Title: Who
We Once Were - Chapter Ten - Paradigm Shifting
Rating: PG13
Author: Nine - http://www.oocities.org/ninthsaturn
Summary: Alternate universe where TMR didn't
take place. Evy's having strange dreams and returns
to Egypt and runs into an old friend.
Notes: No I'm not into torture. hehe. It simply fits the
story and what I'm saying about these characters. I dunno if this or
recent parts should have been R rated, but if I am mistaken in my ratings,
then sorry! :-)
*Looks for snipers in the trees* Er, ah. Yeah. Thanks
my friends, my reviewers. You guys are too cool. ;-)
**
Evy sat beside Rick, petting his hand and talking to him. What
did it matter if he couldn't hear? She needed to talk and even an
unconscious audience was good enough. Rubbing a hand over her brow,
she exhaled a shuddering breath and looked towards the exit to the other
chambers where Imhotep and Rameses were. "Oh, Rick. I've never
been so nervous in all my life." She rubbed her stomach softly and
swallowed. "Of course what Imhotep is planning out there isn't making
things any better either."
Evy absently began rubbing Rick's forehead. "Oh, I wish you'd
wake up. Give me some words of strength. I could use them right
now, you know. Imhotep is going to raise the dead Med-Jai tonight, Rick.
How can I stop him? He took Ardeth to the surface and let
him go. I know that dreadful priest isn't good at keeping his word,
but it appears that this time is an exception." She shrugged and
bit her nail.
"Rick, I just don't know what to do. If he raises the Med-Jai
tonight..." Evelyn frowned and looked again at the exit. She
sniffed and looked at Rick, sprawled out on the floor. His face looked
troubled in his sleep. "What did my wayward brother do to you, anyhow?"
She smoothed his hair back. "In a matter of a few days I've managed
to lose you, Ardeth and Jonathan - at least temporarily. Now I'm left
with decisions. How are we going to win this time?"
She sighed and looked at a golden statue that lay nearby on the cracked
floor. Something had to be done tonight. Imhotep was going to
act and the Med-Jai would surely be killed with an army of dead ancestors
and even long gone pharaoh's battling them. Imhotep, Lord of the Dead.
He could raises thousands upon thousands of soldiers, willing to
obey every command. She had to distract him somehow. Get him
to put off raising the dead until hopefully someone out there found out
what was going on. The idea made her very anxious. She laughed
nervously and shivered. "It won't be so bad, will it? I'm sure
if you were awake you'd tell me not to do anything. Not to worry about
it - that you and Ardeth would handle everything. But you're not awake."
Evy felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the arch, seeing Imhotep
and Jonathan talking. "But it will buy Ardeth time to reach his people.
Give him time to prepare them for the battle ahead.
"I'll be strong, Rick. You always told me that you believed I
was." She bent down and kissed his cheek and smiled at his sleeping
face. "I'll be back before you know it."
Steeling herself, Evy stood up and brushed off her dress. She
would stay strong for Ardeth, for Rick and Jonathan if he were still alive
somewhere within the twisted soul of Rameses. "All right," she murmured,
entering the main chambers.
Imhotep and Rameses immediately hushed and looked at her. The
priest stood from his place on the floor. "Nefertiri?" he questioned.
His eyes darkened at the interruption. "Do you need for something?"
Evy clasped her shaking hands together and forced herself to nod. "May
I have a word with you?" she said very quietly.
His eyes were troubled now. Furrowing his brow he moved to her,
so close. "I have things that must be attended to. What do you
wish to say?"
Evelyn didn't know exactly what to say or how to approach this without
sounding stupid. Her eyes met the floor and then raced back to his
at his exhale. "I've been thinking, Imhotep. About..." She
didn't know if she could go on. Ardeth needs time, Evy, she
told herself.
Imhotep laid his hand on her shoulder. "You have trouble speaking,
Nefertiri. You may be truthful with me always. I will not
punish you unjustly."
She could have laughed at that if she wasn't so nervous. But
of course to him these punishments were just. Taking a deep breath,
she licked her lips. The quicker she got it out the better. "I...I
want..." She just didn't know what to say to him. With a trembling
hand she reached for his bare stomach and started rubbing softly, trying
to tell him with her eyes what her lips forbid her to speak. "Don't
go tonight."
