Title:
Fury - Chapter Seventeen – Storm Rising
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
*
It wasn't
exactly unexpected really. A plane landing right in the middle of the
desert was bound to draw the attention of his people. Ardeth could
perceive on the very edge of the horizon a group of his people. They made
no move to intercept, but merely watched the four men exit the aircraft.
His heart was heavy with the knowledge that he was going to have to face their
anger and betrayed faces. But he must go to them to uncover the location
of the temple of Set.
Rick hefted
a pack onto his shoulder and stepped beside his friend. He too had
noticed the band of Med-Jai that observed from a distance. "What are
you thinking?" he asked casually.
Ardeth felt
anything but casual at the moment. Betraying them had hurt him
deeply. He looked at O'Connell meaningfully. "I will not fight
them if they try to take me, Rick. They will send someone else with you
if that is their wish."
"You
think they'll try and punish you?" O'Connell looked a little
uncomfortable with the prospect. It wouldn't be far fetched for the man
to actually try and oppose the Med-Jai if they took Ardeth into custody for
what he'd done. "I mean even though, you know...Meela...?"
The Med-Jai
shook his head and looked back towards his people. They were now heading
towards them. They had now come to the conclusion that Ardeth was with
the small party. "I do not know, Rick. Nothing such as this
has ever happened."
"Oh
great!" Izzy shouted, having spotted the warriors. "I'll bet
that's Drake coming to kill me! Thanks a lot, O'Connell!" He
glared at the ex-Legionnaire.
Rolling his
eyes, Rick swatted at his friend. "It's not Drake. These men
are coming to speak with Ardeth. Keep your mouth shut when they arrive,
okay?"
The pilot
grumbled to himself and took a place behind his plane, most likely to
hide. Jonathan backed away too, but stayed out in the open to see what
would happen. Ardeth steeled himself as the riders approached and stopped
their horses. Ali was the leader, but at his side rode Abdu. The
young boy wore a mask of disgust on his face as he looked over his old
hero. "O'Connell," the leader stated, verbally citing Rick as
the leader. "I have come for Ardeth Bay, betrayer of the
Med-Jai. Will you stay to our bargain and hand him over?"
True to
what Ardeth suspected would happen despite good sense, Rick shrugged and shook
his head. "No, I won't. Not until you hear me out."
"He
betrayed his people!" Abdu broke in without thinking. He was
silenced by Ali's glare.
Ali leaned
forward in his saddle, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he gravely spoke,
"This matter is not open to outlanders. You will not make judgments
for the Med-Jai, American. Stick to the word your woman gave me and give him
to us."
Rick
inhaled and his hand twitched. Ardeth took his arm and shook his head,
knowing the westerner was tempted to draw his gun. "Do as he says,
Rick. They will not put me to death until they have heard my side of
this."
"Death?"
Jonathan repeated, shaking his head and stepping. "Hold on a
minute! Rick, we can't let them do that!"
Holding up
a forestalling hand, the ex-Legionnaire turned his back and motioned Ardeth
closer. "Do we have time for this?" he whispered, shooting a
glance over his shoulder. "What about Meela?"
The Med-Jai
shook his head in thought. He met his friend's eyes helplessly.
"We have no choice. They would overwhelm you easily and besides
that, we need them for the location." He nodded his acceptance of
what was to happen and coughed, wincing at the pain in his chest. He was
taking on too much. "I will be all right, my friend."
Rick bit
his lip, a fight going on inside him against what he knew he should do and what
he wanted to do. His blue eyes looked over the gathering of warriors that
stood before them. "I won't let them kill you," he said before
stepping forward to speak. He handled himself with confidence and
strength as he spoke. "All right. I'll have Ardeth over for
your consideration, but I must insist that my party be allowed to accompany you
back to the camp."
Ali didn't
like that last, but surprisingly conceded. He motioned two of his men
forward. "You may come because you too were betrayed by the hand of
Bay." Then he turned his eyes on the guilty party. Ardeth
swallowed, fully ready to accept whatever would happen. He owed them
that. "Ardeth Bay, surrender your weapons to the sand. Remove
your outer raiment, for that is the garment that the Med-Jai alone may
bear."
