1 "Blood of the Hom-dai"

By May It Be



~~~Authors Notes: WoW! Sankyou all who read that first chapter and Reviewed! I'm shocked, I didn't think anyone would read it let alone want more! ^_^ Well, that first chapter is a bit dramatic so it will be hard to follow it up. I shall try my best and don't be mad if this chapter disappoints you. (I am sorry if it does) Anyway, here you go! Enjoy!~~~

Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns' or any of the characters belonging to them. (Just the bad guys, 'Heneb and Andrahi, and Asheed, the new curator.) So please do not sue me I have jack squat money this is just for sick twisted entertainment purposes only. However, the idea's and plot for this are solely mine. Do not take them please, ask first if you want them and can do better justice to it.

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Chapter Two… "Chance Meeting."

They had sent a letter to Ardeth three days prior to their departure for Egypt.

Expressing their worries for him and his safety as well as a brief description of their dreams and the date they planned on being in Cairo; hoping he would be able to come and meet them. The O'Connell's had waited nervously for a reply and when none came they simply loaded up their luggage, sent Alex a letter at boarding school explaining where they were going, and left. Alex was sure to be angry with them when they returned home, but they would certainly rather have an angered son than a dead friend.

Evelyn stepped carefully down off the train and into the sweltering heat of Egypt, glancing about the platform for Ardeth's familiar face as she clung to her bag in expectation. 'I hope he got the letter.' She thought, beads of perspiration already starting to form on her forehead as she looked back to her husband and brother when she failed to spot her friend.

Rick picked up the last of their luggage and moved up next to his wife, conversing silently with Jonathan. O'Connell wearily met Evy's eyes and tried to offer some comfort with a shaky smile noting her concern and worry. With a sigh, he wrapped his free arm about her shoulders and gave them a good squeeze, and kissed the top of her head.

"Everything's gonna be ok Evy." He muttered into her dark curly hair, kissing her forehead before taking up her hand and started forward. "I certainly hope so." She replied with a nod, whispering a silent prayer in her head as they walked to the parking area, looking for the rented car the new curator of the 'Museum of Antiquities' was supposed to have waiting for them. It was simply amazing what the good graces of one Med-jai could do.

Quickly Jonathan spotted a car with a small sign written in English reading 'O'Connell' upon the windshield and flagged his sister and Brother- in-Law over, loading his bag in the back. "Evy, its over here!" He called, climbing into the back seat. Evelyn nodded and hurriedly drug Rick over by his sleeve from where he was talking to the conductor at the front desk. O'Connell thanked the man in a rush and pocketed the keys he had given him.

Silently Evelyn and Rick loaded up their own bags into the topless open car and climbed in. Rick quickly pulled the sign off the car and took out one of the keys the conductor had given him and jammed it into the ignition. Soon the three were on their way towards the nearest hotel and hopefully some answers.

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~~~( The torches burned brightly in the golden halls of Hamunaptra, bathing the walls and sandy floor in a soft copper glow. The sounds of screaming and pleading soon waft through the halls as Imhotep's priests underwent the sacred process of mummification. 'Heneb fought back a cringe as he entered the preparation chamber, his coal lined eyes roaming silently over the faces of the present Med-jai as they dutifully went about their work ignoring the painful wails of the dying men under their hands.

He kept his gaze high, trying to look over the crying men and soon spotted his cousin in the far corner conversing with a tall tearful woman, the three sacred books of Egypt resting next to his lean form on top of a large golden table.

Quietly he made his way towards his longhaired cousin and placed a hand on his gold dusted shoulder, squeezing gently as he looked down. He knew what the gold dust meant and he didn't like it, Med-jai only painted themselves for certain occasion. Moreover, this occasion is one he wished he would never have to see.

Andrahi clasped 'Heneb's hand silently, but continued to talk to the woman in Egyptian resting his other hand atop the books in almost a protective manner.

