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The next morning, girls woke up early to find Mordecai waiting in the kitchen with small hiking backpacks filled with supplies and two spare outfits for each. "Well, girls, you impressed? Told ya I could do it." He said with a very proud look on his face. "We have a plane waiting at a small airport whenever we’re ready to leave. "You’d think that there wouldn’t be any vampire pilots, now wouldn’t you? Well, I’ve got news for you, there’s quite a little network of immortals all over. Told you I could get stuff together."

"I’m impressed." Said Aurelia, all smiles. She walked over and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Colette turned away, disgusted. "Well, I’m ready to go. Min… Colette?"

"Whatever." Sighed Colette.

"Ready when you are." An enthusiastic Min replied.

"Let’s go then, sweetie. We can get something to eat on the way to the airport." Aurelia picked up her backpack, marched through the door, and dragged Mordecai behind her. Min followed; Colette sighed again, but followed nonetheless.

It was a long, silent flight to Cairo where the group was going to start their quest. The only sound was Aurelia sighing or giggling as she nestled into Mordecai’s arm to sleep. Colette slept most of the flight, too. Min and Mordecai went over preparations for their journey and finished translating the scroll’s directions.

When they reached Cairo, Mordecai said a friendly goodbye to his friend and reminded him not to tell anyone they were with him. "It might not end up well, my friend. I’ll get in touch with you when we need a return ride."

"Understood, Mordecai. You be careful. I’ve known you too long, buddy." With that, the pilot left.

"How old are you, Mordecai?" Aurelia inquired.

"Why?"
"Just curious, that’s all."

"Well… let’s see… I became an immortal during the medieval ages… so… Aack. I’ve been around for too long. C’mon babe, let’s get going."

Mordecai had also been able to arrange for camels to be waiting for the group. They got them, and after teaching Aurelia and Min how to ride and steer the camels, the quartet set off in search of the Blood Emerald. They rode all day without a hitch, and continued riding for a good part of the night. They stopped when they came to a lovely little paradise in the middle of the desert.

Aurelia had fallen asleep earlier in the trip, so her camel was tied to Mordecai’s camel. She woke up, startled, and begged Min and Mordecai to let them stop there. They obliged. Everyone hitched their camel and went to get fresh water from the enchanting oasis.

Aurelia had taken off her sandals and was dipping her feet in the cool spring water when Mordecai walked over and took a seat next to her. He put his arm around her shoulder and they sat there and looked at the stars for a while. "Wow…" said Aurelia. "You can see all the stars out here. They’re so beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as someone I know."

"You dork, you used that line already." Aurelia teased, tossing sand in his direction.

"I did?" He asked and scratched the back of his head in mock confusion. "It’s been a while since I’ve had to use pickup lines before… I’m a little rusty, sorry." He shot her a sheepish grin and Aurelia sighed sadly. "What’s wrong, Lia?"

"How badly does Colette hate me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard her yelling at you… I know how she feels about me, about us. I think she may have had a bit of a point, though."

"Yeah, maybe the one at the end of her nose… Aurelia, don’t let her bother you. She’ll get over it. She always does…"

"You mean there’s been other girls like me?"

"Yeh… I mean-- NO! No, not like you, but there’s been other girls that Colette’s gotten upset about. None of them ever meant anything to me… I just used them to help Erich or to make Colette jealous… but you’re different. That was a long time ago…"

"You’re old… right?"

"I already told you, babe, I’ve been around longer than I can remember. I’ve seen more in my lifetime than most people should. I don’t even remember what really living is like." He looked at Aurelia, "You’re lucky… you know that? So is Min. You’re living, and she hasn’t forgotten what it is to live. She will eventually, though. That’s part of the curse of it all. You can live forever, but you forget what it is to really live…" He sighed and lay down in the sand. "I’m sorry… I’m being depressing."

"No… it’s ok, really. I want to hear more. Do you remember who you were before… before you became immortal?"

"Yeah…"

"Will you tell me about it… please? I want to know."

"Alright…