This caught him off guard. He stared at her for a moment, trying
to register exactly what she was communicating. "Nefertiri?" He
looked down at her hand and took it into his. "You wish me to stay
here in Hamunaptra this night?" Imhotep leaned close to her, his face
inches from hers. "You think one night's delay will help your Med-Jai
to prepare?"
Her eyes widened and she really started shaking. "No. I
don't! I just..." She suddenly found it hard to breathe.
He rubbed at her fingers softly, his eyes intense. "I know when
you lie to me, Princess. Do not mistake and think you can deceive
me." Imhotep watched her. "One night's delay will mean nothing.
Would you still have me stay here?"
Evy slid her gaze to Rameses who watched in interest. Imhotep
was wrong. One more night could mean everything. She tried to
fight the well of hopelessness that started to bubble within. She'd
be strong. Her eyes went back to his gaze once more. Fully expecting
him to laugh in sinister delight, she nodded. "I asked you not to
go and I meant it. This will come one way or another and I'd rather
it be my choice, not yours." She drew from the inner strength she
found within and locked eyes with him.
His eyes weren't boastful or triumphant, merely measuring. The
creature ran the back of his fingers down her cheek and considered it.
Without breaking the eye contact, he raised his voice. "Rameses,
we will not battle tonight. My Nefertiri wishes to sample her destiny
and I will not deny her." He finally turned to look at Jonathan.
"You will watch over the western warrior. We are not to be disturbed."
"Right," Rameses said, his brows furrowed as he gazed between them.
"Sure thing, Chap."
Imhotep turned back to her and clasped her arm. He didn't say
anything as he drew her from the chamber and down a hallway where they
could be alone. Evy bit her bottom lip and tried to think of something
else as he pulled her along. It was done now. She'd just committed
herself to this. It'll be all right, she kept telling herself,
trying to calm her nerves. It's better this way. If he
got mad and grew tired of waiting it might be worse.
When they entered a small room with several slabs in it, he pulled her
into his arms and kissed her with a fierce passion that worsened her fears.
As he finally pulled away, she exhaled and looked down at the floor.
He touched her lips softly and then tilted her chin up.
His gaze was soft and yet commanding. She couldn't tell what was
behind those eyes. "Do I frighten you?" She couldn't find the
will to speak right now and instead simply nodded. He closed his eyes
and slowly pressed his lips into hers, kissing and speaking against her.
"Close your eyes, Nefertiri." He moved to her neck, wrapping
his arms around her and closing her into him. His body was warm. Evy
wasn't sure why that surprised her really, but she was grateful that this
felt normal in some way. "Let go, my Princess."
Evy did close her eyes, letting go of herself, of her reality. Imhotep
kissed softly, let his hands explore slowly and gently. Whatever moved
him to be merciful when he could easily hurt her, she couldn't say but
was thankful. She was reminded of her dream when he picked her up
and carried her to one of the stone tables and laid her down. Her mind
went to Ardeth as she lay there letting this creature kiss her. She
wondered how Ardeth's touch felt. That small glimmer of hope left in
her clung to the hope that someday she'd find out. Prepare them,
Ardeth. Good luck.
**
When Ardeth awoke he immediately felt the warmth of a fire on his weary
body. Laying on his back wasn't exactly what he would call "comfy"
because of the cuts there and he could hear a few of the Med-Jai talking nearby
so he sat up. Ali stopped talking and looked at Ardeth. "You should
rest, Ardeth. You don't look so good."
Ardeth smiled, then winced. "I would agree with you. But
we have little time." He looked around at the small camp. "The
creature has been awakened once more."
Ali and another Med-Jai exchanged glances. "Ardeth, you know we
watch Hamunaptra continually. We have seen no one, including yourself,
go near the place where the city is buried."
Nodding, Ardeth sighed deeply. He was so tired, but he had to convey
to them what was going on. "He shielded your eyes from seeing. The
American is there and the woman Evelyn and her brother. They are
prisoners of Imhotep."
