As Nefer-Tina drove the Hot-Ra back to the sphinx she glanced at Rath who was looking out of the window, silent the entire trip back.
"Rath, are you alright?" Nefer-Tina asked and he raised his head, blinking as his friend glanced back at him before she turned her attention back to the road. "I know, I know. Eyes on the road." She added with an eye-roll before Rath had time to respond.
"I'm just worried about Jade. I'm sure she's upset about being left behind in the sphinx." Rath finally answered and Ja-Kal gave him a smile as Armon lightly patted him on the shoulder. Bracing himself on the seat in front Rath forced a smile onto his face, knowing the much stronger mummy meant well but he couldn't help being slightly worried. Once they reached the sphinx Rath barely waited until Nefer-Tina parked the Hot-Ra in the garage before he climbed out of the vehicle, wondering if Jade had woken up and found the fruit he'd left her.
Once he reached the sarcophagus room he found Jade lying on her back and as he stepped over to her he noticed with a faint smile that she was sound asleep. As he knelt Khati purred, curled up beside Jade who sighed in her sleep. "Thank you for keeping her safe, oh sacred one." He whispered, stroking Khati's fur and the cat purred. Rath leaned over to pick up the bowl, noting that it was empty, only to feel eyes on him and he turned his body enough to see me staring at him.
"Rath, when did you get back?" I whispered, rubbing at my eyes and he just grinned at me. Shifting over he watched on as I reached up, patting Khati who meowed before she leapt off my chest sitting on the floor as Rath knelt beside me.
"A few minutes ago, Jade. How are you feeling?" He asked, pressing a hand to my back when I struggled to sit. "You really should be resting." He advised and I groaned, rubbing my eyes as he stared at me.
"That's all I've been doing, Rath!" I snapped and he frowned, not meeting my eyes as I pinched the bridge of my nose. Finally seeing him looking a little hurt I sighed, reaching out and he turned his attention back to me when he felt me squeeze his hand. "I'm sorry, Rath. I didn't mean to yell at you. You've done nothing but take care of me ever since I got hurt and all I can do is snap at you." I muttered, turning my head away when hot tears filled my eyes.
"Jade, it is fine. I know you are angry at Scarab and not at me." Rath assured me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders when I started to sniff. "You will be healed before you know it." He told me, gently rubbing my back as I wiped my eyes.
"Thanks for that, Rath. It means a lot coming from you." I finally answered and he nodded, shifting close enough so that I could rest my head on his shoulder. "Thank you for the fruit as well. I really like apples...oh and grapes."
"That's good to hear. I wasn't sure what you would like so I made a guess." Rath explained, watching as I rubbed at my eyes again. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Just a little sore. Thought I'd been up and walking about by now." I grumbled and Rath just gave me a one-armed shrug, lightly patting my stomach. "It still itches by the way."
"I thought it would but there's nothing I can do except tell you to give it time. But I'm sure you want to do something other than sit around and complain." Rath told me and I rolled my eyes, giving him a smirk when he sighed.
"Hey I can't help being bored, Rath. It's a little hard to find something to do when you can barely stay on your feet." I shot back and he nodded, draping an arm around my shoulders. With his help I made it as far as the couch in front of the spirit box and as Rath helped me onto the seat I groaned, feeling even worse about my injuries.
"There you go, Jade. Hopefully the spirit box takes your mind off your poor stomach." Rath said, lightly patting my shoulder once he took a seat beside me. When I just winced, holding a hand to my stomach instead of responding, his lips curled into a frown. "Let me try and make you something for the pain." The moment Rath walked away I let out a breath, giving my stomach a quick scratch with my fingers.
Stupid Scarab and his stupid fireball. The pain's bad enough so why does it have to itch too?
Shaking my head I picked up the remote, hoping something would take my mind away from how frustrated I felt at being stuck inside. After a few minutes of clicking and finding nothing interesting enough I settled on the news, leaning back on the couch as I scratched at my bandages again. I hadn't even realized I was starting to drift off when I heard voices and I turned my head, blinking as Rath returned holding a cup which seemed to be smoking.
