User blog:ExdeathsBagel/Raiders of the Lost Pyramid (WWYD by Cyl3ss)

WWYD by Cyl3ss: http://monstergirlencyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:741757

With thoughts of the greater good and benefits for man and monster kind providing me the courage it always has, I leave the tavern and to the awaiting desert. I debate buying a camel to help get me across the desert sands faster, yet speed was not a concern, as I felt that I was prepared enough to take on the desert.

My destination was the Pyramid of Khemmis, the pyramid where she supposedly rests along with her ancestors. It was not a hidden or lost pyramid, in fact, compared to the numerous yellowish colored ones, its greenish hue stuck out like a sore thumb. Still, not many would venture to it and less still returned, as its way there was said to be coated with Sandworms that lurked just under the surface, not to mention the traps and other mamonos looking for a husband that lurked within.

Still, I was undeterred, and as I followed a crowd of fellow explorers out of the town gates, I knew our paths would soon diverge as we went to our respective pyramids. Yet even when I found my group thinning, one person remained, a woman, presumably a local from the looks of it, carrying a strange double bladed spear. She looked at me with a smile.

“Are you too heading for the Pyramid of Queen Khemmis?” She asks.

“Yeah, you too?”

“Indeed, it’ll be good to travel with a partner. What is your name?”

“I’m Thomas, you?”

“You may call Rosa. So, are you heading to the pyramid in search of ancient treasure?”

I chuckle, “Kinda, not for me though. It’s for a museum, I’m an archeologist, though I won’t lie, there has always been the occasional treasure I wished I kept to myself or sold for a large profit.”

This seems to peak Rosa’s interest, “Oh? My, I have yet to come across an archeologist taking this journey. Any particular treasure you seek?”

“Something called the Golden Tome, it was said to be a manuscript of ancient, forgotten knowledge of humans who once existed in the realm of the gods.”

Rosa chuckled, “Well, that’s sounds somewhat farfetched, yet you know what they say: ‘every legend has a bit of truth in it’.”

Our journey deeper into the desert was not one of silence, Rosa seemed to take an immense interest about me and of my home country, yet when I wanted to know more about her she seemed to be somewhat reluctant. We became so enraptured in talking that I would only occasionally look as to where we were walking, and I’m glad I took a double take when we began traversing the dunes.

I stopped and held out my hand for her to do the same, “Stop.”

She tilts her head, “Is something the matter?”

I look to miles of sand ahead of, the greenish Pyramid of Khemmis shimmering in the distance, and near where we stood I saw the sand stir ever so slightly. There was no gust of wind to be felt however. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small white ball.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What’s that?” Rosa asked nervously, noting the tenseness of my face as I crouched down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“A powered ball of chalk. When I roll it and the thing takes the bait, get ready to run.” I say as I roll to where I saw the sand stir.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What do you mean by thi-”

<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as the ball met its destination the sand underneath burst. A large, brown, multi eyed worm was about to consume the ball, but a pale hand suddenly shot out grasping the ball. As the mouth opened, the upper half a women arose from it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes! I finally have a hus-”

<p class="MsoNormal">The ball burst making her skin even whiter than what it already was. I grabbed Rosa’s hand and we quickly ran around the giant Sandworm mamono. It was futile however, we only got a few feet away when the sand around us began to stir. I pushed Rosa away just in time for the worm’s coils to constrict around me.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sandworm approached me, her face still chalky white, “Very, very clever. But I can be clever too, you know.” I struggled in vain against the coils, her cavernous maw moving ever so closer with the woman beckoning me in. “Come now, don’t struggle. Just come inside here, with me, and we can get you out of this pesky-”

<p class="MsoNormal">She suddenly shrieked in pain and released me from her grasp. As the sand cushioned my fall, we both turned and saw Rosa, her spear had both its blades coated in the blood of the Sandworm.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You bastard!” The Sandworm shrieked and slammed herself over Rosa.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rosa dodge effortlessly and took another slash at the Sandworm, before evading a tail swipe and doing the same. This exchange continued until the large beast collapsed on the floor in exhaustion and pain, the sand around her stained red.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rosa walked up to me with a smirk, “You okay?” She asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I should be asking you that.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">She chuckled, “It’s no big deal, really. Around here you need to learn how to fight Sandworms if you wish to brave the desert.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“If you a man sure, but don’t they normally leave women alone?”

