"Don't bother…there's absolutely no way to untie these. Believe me…I've been trying." Suzette sighed dismally as Rick continued to rub against the ropes binding him. The two of them, Jonathan, and Ardeth were in the German, Gerhard's, room, and, to add insult to injury, they were tightly bound.
"Leave it to the Germans to carry yards of bleedin' rope around with them. Most people pack clothes and other such personal items…but no. They have ropes. And guns, of course, can't forget the flippin' guns" Jonathan sighed, mainly to himself. Suzette and Rick rolled their eyes dramatically.
"Wonderful monologue, there. Quite dramatic." Rick raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks…glad you liked it." Jonathan shot back.
After sighing at the Englishman, Rick turned his head (which was the only part of his body he could turn…the damned Germans had certainly done a number on him) to Ardeth.
"Are you all right?" he asked with concern. The woman had hit him pretty hard with the chair.
"Yes. I should be. Aside from the embarrassment, of course. I do not think it is generally accepted for Med-Jai to be knock unconscious by deck chairs. Especially when they are thrown by women" Ardeth returned wryly, with a hint of a smile. Suzette made an 'excuse me' noise, and Ardeth muttered a chagrinned apology. Suzette smirked.
"Ah…well, I suppose that's good to hear." Rick smiled back at Ardeth, delicately ignoring the French girl.
"So…messieurs, do you have a plan for getting us out of here? After all…you do seem to be techniciennes at removing yourselves from these situations, corrigent?" Suzette questioned with deliberate flippancy, after a silent moment.
"Give us time!" Rick pleaded.
"Well…we arrive in Egypt tomorrow afternoon…so you have a couple of hours before we are…how shall I say this…killed!" Suzette exclaimed.
Rick was about to respond when the door opened and Gerhard walked in, taking his hand gun from his pocket, and sweeping it around the room at each of the "prisoners". After assuring himself that they presented no danger, the German smirked with superiority.
"So…are you comfortable? Is there anything you need? Reading material, perhaps." He kidded, laughing at his own bad joke.
"Well…I would like to be let go…" Suzette started, and Gerhard quickly flashed his gun to her.
"Not likely, fraulein. Tomorrow afternoon, we shall arrive in Cairo. And once we have gotten you off the boat, we shall kill you. Then, we will be unobstructed in our quest." Gerhard explained with marked casualness. Suzette sneered at him, and Rick thought of all the things he would like to do to the damned German.
"I must caution you…you are dealing with a power far beyond any mortal control. If it is loosed upon the world, we shall all be in danger." Ardeth warned in a hard voice. The German laughed, turning to face him.
"Ah, the Med-Jai. I must admit, I was amazed at how easily fraulein von Lintzer was able to take you out of action. I was under the impression that you were supposed to be a fearless warrior." Gerhard joked, again laughing at himself.
"Fear has nothing to do with being attack from behind. That is merely cowardice on your part." Ardeth spat back, his voice loaded with venom. Gerhard simply laughed again, this time the cruel humor and spite almost oozing from his pores.
"Wait a moment here…forgive me for being a bit nosey…but how do you know he's a Med-Jai?" Jonathan piped up.
Gerhard turned to him, all the humor…as ill-tempered as it had been…dissipating from his expression. He now wore a look of calculated coldness, a dangerous cunning and ambition draping over his features.
"There are quite a few things I know." Gerhard finally smirked, and crossed to the room the bed, where he sat, still pointing his hand gun at the four
~ London, England—Later That Night ~
Evelyn Carnahan…soon to be Evelyn O'Connell…rapped softly on her husband-to-be's apartment door. No one answered, but that was usual. Plus, it was a bit late at night…perhaps Rick was sleeping. And Jonathan had not been at home, so he was probably over as well…after all, her brother had no money, so he wouldn't be out gambling or carousing. Of course, Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan had come in to quite a bit of money after their mummy adventure, but Evelyn was sure to keep most of it from her brother. She loved him dearly, but the man could not be trusted with money!
"I'm coming in!" Evelyn called, and pushed the door open.
The empty flat greeted her as she looked around.
"Rick?" Evelyn asked, looking around. No one replied.
"Jonathan?" She asked again, a bit nervous. Where could they be? Calming herself a bit, guessing they probably went out for some drinks or something, Evelyn walked all the way into Rick's apartment.
It was then she noticed the note on the table.
Evelyn picked it up and read it, her mouth falling open and her eyebrows flying up. But she quickly regain her composure and allowed a small smile.
"How dare they leave without me! Well…we'll just see who gets left behind…" Evelyn smirked, and walked out of the apartment, wondering who she could possibly get to fly her to Egypt.
