Title:  Fury - Chapter Eleven – Fade To Gray
Rating:  PG13 prolly eventually
Author: Angel - ninthsaturn@yahoo.com - http://oocities.com/saturnfiction
Summary:  Evy finds a secret temple that holds an ancient deadly force.  Cataclysm ensues.
Notes:  Set about a year after The Mummy.  An alternate "Mummy Returns" of sorts.  At this point I have a vague idea of where this story will go, so bear with me...and possible name changes. :D  I haven't written Mummy in a while, so if this little prologue sucks, I apologize. :D
Disclaimer:  No infringement intended.
Codes:  Imhotep/Evy, Ardeth/Meela

*
Exposed beyond the shadows, You take the cup from me, Your dirt removes my blindness, Your pain becomes my peace.  If I was not so weak, If I was not so cold,  If I was not so scared of being broken, growing old.  I would be...I would be...Frail.
-Jars of Clay, Frail from Much Afraid

Rick frowned at the open gate and batted Jonathan's arm.  "Didn't you lock this before we left?" he asked reprovingly.

Jonathan blinked and gave O'Connell an unsavory expression.  "Of course I locked it!  What do you take me for?"  He crossed his arms.  With a snort, Rick shoved the unlocked gate open and looked back to Jonathan.  Carnahan made a show of examining the locking mechanism.  "Hmm.  Apparently I was mistaken."

Examining her nails, Evelyn sighed.  "Are we going to stand out here all day?"  Evy felt testy just now.  Not getting enough sleep wasn't exactly what she'd term pleasant.  The morning was scornfully freezing and she groaned.  What she could really use right now was a nice warm bath in a dimmed washroom.  She was grateful when they began walking again.

Standing on the porch while Jonathan fished for his keys, Evy drew her coat around her and shivered at the tiny droplets of water that hit her face.  It was a miserable day - cold, downcast, sullen.  Her body cried out for her bed upstairs.  Imhotep shivered beside her, obviously also at odds with the weather.  He seemed more grateful for the black turtleneck and pants than previously.  "Got it," Jonathan finally said after taking long to dig through his pockets.  He shoved the key into the front door and turned it.

They all piled into the large home, grateful to be out of the cold.  The priest looked around at the nicely decorated home.  "The world is strange these days," he commented, but seemed to not mind the appearance of things.  He'd quite enjoyed the car ride and had even asked to drive, to which Jonathan let out a protective refusal to let anyone touch his car.

Rick stripped off his brown coat and tossed it onto a chair causing Evy to frown and pick it up.  She pushed it into a coat closet near the door and asked Imhotep for his.  The ex-Legionnaire sighed tiredly and began for the main living room.  At the door he drew his gun and pointed it.  "Jonathan!  Get a gun and look around the house!" he shouted, not moving his aim.

"What is it?" Evy asked, moving to see what it was that Rick was intently watching.  She gasped and instinctively moved her hand over her stomach.  "Ardeth..."

There inside her living room was the Med-Jai warrior, tied to a chair.  If this were another time she might have laughed at the comical appearance of the messy rope job and the expression on his face.  But it wasn't another time.  She felt a lump in her throat when he said, "Evelyn...you live?"  His voice sounded thick with emotion and her eyes welled up with tears.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rick asked through clenched teeth, his eyes hard.  "You've got some explaining to do."

Before anyone could say a word Imhotep was in the living room, headed straight for Ardeth.  He pushed the sleeves of his shirt up and proclaimed, "Now you will pay!"  Ardeth closed his eyes in expectation.  He shivered too, Evy noticed.

"Wait," she commanded softly, wiping her wet cheeks.  She licked her lips and followed Imhotep, touching his arm.  Despite her weaker strength Imhotep lowered his hand and obeyed.  Rick also joined them.  Jonathan had wandered off, likely hiding instead of checking the house out, Evy thought.  She had to know why.  She had to face him.  Standing before Ardeth, she looked down at him and said simply, "Why?"

His eyes were pained as he looked up.  Ardeth shook his head.  "I cannot tell you."

Rick clenched his teeth and nodded sarcastically.  "He wants this to be hard.  Good, 'cause so do I."  O'Connell drew back his fist.

"Stop it!" Evy snapped, her eyes never leaving Ardeth's face.  Her anger was surfacing above the betrayal she felt.  "Ardeth, why can't you tell me?"

He inhaled, a fight being waged within himself.  She couldn't understand what was going on with him, but felt less certain of the situation.  "I was commanded not to speak of it."

