Title:  Passion - Chapter Three -  Battle Of Wills
Rating:  PG13 for now
Author: Angela - jedinineofnine@hotmail.com - http://oocities.com/saturnfiction
Summary:  Something’s bothering Ardeth. Of course it’s never as simple as that.
Disclaimer:  No infringement intended.  I own Asenath, Drake, Samira, Mahmud, Abdu, Omar and Ali.
Prequel (which should be read to get this):  http://fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=654922&chapter=1
Codes:  Ardeth/Ancksunamun, Imhotep/Evy

*

Doctor Johnson was a quiet and moody old man who scrutinized Ardeth through a thick pair of glasses. Moody though he was, he did treat him okay and was thorough in his examination. Ardeth didn’t think he cared too much for this English medicine, however. The exam was a little more invasive than a Med-Jai healer, for they attended the problem at hand and only that. This man seemed to leave no part of Ardeth without at least a question.

He sighed, wishing this man would stop and let him rest against the wall. Ardeth still felt very tired, though the fever seemed to have passed for the morning. Johnson grunted, grabbing another tool off his little table. “Hold still,” said his gruff voice as he moved closer.

Ardeth winced when he stuck the little instrument in his left ear and breathed loudly, looking through the glass. For what seemed like an eternity the man stared through his ear until Ardeth wondered if the old doctor was trying to make it out the other side. He licked his lips and Bay felt his fist tighten. This little man was noisy. Finally he stood back and furrowed his brow. “Healthy as a horse,” was his prognosis. He grabbed a rag and started wiping his ear device. Shaking his finger warningly, Doc Johnson frowned and continued. “You say you were out in the rain all day, hmm? You’ll bloody well feel it tomorrow likely. You kids think it’s just fine to put your bodies through whatever you think you can take. Bollox! Mark my words, boy, you’ll be face down in the latrine by the end of the week.”

There wasn’t much Ardeth could think to reply, except the amused smile that now crossed his lips. “And how shall I avoid that?” he asked.

The doctor shook his head, an almost wicked grin entering his expression. “Can’t. You’ll be wishing you were dead by tomorrow, I’d wager. I’ll give Evy out there some medicine to make you take, since you have the look of a man who won’t do as is sensible until right at the very last.” He hobbled to a cabinet and opened it with great effort, fishing through it’s contents. “You come from one of those desert countries, huh? I’m the first proper doctor you’ve seen, am I right?”

Ardeth rolled his eyes at the eccentric man. “We have healers in Egypt and I’m sure Cairo has doctors as reputable as you.”

The little man only grunted, hefting a white bottle and peering at it closely. He nodded in satisfaction and turned back. “Hop down. I’ve got the stuff. Won’t stop you from getting sick, but it’ll help.” He motioned for the door and went on without Ardeth.

With a sigh, Ardeth got off the examining bed and headed towards the door, opening it for Doc Johnson. He went through with a grunt and headed towards a smiling Evy. “Hello again, Doctor. How is my friend doing?” she asked.

Johnson shrugged and handed her the bottle. “I can’t find anything wrong yet, but we’re working on it.” He pointed at the bottle with a stern face and Ardeth grinned. “Don’t you let him get away from taking this, Evy. It tastes as vile as death, but he’ll manage if he’s as tough as he looks. I don’t know what caused him to blank out like that, but keep him indoors if at all possible.” He looked around as Evy nodded, shrugging at Ardeth. “Is that senseless brother of yours around?”

“I’ll thank you, but I’m not senseless,” a very annoyed voice called from the reception desk. Jonathan leaned over it with an enthusiastic smile, peering at the nurse seated there. He swirled a sucker around his mouth and grabbed another from the desk, throwing it to Ardeth. “Best part of the trip.”

Johnson hissed in a breath and snatched it from the Med-Jai with a firm expression. “No sweets.”

