Title:  Fury - Chapter Fifteen – Cat Got Your Tongue?
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

*

Imhotep held Nefertiri close to him, reveling in the warmth of her body embraced in his own.  So many things swirled around within him.  So many feelings.  He was grateful for the quiet and yet at the same time rebuked it's harshness.  A distraction wouldn't be bad at this particular time.  Little images kept running through his mind as continual reminders of what had happened...what had shattered his life.  How does one go from High Priest of Osiris, well respected and admired, to an outcast monster that had lost everything including his own soul?  For the first time in 3,000 years he was truly afraid of the consequences of what he'd done.  It was almost like he had traded his confidence and determination for the understanding that now tore him apart inside.

But now there was a window opened for him.  Small, but standing with arms open.  This woman in his arms had perhaps made an error when she'd said he had her, but at least the hatreds were gone now.  That much offered him some comfort from the suffering he was afflicted with now that he had learned every mistake he'd made back in Thebes was for nothing.  Kissing her forehead, Imhotep vowed to himself to watch over her all the remaining days of his life and if he died and were resurrected, to resume that care.  It was the least he could offer.  For 3,000 years he'd given himself over to revenge and hatred, but now it was time to give something back.  To the woman he truly loved.

The woman in his arms stirred and hugged into him perhaps unconsciously and he kissed her hair.  "How long have I been asleep?" she whispered.

"I cannot be sure, Nefertiri," he replied, rubbing her back gently.  "Perhaps an hour.  Maybe two."  A question came to his lips, but he held it inside, not wishing to push her.  Instead he asked, "How do you feel?"

Nefertiri didn't leave the comfort of his arms and he was thankful for that.  Instead she merely rested.  "Like my world has been turned inside out.  Even after last year I could still say I was Evelyn Carnahan, a scholar and sister and friend.  Now I've just had another life piled onto me with all this hurt and I don't know what to do or think of it all."

Evelyn Carnahan.  It was easy to forget that she was another person as well as the Nefertiri he'd loved so long ago.  Who was Evy and was there any room for him in her heart?  "I will be with you," was all he could think to tell her.  If he could fix it all he would, but some things eluded even him.

His words were good enough.  She hugged him, then sat up.  "You know a week ago I would have never thought..."  She didn't finish, merely sniffled.

He sat up as well and reached through the darkness to touch her.  He wanted so badly to touch her more intimately, to lose himself in her embrace.  To worship her in his arms again.  "I know.  Nor would have I," he responded, running his fingers down her arm.  He could feel her tremble at his touch and it increased his desire for her.

"Can you stop her?" she asked then, her voice betraying her belief he could not.  "You can't heal anymore."

Imhotep leaned against the padded wall and closed his eyes.  "I can, but we must be somewhere consecrated like a temple.  Only there can I strip her of her powers with the words I know.  As it is I cannot repair the seals without my priests and the priests of Horus."  He privately wondered about the priests of this day and age, but didn't pursue questioning her.

Before either of them could add to their conversation the door opened, streaming light from the hall ceilings into the tiny room.  The priest squinted at the false light and shielded his eyes to view their visitor.  Ancksunamun.  Her expression was still cold and controlling as she motioned her beasts inside.  They grabbed at him with claws extended, digging into his flesh as they pulled him out.  "Imhotep!" his princess called, but was silenced by the closing of a door.  He would go alone to wherever this mad woman would take him.

"You're awfully quiet," she observed, leading the way.

The priest tried to yank himself free.  "What have I to say to you, deceiver?  You are nothing to me!"

She laughed at that and turned into a small room.  Standing aside, she made room as her angels silently pulled him towards a bed.  They pushed him down on it and cuffed his arms back so he couldn't move.  "Such big words, Imhotep," Ancksunamun said in a voice filled with honey.  She ran her hand down his cheek mockingly.  "Cherish them, for soon you will be silent."  She fastened a head strap around his forehead, locking him completely down.

"So, you would kill me and delight your pathetic master?" he spat, clenching his fists.  The creatures strapped his legs down.

Her face was patronizingly sweet as she hovered above him, stroking his thigh in a familiar way that now made him angry.  She reached for a strange little knife with a long hilt and tiny blade.  "No, I won't kill you, High Priest, but I will silence you.  I suggest you remain still or Nefertiri might be left all alone."