Without
hesitation Ardeth stripped every weapon on him and threw them to the sand, but
he found great difficulty in removing the finely decorated gold and black cloak
that was about his shoulders. The sacred clothing of his people. A
piece of clothing that meant he was a Med-Jai, a part of something bigger than
himself. Taking it off this way would almost be like he was discarding
that part of his life.
Ali noticed
his pause and remained silent, his eyes knowing what Ardeth must be
thinking. But what had to be done, had to be done. Bay slipped the
cloak off and threw it to the ground with his weapons. Closing his eyes,
he accepted the rough hands that grabbed him and pulled him away from his
friends. They bound his wrists and put him on a horse, ignoring his
coughs and groans. Five men would ride around him, keeping him from
escaping, not that he could or would. "O'Connell," Ali called
when Ardeth was taken care of. "You have no horses. Come, ride
with me. One of my men will see to the other two you have with you."
It was a
sign of respect to allow the leader of another people onto the horse of the
leader of these Med-Jai riders. Rick took it in stride, though, and got
on behind Ali with a simple, "Thanks."
The band of
men gathered Ardeth's things from the desert floor and moved on towards the
encampment. Ali sighed. "You seem reluctant to turn over a man
that tried to kill your friend. Why?"
Rick
grunted at that and looked around the desert. "You seem eager to
kill a man that was your friend. Why?" he retorted.
Ali shook
his head sadly. "I am not eager to turn Ardeth over to the elders,
American. I take no joy in this at all. He was a good warrior, one
of the best of our people. This grieves me more than you know, but I
cannot ignore what has been done. How is it that you can trust him
again?"
"He
didn't do it on purpose," O'Connell informed the man he was riding
with. This Med-Jai seemed unhappy with this business, but at the same
time knew what must be done. He could empathize. "Ancksunamun
put a spell on him and he couldn't disobey any command she gave. Doesn't
that speak for his innocence?"
The older
man was silent a moment, then said, "It may be as you say. The
elders will judge him for what has transpired. That decision I cannot
make."
Riding to
the rear of the company, Ardeth sat on his horse and kept his eyes
downcast. He understood why they were acting this way towards him, but it
hurt no less. Rick, Evy and even Jonathan were able to forgive him as fast
as their hearts were contented, they were free to make that choice, but the
Med-Jai were different. They would question his actions more closely than
these westerners. And would come to a wise decision.
He looked
up at the men that surrounded. Abdu was at his right, his eyes firmly
cast ahead. The youth noticed Ardeth looking at him and scowled.
Apparently Ardeth wasn't what he wanted to become any more.
*
They walked
through the darkness of the Cairo streets. Evy and Imhotep remained quiet
with Lock-nah behind them and Meela before. The goal tonight was to get
the horses Lock-nah had arranged for and leave for the desert
immediately. Ancksunamun didn't want to waste any time in getting to the
temple. Down a darkened street Evy could see a man up ahead. He was
large and looked tough. His eyes were trained upon them.
"Lock-nah," he grunted as they approached. "Where's my
money?"
The large
warrior crossed his arms in distaste and let Meela do the talking. She
smiled with a charismatic light and reached into her handbag, pulling out a
bundle of cash. She handed it to the man who snatched it away.
"I'm sure you will find it all there, my friend."
He counted
his money and smirked. "I could use a little more payment from the
likes of you," he told her suggestively. He peered around at
Evelyn. "Or maybe that one."
Ancksunamun
laughed and shook her head. "I am sorry, but we have no time for
that form of payment. Perhaps after I have completed my task I will let
you have the girl, but I need her for now."
The
mercenary sneered and scratched his head, looking around the shadowy
outside. "Right, well, your horses are out back." He
threw a thumb over his shoulder. "The authorities will be watching
the streets you know."
