Title:  Passion - Chapter Four -  The Other Face
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

*

Evy stood within her library, searching through her many books. The boys were still gone--all but Ardeth, and she needed to research something for her work at the museum. Upstairs her friend slept, likely worn out from the day’s events. She worried for him. Sighing at that, Evy pushed her glasses onto her nose and opened a small book. Immediately, her eyes fell upon Seti’s name and a face came unbidden to her mind. Not that of a king or some ancient Egyptian long gone, but of a man she called father.

She pushed that out of her mind, determined to let an hour go by where she wasn’t confusing herself with some long dead princess. A noise from the entrance startled her and she gasped. “No need to be afraid,” said a calm voice.

Evelyn smiled and looked up at Ardeth as he entered, his eyes intent and curious. He looked almost happy. “Feeling better?”

Ardeth approached slowly, occasionally glancing around him at the surrounding bookcases. His smile was soft and strange, almost as if he were seeing her after some long time had passed. He looked at her reading glasses curiously, but said nothing of it. “Yes, I believe I am feeling much better. What are you doing?”

Rolling her eyes, she held up the book. “Research. Duty calls at the museum.” She eyed him speculatively. “Perhaps I could get you some work there if you would like. That is if you want to.” Evy could never be sure of what would make him worry or hurt or add to his pressures. The last thing she wanted was for him to believe working would be a requirement. Beni’s little gifts had afforded her the ability to take care of her friends and she would do just that for as long as they needed.

He held her gaze and considered her words and possibly more as well. There was a different air about him she thought. Something familiar and yet altogether different. “Perhaps,” he said simply, those ever-gazing eyes never breaking from hers. There was definitely something different about him. Ardeth reached for her and unconsciously she backed away, but he took no offence. His fingers removed the glasses from her face and he examined them thoughtfully. “The others that live here—where are they now?”

Evy’s brow furrowed at his choice of words, but she shrugged it off. “Out,” she told him, wondering if his predicted fever were beginning to set in. She laid her hand on his brow and frowned at the coolness of his skin. “They’re likely getting drunk as we speak. Ardeth, are you feeling okay?”

His smile was chiding as he handed her eyeglasses back. “Do not waste worry for me. I am quite well.” Ardeth’s speech was slightly more formal than Rick or Jonathan’s, but something about the way he was speaking now struck her oddly. Quite suddenly she wished he were still upstairs.

Not that Evy by any means thought harm would come to her by his hands, not unless he were under some black spell once more, but something about him made her uncomfortable. There was a determination in those dark eyes that had not been there in over a month. A moment passed as he watched her work her way through her thoughts, then he said, “I wish to return to Egypt and I want you to join me.”

That surprised her a little. She could see it in his eyes, before, when he read his letters from home. There had always been a small guilty dread written on his face as if he knew he were expected, but did not want to go. Still, if this helped him heal she neither would nor could stop him. But it would be handled sensibly. “All right,” she replied, choosing to ignore for now that he wanted her to go with him. “We will go to Egypt, but I want to wait and see what happens. I’ll not have you returning half dead and too ill to do anything but sleep.”

His eyes changed and grew hard, and he looked down on her with a strange strength and firmness that he had never used with her before. His eyes did not leave hers as he told her in low, commanding tones, “We will not wait. There is something there I must do and I cannot be detained. We will go tonight and seek a way to leave this country.”

“Okay,” she breathed, her unease with him growing. Her heart rate rose at his unending gaze. If ever a time she needed the others to conveniently burst in at the right time, it was now. Perhaps Rick could talk some sense into their Med-Jai friend. “We’ll just wait for the others and talk to Rick about leaving.”

He shook his head and she swallowed. “No. The others are not needed.” His resolve was firm.

Ardeth stood between she and the freedom beyond this room, and behind her stood a bookcase and a table. If she tried to get past him he could easily stop her if he so chose. Would he do that? Would her friend bar her from leaving? Evy turned from him nervously, quite aware that he still stood close behind. Unable to believe herself or him, she looked around for something she could use against him if the need came. On the table there was only a book and a small, silver model of the Great Pyramid. He was waiting for her to either agree or make a move. She decided on the latter and went for the heavy model.

She managed to get it in her hand, but before anything else could happen his arms were around hers, holding hers to her sides. There would be no breaking his hold. He was just too strong.

