Dunst Till Dawn

The Quest for Duat

What the hell were they doing here? Why did Abasi have to be so damn mysterious all the time? Though, although she would never admit it, it was that mysteriousness that made him so damn sexy. She just had to trust him. He had never steered her wrong before.

All she knew was that he had said that they were going to visit one of his special friends at The Great Sphinx of Gaza. Natalia had a pretty good idea of what kind of friend he meant. Which was why, only he and a small group of trusted friends within Aegis, who knew Abasi's secret, were with her. The Fellowship as they jokingly referred to themselves.

A group of 6. Consisting of, her, 

Her father, Ricardo Rodriguez, the oldest member of Aegis. Who had managed to stay alive for as long as he did by mostly staying out of the battles. By being a medic and not a fighter. He was a white-haired elderly Hispanic man, who was well respected, and honored by all within the troop. Even by their leader Paul, who saw him (as they all did), as his own father.

Paul Allen, their captain, was also a member. He was a true pinochle of masculinity, with integrity, strength, and character. A leader well worthy of being followed into battle. As well as her handsome lover.

Then there was William Lester, his second in command. A tall lanky British man. He was an ex-member of the SAS, where he had met the fifth member of their Fellowship, Michal Michalski. William's partner in every sense of the word. A stocky man of Polish descent, who had been with William ever since their days in the SAS. Long before they had joined Aegis.

And then there was the final member of their Fellowship, Abasi himself. The reason they referred to themselves as The Fellowship in the first place. For he was their Gandalf.

"So where is this friend of yours?" Natalia questioned Abasi.

And in his annoyingly aloof mysterious way, he answered with one word. "Close."

"Well, he better be. Don't forget your girlfriend's after us now." William interjected with his Hugh Grant-like British accent. "And as they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!"

"Yeah, he tends to have that effect on women a lot," She teased.

"I get it! He has that effect on some men too!" William told Natalia cheekily. Which earned a look of jealousy from his lover Michal. "Don't be that way. just because you've already ordered, doesn't mean you can't still look at the menu." He told him.

"Stop your bickering!" Ricardo Rodriguez, admonished them, like a father to his children. Paul smiled at this, glad for once to not have to play the father to their dysfunctional little family.

"Abasi, William's right about us being in a time crunch," Paul told them. "And I'm as responsible for that as you I'm afraid. Please tell me your friend is close."

"He is," Abasi answered. Grinning, with that I know something you don't know, look on his face. He then turned to face The Great Sphinx. "Oh great one." He called out, "I, Richard Rothschild Jr, son of Richard Rothschild Sr., implore you to awaken!"

"Richard!" Natalia mused out loud laughing to herself. "That's just so appropriate since you're a Dick!"

"YOU DARE TO ORDER ME BY INVOKING THAT NAME! YOUR MORTAL CLUB MEANS NOTHING TO ME!" The Sphinx boomed in an extremely deep voice.

"Nor does it mean anything to me," Abasi replied. "I am not here for my father, nor his cause. I am pleading to you, great one, simply for information. The location of Thoth's book of forbidden knowledge."

"I SEE. SO YOU ARE REBELLING AGAINST YOUR FATHER."

"What I seek is neither to rebel nor to please him. It has nothing to do with him. It is my job to recover the book for my client. That is all I care about."