'English talk'
'Ancient Egyptian talk'
'Arabic talk'
Chapter Two:
Aaliyah's POV
I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the window of the room Evie let me borrow. I felt Shamika stir next to me, the she fully awoke with a stretch and a meow. She crawled over to me and softly swiped her paw on my cheek. I giggled at the ticklish feeling of her fur.
I sat up straight and pet Shamika's spotted fur. She's my most trusted friend, she protects me from bad spirits, seeing as cats were guardians of the underworld, and Shamika was a cat. I knew that she would protect me from the creature if he ever showed up.
I stood up from the bed and changed into my old clothes. I decided to just leave the cuffs off and put on gold bracelets on my left wrist. I looked at my right wrist and looked to the tattoo that I got, my father has the same one on his right wrist. (A/N: Look up 'Mummy Rick's Tattoo' on google and you'll see what I mean.)
It was the only thing that kept me connected to my tribe. I broke out of my thoughts and picked Shamika up from the bed and walked out of the room. I saw Evie already there, but reading a book. I set Shamika down on the ground so she can stretch her legs.
"Good morning, Aaliyah, Shamika. How about we get something to eat and then I'll take you to Mr. Burns."
"Of course, Evie. Come on, Shamika." She responded with a petite growl and followed after me.
Evie led us to a fancy hall where I saw Rick and Jonathan already eating. Jonathan waved us over and we walked to them, taking a seat on the other chairs, Shamika hopped onto the empty chair between Jonathan and I.
"Good morning Evie. Morning Aaliyah," Jonathan greeted. Then he looked down to Shamika who was pawing his arm. "And hello to you too, Shamika." She reached up to the table and managed to grab a piece of bacon.
"Mika, ask nicely." I scolded her as she ate the bacon.
"It's okay honestly, I was just about to ask you if I could give her something." He said to me. I laughed lightly and watched as he pet Mika's neck. Then she rolled on her stomach and Jonathan scratched her there. Evie and I laughed at the adorable scene.
We ate breakfast happily. They often asked me questions, but I didn't mind, I could understand their curiosity. After breakfast Evie and Jonathan took Shamika and I to Mr. Burns' room.
He was sitting alone next to a coffee table with a tea set on it. Evie walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder, Jonathan right next to her.
"Mr. Burns, there is someone here to visit you. You don't know her, but she knows about what happened to you." Jonathan said.
"What is 'er name?" He grumbled out, talking without a tongue must be hard for him.
"Aaliyah, and she brought her pet cheetah cub, Shamika. But Aaliyah sometimes calls her Mika." Evie explained. Mr. Burns reached a hand out. I knew he was reaching it out for me to shake, so I took it.
"It's nice to meet you, I wish it were under better circumstances."
"It is alright." I said, my Arabic accent thick in my voice. "I may may not have been there, but I know that this creature is a nightmare. I am truly sorry you had to go through that."
"We'll give you two some privacy." Evie said, taking Jonathan;s arm and leading him out of the room. I watched as they walked out, and when they were gone, I turned back to Mr. Burns.
"As Evie said, my name is Aaliyah, Mr. Burns."
"Please, call me Bernard." I smiled.
"That's a lovely name, this is Shamika." I took his hand gently and directed it to where Shamika was sitting, right on the cushioned stool in between Bernard and I. Mika started to lick his hand, and soon Bernard started to pet her.
"Evie said is a cheetah." I nodded.
"Yes she is, only a cub. About two weeks ago, she was in a cage with other wild animals, taken by merchants. I managed to set Shamika free, but the other animals were bought by rich people for other purposes. Since then, Shamika and I never seperated, and she always followed me."
"I used to have a dog when I was little, his name was Royce. He was my best childhood friend, so I know how you feel about Shamika. I would have done the same for any other innocent animal. What you did was very kind."
"Thank you, Bernard." Then a pause. "Bernard, I want you to know that if you have any problems concerning the creature, call for me and I will be there to help you in anyway I can." I took his hand in my own. "I know I just met you, but I can already tell we are going to be great friends." Mika growled petitely. "Shamika agrees as well." I said laughing. This made him laugh as well.
Bernard smiled lightly and held my hand in both of his.
"Thank you, Aaliyah. No one has ever come to speak to me like this since what happened. I'm glad you came."