"Jade, this will help." Rath explained, noting with a smile that my eyes were wide and staring at the cup in his hand. "It should be doing that." He added as he took a seat beside me offering me the cup which I continued to stare at. "I promised to take care of you." He said and I sighed, taking the cup before I quickly downed the contents. When I poked out my tongue Rath chuckled, setting down the cup as I coughed.
"Could have warned me that it tasted that bad, Rath." I grumbled and he just shook his head, letting me rest my head on his shoulder. Despite what I originally thought about the potion Rath whipped up it soon helped and as the pain dulled I returned my attention to the television.
After Ja-Kal, Nefer-Tina and Armon entered the room along with Presley talking about their latest run-ins with Scarab and Chontra.
Once they saw Rath sitting on the couch with his hand resting on Jade's head they exchanged a smile, their eyes moving briefly to Jade who had her head resting on Rath's lap her features relaxed for the first time since she'd taken a blow meant for the scholar.
Not wanting her to wake now that she was finally without pain and resting Rath remained seated, giving his fellow mummies a nod in greeting as they headed over to join him. Despite the potion Rath had given me I felt myself drawn into a nightmare and I groaned, waking Rath who shook his head.
"Jade, what is the matter?" He whispered but I just groaned as Chontra stood before me.
"You really thought you had seen the last of me didn't you, Jade?" Chontra laughed as I stepped back, the enchantress giving me a smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
"What do you want with me? I won't let you have Rath if that's what you're thinking." I growled at her, touching the amulet around my neck. "With the strength of Ra!" I shouted but when my armor didn't appear I froze, staring at the amulet as Chontra laughed at me.
"You thought I'd just let you have all that power for yourself? Silly girl." Chontra commented, taking a step towards me and when I narrowed my eyes at her she smiled. as I took a fighting stance that Armon had taught me. "So you do have some fight in you. Too bad you're too weak to face me."
"I might be weaker than you and I can't use magic, Chontra but in the end Rath chose me." I replied, meeting her eyes when she glared at me. "Does it hurt knowing Rath will never love you?" I taunted all too aware that Chontra wouldn't be pleased but I didn't back away when she raised her hands high above her head her fingers glowing with a dark purple light.
"You really think I'll let you live after that, Jade?" Chontra snapped at me and I sniggered, finding some humor as she pointed her fingers at me. "No one laughs at me and lives."
"Too bad I'm already dead, Chontra." I mocked, unsure why I was so sure I was safe as she let loose a blast of energy at me. As it shot towards me I closed my eyes determined not to let her see me shaking from fear but as it struck me I gasped, a hand grasping my left shoulder at the same moment.
"Jade, can you hear me?" Rath's voice pulled me away from the enchantress who managed a growl before I swallowed, my eyes slowly opening to find a familiar face staring down at me. "Oh thank Ra you heard me. You were having nightmares again weren't you?" He sighed, helping me sit and I just nodded slowly, rubbing at my eyes.
"It was Chontra again. Why can't she leave me alone?" I answered, pinching the bridge of my nose between my fingers.
"She's just jealous of you, Jade." Rath replied and when I raised an eyebrow at him he smiled back at me.
"I guess Chontra can't get over the fact that with all of her looks and power she still never got what she wanted." I replied after a pause, managing a weak smile in return. "Now I can't even sleep without her invading my dreams. Wonderful." I grumbled, pushing myself to my feet where I wobbled and Rath shook his head standing at my side when I crossed my arms.
"If you are so determined to stay on your feet despite my better judgment, Jade I suppose I can't stop you. However I have an idea that could shield you from Chontra if you are patient." Rath told me and I nodded, taking the hand he offered me before we made our way towards his scrolls and books.
As Rath worked I leaned against the wall making an effort not to scratch at my bandages but watching him working helped me distract myself.
He does so much for me and doesn't ask me for anything in return. On another note why did Chontra give me something so powerful? She must have known I'd use it against her once I figured out how it worked. Unless there's something else I haven't figured out about it.
