Helllllooooo again everyone. Nice to see you all again.
Before we get started I have a REALLY random question to ask: has anyone seen Mamalita? Both 'Home is Where the Museum Is' and 'Familial Matters' are missing and her username has been changed, but her profile hasn't been deleted. :(
Now I DO have a tiny warning for this chapter: it can and will get mildly depressing, especially for Ahkmenrah and/or Kahmunrah fans. I tried to add bit of humor so it wouldn't be all that sad, but I pretty much failed. So sit back, relax, and grab a teddy bear to hug when it's all over.
SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT.
The names of the people mentioned about in this chapter by Kahmunrah and Ahkmenrah, like Amisi, is a real Egyptian name. It means flower. :) Heru is also a real Egyptian name. So is Isis. If anyone was curious.
SPOILER ALERT OVER. :P
I own nothing. Sigh.
Kahmunrah hated those voices.
He didn't hear them while he was awake, and he had little to no recollection of them when he awoke. But when he slept, they were there all the time, whispering…
They were the reason he had even turned on his brother in the first place. He had started hearing them just after he had died. They had sounded vaguely familiar, so he listened. At first, he was only listening to try and figure out who it was, but over time he started listening what they were saying. That he was the rightful heir. That Ahkmenrah didn't care about him. That he would have made a better Pharaoh. That everything that had happened that day was Ahkmenrah's fault. At first, he had argued mentally- Ahkmenrah was a terrific Pharaoh, and they cared deeply for each other. And there was no way Ahkmenrah would have- could have- done that.
But over time he started to think about what they were saying. He was the rightful heir- he was the oldest and most experienced. Ahkmenrah hadn't even tried to stop what happened that day- if he had, he wouldn't have died, and neither would she. He would have made the better Pharaoh- he was he one who understood politics. He had become furious with himself for not realizing it sooner, but even angrier with Ahkmenrah. He wanted revenge, and the voices had provided a plan to get it. Who wouldn't listen?
Kahmunrah got out of his sarcophagus and looked around. The same as usual. He figured he would have to get used to it, considering he would be here for quite some time. He started to walk out of the exhibit when Ahkmenrah said something.
"Kahmunrah?" he asked nervously. He had decided he couldn't evade his brother any longer. It would be best to stop living in the past and live in the future. Or present rather. The whole business of time was beginning to confuse him.
"Yes?" Kah answered, turning to his brother.
"I…I'm sorry."
"For?" Although he was confident he knew for what.
"What happened that day," Ahkmenrah said, knowing his brother would know what he meant. Kahmunrah just rolled his eyes and started to walk out again.
"Kahmunrah! I tried, I really did."
Kahmunrah froze in place. He slowly turned on his heel to face his brother again, who was slightly frightened of the fury he could she in his older brothers eyes.
"YOU WHAT?"
Larry walked down one of the large hallways towards his new favorite exhibit. He entered the 'Flight and Beyond' room just as the tablet was taking effect. He hurried over to Amelia, who he helped down. "How's it going, ace?"
"Good now," he said. Amelia's ears turned beet red, and she was thankful her hair covered them. "Where are we off to first today?" She asked as they walked out of the room and down the hallway. "Hall of miniatures. Wonder how long it's going to be before I get used to having more people here."
"I doubt very long. They seem to fit right in." Soon they reached the hall of miniatures and unlocked all three of the exhibits. Just then they heard a shout. "YOU WHAT?" Larry and Amelia looked at each other once, and then turned and rushed out of the room. Jedediah and Octavius also looked at each other. "I'm driving!" Jed called as he rushed towards the bright yellow plane Larry had hidden behind the western diorama for them. Octavius sighed but followed his friend to the plane. "Please try not to crash this time, Jedediah."
"I did not crash it," Jed growled. "'Sides, it was your fault."
"MY fault!"
"If you hadn't been so damn annoyin' I wouldn't have been distracted!"
"I was simply warning you that we were coming dangerously close to crashing!" The plane took off with Jed and Octavius still bickering.
"Those two argue a lot, don't they?" Asked a 20ish Olivia. "They sure do." Nicolai agreed. "Well, lets get going."
"Hmm?" Olivia asked.
"We can't just stay here, come on!" Nicolai said happily, jumping down off the Mayan diorama and running off behind the Western diorama. Olivia rolled her eyes. She followed Nicolai. "And how, prey tell, are we going to a, start the car, and b, get it up the stairs?"
"I got that first part covered," he smirked. He hit the hood of the blue sports car and it popped open. Nicolai looked at the wires and other various mechanisms in the car and his eyes lit up. "Oh no, you're not going to..."
