's my wife and my father?" He yelled frantically.

"Dad. Calm down." Kerena said pitifully.

"No I will not calm down. Did they go to Karnak?" There was no answer from either of the girls. "Jesus Christ!" He put his hands on his head.

"Alex. There was no stopping Anna. When she's determined, she goes for it no matter the consequence." Katee explained to him.

"So what do we do now?" He sat on the bed next to Kerena. "I can't tell the others. Mom would have a heart-attack." He turned to Katee. "Will you go to her. Tell her to come back."

"I can try."

"Don't tell her I know though. I want her to decide for herself."

"Okay." With that, she faded away.

-_~-_~`-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

The night air was getting cold to everyone in the dirigible. The girls were laying inside looking up at the stars. Rick was snoring loudly in his corner. Izzy was captaining.

"We should have packed before we left." Meri laughed.

"I agree with that." Anna laughed back. But her laughs were too fake to be taken.

"Everything will be fine, Anna."

"I know, I'm just scared."

"Like you said to me, you have ever right to be."

Anna laughed. "Yeh."

"Anna." Katee voice came from behind them

"Oh my God! Katee!" Meri got up quickly. Katee motioned for her to sit down.

"Hi Katee." Anna said.

"Anna, you must not go!"

"Oh no, not this again please."

"They'll kill you." Katee pleaded.

"We don't know that for sure. I'd rather not sit home and have them kill my father. I'd rather do something about it."

Katee sighed. She looked over to Meri who was in tears with seeing her sister. "Don't cry, please." She smiled

"Katee, why don't you wake up?" Was all Merideth could think to say.

"I can't. Trust me. I have tried. Atleast this way. I can see everybody."

"You are going to wake up aren't you?" Merideth said quickly. Katee didn't say anything. "Katee."

"Of course I will." Katee quickly changed the subject. "Anna, Meri, you can't go to Karnak."

"Well aparently we can, because we are!" Anna got snooty.

"Fine. I tried. Don't blame me, when the world goes to hell!" Katee yelled back. This woke up Rick and got Izzy's attention.

"Woh! What-the! Who?!" Izzy had to look three or four times before he made sure that someone new was standing in the boat. "Alright, what's going on?" He yelled?

Katee and Anna were too busy in their own argument. Yelling back and forth at eachother. "Will you two stop actinging like children!" Meri yelled. "You never fight what's getting into you two?" But her words were brushed aside by the two angry ladies.

"ENOUGH!" Rick's deep loud gruff voice yelled, stopping the yelling. "Thankyou." He said quietly, and went back to bed.

"I'm goin. Bye." Katee exclaimed. "Bye Meri. Listen." She looked at Anna. "Be careful okay." Then disapeered again.

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Ooooog! She makes me so mad sometimes." Katee said reapeering in Kerena's room. Alex and Kerena were still sitting on the bed.

"I take it she didn't listen." Alex stated.

"Then you are a very wise man."

"Alright. I'm going after them." Alex said.

"No daddy you can't!"

"Alex think about what you are saying."

"I can, and I have thought. I can't stay here when my family is out there risking their lives. I have to help."

"Nonononono. You're sounding just like Anna now."

"Dad please don't go." She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"I have to sweetheart. But I will wait until tomorrow morning when everyone is still asleep."

Kerena burst into tears again. She got from her bed and openned her bedroom door waiting for him to leave the room. Alex just sat on the bed dumbfounded. "Dad leave right now. atleast my room anyway. I'm going to bed, and tomorrow you are going to be gone. I won't tell anyone I promise. Just please.. go." She said angrily.

Alex was crushed. He got up from the bed and left the room. Kerena slammed the door behind him. And went to sit down on the bed again.

"What was that about?" Katee asked her worried.

"Reverse psychology. Maybe if I make him feel guilty, he'll stay." She said happily.

"You're good." Katee said.

"Oh I know." Kerena said proudly.

"Look you get to bed okay. It's rather late for a nine-year-old."

"It's not late. I'm usually up way past this." Katee gave her a stern yet playful look. "But I am tired. Sheesh, since when did you become my mom?" Kerena laughed.

Alex was walking downstairs slowly contamplating his move in the morning. Evy ran up to him. "You're dad, Anna, and Meri aren't back yet! What do we do?"

Alex just brushed her aside. "Let them come back when they want to come back." He said.

