(*Thanks to lil_sis4556 who kept the original 'Shades of Panic' I know that it was chapter twenty-five; this chapter, that was missing and not twenty-seven. Thanks largely to her, it has been restored.)
Shades of Panic
Abby Ebon
(*aka: AbeoUmbra)
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Disclaimer: It's beginning to look like a list but, I do not accept any currency or 'payment' for writing this story which is based on the works of J. K. Rowling (Harry Potter), neither do I claim credit for the origins of 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns', or anything else you might recognize. The story itself, however, is mine.
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A Journey Through Storm Brings A End
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"If a man does not embrace his past, he has no future." Death told Rick in undertone, gaining his attention.
Rick sneered, lip curling, though he said nothing he knew what Death wanted to talk about. Remembered clearly enough the look of guarded awe upon glancing at his tattoo, Rick turned to him, his eyes narrowed as he spoke. "Look, even if I'm some sort of sacred Ma-jei, what good does that do for me now?" Rick half hoped Ardeth, or Death – for really, being Immortal hadn't changed Ardeth fundamentally – had an answer that wasn't vague.
Death sighed, pulling at his reserve for patience and answered in a way that wouldn't infuriate Rick, yet hopefully get his point across. "It is the missing piece of your heart, if you embrace it, if you accept it, you can do anything." Death had no such luck, if the look of annoyance on Rick's features were anything to go by. Death soothed Horus, whose feathers ruffled in reaction to Death's temper. Death was finding it harder and harder to cope and react in 'the mortal way'; his power was being leached off him. He knew it – and could do nothing, or abandon Rick and Evelyn in the quest for their son – which Harry would never forgive him for.
"Listen, that sounds great, now what can you tell me about our old friend Imhotep?" Rick blundered on in asking, unaware of Death's thoughts. He looked out over the sky, it was a sight that reassured him – no matter what mortals did for good or ill, they could not match natures work. Using the power that linked Immortals, he felt Imhotep as the closest, which was far more telling in how much power Death had lost for Imhotep to feel alike an Immortal-his fingers clenched on the sword at his side, but he hid it, and if Rick saw it, he dismissed it – or showed more wisdom then he knew in not questioning it.
"His powers are returning quickly, by the time he reaches Ahm Shere, even the Scorpion King won't be able to stop him." Ardeth knew that much to be true, for the Scorpion King was as old as Death – at least – and though powerful, the Scorpion King could not stand against Death. Could not hope to stand against an Immortal who wielded the leached power of Death, even if he asked it of the Scorpion King, he doubted the two would clash longer then a day-if he were lucky.
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Evelyn stared out at the sky; her hands were folded on the railing of the dirigible, her attention on the horizon, mist had settled over the desert, and as she watched the swirling mass beneath her, it seemed to call out to her to be heard. It was as if there was something breathtaking just beyond her sight, if she could only lift the veil, she would see. It was like being torn in two – a part of her was happy with her life, her loving husband, her child – a part of her wanted more, wanted to be apart of something greater whole that she had always been able to glimpse, as if it was something she could not look directly at, for fear it would vanish.
Clouds swirled about her, mist like – and she felt suddenly distanced from her body, as if something had pulled her from it. "We will not allow you to harm him." It was her lips that echoed those words – but those words were not entirely hers. She felt a connection then, the connection she had always felt – that she was something greater then mortal. Then, as if the realization was all that was needed, she saw.
What she saw terrified her, Harry lay sprawled at the feet of an opposing man – no, no more man then Harry or Ardeth – he too was something ancient – something Immortal. Bruises lingered on Harry's pale neck, and she wondered how Death would react to seeing Harry so. She suddenly did not want to know.
"Well if it isn't Death's little sister – how are you Justice? I am surprised at you – you were mine before you were Immortal, why not be mine again?" The man purred and for the first time, Evelyn noticed the shining woman who stood beside her. Sensed the familiarity between them, and knew she was not alone. Still, the man's tone annoyed her, and when she glanced back to him, her eyes were narrowed – though he merely chuckled darkly, amused at their annoyance and distaste. "And Discord...still sticking your nose into what isn't your business, I see." Evelyn's eyes met his, and there was a wicked delight in them, as if he realized something he had not before. Harry seemed to shudder then, and the very air flickered, as if in sympathy.
When Harry looked up, he looked dazed, but stubborn. "Leave, Chaos. Now." The Immortal beside her, Justice, demanded, Evelyn could not help but be distracted – for Harry seemed in so much pain, and she stepped toward him. Harry saw how she wanted to go to him, and was confused by it – Chaos saw that as well. He smiled, delighted, though it was a smile that made Evelyn like smacking him.