"I
will take care of them," Meela assured him, moving past him and down a
small path towards a barn. Lock-nah shoved Evy and Imhotep onward
roughly. Suddenly Meela stopped. "Supplies?"
"Yeah,
yeah," the mercenary groaned impatiently. "Everything your
trained gorilla here asked for is there. I always do a job right."
In the
night the four mounted the two horses given, Imhotep and Ancksunamun on one and
Evelyn and Lock-nah on the other, each silent in their own thoughts. Evy
swallowed, praying that the Med-Jai of Cairo would see them and spread the
word. A feeling of dread was welling up in her at the knowledge of being
so close to the temple of Set. Very soon they would be there. Meela
would break her seal and the dark Set would awaken in tangible form. What
would happen after that she could only guess at, but was sure it was fairly
serious.
There was
no indication they'd been spotted by any of the desert warriors as they rode
through and exited the city. The night watch paid little attention to
them and Evy suspected that Meela had again discouraged curiosity with her
spells. The air seemed charged with some sort of urgency that Evy found
quite unbearable. It felt like time were closing in on her....trapping
her into some horrible fate.
Only the
distant moon lighted the open desert. Lock-nah kept her seated in front
of him, his arms a trap she couldn't get out of. She glanced over at
Imhotep as he rode behind his ex-lover. What had he felt for this
woman? He'd loved Nefertiri with an innocent intent that had taken a man
of his place back to an untouched time in his life, but Ancksunamun had
corrupted that with lust and forbidden promises. Had there been any place
in his heart for her? Had that place been more important to him than
Nefertiri's?
His eyes
met hers and flashed in that age old way as if time hadn't changed on
them. She didn't really know him, she realized, but he knew all about
her. They had hurt each other so much after Nefertiri had left him.
And now it was gone. Erased from his hatreds. He could start over
with her if she allowed him to.
An image of
him standing above her with a knife flashed through her mind and not for the
first time her mind screamed, This is IMHOTEP! Monster.
Murderer. Ruthless and evil.
But a
softer voice inside remembered the soft caresses, the fingers he'd entwined in
her hair. The pain Nefertiri had experienced when he'd killed her father
and betrayed her in the worst way. This man would walk through fire for
her, whether to claim her as his love or leave her for the hurt she'd caused
because of a heartless trick. He had done many things because of the pain
inside, including losing himself in another and sacrificing everything to
rebuild what he'd lost.
It struck
her then; just how much had been ripped away from this man. He'd had the
best thing life could offer...love. Honest love, untainted. And
then she'd taken it away from him because of the words of another. How
long had he loved Nefertiri before telling her?
She could
remember being seventeen, wandering through the dark hallways towards her
room. He stalked her like a predator, hiding in the shadows and watching
as she walked. "Imhotep, what in the name of Osiris are you
doing?" she'd chided, stopping to wait. He'd laughed then, told her
he was hoping to scare her, but knowing what she knew now... It was
almost overwhelming, this alien passion he held for her. Half of her knew
and returned it, the other half was having trouble assimilating it so fast.
But it hurt
like a knife when she let herself feel through Nefertiri's feelings.
Remember what the girl had felt. Imhotep had given everything he had to
regain that precious feeling once more and had paid a severe penalty because of
it. It brought tears to Evy's eyes when she risked another glance.
His eyes were alarmed when he noticed, immediately expressing a desire to know
what was wrong. All Evy could do was wipe her face and let the full
memories wash over her of who she'd been with this man. "I'm so
sorry," she breathed, covering her face.
Imhotep's
eyes grew desperate in wanting to reach her. Without thinking he jerked Ancksunamun
from the saddle and both landed on the desert floor. He wrapped his arm
around her neck, his dark eyes fierce as he challenged Lock-nah. The large
guardian pulled Evy down and drew a knife to her throat. "Will they
both die?" he spat, rubbing the knife against her throat.
