Isis heard Lin sigh in the seat next to her. They had changed planes in Chicago and were now on the long flight to Egypt. They had each left notes for their parents and promised to stay in contact over the weeks that they would be gone. If this trip only lasted a few weeks that is, somehow Isis felt that they would be here a while. Then again if the mummy got his way this would all be over very quickly. The question Isis wanted answered is who they were dealing with. She retrieved a large, leather bound book from her bag and began searching through the dynasties of Egypt and all the nobles.
Lin knew she shouldn't complain about being dragged to Egypt. It was partially her fault; she still couldn't explain what made her read those words. Right now though she worried about what her mother would think, about missing school as well as her birthday, and finally she worried about what she and Isis would be facing. This was no Hollywood movie. Death was a very real danger that they would have to face. Still, even with all of her anxieties, Lin couldn't help but feel excitement growing inside of her. She was going to Egypt and a mummy had actually been resurrected. Those two facts made her dizzy with anticipation. She grinned as a stray thought crossed her mind, 'Now if only we had a Medjai around.'
Isis continued to read through her books as the flight dragged on. Every so often she would check on Lin and remind her not to go to sleep, since she might have a concussion. She promised that they could rest a few hours once at their hotel in Cairo. Lin had simply nodded which worried Isis; usually the other girl was all jokes and laughter. The lights throughout the plane had been dimmed since most of the passengers were trying to sleep. Isis had her overhead light on and was sipping her latest can of coke as she read through a copy of an Egyptian text that had been found on a decaying papyrus scroll in the 1800s. It was a scribe's journal or some such, from what she could figure. Isis thought he must have been rather important to have enough papyrus to keep a personal diary. She ran her finger along as she read the entry she had turned to.
"Ra in his throne above shines upon the Nile this day.
His Majesty, the Pharaoh and Living God, has announced
That he is to marry his slave Anck-su-namun.
The Princess Nefertiri will also soon be wedded to the
Prince of a great land to the North.
I am blessed to be the man who writes in the 'Scroll of the
Royal Lineage' of these coming nuptials. I wonder what wig I should wear.
The foul priest Imhotep was there today as well to offer his
Congratulations to the Pharaoh. I am no fool,
Many of us in the palace know he desires the slave.
She is lucky that the pharaoh's attention saves
Her from dealing with a priest who governs the City
Of the Dead. Imhotep is colder than Osiris himself
And rather arrogant. I pray that Anck-su-namun bears
Great Pharaoh a son so that we never see
The priest on the throne of Egypt.
I must go, an apprentice has spilled ink all over the
Papyrus supply."
Isis was just taking a sip of her drink when she reached the name Imhotep. Sadly for the man next to her she choked and made a bit of a mess. Lin was patting her back as her other neighbor offered her his handkerchief.
"I'm so sorry." She began to apologize, her voice failed her though as she looked up at his face. He wasn't much older than she was, maybe 23 or 24 at most. He had dark hair and dark eyes set in a tanned face. He gave her a friendly smile showing off pearly white teeth.
"It's no trouble at all. Please do not worry yourself. Are you alright?" He asked politely, the accent gave a lilt to his words.
"Oh don't worry about Isis; she has spastic moments all the time." Lin teased. Isis glared at her since sticking her tongue out in front of this man was not an option.
"And Lin is a nosy troublemaker but don't let that bother you." Her tone was light, she couldn't truly stay mad at Lin for simply taunting her, plus she'd have her revenge later. It seems that plotting wouldn't be necessary though because her words made all the color drain from Lin's face. Still she acted cheerful.
"She's right you know. The school never could figure out how to get rid of me since no one else wanted to deal with me. It's kind of like Heaven won't take me and Hell's afraid I'll take over." Their new traveling companion smiled at her.
"I will be sure to remember that." He once again looked at Isis. "I apologize; I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Ardeth." Suddenly Isis felt as if she had crossed over into the Twilight Zone. This was just too much. Lin and Isis shared a quick glance before Isis spoke.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. So Ardeth is this your first trip to Egypt?" The man smiled at her question.
"No, it is my homeland. I'm returning from New Orleans." If Lin had been one to easily spook the hairs on the back of her neck would have risen, but as it was she merely continued the interrogation of their new acquaintance in a pleasant voice.
"We're from New Orleans ourselves. Did you enjoy your trip to the Big Easy? If you don't mind me prying was it a business trip or a vacation?" The young man's face clouded a bit as if remembering something painful.
"It was a mixture of both I guess you would say. I help archaeologists who dig in Egypt. The exhibit in New Orleans was run by a group of scientists I aided when they first came to my country. As a thank you I was invited to the first public showing of their finds. Sadly all did not go well."
