The sun was high, hot in the sky, as the desert continued through many miles in front of them. They had to get out of the car, continue on foot, and take another path so they wouldn't meet up with Harrow/ Ammit's followers.

Marc and Mira tried not to speak with each other, but they had different reasons.

Marc didn't want to speak with her so he wouldn't attach himself. He couldn't afford it. And besides, she was in love with Steven, an alter of him. Almost as another person. And that made him quite irritated in fact with her.

Mira on the other way was still confused and could notice the cold treatment given him. Now she could notice it clearly, from his speech and gestures to his reactions and preferences. They couldn't be any more different and yet look the same.

And she didn't know how to feel about it.

Mira loved Steven, she knew that there wasn't a single moment where she wouldn't doubt it. She started to feel that way in London, and this feeling only developed since then.

But Marc...what happened between them? She believed that he hated her. He had to. After all, he mistreated, and pushed her away, besides lying to her face, saying that he was his other alter, faking his true identity.

They stopped at an old campsite with sone car but no one around, just some empty tents along with the territory. Marc finally, since they left, turned to her:

-Let's check for supplies.-He indicated, and she nodded in agreement.-Follow me.

They both entered one of the tents, Mira looked between the shelves, while Marc looked on tables, on the ground, recipients, anything else, but mostly they could find meanwhile was dust.

He looked at her silhouette as she examined one of the shelves, she was quite tall but not enough to reach a rope on the top. He came from behind her, and, with his hand, shook a bit the shelf, making the rope slowly fall and drop on her hands. He was shorter than Mira, but, this time was wiser (which is quite rare to happen too), maybe the anxiety came on the way.

She looked at him surprised, and before she could say "thank you", he interrupted:

-You look scared.-He relied on his body on the shelf, crossing his arms.

In a mirror on the other side of the room, he could see Steven watching them.

-I'm not.-She replied, walking around the room, searching for more tools.

-Well you should be-He was saying that not just for her, but Steven as well.- Without Khonshu, there's no more suit, no more healing, no more power.

-That's why I asked for you come, innit'? Then, let's continue searching.

Steven held a laugh, Marc lifted one eyebrow, but he quite enjoyed whenever she gave him a sharp answer in return.

-There's still time.-He told her. She looked at him confused.- to give up, if you want to.

She walked towards him feeling her ego quite offended.

-Do you think I came all this way to just give up now?-She told him.

-Why insist?-He asked her- Risk everything for what? A man?

-My choices are my own, and I assure you...-She looked closely into his face, he got hypnotized by her eyes- my life will never be submissive to a man.

Then just let it go. Why bother? This shouldn't even be something of your concern.

-And why do you care so much that I stay here?-She lifted her chin- Do you despise me so much to do so?

-Is that what you think?-He glanced slightly at her lips- That I despise you?

She tried to take a step back, but he took a step forward, his hand relying on the table by their side, as he leaned towards her.

-What else could it be?

-Did you interpret that night on the boat that way? As my despise for you?

Mira could feel her heartbeat increase significantly, as she swallowed dry nervous. He had that effect on her, to leave her speechless, the only one who managed to make her feel suddenly quiet, with words she couldn't beat against. Her mind was confused and so were her feelings, the right was wrong and the wrong was right, Marc Spector changed like the weather, and so did her emotions towards him.

-You lied to me that night.

-I told you to call me Marc, didn't I?

-But you still pretended to be him.

-Ah, come on, Mira.-His name being said from his mouth took control of her whole body as a magic spell.- Deep inside.-He glanced slightly at her chest- You knew damn well that could never be him.

-You're right.-She nodded irritated but also shy- You're nothing like Steven.

He leaned so close now that she could feel his breath on her lips for a short moment as he whispered:

-And yet you still chose to kiss me.

Mira didn't know how to say, didn't know how to fight against the truth, against that overwhelming sensation he caused on her, over the tense and heated atmosphere in the air. No, Mira Anand at that moment, was defeated by Marc Spector.

-I...-She stuttered.

-You?
-I...-She hesitated while looking at those brown, inviting eyes.- I think we should hurry up before Harrow finds Ammit.

With this sentence, a perfect excuse, she hurried up, and got out of the tent, while Marc stood a moment trying to get back to reality. The main thing that made him do that was Steven, who watched incredulously the scene:

-Do you love Mira?-He furrowed his eyebrows at the mirror reflection.