At Evelyn's
whimper Imhotep's face grew less confident. Poised to break Meela's neck,
the priest stood there at the precipice of a choice. His next action
could determine a fate he wasn't willing to accept. Unwilling to risk the
life of his princess, Imhotep shoved Ancksunamun away from him and shook his
head. I'm sorry, he mouthed, his eyes moistening.
Meela
wrenched herself up from the earthen floor, her eyes blazing with fury.
She straightened her hair and pointed at Imhotep. "I don't know what
you thought you were doing, but you will pay for that little stunt!
Lock-nah, take his little whore away and beat her! I want him to listen
to her screams."
The priest
grabbed Meela, shaking his head quickly, begging her with his eyes to have
mercy. He placed his hand on his chest, indicating that he was at fault,
but Ancksunamun only shoved him away. Her eyes blazed for some reason
unknown, some bitter feeling that had for whatever reason surfaced. He
raised his hand to strike at her, but she shook her head in warning.
"Don't you raise your hand to me, pathetic priest!" She tore a
rope from her saddle and tossed it to Lock-nah. The large protector bound
Imhotep tightly and shoved him to the desert. "Take her!"
Meela shouted vehemently.
Imhotep lay
in the sand, watching as Lock-nah dragged Nefertiri away into the
darkness. He closed his eyes, hearing her whimper in pain as the man hit
her once. His stomach hurt and his body tingled with the need to get up
and stop this madness. But his ties kept him docile and helpless, unable
to assist his princess. It rended his heart. But confusion also spread
through him quickly as he perceived not just the cries of Nefertiri, but some
from another source.
Behind him Ancksunamun
was also crying.
*
Ardeth sat
in the tent, his arms tied and his mind wandering. They had put him here
to wait and that was proving difficult for the warrior. It bred time for
contemplation. So many things rushed through his mind. His
memory. He'd failed his people, failed Evy and in another day and age
failed Ancksunamun. Having Imhotep put that spell on him was a big mistake,
he decided. The memories that coursed through his mind weren't helping
his situation.
Unwilling
to betray Pharaoh for the love of his woman, Akhenre had failed her. Not
that the choice he'd made was easy in any respect. Either way he'd have
had to betray someone. But what would have happened if he had taken her
away instead of siding with his king? Would their fate have been so
terrible? Ancksunamun had needed Akhenre, had needed his love, but he'd
denied her. And so she'd done the only thing she thought she could to
bring herself some small satisfaction with life. She'd sold her soul for
it and given up the one person who could have brought her joy. Him.
These were
thoughts he tried to avoid having. They let him see a part of his past
that he didn't like. What would he himself had chosen in such a
circumstance? Ardeth had never known such a love in his lifetime yet, not
at the depth Akhenre had held for Ancksunamun at any rate. But his
visions gave his heart glimpses into the emotions that the young Med-Jai had
felt so long ago and it was distorting the truth he knew.
Ardeth
brought his hands together and slowly slid them beneath a small bowl of water
that had been left on a small stand near his bed. He drank the coolness
gratefully and exhaled. Meela had tormented him. Since he didn't
betray the pharaoh back then, she'd made him betray everyone that was important
to him now in repayment. He had to remind himself of that. It kept
the other feelings at bay. The feelings that weren't his, but
Akhenre's. They were feelings that frightened him.
Little
images flashed past his memory of a private dream he'd had a few nights
ago. Her skin had been soft and silky and her eyes luminous in the candle
light that twinkled. Ardeth closed his eyes, pushing the memory
away. But he could still hear the faint whisper of breath that came from
her as ran his hand down her thigh. The aching Akhenre felt was so
tangible and real. Swallowing, Ardeth opened his eyes and searched the
tent for any type of distraction.
Still her
voice murmured in his mind asking for his love. "No," he
whispered, looking down at the sheets. He forced his memory to return to
the beatings and the taunting he had endured, the familiar touches she had
given him. The kisses Ancksunamun had showered Akhenre with. Her
mouth burned on his skin 3,000 years later. Frustrated with himself,
Ardeth kicked the nightstand over with a growl.
