7Chapter One: Egyptian Nights
The sun beamed down from the bright orange sky, as the desert winds slowly began to pick up. A figure riding a camel could be seen very faintly in the distance, as he approached the large city before him. His dark blue eyes took in the sight, never seeing such a grand place. A smile formed upon his face, the sand blowing in his face suddenly cleared, giving him a much better view. Many of the people this stranger had come across on his way there had been very friendly and kind giving him directions to where he needed to go.
He hadn't been home in so long, and was looking forward to seeing some old friends again. Traveling all over the world in less than a year, he had seen many grand sights. The pyramids were silent as glass, great monuments built for the many kings of Egypt, many for their final resting place. The wealth of Egypthidden with them, one could not pass into the afterlife empty handed. Bright lights illuminated the large city, as the man continued his journey.
A cool breeze began to blow, as the sun began to sink below the horizon, night falling upon the great city. The man rode slowly into the marketplace, before his camel collapsed from exhaustion. Shadi sighed, his dark eyes looking out into the distance before he spoke.
"Ah hello and good evening to you worthy friend, please, come closer. That's a little too close!" Shadi beckoned and then waved his hands as the people obviously didn't know the meaning of personal space. "There! Welcome toEgypt,DominoCityto be specific. City of mystery and enchantment." He then reached into the large bag sitting on top of the camel, and suddenly a makeshift tent along with a sale sign and merchandise appeared.
"And the finest merchandise this side of the river Nile, come on down! Ah heh, heh, heh. Look at this! Yes! Hee heh! Combination hookah and coffeemaker, also makes Julian fries! Will not break! It will not - it broke. Oh, look at this! I have never seen one of these in tact before. This is the famous Dead Sea Tupperware. Listen- pblt! Ah! Still good! Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Wait, don't go! I can see that you're only interested in the exceptionally rare! I think, then, you would be most rewarded to consider something a little more interesting."
Reaching into his white robe, he pulled out what appeared to be an oil lamp. "Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance, for you see my young friend, this was no ordinary lamp. It once changed the course of a young man's life, and he was far more than what he seemed: a diamond-in-the-rough so to speak. Perhaps you would like to hear the tale? It all begins on a dark night, where a dark man waits, for an even darker purpose..."
The shadow of a man on horseback had been waiting for what seemed like hours. He was growing very impatient with the thief he was supposed to meet. Dartz knew he had little time to spare for matters such as these, but tonight was important and fate was riding on one person to show up. A few seconds later the sound of another horse could be heard riding towards him. His eyes narrowed as the figure approached him. The rider was dressed in a long dark cloak, which covered his green hair and blue eyes that stared out into the purely lit darkness.
"You're late Esperoba," Dartz growled, anger and frustration evident in his eyes.
"A thousand apologies oh patient one," the thief's voice dripping with sarcasm as Dartz jumped off his horse and onto the sand, his feet sinking slightly.
"Do you have it?" he growled, his deep voice sounded very frightening.
"I had to slit a few throats, but I got it," the Esperoba replied, pulling back his hood, as he reached into his robe and showing Dartz the object he was talking about. A small golden shaped beetle sat inside his palm; however it was just half of the object.
"Excellent," Dartz said, reaching to take the precious object from Esperoba. Esperoba, however, had other plans, and pulled it away before Dartz could grab it.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he said, as if scolding him. "First the treasure you promised me."
Esperoba suddenly had the wind knocked out of him as a green and yellow parrot flew right at his face, it's claws grabbed the object from the his hand and dropped it into Dartz's. Another figure stood in the shadows next to the tall man, wearing a dark black cloak.
"Master, is it upon the hour yet?" the hooded figure asked.
"It is time Selene, not to worry my dear." Dartz nodded, ignoring a breathless thief at his feet. "This fool will be tested in order for him to enter the cave of wonders."
