Incest/Taboo Pharaoh’s Curse

"Which period?" Andrew retorted.

"The Beginning, of course," shooting her son a look, "I want this new age, if this is what the gods tasked of you, as fucking weird as that is to say," her heart hammered in her ears when her son actually smiled at her, "then I want it to shine for all eternity like the Old Kingdom has. That my son, my Pharaoh, will be known throughout the ages."

"You may get your wish; just be careful that's truly what you want," Andrew spoke, moving past his mother as he pondered just where he was going to displace all that water without destroying the populated areas. Where he could buy up quickly, or have the gods swing that, turning around, stopping in his tracks staring at Bast, who just cocked her head. Since he knew she read his mind often. Seeing the glint in her eyes when she matched his stare. Andrew couldn't very well destroy the signs of the old cities. The image of Egypt from a heavenly point of view appeared in his mind as he strolled towards the obelisk. Focusing on halfway down the bend south of where Dendera and Thinis lays the vast empty, barren land of the eastern desert. Then to a point halfway between Asyut and Abydos that lay on the west bank of the Nile. Wondering if Geb would listen to his prayer as his gaze moved westward out into the western desert where his new temple mound, the place where the people could come and worship the old gods while leasing out the land he won't be needing.

Feeling their eyes on his back as Andrew approached the obelisk. His eyes ran up it as it loomed over him. The name for the city he was laying the foundations for rang in his head as he lifted his hands. Closing his eyes the moment his hands touched the stone. Feeling his ankh ring heating, its purple light shining brightly as he tapped into the flow of his forbearers. A light hum began to tickle his hands as he felt Geb answering his prayer. Seeing how the earth split into two, the thunderous sound of the Nile flooding into the space. Churning the sand that flooded into it before being tossed in the turbulent current as Hapi directed the overflowing water into the ever-widening gap that stretched southward to the furthest point of the land Isis was able to get him.

so quickly, legally, also cheaply that ended in a reservoir that stretched across the width of his land; as well as, winding its way westward for over two hundred and fifty miles before spilling out into the five thousand acre depression Geb had formed when he was running in a circular pattern. It seemed to him he felt Hapi moving his right arm, scouring the sand away and soil that sat beneath it, down to bedrock. That was the place the gods had deemed where their temple would sit before pulling back half a mile into the depression. Setting the stage for the return of the Pharaoh and also creating one of the largest freshwater sources in Egypt. Now how he was going to fill it with the people needed to run his new city and his temple construction. Asking Hapi to grant him one more request to bring life everlasting to the areas so his dynasty wouldn't be lost.

Andrew already had an idea of just what the temple was going to look like. Knowing that now he could truly no longer turn back to the boy he was. That he had committed himself to this path. Egypt's rise or continued decline now rested in his hands alone. For he was now Pharaoh Menes the II, the blue light of his divinity burned along his eyes as Andrew slowly opened them.

"I do hope you're up to the task of being my Queen," Andrew spoke in a commanding tone as he peered back at her. "Because we need to find an architect."

"Huh?"

"Andrew? What did you mean find an architect?" Carla asked, ignoring the glow that radiated off Andrew's skin when he touched the obelisk.

"I have a temple to build," Andrew said truthfully.

"You're not joking, are you?" Alex uttered in a questioning tone.

"I think I would come up with something better than that," Andrew stated upon reaching them.

"How big are we talking? Like the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut or the Temple of Ramses II?" Anta asked, knowing there was an architecture course at their college. She knew a few of them would offer designs if there was money involved.

"A little bit bigger than the first one," Andrew spoke after a moment of thought.

"I could give a friend of mine a flyer who attends the architecture class back at the university. Say if you offer a prize to the winner, I'm sure you'll get plenty of offers," Carla offered as they walked back to the cab.

"Oh? Good thinking," Andrew said, knowing he was going to have to save as much money as he could given how he was paying for the temple complex on his own.

"Okay, I think that's everything," Alex mused aloud as she triple checked her items after the camcorder's battery had charged. Their suitcases sat empty on the bed due to the length of time they would be spending in Atlantis.

"Mom, that's like your third time," Andrew stated as he tightened the straps of his bag.

"We have to make sure we have everything; I don't want to be popping back and forth because we forgot something," Alex spoke as she did another check of her gear in the smaller pockets.

