Thanks so much for the reviews, maclll, lilylynn, and zeusfluff!! Here's the next batch!
Heidi Rittner (pen name JasmineHR) January 28, 2002
As soon as Alex took another step, the blinding light disappeared. He rubbed his stinging eyes to adjust to the near darkness and looked behind him to see what had caused the blinding light. To his amazement, he only saw a wall with hieroglyphs.
"That's odd," Alex thought to himself, as he started looking over the ancient symbols. He nearly had a heart attack as Seth and Bonnie came walking at a fast pace through the wall. Seth grabbed Alex by the arm to ensure that Alex wouldn't try anything. They walked a few more steps and stopped.
Alex found himself looking out the mouth of a cave at a land in the warm soft glow of the last few minutes of sunset. He recognized this place. It was Egypt, Seti's palace to be exact. He'd been to Egypt many times on explorations with his parents, only this wasn't the Egypt that he'd been to. This was different. There weren't any ruins and the place wasn't deserted. Everything looked as if it hadn't been standing too long and as if it were in constant care. Also, what looked to be guards at watch could be seen everywhere.
"That was very close," Seth said. "The portal closes as soon as the sun sets, which means we made it by a few minutes."
Seth continued to explain to Bonnie exactly how the portal worked and how he had come about finding it, not caring that Alex was listening very avidly.
"We must be very cautious. We can't let the guards see us," Seth said in a serious tone.
Bonnie grabbed Alex's other arm to get his attention. "No noise out of you either, boy. Don't think that they won't kill you also if we are discovered sneaking around 'his majesty's' land." Bonnie snickered at her reference towards Pharaoh Seti.
Alex nodded in compliance to their wishes. In a low voice he said, "I know where we are, but WHEN are we?"
Rachel (pen name Evie of the Nile) January 29, 2002
Bonnie or Nephthys started to laugh. "Oh child, you really do just cut to the chase. As your father would say." She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, to look him over. She didn't get a real good look at him when they first 'met' in London.
"Don't you think he looks a little obvious?" Seth leaned over and half whispered to Nephthys.
"Yes, I'll get him some clothes," She walked over to a building that wasn't thirty feet away, went inside and after about two minutes, came back out with clothes in her arms.
"Put these on," She snapped as she threw the material into Alex's face.
He looked at the attire. It was basically just a 'skirt' that you wrapped around your waist. It was white and practically see through, so he hoped to God that it wouldn't be if it were wrapped around more then once.
He took it behind a tree. He was hidden from any passerby's but Seth and Nephthys came around to watch.
"Think of me as your mother, for the time being" she said when she met his hate-filled glare.
"You?" He said in disgust. "You could never be my mother, my mother's kind and caring, you're just a witch!" He yelled at her.
"Yes, that may be. But you see those people." She pointed to some children and men out in a courtyard. "To them, I'm your mother." She pulled a blade out of a fold in her robe, "Got that?"
Jean - January 29, 2002
Alex gulped, looking at the golden blade and back up to the two menacing faces. "Gotcha." he mumbled, and took her hand in his. "Mum." he growled, squeezing hard with a sly grin, much like his father's.
Heading off to the port, Ardeth and Evelyn were explaining the story of Seth and Nephthys to Rick and Jonathan, making sure to include the part of Osiris' death, and how he and Horus fit into the circle. Reaching the port, they left the car and booked passage to Egypt.
As Alex and the other two were walking, he stopped short, visions of people flitting through his mind. Horus stood over his defeated opponent, staring down at Seth with hate-filled eyes. Growling, he murmured in Egyptian an incantation. "I Horus the strong shall rid the earth of you. You shall meet your brother, and my father in the underworld. I pray he seeks mercy and not revenge for your murder." With that, the vision was gone, and Alex was shocked by the face he saw on the body of Horus. It was that of his own.
Kate - January 30, 2002
'Whoa', thought Alex. 'Am I really some kind of Egyptian? And do I really attack this guy? Wow, I was really cool in my previous life!'
