Page 35 of Immortal Sun

I’ve actually never gotten this familiar with any of them. But, I like seeing her expressions when she learns something new. She’s like a sponge soaking up everything she can, and I’m going to be the one that’s going to squeeze her dry until she can no longer breathe.

A few days ago, I would have called that poetry.

In this moment, I would call it a tragedy.

“As long as it’s not with me,” she jokes.

If she only knew.

I form my lips into a smile. “I know this isn’t typical, but you’ve been curious about your brother, why don’t we go in so you can see what had him so curious. We have a theme at both bars—clearly, and this will help you answer questions and entertain guests as well.” I smile for effect. “This is actually how I met and befriended him. This very museum, after this he wanted to see my private collection and well the rest is history.” I smile warmly. “Let’s go in, yes?”

Tears fill her eyes before she nods her head. “Yes, and thank you. You didn’t really have to do all of this on my real first day here. I should be serving drinks and cleaning, not going down memory lane with a man I barely know—my boss nonetheless.”

“Jake is a good friend. He would want this. Don’t you think?” I elbow her a bit. “Plus calling me boss makes me feel ancient and I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”

The building has had added architecture to make it look more like places of worship for the ancestors with different pointed roof levels, and on the inside, fresh flowers and greenery always surround the sharp arched doorway.

“Welcome to the Seattle Mythic Egyptian Museum!” An extremely perky intern walks up to us. I clearly didn’t hire her. I hate it when they’re perky. She has bouncing dark curls and brown eyes. “Did you want a free tour? We have brochures.”

Oh hell, not the brochures she thrusts them out at us like she’s offering free money. Wow.

“We’re good,” I say through clenched teeth. The urge to fire her is strong.

She finally looks over at me and stumbles back. “Cyrus. I mean Mr.—umm…”

Shit, the woman even forgot my name.

Poor thing.

“What he means…” Cleo elbows me as if we’re that familiar, and I guess that’s not surprising. It’s normal when people meet me, and I used to get annoyed by it, so why am I coughing so I don’t smile? “…is we’re fine, he’s going to give me his own tour, right?”

“Exactly.” I hold out my hand. “Thank you, Anne, I appreciate it.”

I take her outstretched hand quickly so that Cleo doesn’t see the trembling fingers. Gently, I squeeze, then lean in and whisper in her ear.“Calm your chaos.”

Anne immediately relaxes her hand and pulls back then smiles brightly up at us, and then covers a yawn. “Wow, sorry just got tired. Thanks again, I’m gonna go… Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions!”

“Thank you,” Cleo says.

I nod while Anne walks over to the desk and slumps in her chair, then I pull Cleo in the opposite direction toward the Hall of Immortals.

She’ll be obsessed; it’s a gift, to give her knowledge before I take the last of her power.

We keep walking; she passes Zeus, Athena, then stops at Horus and myself in a very real looking altercation. “He’s not as big as I thought he’d be.”

I stumble and run into first her, then the plain gray statue, nearly knocking it to the ground and ruining centuries of curation. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

The statue is the only one that hasn’t been polished to perfection but left in its original state, looking old, sad, looming, destructive. Perfect.

“Ra,” she repeats. “He’s, kind of…” Is she seriously tilting her head right now? “…small and old.”

Did—did she just use her thumb and forefinger to show just how small? Seriously?

I gape at her, a bit horrified. “Do you know nothing of Ra’s strength?”

When she looks over, it’s a total look of I’m the idiot, not her. “Well, take Zeus for an instance.”

Oh shit, I might kill someone today. She’s insulting the history! Ra is huge!

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