The tent
flap opened and Rick popped his head in. "Whoa. It's just me,
buddy. Came to see how you were holding up." The American
opened the tent and entered with a bowl of food. Picking up the nightstand,
he set it down and pulled a chair over before Ardeth to untie him.
"Look, Ali is gonna talk to the elders before they meet with you.
He's trying to help."
Ardeth
rubbed his wrists when the rope was gone and accepted the food without
hesitation. He hadn't eaten all day he realized with a sigh. This
was no way to nurse a cold. He coughed, swallowing a bite.
"Ali believes you that it was Meela's spell?"
Rick nodded
his head, leaning his chair back. He crossed his leg over his knee and
tapped his boot thoughtfully. "Yeah. I explained everything I
could." His face looked a little pained. "Including the
abuses you suffered from that witch. I hope you don't mind that."
"It
cannot be hidden from them," the Med-Jai replied, taking another bite and
shaking his head. "I could not fight her. They will understand
my weakness."
The
ex-Legionnaire shrugged at that. "You say that like someone else
could have withstood her." Ardeth didn't look up and remained
silent. Rick nodded. "That's a pretty big issue with you,
isn't it? That's why you feel so guilty. Because you think you
should have been able to stop yourself."
"I
should have," he replied simply, his voice low.
Rick let
his chair down and sat forward, his face a little dubious. "Ardeth,
no one could have stopped themselves. She put a spell on
you."
Ardeth set
the bowl away from him, no longer hungry. It was all rushing back at
him. His failure to the people he loved. He kept his eyes
downcast. "I should have withstood, Rick. I should have died
to stop it. I should not have felt..." He trailed off softly.
Shrugging
his shoulders, his voice frustrated that Ardeth couldn't understand, Rick
demanded, "Shouldn't have felt what? You couldn't stop it.
You..."
He could
bear no more. His eyes locked with O'Connell's and before he could stop
himself he hissed, "I should not have felt bad for her!" He
covered his mouth and coughed, looking away as Rick watched him in
silence. "I pitied her. I felt bad. I felt responsible
for something I could not even remember doing to her! What if I wanted to
make it up to her? What if a part of me wanted to help her?"
"My
god," Rick breathed, his expression floored. His head shook
slowly. "Ardeth, search yourself. Feeling compassion for
someone who's doing bad things to you isn't wrong. I'd say it speaks
pretty highly of you. Think about it, though. Did you want
to kill Evy for Meela?"
Ardeth
exhaled softly, looking at his hands reflectively. "No."
But there was doubt still in his heart. No he hadn't wanted to kill Evy,
but the compassion he felt for this poor woman who had been driven to evil acts
because of her life of emotional solitude...it frightened him. It made
him feel guilty and wrong. He wrapped his arms around himself and shook
his head. "I should hate her."
Also
shaking his head, Rick grabbed Ardeth's shoulder and shook it as if it would
make him understand. "No. Hate turns people into what she
is. Ardeth, you didn't want to do the things you did. You couldn't
help it. Hurting for her doesn't make you responsible." He
sighed and leaned back. "You know, Nick thought you were a nut."
The Med-Jai
couldn't help the small smile that spread across his lips softly. He
looked at Rick through pained eyes. "And what do you think, my
friend?"
O'Connell
shrugged nonchalantly and draped his arm over the back of his chair, sitting
sideways on it. "Oh, I still think you're a nut, but for different
reasons. This just makes me think you're a nut with a big heart."
Rolling his
eyes, Ardeth laughed at that and ran his fingers through his hair. To the
left the tent flap opened once more and Ali showed himself. "The
elders will see you now."
Steeling
himself for a likely unhappy encounter, Ardeth Bay stood up and accepted the
ties around his wrists once more. He would win no battles with force this
time and must trust his people solely for his fate, whatever it may be.
Rick kept up beside him, the only foreigner to be allowed at the proceedings.
