Disclaimer: Imohtep, Pharaoh, Nefertiri, Anck-su-namun & Med-jai still ain't mine.
Kesand ran through the twisted corridors inside Hamunaptra. She'd been out in the desert all day, and had got back to Thebes in time to learn about the death of the Pharaoh, and how both the Med-jai and Nefertiri had gone in pursuit of Imohtep.
Two Med-jai were guarding the door to the preparation chamber, but they allowed her to pass through. "For what you have done, I sentence you to undergo the Hom-dai." Kesand heard the words with dread, and hurried forwards, reaching out and grasping Nefertiri's arm. The woman spun and Kesand took a shocked step backwards at the look on Nefertiri's face. "You," she spat, "You could have prevented this". Kesand tried to protest, but Nefertiri swept past without another word, leaving the chamber.
"The Pharaoh is right". Kesand spun at the sound of a deep male voice, and found herself facing Seneth. "You could have prevented this." His voice was accusing, his face set into a dark, strained scowl.
"How?" Kesand was trying to keep control of herself. "I didn't know this would happen. No one did. You all expected too much of me." His expression didn't soften. She knew that he was blaming himself for what had happened - why had the Pharaoh gone to face Imohtep and Anck-su-namun alone anyway? - but that didn't make everyone blaming her any easier to take.
At the sound of someone struggling she turned, to see the Med-jai holding Imohtep battling against him as he desperately tried to free himself. As she took a step forwards he stopped struggling. The Med-jai began to drag him somewhere but Kesand took another step forwards, commanding them to stop. They still obeyed her, despite everyone's apparent conviction that she was the one to blame for this.
Imohtep glared at her, anger and rage burning darkly in his eyes, but as she watched him steadily the anger seemed to soften into something else - a terrible grief. "I loved her" he burst out, his voice a cry of despair and bewildered fury. Unconsciously Kesand clenched her hands, the nails cutting deep into her palms. "Will you help me?" His tone was strangely childlike, the sound of an infant who hopes that there is one who can step in and make everything right. The Med-jai around them stiffened, preparing to protest if she agreed.
Blood dripped from the ragged cuts on her palm, falling to the floor between them. "I cannot, my lord" she said quietly, striving to keep her voice level. "There must be retribution for what you have done, and this is the fate decreed for you."
She expected that he would begin to shout, but instead the room fell strangely quiet. "You could have prevented this." His voice was level and cold. "Instead you just watched as events unfolded around you." His voice rose to a sudden shout. "I curse you, my lady. May you forever watch, never taking steps to change what might be." The Med-jai began to drag him away again, and as she watched in horrified silence he shouted again "I curse you". Soon after, the Med-jai performed the Hom-dai, and Kesand watched from when they cut his tongue through to when they poured scarab beetles on him, and closed the lid of the sarcophagus.
As the key turned with a sound of finality Kesand shook her head. "This was not well done" she whispered softly. Seneth looked at her. Her face was colourless, and she seemed close to the edge of collapse.
"You do not think that this should have been done? he questioned.
"Of course not." He stumbled back in surprise as she screamed it at him, her voice raw and strained. "What they did was terrible" she continued quietly, "but he did not deserve this. No one does. What you have done here today will echo in the future. What has begun…." She fell silent, staring at the floor, then shook her head. "I would ask something of you. I ask that the Med-jai take up a duty beyond that of bodyguard to the Pharaoh, and that you guard against the awakening of Imoh… No, against the awakening of the Creature that Imohtep will become."
"We will do that anyway. We know our duty". Seneth seemed confused, and also offended.
"Good" She said softly. "Still, I would ask that you swear a covenant." "I would bear some responsibility for this" she added quietly to herself.
Seneth looked at her for a moment longer, then pulled a knife out of its sheath and slashed a cut on his palm. He extended his hand towards Kesand, who turned her hand over, beginning to pull out a knife herself. She frowned at the sight of the blood already there, spilt from the cuts she'd already inflicted, then reached out and grasped Seneth's hand. "I swear" he said gravely "that the Med-jai will guard against the Creature from now until eternity, if need be, or until the day that the Creature can never rise again."
For a moment longer they grasped hands, then released them. As Seneth turned away to begin organising the burial of the sarcophagus, Kesand stared down it. "This was not well done" she whispered again.