Marc felt invaded. He didn't like people assuming things about him, especially delicate ones, the type that he would hide and not tell a single soul about. He turned to the mirror offended:

-No!-He replied like a kid who refuses to be paired with another girl for a school presentation.

-You were flirting with my girlfriend!

Marc shook his head fastly:

-She is not even your girlfriend!

-But she'll be, maybe.-He retorted- Well, if she agrees of course, and if we make out of this suicidal mission alive, but still...

-Still, the answer is no.-He told him.

-Whatever, why are you flirting with her?-He widened his eyes- You are in love with Mira, oh God...-He opened his mouth surprised- That is why you've been so worried about her all this time...

-That isn't the truth-

-When you took her to the hospital, then when she arrived in Cairo, helping her with her problems, at the boat, the kiss...-Steven connected the dots.- You push her away to keep her safe...

-You keep assuming things you don't know.

-Whenever she's near she catches your attention, even in a situation like this...-Steven seemed to have discovered a whole new country as he finally understood Marc's emotions- And then act as if you don't care, oh my God.-He looked into his eyes.- But why to push her away...that expression, wait...-He finally discovered it -That stupid pigeon, it's him, innit'?-He shook his arms as he proved a theory to be true-He wants Mira as his avatar! Wait. Why?

-Look, great talking, lots of bullshit, but I'm quite busy so...

-Wait, wait, wait, you're still flirting with her, Marc, Marc listen to me! I swear...-

The ex-mercenary walked out as he said to the mirror with a sassy expression:

-Don't worry, Mira's in great hands, we can handle the situation.-He almost chuckled at Steven's reaction- If I need a gift shop or french poem advice, I'll call you.

- I'll throw us off a cliff!

...

He tightened the belt around his waist, the they were going to go down to the tomb so they could enter through a different path than Harrow's, but, for that, they still needed to put on the equipment, so they wouldn't get hurt.

Marc glanced at Mira, she struggled to put the gear on, she probably never used that type of kit in her whole life. He chuckled while watching her getting annoyed for such a silly thing, he loved her short temper, the sharp responses, and stubborn attitude, she was full of flaws and that made her even more human.

He approached her, didn't do anything at first, just had that sassy expression printed all over his face:

Do-Need some help?-He offered.

-No, I can handle this.-She replied stubbornly.

Of course, through the many ropes and knots to make, which she was completely not familiar with, she wasn't able to do so.

-Here, let me help you, we don't have all day.-He was about to touch her waist when she stepped back, her expression as if he was doing something indecent.- What? I need to tighten this up, or do you want to fall and have your brain all out of your head?

-Ew.

-That's what I thought, now come here.

With just one pull of his arms and a light gasp from Mira's parted lips, which made him give a shy smile, she was now against his body. He diligently organized the gear with much experience, which was quite easy for him due to his past, to her, new and impressive.

She would often wow herself at Marc's abilities, along with the new facts she discovered about him every day, maybe one of the things that kept her so amused at his presence. She never met a man like him and she didn't believe that she would again in the future.

He was close to her, it was quite funny their height difference, but none minded it, and, as Marc adjusted the equipment, she commented in a sentence she didn't even think:

-You smell just like him.-She said out loud. Then realized what she just said- I mean, why wouldn't you, right?

He realized how embarrassed she became, and his only response was:

-Yeah.

He gave one, or two pulls on the gear to test if he was tight enough, in one of those pulls, Mira slipped and bumped against his chest with his arms embraced around her.

She looked up, her cheeks flushed, completely awkward, and tried to apart when he held her close. Mira was about to protest when he spoke;

-I don't despise you.-He told her.- Neither hate you.

-Why are you stating this now...-

-Let me finish, please, or I won't be able to say it later.- He shook his head.- You did annoy me, you certainly did. You were like a rock stuck inside my shoe.-He sniffed.- But from the moment you bumped into me at that museum...-He never spoke so sincerely about his feelings as that moment- There wasn't a single moment where I couldn't take my eyes from you.-The words seemed to relieve him but also hurt at the same time.- And as much as I try to take you off my head, you're all I think about. Day and night. -He shook his head- My mind's pure hell but you're the only damn thing that seems right.- Clenched his teeth- and I hate you for that. For the fact that even pushing you away, you keep coming back.

