Title: Who
We Once Were - Chapter Eleven - Approaching Revelations
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.
Anyone save that frisbee from a few chapters back? ;-) I was curious,
if I decided to, would a story written around the dream sequences in this
one be interesting? One about the whole Ankhwa/Nef/Im/Ram incident?
hehehe. Just curious! Thanks a bunch, reviewers! You
are the lifeblood of this long story....well, long for me. Hehe.
**
Evelyn sat against the wall, watching as Imhotep tied Rick down
to keep him out of trouble. Her friend didn't take very kindly to
the idea but had settled down when Imhotep back handed him a few times.
Rick scowled as the creature stood up and retreated to the other
side of the room to pace and brood. They hadn't found the book and
to their fear it appeared Rameses had it. "He's in a greeaaat mood,"
Rick commented sourly.
Evy sighed and rubbed her hands together. "Rameses could
make him mortal again. I'm sure he's worried about that as well
as the fact that Rameses is likely to take over great armies of the dead."
Rick frowned. "Who's to say that Rameses killing off Imhotep
is a bad idea? After we get him out of the way we could find a
way to take care of Rameses. Maybe there's something you could
chant that could get him out of Jonathan."
Evy shrugged. "I hope so, Rick." She sighed, praying
that were the case. No more Jonathan? No...no that couldn't
be right, could it? Her heart ached at the thought of her adventuring
and light hearted brother being forever gone. She didn't want to
think of that possibility now.
"Hey," Rick said softly as he watched her. She turned to look
at him. His eyes were concerned and questioning. "Evy, I
gotta know something."
Evy steeled herself. This was going to have to surface some
time she supposed. Swallowing, she told him, "Go on."
The ex-Legionarre scratched his thigh and looked away, his eyes
distant as if he were afraid to mention what was on his mind. "Did
Imhotep...did he and you..." He met her eyes. "Did you give
yourself to him last night? If you don't want to talk about it you
don't have to. I would just like to know."
She wrapped her arms around her knees and pondered how to answer
him. "Well," she began.
He didn't give her time to finish. "I'll kill him. I'll
find some way of making him suffer, Evy."
She pursed her lips. "Rick, I chose to do it. I had
my reasons for it and I was the one who chose to do what we did. It's
not as bad as it seems."
Rick shook his head firmly. "No, Evy. It is as
bad as it seems. You would never have done anything like that without
being pressured or threatened in some way, even in some subtle way. I'll
kill that son of a...he'll pay and...and I know Ardeth'll want to have
some words with him too!" He shut his mouth and fumed silently for
a moment.
Evy sighed and let it go at that. She only hoped that he wouldn't
go and get himself killed over this. He and Ardeth. A part
of her was thankful Jonathan was taken by Rameses because it kept him
safe, or had until Rameses decided to go against Imhotep. Now who
knew what would happen? There was a whole world out that was oblivious
to the danger that was stirring here in Egypt. She didn't know what
powers Rameses might have, but with armies of the dead behind him did it
really matter if he could best Imhotep one to one? She didn't even
know how they could stop Rameses. He wasn't undead as Imhotep was.
Though she'd never dream of admitting it to Rick or even Ardeth,
she believed Imhotep to be the lesser of two evils. At least they
knew how to combat him. Sure, they could kill Rameses assuming that
he was mortal, but how could they ever hope to get to him with armies
surrounding him? They had to find the Book of Amun Ra and keep him from
being able to destroy Imhotep. She rubbed at her temples and licked
her lips, trying to get her mind off of the coming doom for a least a little
while. "My Nefertiri," Imhotep said quietly, moving to stand above
her. He crouched and touched her cheek. She heard Rick exhale
sharply. "Do not worry over these things. They are for me to
contend with, not you."
She smiled despite the tears welling up. It was all so simple
to him. He didn't seem to conceive of the many reasons she had
to worry or be upset. Nevertheless, she nodded. "I won't," she lied.
Imhotep sighed and stood, leaving the room and fetching a rope.
When he returned he helped her stand and took her to the column
and tied her to it. "Things will be as they will be, Nefertiri.
I will not let Rameses win. He will not steal my destiny from
me. In time you will understand and even trust me." When she
was secure he turned away and left the underground city in a swirl of
his black robe.
Evy watched him, mouth open, and when he was gone she did what had
been a long time in coming, what she'd been trying to stop. She cried.
"What did that monster say to you?" Rick asked, concern and anger
echoing through his voice.