"Is the priest completely regenerated?" one of the Med-Jai asked.
Ardeth nodded and laid down partly, propped up by his elbows. He
groaned as his left shoulder burned and quickly shifted his weight onto
the right arm. "Yes and he seems to be more powerful than last time.
He plans to resurrect our ancestors to fight against us." There
was a murmuring among the Med-Jai that were awake. Ardeth sighed. He
wasn't so certain that hurrying to the Valley of the Kings was the answer.
Naturally he would want his people to prepare, but they had fought
hard in that dream and still lost. What could possibly be the key to
their winning this war?
Ali looked angry. "To raise our family against us is unthinkable!
That monster would desecrate our ancestors rest! I will destroy
him tonight!" Ali had always been quick to anger and battle.
Ardeth shook his head and sat up completely, groaning as he did so. "No.
You must not go to Hamunaptra tonight..." he started.
But Ali cut him off. "He must be stopped!"
Rubbing his thankfully uncuffed and scraped wrists, Ardeth shook his
head firmly. He tried desperately to convey the gravity of the situation.
"Ali, getting yourself killed in some fool attempt to strike out
at an enemy that could kill you before you even reached him will not help
our people." The young Med-Jai and he had argued before about when
the time to fight was. He prayed this time Ali would listen.
"Our people are fighters, Ardeth Bay. Perhaps you have forgotten
that while sitting in your father's museum and sleeping in your father's
bed." Ali crossed his arms defiantly.
Ardeth reached for the nearby warrior and laid a hand on his shoulder
firmly. Ignoring the young man's expression, Ardeth said, "I know you
are angered by this. I am no less. Yes we are mighty warriors
but there is a time to fight and a time to plan. Imhotep isn't going
to rush into an attack. He's going to weigh all of his options and
chose the one that's going to see him successful. My friend, if you
go tonight and try to kill that creature, he's going to kill you. I
have no desire to see that happen. Please, Ali."
His face softened and he sighed. "We will go to your uncle Elihu
and see what he says about this matter." Ali looked over the Med-Jai,
both sleeping and awake. "Our men are tired, Ardeth, but do we have
time to wait? It's only midnight."
Ardeth looked across the desert then over the warriors that surrounded.
"I don't know, my friend. I would like to think so, but it's
hard to tell with Imhotep. He's unpredictable." He looked in the
direction of Hamunaptra, worried for Evelyn's safety. The creature wouldn't
kill her, but what other things could happen? "Give the men an hour,
maybe two. Then we should leave."
Ali took a deep breath and nodded. "All right." Turning to
the Med-Jai that had stayed awake, he nodded again. "We'll do as
Ardeth says. Get as much rest as you can."
The Med-Jai complied quietly. Ardeth could sense an air of disquiet
among his companions as they settled. It felt strange for him to
be back with them. Good, but different. He sighed and positioned
himself on his stomach to avoid hurting the whip marks on his back. He
felt angry. Imhotep had caused so much suffering. He could
easily put aside the beatings he'd suffered, the words of insult, but not
the pain Evelyn was going through, nor the idea that Imhotep planned on using
his own people against him. It put an anger through him that was hard
to describe. There was an angry excitement that came with battle,
but these things went beyond that. Ardeth looked across the starry
sky and then closed his eyes tiredly. If Imhotep didn't come tonight,
he would surely come tomorrow. That didn't stop his resolve, though.
They would overcome. They would succeed.
**
Rick drowsily sat up and frowned when his blue eyes rested on Jonathan.
With a groan he licked his lips and looked at the ropes around his
legs and wrists. "Awake?" Rameses said, eyeing him. "Ready for
more?"
Shuddering, Rick shook his head. Whatever those spells were, they
weren't fun. "Give it a rest, will you. Didn't your monster,
I mean master return?" He rolled his eyes and scooted to sit
against the wall, hoping that Rameses would talk instead of chant. "How
long have I been out?"
Jonathan shrugged. "Some while. Hours. Imhotep did
return. Not that it's any of your business." He picked at his
sleeve and looked out the door.
Rick watched him a moment. He looked troubled. "What's wrong?
