Title:  Fury - Chapter Thirteen – When Angels Fall
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

*

There was only one thing on his mind as he raged through the house, cursing the complicated hallways and rooms.  Violently, he sent a fist into a doorframe as he ran in frantic search.  A huge chunk of the wall came loose and flew across the room.  Imhotep ignored it and continued to shove his way through.  "Nefertiri!" he called out, but again got no answer.  She was nowhere in the large house.

Finding an exit in near total darkness was a trifle irritating to say the least, but creating one might waste valuable time he could be spending on the search for his princess.  Ancksunamun went too far with this.  The creatures that attacked were the minions of Set, abominations from the deepest pits of Hell.  That she could bring herself to raise them was unimaginable to him.  And that he could have once been sided with the dark god Set, murderer of Osiris and enemy of Horus...that was even more so out of the question!  When had the concubine placed herself with such evil company?

He shoved those questions out of his mind and concentrated on what lie before him.  Trying to find Nefertiri.  To his triumph he found the key, a way out of this maze of a house.  A glass door swung open and shut in a small window filled room at the rear of the house.  He ran for it, pushing it off its hinges.  It shattered when it hit the ground.  Outside water fell from the sky and flashes of daylight showed themselves to guide him.

A sound caught the ears of the priest of Osiris.  In the grass not far from him lay the Greek Med-Jai, soaked to the bone and his weapon in the mud.  Imhotep ran to him and clasped fingers around his white shirt.  "Where is Nefertiri?" he asked in his own language.

O'Connell groaned at the pain in his injured leg and mumbled, "What?"

It was a question.  Imhotep could tell by the tone he'd said it in.  A single word.  How could he convey himself?  His mind searched for answers and selected one.  He pointed across the yard and shrugged.  "Eh-vey?"  The ex-Legionnaire was still puzzled.  Could he not understand the woman's own name?  Perhaps he was saying it wrong.  Imhotep never thought of her as anyone but Nefertiri.  Rolling his eyes, he held his hands in front of his chest as if to exaggerate the size.  "Eh-vey?" he again questioned, shaking his hands suggestively.

That did it, thankfully, and the half delirious man pointed off towards the back of the yard, murmuring something in his own tongue.  Imhotep didn't stick around to hear it.  Standing up, he quickly surveyed the shadows and exhaled.  The other Med-Jai was fighting a creature of Set not too far away.  Perhaps he had seen her.

Imhotep made his way through the wetness and mud to where Ardeth Bay was locked in furious battle with the demon angel.  His dark hair was matted to his face, soaking up the blood of a few scratches on his cheek.  "Where is Nefertiri?" the priest asked him, watching with detached interest as the warrior fought off the creature and pressed forward in attack.

The beast returned the attack viciously, knocking Bay to the ground before he could speak.  Imhotep watched Ardeth steel himself for another round and stand, only to get knocked down once more by the unbeatable foe.  He groaned and shook his head.  This was something the priest didn't have time for.  In deathly silence Imhotep grabbed the creature and broke it's neck, then threw it to the soaked earth below.  "Have you seen Nefertiri?" he asked again urgently, yanking the man to his feet.

Ardeth nodded and pointed towards the thick forests that lay behind the manor.  Catching his breath, he finally managed to answer, "She went there, Imhotep.  Alone.  I could not run after her."

Growling in frustration, Imhotep started past the Med-Jai towards the forest.  The lightening flashed and a breeze echoed through the trees.  Another dark creature landed close by, screeching in the desire for blood as it approached.  He brushed it aside like it were nothing and continued on, very aware that his princess could be dead by now.  A fine mist had settled on the ground and the trees were close together, but there was a narrow path inside the woods.  He followed it carefully and called out her name again.

"Imhotep!" he heard her scream and for a moment he felt relief flood through him.  She lived!  He picked up the pace, ignoring the constant onslaught of rain and the strange noises that surrounded him.  His love was in trouble and needed him.  "Imhotep, please hurry!"

Shoving trees out of his way right and left, the priest made his way towards the sound of her voice.  "Nefertiri!" he called, desperate to find her.  It felt like he'd been calling her forever.  If she were damaged Ancksunamun would pay far more dearly than she could imagine.

A flash of light and a deafening crack of thunder filled the air and suddenly the sound of something crashing echoed through the forest.  Nefertiri screamed.  His heart raced as he searched in panic for her, praying she hadn't been harmed.  A fallen tree lay a few yards away and he headed towards it, calling her name again and again.