"Yes, we heard about that on the news. They say the parade route cutting in front of the museum didn't help matters. I'm sorry I brought it up." Lin tried to apologize, back pedaling. Ardeth offered her a weak grin.
"It is alright Miss Lin, you meant no harm."
"Ugh, just Lin please, any prefix makes me feel old." Adreth chuckled and raised an eyebrow in Isis' direction as if to ask if Lin was always this easy going and carefree.
"You have no idea." She told him softly as Lin turned away to ask a flight attendant for another Sprite.
The rest of the trip was spent with the two girls amicably making conversation with Ardeth. Isis' brain was mulling over so many things that she sometimes lost track of the conversation. Lin had elbowed her more than once but Ardeth didn't seem to be offended which was good. Isis liked him; he had been very polite and friendly. 'It's a good thing he doesn't have a scimitar and the tattoos of a Medjai warrior, or else I'd be ready to run off with him.' She quickly regretted chuckling at this notion.
"Have I done something to amuse you?" He asked curiously.
"Oh no, I wasn't laughing at you. I was," she looked at him as if trying to decide how to reply. "You're going to laugh but I'll tell you anyway. Have you seen the movie 'The Mummy'?" He nodded.
"I'm familiar with it. Is it my name then that is making you laugh?"
"Not just your name, but the fact that I'm meeting you on the way to Egypt and you share the name of a fictional character who lives in Egypt. It isn't even that funny but sleep deprivation will do that to you I guess." Ardeth frowned now.
"Should I let you sleep? I did not mean to keep you from your rest." She shook her head and looked over at Lin who was now reading the same book Isis had read earlier. Their eyes met as Lin finished the scribe's journal entry. They would definitely have to talk once the plane landed, but for now…
"No, tell me what your home is like. I've only been to Egypt once and I was much younger then."
"I live outside of Cairo near the banks of the Nile. Often as a child my family would go to visit the nearest tribes of the Bedouin, a nomadic people who travel throughout Egypt and the neighboring countries. Racing horses over the dunes as a young boy and hearing the myths the Bedouin elders told are still fond memories for me. The land itself is beautiful. The remains of ancient cities and temples built by the pharaohs never cease to amaze me. You will have to see them during your visit. Watching the sunset on the Nile is another charm of the land. There is nothing so beautiful as a sunset in Egypt."
"You sound like a storyteller yourself Ardeth." Isis teased. He smiled down at her.
"I'll leave that to the Bedouins."
They lost Ardeth at customs since he was a native and could go through a shorter line. Isis found it funny that she already missed a man she barely knew. They didn't talk as they claimed their luggage, hailed a taxi, and headed for their hotel. Nothing they wished to say could be spoken in the open. Knowing a spattering of Arabic, Lin frowned as the driver mumbled about the eclipsed sun above them. The other girl had hinted at connections. Why did Lin feel like the "fun" was just beginning?
"You have got to be kidding me," Lin remarked as her camel ambled forward.
"Well it's not like we can call on a god of death in a crowded city can we? There are too many people around and all the wrong religion."
"So now you're stealing my jokes too?" Lin's comment didn't earn her a grin from Isis.
"Anubis is our one shot at stopping the apocalypse. Plus I thought you liked the jackal-headed god of Death."
"I highly doubt he'll let me pet him behind the ears." Still, Lin grinned trying to relax. She had been too worried since Sunday. What was to be would be so why fret? "Alright," she added, "let's go. Maybe I can bribe him with a studded and spiked collar." The two laughed.
Once a few miles lay between Cairo and themselves they slid off their camels.
"Are you sure they'll head for home," Isis asked.
"No, but horses do it so maybe they will too. Especially if" Lin never got to finish her sentence.
"Come." A booming voice resounded inside Isis' skull. The ground opened up beneath them and they were in a free fall.
The camels didn't make it back to the city and their pen full of herd-mates. A group of riders clad all in black rode up on well trained Arabian horses and herded the two terrified beasts farther into the desert. One figure sat quietly on his horse, his dark eyes scanning the dunes. His love for his home was not some fiction created merely to entertain Isis. Ardeth had missed the desert as any Medjai would.
"You brought misfortune back with you brother," one rider said to the newly returned warrior.
"Are you ill, Oma? It was the Creature who came back ready to set a plague on us, not I. Come, Anubis will not return them to the same place from which they came. We must head closer to home."
"How can you be certain he will return them at all? They were foolish to call upon that one."
"They followed the Creature; Anubis just might find it amusing and allow them to return. The light haired girl is named O'Connell. Why is it that her people cannot leave the dead lie?" Oma glanced at his brother and chuckled.
"I do not know, but I'm sure that you will be happy to ask her when they return."