Did Master get mad at little Rameses for some reason?"
"Shut up," was his annoyed answer.
Rick smirked. He scratched his cheek. "Short and sweet. Where's
Evy?" Keep him talking, he thought, wanting to keep him firmly
away from placing those nightmarish spells on him again.
Rameses glanced over at the door again and shrugged. "Imhotep said
something about her wanting to sample her destiny and not to disturb them."
That set off a few alarms in Rick's mind. Just what the hell
does that mean? "What kind of destiny?"
"He didn't say," Rameses answered testily. "By the way she was
rubbing his belly and gazing at him I'd imagine it means she wanted to
sample him." He frowned.
Rick closed his fists and swallowed. God, Evy. No. You
didn't. "I'm gonna kill him." That made his heart ache,
thinking she'd given herself like that. No doubt buying time or buying someone's
freedom. Maybe his own. Funny, it seemed to even bother Rameses.
"You don't look exactly happy about this. Why?"
"How I feel isn't any of your business, O'Connell," Jonathan retorted
without looking.
Rick licked his lips and pressed further. "Maybe you feel bad because
part of you is still Jonathan. He loves Evy and wouldn't want to see
her get hurt."
Rameses met Rick's gaze and pointed. "Jonathan is dead. Don't
make the mistake of thinking he lives in me. He doesn't anymore." Leaning
against the wall, he exhaled. "I never did get to tell you how I killed
her."
"You didn't." The room was chilly, Rick thought. Or perhaps
it was the feelings within him making him cold. "Did it make you happy
to see her dead?"
The Betrayer shrugged. "Funny thing is I'm not sure." He shook
his head. "No, I was happy with it. I laid her out on a stone
slab and took a knife to her. She screamed for a while but then as
she was dying I could see almost a relief in her eyes and a sadness. Funny
how life turns out."
Rick grunted and rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Funny." He
rubbed the back of his neck and yawned. "So a part of you didn't miss
her?"
Rameses looked down. He started rubbing his fingers together absently.
"Why are you asking me these things?"
"'Cause I wanna know what kind of man kills his family like they mean
nothing to him."
Jonathan watched him for a moment and sighed. "Those were different
times, Rick. You don't know our ways. Family didn't mean as much
to Rameses as it did to Jonathan."
Rick nodded softly. "But who are you? Are you Rameses or are
you Jonathan? I see Jonathan in you so I assume that darkness is Rameses."
Betrayer picked up a golden vase and examined it, then threw it. "Both
and neither, I guess. More Rameses than anything and you would do good
to remember that."
"Maybe," Rick conceded. "But I don't think so. I think there's
more Jonathan in you than you let on."
Rameses didn't bother to answer him. He brooded silently, starting
out into the other chambers. Rick sighed, wondering how Evy was doing.
If she was okay. His chest hurt when he thought about her.
**
"Poor little Nefertiri," Rameses said coldly when Nefertiri entered
the throne room. He sat upon his father's throne, now ruler of all
Egypt. "Father's dead now. Just like Mother. And your sweet promised
husband, dishonoring you with none other than Father's concubine." He
tsk'd. "Now he's dead too, just like your Med-Jai."
Nefertiri looked out one of the great windows, looking out across the
desert sands. "Everyone dies. You will die too someday, Rameses."
At this Rameses laughed and looked at his guards. "You are dismissed."
"My Pharaoh," the chief Med-Jai said, bowing and leading the others to
leave their king and his sister in privacy.
Rameses watched his sister for a long time. "Yes. I will die.
Not so soon as you, I think."
Nefertiri turned and stared icily. "What do you mean?"
"You are the lone survivor in this mess. The only one left to grieve."
He stood from his throne and approached. "You should have been
more like me, Nefertiri. Shouldn't have let yourself care." Rameses
tangled his fingers into her hair and drew her into his embrace. "My
poor sweet Sister. You've had such pain." He rubbed her back. "I'll
end the pain for you."
Nefertiri tried to pull away as he drug her into a room behind the throne
room. She screamed and struggled when he pushed her onto a stone slab
and pulled his knife from his belt. "Brother, no!" she cried out, trying
to push him away. "Don't do this."
