The obscure tongue of their master became strangely comprehensible to Russell and Michael. The words were odd, but instantly the understood his meaning.
"Good boys, good boys," the olive skin youth said in a language that hadn't been properly spoken in milennia.
He reached into the sarcophagus and pulled out an urn with a jackal's head on it. He removed the head shaped stopper, and poured a black sticky ichor from the container on to Michael's back and then Russell's back. It was initially the size of a fist, but as it glistened it began to spread. It didn't get thinner, magically the small amount spread without diluting coating their backs, chests, shoulders, arms, heads, and disappeared beneath their waistbands.
"Good Anupas!" said the master.
Russell and Michael both trembled as they felt their muscles twitch, grow and change. Then they winced as their bones began to snap and reshape. But they never stopped worshiping their living unliving god pharoah king master. Their tongues grew longer. Tails grew from their spines and fought against the fabric of their shorts. Their noses and jaws elongated into muzzles, and their ears migrated up the sides of their heads and grew pointy. Their entire bodies were now a shiny black not unlike hot tar (rubber was unknown to their master as yet, but he would soon know all about the modern world, and the developments that occurred while he slept.
"This is not my original tomb," he said looking around the field house. He wanted to go outside to explore, but it was important that he prepare for what might await him. The anupas, his guardian jackal hounds must be ready to defend him against all foes. Somebody had moved him, while he slept. A successor high priest? Surely Ahnk-sur was dead by now? He was ancient when the king was entombed, nearly 60. By order, the high priest would be succeeded by a high priestess, and then she would be succeeded by another high priest, and so on. He wondered whether it was a high priest or high priestess that resurrected him. This space was big, but it didn't look like a temple. Maybe it was someone other than a priest? But who and why?
There were odd snarling, purrlike noises coming from his new beast boys, as their shoulders broadened.
"Stand before your master," he said in Egyptian. There was a light deep in the darkness of his awakening mind. He cleared his throat, and spoke again, the words were harsh, and oddly formed. Barbaric was the word that sprang to mind. He said in English, "Stand before your master. You are on my team now." Team? Was that the right word? The vessel which was used to resurrect him was fighting him. It must not have been a willing slave? Or perhaps what he had been taught about the ritual inscribed in the ancient Book of the Undead was incorrect?
"Ch-ch-uh- ad?" he said as the name formed in his mind. That was an odd name. "I'm the quarterback! Quarterback?" It was daring to try to gain control. This was unheard of? Quarterback could that be what they called king now? It was fighting to regain control of his body.
The resurrected pharoah swallowed. Where was the high priest?
I am Chad. I am the Quarterback.
The pharoah drew another deep breath, and stared at his right forearm as a pale blemish appeared and expanded, his fine black body hair turned blonde above the lightening skin, and his muscles rippled. He concentrated. The blonde hairs darkened, and the pale skin faded, but instead of olive toned, his arm appeared more bronze tone. He was struggling for dominance. He couldn't let the white quarterback win, and he certainly didn't want to become a chimera with his essence merging with Chad's. He had to maintain control. He had to be pharoah. He concentrated and repeated an ancient prayer. The olive complexion slowly spread down his forearm. Now his thigh twitched and bulged. His leg seemed to grow longer on one side. The white blemish appeared and grew. Golden hairs glistened on his leg. This had to stop. He began to chant out loud.
The two dog men lowered their heads, ears, and tails, and looked up at their master's undulating skin and muscles. They whined softly.