Shards of Ankh

Chapter Two

Thea and Ahmed spent the morning beginning the task of assembling the smashed shards. Vase Number One (it's designation for now) was in the best shape; it was only half broken. However, the half that was damaged was in six pieces, one of which they couldn't seem to find. Vase Number Two was completely shattered. In fact, when Thea removed the contents and laid out all the pieces, her very spirit fell.

"Was this stepped on?" Ahmed questioned as they tried to arrange Vase Number Two's shards in a way that made sense.

"This is worse than a jig-saw puzzle," Thea had lamented.

The third vase wasn't quite as bad as Number Two, but it wasn't going to be as straightforward as Vase One. This fact was the first point of contention between the two curators.

"We should do Vase One, get it out of the way," Ahmed said.

"No," Thea had insisted, "we should put together Number Three, then One, then Two."

"I don't understand your logic."

"I'm telling you, these three vases are telling a story!"

"The hieroglyphs are so fragmented currently there's no way to tell," Ahmed scoffed.

"But--"

Ahmed straightened to his full height, and for the first time Thea felt intimidated by his presence. For the briefest moment she saw...something. It was just a flash, but whatever it was left her feeling almost...in reverence. Thea closed her mouth.

"We were only given a month, yes?"

"Yes--"

"So," Ahmed said, "we might as well get done what we can quickly, so we are not scrambling at the end."

Thea pressed her lips into a pucker. Whatever she had temporarily felt moments ago was gone. Thea now stood to her full height, too. "I am the head curator here, and you are my assistant."

Ahmed's features softened after a moment, and he looked downright amused. This did nothing but infuriate Thea, and her nostrils flared. Ahmed gave a slight incline of his head. "You are correct; I apologize, Madam Curator."

Thea looked him up and down a moment and then nodded curtly. "That being said...You do have a point about time restraints. If you want to work on the first vase, be my guest. Perhaps it will be best if we work in tandem."

Ahmed smiled at her. "An excellent idea."

Thea turned from him without another word, looking down hopelessly at the obliterated Vase Two. She sighed quietly to herself, her eyes flicking to Ahmed who had already begun his work on Vase One.

What have I gotten myself into?

~

Thea was currently in a bit of a bind. In her mouth was her day's mail, her arms held two grocery bags, and she was trying to find her apartment keys. She growled loudly when her phone chimed in her back pocket. Temporarily ignoring it, she paused only when her purse slipped from her shoulder and came crashing down into the crook of her arm. Defeated, she dropped everything.

Groaning, she took a moment to glare at the ceiling. Then she pulled her cell from her back pocket.

Hey, Rose had texted, you never told me if you found the brains or what!

For a moment Thea was angry, but then she smirked and shook her head. Quickly she found her apartment keys and went in. Rose could be infuriating, but Thea was happy for the text.

The day with Ahmed had been...long. Arduous. Truth be told, Thea wasn't used to working with anyone. In fact, she had been declared difficult to work with in both her schooling days and previous jobs. That simply was because she knew how to get things done efficiently and swiftly. She didn't have time for anyone who stood in her way with stupidity.