Evy could hear him yelling, but the darkness and gradually increasing fog blocked anything from her view.  She counted herself lucky several times to not slam into a tree.  "Imhotep?" she managed through her breathless state and he returned the call.  Thankfully he seemed to be nearer.

One of Meela's beasts was chasing her, hot on her trail.  It hissed and growled as it pushed through the trees to find her.  Her leg was throbbing in pain from the wound she'd gotten, and she slowed.  "Nefertiri!" Imhotep yelled once more.  Evy backed into a tree and searched the area for him.  She started seeing stars from the lack of oxygen and her throat hurt from the rapid intake of air.

There was a rustle from above, but it happened before she could think.  The beast that had been chasing her dropped down from a branch and smiled in devilish delight, raking it's claws across Evy's shoulder.  Evelyn screamed and leaned back into the tree, too tired and frightened to know what to do.  The dark angel laughed and pulled her close, then slammed her back, knocking the wind out of her.  All Evy could think was, Is this it?

But then like a champion rescuing his princess, Imhotep was there and relief coursed through her.  Ripping the creature off of her, he shoved it away and blocked it from having access to her.  Pure hatred flashed through it's icy eyes as it recognized Imhotep's authority as a servant of an enemy god.

Hissing in disdain, the angel of Set drew it's claws and lashed out.  Imhotep seized it's wrists and pulled her forward, then shoved as hard as he could.  The creature slammed into a tree and cried out in pain.  With a preternatural speed it scrambled away and Evy gasped.

In her shaken state she hadn't seen Imhotep turn back to her until his dark eyes wandered her body.  She looked down at her filthy nightdress and the claw marks all over her.  It hit her then just how close she'd come to dying just then.  And again Imhotep had saved her from it.  She couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes at the sheer venting of relief, fear and tiredness within her and his eyes softened.  Imhotep drew her into his arms and held to her for a moment in a calming manner.  "What's happening?" she whispered, grateful for the arms around her.

The priest kissed her cheek gently and nuzzled her.  In the distance one of the angels of Set gave a chilling scream.  "Ancksunamun has broken two of the seals.  It is from there that these abominations came."  He picked her up and turned back towards the manor.  It wasn't safe out here for her.  "I will protect you, Nefertiri.  Do not doubt that."  Evy nodded softly and lay her head on his shoulder, glad to be off her feet.  She could feel the rain pour down on them as they walked and had to blink the water from her eyes.

As unused to walking on drenched ground as Imhotep must have been, Evy had to give him credit for making it so far so fast without sliding.  But when they came to the outskirts of the woods they ran into trouble.  Hitting a slick patch of mud on the way, the proud and sophisticated priest slipped and they tumbled to the wet ground together.  Evy groaned as her tender leg slammed into the earthen floor.  She pulled her gown up to finally look at the damage there.  Imhotep also examined her, much to her discomfort.

He frowned at the darkness on her pale leg and she sighed.  Was it dirt or blood?  She couldn't tell.  She could, however, tell that Imhotep had no reservations about putting his hands were they didn't belong.  Evy shivered when he ran one up her leg caressingly, then placed it over her wound.  His forehead touched to hers in a more intimate way than she thought was necessary as he began speaking the words of healing to her.

But they had no effect.  Behind them someone else was chatting, saying words that would put them all in danger.  With a groan Imhotep began to tremble and his grip on her leg tightened.  She whimpered and he let go, slumping backward to the dirt and rolling to his side.  Oh my God, she thought, hovering above him on her knees.  She didn't know what to do.  His eyes were closed and his body was tense in pain.  "Imhotep?" she gently said, rubbing his back.  He didn't respond.  "Imhotep?"

Ancksunamun sneered, holding the Book of Amun Ra to her.  "It is too late for him now, Princess.  He is mortal.  I will give you both to Set as a gift."

Imhotep pushed himself up slowly as Ancksunamun called for her beasts to return.  Evy repeated his name and asked if he were okay, and the expression he gave back was worried.  Raising his arms proudly, Imhotep pointed them as if to control the wind, but nothing happened.  "It is gone," he whispered, then turned furious eyes on the high priestess before them.  "You will pay for what you've done!"

