*

Evelyn sat on the hard floor, her back to the wall and her eyes locked ahead.  Meela stood back like any good servant would as her master watched them and pondered.  Asenath was still, her eyes taking in each of them in cold consideration.  She held her hands hidden within the sleeves of her dark flowing robes.  Her eyes were painted with black, heavy makeup and her lips stained ruby, but nothing could hide the scars on her cheeks.  The markings were unlike anything Evy had ever seen, but without a doubt it was likely something that proclaimed that the high priestess's soul belonged to Set.  "The Med-Jai will not tell us, my young priestess," she said to Meela, marking Evy's once companion as a slave of Set.  "I will call forth our God.  Let him deal with their disobedience."

Beside Evy Ardeth kicked dirt towards the priestess, growling, "Your 'god' is no more than a demon!  Conjure the image of your demon, but it will do no good.  I will die a thousand times before I tell you where even one of the seals rest!"

To Evy's surprise the priestess did not frown or spit angry words back at Ardeth.  Her red lips merely twisted into a dark smile that held contempt and amusement.  "Perhaps Set can teach you otherwise," she commented.  Asenath dropped to her knees before Evy, Ardeth and the unconscious Omar.  Her long fingers began tracing hieroglyphs in the dust gently as her lips moved.  Her lulling voice was no more than a whisper as she sweetly called on the name of Set.

A sickly blue light began to slowly fill the room drawing to one point before Asenath.  Her chant became faster and her eyes more hungry as the light collected and started to form an image.  The being was no more than a blue fire, the image of a man covered in pure light.  She spoke to it in the ancient tongue and it turned quickly, gazing at the three of them.  It's eyes burned blacker than the depths of the sea and it's voice echoed violently as it spoke in ancient Egyptian, demanding to know where the seals were.  Evy gasped and flattened against the wall.  "It is no more than an illusion," Ardeth told Evy quickly.  "It cannot harm you if you accept it for what it is."

Asenath stepped around the glowing demon and knelt before Ardeth, her hand tangling in his long, dark hair.  She pulled him forward and smiled, touching his cheek with her other hand.  "You are smart, Med-Jai," she told him, her blue eyes gazing into his intently, "but the eyes aren't so easy to convince.  Your eyes will doubt you and betray you, and you will succumb to the power that is Set's."  She turned her head then and looked at Meela, whose eyes were frightened and awed.  "But first I must attend to her.  Set will delight in a new servant, then he will delight in tormenting you."  She stood up and spoke once more to the creature before them.

"My God," Evy breathed, scooting a little closer to Ardeth as if it would offer her any more protection than she already had.  She watched the creature turn it's black gaze to Meela, it's blue lips twisting into a hideous grin.  "What will happen?"

Ardeth also watched, his eyes sympathetic, but cold.  "It will seal her to itself.  She will belong to the demon."

Evelyn bit her lip, watching Meela go to her knees.  The blue light softly lit up her face and Evy felt a pang of guilt wash through her.  If she hadn't brought Meela this would not be happening.  If they had never come.  "Will there be any hope for her?" she asked, unable to hide her sorrow.

"Redemption is always available to those who seek it," he answered sadly.  "I fear after this she will not want it."

The blue creature closed in on it's new servant and crouched, closing it's two large hands over Meela's cheeks.  Uttering dark words it held her and Meela's eyes closed tight.  She wrapped her hands around it's wrists and held on instinctively, her body shuddering as something evil swept through her.  The young woman writhed in it's grasp and whimpered continually as it spoke to her, sealing her fate to itself.  Her cries grew louder and Evy looked away.  "It's hurting her," she stated, almost afraid that by watching she too would be drawn in by it's awful presence.

Ardeth kept gazing, his eyes clouded in sadness and a hopeless firm intent.  "No," he corrected Evy, "she is not in pain."  His voice didn't cover up his disgust.  "It is the ecstasy of conversion.  Her small reward for an eternity of sorrowful servitude to that creature.  She will suffer an even greater pain than the Hom-Dai."

A few tears made their way to Evy's cheeks as she gazed at the floor.  "It's all my fault."

"You could not have known," Ardeth replied gently.  He looked at her with reassuring eyes.  "It is I who have failed by not getting you out of here before this could happen."

