Part 6 (2/2)

For what?

For not freaking out about this. Youre the first person Ive told. It feels good not to be by myself in all this.

I know what its like to carry a secret alone, Thai. Im glad that neither of us has to do that anymore. Night.

Chapter 11.

The next day, Valerie and Thai decided to explore the Giza Plateau, where they could go inside the three huge pyramids that they could see from the window of their hotel room, as well as see the Sphinx, a giant statue that was half-lion, half-man.

As they were about to leave, Thai paused. Hey, Tan. You have something to say?

H-h-hi, Tans gravelly voice said with obvious effort. Valerie almost jumped in surprise.

Your eyes didnt change!

Yeah, that happens sometimes. It takes less effort for him just to speak without taking over completely, Thai explained.

It was going to be strange talking to two people in one body. It would take some getting used to. She took a deep breath. Hi, Tan. Do you want to see inside the pyramids? she asked.

Y-yes. Thai told me a l-l-lot about them.

Valerie smiled. Youll have to tell me what youve learned. Its all new to me.

Ready to go? Thai asked, in control of his voice again.

Definitely, she said eagerly, excited to visit the site that would launch her to the Globe that night. Chisisi was waiting at the entrance of the hotel as they left.

Good morning to you both.

Morning, Chisisi, Valerie replied.

I caution you to stay alert today, young ones, he added.

Thanks, we will, she said, waving goodbye.

Once they were out of his earshot, Thai whispered, Who does Chisisi think he is, calling me young? Im a grown man!

Not much fun being treated like a kid, huh? she said with a little snicker. But Chisisis cool. Hes looking out for us.

I know. I wish he would tell us who his employer is. Maybe he would know more about Venu.

Valerie shrugged. She didnt want to dwell on the battle at Stonehenge. It was her last day on Earth, and she wanted to relish every second. The Giza Plateau was a ten-minute walk from their hotel, and she stared as the pyramids grew even larger the closer they came.

After getting their tickets, she hurried over to the base of the Great Pyramid, Thai trailing behind her. As she stood in line waiting to enter, she looked up at the thousands of golden brown stones that made up the Great Pyramid. It towered above her, hundreds of feet high, its ragged edges standing out in sharp relief against the cloudless blue sky. So what do you know about this place?

I know it was the first of the pyramids built here. A pharaoh named Khufu had it built a long, long time ago”around 2500 BC, I think. It was supposed to be where he would be buried when he died, but they never found his body inside, Thai said.

They reached the entrance to the pyramid, and Valerie squinted, staring into the dark opening and trying to see what was in store for them. The second she stepped inside, an oppressive, humid heat hit her like a punch in the face and instantly made her start to sweat. The hall was dark and narrow, and she wondered if the s.p.a.ce around her was shrinking and would soon crush her. A bead of sweat trickled down her back, making the hair on her neck rise. As they walked deeper into the heart of the pyramid, the same vibrating hum of magic that she felt at Stonehenge returned. It was so strong that it almost overwhelmed her.

Its d-dark. I dont like it, Tans gravelly voice said.

Dont worry, buddy, well be out of this hall soon, Thai said quietly.

The halls split off in different directions, like a maze. An instinct steered Valerie away from the stream of people who were heading up the biggest of the pa.s.sageways. This way, she whispered, leading Thai and Tan down a smaller hall that looked vaguely familiar as she recalled the images that had flashed through her mind at Stonehenge. The ceiling of the pa.s.sageway was so low that they had to hunch over, and she felt as if the tight s.p.a.ce was squeezing her. She panicked that she had taken the wrong path and they would be lost inside the pyramid forever, doomed to search in the darkness for a way out.

She breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the end of the hall and entered an empty room with a vaulted ceiling. The vibrating was even stronger in here.

Its b-b-buzzing in here, Tan said quietly.

You can feel it, too? Im glad its not just me, Valerie replied.

This must be the Queens Chamber, Thai said, looking around the room with interest. No one knows for sure what this room was for. Some people think it was supposed to be where they would put the pharaohs body when he died, but they changed their minds and built the bigger room above us for the body instead.

Valerie walked around the room, running her hands along the surface of the walls and marveling at the way the stones were perfectly cut and joined together. She knew that the entire pyramid had been built by hand, each stone shaped by a person, not a machine. She couldnt imagine how they had accomplished it.

Its near here”the room that will launch me into s.p.a.ce tonight.

I w-w-want to s-see it! Tan said.

Sorry, Tan, but I dont think theres a way to get to it from here. Ill have to start at the Sphinx and somehow find my way back here. Must be a tunnel, she explained, and goose b.u.mps rose on her arms at the thought of traveling through a dark tunnel beneath the ancient monuments.

That makes sense. Otherwise someone would have found the entrance in here, I guess, Thai said, his voice filled with curiosity and excitement. Lots of people have thought that the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx are connected, but no one has been able to prove it.

I have this feeling from what I saw in my vision at Stonehenge that this whole place is a maze of tunnels that no ones ever seen before, she said, shutting her eyes and trying to remember the images that had flickered through her mind.

L-l-look! I dont like her, Tan said, lifting Thais arm to point down the dark hall that led out of the Queens Chamber.

Valerie squinted and saw a flash of dark red that stood out against the neutral stones. Seconds later, a woman glided down the hall and entered the room. When she stepped into the dim yellow light inside the chamber, all of the heat drained from Valeries body. Sanguina. She stared right into Valeries eyes and her mouth stretched in a soulless smile of triumph.

Found you, she said, and the sound of her voice made Valeries stomach clench painfully. Thai stepped protectively in front of her.

Get away from us, Valerie said in a wavering voice. But Sanguina glided closer and closer, and Valerie knew that they would soon be cornered in the small s.p.a.ce. Run, she whispered to Thai. She cant touch us; shes projecting.

A part of her mind wondered why knowing that Sanguina couldnt hurt them didnt bring her more comfort. She decided to follow her instincts and sprinted past her enemy. Thai was right behind her. He didnt need to ask why they were running”the danger surrounding the woman was so strong they could almost touch it.

They were only halfway down the low, narrow hallway when Sanguina appeared in front of them a few yards away, out of thin air. They stopped short, and Thai yanked Valeries hand so that she was behind him. The damp heat inside the pyramid was closing around her, smothering her.

What do you want? Thai demanded.

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