They went through the numerous halls of the palace, Sasaki reading the hieroglyphics on the wall and Ami watching the birds outside. Chloe and Mandi just looked at the scenery through the passing windows even though there wasn’t that much to see in that direction. Finally Takmet stopped at a door that would have been difficult to find if one didn’t know where it was.

“This is it,” Takmet said, knocking on the door. “Marton? Are you in there? I have some visitors the pharaoh wanted you to see.”

“Yes, yes, I know. Come on in, Takmet,” and old man’s cheerful voice echoed through the door.

Takmet opened the door, letting the girls step through and down the stairs first, then closed the door behind them. They descended a few feet and the narrow stairway opened up into a large room filled with papyrus scrolls and other foreign objects of mystical value. And in the far corner, sitting at a table was and old man with a decorated cape. When the old man turned to greet them, Sasaki yelled with joy.

“Grandpa?!” She ran to his arms, leaving her friends and Takmet dumbfounded. The mage caught her and spun her like he had when she was little, but he had to put her down after one or two rotations. She hugged him tight. “What are you doing here?! Why didn’t you tell us where you went off to?”

“I didn’t see the point, and besides, I knew you would find me here. I would also be that missing professor that poor boy Eric is looking for. When I heard about the field trip, I had to leave and come back here to wait for you.”

“Come back? What do you mean?” Sasaki asked, puzzled. Though not as puzzled as poor Takmet, who in his confusion had to sit down amidst the scraps of papyrus.

“Now’s the time to tell you the truth. Come with me,” he said, guiding her to a small adjacent room. He turned to Takmet, who sat bewildered on the floor. “I’ll explain later, Takmet. Right after I get done explaining things to Sasaki.” He took Sasaki to the next room, shutting the door. “You may want to sit down.” He waited, but continued when she did not do so. “Now, first thing’s first. I am not your grandfather.”

Sasaki stared disbelieving at the only grandfather she had ever known. “What do you mean? I don’t care if I was adopted and we aren’t even related. You’re still my grandfather.” The old mage’s look told her she had unknowingly hit the nail on the head. “You’re telling me that I was adopted?” Sasaki whispered, seeing the strings of her life unravel before her.

“And so was the girl you knew as your sister,” the mage nodded.

Sasaki fell back on the stool behind her, only now taking her grandfather’s advice. “Now you’re telling me she wasn’t my sister?” Sasaki stared at the floor, waiting to hear the life she knew crumble. “But she looked exactly like me.”

“She didn’t just look like you. She was you.” The mage watched Sasaki’s reaction. She raised her head quickly and met his gaze.

“What?”

“Think of Eric, then Takmet. In a way they are the same. You had the same relationship with her.” The old man leaned on the edge of the table against the wall. “I’m sorry I have to tell you this all now, but time is running out and you and your friends have to be ready.”

“For what?” Sasaki asked unenthused. She had her head in her hands like she was trying to keep it from splitting open with the stress of the truth.

“You’ll see. I have more to tell you, and this will be the most shocking.”

Sasaki looked up at the mage’s knowing eyes, wondering what world-shattering truth would spout from his lips.

* * *

Takmet had recovered and seated himself on one of the chairs in the old mage’s quarters. He rubbed his forehead, trying to clear his mind of the befuddlement that clouded his thinking. Sasaki’s friends were just as lost as he, numerous questions about the mage and Sasaki zipping through their heads.

“This does not make any sense. If you are from the future, how does she know Marton? And why does she call him grandfather when he has no children and he has lived here for the majority of his life?”

“Don’t ask us,” Mandi said. “We’d never met her grandfather, but she spoke of him like he was her idol.”

“In other words we’re just as lost as you are,” Chloe sighed.

Suddenly Sasaki’s voice cut through the door. “I’m who?!?! No way! No possible way!”

Takmet raised his brow. “I wonder what he could be saying to make her yell like that. She doesn’t strike me as the type to overuse her voice.”

“Probably something unbelievable like she’s a princess or something, like every girl secretly wants to hear,” Chloe sighed, crossing her arms.

* * *

Marton took Sasaki by the shoulders. “You are! The whole plan was to hide you so you would be safe, and the future was the most accessible route, and the hardest to trace.”

“No, this isn’t real. I know I liked Egypt, but this is totally bogus! My whole life was a lie! Everyone I know, I’m not supposed to know. I didn’t belong there and still they put me there!” Sasaki yelled.