I looked down at my amulet, lightly touching it with my fingers. Distracted I didn't notice that Rath had paused in his studies his eyes on me as I fiddled with my amulet.
Jade seems worried and who can blame her if Chontra is invading the poor woman's dreams now. Still once I find that scroll that Pharaoh Amenhotep left us I can shield her from Chontra's sight.
"There we go. Jade, could you...?" Rath turned around to find me standing there looking at my amulet with two narrowed eyes and he paused, staring at me for several seconds until he finally cleared his throat. My head shot up and he blinked as my eyes glowed purple but when he blinked the light had faded and Rath shook his head, unable to determine if he'd imagined the light or if it had actually happened. Once I noticed Rath staring at me I tilted my head to one side releasing the amulet so that it rested on my chest before I gave him a tiny grin.
"Rath, is something wrong?" I asked him but he hurriedly shook his head, stepping over to me before he placed a hand on my shoulder. "If you're sure." I added with a one-armed shrug before I saw the scroll in his hand and I grinned. "Is that the spell you wanted to try?"
"Yes it is, Jade. It is the same spell that I used on Prince Rapses' Eye of Ra amulet to shield him from Scarab. Now just hold still." Rath told me and I nodded though as he raised his hand from my shoulder, speaking words I couldn't understand, I couldn't stop myself from stumbling back nd Rath stopped speaking. "Jade, what's the matter? This spell will not harm you I promise." He reassured me but as he set his hand down on my shoulder I rubbed at my eyes.
"I don't know what's wrong with me, Rath. You're probably right and I need more rest. The nightmare didn't help." I apologized and Rath nodded, gently guiding me back to my sarcophagus. Even after he helped me lie on the blanket Rath forced a smile onto his face, silently wondering why I had reacted so forcibly to his help.
Once the other mummies had gone back to their sarcophagi I opened my eyes a cold smile appearing on my lips as I pushed myself to my feet. I headed for the doorway only to feel Kahti rubbing against my legs and I frowned as she meowed at me. "Leave me alone cat." I growled at her and she jumped back when I tried to kick at her side. leaving Kahti hissing as I walked away.
As soon as I walked outside I looked around in time to see Chontra appearing in a flash of purple light. "Did anyone see you leaving?" Chontra asked and when I shook my head she smiled at me. "Perfect. Rath and his friends don't know what's in store for them."
The very next morning Presley walked into the sphinx, giving his friends a nod though when he noticed Rath hurriedly searching through a growing pile of scrolls he frowned. "What's going on?' He asked Rath though when the scholar didn't respond he looked at Ja-Kal for help.
"Jade left the sphinx last night, Prince Rapses. We don't know where she is now." Ja-Kal explained, looking over at Rath who frowned at a scroll he had just unrolled and as he swept it aside he growled.
"Rath, you need to calm down. Getting upset won't help Jade." Nefer-Tina put in and Rath rubbed at his eyes, grabbing another scroll though when he felt a hand on his shoulder he turned his head enough to see Presley staring at him.
"Rath, Nefer-Tina's right. You need to calm down." Presley agreed and after a long pause Rath managed a faint smile. "Did she leave a note?"
"I woke up first and found her sarcophagus empty. If I'd finished the spell on...wait a moment!" Rath commented, everyone else looking at Rath as he grabbed another scroll. "When I cast a spell on her Anubis amulet it allowed me to track Jade in the event she needed help. I just wish Jade had let me cast a block spell on her as well."
"Like my amulet huh?" Presley asked and Rath nodded, muttering under his breath. At the same time my own amulet glowed but I ignored it too busy following Chontra as the enchantress walked further into the city. Once Rath finished casting his spell he frowned slightly, his eyes moving over another scroll and as he cast a second spell my amulet glowed stronger which Chontra picked up.
"Rath, I should have known you wouldn't let you precious girlfriend get very far. No matter once you do find her it will be much too late to stop me." Chontra laughed as I stood at her side, a cold smile on my lips before we vanished.