-Then why do you push me away?-She couldn't believe him.- If not the fact that you dislike me so much?

-How can you be so smart but also so stupid sometime?.-He complained she was about to say something when he was faster.- Can't you see me? My...condition? The constant threats behind us?-He told her in a whisper- You can't live like this. I wouldn't accept you living like this.-He continued- Khonshu has his eyes on you. He knows how wise you are, he wants you as his avatar. Do you know the risk you pass through?

-Whatever it is, I don't need protection. I need honesty.

-Yeah, I get it.-He nodded- That's more of a Steven thing, right?-She didn't answer.- I get it while you like him so much now.

-Can you please just stop?-She asked him, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Then glanced at him again- Do you know how hard it is to...hate you at some point and then have these... mixed signals and feelings, at a point that I don't even know what I feel anymore?-She said in a painful sentence.-It's Steven and then it's you...-Their breaths mixed, slowly, instable and insatiable- and you...-Mira took a deep breath, he glanced once again at her lips, she did the same to him- you...

-I'm sorry.-He gave a heated whisper on her skin.- I am...so sorry.- she caressed his cheek. Marc Spector would act tough around anyone, but in front of Mira Anand, he would be a fragile man, falling into pieces.

There wasn't a brief moment where someone could protest or interrupt the act. He couldn't handle it anymore. Marc closed the gap between their faces, delivering the tenderest of the kisses, the most aching, desired one, and at that moment, Mira Anand realized that she loved 2 men into one.

Marc kissed differently, he could be gentle yet rough, spicy, and thirsty. The type of kiss that leaves you breathless and also takes a part of yourself, but isn't vulgar to a point that if somebody walked inside the room would be embarrassed. No, it had lust, love, and respect at the same time.

He was diligent when positioning his hands, at some spots around her nape and waist, leaving her defenseless, but also, was completely vulnerable to her touch. Whenever he felt her skin against his, even cheek to cheek, was electrifying, she could take control of his own body if she wanted to, and he wouldn't complain about it.

When they parted he was still high from her kiss as if she was some sort of drug that took all the pain and all the chaos around him only by her presence. Mira looked at him shy, and maybe a bit guilty, looking for a certain perspective, she now fell in love with two people at the same time.

But the way he made her feel...it was something to die for. As that would be their last kiss on Earth as if he was meant to be hers.

Steven made her feel like a goddess on Earth, while Marc would take her to heaven to claim her throne.

-I shouldn't have done that... I'm just complicating things even more

-No...it's alright.-She nodded, as much as she could try to pretend, she enjoyed that kiss as much as he did, she desired him as much as he did.

-Yeah?-He looked at her, with butterflies in his stomach, noticing that she felt the same.

-Yeah...-She caressed his cheek- don't run away from me Marc. Please.

He held her hand and closed his eyes. For the first time, someone wished for him to stay. And that meant everything.

-I can't make any promises.-He replied.

She tried to understand, even though that still hurt her a bit. She nodded and he pulled the gear on her waist once more.

-I guess it's tight enough.-He told her, she chuckled, he loved to have her that close, to feel hee around. A smirk printed on his face- Okay, so, we must get going. I'll go first before I belay.

Mira furrowed her eyebrows confused as he walked towards the hole on the ground.

-What is "belay"?-She asked.

He held his laugh.

-You have a cute face when you're confused.-Marc teased, she irritated herself- Just go down when I say, I take care of it.

He used the gear and, as a pro, went down to the tomb, she watched him from afar:

-Cute face? - She laughed.

He landed safely and did a sign indicating that everything was alright. Once he took his first breath alone, on the tomb, he could not rest.

"Sorry to my face for what I'm about to do." He heard Steven saying and, when he least expected, received a punch from his fist at his face.

-Ouch!-Marc exclaimed- What the-

-Is everything okay??-Mira yelled from the surface.

-Yeah, it's okay, you can come now.-He told her, then muttered to himself- was that necessary?

"Was that kiss really necessary?"

-If you keep complaining, I won't mind repeating it.

"Excuse me-"

-I'm going now!-Mira shouted.

-Okay! I'm here!

She hesitated, the heights terrified her. While outside was lit by the sun, the tomb was full of shadows. Took a deep breath, she'd have to trust him.