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked at the Sandworm, “Well, sometimes you gotta be careful.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I see. By the way, how did you manage to cut the Sandworm? Such a hide is said to be impenetrable to all blades and arrows.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rosa looked at her blades, admiring their gleam in the sunlight, “Oh these are no ordinary blades. This spear is a family heirloom, its metal is said to have been forged in the heavens during the time Cyclops and men were still with the gods.” She looked at the straight sword I was carrying. “Still, I doubt I’ll be able to protect you all the time. So, is that straight sword just for show?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Of course not, I’m just use to fighting bandits, not Sandworms.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sandworm suddenly groaned in pain, “Please, dear human. I’m sorry I tried to make you my husband. Please help me. I can’t burrow underground like this, these cuts will become infected if they aren’t treated soon.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rosa gave a look as if to say ‘it’s your call.’ I reached into my backpack and pulled out some potions to cleanse the cuts and a roll of cloth to bandage the wounds.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You promise to attack us?” I ask her.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sandworm perked up, “Of course human! In fact, where you headed? I’ll take you there in a jiffy!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Pyramid of Khemmis.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s it? I can get you two there in a flash! Deal?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Deal.” I say as Rosa and I begin to treat the Sandworm’s wounds. Whenever I caught glimpses of Rosa out of the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I saw her smiling at me.

<p class="MsoNormal">Once we finished up, the Sandworm let us ride on top of her, “Though, human, you’re more than welcome to come inside during the trip there.” She said with a smile. I politely declined.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sandworm warned us to hold on tight, and I nearly did not brace fast enough when she took off. The sand was like the ocean to this magnificent mamono, and the Pyramid of Khemmis seemed to double in size every second we got closer. I also saw something standing in front of the pyramid, much to my confusion. Did a fellow explorer beat us to this place, or where we dealing with bandits.

<p class="MsoNormal">As we drew closer, it became clear what was standing in front of the pyramid, something far worse than a glory stealing explorer or a hostile bandit: a Sphinx.

<p class="MsoNormal">As the Sandworm let us down and bade us a farewell, I had to take time to recover from the high speed trip though the sands, though Rosa seemed fairly calm and composed as she eyed the Sphinx down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Are you ready, human?” The Sphinx asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good.” She gives a grin that nearly stretches from ear to ear, “You’ll need to pay close attention if you want to solve this riddle and get into the pyramid.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“This is waste of time.” Rosa says as she steps forward, pointing her spear, “I say we slay this beast and go on our merry way.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sphinx hissed at her, “You intend to slay me?! Lay one finger on me and you two shall be trapped in the desert for all eternity!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Let’s not get hasty.” I say to Rosa, getting in between her and the Sphinx, “Let’s hear her riddle and see if we can solve it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And if we can’t?” Rosa says.

<p class="MsoNormal">“We run,” I turn and see the Sphinx giving me a predatory glare, “we run really fast.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Rosa lowered her weapon as the Sphinx giggled, “Good luck with that, human. But first, the riddle! Ready? My first is foremost legally. My second circles outwardly. My third leads all in victory. My fourth twice ends a nominee. My whole is this gate’s only key.” She then pulled out a small hourglass and began stretching. We probably had only five minutes to solve it.

<p class="MsoNormal">I began to wrack my brain, thinking about the solution. I had studied up on riddles prior to exploring pyramids in case of situations like this, but now that knowledge seems to have vanished. As the hourglass slowly filled and the Sphinx grinned wider, I turned to Rosa for help.

<p class="MsoNormal">Unlike me, she didn’t appear panicked, if anything, she seemed calm and composed and she contemplated her answer. I took a deep breath and began composing myself as well, letting ideas come to me and not worry about the passage of time. It was then that I figured out the answer.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s love.” I say, seeing the hourglass just run out.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Sphinx stares at me, much like a cat eyeing a trapped rat, but then lets out a huff, “Correct, dammit I thought I had you. Fine, you two may pass.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As she steps aside, the interior of the Pyramid of Khemmis beckons to us and we hurry inside. As with the exterior, the interiors too are a light green, as if they pulsated with a slight life. The pyramid itself is also very spacious, and while it at first seemed untouched by time, tracks in the sand told me otherwise. Rosa did not seem the least bit worried however.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Great job on solving that riddle, had me stumped.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah, same here, I just needed to clear my mind and suddenly the answer came to me.”

<p class="MsoNormal">We travelled down a long, seemingly never ending hallway that twisted and turned, hieroglyphs and large artistic depictions coating the walls from top to bottom. I was so engrossed in the artistic décor that I forgot to keep my eyes peeled for traps, and soon sense my foot triggering a pressure plate.

