Here is the second chapter for today.

Chapter 39 Kingdom:

It was another one of those nights, the one where either Ahk or Nicky would dissappear and the other would wander the museum looking for them. This time Ahk was the one missing and Nicky was doing the wandering. He'd already asked quite a few of the other exhibits and looked through most rooms. Though when it was his dad that suggested looking in the Hall of Mammals for the wayward pharaoh Nicky couldn't help but facepalm, wondering how he had failed to think of that sooner.

Sure enough Nicky found Ahk in the Hall of African Mammals. Though he froze in the doorway staring in shock.

"...What are you doing?" He finally managed to get out.

Ahk grinned at the younger boy. "Well I am a pharaoh, and I've now claimed this as my kingdom." He said in way of explanation, gesturing at the room at large from where he sat on the rocks that the lions enhabited during the day. He certainly looked the part wearing his usual royal clothes. Nicky couldn't help but wonder if this is what it was like 4000 years ago. Because if Ahk looked this impressive sitting on a fake rock surrounded by cats then Nicky was sure he would only look more impressive in a real throne room surrounded by an Ancient Egyptian court.

And Ahk really was surrounded by cats, every breed of cat within the museum in fact. Cheetahs, leopards, lions, jaguars, mountain lions, bobcats, lynx, cervals, black panthers, snow leopards, and sabertooth tigers all layed on the floor around the rock. Sekhmet, of course, was there as well and was laying on the rock to the left of Ahkmenrah. The only non feline was Anubis who sat to Ahk's right. The jackals ears were lowered and Nicky thought it seemed he was looking over the assembled felines warily if not a little terrified.

Nicky took a few steps into the room but as he did some of the lionesses stood up. He froze one foot raised haphhazardely in the air. He was sure he was going to lose his balance as they stalked towards him. A shouted word in Egyptian and a growl from Sekhmet halted the lionesses, they laid back down, but on their haunches and looked ready to pounce. The tips of their tails flicked back and forth and they watched him unblinking. Now unnerved Nicky quickly made his way across the room, the cats moving to allow him passage. Stopping at the base of the rock he looked up at the young pharaoh, who smiled down at him, and looked entirely too pleased with his new position as pharoah of the cats.

"I know you worshipped cats in Ancient Egypt but this is taking it a little far."

"Oh c'mon Nicky. I find this position acceptable of my breeding." The older teased. He then held out his hand and helped Nicky climb up to join him on his 'throne'. The boy settled next to Anubis, who licked his cheek, and looked decidingly happy to have another ally against the felines that surrounded them.

"Besides." Ahk continued. "You can be my second in command and heir to the throne. Though no plots to overthrow the pharaoh will be tolerated." His tone was still teasing but now held a slight edge, and something in the others eyes had become dangerous and cold. It was this moment that Nicky was reminded that even though Ahk acted like a normal eighteen year old, he actually came from a time long past, one more brutal and savage.

Deciding it'd be prudent to defuse this quickly he held up his hands in a (hopefully) calming gesture. "No need to worry about any plots. I don't want to be king of the cats."

"Excuse you, its pharaoh, not king." Ahk retorted, pretending to be offended.

"Is there a difference?" Nicky asked, mishevious grin crossing his face.

"Yes. One is cooler than the other."

"Wow. That was such a brilliant response. I think my entire view of history has just been changed."

Ahk just rolled his eyes. "Where did you learn to be so sarcastic?"

"You."

"No way. I got it from you." The pharaoh countered. The arguement went on from there but had both boys laughing to the point of tears.

From that night on it wasn't entirely uncommon to walk past the Hall of Mammals and catch sight of Ahk sitting on his 'throne' with his court of cats, and sometimes even with his second in command, Nicky. The other exhibits would just hurridely walk by, deciding they didn't want to know.