Watching Dad give Mum a boost up to the ceiling was more than amusing. The first part was easy, she stepped into his hands and he lifted her. The fact she had no balancing skills in that position was what made it funny as she nearly fell over his shoulder. Dad ended up getting a finger up his nose, his hair pulled and a knee to the chin which had him shouting out all kind of things at Mum and our situation. Logan shook his head, warning me not to laugh as they fumbled and putting away my diary, I pulled him over towards me.

"Let me get on your shoulders." I stood up as he nodded, and sure enough, I was soon just out reach of the roof. "Can you pass me that torch please?"

Showing off now, Logan slowly squatted to pick the long handled device and passed it up just as Dad stumbled backwards and hit the hall, dropping Mum in a not so delicate manner. The pair rubbed their sore spots, glaring at each other and us as I used the end of the stick to poke around. It was pretty solid and as Logan got me down, there was no missing the smug look on Dads face. After seeing what he had been doing, Alfie reared up and using his spikey tail, started to hit at it too; nothing happened.

"What?" I snapped at Dad, unable to stop myself.

"Nothing."

"Real mature. Got any other ideas?"

Dad looked thoughtful for a moment, before his shoulders slumps and he slid down against the wall.

"Maybe you can find another button to push?" Mum asked sarcastically, sitting down beside him.

"I made a mistake okay, sorry! I didn't even push it, it just kind moved when my hand ran over it- That's it! It's all done on sensor!" He got up quickly, snatching the torch from my hand as he passed and holding his hand out in front of the wall, waved at it as he moved.

It looked even more ridiculous than what he and Mum had attempted minutes earlier, but with a sigh, I started mimicking his actions - we all did and it was Mum who got the walls moving this time as a rush of cool air sent the sand into a flurry around us.

"Come on!" She called, grabbing her pack, Alfie was at her side as the pair went on down the corridor. Annipe didn't need to be told twice, following after them with the rest of us dropping in line behind.

We were careful not to touch anything, each step slow and cautious with Alfie leading the way now and Annipe managed to fall behind. I think that was to do with something Alfie said to her as one look from him and she was just as alert as he was. When she joined our life, Alfie told me I was her master, but I really don't think that is the case at all. He created her, and the way their species works, the creator is the one who has control. Glancing back at her now, the white scales look blue in the artificial lighting and no matter who has ownership over her, I'm glad she's there.

We get to a dead end, but the wall is lumpy enough we should able to climb up. Alfie still can't transport himself anywhere, so the climb is being made that much more difficult or at least I thought so until he and Annipe replicate what Logan and I did, and do a weird kind of climb up on each other thing. Actually it's more like what my parents did with the awkwardness of Annipe climbing up Alfie, a little too tightly as she coiled around him. He grunted and even hissed as she vanished up the wall and her tail tightened just below his head as she then lifted him with her. None of us moved until Alfie's head poked back over the very top of the ledge.

"Safe for Elise." He called out softly, yet thanks to the tunnel it echoed down to us easily.

Dad and Logan went to make the climb first and I quickly pushed in front. "Ladies first."

Dad mumbled something I didn't quite catch, but I don't think it was nice so didn't really care. The first part was pretty easy, but as we got closer to Alfie, the lumps smoothed and became even more varied. After nearly falling twice, I was starting to ache as every muscle in my body was tense. Sweat dripped down from my forehead and the backpack felt like it was made of bricks. As soon as he could, Alfie reached down and pulled me up the rest of the way, doing the same with Mum before the guys came up.

"That. Was. Exhausting!" I complained, still breathless.

We were all struggling and a series of grunts sounded in response. Alfie came to my side and nudged me softly. My arms felt like jelly as I patted the top of his back, and I ended up leaning on him as I got my breath back.

All at once we seemed to take a look around the room we were now in. Four different beams of light darted through the darkness to reveal nothing and we started walking around with caution.

"The air seems, fresher here." Mum noted.

"You're right. It's cooler too." Dad agreed.

