25
KALUGAL
Kalugal watched with satisfaction as Esag, Davuh, and Roven took in the splendor of his Cairo estate. After the dusty, cramped confines of the City of the Dead, the mansion's soaring ceilings and marble floors must have seemed like a step into another world.
"Welcome to my home away from home," Kalugal said, spreading his arms wide. "The one I have in America is very different than this one. You'll see when you get there. In the meantime, you're safe here."
Roven let out a low whistle as his gaze traveled up the curved staircase to the stained-glass skylight three stories above. "Are you that rich? Or is Annani paying for all of this?"
That was a direct question that might have been considered rude by some, but Kalugal had no problem answering it. "I'm not financially reliant on the clan. I'm a self-made billionaire." He liked how it sounded, and even more how round the three immortals' eyes had gotten after hearing him say that.
"What do you do?" Davuh asked.
"I'm an investor. I identify new emerging technologies, purchase them, develop them, and then sell them."
"Sounds complicated," Esag said. "I thought you were into antiques."
"My hobby is archaeology, but as in everything else I do, I go all in. No half-measures for me."
The upstairs door opened, and a moment later, Jacki descended the stairs with Darius in her arms. Their son's face lit up at the sight of his daddy, or maybe the new people, and he immediately began babbling in his unique mixture of baby talk and actual words.
"Hello," Jacki said, her smile warm and welcoming. "I'm Jacki, Kalugal's wife, and this little charmer is our son Darius."
Kalugal watched with amusement as the three ancients seemed to melt at the sight of the little boy.
Darius, who was usually shy around strangers, seemed fascinated with Esag's flaming red hair, and he reached out his chubby arms toward him.
Jacki and Kalugal exchanged glances. "He wants you to hold him," she said. "Which is surprising since he is usually reserved around strangers."
Esag grinned. "Babies love me." He reached for the boy with the assurance of someone who had been holding babies his entire life.
As Darius settled happily into Esag's arms, he immediately reached for his flame-red locks.
"Don't pull, Darius," Jacki warned.
"That's okay," Esag was still grinning. "I don't mind."
Joseph chose that moment to appear. "Professor Gunter, the room is ready." He smiled at their new guests. "I have to apologize, but with so many guests staying at the mansion right now, I have you all staying in one suite. It's spacious, and I had two additional beds delivered, but ideally, I would have you each staying in your own room."
"That's okay," Davuh said. "We are used to sharing, and we've never stayed in an affluent house like this, so this is an upgrade."
"Thank you, Joseph," Kalugal said.
"If you'll follow me," his house manager motioned toward the stairs, "I'll show you to your room so you can freshen up." He gave their dusty old clothing a once-over. "I will bring your luggage up."
"We don't have any," Esag said. "We will go back to pack our things later."
"Would you allow me to offer you a change of clothing?" Kalugal suggested as tactfully as he could. "I have plenty of new things I can part with, and we are all about the same size."
The males looked uncomfortable, but given the look Joseph was giving them, they must have realized that staying in this house came with certain standards, which they were not meeting.
"Thank you," Esag said.
After Joseph left them to scavenge for clothing in Kalugal's closet, Kalugal led them up the stairs to their bedroom.
"When I renovated the house, I turned all the rooms into suites, so you will have plenty of space despite having to share." He opened the double doors and motioned for them to go in.
The large double bed was in its usual place, and the two portable single beds occupied the space that had previously been the seating area. Joseph had pushed the couch against the foot of the double bed, and somehow it all worked well.