"It's best to ensure you have everything when you're going out into the field; I wouldn't like it either if we were constantly starting and stopping given our limited time," Anta said, doing her own fourth check of her gear. Nodding to the two of them when she was ready.

"Well, honey," the straps of her backpack slid along her shoulders, her dark red hair feathered out along it after tightening her own straps, "I guess call this Ira fellow, and let's get this show on the road," Alex said, seeing her son pulling out his phone from his pocket.

"Hello?" Ira's voice could be heard over the line.

"It's me; we're ready," Andrew stated once the line had connected.

"Don't blink." Andrew noted how their scientific minds tried to comprehend what they had just seen as Ira materialized in their room, leaning on the window sill. His red burgundy eyes ran down Alex, Carla, and Anta on instinct. "Greetings," Ira spoke in a dramatic fashion. "I am Suriel Zol, Nagdaium' of vengeance, Prince of Heaven and Hell, Ruler of the Fourth Heaven. I hope that with you leading the way, we can find out why there're pyramids in my domain," he greeted; his eagerness was clear.

"Are you really going to college?" Alex asked, remembering that night.

"I am," Ira nodded. "I'm going to be around for a very long time, so why not?"

"And we'll be there for two weeks while here it will be two days?" Carla asked for the fifth time that day.

"Yes. Don't ask," holding up a hand, "trust me, that's one headache you don't want," Ira said when Carla started to speak again. "So, are we all set?"

"We are?" Andrew answered after seeing the three of them nodding firmly.

"Get closer to one another," Ira directed as he transformed into his Nagdaium' ReGenesis form as his wings shimmered into view and unfurled. "I promise you, this won't hurt a bit," he said in a reassuring tone as his wings wrapped around the four of them.

One second, Andrew, his mother, Carla, and Anta were cast into complete darkness, then the next moment, the light blinded him as Ira unfurled his wings. "God, I hate when I'm right," Andrew groaned as he stood staring up at the intact pyramid

"Oh. My. God. Just look at how the limestone caps glint in the sun?!" Alex exclaimed as she and her students rushed past him. "Quick, Anta, get the camera out," she ordered. Her eyes ran over the decorated stone surface, knowing how her counterparts would kill to be where she was standing.

"Look, Professor, up there," Carla uttered, pointing up to the open entrance way that would lead into the heart of the structure.

"You know, before the three of you go wandering off, how about we set up camp first," Andrew spoke as he turned towards Ira. "You did say you had that covered?" he uttered in an accusing tone. His head snapped up when he heard a snap that only he could hear, ringing in from high above him. Seeing the puzzled look on Ira's face when Andrew brought his gaze back down.

"Already got you covered," Ira answered with a smile. "Lailah, Cassiel?!" he spoke from over his shoulder, calling forth his angelic daughters. "Please, be at ease," Ira said in a reassuring tone when he noted the startled looks on Andrew's female traveling companions' faces at his daughters' arrival. "This is my daughter Lailah," holding out his right hand to which Lailah hovered over, "and this is my daughter Cassiel. While you are here they are to see that you remain undisturbed by the rest of the inhabitants of my realm, and to aid you should you need something if a problem arises. You'll see to my commands, won't you?" Ira asked, peering back at his daughters.

"Of course, Father. Our darker sisters will not get past us," Lailah stated with conviction as her arming sword appeared in her hand.

The wind whistled as Cassiel spun the shaft of her spear along the palm of her hand like she's seen her mother do countless times when they trained together. Feeling it striking the palm of her left hand when the shaft rested on her shoulders. "Worry not, Father," wondering if that move impressed her father as she smiled alluringly down at him, "we shall not allow harm to come to your guests to our home," Cassiel replied, hoping her father liked how her breasts looked as they jostled beneath her angelic robe. As well as how the sunlight of his domain shone through the robe showing off her womanly shape to his eyes.

"Are there some dangerous animals running around here or something?" Andrew asked, keeping his eyes on Ira and not the floating hot women above him. He so didn't need an earful from the three behind him if he ogled them.

"No, all life came to cease on this continent when Yahweh pulled Atlantis under the waves. The only living things in my domain at the moment are the four of you. So you needn't worry about animals."

"You want us to sleep in that?" Anta asked when a rectangular canvas tent only big enough to change in appeared behind Ira.