"So am I, Bernard." We talked some more until it was time for lunch and he said he would be fine in his room, seeing as he would have a visitor. I said goodbye, with a kiss to his forehead, and left his room with Shamika following.
I went down to where we had breakfast and saw Jonathan, Rick, and another man with them at the bar. I walked to them and greeted Jonathan and Rick.
"Aaliyah this is Hendersons. Guys this is Aaliyah and her cub Shamika." Rick introduced, I picked Shamika up so the two men could get a better look at her.
"Well hello there pretty lady. Why don't you take a seat next to me right here?" Hendersons asked patting the empty seat next to him.
"I prefer to sit next to a friend." I said, taking the seat to the right of Rick. I saw the glasses of water in all the other mens hands.
They all drank it but soon spit it out in disgust.
"What's wrong?" I asked worried. Henderson was the first to speak.
"Sweet Jesus! Tasted just like…" Then I turned to the water fountain in front of me. Standing from my seat, I looked to it in shock and fear, holding Shamika close to me.
"Blood." I finished off. The clear water turned to a grotesque red, soon all the water was replaced with blood.
"And the rivers and the waters of Egypt ran red," Jonathan said. "And were as blood." I shivered. It was the Hom-Dai of the creature.
"He's here." Rick said, taking suspicious glances around the room. "We have to find Evie. Jon, Henderson go fine Daniels. Meet us in Burn's room. Aaliyah, come with me." He instructed. Rick took my left hand and we ran to find Evie. I held Mika close to me, afraid for her. We found Evie walking outside reading a book, Rick called out to her, "Evie!"
"Oh so you're still here?" She said in disdain.
"We've got problems." Out of the sky, it started to rain enormous chunks of fireballs, the screams of people could be heard from the other side of the world. The four of us moved by the stairs to the safety under the roof. There was a squeak behind us, and I saw a skinny man with a fez.
"Beni." Rick growled, taking the man by his shirt collar. "Where have you been?"
A loud roar was heard from upstairs, oh no, Bernard. Beni ran away from us and we all ran to Bernards room. Rick kicked the door open and I was terrified and hit with grief by what I saw. Bernard was a corpse of what he was. I screamed in fear and agony for the death of my friend.
I turned to see the creature regenerating by the fireplace. His body mostly bone and rotten flesh, traces of old bandages clinging to him. Rick started to shoot at it, but the creature was unaffected by the weapon. Evie was standing off to the far side, close enough so the creature could face her.
"You saved me from the undead. I thank you." He leaned in to kiss her until I called out to him and held Shamika to him. As if on her own instinct, Shamika gave a baby growl and a hiss. He roared in fear and disappeared into a tornado of sand, then blew himself out to the window.
Holding Mika close to me again, I jogged over to Evie to check if anything happened to her.
"Are you okay?" I asked worried. She nodded and I sighed in relief.
"We need to go the Museum." Evie said to Rick, Jonathan, Daniels, Henderson and I. Rick nodded and we all followed him and Evie.
We finally got to what Jonathan explained to me was the museum Evie worked at. We entered the museum and started to ask questions as Evie led us to where she thought the curator would be.
Then we came across two men. Not just any men, they looked very familiar from my childhood in my tribe. But I had to think of what their names were.
"You?!" Evie exclaimed looking to one of them. Rick, Henderson, and Daniels pulled out their guns and pointed it to the man.
"Hello Miss Carnahan." The other man said.
"What is he doing here?" Evie asked in an angry tone.
"Do you really want to know or would you rather shoot us?" The man asked. Rick put his gun away.
"After what I just saw? I'm willing to go on a little faith here." The other two hesitantly followed suit with putting their guns away. Taking one more look at the two men before us, the memory came to me.
"Ardeth? Terrence?" I said in Arabic, bringing all attention to me.
"Aaliyah?" Both of them said in shock. I passed Shamika to Jonathan and went to hug the two men I knew the most during my childhood. I first hugged Terrence, he hugged back without hesitation. Then I moved to hug Ardeth, he hugged me back just as fiercely as I do him. But we held on longer.
"I never thought I'd see you two again." Tears coming to my eyes.
"We thought you to be dead. What happened? Where did you go?" Ardeth asked.
"Now is not the time, the creature is still out there ready to be regenerated." Terrence said. Ardeth and I nodded.
