Fading Ankh

            The Egyptian woman sauntered down the corridor of her home. It was rather odd that she had come to think of this place as home, when Mozenrath had first brought her here she was sickened and depressed about her surroundings. It was constantly dark in the Land of the Black Sand and sandstorms were persistently raging somewhere in the unforgiving black desert. The Citadel was an impressive building, but not for it’s beauty, but for the dark, massive, deadly vibe it radiated. It had it’s own sort of charm she supposed. Highly polished floors, large vaulted rooms, rather nice color plan (Blue, black, gold, and ivory) and an all-together dark splendor, kinda like Mozenrath himself. She spent most of her time the study, lab, and bedrooms, and some time dinning room and kitchen. But there was more to the Citadel, much more. And on occasions, when there was free time around, Nefret liked to snoop around. She was now in the most northern wing at the front of the Citadel, this seemed to be a more personal branch of Moze’s fortress, his display area of sorts. The room connecting to the entryway was one of her favorites; it was extremely impressive, even for Mozenrath. A large fireplace was centered on the back wall, above it was a massive portrait of The Lord of the Citadel himself. She had always liked the painting; it was well done and looked as if he could walk right out of the frame. The artist, who ever he was, had done an amazing job at capturing Mozenrath’s essence, he had his head raised and seemed to look down on you a bit, his gauntleted hand clenched and the other relaxed. Scattered around the room were tables supporting random knick-knacks that must have had some importance to him. Near the window sat a great hourglass. It had been there for as long as she could remember, slowly counting down to something. But she never could figure out what. The sand was at its lowest point yet, it would only be a few weeks before the last grain ran out. She sighed; she had been here many times and found many mysteries, but none she could solve. It was time to move on to more mystifying ground. And she knew just were to look!

            Quiet as she could Nefret crept down the musty hallway. She was now below the Citadel, in the dungeon and holding area. It as a confusing and frustrating place if you didn’t know the layout, you could just walk in circles forever and not even realize it. It was designed that way, so even if you managed to make it out of your cell you where still a prisoner. Thankfully the cells lay empty, for now at least. Nefret had once followed a group of mumluks on patrol down here and leaned which turns to take and which things not to touch. Nefret used a hidden latter to descend a pit that lay in the middle of the corridor, anyone else might avoid or even jump over the cavity, but Nefret knew it was the only way to get to the next hallway without getting tuned around. The secret antechamber was damp and musty and a baffling cold breeze always flowed from the end. They were in the middle of a desert at noon, there shouldn’t be any cold wind! Nefret was starting to have second thoughts but Anubis trotted along happily giving her courage.

            There they were, three long gauges in the wall. Made to mark the spot, or made by someone desperately trying to escape, just how they came into being was unknown. Nef stretched and cracked her knuckles. She pounded three times on the wall panel, then kicked it twice, and finally ran her hands in a circle on the surface.

            “And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” Nefret announced. She ever so gently bumped her hip to the wall. The panel swung inward easily and silently. “Thank you, thank you!” Nefret held out her arms as if receiving a round of thunderous applause. “Am I great or what?” Nefret asked Anubis. He cocked his head to one side and growled. “Hey now, don’t burst my bubble! Oh, never mind! Come on let’s go!” Nefret quickly realized the room was a secret study or lab. The owner was obvious, a large portrait of Destain hung over the desk. Nefret had never seen Destain while he was alive, only in his mumluk form, but it was hard to mistake him for another. The man was old, but still looked very powerful and angry. His expression of uncaring hatred set Nefret’s blood cold. No wonder Mozenrath had hated his master and eventually over threw him! She forced her eyes away and looked around the rest of the room. It held a great amount of books, some she had never seen even in Mozenrath’s extensive library. She wondered if he knew about this place, he must have, he seemed to know everything that went on in his domain. She pulled a book from the shelf, but they had been there a while and a network of cobwebs had bonded the books together. Most of that row came tumbling to the ground. Alerted by the sound Mumluks rose from the floor. Nefret didn’t pay much heed to them, she wasn’t doing anything very wrong, and they had never bothered her before. But this time was different; this time instead of passing her by they drew their swords. Frightened and angry Nef knocked down her first assailant with the book she held. She stole the sword of the fallen mumluk and sliced and diced her way threw the undead force and out the door. Mumluks seemed like a rag tag army, and not much threat. They were dumb and fell apart easily, but the problem was there was so many of them! Mozenrath seemed to have an endless supply, and even if you are able to make a few fall you’d soon be over whelmed by sheer number. Nefret ran as fast as she could, remembering the way only be the pure instinct to escape. More mumluks were rising by the second and coming after her.  Anubis was hot on her heels, even the brave dog didn’t want to challenge their pursuers.