"Oh yes. Oh yes I am," he said gleefully. "Now..." he studied it for a moment, then grabbed a red wire, but Olivia turned away. "I can't believe you. I'm not going to watch this."
"Why not?" he asked, not looking up.
"I need an alibi. If anyone asks, I was just admiring the city skyline." The car turned on just them. "Some day, you're going to tell me exactly how you know how to do that without having ever even looking at the inside of a car."
"Just face it, I'm a genius," he said, earning an eye roll from Olivia. "I'm driving!" he called, jumping in the drivers seat.
"I'm older."
"I turned it on. Plus, you're not always older, are you."
There was a pause. "Fine. Just this once." Olivia climbed into the seat next to him. "Lets see. I think this thing steers it, but there must be another thing you have to do..." he mumbled. He tapped his feet against the floor of the car, holding the steering wheel, when he felt a pedal, which he could just reach with his toes. "Ah-ha! I think this is it!" he exclaimed happily. He slammed down on it and the car sped ahead.
They were going fine until they came to the stairs. Nicolai slammed down on the brakes. "So what do we do now?" he asked. They could hear shouts from the exhibit above. Olivia sighed. "I'm not sure I'd be able to," she said unsure. "Worth a shot, right?" he asked hopefully. "I suppose." She concentrated on the palm of her hand and the ball of energy flickered to life. She placed it on the dashboard and it spread out like a watery sheet with her hand placed just on top. She concentrated hard again, and the car began to float.
"Wait to go 'Liv!" he said happily. "Drive, will you?" she said impatiently. She was already beginning to feel lightheaded. She wouldn't admit it, but she barely knew how to control the magic she had been given, and when she did figure things out, doing them exhausted her.
Nicolai pushed on the gas and in no time they were on the second floor. Immediately she took her hand off and the blue energy dissolved. He drove to the Egyptian exhibit, where everyone was gathered around. The two climbed out of the car and went to stand by Jedediah and Octavius. "How'd you get up here?" Jed asked in surprise. Nicolai pointed a thumb back at the car. "I made it go and 'Liv made it float." Jed smirked. He frowned after a moment however, as a thought struck him. "Wait a-" Jed started to say.
"Are you alright my lady? You seem a bit pale." Octavius commented, interrupting Jed. "I'm fine. Making a car float just isn't as easy as you would expect it to be," she smiled.
Taking advantage of the silence, Jed hissed, "Wait a minute, you stole the car?"
"You tried to help? How can you possibly try?" He asked, taking a step towards his brother. "You were the Pharaoh Ahkmenrah! The Pharaoh! If you wanted something done, it would have been done, no questions asked. You just didn't care about us."
"Of course I cared for you two!"
"Then why didn't you do anything?"
"Because I couldn't!"
"I've just established that you could have done whatever you desired. Now just admit that you just didn't care!"
"How could you say that? You're my family!"
"If you tried so hard, why were we murdered?"
Ahkmenrah had nothing to say to this. Kahmunrah chuckled humorlessly, tilting his head right slightly.
"I suppose you should explain Ahk, I do believe they're confused as to why I'm blaming you for my death," he said, walking to his sarcophagus, keeping his eyes locked on his brother the whole time. "I would actually find it quite interesting to hear the story from your point of view. Do tell," he grinned sarcastically. Ahkmenrah sighed.
"How did he know we were standing here?" Larry whispered. Amelia shook her head and whispered "Shh," in return.
"Must I?" Ahkmenrah asked. My own brother already blames me for his death-"
"And hers!" Kahmunrah interrupted.
"I would really not like it if everyone I knew were to blame me for it also!" Ahkmenrah finished.
"I hate to interrupt, but her?" Larry asked. "Who's 'her'?"
If Kahmunrah's face could become even more furious while still keeping that sarcastic smile on it, it did.
"Oh terrific Ahkmenrah!" he exclaimed. "Splendid! Bravo! I must say, I am impressed. You don't even mention us, and yet you cared for us. Yes, that make perfect sense!" he said, trying to control his anger. "She was my- our- little sister. Amisi. Eight, when she was murdered," he added softly. Kahmunrah sighed, as he seemed to be reminiscing. Shaking his head, he was brought back to reality. "Well, go on then. Tell them exactly what happened."
"Fine. I will. But only to show you I really did try," Ahkmenrah, sighed.
(Very important A/N- Ahk isn't really telling the story like this. He's actually giving just the basic facts. But after trying to write this about four times, this was just the easiest way for you to understand the full story.)
