[DISCONTINUED UFN] BENEATH SANDS OF BLOOD ⟶ THE MUMMY 1999/2017

𝐯 ⟶ 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬

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"The Lady of Set," one whispered.
"So it is true. You have come back."

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GIZA PORT
CAIRO, EGYPT
1926

THE NOISE OF THE PORT WASHED OVER HER. Merchants calling out wares, soldiers yelling orders, dockworkers tossing each other luggage. All the sounds jumbled into one huge sensory overload, and she was thankful to be leaving this part quickly. Ports in her day weren't quite so loud or quite so busy, but they weren't silent places either. The Nile glittered at her from just a few feet away, as if welcoming her back to the land of the living. Florence had always loved the Nile, and it went beyond the river being her source of life.

She trailed behind her siblings, wrapped in white linen and subtle gold jewelry. Though most wouldn't show their valuables in such a place rife with thieves and opportunists, Florence wasn't all that worried. Her stare alone was enough to scare off anyone thinking about that. Evie and Jonathon's voices rang out as they ventured towards the boat waiting to take them to the banks of the barren desert and drop them off. 

Florence's eyes caught on a man in black standing near a stall. An odd occurrence, as most everyone here had opted for white to help with the burning heat of the unrelenting sun. The man also carried a sword at his side, and her lip curled. Medjai. The thing she hated the most.

She could cause a scene, send him away and rid herself of one pesky observer. But then her siblings would be alerted, and the Medjai would more than likely act sooner as retaliation. So the woman turned away from him, continuing on with Evie and Jonathon.

"Do you really think he's going to show up?" Evie questioned, carrying her luggage through the bustling crowds.

"Yes, undoubtedly, knowing my luck." Jonathon's sigh was one of exasperation and Florence stifled an amused chuckle. And people said girls were dramatic creatures. "He may be a cowboy, but I know the breed. His word is his word."

"And besides, Evie," the third sibling piped up. "I think he might fancy you. You know, with how he kissed you so passionately."

"Oh, shut up," she snapped. "He was a dying man, and he was just desperate. And personally, I think he's filthy, rude and a complete scoundrel. I don't like him one bit."

"Anyone I know?" 

Florence turned in sync with her siblings. The woman wasn't inclined to be impressed by most people. After all, she had seen the most handsome of men pass through the palace and didn't blink an eye. However, compared to a cleaned up and trimmed Rick O'Connell, they were nothing. Even her breath caught as she stared at this new man, and she had to blink herself out of the moment. 

All the more reason to tease Evie, though. And if the way she was quite literally gaping at Rick was anything to go by, she clearly felt the same as Florence. "Oh," was all she managed to get out, and she gave him a once-over. "Um. . . Hello."

"Smashing day for the start of an adventure, eh, O'Connell?" Jonathon chimed in as always and patted Rick on the chest. Rick's expression quickly made him drop his hand.

"Yeah. Yeah, smashing," he replied, his hand disappearing into his coat to ensure his wallet was still present.

"Oh no," the other man laughed. "I'd never steal from a partner, partner."

Florence shifted on her feet, dark eyes focused on Rick. Setepai, she thought, almost lovingly. She was almost sad that she wouldn't see the romance unfold between Evie and Rick. Clearly, they would be a good match for each other. . . if they survived this. Such a shame that they might not. Rick's gaze was drawn to her, and the strange smile sitting on her painted lips, but he would not remember her. If he did, he would most likely have tried to shoot her by now.