"I will make a deal, Sisters – you show him who you are, and I won't split his head open like a melon." Evelyn looked to the Immortal woman – and as she traded looks with Justice – she realized so abruptly it stung, that she was Discord. Help me; I do not know how to do what he wants. Pleadingly, she looked to Justice who seemed to understand.
Justice's power – opposing to her own nature, yet similar, washed over her, she felt the connection with something that was greater and yet the same as her fade, become less, and she felt like her self again – mortal, and vulnerable.
She knew though – this was not Evelyn O'Connell's body – this was another, though familiar. Evelyn looked to Justice – or what had become Justice, and felt her heart pound. For who met her eyes was Anack-Su-Namun, wife of the Pharaoh Seti...
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Blows were traded, equal in every step and intensity, suddenly she felt herself fall, and lifted her mask to meet her attacker eye to eye. Anack-Su-Namun lifted her own mask with a sneer,speaking in ancient Egyptian that they were not done and it would be best to put her mask back on so not to scar her 'pretty face'. Rivalry flared and she leapt to her feet, determination renewed...
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Evelyn heard Harry gasp, breath catching in his throat, and wondered which of them was the most surprised – Evelyn who saw a mix of sister and rival before her, and beneath the surface of it all was ancient familiarity, they were two sides of a coin – and had since their mortal births cared only for each other. What had changed? Evelyn wondered why did Anack-Su-Namun who was Justice, side with Imhotep instead of her own Immortal sister. The answer Evelyn found made her chest ache in sympathetic sorrow to Justice, who she knew Discord-herself – had forgiven once Death had taken them both.
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Nefertiti watched as Anack-Su-Namun lowered her eyes to Imhotep, telling him without words of her feelings. Though it was Nefertiti's father she sat beside, in horror it dawned in her that Anack-Su-Namun had fallen in love with him. It was forbidden, Nefertiti turned to the stranger who sat beside her – Harry, and asked him to accompany her to her rooms. Together, they saw Imhotep slay her father – slay Anack-Su-Namun/Justice, which made rage echo within Nefertiti in sympathy with Discord who was caged, aware only of her sister's demise, within Nefertiti's own soul. Her revenge had been swift to Imhotep, and her rage had even caught Harry within her snare. It was in her nature.
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Evelyn blinked back tears, and saw Anack-Su-Namun – her sister in heart, and Justice acknowledge the pain – forgive it. She only hoped Harry was so willing to forgive her unfocused rage. "Now, now, that is only your past-selves – show him what you look like now." Chaos stated, reminding them of his presence, Evelyn knew how to change now, and did so, Justice matching and mimicking her pace so it was done neatly – cleanly. A moment of harmony that both treasured.
She was Evelyn – and she met Harry's eyes and saw his sorrow – and while she knew why, she did not fear. She knew that while she was Discord, she could not truly be Immortal until her death – and Harry now knew he had to let her die. He sorrowed, and she ached, but knew as long as she was Discord, it would never truly be the end.
"Yes, very good – I think we've caused him enough pain." Chaos sneered down at him, and Discord and Evelyn were one in their hate of him. It was Chaos who had lured a mortal – Imhotep, to loving Justice – it was for him that Justice had placed herself on opposing sides with Death, for she had wanted her love returned to her, still wanted him.
Harry shook – and it felt like the world around them echoed him, and as Evelyn watched it was as if the world became static, fading in and out, thought that were not hers clung to her. It was then she realized, she was within Harry's mind – and though Harry was under such stain, he did not throw them out – Chaos flickered out of existence, and she ran to Harry, cradling him to her.
Shakily, fearing she would never see him alive again, she brushed a hand through his hair, he looked at her, recognized her – and then Meela placed a hand on her shoulder, and she knew she had to let him go or loose him forever. She let him go, though it was the hardest choice she had ever made. Meela–no, Justice took her to someplace elsewhere. "This is our Realm – that of the Immortals, we are its peoples – we are within the Hall of Balance...our home." Justice told her for she saw the questions lingering within Discord's mortal eyes.