Sniffling, Evy leaned against the column and closed her eyes. In
a quivering voice she answered, "He told me not to worry."
"Not worry?" Rick repeated at an obvious loss as to why that made
her so upset.
He didn't know the turmoil inside of her. The conflicting
feelings that churned around within and the looming worry and fear. Evy
swallowed and looked up to the hole in the ceiling, wishing that last
night had never happened. It had given her an insight into Imhotep
that she desperately didn't want. His soft words telling her she'd
trust him and not to worry. Oh how she longed to believe it. She
could easily believe it knowing him as she did now. And yet she had
to remember that there was another side to the priest. A darkness
that had all but destroyed that small light he'd accidentally let bleed
through when they were in each other's arms. She was certain that
he hadn't meant to and perhaps fought it even now, but Imhotep had given
a part of himself last night as she had. Understanding that was near
impossible and perhaps in the long run it wouldn't matter much. Maybe
he was lonely. Maybe he'd imagined his Anck-su-namun. She couldn't
say but the few moments he'd allowed himself to forget the world around him
had opened her eyes to who he may have been before all the pain had hardened
his heart. "When did things get so complicated?" she whispered.
Evy once against closed her eyes and let her tears stream freely.
She was so tired and before long lost herself to a fitful, dream
filled sleep.
**
Evy looked at her reflection in the large mirror. She
looked at the make-up around her eyes, the richly decorated clothes Imhotep
had had made for her. On her hands were gold rings and her wrists
and ankles were adorned with gold bracelets, priceless things that the
priest gave her. Tucking her wavy hair behind her ears, she looked at the
richly decorated room behind her. Another gift of Imhotep. This
whole palace had been built in under three months by the tireless labor
of thousands of undead slaves. Imhotep's grand home. Her home
now.
Queen Nefertiri, Mother of the World and Beauty of the Night they
called her. Citizens of the countries Imhotep had taken over bowed
on their knees when she passed. Servant girls cowered in fear of
displeasing her because that would displease the Great Pharaoh. She
could barely remember things before all this had happened. And suddenly
she wasn't alone.
Imhotep walked silently to her. She turned and looked at him.
He wore white robes now, oddly reminiscent of his priestly attire
yet signifying his almost divine rule. He dropped to his knees before
her and laid his head on her lap. Evy swallowed and touched his cheek.
"The armies failed to find Rameses," he said quietly. The two
had battled for two years now, each owning half of this torn and shattered
world. "The General believes he has gone to a country across the
ocean. It is no secret he seeks to own the Americas before this year
is over."
Two powerful men destroying the world in their fight. Evy rubbed
Imhotep's shoulder. No one could honestly project who would win
this war - if anyone. Perhaps it would continue forever. "Have
we lost power in Canada?"
The king sighed, touching her leg softly. "I do not know. Contact
has been lost." He looked up and smiled at her. "Nefertiri,
I do not wish to think of these things right now. I think on them
day and night." He rested his hand on her abdomen, something he did
often. She suspected he was remembering their first night together
when he gestured so. Retreating to bed always occurred after he did
it.
Nefertiri placed her hand again on his cheek and bent down to kiss
him. She could taste need and desire on his mouth. They jumped
when the door opened. "My King!" a young human said, one of the
young messengers.
Imhotep got to his feet within seconds and gripped the boy's shirt.
"You will never enter a room when the Queen and I are alone!" he
hissed angrily.
The young man winced in the angry priest's grip. "I am truly
sorry, my King. I beg your forgiveness. Sir, there is a message
from Ardeth Bay."
Imhotep sternly gazed at the boy before letting him go and ripping
the paper from his hand. He opened it and read. Whatever
was in that letter, it made Imhotep very angry, Nefertiri could see. Throwing
the paper to the floor, he turned on the boy. "You will reply to
this message. Tell him he's welcome to try. Bring the message
to me and I'll seal it."
"Yes, Great Pharaoh," the messenger said, bowing and scrambling to
leave the room.
Nefertiri stood and leaned into Imhotep's back, resting her head
against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. "What
did it say?"
She could feel him tense. "He said Canada is now Rameses'.
He said he has found the Book of Ra and plans on using it. Bay
wishes to kill me and O'Connell. Then he will take you away."
Nefertiri sighed softly, worried. It scared her each time threats
like this were sent. Of course they never came to pass, but she couldn't
stop herself from being afraid. She placed a kiss on his shoulder,
leaving her lipstick on his white robe and knowing he would try to be angry
about it later. Of course that never came to pass either. He
chuckled and she grinned. "You did it again, didn't you, Nefertiri."