It had started out as an ordinary day. Ahk rubbed his eyes in exhaustion; he had just spent the entire night and part of the morning going over paperwork. Usually he had his brother to help him, but Kah was planning a big surprise for someone, and Ahkmenrah had seen how much stress he was under, working on that and actually working, so he had ordered him to take the day off, like most other people who worked at the palace. He definitely deserved it, and he had never taken a day off before.
"Of all the days to get murdered on, it HAD to be that one. I think I am literally the unluckiest person in history. Ever." Kahmunrah interrupted.
"Now what could one day difference have possibly made?" Amelia asked skeptically.
"Simple Ms. Earhart. I was going to propose that day. Now do go on Ahkmenrah."
"Wait, you what?" his brother exclaimed, spinning to face him.
"You can't seriously say you didn't see that coming. Who else would I be planning a surprise for? Isis is the only explanation within reason. Now go on."
Utterly exhausted, Ahk collapsed on his bed. Kahmunrah was supposed to be back in an hour, and Ahkmenrah was sure no wars would break out in that time. He fell asleep almost instantly.
-x-
When Ahk awoke he felt much better. He rubbed his eyes and stood up, stretching. Ahk glanced at the sundial just outside to see that he had slept three hours- Kahmunrah was sure to be back now. He walked out of his room to the much larger room next to his, the place where he and Kahmunrah would always meet to discuss politics- yuck. - and other things in the country. There were two large desks where he expected Kah to be sitting at, but no. He wasn't there, or anywhere else in the room. Brows furrowed in confusion, Ahk turned and walked out.
He walked down the corridors of his palace. It was quite the beautiful place- all gold with every jewel imaginable in spectacular hieroglyphics that he had memorized when he was younger. Evening light shone through the windows, bouncing off of the walls, making the hieroglyphs appear that they were moving.
"Heru!" Ahkmenrah called, seeing a government official walking down an intersecting corridor. Heru had been working at the palace since before he was born, and Ahkmenrah trusted him more than he trusted many of the other officials that worked for him. He even had voluntarily stayed that day, even though Ahkmenrah had offered the day off to most. Heru looked up, startled.
"Your highness?" he asked.
"Heru, have you seen Kahmunrah?"
"No sir, he hasn't been here in quite some time."
"He was supposed to be back two hours ago." Kah was never late to anything. At all. Ever.
"I-Well-I-"
"It's fine Heru, thank you for your time." Ahkmenrah interrupted, hurrying off.
Maybe Kah had gone off to see Amisi. Ahk smiled. That was it- Kahmunrah was in Amisi's room. He always was playing with her, so he was sure to be there. Approaching his younger sister's door, he knocked. The door fell open with a creak.
The sight that greeted Ahkmenrah's eyes made his heart sink and his head whirl. Not only were his siblings not in the room, but it was a wreck. The closet had been thrown open, shattered clay on the floor, everything from her dressers on the ground, broken, and even a tiny bit of blood on the floor. There had been a struggle.
Heart beating fast, Ahkmenrah raced out of the room and down the corridors, looking desperately for his siblings. This was bad. Very, very bad. His mind raced. Where could they be? What could have happened? He darted down hallway after hallway, looking in room after room with no one to be found. Granted, most people had off today but someone should be here, right? Was Heru the only one here? Then an idea struck him. Heru! He had been here a moment ago.
"Heru!" Ahk called. He heard the shuffling of feet and Heru came out from a corridor. "Yes... your... highness?" he panted.
"Heru, have you heard anything unusual?"
"No sir, not..." Heru thought for a moment. "Actually, yes, I thought I heard something before. I assumed it was nothing as it was only a small sound, and that was all I heard."
"Kahmunrah and Amisi are gone. There's been a struggle in her room."
Heru's face paled.
"I'll call up the army right away, sir."
"Have them check everywhere." Ahkmenrah called as he hurried back down the corridor.
"Your highness, wait!" Heru called, but Ahk had already run off.
After about five minutes of searching, Ahkmenrah stopped. He started pacing. Running around without a plan was useless. He had to think of someone he was enemies with... he could think of no one. He couldn't think of anyone for Kahmunrah and certainly not for Amisi. Then who would have kidnapped them? Just then he heard a sound from behind him. He spun around to see Kah running away from several men dressed in military uniform. They were quite far behind him and did not look happy. "Ahk!" he screamed. He finally reached his brother, quite out of breath.
"Thank the gods I found you, Ahk! I've been running from them for hours now!" he exclaimed.
"Kah, what on earth is going on?"