The elders
of the twelve tribes of Med-Jai sat in a large tent not far away, each wearing
a grave expression as they waited for Ardeth. He held his head level and
his face neutral. Ali pointed Rick over to a place to sit at the side and
lead Ardeth into the center of the gathering. Each elder locked their
eyes on him in cold dispassion, intent to be lead by the truth and not their
hearts. In the near center one of the tribal leaders stood. A man
Ardeth recognized as Rasheyd. He was a tough man who wouldn't give his
trust over easily. His expression was touched with the stern quality
known to him. "Ardeth Bay, we have heard the words of Ali and
O'Connell. Now we will hear yours. You may speak. What
happened between you and the priestess of Set?"
Bowing his
head once, he prepared himself to tell his side. It wasn't easy to
begin. He took a deep breath and kept his eyes straight on the
elders. "I was held captive by the newly made High Priestess for
nearly a week. During this time she endeavored to recover the location of
the three Seals of Horus from me, but I only knew where one was located.
She had already recovered that one." Telling his tale, some of the
more private pains he'd suffered and the even deeper emotions he'd tried to
hide from even himself was difficult, but he made it through.
Rasheyd
seemed troubled by everything he'd heard. As a Med-Jai he would naturally
feel anger that one of his own had suffered so. "And how do you feel
now?" he asked suddenly, his gaze intent.
Ardeth
would not lie, even if the answer incriminated him or made the outcome
bad. "I feel grief for what I did, for endangering everyone by following
her orders. I could have driven her to kill me for the good of the rest,
but I chose not to. For that I am guilty."
"There
is more?" the elder said mildly, not taking his eyes off Ardeth for a
second. He was a very perceptive man.
Nodding his
head once, Ardeth continued. "I feel compassion for Ancksunamun.
I know what she stands for is wrong, but I feel hurt for her all the
same." He heard Rick hiss in a breath.
Rasheyd
turned to his fellow leaders and they spoke at some length. Ardeth waited
in patient silence, ready to accept whatever would come next. He inhaled
when Rasheyd turned back to him with those unreadable eyes. The elder
appeared thoughtful for a moment, then raised his hand. "Ardeth Bay,
we find your situation unique and strange. It is the wisdom of this
council that you be made to prove yourself. Do not return to this people
until the priestess of Set is put to death."
"What?"
Rick shouted, standing from his place. "How can you do that to
him?"
Ardeth
shook his head, holding his hands up to his friend. "Sit down,
Rick." His friend's eyes flashed, but he held his mouth shut.
He didn't sit however, but stayed firm with his arms crossed. Rick was a
man that expressed his anger openly. Ardeth turned back to the council.
"I am thankful for your mercy. I will leave and stop the
priestess."
Rasheyd
bowed his head gravely. "You may stay here one night to rest and
gather your strength for all that faces you, but when daylight breaks the sky
you must set out." He motioned to Ali. "Loose him from
his bonds and allow him freedom to move around the camp. Provide them
with whatever they need before they leave us tomorrow."
Ali bowed
his respect and ushered both Ardeth and Rick from the council tent. Rick
was furious, that much was evident. "How could the do that?" he
boomed, waving his arms angrily. "You're innocent, I tell you!"
"Think
of the whole, American," Ali replied in answer. "We know not
his heart and cannot protect our people based on what we think we know. I
believe you, Ardeth, when you say you could not have helped yourself, but the
fact remains that we cannot know your heart but by your actions. The
Med-Jai cannot be protected based on feelings of friendship."
Ardeth
nodded quietly, breathing softly as they walked. "I see the wisdom
in their decision and you must too, Rick. Any other man they could have
put to death for the fear that he was lying. I was granted mercy because
I have proved myself loyal before. I intend to prove myself again."
"Yeah,"
Rick agreed grudgingly, crossing his arms as they continued. "I
guess."
Ardeth
sighed and walked on in silence. Things could have gone better, but they
could have gone much worse. He would indeed live up to this test they
would put him through to be sure he was cleansed of any possible feelings he
had towards Ancksunamun. Now the only task before him was that of
hardening his heart to her that he might do what was required.
