Speak Softly
Hiding Place

1935: Ardeth Bay is resurrected from the dead. He awakens to a world vastly different, to familiar faces changing and to the knowledge that he is Egypt's final hope for freedom.

He also finds out just how far love and despair can take him.

~~~~~~~

Evy brushed her hair away from her face, standing somewhat apart from Ardeth as he watched the rains fall outside. She could tell he was reluctant to begin this journey. She could tell a lot of things about him. He was the same Ardeth Bay he had been before 1929, but there was also something different about him. It was as if he still didn't believe this was reality.

She could hardly blame him for that. There were times herself when she just stopped and seriously questioned her sanity. This was like something out of a nightmare. Who could have ever predicted Imhotep would rise again from the grave with such a vengeance? Who would have thought he would prove so unstoppable? Now the world knew demons weren't just stories or fallen angels trapped below. They could rise and change life before anyone could blink.

Imhotep had certainly changed her life, that was certain. After Ancksunamun had fallen at the hands of the Scorpion King the priest's eyes had turned to her because of the simple fact that in a past life not so long ago she had been Nefertiri. He gifted her the memories and from that she learned he had lusted for her even then, before the concubine had come into their lives. But back then she had been Pharaoh's daughter and up until Ancksunamun he felt he didn't have any reason to risk his high position.

Now there was no pharaoh to protect her from Imhotep. He was the pharaoh and he had lost his lover. He blamed her for all these troubles because she had screamed out while watching him murder her father. Now he wanted her to pay for it. Evy shivered and leaned against the wall, conscious that Ardeth's eyes were on her now, watching.

He looked at her often and she wondered idly what was going through his mind when he did so. Did he hate her? Sometimes she caught him looking off with emptiness in his eyes as if he was searching for meaning again. Her heart hurt for him. No one had been able to stop the priest, though. No one.

Late a few nights ago a package had been placed in her room and how it had gotten there without being checked she couldn't even hazard a guess. Imhotep would never let her have anything without personally inspecting it himself. What she had found inside made her gasp. A new responsibility had just been thrust on her and she had instantly become afraid of being unable to do it. The unlocked Book of the Dead was inside the box and a paper reading: The curse has been lifted to those who are pure. Raise Ardeth.

She knew why Ardeth's grave had been warded off—Imhotep liked to talk to her and tell her of his conquests, reasons and ideas. The priest was afraid of the Med-Jai because his lover had seen him killed by Ardeth in a dream. And now she had been called to wake Imhotep's fear. Her master would cause her pain unimaginable if he caught her doing such a thing. Yet how on earth could she refuse?

The world needed her to do this, needed Ardeth to return, yet the whole time she snuck from the palace and made her way to the place the Med-Jai had buried their dead before 1933, she had questioned herself. The world needed him, but what if this broke him? What if he couldn't even return to Heaven? What if he couldn't handle this world as it was?

Then there was the south pass—a huge battlefield where the valiant Med-Jai had ceased to be a society. Not only did they die there, but also were mocked there. Imhotep in all his glory had set up their bones with chains in a demeaning and horrifying example to the world of what would happen if he were denied his power.

Ardeth would see that soon. There wasn't any other path to safety and to go around would likely get them caught. No one entered the Field of the Med-Jai. They would be safe there. Safe except for Ardeth's heart—he would see what had befallen his own people. He was now the last Med-Jai. She desperately didn't want him to see it.

He stretched out his hand towards hers and she reached out from under his cloak, taking it. "It's time," he announced in a low tone. Ardeth drew the hood up around her head, then pulled her out into the storm.

"Take your cloak back," she told him, moving to take it off. He wore now only his pants and a gold embroidered robe. She didn't want him to want for anything if she could help it.

The Med-Jai shook his head with a smile, his dark hair beginning to stick to the sides of his face. "You wear it, Evy. There are worse things than rain."

That had not changed. Ardeth would give a friend anything they asked of him, even to his own discomfort. She hadn't realized just how much she missed this man. He was so kind and giving. So undeserving of the death he had been given. Undeserving of having his reward taken away. With a soft sigh she pushed that thought away. It could not be undone. Instead she thought of earlier times, before the darkness of his death.

After a time a chuckle escaped her lips despite the heaviness inside and he turned his head. "What on earth are you laughing at?" he asked, which only increased her grin.

"I was thinking of the last time I saw you," Evy replied with a tart little smile and a shake of her head.

Her companion rolled his eyes and laughed. "I blame O'Connell for my falling into that thorn bush. If he had not panicked about that scorpion, I wouldn't have jumped back." He gave her hand a little squeeze as they descended the hill. "I still have scars in places."

They continued on in silence for a time and then came to the labyrinth. Evy stopped and stared at the entrance, feeling apprehensive. "I don't know, Ardeth. I…I did something that wasn't supposed to be done."

