Title:  Passion - Chapter Five -  Betrayal
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

*

The house was not in complete ruins and for that his queen would be grateful. She prided herself on having a beautiful home, though if he had any say, this place was not good enough for her, not matter how large. If he could do as he wished he would see her in the grandest palace that this world could fathom because in his eyes that was her place. Queen, beautiful and fair and wise, deserving of everything this place could offer.

But this was England. This was the future and a very strange time indeed. Imhotep crossed his arms and looked around, kicking at a fallen table. Merchants ruled the world and to him that was the most ridiculous concept under the Gods he had ever heard. Rameses had tried explaining it once, but Imhotep didn’t really care. It was foolishness…maybe.

The search had proved in vain at least for him. He could not shout for his love or the Med-Jai, could not do much of anything except use his eyes. For a time that was okay, for they had ridden within that great steel contraption seeking the other than Nefertiri’s brother managed. But when the search was to begin on foot Nycolaus had brought him here to watch in case the princess returned. Return indeed. People did not leave their homes in shambles like this unless they were forced.

Imhotep paced a little, wondering where the little princess was and if she and Akhenre were okay. With hope the Med-Jai would bring her out of their captivity and safely home. The priest sighed and gazed out the front door that he had left open. He had not felt this way about her in a long time.

He never really hated her, he supposed. The blinding pain that had resulted from her ending their affair had wounded him deeply, true, but hate Nefertiri? How could he hate his own his own heart? No, that feeling was saved for Ancksunamun, his betraying seductress who had taken everything from him.

Sometimes it still made him ache, just how much he had given up for her to feel again after Nefertiri. He had been a great fool in the things he had done. He no longer deserved Nefertiri’s love, for he had become a monster. Her hope in him was absolutely amazing. Truly this was what redemption was, to have this life gifted to him. He did not know what would happen when he died, but to have Nefertiri was more than he could ask for. He almost felt like the priest Seti had trusted once. Almost.

He could recall her as a child of fifteen years, coming to him to learn of Osiris and the ways of the gods. Imhotep had been more than a caretaker of the dead, he had been a teacher, healer, builder, advisor…so many things had been entrusted to him. And he failed them because of that child who had not paid a bit of attention while he was giving her lessons. Imhotep smiled at the memory of her watching him with the eyes of a girl awakening to the world of men. He had been a little annoyed with it because the last thing he needed was an infatuated princess complicating matters.

But she held on to him, visiting him without need and becoming his friend. Time passed and her flirting increased, so he made a game of it. Foolishly. Deliriously stupid. Seti would have likely unmanned him if he had learned how Imhotep began looking upon his young daughter. Definitely if he had heard Ancksunamun’s lies that he was bedding other women aside from Nefertiri after they had become lovers. Imhotep thanked Osiris that the man was usually blind to things he did not wish to see.

The priest worried now, though. Nefertiri was gone somewhere with Akhenre and while the man had been a Med-Jai before and ever was today Imhotep distrusted him. Akhenre had never taken to him, never cared for his relationship with Nefertiri. Why that should be Imhotep couldn’t guess unless the man had feelings for his princess that Nefertiri was blind to. She insisted Akhenre felt nothing but brotherly love. She was probably right, too, but it still irked Imhotep that Akhenre had not minded his own business and stayed out of things that were not his concern.

So Imhotep waited, hoping beyond hope that she was safe with this strange Med-Jai who now tended a broken heart, also because of Ancksunamun. That insufferable woman had caused so much pain. If ever she were raised again he would do the honors himself and kill her.

There was a sound from the door and he looked up, his pulse now racing. It was she, his queen. Nefertiri stood at the door, her eyes bold and even a bit surprised. Her wrists were red with lines. “Imhotep,” she breathed and he came to her.

Imhotep swept her into his arms and showered her with kisses, not caring for the moment where she had been or how she had returned. She did not return his kiss, but he felt her hand slide up his chest to his throat. Nefertiri pulled away from him and smiled. “I have a gift for you, Imhotep.” Her fingers brushed against his scars and she began chanting softly.

At first it felt as though she were burning him and he pulled back, but her grip was nearly as granite. His breathing became ragged as he watched her sweet face. Then it was done and she kissed him, again smiling that strange knowing smile. “Speak to me,” she commanded.

Trusting her completely, he dared and opened his lips to say, “Nefertiri? My love?” He waited for death and it did not come. Instantly he smiled, yet even with his voice returned and many things to say, he found himself speechless.

Nefertiri edged him back towards the staircase, pushing him against the railing and meeting his lips once more, her hands petting him and touching him as she had never before. This felt so different, so unlike her. “Where are the others?” she asked in a whisper, her dark eyes half lidded as she gazed on him.