Looking away from the vile concubine, Imhotep waited in silence for whatever it was she was going to do.  He would not allow her the triumph of making him cry out in pain if torture was her intent, nor would he waste the effort on petty remarks.  There was simply nothing he could do but lay there and allow what must happen become.  He fought back a denunciation when her hand slid beneath his shirt, caressing up his stomach and chest.

She held the blade in her hand.  Imhotep concentrated on his surroundings while his shirt was cut open and off.  The room was dauntingly silent and cruelly devoid of anything other than endless depressive decorum.  The atmosphere seemed permeated with suffering and fear.  Strange steel instruments had been scattered on a dark gray counter he'd seen on the way in and there had been a chair with a wired headpiece.  How many of these things were intended for use on him?

He winced when her blade touched his throat.  Instantly he knew she would be marking him with the vile spells of Set in some manner of keeping him quiet.  She would prevent him from stripping her powers away and of teaching anyone else the correct chants.  Ancksunamun rested her hand on his shoulder and leaned down close, watching her tedious work.  He blinked and studied her face, so intent and beautiful.  A face that would remain hated in his mind for ages to come.

"All done," she told him as a mother might tell her child after fixing a scraped knee.  He opened his mouth to speak, but she placed her fingers over his lips, shaking her head.  "Shhh, my priest.  Don't speak a word or you'll die."  Her fingers caressed his mouth and he was reminded of the way she had used her body with him.  "The moment one tiny word comes from your lips your life will end, Imhotep.  Your heart will stop beating and poor Nefertiri will be left all alone to suffer the defilements of Set."  She bent down and whispered in his ear, "I have lots of torments waiting for her.  I'm going to use her Med-Jai against her."  He trembled in anger as she kissed his neck softly.

The urge to speak was not an easy one to quell once you've learned that you may not no matter what.  Even to whisper tempted him from the depths of his mind and he feared greatly that he would forget momentarily and end his life.  He had to protect his princess, but couldn't if he suddenly dropped dead because he called on Nefertiri or something.  It frustrated him as the idea sunk in, but all he could do was lay there with his fists clenched.

Ancksunamun stood up and looked down on him, her arms crossed and face held in glorious victory.  "I have won, Imhotep.  It might cost you less if you give yourself willingly."  She laughed.  "All you must do is kill your precious princess and Set will have mercy.  But for now I think I'll leave you to consider."

Imhotep swallowed, feeling like a caged animal.  He wanted to warn Nefertiri, to shout his anger at Ancksunamun.  To give voice to anything so that he may vent his frustration.  And yet he knew he could not.  Her evil carvings hushed him.  Biting her lip and watching him struggle, she looked to her three servants and said, "Let him think on this for a while.  Then return him to his little pet."

*

She was crying.  Ignoring the paint on her stomach, the concubine held to herself and sobbed.  Akhenre wasn't sure she even knew exactly why.  They'd returned to find the palace in an uproar over this great battle that had been fought over the High Priestess of Set.  "She is gone," Ancksunamun whimpered brokenly.  "He is so angry.  So angry."

Akhenre didn't know what to say.  When he and the other Med-Jai had come home to the palace his first priority had been to get to her.  To make sure she was safe.  He'd found her in Pharaoh's bedroom, nearly sick from anguish.  "Who is gone?  Who is angry?  Pharaoh?  Has he harmed you?"  He couldn't disguise the edge in his voice.

"No!" she shouted, looking at him through fearful eyes.  He'd never seen his poor Ancksunamun in such a state of turmoil.  Shaking like a leaf, she stood from the bed and started pacing.  "I cannot say.  But I must do as I must do.  I'm so afraid, Akhenre.  So afraid."  And he could see plainly that she was and never had been so afraid in her life.  Her black eyes were panic stricken and it rended his heart.

He didn't care about Seti or his ridiculous and vile rules at this moment.  His love needed him.  And so Akhenre pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.  She didn't try to get away as she usually should have, but embraced him in return with such passion and need.  He pet her hair and gazed over shoulders at the torch on the wall.  "How can I help you?" he offered gently.

"There is nothing you can do," she replied, holding on to him like if she let go her world would fall apart.  Only one time had she held him so.  A night long ago and an eternity away.  A night he had wrapped himself into and hadn't ever left since.  "I do not deserve this.  I've done something horrible and must do worse still.  Yet you love me."  Her voice seemed surprised and regretful.  "Maybe it's not too late, Akhenre.  Take me from here."