Before Evy could argue the ritual before them ended and Set let his new priestess go.  Meela slumped to the ground and fought for air, her face flushed and her body shaking.  Evy could see her cheeks were scarred with the same markings Asenath bore.  When she finally composed herself enough, Set watching her in an otherworldly lust and pleasure, she looked up.  It was as if someone else were gazing at Evy with a knowing, contempt filled grin.  "Nefertiri," she hissed, coming to her feet.

Asenath bowed before the demon creature and smiled.  "Behold your new bride, my master."

Her eyes were hungry and she was still shaking, but her expression was alight with new purpose.  "My master," she acknowledge the creature.  "Let me again prove my loyalty to you as I did so long ago.  Let my wring the location of the seals from these infidels for you and when they are screaming the truths you wish to hear I will make them a sacrifice for you."

Set's face was grotesquely pleasured as he took in his new servant with pride and bliss.  "Serve me," he granted her, then pointed to Evy.  "But I want that one to be unharmed.  I will punish her for interfering with our previous plans."

"I don't like the sound of that," Evy breathed, again scooting closer to the Med-Jai.

Ardeth looked at her urgently, shaking his head.  "Listen carefully to me, Evy," he said, knowing his time was growing short.  The image of Set was only an illusion of the demon behind it, but Meela was a flesh and blood being that could cause harm.  "Don't forget what I told you.  That creature is just an illusion and if you know within yourself what it really is, it cannot truly harm you.  The real creature is locked by three seals that are scattered apart.  Only if they are broken can the real demon take form."

Meela came to them and knelt down, taking Ardeth's black robe in her hands and yanking him up.  "Come with me, pretty one," she sneered.  His wrists were bound behind his back, but Ardeth fought against Meela as best he could, kicking her to the floor.  Neither Set nor Asenath made any move to assist the newly made priestess as she stood and drew her dagger, slashing the leg that had offended her.

Ardeth held his pain in without making a sound, but staggered back from the searing cut that now adorned his right thigh.  Meela jerked him forward and held the knife to his throat and said, "I'm going to make this very painful, my friend, and by the time I am through you will beg to tell me where the seals are."

"Never!" Ardeth shouted, shoving his body backwards into her.

Evy winced as Meela slashed at Ardeth again and again, giving him more cuts down his back.  The once friendly companion of hers was now cruel and merciless as she pushed Ardeth to the floor on the other side of the room.  The warrior lay on his back now, prone to whatever torments Meela would think up.

Meela's eyes were lit by a great blue fire as she hovered over Ardeth.  The newly made priestess opened the Med-Jai's dark robes and smiled down on him with a dreadful delight.  Evy held her breath unconsciously, watching with sorrow for Ardeth.  He had come to stop this madness and was now the focus of a painful offering to a demon.  The priestess lifted her dagger up and pushed aside Ardeth's shirt, the remainder of covering he had over his chest.  Of course Evy knew he could withstand large amounts of torment, but it made her no less frightened.

The Med-Jai below Meela waited with firm, fixed eyes.  He stared her head on, willing to accept what was going to happen now.  The cuts she began inflicting were strangely not as horrific as Evy would have expected.  The blade touched Ardeth's chest only lightly, just enough to make the warrior wince at the sting, but no more.

Evelyn sat up straighter, trying to see what exactly was going on.  This puzzled her.  The demon Set watched with pleased interest, then laughed, obviously knowing whatever it was Meela was doing.  Beside Evy the other Med-Jai groaned and stirred.  He lifted his head and gazed forward.  When it hit him what was happening, he jerked and yelled, "Ardeth!"

Asenath kicked his jaw, sending him back into the wall.  "Silence," was her command, sweet and lulling, deadly serious.

Omar sat up once more and scowled at the creatures before him.  "What has happened?" he whispered to the stranger beside him.

The look she gave the older Med-Jai was worried.  She nodded towards Meela and said, "She awakened Asenath.  They want to know where some seals are."

The Med-Jai swore and gazed at their captors.  "Come closer," he breathed, barely audible.  Evy scooted closer, pretending to do so out of fear when the priestess gazed at her sharply.  She leaned into the warrior and waited for whatever it was he was going to say.  To her surprise he didn't say anything, but slid his bound hands close to hers and began to work on the rope that tied her.  Evy swallowed when the ties loosened, but she didn't pull her hands out.  "When you see an opportunity," he said in that same soft voice, muffled as Ardeth groaned a little, "run as fast as you can and get help."

