Chapter 3 of "A Tomb Keeper's Lot"

Now we're getting somewhere!

It didn't make any sense.

Here he was in the middle of the Tomb-keeper Chief's grand stone room, the same stone chair in which his late uncle sat set against the far wall, with guards in the same ceremonial wear he had seen as a child standing on either side of the seat; but the man in that chair was one Marik had never seen before.

He looked to be much younger than Fenuku, but still older than Odion. His square jaw was rimmed with a dark black beard, and equally dark brows were stretched above his eyes. He was draped with a black robe – drastically different from the Egyptian cotton robes worn by most in the tomb – and he held a golden staff in his hand. He possessed no markings under his eyes as direct descendants of the Ishtar line usually did, and there were no additional distinguishing characteristics.

He didn't look like any member of the Ishtar family.

Marik wasn't sure what to make of this trend; he had expected that, upon his return, all of his old family members would still be there, taking care of the Pharoah's tomb and treasures.

It was still a full time job, even in the present day and age.

Tomb Robbers didn't just die out afterall.

But yet again, here was a face that he could not identify, and one that seemingly did not recognize him either.

The man in the chair sat regarding the three strangers as they stood with Fenuku in the chamber. His eyebrows curved in confusion over his deep brown eyes as he said in Arabic "And just who have you brought me Fenuku?"

Fenuku bowed his head slightly, though Marik noticed that his eyes never left the chief.

"The Ishtar heir has returned home, sir."

The change on the man's face was almost imperceptible, but a slight twitch of the lip and blink of his eyes betrayed his shock underneath the cool façade.

"Really?" he said, his tone full of false politeness. "And have you verified this to be true, Fenuku?"

Fenuku's head lifted slightly to glare at the chief, not bothering to mask his hostility as he said "I know my own family."

The Chief regarded Fenuku with a smirk, sarcasm lacing his voice as he said quietly "Of course you do."

His attention then turned to Marik and his siblings.

"So, this" he paused to stare hard into Marik's face, "is the heir to the Ishtar clan. I must say, you are… not what I expected."

Marik stared back into the Chief's face, a frown set hard upon his face.

"Who are you?"

Fenuku started in shock, staring at Marik for his brazenness.

It seemed he had asked something taboo, as even the Chief couldn't hide the shock and slight anger on his face.

That was fine with Marik.

He was sick of this whole charade.

The Chief sat up straight and looked down his nose at the three Ishtar siblings, saying "I am the Chief of the Tomb Keepers clan. That is all you need know.

Marik shook his head with a wry smile.

"No, that's just not true. I know how the system works. The Chief must be an Ishtar son after the first born, which used to be Uncle Najja, and should now be Uncle Fenuku. For some strange reason though, he's not the Chief. And you" he said loudly, pointing accusingly at the chief, "are not even a member of this family."

The Chief's eye twitched and his hands gripped the arm rests of his great chair, but he managed to still smile nonchalantly.

"Even if that were the case, young sir, how would you know whether I am family or not?" His smile turned into a smirk and he said "you were gone for a long time".

Marik didn't even blink.

"I knew everyone in this tomb. I had to, and so did everyone else. Outsiders were not allowed, and our population was closely monitored. Even if you were younger than me, which you obviously aren't, you would have to be under ten years old for me to not be aware of you. Besides", he smirked broadly, "everyone had to know who I was so that they knew not to hurt me. Afterall, I carry the Pharaoh's legacy."

By this point the Chief's face was set in a hateful grimace, though he still kept his rage contained to gripping his chair. He would not lose control now.

"Very well, Master" he all but spit the word, "It is true I was not present while you lived here. But I am family. Your uncle Najja was my father."

Marik opened his mouth to protest, but the Chief cut him off: "Not everyone in this tomb was as guarded as you. Others could leave this place, and often needed to, to keep supplies up. Of course, there are other needs besides food and water for those who live underground. My mother lived in the nearby village, and soon became a… liaison between my father and the outside world. I lived in the village with her, but before my father's death, he came to us and appointed me Chief, as he explained that Fenuku here would not be able to fulfill the necessary duties of the position."

He spread his arms wide, and Marik saw the modern collared shirt and slacks underneath the ceremonial robe draped over his form.

"So here I am."

Now it was Marik's turn to be shocked.

It was an outrageous story! Why would his uncle have done such a thing, and how could it have been allowed! His father would never have approved of such conduct; but then again, his father did not have power over the Chief.

