I managed to get the newest chapter out in record time. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9

Anyana was in front of me, facing Set. Her skin was emitting an white glow. She turned to look at me and her eyes were a shade of gold. Her green eyes muted beneath the shining gold. She whipped her head back around towards Set.

I watched as the woman I had grown to know disappear. She was replaced with Tia, in every sense other than her physical body. I tried to run to help but found I was being pinned to the spot. Set and her were circling each other. I felt someone behind me. I saw a mummy shambling towards me. I shifted and found I was able to move again. More were beginning to emerge from a crack in the wall. I fought them off one by one, all while keeping an eye on Anyana. She and Set were waging war against each other. I felt a fear in my stomach for her. It was a foreign feeling to me. I had once thought I would be capable of killing her had she interfered too much. After that strange kiss...I had no inkling of what came over me. I admit I was beginning to form an attraction to her, but now was certainly not the time to worry about things like that. We were all fighting to save the world.

A mummy scratching at my arm broke my thoughts. I dispatched it with ease and I looked over and saw Anyana on her knees...Set raising his sword over her head.

I felt fear and rage surge through me. I ran towards Set. My sword sinking into his side. His arm came up and pushed me to the ground with such force. I watched Anyana get to her feet, she stepped forward piercing his chest with her sword. I heard the guttural noise that Set emitted. The room began to shake. I watched as Anyana began to lose the glow around her skin.

She dropped to the ground. I rushed to her side.

"Malik…" she whispered before blacking out. Rocks and sand began to shake loose in the room. I looked for an exit. Across the room I saw a strange wooden door. I picked up Anyana in my arms and ran for it. Opening it, I was blinded by a white light. The air felt cooler here, but the light hurt my eyes.

"You have done well Ardeth..Anyana has done well.." a voice said in front of me. The bright white light dimmed slightly.

A woman in gold appeared before me. We were sitting in a field.

"I am the goddess of beginnings" She spoke.

"Is Anyana going to be ok?" I asked

"She will be fine. If she chooses, she will awake again in her own time with no recollection of this event"

"What do you mean own time?" I asked, looking down at the woman in my arms. She had a pained expression.

"She was transported from 2017. She is ancestor to Tia. Her blood was the only one strong enough to defeat Set."

I stared at her. My fingers traced her mark on her arm...which was beginning to fade, no longer dark black ink.

"So I will never see her again…." I said, looking up at the Goddess

"Well that remains to be seen...Anyana is the one to decide. She had been adamant to leave when she first arrived…"

"Aren't you one of the sisters of Fate? You said she would awaken in her own time…"

"I am...however I do believe her heart has changed since coming here" She reached out and placed a hand on Anyana's chest. The goddess closed her eyes.

"Yes...her heart is conflicted. It is up to her to decide. When she does...she will awake in 2017 if she so chooses."

I felt sadness all of the sudden. I watched at Anyana's eyes flutter open. Her green eyes focusing on me.

"Ardeth…" She said, confusion in her face.

"Where are we? What happened…?" she asked looking around. I helped her sit up beside me.

"Hello Anyana…" The Goddess spoke

"I recognize you...I mean…-"

"Yes...you were sent a vision by Tia. your ancestor…"

"Am I dead?" she asked

"No child...we are the ones who brought you here…" The goddess smiled

"The wooden door back in 2017!" She said

"Yes. Your blood was the only strong enough to defeat Set. You succeeded. We are at an impasse however….your heart is too conflicted to send you back to 2017"

"You mean I could go home?" She said. she looked at me, biting her lip.

"I am sorry I didn't tell you Ardeth...I didn't know where to begin"

"I understand anyana." I nodded. I watched as she closed her eyes.

"If I go back...I lose Evie...Jonathan. Even Rick…" She said, smirking.

"And you…" She said, looking at me again. Her eyes filled with a mix of emotions

"You would have no recollection of this event…" The Goddess said.

"I don't know if that makes it better…" Anyana said, sighing.