"I wish I knew. But they have Amisi, and they said you're having them chase me!"
"What?"
The men finally caught up to Ahkmenrah. Kah took a slightly nervous step back, behind his brother.
"Your highness, we need him, on orders of the Pharaoh." the front one said.
"I am the Pharaoh, and I have not given any such order."
"I assure you sir, we've gotten orders from the Pharaoh. He's been charged with-"
"I am the Pharaoh!"
"I'm sorry sir, but we were told not to take no for an answer."
"I believe that's my cue to run," Kahmunrah whispered hoarsely. He started backing away slowly. The men saw this and rushed past Ahkmenrah.
"I order you to stop this instant!" Ahkmenrah called after them. They finally caught up to Kahmunrah who fought back to no avail- there were to many, and they were all much bigger than him, not to mention they were armed. They lifted him off the ground. He kicked and attempted to punch in protest but it was no use. "We are sorry your highness, but the order comes from a higher person."
Ahkmenrah was positively fuming now. "I am the Pharaoh! There is no higher than me! Now set my brother down or suffer the consequences!"
"Sorry your highness. Him and the princess have been charged with conspiring against the Pharaoh."
"WHAT?" The brothers' screamed simultaneously.
"Not you," one guard grunted.
"Is there another Pharaoh I should know about?" Ahkmenrah asked sarcastically.
"You are aware that Amisi is eight? How exactly can an eight year old conspire against anyone? I doubt she even knows what the word means!" Kahmunrah exclaimed in fury.
"Sorry your highness," they repeated again, and began to walk away, still holding Kahmunrah several inches off the ground, with him still kicking the men.
"Kah, I'm going to fix this! You two will be fine, I promise!" Ahkmenrah called. With that he sped off in search of his father. He would know exactly what to do. He left the main castle and ran to where his parents lived. It was an extension of the main palace where his parents had lived since his father's health had started declining several years ago. He threw the door open, startling his mother, who was playing a game of Senet alone in the bright room. "Mother! Where is Father?" Ahk demanded, his heart pounding.
"He's gone out for a walk, dear. What is the matter? You seem upset," his mother asked, concerned.
"Kahmunrah and Amisi have been charged with conspiring against me," he said in a rush as he darted out the back door. He looked around the garden but his father was nowhere to be seen. "Ahkmenrah?" his father called, and Ahkmenrah spun around towards the sound of his father's voice. His father was a short distance away, by a small pond. Ahk rushed over to him. "Hello Ahkmenrah how-"
"Father, have you seen Kahmunrah or Amisi? It's or dire importance that I find them right now."
His father blinked in surprise. "Why yes, I saw Amisi head into there just a moment ago with several guards. Why-" he began to ask, but Ahkmenrah was already racing away toward the building his father had pointed to. It wasn't until he reached the building and threw the door open and ran inside of the large unfurnished room that he realized he should have thought things through. There in the room were about 20 very large armed soldiers who did not look happy. And they were certainly not his soldiers.
"Where are they?" he demanded. "By order of the Pharaoh I demand you release them at once!"
Just then several guards lifted him of the ground and slammed the door shut. His feet, he guessed, were maybe an inch off the floor.
"LET ME GO!" he shouted in anger. "If you do not unhand me this instant, I shall have you all tried in court! With the penalty of death! Now where are they?" he exclaimed, anger growing. The fear had left him, replaced by complete and utter fury. He kicked his feet and attempted to throw punches but it was no use. How he wished he had a sword to fight back with!
"Oh, do let him go, I've seen him squirm enough." A voice said from behind him. The soldiers dropped him, and he landed on his feet and spun around. His memory became fuzzy here; he couldn't clearly the woman who had spoken, as if she were hidden behind a mist. Her voice was unclear as well. He did however, feel a moment of relief and then terror and confusion wash over him.
"They're dead."
His heart sank.
"What?"
"They're both dead and its all your fault. They were charged with conspiracy against the Pharaoh and were killed because of it."
"I don't believe you. They would never do such a thing and you know that! They would never conspire against me."
"Oh yes, they would."
"No they wouldn't!
"And would you like to know what's best about the story?"
Ahkmenrah stayed silent.
"Kahmunrah broke away from our soldiers. He went looking for you, but went back for Amisi first. After they led her in here he actually managed to escape with her, quite the impressive feat, only him up against four guards. They ran out the back door about to look for you when he realized you would probably follow where Amisi was led. So they stayed hidden outside just behind the building in case anyone went in to look for them," she went on, all the while circling him. He kept his eyes locked on her when she was in view, but did not turn when she moved behind him. She stopped once again when she was in front of him. "So they stayed there, but we found them. And now we've killed them." Ahk felt like he wanted to curl up in a ball and die, right then and there. His siblings, gone. "Kahmunrah was right though, you did come in here," she said, walking once again and stopping directly behind him. "And now you will die too. You always were a terrible Pharaoh. Your father was so much better. Ah well. We had high hopes for you."