"I have brought you here, Sister, because soon I – or rather Meela, will die. Imhotep will unknowingly place my Immortal soul within Meela – for it was his hope to bring back Anack-Su-Namun, who I am as much as she is me. I will see to it that when Imhotep goes within the pyramid, he is without his powers – Evelyn will die, and when she is brought back it will be as Discord. Death will likely not be pleased, but even I sense the power flowing from him into Imhotep, but Death is stubborn and will not flee into the Immortal Realms until there is no other choice. I intend to shape Imhotep into my Immortal consort, Law. He shall be beneath me in power, but still Immortal. If you add me in this, my dear Discord, I will add my power with yours to bend and blur the lines of chance, because of the blessing Death gifted to yours – we will make your Rick into our unified Champion of Balance – and your child into Strife. Tell me now before it is too late – are we in accord?" Justice pleaded, and neither Discord nor Evelyn could deny her, and only nodded, speechless, in agreement. "And of my brother, Jonathan?" Evelyn found it in herself to ask.
"Leave him to me." Justice begged, and Evelyn nodded, and then felt cold as she was yanked away from the Immortal Realms. Her soul lurched within her, and the reaction of her body was to lunge foreword, with a cry of terror at facing a messy death, she clung to the dirigible, and preyed.
Rick and Ardeth – Death, came to her, and as Death pulled her up she thought she saw recognition settle over his gave. Though it was silly – as she knew what she was and the Immortal power she had, she clung to Rick, still shaky. "What did you see?" Death asked, knowingly.
"Chaos – somehow he has...awoken enough to use the paths that bind one Immortal to another, he confronted Harry in this way – I was there...as Discord, and Justice – she...she was there as well." Evelyn confessed, and his eyes widened, silver glazing over them for a moment in his fury. He held to it, commanded it, and Evelyn was grateful she had told him what she had. She – as Discord, knew Death's fury and that if he thought she hid something, he would pursue it.
"Chaos...Discord? Justice? Evelyn, you're not making any sort of sense..." Rick murmured softly into her hair, his confusion giving way to fear.
"I'm afraid she is, Rick – there are things I have not told you – that I am Death, and Immortal – you do know; that Harry is the Keeper, and also Immortal – you know, what you do not know is that Immortals have mortal souls. No Immortal can stop their soul from being reborn – Evelyn has an Immortal soul. I know her as Discord – and with her sister, Justice, who you know as Meela and Anack-Su-Namun, they keep the Immortal Hall of Balance – what makes them sisters is that always the two's Immortal souls are reborn in a body that lives at the same time as the other." Death explained, whisper soft, so only Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan could hear. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and frowned.
"Well what about us mortals with mortal souls – what makes us so different from the Immortals?" Jonathan asked surprising them, for it was a good question that neither of them had thought he would ask. Death, though, did not look surprised that Jonathan would be the one to ask.
"Immortals can die but only in these ways – by passing on their power, or killed by another Immortal. It happens rarely, but for the Keepers, they often do not live long, but it is they who walk the Between, who can walk the Crossroads and Realms unafraid, for the Arches protect them. All Immortals souls are reincarnated, which lets us retain our power – sometimes an Immortal shows special interest in their mortal half, most of the time we go on with our duties; and it is this – to protect our world and all it's realms from being affected by other worlds, without the Immortal, our world would be defenseless from them. As for the mortal souls – they do not simply pass on to a religious underworld, at times they pass through the Between and into another world, at times they are reborn on this one – other times they simply fade, in peace, within my Realm, though I guard it, I do not dictate where a mortal soul goes after that – it is it's own Choice." Death stated softly, as if wondering if they would believe him.
Evelyn did, but that did not stop Rick from narrowing his eyes. "You spoke of Chaos, Evelyn – and of Harry, who is Chaos?" At that question, Death glanced away, reluctant to speak.
"Chaos in its own Immortal nature is not always evil, or good – but this one was evil natured even before he became an Immortal. Death loved him, and what was done in the Immortal Realm, we were largely ignorant of. Then...he did something unforgivable, and we put him in the Between, unwilling to have someone Chosen to become Chaos anew; unwilling to allow him free reign. It should have been a prison until the end of time – but the Between is not always predictable, and he now has awoken enough that Chaos can use the mental paths between the Immortals to communicate. He chose Harry because somehow, he was trapped in his own mind at the time – but he is alright now." Evelyn reassured Death, who had paled at the new knowledge.
Then Evelyn felt it, as Death started to ask a question – felt Meela die, and Justice forced into the body of a mortal. It left her weakened and she felt darkness claim her, taking her to where she could rest, unconscious even in her sleep so not even an Immortal could waken her. Death saw Rick and Jonathan hover over Evelyn worriedly, and wondered why he was not more concerned.