Part 7 (1/2)

I know what youre here for. And if you leave this planet, I will kill you. I promise you that, Sanguina said, speaking only to Valerie, as if Thai didnt exist.

If I stay, I die. You cant stop me.

Sanguina was close enough now for Valerie to see that her eyes were as black as they seemed when she was unconscious. I can and will stop you. And I will make your life h.e.l.l for defying me.

As she stared at the woman who had hunted her for years, Valerie was filled with a desperation that made her hands shake. Would she never escape? Why do you chase me in my dreams. Isnt what you do to me while Im awake enough? she couldnt help asking, and saw surprise flash across Sanguinas face.

Your dreams? Sanguina echoed, looking bewildered.

Before Sanguina could recover, Thai gripped Valeries hand. Remember what you said. She isnt even here! Shes on the Globe. Theres nothing she can do to either of us.

Anger twisted Sanguinas face. You dont know how wrong you are. Her eyes bored into Valerie as if she would kill her if she could.

Valerie, lets lose this psycho. Run! Thais voice yanked her out of her frozen terror.

She did run, squeezing her eyes shut as she pa.s.sed through Sanguina. She and Thai raced away as fast as they could, never letting go of each others hands. They burst out of the pyramid into the bright suns.h.i.+ne at full speed, and didnt stop until they were on the manicured lawn of their hotel, where they both collapsed, breathing in gulps of fresh air. Valerie looked behind her, half expecting to see Sanguina chasing them, but she had vanished.

Who was that freak? You knew her? Thai asked.

Suddenly, from behind, they heard a man clearing his throat. When they saw Chisisi, they sighed in relief. Welcome back. You seem exhausted. Let me take you to your room for rest and refreshment.

Thanks anyway, but well be fine now that were back at the hotel, Thai insisted.

You must not a.s.sume that anywhere in Giza is safe. Danger may lurk where you least expect it, even here at the Mena House, Chisisi said, his tone sharp for the first time. Then he abruptly turned and left them.

Valerie immediately worried that they had offended Chisisi after all he had done for them. But before she could chase after him, Cyrus appeared by her side. Whatd I miss? Who was that woman at the Great Pyramid? I barely saw before she disappeared.

Sanguina. Shes been chasing me for as long as I can remember. She said shed kill me if I go to the Globe, Valerie said quietly.

Cyrus looked shocked, but he quickly recovered. Sh.e.l.l have no idea where to even start looking for you on the Globe, Val. Everything about your ident.i.ty and your trip is a secret to all but a few people. And once youre here, Ill be able to protect you. In the meantime, Ill ask the others about who this Sanguina person is. Dont worry, theyll find her. Sh.e.l.l never get near you.

Venu must be working for her, Thai said thoughtfully. Maybe at Stonehenge he was trying to stop you from leaving Earth.

I dont understand. Why is she after me? Valerie wondered.

Because youre special, of course, Thai said, as if the answer was obvious.

Chapter 12.

Back at the hotel, Valerie and Thai munched on some fruit that Chisisi had sent up while Cyrus wandered around the room.

Is Tan okay? He seemed scared back there, Valerie said.

I think so. When something is more than he can handle, he kind of retreats inside me for a while. h.e.l.l come out again when hes ready. But are you okay? Thai asked.

It turned my world around to realize that there will still be someone chasing me when I go to the Globe. Whats waiting for me there is worse than whats chasing me here.

But there youll have your magic to protect you.

And me, Cyrus added.

She looked out the window. The sun was already setting.

Are you ready? Thai asked.

I want to thank Chisisi one more time before I go. I hope he isnt still upset. We were kind of rude before when he was trying to help us.

Fine, I guess youre right. I didnt mean to offend him, Thai said, picking up the phone. Hi, Amun, could you send Chisisi to our room? Oh, when? Okay, thanks. He hung up the phone. Amun said that Chisisi was heading over to our room twenty minutes ago.

I wonder what happened to him, she said. It didnt feel right to leave without saying goodbye.

Who knows? Whenever we dont need him, he pops out of nowhere. And now that we do call him, hes nowhere to be found. But we cant wait around any longer.

Hes right, Val. Lets get out of here before something else goes wrong, Cyrus added.

Well, were finally going to need these, Thai said, pulling the night vision goggles out of their backpacks.

Valerie grinned for the first time all day. It would be pretty cool to go all James Bond and sneak past the security on the Giza Plateau.

Rather than take the elevators downstairs and leave through the main entrance, she directed Thai and Cyrus to take the stairs, hoping that they would attract less attention. The minute she opened the door to the stairwell, a sour smell made her cover her nose. As they descended, the smell grew stronger, almost making her gag.

They were going down the last flight of stairs when she realized where she had smelled that rancid odor before. Thai, watch out, Venus been here. That smell is his poison, I know it, she whispered, and her fear made her feet feel as if they were glued to the ground.

They both stopped, but it was completely silent in the stairwell. Thai then moved in front of her, murmuring, Lets get out of here.

Hurry up. Now is not the time to freeze up, Cyrus said urgently, and she forced herself to hurry down the last few stairs at top speed and burst out the exit door behind Thai.

I cant believe he was that close, Thai said.

Valerie noticed something lying on the ground, covered in yellow slime. She knelt down to examine it, and her entire body quivered with horror. It was a blue cloth with gold embroidery that she had seen before. Its that sash that Chisisi always wears, she said, struggling to keep the panic out of her voice.

Youre right. What happened? Cyrus said. Before she could do more than blink, Cyrus vanished.

Thai yanked Valerie to her feet. We have to get you out of here. Now.

We cant leave without finding him! What if Venu really hurt him? You know what hes capable of!

We dont even know where to begin to look. I swear to you that I will not rest until I find Chisisi, but right now you need to get off this planet.

Cyrus popped back into view. Hes alive, Val. Hes not in good shape, but hes alive. Amun called an ambulance.

I have to see him, to help him!

Theres nothing you can do for him now. And Venu is not going to stop trying to hurt you and those around you until you get out of here. Once youre gone, h.e.l.l have no reason to hurt Chisisi or anyone else.