"It's bigger than you think," Ira said with a friendly smile. "Please, by all means, check it out if you don't believe me," he uttered, gesturing towards the tent. "You two may return to your duties," Ira spoke in a fatherly tone as he peered up at his daughters.

"Yes, Father." They said as one before shimmering out of view to return to their mothers' sides.

"Dr. Sanders, I hope you and your team can shed some light as to why these were built here," Ira spoke as he waited for them to poke and prod at the tent to deem it was real enough for them.

"I do as well," Alex spoke, trying not to be unnerved by what she had just seen with her own two eyes. At least she could take pride in herself, in not fainting like when she had met Osiris. Still, she was not even one bit comfortable with how they could just come and go as they pleased. It was unnatural to a scientific mind like hers.

"So... Pharaoh..."

"Andrew will be fine," he cut in when Ira began to speak.

"So, Andrew, any insights you want to share so far?" Ira asked, wondering what else Andrew could do if he could hear that snap when he used the power of creation. "About the pyramids, I mean," he clarified when Andrew looked at him. Also, seeing how the women with him eyed him, too, waiting for an answer.

"Nope," Andrew spoke before ducking into the tent just to get out from the burning gazes from the four of them. "Holy shit!" Was the only phrase he could utter at that moment as he stared out at his penthouse, where he and his father had lived together since he was born. Sticking his head back out the flap and looking around, ensuring that he was indeed still on Atlantis and that he wasn't dreaming. Not enjoying that amused look on Ira's face.

"Andy, what's wrong?" Alex asked in a worried tone.

"It's home," Andrew said in a tone of disbelief.

"I do hope everything is in its proper place. I do want you all to feel comfortable here while doing this favor to me."

"So... are you like a god or something?" Anta asked, wondering why a whatever it was chose to look like an eighteen-year-old boy.

"In a sense, yes," Ira nodded. Unsure if their brains could handle the truth. His own barely did when he was introduced to this side of reality.

"If you're the Lord of this land, then where's the city?" Alex asked in a scholarly voice. She just had to see it.

"Sadly, the capital city was destroyed before the Great Flood. Yet, my daughters have been finding smaller settlements around here. If you'd like, I will be happy to see that you're escorted to one or two of them," Ira spoke, knowing it wouldn't hurt to get her thoughts on it. "Just if you do wish to visit one, I'd like to read a draft of your findings. Really would like to get it from one as esteemed as you are, view point, Dr. Sanders," Ira praised with a flirtatious smile. He couldn't help it; it was the demon in him.

"Why, thank you, umm..." Drawing a blank on how to pronounce his name.

"Ira will be fine," he said, mimicking Andrew.

"I think we will once we've gotten settled in and had a brief survey of the site, before we start our main study," Alex said before slipping through the flap. Her hands flew to her mouth. Knowing how it reminded her of what it looked like as it was eight years ago, the day she left her family. Quickly fighting back the tears she felt forming as she heard the others filing in. Peering to her left, seeing Andrew's hand resting on her left shoulder.

"Is something wrong?" Ira asked from behind them.

"It's not the place, the décor, could you, I don't know, change..."

"No," Alex's hand shot out, taking hold of her son's shirt, "no, that won't be necessary. This will be like how it should have been eight years ago," she said, straightening her shoulders.

"So, where's the bedroom in this place?" Carla asked, eager to get to work now that she was here and not dealing with a delusion.

"Andrew said you only needed one, so that way," Ira uttered, pointing to the left of him. "Didn't believe him, of course. Now," giving Andrew a nod of praise, "might have to make one for myself," he said, smiling at his own inside joke. "Why don't you all go put up your things? While I borrow Andrew for a moment," Ira spoke in a pleasant tone.

"Right, well, you know where we'll be if you need us, honey," Alex spoke, giving her son a look, hoping he knew what he was doing with dealing with something this powerful.

"Sorry about that, yet I needed to talk to you," Ira said, rubbing the back of his head.

"You act awfully like a human," Andrew uttered, eyeing Ira's display.

"Well, I was a normal human teenage boy until this," gesturing to his body, "then well, shit got real, and here we are," Ira said with a shrug. "I was hoping I could speak with you about something; it's very important."

"Okay, what about?" Andrew replied, setting his bag onto the replica of his dining room table.

