The Secrets of Ahkmenrah's Tablet (ON HOLD)

Chapter 5

Isabella's POV

My breaths were deep, even, and slow. I focused on trying to bring my powers to the surface, to know exactly which powers I had as well as how many.  As I concentrated, I felt a slight rush of wind lift strands of my hair. Swirls of color danced around in the blackness of my closed eyes; faint fragments of past memories with Ahkmenrah near the Nile in Egypt.

But then an image glided to the forefront of my sight. There was a quiet gasp from somewhere behind me. I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me. 

"Isabella," Nicky whispered. "Isabella, look!"

I flickered my eyes open, crying out in surprise at the sight before me. There, hovering in the space above us, were my parents. Or at least a memory of them. They were smiling at each other, occasionally watching my siblings and I as we ran around them laughing. It was a memory I had cherished dearly since my rebirth.

Nicky's eyes were fixed on the image. "Who are they?"

Tears dripped from my eyes as I continued to watch the scene play out. "My parents."

Larry's POV

"Nicky, you must promise me you will not breathe a word of this to my brother," Isabella was saying. "I do not know how he will react."

"But they're his parents, too."

Isabella sounded stressed. "I know that. However, I need to decide exactly how to tell him about all of this. I am still unsure of it all myself."

There was a moment of silence. "At least promise me you'll tell him," I heard my son say. 

Isabella didn't respond right away. I heard a sigh and then a soft thud. "I promise."

Isabella's POV

As Larry and Nicky walked back to the Museum with me in tow, I wondered how to best tell Ahkmenrah all of what had happened. He would surely be upset that he had not been able to witness what I had, what Nicky had. 

"Isabella?" 

I lifted my head to see Larry and Nicky watching me. "Are you coming inside? You've been out here for a half hour."

"Oh," I frowned, not having realized so much time had passed. "Yes. I will be in shortly."

Slowly, I lowered myself to sit on the steps. All I could think about were my parents, and how I would give anything to see them once more. A pang of sadness struck my heart, as well as one of anger at Kahmunrah for having taken me away from them so soon. 

"Isabella," my brother's questioning voice called out. "What are you doing?"

I did not turn to look at him. With a sigh, I placed a hand on the steps next to me. Come, brother. Join me. There is something you must know.

His eyes were worried when I finally looked at him. "Isabella, are you well? You appear far away."

A slight smile tugged at my lips. I wish very much to return home, Ahkmenrah. Pulling my eyes away from his worried gaze, I stared out at the sky. I know there is nothing there for us to return to, but I still cannot help but wish.

Ahkmenrah took my hand, squeezing gently. "Isabella, you are worrying me. What is going on?"

With a sigh, I looked sadly at him. Nicky asked about my powers today. He wanted to know what I could do. So we decided to experiment. 

"You what?" Ahkmenrah cut in. "Is he alright? How is Larry faring?"

Relax, brother. I chided gently. They are well. As I was focusing on trying to bring my powers forth, I saw... My brows pulled together as I tried to explain what I had witnessed. I saw them, Ahkmenrah. Mother and Father. 

Ahkmenrah's eyes filled with confusion and a deep, longing sadness. "How?"

I don't know quite how to explain it. But I believe I can show you.