<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately my reflexes did not fail me and I immediately stepped back, Rosa quickly doing the same. My body tensed as I quickly turned around to face the walls as I prepared for an onslaught of arrows from the walls, I strained my ears to hear the rumblings of an oncoming boulder or the floor about to give way, but there was naught but the silence that accompanied us since we first stepped into this pyramid.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I guess it was a dud.” I say as I cautiously step forward, “You never know about these traps, some don’t withstand the test of ti-”

<p class="MsoNormal">The walls to my side suddenly spring open accompanied by two swords cloaked in a dark aura shooting out at equally intense speeds. This time it was not reflexes that saved me, but only the dumb luck that I was a mere inches from them.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Damn, I was hoping our delayed trap would’ve got them.” An Anubis said as she stepped out from behind the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, don’t lose hope yet sis!” My heart dropped as another Anubis stepped out from the other wall, “They still have to best us in combat, which they won’t!”

<p class="MsoNormal">I quickly pulled out my sword, though it was clear they more so let me pull it out. Anubis were the personal guards of the Queen, though Girtabilus also held that rank in some families. As such, they tended to be the best the ancient kingdoms had to offer, and are still used in all militaries of desert kingdoms today.

<p class="MsoNormal">And it was clear why they let me draw my sword, as one of them focused on me and licked her lips, “You know, you do well in this fight and you might make a good husband!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m not looking to get married.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">She laughed, “I hope you enjoy that last act of defiance, because as my husband you won’t get a say in anything for all eternity!”

<p class="MsoNormal">She quickly charged forward, the other Anubis taking on Rosa. I couldn’t gauge how prepared she was as I had my own problems to worry about, yet even if she handled the Sandworm well, I doubt she’s ever fought an Anubis.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis swung for me, her sword sparking against the wall but leaving not a scratch on its surface. I met it with a swing of my own but that proved to be foolish, as the Anubis had monstrous strength that over powered me, I’m certain if I hadn’t swung with all my might there I would’ve been knocked to the wall as opposed to staggered.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis took this opportunity to charge with a stab, but this proved to be a fatal mistake. I readjusted my sword and stance to evade her lunging stab, and using her momentum I cleaved her in two.

<p class="MsoNormal">It somewhat pained me to do this, I even struggled to take down the bandits I came across in previous adventurers, I simply hated hurting others, yet there was one thing that made it easier, “Dammit, curse you human!” the Anubis roared.

<p class="MsoNormal">Anubis’ as with all the mamonos that guard ancient pyramids, are undead, as to eternally watch over the Pharaoh in her slumber. So a simply bisection is more of an inconvenience than anything.

<p class="MsoNormal">I quickly turned around and placed the tip of my blade at her neck, “Give it up, and maybe I won’t carve you into so many pieces you’ll fit into one of the pots around here.” I say as threateningly as I could.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis snorted, “Really? Is that the best you can come up with?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Uh, sis?” We both turned to see the Anubis who was fighting Rosa, or at least what was her head, as her body was strew around in a mess of parts around the hall, “He might not mean that, but she does.” Her severed hand pointed to Rosa.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubi gulped, “Okay, okay. How’s this? You put us back together and we’ll lead you to some treasure, deal?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Make it the Golden Tome.” Rosa ordered.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis yelped, “Of course, of course!”

<p class="MsoNormal">After quickly reassembling the Anubis’, though we had a hard time finding some of the pieces of the one that fought Rosa, they quickly lead us down a maze of corridors and around traps as we approached where they said the Golden Tome laid. I could not help but be skeptical though, as I assumed it would be deeper in the pyramid surely other treasures would lay, and yet we were going up. True to its pyramid design, rooms got increasingly smaller, but far more decorated, as we went higher up, to the point where I assumed we were at the tip of the pyramid, as only a large double door awaited us after a flight of stairs.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Through here is where the Golden Tome lies.” One of the Anubis’ said.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You think we’re just going to believe you?” I asked

<p class="MsoNormal">“By my eternal allegiance to Queen Kheemis, what I say is true. Though, brave adventurer, once you step through these doors, you are on your own.”

<p class="MsoNormal">   “What do you mean by that?” I asked nervously.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Who cares? Now come on, this is what you wanted, right?” Rosa interjected as she more or less shoved through the doors.

<p class="MsoNormal">I braced, unsure as to what to expect. ‘By my eternal allegiance’ didn’t mean squat to me, for all I know we were heading to our deaths, as that was no doubt the cause of the blinding light that enveloped us as we stepped inside.

