Winter Legacy -30-

Claus retraced his steps and realized that he had an extra keystone in his pouch, he immediately located the door, careful to avoid the electrical floor traps. The heavy chains fell away from the brittle wooden door. Claus stared at the discarded chain for a long while, he was so torn. He wanted to be home, with his wife and his family, but when he was home he missed the rush he got from being on an adventure.

In the next room there was an archway which contained a pile of rubble, Claus quickly cleared the rubble and revealed a wall switch. He stuck his hand in and didn't even flinch when his fingers touched something cool and slimy.

Finally he reached his destination, the room that contained the chest with the final relic. Claus took one step toward the chest and stood dead in his tracks when the sarcophagi creaked open and two mummies lumbered out. He stood back, calculating. The mummies moved slowly, he could get to the chest, get the relic and avoid the mummies easily.

Claus released a contented sigh when he reached the chest, the mummy seemed to be completely oblivious to his presence. 

Things went south though when Claus prepared to leave, the second mummy blocked his path. The next thing Claus knew he was looking up at the cracked clay ceiling of the tome, the mummies were gone. He rolled over and gasped, he felt exhausted, ridiculously so. It was all Claus could do to get to his feet, his vision swam and he had to hold onto the rail so as not to fall over. 

"I've gotta get outta here." Claus mumbled aloud and stumbled through the tome.

By the time Claus located Tahiya Shalut, he felt a lot better, so he attributed his sickness to lack of oxygen inside the time.

"Thank you for your help Claus Winter, I will put the relics somewhere safe. My entire community thanks you for your assistance."

Jaylee strode outside, anxiously waiting Claus' arrival. She had counted down the hours since he called from the airport.

Jaylee was impressed by the stretched limo that brought Claus home, she couldn't help but wonder what he'd done to deserve this VIP treatment. Her pulse quickened when he stepped out though, Claus looked dead to the world.

"Baby?" She murmured.

"Hey honey." Claus greeted her weakly, his smile didn't reach his eyes. He coughed heavily and nearly fell over. Jaylee had to grab onto him to stop him from falling over.

"I'm fine." He said quickly.

"You're not fine Claus."

"I am, I just caught a little cold from being inside the musty tome. I just have to sleep it off. Okay?"

"Okay."

About five hours later, Jaylee went to check on her husband, he was curled up in the ball, the same as he was when he'd gone to bed, still in his clothes and everything. "Claus!" She called. "Claus?" Jaylee pranced on the bed and shook Claus roughly, he didn't even move. Jaylee could hear his heart hammering in his chest, and the rush of blood in his veins sang to her. 

Jaylee shook her head, snapping herself out of the trance.

Jaylee had run downstairs to find a book she'd seen Claus reading, she was immediately ambushed by his family. "Is Claus okay?" Snowie asked.

"Claus is going to be fine, he just picked up something inside one of the tomes." When the girl walked away Jaylee turned to Jack, letting her worry show. "Claus is not okay, I can't wake him up!"

"What do you mean you can't wake him up?"

"He's breathing, and his heart is beating but..." Jack put his plate on the table and pulled Jaylee to him. "Calm down Jaylee, there has to be a way to wake him. Do you want me to call 9-1-1?"

"No, just give me a minute." Jaylee rushed back upstairs and locked the door behind her.

Jaylee took a couple deep breaths to calm herself. Then she tried to reach her mind out to his, but there was nothing, or at least nothing new. His brain was pretty much dead since he fell asleep. Jaylee accessed Claus' memories, trying to make sense of where he could have picked up this bug. "Damnit Claus!"

"Where is Claus?" Agnes asked after her bath. "He did come home this evening didn't he?"

"He's sleeping." Snowie replied.

"Jaylee's tending to him." Jack put in.

"What's wrong with him? It's been a while since he said he was coming home. What's going on?"  Snowie shrugged but Jack couldn't meet his wife's eyes.

Agnes went upstairs and busted the bedroom door open, she frowned when she found Claus still in his sweaty clothes. "Couldn't Jaylee wake the boy and make him shower?" She shook her head and left the room.

Jaylee listened to the activity downstairs. She heard Snowie tell her parents goodnight and listened as the girl came up the stairs, then heard Snowie slam her bedroom door. Agnes went to bed next. Jack sat up for a few more hours but eventually he too turned in for the night. 

Once Jaylee was sure that everyone was asleep she got out of bed and went to the sarcophagus. "Come forth Great Pharaoh." Most vampires had a power that was unique to them, Jaylee was a summoner, a conjurer, a power her mother and clan feared. A power she had to learn to control, to only use in dire situations. Jaylee had just gotten married, she wasn't yet ready to become a widow.   

The sarcophagus was empty, but it contained traces of the pharaoh that had once occupied it, that was all she needed to call forth the dead pharaohr.

"Yes Lady?" The mummy said in a slow, throaty voice.

"My husband seems to have had a mishap with one of your counterparts, i was wondering if there was a way I could heal him?"

"There is, but it requires objects that are very difficult to obtain."

"Tell me great queen so that I may try to save him."

"Death requires a trade, a spirit to return life. You will need essence of mummy and the poison of a cobra. The powder of a once dead king must be mixed with the snake's poison. When lit, the smoke shall break the curse upon your human husband."

"What do you mean a trade."

"The sacrifice of a human shall return a pharaoh to his former glory. Nobody wishes to wonder around aimlessly for the rest of eternity Lady."

"How much time to I have?"

"You have until sunset a week from the day the victim was cursed."

"Thank you great pharaoh. Return to your slumber."

The mummy lumbered back to her sarcophagus and returned to her former state.

Jaylee wasted no time. She changed and packed a bag, then she rushed downstairs and woke Jack. "You have to keep Agnes and Snowie away from Claus. Tell them that he has jet lag or something, and that he's up late at night. I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Where are you going?"

"I have to go to Egypt."