Thanks so much to Llarian for suggesting the use of real Ancient Egyptian and to Estora for cheering me on. You guys rock! Disclaimer...I own Jasmine, nothing else so far except for the odd Ancient Egyptian word I couldn't find elsewhere. Thanks for reading, and enjoy! -Dark Rose
Prologue
Edge of Hades
"Rick, come on!" Evy screamed over the crashing off the stone and the howls of the demons. But her husband stood poised, unmovable, watching the man clinging desperately to the lip of Hell.
O'Connell's blue-hazel eyes were fixed on the intense bronze of Imhotep's, though the Ancient Egyptian's were flooded with tears. It was a sight Rick had never thought he'd see, and part of him was reveling in it. The other part, however, still heard Imhotep's anguished cry of "Niy!" as Anuk-sun-amun turned and fled.
Imhotep's heart was in turmoil. His beloved had left him, he was at last facing the final stage of the Afterlife… and O'Connell was still standing there, watching him. Why?
"Khi?" he whispered, staring back into the face of his enemy. "Khi irik n pri?" Why? Why do you not go?
"That's a very good question," Evy murmured, feeling a strange sense of peace despite the shouts of her brother and son ringing in her ears. Glancing back in acknowledgement, she stood on tiptoe and whispered in her husband's ear: "Make whatever choice you must, but choose quickly. We haven't much time left."
Rick turned his head, and for one excruciating second their eyes held.
"Thank you," he told her before releasing her hand and going down on his belly to grasp the slipping Imhotep's hand, trembling on the edge of Hades.
"Why? Mdu ni!" Imhotep demanded. (Tell me! Literally, speak to me)
"Later, partner," O'Connell replied grimly. "But whether you come with us or not is your choice to make."
"Now there is one choice: thi," the High Priest responded as he was dragged back up out of the fiery pit of demons. Evelyn grasped Rick's free hand as he stood back up, and together the three of them dashed unheeding across the minefield of falling stone and masonry. (Go.)
Evy read her brother's face as the five of them found their way through the maze that was the pyramid, and it showed clear confusion. But there was no time to explain. What Imhotep had said was right: their only option was to get out.
They all halted just outside the central chamber on instinct. It was as though some Hellish wind was sucking all its Earthly demons through the center of the pyramid and into the crevice they had been standing at minutes before. All was green, shrieking confusion – and then Imhotep made a terrifying announcement.
"Šms wi." (Follow me.)
"Are you crazy?!" Rick shouted above the howls of the demons. "You've tried to kill us and take over the world twice all ready!"
The High Priest's reply shook them all. "Nttn siaa pa waat?" (You know the way?)
"But –"
"Rick."
"Evy!"
"Please, Rick," Evelyn pleaded. "We have no other choice. Do you even know the way out? Because I don't."
Her statement stopped O'Connell in his tracks. After a second of trying desperately to find another way and failing, he agreed. "But I swear… if you lead us wrong, you won't be getting away with it. You're still mortal, you know." Imhotep just nodded.
With Imhotep in the lead, they made their way through the chaos, following the only clear path allotted them. When they felt the tearing wind from outside against the faces and picking at their clothes, they immediately began to walk faster.
"Niy! Aab!" (No! Stop!) Imhotep thrust his arm across the opening, forcing them to halt their frantic pace. "Straight drop. Carefuh."
From then on it was do or die. Demons swarmed by the thousands into any and every entrance available, including minor cracks and weathered holes, so every time they clambered up another level of the ancient structure, they had to watch for danger. It wasn't the fastest was to go, but any other way would have killed them.
"Good going partner," O'Connell said sarcastically once they had reached the top, "but how are we going to get off? Last I looked, ol' Anubis didn't exactly return your 'godly powers.'"
"I did my part," Imhotep replied hotly. "I got us out. Tn phr." (Your turn.)
Before O'Connell could reply, a tremendous whoosh was heard behind them. Spinning around, they found themselves staring up at the dirigible.
"Hot air, my friend!" Izzy shouted. "Now get on!"
"Alex first," Rick ordered, hauling his son up and depositing him a trifle roughly into the whirring contraption. Evy went next, followed by Jonathan and then Rick himself. Imhotep was halfway in, and the dirigible beginning to rise edgily, when Jonathan tripped on a pile of rope and fell over the side. Imhotep managed to grab his pant leg just in time.
"Pull me up pull me up pull me up!" Jonathan screamed. Then he caught sight of the tremendous diamond still perched precariously on the shaking stone. "Put me down put me down put me down!" he contradicted himself. Izzy groaned.
"Why? You want to die, eh?"
"It's not worth your life!" O'Connell yelled over the fury of Hades and the whirring of the engine.
"Yes… it… unngh… is!" Jonathan declared triumphantly, his hands gripping the gold bracket that hugged the jewel as it detached from the top of the pyramid.
Imhotep rolled his eyes as he pulled Jonathan and himself to safety. Once on the deck of the dirigible, he collapsed against the aft mast and fell asleep almost instantly to the sound of Jonathan and Izzy bickering.
He dreamed of Anuk-sun-amun and her face as she ran from him.