I begin to ask another question, and the professor interrupts me.
"Terribly sorry, but I see someone that I simply must talk to. I don't mean to be rude. We can talk again later, after the formal unveiling. I will be happy to answer all your questions then, " said Professor Brooks, as he made his way through the crowd.
I decided to try to find Molly, and see what she and Julia were up to. I wandered through the crowd, trying to spot them without success. After a long search, I heard a clinking glass. I turned towards the sound, and saw Julia tapping an empty wine glass. Molly was beside her, standing in front of the red silk sheet covering the mummy.
Julia gave a short speech about the history of the mummy - how it was found and examined, and Molly's involvement. It was a long speech, and I could see the crowd was getting restless. Julia could tell, too, and began to wrap up her speech.
"Thank you for your patience, " said Julia. "And now, the moment we have all been waiting for."
She pulled a velvet rope, and the red sheet dropped revealing the mummy in her sarcophagus. The crowd gasped in awe. The creature was wrapped completely in bandages, but the outline of her body was definitely feline. The sarcophagus was bare of any ornaments, save a single headdress on the mummy's head. It was a simple gold band, with images of sphinxes in various poses etched around the rim. A single large green gem was embedded in the front of the band.
Everyone was so focused on the mummy that no one was really paying attention to Molly anymore. Well, everyone but me. I noticed she had a strange look on her face. Her eyes appeared to glaze over, and she stared intently at the crown on the mummy's head. I got a bad feeling, and tried to make my way through the crowd to Molly. Suddenly, she pushed past the onlookers, and grabbed the crown off the mummy's head. The crowd began to murmur.
"Molly! What are you doing?" hissed Julia.
"Dear, I don't think its a good idea to touch the mummy. It is very fragile, and can easily be damaged. Why don't you give that to me, and I will safely put it back, " said Professor Brooks.
Molly ignored him, and placed the crown upon her head. A bright green light flashed, and blinded the crowd. As my vision slowly recovered, I saw that Molly appeared to be glowing, and her eyes were the same dark green as the gem.
Moly blinked her eyes, and looked around at the crowd. "Fools! How dare you violate the sanctity of the Pharaoh's resting place. Leave at once, or you will all perish!" yelled Molly.
"Molly? Are you ..." began Julia.
Molly slapped her away, sending her flying into the crowd. "Be gone! Or I will tear you all limb from limb! This place is scared, and you are violating the sanctity of this temple!"
I started forward again, when someone grabbed me by the arm. I turned to see a hooded figure - one of the men from the circus that had changed Molly! I stared at him in shock, then tried to pull my arm away. He held tight, and stared into my face, shaking his head slowly. I looked around the room, and noticed several more hooded figures in a circle around the room.
One of them stepped forward into the middle of the circle. Molly glared at him.
"You! Who dares to face the Pharaoh's guardian? " she yelled, tensing to attack.
The figure dropped his hood, revealing the face of a young Egyptian man in his twenties. "You know who I am, creature. I am the descendant of the Pharaoh, and rightful heir to his throne. Bow before your master, and show him the proper respect!"
Molly's eyes went wide, and she quickly ducked down. "I am sorry, your highness. I did not recognize you. I was only trying to protect the sanctity of your temple."
The man nodded. "And you have done well. But come. I have other needs of the Pharaoh's servant."
Molly jumped down off the stage, and ran to his side, following him out of the room. I tried to follow, but the man in the hood would not release me from his grip.
"What's going on? Why did you do this? " I asked rapidly.
The man remained mute, and held fast to my arm as the other hooded men began to slip out of the room. The crowd was too frightened to follow.
"Please. You have to let her go, " I said. "That's my girlfriend. I love her."
The hooded man sighed. "She must come with us. It is her destiny. There is no place for her here any longer. But, if you truly love her, you can come with us. It will not be an easy journey, and you may not like the answers to your questions. But when it is over, you and your lover might find the peace you seek."
"Let's go, " I said without hesitation.