A/N: First, I would like to thank NeferBast RaMa'at, Mahaja, Fan of the Mummy, Liriope, Diva Queen, and Queen Katt for reviewing. It means a lot to me to get good reviews. As for your questions Queen Katt, the first one will be answered in this chapter. My next fic will probably be up on Sunday or Monday at the earliest. No, it will not take place in Ancient Egypt that much. It mainly takes place seven years after The Mummy Returns.

The Beginning of the End

The Curse

It was the month after the dinner, after the Pharaoh's announcement and after the sorcerer came. The sorcerer was treated with higher regard than even the high priest. Before, Imhotep had been the chief advisor to the pharaoh. Now, the Pharaoh looked only to Wumanu for everything.

It became increasingly harder for Anck-su-namun to see Imhotep. Whenever they thought that they were finally alone, the pharaoh and Wumanu came into the room. All month they had tried to meet to discuss the sorcerer, but he was always there; greasy, dirty, and smirking evilly.

There were worse things going on, too. Whenever the sorcerer saw Nefretiri and Anck-su-namun hanging-out or talking and laughing, he seemed to flare up in a rage. The girls decided that they had better only talk when doing training outside of the palace walls. Inside, they looked like they only barely tolerated each other. The sorcerer didn't realize that it was all just a charade, and seemed to look happier as each day went by. When the sorcerer was happy, the pharaoh was happy. When the pharaoh was happy, the people inside and outside of the palace weren't as afraid of being banished or executed.

Then things began to happen. First the pharaoh's heath began to fail. The sorcerer declared himself the only one allowed to take care of him. As Wumanu took care of him, his condition only worsened. As he became sicker, he also became more suspicious of those around him. At least six commoners who knew about Imhotep and Anck-su-namun, seven Medjai who knew who Anix's mother really was and how Osun was still seeing Nefretiri, five of Nefretiri's and Anck-su-namun's handmaidens who knew both of their secrets and even the Pharaoh's chief scribe, who was Rela's grandfather and new about her father's new love interest, were all killed because the sorcerer said that they knew secrets and they wouldn't tell the pharaoh.

The only two people who were even able to talk regularly were Anix and Rela. When they were younger, they used to hang out all the time to talk about little kid stuff. Now they talked about their training, the sorcerer and their parents' situation.

"Honestly I think this is crazy!" said Rela. They had been sitting on the dock early one morning before there were many people out and about in town.

"What?" asked Anix.

"This whole thing about class distinctions and everything. I mean, does it really matter if some one is a future queen or a high priest. Or for that matter, a princess or a Medjai?" Rela looked out at the river. Anix glanced at Rela. The wind blew her hair back from her face. Suddenly Anix realized that she was extremely beautiful. It hit him like a ton of bricks. Then he also realized why he had missed her more than anyone while he was training. Then a dark cloud fell over his thoughts.

"I hate the class distinctions, too. They even separate Medjai from people considered servants. As a matter of fact, Medjai aren't really allowed to love anyone. It's very annoying." He tried to say this nonchalantly but Rela still turned her head to look at him quizzically. He just smiled as though he was saying "I don't know what you're thinking but I didn't mean anything." Rela just sighed and turned back to look at the water. Anix did the same.

Rela smiled to herself. She knew what he'd meant when he'd said that last thing. Of course she had had a crush on him ever since she'd had to take a message from Nefretiri to Osun almost a year ago. As she had passed by the area where the new Medjai were training, she had looked down to see Anix locked in combat with another Medjai recruit. He had looked different than she had remembered him. He looked much more muscular and definitely very much more handsome. Of course, she didn't only like him because he was strong and good looking. He was also smart, nice, courteous, and liked a lot of the same things she did. They had the same sense of humor and, for that matter, of responsibility.

That's why they had tried to preserve the old camaraderie. They both knew how much they'd be in already if anyone found out either of their parents secrets. They didn't want to have to hide anything else that could get them killed.