"Keep moving boy!" Nephthys whispered harshly.
"Yes, we don't want to be late," added Seth ominously.
"Late for what?" Alex demanded. Nephthys and Seth just exchanged knowing glances and smiles. "Wow," thought Alex, "If mum and dad don't get here soon, I'm really gonna die this time!"
Milo (pen name milo-n-vaughn) January 30, 2002
It was then when she came. A young and beautiful Egyptian girl. Her long black hair was tied in loose braids and her clothes looked worn and tattered. She had big beautiful brown eyes, and although she wore not a touch of make up, her skin was like that of a goddess, which is what Alex swore she was as she looked at him.
The only thing distinguishing her from a real goddess were the smudges of dirt and sand that kissed her cheeks, and the small scar on her right arm, above a band that bore several dirty hieroglyphics.
She came from a building just in front of them, storming out like she was being followed. Something struck Alex when he saw the look in her eyes. It was the look of fear he would have seen in his own, but with a burning light of defiance lingering there. Suddenly Alex couldn't help but flashback to one time...late at night, when he was staying at Uncle Jon's...
He remembered Jonathan waking up with a start, throwing off his blankets and jumping out of bed. Once Alex had calmed his uncle down though, Jonathan told him of the dream he had...the dream of a girl more beautiful than any that walked the earth.
Alex didn't know why, but something about the girl made him think about that. Snapping back into reality Alex watched, as the girl approached them.
Heidi Rittner (pen name JasmineHR) February 3, 2002
Due to their last minute traveling needs and it being the best time to vacation, all ships going to Egypt were booked. As much as Rick didn't like the idea of it, they had to use his ship, or sit around waiting for a vacancy. The group reached their destination and began to pile their luggage and supplies on to Rick's ship. It wasn't so big of a ship that it would require a whole crew, but was quite roomy and could be handled by just a few people. Rick had purchased it shortly after their return from Ahm Shere for the main purpose of taking his family on vacations and, when his wife talked him into it, the occasional adventure. It had three simple bedrooms, one of which was bigger and belonged to the captain of the ship and his wife.
After Rick finished checking to make sure everything was in working order, he set out looking for Evie. It did not take him long to find her since he figured where she's be. Her back was towards him as he walked across the deck. She had her arms crossed and was staring out at the softly rolling sea. He came up behind her and put his arms around her. She leaned against him and placed her head under his chin, welcoming his comfort and warmth.
"I'm scared Rick. I don't even know where to begin looking for him," Evie said in a quiet voice.
"Egypt." Rick simply stated.
"How do you know?" Evie learned forward and turned her face towards him with a questioning look.
Rick's eyebrows drew together as he mumbled, "By that dream or vision or whatever you want to call it that I had." It annoyed him that he was starting to have those, even though there had only been the one so far. "I recognized the land that Alex had been taken to, but for some reason, the face of the bastard that took him was a blur. I feel as if I know him, but also, as if I've never met him in my life."
Evie turned back around and once again, leaned against him with her head under his chin. She thought about what he'd said and remembered the visions that she'd had in the past. "Maybe you'll get more visions when we get closer to Egypt and closer to Alex."
He did not want to talk about that, let alone think about it. "We'd better get going. The longer we take, the more distance that we put between ourselves and Alex." He kissed the top of her head and headed towards the wheel while shouting orders out to Jonathan and Ardeth.
Rachel (pen name Evie of the Nile) February 3, 2002
Evelyn was relieved when she saw Rick Jonathan and Ardeth head down to storage on the lower deck. She really needed some time alone, if not to collect her thoughts, she just needed to let her emotions take over, they had been bottled up for so long now. She wanted to be strong, but apparently she couldn't.
She slowly sank to the wooden floor, clinging to the rails as she did. As she looked down upon the water her tears started to fall, each one landing in the water, although the current was too strong each tear still made its own impression in the sea.
"Oh God." She mumbled to herself as she broke down. Ever so carefully Evelyn knelt onto her knees and leaned over the railing, resting her head on her hands as they gripped the bars, she was sobbing so hard that her whole body shook. She stayed like that for as it seemed, ever.
