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Emptiness.
Her nephew was gone.
"Alex is...gone," Irene whispered into the darkness, testing the foreign words on her lips. Somehow, it didn't sound right.
Alex shouldn't be gone.
He was what brought joy into her life during the years without Ardeth. She'd spent the past eight years watching him grow into the lovable and smart kid he was now. Who knew when she would ever see him again...? A tear escaped her eyes.
Irene shook her head. She really was crying way too much for one night.
A gentle hand touched her cheek and wiped the tear away. "Now you know how I feel when they took you," Ardeth murmured. "But you were fine, were you not? He will be fine too. He has your brother's blood flowing in his veins, after all," he added with a sparkle in his eye.
Irene nodded, watching as her brother and Evie sought comfort from one another. She had to be strong, not for herself, but for Rick. He had enough problems that needed dealing with at the moment, and a crying younger sister was the last thing he needed.
"You're right," she agreed, offering him a small smile, though she thought it probably looked more like a grimace.
Irene took a deep breath to calm herself before she led Ardeth to her brother and Evie, not trusting herself to say anything in fear that it would only make things worse.
"Please. Do not fear for your son, my friends," he reassured them. "They cannot hurt him, for he wears the Bracelet of Anubis."
Irene's mouth dropped open at his revelation. How did he know? As far as she knew, it was still a secret between Alex and her!
Evie exchanged a glance with Rick. "Alex is wearing the Bracelet?"
Rick nodded, then, noticing Irene's surprised expression, added, "What's with that expression, Rena?"
"I...er, may have been with him when he put it on," she admitted sheepishly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment when she felt their eyes fall on her. She could imagine what her brother must be thinking - something along the lines of "You're a bad example for him!" - and she was suddenly glad that it was so dark outside. "That means that I was the one who placed him in danger. And I even promised to keep it a secret from everyone because he asked me to, but, I get the feeling that you know about it already..."
Evie shook her head. "No, Rena! You did us a favor! If Ardeth is right and they won't hurt him because he wears the bracelet, then it was a good thing you didn't stop him from putting it on!"
But if I had stopped him from putting it on, then he wouldn't be in danger at all, she wanted to protest, but then thought better of it. She would just be wasting precious time that they desperately needed to look for Alex. I'll just have to help them find Alex. It's the least I can do, she vowed.
"And when he put it on, he said he saw the Pyramids of Giza, the Temple at Karnak..." Rick added helpfully.
"Yes. And when they reach Karnak, the bracelet will show him the next step of the journey," Ardeth continued.
"Well...if we don't get to Karnak before them, we won't have any idea where to look for him next," Evie pointed out.
Rick frowned thoughtfully. "Seems to me...like we need a magic carpet."
"Remind me why you decided to come along, Rena? Aren't housemaids supposed to stay at home?"
Irene made a mental note to kick him after they got out of the car. "Well...Alex is my nephew!"
"And Alex is my son," Rick replied sarcastically. Irene didn't need to see his expression to know that he was rolling his eyes as he spoke. "Can you tell me something I don't know? Oh, let me guess...is it that you can't stay away from Ardeth because he's coming with us?"
Her brother was so, argh, impossible sometimes! "Ardeth has his reasons for coming, and I have my reasons for coming, and my reasons have nothing to do with his reasons, or him!" she announced heatedly.
Rick actually had the nerve to chuckle.
"I hate you sometimes, Richard O'Connell," Irene muttered under her breath. Louder, she added, "And it's because I feel guilty, if you really must know! It was my fault Alex was placed in danger in the first place. Besides...I don't want to stay behind, not knowing whether you're safe or in danger. Like last time."
She shuddered at the memory of her waiting outside while Rick and Ardeth had gone to save Evie from Imhotep. It was awful, not knowing if something horrid was happening to them or not. Evie, sitting next to her in the car, took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Irene smiled at her sister-in-law, thankful that at least someone knew how she felt.
It was then Rick pulled the car to a stop next to a sign labeled 'Magic Carpet Airways'. Irene stared at the sign. So that was what he meant by them needing a magic carpet.
As soon as Irene climbed out of the car, she kicked her brother in the leg.
"Ouch!" Rick yelped, glaring at her. "What was that for?"
"For being my stupid brother, that's what," Irene huffed with annoyance.
"This is the magic carpet?" Evie asked, joining Irene in giving Rick a hard time. Today was just not his day.
"We'll be fine. He's a professional," Rick promised, leading the way to the entrance of the building.
The man in question opened the door and walked out, humming merrily and clearly not expecting guests. But at Rick's overly-friendly exclamation of "Izzy!", he quickly turned and disappeared behind his door again, locking it in the process.