            Mozenrath was relaxing in his bath. He sighed and sank deeper into the water, he was extremely depressed. A pitter-patter came from somewhere close, what’s Nefret up to now? He wondered, probably dancing around again. Huh, let her, at least someone around here is happy. But he soon realized the noise was no dance, it grew louder and faster than could be made by one person.

            “Xerxces, go see what’s going on.” The lord ordered. The sand eel quickly obeyed, slipping out the door. He was delighted by the sight he was meet with, Nefret followed by a dozen or so mumluks with swords drawn.

            “Get ‘er!” the eel yelled delighted. Nefret shot him a deadly look as she passed. This was getting her nowhere; mumluks were nothing if not persistent. She finally stopped and held her sword at the ready.

            “Mozenrath, get out here before I’m forced to make mince meat out of your guards!” she yelled. Mozenrath came sauntering out of his chambers in a towel.

            “Mince meat, ay?” He asked amused. He snapped his fingers and his servants lowered their swords and stocked away as if nothing happened. Nefret wasn’t done yet, she turned her sword to Mozenrath.

            “How dare you try to have me killed!” she glared at her master. “Really if I’m getting in the way I would appreciate you telling me, and maybe killing me yourself. It is quite an insult to be attacked by those things as if I were a common trespasser!” She didn’t really mean what she said, she would rather have been told if there was a problem, but she really rather not be killed by Mozenrath, the fact was she didn’t want to be killed at all.

            “Hum interesting, Xerxes make a mental note! Nefret wishes to be killed by my own hands.” He ginned evilly. “Yes I will be sure to remember that if I ever wish you dead. The fact is I have no idea why you were being chased down. What were you up to when this all started?”  He asked, but he already knew.

            “Well, I was, you see..” She tried to find a way of getting around the whole breaking and entering the secret lab business. “I was in..”

            “The underground lab?” He asked eyebrows arched.

            “Um, well, yeah. But there was a good reason for it!” Nefret wrung her hands around the hilt of the sword.

            “Let me guess, the Citadel is burning down and you were forced into the dungeon by the rising flames, where you happened upon the lab?” He leaned against the wall amused.

            “Ok. Works or me!” She set the sword down sensing he wasn’t too mad at her. “Still doesn’t explain why the mumluks attacked me.”

            “Well you see mumluks can’t think for themselves. They can only follow orders, no matter how old or illogical those orders may be.” Mozenrath explained. “I gave the order to keep the lab secret a long time ago, even before I meet you. Almost forgot about it. Don’t worry I will order them to never hurt you under any circumstances. Anyway, enough of this, I have something to discuss with you.”

            “Do you think you can put some clothes on first?” Nefret inquired looking down at his towel.

***

            They both sat at dinner, Mozenrath was of course dressed now. The main course was served and at last Mozenrath got around to talking.

            “Nefret, I am releasing you of your contract. You are no longer my slave and are of course free to go.” He said as he cut his meat, never looking up from his plate. Nefret looked up in surprise and dropped her fork.

            “What? I don’t understand! The agreement was for 20 years! It has only been 2! Have I done something wrong?” she blurted out. Her mind was so bewildered she didn’t even really know what she was saying.

            “It is nothing you have, or haven’t done. It is simply that I will have no need for you after the coming weeks.” There was a pause, it might have only been a few seconds, but it seemed to stretch on endlessly. Mozenrath stood and walked to the end of the table where Nefret was seated. “When I first got the gauntlet to help control and use my powers I knew it came with a price.” He began. “I have only paid half.” He took off the brown leather gauntlet to expose his skeleton hand. “The gauntlet has eaten away my flesh, but it has done more. Slowly as I used it the power has drained my life away. I knew it would happen when I first dawned the thing, but I thought I could find a way around the rule. I have looked everywhere, in all my books where all the spells, enchantments, curses, and potions known to man are written. In all of them there is nothing to help me. And when the last grain of sand falls, I will die.”

            “The hourglass?” Nef breathed in a chocked whisper.