Meela gazed back at him, her black eyes and smile saying she was very amused by that.  She cocked her head and waved a finger at him almost pleasantly.  "You shouldn't make threats you cannot keep, Imhotep.  You are diminished, useless.  Set will enjoy defiling your spirit more when I hand you to him."  She looked up as her minions landed.  "Bring them.  Take their consciousness if you must.  Where is the police officer?"

One of the creatures, the one in the middle of the three remaining, bowed her head and pointed towards the home quietly.  Whatever passed between she and her master remained between them.   Ancksunamun nodded as if she'd been spoken to.  Then she pointed at her two captives.  "Run!" Imhotep shouted to Evy before his ex-lover could speak.

Feeling torn between obeying his command for her life and staying behind for his, she hesitated, but he glared and pointed firmly.  Without thinking this time Evy got up and tried to run away, but the pain in her leg stopped her from getting very far.  One of the creatures caught up with her and yanked her back into it's arms, dragging her back and laughing.  She whimpered as it pet her hair and squeezed her.  Imhotep lunged forward to save her from the vile hold, but he too found himself in the arms of an angel.  The creatures laughed and with those voices came images to her mind of pain and death and perversions she'd never imagined.

Ancksunamun pointed towards the darkness of the woods.  Her creatures heeded her unspoken command and began to drag them deeper into the thick trees.  Evy stumbled as the beast behind her pushed, and whimpered when claws dug into her back.  Beside her Imhotep struggled with his oppressor, causing it to snarl and attack.

The last thing Evy perceived before the blackness took her was the rain, falling gently now like tears caressing her skin.

*

"Evy?" Jonathan yelled, standing at the edge of the forest.  He scratched his head and strained to hear.  "Eve?"  During the fray, Jonathan had gotten himself lost in the front yard, confronted by what at first glance looked like a very attractively costumed woman.  But then he'd caught a glimpse of her eyes, vicious and deadly.  That had been enough to send him running.  The creature had chased him around, laughing at his attempts to escape and playing with him.  Making him think he could get away.

But then abruptly she'd taken flight.  That wasn't one of the more calming sights he'd ever witnessed.  Demons flying around weren't something he cared to witness again.  He was downright sick of all these supernatural beings hanging around, popping in when they were least wanted.  So now he searched for his sister.

The only person he'd managed to find was O'Connell, who was still griping and cussing behind him.  Sitting in the middle of a dying garden of drowned flowers and sticky mud, Rick was working on trying to remove some sort of long thorn from his leg.  Jonathan had peeked at the man's thigh and it didn't look pretty.  "Are you sure they went this way?" he asked again.

Rick hadn't even spoken two words of annoyance when Jonathan hushed him.  Something was heading towards them at a quick rate...something big.  The first thing that came to mind, and the action he decided was best, was to run.  And that he did.  The woods moved and twigs crunched as that something bounded out from the darkness.  A huge shadowy figure.  Jonathan tripped over himself in his panic and shouted out a strangled cry of fear as he began to crawl away.  Rick, nearby, was laughing.  Rather uproariously too.

"It is only I, my friend," Ardeth Bay wheezed, obviously out of breath.  He had a smile on his face when he reached to give Jonathan a hand.

With a scowl, Jonathan refused help and got up by himself.  He felt very irked just now.  All the warrior had to do was yell out or something.  Sometimes he wondered if the man did things like this on purpose.  Not trusting himself to say anything to the Med-Jai, Jonathan turned away from him and pointed a finger at the smirking Rick.  "Shut up!" he hissed, then stormed back into the house.

"Wow, he's really angry," O'Connell commented, pulling himself up and toppling over again.  "Stupid...thing.  Whatever the hell it was."

Ardeth bent over and sighed, helping Rick to his feet.  He braced the ex-Legionnaire and aided his walking.  "Jonathan may never forgive me," he commented, but was too weary to feel anything but that.

Grumbling beneath his breath, Rick shook his head.  "He'll come around.  He's just worried about everything right now and that makes him a little edgy.  Don't let it bug you."  He winced as Ardeth helped him into the house.  "Those claws hurt!"

The Med-Jai put O'Connell in a chair and knelt down, ripping his pant leg open a bit more.  The affected area was swollen and covered with blood and dirt.  "Alcohol?" Ardeth asked, looking up.

Rick nodded, rubbing his forehead.  "God, I could drink a gallon of it."