"What do you know of Solomon?" Ira asked, looking Andrew in the eye conveying his seriousness.

Andrew's spirit snapped backwards within a second, flinging him back in time in his mind to that time period. Feeling his heart racing, the sounds of people dying, the screams of pain, the clash of metal. The thunderous pounding of horses' hooves as the chariots raced across the desert. The roaring of the fire as they raided the city. The arrogant smirk on his lips as he walked up the causeway that led to the temple of Solomon. Taking a step back when Andrew noted the ring on Ira's right hand.

"I take it from that reaction, you know what the ring is?" Ira spoke as his thumb brushed along its band.

"Yeah, I do; why do you want my knowledge on Solomon?"

"Because Pharaoh Shoshenq I was the one that raided the temple of Solomon. I'm hoping you would know what they did with the treasures they found in it, namely a book," Ira said in all seriousness. Seeing how Andrew's eyes got a far-off look in them, wondering if he hit the bullseye. Watching how he quickly blinked before coming back to himself.

"Okay, what's this about?" Andrew asked; he couldn't say why the book in his memories was dangerous, just that it was.

"See... I kind of need it, and well... you remember when I told you about the Sister I was fighting?" Ira mused. "Anywho, it seems Solomon dealt with them before, and I'm not at the worst ones yet. So, I was hoping if you could help me find it, and I'll owe you a favor. Trust me, that's not something you should pass up."

"What are we talking about here?" Andrew asked, arching an eyebrow.

"If it's within my power to grant you, I shall, for your aid in finding the Book of Solomon," Ira stated his terms, holding out his hand to Andrew.

"Anything I want?" Andrew spoke as he slowly reached forward.

"Mmmhmm, anything," Ira nodded.

"I'm just helping you find this book and nothing else, right?"

"Just the book and nothing else," Ira replied once again with a smile on his face. "Seems he's dealt with demons before," he mused to himself.

"But it will have to wait until I finish the museum..."

"Yeah, see, here's the thing, this threat is real; I need to find that book. I can't wait for two months and hope they don't attack again. Two days is all I can wait, then we must find the book," Ira cut in. "I can create doppelgangers of the four of you, and to everyone else, they'll be just like how you are now yet not real. For however long it takes to find the book, they will act like you, and when this is all done, the memories they experienced will merge into you."

"Then it shouldn't be long then," hanging his head as he sighed, already knowing where the book was, knowing he was going to hate every second of this, "I already know where it is," Andrew groaned.

"Really? And just where is the book now?" Ira asked in a skeptical voice.

"It's in the Labyrinth," Andrew said in a disgruntled voice.

"Egypt has a labyrinth?" Ira asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah," rubbing the back of his head, knowing how dangerous that place was, "but it's going to be dangerous," Andrew warned.

"I think I can handle mortal danger, don't you, Pharaoh?" Ira asked with a coy grin on his lips.

"Yeah, but let's try not to get me killed, alright?" Andrew spoke a little uneasy about how Ira was so easygoing about death. Then again, he doubted Ira had faced mortality given what he was. Unaware that Ira has indeed faced his death countless times so far.

"Worry not. I'll make sure you stay safe," Ira nodded. "So tell me, where exactly is this labyrinth?"

"South of the pyramid at Hawara," Andrew answered, rubbing his temple, praying this wasn't going to cause more weird things to spring up in his life than what already has happened. "I hope you're whatever you use works outside of this place because if you want into it, you're going to have to dig."

"Shouldn't be a problem," Ira replied; his eyes flickered over to the right as Alex, Anta, and Carla exited the bedroom. "Is this really what your place looks like?" he whispered as he leaned in, knowing it was far grander than anything he grew up with.

"It did eight years ago," Andrew stated somberly.

"Huh?"

"Don't worry about it," Andrew uttered, brushing it off when they neared.

"Oh. I see," Ira muttered low, finally taking notice of the similarities between Andrew and Dr. Sanders. "You know it would be no problem to change the layout if it's too painful for the two of you," he whispered in a friendly tone.

"No, if she's willing to live like this for the next two weeks, so can I," Andrew said, peering over at his mother. Seeing how the three of them were all set to start their survey. "Glad you brought the extra batteries?" he asked, seeing their vehement nods to his answer.

