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