❝death is only the beginning.❞
Mara El-Masri's fascination with the long-ago world of ancient Egypt started with the stories her stepfather would tell her when she was a child. Her brother Talib El-Masri is missing, left after their mother's funera...
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☾ ☽
THE SUN WAS IN THE MIDST OF SETTING by the time they arrived back to the Carnahan house, the sky above them gradually darkening for the stars to come out. They were one less than they had left with, as Alex had understandably decided to have dinner with his parents rather than returning with them. Sarah was the most eager of the four that were left to get back in the house and pushed past Philip to make sure she was the first one in when Jonathan had unlocked the door. That didn't stop her and her brother from yelling at the same time, "Giddu!"
There was a flurry of movement in the house as Sarah and Philip ran into the living room to their right, apparently intent on outracing each other to their grandfather. Jamil sat on the couch with Talib, whereas Jasmine and Leila were sitting on cushions on the floor around the coffee table. The four looked to be in the middle of a card game that was quickly forgotten.
Jonathan murmured to Mara as their two oldest embraced Jamil, "You would think it's been twelve years since they saw him. It's been twelve hours. And not even that."
Mara smiled lightly and said to her father, "I hope Jasmine and Leila weren't too much trouble."
Jamil waved it off and explained what had happened while they were gone, "They were fine, but it probably helped that they were both far more focused on tricking Talib than anything to do with me." Talib had an exhausted look on his face, Mara saw as she sat in one of the chairs. She raised a brow at the twins, who were exchanging a secret, mischievous smile. Jonathan reached forward to mess with Leila's hair. "Every time he thought he figured out which one was which, they tricked him again."
It was their favorite trick, using their identical looks and mannerisms to pretend to be the other. One would think they would get bored of it at some point, but that point hadn't been reached just yet. Talib retorted plainly as Mara laughed to herself, "Yes, laugh at my misery caused by your children."
"Talib, do you think you're the only one they trick?" Mara inquired.
"I think I'm their favorite target."
"That just means you're their favorite uncle."
"Means they like you better than Rick," Jonathan piped up with a nod.
Talib didn't seem very impressed by the suggestion, just stared at him flatly. The twins only messed with him as much as they did because it was easier for them to trick him than anyone else. It also meant that he was indeed their favorite person who wasn't either of their parents and always looked forward to the next time they saw their Uncle Talib.
Mara smiled again and said, "I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to babysit again tomorrow, all four of them."
Sarah lit up and told everyone, posture straightening, "I found a secret room!"