<p class="MsoNormal">Yet I felt nothing, in fact, I even heard the door shut softly behind me. I opened my eyes, and I soon adjusted to the light to see it was coming from the sun, shining through a large window, it’s ligh illuminating a piece of art on the wall to the left that showed a scene of men and gods relaxing in a tranquil garden. In front of that window was a luxurious bed, and on that bed was what appeared to be a tome.

<p class="MsoNormal">I turned and saw Rosa smile at me, with her head she motioned me to the tome. I threw caution to the wind, walked up to the bed, and picked up the tome. It was indecipherable but I did not care, I could feel the age of it, could sense the magic that welled from within, no doubt my local museum would be honored to have such a piece and discover what it meant.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Do you know what it says?” Rosa asked as she leaned over my shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not a clue. You’d have to be pretty damn skilled in the ancient tongue for it to even make a lick of sense, but I’m certain a professor from my hometown could do so.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not an artifact from the ancient gods conversing with man in shared space,” Rosa began, “But rather a powerful spell, one that puts the chosen Queen in a slumber until either a powerful demonic force disrupts it, or the arrival of a man breaks its bind.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I was so caught up in my joy of finding the tome that I simply accepted what she said, but then I froze. I slowly looked over my shoulder to face her, “How did you know that? Not even the locals of this town remember the ancient tongue.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She gave me a grin and I put two and two together, “Y-your-”

<p class="MsoNormal">She shoved me on the bed and straddled me, “That’s right, hubby, I am Queen Khemmis! I offer my congratulations on completing my trial to become my beloved husband!”

<p class="MsoNormal">I heard the door behind her open and heard what I assumed where the two Anubis’ stepping in.

<p class="MsoNormal">“W-wait! I don’t want to get married!” I said.

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis looked hurt by this statement, “You don’t? I don’t understand. You are more than able, judging from my trial. As my husband and king of a soon to be reborn kingdom, we could usher in a new age.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just give it up Khemmis, I don’t think he’s interested in stuffy types like you!” A voice from behind me said.

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis looked up, only to be swiped by a large purple tail, knocking off me. I quickly rose up, only to be wrapped in cold, purple coils. Behind me I could feel a long serpentine tongue lick my ear.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I think he’s into a more wild type of gal!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ariandel!” Khemmis quickly rose to her feet, “So you finally decided to show scaly face! Come guards, tonight we dine on snake mea-”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis guard’s quickly subdued Khemmis, much to her surprise.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel laughed, “Foolish queen, or should I say former queen? I will admit it was clever of you to devise a trial to find the best man possible, but after so many failures who now reside as husbands to now my servants, it was a grave mistake to go and search for a man on your own. Your throne and bed chamber unguarded, all I needed to do was fill the tome with my energy and make your subject my own.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“But how?” Khemmis asked

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel blushed as she chuckled and licked her fingers, “I have my methods. But I would be more worried about you than your subjects, my sweet Khemmis.” With a snap of her fingers a black portal appeared underneath Khemmis and began dragging her in, “For you shall spend an eternity with the mummies in the inescapable depths of this pyramid!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel began to laugh as she delighted in Khemmis sinking into the darkness, “Behold Khemmis! I have stolen your precious family treasure, your throne, your kingdom, and the man of your heart!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis looked at Ariandel with a numbed expression of defeat, “Thomas, please…” Was all she managed to get out before being swallowed by the depths.

<p class="MsoNormal">“What have you done to her?” I say as I struggle against Ariandel’s coils.

<p class="MsoNormal">She chuckled, “Oh, don’t worry about her sweetie. Come you must be exhausted from your journey here. Let me ease your aches while you ease mine.” She began planting wet kisses on my neck, “Worry not, I won’t fill you with my venom yet. I want to see how well you do without it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As she dug her tongue into my mouth I bit down. In a muffled shriek she released and slithered to the other end of the bed while I quickly got off, sword drawn, though I had forgotten about the Anubis guards under her control, who quickly subdued me.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You bastard! I offer you my body and this is how you replay me?! You know what? I don’t need you. I have the crown, the throne, and the kingdom!” She suddenly threw her arms out and from beneath her spread a purplish aura that enveloped the walls, caused the art to shimmer, and enveloped the window, blocking out the sun.

<p class="MsoNormal">In this purplish hue I felt the dark portal surround me and I heard her spoke, “It is time for a new age! A new kingdom! One where only the most demonic and perverse of entities may thrive! You thwarted your chance to be a part of this wonderful realm, and now you shall join your precious Khemmis with the mummies for all eternity!”