With a small smile, Ardeth stood and made for the nearest bathroom.  He opened up a cabinet beside the tub and searched for rags and anything to help clean their wounds.  True to Evy's good sense, there was a bottle labeled 'alcohol' near a roll of gauze.  He took it and went back into the kitchen.  "All right," Rick said, backing away.  "Get away from me with that."

Ardeth furrowed his brow and shrugged.  "What?  The sterilizer?  Rick, you need your wounds cleaned."

"And if you plan on using that I got two words for you.  Hell and no."  O'Connell again backed his chair away.  "That stuff stings.  Just get me some soap and water.  I'll be fine"

Looking heavenward for a moment, the warrior advanced on his friend with the full intent of using everything in his arms.  Opening the very stuff Rick was opposed to, he poured it on a cloth and looked down, a twinkle in his eyes.  "I trust you won't behave like a child," he said, handing Rick the rag.

Exhaling loudly, Rick yanked the rag and applied it to his hurt leg.  That drew an immediate reaction and Rick cursed, then frowned at his friend.  "Are you happy?  Ow, this is killing me."

From the doorway leading to other areas of the house, Jonathan chuckled.  "Don't be such a baby."

"I'm not being a baby," the ex-Legionnaire remarked hotly, looking his leg over.  He shook his head in thought.  "What are we gonna to do about Evy and the freak?  We have no idea where they went."

Ardeth sorted through the rags and picked on, wetting it.  He put it to his cut cheek and grit his teeth.  "They went deeper into the woods.  It only gets blacker as you go through.  I tried to follow, but lost them."

"Well, that's just great," Carnahan remarked, rubbing the back of his neck.  "Now what are we supposed to do?  Sit tight and pray they make it?  Aren't you supposed to have all the answers or was I mistaken?"

The Med-Jai looked away from Jonathan's angry gaze, unwilling to allow this to turn into a fight despite the man's obvious wish to stir him up.  "I do not have all the answers."

Jonathan placed his hands on his hips.  His stance was aggressive.  "Sure.  Meanwhile my sister is out there with that crazy woman.  I find it funny she didn't take you with her.  Why not?  Isn't it you she's got the obsession with?  Maybe she didn't need to take you and make you hers again.  Maybe you still are hers."

"That's enough, Jonathan," O'Connell told him squarely, his expression very serious.  He squeezed at his thigh, trying to get poison out, Ardeth imagined.  "Give the guy a break.  It wasn't his fault."

"Oh, a likely story," the Englishman retorted, his eyes angry.  He approached Ardeth and shoved him as hard as he could.  Of course that wasn't very far.  At all.  "Come on, let's see what you're made of."  Jonathan raised his fists.

Ardeth crossed his arms and shook his head.  Despite the feelings that stirred, he wasn't about to let them get the best of him.  "I'm not going to fight you, my friend."

Jonathan shoved at Ardeth's shoulder, pressing the issue.  "Let's get one thing straight.  We're not friends."  He pushed the Med-Jai a third time, knocking him back against the wall.

That was enough.  The only option he could see was getting out of the room to let Jonathan cool off.  Brushing past the smaller man, Ardeth made his way for the other room.  "I'm going to get cleaned up," he told Rick, then stormed away before anyone could say a word.  The hurt and anger welled up inside him once more, but not at Jonathan.  At Meela.  He couldn't blame the man for his anger, but Ancksunamun had taken everything from him...or tried to anyway.  He wasn't even sure how his own people were going to treat him now that he'd betrayed them.

And now Evy was out there, lost with Ancksunamun and Imhotep.  He could only pray the priest took care of his friend.  For he himself apparently could not.  He should have heeded his instincts and not let her go upstairs unaccompanied, but instead chose to let his fear of her rejection keep him from being at her side.  He owed her his life for what he'd done, intentional or not.  He should have stayed with her.

But now was not the time for self-berating.  He had to think and plan, had to find a way to rescue her if Imhotep could or would not.  They didn't even know where to start, he realized.  They should be combing that forest right now.  Ardeth turned back towards the kitchen, determined to not let Jonathan's anger get in the way of this.

Carnahan frowned when he returned and stepped away from Rick.  "I guess I'll be going upstairs," he said, then tried to bypass the Med-Jai.

