Thank you all for following this story! If you want to know more about how the story is going I have a facebook page under Prince Ofluff. Note: They're all speaking Egyptian except when stated otherwise

Bright green eyes peaked out from beneath a black face wrap. This was all Ardeth's fault he was sure of it. Sighing with all the resignation a six year old could he pulled off his face cloth and took a deep breath. He was in a cavern somewhere in the City of Hamunaptra. Exactly where Ardeth had always told him not to go. Still…If he hadn't left him alone this never would have happened.

Hari tried very hard not to let the tears build up in his eyes. The Medjai training taught to keep his emotions close so that they could not put him at risk or be used against him. Still, he was six. And lost. And very scared. He knew the stories that were told about this place. There was a monster here. A monster that could bring about the end of the world, bring back the plagues, end life as they knew it. He wasn't exactly sure what all of that meant. But it was something he was told again and again by Ardeth telling him that to go there was to court death. Which would make Ardeth mutter something about it being 'ironic' but he never explained that part.

He wasn't even sure how he got here. One minute he was watching Ardeth ride off on another stupid secret mission that he didn't know anything about or when he would be back or if he would be hurt when he came back. He had wandered away from the camp so no one would see him upset when he stepped into a sand trap that had let out here. Hari sniffed hard to get rid of the tears that continued to plague him. He couldn't be weak now.

It was in his distress that he felt a faint stirring of…something. He knew that he was special, Ardeth always said he would explain more when he was older. Hari was pretty sure that he was old enough now. But it something was like other things he felt. Sometimes Ardeth would tell him not to worry about it, but other times he would ask strange questions about it. Like how did it feel?

Right now whatever it was made Hari feel almost…cold. There was something dark, but sad too. He didn't really know what these 'feelings' were yet. Just that they usually meant something important. He started following the direction where the feeling was coming from. Maybe not the best idea but he couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Picking up a stick and lighting it Hari followed the dark corridors and disappeared into them.

Something was coming.

In his undead state Imhotep could feel it. Something was approaching him, something…alive…and powerful. If he could have stirred he would have but there was no way for him in this cursed state. All he could do was wait…and vengefully pray that whoever it was would be the one to release him so that he could have his revenge on the world and return his beloved to the land of the living.

Even after all this time he still burned with the same rage that he had when he had been first put in this accursed state. He did not know if this was part of the curse. It did not matter at this point. He still burnt with the need for revenge. This…whatever it was could be what finally ended his imprisonment.

The weird feeling was getting stronger and stronger. He wondered what Ardeth would ask him if he knew. But he wasn't here…so he didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. Just thinking about that made him miss Ardeth even more. He once again tried to repress his feelings when he suddenly…felt something new. Feelings…that weren't his. There was anger…hate, lots of hate, and…longing. It was strange and the mixture would have overwhelmed Hari if he hadn't had the training to deal with it. He opened his canteen and let the water run over his fingers. Someday he would be able to do this without wasting precious water, but for now he would need its help.

He closed his eyes and tried to think of calming things. Like an oasis where the water was clean and cool, where there was shade from the blinding sun of hate. Where there was a gentle place to rest after a long struggle. With that image in mind the feelings began to fade into the distance, getting absorbed by the feeling of overwhelming calm.

Imhotep felt himself go still inside his motionless prison. For the first time he wasn't trying to struggle against the overwhelming darkness and quietness of death. Because the darkness was gone. He was standing, as a whole man not as the creature they had turned him into, in a beautiful oasis. The anger, hate all the motions that had burned away at him through the centuries seemed to vanish in this instant of calm and he wanted to sag to his knees from the relief.

He had closed his eyes to bask in this sensation when he realized that he was no longer alone. He opened his eyes slowly, wanting to resist an intruder in this peaceful domain but knowing that there would be no rest for one such as him. He was therefore surprised, when he opened his eyes and standing before him was a child. A small waif dressed in black, but that did not hide the power he could feel leaking from this little one. This place was the child's creation. Who was this child?

Hari wasn't sure how it happened, but somehow in creating the oasis he had found the source of the emotions he was feeling. He looked as though he was an ancient priest, but why was he still trapped on this plane? No…Hari was starting to sense he wasn't on the mortal plane at all…he was between. He stared up at the man, who was he?