"You'll never stay angry," she dared him, walking around him and
kissing him again...
...Ardeth Bay sat at his desk, rubbing his temples and trying to
wish his ever present headache away. It seemed there was never a
moment he wasn't in some sort of pain. Much of the world suffered
the same way he expected. He could hear cheering outside in the
streets of Canada as Rameses made his speech. It was the same, every
country they wrestled from Imhotep. Words of hatred towards the priest,
of how they were no longer under his rule. Little did they realize
that they traded fire for fire.
Not that he hadn't done the same. Traded his life and his mission
to serve under Rameses. But in return for aiding him in his battle
the Med-Jai would be safe and once Evy was rescued from Imhotep she too
would be safe. Safe from the lies and deceit, safe from getting her
heart broken by that monster. Ardeth clenched his fist.
The door to his room opened and Ali came in, his war weary expression
so different from the eager face Ardeth had remembered from so long ago.
"General O'Connell sends a message, Ardeth," he said, knowing that
the message would only irritate the Chief.
Ardeth laughed much to Ali's alarm. He sat back and closed
his eyes. "What does he want now? Read it to me, Ali. I
cannot bear another eloquent message from him."
Ali took a deep breath, the breath that meant he was concerned about
his leader, and began. "Ardeth, you're fighting a losing battle.
You promised me that by the end of the year that the Americas will
be yours. Well, I promise you that before the end of the month you
will be dead. I hope someone mentioned to you that your generals in
England have been killed." Ali paused, no doubt seething inside at that
- he had friends there. "Look, Olld Friend, it's just a matter of time.
Imhotep wants you alive for trial in Egypt, but I will promise you
this. If I have to kill you I will. I'm sure he won't mind too
bad. Especially after I give him England as a gift. Be watching
for me. And it's signed, 'General Rick O'Connell.'" Ali crumpled the
note and tossed it to the floor. "Shall I make a response?"
Ardeth stayed quiet a moment, rubbing his brow softly. "No,
Ali," he sighed. "Leave me."
Ali nodded respectfully and left the Chief alone. Ardeth leaned
back in his chair and closed his eyes. He almost wanted O'Connell
to kill him sometimes. Strange, the changes time had brought upon
his life. Fighting for a man he didn't trust against a man he despised
for a woman who didn't love him anymore - if she ever did. Was he
mad? He could laugh at the irony almost. But that look in her
eyes that night he'd tried to kidnap her. She had to have some sort
of feelings for him...that look haunted him. Maybe it was wishful thinking.
And then there was Rick. His friend long ago. Ardeth had
never dreamed Rick would side with Imhotep. How could that have possibly
ever happened? How could Evy have chosen to be with this priest? Times
changed. Enemies changed and friends changed. And this battle
would go on and on.
**
Ardeth sat up straight in the bed he'd been placed in and gasped
at the contents of his dream, not to mention the pain that shot through
his shoulder and the aching in his body. "Something has changed,"
he whispered, looking to the man sitting in a chair beside the bed. His
Uncle Elihu.
"What are you speaking of, Ardeth?" he said in a flat tone. He
was a very direct man.
Ardeth laid back down and took a deep breath. "Something has
changed. I'm not sure what...are the Med-Jai preparing?"
Elihu sat forward. "I have Med-Jai groups patrolling our lands.
I have sent word to every tribe telling them to be on guard should
an attack occur. Young Ali did not have much information. Tell
me, Nephew, what's happening? He Who Shall Not Be Named is going
to raise our dead?"
"Yes," Ardeth replied, very confused by his dream and disoriented.
"He has the Book of the Dead and is going to use it to raise up
our ancestors to battle against us." He pushed back the blanket
and pushed himself up.
"Ardeth?" Elihu eyed his nephew thoughtfully. "No."
Shaking his head, Ardeth looked around and spotted his scimitar. It
was lucky he'd left one here in case it was needed. "I've got to
get out there." He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood
up, nearly falling to his knees in weakness.
Elihu got to his feet and helped Ardeth to sit again on the bed. "Ardeth,
you've lost quite a bit of blood, don't you think? You're not leaving."
Grunting, Ardeth pushed at his uncle and tried to stand up. "Evelyn
needs me. She's in grave danger." He managed to get to his
feet and started to slowly walk to where his weapon had been laid on a table.
He groaned, his thigh burning, and promptly fell onto the floor with
a thud.
