Chapter 29: Journey to Egypt
The lights of London faded into the distance as the taxi wound its way back into the city. The streets were quieter now, but the weight of what they had just accomplished at Stonehenge lingered in the air. The dagger was recharged—but only partially. Their next destination was clear: Egypt.
As they approached their hotel, Azaymos kept his gaze steady on the dagger, watching the faint glow of the runes. "It's not enough," he said quietly. "The power we gathered at Stonehenge was strong, but it's nowhere near what we need."
Mara, seated beside him, nodded thoughtfully. "The pyramids in Egypt hold far more ancient energy. We should be able to make more progress there."
Rex, sitting with his arms folded, frowned. "Let's just hope we don't run into more tourists. I'm still not over those cameras."
Darius grinned. "Relax, big guy. Egypt's more of a desert. Fewer people to deal with."
Nox, her face still pale from the struggle with her hunger, glanced out the window. "Egypt's going to be... complicated," she muttered. "Too much sun."
Azaymos raised an eyebrow. "You'll manage. We don't have much choice."
Nox smirked, though there was little humor in it. "Don't worry. I'm not about to let a little sunlight stop me."
---
The next morning, the group gathered in the hotel room, with Darius tapping away at his "borrowed" smartphone to book their flights to Cairo.
"Alright, flights are booked," Darius said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin. "First-class tickets again. We'll be there by tomorrow afternoon."
Rex, standing by the window, raised an eyebrow. "More flying? Great."
Nox, seated next to Azaymos, gave a half-hearted chuckle. "At least you'll be inside a plane. Imagine being me, stuck in a desert with nothing but sunlight."
Darius glanced over at her. "They have sunscreen, you know."
Nox shot him a sharp look, and Darius threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Just saying. Might want to stock up."
---
The following day, the group found themselves back at the airport, navigating the familiar chaos of check-in lines and security. As they moved through the terminal, Rex grumbled about the inconvenience of shoes and belts once more.
"Honestly," Rex muttered, pulling off his boots again for the security scan. "Why do humans care so much about shoes? They're not even dangerous."
Nox, now used to the routine, smirked as she passed through security with ease. "If only they knew how dangerous we actually are."
As they boarded the plane, Rex's mood soured again at the sight of the cramped seats. "Here we go again," he muttered, trying to fold himself into the tiny space. "Can't we just walk to Egypt?"
Darius, sitting beside him, laughed. "You'd melt in the desert long before we got there. Trust me, this is the easy way."
---
From a few rows back, a family of tourists eyed the strange group curiously. The father, a balding man in a Hawaiian shirt, leaned over to his wife, whispering.
"Look at that guy. He's massive. And those tattoos... What do you think he does for a living?"
The wife glanced over, her eyes widening. "He must be one of those pro-wrestlers or something. And the others... maybe they're his entourage?"
Their teenage son, snapping a picture discreetly with his phone, chimed in. "No way. They look like they're from some vampire show. I bet they're actors."
The family continued to whisper and speculate, passing around the photo of Rex and Nox, who were entirely unaware that they were once again becoming an internet sensation.
---
As the flight continued, Nox's discomfort began to grow. The long hours in close quarters with other passengers, combined with the increasing strength of her hunger, made it difficult to focus. She could feel the subtle pulse of blood flowing through the people around her, and it was becoming harder to ignore.
She leaned over to Azaymos, her voice barely above a whisper. "We need to hurry. I can't keep this under control much longer."
Azaymos's gaze shifted toward her, sensing the intensity of her struggle. "We'll deal with it as soon as we land. But you need to hold on until then."
Nox nodded, though her grip on the armrest tightened. "Just make sure we land soon."
---
After what felt like an eternity to Rex—and an even longer stretch for Nox—the plane touched down in Cairo. The scorching heat of the Egyptian desert greeted them as they stepped off the plane and into the bustling city.
The towering pyramids loomed in the distance, their ancient silhouettes standing against the bright blue sky. The air was thick with history, and Azaymos could already feel the faint hum of energy that called to them from within the pyramids.
"This is it," Mara said quietly, her eyes fixed on the distant monuments. "The power here is even stronger than Stonehenge."
Azaymos nodded. "We'll need to move quickly. The pyramids are heavily guarded, and we don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
Rex stretched his arms, glad to be off the plane. "Right. So what's the plan?"
Darius smirked. "First, we blend in. Then we find a way into the pyramids without getting ourselves arrested."
Nox, her skin pale and her eyes dark with hunger, gave a weak smile. "And then... we deal with the power inside."
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End of Chapter 29