"Oooh," O'Connell drawled angrily.  "He was commanded.  Well, that just changes everything!  Look, pal, right about now you're a peg lower than Immy here.  Start talking or I'll let the man carry out his plans for you.  Jonathan says it won't be pleasant."

Ardeth furrowed his brow in frustration.  Beads of sweat formed there.  "I can't!  I would tell you if I could," he hissed, wishing he could make them understand whatever it was that was wrong.

Rick grunted at that and looked to the priest.  "Imhotep," he said, then nodded his head and ran his hand across his neck.  He made a decidedly unhappy chopping sound and the eager priest grinned.

Something wasn't right about this.  Evy could plainly see Ardeth's pained reaction to her.  "Be quiet, Rick."  She moved closer and watched him.  "Ardeth," she began again, choosing her words carefully.  "You didn't want to hurt me, did you?"

At that the Med-Jai's eyes took on a very sad light.  The hurt there wasn't something Evy was prepared to see.  "I didn't want to," he agreed, looking away from her.  "But a threat did not cause me to act."

Evelyn found more tears in her eyes.  She wiped them away, wishing she could stop it.  The pain inside was still very real.  "I was afraid that without the book we'd be killed.  Ardeth, I would have given it to you without question had you only told me..."

"I couldn't," he whispered low, obviously feeling guilty for the thing he'd done.  "I couldn't stop myself, Evy.  I can't explain why, but if I could have done anything please believe I would have.  I'm thankful that you are alive.  How..." he paused briefly, his expression a bit queasy she thought.  "How did you manage to survive my attack?"

She rubbed her stomach absently, remembering the pain of his weapon pressing into her body.  What should she believe?  Suddenly everything felt very confusing.  At least her previous exhaustion was gone.  Who could be tired when their nerves were this rattled?  "Imhotep found me when you ran off.  He healed me."

Ardeth looked up in surprise at the creature momentarily, then back down again.  He seemed to find it hard to meet her eyes.  "For that I thank him.  I had thought you dead.  Thank God I was wrong."

His eyes were so emotional; unlike she would have imagined him being.  His was a tender heart, obviously loyal and caring.  She almost felt guilty for doubting him.  Rick exhaled and touched her shoulder.  "Evy, what if he's lying?  I know how it looks, but we know he tried to kill you."

"Let me die," Ardeth replied to that, looking up to O'Connell gravely.  "It is the only way to keep you safe."

Rick shook his head, his manner still rigidly angry.  "Why?  If you're so sorry, why are you a danger to us?"

Evy exhaled softly.  Everything seemed so complicated.  She wrapped her arms around herself in the chilly room.  The missing piece of this puzzle was right there before her, tied down and she couldn't get at it.  How could Meela possibly have forced him to harm her for the book?  "Evy," Ardeth spoke quietly.  "You must not untie me.  I have been ordered to kill you all and if I am let go, I won't be able to stop myself.  I've already proven that."  His voice was uncharacteristically bitter.  "The only thing that will stop me is if you let me die."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked suspiciously.  This had been the second time he had phrased it that way.  Let him die?

Then for the first time Evy noticed something.  He was quite pale compared to his usual tanned color.  Ardeth breathed deeply and told her, "I found in your kitchen a poison to kill rodents.  I mixed it with milk and drank it.  Then I tied myself here in case you returned home.  Ali sent a telegram."  He swallowed and shook.  "I couldn't let myself kill you."

"My god," Evy breathed, her tears falling like the rain outside now.  "We can't let you die even if you're a danger!  Ardeth, why are you so compelled to..."  She stopped talking and held her breath.  "Did Meela put a spell on you?"

He didn't speak a word or nod his head, but she could see it in his glassy eyes.  He literally couldn't stop himself from acting against them.  "Oh dear," she mumbled, rubbing her lips in thought.  She turned to Imhotep, changing tongues.  "He's under a spell.  This is why he cannot control himself.  He's also taken poison."  Evy swallowed, afraid to ask Imhotep what she was going to anyway.  However kind he'd become, he still had vented his more aggressive feelings on plots to harm Ardeth for his betrayal.  But it was worth a try.  "Could you remove the spell from him like you did before?  Would you keep him from dying?"

She was so certain the priest would deny her that her heart sank when he shrugged.  Evy blinked and opened her mouth to speak, but remained silent as Imhotep moved to Ardeth and laid his hands on him.  She watched her friend grow drowsy and slump down, eyes closed.  This alarmed her and she tried to get to him, but Imhotep held her back gently.  Ardeth groaned and looked up hazily.  "Why?" he breathed, unable to understand why this man who had wanted to kill him for a long time had again brushed his instincts away and helped him.