"You know there is power in this tent," Ira uttered offhandedly.

"Does that mean there's running hot water in here too?" Carla asked to which Ira simply nodded.

"I did say I wanted you all to feel comfortable here," Ira said in a warm tone. "The fridge can conjure any type of drink you wish. These dish covers," gesturing to the four metal lids that sat in the center of the table in a neat row, "will create any type of food you wish while you're here. Just place the cover back on it, and the dish will return to the ether," he stated, showing them that he spoke the truth as he lifted up. Arching an eyebrow when a bear claw appeared on the small plate. "So, who's hungry?" Ira spoke with a friendly smile. Noting how Anta, with reddening cheeks, scurried up to the table and plucked the pastry off the plate. Ira watched how the three others were waiting with bated breath to ensure it wasn't a trick, that it was a real bear claw.

"Okay, this has to be the best one I've ever had," Anta moaned into her mouth as the almond filling exploded in her mouth.

"And those can make anything we want?" Carla asked, pointing at the metal covers.

"Yes," Ira nodded. "So you don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning while you're here."

"Okay, this might actually be fun?!" Alex spoke in an excited tone. She had worried about what they were going to do for food. "And you say there was running water in here, correct?"

"There is, doubt you all would want to go without a shower for two weeks."

"I know I don't, can't say about them," Andrew replied, jutting his thumb at the three of them.

"There's nothing wrong with a good sponge bath when you're out in a desert, Andrew," Alex huffed, crossing her arms below her breasts, causing them to bounce.

"Except when two hundred miles south there's a hotel with running water," Andrew retorted.

"Andy, are you going to be like this when we go back to Amkhakha temple?" Alex asked in a pouty tone.

"No, because then I'll be willingly in the desert, unlike last time. So would you rather continue talking or survey those pyramids before we lose any more daylight," Andrew uttered, nodding towards the flap of the tent.

"The sun doesn't set here," Ira chimed in.

"Come again?"

"You're in another dimension, basically, so you can understand. Everything in the air, on the ground or under it, I control. In this place, I am God, sorry Yahweh," Ira spoke with a quick glance up at the ceiling. "So the sun never sets, never rises either. It's always in that fixed position."

"And just who is this Yahweh?" Anta asked, wondering what more strangeness she was going to see being at Andrew's side.

"You would know him as Allah, God, Jehovah, just to name a few," Ira rattled off.

"And you speak to Allah?" Anta asked accusingly.

"Many a time," Ira nodded.

"I don't..."

"Whether you believe me or not, it doesn't matter to me," Ira cut her off as he held up his hand. "You don't live my life, you don't interact with cosmic beings, you've never been in my shoes and what I've dealt with up to this point in time. So just take my word for things. I have no reason to lie..."

"Except for that, you're a demon, aren't demons known to lie?" Carla snapped, coming to Anta's defense.

"Partial demon," Ira corrected. "But let's just table that for now, shall we?"

"Yeah, let's not get into a metaphysical fight with a being that can kill us with a thought, alright?" Andrew spoke, glaring at the three of them.

"Relax, I don't kill mortals... for the most part," Ira mused as he spun on his heel and headed for the flap. His demon was enjoying the fear that danced on the air.

Andrew felt a little uncomfortable standing beside Ira as he and his host watched his mother, Anta, and Carla set out to survey the first pyramid they saw upon arriving. Seeing how Anta was quickly writing down the measurements his mother was giving her with the rangefinder that he had bought while Carla was filming everything for documentation.

"So, what's it like being on a dig?" Ira asked, knowing if he was going to go to college, he would have to do fieldwork. Not that he minded, it was one of the few normal things he had left in his life.

"In Egypt?" Andrew mused as he peered over at Ira. "Hot. Sweaty. No indoor plumbing," he said, listing off things he hated about it.

"Yeah, kind of got that," Ira replied with a smile. "Meant if you take away all of that."

"Oh, well, it was okay, I guess if you don't mind being eaten alive by camel spiders."

"Andy, you know there were none at Amkhakha temple." Alex's voice was carried to them by the wind as she peered up at the tip of the pyramid with her rangefinder.

"Maybe, but in my head, they were everywhere?!" Andrew retorted. Recounting how they were chiseling the hardened sand out of the spaces of the door so they could open the closed portion of the temple complex and where he had fallen through the floor, where he thought a horde of those things would storm out once they got the door opened.