Sticking out his tongue, Jonathan grabbed another few and stuffed them in his pocket with a wink at Ardeth. Evy heaved a long-suffering sigh and held her hand out to Doc Johnson. “Thank you.”

The old man actually genuinely smiled and Ardeth thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He reached out and pet Evy’s shoulder, then shrugged. “Thank an old man with money, dear. Consider the bill already in the mail.” He turned a hard eye and a crooked finger on Ardeth. “Dry good, wet bad. Keep that in mind and you’ll live as horribly long as I have.”

Ardeth laughed and shook the man’s offered hand. “I’ll remember that. Thank you.”

Johnson grunted and turned back towards his office, bothering a glance at Jonathan. He frowned and grumbled to himself as Carnahan joined his sister and friend. “I say. Grumpy old coot.”

They left the small building and headed towards Jonathan’s car. Ardeth looked around at the bright, rainless sky. It cheered him some, but his body was grateful when it was allowed to rest in the comfortable back seat of the car. Evy climbed into the back with him and took his hand. “You’ll be okay.”

He nodded and closed his eyes, breathing, “I know.” He gave her hand a little squeeze and let it go. He could remember Nefertiri now, a young girl that Seti had entrusted him with some few times. She had taken to him, calling him the brother she never had, for Rameses was cold and distant towards her. In some ways he could feel those same feelings towards Evy, especially where the priest was concerned. Theirs was an odd relationship, he thought. Imhotep had been tamed, or so they figured. Ardeth couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if something were to take Evy away from him.

He opened his eyes again, watching the scenery pass as they neared closer to home. His ever-present worry had abated with daybreak, but he still dreaded the night’s return, fearing it would bring back the voice that spoke to his mind. He should be telling someone, even just Evelyn of this, but something in him always balked at the idea. It wasn’t as if insanity was something one wanted to share with their friends and family.

Overall he felt normal and if he acted strangely the others didn’t show that they knew it. But did one know when they were losing their mind? It was not something he personally had experience with. There were so many questions, so many things to worry about just now. He just didn’t have the strength to face them.

Already he was started to really feel the effects of the flu he was likely to get from being out yesterday. His body was sending some fairly obvious suggestions that sleep would not be a bad idea. Jonathan pulled into the manor and parked, getting out and opening his sister’s door. Ardeth climbed out of the car and looked up at the house, so natural and familiar now. Stepping up beside the Med-Jai, Jonathan produced a sucker from his pocket and handed it to him, saying, “These are good.”

Ardeth peered at the candy, then removed the paper wrapping. It was bright red and smelled like fruit. Having a small stick protruding out of one’s mouth wasn’t a more dignified way to be seen as Jonathan was currently demonstrating, but Ardeth shrugged and stuck the sucker into his mouth and nodded his approval. Evy hid a grin when he glanced in her direction, then looked around her. “Look at all these leaves,” she sighed, shaking her head at the littered driveway. “England in the fall can be a trifle messy.”

He shook his head as they began for the house. The beauty of it all was not lost on him. The grass was bright and green, but the trees had changed color. Hues of gold and auburn and leftover green surrounded them, backdropped by a pretty blue sky. Somehow he was reminded of Meela.

It struck him as they entered, a memory of Ancksunamun smiling against the sky above. Ardeth blinked and removed his coat, giving it to Jonathan. Why was this so hard?

From out of the living room came a set of footfalls and the priest stepped out, his brow narrowed. He pointed ominously upstairs and held up a paper accusing Rick of being insane. Then he looked to Ardeth, cocking an eyebrow at the stick coming from his lips. He looked into the Med-Jai’s eyes questioningly, pointing at his chest and waving a hand. Imhotep’s sign language was grand and to the point. “The doctor says I will be sick,” Ardeth told him, speaking the ancient tongue as he removed the candy. “I have medicine.”