Annipe was by my side, with Alfie sticking near my parents. There was complete silence, except for the stop thud of our steps and the rustling sound of the snakes sliding over the sand which lightly covered the floor. Logan stopped walking and turning to look at him, he started moving towards the side.

Following the light, there was some kind of table and looking closer the way we had been going, more shapes and things were revealed.

"I kind of feel like I'm in a real life Tomb Raider situation." I whispered to Logan as he looked over the dust covered furniture.

"Maybe you are." He teased, lifting up a cup for closer inspection. "Shame you aren't wearing those little short shorts and-"

"I think we've found something." Dad called out.

Logan put down the cup and we headed over to where they now were. I didn't realise we'd fallen so far behind as we ran towards them and the structure they had their lights shining on was rather impressive. It was a throne, well two of them actually - side by side, made of marble with gold designs etched into the stone. All around the steps up, something had been chiseled into the platform and leaning down to look closer, I wiped away some of the dust to find a crocodile, well more like hundreds of them in the artwork.

"This must have been a dining hall." Logan mused, looking back behind us where rows of tables and benches filled the space.

"I've never seen anything like it." Dad followed me up the steps as I took in the designs around the chairs.

"Sobek. Look up there." I shine my light up higher onto the wall and sure enough, the carvings of the crocodile headed god looked down on us.

"They must have worshipped him."

"Or really like crocodiles."

Dad and I look over the carvings, unable to understand it. Neither of us knew much about hieroglyphics, well none of our group did. Alfie seemed to, but I realised he was simply looking at it all with the same interest he has in the stories I tell him from mythology books.

"Can you understand it Alfie?"

"No, but Elise read it to Alfie?" He asked hopefully.

"I can't. I don't know how." I can see his disappointment, so try to improvise a little. "But, I do know what this one means."

Pointing out the big carving of Sobek, he nods. "That's Sobek. We met him, remember?"

Alfie nods again, leaning in closer to me now, listening intently.

"And this is the story of how he saved the people who was have sat right here, thousands of years ago!" Alfie was loving this and I took a seat, cringing how cold the stone felt underneath me. "Sobek fiercely defended his people and when the King nearly drowned in the Nile, it was Sobek who saved him. In return, he asked that monument be built in his honour and so it was done. The people would come to feast, celebrating the life of their king and the one who saved him for many years and-"

I stopped as Logan came to stand at the bottom of the steps. "What?"

"Nothing, just listening."

Alfie turned to hiss at him, unimpressed at the interruption.

"Then be quiet. Anyway, so for years this was a place to celebrate all that Sobek had done for these lands for the King was kind and righteous and the people prospered under his rule."

"Did they live happily ever after?" Logan teased.

"Yes, well until Cleopatra came along and that Alfie, is a story for another day." I finished.

"Now, Elise!" Alfie insisted.

"Sorry, but we gotta get out of here first. Then we'll have more story time, I promise."

He frowns and nods, sliding down past Logan to join up with my parents who were looking at something else near the other end of the room.

"Is it just me, or was that a weird way to get in here?" I ask Logan. "I mean, this is clearly a dining hall of some kind but we had to climb our way in. I can't imagine that being the norm."

He comes and sits beside me. "True. I did see some sketching in the wall we were climbing up and around the opening. Pretty sure more than one of those symbols are some kind of marker for the underworld as well as a few crocodiles. Maybe they threw people down there to make sacrifice to Sobek or something?"

"Makes sense considering we got in there from his chambers. Not just a pretty face are you Logey?"

"Took you this long to realise?"

"If you two are done over there, I think we found a way out of here!" Mum calls out.

Logan gets up and starts down the stairs, stopping to turn around and extends his hand to me. "Come on your highness, let's keep moving."

I get up and slip my hand in his, letting him guide me down the stairs and don't let go as we start to head over to the others. Alfie starts to hit at the enormous set of doors and sure enough, the old wood cracks and then splinters enough for Mum and Dad to help him push it open.