Her whole body was sore from shaking, her eyes from squinting, and her throat was choked up, when finally she ever so slowly got up.
'Where are you Alex?' She asked herself, 'Who did this to you?' Then the most horrific question, 'Are you still alive?' At the thought of her son's demise Evelyn broke down again, only this time harder. She collapsed back down onto the deck and practically wailed.
He heard it as soon as she fell upon the floor, the second time. Rick stopped what he was doing, to listen and make sure everything was all right, but then he heard her cry out. But this wasn't a cry in pain, or at least not physical pain. He knew what this cry was. Richard O'Connell dropped everything he was doing, and precipitately made his way to the deck above to be with his wife.
Jean - February 3, 2002
Rick walked over to his wife and for once didn't really know what to do. Desperately he wanted to lift her up and hold her to quench his own fear, but he knew all she wanted was time away from everything, and everyone. And that time away included him. He made an open invitation, sitting next to her with his legs stretched out and his arms wide.
Gladly Evelyn went into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing into his ear.
"Don't worry honey, everything will end up just like last time, don't worry. I promise to you that nothing bad will happen to you or Alex." Little did he know what was in store for Rick O'Connell.
Milo (pen name milo-n-vaughn) February 5, 2002
Back with Alex things were quite hectic. The girl had come right up to them and tackled Seth, causing Nephthys to scream as well as Seth, who screamed quite girlish for the godly god he was.
But amidst the screaming, the girl was punching Seth quite well wherever she could reach him, "YOU BASTARD!" She screamed.
After watching with huge eyes, Alex couldn't help but laugh as Nephthys pried the girl off of Seth, and Seth lie there on the ground like a big baby.
Nephthys glared at the girl, "Gabrielle. What a pleasant surprise," she said with sarcasm, "how's your friend?"
The girl, who's name was Gabrielle obviously, glared back with even more hatred than Nephthys, "Olympus is NOT well, thanks to your boyfriend here, who's about to get his ass kicked!"
Nephthys laughed evilly, "Oh too bad...I always sort of liked Olympus. He sure loved you.... I can understand why you were never too interested though...he's quite the scrawny fellow."
Gabrielle just looked at the goddess with obvious disbelief, "It's amazing...you look like a normal person, but actually... you're the angel of death."
Evie - February 7, 2002
Meanwhile back on Rick's ship Evie had finally calmed down and stopped crying, but Rick held her just a little more just to make sure she was all right. Finally Rick went down below to see how drunk Jonathan was, and if he had passed out yet. Evie went back over to look down at the water as she tried her hardest not to cry. Jonathan (surprisingly!) hadn't gotten drunk yet, and went up to check on Evie.
"What's wrong baby sister?" Jonathan asked, he still didn't believe that his beloved Bonnie had anything to do with it.
Evie tried her hardest not to get mad at Jonathan, but she couldn't help it. "Why do you think I'm upset?! Besides the fact that that damn Bonnie of yours stole my son!"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?!?" Argued Jonathan, he was outraged that Evie, Rick, and Ardeth Bey still thought Bonnie had taken Alex. "I told you before! Bonnie would never take Alex! I don't even know why I am with you crazy people looking for that damn son of yours when I should be looking for Bonnie!!!"
As soon as he said it he regretted it. He hadn't meant to say that, but he was just so mad. He really did love Alex." Evie... I..I didn't mean..." Unfortunately it wasn't enough because before he could finish Evie punched him as hard as she could in the face, and walked away sobbing. Leaving Jonathan with a bloody nose.
All of a sudden Rick appeared up on deck looking like he wanted to shoot Jonathan " What the hell did you say to my wife?!"
Before Jonathan could answer everyone heard an explosion coming from the front of the ship...
Marion (pen name GiantPygmyGirl) February 8, 2002
Somewhere, deep in the desert of Egypt something stirred. The golden sand shimmered, the air crisp with anxiety. A copper form emerged from a cloud of dust, clad only in the rays of the sun. Her eyes were dark and large, though glossy with content, shining out from her face. Her high-defined cheekbones which sloped into her full lips were accentuated by those eyes...
