*

Evy gasped and got to her feet, trying to scramble away from Imhotep as he advanced on her.  "Please," she breathed, her eyes wide and focussed solely on him.  Her hands were held up in a defensive manner.  "Hear me out."  She glanced to Rick who had pulled out his guns and to Jonathan, who hovered between trying to read from the Book of Amun Ra and waiting to see how this turned out.

The priest of Osiris slit his eyes and cocked his head.  His tone was sarcastic and hateful.  "And what would I care to hear from your lips, Princess?  You have brought upon me nothing but pain.  For that I will kill you."

There was no point in trying to reason with him she could see.  So, she skipped the so called pleasantries and got straight to the point as he wrapped his fingers tightly around her wrists and pulled her forward.  "The high priestess of Set is awakened."

Imhotep stopped what he was doing and searched her for any hint that she was being dishonest.  She whimpered under his grasp, his hands like iron vices on her.  Everyone in the room was silent, obviously waiting for him to react to the news.  "Asenath walks the earth again and you called me from the grave to fix it?  Can the priests in your Thebes not put her to rest?"

Evy closed her eyes and winced at her numbing hands.  Despite that Imhotep seemed like he was taking everything kind of well, actually.  That was good, so she kept talking.  "There are no priests alive who can take care of it," she told him, avoiding any mention of the fact that there were no priests of Osiris or Horus at all.

Imhotep pulled her closer, staring her down as he considered her words.  His lips spread into a grin that she was not exactly comfortable with.  "Then, my Nefertiri, I will fix it for you," he answered simply.

"You...you will?" she stammered, shocked that he seemed to be willing.

Imhotep's grip didn't lessen, however willing he was.  He nodded his head and ran a hand down her cheek softly.  "I will take care of this problem you bring to me.  But you must trust me with it from the house of the dead, for that is where you will be when I lay Asenath to rest and take the world as mine!"  He gripped her neck as if to strangle her and she screamed.

At that point Jonathan began the chant that would make Imhotep mortal again.  Despite the obvious language errors Jonathan made, the priest stopped his attack and shoved Evy down, pointing to her brother.  "If you expect me to fight Asenath the Undead, I must not become mortal, you fool!"

Carnahan stopped reading at that point, trying to piece together what Imhotep had said.  He smirked to Omar, understanding coming to him.  "Of course I'm a mortal, but I wouldn't expect him to think he's a fool for mistaking that.  Lots of women think I'm a god," he preened with a small smile.  Jonathan, Evy remembered, wasn't exactly proficient in ancient Egyptian.

She took that opportunity to stand and run to him.  Grabbing the book away she held it forward and warned the dark priest,  "I'll memorize the words, Imhotep, and I'll teach the others.  They don't have to understand the words for them to make you mortal again.  We can do this together or we can kill you again."

Imhotep's expression was less than thrilled, but for the moment he was able to control himself.  The priest crossed his arms and retorted, "I have no need of help from you.  I can stop Asenath from raising her abomination without you.  This is what she seeks to do, raise Set?"

Grateful that he seemed calmer, Evy nodded.  She kept a firm hold on the Book of Ra just in case.  "Yes.  She has a priestess who raised her from the dead.  They are holding a Med-Jai prisoner and are trying to get from him the location of all three seals."

"Does this Med-Jai know where the seals are?" he asked, his eyes still shaded with unconcealed contempt.

It was Omar who replied to him.  "No, he does not.  No one Med-Jai knows exactly where all three seals are."

Imhotep grunted at that and slid his eyes to where Evy was, still holding for dear life to the one thing that could stop him.  He smiled darkly and watched her.  His eyes were thoughtful.  "And once I put an end to Asenath you will kill me."

At that Evy was lost for words.  Of course she hadn't even really considered what would happen after.  All that had been on her mind was getting through the crisis.  She swallowed and opened her mouth, but instead of answering, she sighed.  What could she tell him that wouldn't result in his refusal to help?  "It wouldn't have to be that way if..."