Evy noticed he was acting depressed. "How's Kerena doing?"

"Just lovely." He said sarcastically.

"How are you doing?"

"Just lovely." He said again.

"Okay, Alex, snap out of it!" She yelled.

"Why should I?" He snapped at her. "Sorry." He said.

"It's fine. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm going to bed." He said, and turned around to walk upstairs.

Evy turned to Jonathon. "Are we the only sane ones in this family?"

Jonathon looked back at the three uncles who were still looking at books, and looked back up at Evy. "Yep." He got up towards her. "Don't worry Evy. This is a crazy time for all of us. Everything will be back to normal again soon." He sat her down on the couch, and sat next to her.

"Oh I know. I just wish they would talk to me for once."

"I'll tell you what!" He said suddenly. He turned around to look at the grandfather clock and then back at Evy. "It's only about 10:00. I say you and I get out of this house and go for a drink."

"Jonathon!" Evy acted astonished. Then acted serious. "I think it's a wonderful idea, but we can't stay too long. By the time we get home, everyone else should be home."

"Alright, let's go." Jonathon said. He looked over at the uncles again. "We're headed out. Not sure what time we're coming back." He said to them. They didn't look up from their books and just waved them off.

"Hold on. Let me go tell Alex where we're going so he doesn't get worried." She ran upstairs to his room and knocked on the door.

"Come on in." Alex called. Evy openned the door to find Alex laying on the bed fully dressed with no covers. His legs were dangling over. He looked like he was thinking. "Uncle Jon and I are going out for a drink." She said. "We won't be late."

"Have fun." He said without any emotion.

"That's it. have fun? Aren't you going to give us a hard time?"

"Have fun. Not now. I'd join you, but I'm.. tired."

"Okay. goodnight hunny." She shut the door, and ran back downstairs to Jonathon and they headed out the door.

Alex watched out the window for a few moments. After he watched the car leave, he grabbed his jacket. He took one look at the uncles who were consumed in their own books, and one last look up the upstairs, debated about whether to leave Kerena or not. He decided that Kerena could take care of herself. He needed to go after his wife. He openned the door walked out to the car. He just realized as he got in that these people sure did have alot of cars to use. It was no matter. He found the key in the dash board, and drove off to the airport. The first place he'd they would go. Ten minutes later, he arrived there. Seeing the other car in the parking lot, he breathed a sigh of relief but also became very tense. It was night time, and the whole place was completely dark. He shuddered to think of what or who might be lurking around. "Anna." He whispered out. "Dad." He walked up to the open gate. "Okay Alex get a grip on yourself." He went inside walking very slowly. "Anna." He called a bit louder. "Anyone he- Oh ow" He was stopped short tripping over a large hump in the dark. In a closer examination he discovered it was a dead man. "Oh cripes what happenned here?" He said out loud. He got up quickly from fright and continued to walk. His eyes adjusted to the light as her turned a corner. Coming into focus was the sight of about thirty men lying on the ground dead. "This is not good." He tiptoed though each of them checking them all. Fear was sweeping through his body as he was in wonder that his father was one of these men. "Dad? ... Anna?" A million and one thoughts were forming in his head. Did they kill Rick and kidnap Anna and Meri. Where did they go? What happenned here? Where's Izzy? The silence was deafenning to him. He couldn't take it anymore. They only place with answers would be Karnak. And that's where he was determined to go. The only problem now was to find a mode of transprtation. Off in the distance he saw the plane he travelled here in. His memory was coming back to him. "Now.. Where did Izzy put those keys to get inside? Aha! The desk." He walked over to a nearby desk. (the same one Izzy was hiding under earlier) He openned a drawer and low and behold. Keys. He took them and ran to the plane. He unlocked it and got inside. "I hope I remember how to do this. It's been ages since I took flying lesson's." He flipped up a couple randon switches and lights came on. "Okay now it's coming back." He flipped up some more, and turned a few nobs. Before he knew it, he was driving the plane then taking off. "This is fun." After a couple minutes he was floating and flying in the air. "Now.. Where the hell is Karnak?"

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~_-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Thankyou so much Jonathon for taking me out. I needed to get out and be freeeee from everything that has been going on." Evy was holding a bottle in her hand sitting at the bar with a very amused Jonathon.