"I must undergo the ritual of binding. Once done, and if I live, the final steps can be taken and the blasphemer shall be condemned." Andrahi informed the woman, who nodded and glanced between the two men as 'Heneb tensed. "I hope you do survive, my Med-jai. For your sake as well as ours." She replied softly, her wet gaze moving back to the longhaired gold dusted man. He nodded and looked down, his eyes glazing over the three books next to him and a long golden dagger with the mark of Osiris upon the blade.

"The ritual shall begin in one moon shift. Go. Prepare." She said firmly but with gentleness, and turned ducking her head from the pained screams as she left the room. )~~~

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"He should have been here by now, Rick. The letter explained everything he needed to know." Evelyn quipped, glancing about her nervously as they continued on their fast paced walk towards the 'Museum of Antiquities', pushing their way through the busy Cairo streets rather rudely. "What could be taking him so long?" She fidgeted looking up at her husband as they rounded a corner.

"Perhaps he didn't get it?" Jonathan replied from her other side, his hands in his pockets as he looked around at the miscellaneous merchant tables they passed for something to pique his interest. Rick glared at the man over his wives head, his eyes dark. "Why wouldn't Ardeth have gotten it? The curator promised he'd get it to him." She replied, looking back at her brother as he backed away a little from Rick's glaring.

"Just a thought." Jonathan whispered nervously, slowing down a bit and turned his attention back to the merchant displays.

"He'll be here, Evy." Rick stated firmly, turning his attention from his Brother-in-law back to the road in front of him. "And if he isn't?" Evelyn asked him, her gazing staying upon her brother silently. "Then we'll just have to go find him. After all, how many places in this sauna of a desert could one Med-jai hide?" He joked nearing another corner. "I mean, if push comes to shove, we can always just go dig up another ancient evil. That always got their attention before." That got a small smile out of Evy, the first in days, and for that Rick was grateful.

"Lets just hope it doesn't come to that." She replied, grabbing her brothers arm and pulled him away from one of the gambling tables he'd stopped at. "Evy!" Jonathan whined, stumbling up next to her. "We don't have time, Jonathan." She replied letting him go only once the table was obstructed from view by other pedestrians. "You're no fun old mum." He mumbled, putting his hands back in his pocket as they rounded another corner and—

ran smack dab, full forced into another person.

A small inhalation of pain escaped the man Jonathan had slammed into a grunt followed soon after as the two tumbled to the ground in a flurry of black cloth and flailing limbs, the Englishman practically smothering the other man bellow him as they landed.

"Jonathan!" Evy exclaimed, hurrying to help her clumsy brother to his feet, glancing up as she heard similar exclamations from three others above her. She paused, taking in the dark robes and head garments on the three men as they knelt across from her and her face light up instantly, looking down at the man her brother was still crushing.

Jonathan pushed himself up onto his hands and knee's, mutter curses and apologies alike, happy to find himself at least unharmed. "Jonathan?" Ardeth said in surprise between clenched teeth as he looked up at the man lying atop him and nodded to the Englishman in greeting. "Ardeth Old boy! How are you?" Jonathan replied, a smile braking across his face. Ardeth shook his head, the ghost of a smile glancing across his own. "I have seen better days." The Med-jai leader responded, glancing down his body and the area's Jonathan was still lying upon.

A small blush broke across the light haired man's face as he realized he was still atop his friend and darkened as he felt his left knee pressing into a place on the warrior it shouldn't be. Quickly he scrambled to his feet, sputtering apologies in a constant stream of embarrassed words. At his embarrassment, a small laugh escaped the Med-jai. "No need to apologies, my friend." He replied before turning momentarily towards the other three warriors as they voiced their concerns.

"I am fine." He assured them in Arabic, before quickly turning back to face the others.