"You won't get away with this," he hissed, still not turning to face the woman he now despised.
"Oh yes. We will," she said gleefully. Suddenly, he felt something hit the back of his head so hard and so fast he barely had time to register the pain. He fell forward onto the ground. The woman walked out. "Have them 'found' tomorrow morning," she ordered, and the soldiers followed her out.
"And that's all I remember," Ahk said sadly.
"For that day, yes. Now go on." Kahmunrah said dismissively.
"No Kahmunrah. That's all I remember. That's the last thing I remember. That's it. There's nothing after that."
Kah's face paled. For a moment he just stared at his younger brother, before smiling. "I didn't know you could lie so well, Ahk. I'm impressed."
"I'm not lying," he said seriously. Kah finally stood up." No. No no no no no no no. You're lying. Of course you're lying. That didn't happen." Kah said nervously, but Ahkmenrah just looked at him sadly. "No!" he exclaimed. You did not die!"
"I did."
"No you didn't! If you died then it's my fault," Kahmunrah protested.
"Kah, if it's anyone's fault-"
"It's mine!" he interrupted his younger brother. "I'm not only the visir but I'm your older brother! I'm supposed to protect you- it's my job!" he shouted. And with that, Kahmunrah stormed out. The other exhibits hastily cleared a path for him. "Kah, wait!" Ahk yelled, and then went after his brother. Larry went to follow but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "I think it's best we left those two alone, Lawrence."
The exhibits slowly left, silent save Jedediah.
"I still don't like him."
Kahmunrah stormed out, furious with himself. How could he have let this happen? How could he have let both of his siblings- his younger siblings at that- be murdered? There must have been something he could have done. Surely he could have done something. There must have been an opening at some point that he could have allowed him to sneak around and find Ahk, or to have Amisi be more hidden, or... something! But no. He had gone and let his two siblings be murdered. How? How could he have let that happen? What had they ever done? He felt like the worst person in the world at the moment. He just wanted to go outside, curl up into a ball, and stay there until the sun rose. How could he have been so helpless!
"Kah!"
Ahkmenrah's shout woke Kah from his rage and depression. He was staring out of one of the museum's many windows. Kahmunrah turned his head slightly to look at his brother, who had finally caught up to him.
"Kah... please forgive me," Ahkmenrah said miserably. "Forgive you? Why should I forgive you?" Kahmunrah said, turning away to face the city again. Ahkmenrah's face fell. "It's me you should be forgiving," he continued. "I'm your older brother and it's my job to protect you two. I failed."
"If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. You were right, I was the Pharaoh, I should have done something."
"No Ahk you-" Kahmunrah began, but Ahkmenrah interrupted. "I will always blame myself, and you will yourself. I think it's best not to dwell on the past, as we are now living in future. Present, rather. We're going to be here forever, and I'd hate you to feel guilty forever." There was a short silence that was broken by Larry's voice over the loudspeaker. "Okay guys, time to turn in for the night; five minutes until sunrise. See you all tomorrow night."
The two brothers stood there in silence, until Kahmunrah finally tore his gaze from the city. "You know I would have done anything I could have to prevent it, right?" he asked, looking at his brother. Ahkmenrah nodded. "I know, Kah. I feel the same way." With that, they began walking back to their exhibit.
"So you were going to propose to Isis?
"No, I was going to propose to a rock."
They climbed into their sarcophagi and the sun rose. The voices Kah heard that night were furious for forgiving his brother. It was all their fault he had been mad at his younger brother in the first place, so he was furious in return.
Kahmunrah really hated those voices.
You glad I made you get that teddy bear now? I thought it was pretty sad, but that's just me. You guys could have been laughing through the whole thing. (And if you were, I encourage you go with he nice men who want to put you in the comfy white jacket. They'll take to a wondrous place where all of the rooms are made of pillows.)
I actually had to rewrite this chapter 5 times before I was happy with it, and then my computer crashed and I lost the entire thing, so I had to write it over. So sorry this took so long and sorry it's not the best, especially the ending.
SO… yeah. Hope you liked it. (And don't worry; they'll be a really happy chapter next. I'm really excited to write it. REEEAAALLLY excited.