“They search for you, my love,” he breathed, now looking towards the door. Where was Akhenre? Nefertiri laughed and took his hands in hers, sending her lips over his again and holding his wrists back playfully. A creak on the staircase betrayed they weren’t alone, but he moved too late in his surprise. A cord was wrapped around his wrists, tying him to the railing and his princess, his queen laughed at his struggles.

She left the room and the Med-Jai came down. He must have come from the back and snuck up while Imhotep was preoccupied with Nefertiri’s return, the priest surmised. He glared at this incarnation of Akhenre and demanded in his returned voice, “What are you doing?”

Akhenre made no answer, merely watched as Imhotep pulled at his bonds. Nefertiri came from a hallway with a smile, holding up the paper she and the others used for currency. “I have it. We can leave.”

“Nefertiri!’ Imhotep snapped as he watched her begin for the door with Akhenre. “Nefertiri, what is going on? Why have you done this?”

The expression she returned him gave him nothing if not a shock, so cold and ruthless it was. Her hand wrapped around Akhenre’s shirt and she pulled him close, pushing her lips against his. She pulled back slowly, watching the Med-Jai’s face with a smile. “A monster like you can mean nothing to me, Imhotep. I am leaving with Ardeth.”

The princess whipped around and left with the Akhenre following closely behind. The priest found himself paralyzed with shock and betrayal. She could not have done this, not his princess. Not again. “Nefertiri,” he whispered after her, knowing she could not possibly hear.

Ancksunamun had poisoned her mind against him and now it seemed her lover had done the same. Nefertiri of long ago had been wrong, the Med-Jai did feel a connection for her. Back then Imhotep had failed by letting her go, but he would not this time. She would not get away from the truth of his love so easily and be blinded. Akhenre would pay for this.

With a yell of consuming rage Imhotep ripped the cords from the rail, breaking the wood behind him. All his thought was upon Akhenre and killing him for this. Perhaps redemption would not be his. Perhaps he had been foolish to believe she would love him again as she had. But he would not let her go this time without a fight.

He approached the door to see if he could see which direction they had taken, but outside another car was pulling in. Nycolaus and Rameses exited with disappointed faces. Imhotep waved his hand and pointed towards the darkness that lay beyond the home. “They have gone!”

Both men before him stopped and blinked at his ability to speak, but they did not have time for this. Imhotep shook his head and grabbed Rameses by the jacket and shoved him towards the car. “They came and have gone together. They took money.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Jonathan said, shaking his head and looking to the very confused Rick. “Where did they get off to?”

The priest fought back the image in his mind of Nefertiri’s cold expression. His stomach ached. “Something has happened. They have changed. Neither told me where they were going, but we must stop them. Please, Rameses. I cannot lose her.”

They held each other’s gaze a moment, then her brother nodded. “Right. We’ll go.” He turned to Rick and spoke their language to him. The once Greek Med-Jai looked shocked and brought his eyes to Imhotep’s. Then he got in the car.

Imhotep followed with Rameses.

*

They had again abandoned the car, this time for good. Within the city they now sought a refuge from what was sure to be a group of three led by one very angry priest. The lady behind the desk looked between them dubiously, but shrugged. “I have a room available. You are married?”

Akhenre’s face was aggravated at having this woman question him, but she had warned him to play along with this time. “We are married,” he replied coolly. He took her hand and kissed it.

Ancksunamun in the body of Nefertiri smiled grandly and looked to her ‘husband’ with adoring eyes. “Would you turn us away when we are cold and the night is still yet long ahead?”

With a grunt the woman turned around and took a key from a rack. She handed it to Akhenre with a shrug. “This is a respectable establishment, so I will trust your word. Third floor, last door on the left.”

They left the desk and headed for the stairs. Ancksunamun took the key from Akhenre and muttered, “Respectable. If it were she would not entertain such thoughts.” She brushed past the Med-Jai that followed, intent on privacy now that they had gotten money and were finally free of the others. She opened the hotel room without a word and entered.

Akhenre followed and closed the door behind him. Ancksunamun could tell something was bothering him. She smiled softly and came to him, rubbing her hand gently across his stomach. “Something troubles you, my love?”

He looked down at her and absently touched a stray lock of her long hair. “It is much to bear, both his memories and my own. Sometimes I…forget who I am.”

Ancksunamun pillowed her head against his chest and held to him for a few moments, reveling that he had brought her back and he was now hers. What she had wanted so many ages ago was now hers for the having. “The disorientation will pass, lover. Our future is yet uncertain, but soon you will be at ease.” She looked up into his gentle eyes and leaned in to kiss him.

Her Med-Jai lover backed away and exhaled. “Don’t,” he breathed, shaking his head. He touched her shoulder as if to reassure her. “To my eyes you are still Nefertiri.”