He held up a hand and shook his head.  Imhotep exhaled and looked at the gold book, his expression disappointed that he couldn't have his revenge--yet.  She could see that 'yet' in his eyes when he looked back up at her.  "For now I will take care of what I must.  Set is something I would not see the world doomed to endure.  It is more important that Asenath be stopped from raising him up than for me to have my vengeance, but make no mistake, Nefertiri, I will remember what you have done to me and will have my price."

Evy puzzled over why he and Meela had called her by that name.  What did it mean?  It was something she would have to ask him later.  First thing was first, as Imhotep had decided.  "I will tell them you agree and then we'll go."

Imhotep shook his head at that.  "I said I needed no help and I meant it.  You will tell me where she is and I will go to her."

"No, we're going to go with you," she shot back, making him frown at her.  She ignored it blatantly.  "Look, if you don't need us to help you, that's fine, but Ardeth needs us to help him.  Besides, I want to make sure you don't betray us to that priestess."

His eyes flared at that and he pointed at her threateningly.  "You will watch what you say, Princess.  There are things in this world more evil than what you perceive me to be.  I would not side myself with that evil for anything or anyone.  Set must be stopped."  He angrily looked around the floor, then snatched his discarded black robe up and put it on.  "If you wish to come then come," he said finally and left them in a huff.

Rick exhaled softly and holstered his guns.  "I take it he's gonna help?"  Evy nodded and he looked into the hall Imhotep had stormed down.  "What's his problem?  You know, other than he can't kill us and all."

Evy looked at the others helplessly and winced a little.  "I think I insulted him."

Smirking, her brother looked heavenward.  "Oh great."

*

When Ardeth woke up he was greeted by quiet.  He wasn't much better than before, but the rest had given him a small amount of strength back.  It was now the various little cuts and slash marks on his body that troubled him.  They stung as the dusty, cold floor pressed against his stomach.  "You are awake," Meela observed, her voice soft and luring.  She came to him and rested her hand on his arm.  "I've been thinking about this little situation of ours and what to do about you."

Ardeth was not in the mood right now.  "Where is your high priestess?" he asked, changing the subject.  He wanted to delay any pain she might be considering for his enjoyment until later if possible.

She leaned against him, laying along his left side.  Her fingers played with his hair and he fought back irritation.  "She is out searching the desert for our little friends that you tricked me into letting go.  She wants to question them a little more closely I believe."  She was quiet a moment, looking him over thoughtfully.  "Ardeth, I think I need a little more assurance that you were being truthful with me when you said you only knew where one of the seals were."

He closed his eyes back, preparing himself for another round of torture.  "Do what you will, but I do not know where the others are."

Meela pulled herself from him and smiled.  Her hands wound around the torn fabric of his shirt and pulled him to his back.  She softly pressed her fingers to his lips and laid a hand over his eyes, beginning to speak ancient words that put him in a lull.  His hearing seemed fuzzy for a moment and behind closed lids he saw stars.  He shook his head, trying to push her fingers away, but she was quick and the spell soon ended.

"What have you done?" he whispered, squinting his eyes to see better.  The stars faded slowly.

Ancksunamun pushed him back onto his side and began to untie him.  Feeling himself free, Ardeth sat up and looked himself over, seeking any sign of what she had done to him.  There was nothing different, no added pain and the weakness was still there.  Meela pulled the dagger from her belt and handed it to him.  He took it slowly, worried at her sudden confidence in his inability.  "Ardeth," she said consideringly, leaning on one hand and watching him.  "That place on your pants that is torn.  I want you to open it further."

He furrowed his brow and absently cut the hole a little wider, then looked at the closed wound on his thigh.  He felt strange now, that was sure, but he couldn't quite grasp what was wrong with him.  His dark brown eyes met hers.  "Take the knife," was her next, soft command, "and cut your leg.  Not too deep, my Med-Jai."

It slowly dawned on him what she had done.  Of course he wasn't going to cut into his own leg.  That would be foolish.  That small decision to disobey was what made what he saw his own hand doing all the more shocking.  Without even thinking he took the dagger and traced it over his tanned thigh.  Ardeth winced at the sting, but watched the trail of red that resulted from the daggers path through his skin.  "What have you done to me!" he demanded.