A couple of days later, Rela was carrying a tray with water on it to the inner court where Anck-su-namun and Nefretiri were training. As she passed the Pharaoh's rooms, she heard voices. Even though she knew it was wrong, not to mention illegal, she paused to listen.

"Oh Great Sorcerer," she heard the Pharaoh say. "What news have you brought me?"

"I have discovered another traitor in the Medjai ranks, Pharaoh," said the sorcerer stealthily.

"Who? Say his name so that he may be executed. I do not tolerate traitors.

"It will be hard for you to believe. The traitor is one of the friends of that boy. He knows secrets about people inside of this palace. Yet, he refuses to tell me what they are."

"Well, then he must be put to death immediately."

"I was thinking, Pharaoh, maybe I should go talk to the boy, Anix. A lot of the Medjai that have been found to be disloyal are his of his father's friends. Considering that Osun is out of town, maybe he could tell us something."

"Yes sorcerer, talk to Anix. If he refuses to say anything, bring him to me. I hate to say this, but it the boy is a traitor, he too will have to be disposed of. Or at the very least imprisoned."

"And if he resists?"

"Kill him."

Outside the door, Rela was so stunned by this horrible conversation, that she dropped the tray. She closed her eyes as she expected to hear a crash. Then she would be discovered and executed before she had a chance to warn Anix or anyone for that matter. However, when no crash came, she opened her eyes. There knelt Anix holding the tray just inches above the ground where he had caught it. He handed it to Rela. She smiled then motioned for him to be quiet and to follow her. When they were far enough away from the rooms to avoid being heard, they stopped. They were in a indoor garden so they sat down on one of the exquisitely carved stone benches that were placed throughout the room.

"Anix, you are in danger," Rela began. "Wumanu is trying to get the pharaoh to kill you. He is going to come to you soon and ask you if you know why your friends are being killed. If you refuse to say anything, he is going to take you to the pharaoh. If you resist, he is authorized to kill you right then and there. Right now, he is killing another of your friends. Then he will come after you."

"What are we gonna do?" asked Anix, standing up and walking over to a fountain and leaning on the railing that surrounded it.

"Avoid him until tonight. I'll think of something by then. There is a feast in honor of the pharaoh's engagement to Anu. I have to sing at it." She stood up, picking up the tray with the water on it. Anix turned around to look at her. "Now, I have to take this water to the Princess in the garden outside. Please be careful." She gave him a quick hug. Then she walked away. Anix watched her go, then went to go hide.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Nefretiri and Anck-su-namun weren't training as they said they were going to Instead, they were discussing the evil sorcerer.

"I wonder what he's planning. We know he's here for a reason." said Nefretiri.

"Of course. It obviously has something to do with the pharaoh. He is corrupting him," Anck-su-namun said as she polished one of the thin knives she and the princess used when fighting.

"Do you really think that he is poisoning my father?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. You know, ever since he has been in Wumanu's care, he has only gotten worse." Anck-su-namun held up the knife to the light to see it shimmer slightly.

"We have to expose that traitor before anymore innocent people die. That evil man isn't only poisoning my father physically, he's poisoning him mentally as well!"

Just then, Rela entered the room carrying the tray of water. She looked scared and confused.

"What is it Rela?" asked Nefretiri and Anck-su-namun after they took the tray.

"The pharaoh has sent the sorcerer to kill another of Anix's close friends."

"What?" said Nefretiri.

"When?" asked Anck-su-namun at the same time. Then they both said, "How did you hear this?"

"As I was passing by the Pharaoh's rooms, I heard Wumanu place his accusations. It's gets worse though. After he kills Anix's friend, he is going to come to question Anix. If Anix refuses to answer, he will take him to see the pharaoh. If he resists, the sorcerer is authorized kill him in an instant."

"We must warn him," said the Princess standing up.

"I already have. I saw him on the way here. He's going to hide until the feast tonight. I told him I'd think of something by then. Well, I must go. If the sorcerer finds out I have suspicions, he'll have me killed." picking up the empty tray, she left.

Meanwhile, Osun was returning home with a treasure he had found. It was an ancient bracelet. He was also bringing something else: A way to prove that the sorcerer was evil.