Imhotep gave him a sympathetic expression and for a moment his eyes held that same familiarity that was lost upon Ardeth. There were few memories given him of encounters between the priest and Akhenre, and during those few moments Ardeth could perceive that the Med-Jai hadn’t been too comfortable with Imhotep. Akhenre was genuinely fond of Nefertiri and knew very little about the priest of Osiris, save that he was generally a wise advisor and ruthless fighter when called to battle. He was a strange man that showed little of his feelings in public. Akhenre wasn’t sure he cared for Nefertiri consorting with him so often, but of course the affairs of the royals were not his.

Feet fell upon the stairs as Rick came down, his eyes moving to Ardeth in question after a brief glance at Imhotep. Ardeth supposed that being a friend of Nycolaus, he might have been a little biased for his friend’s sake. After all Akhenre knew what it was like to care for a woman who wasn’t free. Those dark eyes flashed through his memory once more and he found his pulse rise momentarily. This should not be on his mind.

“So?” Rick said, eyeing him speculatively. “What’s wrong?”

Ardeth shook his head, wishing for an answer both for himself and his friends. He wouldn’t necessarily admit to it without proof, but he had a bad feeling about all that was happening to him. Of course anyone would be uneasy if they were left in the dark hearing voices and feeling hands. Rick was waiting for him to reply. “The doctor was unsure why I would faint suddenly, given that I had no other symptoms, but he said he would look up a few things in his medical journals. As for being out in the rain…I will soon be ill, he predicted.”

Searching her coat pockets, Evy pulled out the white bottle Johnson had given her and gave it a shake. “That reminds me, Ardeth. It wouldn’t hurt to start taking this.”

His dark eyes moved down to the bottle and he found himself a bit apprehensive. Unnatural medicine like this was not used in the Med-Jai encampment, though once or twice in Cairo he had been granted the displeasure of tasting some at a doctor’s insistence. It was not an experience he looked forward to enduring again, but Evy wasn’t the sort to allow him escape from this. “I think I’ll take a nap,” he breathed, looking up with a small smile.

She shook her head, pointing the bottle at him. “You’re not afraid of a little medicine are you?”

Rick smirked at Ardeth. “She’ll moosh it up in your mashed potatoes if you don’t take it, you know.” Evy elbowed his side.

“I will take it. I promise,” he told them, backing away. He felt very tired just now and the need to be alone. “Please allow me some rest first. I doubt a few hours will matter.”

Evy nodded her head, every bit the princess he could recall from so long ago. She removed her coat and went to the closet. “You can take it with your dinner, then.” She peeked around the door. “Rest well, Ardeth. You will take the medicine.”

Laughing, Ardeth nodded and headed towards the stairs wearily. “I will take it. Thank you.”

The stairs offered solitude within the safety of his bedroom and Ardeth felt grateful for it as he disappeared within the dimness of hallways. He never used to be that way, taking comfort in being alone most of the time. The change bothered him, worried him for himself. Something was wrong with him, but he just didn’t know how to change it.

He could hear it again. Already the voice started on him, tearing away at his sanity. If he weren’t already crazy he was going to be soon if he didn’t figure this out. Ardeth pushed his bedroom door open, then closed it behind him and sank onto the bed without removing his clothes. He laid down after setting his sucker on the nightstand.

Closing his eyes seemed to make the whispering louder, but at the moment he just didn’t have the strength to care. He only wanted sleep.

*

Evy sat quietly on the bench in what was left of her garden, hard at work on painting her toenails. Imhotep frowned at the smell of the paint she was using, but stuck around. A paper slid across the seat and bumped against her hip. She looked down. You are worried, my queen.

Smoothing a lock of her dark hair behind her ears, she nodded and looked up at him. Not for the first time she wondered when life had gone crazy, when she had let herself care for this monster turned man. “Yes, I am. He’s my friend.” Imhotep wasn’t too jealous of a man because he had confidence he could kill any other man that gained too much of her attention.