            “You have seen me there many times, haven’t you? You never knew why.” He looked away. Nefret shook her head and sniffed. Mozenrath turned to her slightly surprised. He tilted her downcast head up and was astonished to see rivers of tears running down her cheeks. He gently wiped his finger on her face and marveled at the teardrop on his finger. It was a tear for him; for once it was a tear for him not because of him. He placed it to his lips and tasted the saltiness, it was real! Nefret shook her head in sorrow and stood, she wrapped her arms around her friend while she still could. Mozenrath didn’t know what to do. He stood frozen for a moment and Nefret pulled away. Mozenrath got to his knees and took her ankle in his hands. He began to tinker with the anklet.

            “What are you doing?” Nefret pulled her leg away.

            “Taking off the anklet. You can’t leave here with it on.”

            “No! I will need it because I’m not leaving!” she yelled determined.

            “Nefret, I want you to go now, before I become too sick to let you go. Don’t be foolish!” He grabbed her ankle more determined this time. Nefret dropped to the knees forcing her ankle under her. She looked into Mozenrath’s eyes unwaveringly.

            “No! I will not go and you will not die! There is a spell for everything, I have been with you long enough to figure that out! There is a spell for this somewhere. And I promise you I will find it!”

***

            Nefret sat in the library. A stack of books surrounded her on the table and threatened to fall and bury her. She flipped a page and took another drink of water. She had been at work for two days! And in that time she hadn’t slept for more than an hour at a time. Mozenrath was somewhere moping around the citadel. It wasn’t like him to give up, and Nefret realized he must have been looking for a long time. Xerxces opened his mouth and let a single book fall to the table; it landed with a heavy thud.

            “It be last book!” the eel groaned. Nefret looked up surprised.

            “The last in this library?” She finished leafing through the book in front of her and began on the last. Nefret turned the last page of the last book and dropped her head in sorrow and anger. “Nothing! How can there be nothing to save a dying man? What is magic good for if it can’t even help a sick dying man?!” She cleared the table in a single sweep of her arm, the books clattered to the marble floor. She stood and brought both fists down on the table hard and cursed in pure frustration.

            It was the next night and Nef had returned to the underground lab of Destain. Luckily Mozenrath had already given the order to the mumluks and they didn’t bother her. She had remembered seeing some books there that she had never seen before. Xerxes was napping on the desk and Anubis lay under the table. Nefret’s eyes were dropping and she constantly lost her place. She ran her fingers along a line of text, her eyes sprung open as she read the next few words: “A tooth of the famous jeweled-bellied sand shark worn around the neck can extend a persons life by up to 1000 years.” A scream stuck in Nefret’s throat. She jumped up and hopped around the room. Her happy cries brought Xerxes and Anubis to her side immediately.

            “Girl finally crack?” Xerxes asked Anubis. The dog gave a shrug.

            “No you stupid wonderful eel!” Nefret said. And in pure happiness she grabbed his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. Xerxes gagged and rubbed his mouth in disgust.

            Nefret slowly cracked open Mozenrath’s chamber door. He was sound asleep in his bed. Nefret crept closer to the edge of the bed. She managed to get there without making a sound.

            “MOZENRATH!” She cried as she jumped up and plunked heavily on the side of the bed. Mozenrath jumped up stunned and grabbed the intruder by the shoulders. Nefret laughed.

            “Nefret! What in hell’s name are you doing!?” He released her angrily. Nefret laughed hysterically and lit an oil lamp by his bed.

            “I have something that’s going to make you feel a lot better!” she grabbed his hand.

            “Oh, Nefret, I appreciate the thought, but I’m a dieing man! I should take it easy.”

            “No! It’s nothing like that!” Nef rolled her eyes and took the book from behind her back. She shoved it under his nose and pointed out the sentence. Mozenrath read it and looked up astonished. “Now does that make you feel better?”

            “Yes it does!” Mozenrath shut the book suddenly.

            “See, told ya!”

            “We’re going to get that tooth Nefret!”

***

            “We didn’t get the tooth Mozenrath.” Nefret muttered with her head in her hands.

            “I realize this Nefret!” Mozenrath said annoyed. They were back in the Citadel study. While they had managed to find the shark, it nearly killed them both and gotten away. “It was a good effort though. But unfortunately it is too late to try again.” He sighed and stood. Nefret could tell he was getting worse, he was paler than a sheet and she noticed he was in pain, though he tried to hide it. He took the Ankh out of his cloak and tossed it to her. Nefret caught the heavy bronze amulet and looked at it sorrowfully. She had given it to him a few days ago, it was the sign of life and she had hoped it would help somehow. But he had given up. “I’m going to bed.” The Lord of the Land of the Black Sand left the room and Xerxces started after him. Nefret grabbed him by the tail.