Imhotep looked at him plainly.  "If you died now it would rob me of killing you later."  The creature smiled smugly and turned to Evy.  "He will be a little weak, but is free from the spells that Ancksunamun placed on him.  As well free of the poison enough so he will live."

"Thank you," Evy told him, smiling her gratitude.  She turned back as Rick untied Ardeth slowly.

O'Connell bent down and worked on the strange and messy knots.  Tying one's self up was likely tedious business.  "Feel any homicidal urges?" he asked.  The Med-Jai only shook his head.  Rick continued talking.  "Sorry about being a jerk.  I was just...well, I'd lost a friend to betrayal and it hurt like hell.  Who wouldn't be cranky?"

"I understand," Ardeth replied a bit sadly, rubbing the sweat from his brow.  "What I did was unacceptable.  I cannot blame you for hating me."

Rick clapped Ardeth on the shoulder and shook his head.  "No.  I don't hate you.  I'll get over the anger I felt."  He looked at the weak warrior sitting on the chair.  Evy gasped when Rick hauled off and punched Ardeth's jaw, sending him sideways off the chair.  "I'm over it."  He wandered to Evy with a serious smile.

"Rick O'Connell!" she reprimanded in her most scolding tone.  She hit the ex-Legionnaire's broad shoulder.  "That was not necessary!"

"Of course it wasn't."  He playfully pointed her in the face, quite visibly in an odd humor.  It was almost like he was somewhere between happy and cynical.  She wasn't sure what to make of it.  "It was a bonus."  He poked her cheek and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard, winning a laugh and a yelp.

Strangely enough, while the two of them had exchanged their bantering, Imhotep had taken it upon himself to aide the weak warrior to his feet.  The priest watched him a moment as he gained footing and shrugged at Evy's questioning look.

Evy could see a haunted expression written in his dark eyes.  Impulsively she went to him and enfolded him into her, hoping it would prove to him once and for all that she didn't blame him.  He gasped a little when her arms pressed into his back, so she lightened it.  Apparently he carried more than just mental scars and bruises.

He didn't return the hug right away, obviously too surprised that she'd be so forgiving so soon, but slowly arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace.  She shivered at the way he was hugging her.  "I am sorry, Evelyn," he told her, his voice again thick with feeling.

She was a bit startled at the emotion that this usually more controlled man was displaying.  He seemed lost and unwilling to let go of her.  How far had Meela gone in tormenting him?  Evy tightened her fists.  "It's not your fault."  She rubbed his shoulders very gently and blinked away her salty tears.  It struck her then just how seriously this woman had harmed him and she didn't even know the half of it.  He'd come so close to losing his life because he was worried he'd harm his friends.  She couldn't even being to imagine how that would feel.  "Ardeth, what did she do to you?"

He pulled back at that point and she was stunned at seeing his eyes moistened.  It made her almost afraid to see him like this.  He forced a smile.  "It's nothing important.  I must not let it bother me so."  He took a step away, closing off that part of his thoughts to her.

"Ardeth?" Evy pressed, worried for him.

Again passing his hand over his brow, the Med-Jai sighed.  "I am only weary.  Can I rest in one of your bedrooms?  Ancksunamun went to the British Museum to recover the other seal and said she wouldn't return for me until nightfall.  Sleep will help my strength to fight her."

Evelyn blinked a few times, not sure what she should do.  How could she let him go on in pain like this?  How could she ignore her own or Jonathan's or Rick's?  But he was exhausted.  "Any room," she replied softly, certain her concern was written on her face.  "If you want to talk..."

"No," he said before she could continue.  He again forced a smile and held up a hand.  "After I've rested an hour come and wake me."

Ardeth didn't wait for a response.  He turned and left she and Rick in shared silence.  Imhotep of course hadn't understood a word of their English, and had preoccupied himself with the study of an electric lamp.  Evy looked to Rick sadly and he sighed, also puzzled.

At that moment they heard a door creak open.  Jonathan came back from near the entrance, a wary smile on his face.  "Good news.  She's not in the coat room."  He frowned at the icy look his sister gave him.  "Well.  Excuse me.  What are you all so cheery about?"

Evy wiped her cheeks for the last time and sank down on the couch.  The weariness was back with a vengeance now.  "Nothing, Jonathan," she sighed, closing her eyes.

"Evy?" her brother said, his voice now as serious as she felt.  "Can I go make you a cup of tea?"  She smiled at his sweet offer, thankful that he knew exactly what to do to make her feel better.  And she would have replied too, if she could have remained awake long enough.