He widened his eyes and shook his head, sorely tempted and frightened at the prospect.  "I cannot.  Pharaoh..."

"Pharaoh be accursed!" the concubine spat, tears racing down her tan cheeks.  She begged him with her gaze like her very soul depended on it.  "If you love me, Akhenre, you must take me from here before..."

"What is this?!" a voice boomed from behind.  Akhenre pushed Ancksunamun away before he could question her further.  Her eyes still pleaded with him, but he couldn't decide what to do.  Betray his king or betray his heart?  "My Pharaoh, I returned to make certain she was safe and she was in hysterics.  It was all I could do to keep her from making herself ill with tears."  The look she gave him from behind Pharaoh spoke volumes of hurt and inside Akhenre felt as if he were being ripped to shreds.  What was the right decision?  He did not know.

Seti wasn't too hard a man to convince and was merciful until he was absolutely certain he'd been disobeyed.  His expression was softened by the Med-Jai's concern for his property.  Still, he was suspicious.  He pointed to the bedchamber doors.  "Leave this place.  You may keep your life, but if I see you near my Ancksunamun again I shall end it!"

Akhenre dare not risk a glance at his love.  His questions would have to be answered later if she were still of a mind to speak to him.  Not that he'd blame her if she didn't.  So many thoughts raced through him he thought he might be sick from worry that he'd just done something very wrong to the woman he cared for.  But to come against his king and risk the anger of the gods?  Such a thing was immoral and wrong.

Bowing before his king, the Med-Jai left quickly, worried about Ancksunamun.

*

Rick frowned as Jonathan hit another bump in the road.  Sometimes he wondered if that man meant to do these things just to tick him off.  Rolling his eyes, the ex-Legionnaire folded his fingers together and cracked his knuckles.  Jonathan exhaled then as if he were trying to combat Rick's noise with one of his own.  O'Connell smirked and yawned, leaning back and glancing over to his friend.

Furrowing his brow slightly, Carnahan cleared his throat and kept his eyes almost merrily on the road.  Rick exhaled loudly and waited.  Evy's brother grunted and shook his head in thought.  That did it.  "Would you knock it off?" O'Connell growled, running his hands through his hair.  He felt anxious enough about what was ahead of them without adding on Jonathan driving him nuts.  "I actually want to be able to leave the sanitarium, ya know."

What irked him more was Jonathan's absent-minded biting of his pinky and the half mumbled, "Hmmm?" that came from him.

"That's it, I'm talking to Ardeth. Alone."

Jonathan snorted at that, saying, "Oh.  I see how it is."

O'Connell tightened his fist, but remained calm.  Shivering from the cold air he turned, glancing into the back seat.  The Med-Jai lay against the back of the seat, his eyes closed.  That startled Rick.  His friend had been through so much this past week that seeing the warrior passed out could mean anything from exhaustion to even death.  This was the last thing he needed.  Without thinking he threw himself half over the seat to shake him.  "Hey!"

"Watch it!" Jonathan shouted, swerving a little and cursing as he straightened the car out again.

Ardeth's dark eyes flew open and his hand went immediately to his scimitar.  "Are we under attack?" he asked quickly, sitting up and looking around the vehicle.

Exhaling, Rick slid back into his seat and rubbed his face nervously.  "No," he replied shortly, embarrassed and annoyed.  "Don't do that stuff to me, Ardeth.  I looked back and saw you out.  With that crazy lady who knows what could happen?  You could die just like that and..."

"I'm not going to die," the Med-Jai assured him, his tone slightly chiding.  He reached up and clasped Rick's shoulder.  "You really need to relax, my friend.  This isn't good for you."

Relax.  Right.  Why did they always have to say that during the most trying times?  "Yeah, yeah," O'Connell groaned, leaning his head back.  "I'm just worried about Evy.  Who knows what could be happening to her?"

The warrior pet his shoulder in understanding, leaning up between he and Jonathan to talk easier.  "Imhotep is with her."