Evy shivered at the new responsibility pushed into her lap, but knew that it was important that she do what he asked.  Even if it got her killed in the trying.  The demon and it's high priestess had their backs turned, a perfect opportunity for Evy to slip to the door nearby and run.

Slowly she crawled towards the door, trying in desperation to not make a sound.  Once she reached the false safety of the shadows, she stopped and looked back into the room, unable to stop herself from making sure Ardeth was okay.  He lay beneath Meela's knife, his breathing now coming in gasps.  Evy got to her feet and peered at his chest, trying to make out what was there.

She covered her lips, seeing not just random cuts there.  The blood on his chest was formed in a pattern, the words of a spell.  She didn't have time to decipher it.  "My pretty Med-Jai," Meela crooned, lifting her dagger and looking at the blood on it in the light.  Evy slipped back from the door.  She could hear Ardeth wheezing and groaning.  Then someone gasped and Meela cried, "She is gone!"

Evy bolted then, not hesitating for a second to hear whatever they said next.  It was about halfway down the dark hall that she realized she was at a terrible disadvantage.  She was surrounded by blackness with no torch.  Her hand instinctively went to the wall and she felt her way into another hallway, traveling it's length as quickly as she could manage.  She fought the well of hopelessness that came with the nagging thought that she'd never find her way out of here.

She didn't hear Meela attempt to come after her, nor Asenath's laugh when she said, "Let her go.  That leads to the back of the temple.  The tunnels are intricate and dark.  She'll never escape that way."

*

"You know something," O'Connell mused, the back of his white hat blowing in the breeze.  His blue eyes were squinted in the brightness of the morning.  He grinned at Jonathan.  "Traveling by camel is kind of annoying."

Jonathan grinned back, yanking a bottle from the pack on his saddle.  He uncapped it and drank deeply, then offered his companion some.  "Yes," he agreed, taking in the desert sands around them.  It looked endless.  "We'll have a lot to thank Evy for once we find her and her little friend."

Rick nodded and held the bottle down beside him, tapping it thoughtfully against his thigh.  They had waited a day for the Med-Jai to make some sort of contact again, but it didn't happen.  Well, Rick wasn't going to wait any longer.  In the middle of the night he had hustled Jonathan to Fort Brydon for supplies and then onto the nearest camel they could buy.  He sighed.  "If this even is Evy."

Evy's brother snatched the bottle back and took another drink, then capped it and returned it to it's home inside his pack.  "All the signs point that way, old boy."

"Yeah," Rick muttered, sitting up and becoming alert now.  "Hear that?"

Jonathan frowned in thought and listened to the surrounding desert.  "Horses?"

O'Connell picked up the pace a little and nodded his head.  "Sounds like it to me.  Let's hope this is good company."

The two men rode in silent caution, waiting for whoever it was to show themselves.  It wasn't long before two riders appeared in the brightness ahead.  Their black robes made Rick a little more easy.  They were likely Med-Jai.  At least Rick hoped.  He sat up and took note of where his guns were.

Riding fast, the warriors made straight for the duo on camels.  Rick grunted, envying their horses.  As they neared he could see the tell tale tattoos that marked who they were.  A young Med-Jai riding alongside a man of middle years.  They stopped right in front of Rick and Jonathan and the camels bellowed at having to cease their running so quickly.  Rick winced at the sound, then smiled.  "I take it this isn't a pleasure ride?" he greeted.

The two Med-Jai exchanged expressions and Rick could tell by their stance something was up.  He groaned mentally.  The elder of the two spoke up.  "We were on our way to Cairo."  He seemed to look them over.  "You are O'Connell and Carnahan?"

Rick nodded his head, wondering how the man knew who they were.  "Yeah, that would be us.  You have a message for us?"

The warrior nodded gravely.  "We were coming to speak with some of our men in the city, but we were also told to find you and inform you that the two women that were seen in the desert have disappeared.  Do you know if they are the ones you seek?"

It was Jonathan who said, "We're pretty sure.  Where's my sister?"  His voice was a little frightened now that there might be danger.

The younger of the Med-Jai spoke up, his youthful voice worried but trying to hide it.  "They disappeared yesterday.  A few of our men were watching them and they too have disappeared without a trace."

O'Connell frowned at this news.  He wasn't liking the start of this week, that was certain.  He held up a hand.  "Whoa, whoa.  Hold on.  Where were they headed?"