The smile was gone from Rick's face in an instant. "Hey!"
"He definitely remembers you," Evie commented innocently.
Rick made a face. "He's a little shy. Jonathan, get our bags," he added as Jonathan joined them by the door.
"Ah, my hands are full," he protested, though the only thing he was carrying was his prized gold stick. "Get Irene to do it - she's the housemaid, isn't she?"
"Ah, but housemaids are responsible for taking care of houses. I don't recall having to carry bags as part of my job," Irene reminded him sweetly.
Rick snatched the scepter out of his hands, leaving the poor man with no choice but to do so. "Now!" he snapped.
"Right, right, I'll get the bags," Jonathan agreed at once, obediently making his way back to the car.
"I'll deal with the flight details," Rick muttered, pulling his handgun out and shooting the lock off the door.
Evie stepped forward, remarking "Honey, you're not a subtle man," as she did so.
"We don't have time for subtle," Rick reminded her, and without further ado, he abused the already beaten-up door by kicking it open with a lot more force than needed. How Irene ended up having such a violent brother, she would never know.
"Izzy, come here!" Rick ordered, but the man ignored him and began gathering the maps and documents scattered about the desks.
Evie watched with amusement. "Doesn't look happy to see - "
"Hasn't turned me down yet," Rick pointed out, but it appeared that he had spoke too soon.
"Whatever it is, whatever you need, I don't care! Forget it, O'Connell! Every time I hook up with you, I get shot! Last time I got shot in the ass! I'm in mourning for my ass!"
Irene gave Rick a dark look. "Somehow, I'm not that surprised," she said dryly, and he cringed in response.
"Remember that bank job in Marrakesh?" Izzy ranted on. It was clear he had some unpleasant memories when it came to Rick, and knowing her brother, Irene couldn't blame him.
"Bank job?" Evie echoed, suspicion evident in her voice. Irene raised an eyebrow - this was a part of Rick's past that he had chosen not to share with her, and she wondered why.
"It's not like it sounds!" Rick defended immediately.
Izzy wasn't done yet. "Uh, it's exactly how it sounds! I'm flying high, hiding in the sun. The white boy here flags me down, so I fly in low for the pickup. Next thing you know, I get shot! I'm lying in the middle of the road with my spleen hanging out, and I see him waltzing up with some belly-dancer girl!"
"Belly dancer girl?" Evie repeated. "Izzy, I think you and I should talk."
"Oh, me, too," Irene put in, and she couldn't help but grin at the look of horror that had dawned on her brother's face, "though, as his sister, I'm far more interested in what happened before the belly-dancer girl part."
"As long as I don't get shot," Izzy proposed.
Rick glared. "When Rena is around, the last thing you have to worry about is getting shot, so quit your whining. You're gonna get paid this time," he went on, tossing a stack of bills into Izzy's hand.
Izzy sighed. "O'Connell, you looked around here plenty, huh? What do I need money for? What the hell am I gonna spend it on?"
"I'm gonna keep this short. My little boy's out there. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get him back," Rick stated firmly, waving Jonathan's stick around to prove his point. But Izzy was no longer paying attention, for he was following the gold stick's every movement. Rick, noticing this new development, moved the stick this way and that, and Izzy continued gazing at it longingly until he finally made up his mind.
"O'Connell, you give me that gold stick there and you can shave my head, wax my legs, and use me for a surfboard."
Irene winced as her brother chucked the gold stick at Izzy, who caught it expertly. "That sounds like it'll hurt."
"Didn't we do that in Tripoli?" Rick wondered at the same time.
"Anything for the stick, Miss O'Connell. Or are you married now?"
Her face flushing, Irene quickly shook her head. "N-Not yet," she stammered.
"She needs to marry the guy soon or she'll be stuck with me for the rest of my life! And no way is that happening!" Rick supplied jokingly, earning himself a jab in the side from Irene.
"Oh, I see how it is," Irene grumbled. "You can't wait to get rid of me, can you? So you can do whatever you want with Evie?"
Evie opened her mouth, but Rick, being the smart brother he is, hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way," he asked Izzy loudly, "When did you...lose your eye?"
"Oh," Izzy laughed, lifting his eyepatch to reveal a perfectly good eye. "I didn't. I just thought it made me look more...dashing."
Rick grabbed the patch and snapped it off. "Get to work," he ordered, and Izzy set off without complaint.
Irene rolled her eyes at her brother's antics. He had a knack for ordering people around, and it definitely wasn't because of his personality. She could imagine him being the king of some country, firing gunshots whenever someone disobeyed him.
It wasn't a pleasant thought.