We all took seats in what looked to be ancient Egyptian chairs. Jonathan was playing with a statue and the bow with it. I took a seat next to Terrence, Shamika sitting on my lap, Ardeth standing to my right, but I held his hand like we used to do as children.
"We are part of an ancient secret society, and for over 3,000 years we have guarded the city of the dead." Terrence said. Then I spoke next since I was learning to be like them when I was young.
"Sworn at adulthood to do any and all in our power to stop the high priest Imhotep from being born into this world." Ardeth spoke next, glaring at Evie.
"And now because of you, we have failed." He sounded stern and angry. I squeezed his hand as a sign of comfort, he squeezed back.
"And you think this justifies the killing of innocent people?"
"To stop this creature?" Terrence said sarcastically. "Let me think…"
"Yes!" Terrence, Ardeth, and I spoke in unison. Rick raised his hand.
"Question: why doesn't he like cats?"
"Cats were guardians of the underworld." I said looking down to Shamika, proud of my spirit guardian.
"He will fear them until he is fully regenerated." Terrence said. Then Ardeth spoke next.
"And then he will fear nothing."
"Yeah, and you know how he gets himself fully regenerated?" Daniels said.
"By killing everyone who opened the chest." Henderson finished for him.
"And sucking them dry! That's how!" You could most definitely tell that Daniels and Henderson were afraid to die, no matter how much their American pride tried to hide it.
"Jonathan stop playing with that." Evie said. He did so, but it almost fell over. "When I saw him alive at Hamunaptra he called me Anck-Su-Namun." Us three Medjai exchanged looks. "And then just now he tried to kiss me. Terrence was the first to speak.
"It was because of his love for Anck-Su-Namun that he was cursed. Apparently even after 3,000 years…"
"He is still in love with her." Ardeth and I said in unison. I missed this, when we would either finish each others sentences or say something in unison.
"Yes and that's very romantic," Evie said. "But what does that have to do with me?" Ardeth turned to Terrence and I.
"What if he once again tried to raise her from the dead?"
"Well it appears he's already chosen his human sacrifice." The three of us look toward Evie.
"Bad luck old mum." Jonathan said sounding worried for his sister. Terrence began pacing.
"On the contrary, it could give us the time we need to kill the creature." He said. I sighed and looked around the museum. Then something caught my eye. Outside the huge window, there was an unnatural solar eclipse. I shook Ardeth's hand and he turned to where I was looking.
"We will need all the help we can get." He said. "His powers are growing." I shivered at the thought of the evil he could do upon Earth. Ardeth put an arm around my shoulder and rubbed my arm in comfort.
"And he stretched forth his hand toward the heavens, and caused darkness through the land." Jonathan said. He must know all about the parts of the Hom-Dai.
"Jonathan, come with me and we'll go find the Egyptologist. Evie, Daniels, Henderson, come on. Aaliyah, since you looked like you know them and haven't seen them in forever," Rick said motioning to Ardeth and Terrence. "You can stay here." I nodded and hugged Jonathan and Evie, and shook hands with the other three Americans.
"Be careful, all of you. I mean it." I said sternly. They nodded and left the museum. I gave a small sigh, filled with worry, but then turned to Terrence and Ardeth. I hugged them once more.
"Where did you go to, child?" Terrence asked me. I took a shaky breath, a couple tears fell from my eyes.
"During our sword training, I went to the oasis near the camp to get some water. But some strangers took me away and gagged me before I could call for help. They took me to Cairo to be sold as a slave. But I managed to escape and run. I tried to find ways to get to you all. So I then started to move around, be a nomad in hopes of finding you.
"I stole from rich people and gave whatever I had to the poor. Then I took the occupation to be a gypsy dancer. While walking the streets one day, I came across merchants who were selling wild animals to rich people. There I saw Shamika in a cage, the young cub so defenseless being kidnapped from her home. So I set her free from her prison, but the other animals were already being taken. Since then, Shamika never left my side.
"I was praying in a temple on day, praying that I will find a way home one day, praying to God to help the people like me, the outcasts. There I met Rick, Jonathan, Evie, and a man named Bernard, as well as Daniels and Henderson. At the time, Bernard was the first person to be attacked, his tongue and eyes were stolen by the creature. I talked to him about his new and tragic condition and how I would be there to help him if he ever needs it.