"Can you read any of that?" Ira asked, nodding to the hieroglyphics whose paint had yet to fade or oxide from the eons it's been trapped in Fourth Heaven.

"Yeah," Andrew muttered, his blue-green eyes ran down the face of the pyramid. It wasn't like he wanted to be able to read it. However, the sounds of the words just popped into his mind.

"Then Andrew, if you would, who built this pyramid?" Alex asked, turning to look at her son, as did her two students.

"Den." Was Andrew's only answer as his gaze was pulled to the pyramid to the right of him that sat behind Den's. He couldn't say why, yet something about it just called to him. Like a nagging feeling you've forgotten something and he knew that was going to irk him until he could suss it out.

"Den?! Really?" Alex's eyes lit up when the name reached her. Given how the Royal Canon of Turin so damaged that very little could be discerned about Den's reign, nor were there any vast amounts of artifacts to study from that time period.

"Yeah, his name is right there," Andrew said, pointing it out to them about six rows above her head.

"Carla..."

"Already on it, Professor," Carla replied from behind the camera as she slowly moved it from left to right to ensure that nothing was blurred. Knowing they probably wouldn't get another chance like this. Not when they were presented with a pristine monument from the year 3100 or so BC. Hearing Anta snapping off pictures with her camera that Alex pointed out to her so they could study the still photos in more detail.

"Andy, come here," Alex spoke, turning to her son and waving for him to join her. Her hand ran along his back when he neared her. "Go on, honey, touch history," she encouraged. Nodding when Andrew gave her that look. "Go on," Alex uttered once again. "What in the world...?!"

The moment his hand touched the limestone facing. Andrew was thrust back into his many, many past lives. Watching the hundreds of Pharaohs' memories playing out backwards. Seeing everyone who claimed the title Pharaoh, including the Hyksos, the Nubians, the Kush, the Libyans, Mitanni, Hatti, Assyria, Persians, and lastly, the Greeks. He had no idea why he felt revolted when the memories of Cleopatra flashed in his mind, nor did he want to find out either. If he had his own way, then the life and knowledge of every Pharaoh wouldn't be jammed packed into his brain. It wasn't until his mother pulled him away from the pyramid that his mind cleared.

"Honey, what did you just do?" Alex asked, eyeing her son, wondering what else was she in store for.

"What, huh?" Andrew uttered in a confused tone. He had no earthly idea what she was talking about.

"Here, I recorded it," Carla said, moving up to his side and rewound the footage back a few minutes.

Andrew's eyes grew wide when he noted how his body glowed and how the pyramid began to hum as well as radiating the same glow as he did. Taking a dry swallow when the capstone was glinting like mad as if a beam of light wanted to shoot skyward yet failed to do so due to whatever the cause was.

"You had that glow about you when you touched Cleopatra's Needle," Anta said, gently rubbing his back as he rubbed his temple.

"So by your reaction, you didn't do anything consciously, did you?" Alex asked in a scientific voice, all so she could come to an understanding of what her son's life had become.

"Kind of hard to do something when I don't even know how I did it in the first place," Andrew intoned. All the while ignoring how Ira was staring at him. Andrew's head shot up along with the other three when a small voice above them shouted out, 'Father!' Andrew felt his manhood starting to awaken when a raven-haired beauty came swooping down with what appeared to be a ten-year-old girl if little girls had jet black wings on their backs. Listening to the child's laughter as Ira spun her around while her wings kept her aloft before coming to settle against his chest. Feeling three pairs of hands covering his eyes, hiding how Cora passionately kissed her son when her feet touched the ground.

"The moment we were done with our lesson with her mother, she just couldn't help but take off to find you," Cora cooed in a sultry tone, her golden eyes lustered in the sunlight of his realm. "So naturally, I had to fly after her," she said in a loving tone as her nails lightly tickled Nanael's right side. Her smile grew at how quick Nanael was to laugh than to scowl.

"Did you now?" Ira uttered in a fatherly tone. "You knew I was inviting my guests here today and knew I wouldn't be able to see you after your lesson."

"But, but, I missed you," Nanael said in a small, cute voice as her tiny fingers plucked at Ira's shirt.