"Looks like you get out of all the hard work." Logan winks as we walk on through, and he helps me step over the debris. Not that I needed help, but it was a nice gesture.

"I could get used to being treated like a queen. Be a good servant and go back to fetch my throne!"

Logan snorts, unamused before leaning in close. "Yeah right, but when we get out of here, I'll be happy to treat you like a goddess."

He kisses me and I feel nothing I should. Something about hearing him say those words sends a shiver up my spine and he freezes, instantly seeing his mistake. "Bunny, I - that's not, sorry."

I fake a smile and give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I know. It's just me being, stupid."

We keep walking, and yet he's holding my hand so much tighter than he did before.

) O (

When we made it back to the throne room, for the third time, I refused to keep going. We weren't getting anywhere and the only thing that was happening was our ability to deal with one another, disappearing.

"We're missing something." Mum decided.

I left them arguing over our next move and went back to the thrones. In one of Alfie's stories, there had been secret passages linked to certain items. The chairs were very impressive and with Alfie's help, we started to tap on the wall around them. When Alfie got a bit of an empty thud in the space between the two seats, I went and knocked again - something was definitely not right about that section.

"Guys, I think-"

I screamed as the ground swiftly moved, the wall flipping around and taking me with it. I dropped my torch, lost Alfie and thankfully I still had my pack. I didn't dare move and the air on this side was thick and old, but that wasn't what was kept my still. It was the crawling, scratching sound that sounded from above me.

Slowly I reached into my pocket, pulling out my phone I flicked on the torch setting; closing my eyes as I did so as I was terrified of what I would find. Of course I had to, and looking around, I froze at the sight of the tomb in front of me.

Not quite what I was expecting.

Looking behind me, there was no sign of the door and the scurrying sounds faded out to nothing so all I could hear now was my heart pounding. So I was now alone, with a tomb, in the dark, with no idea how to get out. Things could always be worse, or at least that's what I kept telling myself.

Keeping the light trained on the floor, I headed over to the tomb. Hesitantly I reached out to touch it, surprised at how warm the gold case actually was. The skin on the back of my neck prickled, and stepping away from it, a tapping started from within.

"Shit!" Turning back the way I came in, I started to pound on the wall. "Alfie! Logan! Hello?"

The undeniable sound of stone scraping on stone sounded from behind me, and I froze mid hit. The scurrying sound started again and visions of a tomb full of those flesh eating over-sized cockroaches had my heart stopping. These kind of places are full of all kind of booby traps so what the hell had I just stumbled into?

Slowly turning around, the light on my phone went out so I was left in total darkness. This did nothing to comfort me as my mind went wild with all kind of crazy imaginings that I now blame Alfie for since everything I know about Egypt came from the stories I'd read to him and the movies we had seen. Was I about to meet a Mummy?

Carefully I felt around behind me, creeping low so I could hide in a corner - only that became pointless as the tomb started to glow, sending even creepier shadows all around the room. The roof continued to slide off, the grunt of effort heard from within before it stopped. I held my breath while my blood rushed through my body like it too wanted to escape and get the hell out of there.

"El-eee-ze!" The creature within wheezed; a cloud of dust rising up from the darkness as a figure began to sit up. "El-eee-ze!"

This was it, I was going to die by being eaten alive by a zombie mummy and I honestly did not see that one coming. I was almost convinced it was going to be flesh eating bugs.

The glowing light flickered slightly, and for a second I did wonder if this was all a prank. It was like I was stuck in a bad c-grade movie, like the Mummy five where they get university actors to play distant relatives of the original characters with a budget that barely covers the casts lunch let alone special affects. I really need to cut down on how much TV I watch, and as lights flickered on and off, like someone had a flash light and was clicking the button, the Mummy was there sitting up one second, standing outside of its tomb the next.

In the next blink, I found myself staring eye to eye, well eyes to eye with it. Yes, it. It could have been human once, but between rotting bandages, bone and missing eye - there was little resemble who ever had been put to rest in there.

