Once again I don't own anything but what I make these poor characters do! Hope you enjoy! Also please note that unless otherwise stated the conversations are happening in Egyptian. Thank You!
He was going to kill them all. Slowly. Painfully. He would bathe in their blood and bask in their screams. There was nothing left that was precious to him in this world. His time was gone. His beloved was gone. Even his humanity was gone. Hari had been the only thing that kept him grounded, the only thing that had enabled him to keep his mind and sanity during his imprisonment. These…bugs had dared hurt him. How badly he did not know; all he knew was that Hari's blood had been spilt nearby. Where was Hari's guardian? The one so precious that Hari would never let harm come to him. The one that was supposed to protect Hari! They would all die. He could already sense that the curse on the canopic jars had been triggered. Now all he had to do was wait…once the sacred words were spoken nothing would stop him. Nothing.
Hari's cries still rang in his ears. Ardeth held the boy closely as Hari slept. He was still shaken by the incident. He regretted ever letting the American live. He had been admiring his fighting spirit and not thinking about the harm he could bring if he survived the desert. He had brought more with him, there seemed to be two groups camping down on the ruins with the intention to break into them and discover their secrets. This could never happen. Hari had been down in the ruins when they had arrived. He must have been exploring though he had taught the boy better. Still the Americans had overreacted thinking he must be a ghost and shot at him. A bullet had grazed his arm but thankfully had left no more damage than that. His dark eyes traced over Hari's form. His charge was so independent, so defiant that sometimes he forgot he was only a boy. He would not make the same mistake again. He looked to the lights of the camp. He would warn them off tonight. If they refused to leave in the morning than he would do as the Medjai had sworn to and would protect the world from the monster that lived within.
A woman's soft voice echoed through his mind as he felt power and life flowing through him. He broke free from the bindings and howled his rage as he emerged from his chambers the thing he feared most: a monster. The rage that had been held at bay for so long returned with vicious force. The thought of Hari hurt…wounded…dead. He roared his fury again as he sent is first curse upon them. Those insects would pay.
Like cornered rats they fled to his chambers for protection. He knew his current form was as monstrous as those who cursed him intended. But not for long. He sensed that those who were cursed to give up their organs to him were near. He would gather the organs and then find Hari.
Ardeth was muttering every curse he knew as he and his men gathered their horses together. Hari was still recovering on his mat and Ardeth loathed leaving him. Still his duty could not be put aside no matter how much he wished to be by Hari's side when he woke. He paused and stroked the young boy's cheek. Not a boy for much longer. Harry was nearly on the cusp of being a teenager…soon a man. The time was coming when he would have to tell him about his heritage. But he wanted to hold on to these innocent years for a while longer. He was being selfish, but just this once he would.
In his dreams Hari felt like he was floating somewhere dark. He was a little confused but it kind of hurt to think about it. His shoulder felt as though it were on fire. He opened his eyes and was met with a dim darkness. The floating sensation didn't leave him as he tried to look around. Ardeth always told him that dreams were doorways to other realms where one could get answers. Did he have an answer he was supposed to be looking for?
Soft laughter rang in his ears and Hari turned to see who else was here. He would have fallen if he hadn't been floating when Anubis appeared before him. He swallowed. This was either going to be very good…or very bad.
The God looked down upon his Childe. He had of course been watching from afar, but it was so different up close. He had been very proud of his Childe. He was clever, brave and noble. He was following his new destiny without much prodding. Here he was also supposed to defeat an evil with love. The way he was going about it was much different than He had intended; though of course he had seen the possibility. Now however the boy was here because he instinctively knew that there was a path divided in front of him. He needed guiding and thus He came.
"Imhotep has arisen Childe. The rage he was cursed with has returned because he knows of your injuries. You must go to him, stop him from bringing the curse to its full form. If not he will be lost in the darkness and the world shall suffer."
With a start Hari woke on his mat and stared up at the tent roof. He knew better than to not listen to his dreams. Especially ones where God's visited. He sat up and ignored the pain in his shoulder as he did so. The last thing he remembered was being in Imhotep's chambers after visiting him. Then he had seen strangers and tried to hide…and then…pain. He had made it to the Medjai and Ardeth to warn them but the details were lost to him.
