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Immortality is a Curse

Chapter Two: Time's Toll

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1926

            "Ardeth Bay!  You will not keep me locked up in this house, while treasure hunters go to the city of the dead!" Akila screamed at him in English.  Over her life of 3218 years, she had quickly accustomed herself to learning every language she could.  It helped when she was in Cairo with tourists and she wanted to blend in – or even when she was away from Egypt.

            "Mi Pharos…"

            "Don't 'My Princess' me!  If they find The Book of The Dead, then we are going to be in more trouble then the Medjai or I can fix.  You are taking me.  I will view these people myself."

            "And read their minds?" He asked, still learning about the powers that ran in her blood.

            "If need be, then yes." She replied, pulling a cloak around her 5'6" frame.  Although the cloak was long and black, her dress – still that of the ancient land – was visible.  It was white and gauzy, accented with gold threading and usually with some ornate piece of jewelry, but Akila had taken to not wearing any with exception of her sister's necklace.  It was of Horus, the sky god, his wings outstretched.  She had also taken to walking around without shoes or sandals, even though the Medjai had made sure she had a wardrobe of the current clothes.

            Ardeth sighed, "If you are coming, please at least wear something on your feet."

            She complied, and followed the man out of the house and to the waiting horses.  Other Medjai were waiting as well, surprised to see their princess as she hopped on to the horse.  "Is there a problem, gentlemen?"

            "No, Princess.  It's just surprising to see you out here.  Are you going for a ride?" One of the men spoke up.

            "I'm going with you.  And don't argue with me.  I had a hard enough time with Ardeth." She shot back, fixing her clothing so she could ride comfortably without riding sidesaddle.

            "Yes, Princess."

            Beginning to ride off towards their destination, she cocked her head to one side, "My name is Akila.  I was a princess, but I am not anymore.  At least, to me I'm not.  I would much prefer if everyone would call me Akila."

            The men nodded, and quickened the pace of their horses, wanting to reach Hamunaptra before nightfall.

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1934

            Akila stared across the sands of the desert.  Many years had passed since the first rising of Imhotep, and Akila's demeanor had changed slightly with it.  Since her curse had been placed, life had become her own private hell.  Periods of sadness and depression were scattered amongst the periods of normal emotions.  But this was something more.  Sadness wasn't predominate, but another emotion was – the desire to have the curse lifted at any cost.  She reviled the unwelcome emotion.

            "Akila?" Eshe, Ardeth's four year old daughter, called into the house.

            "I'm in here, Eshe." Akila replied in Arabic.

            Following the sound of the person Eshe thought of as her sister, she glided into the room, "Daddy's going to be home soon, right?"

            Akila nodded, lifting the child into her lap, "Yes, he is.  He just went to retrieve your brothers."

            "Where are Jibade and Hasani anyway?"

            "They went with your father for a meeting of the commanders."

            "Why?"
            The immortal smiled, "Because he wanted them too."

            "Oh." Eshe smiled back, and walked away, just as Jasmyne, Ardeth's wife, walked in.

            "When Ardeth gets back, he said he'd take you to meet them." She said, gently.

            Akila stood up, "Thank you, Jas.  I know you'd rather I was not here…"
            "Did I ever say that?" She interrupted, "Akila, you maybe three thousand years older then me, but I feel as though you are my child.  I never want you to leave.  The only thing I dislike is that you have been very upset and will not let I nor Ardeth fix it."

            "Neither your nor him can fix it.  It is this curse that has upset me, and the only way to fix it is to have it removed." She said, taking her friend's hand in her own, "Which is why I asked your husband to take me to O'Connell manor.  I have to meet them."

            "The O'Connell's?  That's who you are going to see?"

            "Yes."

            "I think I understand now." She sighed, "Just promise me that you will come back here, whether or not the curse is lifted."

            "I will.  I'll come back." Akila sniffled, before hugging her friend tightly.

            Ardeth's voice tore through the air at that moment, along with the sounds of eight-year old Jibade and seven-year old Hasani.