“It was only a detour from the course you were meant to follow. Now that you are back, your real life will find you.”

“Who else knows?” Sasaki asked. She knew it was true, deep down, she had always felt like she didn’t belong.

“No one. Not even your brother. He believes you were lost over a decade ago and barely has any memory of you to speak of. The only one who might suspect is Sekat. I’ve been keeping tabs on him, and what he said to you. He’s a nasty one.”

“You can watch people from here?”

“Just like he can. You will know where you saw him before soon, Sasaki. I cannot tell you.” The mage stood in front of her. “It would be best not to tell anyone what was said here.”

“Not even Takmet?” Sasaki asked.

“No. Especially not him, not yet. There is still a part that has to play out before you should do that.”

* * *

As Sasaki exited the room, followed by the mage, Takmet lifted his head. Sasaki gave him a pained look, wanting to tell him what her grandfather had told her. The mage took her arm, reminding her not to tell anyone.

“Is everything all right?” Takmet asked, alarmed by Sasaki’s silence.

“Yes, everything’s fine,” Marton answered for the dejected Sasaki. “Now I can explain to you why she calls me grandfather, which obviously had you stumped, eh?” Takmet nodded. “Well, you remember all those years I was gone, popping back in and out every once in a while?” Takmet nodded again. “I was raising Sasaki. I lived in the future as her grandfather to keep an eye on her. Why? Because she’s more important than you think, Takmet. And not just to you.” That comment heated up the young Egyptian’s cheeks as he looked at Sasaki, and hers as well as she looked away quickly. “I know what you feel for each other, and don’t try to deny it, Takmet,” the mage said, pointing an accusing finger at him. “It’s a losing battle to someone as old as me. All in good time.”

Sasaki’s friends were shocked to see how true the mage’s statement was. And they were also mind boggled by the fact that this old man that had been Sasaki’s grandfather actually lived in ancient Egypt and was old enough in their time to be her great, great, great, great, great,.......etc., grandfather.

“As for you three,” he said, turning to Chloe, Mandi, and Ami, “you have a part in this, too. All five of you together have a lot of power stored up somewhere. Sasaki and Takmet are the only ones who are aware that they possess some type of power, but so do you three girls that belong to the future.”

His words ran through the girls’ minds. “Us?” Chloe asked, astounded. “Are you absolutely sure about that?”

“Positive. I believe Takmet came here to ask about your training, correct?”

“There may be a problem...” Takmet started.

“What kind of problem?”

“I can’t touch Sasaki. Not to keep her from falling, not by accident, not at all.”

“When did this start?” Marton asked, worry creasing his brow.

“As soon as I brought her here, but when I saved her, the spell did not seem to be active. The first time, it blew us apart violently, and Sasaki was injured further. Then the second was when I took them to meet Seti, and unfortunately Sekat was there for the show. It seems to get stronger and cause more pain each time it happens.”

The mage rubbed his chin in thought. “This could only be a spell by our enemies, obviously. And sounds like an incredibly powerful one. I’d ask you to demonstrate, but it probably wouldn’t be too good for your health.”

“I was not aware we had any enemies like that,” Takmet said.

“Oh, we have for over a decade, only now are they proving they exist, I wager. Until I can figure out a way to bypass or break that spell, you need to keep each other at a distance.”

“I’d have to do that anyway, wouldn’t I, grandpa?” Sasaki sourly asked the old mage. Takmet lost the train of conversation. He had no idea what she was talking about.

“Hey, there’s always a solution, so don’t you start talking like that. We have a lot to do. The first would probably be to release your powers.” The mage turned to the girls.

“You can just do that?” Mandi asked. “I would’ve thought that we had to go through something a little more complicated than just waving your hands and saying some magic words.’”

“Oh, you do. I’m not actually going to give you powers, just make them a little more accessible. I don’t know what yours are, but Sasaki’s and Takmet’s are virtually the same. Basically you will all develop the same simple powers, but each of you has your own special front.”

“Really? That’s so cool!” Ami said, getting used to the idea already.

“Here,” the mage said as he held out his hand. “I’ll show you.” He took Ami’s small hand in his, holding his other hand up to his mouth, two fingers pointing up as he mumbled archaic Egyptian words. The necklace which Ami had not removed since they arrived in Egypt began to glow, and she felt something fill her being with a power she had only dreamed about. He released her hand, Ami rocking unsteadily until she found a seat, holding her spinning head.