The priestess laughed softly and reached for the dagger.  When he held it up against her throat, her smiled didn't fade.  "Put the dagger down and leave it."  She watched him helplessly obey.  "If I cannot punish you into obedience, I'll force it.  Tell me where the other seals are."

"I don't know," he said through gritted teeth, wishing he could make himself take up the knife once more.  He couldn't.  "I told you the truth!"

Meela frowned at that, certain that had been a lie.  She opened her lips to speak once more, but was stopped when Asenath raced into the room.  The high priestess was angry.  "They are coming, Ancksunamun, and they are bringing Imhotep with them.  He has been raised from the dead!  I have seen him!"

Ardeth watched as Meela's expression changed into shock.  She looked to him with suspicion.  "Did you tell Nefertiri to do this?"  He nodded against his will.  Meela scowled at that.  "You knew how to raise him, but do you also know what will kill him?  Tell me!"

"The Book of Amun Ra," he replied haltingly, every word forcing it's way to his lips.  The fight took his breath away.  "A spell inside will make him mortal and he can then be killed."

Asenath held up a fist, her eyes blazing.  "I will destroy them all if they dare enter this temple!"

Meela looked at the floor, shuffling through unspoken options.  She shook her head.  "No.  I have a better idea.  We'll let them take their Med-Jai back."  She looked at him with a dark smile.  "Ardeth," she began.

"I will not do it!" he yelled, fighting the instincts within him that were telling him to listen.  He knew she would use him against his friends.

Ancksunamun gripped his shirt and held him closer.  "Ardeth," she said again, her tone no longer amused by his resistance.  "Go with your companions and tell them nothing of what I have done and am about to say.  Get me the gold book and bring it back here.  If anyone tries to stop you, kill them.  I want this done quickly."

Asenath looked to her servant questioningly.  "He is weak."

Meela shrugged mercilessly.  "That's his problem.  He will obey me no matter what the cost or how tired his body."  She shoved him down to the floor.

The high priestess was pleased with what had been done.  "Now we will wait and when they come, let them escape with their Med-Jai."

Ardeth lay there on the floor, his pulse and mind racing.  Even now he could decide within himself that no matter what, he wouldn't do what she had told him to.  The resolve in him was firm.

The moments they waited were long and quiet.  Ardeth felt tense with worry, wondering if he could possibly control himself or let them know he was dangerous somehow without breaking her command.  Anything that would stop him from getting the book or hurting one of his friends.

Then slowly it came into his perception.  A sound barely even there.  Footsteps in the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.  They were here.  Ardeth sat up and backed against the wall, waiting for whatever would happen.  Evy was the first to enter the room.  "Ardeth?" she called, then stopped when Meela drew her knife.

"Evy, leave this place!" Ardeth warned, but Evy didn't budge and to his surprise Rick and Jonathan came in after her, guns drawn.

They made way quickly to allow who could only be Imhotep to enter.  Ardeth looked at Meela, wondering what would happen once the priest saw her.  The question was soon answered.  Time seemed to slow as the priest of Osiris entered the room, his gaze pensive and ready for anything.  Anything but what he saw.  First those cold eyes locked with Asenath's, but a second later flicked behind her to where Meela stood.

Imhotep's eyes went wide and he froze at the sight of his once lover.  "Ancksunamun," he whispered, unable to believe what he saw.  The marks were on her face now, telling him she was a servant of Set.

"Imhotep," she greeted with bright eyes and a smile.  "Come to me, my love."

When he still didn't move, she instead went to him and drew him into her arms.  Evy, Rick and Jonathan stared, also very surprised at this turn of events.  Meela pushed herself forward to kiss Imhotep, but he refused.  Shock and hurt reflected from his dark eyes as he pushed her away.  "You serve Set."