"Evy, I think I had a little too much there." He laughed.

"Nonsense! I fellll perrrfectly fine." She took another drink. Jonathon just continued laughing.

As the bartender walked by Jonathon and Evy, Jonathon waved her down. "Check please."

"Right away sir." She took one look at Evy and then back at him. "Shall we be calling a cab?" She asked honestly.

Jonathon was offended, but didn't show it. "No that's alright."

"Okay sir. You're check's on the way."

"Are we leaving so soon?" Evy asked.

"So soon. Evy, we've been here an hour. You've had 9 drinks. Very strong ones might I add. We said we wouldn't be out for very long. I intend to keep that promise."

"Pbrrrsh. Let them wait and worry. It's about time they do it for us." She dropped the bottle to the floor and it crashed into peices. "Oops." She laughed. "Oh well." The waitress came back, and gave her a strange look. She handed Jonathon the check. "What are you looking at huh?" Evy started to yell.

"Evy, I don't think you should be doing that." He handed the waitrss some money, grabbed Evy by the arm. She was still staring down the girl, and walked out the door. "Okay home we go."

"Home." She sighed. "I want to go home."

"Well, mansion scary castle place. We'll be home in a week."

"Oh." She said unhappily. "Okay!" This time giddy.

He put her in the car and they both drove off to the mansion. Evy had fallen asleep in the car, and Jonathon carried her up the stairs into her and Rick's room. He noticed that Rick still wasn't back. "You better be home tomorrow morning, when she wakes up. You're dealing with her hangover. Not me." He put her on the bed and tucked her in the covers. "Good night Evy. He whispered in her ear." She just smiled, as if she heard it in her sleep. He shut the door soundly in order not to wake anyone up. The uncles must have gone to bed, he thought. They weren't in the book studying place when he came through the door. As he tiptoed to his room. he heard a slight quiet whimpering. He listenned closer, and discovered it came from Kerena's room. He walked quietly toward the room, and openned the cracked door. He saw Kerena's silouette laying in the bed facing the opposite direction. She was crying. He walked to her a little more. "Kerena?" He said softly.

"Daddy?" She turned and asked suddenly wiping away her tears hoping to see her father standing behind her. But to her dismay it was Jonathon.

"No sorry, hunny. It's just me. I can go wake your father if you li-"

"NO!" She whispered loudly. "No. That's fine. Let him sleep."

"Okay. no problem." He studied the girl's weary and sad face, and walked to the bed to sit down next to her. "You wanna talk about it?" He asked sincerely.

"Nah." She said a little happier. "Thankyou though." She said sincerely back to him.

"Alright. I'm here anytime you need to, okay?"

"Ok Uncle Jonathon." She raised up out of her bed to give him a hug, and then he layed her back down.

"No more crying now okay?" He flicked away a fake tear. "Now you get to sleep. It's late. Listen to me, this mess will be over with soon enough. There is no need to be afraid. With our family, we could fight anything." He smiled. This actually conforted her. She smiled back to show it. He rose up off of the bed and went over to the door. "Sweet dreams." He said as he closed it.

-_~-_~-_~__~-_~__~__~-_~-_~-_~__~__~__~-_~_~-~-_~-_~

"Riiick?" Evy moaned. She was laying in bed unable to open her eyes. She could see the light through her eyelids, but her head was throbbing too much to bear it. She felt the other side of the bed and found no one there. "Rick. Where are you?" She finally made herself sit up in the bed and open her eylids. She withstood the pain and looked around the room. "Rick are you in here?"

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~__~__~-_~-_~-_~__~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~--

Alex had been flying all night. He found a map under the seat and judged the directions by the moon. He was dead exaughsted, but refused to give up.

-_~-_~-_~__~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Ah yes. lovely morning isn't it?" Izzy called out to the sleeping boat.

Anna wiped the sleep from her eyes. The first thing she layed her eyes on was the beautiful sunrise. "It's wonderful." She said in awe. she suddenly felt lonely. Her husband wasn't with her to see it. It would be something he would love to experience. She had experienced them her whole life. She forgot how beautiful they were.

Merideth was the next to wake up. The first thing she saw was Anna's sad expression. She looked to see what Anna was staring at and realized why the sadness existed. "They haven't changed a bit."

Anna was still in her daze. "I can see."

"Morning everyone!" Rick called out to the boat.