Rameses' eyes glinted as he began finding places to cut into her flesh.
"I'm going to erase your pitiful existence from history just like
Father did for Moses. I am Egypt and what I say will be seen as fact.
My beloved sister fell quite ill and had to be put out of her misery."
Rameses pressed the knife into her arm making her scream out.
Nefertiri squirmed on the table and tried to wrench herself from her brother's
torment, but to no avail. "Please," she begged, trying to grasp his
hand.
Rameses started cutting into her collarbone, making her scream even harder.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way, Sister."
She'd screamed until her voice simply ran out and was replaced by pitiful
whimpers. Her struggles lessened until she simply lay there, writhing
in pain and crying. Rameses stopped his game and looked down at the
damage he'd done. With a frown and hooded eyes, he held the knife up
one last time and plunged it into her stomach. "It's all over now,
Nefertiri." He wiped her wet cheeks. "Shhh."
She stared up at him, her eyes continually asking him why he'd done this,
how he could do it. It didn't take her long to die. Her sadness
was finally over.
Rameses dropped the knife and went to the window, gazing out and gripping
the long drape. He ignored the blood from his hand that stained the
white fabric.
**
Evy licked her lips and looked up at the cracked ceiling above her
as she stretched. She winced as she sat up. Sleeping on a hard
stone slab wasn't exactly the most comfortable way to rest. Evelyn
sighed and laid back down, pillowing her head on her arms and looking at
the stone wall that had chiseled pictures on it. She wondered what
time it was, where Imhotep was. There was no sign of him now.
Maybe he's off reflecting, she thought with a groan. She closed
her eyes and yawned. One thing was certain, she herself wasn't ready
for reflection. "Rick," she whispered, pulling her mind to the here
and now as she stood up and drew her cotton jacket around her.
Exiting the chamber, she looked at the maze of hallways that Imhotep had
dragged her through last night. Funny, she couldn't remember it being
so complicated before. She took a breath and braved the halls, finding
her way momentarily. When she entered the main chambers she found
it empty. "Rick? Rameses?" She rubbed her shoulder. "Imhotep?"
"Evy?" Rick's voice came from the side room. "Where are you?"
She rushed in and went to his side. Rick was tied to another column
and looked pretty miffed about it. "Where's Imhotep and Rameses?"
Rick shrugged and urged her to untie him. "Rameses got kind of mad
last night because I was saying some things that I think made him mad or
at least helped Jonathan come out. I fell asleep for a while but woke
up to him grumbling to himself. He got fed up and left, muttering something
about raising the Med-Jai for himself."
Evy gasped as she worked the last knot out. "He can't do that. Imhotep
is the Master of the Dead. He should have command over them, not Rameses."
The American raced to his feet and went into the main chambers, after
his guns. Evy followed. "What are we going to do? What about
Imhotep?"
Rick stopped short and turned, looking at her. "He came in here about
an hour ago and asked about Rameses I assumed. So I pointed up and
he stormed out of here, madder than hell." He paused for a few seconds,
wanting to ask her but not sure if he should. "Evy..."
She shook her head and closed her eyes. "Not now, Rick. We've
got to get out of here."
They both turned towards the stairs and stopped when they saw Imhotep racing
down with a worried expression on his face. "Nefertiri," he said, ignoring
the fact that O'Connell had a gun drawn on him. "Rameses has taken the
Black Book and vanished. I searched but could not find him, but I believe
he wishes to raise the dead for himself." He took notice of Rick and
shook his head. "We have no time for this foolishness! You do
not wish me to rule over this world, but I tell you true that Rameses would
be much worse a master. We cannot allow this!"
Rick glanced quickly at Evy but kept his watchful eyes on Imhotep. "What's
he saying?"
"He says that he couldn't find Rameses and that he thinks Rameses is going
to try and..." she shook her head, "rule the world. He says we must
stop him."
Rick smirked. "Yeah so he can take over."
Evy looked back at Imhotep. "How can Rameses take control? Aren't
you the Master of the Dead or something like that?"
Imhotep eyed Rick and held up a hand. "Remember the spell that gave
him control before? When last we were here at Hamunaptra? That
is how. Are we going to have trouble with this one?"
