Etheria had been freed from the Horde, and eighteen- year-old Princess Adora kept her promise to her twin brother and parents to return home to Eternia, where she'd been born. The Horde had kidnapped her when she was a baby and taken her to Etheria, where she'd grown up under spells of control. She'd even been a Horde force captain, believing the Horde to be good, when her twin, Adam, found her. He and the Sorceress had helped her break the spell and she'd joined the Rebellion; all this had happened when she and Adam were seventeen. Adora had gotten herself settled in a few months ago. When she'd been found, her parents set up a room for her next door to Adam's. And when she returned home, she found more time to decorate, set up, do whatever she liked. By now, everyone knew that Adam and Adora had magic swords that changed them to He-Man and She-Ra, respectively. Still, the twins hid their swords behind bookcases in their rooms to prevent enemies from finding them.

One summer day, Malaktha, the Royal Archaeologist, invited the twins to come with him on a dig, along with his young student Stanlin. Malaktha was an intelligent black man who knew quite a bit about Eternia's past. Stanlin was just entering his teens and was a thin brown-haired boy. Man-at-Arms was also invited along. Cringer wanted to stay home, which was fine with Adam, who wouldn't have to put up with his whining. Orko was visiting his homeworld of Trolla. Spirit, Adora's horse, was comfortable in his stable while everyone else would be taking the Attak Trak. Teela had to stay and basically hold down the fort at the Palace.

Adam and Adora sat in the back of the Attak Trak together. Adora had never been on a dig before, and Adam was telling her about digs he'd been on. Adora was interested in learning more about her homeworld's history. "We're going to go to the tomb of a sorcerer named Majeiko," said Malaktha. "He was very evil. According to legend, he used the blood of virgins to give him an extended life. And his tomb was supposedly underground, but for some reason there's been a building erected over it." Adora shuddered. "I'm glad he's dead," she declared. "I'd hate to think of anyone using my blood just to stay alive. Did he run out of women to hunt?" "Apparently so," said Adam. "Legend also has it that women hurried up and found husbands, and come to think of it, there was a population explosion around that time," Malaktha added. "Girls were marrying as soon as they were able to bear children. A lot of them died in childbirth because they were too young and their bodies couldn't handle giving birth; this was about fifteen hundred years ago." "Was it just women he used?" Stanlin asked. "Sounds like it was," said Man-at-Arms. Adam breathed a sigh of relief. Adora nudged him playfully in the ribs.

Before sunset, the Attak Trak reached the camp site, and it was dark when camp was set up. Adora could see the tomb about two hundred yards distant. For some reason she felt afraid. She shook her head to clear it. That sorcerer was dead. He couldn't come after her. Could he? She wished that she and Sea Hawk were married right now; they were engaged and when they got married he'd live here on Eternia. She wished that they were-- Adora gasped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw that it was her brother. "Adam, you startled me," she said. "This has you a bit afraid, doesn't it? Believe me, Adora, you're safe." "I know," she said, fighting down the feeling of dread inside her. "I was just thinking. That's all." "Well, join us at camp," said Adam. "It's time for dinner." He put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the camp. They were in the desert and it was a bit cold now.

After dinner, Adora and the others went to bed. One huge tent held five sleeping bags for Malaktha, Stanlin, Man-at-Arms, Adam, and Adora. Adora's sleeping bag was right next to her brother's. Adam watched as his twin sister slept. Usually she was pretty fearless, but for some reason she was afraid. He reached over and took her hand and squeezed it gently, as if to reassure her that he was there for her. "Sleep well, my sister," Adam whispered as he fell asleep near his twin.

Adora woke up in the middle of the night. She thought she'd heard a voice calling her name. "Adora...Princess Adora...." She got up and got dressed; the men were sleeping, so she was all right with that. She poked her head outside the tent and came out slowly, her heart beating so loudly she was sure it would wake up her brother and the others. Suddenly, she was grabbed around the throat. A dagger was being held to her chest. She managed a short scream, but then a hand clamped over her mouth. "Time for you to pay a visit to my master, Majeiko," said her assailant. "My ancestor served him, as I do now. He needs the blood of a virgin to rise from the dead, and you're going to help." Adora was dragged towards the tomb. "I--I thought he needed blood to continue living," she said, trying to talk her way out of it. If only she hadn't dropped her sword in the tent! "He used a spell with the blood of the last virgin to waken his spirit after a thousand years. However, something went wrong with the spell and he had to wait until now. And now, Princess, your blood will be drained, and he will live again!" The door to the tomb opened, and Adora was shoved inside. The door closed, leaving her in pitch darkness. Adora tried pounding on the door, but to no avail.

Adam woke up when he thought he heard Adora crying out. She might be having a nightmare, he thought as he reached for her hand. That was when he saw that her sleeping bag was empty. "Duncan! Malaktha! Adora's gone!" Adam cried. Stanlin searched outside the tent. "Footprints, and signs of a struggle," he said. "I think someone kidnapped her." Adam automatically changed to He-Man. "I have an idea where she is," said He-Man. "And I'm going to get her back."

Adora felt along the wall. Coming around a bend, she saw a light at the end of the passageway. It opened into a huge room. In the middle of the room was a huge sarcophagus. Adora watched in fascinated horror as it opened by itself, revealing a skeleton. The skeleton sat up and grinned at her. "Welcome, Princess Adora!" it said. The skeleton appeared to be inside a ghost-- specifically, the ghost of the evil Majeiko. "I know all about you. Eighteen years old--nice young age. And this is the last night I'll be able to come back to physical life." "My brother will come for me," Adora said bravely. "Your brother will not interfere." The spirit shoved her to the ground, took a dagger, and cut her clothes off. "Now come with me to my altar." He noticed the engagement ring on her finger. "I see I came for you just in time." Adora was dragged to another chamber and thrust onto a stone table, which was cold and hard beneath her bare back. Her hands were over her head, and she was chained at the wrists and ankles. Majeiko ran a hand over her rib cage. "Not much to you, my pet, but you have enough blood to fulfill my requirements," he said. He lifted the dagger and prepared to plunge it into her heart. Suddenly, the door to the chamber burst open, and in came He-Man! "Leave my sister alone!" He-Man ordered. Behind him was Man-at-Arms. "No! Do not interfere or all will be lost!" cried Majeiko. He-Man used his sword to cut through Adora's chains. The magician howled in rage. Man-at-Arms used his wrist lasers to distract the evil wizard. "I must have her blood before dawn!" Majeiko gasped, trying to get to Adora, who was huddled in a corner, naked. Fortunately dawn was in about fifteen minutes, so He-Man and Man-at-Arms kept the wizard busy. And when the sun rose, the evil wizard's bones fell clattering to the floor. At last he was gone forever. Now the tomb was starting to fall in on them. He-Man lifted his sister into his arms, and ran out, Man-at-Arms on his heels. They managed to get out just before the building collapsed completely. Once outside, He-Man changed back to Adam. He then took off his white top and put it on his sister. It was a bit big on her, but it served its purpose. "I knew you'd come for me," said Adora. "You don't feel frightened anymore?" asked Adam. Adora shook her head. "I feel a lot better now, thanks to you and Duncan."

Back at camp, Man-at-Arms and the twins related their adventure. Malaktha smiled and shook his head. "At least the mystery of Majeiko's tomb has been solved, though not in the way we intended."

the end