Ardeth grabbed Jonathan's shirt and hurled him forward, his eyes firm and intent.  "You and I are going back to the forest to find your sister.  O'Connell's injured and I need your help."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," the Englishman replied, trying to pry Ardeth's hand from him.  He furrowed his brow and pulled at his fingers.

Exhaling, the Med-Jai shook his head and pushed Jonathan back slightly.  "Fine.  If you are going to let your hatreds keep you from saving Evy, I will go alone."  He began for the door, picking up Rick's gun pack from the table.  If Carnahan didn't want to help, that was his problem.  Ardeth owed it to Evy to not give up.  If there was any way he could save her, he would.  He had to.

"Wait," Jonathan called out, grudgingly almost.  He joined Ardeth with a sigh.  "Give me a gun.  If I'm going to die, I'm going to do it armed."

*

Drip.  Drip.  That sound was driving her mad, disturbing her rest and over all ticking her off.  Her head was pounding and she prayed fervently that sleep would reclaim her.  But it was too late.  She was already awake.  That constant dripping sound saw to that.  Evy sat up and looked around through tired, dry eyes.  They were in some sort of shed it looked like.  There was no floor, only dirt and to her dismay there were headstones stacked against a wall.  The cemetery on the other side of the forest...  She groaned.

Imhotep was beside her, his eyes closed and hands bound like hers.  It was strange to see him like this.  In their time together Evy'd never seen him sleep, knew he didn't have to.  But now the problems every mortal faced were his to cherish.  Instinctively she touched his cheek, remembering a time when things were happier.

He'd carried her to her bed and laid her down, kissing her breath away.  Oh, how loved she had felt that night.  It was more than just some shared moment in the night, it was an eternity of feeling.  When the dawn finally arose Nefertiri had also, and had gazed upon her lover with fond eyes.  She'd caressed his cheek and met his wake with promising eyes.

This time he didn't wake up and she wouldn't press him to.  She envied him his rest.  It was all confusing to her, to say the least.  How had they gone from so happy to filled with nothing but hate?  Evy in herself couldn't imagine feeling so deeply for this man, yet Nefertiri mourned the fear and ill will toward him.  "Nefertiri," he suddenly whispered, licking his lips and remaining still.

"How do you feel?" she asked him immediately.

He smiled to her surprise and winced, opening his dark eyes.  "Mortal."  Sitting up, Imhotep pressed a hand to his head, obviously suffering the same pain as she.  "Undead is better.  Where is Ancksunamun?"

Evy shrugged and looked around the dark shed.  The only light came from a small hole in the roof above.  It was nearly daybreak.  "I don't know.  I just woke up.  I think we're in a cemetery not far from my house."  She didn't stand up with him, but merely watched as he tested the strength of the wood enclosing them.  The door was immovable.

He paused, returning his eyes to hers.  Fear and longing were written on his face as he got down beside her and reached his tied hands to her hair to touch her.  "Are you hurt?" he asked in that soft, hushed way she'd seen in her dreams.  It made her blush.

"My leg hurts," she answered, mentally kicking herself for that 'accidental' break in her voice.  Try as she might, she couldn't stop herself from looking pouty and upset.  Just what was wrong with her, anyway?

Imhotep, on his knees, leaned back and picked her injured leg up.  Evy whimpered a little and bit her lip as he brushed away dirt and dried blood from the cut.  His fingers rubbed softly as he said, "I cannot heal you."  She held her breath when he pushed the tattered fabric of her gown up to mid thigh and bent down.  Dirt didn't seem to bother Imhotep, she quickly learned.  His lips met her wound in a velvety caress and moved up to her knee before she could stop to think that this wasn't something proper ladies should be doing in public sheds with 3,000-year-old mummies.

"Imhotep," she breathed, shaking her head.  It only caused him to move higher, gently touching his lips to hers.  He wrapped his tied arms around her and embraced her to him, not letting her lips go free from his.  She sighed and pulled away.  "I look like a drowned mouse," she told him lamely, then laughed at his grin.

The priest rested against her, rubbing his cheek to hers.  "I will make Ancksunamun pay for this, Nefertiri.  I promise that.  She will never blind me again."

Evy sighed and leaned back to look at him, shaking her head.  "No. No.  See, this is where you have it wrong and why you keep getting into trouble.  Stop trying to make people pay, Imhotep."

His eyes were amused and hungry as they washed over her face.  He smiled.  "Would you rather be given as a sacrifice to Set, my love?"