She frowned at him and pulled away, moving to a mirror to look at her reflection. The eyes of a princess glared back. “I have missed you, Akhenre. I wish to again feel your kiss.” The concubine in her stolen body turned back to him thoughtfully. “Have you not missed mine?”

“With everything that I am,” he replied in a soft voice that left little doubt he truly belonged to her. Yet there was still reluctance in his eyes. “It only the memories of my time with her that make me hesitate, my love. I did never look upon her with eyes of desire, nor has Ardeth Bay done so with Evelyn.”

Ancksunamun turned back and brushed her hair behind her shoulders. Her pale cheeks were unmarked by the scars of Set. A fresh beginning. Part of her liked being in this body, knowing that the woman inside was frightened of what acts her own hands would commit. She had felt Nefertiri’s pain when Imhotep had thought himself betrayed. That had delighted Ancksunamun.

She turned back to Akhenre and smiled. “Then I shall turn off the lights so you will see her no more, Akhenre. In 3,000 years you have not touched me. We have been apart too long.” Her lover still looked back with unease in his dark eyes. Her gaze of desire became angry. “It is that you know Nefertiri gazes out these eyes as well, is it not, my love? She will know what you have done, will feel it as I do. What do you care of her that you would deny me?”

At that he turned away and walked silently to the window. Pushing back the curtains, he said, “She has done nothing. Already she has suffered so much at the hands of this body, nearly death even. It is you I wish to have, not she.”

“And if I kept this body?” Ancksunamun breathed back, running her hands over her arms. “Would you love me less?”

Akhenre touched the windowpane and turned to her once more. She knew that expression. Resolve. He would not give her this tonight. “No, I would not love you less. I brought you back that you could return to your own body that lies within the temple. Will you now change the plan I have set?”

There was a saying that Nefertiri knew from this time about catching flies with honey. Giving in to his modesty, Ancksunamun went to him and pulled him into her embrace. “No. I will not change your plan. We do not have to do this tonight, but would you allow at least a kiss?”

That seemed to appease him and he hugged her to him, pulling her forward to claim her request. He closed his eyes when their lips met, but didn’t hold back his passion. In 3,000 years she had not forgotten the power of his mouth on hers. She had missed this. Too soon he pulled away, however and sat down to remove his shoes. He coughed, revealing that this body was touched by sickness.

Ancksunamun watched him for a moment, noticing for the first time how tired he looked. She reached down and brushed his hair away from his face and uttered the soft words to a spell of healing. He faded out momentarily and when he looked up his eyes were frightened. “My love?” she breathed, furrowing her brow at his expression.

He stood up and looked towards the door uncertainly. “I’m going for a walk,” he told her, then began towards the exit.

Frowning at this confusing behavior, Ancksunamun started after him to stop him, but he stopped himself midway. He seemed waged in a battle with himself as to whether or not to leave and it suddenly occurred to her why that might be. In an almost accusing voice she said, “Ardeth Bay,” and at that he started towards the door again.

She beat him to it and blocked the exit. Immediately Bay reached for her arms and she threw herself forward, knocking him to the floor. He groaned and narrowed his brow, rolling to his side to get some sort of hold of her. He grabbed her wrists and held her down. “I will not let you keep her body, Ancksunamun. I saw what you did to Imhotep and when you looked in the mirror I saw it in your eyes. I cannot let you ruin her life for the pleasure of it.”

Ancksunamun pleaded with her eyes, struggling beneath his grasp. “Then you would send me back to my torment before I can even reclaim my own body? You would take away my chance to unbind myself from Set and eternal death? I mean not to keep her body.”

At that he had no immediate answer and that was her advantage. Ardeth’s conscience made him question how far was too far. His heart was good and letting her die again would be hard on one such as he, no matter what pain she had caused him. That small window of doubt was enough and he slumped to her, letting go of her arms. “You healed him,” he breathed, rolling from her and covering his eyes. “You healed him and he became strong again. I barely regained control.”

Relieved at the returned speech of her lover, she hugged into him and closed her eyes. “So you do not have absolute control. Perhaps it is so with me as well, lover. We will be more careful in the future.”

“And will you be able to fight him off, my love? If he again regains control will you be able to stop him from leaving and ruining everything?” His breathing came heavy as he looked into her eyes.

A smile spread across her lips and she kissed him softly. “You forget, Akhenre. I am a priestess of Set. When you killed me in the temple you prevented Imhotep from doing the ritual that would strip me of my powers.” His eyes darkened at the mention of what he had done, but she shook her head. “Do not be troubled, my love. You saved me from final rest and my powers are still my own. I have already forgiven you for what you thought you had to do.” She embraced him to her again. “Now we have killed one another and all debts are repaid. Let us live for each other this age.”