"Good." Selene nodded as well
"Patience my friend," Dartz said to the thief as he pulled an object out of his own robes. "You'll have your reward soon enough."
It was revealed that the two objects were opposite sides of what appeared to be a golden beetle. The thief struggled to his feet after having the wind knocked out of him by the bird that now sat upon the shoulder of Dartz. He carefully put the two pieces together. Suddenly, without warning, a bright light surrounded the beetle before it took off into the night!
"FOLLOW IT!" Dartz shouted to the thief, before they took off chasing it into the desert. The three of them chased the brightly flying beetle before coming to a complete stop when the two parts landed, and the earth underneath them began to quake. The horses sent their riders flying, terrified of what was happening, sensing danger. The three figures watched as a figure emerged out of the sand, its head appeared to be that of a tiger. The two sides of the beetle became its eyes, glowing red as its mouth opened to reveal very sharp teeth and a glowing golden light coming from inside.
"At last after all my years of searching, the cave of wonders!" he said, his voice filled with awe. The hooded figure next to him pulled down the hood of her cloak, ocean eyes taking in the sight before her.
"Is that really it?" she whispered to Dartz, who in turn, nodded.
"Yes it is, marvelous isn't it?" Dartz turned to the thief, who was jaw dropped astounded. "Now remember our deal, bring me the lamp and the rest of the treasure is yours. But the lamp is mine."
Esperoba began walking towards the cave's entrance. Images of infinite wealth upon his mind.
"Geez, where did you dig this bozo up?" the parrot resting upon his shoulder squawked.
"Weevil, hold your tongue," Dartz scolded. "We must see what happens to this fool."
Esperoba drew nearer. As he stood on the very edge of stepping inside, the tiger head roared loudly causing him to lose his balance and fall into the dirt back several paces.
"Who dares to disturbs my slumber?" it snarled. The thief staggered back in fear, his heart pounding from inside his chest.
"It is I, Esperoba." Esperoba bowed, trembling. "The humble thief."
"Know this," the cave bellowed. "The only one who may enter here, is the one who is worthy. One's whose worth lies far from within, a diamond in the rough."
Dartz and Selene exchanged a puzzled glance, this part hadn't been mentioned. Esperoba stole a glance at the two, not really sure what to do.
"What are you waiting for go on!" Dartz hissed.
Esperoba, scared stiff for his life, slowly made his way towards the mouth of the cave; the mouth shaped entrance continued to move, as if the tiger were really breathing. As he stepped inside, he waited for something to happen.
But it didn't. Letting out a sigh of relief, he relaxed.
The cave suddenly screamed, the wrong person had entered and that person must pay. The sand shook and fell as Esperoba screamed and tried to escape, but was caught in the sand as it collapsed around him.
"NO!" Dartz screamed helplessly as the cave spoke one last time.
"Seek thee out... the diamond in the ruff," the voice of the tiger-head's voice echoed. When the sand finally cleared, Dartz and Selene were half buried in pure white sand, while Weevil was completely buried. But he quickly popped his head out.
"I can't believe it," Selene snapped as she stood up and dusted herself off. "I just don't believe it. We are NEVER going to get our hands upon that stupid lamp."
"Just forget it," Weevil squawked as he grabbed the two pieces of the golden beetle that had ceased being the eyes off the tiger for the time being. "Look as this. I'm so ticked off I'm molting." (Alverna: No pun intended. There is a song called 'The Eye of the Tiger')
"Patience, you two, patience," Dartz said as Weevil handed back the pieces. "Esperoba was less than worthy."
"Big shock there," Selene rolled her eyes. "A huge surprise."
"Not," Weevil said from his perch on Dartz's shoulder. "I think I'm gonna have a heart attack and die from not surprise!"
"But what are we going to do?" Selene demanded. "We had a big problem here. Only one may enter."
"That is true," Dartz agreed as he turned his eyes back towards Domino. "We must find this one. This… diamond in the rough."