*

His eyes were slow to open and he simply lay there for a few minutes.  The dimness of the room suggested that instead of waking him after an hour, they had left him to sleep.  With a groan Ardeth pushed himself up and stayed sitting for a moment.  Could he really be free of Meela's hold?

He searched himself for any sign of desire to kill and found none.  It was gone and he was free.  It was almost unbelievable.  Now all that was left was to try and rebuild the friendship he had with these people.  After the first incident with Imhotep he had checked in on them at Cairo and from that had sprung a friendship.  Then they had left for London, but not without sending him occasional letters.  He felt a kinship with them, but would that now be erased?

Ardeth remembered Evy's arms going around him earlier.  She had been so willing to just forgive him and return that friendship once more.  Rick on the other hand, he wasn't so sure about, as well as what Jonathan might be feeling.

The Med-Jai stood up, flipping on a lamp, and went into the washroom that adjoined the room he chose.  At first glance it appeared nothing was wrong with him.  His color was returning and of course there were no visible bruises.  But now that he was free it was time to survey the hidden damages.  And so he peeled off his shirt and looked himself over.

He had a few cuts and bruises on his sides that he noticed first off.  They were dark from where Meela had hit him.  And his arms were cut up and bruised...his chest... his legs.  But the damage, he knew, would be worse on his back.  "Wow," a voice called from behind.  Ardeth turned and saw O'Connell standing in the bedroom, his blue-green eyes wide.  "Meela do that to you?"

Looking over his shoulder, Ardeth took in the sight of his back; large purple marks on him and places where cuts were healing.  A part of him felt ashamed at Rick seeing this...seeing what he had taken without a fight.  But it wasn't his fault.  He had to remember that.  "Yes," he replied, frowning at the purple spots on him.  "She got angry with me often because I wouldn't willingly give myself to her wants."  He wasn't sure how to proceed with Rick.  "What is the time?"

"About seven."  The ex-Legionnaire looked bothered by what he saw.  He leaned against the doorframe to the bathroom and looked his friend over.  "I'm sorry about, you know," he made a punching gesture.  "I guess I've been having a bad week...not that that excuses anything.  I know it wasn't your fault."  Ardeth only nodded his head, still examining himself.  "You all right?"

The Med-Jai sighed and nodded again, picking his shirt up off the sink.  "I'm all right, O'Connell."  He moved to pass.

"No," Rick retorted, blocking Ardeth's way.  "Rick, Ardeth.  Call me Rick.  We're still friends, aren't we?"

For whatever reason Ardeth still felt uneasy.  Perhaps it was going to take him a while to fully realize they forgave him.  He smiled and clapped Rick's shoulder.  "Of course we are, my friend."  The warrior exhaled and patted his stomach before buttoning his shirt.  "I am hungry."

Rick grinned and motioned Ardeth on with him.  They exited the bedroom and traveled the dark hall.  "Evy's making something downstairs.  Not sure what and I'm even less sure it'll be all that edible, but I guess if you've survived raiders, mummies and other monsters then Evy's cooking won't kill you either."

Ardeth chuckled as they headed down the stairs.  He caught the scent of something being prepared in the kitchen and inhaled the heavenly smell deeply.  "I have missed much," he commented, hoping Rick would take the cue and fill him in on everything - including why Imhotep was so cooperative.

"Oh yeah," Rick replied as they headed into a living room that adjoined the kitchen and dining room.  "Things must seem a little strange, what with Imhotep and all.  When Evy raised him he was kinda mad."  The American snatched a few crackers away from Jonathan's plate and plopped into a chair.  Ardeth helped himself as well.  Evy's brother didn't exactly meet his gaze, he noticed.  Rick continued.  "We had the book to threaten him with and that kept him subdued.  When you took the book he woke Jonathan and I up and sent me after you."

"And he healed Evy," Ardeth added, not really asking.  Why?  Why did the creature care?  His eyes slid to where Imhotep was sitting on the couch with Jonathan.  Carnahan was trying to teach him a card game it seemed.

O'Connell nodded his head, his eyes following Ardeth's.  He snorted at the sight.  "Yeah.  As for why he's such a cream puff now, your guess is as good as mine.  Hey, Jon.  Imhotep still plan to kill us all?"

Jonathan looked at the priest and asked him in his own tongue.  Imhotep thought about it a moment, then responded.  Carnahan translated.  "He said he'd really like to, but he'll hold off and make final decisions later."

"And there you have it," Rick muttered, popping a cracker into his mouth and making a face at Imhotep.  The priest smiled at him as if to say, "you may act that way now, but...".  Rick grinned back.  "Jonathan, teach him to play fifty-two card pick-up."

