The next day,
Daniel and Evelyn landed in Cairo by early afternoon, dust and heat greeting them the moment they stepped out of the car.
They made their way through the familiar streets until the towering stone pillars of the Cairo Museum came into view.
Evy paused in the hall, eyes softening with nostalgia. "I really did miss working here," she murmured, gazing at the massive shelves of books as if greeting an old friend.
A dry voice answered from behind them.
"But the library certainly didn't miss you."
Evy turned, and there stood Dr. Terence Bey, arms crossed, expression equal parts annoyance and fondness.
The man looked exactly the same: strict posture, heavy robes, and the eternally tired look of someone who spent too much time dealing with ancient curses and even more time dealing with Evelyn.
"Dr. Bey!" Evelyn brightened. "It's been too long."
"Not long enough," Bey muttered, though the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed a smile. He looked at Evelyn, then Daniel. "Every time the two of you show up, trouble follows. I can feel it already."
Daniel shrugged. "To be fair, this time the trouble showed up first."
Dr. Bey sighed heavily. "Wonderful. Just what Cairo needed."
He motioned for them to follow. "Come inside. Ardeth Bay is waiting."
"By the way, Dr. Bey—did Jonathan come?" Daniel asked as they walked through the museum halls. "I told him to meet us here. Might as well drag that guy along for entertainment."
Dr. Bey let out a long, suffering sigh. "No. That idiot did not come."
Daniel smirked. "Figures."
They stepped into the Curator's office. Waiting in the center, arms folded and posture straight as a spear, was Ardeth Bay.
His dark eyes shifted the moment they entered.
"Daniel. Evelyn." He inclined his head, calm but serious. "I feared the situation was dire if you were calling for me."
Daniel exhaled. "Yeah… you can say that."
Ardeth's gaze flicked to Evelyn's wrist—and immediately recognised it.
Ardeth's eyes lingered on the bracelet for a long moment before he finally spoke.
"How did the Bracelet of Anubis come to be in your possession?"
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. "Long story short? We found it in an old temple near the Nile. And it accidentally attached itself to her arm — now it won't come off."
Evelyn crossed her arms defensively. "It wasn't my fault. The bracelet grabbed me."
Daniel nodded. "Yeah, that's the problem. It doesn't let go."
Ardeth frowned. "And then?"
"Then," Daniel continued, "before we could even figure out what it does, a bunch of red-robed cultist bastards broke into our house in London. Armed to the teeth, shouting threats, trashing my mansion—real polite guests."
Dr. Bey groaned. "You always attract the worst kind of attention…"
Daniel pointed at Evelyn. "They tried kidnapping her. Clearly wanted the bracelet. Didn't get very far."
Ardeth's expression tightened. "So… you encountered them."
"You know them?" asked Evelyn
Ardeth nodded grimly. "Recently, a cult has risen. Led by a dangerous woman. They've been stealing artifacts across Egypt—anything connected to ancient power." His gaze shifted to the bracelet. "It appears their true goal was this all along."
Evelyn swallowed. "So this cult… they knew about the bracelet?"
"They know more than they should," Ardeth said. Then his tone hardened, the weight of centuries behind his words. "Daniel… Evelyn… do you understand what it means to wear the Bracelet of Anubis?"
Ardeth continued, voice low and serious.
"From the moment it clasps onto the wearer, a countdown begins. Seven days. No more. During those seven days, visions will guide the wearer to the Oasis of Ahm Shere—the resting place of the Scorpion King."
Evy's eyes widened. "The Scorpion King… he's real?"
"Very real," Ardeth said. "And on the seventh sunrise, he will rise again, commanding the full Army of Anubis. If he returns… the world will fall."
Daniel then added calmly, "And one more important thing—on the first sunrise of the seventh day, the bracelet will take the wearer's life."
The room froze.
Evelyn, Ardeth, and Dr. Bey all snapped their heads toward him, eyes wide. It was clear none of them knew that additional piece of information.
Evelyn's voice trembled. "Wait—I will die?"
Daniel nodded. "Yes. But it can be avoided."
He stepped closer to her, steady and confident. "If we reach the Golden Pyramid at Ahm Shere before that seventh sunrise, the bracelet will come off. The curse will break."
A breath of relief escaped Evelyn, though her hands still shook.
Daniel turned toward Ardeth. "And for that… we need your help. You're the only one who knows the desert well enough to guide us. Without you, we won't reach the oasis in time."
***
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