~ The Next Morning—Aboard the 'Bella' ~
Greta awoke, realizing with a cold shudder that they would be in Egypt in only a few hours. But…the shudder was only partially cold and uneasy. There was also a strange excitement in the warm Mediterranean morning, something Greta couldn't quite put her finger on.
She quickly dressed and walked out onto the 'Bella's' deck.
Josef was waiting for her, almost scaring Greta out of her wits as she rounded the corner. Josef smiled in what, for him, must have been in a friendly manner, but to Greta, still seemed threatening.
"Sleep well, Greta?" He asked.
"Ja…ja, danke." Greta nodded, shaking her head a bit.
"Good. Today is the day, eh?" Josef smirked, his eyes glowing a bit in intimidating anticipation.
Greta simply nodded.
Josef nodded back, and reached into his pocket, pulling out the pendant. He held his hand out, motioning that Greta should take it. Greta looked down at the aquamarine jewel, a bit unsure. She recalled the night before…the odd feeling that had come over her when she had held the pendant. The power that she was beginning to believe it possessed both harkened and terrified her.
"Take it." Josef thrust his hand to Greta, his voice hard, his eyes glittering coldly.
"Ja! Please, do not yell at me!" Greta cried, and grabbed the necklace from Josef. It did not glow this time, but it still felt warm, almost alive in her hands.
"Put it on." Josef commanded.
Greta nodded, her uncertainty dissipating as the Italian boat steamed on and the morning sun caught the pinpoints of the pendant, spraying colored light over Greta's hands and Josef's face.
She slipped the necklace over her head and pulled her hair out of the way. The pendant fell against her neck, and Greta smiled up at Josef. There were no hoofbeats now, no confusion or scattered images, only something Greta could not yet name, but knew just the same.
Power.
There was sheer power in the pendant. Power that could be Germany's, that could belong to Germany and…
No. Greta shook her head at that. Not Germany.
Power that could be hers. Greta touched the pendant. Power that could be hers and hers alone.
"Vollendet." Josef whispered, smiling back. "Perfect.
***
Jonathan was not sure how in the hell he had been able to sleep, but apparently he had, because after what had been a most uncomfortable (to say the very least!) night, he awoke, his face pressed against something.
"What the…?" He asked, muffled.
"Ah!" Someone cried in shock, and Jonathan fell back. He had been leaning against Ardeth, whom he also just scared the wits out of.
"Ooo…sorry about that." Jonathan smirked.
"Perfectly all right. Are we alone?" Ardeth asked, looking about.
"I think…Gerhard left." Rick, who had not slept at all, replied.
"Well…wonderful. Unfortunately, we'll be in good old Cairo soon…and we still have no idea how to get out of this one." Jonathan surmised.
"Come on! We've gotten out of worse!" Rick tried to sound cheery, and actually succeeded…but that was just Rick. He could make the best of even the most fatal-looking situation.
"We have. And we must get out of this one. I have the worst feeling that those Germans have something horrible in mind with that pendant." Ardeth prophesied.
"Of course they do! When has someone ever used a source of immeasurable power for good? It's always something horrible!" Jonathan expounded. Suddenly, he realized the remaining member of their party had yet to speak up. "Where's Suzette?" he asked, concerned.
"Huh? Oh God, I completely…" Rick trailed off, looking around (as best he could, in his bound state). The French girl was nowhere to be found. "Damn! Where the hell could she be?" Rick cursed.
"That man must have taken her." Ardeth guessed.
"Lovely. Now what?" Jonathan demanded.
Rick sighed. Things were definitely not looking up for them.
***
"What do you want of me?" Suzette asked fearfully. The German, Gerhard, had apparently moved her when she was sleeping. Now, as Suzette looked around, she realized she was in some sort of storage room. There were no windows, and there was barely enough room for her and Gerhard.
"I simply want to keep you away from the others. See, Josef and myself are not sure of your worth yet, and when we kill them, we do not want you to get in the way." Gerhard explained flippantly.
"You're…you're not going to kill me?" Suzette stammered.
"Now I did not say that. I simply meant we will not kill you right away." Gerhard smirked.
Suzette rolled her eyes…such a consolation! And she had to help the others. Even if the Krauts were holding off on her death, she doubted they would extend that prolongation to Jonathan, Ardeth, and Rick.
"Why am I useful?" Suzette demanded sassily. She wasn't good at many things…except for irritating people and talking back. And when you didn't have anything to fall back except what you know you are good at, then that is what you do.
Gerhard pulled out his gun and pressed it to her temple.
"I am not quite sure that you are!" he sneered through clenched teeth.
"What about the others?" Suzette demanded.
"They shall die in some alley way in Cairo." Gerhard promised, burying the nozzle of the gun harder against her head. Suzette winced against the cold metal and tried not to show any apprehension.
"Why?" Suzette pleaded, changing her tone abruptly.