            “Not so fast! I have work for you.” She whispered into the sand eels ear. Nefret handed him a rolled scroll. “Take this to Aladdin.”

            “Aladdin?” he questioned.

            “Don’t ask questions, just do it!”

            Aladdin was wary of the messenger at fist. He knew that wherever Xerxes was Mozenrath wasn’t too far away. But he took it. Jasmine unrolled the scroll and read it aloud to the gang.

            “Honored effendi Aladdin. I hope you are reading this, I know Xerxes is an unlikely messenger, but it was the only way I could contact you. Mozenrath would beat me if he knew I was asking your help on his behalf. But I am anyway. As you may know Mozenrath’s power is killing him, a fact I only recently was told. We have found the only way to save him is to get the tooth on the mythical sand shark. We have tried, but it nearly ended both our lives. So as a last resort I am asking for your help. I know you have strong feeling against Mozenrath and may not wish to help. I do not wish to resort to this but may I call to your attention the many things I have done for you? I released the Genie and helped you free the sprites. I therefore wish to have the favor returned. Please write back now and give your response to Xerxes. All my thoughts, Nefret of Egypt, Priestess of Hathor and assistant of Mozenrath.” Jasmine finished and looked at Aladdin questionly.

            “Abu, get me some paper!” Aladdin ordered sternly.

            Nefret waited impatiently in her room. Finally Xerxes came through the widow. She grabbed the scroll and muttered aloud it’s contains.

            “Sitt Nefret, I admire your courage and loyalty. I have not only heard of the sand shark, but I also have a tooth as a souvenir of our encounter. But I refuse to let Mozenrath have it. He has caused so much pain and destruction in his past and I cannot help him to live too cause more in the future. You have helped me much in the past and I do owe you. But if I do as you ask it would be a great evil to you, you would continue to be as slave and forced to do as he wished. It is better for the world to let him go. And as for your favor I wish you to come live in the palace with jasmine and I since you have no place to go after the Citadel. Please accept my offer and my thoughts. Aladdin.” Nefret screamed in anger and threw the scroll at the wall. Deep down she knew he was right; it would be best for her and everyone to let him die. But he was her friend, and she could let him go so easily. Mozenrath opened her chamber door and entered.

            “What was that noise? Why are you so upset?” He noticed the scroll on the ground and read it. He looked up furiously. “Oh yes you will help Aladdin!” He growled in a voice so wicked it even made Nefret fear for her life.

***

            Aladdin and Jasmine sat in the menagerie waiting for a response from Nefret.

            “I don’t thinks she’s going to write back tonight.” Jasmine sighed.

            “Just a while longer.” Aladdin wrapped his arms around the princess. “I can’t believe Mozenrath is finally on his death bed.” He had mixed emotions about it, while he was glad that his most deadly and evil enemy would soon by out of the way he felt bad for the woman he would leave behind. He had never really understood why Nefret considered him a friend. She should have despised him for enslaving her. But Nefret seemed to regard him with mixed emotions also, hatred for the things he did, and caring friendship for the man. Aladdin hadn’t learned to separate the two.

            “I for one sorta feel bad for him.” Jasmine breathed. Aladdin looked at her horrified. “Well! He was so power-hungry he let this quest take over his life and he squished anything in his way. I wonder what made him that way?” Jasmine’s pondering was cut short as Razoul rushed into the courtyard.

            “My Princess, Mozenrath is in the palace!” the guard panted.

            Mozenrath snuck down the palace hallway, stepping over the bodies of the fallen palace guards and into the treasure wing. He figured if Aladdin held this shark’s tooth in such regard as a reward of his bravery he would keep it in the royal treasury. The cloaked figure of Nefret followed after him looking nervously behind them. She suddenly bumped into Mozenrath who had stopped unexpectedly. Nef let out a startled gasp, Mozenrath clasped his pale hands over her mouth. He jerked his head toward the locked gates of the treasury. They peered inside.

            “Told you it would be here!” Mozenrath grinned pointing to the golden sharks tooth.

            “I’m still not sure if we should take it.” Nefret said half muffled as she pried his hands away.