Evy did not go without a fight, however, throwing herself from side to side in the hope of knocking him off balance. She wouldn’t wish sickness on any of her friends, but right now it would be helpful if he were to become too weak to fight her. But there was no such gift from irony. Ardeth held her to him tightly and dragged her from the library.

They fought each other through the hall and into the sitting room where he freed one hand to jerk the phone cord from the wall. Her heart ached thinking of what he meant to do with it. Desperately she again tried to break his hold, but it was no use. He pulled her with him to the front door and she kicked over a table. Rick and Imhotep and Jonathan would have no idea where they were. Then she remembered the model in her hands. Praying to God one of them would take the hint, she dropped it beside the door as he pulled her out into the evening breeze.

They had taken Rick’s car, leaving Jonathan’s ripe for the taking. Her brother always left his keys right there in the seat and the doors unlocked, trusting that no one would bother it. Ardeth must have recalled that because upon noticing it, he stopped heading for the gate and yanked her towards it. He held her tightly as he ripped the passenger side door open and shoved her in, pushing her into the driver’s seat and climbing in himself. “Drive,” he told her, his dark eyes watching for the return of their friends.

Evy’s hands were shaking as she fumbled in the dimness for the keys that lay between them. She picked them up and started the car, not sure what he would do if she spoke. What on earth could have happened to him? What made him do this? Meela was dead and her spell long worn off. “W-where do you want me to drive?” she asked him in a trembling voice. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t lived her own fair share of danger, but that night now flew back into her memory, forgiven but not forgotten. What if…?

His hands still held to the phone cord as he glanced from the gate to her and back again. “We will decide that once we are on the road. Drive now, or I will bind you.”

She nodded, unable to bring a voice to her lips again. Evy pulled out and with a lump in her throat, left the safety of her home for the open road. She turned left at the gate, not sure where he would want to go and he made no argument. There was a pub nearby and with any luck perhaps Rick and the others would be in the parking lot.

They weren’t. Sure enough Rick’s car sat near the door, but she did not dare stop for fear of him. What was going on, she could not guess, but she wouldn’t make him do something that would cause him guilt later. He was not himself right now, but would be soon hopefully. For now she would do as he wanted and perhaps talk him through this. Licking her lips and getting a hold of herself, she breathed, “What’s wrong, Ardeth?”

He turned his head, looking at her sharply. “Why do you ask?”

Evy rolled her eyes and waved her hand. His question irritated her, made her angry that this was happening. “Oh, no reason! You always drag me through my own home and out for a drive!”

Ardeth’s dark eyes softened a little at her attitude, but he did not back down from his wants. “My reasons are mine alone. Do as I say, child.”

She slit her eyes and held her tongue, driving to only God knew where. Why were these little things always happening? She gripped the steering wheel until her fingers tingled, fear and anger and worry spreading through her. Tears threatened to fall but she held herself in check. Crying would have no effect on him right now, so through gritted teeth she asked, “Where do you want me to go? I can’t drive around England all night.”

“We must find a place to hide this night,” he replied, gazing steadily out the window. He seemed to be searching for something, but what she could not guess.

Just where were they supposed to hide, anyway? It wasn’t as if there were hidden cities lying around England. She had not even had the chance to get her jacket or purse, so unless Ardeth had money they were broke. Heaven knew Jonathan certainly didn’t have any cash in here. “How do you plan on paying for travel?” she asked him, hoping to jar him into the reality that this was foolishness.

A point well made, Ardeth reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his wallet. Taking the money out, he frowned and studied as if he weren’t sure how much it was. It would perhaps buy them a room, nothing more. The amount registered to him after a few moments and he grunted, closing the wallet. “We will get more. We need only hide tonight, Princess.”

Her grip on the wheel tightened slightly and she glanced at him in surprise. “What did you call me?”

Ardeth didn’t reply or meet her eyes, but she wouldn’t forget this little lapse. Princess? Ardeth never called her that, never would. The only two people that had ever referred to her as that were Imhotep and Ancksunamun. Evy risked another glance, meeting his dark eyes. “Who are you?”

*

Singing drunkenly, Jonathan watched the scenery that passed on the way home. Rick was so very annoyed right now, muttering darkly about having to be the responsible one. “A guy can’t get decently drunk anymore,” caught Carnahan’s ears and he chuckled.