The priest took his paper back and held the pencil uncomfortably. She hated that for him. What it would be like to suddenly lose one’s voice she couldn’t imagine, but the frustration in his dark eyes was never lost on her. Imhotep slid the paper back. Akhenre was your friend as well. He is strong and will prevail because he has us.

A little grin met her lips as she looked up from the paper and met his eyes. “You too?”

He leaned closer, marking the paper where it was beside her. Things change. Feelings change. I can be his friend if he will allow it.

Since the temple their relationship had calmed down, much by her own decision. She was very certain she wanted to explore this with him and find out if happiness could be gifted them, but she wanted to do it rationally. Imhotep was fine with that, too, but apparently rationality didn’t include a halt on the more intimate aspects of love. To her it did, at least slowing it down so they could think past infatuation and lust. So it wasn’t every second of every moment she allowed him deep kisses, but right now she felt the moment called for it. She leaned over and brought his face to hers, ignoring that uncertainty she was growing out of and kissed him.

When she pulled away he began writing again. She looked down and exhaled at his words. Do you love me, princess?

“Yes, I believe I do,” she replied with a fond smile, sitting back and looking him over. “I can’t tell you I think it’s sane, but it’s there.”

Imhotep grinned at that, pleased by her affectionate mood and wrote again. His expression when he looked up was mischievous and daring her to prove her love. Immediately she guessed what he wanted, but humored him and read it anyway. Will you then teach me your words so I can understand that intolerable Greek you keep here at our home?

That wasn’t exactly what she expected and Evy had to laugh. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she nodded her head and smiled at him. “I’ll teach you. Maybe I can even teach you our alphabet, so you can argue back.”

Imhotep leaned in close again, pulling her neck forward for another kiss, but a sound stopped them both. A cough. They both looked up and Rick stood above, his eyes cast away and his stance a little stiff. She was going to have to have a little conversation with him soon. “Look, I didn’t even wanna do it, but your brother insisted I try. He and I are going for a beer and thought the freak would want to come. Jonathan can read Egyptian, right?”

Swallowing, Evy backed away from Imhotep a little and nodded. She didn’t feel it necessary to flaunt she and Imhotep’s relationship in front of Rick, so she avoided intimate contact whenever she could. “Yes. Are you sure you want to take him, Rick? I don’t have to offer it if you would rather he stay home.”

Rick scratched his cheek, looking a little guilty. He wasn’t without caring for her wants and needs, and sometimes in his own way tried to be okay with the priest for her sake. “No, he can come if he wants. Maybe if I’m lucky he’ll get into a fight at the bar and,” he looked into her disappointed face and smiled innocently, finishing with, “survive. See? Rick be nice.”

She laughed lightly and shook her head, then translated the offer to Imhotep. He held his head high, that proud priest of Osiris rising to the surface as it usually did with Rick and nodded warily. Evy started on her toes again as he stood up. “Be good,” she said in English.

“Sure,” Rick replied as he and the mummy headed back into the house. “We’ll just stop by your office for some paper.” Evy chuckled.

*

The hands pawed at him, drawing him into the sand once more. It was everywhere. He could feel the tiny grains grinding into his arms and legs and back, filling his clothing as the surface caved in on him. Still Ardeth fought, unwilling to let this fight end here.

A voice whispered. One voice with a determined tone. It was male, he could finally see, speaking low words that Ardeth started to understand as being Ancient Egyptian. Hands yanked and pulled at him and the darkness hid his vision. Was he blind or was there simply no moon or stars to testify that light could still reach him?

Ardeth groaned and thrashed from side to side, breaking the grip of a hand only to have it replaced by another. The night suffocated him and his body was growing nearly too weary to fight back.

He had the sensation of knowing someone knelt by his side, the same knowing that comes from dreams. A hand rested against his shoulder and commanded the hands to cease their pull. The voice was his own. His shoulder felt heavy with the weight of this man’s grip. “Ardeth,” he said gently, a voice filled with command and mercy. “Ardeth, why do you fight me so?”