"And what brings you in such a happy mood this morning?" Anna laughed bringing her mood up.

"Oh.. I don't know... Just this wonderul feeling in the air." He breathed it in. Merideth and Anna looked at eachother trying to figure out why he was acting so weird. "Oh come on now.. For the next couple days, we're stuck with eachother.. Might as well have some fun."

The girls rolled their eyes and laughed.

-_~-_~-_~-_~__~-_~-~_-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"Riiick.." Evy still moaned. She realized that he was no where in hearing distance. She forced herself to get out of bed. She found her robe, put it on, and tied it over her nightgown, all the while trying to forget about the throbbing and the queaziness. She walked outside into the hall way, and down to Jonathon's room. She open the door to hear quiet snoring, then shut it quickly realizing he was still asleep. She next ventured into Kerena's room. She assumed the girl was still asleep. She had her back to the door and was not moving. After Kerena's room, came Alex and Anna's room. She openned the door to find absolutely nothin but the bedroom. Nobody was in there. The bed was neatly made, and everything was in its place. "Aha! finally someone awake." She then walked down the steps. As she came to the living room, the three uncles were sitting around reading yet again. This time the morning paper. "Hello there." She said quietly.

The three looked up from their reading material, and nodded respectively. "Well goodmorning Mrs. O'Connel.. Sleep well?" Ranen asked. Evy nodded painfully trying to hide it out of embarrassment. Ranen noticed this and slightly chuckled to himself. "Would you like some of our family tea to cure that ailment of yours?" Gabai and Shalem heard this and also chuckled to themselves.

Evy blushed. "Thankyou that would be very nice."

Ranen got up out of his chair and put his paper down on the small table next to it. "Here sit down. It's coming right up."

"Again, thankyou." She said. He nodded and left the room to the kitchen. Evy sat uncomfortable in her chair. The other two men were busy reading the paper. She just sat and staired into space. Finally she noticed there was no Anna or Alex.. or even Rick for that matter. "So.. where is evryone? Did they get up early and go get breakfast?"

Shalem and Gabai looked up from their papers confused. "We haven't seen anyone. I thought they were still upstairs asleep." Gabai spoke.

"No.. I just checked their rooms. No one's there. Kerena and Jonathon are asleep. The rest are gone. I'm not sure about Merideth. I didn't check on her."

Shalem and Gabai looked at eachother trying to read eachother's thoughts. "Ranen..!" Shalem yelled to the kitchen.

"What?" He asked as he openned the door and looked though.

"Has anyone come downstairs at all this morning?" Shalem asked.

"Not that I know of.. why?"

"Because not many of our guests seem to be in their beds." Gabai spoke in.

Ranen looked confused and panicked. "Have you checked around the house?"

The other two looked at Evy for answers. Evy responded. "No that thought didn't come to me. I thought they were all down here." The all looked back up at Ranen.

"Then that solves it." Ranen replied not believing what he is saying. "Anna's probab;y giving them a tour of the other half of the house."

"There's another half?" Evy asked astonishedally forgetting about her missing family.

"Yup. If you go through the door at the end of the hall, it leads to another staircase, which then goes down into another level which just has a bunch of extra rooms." Ranen replied. There was a gurgling noise behind him. He turned around to see what it was then jumped back in when he realized. A couple seconds later he came back outside with a mug in his hand for Evy. He handed it to her. "Be careful. It's a bit hot."

Evy excepted it carefully. "Thankyou." She took a sip slowly. "This is delicious! What is it?"

"It's a secret.. sorry. can't tell." Ranen told her jokingly, yet he was serious. Evy looked at the other two, the motioned sarcastically that they didn't know.

"Well fine then." She laughed then sat back back into her chair. Ranen took the end of the couch next to Gabai. Evy continued on her tea. "I can feel it working already."

Upstairs, Kerena was wide awake, thinking about the dream she had that night. It terrified her. She saw her own mother getting killed by lightenning bults, her grandfather Ardeth slashed throught the throat and her father and grandpa hanged. She knew it wasn't a dream. It was the future.. or the present. The shock was all over her that she couldn't get up. She lay in bed shivering in a cold sweat. Then suddenly, the adrenaline swept over her. She made up her mind. She had to tell somebody. Secret or no secret. She shot up out of bed like a bult of lightning, sped outside and down the stairs into the living room where Evy and her three great uncles were talking. "THEY'VE GONE TO KARNAK!" She started hyperventalating.

