"I want to understand something, first." Kami said. "Why? What can you gain from hurting all these people?"

"Power, of course," the Shadow Queen said, and began pacing the room. "I was not always the Queen I am, you see. I was once a mere human, struggling to survive while her mother wasted away working tirelessly to earn less than half what she deserved. Until one day, her mother fell gravely ill. Desperate, the daughter dropped out of school, which she loved, and tried to help. Eventually, it proved insufficient. Faced with no other choice, she resolved to ask her father for help. He had left years before with promises to send money, which had never come. Imagine the daughter's surprise when she found her father living comfortably, and with a new family of his own, no less! Still, she pleaded. But the father wouldn't hear of it. Still, he reluctantly tossed her some money. The daughter hurried to secure the much needed medicine for her ailing mother. But by the time the daughter returned, her mother had passed away."

They all stood transfixed as they listened.

"In order to survive and fend for her brother, she resolved to stealing. She had no taste for it, but what other choice did she have? So, one night, after hearing of the archaeological research led by Ahmed Hassri, she decided that was the perfect place to find valuable objects to sell. So, one night she crept into the site, and found a large jar that she was fairly certain was sell for a comfortable amount on the market."

She paused a moment, then said:

"And then, the most incredible event came to pass. The jar contained a powerful entity, which connected with the girl and gave her powers beyond her imagination. Powers of a Shadow Queen."

Kami and the others were silent a moment, then Liam said:

"And you never want to return to that, so you make sure you always have more power. Is that it?"

"That is the idea. But not only. I want everyone to know that I, the Shadow Queen, is the most powerful being in the world."

"You can have all the power in the world," Kami snapped. "You just look like a brat, to me."

"How dare you!"

"Kami, I wouldn't antagonize her," Liam said in her ear.

Kami ignored him.

"You think your hardships justify this?" she demanded, indicating the room around. "That not having an easy life gives you the right to make people suffer?"

"It was the just punishment for what the pathetic man who conceived me did to me and my family!"

"What about the others? All the innocent people who never did anything to you?"

"Then fight me and we shall see who is right," the Shadow Queen said.

Kami stepped forwards. A part of her wanted to say that fighting wouldn't prove her right, but she could see that there was no reasoning with the Queen.

"Fine."

Liam caught her hand. Kami turned and looked up at him. He seemed to be searching her face, his hand a little tighter than was natural, as though he wanted to hold her back.

"Kami..."

His eyes told Kami he wanted to talk her out of it, but that he knew she wouldn't listen. And he was right. If she didn't do it, who would? Who could?

"I..." Liam began, his eyes boring into hers.

Kami didn't need him to speak. She touched his cheek, reached up, and kissed him. His lips tasted better than anything she'd imagined, and yet was nothing like she'd expected. She pulled back and forced a small smile.

"You can tell me later," she whispered.

And without leaving him time to answer, she turned back to the Shadow Queen, who was standing beside the helmet. Kami watched as she lifted it and slowly placed it above her head. A shudder went down Kami's spine, but she was careful not to let it show. Liam and the others had stepped back, though all were eying Kami with worried expressions. Kami did her best to ignore them. She was already nervous enough as it was. Kami and the Queen stood facing each other, one tall, threatening, power rolling off her like waves, the other smaller, her fists clenched, but her eyes burning with determination. And then, all hell broke loose. The Shadow Queen pronounced one of her strange incantations, and Kami immediately closed her eyes, letting the scarab's power flow freely through her. She trusted it completely. She wasn't sure why, but she did. The bulk of the energy went down to her fingertips. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing green as well.

You can do this, said her father's voice.

"I know," she replied.

The energy in the room was incredible. Both women fought against the other, their magic moving, but not their bodies. Every time the shadows tried to reach Kami, a green bolt of light repelled it. Kami couldn't see herself, but if she could have, she would have described herself as almost no longer looking human. Her entire body was glowing with a bright, comforting green light, her eyes ablaze with energy as electricity crackled all around her. Eventually, the Queen tried another approach. If she could not touch Kami directly, perhaps her friends would be easier targets. But again, every attempt was thwarted. Kami even moved slightly to stand between them, further shielding the ones she loved. But the struggle was starting to take its toll. She felt sweat trickle down her neck and back, her breath came with more difficulty, but she stood strong. She could feel her father's presence, just as though he holding her hand and fighting along side her. The Queen appeared to be struggling, too.

Go on! She's just a child, kill her! What are you waiting for? Shouted a man's voice Kami didn't recognize.

Her power is stronger than I realized... The Shadow Queen replied.

The male voice let out a cry of rage and all of a sudden, the Shadow Queen's eyes turned white, and she stood straight, as though she was no longer in control of her body.

"Baba, what's happening...?"

I'm not sure, Khaled's voice said, but it looks like she was taken over by whatever entity she said gave her her power. Stay strong, my darling.

Kami nodded, but the pressure was growing steadily stronger, until it was almost unbearable. So much so that eventually, Kami found herself forced to step back. She tried hard not to, but she was pushed back, and had to in order to avoid losing her balance and falling. Everything was over if she did. But she was so focused on what was in front of her, that she didn't see a stone under her foot.

Kami, be careful! Called her father.

Too late. Her foot slipped, and she felt herself falling backwards.

This is it... I failed... I let them all down.. Liam... Yasmin... Neyna, Gedo... Samuel... and Chris... Liam...

Just then, something blocked her fall. Looking up, her eyes widened.

"Liam..."

He had broken her fall, had broken through the energy to help her. He pushed her upright, his hand around hers.

"Let's finish this," he said.

Kami, her heart about to explode, nodded. They both turned back to the Shadow Queen.

"I am Alexander the Great. You shall bow before me," said the Queen in a distant voice very unlike her own.

"Sorry, not interested," Kami said.

A new surge of power flowed through both her and Liam, unlike anything she'd ever felt. In that moment, her and Liam's hearts were one. She had felt a strong, deep connection to him, but they paled in comparison to this moment, and in that instant, she knew. She knew what her heart wanted, and it ached for what she knew was probably impossible. She willed her mind away from these painful thoughts. Green and Black pushed and tugged, hissing and snapping angrily like snakes and wolves. And then, suddenly, there was an imperceptible shift, and Alexander the Great/Shadow Queen suddenly was thrown back in a howl of pain. She was thrust hard into the stone wall, and as though the life she'd stolen from others was being taken back from her, she aged several decades in a matter of seconds, until she fell into dust. All that remained was a cloud which charged towards Kami, who stepped in front of Liam, ready to repel it, when a glowing light rose before her... the spirit of her father. He held out an arm, and the spirit howled again in agony, and then, quite abruptly, faded into thin air. All was silent. The Queen was no more.