Authors Note: I do not own, nor do I claim any rights to the film The Mummy which is owned by Universal Studios and Stephan Sommers. No infringement intended. Please, don't sue. I do however own Corin Carnahan, Lydia Carnahan, Viktor Odlethorpe, and Walter B. Gysman. I kind of own The Pharaoh Amasis, his character at least. Enjoy!
O, and sorry this took so long to post, I'll try to update again as quickly as I can!
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The Cairo Museum closed promptly at 7:00, much to Corin's disappointment, so her visit to the fabled collection would simply have to wait. She'd wanted to just venture inside and see what she could before closing, but Eve had been insistent that such a jaunt would not do anything justice and that it was better to wait. After taking their bags to the hotel, Eve had led them to the museum where they were currently splayed across a small alcove nestled in the side of the building, waiting. Corin wasn't sure exactly what they where waiting for, nobody had said anything, but she felt sure they were in fact waiting for someone. Eve and Rick's friend.
At exactly 6:45pm, a black shroud materialized out of nowhere, from somewhere deep in the shadowed streets. The man, for Corin realized that the mysterious wraith like shroud was in fact a man, was dressed from head to toe in black and twin blades were barley visible at his sides. His trappings obscured his face, on purpose Corin guessed. He was tall, imposing, and altogether frightening. He was walking down the crowded street, weaving impatiently through the crowd, heading straight for the museum. As he approached, Corin realized with panic that there could be no question of his destination.
He was coming right to them.
"Eve, maybe we should go," Corin said nervously. "The museum is closing soon, you said so yourself. We should clear out. Go back to the hotel." She continued to eye the stranger in black. He was getting closer now, walking faster. He must have seen us!
"Don't be silly Corin. We're perfectly fine just sitting here. And we certainly don't want to miss him. Be patient, he'll be here any minuet." Eve responded. He was definitely walking faster now, b-lining for their shaded alcove.
"I think we should go!" Corin said frantically, "Now!" He was only four paces from the steps and Corin could see he was taller and broader than she'd originally thought. She was now painfully aware of those swords and the fact that they were cornered.
"Don't be silly! Just sit down; it won't be long now-" Corin gave a small gasp of fear, he was almost upon them. "O look, here he is!" Whatever Corin had expected she could never have imagined what happened next, as Rick jumped up and…hugged the man? She couldn't believe her eyes; her uncle was hugging the dangerous looking stranger with the swords. Quickly, the man hugged Eve as well, slapped Jonathan on the back, and nodded politely at Corin.
"We must hurry, I may have been followed. Inside, if you please."
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Nothing Corin's brain could have conjured up, no matter how extraordinary, could have even come near what Ardeth Bay turned out to be. He was impressively tall, a good 6 inches above Corin and a good 3 above even Rick, and strong too, Corin could see once her removed some of his wrappings. He was constantly alert, his big brown eyes seemed to miss nothing and it seemed to Corin he resembled a spring, wound up tight, waiting to jump into action at a moments notice. But all these things she'd been expecting. What she hadn't expected was the gentleness she saw as he dealt with Eve's excited fawning, the subtle intelligence she saw in his eyes far beyond the brutish smarts of a warrior as he spoke, or the kindness he showed through her own embarrassing introduction.
"We have urgent news for you Ardeth," Eve whispered even though there was no chance of them being overheard, "about Hamunaptra. Someone's planning a dig. The man in charge's name is Viktor Odlethorpe, he's a determined individual, he'll never give up on this, and he claims to have guide that's been there."
"Ah yes, I know of whom you speak. He arrived two days ago with a large group of workers to begin excavation. We've been keeping tabs on his movements and the locations of his digs. He's at least 3km off for now. It seems," here Ardeth smiled, "someone has been tampering with his instruments. Such a shame."
Rick snorted, "See Eve, the man knows his business. The Medjai have it covered. They don't need us to come save the day."
"Actually," Ardeth spoke quietly, "if you know this man, this…Odlethorpe, perhaps you could speak with him, try to…discourage his continuing with the dig, persuade him to go home. It would make things much simpler if he left on his own accord…rather than the alternative…" He trailed off ominously while Eve smiled triumphantly and Rick groaned.
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Viktor Odlethorpe was dreaming, of this he felt sure. In real life there were no golden halls, filled with treasures beyond compare. In real life there were no gilt thrones or majestic headdresses. In real life, he supposed, he was lying over his papers, having fallen asleep at his desk. No, he was fairly certain he was dreaming.
The room he was in was giant, bigger than anywhere he'd ever been. There were huge pillars supporting what appeared to be a mammoth slab of rock, which served as a roof. Each one was painted, and covered in hieroglyphics. And gold, he noticed, there seemed to be an abundance of gold in this strange hall. The pillars were fresh, with no chips or cracks in the workmanship. They were like nothing you could see in real life, because real life involved time and its bitter decay. This was Egypt, as it had been once, before time corroded it.
The focal point of his dream was the man in the golden throne. With fascination and horror, he looked into the face of this man from long ago. What he saw there, with all the same malice and greed, was his own reflection looking unseeingly back.
"Bring her to me. Now."
A servant scurried from the hall, off to fetch whomever this, this powerful, regal man wanted. Whoever he was, he was important. He was rich. He was ambitious and he was feared. It seemed clear to Viktor that he was looking at his own past self. Surely, if I was this man once I can be as powerful, as great, as he, as I was then, now.
Then he saw her. The most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She had long dark hair and fair skin, probably half Greek. Her eyes were green, wild and untamed and her lips were soft and pink. Her feet were wrapped in rose red slippers that complimented her dainty form well. She was short, even by the standard of the day. Strangely, she looked vaguely familiar, although he couldn't place her face. This must be the wife of my noble spirit, the soul mate I'm meant to find in every lifetime. There was only one thing wrong with his theory, the girl was weeping at the sight of him. And these were no tears of joy.
"Please, please Amasis I beg you, release me!" She was kneeling before the massive throne, her eyes glued to her lap as if she refused to look at the man before her. He rose and moved beside her, gently pulling her to her feet although she still refused to meet his eyes.
"Silence Rhodopis. You will see, soon. We are meant to be together, our souls, forever. You will see, and you will thank me." His tone was gentle, almost dreamy. But her next words brought him right out of his fantasy.
"No, no! I cannot! Don't you see? I cannot love you!" His face contorted into anger in a heartbeat. In his fury Amasis hand shot up by it's own accord as if to strike the girl, who flinched back. He caught himself though. Taking deep breaths he struggled to calm down.
"My poor sweet, do you see what you've almost made me do?" he touched her cheek tenderly and Rhodopis flinched back. "You're words strike me harder than I could ever strike you. You will come to love me my darling, my Rhodopis. You will see." The girl continued to weep. "You will forget all about Xanthos, the fool, and all the love in your heart will be mine alone."
"No, no," she retorted angrily. "My Xanthos will come for me. He is my heart and my soul. Never, in all the ages of this world could I love you. Not in this life, not in the next." Amasis's face took a sinister tint as he responded.
"We shall see about that my sweet, never is a very long time." He smiled cruelly before continuing, "And as for Xanthos, your lover is dead Rhodopis."