*
Nefertiri
was slumped over in Lock-nah's arms. Imhotep watched her sleep as they
rode on, her beautiful angelic face in repose. There was a bruise forming
around her left eye. A bruise Imhotep wanted dearly to make the warrior
pay for ten fold. She looked so helpless, laying in the large brute's
arms. The small red that ran from her lips make Imhotep's breath
catch. He wanted to ask Ancksunamun why she'd done this, but knew he
couldn't waste his words on that.
Ancksunamun
was in no mood to be disturbed anyway. Whatever had driven her to her
evil acts was still bothering her now. She was quiet and gave off an
injured feeling. Whatever was on her mind had made her punish Nefertiri
needlessly. He had often seen that same distance pain in her eyes before
when they were lovers.
She was
tired, he could tell. She had been running on little rest since they'd
been taken captive and it was affecting her emotions. Stopping her horse
suddenly, she shoved him off and into the sand below. As if she'd been
reading his mind, her cold voice announced, "We will make
camp." She threw herself from her saddle.
Lock-nah
shoved the princess from his arms and she collapsed to the sand without so much
a whimper. Imhotep looked at his captors to see if they were watching him
and was relieved they were not. He crawled to Nefertiri and rubbed her
cheek. She didn't wake up. Even though she bore the wounds of
Lock-nah's hands, her face was still beautiful to him. He touched her
lips and Ancksunamun hastened over. "Get your little pet up and take
care of her," she hissed, kicking sand towards him.
Imhotep
obeyed, taking Nefertiri in his arms and leading her away from the
horses. Placing her in the sand and making sure she was comfortable, he
brushed her hair away from her face. Lock-nah tossed a canteen into the
sand nearby and Imhotep snatched it quietly. He ripped some cloth from
the princess' borrowed dress and wet it, cleaning her wounds. He could
feel Ancksunamun watching from a few feet away. He turned and looked into
her eyes, then wrote into the sand.
She looked
at his words and sneered. "Why should you care that I am
upset?" He wrote again and she laughed. "You think highly
of yourself if you believe I am upset that you love her and not me. I
have loved only one man, never you. You were nothing to me. Make no
mistake, Imhotep. There is no good will inside me towards you. I
will torment you both beyond your threshold of tolerance and more."
He turned
away in silence and saw about Nefertiri. Ancksunamun would have to take
care of herself. He no longer cared for anyone but the woman below.
She stirred and opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the pain in her body.
"What happened?" she breathed, forgetting that he could not speak.
Imhotep
pointed to Lock-nah, then touched her face. She closed her eyes in
remembrance and exhaled, putting her hand over his. "I'll be all
right," she told him in her soft voice. He nodded, knowing she
would. He would make everything better if he could. Nefertiri
closed her eyes once more and he watched, stroking her cheeks gently. He
would save her...and probably die trying. But it was a small price to
pay.
*
Whew!
Another one up! And the next chapter will be the last, unfortunately.
:) I hope everyone will review that one and tell me how I did overall. :)
Anyhow,
thanks to everyone who's been reviewing and reading. Marcher,
thanks. ;) Ardeth can pout at me too. hehe! Glad you liked
Izzy...as for Evy and Immy, I'm not exactly sure what will ultimately
happen...lol. :D Deana, as always, thanks for cheering me on!
:D I'm glad you like this story...I can't wait to read another from
you..*hint*. Too soon? :D Mija, thanks for reviewing..it's
always nice to read. I'm glad you like what Immy and Evy are about
together. RedLady, thanks for your review...basically I haven't
got a very full schedule...so I get on at ten or eleven and start writing for a
while...my friend Deana's always there to read and tell me what she thinks and
remind me Ardeth has a cold. ;D. I'm so flattered you'd say, "If
fact, I say this is the best story ever." My modesty and writer's
pickiness shies away from such an idea, hehe, but it's so nice to hear. I
must be doing something half right! :D
Anyhow,
thanks all. Enjoy this chapter and the next...I hope you all like how
things turn out. :D -Angel