Meela kept her smile, now turning it from seductive to sympathetic.  "I always have, Imhotep.  I told you once I was not to be trusted with a man's heart.  Did you not believe me?"  She backed away behind Asenath again.  "Poor priest.  You gave up everything for me and I appreciated it, I really did.  Now I wil give you a gift."

Ardeth sat forward when Meela shoved her master into Imhotep, then took advantage of the surprise in the room to grab the seal that had been laid on the floor and dart out the door with it.  Imhotep recovered himself after a moment and held the priestess in his arms.  "You made her a slave to Set and for that you shall die!" he told her in a deadly voice.

The high priestess was caught in the arms of someone that equaled her power.  She struggled, naturally, but that didn't stop Imhotep's words from taking hold.  The spell he uttered was lengthy and intricate, it's words calling forth her death and destruction.  Her body began to crumble in his grasp as the spell came to it's conclusion and by the time Imhotep finished speaking she was nothing but dust.  "Get the Med-Jai," he hissed, then ran into the hall to chase Meela, his robes swirling behind him.

Evy and the others snapped back to reality when Ardeth groaned.  "Are you all right?" she asked, helping him stand.  He nodded softly and braced against her.  His eyes caught sight of the Book of Amun Ra that Jonathan held and his breath caught.  He wanted to tell them they were in danger, but Meela had forbidden it.

Jonathan stepped over and gave Evy the Book of Ra and the Book of the Dead, joining Rick to help Ardeth walk.  "What's happened to you, old boy?" he asked.

Ardeth took a breath and leaned against them, very grateful to have their support.  "She put a spell on me."  His mind shied away from telling them he was now hopelessly obedient to her command.  "It has made me weak."

They helped him outside, easing him through the hall.  He could feel the book behind him where Evy followed.  The command was still fresh upon him.  When they got past the rock and out into the open desert there were horses waiting.  "Where is Omar?" he asked dizzily.

"When we left Hamunaptra," Rick explained, helping Ardeth onto a saddle, "the Med-Jai came to see what the hell we'd done.  They weren't happy with your command, you know.  Anyway, they gave us the horses and took Omar back to the camp for medical attention.  He'll be just fine."

Rick mounted a horse beside Ardeth's left and Jonathan on his right.  Evy climbed into the saddle of a fourth horse and they waited.  It wasn't long before the wind picked up and the sand formed into the enraged priest of Osiris.  He appeared slowly and smashed his fist into an unoffending rock pillar that stood close by.  "She has escaped," he said in the ancient tongue, heading towards Evy's horse.  He climbed up and wrapped his arms around her.  "We must get the other seals before she does."

*

Evy sat by the fire, watching it dance in the darkness.  They had made camp at a rock enclosed oasis.  Jonathan and Rick were fast asleep, each having his own peaceful dreams, their faces untroubled and calm.  Her other two companions weren't so fortunate.  They looked alike, both sitting apart from each other, both looking at the fire with marred expressions.  Imhotep was now letting the injury of knowing what Ancksunamun was set in.  He hadn't spoken much since they left the Temple of Horus, hadn't even so much as made a threat against any of them.  He looked lost and sad.  Evy frowned at a pang of pity washing through her.

Ardeth, she couldn't guess what bothered him so.  Whatever Meela had done to him must have really been traumatic.  The look on his face made her worry.  His eyes were frightened, she could see, but held something she couldn't identify.  It was that something that made her wonder.  "Ardeth, are you feeling well?" she asked, thinking it could be that spell.

He moved his eyes from the fire and to her face, his own betraying the strange emotions inside.  He seemed sad almost, and very worried.  "I am all right."  Trust Ardeth to cover up his problems, Evy thought at his answer.

She could hear the wheezing in his breath.  A small hope dawned on her momentarily and she looked to Imhotep.  "Meela put a spell on him, onto his chest.  Could you heal him?" she asked in the priest's language.  "Please?"

Imhotep turned his dark gaze on her in defiant refusal and she shivered.  But the will wasn't there.  His eyes softened like a man who had lost an old purpose.  "I will do as you ask, Nefertiri," he replied in low tones.  Imhotep got up and went to Ardeth.