Once she started going down, they realized the rope had a knot on itself, making her landing quite troubling, and, consequently, the rope suddenly ripped itself.

Luckily, just when she was about to fall, Marc was able to be fast enough and catch her in his arms, of course, the impact led them both to the ground, Mira on top of him, but with no scratches.

-You okay?-He asked worriedly.

-Yeah, I'm good.-She nodded, catching her breath, which completely terrified her, but gladly he was around- thanks.

He looked at her, still between his arms, her body against his on the ground, her cheeks flushed again.

-You get into arms way too often.-He joked.-Starting to think you do it on purpose.

She shook her head and grinned, her smile was the greatest view in the whole world to him, making her laugh was something he was quite proud of himself, that way, he could see her happiness, it was contagious.

-You're so convinced about yourself.

-As I should.

They both got up, and, cleaning the dust from their clothes, continued the journey inside the tomb.

...

Marc heard two 'wows" at the same time, the first belonged to Steven, the second to Mira. They were completely mesmerized by the tomb structures and majestic statues. Marc didn't care much about it, but Mira...She simply adored it, she gasped at the outstanding objects of the past and complained to herself that she didn't have a camera with her at that moment.

- They're gorgeous aren't they? - She asked him.

"Fantastic" Steven replied.

-I guess...-Marc replied not with much enthusiasm.

-It's almost as if they've been guarding this place for centuries...

He gave a half-smile noticing how excited she was:

-You like this archeology stuff, don't you?

-I love it.-She admitted.- Studying history was one of the best things that have ever happened to me.-She said nostalgically - Also that it served as a way for me to escape my previous life...

Marc knew that Mira had a troubling past, a past that gave her scars that still didn't heal. That made him a bit sad, knowing that her heart was broken by the past did hurt him a lot, after all, who could wish harm to her? He couldn't simply imagine it.

-History made me always wonder, find a reality where I could review princesses and emperors in my mind, wars that we're ended, and civilizations that raised and fell into ashes.-She commented- History could make me avoid reality, or at least pretend it was normal for some seconds.

He visited for a moment but still grabbed her hand, slowly, delicately, almost as if he and another persona inside of him did it at the same time, giving courage to him to do it. Mira gave a warm smile and squeezed his hand for a second.

-So, historian, where should we go?- He asked her.

She sniffed and entered deeper into the tomb with him, it was quite dark but their flashlights managed to take the shadows away, or at least for a while.

-So many paths.-Marc said as they walked.- Looks like a...

-...Maze.- They said at once.

Mira observed closely the walls, they had passed through six symbols. That had to mean something. She let her hand go from Marc's for a moment, and, surprisingly,  he caught himself instantly missing her touch, but didn't protest about it.

He squatted on the ground and observed narrowed small structures shining. Metal. Grabbed one of the structures in his hands that was resting on the sand, and could finally see it: a bullet.

-What would they be shooting at He muttered thinking out loud.

-This whole structure is a symbol.-Mira suddenly said.

Marc got up and walked towards her, she was in front of a small altar full of sand as she drew something in it. Snapped like some sort of eye, he didn't know for sure, but he later did.

"That's the eye of Hours" Steven concluded.

-The eye of Horus.-Marc told her.

She gave a proud smile at him, she probably did" expect for him to guess it:

-Yeah.

"Hey! I was the one who said that!"

-Look at that. -She pointed up on the roof.

-What?-He asked, a d, when he looked, observed the eye she drew on the sand, as a bright hologram above. He opened his mouth quite admired.

-Right?-She smiled.- Look, the royal symbol, protection in the afterlife.-She pointed to a part of the drawing.- I mean, like, the resources needed to build this thing...

They looked at each other, having the same conclusion:

-Her final Avatar was a pharaoh.-They said at the same time.

"Whoa! A bloody pharaoh" Steven exclaimed excitedly.

-So what? Do you think it's a map?-Marc asked her.

- Yeah, well... So, the eye of Horus is also the eye of the mind, right? Representing the six senses, six points. So you got the eyebrow that denotes thoughts. Pupil, sight. -She talked, while Marc almost sighed, he loved when she talked about all that nerdy stuff. She never seemed so attractive as when she did that.- This point here is, uh, hearing. This, smell. Touch. And this long line ending in a spiral is the tongue.

-The Avatar would be Ammit's voice.-He concluded.