            “I’m not going to die just because Aladdin is selfish!” Mozenrath waved his hand over the lock and it magically fell open. “Shall we?” He followed Nefret in. Another wave of his hand disabled all the booby traps just as a large razor sharp pendulum swung towards their heads. Mozenrath approached the petastool which held his only chance for survival, his eyes flashed. The gates crashed open as Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu, Iago, and Genie rushed in on carpet. Mozenrath turned around angrily.  “Dam you street rat!” he screamed. He lunged for the tooth and Aladdin lunged at him. Mozenrath got his hands on the artifact but it flew out of his grasp as Al fell on him. Mozenrath turned on his back and raised his hand. The gauntlet began to glow as it filled with magic. He aimed and shot hitting Aladdin in the arm. Al fell back and crawled behind a pile of gold coins for protection. Nefret started to run toward the tooth but a lasso suddenly appeared around her chest.

            “Sorry little missy, but it’s for your own good!” Genie said as he tipped his cowboy hat. She was pulled backward into the waiting arms of the palace guards. Mozenrath got to his feet and ran to the tooth also, but Aladdin jumped from the coin pile and landed in front of the sorcerer. He hit Mozenrath squarely in the jaw. Mozenrath held his jaw in pain, but turned his head back and grinned.

            “That wasn’t nice! Sorry street rat, not this time!” He suddenly raised his hand and blasted Aladdin at close range. Aladdin yelled and landed on his stomach. “Because this time everything rides on my victory!” He attacked Aladdin again, but this time he didn’t use magic. Mozenrath pulled his foot back and kicked Aladdin hard the side. He groaned and began to rise up. Jasmine yelled infuriated and ran at Mozenrath, but the sorcerer tuned back quickly and snapped his fingers. Leg shackles appeared on Jasmine, Genie, and two shackles wrapped completely around Abu and Iago. The guards were also held down, but they didn’t let go of Nefret even though she struggled. Mozenrath turned back to Aladdin who was regaining consciousness and getting to his knees. The sorcerer grinned and pulled back his leg again and kicked Al in the stomach with all his force. Aladdin fell and lay still. “How’s it feel to be beaten street rat?” Mozenrath laughed wickedly. He stepped over the fallen hero and picked up the golden tooth. Mozenrath took out a leather strap from his clock and tied it around the tooth. Triumphantly he slipped it over his head and let it lay victoriously on his chest. The lord of the Land of the Black Sand turned back to his enemy. “Thank you Aladdin for the gift. Now how about you take my place in hell?!” He raised his glowing hand. The light grew as the gauntlet powered to full force.

            “NO!” Genie, Jasmine, Abu, Iago and Nefret yelled simultaneously. Aladdin looked up terrified.

            “Yes!” Mozenrath yelled delighted, but his face was suddenly contorted into a hideous mask. Pain gripped him and fire ran from his arm up to this shoulder and washed over him. He had used too much magic to soon, and it had used the last of his life! He grabbed his arm and doubled over in pain. Back in the Citadel Xerxes watched as the last of the sand quickly ran out and the hourglass shattered. The sorcerer fell to his knees and then onto his face and lay still. All the shackles dissolved and Jasmine ran to Aladdin’s side. The guards released their grip on the Egyptian woman’s arms but she stood motionless in shock. The gang was happily gathering around Aladdin and they all exchanged hugs and laughs. Nefret slowly walked to Mozenrath’s body. She bent down and tuned him over. Her chin quivered as she ran her hand over his face closing his eyes and mouth. ‘It’s all over now’ was the only thought that ran through the girls mind, but she wasn’t sure what exactly that meant. Then another sound echoed in her stunned mind, the sound of laughter and rejoicing. Nefret looked up nearly livid. She lunged at Aladdin. Jasmine steeped away surprised as Nefret pushed past her. Nef struck Aladdin’s face. He stepped back in shock. Nefret began to pound angrily on his chest.

            “You let him die, you jackal! You just let him die! Why didn’t you help, you’re the hero! Your supposed to save people not kill them. You’re the hero!” Nefret cried through her tears. Aladdin wrapped his arms around the woman and held her still. No longer able to hit him Nefret rested her head on his shoulder and muttered, “You’re the hero!” repeatedly.

            “Shhhh,” Aladdin rocked her a bit. “It’s alright now, you’re alright. Your free now!” He reminded her. Nefret had calmed a bit but she was still convulsing involuntarily as she tried to hold back her tears. The guards were preparing to take Mozenrath to the mortuary. Razoul started to take off the shark’s tooth necklace. “No.” Aladdin warned. “Let him have it.”