"I may have just met him at the time, but he was already a dear friend. Then I went to where Rick, Jonathan, and Henderson were having a drink. But the water they had was already turned to blood. Then the creature made his presence known. We followed the noise and soon found the corpse of Bernard. The Americans tried to shoot him, but it didn't work. Then he thanked Evie for bringing him back and tried to kiss her. I called out to him and showed him Shamika. He then disappeared from the area in a small tornado of sand."
"You have gone through so much, my dear. But don't worry, you are here with us again." Terrence said. "I must be somewhere, but I will be back." And with that, Terence was gone. Ardeth and I watched as he walked out of the room. We turned back to each other, but I had silent tears falling from my eyes. Ardeth pulled my into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his waist and sobbed into his chest.
"I missed you so much." I whispered.
"I missed you as well, Aaliyah, so much." Ardeth whispered back.
"For five years, I couldn't stop thinking about mama and papa. How sad they might have been at my disappearance. I was so depressed at the separation. I thought about what might happen or what they might have done. But I mostly thought about how you would handle it." I said. I pulled back a little from his embrace and looked him in the eye. "You were my best friend. We were always there for each other. Other would find it impossible to separate us because we were always seen together. I care about you so much to put you through that again." I said, tears flowing like the Nile river.
"It broke my heart when I found out you were gone. I barely played with the other children, I barely spoke to my friends and family, I never went to my lessons, I couldn't sleep at night, I barely ate. But I snapped out of it when I realised you wouldn't want me to sulk and soon die. I refused to believe that you were dead. You were what kept me going, Aaliyah." He paused for a minute, wiping the tears from my face. "Long ago while you were missing, I finally realised what a certain phrase meant."
"What phrase?" I asked. He looked me straight into the eyes and held both sides of my face.
"'You won't know what you're missing until it's lost.'" My heart skipped a beat when he said this. The emotions I saw in his eyes made me weak kneed; passion, happiness, love… Good Isis, I'm in love with Ardeth.
"Ardeth…" I trailed off. I leaned forward quickly and captured his lips. He was just as eager for the kiss. I placed my hands on his shoulders and he held my face in both his hands. Even though they felt calloused, they were still warm and my face.
This kiss was the best feeling in the world. HIs lips were soft and tasted like sweet strawberries. This made me moan in satisfaction. I don't know when these feelings for Ardeth started, but I'm glad they did. I now know the reason for why we always spent time together as children, we were destined to be together.
I felt him weave his fingers through my hair. I did the same. We soon pulled away for breath, our foreheads touching. We stood there staring into each others eyes.
"I love you." Ardeth whispered. I smiled at this.
"I love you too." Then he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and I put my arms around his waist. We stood there in each others arms for who know show long until I felt something soft tickle my leg. I looked down to see Shamika sitting on her hind legs staring at us, her tail was what touched my barefoot.
Giggling, I picked her up and held her. Ardeth began to pet her ear and Mika purred in delight.
"Ardeth this is Shamika. Mika this is Ardeth." Mika mewled lightly in response, making me giggle again.
"So this is the famous cub that was there for my desert flower." Ardeth said.
"Yes she is. She was always there with me, never wandered off, never got lost. She's my best friend." I said to him. "Just know that she may be my best friend, but she'll never replace you, my love."
"I'm glad to hear that." Ardeth said with a smile. Then a question came to mind.
"How did the creature some back to life?" I asked him.
"Evie said something from the Book of the Dead." He answered.
"Well, if that brought him to life, maybe the Book of the Living can send him back." I said. He looked at me and smiled a little.
"Of course, you're my love are brilliant." Then Terrence walked in. "Uncle, Aaliyah found out a way to kill the creature."
"Well, what is it my dear spit it out." Terrence said in a frenzy.
"The Amun-Ra! If the Book of the Dead brought him back, then the Book of the Living might send him back." I explained to him.
"Of course, you my dear should be an Egyptologist." Terrence said. Then he grabbed my head and placed a bunch of kisses on my forehead and my cheeks. When he let go, I looked to Ardeth shocked and a little frightened.
Then footsteps were heard from the hall. There was one person missing though. "Where's Henderson?" Ardeth asked.
"He didn't make it." Rick said. "Have you found anything?"
"We believe so, the book of Amun-Ra should be able to kill him." Ardeth said.
"Should?" Rick sounded a little disbelieving.