She frowned as his term of endearment and leaned her head against the wall.  His body felt warm against hers and caused her much distress.  "Of course not," she replied, trying to ignore the familiar and soft feelings that clouded her mind.  "I don't mean not to get us out of here, but stop her for the world, not revenge.  Don't make tormenting her your focus."

He made a show of considering it, then nodded his head and pulled her close again.  "For the world," he repeated with a smile.  "Won't you please let me kiss you?"

Rolling her eyes, Evy gave up as he began to kiss at her neck.  "I do wish you'd be serious.  Two minutes awake and this is the first thing on your mind.  Men!"

"Nothing is more serious than this," he replied to that, looking into her face.  The way he continually memorized every feature of her made her shiver.  "I lost you long ago, Nefertiri, and almost did again last night.  When I awoke to your hand on my face I remembered how we were.  How I wish us to be again."

"But you don't even belong in this time."  She said it without even thinking and immediately regretted it.

He exhaled and looked down.  Why did that bother her so much?  It was frustrating.  When his eyes again met hers, they were straightforward and hard.  That bothered her even more.  "So you will kill me when this is done?  You have decided my fate is to die?"

Evy sighed and shook her head.  Things really had a knack for getting complicated real fast around her.  He shook her lightly for an answer.  "Of course I didn't mean that.  I just...I'm not sure what to think about all this.  Part of me knows you and loves you to no end, but another part is still afraid of you and remembers what you tried to do.  This is so confusing."  Why couldn't things just be simple?

Imhotep leaned his head against hers and held her as her eyes filled again with tears.  He pulled his arms up from her and wiped her cheek.  "Do not cry, proud princess.  You will never again have to fear me.  All you need fear is this."  His movements were too quick to stop, and by the time Evy realized what he'd done it was too late.  All and any hope was lost.

Laughing uncontrollably, Evelyn squirmed to get away, but by now Imhotep had her pinned to the wall as he mercilessly found places to tickle her.  Straddling her lap and ignoring his bonds, the priest grinned wickedly and poked her sides, winning back screams in return.  She giggled and smacked at him, quickly losing her breath.  "Stop it," she whimpered.

Quitting right away, he leaned down and hungrily attacked her mouth with his once more.  She didn't stop him this time.

*

Akhenre was a proud Med-Jai, tall and muscular.  One of Pharaoh's greatest protectors so his elders had said.  But as strong as he was, as willing to lay his life on the line for his king, his heart still troubled him greatly.  Many women threw themselves at him at these sort of functions, but only one in this room held his eyes.

The grand feast room was filled with guests, Egyptian aristocrats and foreign dignitaries.  Pharaoh spoke at length to an ambassador from Sumeria not fifty feet away.  All in all it was a pretty spectacular gathering, with dancing women and wondrous dishes of delicious food and the mixed company.  Yet none of this grandeur held any fascination to the Med-Jai.  One of his brother warriors came by and rolled his blue eyes heavenward.  "Akhenre, are you still standing here alone, brooding?  Seriously, it gets old, seeing you here.  You're like some sort of statue."

Smiling at the Greek and nodding his agreement, Akhenre exhaled and stole another glance at the woman across the room.  She was practically confined to a dais filled with pillows.  "I worry for her, Nycolaus.  She has changed lately."

Nycolaus was a good natured and lighthearted young man, who'd been adopted into an Egyptian family when his own were killed by robbers on the road back to their own country.  Leaning back, he also took time out to admire the beautiful concubine of Seti.  "Can I be honest with you?"  Akhenre nodded.  Nycolaus continued.  "All right.  She's pretty.  I'm sure she's nice or you wouldn't be all over her every chance you get."  The Egyptian Med-Jai ignored that.  "But you know that she doesn't and will never belong to you, right?"

"I know this," Akhenre admitted grudgingly, crossing his arms.  Ancksunamun, the young girl who had been under his protection once.  As Pharaoh's property and future bride, she too was under royal protection from the king's special guard.  One year when Seti was waged in battle with Assyrian raiders it had been Akhenre's duty to watch over her and make certain she wasn't touched or harmed.  The war had been long and Pharaoh's presence had remained elsewhere, leaving Akhenre and the young concubine time to build a slow friendship.