***

            Nefret lay on her stomach on the gigantic bed in the royal suite she had been given. Jasmine sat beside her lovingly stroking her hair. Nefret wasn’t crying anymore, just looking ahead absently. Her mind was flooded with thoughts. Jasmine sighed and left the room. Aladdin meet her on the other side of the door.

            “How’s she doing?” He asked.

            “I think it’s starting to sink in. Right now I think she has too much on her mind to talk.” Jas looked back at the door worried.

            “She’ll come around. Tomorrow morning if she’s feeling better I’ll ask her what she wants to do now. She might be able to go back to the Dendera temple. She’s probably considered a heroin down there.” Aladdin took Jasmine in his arms.

            “Give her time.” She rested her head on his shoulder as they walked away.

            Nefret rolled onto her back. She wished she had brought Anubis with her. She would have to send Aladdin to the Citadel for her things. She could never go back there, she still wore the anklet, and while she could enter the Land of the Back Sand without any problem she could never get out again without Mozenrath with her. He would never be with her again. It’s all over, she now knew what than meant. The evil plans were over, the darkness was over, the sarcasm was over, the jokes and laughter were over, and the friendship was over. The good and the bad were over; the light and the dark were both over. She now had to find a new direction in life, she was no longer the assistant of the Lord of the Land of the Black Sand. She was still a priestess of Hathor, and she would forever be the friend of Mozenrath!

            “It’s all over.”  She whispered to herself. Nefret took in a deep breath and let out a long musical wail, her voice undulated rhythmically in a somber wordless song. Anyone who heard that sound echoing throughout the dark night immediately recognized it as the death wail, a right of the dead, and a deep seeded Egyptian tradition. Any man or woman who had no one to mourn or wail for them was truly poor. Nefret’s voice lasted as long as it could but finally gave out as her chest collapsed and quickly rose again as she gasped for air.  She took another breath and sang a few words of a hymn she had heard as a child. “I dreamed each dream with you. We breathed as one together and we shed our tears.” But there were no more tears to shed, she was too drained to even think and Nefret collapsed into an exhausted sleep.

            A cool breeze washed over Nefret. Still half asleep she pulled the covers closer around her body. She moaned and turned away from the widow. A slight noise drifted in her ears, it was some kind of musical humming that softly mirrored the death wail she had evoked earlier. Something brushed her cheek. Nefret inhaled deeply, stretched and opened her eyes a crack. Her vision was blurred and a blue-black smudge hovered near her bed.

            “Oh, Mozenrath there you are.” Nefret breathed sleepily. “I expected to dream about you much sooner than this.”  Mozenrath laughed slightly.

            “Does this feel like a dream?” He asked as he pinched her shoulder.

            “Ouch!” Nefret rubbed her shoulder then looked up marveled at Mozenrath. She flung off the covers and got to her feet. She clasped her hands on the sides of his face and felt their warmth. “No..” Nefret breathed.

            “Yes!” Mozenrath laughed as she sat down in shock. “Sorry to disappoint but I’m still here! I guess on one could tell I was alive because I came so close to death. But this sharks tooth really works! I wake up in the mortuary. I’m going to outlive you all!”

            “I’ll get over it.” Nefret joked sarcastically. She was just happy that she still had the opportunity to tease him.

            “Shall we head home before I’m discovered missing?” He asked fingering the necklace.

            “Home?” Nefret thought for a moment and smiled. “Yes lets go home!”

***

            Aladdin and Jasmine rushed to the royal mortuary as soon as they heard the news. Aladdin hoped against hope a mistake had been made, but when they entered the room they found the marble slab where Mozenrath’s dead body had been lay empty.

            “Damn! That jackal is hard to kill!” Aladdin cursed. He put his hands on his hips and sighed. Just when he thought he might get some rest, he finds his troubles are still alive and well.

            “Nefret!” Jasmine gasped worried. Al and Jas looked at each other a moment and broke into a full run. They burst into her room. The curtains flapped in the cool night breeze and the bed covers lay wrinkled but vacant.

            “We’re too late, he’s already been here to get her.” Aladdin sat down on the bed and placed his head in his hands in frustration. “I should have put a guard at the door, but I thought he was dead!” Aladdin let himself fall back onto the bed, but he hit his head on something hard. “Ouch! What the?” He sat up and looked behind him. On the bed lay a large bronze Ankh laid perfectly straight with the chain wrapped around the symbol in a perfect circle. Jasmine came to investigate. She smiled down at the secret message.

            “Life, forever.” She whispered as she ran her thin finger around the chain.