"Should is the best you're going to get. Now, follow me to the tablet upstairs. It should have the location to where the Book of the Living." Terrence then led us upstairs. We came across a huge window revealing hundreds of people chanting 'Imhotep'. Many of them carrying weapons of any kind and torches. They were covered in boils.
"Last but not least, my favorite plague," Jonathan spoke up. "Boils and sores." I took Ardeth's hand, trying to keep calm. I was shaking with fear.
"They have become his slaves," My love said. "So it has begun, the beginning of the end."
Terrence led us to the tablet and Evie, him, and myself began translating it. I ran my fingers along the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, reading it as it were the english alphabet.
"According to the Bembridge scholars the book of Amun-Ra is located inside the statue of Anubis."
"Yeah but that's where we found the black book." Rick spoke up.
"Exactly," Evie said. "They mixed the books up, and mixed up where they were buried."
"Come on Evie, faster." Jonathan spoke up. And she said in a sing-song voice.
"Patience is a virtue." I heard doors bang open and loud noises coming from downstairs. Rick turned to us.
"Not right now it isn't." Jonathan ran out saying he would start the car.
Evie spoke up in excitement, "I've got it! The golden book of Amun-Ra is at Hamunaptra inside the statue of Horus." Then she turned to Rick. "Take that Bembridge Scholars." Rick grabbed her arm.
"Yes, you can gloat later, but for now run." Ardeth took my hand and I had Mika wrapped in a sash I found, which I had strapped to me, so she was slung in front of me.
We all sprinted outside and to where Jonathan was waiting in the car. EVeryone piled in and I was to sit on Ardeth's lap. He wrapped his arms around my waist.
Then the man I recognised to me Beni ran out of the museum calling for the creature. He watched us through the window where we saw the plagued slaves. He spread his arms out like wings and screeched like a banshee. Rick stood from his seat as Jonathan drove us off.
"You're gonna get your Beni! You hear me? You're gonna get yours!" He sounded really angry.
Jonathan slammed his foot on the gas pedal and we sped off, I held onto Mika and Ardeth so I wouldn't fly out of the car. Jonathan slammed on the brakes and the wheels screeched loudly. I looked up to see another rank of slaves in front of us blocking the road. Rick slammed his foot down on the gas and Jonathan's foot, making the car speed forward, he yelled out "Hang on!"
We started to run over the members of the mob. Some of them managed to grab onto the car. Ardeth, Rick, and I started to punch, shove, and fight them off while the car was still moving. I managed to get a few good punches, right hooks, elbow, and smacks in to knock them off. I even poked someone in the eye. I saw that Daniels wasn't in the car now. Jonathan crashed the car and we all got out.
We all backed into a building surrounded by the mob completely. They parted a little to reveal the creature and Beni. Oh this was not good.
"It's the creature." Terrence spoke up. "He is fully regenerated." I shivered in fear and disgust as Ardeth held me and Mika close to him, trying to shield us.
Imhotep spoke to us in Ancient Egyptian and Beni translated his words.
"Come with me my princess. It is time to make you mine, forever."
"For all eternity, idiot." Evie and I spoke up. Beni looked annoyed, but still translated.
"Take my hand, and I will spare your friends." Evie spoke to Rick for a moment, but I didn't hear them. She stepped up and took the creatures hand. Rick pulled a gun out and Ardeth and I both grabbed his arm.
"Don't live today, fight tomorrow." My love said to him.
"We swear we'll get her back." I piped up softly. "They must go to Hamunaptra to perform the ritual." Rick reluctantly put his gun away and glared at the creature.
"I'll be seeing you again." He said sternly, pointing the torch to him. The creature just smirked and started to walk away with Evie calmly beside him, until he gave out the order to kill us only did Evie start to struggle.
Rick threw his torch down and opened a manhole cover nearby us. He dropped Jonathan in first, then told Ardeth to go in.
"Not without, Aaliyah." He said.
"I will be right behind you." I said to him. He jumped in and I went next. We waited for Terrence and Rick. But Rick was the only one to jump down. "Where is Terrence?"
"He stayed to buy us more time. Come on." Rick answered. But I didn't follow, I just tried to find a way to go back for my close family friend.
"No! We have to go back, we have to save him!" Ardeth wrapped his aram around my shoulder and waist. "No! NO, Terrence! NO, we have to go back." But Ardeth was strong and we trekked through the tunnels silently. But I was crying silently for the man who was like an uncle to me.