Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris-Theo 2 by R. L. Lafevers, Yoko Tanaka Page B

Chaos has had contact with Chudleigh and even planted the idea for a mummy unwrapping in his thick head—in order to ensure Tetley was discovered." He still looked disgusted at the spectacle we'd been forced to witness.
    "You mean to let us know we haven't seen the last of them?"
    Wigmere's solemn blue eyes met mine. "Yes. To let us know we may have won the first battle, but not the war. As a warning to show us what happens to those who displease them."
    I gulped. The truth was, I displeased them very much. "I had
so
hoped that was the end of them." In fact, one of my favorite daydreams was imagining von Braggenschnott still stuck fast to the wall in Thutmose III's tomb, yelling for help for the past three months, even though I knew it wasn't very realistic.
    "With Tetley's body showing up so publicly two nights ago, I can't help but feel the Serpents of Chaos must have something to do with this morning's mummy situation. It's too great a coincidence, although I can't quite figure out what their game is. Not yet."
    "But it doesn't make any sense! Why would they bring all of London's mummies to our museum?" A thought occurred to me—a horrid, vile thought. "You don't think all the mummies are cursed, like the Heart of Egypt was, and now those curses will fall on our heads?"
    Wigmere scowled. "Did they feel cursed?"
    "At least one is. Or if it's not cursed, it's
akhu
is hovering nearby and most unhappy at being disturbed."
    "I suppose that's unavoidable with so many mummies being moved. Can you handle it?" he asked.
    I sat up straighter. "Yes. Of course."
    "Very well. We will be working on this from our end, my dear. As soon as we have any word of what's going on, either Will or myself will get a message to you."
    "Is there anything you can do to help Father with this horrid misunderstanding about the mummies? They seem to think he's trying to steal them."
    Wigmere shook his head. "I'm sorry. All the Brotherhood's movements must remain shrouded in secrecy. We can't risk making our presence known."
    My heart sank. How was Father going to get out of this mess?
    "I'm sure as more becomes known over the next day or two, your father's name will be cleared. Meanwhile, I suggest
you read all the texts you can get your hands on regarding mummies and Osiris."
    Of course! As god of the Underworld, Osiris ruled over the dead. And mummies were most definitely dead.
    "Anubis, too, since he was god of mummification," Wigmere continued. "We'll comb our archives for anything that might explain what could cause all these mummies to be on the move. Hopefully one of us will find a clue as to what Chaos is up to."
    "Very well, sir."
    Wigmere gave a bracing nod. "Keep your spirits up. We've defeated the Serpents of Chaos before—we can do it again."
    "Thank you, sir." However, last time we hadn't been dealing with the forces of the Underworld, which put a rather new spin on it.
    Wigmere rapped on the carriage door and Will opened it so quickly that I couldn't help but wonder if he'd been eavesdropping. "She's ready to go back," Wigmere said. "Is the coast clear?"
    Will shifted his eyes to the left, then the right. "I reckon so."
    Wigmere winked at me, but it was lacking it's normal enthusiasm. "We'll use Will here to keep in touch."
    I nodded, then hopped out of the carriage and followed Will as he scurried across the street, his eyes darting everywhere. When we reached the museum, he stepped partway into a hedge before opening the door and fairly shoving me inside. Surely he was overdoing this whole lookout bit? Before I could bring it to his attention, he disappeared down the street and I was alone in the museum's hallway.
    ***
    Everyone was most likely still in the foyer, talking to the police. Hopefully, no one would have noticed my absence. I locked the door, then stepped farther into the hallway—
    Directly into Clive Fagenbush! And I do mean directly. I bounced off him like an Indian rubber ball, nearly losing my balance and landing on