"El-eee-ze!" It wheezed with breath just as rancid as the rest of the stench that came off it and I felt the burn at the base of my throat. Throwing up right now, might not be the greatest move, but it's all I could think of to stop me from losing my shit completely.

"Yes?" I answered weakly, still cowering in my corner.

"Come."

The limping, slow moving thing started to move back towards its tomb and I followed. At least until it walked into a wall and vanished. My stomach sunk even further at the thought of having to through a portal.

"Great." I mumbled, looking around. Maybe there was a weapon or something I could use in the tomb?

I barely took a step back before a bony hand latched onto my arm and I was pulled through - just as I saw the wall slide open with Alfie coming. instantly I reached out to him, trying as best I could to fight off the hand, but he was seconds too late as I couldn't stop the thing from dragging me through with it. The room instantly disappeared and I was left staring at my own reflection.

"No!" I screamed, frantically feeling the mirror for a way back.

Spinning around, the Mummy is now void of his rags and deteriorated state; looking every bit as human as I am. His skin is darkly tanned, with a thick mass of black hair that looks like someone would have spent hours carefully braiding to its current state. Gold bracelets cover his arms, and the rags have been replaced with a fresh piece of cloth that remind me of those super comfy harem style pants the Kasha had also worn.

This guy isn't a big man; taller than me, but he is more like Jordan - toned and not heavy with muscle. I think I could take him if we had to fight and instantly my fist curls in preparation.

"Where are we?" I demand.

The room is small, only giving us a couple of arms lengths of space between each other. A mirrored wall is behind me, and I wonder if the portal is always there or had been only temporary. There is nothing else in here though, the floors are compacted dirt and the other three walls look much the same. Somewhere above us is a window and as if to confirm this for me, a subtle breeze fills the space.

There isn't a door.

"You want this, yes?" He asks slowly - thankfully in english too.

Holding out his hand, the sword I had come for appears and looks much more at home in his hold than it would in mine. Despite that, there is just something I feel like I am missing; more than being here in this room with who ever this guy is.

"Yes."

"You think you are worthy to possess such an item?" If I didn't know better, I'd think he was being a little sarcastic with his tone and I give him a nod. "Why is that, woman?"

"I've used it before."

I don't even know when I stopped feeling scared, but my fear has left me and all I want is what I came for. If I have to through the Mummy, so be it; woman or not. Taking a step closer, his dark eyes narrow with obvious suspicion before he starts to laugh. I'm glad he did that, because it only helps my confidence and my own suspicions.

"You should know, since you saw me use it." I challenge and this silences him instantly. "Come on, Cain. Your theatrics back there were impressive. Hand it over."

He spins the sword around easily, sheathing it in the holder around his waist. "How did you know?"

"Just a feeling. I want that sword."

"Why? Planning on killing me with it, Hunter?" Cain mocked.

"I can't say I haven't thought about it and since when you go through other realms?"

"This place is neutral. I have no issues coming here, unlike certain, well known werewolf territories." He glares now, and I don't have to think hard about what he's talking about.

"Miss me?" I smiled.

"Hardly." Liar. "If you want this sword, you have to do what everyone else who has come before you has to do."

He looked too smug now, like he had won a game I didn't know we were playing. That was stupid of me really, there is always something going on as far as Cain is concerned.

"And what is that?"

"Earn it." He raises his palm and one of the walls gives way to reveal a narrow staircase. "See you in there."

"In whe-" I'm alone before I can finish and since I don't have a choice to do much else, shake my head and go down the stairs.

) O (

Standing in the arena, I know I've been here before. One of the dreams I had when I had been recovering in Fiji had started just like this. The wooden benches are empty, yet I can feel the eyes of the audience on me all the same. I walk to the center, knowing that was what is expected and above me dark purple clouds roll over the sky taking away the bright light of the sun.

Lightning flashes to my left, and looking up Cain is standing there with my sword, but he isn't alone. They're just shadows, pretend people only here because he wants to give me an audience. This is a test, one he has been training me for and once again I contemplate killing him.