"I know you do, Nanael, but as you can see, I have guests, and it would be rude to ignore them," Ira stated, directing her view to Andrew and his companions.

"But, can't I stay with you?" Nanael asked in child-like innocence.

"As long as you promise to keep out of their way," Ira answered with a warm smile on his lips, chuckling when Nanael uttered a very quick 'Okay!'

"Ira, what are they doing here anyway?" Cora asked in a low whisper as she leaned into her son.

"Trying to solve the mystery as to why these are here and for what purpose," Ira spoke, gesturing to the pyramids.

"And they can help?" Cora asked, unaware of who Andrew, Alex, Carla, and Anta were.

"You remember when Alyda and I went on our date," Ira stated low, his thumb brushed along the back of Nanael's fingers as he held her hand. Smiling down at Nanael's beaming, smiling upturned face, knowing her sleep was coming soon and he wouldn't see her for a while. Only to be met with his adult daughter.

"And he's....?" Cora's voice trailed off when she gestured to Andrew.

"Mmmhmm, Mom, meet Andrew McCain," Ira introduced with a friendly gesture. "He's the one I told you about when he found that tomb in Gaza."

"Oh?! Right! But aren't Pharaoh's supposed to be taller?" Cora whispered behind her hand. Seeing how her son's female guests were fighting back their laughter.

"Awful judgmental for an angel," Andrew retorted.

"I'm not an angel, but thank you for the compliment. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Batya Zol, of Fourth Heaven, please your royal grace," hearing the snorts she was getting, "do forgive my attire, my son," slyly waving at Ira, "didn't tell me there was royalty here, or I would've worn something more formal for this event," Cora said in a teasing, flirtatious greeting as she extended her hand.

"Pharaoh Menes II," Andrew greeted, trying out his new title, ignoring the look on his mother's face as he did.

"Mmm... so you aren't a normal mortal, are you?" Cora asked with an alluring smile. Wondering if she could lure him into a shoot and sell it when his name gets out there. Shaking the thought from her mind, she couldn't do that to Ira's friend.

"You're sure he's your son?" Andrew asked, countering with his own flirt. The right corner of his lip forming into a smirk at the soft giggle that emanated from her.

"I'm very sure, and who are these with you?" Cora asked in a gesturing wave.

"Dr. Sanders, I was with Mr. McCain on a few of his expeditions."

"My son has told me a lot about your work over the last week or so," Cora greeted, hiding the fact they already knew they were mother and child. Shooting her son a smirk over her shoulder as she moved off to greet Anta and Carla wondering if they would want to make some extra money. Chuckling to herself when she saw how Alex slapped her son's arm. "Ira?!" Cora jumped in startlement when she felt a pinch on her ass, and he was the only one that would do such a thing. "But...." Pouting when Ira wagged his finger side to side, knowing what she was about to do. Her cheeks heated when Ira nodded for her to return to his side.

"Please, don't let us interfere with your work...." Ira began to say, only to hear Gabriella calling for him and Nanael to return. "Seems your mother is calling you. Come on, don't worry, not leaving you," he uttered in a fatherly tone. "I'll be back," Ira directed before his six wings unfurled and extended, as did Nanael's, who had gotten into the habit of mimicking her father. "You ready?" he asked, smiling down at his daughter.

"Mmmhmm," Nanael hummed as she nodded her head.

"Don't look at me like that?!" Andrew heard Cora's voice as they flew back to the plateau from which they had come from.

"Well... we knew this would be weird the moment we agreed to join Andrew. Son, next time when you get invited to a magical land, go easy with the supernatural bit," Alex teased, smiling warmly at her son as Andrew just rolled his eyes at her. "Let's get the rest of the survey over with and cataloged," she spoke in a teacherly voice as she peered back at her students.

As they worked, Alex kept an eye on her son as they filmed the pyramid to the left of them. Always noting how his gaze would always return to the pyramid next to the one they were filming. She didn't know what fascinated her son about the pyramid, nor did he know; it just did. Wondering if this was how he came upon the knowledge stored in his mind when he uncovered Akhenaten and Nefertiti.

"Honey, you sure you're okay?" Alex asked when she noted how he had a troubled look on his face.

"Yeah, just can't shake the feeling that I'm forgetting something," Andrew muttered, scratching his head.