She had a nasty demeanor, but this was all hidden under her beauty. Her dark hair was in tight ringlets down her back and she wore only enough material as though not to be indecent. The makeup she wore was simple. Bits of gold flew from her eyes while dark lines outlined them. The effect drew anyone's attention to her face immediately, leaving no room for error in assuming she was heavenly. Her name was Nefret, and she had an important job to do.
Shell (pen name Eviefan) February 9, 2002
The explosion had drawn everyone's attention, and Rick was the first to arrive at the front. When he opened the hatch leading down to the engine room a thick black smoke billowed up, and Rick began to swear.
"This is just great, just fucking great," he said not caring that the smoke was practically choking him. They hadn't even been out at sea for an hour yet, and he knew that there had been engine problems, and he thought it had been fixed but now he knew. Ardeth was the first one to offer help, though the engine of a ship was not something he knew about.
"My friend tell me what you need," he said. Rick ran his hand through his hair.
"An Axe," Rick said as he started down the steps. While the two of them started with the Engine, that left Jonathan and Evie alone.
"Evie, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..." She didn't let him finish moving past him, going toward the back of the ship where she and Rick had their room. Once inside she shut the door and moved over to the bed taking off her shoes, then lay down closing her eyes.
"Alex think of me," she said praying she would have a vision so she would know where her son was.
Night had fallen over the Palace, and in his own room Alex sat dressed in ancient cloths. He was a brave boy, and he hated both Seth and Bonnie, and was hopeful that the girl he had bumped into today would be an ally. Right now all he wanted was his mum. Being here was terrifying, because Alex knew he could die easily here. He also knew that the likelihood of his parents every figuring out that there was a portal to ancient times was slim. Now he stood at the window looking out over the vast sands of the desert.
"Mum find me," he said as a tear streamed down his cheek.
Heidi Rittner (pen name JasmineHR) February 10, 2002
"Thank God!" Rick thought to himself as he closed the engine room door and turned towards the hopeful stares of Jonathan and Ardeth. It was a little after midnight and they were all exhausted.
Rick gave Jonathan a reassuring smack the back, leaving a blackened handprint. "Everything's fine gentleman. Thanks for your help. It was only a minor problem. One of the belts broke and had to be replaced. The biggest pain was getting the broken one out. It got wedged between two of the gears. Best we be off to bed. We've got a long day ahead of us."
Jonathan and Ardeth gave a nod, let out the breath they'd been holding, and headed off to their sleeping quarters. All Rick could think about the whole time was getting back to his wife to make sure she was okay. He quietly opened the door to their room and entered. His wife was asleep. The moonlight streamed in through their little window, lighting Evie's face. Rick thought she looked like an angel. He washed his hands, then sat down next to her. He ran the back of his hand along her cheek and could feel the tears that had been shed. He changed and lay down next to his wife, gathering her in his arms. Exhaustion took over and he was immediately in a deep sleep.
He stood in the middle of the desert, watching as a woman approached him. Her dark outlined eyes bore into him and her state of dress was not of this time. She had a stern expression on her copper face that showed she had a mission, but did not look too happy to be the one chosen for it. She stopped a few feet in front of him and began speaking in ancient Egyptian. The only thing he got was her name, Nefret, and knew that she was trying to unwillingly help him find something having to do with a tunnel and Alex.
The dream was interrupted by something poking his ribs. He opened his eyes and saw Evie's face above his. She had a none too happy expression on her face.
"Rick, you were talking in your sleep. Who in the bloody hell is Nefret?" Evie was looking daggers at him.
Rick smiled at his wife's show of jealously. "Just a woman in another damned 'vision'." He grumbled.
Evie's expression softened and she giggled at herself for her reaction, and also the annoyed expression on her husband's face. It was time for him to come to terms with and accept these visions. "Tell me about your vision."