<p class="MsoNormal">After what felt like falling for a few seconds, I was surrounded by the orange light of torches which illuminated countless mummies. I jumped as I felt what I assumed was one embrace me from behind, but as soon as they spoke, I knew who it was.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Your resisted her charms? Please forgive me for dragging you into this mess!” Khemmis sounded calm, but something in the back of her voice betrayed that.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s okay.” I say, “We just need to find a way out.”

<p class="MsoNormal">That’s when she began to sob, “There is no way out! Not without an immense amount of powerful magic, and I have been drained of it due to my centuries of sleep. Ariandel has won.” She said glumly.

<p class="MsoNormal">I knew about Pharaohs, and there lack of magic and what it meant to get it back. Despite what was probably numerous towns at risk though, I still hesitated with what came out of my mouth next, “Well, you know how Pharaohs get their magic back, right?”

<p class="MsoNormal">   She looked at me with a shocked expression, “T-there’s no need- I mean we should-b-but I thought-”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Numerous towns are at risk.” I say, “I think I can throw aside my stubbornness for their sake. And besides,” I take her hand in mine, “we might now have spent much time together, but I’ve already begun to like you, granted I’m not the type of guy who plunges head first into this sort of thing-”

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis pulled me in with a passionate kiss, “That’s fine by me. The fact that you’re willing to do all this shows you’re a man worth sticking around with, trials or no. Now,” she begins pulling off her clothes, “hate to put a lot on you, but not only do I need a lot of your energy for magic, I need you to satisfy a few centuries of pent up desire.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The mummies quickly laid down whatever cloth they could fine, and Khemmis gave me no time to reply as we passionately made love. I had trouble getting into it though, as the mummies stared at us with wide grins and blushing faces, some pleasuring themselves to the sigh of lovemaking while others tackled fellow mummies for relief. Fortunately Khemmis quickly remedied that by making my view only of her breast, in between her legs, or staring deep into her eyes that stared back at me with love.

<p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know how long it lasted, but at some point she rolled off me, breathless as I was, “There, I think I have enough magic to get us out of here.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And your centuries of desire?” I asked coyly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’d say I’m about a quarter satisfied.” She replied, grinning.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ouch.” I said with a chuckle. “So, how are we going to beat Ariandel?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis’ grin faded into a frowned, “I can only think of one way: she wants to be out new queen? Fine, she will be.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“How does that help us?” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Golden Tome puts whoever becomes the new queen into a deep slumber until a man or a powerful demonic force breaks it. In order for it to activate, the current queen needs to transfer the immortality or herself and her servants to power it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Why would a queen want to do that?” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">She gave me a look, “Would you want to live forever, especially if your lover dies in less than one hundred years? My mother did this to me centuries ago when her husband passed so she and her servants could join them in the afterlife.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, wait, you’re willing to give up your immortality and throne to put Ariandel to sleep, all for…me?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis smiled, “Well, not just for you. Living forever in this world would probably suck, Arinadel needs to be stopped, all those towns need to be saved, and demons on the surface world will only cause havoc. But,” she gave me a kiss, “you’re pretty high up on the list.”

<p class="MsoNormal">We quickly got dressed as Khemmis gathered the necessary to warp us back to the top of the pyramid. The orange light from the mummies torches was soon overtake by the white light from a portal beneath us Khemmis was generating.

<p class="MsoNormal">“So, any idea on transferring your immortality to the Golden Tome.” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">She gave me a sheepish smile, “Well, other than sic the mummies on her, no. Why, you got something better?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I looked down at my belt and noticed I still had a powered ball, “Yeah, but still, sic the mummies on her.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">She nodded, and in a flash of blinding white light we were at the top of the tower. While we were near the door, the mummies were spread out around the room, and Ariandel was staring out the window, from her reflection I could tell she noticed us and was unamused.

<p class="MsoNormal">Her corruption had spread surely spread throughout the pyramid, as now the walls pulsed with the sickening purple color that gave off a sort of sickening stench. The art the decorated the left wall no longer displayed a scene of men and gods relaxing in the tranquil garden, but now one that displayed an underworld where succubi were forcing themselves on men and incubi were raping the gods.