He looked around the camp and found it mainly deserted. A few of the younger guards were posted but if this many of them were gone than it could only mean that his dream had been true. Imhotep had arisen and the Medjai were going to fight him. Ardeth was going to fight him. He snuck past the guards, a trick he had learned years ago and picked out his mare from the heard. She was smaller than the other horses but it still proved his skill as a rider that he could handle a full grown horse. He petted Hedwig's mane as he fixed up his saddle and supplies silently and then headed towards the city.
When Hari arrived he felt as if he had fallen into a nightmare. The city was on fire and people were screaming or chanting Imhotep's name. He knew that Hedwig would be tired after such a long run but he couldn't risk being too late. He found most of the mob heading towards the museum. He stroked her main as she leapt over groups of people causing them to scatter away in fear. He shouted a quick apology but kept his eyes on the mob following them, frantic to find Imhotep and Ardeth.
There was dark pleasure as Imhotep collected the last one he needed in order to fully regenerate. His body was returned to him and he could begin bringing the world to darkness. Before him he had the rest of them cornered. He had no use for any besides the woman. He would spare her only because she had released him into the physical world. He glanced over those before him and his anger was renewed when he saw the infamous Ardeth. He had never met Hari's guardian before but the boy had lovingly described him enough times for him to recognize the man on sight. He felt a painful twist inside of him when he realized that if his guardian was here than Hari must have been seriously injured or was…dead. He wanted to kill the man. He was supposed to protect Hari. He was the one who Hari treasured so much. Yet because of his promise to Hari he could not. He clenched his fists. Fine. Ardeth would live; he would bring the woman with him to find Hari's body and use her and the book to bring Hari back to life. Then he would be Hari's protector.
Finally Hari had found them. Imhotep had cornered Ardeth and the others and he could tell that Anubis was right. The rage was real on Imhotep's face reminding him of when they had first met years ago. Even with Hedwig's prowess he was unable to break through the crowd. He was forced to dismount and push his way through. From what he could hear he was promising that they would all live if the woman came with him. What did he want her for?
For a moment Ardeth thought he was imagining things when he saw a familiar mare halt behind the group. But there was no doubt when a small form wrapped in black slid off of her and began pushing through the crowd. Hari was here. For the first time since Hari had been lost several years ago he felt fear's cold fingers grip his heart. He had known that if he should die another Medjai would take over the duty of caring for Hari. Or perhaps Anubis would give him to another. Now Hari was here and was pushing himself closer and closer to danger; while he did not believe Anubis would let his Childe die he had learned now that Hari could in fact be wounded and feel great pain. This mob was vicious and would do their best to tear him apart. What could he do? To shout at Hari to leave would be drawing attention to the boy and most likely guaranteeing his fears to come true. He could not even discreetly signal Hari as the boy was looking only at Imhotep. His hands felt their way to his weapon. He would not let Imhotep harm Hari.
The woman bravely was stepping towards Imhotep when Hari finally was close enough. He pushed his way through the final people with a gasp and shouted "Imhotep!"
Both sides turned to stare at him and Hari was sure he had never seen such fear in Ardeth's eyes. He gave an uneasy smile knowing that explaining later would not be any fun. But now he had to focus on Imhotep. He ran towards the High Priest, realizing that he was fully regenerated and what that meant. He didn't care. Once Imhotep had been brought back to life he had been bound to fulfill that curse but they could stop this here and now. In his haste he stumbled and fell but Imhotep was quick to catch him and lift him up.
"Hari…what are you doing here? I sensed you had spilled blood…Where is your wound?" Imhotep completely ignored those around him as he looked Hari over. His warm hands were gentle as they tried to undo his wrap to find the injury.
Hari smiled "It was nothing Imhotep…I was grazed by a bullet and was more affected by shock than anything else. Ardeth took care of it for me."
The rage that had vanished at Hari's arrival returned "Your guardian failed you! He should have taken better care…made sure that you were safe at all times." A haunted look came into Imhotep's eyes as he stroked his fingers through Hari's hair.
Shaking his messy black mop Hari laughed "But if he had we never would have met…Imhotep you must stop, don't hurt anyone else. You were forced to fulfill one curse but the rest is up to you."
Staring into Imhotep's dark eyes Hari waited for his response. Praying that he was not too late to change Imhotep's fate.
Small cliff hanger! Thanks for reading!