Evy shot up from her chair. "What? Oh my God!" The uncles just remained seated not surprised. Evy went over to Kerena. "How do you know this?"

"I just do." She calmed down a bit, but Evy's nervousness wasn't helping much. "Mom and grandpa went. When dad found out that they did, he went after them."

"Oh my God." She turned to the uncles. Her headache had now completely diminished. "What are we going to do?" He took Kerena and put her arm around her shoulders for comfort and to calm her down.

The uncles remained calm, yet the air in the room shifted to a slight anger. "We warmed that girl." Ranen grumbled. "Alright.. what to do...." He turned to the other two. They shrugged. "No clue." He told her.

"Well if they left yesterday, when will they reach Karnak?"

"Two days." Shalem replied.

"We have to go after them. That's my family out there." Evy said impatiently.

"Mrs. O' Connel, if we leave now, we won't make it in time." Gabai said, then paused as if trying to think of the right words for the next sentence. "We have a mosre faster way of getting there." He struggled.

"What's that?" Evy asked.

"Have you ever heard of teletransportation?" Shalem asked nervously.

"A telewhata?" Evy asked confused. She thought for a few seconds. Then it dawmed on her. "In books, she answered. Isn't that where..." It dawned on her more. "Oh my God!" She sighed.

-_~-_~__~-_~-_~-_~-_~__~__~-_~-_~

"Anna, hunny. I'm coming. Why didn't you listen to us?" Alex had plenty of time to think in his plane ride. He kept picturing his first vision of his wife. The lightning bults. "You're gonna get yourself killed. It's gonna be my fault. My fault for not stopping you."

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

Anna was sitting by herself on the edge of the dirigible, staring out into the sky. "This was a bad idea." She told herself. She closed her eyes and pictured her daughter and her husband back at home in England. "I just want to get this whole thing over with." She sighed. "Kerena's probably told the whole world now that we're gone. I wonder how much of a headstart we have." She moved her gaze down to the floor.

Back on the deck, Rick and Merideth were talking. "She doesn't look so good." Rick said looking up at Anna.

"I know." was all Meri could say.

"Once this whole thing is over with, I'm going straight home and never leaving again. I've had way to many little trips in my day."

"I know how you feel." Meri empathized.

"Oh YOU know how I feel? Do explain."

Meri hesitated for a moment to bring it up. "When we were all little, Anna and Katee were always seeing things. Like people getting injured or killed. in their heads. We'd always go and help them. And some of them were pretty far away." She stopped for a moment and laughed. "Those were some fun times." Rick couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or serious. "What about you, what types of adventures have you had?"

"Well... other than scarabs, scorpinions, and walking talking dead guys, we've had kidnaps, chases, a couple apocolypses...."

Merideth laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately... yeh."

-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~-_~

"So.. you're telling me we're gonna teleport ourselves to Karnak? I'm a bit confused." Evy asked.

"It was our original plan." Shalem explained.

"How do you do that?" Evy's curiousity and interest had come over her.

"How is a hard question to answer. You'll igure out sooner or later." Gabai told her.

"So what are we gonna do? Wait here for two days while our family is out there alone?" Now, Evy was agitated.

The three paused for a second to think. "That's what we have to do." Ranen answered.

"Well, can't we go to them now?"

"I'll go!" Kerena suddenly exclaimed. She waited for an answer. "Please?" She continued to wait for an answer notiving everyone's facial expression. "I'm not crazy. You have to admit, I'm the only one who's really in the middle of all this. If one of you go, it will just make them more angry. And you want to know how they are. I can give a pretty good report." Now she saw that everyone was actually thinking about it. "Please, they're my parents. I want to see them."

"If you go, and get hurt.. I don't think so. It's really dangerous." Ranen answered.

"What's the danger in just going and coming right back?"

They all conitnued to think. Finally, Ranen sighed. "You have got to have the biggest adventurous siprit, I have seen in a child. Come on child." He led her to the couch. The rest followed.

"Who do you want to go to first?"

"Dad." She had to talk to him.

"Okay then." Ranen closed his eyes, and and snapped his fingers.

Out of no where, Kerena found herself in the back of a plane. She sa