Rick widened his eyes sarcastically, cocking his head and staring ahead at the road.  "Oh.  That makes me feel better.  Thanks, Ardeth."  O'Connell knew he was being a pain just now, but he didn't care.  He hated when Evy was in trouble.  Any of his friends.  Growing up in an orphanage with no real family kind of lessened the security in one's life, but now he'd finally found some people to call his own.  Unfortunately these people had a knack for getting themselves into mortal danger.  Not that it wasn't a good trade, but he still felt less and less able to take it in stride when they were in trouble.  He couldn't imagine what Ardeth must go through with his own people, who were by lifestyle warriors.

"How far is your 'loony bin'?" the Med-Jai asked, interrupting Rick's brooding.  He seemed fond of that phrase for some inane reason.  O'Connell could hardly wait to see him use it on the Med-Jai elders.

"Not far, old boy," Jonathan answered, that edge still in his voice.  He looked in his rear view mirror at Ardeth and elbowed the seat.  "Excited about seeing your woman?"

Bay sat back silently, but Rick could hear the irritated exhale that came from him.  It seemed Jonathan was all about irritation tonight.  Well, Rick was going to put a stop to this nonsense once and for all or he was going to lock the man in one of the patient rooms at the asylum and leave him there.  He smacked the Englishman's shoulder and said, "Quit being a jerk, will you?  We all know your feelings about what happened, but it's not like you've made any effort to work things out.  Don't abandon your friend because you won't hear him out."

Carnahan rolled his eyes and remained silent a few moments.  Hopefully he was thinking things through...rationally.  He wasn't a grudge holding type of guy, Rick knew.  It must have scared him, seeing his sister dying like that, but he had to understand what happened.

Of course Ardeth didn't really expect Jonathan to say anything.  He could place himself inside his shoes and knew that if it had been his sister the forgiveness would have been hard to give on his part as well.  And that expectation was why he was surprised when Carnahan did speak.  "I just want to know something," he said finally.

"What is that?" the Med-Jai replied in his quiet way, gazing out the window.  The ache from the wounds on his back seemed almost natural after so long.

Jonathan glanced up at him through the mirror, then put his eyes back on the road.  He seemed loathe to bring up whatever was on his mind.  "What...caused you to hurt my sister?"  He groaned as they hit a bump and the car bounced.  Rick hissed in a breath.

At that Ardeth revisited the action he'd taken against Evy and the feelings returned anew.  Shaking his head, he continued to look outside.  The woods on either side of the road were completely darkened by the moonless night.  Even he would have been a little chilled at having to travel alone down such a road, but Meela was a woman and much more prone to attack than he.  Could she have possibly been afraid or were her beasts hiding out there to protect her?  "Meela put a spell on me.  I couldn't disobey her, no matter what it was she demanded of me.  She commanded me to get the Book of Amun Ra and kill anyone that tried to stop me.  Unfortunately Evy did try."

That seemed to bother Jonathan even more.  Turning a corner, he exhaled and nodded in understanding.  "And you couldn't have stopped it?"

"No," Ardeth replied, finally meeting his friend's glancing eyes.  "My hand moved faster than my mind and I couldn't stop.  Nor could I stay and be sure she was okay.  The command to give Meela the book was too strong."

They drove up a hill and pulled into a parking lot that overlooked a tall and gloomy looking building.  Ardeth could barely make out the silhouette in the shadowy night.

Jonathan turned the car off and turned around to view the warrior.  His eyes still held that shade of anger.  "What does it it feel like, killing someone you care for?" he asked in a somewhat hard tone.  "I guess I just don't understand what happened exactly."

The Med-Jai looked away, resting his hand on the door handle.  "I pray you never do.  It was the worst thing I have ever done in my life."  Easily the worst.  Nearly murdering an innocent woman...a woman who was his friend...who had counted on him.  Everything he'd been put through came rushing back again, but if Jonathan needed to speak Ardeth wouldn't stop him.

"Did she hurt you, Ardeth?" Evy's brother said after a silence.  "Rick said something about bruises...or something."

Traveling down the abuses Ardeth had suffered was easier than facing the things he'd done at Meela's command, but not a road the Med-Jai wanted to share with anyone else.  He didn't want anyone knowing everything that had been done to him.  Some things had their place deep in his heart and nowhere else.  "I suffered at her hands," he said, opening his door.  His body was still in pain.  The mark of Meela's rough touch was still upon him and Ardeth couldn't withhold the sharp intake of air as he tried to get out of the car quickly.