"You don't need to make a decision now, dear one...when the time comes your heart will do that for you...and then we will send you back if you so choose"

Anyana nodded.

The Goddess placed her hand on Anyana's head...and finally on mine.

"Your friends will be waiting for you when you awake…"

I watched as everything became too bright. I closed my eyes.

I coughed, waking up. I squinted into the bright sun.

"Oh god…" I groaned. My body hurt all over.

"Anyana!" I heard Ardeth's voice. I sat up and he was running to my side.

He helped me to my feet. He suddenly hugged me. I gently returned the hugged mildly confused. He pulled away just as quickly as he had hugged me.

He looked at me. His dark brown eyes scanning my face.

"So...that was all real right? Because I remember feeling not in control of my body and Tia talking to me. Her using my body to fight….and a goddess sending us here after exposing my secret to you"

"That you are a time traveler…." Ardeth said. A smirk on his lips. He was strangely calm about it.

"Yeah that….please don't go blabbing it. I never knew how to bring it up to anyone without looking completely insane."

Ardeth laughed. Something I had never seen him do. He was even more gorgeous. The way his eyes crinkled around the edges.

"I apologize but you do realize if I told anyone..they too would think me crazy" Ardeth said, clearing his throat.

"True…" I nodded

"Yes it was all real…" Ardeth said

"I figured. I have a big decision to make.." I sighed

"Do you not have any family back in 2017….no one who would miss you?"

"I am not sure. I was having a pretty awful time before I got stuck here…"

I was about to begin, when I saw sand shooting high into the air. Hamunaptra was sinking into the sand.

"Evie!" I gasped.

"No..it's alright...look they escaped" Ardeth said, pointing in the distance. His hand coming to rest on my shoulder.

"Oh thank god…." I sighed, hand to my chest. His hand squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. My body tingled at his touch. I had to stop letting it do that.

I saw another smirk play on his lips.

"You know...when you smile...you actual look like a normal person" I said

He looked at me. His face going blank..

"Oh fuck….sorry I-"

He laughed

"You know...teasing you has become very amusing to me"

"Yeah...well -" I trailed off, not being able to think of anything to hit him back with. My face heating up.

Ardeth nodded, smirking.

Evie, Rick and Jonathan all made their way for us

"Anya!" Evie yelled running to me and enveloping me in a hug.

"I am so glad you are alright….oh no...your shirt…" she said, fiddling with the sleeve..clicking her tongue. She worried about the silliest things sometimes.

"I'm alright….a little battered but alright"

"What happened to you two?" Rick asked, pointing at me and Ardeth.

"Fought off a shit ton of mummies. Oh...and defeated Set"

"Set? God of Chaos?" Evie said, wide eyed

"Turns out Tia is my descendant and it was my destiny to defeat Set…" I said

"I know it sounds completely insane…" I added

"Yeah...but after all this, I will believe nearly anything.." Jonathan said. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ardeth mounting a camel.

"You have earned the respect and gratitude of me and my people.." Ardeth spoke

"May allah smile upon you.." He added, kissing his hand and touching it to his forehead.

"Same to you as well…" Jonathan said, attempting to repeat the gesture.

He glanced to me.

"You are leaving?" I asked.

"I must return to my people" Ardeth said.

"Well...I will be in Cairo until I figure out what to do next...maybe I will see you." I thought back to our strange kiss. This whole trip had been strange. First I hated the asshole and now I was forming a crush on him.

"Perhaps…" Ardeth smile. He turned the camel and began riding off.

"What was that about?" Evie asked

"Nothing!" I said, a little too quickly. My face heated up and I could see the smile forming on Evie's lips.

"Well….looks like we go home empty handed again…" Jonathan sighed heavily.

"I know, sorry Johnny boy.." I smiled. Patting his back.

"I wouldn't say completely empty handed.." Rick said, looking at Evie who stared back at him, smiling. They leaned in and kissed.

"When did this happen?!" I yelled.

"Pay up!" Jonathan said, turning to me.

