Chapter Fifteen

Day 40.

I snatch a random food package off the shelf and hold it up to the flickering light, squinting as I scrutinise it. My face falls the moment I turn it over. The writing on the back of the mustard-yellow pack is 100% Egyptian, and therefore 100% illegible to me. I groan to myself and resort to shaking the packet in a weak attempt to figure out what the hell is in it. It crackles like a box of loose jigsaw pieces, the pieces ricocheting off the edges of the packets with dull echoes. My eyes narrow even more.

Perhaps it's some sort of dry food? Maybe dried noodles? I suck in a sharp breath as an idea hits me. Ooh, or beef jerky?! I would kill for some beef jerky right about now.

Before I manage to uncover the preserved perplexity in my palm, a raised voice suddenly pierces the air, achingly familiar and terrifyingly feral. I flinch, my eyes widening.

Crap. I thought I had more time than that. I still haven't decided what the hell this food is. I glance back at the packet, my nose crinkling. Or if it's even edible.

There's another loud shout, this time in a much lower and testier tone. That gets my attention. Cursing under my breath, I glance around surreptitiously before hastily shoving a couple of the packets in my pockets and scurrying away.

Yes, that is correct. I, Kiara Collins, am officially a self-confessed thief. A self-confessed thief who has no idea what she just stole. There's a sense of irony in that, I swear.

I hurry out of the store and duck around the corner, heading to the back of building where I'd left the rest of my party. The raised voices I'd heard earlier grow in pitch and frustration the closer I get, until I'm practically being deafened by their conversation.

"— mythological creatures! How has it taken us over three weeks to even get a whisper of where they are?"

"They are creatures who have adapted to the art of a perfection camouflage, Hazel." Ahmose snaps, sounding exasperated. "Trying to locate a creature that adept at hiding in plain sight is no easy task."

"I don't think you quite understand how vital it is that they are mythological creatures! People aren't just going to bat an eyelid at a creature they think isn't real, Mummy-boy! They're going to scream it from the top of the freaking pyramids!"

"It is highly offensive to climb the pyramids. No person in their right mind would undertake such a feat, even those from your generation."

"Those from my generation? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what you suspect it means. You have a complete disregard for the importance of the most sacred things."

"Excuse you, you mouldy mound of bandages, I am an aspiring archaeologist! I have the biggest regard for sacred things!"

"Guys!" I jump in between the two of them, not liking the murderous expressions on either of their faces. My gaze flits between them as I give the two of them a stern look. Hazel doesn't react at all, her expression never wavering from it's deep-set scowl, but at least Ahmose has the good sense to look a little sheepish. "You both need to calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down?" Hazel exclaims. "Did you not just hear him insulting me to my face? He is just asking me to whip out my karate moves!"

"Yes. Calm down. And you haven't learnt karate since you were twelve, so stop acting like you're a pro at it. You didn't even get past your yellow belt." I retort, shooting her a hard look and pushing her back when she surges forward again. "We are all tired and hungry and at the end of our tether, alright? We're not going to get anywhere if we end up killing each other over a small misunderstanding."

"A small misunderstanding?!" Hazel starts up again, her expression thunderous. I slap my hand over her mouth before she can release any more poisonous insults in Ahmose's direction.

"Hazel, I get that you're frustrated with him. Trust me, I am too." I tell her. Ahmose makes a quiet noise of dissent behind me. "But he's trying just as hard as we are, okay? It's not his fault that the cockatrices are hard to pinpoint. Like he said, they're not exactly the easiest things in the world to track."

Hazel scoffs, and folds her arms over her chest. Thankfully, she doesn't push the issue further. "Did you get food?"

"I was trying to. Then you two tried to start World War Three." I retort, fishing the packets I'd nicked from the store out of my pockets and holding them out to her. "That's all I managed to find before I had to stage an intervention."

"Seriously Kiara? Dried noodles, again?" Hazel groans. "Would it kill you to get anything that's different for a change?"

"Do you know of any other nonperishable foods that are easy to find and steal in these tiny little Egyptian towns?" I shoot back, folding my arms defensively over my chest. Hazel harrumphes, scowling at me and snatching the packets out of my hand. Muttering under her breath in Chinese, she reluctantly shrugs her pack onto her back and stalks away.