"Because we cannot have anyone getting in our way." Gerhard hissed, staring hard at Suzette with his cold eyes.
"Too much is on the line."
"Leave it to the Germans to carry yards of bleedin' rope around with them. Most people pack clothes and other such personal items…but no. They have ropes. And guns, of course, can't forget the flippin' guns" Jonathan sighed, mainly to himself. Suzette and Rick rolled their eyes dramatically.
"Wonderful monologue, there. Quite dramatic." Rick raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks…glad you liked it." Jonathan shot back.
After sighing at the Englishman, Rick turned his head (which was the only part of his body he could turn…the damned Germans had certainly done a number on him) to Ardeth.
"Are you all right?" he asked with concern. The woman had hit him pretty hard with the chair.
"Yes. I should be. Aside from the embarrassment, of course. I do not think it is generally accepted for Med-Jai to be knock unconscious by deck chairs. Especially when they are thrown by women" Ardeth returned wryly, with a hint of a smile. Suzette made an 'excuse me' noise, and Ardeth muttered a chagrinned apology. Suzette smirked.
"Ah…well, I suppose that's good to hear." Rick smiled back at Ardeth, delicately ignoring the French girl.
"So…messieurs, do you have a plan for getting us out of here? After all…you do seem to be techniciennes at removing yourselves from these situations, corrigent?" Suzette questioned with deliberate flippancy, after a silent moment.
"Give us time!" Rick pleaded.
"Well…we arrive in Egypt tomorrow afternoon…so you have a couple of hours before we are…how shall I say this…killed!" Suzette exclaimed.
Rick was about to respond when the door opened and Gerhard walked in, taking his hand gun from his pocket, and sweeping it around the room at each of the "prisoners". After assuring himself that they presented no danger, the German smirked with superiority.
"So…are you comfortable? Is there anything you need? Reading material, perhaps." He kidded, laughing at his own bad joke.
"Well…I would like to be let go…" Suzette started, and Gerhard quickly flashed his gun to her.
"Not likely, fraulein. Tomorrow afternoon, we shall arrive in Cairo. And once we have gotten you off the boat, we shall kill you. Then, we will be unobstructed in our quest." Gerhard explained with marked casualness. Suzette sneered at him, and Rick thought of all the things he would like to do to the damned German.
"I must caution you…you are dealing with a power far beyond any mortal control. If it is loosed upon the world, we shall all be in danger." Ardeth warned in a hard voice. The German laughed, turning to face him.
"Ah, the Med-Jai. I must admit, I was amazed at how easily fraulein von Lintzer was able to take you out of action. I was under the impression that you were supposed to be a fearless warrior." Gerhard joked, again laughing at himself.
"Fear has nothing to do with being attack from behind. That is merely cowardice on your part." Ardeth spat back, his voice loaded with venom. Gerhard simply laughed again, this time the cruel humor and spite almost oozing from his pores.
"Wait a moment here…forgive me for being a bit nosey…but how do you know he's a Med-Jai?" Jonathan piped up.
Gerhard turned to him, all the humor…as ill-tempered as it had been…dissipating from his expression. He now wore a look of calculated coldness, a dangerous cunning and ambition draping over his features.
"There are quite a few things I know." Gerhard finally smirked, and crossed to the room the bed, where he sat, still pointing his hand gun at the four
~ London, England—Later That Night ~
Evelyn Carnahan…soon to be Evelyn O'Connell…rapped softly on her husband-to-be's apartment door. No one answered, but that was usual. Plus, it was a bit late at night…perhaps Rick was sleeping. And Jonathan had not been at home, so he was probably over as well…after all, her brother had no money, so he wouldn't be out gambling or carousing. Of course, Rick, Evelyn, and Jonathan had come in to quite a bit of money after their mummy adventure, but Evelyn was sure to keep most of it from her brother. She loved him dearly, but the man could not be trusted with money!
"I'm coming in!" Evelyn called, and pushed the door open.
The empty flat greeted her as she looked around.
"Rick?" Evelyn asked, looking around. No one replied.
"Jonathan?" She asked again, a bit nervous. Where could they be? Calming herself a bit, guessing they probably went out for some drinks or something, Evelyn walked all the way into Rick's apartment.
It was then she noticed the note on the table.
Evelyn picked it up and read it, her mouth falling open and her eyebrows flying up. But she quickly regain her composure and allowed a small smile.
"How dare they leave without me! Well…we'll just see who gets left behind…" Evelyn smirked, and walked out of the apartment, wondering who she could possibly get to fly her to Egypt.
~ The Next Morning—Aboard the 'Bella' ~
Greta awoke, realizing with a cold shudder that they would be in Egypt in only a few hours. But…the shudder was only partially cold and uneasy. There was also a strange excitement in the warm Mediterranean morning, something Greta couldn't quite put her finger on.