She'd been aloof and distrustful of him at first, but eventually out of the sheer need to have someone to confide in, she'd taken him into her trust.  Now he felt himself love this girl like he'd loved no other, but duty kept him from letting their friendship grow further than it had.  Ancksunamun was a lonely girl who needed a man to love her.  He could not, else he give up his life.  And now she'd grown distant with him again, but it was different this time.  Something had changed in her for the worse, he thought.

Akhenre rested his midnight eyes upon her, watching as she scowled across the room.  He followed her gaze to the High Priest of Osiris and wondered, not for the first time, why she held such venomous hatred for him.  Sliding his eyes back to hers, he caught his breath, seeing she was looking at him now.  She didn't smile, nor look away, but merely gazed at him in a detached, cold way that made him sigh.  Oh, my Ancksunamun, what has happened to you? he thought silently, then pushed himself off the wall.

Ancksunamun's eyes widened and she immediately began to look around, worried someone would see him approach and think something wrong was occurring.  Standing before the dais, making sure no one was around, Akhenre kept his expression formal.  "You look tired, Promised of my King.  Perhaps I should escort you to Pharaoh's bedchambers."

With irritation written on her beautiful features, the concubine stood from her place and nodded once.  "That is not a bad idea."  Offering no more than that, she waited and he turned, expecting her to follow.  The approached Pharaoh and he smiled at his prize.  "My Lord," she began, her demeanor changing from cold to sensual and promising.  She knew how to manipulate him well.  "I grow tired of this place.  I would go to your bedchambers and wait for you there."

Seti nodded grandly, obviously wishing to portray his merciful graciousness to his guests.  "My beautiful Ancksunamun, I will join you shortly.  Rest well."  And with that she was dismissed.

So, into the hall they went, side by side.  Taking care not to disrupt the paint on her body, the concubine took a fast pace.  "What is it you wish to speak of, Akhenre?  Something is on your mind."

Looking to the soft alabaster floor below, the Med-Jai sighed.  "I saw you looking at the priest.  Your eyes bore such hatred for him.  I wish to know how such a tender heart as yours can feel such an emotion."

"That is none of your concern," she replied shortly.  She rarely offered anything to him anymore, just mere answers to his occasional questions.  What had changed her?

He stopped, half tempted to take her arm and keep her from walking away.  But he refrained and she paused with him, turning with her chin high.  "I love you," he said without thinking.  He truly meant it, too.  Separated by one man, he would love her and never have her.

Ancksunamun’s eyes widened and she instinctively surveyed the area, making sure no one had heard.  "Do not say such a thing!" she hissed, pleading with her gaze.  "They would kill you for such a confession!"

"Then you do care for me?" he asked her, wishing above all else he could reach for her.

She swallowed and backed away, reading his desire in his eyes.  With a shake of her head she raised her hands as if to block him.  "Akhenre, you know we can never be together.  You told me so yourself.  I have found someone else.  Please understand."  He was surprised to see tears in her usually guarded eyes.  With that she turned and left him standing there.

He watched her go from him until she turned down a hall, looking one last time at him.  Someone else?  But who?  The Med-Jai didn't have time to consider it long before his solitude was rudely interrupted.  He heard voices and looked back to see who was coming.  Imhotep.  His black, regal robes flowed behind him as he approached, Nycolaus at his side.  The young Greek looked a little pensive.  "I have need of you, Med-Jai.  The High Priestess of Set has come to threaten our peace with her god."  His voice was commanding.  "She hides in the sacred tomb of Set and we must go there.  Come."

Pushing all personal troubles aside for the moment, Akhenre followed them.  The heat of battle would do him good.  It would distract him from the hurt within.

*

Well, apparently I can stretch the night out longer than anticipated.  I had thought I'd be further by this chapter, but as you can see, I'm not. :D  Hope that's okay...hehehe!  Anyhoo, thanks everyone!!  You all ROCK!  Montana, I would love to be a professional and I'm so flattered you think I should. :)  Thanks!  And thanks Buffelyn (hehe..glad you liked the mud angels), Marcher (glad you're gonna continue your Alternative Views!), Polgara (thanks for reading my work since my Voyager days) , RedLady (thanks for sticking with me, even though your time is limited) , NeferBast (glad you like what I've done), everyone and of course, Deana who's always there with excitement and suggestions!  Thanks for letting me peek at your fics before you post. ;)

You guys are too sweet!!! :)