Ardeth flinched back from the priest, distrusting and loathing.  The mummy ignored every evasion and opened the Med-Jai's shirt.  Imhotep had been a healer, Evy knew from study.  So much destruction had come from the hands of a healer.  "Do you want to be free?" he hissed when Ardeth pushed his hand away.  Ardeth glared, but grudgingly allowed what must happen to be so.  Old hatreds seemed to die hard between the two enemies.

Imhotep spoke the words and kept a firm grasp on Ardeth while the restoration took place.  Evy watched with interest as Ardeth closed his eyes and shivered slightly.  When it was done the priest moved away and went back to his place to continue brooding.  Ardeth didn't breathe a word of thanks, but moved around and tested his returned strength.  The carvings were gone from his chest.  Satisfied, he too went back to his quiet thoughts.

Exhaling loudly, Evy laid down and tried to ignore them both, but it was no good.  She could practically hear them pouting, even though her back was turned.  She couldn't stand it, not tonight.  Not after everything.  Sitting up again, she snatched the Book of Ra and got to her feet, snapping, "You two are enough to drive a woman crazy!"  Both men stared at her with the same startled expression.  She rolled her eyes and stormed off, bothered the turn of events.

Imhotep's self control and Ardeth's hidden fear unnerved her.  It was like being in some strange dream.  She tossed the gold book to the sand and removed her shoes to dip her toes in the cool water of the oasis.  "What are we going to do?" she asked the open nothingness that surrounded them.  The quiet that replied was almost spiteful.

She sighed and sat down, putting both feet into the cool water.  She wanted nothing more than to be taken out of this situation.  The next time I get some silly idea of digging around a temple in Egypt, I'll have Jonathan tie me down! she thought sarcastically to herself.  She sighed again and kicked the water.  Just when had things become so strange, so unreal?  A haunted Med-Jai and a passive mummy weren't exactly what she would deem normal.

Suddenly EVy was not alone.  Looking up, she smiled as Ardeth approached.  He crouched and gazed at her with a strange expression, something mixed between fear and apology.  His hand touched her shoulder gently.  "I'm sorry if I did something that bothered you.  I want to thank you for rescuing me."

She smiled and shrugged, leaning back onto her hands.  "We weren't going to leave you there.  Would you like to talk about what's bothering you?"

His looked away, his eyes distant and troubled.  His fingers touched the water gently.  "I don't think you can help," he said, looking then at the sand.  His fingers brushed against the Book of Amun Ra.  Jonathan had left the key on it's face, but Ardeth couldn't bring himself to remove it.  "Just know that whatever happens, I am sorry."

"What?" she replied, looking at him puzzledly.  She watched him lift the gold book from the sand and stand up.  She joined him.  "What are you doing?"

"I'm doing what I have to," he replied, stepping away and praying she wouldn't press the issue.  "Trust me."

Evy shook her head and said, "We need that."  Her hands reached for the book.  A mistake--a deadly one.

Ardeth reacted before he could stop himself.  The awful spell upon him compelled his hand to where his scimitar had been sheathed.  Without missing a beat he took the blade and shoved it through her stomach.  Evy clutched at her fresh wound, a question written in her moistening eyes as she stumbled back.  "Wh..." she managed, but fell over before she could finish.

The Med-Jai stared in horror at the act he had just done and suddenly felt nauseated.  "Evelyn," he whispered, but could not drive himself forward to see about her.  The hold Meela had on him was too strong.  The compulsion to obey drove him to move away.  "My God," he breathed, unable to believe what his hand had just done.

Too shocked to do anything else, Ardeth ran for the nearest horse.  He mounted and held the book firmly, driving the horse into a gallop towards the Temple of Horus.  He didn't care who followed or if they killed him for his crime.

All he could see was the image of his friend, dying from a wound he had inflicted--and the betrayal written in her eyes.

***
*Waits, like Izzy, to get shot.*
Hehehe..thank you reviewers again and please don't send snipers after me for that bit up there.