May 18th - Nailah's apartment

[Nailah Weaver]

After a day of classes Nailah unlocks the door and drops her bag on the dresser in the hall and walks into her living room.

[Narrator]

In her apartment, drinking her tea, was a lioness, the warrior goddess of Upper Egypt--Sekhmet herself.

[Nailah Weaver]

Nailah stops where she stands and just blinks for a moment.


"Wh-what...?" she eventually stammers out.

[Narrator]

"Shut the door, my child, we have much to discuss," she said, not looking over.

[Nailah Weaver]

Nailah just stares blankly for a moment before closing the door.

"We do? I mean... please excuse me, this, ah, comes somewhat unexpected."

[Narrator]

"Is not everything unexpected, and yet, you've been awaiting this moment for some time..." she said, smiling enigmatically.

[Nailah Weaver]

"That doesn't mean I assumed it would happen..." she says, still trying to recover from the surprise.

[Narrator]

"But you have hoped, and you have prayed, and you have spent nights late, alone, dreaming of this moment, when no one was around to squelch them.

And now, here I am."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Maybe somewhat..." she admits. "I just... I'm not quite sure how you expect me to treat you."

[Narrator]

"How do you expect YOUR students to treat YOU? For, my child, you have a lot to learn..."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I... I suppose. And I do want to learn."

[Narrator]

"Are you willing to step outside your comfort zone? To embrace cognitive dissonance and everything that entails? To truly explore the dark alleys of consciousness?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"What do you mean? Is that why I haven't been able to control it? Because it seemed too dangerous? I'm at least aware of the Hall of Mirrors..."

[Narrator]

"And that is merely the first step on a long journey."

[Nailah Weaver]

"What do you need me to do?"

[Narrator]

"I need you to come with me. I have something to show you."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Where would we be going?" she asks, thinking this is almost a little too surreal.

[Narrator]

"Your temple is a start, for sure, but there is more to it than pictures from books. Come with me, and you shall see how the Ancients did it."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Please tell me you're talking about the British Museum or Cleopatra's Needle and not something... further away."

[Narrator]

"Do not worry, we need not leave Londinium."

[Nailah Weaver]

"It's... just called London these days." she says a little carefully.

[Narrator]

"They can call it what they like. It is still Londinium. Shall we go?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"I suppose..." she says, sounding a little dubious.

[Narrator]

"You have doubts. It shall all be made clear, my child. That is why you have the power of vision--to make things clear."

[Nailah Weaver]

"That would be news to me..." she says as they head out.

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha hurried to the door, and knocked with urgency.

[Narrator]

No answer. Only an increasing feeling of dread.

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha pulled out her keys and unlocked the door, stepping into the apartment.

[Narrator]

Nailah's bag and purse are lieing on the dresser but there's no sign of the Sphinx. Though there is a note pinned to the altar.

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha frowned, walking over to the altar to read the note.

[Melpomene]

You were right. Putting too much weight into these things is dangerous.
If only you had stuck to your guns, aye?

~Melpomene

[Samantha McManus]

"...you're about to see just how serious I was when I warned you, Mary."