"Ah…aah!"
Back in Washington State, Mike's wife, Jessica, shakes on top of her husband as he meets his hips against her swiveling stirs. He first met this wonderful hazel-haired woman as a colleague during their research trip to Mexico to participate in Mayan excavations.
"Oh, Mike!"
She's a beautiful, intelligent woman, and yet…
"Yes! Oh, you're so good, honey!"
...The thrusting archaeologist knows he's done her wrong as he releases into her, his face straining with shame.
Despite trying to wash his colleague-turned-wife with love, Lecia remains in his mind. Regardless of their college feelings, he and his friend had to push past that, and yet, the former archeologist still hung to him. Worse, he accepted her advances again just before leaving for his conference.
Initially, he supported Lecia in her Stonehenge book endeavor with interest in uncovering history, but maybe that was an excuse to keep in contact with her. He thought of leaving the group as doubts over the book's authenticity grew, but now, that has all quieted with the fire and existence of an unknown creature that escaped the pit.
Amidst his troubled thoughts, Jessica drops down with a sigh and relaxes onto his chest, humming contently. With it, Mike forces himself to concentrate back on her, wrapping his arms around her as he kisses her head. In his heart, there's no question that he loves this historian — a natural compliment to the field he enjoys; however, he can't break away from the six years of work done with Lecia either.
He's sure that if he and Lecia had gotten together in college, she would be in his arms instead of Jessica. Even if he agrees only the present matters, the natural search for history always calls them to the past.
As he exhales, Jessica tilts her head up to look at him, her eyes worried.
"Has it been stressful lately?"
Mike puts up a wry smile, rubbing her head. "A little, but you're a wonder in relieving it."
"I'm happy to hear that," Jessica says, melting further into his chest before raising her hand to slide against his stubble. "You should take time off though. I see you locked in your office more than before. Has the university been giving you more research?"
'*If only it were the university,*' Mike thinks.
Sadly, there's no time off in a volunteer organization where one might've released something otherworldly. He can still remember Lecia's last update:
> "You know that cemetery we were at? It turns out one of those graves turned empty. Not even bones and completely clean from the scans we performed. There's not any sign of digging either. We know there was a body buried six years ago, but how can it disappear? It's still too early to jump to conclusions, but I wanted to give you a heads up."
"Mike?"
The archeologist clears his throat, and sliding his hand downward, he rubs her back reassuringly. "No, nothing like that. I…"
As he trails off, he recalls Jessica's previous studies surrounding ancient Egyptian religion before they met. A lot of her focus was covering the funeral rites and burials of kings and queens of Egypt. Although he'd rather not get her involved with the matter of the Stonehenge book, he's curious if she might be aware of similar cases.
"Let me ask you something. This is not really related to anything, but…what can you say of a body disappearing after death?"
Jessica blinks, then hums. "Well, anything dealing with bodies disappearing in history usually involves resurrection. Jesus is a popular example, of course."
"Are you saying there's other examples?"
"Well…There is an interesting conflicting record discovered relating to Cleopatra. It's largely dismissed."
Seeing her eyes shine, eager for her husband to press, Mike snorts and closes his eyes. "I'll bite, go ahead."
"Hehe, since you're asking for it! As you know, most sources say that Cleopatra, the last ruler of Egypt, was buried in a tomb with her lover Mark Antony. We've yet to find it, but most Roman sources point it to existing and that the egyptian queen committed suicide in her tomb before Augustus could prevent it."
"So you're saying there's a record that says otherwise?"
"Well, it sort of extends the records, really. According to a poet that encountered one of Cleopatra's servants, they claim that Cleopatra tricked Augustus, not only by making him think she died of suicide, but also escaping her self-entombment. The poet recorded that, thanks to a deal with the Goddess Isis, she was brought back to life in return to becoming a vessel."
"It sounds like this poet got executed."
Jessica smirks. "You are right on point. The idea of losing his trophy for the war wasn't enough, but recorded as being fooled? One might say that poet was seeking a death wish for willing to write such words in the face of the first emperor. If there's anything that isn't dismissed, it's the author's cause of death."
Mike remains silent for a moment before shaking his head. "How long before this version makes it into a Hollywood movie?"
"I'd give it five years. People like watching beefed up history."
"Like Abe Lincoln as a vampire hunter."
"Hehe, exactly!"
A buzzing of Jessica's phone cuts through their shared chuckle. Reaching the bedstand while keeping close to her husband, she picks it up and swipes. Not long, her lips twist, then part with a sigh as she lifts herself up.
"What's wrong?" Mike asks.
Jessica grabs her bra nearby and starts hooking it back on. "James got a flat on the way back from his friend's house."
James is the eldest of Jessica's sons, whom he treats as his own. At eighteen, the young man is almost ready to leave home for college after the summer.
"Doesn't he know how to change to a spare?"
"Dear, that was the spare. He didn't have time yesterday to go into a shop and now, he can't drive that car safely."
"Seriously?"
Jessica shakes her head. "Honestly, that boy has the worst luck. I'll pick him up. You just relax for now, okay? You're the one who needs more rest now."
Mike wants to protest, but seeing his wife's firm gaze, he backs off and exhales. "Fine."
"Won't be long, okay?"
As she leaves fully changed, Mike stares up at the ceiling.
'*The Goddess Isis, huh?*'
A maternal goddess originally from Egypt who spread throughout Europe. One who raises and protects kings and queens, even guiding them into the afterlife. Although it seems even more ludicrous than some modern religions in his mind, he's no longer sure of anything. It feels like any myths or legends are fair possibilities now.
And it's all because of a stupid green fire and a creature they have yet to see.
Mike sighs and shuts his eyes. '*Sometimes, I wonder if we're overreacting.*'