The two looked at each other again as if deciding how much they should know.  Finally the elder again spoke.  "I was part of the watching party before they disappeared.  The women had passed the area of Hamunaptra and Omar and Ardeth went after them, wondering if they were going to a sacred temple close by.  They were going to bring the women to the Med-Jai encampment, but no one has returned.  The Med-Jai are on their way to the temple to see if they are there.  This boy and I were sent to Cairo to speak with an elder there."

This wasn't getting any better Rick noticed.  He looked out into the distance and exhaled deeply.  "What's this temple look like?  Where is it?  We're going to go see if we can help."

The Med-Jai lead their horses to the side.  The older one locked eyes with Rick.  "The temple is hidden in rock that is no more than a few hours north of Hamunaptra.  We would go with you but for our mission in Cairo."  His dark gray eyes were very serious.  "There is danger out there, my friend.  Take care not to disturb another grave."  With that the two Med-Jai rode off towards the city.

"That sounded promising," Jonathan remarked as they started back up again.  "What do you suppose he meant by "disturb another grave" anyhow?  You don't suppose there's another mummy out there?"

Rick shrugged, shaking his head and looking at his friend.  "I hope not.  And if there is, I hope Evy didn't wake it."

Jonathan sank into his saddle and pulled his bottle out again, breathing, "Right."

*

Ardeth lay on the floor quietly, not sure what had been done to him.  Meela had cut him, he knew, and her determination hadn't been without purpose.  Her blade had been lightly applied and it seemed that's all that was needed to bring him down.  He now felt tired and winded, his body weak as if he had a fever.  There was something being said about Evy...she'd run away?  His head was spinning.

"I will go after her," Meela insisted to her high priestess.  The room was lit only by candle light now.  The illusion was gone.  Through blurred eyes Ardeth could see Meela and Asenath looking in his direction.  "I'll take this Med-Jai for a run."

Asenath didn't reply right away, but relented after consideration.  Her smile was soft and cold.  "Good idea, my child.  Perhaps after some running he might be a little easier to convince.  I'll have a talk with our new friend here."

Ardeth looked to where Omar sat, his black eyes glittering in contempt as he eyed Asenath.  His friend would put up a valiant fight, Ardeth knew from experience.  Omar was an older warrior, a Med-Jai in every sense of the word.  He prayed for his friend's safety.

Laying there on the hard floor, Ardeth also prayed that he would be allowed to rest.  He could feel the blood dripping from his chest down his side and the fresh cuts stung in the cold air.  But of course his wish wouldn't be granted.  Meela knelt down over him and wrapped her hands around each side of his open shirt, then pulled him to his feet.  Ardeth felt dizzy at the suddenly motion.  She pulled her long dagger out once more and circled him, stopping behind him.  "Let's go find Evy, shall we, my friend?"

"I am not your friend," Ardeth growled low, pulling at the bonds over his wrists.  Even that small act made him feel weak and breathless.  He looked down at the hieroglyphs on his chest.  A spell that would keep him in constant pain and weakness.

Meela laughed at that and smiled.  "Yes, Med-Jai.  It's rough to fight now, isn't it?  Your pretty head is spinning, your body prone and weak like a newborn kitten."  She took the knife and slashed it across Ardeth's back.  "Run."

It took him a moment to register what she was going to do, but when the blade hit his back again he started moving.  He quickly entered the dark hallway as Meela followed, torch and knife in hand.  His cruel punisher kept a fast pace, cutting him if he didn't move fast enough.  Truth be told, he didn't know how long he was going to be able to stand this.  His body hurt all over and his lungs were already begging for air.  Her spell worked well.  When someone is going to torture you there are certain things you expect to happen.  This wasn't one of those things.

The hallways were shadowy and chilled.  Ardeth staggered forward and tried to maintain a good distance from Meela, but the spell was taking everything out of him.  Several times he slowed and was punished with another cut on his back, shoulders or arms.  He felt like he had been running for days on end without any water and little sleep.

"Evelyn," Meela called out in a mock friendly tone, her black eyes ever searching for any trace of her once companion.  "Your Med-Jai friend and I are trying to find you.  He looks a little tired, though.  Perhaps you should stop hiding for his sake.  Otherwise I might have to run him all night."

"No!" Ardeth managed, slowing down and dodging Meela's knife just in time.  "Evelyn, stay hidden!"

Meela laughed lightly at that and started walking a little faster.  Ardeth groaned but matched her pace, panting for air.  "He might die, Evelyn.  Do you want that to happen?"