            "Be careful."

            "Isis protects me.  She will make sure that we return.  Allah will help." She said, as they pulled apart, her interesting religious beliefs appearing for the first time in months.

            "I know." Jas replied.  But a nagging feeling told her that something wasn't right.

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            Richard O'Connell popped open the bottle of champagne, and poured some of the liquid in to glasses, "Another baby." He whispered, while walking over to the study room couch where Evelyn was watching him, "I can't believe it."

            "I guess we won't be doing much in the way of exploring for the next few months."

            "Not if you act the way you did when you were pregnant with Alex."

            She smiled, "I wasn't that bad!"
            "You were mean, paranoid, and craved food I never thought would ever be made in the first place." He replied, before moving forward to kiss her lightly.

            "Umm…" Evy moved back a little, before moving her head closer again, and kissing him deeper then before.

            Alex chose that moment to walk in, with Ardeth, Jonathan, and Akila following, "You two make it very hard to live in this house."

            Rick looked over at the small cluster and then stood up, "Alex, say you're coming in the room next time."

            "Sorry." He sighed, and turned around, "I'm going to my room.  Come on, Uncle Jon." He started to walk away, "Uncle Jon?"
            "I'll be up in a few minutes, Alex." He replied.  Alex walked away, which left the adults.

            "I'm sorry if this is an intrusion." Ardeth started.

            "It's alright.  Is everything okay?" Rick asked, as Evy stood up as well.

            Akila grinned, "Mostly."

            Evy looked at her oddly, "You.  I feel like I know you."

            "Well, technically you do.  My name is Akila.  Nefertiri was my sister."

            Nefertiri looked at her sister.  Akila was almost four, and a little hellion.  She wreaked havok upon every person in the palace, with the exceptions of three people – Nefertiri, Amunet, and Ini-herit.

            But sleeping, she appeared as she always had – like an oasis in the middle of the arid desert.

            "Akila." Evy murmured, "I remember that.  Strange, I haven't remembered any of my past life since…" Evy trailed off.

            "I figured as much." Akila sighed, "I just wanted to meet you and Rick.  It's been such a long time since I've seen my sister or Ini-herit and you both look so much like them."

            "Who was Ini-herit?"

            "My medjai.  He was my protector from the time I was born until the time he died."

            "And I look like him?"

            Akila nodded, "Very much so.  After all, you are his reincarnate."

            "What?"

            "You, Richard O'Connell, are the reincarnate of Ini-herit, medjai to Akila and lover to Nefertiri.  Ironic that you would end up with Nefertiri's reincarnate again." She smiled, then frowned at herself, "I'm sorry.  I shouldn't refer to either of you as reincarnates.  I just miss my family so."

            Evy quickly asked, "How old are you?"

            "Three-thousand, Two-hundred, and Twenty-six."

            "Wow." Evy murmured, before looking at the girl curiously, "Is there more to why you are here?"

            Akila looked behind her to Ardeth, who had been silent for most of the time, and chose to speak for her, "Akila's immortality is what she refers to as her curse.  She wants to be rid of it.  However, the only way to lift it, is to prove who her father was."

            "I don't understand." Rick stated, a bit confused.

            "When I was born, it was unknown whether Seti was my father or whether Imhotep was my father.  I was given a name by each of them, as well as the name Olabisi which my mother gave me.  However, I believe that with your help, we could find out who my father is, and I can return to being mortal."

            "You would give up immortality?" Evy asked.  Most people would love to be in the position Akila was in.

            Akila nodded, "I remember the days of the royal court, where I was loved.  I had my family and a life.  Now I have no family outside of Ardeth, his wife, and their children.  Even so, one day they are going to die, and I can't handle watching another person I love die."

            Rick and Evy nodded and turned to look at each other, "We'll help."

            "Thank you."

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It's short, I know.  I've been having a hard time being able to sit down and write lately.  Too much school work.

Cassie Jamie

noahXfiles@aol.com