The neighing of horses broke Irene out of her thoughts, and she looked up to see Ardeth along with other men of the Medjai waiting for them. The smile on her lips faltered when she saw a beautiful woman dressed in dark-colored robes follow Ardeth as he walked toward them.
"I knew it. I'm gonna get shot," Izzy muttered.
"These are the commanders of the twelve tribes of the Medjai," Ardeth explained as he approached the group, accepting Rick's greeting with a nod and offering Irene a small smile. "Horus!"
A hawk fluttered down and landed on Ardeth's arm.
"Ah, pet bird," Jonathan noted.
Ardeth stroked the bird lovingly, and Irene felt warm as she saw a side to him that was usually kept hidden under his rigid demeanor. "My best and most clever friend," he confirmed. "He will let the commanders know of our progress so that they may follow." He then gestured to the woman behind him.
To Irene's surprise, she left Ardeth's side and stepped toward her. "You are Irene O'Connell, yes?"
"Y-Yes," Irene answered, surprised that she was addressing her. "How did you know?"
The woman beamed at her. "Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Amira, Ardeth's cousin. He told me so much about you, so I insisted on meeting you here. And now that I have finally gotten to see you, I can rest with ease knowing that you will take good care of him. I can see why he refused to marry our women," she added, almost as though she was teasing her. She gave Irene a quick hug before slipping onto Ardeth's horse, leaving Irene staring after her, stunned into silence.
Ardeth saluted the other Medjai, and they returned his gesture before galloping off into the distance.
"If the Army of Anubis arises, they will do all they can to stop it," Ardeth told them solemnly, watching the Medjai leave. The weight of his words told Irene that there was a chance he could die, too, and just the thought made Irene feel sick. She staggered, and Ardeth reached out to steady her. "Are you alright, Rena?"
The way he said her name made her feel warm and fuzzy, and she couldn't stop a tear from escaping her eyes. "I-I don't want to lose you," she confessed. "I haven't seen you in so long. I don't want to get a chance see you for a barely a second before losing you again. I know I'm weak, and I can't do anything to help you, but I don't ever want to be separated from you again, Ardeth! I know we have so many differences between us, and I don't know even half of your Medjai traditions, but...no, when we succeed in rescuing Alex, I...I...I'd like you to take me to your home and teach me the ways of a Medjai. If you'll have me?"
Ardeth gently wiped the tears out of her eyes. "Why is it that every time I see you, you always surprise me so? Of course we will welcome you."
Irene smiled. "My brother would say that it's because I'm an idiot."
"Oi! Hurry up, you two!" Rick's irritated command came from somewhere ahead.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Irene joked.
"Your Majesty?"
She couldn't help but giggle. She gestured to her brother, who was waiting for them with a scowl on his face. "He's rather King-like, isn't he? Albeit an old, cranky one!"
"I see what you mean," Ardeth nodded, chuckling.
Irene felt a stab of pride at the thought that it was her who had made him laugh. She quickened her pace until she had joined Rick and the others.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Izzy boasted, indicating the dirigible with his hand.
"It's a balloon," Rick stated the obvious, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Oh, it's a dirigible," Izzy corrected.
Rick didn't sound happy. "Where's your airplane?"
"Ha! Airplanes are a thing in the past," he answered.
"Izzy, you were right," Rick decided briskly.
"I was?"
"Yeah. You're gonna get shot," Rick elaborated, pulling out his handgun and pointing it at the poor man.
Izzy held up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! She's faster than she looks. And she's quiet. Real quiet. Perfect for sneaking up on people, which is a very good thing," he informed Rick, stepping forward and leaning in towards him before adding, "Unless we go with your approach. Barging in face first, guns blazing, and getting your friends shot in the ass!"
Rick shot a glance at Evie before shrugging and lowering his gun. "Well," was all he managed to say. Irene knew that the last thing he would do was acknowledge that Izzy was right.
Ardeth shook his head, remembering the last time they had rode in an airplane and what had happened as a result - Winston had died and Irene had fainted from the shock. "Why can't you people ever keep your feet on the ground?"
Irene wasn't a big fan of flying, either. But she knew that the only thing that mattered was saving her nephew. If this was the only way, then she was going to just have to accept it.
She turned and offered Ardeth her hand. "Shall we?"
A/n: I'm sorry for not updating in so long. I blame college. /shot/ Anyway, here is a longer chapter...hopefully it makes up my absence?
Amira was featured in a one-shot set between the first story and this one, but you don't really have to read it since she doesn't play a big role in the story except making Irene jealous ;) LOL. But there will be no love triangle because I'm tired of those, so you guys won't have to worry about that anytime soon!
Leave a review and let me know what you think? ;) 40 reviews.. you guys are all amazing /sobs/ thank you so much for supporting the story!