The Englishman grunted and shook his head.  "And get myself killed?  Nooo way.  Even if he didn't kill me, Evy would for making the mess."

As if she'd been called, Evy entered the room and smiled at seeing Ardeth up and about.  "I see Rick got you up.  I thought you needed the sleep," she said, wiping her hands with a dishtowel.  "Dinner's done."

"You should have awakened me," Ardeth told her as they all headed into the dining room.  "What if Meela had come early?  She could be on her way now."

Rick pet the gun at his hip and pulled a chair out.  "I hope she's on her way.  She's gonna get her head blown off."

Evelyn raised her chin and looked at him.  "I'll not have that kind of talk in my house."

"Evy's not a fan of dismemberment and body parts," her brother informed the American.  He looked over the goodies in the table.  "Ooooh, this chicken looks positively smashing."

"Must you?" she asked, a slightly sickly look on her face as she sat down.  Her dark eyes wandered the table in indecision.

Ardeth watched the others a moment, then took his plate and got a little of everything.  He noticed Imhotep doing the same.  Two strangers in a strange land, sampling strange food.  He idly wondered why the creature even bothered to eat.  He probably didn't need it.

All seemed to go well during the meal.  There was talk of what would happen when Ancksunamun did finally arrive and general talk of matters.  Jonathan seemed uncomfortable with Ardeth, wouldn't speak to him unless spoken to and wouldn't talk past an answer.  It seemed he wouldn't be able to simply forgive and forget.  Ardeth sighed and accepted that without blaming Jonathan.  Even if it did bother him.

Outside it began to rain again.  Night fell and Meela didn't return.

*

Her hair clung to the sides of her face as water from the sky matted it down.  She stood at the road, watching from the gate.  The rain didn't bother her--she welcomed it.  Ancksunamun stared at the mansion, uncertain as to what she'd find within.

Thunder cracked in the distance and the ever so light showering of water turned into a downpour as the storm grew closer.  Still she made no move, merely gazed at the house.  He was free.  She felt the spell break at the exact moment it happened.  She wondered how.  Certainly he'd uttered no spells to counter her knowledge.  Perhaps somehow his friends had managed to kill him.

She felt a sudden pang at that.  Her Ardeth dead?  No...not dead.  The man who would have been her lover 3,000 years ago still lived.  She could feel his spirit from here.  He breathed and walked and spoke to his friends.  His heart still ached.  And she ached for him, but nevertheless knew that what she'd done had been necessary.  He had to be broken...it was the only way to insure a man wouldn't think too highly of himself and mistreat her.

A car pulled up beside her suddenly, a police officer.  He rolled his window down and looked at her softly.  "Miss, are you lost?" he asked, his voice friendly and concerned.

"No," Meela replied softly, smiling.  She glanced back at the Carnahan residence.

The officer looked at the house, then to her. "It's awfully wet out here.  Do you need help?"

Without a thought Meela uttered something too low for him to hear and just as he began to ask what she was saying, he slumped forward...dead.  "Yes," she said to him, smiling back to the car.  "I could use your help.  But only in death will you serve me loyally."  She reached inside and turned the car off.

Imhotep had been her mission, the man she'd been ordered to defile and ruin.  Ardeth was her choice, the only man who'd ever shown her kindness that wasn't overshadowed by lust.  The priest and the others she would kill, but he was entirely another matter.  She'd turned him down before, but it was time now to take him up on his offer so long ago.

But first thing was first.  Ancksunamun lifted the two seals in her hands and tossed them to the ground.  Using the heel of her shoe, she crushed them beneath her feet and smiled.  Petting the policeman's head thoughtfully, she said, "It's time, my pet.  I have work for you."

As the lightening proclaimed the arrival of the storm Meela began calling on the soul of this dead victim.  Tonight she would battle for what was hers.  The remaining seal and Ardeth Bay.

*
Thank you for your continued reviews.:)  Deana, thanks for that whole Imhotep healing Ardeth to kill him later scene and for your constant encouragement and aide with this story. :)  Marcher, Mija, Polgara and all others thank you for your continued reviews...it delights me to no end knowing people actually like this and are reading despite some of my more deranged tendencies.  NeferBast, thanks for reading even though Ardeth got hurt a bit.  Buffelyn, thank you for not bashing me for writing non-Rick/Evy.  hehe...I'm glad this story has something you can be interested in and I'm glad we can agree to disagree on certain things.;D Wildcardgal, what can I say?  Lol..I have an evil streak. Frogzmeow, thanks for reading and cute name!  Hehehe.

Thank you everyone!!!  You all are just so sweet. :) -Angel