"No way! Evie kissed him!" I said. Bickering with Jonathan.

"No...Rick kissed her first…"

I rolled my eyes. Rick and Evie were watching in amusement.

"Can we go home now….please..?" Rick said.

Home...I had decide what that meant now.

"Yes, please…." I said. I mounted a camel with Jonathan and Evie and Rick rode next to us,

"So you and the warrior...huh?" Jonathan asked, I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Nothing happened! We fought a shit ton of mummies together and I fought Set. I was possessed by Tia for the fight. Woke up in the sand out here. Nothing happened" I said, firmly

"That's why her face is turning red...cuz nothing happened" Rick smiled.

"Oh shut up and get us back to Cairo…" I sighed

I glanced back behind my shoulder. No sign of the Handsome warrior.

Part of me hoped I would see him again.

I woke with a start. Jonathan was poking my side, rhythmically.

"You have to wake up for this!" Jonathan said excitedly

I groaned. I wanted to sleep for days.

"What is it?" I said opening my eyes. The sun was setting. I realized we had stopped and were unmounting outside of the museum in cairo. No dead bodies anywhere. The streets were quiet.

Rick and evie were digging through their saddle bag. Pulling out pieces of gold and trinkets.

"How did this get here?" Evie asked

"No idea...but I have an inkling Beni had something to do with it…" Rick mused

Jonathan got off the camel and helped me down.

"So does that mean we can split it?" Jonathan asked

"Now just wait a minute….these are artifacts...I would liked to get these to the museum and have them looked at and catalogued"

"Seriously?" Jonathan said.

"I am sorry Jonathan but we are not going to use this for financial gain.."

"Yeah wouldn't want that warrior to come back…" I heard Rick smirk. I rolled my eyes. I was never gonna live down whatever it is they thought I did with ardeth.

"I am sure Dr. Bey would love to looks at these." I said picking up a goblet.

Everyone went silent…

"Anya... He died...the mob overtook him as we were escaping. Right after Imhotep took you and Evie…" Rick said.

"Oh no!" I said. I felt sadness and guilt. He was so kind to me. Offering me work with no questions asked. Although looking back, it probably was because he thought I might have to do with the prophecy.

"Did he have any family?" I asked Evie.

"Not that I knew..I had no idea he was even connected with the Medjay"

"Ardeth was there when he saw Dr. Bey get overtaken. He knows...I am sure he will inform his people…" Rick said.

I nodded

"I wonder if that means someone will be sent to take over his job" Evie said

"You could take over…" I smiled.

"Hardly. That is so much more work than I am qualified for."

"Oh nonsense. You are plenty qualified" Jonathan said.

Jonathan was digging into the bag of treasure. Evie slapped his hand away.

"Yes well..let's get these things inside...and maybe some much needed rest" Evie said.

We all grabbed what we could and brought it inside. We locked it up in Dr. Bey's old office safe.

We returned to Evie's apartment. I was dead on my feet.

"I am going to bed. I am too tired to even be hungry…" I said, closing the door to my room.

I heard muffled voices of Rick and Evie and Jonathan. I shrugged out of my clothes. I was dirty and achy. I wanted a shower but my body collapsed onto the bed. I groaned lightly. I was just in my undergarments. Someone tapped on my door. I rolled over and covered myself in a sheet.

"Enter…" I said. It was Evie.

"Here is some tea. Should help you if you can't sleep"

"I think i will be ok...I am exhausted…"

She nodded.

"So did something happen between you and Ardeth?" Evie asked.

"You can tell me, I won't breathe a word of it…" She added, sitting on the edge of the bed.

I sighed.

"There was a brief kiss...it just kind of happened. We had just fought off a hoard of mummies and were talking about the prophecy. He thanked me and then kissed me all of the sudden and than I got swallowed by the sand and when i woke up I was facing Set, only to be possessed by Tia. Ardeth and I didn't talk about the kiss…" I sighed

"I could tell there was something there…"Evie smiled

"Oh right...how about you and Rick...when did that happen…?" I asked, smiling

Evie blushed crimson. I laughed.

