I just had to say that you guys all rock. Thanks! :)

Chapter 18

Curses, Foiled Again!

Khalil had to sprint to catch the princess, who'd flown out of the tent after what seemed like mere moments inside. He held fast to her arm as she struggled to run away, and as he looked at her he realized her eyes were glistening with tears.

"What happened, princess?"

"Something horrible is about to happen," she said. "Something horrible."

"What did she tell you?"

"Some things I should have already known, and some things I wish I didn't."

"I see you have picked up Achsu-rai's talent for cryptic comments."

"I think I'm going to die," she whispered. "I think we're all going to die."

She slipped out of his grasp and dashed from the camp, running all the way across the expanse of sand to the hidden door, down the passageway and back to her room, never stopping once.

Achsu-rai was less than pleased when the first person he encountered upon entering the palace was Imhotep. He needed to see a friendly face, not get into yet another confrontation with that blasted man.

"Achsu-rai, I've just heard the sad news," said Imhotep. "I'd like to offer my condolences. Nomanre was a wonderful leader, we will all miss him dearly."

"I wasn't aware that you were close, Imhotep," the Medjai snapped. "In fact, I believe he told me on several occasions to watch my back around you."

The priest's eyes narrowed, but he kept his cool. "The past is the past, Achsu-rai. Let us bury it."

"Death is only the beginning, Imhotep. Nothing stays buried."

Imhotep let out a breath through his teeth. "I wanted to speak with you again about the Protector of the Bracelet."

"I thought that was already settled."

"I still don't think the princess is responsible enough to handle it. I was going to suggest to Seti that Anck-su-namun guard the Bracelet, instead. She is older and more--"

"She is only older by a few years, and besides, she has the duty of protecting her new husband to worry about. It will help to have an extra pair of eyes."

At this Imhotep only seemed to grow more irritated. "I really think that--"

"You know what?" Achsu-rai snapped. "I don't care what you think. It's decided, it's over, drop the subject."

Imhotep did not even bother with the formality of a goodbye. He simply turned on his heel and stalked away. Achsu-rai rolled his eyes. He did not have time to deal with such childishness. That priest was more trouble than he was worth.

Before he knew it, his feet had taken him to Nefertiri's quarters. Tahir was nowhere to be seen, and her door was locked, though he could hear noise inside. With a few deft movements he had the door unlocked, pushing it open hesitantly to reveal his princess collapsed at the foot of her bed, weeping. He rushed to her, though she pulled away as if his touch burned her. "No," she whispered. "No, no, no..."

"Darling Nefertiri, what is wrong?"

She said nothing, but the tears continued to creep down her face. She allowed him to take her into his arms, sobbing silently as he held her. Finally, she spoke...

"I don't want you to die."

"What?"

"It's not fair, they can't do this to us..."

"Nefertiri, what are you talking about?"

Her eyes were mournful, still filled with tears. "She told me...she told me something bad is going to happen. People are going to die."

"What? Who told you?"

"Your oracle. She said that--"

"You saw the oracle? What the hell were you thinking?"

Nefertiri shrunk away from him. "I'm sorry, I just--"

"Nefertiri, it does no good to know the future!"

"But we must prevent it! I don't want to lose you, I don't want you to die!"

"She told you I was going to die?"

"No, no, not exactly. She told me you wouldn't be able to save us."

Achsu-rai sighed, and began to wipe the tears from her face. "Nefertiri, those are just words. Nothing is going to happen, I promise."

She continued to cry, and he simply held her, knowing his own words would do no good either. How had everything changed so fast? One moment they'd been happy just to be together, consequences be damned, and in the very next, the world had begun to crumble around them...

"Oh, Achsu-rai...your father...I'm so sorry about your father."

"Thank you. He wanted to meet you."

"You told him?"

"No, he just...knew. Fathers have an annoying way of doing that, I guess."

"Were you...were you with him?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"He tried to tell me my destiny," he said quietly.

"What?"

"Everyone tries to tell me what I'm supposed to do. Who I'm supposed to be. I'm going to make my own destiny, I won't listen to them! I don't have to listen to them!"

After this he fell silent, and Nefertiri did the same, not knowing what to say to such a sudden outburst. Did he include her in that group? Was she trying to make him something he didn't want to be? How would he react when she told him about the child? Another consequence he hadn't asked for...but neither had she! Nefertiri felt anger rise up in her at the thought that he wouldn't want the child. What if he didn't want her?...

"I'm sorry, Nefertiri," he said, his weak voice melting her thoughts of building resentment. "I just..."

"Hush, it's all right," she comforted. "It's going to be all right."

Achsu-rai didn't fight the tears that were beginning to slip out of his own eyes. Nefertiri automatically reached a hand forward to brush them away, but they came too fast. She settled instead for kissing him gently, and he responded with a fervor that surprised her. He lifted her gently up off the floor and lowered her down back onto the bed, hands already skillfully working free the constraints of her nightgown. Her body seemed perfectly willing to surrender to his persistent attentions, but her mind was screaming that she should tell him...she had to tell him...

"Achsu-rai," she whispered. "I...I need to tell you something else. Something the oracle told me."

"Later," he said, and captured her mouth again, seeking the solace that only she could give. Nefertiri didn't resist this time, herself needing the simple truth of his touch to tell her everything was all right...she pushed away the thoughts of that afternoon, concentrating on his caresses, his words, his kisses....it would be all right. It had to be.

Imhotep, however, knew that that wasn't the case. As he turned from the balcony and the sight of Nefertiri and her lover across the way, he felt with a horrible conviction that the end was coming...and he feared not only for himself and his love, but for his young friend...

They were all going to burn. How badly, however, had yet to be seen...

~*~*~*~

Oh no! Imhotep knows! I was sensing a little Anakin Skywalker-ish anger when I wrote Achsu-rai's little outburst. Heh heh. Totally different, don't worry, Achsu-rai isn't gonna turn into Darth Vader or anything ;)

But if you don't review, Darth Vader will come down from the planet Vulcan and melt your brains. Bonus points for telling me what movie that's from :)