"And this pyramid does this to you, not anything else?" Alex asked for clarification.

"Mmmhmm, just that," Andrew nodded as he pointed at it.

"When you figure it out, I'll be here to listen and to help," Alex said in a loving voice as she rested her hand on Andrew's left shoulder. "How about we go visit one of those Atlantis ruins, huh?" A wide smile formed on her lips when her son turned his head to look at her.

"Wow. You won," Andrew said from around his mother, peering right at Anta.

"What?! Huh?" Alex muttered, confused.

"We had a bet to see who could guess how long you could go without uttering those words." Andrew grinned madly at his mother's groan and the way she rolled her eyes.

"I'll take my payment in the shower tonight," Anta said in a soft voice, brushing her ebony hair behind her ear as she and Carla went over the notes she's made.

"The usual place?" Anta felt her cheeks heating when that question reached her ears. Feeling her body awakening, recounting the way his mouth felt on her hot little peach.

"Of course, Andy, where else would you kiss your wife at, my Pharaoh?" Anta cooed in ancient Egyptian. She couldn't help it; she felt the corners of her mouth lifting as her eyes flickered over to Andrew. Her eyes glanced down when the phone in his pocket chirped.

"Okay, don't you think it's weird my phone works in another dimension?" Andrew asked as he pulled out his phone. A warm smile appeared on his lips at the sight of Wilma's text. "Even got full bars, who knew?!" he joked as he tapped on the link his stepmother had sent him. Hearing Anta and Carla scurrying over to him as his mother leaned on his shoulder. As the news anchors went hysterical as they showed satellite footage of Egypt and how all watched how Geb had changed Egypt forever. Not that the footage showed Geb reshaping the Earth; no, what Andrew suspected was they were simply freaking out as they watched perfectly stable ground collapsing. Then the inundation came, also listening to the news hosts trying to explain why water wasn't behaving like water should when the excess poured into the voids in Geb's wake. Yet all were thankful it happened in the inhabited areas of Egypt.

"Andrew, what did you do?" Carla asked once the video had stopped.

"You all wanted me to stop the flood. The water had to go somewhere and well..." Looking off to the side, wondering if they would believe him if he told them.

"And well what? Go on, finish that thought," Alex commanded in a motherly tone.

"Had to put my new capital somewhere," Andrew answered shyly.

"And the reason you couldn't use Memphis like all the other Pharaoh's?" Alex asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Too tainted, need a fresh start," Andrew stated, having no clue where that came from.

"And just what are you going to do with all of that?" Carla asked, gesturing to his phone when the video stopped on the image of the lake that had formed.

"Was thinking of making a historic living city to depict what life in that time was like," Andrew said, looking at his mother when she took his phone from him. Arching an eyebrow when he noted how her finger moved across the screen.

"Okay, but how were you going to do that?" Anta asked with a curious look.

"Alright, I'll admit I haven't thought of that yet, but have been working on it," Andrew spoke, reassuring them.

"It's going to be like Memphis and Saqqara," Alex stated, looking up and over at her son. Once her mind connected the dots, her eyes widened when Andrew nodded. "Tell me, son, did you happen to have a name for this new city and temple mount of yours?"

"NeoHierakonpolis and Djed," Andrew answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Really going back to the beginning, huh?" Alex teased when Hierakonpolis was one of the cities credited to Pharaoh Menes.

"Too late to get off the merry-go-round," Andrew retorted. "You're in it all the way now," he uttered in a diabolical voice.

"So this city, how historic are you trying to be?" Alex inquired; she had to oversee it, knowing it would keep her close to her son for a very long time.

"About 85-90 percent, can't have the people living in huts with no running water. So, Alexandria, am I interesting enough to get mummified now?" Andrew asked, shooting his mother a coy look, referring to their first encounter in eight years.

"Maybe," Alex drew out with a playful smile on her lips.

"Sorry about that," Ira apologized, reappearing into view.

"So you were saying something about ruins?" Alex asked, looking over at Ira, knowing her son needed a break.

"I did; come, it's just faster if we traveled like this. Otherwise, you'd spend most of your time just getting to the farthest one," Ira stated, waving them closer.

"I don't have to tell you how weird that is, right?" Andrew asked, seeing Carla dashing off towards their tent to get a new, fresh battery and a new clean memory card.​