He cursed himself for showing this weakness in front of the other two.  They had both noticed, Ardeth knew.  Both men had held their breath and hovered between helping and not.  Gritting his teeth in pain and anger, the Med-Jai got out slowly for his body's sake.  It felt like he'd never truly be free of Meela's accursed torments, whether physical or worse--the knowledge of what he'd done and who he'd hurt.  He sighed, trying to bury his feelings and headed towards the front of the looming sanitarium.

Jonathan and Rick joined him, wordless as they walked together.

*

Evy sat against the wall with her arms folded over her legs.  She was alone.  All alone in a dark little room, wondering what had happened to Imhotep.  She wasn't entirely sure how comfortable she was with the mummy at this time.  She didn't hate him and had actually grown to like him once she understood what had driven him to the terrible person he'd become.  He was even willing to work through that it seemed and become a normal person again.

On a universal level that made her very happy.  In her heart Evy mourned the suffering he'd been put through by this one woman who had changed all their destinies with her hidden motives.  Ardeth had told her that he believed redemption was for those who sought it, no matter what they'd done.  She could only pray that would be true for Imhotep's sake.

Yet on a more personal plain it disturbed her because it looked to her like he was going to want her to help with this recapturing of who he'd been.  And she wanted to be there for him.  He was a part of her now, not just of Nefertiri but of Evelyn.  Evy sighed.  Sometimes her big fat heart just annoyed her.  This could turn out real bad real quick if he decided that things weren't going his way and that frightened her a little bit.  Plus there was this whole relationship that she just knew he was going to expect.  She didn't even know what she wanted as far as that was concerned.

He was handsome.  Very handsome actually.  True, he was prone to acting like a spoiled child, but that could be fixed over time, couldn't it?  And then there was his tendency to walk around half naked.  Imhotep hadn't really liked the modern clothing they had put before him in Cairo.  He wanted something more airy and regal looking.  Well, the cold of London had taught him a thing or two.  She smirked.  Imhotep was very warm and very attentive.  She knew that from both her life as Nefertiri and what she'd learned since they had awakened him again.  But where would he fit in this day and age?

If he were still alive.  The idea that she might never find out what would happen scared her because in truth she was interested in seeing where things would lead.  Just when had she let this man so deeply into her heart?  It must have been when she let him kiss her.  That had to be it.  This whole situation was starting to make her worry and it kind of ticked her off. Where are you, you infuriating son of a...

The door opened then and she hissed in a breath at the brightness from the hall.  Imhotep walked slowly inside and Evy was off her feet before she could even decide what to do.  She threw her arms around him and asked, "Are you okay?"  The beasts shut and locked the door again with a terrible clank.  He didn't answer her except with a hug.  "Imhotep?"  Something was wrong--she could sense it.

Lips pressed over hers and arms encircled her waist.  Yes, he definitely would be expecting a relationship.  But for now the pressing matter was the fact that he wouldn't speak to her.  That bothered her.  "Are you okay?" she repeated as he pushed her against the wall, rubbing his forehead against hers.  "Imhotep, speak to me."

He took her hand and placed it on his cheek, shaking his head.  No?  Why not?  "You won't talk?"  He shook his head again and moved her hand down to his throat.  She could feel something there.  Something like...cuts.  She gasped, widening her eyes at the prospect Meela had hurt him so he couldn't talk.  "You can't speak."  He nodded this time.  "You can?"

He exhaled at that and grabbed her cheeks, pulling her forward and kissing her quickly in response.  She could just imagine his frustrated smile.  Then it hit her.  If he couldn't speak...  "Oh dear.  You can't stop her now, can you?"  He shook his head slowly.  Suddenly this small room felt a whole lot darker.

Evy blinked her eyes, her mind racing with questions of how they were going to defeat Meela if he couldn't speak.  She barely even noticed that he was drawing her down to the floor, laying little kisses on her throat.  Furrowing her brow, she absently pet his cheek and went through different scenarios and ideas while he went on caressing her.  Imhotep was nothing if not insistent and soon became frustrated with her not returning his attentions.  He sighed and pulled her arm strap down, which resulted in her pulling it right back up.  "Oh, no you don't.  Just because you can't talk doesn't mean you can just have anything you want," she told him, playfully smacking at his shoulder.