Still, he couldn't believe that that was the whole story.

"Now," the Chief said smugly, back in control as he liked, "why is it you've come back, after so shamefully abandoning your kin and running off with the Pharaoh's secret?"

Marik shrank at the accusations, having forgotten in his anger why it was he was here, and what repercussions might have followed his departure all those years ago.

He ached to reach for his siblings hands, but instead forced himself to step forward.

"We have found the Pharaoh."

The Chief's eyebrows raised slightly, his look incredulous, but beside Marik his uncle gave a gasp and turned to stare in wonder at his nephew.

However, the Chief was not as impressed.

"What do you mean you found the Pharaoh? His tomb is here. He's been dead for thousands of years."

Fenuku turned to face him, his figure tall and imposing as he stood straight, his face proud as he said, "We Tomb Keepers have known since the days of the Pharaohs that the nameless Pharaoh whom we serve would one day return to this earth in need of his memories and his power. Every Tomb Keeper knows that we guard not only his tomb but his memories which he gave up in order to save the world. And Master Marik…" he turned once again to Marik, and his misting eyes were full of hope and amazement, "Master Marik has at last found our Pharaoh?"

Marik smiled softly at his uncle, nodding his head resolutely. "He has returned. And… I have delivered to him the secret to his memories which I possess, as well as the two Millenium Items passed down through our family."

The old tomb keeper was overcome. With a choked sob he fell to the ground at Marik's feet, whispering one heartfelt thank you after another.

Marik dropped to the ground as well, placing reassuring hands on his uncle's shoulders. "We're not done yet uncle. The Pharaoh must still return to his homeland to fully unlock his memories."

Fenuku lifted his face to gaze into Marik's soft lavender eyes.

"And when he comes home, we must be ready to help him on his final journey to the afterlife."

After a moment Fenuku's face hardened in determination, and he nodded.

"Yes. We will truly fulfill the mission of our ancestors. We will be ready for the Pharaoh."

He turned back to the Chief, who sat confused and forgotten on his throne, and Fenuku, even on his knees, looked like more of a ruler than the other.

"I will gather the remainder of this clan" he said strongly, "and we will prepare this place and the sacred records for the arrival of the Pharaoh."

The Chief looked positively livid.

"YOU will not give orders! I am in charge of this place, and I will make the decisions! This so called "Pharaoh" is no doubt a charlatan looking to gain the treasures of an ancient king, and I will not stand for some traitor to the clan giving away our precious secrets and possessions to a mad man!"

Marik was fuming; while he could handle being called a traitor, he was enraged to hear the Pharaoh spoken of so disrespectfully. The Pharaoh had believed in him and tried to help him even when the situation seemed impossible. Despite the resentment he had felt for so long, he owed the Pharaoh his life, and the blessing he now had to be with this family.

This man knew nothing of the Tomb Keepers and their mission.

He knew nothing of the Pharaoh.

Marik was ready to give this man a piece of his mind, but it seemed his uncle was not done yet.

"You shall NOT talk to the Ishtar heir in that manner. He has fulfilled his calling, and as such is to be honored."

"Heh. Honored." The Chief chuckled derisively. "He has returned to this place and wishes to still be counted as a member of this clan, so he shall be subject to the rules of the Tomb Keepers just as any other person here."

Fenuku was outraged. "You are forbidden to harm the Ishtar heir!"

"Who said anything about harming him? But he must be punished. He shall be kept here and not be allowed to go to the surface – as he should have been when he was younger."

Marik could not believe what he was hearing. His face went white as cotton robes, all of his fears when he first arrived resurfacing.

"You… you mean… I'm a prisoner here?"

"Oh, I wouldn't think of it that way. Consider it… house arrest."

His grin stretched from ear to ear now, and Marik wanted nothing more than to charge up to him and wipe that grin off of his stupid face, but warring with this urge was the ever-increasing fear of imprisonment; the same feeling he had experienced often as a child.

He felt so trapped and alone and afraid; like he was ten years old all over again.

He never should have come back.

"Now then, my guards will escort you to your new room; I assume you will cooperate so that we can make sure no harm comes to the heir. As for your companions…"

Marik's mouth went dry. He hadn't even thought about what might happen to them! He cursed himself harshly, but shouted in earnest "Leave them alone! They're my siblings!"

The Chief's face lit up as though he had just been presented with a gift. "Are they? I could have sworn they were your servants. Interesting. I suppose that means they were accomplices to your escape before? Then you –" he turned towards Odion, "will receive the same punishment as your…heh… brother."