Shaking the sand from his hair and begging his eyes to see, Ardeth gasped for air and said, “Who are you?”

The hand left his shoulder, but the presence remained. He seemed to be sorrowful. “Ardeth, you and I have done something terrible. We must repair it. I can bear her suffering no longer.”

Instantly Ardeth tensed, wondering and suspecting what this person, this former life was talking about. “You are Akhenre. You are doing this to me.”

“Do not fight me, Ardeth Bay. You must not fight me.” The words were quiet and almost pleading, but firm. “I can stop what is happening, but you must accept what must be.”

Ardeth shook his head, wanting desperately to wake up. His heart raced as he searched for a way to fight this man, to break whatever spell was being laid on him. “I will fight you,” he promised, trying to sit up and get out of the sand he was being buried in.

Akhenre pushed him down firmly, holding Ardeth in place as he continued. “What life have you, wasting away with Nefertiri and her friends? You are not the man you once were. A girl suffers and I can stop it, but no longer am I of the living. Do not fight me, Ardeth Bay. You could do good again if you would but accept my offer.”

The hands crept back from the sand and rested on him again, clawing and pawing in the want to obey their master. Breathing deeply, Ardeth clenched his fists and tried desperately to see something, anything. There was no vision granted him. “And what is this offer?”

This time the voice was further as if Akhenre had stood. “I offer you the chance to be worthy again. You can agree, or you can be driven mad by your grief and weakness.” His voice was no longer gentle. The ancient paused for a moment and when Ardeth failed to reply, he sighed. “Take him,” he commanded.

The hands delightedly began pulling at him again, drawing him back into the ground. Ardeth fought them, fought the fear and sorrow as the warm sand surrounded him. Akhenre’s words echoed through him over and over, and under normal circumstances he likely would have ignored them. But these were not normal circumstances. The weight on his shoulders was becoming too hard to bear anymore. He considered giving in…

His eyes flew open and he lay there for long moments, reorienting himself with the world around him. His fists clenched the sheets below his body and his breathing came hard. Sitting up, his eyes met the window to the left of his bed. The sky was just beginning to grow dim. Night would fall in a few hours.

He climbed from the soft bed and glanced around him, feeling lost. There were two doors, one leading from this room and another leading to a washroom as he could recall. But which was which? He chose the one to the right of the bed and the first thing that came to his attention was the great mirror.

Drawn to his reflection, he entered and touched the mirror, tracing his tattooed face and dark hair. He searched everything within him, trying to find anything: a name, a place. Very few memories returned to him that were of consequence, but one name held his fascination. Ancksunamun.

*

Hehe…well, idn’t that lovely? Thank you reviewers!!!! Pol, I never was either…and I honestly just have noooo idea where it came from in Fury. ;) I’m probably the only nut out there that ever considered it, but it just fell into my lap. Lol, thanks! Marcher, thanks for saying you enjoyed the way I write Ardeth…sometimes I wonder if I’m getting him right, as I’ve prolly said before. Lol. Mommints, I’m flattered that you say so…thanks a bunch!! Deana, thanks for suggestions and enthusiasm as usual! You rock! Fan of the Mummy, thanks for reading and reviewing…your persistence in asking about a sequel in Fury helped spur this on. :-D Lula, YES GOD YES it would be nice to comfort Ardeth. Where is the matrix when you need it…I’d let those machines take all the energy they wanted if they’d give me Ardeth. ;-) Yeah…they prolly wouldn’t think he was crazy, but I’d worry about that myself if I were hearing voices. Thank you muchly!! Cacina, yeah I know. ;-) Odd idn’t it? Thanks! Karri, yes, I thrive on making people wonder what’s gonna happen next. ;-) Muahahaha! Thanks!

And thanks to others who may be reading and enjoying, but not reviewing. Hope I’m doing well. :-D -Angela