The priest exhaled and took her hand, placing her fingers on his lips.  He mouthed words to her and she swallowed, trying to decipher.  He repeated each word slowly.  "H-how?"  He nodded and went to the next word.  How...how can...how can I say...goodbye?  She widened her eyes at that.  "What do you mean by that?"

He spoke to her silently again. You know what I must do.  Imhotep placed her fingers again on his throat.  "No," she told him firmly, shaking her head.  She couldn't stop her voice from shaking.  "No, I don't know what you must do and you sure as hell aren't going to do it!"

Again Evy cycled through every single option she could come up with.  She knew what he was planning despite what she'd said and was not going to allow him to sacrifice his life like that.  Not when he'd just found a reason to change.  Besides, what if he couldn't speak all the words before he died?  It would have been for nothing.  "You can't mean that."

Kissing her palm, Imhotep nodded his head and pushed her back to the floor.  He hovered above her on his knees and spoke to her slowly.  Evy felt a lump in her throat when she finally understood him and her heart raced.  What would you have me do?  Will you accept my love again or deny me?  The choice was again put before her.  What would happen?  Would the cycle repeat itself if she choose to love him?  Many 'what if's' ran through her mind as he waited for her answer.

And she had to give it.  She did the only thing she knew to do.  Caressing her hand up his leg once more, Evelyn inhaled the ever present fire tainted scent of the air and looped her fingers around his belt.  One small tug and the priest removed her fingers gently, kissing them and laying down over her.  Evy's fears of what could happen between them were quickly replaced by other, warmer emotions as he pulled her gown strap from her arm once more.

*

Ardeth Bay stood in the center of the tiny, drawer filled room, his borrowed gun under one arm and fingers thumbing through a card index.  A smile spread across his lips as he pulled one out and showed it to Rick.  "Carnahan," he said kind of loudly.  He exchanged glances with Rick.

O'Connell grinned and looked out at Jonathan, who was in the lobby keeping watch.  "Carnahan," he echoed the Med-Jai, holding the card up.

"Carnahan," Jonathan mocked, heading towards them.  He frowned at his two companions.  "Why don't you just scream we're here?  What the devil is that thing, anyway?"  He reached for the card.

Rick pulled it away and smiled, reading it.  "Patient Number:  0356.  Name:  Carnahan, Joseph R.  Notes:  Likes to draw pictures of nude women on the walls."  The ex-Legionnaire peered up at Jonathan smartly.  "Uncle Joe?  You know this sort of thing runs in the family."  He dodged the other man's attempt to grab at the paper.  "How long do you think you have until you start raving?"

Rolling his eyes, Jonathan made for the card again and snatched it away, muttering, "Let me see this."  He tossed it to the floor with a smirk.  "That's Carnarvon.  Very funny."

"I am sorry, Jonathan," Ardeth said with a completely straight face.  "My mistake."  He looked around the room silently, listening to the building.  There wasn't a sound to be heard.  Except his coughing.  He covered his mouth and winced.  "Let's keep looking..."

...Meela crossed her arms, sitting down upon the chair that would send electricity into anyone that dared put the cap on their head.  She'd turned off all the lights to hide her presence.  Running her fingers across the arm straps, she smiled at this fascinating piece of machinery.  What the people of this time did to others of their kind was morbidly interesting.  Ancksunamun knew that Seti himself would have been repulsed by the idea behind this chair.  Set would be delighted to use it.

She exhaled and listened to the air.  "I feel you, Akhenre.  I know you are here, my love," she whispered, waiting patiently...

...Flipping the hall lights on and shocked that there was still power available to this half burned building, they crept through the hallways slowly, each man with a weapon drawn and his senses heightened.  Ardeth led the way.  She was here.  Somehow he just knew it for fact and yet there were no signs.  No sounds, no beasts, nothing.  The trio stopped at another door and Rick grasped the handle.

Just like all the others it was empty.  Ardeth groaned and cleared his throat, then coughed again.  "She is here."

Shaking his head, Jonathan rubbed his shoulder and kicked at a fallen chair.  His expression was dubious.  "How can you say that, old boy?  The place is deserted."