Elihu rolled his eyes and stood for a moment, watching. "Are
you ready to be sensible, Nephew?"
Ardeth didn't get up right away. Instead he laid there on his
stomach, contemplating what to do next that wouldn't make him look foolish.
"I don't believe so."
"Always the hero," his uncle lamented in that nearly monotone voice.
"Nothing wrong with being a hero, Ardeth, when you can do it." He
bent down to help Ardeth back up again. "The Med-Jai out there are
more than capable."
Finally Ardeth sat up with aid. "Get my leg wrapped and put me
on a horse. I'll survive, Uncle."
Elihu shoved his very weak nephew onto the bed. "I'll do nothing
of the sort. No fool nephew of mine is going to get himself killed
by falling off his horse and dying in the desert because he's too weak to
crawl back." He looked at Ardeth's European style clothes. "And
you certainly aren't going to die wearing that."
Ardeth shook his head. "I left some desert clothes here, Uncle.
Get them and get me to a horse. I'll be fine. I must get
to Evelyn. Something has changed."
"How do you know this? Ardeth, what you are proposing isn't wise."
He stood up and went to a table to get a cloth for Ardeth's leg.
"Wise or not," the younger man said, taking the cloth and wrapping
it around his injured thigh, "it is what I must do. I cannot leave
her alone at the mercy of the creature."
Elihu scowled at his nephew, knowing the battle had been lost. "I
don't like this, Ardeth. You are as weak as a newborn babe. What
do you expect to do?"
"I don't know, Uncle. Allah be with me, I don't know. But
I must get to her." He licked his lips and winced as he tightened
the cloth and tied it off. Ardeth felt an urgency within him. If those
dreams were any indication of the future, then it must be stopped. He
had seen a world torn in two by two armies of dead, unstoppable and untirable,
lead by two ancient mad men who lusted to have the world as their own.
That was nearly more frightening than the first dream. Ardeth
waited as Elihu fetched some desert robes for him.
Elihu returned with black robes in his arms. "Ardeth," he said,
laying the battle clothing out on the bed. "Please be careful. Rest
as you can. I think this is unwise of you, my Nephew. But you
are a man now and I cannot stop you."
Ardeth nodded gravely. "I will be careful." As Elihu left
him to his privacy, Ardeth eased off the bed and started to undress himself.
Unwise? Perhaps, but he could not leave her to Imhotep. Of
course he had no way of knowing how far ahead in the future those dreams
had taken place, but his face was still young in both of them, so the beginnings
of both had to be happening now. What he was grateful for were that
these dreams that seemed to help him stay at least part way ahead. Naturally
he had enough sense to keep in mind that these could possibly not be foretellings
of the future, but he had to try and prevent against it if it were.
Where was he going to go? Back to Hamunaptra, he guessed would
be the best bet. But what to do about Imhotep...that question loomed
throughout his worried thoughts. He groaned, pulling his last article
of clothing - his dark turban - onto his head, annoyed at the pain in his
left shoulder from the slowly healing cut. With some effort he managed
to limp to his scimitar and leaned against the wall, wondering just what
he was going to accomplish out there, weak and staggering about. "Strength,"
he prayed softly. "Give me strength for the coming battle." Taking
a deep breath, he pushed himself off the wall and headed towards the door.
The walk outside wasn't bad. Slow and laborious, yes, but not
as difficult as Elihu would have had him believe. His uncle stood
before a stallion, watching as Ardeth made his way and offered no help.
"You are intent on this?" he asked when Ardeth stopped before him.
Ardeth nodded. "Yes, Uncle." Elihu sighed and gripped Ardeth
by the arms, pulling him to the horse and assisting him in the climb. "Thank
you," he said, giving his uncle the Med-Jai salute.
Elihu returned the gesture. "Return to us, Ardeth. If there
is a war coming I want you to fight then, not against your own body alone
out there." He nodded towards the vast sands and tied another canteen
onto Ardeth's saddle.
"I will return," Ardeth replied, confident in his choice. His
eyes looked over the home of his uncle, then the homes of his people before
resting finally on the path that lay ahead. Wordlessly he urged the
horse into the desert and began for Hamunaptra, intent on finding Evy if
he could. Perhaps this was a fools mission, but he was quickly learning
just how far those feelings inside would push him, just how deeply they had
rooted.
Ardeth gazed out across the night sky and prayed for safety and strength,
not only for himself but for her. I'm coming, Evelyn.
**
The breeze that traveled across the sand dunes was chilled and soft.