"I so do not have enough food in my belly to deal with this." I mumble, massaging my throbbing forehead as I grudgingly trudge after her.

Picking up my pack from off the ground, Ahmose slings it over his shoulder and noiselessly falls into step next to me, ignoring my small noise of protest at his actions. I duck my head so my hair hides my smile, my heart quickening in my chest.

"I am sorry, Kiara."

"You don't need to apologise, Ahmose. Like I said, we're all tired. Everyone has a considerably shorter temper when they're tired. And have been trekking through Egypt for 27 days with no end in sight." I laugh a little. "You know, when you said you would tell me what was going on once we'd beaten the cockatrices, I didn't think it would take literal months."

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. I stifle a giggle when the sand permanently dusting his hair causes it to stick up like it's full of putty. Man, we could all do with a decent shower right about now. "I'm sorry for that as well, Kiara. I did not think it would take this long to find the cockatrices. It has never taken this extended amount of time in the past."

"Yes, well, I think we can both safely agree that this time is not like the others." I respond dryly. A strange look fleets over his expression. "I still understand your reasoning Ahmose, but it's getting more difficult to keep my questions at bay the more time passes. I still have no idea how to control this Isis-power-thing I have, and I know you know more about that than you're letting on. I almost blew Hazel up last night when she snuck back into the tent. I thought she was an anubite."

The corners of his lips twist up. "She does have a rather dogged appearance."

I give him a dead look. "That's not funny."

"I know." He sobers up. "This time will be different. The cave is the most probable hiding spot for the cockatrices."

"I would really love to say I'd trust you Ahmose, but you've said that the last twelve times." I reply. "What makes you think this one is any different?"

"Divine intuition." He replies, but doesn't elaborate when I scrunch my face up at him in confusion. Before the question leaves my lips he catches up to Hazel and reaches for the packet of food in front of her. She hisses and nudges it out of his reach.

"You get to eat when you get us to the monsters, Mummy-boy."

"Hazel." I give her a look and kick her gently. "Don't be petty."

"I'm not being petty." She retorts. "This is negative reinforcement."

"I am not some animal you can train." Ahmose replies shortly. Hazel shrugs and moves the food even further away.

"Challenge accepted."

Ahmose tries really hard to keep his annoyance in check. The scowl that appears is the manifestation of his failure. "You forget that I have my halqa. I am nowhere near as powerless as I was previously."

"What are you going to do?" She asks, raising an eyebrow at him. "Smite me?"

I sigh quietly and snatch the packet out of her grip before she can stop me. Their eyes follow the packet of food like two starving dogs, grudgingly meeting my gaze when I shake the packet manically at them. "Can we please go one day without you two bickering like schoolchildren? I literally just told you to quit yelling at each other five minutes ago. We have more important things to discuss than negative reinforcement."

"Sorry Keeks." Hazel mumbles, flashing me an apologetic smile. "What did you want to talk about?"

"What do you think?" I ask, rolling my eyes at her non-committal shrug. I hand the packet to Ahmose, ignoring her small exclamation of protest. "How about how we're going to defeat this thing if we actually find it this time?"

"It is not just a 'thing'." Ahmose replies, smirking triumphantly at Hazel. We all resume walking again, passing the packets of food between ourselves every few seconds. "There will be more than one. The cockatrice prefers to travel in small packs for protection."

Hazel gapes at him. "Why have you not mentioned this previously?!"

"You have never asked."

"Okay." I hastily speak up before Hazel can even open her mouth. "Ahmose, why don't you tell us everything you know about the monsters we're supposed to beat?"

"Well, he doesn't have to tell us everything." Hazel snorts. "We do know some things about the cockatrice."

"Speak for yourself. I'm not an archaeologist obsessed with mythology, or an ancient Egyptian who lived the mythology."

"It is not just mythology." Ahmose replies instantaneously. Hazel nods in agreement, pointing at him.

"Honestly Keeks, we can't be at this point in the expedition and have you still thinking that mythology is just mythology."

My gaze jumps between the two of them. "I take it back. I like this even less than you fighting. You two teaming up is just unnatural."

Hazel laughs. Ahmose grins rakishly.

"Stop." I moan, dramatically covering my face with my hands. I peep out at them through my fingertips. "Your cheeriness is overwhelming me. I don't think I can take it much longer."