"Elise of the Hunters, choose your weapon." A voice booms through the silence, as loud as the thunder that follows it a second later.

I was wrong. We're not alone.

Lightning forks down from the heavens, and in it's place a person remains; glowing just as bright as the bolts they arrived in. The mood changes, I can feel it. Sense it. They're all curious and a soft murmur interrupts the silence; like they're politely discussing what is about to happen.

Something that resembles demon Alfie emerges from under the tower Cain is watching from. It's slimy and a trail of black goo appears behind it as it pulls an old fashioned cart towards me. Without thinking I take the double sided axe, twisting it around as Cain had done with my sword minutes before. The crowd gets a little louder now.

The demon retreats with the weapons and Cain raises his arms, like an emperor commanding his people.

"She seeks Sebek-Ra's sword." He declares, placing it down on the mantle in front of him.

The crowds don't whisper anymore and I catch bits and pieces of their words, but the one they say the most and that has them so panicked is this; god-killer. Then it changes, and this wasn't in my 'training'. Fear I thought I had conquered has returned, and spinning around, the lights of each person are glowing brighter, angrier.

Kill her.

They chant it like some people cheer for their favorite football teams and I look up to Cain. He wasn't serious, was he?

As if sensing my question, he appears in front of me with a neutral look on his face. I'm tempted to end him now, see how the crowd likes that.

"Fight well, Hunter." He speaks softly, yet I see the flicker of uncertainty cross his face.

"Fuck. You."

His lips curl slightly, his eyes bright with amusement. "You will not fight?"

"I'll fight you. I want that sword Cain."

"So determined. Why, why do you want it?" He taunts.

"It's a god-killer right? Maybe I've found a new profession." I snap.

"Big words for a little girl. I have no doubt you will come into the possession of that sword. This, is so they know to fear you as they fear me. In case you have a change of heart, here is some motivation."

"Elise!" Mum screams from above.

Looking up to where Cain had been standing, the shadow people come to life as my parents and Logan. Where is Alfie and Annipe?

"Like I said, fight well Hunter or they die with you."

"You planned this, all of this, didn't you?" I raise my axe, set to take him on.

Cain boldly steps closer, and I freeze as he reaches out to push a strand of my hair back from my face. "Not all, you flatter me. I didn't make you go after the sword Elise. That was your decision, and the rest just, happened, from there. Do me proud Hunter."

He disappeared, soon standing beside my mum and dad who looked like they were fighting restraints to try and get to him.

"Sit, enjoy yourself!" He laughed, and they robotically with Logan joining them at the front.

It was then the ground began to tremble and the crowd went silent. I had no choice other than fighting if I wanted to survive this so as the dirt caved in and the giant lion like creature emerged, I let out a scream Gladiator style and charged.

It took swipe of its paw to send me flying across the arena and I didn't move right away, earning a round of cheers to come from the stands around us. The creature stalked closer, already breathing heavily and the metallic aroma of blood seemed to arrive with it. Rolling onto my side, I lost my weapon and as we made eye contact it roared; blasting my ears so I could barley hear anything.

"Not. Nice." I mumbled, and my words seemed to startle it. "What?"

It looked at me, tilting its head to the side looking more like an overgrown kitten for a second before it roared again. This time I covered my ears. So was that its plan; make me deaf?

The crowd started to boo and once again I was flying through the air. That cheered them up. I managed my fall better this time, rolling so I was quick to get back to my feet. Seeing my axe not to far away now, I sprinted towards it; ignoring the pain in my hip. Skidding in the dirt, I grabbed it and raised it just as the lion thing crashed onto me.

I barely missed its jaws, but wasn't lucky enough to miss its claws and one nail managed to run down my thigh. Thankfully it wasn't deep and as I dodged each lethal talon, I couldn't seem to actually hit the beast. Being so close I could see two tusks coming out each side of its mouth and that it's tail was like Alfies' - covered in spikes and deadly. Every part of this thing seemed to set on destroying me, even the smell felt like it was choking me.