- Yeah, that's it...

Mira pointed to an exit behind them, then asked Marc to follow her, as they walked inside another area.

The place they were located was dark, with a haunting atmosphere surrounding them, protectively, Marc stepped forward, as a shield in front of her.

-Oh, wow.-She exclaimed -Heka priests.

Mira illuminated one of the walls, illustrated by figures of the past, representing stories on ancient walls.

-Judging by their masks and ceremonial stance. They would've been entombed in here to protect the pharaoh. -She explained.

-The heck's a Heka? - Marc questioned confused.

-Sorcerers of their time.-She told him.- They've been down here for centuries. These must be some of the unlucky souls who crossed their path.

- Right. - he spoke sarcastically- An impressive send-off.

Mira explored the room a bit more with her flashlight, and suddenly almost screamed, shaking her arms in the air.

-Oh, my God. Oh, God.-She took a deep breath.- Is that fresh blood?

Marc came promptly as soon as he heard her expressing her fears, he illuminated a centerpiece, an altar full of bloodstains. He looked at some pots on the ground, also marked with blood.

-Let's keep moving. -He said concerned.

-Yeah. -She nodded fastly.- Yeah. Yeah.

Marc looked above the ground, close to the ceiling, where a platform was standard.

-There's an opening up there.-He said and she followed him. Before Mira could try to get up there, he stopped her with his hand.- I'll go first.

-Why?-She said offended.

-To make sure you're safe, your idiot.-He argued. She made a face.

Marc got up on the platform searching for the exit as Mira observed the walls below.

-According to the ancient texts, Ammit should be bound to an ushabti, statue thingies. -She observed the written sculptures.-How's it looking?

-I think I've found it.-Marc said.

-It's looking amazing.-Mira said amused to the ancient transcripts.- I mean, this... It looks like a freshly filled canopic jar, and snake skins, and self-regeneration...

-Earh to Mira.-Marc called her out, she finally got out of her trance.-Focus. I think we can go this way.

That's when Mira surprised herself with a sound that echoed, trembled the walls, a sound of pure violence. A gun.

Marc quickly looked at her, she seemed quite scared, not hurt, but just the possibility made him anxious.

More sounds approached, someone was coming.

-Hide.-Marc told her before it was too late.

Mira quickly hid behind the altar, almost touching the recipients full of blood. Marc hid as well, but in a specific area where he could see her.

More footsteps on the dry ground, echoing lowly, creepy into the darkness. Then another loud sound, this time behind her.

Mira's heart almost stopped. Marc looked from where he was, a devilish creature, blue but also hungry for flesh let a body above the altar, bleeding heavily. Dead.

Marc slowly tried to get up, and he could observe the exact moment the creature used a blade and stabbed the body's belly, opening it wide open so he could later take his organs from inside. The red consumed the altar, and it was possible to hear the disgusting sound of the man's corpse being violated by the enemy.

Mira couldn't stay there, she had to leave, to move somehow. But she was surrounded by the jars on the ground, and, on the slightest movement of hers, they already made noise.

The heka priest started to click with its' tongue, as it started to surround, and circulate the alter after her. He could feel her, he could smell her presence, and at any moment he'd find her.

Jumped on the altar and, before he could do something, Marc threw an object on the ground on purpose.

Mira widened her eyes, the creature speeded after him, and her heart speeded even more. He didn't have the suit or his powers of healing anymore. He was just a man. A man who was willing to risk it all for her.

When she observed the haunting heka priest approaching him, ready to attack, she couldn't handle it. Grabbed one of the recipients and threw it violently at the wall, breaking it apart.

The creature saw her, and at that moment went after her.

-SHIT, MIRA!- Marc yelled at her. He was risking himself for her and instead she risked herself. That woman was stubborn, a waste of time, and the love of his life.

Mira started to run and attempted to go the other way, on a path leading to another exit full of blood marks on the ground. Marc grabbed more objects and threw them at the creature managing to distract it and catch its' attention.

When the heka priest was just below the platform he threw one of the desks on it above it, smashing it completely with an agonizing death sound.
"Oh my God, you squished it!" Steven said surprised.

Marc looked around the area, no sign of Mira.

"Where did she go?" Steven questioned worried.

-That's what I'm going to find out.-Marc said, and with that response, left through another exit.