Staring at the child would bring him no answers. It had been so long since he had a conversation. How long he did not know, this child was dressed in traditional desert clothing. However he looked like no Egyptian he had ever seen during his time. His hair was a riotous black, obviously his real hair since no one would wear a wig in such a fashion. Then there was his skin, tanned by time in the sun, but there were gaps in it. He could see under some of the clothing that he had pale parts of skin that rarely saw the sun. Then his eyes….his eyes were a startling green that Imhotep had seen only a handful of times in his previous life; and then only when he traveled far out of Egypt on missions for the Pharaoh.

"I am Imhotep, former High Priest of the Pharaoh Seti…Who are you child?" His tone was roughened by years of silence and how unsettled he was by this intrusion upon his prison.

Hari took a hesitant step backwards "I'm sorry if I disturbed you sir… I got lost in the tombs and sensed your feelings…I was just trying to calm you down sir…You were so angry…Why are you tied to this plane?

So the child did not know. Had it truly been that long then that his imprisonment, and the curse that would follow on his release, had been forgotten? The weight of that thought made his soul feel weary. He had been fighting for release while his memory had vanished from the world.

The silence between them was deafening and Hari realized he hadn't answered part of the Priest's question "I am Harri sir. I live with the Medjai who guard the desert from outsiders." Of what Hari didn't realize that the very reason they guarded the desert was standing before him.

Imhotep studied the child for any sign of deception. The Medjai. Of course they wouldn't have forgotten. Though time must have changed them as well if they now carried children with them. During his time the children of the Pharaoh's guards were raised with the women until the time they were able to prove themselves. Yet this child was very young, perhaps six seasons, and yet something about him seemed far older as well… He would have to learn more.

Hari started to feel the strain of keeping up the oasis and looked up at Imhotep "I'm sorry sir I cannot keep this up for much longer and I still must find my way home. But…perhaps I could come back later?"

The imprisoned priest rebelled at the thought of being forced back into the darkness, the child would most likely be forbidden from returning once he told his guardian of his adventures. No…he could go back into the darkness but not without knowing he would soon be released from it even for a brief time. He looked down at the child, Harri "Very well if you must…however I must ask a favor of you…You must promise to return and not tell your guardian of me. The result would be most unpleasant…"

Hari squirmed at the idea…He didn't like keeping secrets from Ardeth. Then he remembered that the only reason he had come down here was because Ardeth kept so many secrets from him. It would be nice to have his own secret for a change. "Alright…but you promise you won't hurt me or Ardeth?"

The boy was clever, that only intrigued Imhotep about him more. "Very well…I swear that no harm from me will befall you or your guardian; as long as you hold your own promise young one."

The strain of holding the plane was starting to strain on Hari and he nodded "I promise…" with the deal sealed the oasis faded away and Hari found himself once again in the feebly lit darkness of the tombs. He realized that now he was exhausted and still had yet to find his way out when Imhotep's voice seemed to whisper "The left hallway will lead you out of these chambers. Do not forget your promise young Hari."

As Imhotep had promised the path led him out into the fading sun and realized with a dropping heart that by now Ardeth would have returned to the camp. Keeping his promise was already proving to be very hard.

Never before had Ardeth experienced the panic that was now overwhelming his heart. He allowed Hari to handle himself, since he had never ventured far from the camp and was safe as long as he was near where the others could hear him. But now he was gone several small parties had been dispatched to find him. Though he did not fear the worst he was troubled what could have befallen Hari that he would not have returned on time.

He was mounting up his own horse to go out again seeking Hari when he saw a small black form stumbling towards the camp. Forgetting the steed he took off running down the slippery sand to catch Hari just as he was about to fall over. The little boy was dehydrated that much he could already tell. He was quick to get his canteen to the slack lips and helped Hari drink sips at a time. The boy's own canteen was ominously missing. Whatever had befallen him Hari had used some his powers to escape it. His face was pale and drawn. Those bright green eyes flickered open for a moment to look up at him before his lips twitched to give a small smile "Sorry…I'm late Ardeth. " He whispered before falling asleep there in Ardeth's arms.

The Medjai did not care about that at the moment. He was studying the direction Hari had been walking from. The ruins. He found himself holding Hari more closely to him before slowly turning and carrying him back to the camp. Hari knew better than to go into the ruins. Thankfully it did not appear as though the creature was disturbed and he would ensure that Hari did nothing so foolish again.

Once again returned to the darkness Imhotep found himself mysteriously still at peace. The rage that had been following for centuries seemed to have dissipated. He felt as though for the first time he could think clearly again. What he focused mostly on was the mystery surrounding the child Hari…and when he would be released to the oasis once again.

Thank you everyone for your patience! This chapter took a lot of careful work (it sets up the rest of the story) so I hope that you enjoyed it! My updates won't normally take this long :)