“You could have gotten drunk, Rick. All the beer in the free world was right there.” Jonathan rubbed his belly and rested his head back.

Rick grunted and held the steering wheel aggressively. He glared into the rearview mirror at the priest. “No, I couldn’t get drunk, Jonathan. You know why? You really wanna know? Because if I were drunk and you were drunk, who would control him?”

It was so weird Jonathan thought. He had never seen the mummy quite so thoroughly plastered. Imhotep’s eyes were dull and his face passive as he sat in the back, dead center and watched the road ahead. He looked awfully funny with that duct tape across his lips and Jonathan giggled. Someone at the bar had insulted Imhotep and while the words had been lost upon him, the intent was quite clear. Alcohol induced rage spread through the prickly priest and he had stood grandly, intent on killing the infidel.

Of course murder wasn’t entirely legal in England. To keep him from speaking a word Rick had insisted upon the tape and oddly enough Imhotep had agreed as if the suggestion had come from his mother. So there he sat, taped up and as calm as ever. Jonathan giggled again and the mummy kicked his seat. Rick breathed out loudly and hissed, “Would you two straighten up? Evy’s gonna kill me for bringing you two home like this.”

Jonathan breathed out as they turned into Carnahan Manor. He smiled at their grand home, and then frowned. Where did his car get off to and more importantly why on earth was the front door open? “I say,” he breathed, looking at Rick to see if he too saw the same. The expression on his face gave a definite ‘yes’.

Pulling the car over, Rick stopped and they all piled out as quickly as they could. The first thing they noticed was that the inside looked messy. “Evy!” Rick called, pushing past a fallen table. “Ardeth?” He ran towards the back of the house.

Imhotep looked to Jonathan through now sobered eyes, then disappeared upstairs to search. Evy’s brother decided to try the kitchen, figuring she may be making dinner…or may have tried to. No smells greeted his nose as he drew closer. “Evy!” he shouted, picking up his pace and entering. The kitchen was untouched from lunchtime.

Jonathan swallowed and stood still a moment, gathering his thoughts away from the haze of drunkenness. “Where would I go if I were Evy?” he murmured, trying to find the answer. She liked her garden and her books. Rick was probably already outside.

The library was littered with a few fallen books and even a shelf had been overturned. A terrible feeling began to sink in. She was gone and they had no idea where. Imhotep entered with eyes that pleaded for the answer he wanted to hear. He pointed up and spread his hands, indicating that Ardeth must be gone as well. Jonathan shook his head sadly. “Sorry, old boy. I can’t find them.”

They heard footsteps in the hall, rapid and heavy. Rick called for them and Jonathan answered. In a moment he appeared at the door, his eyes also empty of what they wanted to know. “Nothing?”

Jonathan and Imhotep exchanged glances, then Evy’s brother shrugged. “No. Imhotep says Ardeth’s gone too.”

Rick swore and ran his fingers through his hair, looking lost. “What the hell is going on?” He kicked the fallen bookshelf with a glare.

Grabbing a paper from the nearby desk, Imhotep wrote a message and handed it to Jonathan. He read it and looked up. “He says that acting like a fool won’t help. We should leave the house and look for them.”

“Right, right,” O’Connell breathed, nodding and gazing up at the priest. He whipped his hand out and ripped the tape from his mouth.

For his credit Imhotep held his voice in check, cupping a hand over his mouth and narrowing his brow at Rick. His anger, however, he didn’t hold back on. The priest sent a fist into Rick’s jaw, making him fall back. “I’m gonna kick his ass,” the ex-Legionnaire asserted, pushing himself to his feet.

Wringing his hands in frustration, Jonathan shook his head and raised his voice. “Okay, you two! We bloody well don’t have time for this foolishness and I’m not going to stand around while you fight! I’m putting my foot down! Now let’s go.”

Wiping the blood from his lips, Rick glared at Imhotep, but shrugged to his friend. “Yeah, alright. We’ll go.” He turned and walked out, the mummy following at a distance.

Jonathan watched them go, then straightened and adjusted his jacket. With luck Evy and Ardeth wouldn’t be far.