She quickly dressed and walked out onto the 'Bella's' deck.
Josef was waiting for her, almost scaring Greta out of her wits as she rounded the corner. Josef smiled in what, for him, must have been in a friendly manner, but to Greta, still seemed threatening.
"Sleep well, Greta?" He asked.
"Ja…ja, danke." Greta nodded, shaking her head a bit.
"Good. Today is the day, eh?" Josef smirked, his eyes glowing a bit in intimidating anticipation.
Greta simply nodded.
Josef nodded back, and reached into his pocket, pulling out the pendant. He held his hand out, motioning that Greta should take it. Greta looked down at the aquamarine jewel, a bit unsure. She recalled the night before…the odd feeling that had come over her when she had held the pendant. The power that she was beginning to believe it possessed both harkened and terrified her.
"Take it." Josef thrust his hand to Greta, his voice hard, his eyes glittering coldly.
"Ja! Please, do not yell at me!" Greta cried, and grabbed the necklace from Josef. It did not glow this time, but it still felt warm, almost alive in her hands.
"Put it on." Josef commanded.
Greta nodded, her uncertainty dissipating as the Italian boat steamed on and the morning sun caught the pinpoints of the pendant, spraying colored light over Greta's hands and Josef's face.
She slipped the necklace over her head and pulled her hair out of the way. The pendant fell against her neck, and Greta smiled up at Josef. There were no hoofbeats now, no confusion or scattered images, only something Greta could not yet name, but knew just the same.
Power.
There was sheer power in the pendant. Power that could be Germany's, that could belong to Germany and…
No. Greta shook her head at that. Not Germany.
Power that could be hers. Greta touched the pendant. Power that could be hers and hers alone.
"Vollendet." Josef whispered, smiling back. "Perfect.
***
Jonathan was not sure how in the hell he had been able to sleep, but apparently he had, because after what had been a most uncomfortable (to say the very least!) night, he awoke, his face pressed against something.
"What the…?" He asked, muffled.
"Ah!" Someone cried in shock, and Jonathan fell back. He had been leaning against Ardeth, whom he also just scared the wits out of.
"Ooo…sorry about that." Jonathan smirked.
"Perfectly all right. Are we alone?" Ardeth asked, looking about.
"I think…Gerhard left." Rick, who had not slept at all, replied.
"Well…wonderful. Unfortunately, we'll be in good old Cairo soon…and we still have no idea how to get out of this one." Jonathan surmised.
"Come on! We've gotten out of worse!" Rick tried to sound cheery, and actually succeeded…but that was just Rick. He could make the best of even the most fatal-looking situation.
"We have. And we must get out of this one. I have the worst feeling that those Germans have something horrible in mind with that pendant." Ardeth prophesied.
"Of course they do! When has someone ever used a source of immeasurable power for good? It's always something horrible!" Jonathan expounded. Suddenly, he realized the remaining member of their party had yet to speak up. "Where's Suzette?" he asked, concerned.
"Huh? Oh God, I completely…" Rick trailed off, looking around (as best he could, in his bound state). The French girl was nowhere to be found. "Damn! Where the hell could she be?" Rick cursed.
"That man must have taken her." Ardeth guessed.
"Lovely. Now what?" Jonathan demanded.
Rick sighed. Things were definitely not looking up for them.
***
"What do you want of me?" Suzette asked fearfully. The German, Gerhard, had apparently moved her when she was sleeping. Now, as Suzette looked around, she realized she was in some sort of storage room. There were no windows, and there was barely enough room for her and Gerhard.
"I simply want to keep you away from the others. See, Josef and myself are not sure of your worth yet, and when we kill them, we do not want you to get in the way." Gerhard explained flippantly.
"You're…you're not going to kill me?" Suzette stammered.
"Now I did not say that. I simply meant we will not kill you right away." Gerhard smirked.
Suzette rolled her eyes…such a consolation! And she had to help the others. Even if the Krauts were holding off on her death, she doubted they would extend that prolongation to Jonathan, Ardeth, and Rick.
"Why am I useful?" Suzette demanded sassily. She wasn't good at many things…except for irritating people and talking back. And when you didn't have anything to fall back except what you know you are good at, then that is what you do.
Gerhard pulled out his gun and pressed it to her temple.
"I am not quite sure that you are!" he sneered through clenched teeth.
"What about the others?" Suzette demanded.
"They shall die in some alley way in Cairo." Gerhard promised, burying the nozzle of the gun harder against her head. Suzette winced against the cold metal and tried not to show any apprehension.
"Why?" Suzette pleaded, changing her tone abruptly.
"Because we cannot have anyone getting in our way." Gerhard hissed, staring hard at Suzette with his cold eyes.
"Too much is on the line."