In the part of Egypt where he had been, there were many tales of a man who had been banished almost 60 years ago He was a sorcerer who had used the dark arts to create suspicions in the palace. H had then killed the queen's sister, letting the blame fall on a cook. The cook was executed and his daughter, who was one of the queen's handmaidens, was banished. Then he was found out to be the culprit and was banished. Osun had found this handmaiden and was bringing her back. She knew the truth and she would be the sorcerer's undoing.

The feast was a very colorful affair. There was a lot of food, drinking, dancing, and laughing. Rela sang wonderfully and through her words, everyone was taken into a world were there weren't any evil sorcerer or corrupted pharaohs. Anix managed to avoid the pharaoh and his sorcerer all through the festivities before dinner and dinner itself. He had seen Rela signal to him that she had a plan.

Then after dinner, when he was walking over to talk to Rela to see what the plan was when he was stopped by the greasy-haired, shifty-eyed sorcerer.

"The pharaoh wishes to see you," he said.

Anix took a deep breath and followed the sorcerer to where the pharaoh was. This was in another room. Rela, who was standing just a little ways off, heard what Wumanu had said and shot a look at Nefretiri. Osun, Imhotep, and Anck-su-namun also saw that look and followed Rela out of the room. An older lady, dressed as a server, followed them.

Anix was led into a small conference room. There sat the pharaoh.

"Ah, my boy, I haven't had a chance to talk to you lately. Are you doing well?"

"Yes you majesty."

"Good, good. Now I shall explain why I needed to see you. It has been brought to my attention that you may know secrets about people in my palace. Is this true?" Anix was silent. The sorcerer smirked.

""My lord! I told you he knew something. Shall I kill him now?" asked Wumanu raising his hand to shoot magic at the boy.

"You majesty!" yelled Nefretiri from the doorway. "If I may say so, this sorcerer is not to be trusted." Nefretiri, Osun, Anck-su-namun and Imhotep came to stand before the pharaoh.

"Daughter, what is the meaning of this?" asked the pharaoh, slightly angered by this intrusion.

Before Nefretiri could answer, Wumanu yelled, "My lord! They all are traitors I will kill them, kill them all, to preserve your reign!"

"You will not!" yelled Rela, who had just come in with the server lady. "Pharaoh I am sorry to intrude, but I must tell you. The sorcerer seeks to dethrone you. He is making you unpopular with the people in the kingdom. He is the only one who is purposely and forcefully disloyal to you."

"Who are you going to believe me, or this child. Who by the way is lying I-"

"Give it up sorcerer. I have here someone who knows you; someone who knew you when you were banished almost sixty years ago." Rela moved out of the way so everyone could see the old lady who was with her.

"Wumanu, I knew you would try to come back. I followed you. Now you will cause no more trouble for the royal family. Pharaoh if you would look in the records, you will see that Wumanu was banished before."

"Sin-yae! You will not defeat me. When I was banished I swore I would return. Now I have. Your highness, they are traitors all of them! And if you don't kill them, you will be sorry!"

"I will not. You will not trick me again!"

"Fine then. I shall place a curse on everyone in this room. You will all have sorrow, suspicion and loss follow you. Within a year, Pharaoh, you and three others shall die."

"Medjai, throw him out of my palace!" said the pharaoh. Then he turned to the others in the room. "I am so sorry that I have been acting strangely. I will try to apologize to the people as well. I must go lie down."

"Wait! Your majesty!" said Osun. "I have something for you." He took out the bracelet.

"The Bracelet of Anubis!" Imhotep gasped.

"Yes it is. We will have to protect this. It could bring about the next apocalypse! Guard it until I decide what to do with it." Then the Pharaoh left.

"Do you think his curse will come true?" asked Rela.

"I hope not but I wouldn't be surprised."

That night, Sin-yae died in her sleep. It seemed that the curse had begun.

TBC…

A/N: There's just one more chapter and it's pretty long. I probably won't upload it til Saturday. Then I'm gonna start working on my next fic. Please review!