A wave of dizziness swept over Ardeth and he stumbled, falling to his knees.  This weakness was unreal and he growled in frustration.  Meela kicked him down onto his chest and said, "Get up."

Ardeth tried to comply for his own sake rather than any fear of what she might do, but his body wouldn't allow it.  His strength was blocked by the ancient words carved into his chest.  "Untie me," he ventured, wondering if she'd cut him again instead.

To his surprise Meela did cut open the ties around his wrists, obviously confident that he was too weak to fight her in this condition.  He wasn't sure she was wrong, either.  His hands pressed against the cold stone below and he pushed himself up on all fours, but despaired at having to stand fully.  Closing his eyes, he whispered, "I cannot."  His inability made him feel ashamed.

She picked up on that in his voice and knelt beside him, brushing his hair away from his face.  He glared at her.  "I can be merciful," she told him, her face almost sincere.  "You can't stand and walk."  She ran her hand down his cheek, wiping the feverish sweat away.  "So you may crawl."

Ardeth clenched his teeth as she stood up.  The anger within him lent some strength and he managed to get to his feet.  He leaned against the wall for a moment as she laughed.  Her knife brushed against his arm as he caught his breath, and she watched his face while she cut him.  He was thankfully too dizzy to register the pain fully, but he saw an opportunity.

Mustering any strength left in him, he lunged for the torch and put it out against the wall.  Meela cried out in surprise when the hallway suddenly went dark all around her and her captive was out of stabbing range.  Ardeth blindly walked as quickly as he could manage, touching the wall for guidance and entering every other hallway he came across.  He could hear Meela fumbling through the darkness in pursuit and while his escape was well made, he knew she'd eventually catch him.

But suddenly arms went around his waist, pulling him away from the sound of the angry priestess behind him.  "We've got to hide," she whispered, urging him on gently.

It was all too much, unfortunately.  Ardeth felt his legs give out and he again went to his knees.  "I can't," he said softly, his hands shoving her away.  "Go."

Evy knelt before him, trying to get him to stand, but he just couldn't.  "Come on, Ardeth.  I won't leave you."  She sat on her knees before him.  "Please try for me."

He nodded despite knowing she couldn't see, and with her help pulled himself up.  They took it slow, twisting and turning through any and every doorway and hall they found.  From behind the sound of Meela's footfalls ceased.  "You will both die in this maze," she called out, then stalked away.  Her steps echoed through the hallways, trailing off.

At this Ardeth let himself sink to the floor and he leaned against the wall, gasping for air.  Evy went down beside him, her hands finding his forehead.  "You're burning up.  What did she do to you?"

"A spell," he began falteringly.  His muscles ached.  "Some spell to weaken me.  I can't breathe well."

Evy took his hand and pet it sympathetically.  She too leaned against the wall.  "What are we going to do?" she asked him, her voice telling him that she didn't really expect an answer.

He sighed and closed his eyes, thankful to be able to rest.  "We have to escape, but someone in that room said that we went through the wrong door.  We've got to get past that room."

He heard her groan at that and exhale.  "It's hopeless."

"No," he replied quickly.  He swallowed and rubbed at his temples as if it would wipe the throbbing away.  "We must try and we must prevail.  Omar will help us if he can.  We have to get out of here and warn the others."

"What will stop her?" she asked after a moment's silence.

Ardeth shook his head instinctively.  "I'm not sure anyone knows.  We might...have to get help."  He knew that wasn't all together very clear, but part of him didn't care.  He was very tired.

"Get help?" Evy said to him, her voice confused.  "What do you mean?"

He couldn't bring himself to think straight enough to give her an answer, but the idea was somewhere in his mind of what he thought they must do.  I must be delirious, he thought wryly, then remembered she was waiting patiently for him to respond.  "Help," he explained as clearly as he could.  "From Hamunaptra."

Evy was silent a moment, most likely wondering what he meant by that.  He wanted to explain it more, but didn't feel up to it.  The last thing he heard was, "I'll get you out of here."  He thought a silent 'thank you' before letting the blackness take him.

*
Thanks again to my reviewers.  :)  I hope this chapter didn't travel too fast...I'm assured it doesn't.  Anyhow, lemme know what ya think.   Thanks -Angel

Also, big thanks to Deana for her reading it before and telling me what she thought.  :)  She's a great encourager!