Disclaimer:

Disclaimer:
I don't own Evy, Rick, Alex, etc.  I'm not using this for money.  Yatsa, Yatsa, and Yatsa.

Claimer:

I do, however, own Akila/Isis, Amunet, Bomani, Ini-herit, and any others not of the realm of The Mummy.

ETC:

My Egyptian history is a little rusty.  If anyone spots anything out of place, Go right ahead and e-mail me.  I'd like to get this right.

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Immortality is a Curse

Chapter One: Akila or Isis?

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            Anck-Su-Namun stared at the infant in her arms.  'How could this happen? She's only baby!  She doesn't deserve this!' She thought, anguished, 'Oh, why do the Gods torment me and her like this?!'

            "Please, give me the child!  If we don't get this over with soon, Seti will find out.  We have to hurry." Imhotep begged, as the tiny infant – who was either his child or Seti's, and for the sake of the infant, he hoped she was Seti's blood – began to cry.

            The baby was only a little more then a day old.  No guard or Medjai, save one, knew of her birth, and the only royalty who knew was Nefertiti – and she had mixed emotions.  Anck-Su-Namun was quite sure she knew who the father was, but she hoped and prayed it wasn't Imhotep.  Not only would both herself and he die, so would the infant.

            "This is not fair!" She cried.

            "I know." He soothed, "But if we don't implore the Gods for the truth, Seti will question her parentage and then she will never live."

            "What if the Medjai find out?"

            "They won't.  Ini-herit swore to Isis that he would lie if need be."

            Anck-Su-Namun grasped her child, "Good, she will protect her."  She reluctantly handed her daughter up to Imhotep, who looked down at the face of the child, and began to wonder.

            "Oh, little one; let your life be that of the palace – not lies and deception.  Live by the Maat.  Do not live as your mother has, nor as I have."  And with that he left to the temple.  He was going to find out whom the father of the tiny baby  (already named Akila in the womb by Seti before he left for Hamunaptra) was.

-*-*-

            Imhotep collapsed to the ground.

            The Gods would not answer.  They would give no sign, nothing to show pleasure or anger.  It seemed as though Akila was doomed to be both blessed and cursed.

            "Imhotep?" Ini-herit called as he walked into the temple, "Imhotep?" He called again.

            "Here." He replied, softly, his head in his hands.

            Ini-herit noticed him finally, and knelt now beside his childhood friend, "I assume she is your blood."

            "I don't know!  They don't answer!" He yelled, suddenly overcome with rage at the deities he was supposed to serve.  He punched the wall after he spoke.

            "Stop!  Do not do that – you'll anger Them, and then her father will never be known."

            "I didn't want to put you in this position, Ini, but I think you're going to have to break the Maat."

            "I know, it's alright.  She already looks like her mother, no one will ever know who the true father is." He tried to comfort.

            "We cannot tell anyone about this."

            "What about Nefertiti?  She already knows."

            "I'll talk to her."

            "No.  She's known you since she was born, you would never be able to lie to her.  I'll do it." He countered, "You'll talk to your priests, and Anck-Su-Namun.  I'll talk to the Medjai.  There are some who would side with I, that she should not suffer if the Gods aren't angered.  They have blessed her.  They will help me protect her." He stood up, and offered a hand to help his friend.

            Imhotep nodded, and took the offered hand.  He quickly walked over to the stone alter, where the swaddled child was sleeping, almost goddess-like.  "Isis." He looked at Ini-herit, "Seti named her Akila.  I name her Isis."

            "I'm certain Isis will protect her namesake."

            The high priest picked up the little girl and held her up so he could look into her now open eyes.  He was sure he knew who the father was – and that knowledge would be taken to the grave.

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Two Years Later

            Nefertiti had watched as her father was murdered.  Her heart had breaking in two.  First her mother, then her father.  She knew what had to be done and she did everything, but her soul was shattered.  The only people who could get through to her were her sister and Ini-herit.

            Slowly walking down the hall, she could already see her sister playing with a large piece of light fabric.  Her handmaiden, Amunet, who was laughing at the little girl, followed her.  Finally catching up to Akila, Amunet swooped down and lifted her up in the air and swung her around.  She put the laughing child down and looked up to see Nefertiti standing a few feet away, "My Queen."

            "Amunet, I've known you since we were young.  I am Nefertiti.  Do not call me Queen."

            She nodded, "I was just going to take Akila for her bath." She told her.

            "Before you do, I have a question that is in dire need of an answer."

            Again, she nodded, and waited for the question.

            "Did Imhotep call Akila by the name Isis at any time?"

            "Why do you ask?"

            "Before he was executed for murdering my father, he asked for Isis.  I was there begging to know why he did what he did, and I asked why he was asking for Isis and not Ra or Osiris.  He told me he meant Akila."

            Amunet sighed, "He did at a few events call her Isis."

            "Why?"

            "I know you remember when it was unknown who her father was.  You were angry that Anck-Su-Namun was unfaithful, that Akila might not be your blood."

            "Yes, and Imhotep did the ritual and said it was my father."

            "No." She said, softly, placing a hand on Nefertiti's shoulder, "The Gods never answered.  They seemed content and so it was not questioned it further."

            Nefertiti stared at her friend, "So Akila could be the child of Imhotep?"

            "Maybe.  But she's too much like Seti to not be his blood."

            Nefertiti nodded, "This will not affect anything.  Akila is my sister.  I will protect her.  What has been said does not go past this room."

            "Do not worry.  Ini-herit and a few of the Medjai watch over her.  Bomani does not question her parentage, so all is safe."

            "Thank you, Amunet."

            "Your welcome, my Queen." She replied with a smile, before taking Akila's hand and leaving the room.

-*-*-

Fourteen Years Later

            Bomani stared down at the girl.  Black hair lay around her head, her gold circlet falling backward.  Her rich, evenly tanned skin was speckled with blood – her blood.  Her eyes, a dark brown like the silt, which washed upon the shores when the Nile rose, stared up at him before closing and relaxing.  The only part of her body which still seemed to be alive, were her lips – a light pink like the sky when Ra calls forth the day – which permitted air to flow in and out of her dying form.

            He lifted her up and placed her down on the alter.  The same alter that failed to implore the Gods to divulge who the father was.

            And it was there and then that the ritual would begin.  Akila would no longer grow up; grow old.  She would be immortal and everything that was once known was gone.

            And once again, Nefertiti watched as her family was taken from her.  She was numb with fear and hurt.  Ini-herit screamed as Bomani began, Amunet cried.

            Nothing would ever be the same.

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To Be Continued…

Oh, and, this takes place after The Mummy Returns!

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Cassie Jamie

noahXfiles@aol.com