“Now that you know it’s there, you have to learn how to use it,” the mage pointed out. He turned to his adopted granddaughter, who seemed to be coming out of her gloomy appearance for her friends’ sakes. “Sasaki?”

She held out her hand as Ami had and the ritual began again. Her grandfather’s mumbling echoed in her head, opening a long sealed chamber somewhere in her soul. The arcane words weaved themselves in and out of the place, Sasaki almost understanding them. Then she felt it flowing all over her, that feeling she had when she opened the lock to the chest that got them into this mess. Takmet watched her frame go rigid, coping with the power the mage was releasing.

She began to pull away from the old man, the stress overwhelming her. The mage removed his hand from hers and replaced it forcefully on her shoulder, keeping her in place.

“Grandpa.....I....it’s too much...too fast,” Sasaki said, keeping her more intense feelings buried.

“Hold still,” Marton commanded, breaking off his chanting for a moment. “Not much longer.” With that he resumed the secret incantations, Sasaki closing her eyes in concentration.

Takmet looked on in awe. The power the mage is releasing must be incredible, he thought. So much could not be released quickly, and Takmet figured Marton was letting it free as quickly as Sasaki’s tolerance allowed. The magnitude of it was evidenced in her discomfort. The same as me...she’s the same. Abilities that others had scorned, and once caused fear of evil spirits dwelling in his body, were in this young woman as well. The others had them, too. He wasn’t alone. Takmet gazed at Sasaki gratefully and admired her restraint. Damn, she was too good at hiding her emotions.

The mage removed his hand, allowing Sasaki to fall back into her friends in relief. Takmet stood to help but he remembered that confounded spell that separated them before he even took a step. Catching Chloe’s eye, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, he sat back down, realizing that she had been watching him.

Sasaki breathed heavily for a while, and even the mage had produced a few sweat droplets. “That must have been one of the greatest amounts I’ve ever released in one sitting,” the mage sighed as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “The older you are, the harder it is to release power, if you even had any to begin with. Takmet was much easier. He had developed most of his talents before we met, so I hardly had to work.”

“Are you all right?” Takmet asked Sasaki. She nodded silently, still concentrating on controlling the flow of the power she felt in her veins.

“Oooh.....ask about her but not me, huh?” Ami asked teasingly.

Takmet realized he was further incriminating himself by the focus of his question. “Are you all right?” he replied.

“Why I’m sooo glad you care!!” Ami replied sarcastically.

Chloe continued to watch Takmet. He was always concerned about Sasaki, and his eyes almost never left her as she struggled to normalize her breathing. He was so damn honorable and caring. What if it was me who he found? Well he did, but I didn’t exactly give him the widest welcome, Chloe thought. If only she had the courage to fight like Sasaki, and not care about breaking a nail, maybe he would notice. Oh my gosh, what am I thinking!? This dry air is doing things to my brain!

“Chloe?” The mage’s voice startled her out of that thought. “You’re up.”

She noticed that now Takmet was looking at her, aware that she had been watching him still. He wondered about her. Silent when alone, but the loudest in a group.

Chloe extended her hand, and the ancient words began again. Chloe felt a strange sensation crawl up her body, prickling like ice water, and she shivered minutes later when the mage removed his hand, the blue glow of her necklace fading. She did not falter as Ami and Sasaki had, but quickly found a seat.

Mandi replaced Chloe as the mage’s words filled the air once again. Mandi also felt something opening up inside her, and sighed when the mage removed his hand, feeling a new source of energy well up. She joined Sasaki, Chloe, and Ami in sitting down.

Sasaki had recovered and Takmet was careful not to turn his gaze on her too long. He had had trouble keeping his eyes off her since that morning for some unknown reason. And even more so now that he knew people had noticed. His eyes caught on Sasaki’s, but she quickly looked away, turning to the mage.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“Go fool around.” Everyone stared at him. “All right! You know that’s not what I meant. Go practice, experiment, and do what comes naturally. You know where to take them, Takmet.”

Takmet nodded and stood up, heading for the door, trying hard not to have his eyes stick on Sasaki. “Follow me,” he said as he stepped through into the hall.