*

They walked in silence, side by side, and Evy shivered in the night air. The car was long gone now, left behind, and she and her captor were walking through a large private forest. Apparently he didn’t mind the idea of sleeping on the ground. This wasn’t Ardeth and she held to that, thankful that her faith in him again would prove true.

He pulled at her bound hands when she lagged behind slightly. The phone cord was cutting into her wrists, making her whimper when he did so. “Are you Akhenre?” she breathed, trying to see him in the darkness.

She heard him take in a deep breath before he answered, “Yes, it is I, Nefertiri.”

It was chilly out and the moon only a sliver in the sky, making the situation that much more dreadful. Akhenre made her keep pace with him despite her tired legs. He wanted to be well away from the car. “Why are you doing this?” she asked him.

“I told you my reasons are my own, Princess,” he told her in a hard tone as they trudged on. At least he too seemed troubled by their surroundings. Perhaps she could talk him into at least finding a hotel room. “All you must do is obey me and no harm will come to you. Can you do this?”

He thought of her as his own Nefertiri it seemed, by how he called her. Drawing on that, Evy took on a more confident attitude and replied to that, “And who are you that you can order around a princess, Med-Jai? How dare you do this?”

A hand met her back and shoved her forward, but he kept the cord firmly in his grasp. She fell down and cried out at the pain in her wrists. “Where is the Akhenre that used to be my friend? Where is he that I trusted so long ago, whom I called brother though he were not of my family?”

Yanking her up, he pushed her again and did not soften his voice. “He is dead and you will do well to remember it always. Nothing you say can touch my heart again.”

His tone was filled with sadness and because of that she didn’t believe his words. If Akhenre were truly dead he wouldn’t sorrow for anything, be it she or whatever was on his mind. Evy remained silent for a while as they walked, running the past few hours through her mind again. It wasn’t Ardeth and she was thankful. Yet what of her friend? “What about Ardeth? Is he gone now?” she asked, afraid to hear the answer.

Akhenre tensed on the other side of the cord, but remained firm. “He may as well be. I have pushed him aside and now have control of this body.”

He pushed Ardeth aside? Evy swallowed as some relief and hope was given from that. If Ardeth were merely pushed side then perhaps he could again resurface. But Akhenre seemed to know things that Ardeth knew, like what the purpose of an automobile was and where his wallet was. Akhenre had told her before that Ancksunamun and Meela had become too intertwined for separation to be possible. Evy could remember how she was, carrying the memories of both women, but acting as Ancksunamun. That worried her because Akhenre was behaving the same way.

It seemed a long time after their conversation when Akhenre finally stopped and shoved Evy to the ground. She frowned at him as he crouched. His hands gripped her arms and pulled her to a tree where he tied her. “What are you doing?” she asked in low tones.

Akhenre sat on his knees beside her, his hands pressing into her head as he commanded her to be silent. He held her against the tree and began chanting softly. Evy struggled when she realized what he was saying. “Don’t do this, Akhenre. Please. I’ll help you, but don’t do this.”

The Med-Jai covered her lips with his hand and ignored her whimpering and struggles, his voice soft and strong. She began to feel dizzy and sick, but fought desperately to hold onto reality. Evy put her mind on other things, such as Rick, Imhotep and Jonathan—remembering anything that would hold her attention away from the words he said.

Finally he stopped and she slumped, realizing that she was still here. Her whole body ached with weariness. Akhenre exhaled and straddled her lap, still holding her back with a hand to her head. “You may fight me all night, Nefertiri, but I am much stronger than you. I will not fail.”

As he began chanting again Evy steeled herself for the battle of wills that lay ahead. But if Ardeth had failed, how could she hope to succeed?

*

Lula, thanks for your kind words. Yeah, Ardeth’s going through some roughness, poor sweetie. ;-) I’m glad you liked my humor. And yeah, Rick’s overcoming his own little obstacles with Immy around. ;-) Cacina, yeas…had to add some lovin’ in here, cause I’m trying to balance between the two angles of Immy/Evy and Ardeth’s story. Bars on the windows…that would have come in handy before this chapter, eh? ;-) Marcher, yes…poor guy. He’s not getting relief any time in the soonishness. And yes..I would give a whole bunch to soothe that boy. :-D A whoooole big bunch.

Anyhow, thanks readers! You guys rock! -Angela