Every time I went to strike, it had me trying to defend myself instead. There was no counter-attack, I couldn't work out any weaknesses. That wool like mane wasn't as soft as you'd think either and my arm was left grazed and bleeding as I had no choice to touch it was I barely managed to roll out of the way yet again. I'd never seen a creature like this before, not in a book or my dreams - I was out of ideas, not that I really had many to start with.

It felt like we went on for hours; maybe we did. The creature was breathing as hard as I was and since I had managed to cut it's paw, it was favoring that leg more and more. I got in a few more cuts and started to wear it down. Like any tired, hurt being - its attacks were getting desperate, and I could only pity this thing that had been sent to here to die. I was positive Cain wouldn't have let me do this if he didn't think, or know I would win.

That said, I wasn't doing much better. If this was all meant to make the crowd fear me, I was doing a terrible job. I now just focused on staying out of its reach, trying to come up with some kind of plan because that's totally what I do. Not dying was high on my list of preferred outcomes or even not dying and my parents and Logan being okay would be even better. So how to make that happen...

The ground began to tremble once more and I froze, turning to center to find my plan coming to life. Alfie emerged first, the smaller form of Annipe right behind him and the crowd cheered as the pair of them looked my way and rose up, ready to strike. Relief washed over me as Alfie hissed; not at me, but at the other creature and all three demon animals charged for me at the same time.

So I ran at them too and as Alfie turned last second to take out the lion creature, Annipe dove my way, her body wrapping around mine as she carefully grabbed me. Acting like a shield, she took the bulk of the hit as Alfie tripped the enemy so he fumbled our way. Just as quickly, she let me go and I saw Alfie didn't just trip the beast, but managed to snap his front leg in half. It roared in agony, not even turning to fight back now and again I only felt pity for it.

Alfie hissed again, raising his tail as he planned to serve the final blow and I ran to stop him.

"No! Don't kill it!" I ordered.

Alfie stomped his tail down right beside me, the impact of it hitting the dirt sending a tremor up my leg as he hissed at me; clearly pissed off.

"Alfie save Elise!" He snapped. Yup, he really wasn't happy.

"You have Alfie!" I assured him, limping closer to hug him.

Annipe put herself between me and the beast, glaring at it as Alfie checked me over. With those two with me, I wasn't worried any more and the silence that greeted us from the audience had me ignoring them completely. With my demons right behind me, I walked closer to where Cain and my people were watching.

"I win. The sword, now!"

Cain actually looked amused before pointing behind me. Reluctantly I turned around and the lion was covered in the same bright light that the crowd was. The shape grew bigger, and I had a feeling my attempt at showing mercy was about to backfire on me big time. Alfie trembled with rage, I could feel it; taste it pouring off him and even Annipe rose up, ready to strike as she mimicked his actions.

The lion was now supercharged and fully healed, but that didn't matter because the second it took a step our way my snakes went for the kill and I let them. Annipe set her tail it's shoulder, tightening her form around its neck as Alfie used his size advantage to wrap around the beasts back legs so he could lift it and the attention of Annipe. Her mouth widened, biting over its muzzle as the pair of them managed to crush and suffocate the new and clearly not improved demon.

When they returned to my side, the crowd gasped as I patted each of them, praising them for a job well done. Alfie was quick to give up his spit; which I wasn't thrilled about until I felt the healing begin and Annipe kept herself around me like I had trained her to protect me. I hadn't. My goal had simply to get them to listen to me when I tell them to get out of the water and not steal soft drinks from the kitchen at the Academy, but no one needed to know that.

"Elise of the Hunters, you have earned your prize." Cain declared, and the sword hovered in the air before falling down to my height.

The second I reached out and took hold of it, the atmosphere changed. They weren't curious of me anymore, eager to watch a fight. They were outraged that he had kept to his word, that the 'god-killer ' was in my possession, but more than that, in between their angrily whispered words and threats I heard something else.

Cain had achieved what he wanted to by doing this, because now they feared me.