"You complain about us arguing, and you complain about us getting along." Hazel taps her chin in pretense thought. "Tell me Miss Collins, how exactly are us schoolchildren supposed to please you? By being horrifically mundane?"

"Yes. That. Be horrifically mundane." I click my fingers at her and grin toothily. "That way you don't impinge on my territory. I'm supposed to be the bright sunshine-y one, remember?"

"Who told you that? Your mother?" She teases. I shove her.

"Don't you bring my mother into this. The conversation is horrifying enough as it is without her scaring it into submission."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Your mother is a delight." Hazel widens her eyes. "As delightful as a cockatrice, one might say."

Hazel and I pause at that, suddenly remembering there's a third member to our party. We both turn to see Ahmose watching us, his forehead furrowed and his expression riddled with perplexity. We burst out laughing. His forehead furrows even more.

"What is so funny?" He asks, confusion lacing his tones.

"I'm sorry." I bite my lip, attempting to contain the laughter bubbling up through my lips. "Tell us about the cockatrices, Ahmose."

Ahmose grunts and crosses his arms over his chest. Grinning cheekily, I dance over to him and nudge him.

"Ignoring me is just going to annoy the both of us, Ahmose." I say, nudging him again. "I know the know-it-all in you is itching to show off, and we're almost nearing the cave you think we'll find the cockatrices, so..." I shrug loosely. "You kind of have to tell us."

He sighs, rolling his eyes as he looks down at me with a small, rueful smile. "You are worse than an eabith, Kiara."

"Thank you." I beam. "What is an eabith? Is that a good thing?"

He shakes his head, chuckling. "I thought you wanted to know about the cockatrice."

I narrow my eyes at him. "I do, but now I want to know exactly what it is that you're calling me."

He blinks at me, the picture of pure innocence. "You know exactly what I called you. You said it yourself."

This time I don't nudge him, I full on shove him. "Don't you dare get sassy with me."

"Why?" He arches an eyebrow at me. "What will you do? Out-sunshine me?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing. I could totally whip your ass with my bright and sunny personality."

A piercing noise of disgust erupts from Hazel, and she pushes her way between the two of us. She places her arms on our shoulders and forcefully shoves us as far away from each other, eyes narrowed into slits. "Stop your gross flirting and tell us about the damn trial. I don't want to die when we stumble across Medusa's children."

My cheeks warm. I mumble a sheepish apology as I look over at Ahmose. The smirk on his face has me blushing even harder. He amusedly obeys Hazel's barked request.

"The second trial is one that tests intelligence. Just like—"

"Wait, if the second one tests intelligence, what the hell did the first one test?" I interrupt, my forehead furrowing. "Whether we were ready?"

"No." He shakes his head. "It tested intellect."

"How is that any different?"

"Kiara." Hazel silences me with a look. "Questions."

"They're relevant questions!" I retort indignantly.

"Not right now they're not." She replies, patting my arm reassuringly. "You can ask him when the lecture's finished, okay? The class needs to do more learning first."

I pout, folding my arms grudgingly. "Fine."

Ahmose chuckles at my childish discontent. "Just like the first trial, it will not be easy, and we will not be able to prepare for it. It is designed to push us to our very limits."

"Push you, you mean." I say softly. Ahmose pauses momentarily, his eyes glazing over.

"Yes. Push... me."

"Yes, yes this is all very interesting. But what about the cockatrices?" Hazel asks impatiently.

"The cockatrice is a creature that has been around for hundreds of generations. It is no bigger than a small alkalb, or as you call it, a..." He pauses, wracking his brains, "dog, and has the appearance of a two-legged serpent with the head of a rooster. And, of course, it can turn anything to stone with it's mere gaze."

"Well. That's not a terrifying thought at all." I say wryly. "How exactly do we beat them, then?"

"I do not know." Ahmose replies frankly. A shadow crosses his face. "I have only ever passed this trial once, and even then it was by pure fluke. Every other time..." He clears his throat, his gaze lowering to the ground. "It is rumoured that you can defeat a cockatrice with it's own reflection, but I have never had the opportunity to test that theory."

My breath catches in my throat as realisation dawns on me. This trial... it's what's always reset the cycle. He hasn't been able to defeat the cockatrices properly.