Lin's rather perverse thought as they fell into the underworld was that at least Persephone had gotten to ride in a chariot. She didn't feel herself hit any type of ground but she knew that they had "landed". Sure enough, her feet seemed to be standing on marble tiles but she couldn't feel anything beneath her. One look at Isis said that she felt the same. A chuckle rose from somewhere in front of them.
"I half expected you to spin around in circles like pups chasing their tails. Sadly, you seem to be taking this better than I had hoped." Lin watched as fires began to come to life around the room and she saw who sat before her. She had the sudden urge to kneel but fought it and settled for bowing her head. She could see Isis doing the same.
"You called upon me and demanded entrance into my palace, speak quickly to explain yourself for I do not have the patience of your namesake mortal." His words were for Isis and she looked up at him.
"Alright, I came here to make a deal with you. Imhotep is back and we need to defeat him. You know me and my family from past generations right? The last time Imhotep awoke you nearly won him and my great-great grandfather both."
"Ah, yes I remember that mortal. He is enjoying a blissful afterlife, let me assure you, though he came to it far later than he could have."
"He knew to enjoy his time on Earth for as long as he could. No offense but I don't think that you can understand that feeling, being a god and such." Lin spoke up. Anubis' gaze turned on her and they locked eyes. She refused to shiver.
"Some souls never change I see. Now little Isis, you wish my aid but what will you give me in return? I have many souls and wish no more so what can you do for me?"
"Whatever I must," Isis replied as her shoulders straightened and she stood to her full height. Anubis' amused laughter rang out through the hall.
"Truly?" He seemed to be gazing into her soul as he studied her intently. Whatever he saw must have pleased him for he nodded. "You then will bear my curse upon the Earth for the coming years. With it you will have dominion over my army but I advise you not to call upon them unless in the greatest of need, because once summoned to your plane only I can call them off, and I rather fancy a massacre now and then. You mortals, what ever happened to fighting with swords and bows? The old wars were much more amusing because they were so primitive and simplistic. I constantly tell Ra you humans grow too arrogant. As it is, we old gods live only in your myths. If Isis were not so watchful I would have brought some misery to you all before this. Do you accept my deal mortal?"
"I don't have much choice do I? But what good is the army if I can't use it?"
"I never said you could not use it. Merely wait until the appropriate time."
Suddenly a great pain spread throughout Isis' shoulders and chest as if she were on fire. Her mouth was open in a silent scream and then she sagged to the floor. Lin rushed over to her and checked her pulse. It was strong and steady but the girl would be unconscious for a bit longer.
"Check her left shoulder." Anubis instructed. Lin lowered Isis's jacket a bit to see the tattoo that now adorned her shoulder blade to the inside of her camisole strap.
"Lovely work there, did you design it yourself?" Lin asked in a sarcastic tone. The chuckle from the dais was beginning to annoy her. She strode closer glaring up into the jackal-headed god's face.
"I had been wondering how Imhotep could come back with his physical body having been thrown into the underworld. You put him in that sarcophagus. You led her to that book. Why would you plan something like this? Why possibly bring about the end of the world?"
"Yes I gave the priest another chance to be resurrected. There is a chance that you two will overcome the many obstacles that await you and win, but it won't be till after all the mortals of the world have had a shock or two. My brethren and I agree that you all have grown too pompous and need to be reminded of whom to praise. How many of us have been forgotten? It is because of people like you that we have been left behind. Or do you not remember the gift I once gave you?"
And suddenly she did remember, something at least, she had been blessed by a god, this god. She had been born into a noble family and had refused to become an acolyte angering her elder brother, the great priest of Osiris..
"Imhotep" she barely whispered the word and a chill ran down her spine. She was the sibling to that, that thing. The vile, cruel, creature who had wanted revenge on the world for a punishment meted out to him long ago.
"So you do remember then? Your soul has never passed on because you refused to acknowledge my hold over you. Now you and your brother once again share the plane of the living. Your task is to kill him."
"How can I kill an immortal priest who controls the elements?" She questioned in a scathing tone.
"By becoming a priestess yourself as you were supposed to three millennia ago. You said you admired your friend's new marking," a pain laced through Lin's arms and she gritted her teeth. As the agony subsided she saw matching tattoos on either arm. The god's attitude made Lin angry.
"You made a deal with Isis not with me. I never agreed to this."
"Will you watch your friend fight alone then? She has more to worry about than my father's priest. You will do as I command because I have given you a gift in not one lifetime but two. Use it to help your friend and she might have a chance."
Now he had her attention.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I grow tired of this meeting. When your friend awakens take her to the Medjai. Find their oracle and you will learn of your friend's destiny."
Lin was falling again. How you could fall from the underworld to the earth that lay above was beyond her. She felt soft sand beneath her and made sure that Isis was near before exhaustion finally consumed her.
