Night life || Ahkmenrah

Fifteen

"Whooooo!" Damien shouted as he lifted his arms above his head. Nicky was giggling with delight in front of him as they swayed. Ahkmanrah gripped tightly onto Damien's waist as Rexy ran. The spine bones surprisingly steady seats as the dinosaur chased the little car through the snow. The snow was sticking to them and the wind was harsh but Damien was having the time of his life. If someone had told him when he was alive that he would one day ride a dinosaur skeleton through a park in new York, then he would have thought them mad. It was something he could have never imagined.

"Best afterlife ever!" He whooped with glee. Behind him Ahkmanrah laughed loudly. The pharaoh beaming widely.

"There they are!" Nicky called. He pointed through the trees where the blurred shapes of the carriage and Larry were visible. Teddy had given Larry his horse and the night guard was in hot pursuit of Cecil and the tablet. The plan was for them and Rexy to go down another path and cut Cecil off ahead.

Ahk leaned forwards and patted Rexy's skull. "Come on boy", he urged. Rexy snarled and picked up his pace. Damien and Nicky helping with excitement. Down bellow they could just about hear Jed and Octavius shouting.

Rexy roared as he galloped round the corner. The carriage now directly in front of them. The small yellow car sped round the horses as Cecil hastily turned. It skidded out of control and flew off a snowbank, flipping through the air before disappearing. There was a small bang and a burst of flame. With his bone out of sight, Rex stopped. Damien quickly slipped off his spine and climbed down. He sauntered over to the snow bank and knelt down.

"You okay guys?"

Jed's head popped out of the snow, hat covered in white. "Yeah", he grinned. "Ye-haw! That was wild".

"A little help?" Octavius asked as he struggled. Damien laughed and reached out to pluck the two miniatures up. He placed them on the palm of his hand as they brushed the snow off their clothes.

"Did you see us Dr Jean?" Jed asked. "That was amazing".

"Very adventurous", Damien grinned at them as he walked back to where Ahkmanrah and Nicky were waiting. Nicky had picked up the rib bone and was waving it at Rexy. The dinosaur's tail wagging happily.

"It seems the guardian of Brooklyn caught him", Ahk smiled as he gestured to the stationary form of the carriage in the distance. Together they all walked over to meet him. Attila and his huns bumping into them on the way.

Larry looked up as they got closer. He had Cecil by the collar and was pulling the old man forwards. "Have the huns take Cecil back to the museum", he instructed. "Put him with the other guards". Ahkmanrah nodded and relayed the statement to Attila. The hun warrior grunted happily as his men grabbed Cecil by the arms.

"And no limb ripping", Larry added.

Attila frowned in disappointment. He said something and pinched two fingers together in question. Larry looked at the huns then at Cecil's wide eyes. Larry then grinned and replied back with the same action and statement. The huns all grinned excitedly as they pulled Cecil away. Attila shouting instructions gleefully. "Wait wait", Cecil called as the huns picked him up. "What does Monkey caca mean? Translation please?" His voice faded as he disappeared into the park.

"Serves you right!" Jed yelled after him. His little blond head peaking out of the breast pocket of Damien's jacket. Damien had put the little men in there in an effort to warm them up.

Octavius stuck his arms out and waved goodbye. "Traitorous scum!" He called. "See you!"

"Oh no", Damien felt worry spike in his gut as he looked up at the sky. The blue was fading into grey as the first vestiges of dawn began to appear on the horizon. "Dawn's coming".

"I need to get you all back to the museum", Larry sighed.

Nicky looked around at the various animals and exhibits littering the park. "How?" He asked.

"Ahkmanrah", Larry turned and strode over. He held out the tablet to him questioningly. "This is your tablet. You know the instructions. Anything that can help?"

Damien stepped closer as Ahk took the tablet. The pharaoh smiling as his property was returned. He spoke a long slew of ancient Egyptian so fast that Damien could not translate. He made out the words 'home' and 'tablet of Ahkmanrah' and 'command', enough that he got the picture. The tablet began to glow. The gold lighting up with a hidden shine that spread out over the hieroglyphs. Damien gasped with awe. "You just keep on getting more and more mystical don't you"", he uttered, half to the pharaoh, half to the tablet. Ahk's ears went ever so slightly pink as he grinned proudly.

Around them all the animals and exhibits began moving at once back to museum as is summoned by a magic pull. Damien could feel the magic of the tablet summoning him back. Like a tugging on his chest. Not painful but urgent anyway. He turned and followed after Rexy. Ahkmanrah walking alongside him, the tablet still glowing in his hands.

——

"Two lamas", Damien announced at the animals walked in. Larry made a note on his clipboard.

"Check".

"Anyone else?" Ahk asked as they peered through the door.

"I'll keep a look out for them", Larry nodded. "You two go and get ready for morning. I'll handle this".

"Thank you Larry", Damien grinned. He and Ahkmanrah turning towards the stairs.

"Thanks for your help Dr Jean", Larry replied with a wave.

"It's Damien Larry!" Damien called back. He saw Larry smile as they began ascending the stairs. Then the man turned back to the doors as a woman came through. Damien wondered who she was but ignored it as they turned a corner and the entrance hall was blocked from sight.

Damien turned to smile at Ahkmanrah. "So", he started. "How did you like your first night out? I made good on my word".

Ahk laughed widely. "That you did. It was far more exciting than I anticipated". He grinned as they reached the Egyptian exhibit. The Jackal headed guards kneeling in greeting as they entered. Damien nodded at them and the both of them nodded back. "They like you", Ahk sounded very pleased by it.

"They've had three years to deal with me", Damien shrugged.

Once they were in the inner chamber Ahk picked up pace. Damien paused to watch as Ahkmanrah strolled round his sarcophagus to the back wall. He lifted up the tablet and hung it neatly back on it's hooks. The gold glittering under the lighting. Ahk stepped back and stared at it for a moment proudly.

"Back in it's place", Damien muttered as he walked over to join him.

Ahk turned and took Damien's hands in his. His touch warm as Damien blinked in surprise. "I am forever in your debt Damien Jean", Ahk vowed softly. Damien felt his shoulders sag as the tension and worry of the night faded away.

"Don't be silly", he smiled warmly. "You don't owe me anything". Ahk squeezed his fingers lightly, eyes bright as he gazed at Damien's face. Damien wondered if he should feel self conscious but all he felt were feelings of warmth.

"I am lucky to have you", Ahk murmured. Damien felt himself grin joyfully, the warmth in his chest swelling. He wanted to say more but there was no rush. Dawn was coming and they had tomorrow night anyway. Tomorrow night and the night after, and the night after that. They had time.

"I think I'm the lucky one", Damien joked. He squeezed Ahk's hands back as his tone softened. "Good morning Ahkmanrah. Fourth king of the fourth kings".

Ahk chuckled at the title, voice just as soft. "And good morning to you, Dr Damien Jean".

Unedited