"Not sure…" She said, smirking. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to cover her smile.

"Alright...go get some sleep. Offer lover boy a blanket and a pillow…" I laughed.

"He's outside..guarding. He wants to be sure we weren't followed by anyone…"

I rolled my eyes.

"I am going to sleep.." I sighed.

"Night…" Evie said, closing my door. I passed out quickly.

I watched as he took off the black linen shirt, revealing his sun kissed skin. I could feel my mouth go dry. He made his way over to me and I felt his lips on mine.

"Ardeth…" I whispered

I woke up drenched in sweat. I sat upright. I could feel my heart pounding. It was quiet. I could hear the sound of my curtains rustling with the breeze. I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I grabbed my robe, slipping it on and tying it shut. I went to the living area and saw Jonathan was asleep on the couch. Rick was asleep in a chair with his feet propped up, gun sitting in his lap.

I turned around to go back to my room. My body was stopped by a solid figure. Draped in black. I was silenced by a long finger against my lips and a hand slipping into mine. I saw Ardeth's face illuminated in the moonlight. I tugged him to my room and closed the door quietly.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I hissed.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to alarm you. I came to check in on everyone. I have spoken with the elders and my people about the death of Dr. Bey. We are looking for someone to take over in the museum" He whispered.

"So you needed to skulk around in the shadows? You are lucky Rick didn't accidentally shoot you!" I sighed. I realized we were still standing close. His voice was rough and quiet.

"I do suppose it could of waited til morning. I did feel the need though to check on you. Evelyn and the Americans aren't the only ones to be interested in Hamunaptra. There have been men before who have been scared away. I do worry what will happen when it is found out that Hamunaptra was buried" He said, quietly. I felt his breath wash across my face. He was inching closer to me. My mind flashing back to the dream I had just had.

"What will you do now that it is buried?" I asked.

"I still have my people to watch out for and there are many treasures in Egypt "

I nodded.

Before I knew what was happening, his fingers were tilting my face towards his and his lips were on mine.

My heart was beating wildly. I was sure he could feel it. I gripped onto his arms to keep my hands from shaking. He deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against my lips.

He was intoxicating. I breathed in, inhaling his scent as he pulled me closer. He smelled like the night sky and leather and his own unique scent. His fingers weaved into my hair. He pulled away, his chest heaving slightly.

"I don't know what has come over me…" He whispered. He was still entangled in my hair. His eyes were staring into mine.

"It is improper for me to be here…." He said quietly, but he didn't make a move to pull away from me.

"I want you here…" I said, I could hear my voice and it sounded breathy and excited. I blushed.

"I am sure things are vastly different in your time…"

"Yeah there is a big difference…" I smirked.

"This is all very strange to me...I often feel not entirely in control when I am around you…." He whispered. His lips were on mine again. I wasn't complaining. I was in the same boat. It wasn't that long ago that I despised this man. Maybe it was the shock of being so close to losing everything...that all sense and rationality went out the window. His kisses grew hungry. My body was tingling again at his touch. His hand was cradling my face. I didn't want this to end.

He pulled away. He must of sensed my disappointment.

"Forgive me. I need to remember a little decorum. I don't want to sully your honor…."

I stifled a snort.

"I am far from a virgin but I know what you mean. I appreciate it…" I said, quietly.

I saw him smirk and his face heat up a bit.

"I should go...it's nearly morning…" Ardeth spoke quietly. He stood close to me regardless. I felt heady. Everything was moving fast.

With one last kiss, his slipped out of my room and back into the early morning sky.

I saw on the edge of my bed.

"What the fuck just happened…" I whispered to myself.

annnnnd there you have it...more to come in Chapter 10. I have a brief outline done for Chapter 10. I should hopefully have something in the next week or so!

please review! (also! it's come to my attention that Dr. Bey's name got erased in a few places...gonna try to go back and fix that!)