Taking in a breath, Evelyn looked back to Rick again. "He wants to
know if you're going to be trouble."
Rick glared at Imhotep. "Yes! Yes I'm gonna be trouble for
that bastard! By all means!" He cocked his gun and pointed.
The dread priest advanced with deadly intent in his eyes. Evy gasped
and stepped in front of Rick, switching back to Egyptian. "Imhotep,
please. He's just angry and you can hardly blame him." She placed
a hand on Imhotep's shoulder. "Please."
Imhotep glared over her shoulder and then turned around with a frustrated
sigh. "Why I give you my continued mercy is beyond my grasp, Nefertiri!
By rights I should kill both of you where you stand!"
Rick grunted, motioning with his gun. "What's got his loincloth in
a knot?"
Evy turned and smiled softly. "He's not going to kill you and it
makes him angry." She lowered his gun. "Live today, fight tomorrow."
The American frowned and shoved his gun into his holster. "Yeah. Right.
Sure. What does he want?"
Evelyn trembled, touching Imhotep's shoulder to turn him. He whirled
around and caught her wrist, his eyes flashing. "Is he agreeable?"
She looked once at Rick and then nodded hesitantly. "For now. He
wants to know what you want to do."
Imhotep pointed around the chambers. "Help me find the Book of Amun
Ra and pray to whatever gods you believe in that Rameses does not have it."
Evy sighed and translated for Rick. He nodded. "I'll help him
find that book all right. Find it and destroy that jerk."
Imhotep laughed, reading his intent as he clasped his hands together. "Nefertiri,
I forbid you to search alone. You will come with me and he shall search
on his own, bringing the book to me if he does find it."
She looked at the beam of sunlight that shot down from the hole in the ceiling
atop the stairs and sighed, longing for this to be over. "Rick, he knows
you can't read or speak the ancient tongue. You're to look alone while
I search with him. Rick, what are you going to do?"
He glared at the creature, full of rage. Through gritted teeth he
answered, "I'll give him the book, Evy. I swear I'll kill him as soon
as I find a weakness. I promise you that."
Evelyn took a weary breath and nodded. "We'll get out of this, Rick.
All of us." She turned to Imhotep. "He said he'd give you
the book."
Imhotep pointed down a chamber to the left. "Search there," he told
Rick.
Rick scowled and turned, disappearing into the shadowy halls. Imhotep
grasped her wrist and yanked her down the hall to their right. "Teach
me your words, Nefertiri."
Evy gulped and licked her lips nervously. That was an advantage she
didn't want to give. "What words?"
He pulled her into a room and started looking. "How will I recognize
'yes'?"
She frowned sullenly and told him the English translation. "And we
say 'no' instead of 'ni'. I don't think I can teach you the whole language
very quickly. English is complicated."
He blatantly ignored her and kept on. "How do I say lost?"
That puzzled Evy. "Why would you want to know that?" she replied,
looking at him from an open coffin she'd been peering at.
Imhotep grinned and shook his head. She found that very strange on
him. "Because I believe I have lost my mind," he answered wryly.
With wide eyes, she looked down and sighed in English, "Oh my."
He ignored that too. "And how would you say what you felt about what
happened between us last night? Say it in your language." He turned
to her and took her hand, holding it to mirror his own.
Evy swallowed and opened her mouth several times. She flooded with
conflicting emotions. "I..." she finally said in English. "You
frightened me, Imhotep. But I don't know what was worse, the fact that
we did what we did or the fact that you weren't yourself. Or maybe you
were more yourself than you ever let us see." She paused for a moment,
gathering her composure, then, "I'm sorry you've had so much pain in your
life." She turned away, not knowing why she had any feelings of compassion
for this evil monster. Covering her lips, she gazed at the torch on
the wall before closing her moistening eyes.
This wasn't a reaction Imhotep was expecting. He didn't press her
for a translation. Turning away from her, Imhotep began searching the
room in silence, leaving Evy to her thoughts. She took a shuddering
breath and began to help him and wondered if he knew what she'd said by her
eyes. Something told her he did.