"I just know it," the Med-Jai replied, checking a closet carefully.  He wasn't sure exactly what it was, intuition, a connection to Anck-su-namun, or a spell, but something told him that the woman they sought was here.  He could almost feel her here.  Ardeth sighed and headed towards the door.  "This is the last hall.  Did anyone think to check the morgue?"  Neither man responded.  "Someone should do that now."

With a sigh, Rick headed out with Ardeth.  "I'll go," he said, clearly not too happy with the idea.

That left Ardeth and Jonathan alone to face Ancksunamun if she were lurking somewhere up here.  Two more rooms lay ahead of them.  The door on the left was labeled "Treatment" and the door to the right "Office".  Ardeth pointed to the right and nodded to Jonathan.  "Right.  You take the room with all the creepy stuff," the Englishman agreed, heading into his appointed room.

Turning to enter the treatment room, Ardeth paused, hearing something.  Oddly enough it seemed to come from right before him, but there was no door.  Only a wall.  The Med-Jai frowned and slowed his pace, moving with trained stealth into the treatment room.  He held tightly to his gun and reached for a light switch.

The room was empty.  He frowned and looked into every shadow and corner, but found nothing.  Jonathan came to the door and leaned against the frame, watching.  "No one in the office," he informed.

Ardeth furrowed his brow and looked around the room again as if it would somehow bring Anck-su-namun to him.  Naturally it did not.  "Let's go find Rick," he said, turning towards the door...

...With a soft little smile, Ancksunamun sat very still and watched Ardeth fail before her eyes.  She felt almost bad for him.  He looked so lost when he failed.  He looked so beautiful.  She wanted to touch him, his hair...his face.  But it wasn't time yet.  She would have him soon enough.

There was something so certain about his face and yet his eyes and ears told him that he was wrong.  Meela laughed.  "How I do enjoy the chase," she whispered, knowing he couldn't hear because of the spells she'd placed.  "Will you now follow me back to Egypt?"

For a moment her heart rate picked up.  Ardeth stopped at the door and turned back around, his eyes surveying the room one more time.  Almost as if he'd heard.  But his senses wouldn't confirm what his mind could perceive.  He turned away again and left, shutting the light off on the way out...

..."No one's in the morgue," Rick said as his two friends came down the small lift.  He leaned back against the front desk and waited.  "No one except...Joseph."  He wiggled his fingers suggestively at Jonathan.

Carnahan rolled his eyes and got off the lift.  There was a smirk on his face.  "You know, you shouldn't talk.  You don't know who your family really is.  Maybe Uncle Joe was your uncle."

The ex-Legionnaire shook his head, his expression mild.  "All the nuts in my family are in America," he replied.  His eyes met Ardeth's.  "No luck?"

The Med-Jai shook his head in puzzlement.  He looked back towards the lift, then at the floor, shaking his head.  "I was so sure."

"It happens," Rick said, clapping his friend on the shoulder.  "Let's go.  We've got a few more places to check out."

The three men exited the sanitarium, flipping the lights off on the way out.  Ardeth exhaled tiredly and glanced back over his shoulder.  Something wasn't right about this, but there was nothing he could do.  He got into the car slowly and sighed in defeat, gazing out the window towards the upper floors that had survived the fire.  She was somewhere near.  She had to be.

*

Hmm.  Hope this came out as good as the concept seemed.  On Buffy, the episode "Hush" was on, so I had to steal someone's voice this chapter. ;)  Plus this fits nicely with what I've got planned for the end end.  Hehehe.

Lol.  Anyhow. thankya, thankya.  :D  ***SARE**, glad to still have you. :D  Mija, glad to know I'm not the only one that gets that feeling!  hehehe!  Wildcardgal, yeas...I trying to make people see both sides of Meela.  hehehe.  ;)  RedLady, thanks for saying you thought I could be published!  That's quite nice to hear...I'd like to do that someday if I can work myself into it. :D  Deana, thanks for reminding me of the silly things I forget, IE: Ardeth's cold and for this chapter title. ;D  Pol and Alex, thanks for sticking around!  Yeah, Immy and Evy are cute, huh?  :P  I so need a boyfriend.  hehehe.  Sheri, I can't believe I didn't thank you the other chapter...:O  I feel bad.  Thanks for reading...I'm trying to give Jonathan as much as I can...I like him to have a piece of my stories too. :)  He's a good guy and I love writing him.

Anyhow, thanks again everyone!  Hope you're enjoying and you rock! -Angel