"Well then." I force out a light-hearted chuckle in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I guess my mother really is a cockatrice. She never really has liked walking past her reflection; I guess I never really knew why until now."

Hazel manages a small smile at that, but even she's at a loss for words following Ahmose's revelation.

"What's our plan then, Ahmose?" I ask. "If we do find the cockatrices, what are we supposed to do? How do we beat them and pass the trial?"

"Don't look them in the eye."

I laugh nervously. "You're kidding, right?"

A shadow flashes past. We all freeze.

"What was that?" I whisper, my throat closing up. Hazel and Ahmose exchange a glance, drawing closer to me.

"I really want to say a bunny," Hazel replies lowly, swallowing hard. "But I can see a cave in the distance."

Another blurry shape darts past.

My heart leaps up into my throat. I instinctively grab Ahmose's hand.

"Ahmose, what do we do?"

"I'm working on it." His fingers tighten around mine. "But whatever you do, don't look them in the eye najmay."

A low hiss echoes around us, sending icy shivers down my back. A third shadow crosses my vision. Then a fourth. Then a fifth. Then suddenly everywhere I look, we're surrounded by the most bizarre-looking creatures I've ever seen. The body is that of a slithering Egyptian cobra, barely bigger than a large cat, with two small legs holding it upright and two similarly sized wings sprouting from the middle of it's back. It's head, just like Ahmose described, is of a black rooster, with two glittering eyes regarding us in it's cunning gaze. It looks like the bizarre offspring of an even more bizarre union between a snake and a chicken; yet one look at it has fear trickling down my spine. I quickly lower my gaze to the ground and speak in a low tone to the others.

"Figured out that plan yet, Ahmose?"

His tone is constrained with simmering frustration. "Not quite."

"So, no." Hazel mutters. "It's no wonder you've failed so many times in the past, Mummy-boy. Do you know anything about this damn curse?"

"Sahirat muzeaj." Ahmose grits his teeth.

"This is not the time to fight you two!" I hiss. "Look, I have a theory, but I need to take a look."

"Kiara, no—!" Ahmose immediately begins to protest, but I'm already looking up before he can get another word out.

Everything happens in a moment of seconds. The moment my eyes leave the ground, a cacophony of hisses echoes around me, like an orchestra building up to the climactic moment of the piece. The cockatrices all raise their heads at me in one terrifying singular moment, their gazes boring into me like lasers as every single one of them tries to catch my own. Before any one of them can, I lower my head and squeeze my eyes shut, my heart thudding away in my chest. Ahmose explodes next to me.

"Why would you do that, Kiara?! Do you even fathom how dangerous that was?" He yells, roughly whirling me around to face him. When I cautiously peek open my eyes, I'm shocked speechless by the vast array of fiery emotions bubbling in the golden depths of his. "One look, that is all it takes. One look, and you would be dead. Why would you be so unbelievably stupid as to tempt fate like that for nothing?!"

"Because we needed to!" I exclaim. "Ahmose, we are surrounded by them! How are we supposed to beat them without looking at them? And, by the way, it wasn't all for nothing, thanks for asking. My theory was right."

He growls in frustration, gently grabbing my face and looking me dead in the eye. "One look. One look najmay, and you could have died. I will not let you put yourself in danger like that again, you understand? I will not lose you." His voice cracks, raw with emotion. "I cannot lose you. Not again."

My breath catches in my throat. I stare at him, his words echoing in my mind. I cannot lose you. My voice comes out barely above a whisper. "Ahmose, what are you saying?"

"Uh, guys?" Hazel suddenly speaks up. Her voice is so odd that it shatters the bubble that had encapsulated Ahmose and rips my attention away from Ahmose. My heart stops.

She's looking straight at a cockatrice.

"Hazel." I whisper, my heart in my throat. Ahmose's hands drop from my face. I step forward. "What are you doing?"

"I—well—you guys were fighting over something that could be easily fixed, so I—I thought I'd prove Ahmose wrong and back you up, so we could beat this damn trial and get the stick out of his ass, and—" Her voice breaks, the words choking up in her throat. She swallows hard and glances over at me, her eyes glassy with tears.

"I'm sorry." She whispers.

Then she turns to stone.