A whirlwind made it's way through the darkness to the Valley of the
Kings and abruptly dissipated upon a ridge that overlooked the site. Imhotep
materialized and walked forth slowly, careful to conceal himself within
the shadows. His dark eyes looked over the Valley and watched as restless
soldiers of long dead Med-Jai gathered themselves together, putting limbs
together, searching for weapons.
So, Rameses had done it. He'd managed to steal the army from Imhotep
before he could even raise them for his own use. Two could play at
that game. Imhotep walked around the ridge, searching for Rameses.
Did he not realize Imhotep's power? Rameses was dealing with
an undead foe and the only thing that could stop him was the Book of Amun
Ra.
And of course that was the only danger here. Imhotep could stroll
down there and take the Book of the Dead away from Rameses, but if he had
the Gold Book on him then Imhotep would be risking his life. The priest
hissed in contempt when his eyes found Rameses on a smaller ridge, climbing
down into the masses of his troops. Rameses began speaking with some
of the dead, no doubt about the coming battle. He didn't hold the
Black Book with him, Imhotep noted. He crouched down and looked around
the ridge Rameses had been standing on. Sure enough the Black Book
rested there. There was no sign of the Book of Amun Ra.
Imhotep decided to play it safe. Until he was positive that Rameses
didn't have the Gold Book, then it was logical to act as if he did. Besides,
barging into the middle of that army and starting the war now was the last
thing Imhotep wanted. He needed time to prepare his own army. While
he could likely end up winning a hand to hand battle against these dead
Med-Jai, it would take too much time...time Rameses could use to raise another
army elsewhere or find the book if he indeed didn't have it.
So he decided to enter quietly. Imhotep concentrated and began
to lose his form, his body from toes to head slowly turning into sand. Winds
of Imhotep's power pushed the grains down the ridge and into the sand at
the floor of the Valley. The creature sunk beneath the sand and traveled
beneath the army and to the place Rameses had left the book. In a
funnel of sand he materialized and took the book into his hands.
Imhotep then disappeared again, traveling in a breeze, unseen or at least
unstopped. He carried the book away from the Valley of the Kings
and back towards Hamunaptra, intent that tonight he and Nefertiri would
leave the City of the Dead.
**
Ardeth laid in the sand by the fire, grateful to be off his horse. About
an hour into his journey Ardeth had made the decision that he wasn't going
to be fit to travel into the night and so went about another hour before
making camp. Now he lay by the fire, gazing at the stars and wondering
if this was the last night he'd be able to do so before Imhotep and Rameses
began to fight. Ardeth tiredly sat up and took a hold of a canteen,
raising it to his lips and drinking. He was going to need all the nutrition
he could get to strengthen if he were going to do Evy any good. He
whipped his head around at the sound of footsteps. "Hello. Fancy
meeting you here," Rameses said, approaching slowly.
Ardeth grabbed his scimitar and held it up. "What do you want?"
Rameses laughed and sat down not far. "You could barely take me
on when you were fit. Now look at you, weak and tired, trying to defend
against me. Trust me, if I had wanted to kill you then you would already
be dead."
He couldn't argue with that unfortunately. Ardeth lowered his weapon
and took another drink. "So, what do you come for then? My guess
is you and Imhotep have had a disagreement?"
Betrayer looked decidedly peevish. "That bloody priest stole the
Book of the Dead right behind my back."
Ardeth grunted. "Not surprising.
"Yes," Rameses agreed testily. "Anyway, how did you know things
weren't exactly happy between me and Imhotep?" He eyed Ardeth quizzically.
The Med-Jai shrugged. "I had a dream last night of you and Imhotep
fighting in a great war. A world war."
This surprised Rameses and he raised his eyebrows. "Interesting.
Visions of the future. I could use someone with that talent."
The Betrayer grabbed a nearby stick and started stirring the fire absently.
"Well, yes. You were correct. Imhotep left me to watch
Rick and the Book and I decided that I didn't really want to settle for second
best. So I took the Black Book and left for the Valley of the Kings."
He smirked at Ardeth's wide eyes. "Yes, my friend. I have
raised the dead Med-Jai and all the dead kings of the past. My army
prepares to march on Hamunaptra soon, but as I said, Imhotep has the Black
Book now. I'm not sure when he stole it. Sometime within the
last two hours, but I'm certain it was him. Only he could have slipped
past my army."
Ardeth rubbed at his right shoulder and exhaled. "And what does
this have to do with me, Betrayer? What do you seek from me?" he asked,
already suspecting the answer.
