CHAPTER 8
The Reluctant Mummy
Nefera exited her hotel and got inside of a waiting limo. Sitting in the dark, waiting for her, was her father. One of his clawlike hands rested on a bejeweled cane.
“You wanted to see me?” Nefera asked.
Ramses cleared his throat. “Nefera, what do you know about the great comet that will pass over us tomorrow? Do you understand its importance to our Egyptian scaritage?”
Nefera glanced up through the skylight in the roof at the glowing orb poised over the Boo York skyline. It seemed to follow them as they drove. Nefera shrugged and reapplied her lipstick. “I understand it got me a free trip to Boo York.”
Ramses shook his head. “Centuries ago, a small piece of that comet broke away and landed in the Sa-horror Desert. Our people found it. They found the comet crystal.”
“Right,” said Nefera impatiently. She knew this story already. “That rock thing we’re gonna see tomorrow night at the gala.”
“That rock thing,” growled Ramses, “has a magic inside of it. Any promise made in the presence of the crystal when the comet is above becomes a real and unbreakable truth. Once made, it cannot be undone.”
“So,” said Nefera, barely interested, “no take-backsies.”
She looked out the window at all the boo-tiques she wanted to visit. It was late at night, and the city was quiet and dark. The Ptolemy logo was everywhere, on buildings and billboards and advertisements of all kinds. A neon logo was reflected in a puddle and the limo drove through it, sending splashing water up over the curb.
Ramses continued speaking. “After the comet’s power was discovered, it became customary for the most important royal betrothal ceremonies to be performed under the light of that comet. Its power would make the couple’s promise permanent.”
Nefera was barely listening. She pulled out her compact to reapply her lip gloss. “This is all very interesting, Daddy,” she yawned, “but what does any of it have to do with me?”
The limo slid into a parking place in front of the Ptolemy Tower. A black-suited, dog-headed Anubis guard rushed over to open the door. Ramses extended his hand to help Nefera out of the limo. He looked up at the tower, eyeing its gold magnificence.
“Do you see all of this? The money? The power?” he asked in a hushed voice so only Nefera could hear. “What if I told you that all this power could be ours? It’s as simple as making a promise. The Ptolemys and the De Niles will be as one.”
Ramses guided Nefera through the revolving doors, and when the guards were distracted, he pulled out a tiny amulet that sent a magic spark into the control panel of the executive elevator. It almost seemed as though he and Nefera were doing something top secret and undercover.
Quietly, when the elevator doors slid open, Ramses led Nefera into the empty penthouse. The eyes of the cat statue followed them. It hissed at them through gritted teeth. In the center of the room was a glowing replica of the whole city of Boo York made out of magical sand. With his cane, Ramses traced the path the comet would follow over the city. “Tomorrow night under the light of the comet, you and Seth Ptolemy will make a promise to each other. A promise of betrothal. A promise to become the prince of Boo York’s queen. A promise that will join our families together and create a dynasty!”
The more her dad spoke, the more horrified Nefera felt. As the eldest daughter, she was already destined to inherit the De Nile throne. Wasn’t that enough? There was no way she could hide her disgust at marrying the gold-masked Seth Ptolemy.
“A dynasty!” continued Ramses, moving his hands over the glowing city. “Just think what we have to gain. Oceans of money, monuments, buildings, the De Nile cartouche inscribed everywhere just like the Ptolemy logo. Just promise to be with Seth, and all of your dreams will come true.”
It’s true that money and power were tempting to Nefera. She was a De Nile after all.
Ramses could tell that his daughter was considering it. “It’s that simple,” he said softly. “You and Seth promise to be with each other for all time, and the De Nile family will achieve true power.”
At the mention of Seth’s name, Nefera shook her head. “But… I don’t want to be with that Seth kid. He’s weird.”
“All right,” agreed Ramses. “He is a little weird. But you are a De Nile. You will obey; you have no choice.” He leaned in close. “And think about all the power you will have if you just go through with the ceremony.”
Nefera was torn. It was hard to give up a dynasty, but it was even harder to think about marrying Seth. But then it hit her. “What if there was another way?”
“I’m listening,” said Ramses.
Light from the surrounding skyscrapers cast an enormous shadow of Nefera across the floor of the penthouse. “I want the wealth and power,” she told her father. “The De Niles and the Ptolemys should join together and form a dynasty. But why should I have to do all the betrothal and promising?” She smiled sweetly at her father. “Isn’t that what younger sisters are for?”
Ramses stroked his chin, intrigued.
Nefera continued. “Make Cleo promise to be with Seth Ptolemy. She’d be a real ghoul of the people. She could be a great ruler… with our guidance.”
Nefera began crooning a sultry song describing the power she and her father could wield over Cleo. They would sit on thrones; they would reign over a great empire. “We’ll take over the world, you and I together. Nobody can stop us!”
Ramses’s eyes glittered. “Empire, empire,” he sang along. “Building us an empire!”
“All I want is everything,” trilled Nefera, “’cause we’re kings and queens, why pretend to be anything less. I’m a goddess.”
“Don’t be modest,” Ramses joined in. “When we run this kingdom, it’s gonna be monstrous.”
They were going to reign over everything! They were going to take over everything! No one could stop them from building a mighty empire.
Except for Cleo.
“What if Cleo doesn’t cooperate?” asked Ramses.
Nefera smirked. “Oh, you’re right. I’ve just got to get Deuce out of the picture first.”
Ramses clapped his hands. Not only would he rule the world through his daughter—but he’d get Deuce out of their lives too. What could be better?
Nefera pulled out her iCoffin and called up Mouscedes.
Mouscedes was looking in a window at a glittering comet-inspired gown when she answered her phone. “Nefera?”
Nefera and her father slipped back onto the elevator while she explained her plan to Mouscedes. “Listen, I need someone with your class to help me set up a brunch tomorrow morning. It has to be very fancy. A really elegant, high-brow affair.”
She winked at her father. She had this. She knew exactly what to do. Cleo wasn’t going to break up with Deuce just because her father told her to. No. Instead, Nefera was going to show her sister how a royal De Nile should never, ever date a gorgon.