Odion glared but said nothing. He was more than willing to share in Marik's punishment.

He would have stayed with him regardless.

Marik stared wordlessly, trying to formulate a response, to tell him he need not be punished as well, but some small part of him was glad that he would still have his brother.

But Ishizu –

"And as for you," the Chief was openly leering at Ishizu, and despite the strong woman she was, she found herself moving back towards her brothers, who held onto her protectively.

"I do believe that any Ishtar daughters were to be given to one of the heads of the clan to continue the line of heirs; If I am not mistaken, that now includes myself."

"You are mistaken!" Marik spat hatefully. This man would not touch his sister. "You don't belong to this clan, and Ishizu is free to make her own decisions. So leave. Her. Alone."

"Heh… heheh…. Hahahaha! What a protective brother you are! Tell me, were you planning on keeping her for yourself? You would not be the first Egyptian to carry on in the great tradition of Osiris and Isis. We must keep the bloodline pure afterall!"

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore.

With a cry of rage he barreled towards the smug man in the stone chair, trying to clamber over the guards as they stood with their spears crossed to block his path.

The Chief only laughed mockingly.

Odion rushed to his side to draw him back, as he threw any and every Egyptian curse he knew at the Chief.

He wished he knew curses in Arabic as well, but he knew only what had been taught to him in the tombs and what he required to get by in modern Egypt.

So he threw in a few in English to make up for it.

Odion's attempts to calm his raging brother were just starting to work (though this was done more to protect Marik from getting hurt than to stop him – he didn't blame Marik in the least) when they heard the horrid sound of their sister crying out in fear.

"ISHIZU!"

They turned to see her flanked by guards who were already ushering her out of the door and down a hallway.

Marik and Odion both started to give chase, but were intercepted by a group of large, armed guards who had seemed to emerge from the shadows.

"Oh don't worry," the Chief said calmly, "she's being taken to stay with the rest of my women. She will be fine."

"Fine? FINE?! You bring her back right now, and let us go!"

"You would do well to listen to us," and Marik was surprised to hear the deep, now hostile, tones of his older brother, whose concern for Ishizu had prompted him to disregard status and threaten his 'superior', saying "we will not be held responsible for what happens to you or your men if she is harmed in any way."

"You are going too far with this," Fenuku said, coming to stand by Marik and Odion, "the Ishtar heir is entitled to – "

"ENOUGH!"

The Chief's commanding voice echoed off the stone walls of the chamber, and even Marik stopped struggling for a moment.

"I've heard just about enough from you Fenuku! It seems you are in need of the same treatment as your beloved 'heir'. And as far as you're concerned, heir, you're just a weak little boy who happens to carry the key to a great power. Unlucky for you, it is not necessary for you to be alive for me to retrieve that key!"

A sudden cry from beside him drew his eyes in time to see his dear brother slump forward in the guards hold, and before he could even call Odion's name, there was a solid crack against the back of his head, and he knew no more.

*Author's Note: Yeah, good old-fashioned cliff-hanger.

I'm really excited about this one now, so don't worry; it'll get done.

I think I'll start writing the next chapter tonight (there's a lot introduced in this chapter that has yet to be explained), so keep an eye out for yet another chapter of this on the horizon!

Huzzah!

And no, I don't approve of incest in any way shape or form, but watching a show on Tutankhamen and ancient Egypt on history channel the other day brought to my attention that *MOST* Egyptian royals practiced incest. They had several wives usually anyways, and often they were sisters or half sisters, so that the royal blood would not be diluted or something.

And apparently Tutankhamen and his sister (half-sister?) were head over heels in love with each other; Osiris and Isis (ancient Egyptian deities to whom I make reference) were brother and sister as well and ended up giving birth to other Egyptian gods, so yeah, not very strange in ancient Egypt.

And what with the Ishtar family living underground for CENTURIES and knowing only the culture of ancient Egypt and mostly not being able to go to the surface, I imagine inbreeding and incest were fairly common.

I mean come on, blonde hair and purple eyes? Not to mention psychotic tendencies and dissociative identity disorder.

But hey, I'm an artist, not a history major, and I'm well aware it's just a show, but it's really, REALLY fun to over-analyze shows like this.

It's what fan fiction is for.

So anyways, stay tuned for next time, when all your questions shall be answered! Well, I hope anyways. :3