"Ardeth!" Evy exclaimed, throwing herself at the man and wrapped him in a fierce hug. Ardeth blinked for a moment surprised at the gesture then wrapped one arm around her in response, the other still propping him up. "Evelyn, O'Connell." He replied, smiling vaguely as she moved back and Rick offered him a hand up. Gratefully, he took the proffered arm and pulled himself to his feet wincing as he stretched his side. Ardeth Bay was further surprised then as Rick, this time, pulled him into a fierce hug, shocking him momentarily beyond words.

In all the years the Med-jai had known the brash American, he had never hugged him!

With a shaky smile, Ardeth stepped back nodding to his men as they stood up next to him. "What brings you back to Egypt my Friends?" He asked, his hand unconsciously straying to his side, wrapping around a small puncture in his robes gently. Evelyn and Rick suddenly stilled, their smiles dropping as they exchanged a worried glance. "You didn't get my letter? We sent it about a week ago, the curator promised he'd get it to you." Evelyn explained, watching as he stiffened slightly at the news.

The Med-jai leader shook his head almost sadly, then turned towards the Museum of Antiquities waiting for the others to follow suit. "I received no letter. My people have lost contact with Asheed, that is why we are here." He informed them as they started again towards the museum. Rick studied his tall Med-jai friend carefully, taking note of the hand around his stomach and the way he tensed when speaking of the curator.

"That's not all, is it?… What aren't you telling us?" Rick asked, coming to a halt as Ardeth next to him stopped, his hand about his waist tightening, his head lowered.

Rick's heart sank.

Uh-oh.

After a long moment of waiting, Ardeth raised his head again and looked O'Connell square in the eye. In that moment, he seemed so much older then he really was, years of battle and the horrors of seeing things no normal person could imagine taking their toll upon him. His eyes were clouded and pained, and yet, still all too innocent; it was almost like looking into the eyes of a youth and not a man.

"My people are being hunted, Rick. Some are being taken, others killed… Nine from my tribe alone have disappeared, countless others from the rest. It worries me greatly, and as of yet I have found no remedy." Ardeth replied, his eyes never once moving from Rick's. O'Connell had stiffened as well when the Med-jai had started to speak, a small invisible tremor shaking through him at the name his friend called him. He had never called him that before.

At his side Evy gasped and Jonathan muttered a slurred reply, both waiting however for their friend to finish. "The ones responsible have yet to contact us. And no word of who they are has been found. They will not stop until they find whatever it is they are seeking, and I sincerely fear for what that is." He finished, his shoulders slumping minutely as if weighed down by some incredible force.

"Oh my God." Evy whispered, clinging to Rick's arm. Jonathan's face light up with confusion as he moved forward. "Wait. If you were going TO the Museum, what were you doing running AWAY form it?" He asked, glancing down the street towards the large Egyptian styled building he was all too familiar with. Ardeth sighed then and started walking again, silencing his men as they talked in their native tongue at his side.

"When we reached the Museum we encountered a group of men dressed in red, one held a bloodied weapon in hand. We attacked, they ran, and we pursued." He informed his companions, walking up to the large museum. Ardeth then paused confused as Rick opened the door and motioned them inside. " You have yet to explain to me what you are doing here."

O'Connell froze at that, glancing at his wife, his friend, and then passed him towards the other three Med-jai nervously. "I think it best to wait until we're alone." He replied, noting the confused look on Ardeth's face, but the Med-jai nodded respecting his privacy and entered the room. Rick exhaled and followed the group in.

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TBC

Ok, yeah, I know that chapter sucked, not much really happened, but the next chapter should be a bit more entertaining. I Hope. Anywho, are you starting to put two-and-two together yet? Hmm? I hope not, that'll spoil it. Again, I'm still not sure where I'm going with this, Heck, I'm still not even sure IF I am going with this. I don't know if I should continue `cause I think this chapter sorta ruined it. Oh well. C'est la vie. Anywho's if you like and/or want more (yeah uh-huh like that's gonna happen) Please Review I will be forever grateful.

Sankyou all who read it!!