Akhenre nodded and wrapped his strong arms around her. His lips met with hers again and after he sat up, pulling her with him. “We must rest, Ancksunamun. Let us retire to bed.”

She teased him with her eyes, but his chiding smile and playful batting showed his decision hadn’t changed. There would be time for that, she supposed, but she would not wait too long. He would throw his heart into such an act and would therefore seal his own will to hers. She wanted the security of that and would make his resolve for waiting crumble if she could.

*

The taste of failure was bitter in Imhotep’s mouth. He remained very quite despite the incessant chatter from Jonathan. After living for more than a month with no voice it seemed strange that now with the gift of speech he would have nothing to say. The other two in the car were even more baffled about his story than he.

Nycolaus was very suspicious of it because he believed Nefertiri would never do as she had. That was also the belief of Rameses, but he at least gave the priest the benefit of the doubt. Neither could explain his sudden ability to talk, so like it or not they were going to have to accept is story at face value.

They both assured him that Nefertiri had not simply left with the Med-Jai for desire, nor would she be so easily led astray by such out of character words as poisoning her against her priest. They claimed Ardeth would not do so if there were no reason. Nycolaus had commented Imhotep did enough poisoning against himself without needing help. All these thoughts tumbled around in his mind, but he could not explain what else could have happened tonight.

Yet it was still some form of hope, no matter how meager. He in truth found it hard to believe that she would so suddenly turn, but his mind kept returning to the past when the very same thing had happened. He could think of no other explanation.

Rick looked at him through the mirror attached to the window in front of the car, speaking in his own tongue. Imhotep couldn’t translate very well, but he did catch the word ‘freak’ and seethed inside, weary of this man’s insulting tones. The Greek Med-Jai smacked Rameses on the shoulder and commanded something. Jonathan translated, “Rick says you should calm down. There has to be something else going on and killing them won’t solve anything.”

Nycolaus would think that he meant to kill them. 3,000 years ago the young Med-Jai had not liked Imhotep for the same reason he did not today. Because of Nefertiri. Imhotep realized the younger man was threatened by his presence even though his own relationship to the present Nefertiri was over, but right now he was simply not in the mood to banter. He searched his mind for a phrase Rick had said in that sarcastic tone and repeated it back to him now that he could speak. Imhotep raised his chin and looked into the rearview mirror, saying in a heavy accent something resembling, “Screw you.”

A huge grin spread across Jonathan’s lips as he looked for his friend’s response. He laughed and Imhotep recalled Rameses also finding humor precious. Nycolaus’ brow furrowed and he asked in his tongue, “Did he just say what I think he said?”

Imhotep crossed his arms and listened as the two in front spoke back and forth, Rameses ever smiling and Rick looking every bit as irritated as he had since their return from the place of drink. For now the priest paid no attention to it. His mind was full of worry for Nefertiri. If she had not betrayed him out of simple deception then what had a hold of her?

And what if she had betrayed him?

They pulled back into the manor and got out of the car, all three feeling in their own way the pain and confusion of today’s loss. Not one of them had any idea where the Med-Jai had taken Nefertiri, but it was certain to be out of country.

As they entered the house something caught Imhotep’s eyes, though, something that brought him a little hope. The others likely thought him unable to see past Nefertiri’s lovely face, but he had a good eye for things misplaced. On the floor was a small likeness of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Bending down with furrowed brows, he picked it up and looked at it. This was something usually in that room of books his princess spent time in. He picked it up and showed it to her brother. “This does not belong near the door.”

Jonathan took the model and looked it over himself, then raised his eyes to Rick, speaking in their tongue. Nycolaus stared at the object for a moment then hissed something Imhotep assumed was a curse. Now the question was, had it been placed there to point the way or distract them from the true path?

Something in Imhotep’s heart told him it was the former. Egypt was a part of them all in some way, and the home of the Med-Jai. It was their only lead.

*

I know I have other stories asking attention, but this is what I have to offer. Lol. Lula, Akhenre was a nice guy. ;) And yeah, it would be terrible if he made Ardeth feel worse. They’ve got trouble though, one way or another. :D Thanks! Marcher, wow, shivers, eh? Honestly, yes I love to torment Evy cause I identify with her and let’s face it. I would adore being grabbed by Ardeth. ;) Thanks! Cacina, or Hadassa now? My friend’s daughter’s name is Hadassah. :D Yes, he does need to be barred up. Lol. And Immy’s always ready to kick behind. ;D Thanks! Deana, thanks so much for the help and encouraging words! Means a bunch my friend!

And naturally, thanks everyone else for reading. :D -Angela