<p class="MsoNormal">The window was no longer covered in the purple hue, but now displayed an unnerving sight. The purple corruption was now outside the pyramid, and slowly advancing to the town in the distance. The sky was clouded and not a speck of light from the sun was to be seen as only a reddish lightning would provide occasional illumination.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel sighed and turned to us, “And what do you intend to do? I am the queen now, an immortal being of power that rival the gods themselves! What can you mere squad of mummies accomplish? The only reason I did not corrupt them was that they weren’t worth the effort! Perhaps if you kneel before me now, I will be merciful and make you my eternal slaves!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Not a chance! Mummies, swarm this abomination!” Khemmis ordered.

<p class="MsoNormal">All the mummies charged, but Ariandel quickly raised her hands and the mummies were all lifted off the ground, enveloped in a purple aura.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel smiled as they struggled, “Is this the best you can offer? Is this truly your final stand?! Khemmis, you are not only foolish, but are absolutely piti-”

<p class="MsoNormal">I reached for the powered ball and chucked at her face as hard as I could. Though initially shocked, Ariandel quickly swiped it with her tail, which is what I was hoping for. The powered exploded, much to Ariandel’s surprise, and Khemmis bolted for the Golden Tome, still on the bed.

<p class="MsoNormal">“If you want to be queen Ariandel, that’s fine by me!” Khemmis said as she touched the tome, which then glowed with a bright white light, “Yet surely you must know how the new queen is initiated!”

<p class="MsoNormal">The white light blanketed the room, as trailed of it emerged from the mummies above and from the walls around us. Ariandle looked on in horror and was about to flee, but the tome sudden shot up and tackled itself onto her, dragging her to the bed.

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel began to writhe and she struggled to break free of the invisible force pinning her down, her corruption retracting from the outside at break neck speeds as the clouds cleared. The purple hue enveloped itself back into her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis looked down at Ariandel and smiled, “Sweet dreams Ariandel, I’m pretty certain only a demon queen will be able to break the demonic energy in the tome thanks to you, not that they’d bother with you anyway. So you better hope a man finds a freak like you worth helping.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Ariandel glared at Khemmis and tried to speak, but before she could her face suddenly relaxed as her eyes closed and she stopped moving. It was strange such a ravenous monster could look so peaceful in her sleep. The doors to the throne suddenly opened as many Anubis came rushing in.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Forgive us my queen! We knew not what we did!” One said as they quickly bowed themselves.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Be at ease, Anubis’. I am no longer your queen, and you are no longer my servants.” Khemmis said.

<p class="MsoNormal">One of the Anubis looked up in shock, “You mean-we’re free?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes.” Khemmis said smiling. But the Anubis’ did not look happy, “What’s wrong.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“My quee- Khemmis. If you are no longer the queen and that thing is. We need to perform the ritual. Our daughters need to touch it so they may become immortal and be prepared to serve her when she awakes.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Khemmis frowned, “No, that won’t be necessary. Your daughters won’t be attending to this pyramid because there will be no pyramid to attend to.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Anubis’ collectively gasped, “Khemmis! You would dare bury this pyramid and dishonor your ancestors?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I think it’s more of a dishonor to them that a demon like her will rule one day, and besides, do you really want your daughters to serve such a vile queen? She wished to corrupt the land and bring other demons to this world, do you want that burden to weigh your children down?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No, no we don’t.” An Anubis said solemnly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Good. Now let’s get out of here.” Khemmis said as we all quickly exited the pyramid. Once out, Sphinxes, Sandworms, and even Girtabilus approached in confusion. When the Anubises told them what was about to happen, so cried, other cheered, while some starred passively at the green pyramid.

<p class="MsoNormal">As Khemmis raised her hands to the pyramid, she turned to me, “I’m sorry. I guess you’re not getting the Golden Tome, hell, your coming out of here empty handed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I gave her a smile, “What do you mean? You’re far more important to me than any treasure.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She smiled, “Thanks.” With that she made a few strange muttering and the ground began to shake as the pyramid sunk beneath the sands. The Anubises, the Girtabilus, and even the Sandworms and Mummies sung strange prayers as it slowly sunk into the depths of the earth.

<p class="MsoNormal">After that, I wish I could say life returned to normal, but it didn’t. I left back to my home country, Khemmis following me, hoping we could put this behind us. But the town’s word somehow spread even up here, and I soon found myself being asked for numerous book deals to detail my adventure into the sunken pyramid.

<p class="MsoNormal">Once word got out that Khemmis was a Pharaoh from ancient times, many professors were eager to talk to her to get a firsthand account of life in those times. We were compensated of course, but we both didn’t care much for the wealth it brought us, donating most it instead. What we were to each other was worth more than anything gold or fame could buy.