Rameses eyes glinted as he smiled. Ardeth pulled back when Rameses
started moving towards him, but couldn't get away fast enough. Gripping
his wrists, Rameses began chanting and Ardeth felt his body begin to tingle
and itch. What frightened him was the possibility that this was it,
that he would die here and not be able to help Evelyn. Suddenly a wave
of exhaustion worse than the tiredness of before swept across him and all
he could do was sit there and let whatever Rameses was doing to happen. He
could feel the wounds in his shoulder and leg begin to burn and he grit
his teeth against the pain. Countless minutes later Rameses let him
slump to the earth below as he caught his own breath. "Consider it
a gift," the Betrayed wheezed, running an arm over his brow.
Ardeth lay there a moment, trying to assimilate everything that had just
occurred. Groaning, he pushed himself up and the first thing he noted
was the tiredness. He could sleep for days it felt like. He ran
his hand over his leg, puzzling at the burning sensation he'd felt and was
surprised when it didn't sting or ache when touched. "You healed me?"
he asked, looking up.
Rameses nodded. "Like I said, Ardeth. Consider it a gift.
The only gift you'll ever receive from me if you decide to go against
me." He looked pale and just as tired as Ardeth felt. "I've
come to make you an offer, Old Boy."
So this was it. This was the moment of decision that could lead
his people into serving Rameses. Still, he would listen. "Go
on."
Rameses was pleased with Ardeth's willingness to at least hear him out.
"I'm going against Imhotep, as you know, and naturally this fight
is going to go beyond the dead fighting the dead. I imagine at some
point as you said in your dream, that this is going to involve the world
and eventually this world is going to have to choose sides. I want
you to make that choice a little bit earlier than the world, Ardeth." He
sighed and looked up at the sky. "You don't want to side with Imhotep,
my friend. He's ruthless and evil."
Ardeth had to laugh at that. "Ruthless and evil? Is that not
what you pride your own self on? Just a day ago you told of how Imhotep
had a heart and held back even when he did not wish to and yet now he's worse
than you?"
Betrayed grinned. "Of course I'm ruthless and evil. But the
difference is I'm not blinded by revenge. This world is going to fall
under the power of either I or Imhotep. Would you rather fight on
the side of a man who has reason to hate you or..."
Ardeth didn't give him a chance to finish. "Or a man that kills
without reason other than the pleasure it brings?"
Nodding his head thoughtfully, Rameses watched Ardeth. "I wouldn't
kill my allies," he said finally. "My pleasure comes from killing those
that mean nothing to me...or those that are against me." He stood
up. "So you would fight for Imhotep, huh? It will come to a
point where you will have to choose a loyalty, Ardeth. Make no mistake
about that. You just remember what Imhotep has done when that time
arrives. You would run off and rescue that sister of mine, that woman
who last night bedded Imhotep and likely sleeps with him now." Rameses
paused then, waiting for a reaction. Ardeth gave none save to look
down at the sands below. "Yes, Ardeth Bay. She gave herself
to him. Willingly. It seems betrayal runs in the family."
The Med-Jai Chief's eyes flashed. "She would not have done so if
she were given any kind of choice. What did she buy with her innocence,
Rameses? O'Connell's freedom?"
Rameses shook his head. "O'Connell was sound asleep and safe when
she came and told Imhotep not to raise the Med-Jai that night."
Ardeth nodded. "So time was what she bought." He clenched
his fist and glared at Rameses, fighting the rage that stirred within.
"Yes, that's what she was buying," Betrayer confessed, frowning. "Imhotep
explained to her that one night would mean nothing and asked her if she still
wanted him to stay and she agreed." He shrugged. "I don't know
what happened later. That's when I took the opportunity to leave. So,
will you still fight for Imhotep when the time comes? Don't answer
right now, Ardeth. I want you to think long and hard on this. If
you decide to join me bring to me the Book of the Dead. Until then
think about what I've said." Rameses turned and left, soon disappearing
into the darkness to where Ardeth couldn't fathom.
He frowned, looking into the fire. So many emotions and thoughts
were swirling around in him right now that he barely knew what to do with
himself. Laying back, Ardeth closed his eyes and tried to push his
thoughts at bay for a while. He needed to rest his weary body and his
weary mind. But he simply couldn't forget what Rameses had told him.
Oh, Evelyn, he thought sadly as he opened his eyes once more
to gaze at the stars. What am I going to do?