The Med-Jai considered her words and her expression, then nodded softly. "I believe you to have a pure heart even still, Evelyn Carnahan, but if you fear it so, then I will carry you." He smoothed his hair back and sighed heavily. "If I lose balance I will, of course, have to drop you to keep from falling and hurting myself." Those dark eyes glinted mischievously as lightening flashed.

Humor was such a rare thing in these days. His refreshed her and gave her hope. "Oh, honestly," she chided, slapping his shoulder as he bent to gather her. He picked her up and she looked at her toes. "Heavy rain in Egypt is something you'll have to get used to. Treacherous sand sticks to everything."

He smiled and entered the dark, stone maze. "Including bare feet, I see. Is this another one of Imhotep's tricks?"

"Yes," she breathed, thinking back on the priest. This was one of his supposedly more noble projects, though it bred evil as well. "It's taking a lot of time and much of his power, but he's chipping away at Africa's land to draw the ocean closer and create more water in Egypt. So far he's succeeding, but it's going to take a very long time for Egypt to change into what he's seeking."

Ardeth watched the path ahead and exhaled. "It must be affecting the balance on the outside world. I did not know his power could be so great."

Evy wiggled her toes as rain fell on them. "His power affects everything. You saw the sky when you came out of the…the tomb, didn't you?"

"Yes," he answered with a grunt, making a right turn and keeping himself from slamming her feet against the wall. "It was dull, gray and stormy."

"It never changes, so matter where in the world you go or what the weather. He's done something to the sky, something he calls 'Eternal Sorrow'. He says he has forced Ra to abandon the world and without the light of the sun, the people will lose hope and fall to the powers of the underworld." The darkness in her voice made him hold her nearer to him. The idea of an absent sun startled him.

Ardeth pushed the missing beauty from his memory, but felt the effects of this 'Eternal Sorrow' already weighing on his heart without having to see the evidence. How could they hope to put an end to a being so powerful? "Is there nothing that can stop him? Maybe I can, as you say, but the answer to how eludes me."

Evy gasped as he almost slipped, but thankfully before anything disastrous happened he regained his footing and she answered. "As far as I know he is still subject to the weaknesses of the Hom-Dai, including mortality by the Gold Book."

"Let me guess," he said darkly, before he could think to hide his troubled heart from her. "The Book of Amun Ra is destroyed, making the task before us more difficult."

She shook her head and rested against his shoulder. "If that's what we need, it'll be hard, but the Book exists. It can't be destroyed, as my master found out not long after his ascension to 'greatness'." Evy snorted and rolled her eyes. "Neither Book can. Didn't you know that? I had thought you would have at least tried to destroy them to keep Imhotep dead."

Bay shook his head at that. "No, we did not. We held them in reverence of the past. You said if that was what he needed it would be hard?"

The Book was missing. No one but Imhotep knew where it was and the priest liked it that way. He took great pains to keep it secret—even from her. "Yes. He sort of tucked it away for safekeeping. I'm sure you can imagine why."

"Yes," he said, then quieted again.

She studied his face as he thought through everything she had burdened him with, watched him until he looked down at her. "I'm so sorry," she told him sincerely.

Ardeth shook his head at that and they cleared the maze. He set her down on the sand. "I am sorry I was not here to help you before."

They shared a long look, then his eyes dropped and he started to pass the large hill on its west side. Evy drew the cloak around her and followed him, concern growing within her. "Ardeth," she began quietly, almost afraid to mention it. But she had to make sure. He turned his head as they walked. "Ardeth, you know what's ahead of us, don't you?"

His dark eyes left hers and turned towards the path before them. He smoothed his wet hair behind his ears and nodded in a quiet, almost innocent way that made her heart pang. "You seemed very reluctant to take me there. How could I miss what was unsaid?"

Evy took a hold of his robed arm and stopped him. The rain fell down on them steadily and thunder crashed. "Ardeth, it's not a pretty sight. I saw it when the battle was freshly over, but even though time has worn them away, it's not good."

"But it is our path," he told her, then began again. His dark eyes were downcast and the momentary feelings of humor and gladness of old friends meeting again died down, leaving solemn quiet.

She had been down this road before, only once. Riding in the back of a car with Imhotep's hand curled around her wrist like a steel vice. If it were midnight now, they would likely stand before the graves by daybreak. It was not a pleasant sight at any given time, not by any means, but somehow she felt it might be worse in the dim gray of morning. The guilt struck her again as she risked a glance at him. Her friend had a hard road before him. I'll make it up to you, she silently promised, then looked away. She was starting to feel the chill set in.

~~~~~~~

His hands shook every day—had ever since the beginning of this nightmare. Rick O'Connell stood in the small room beneath the surface of the earth and looked once more to the clock on the wall. It was a stupid habit. Even if Evy had managed to get out of the palace of Imhotep, she hadn't had enough time to get here or anywhere near.

He lifted a cigarette to his mouth and took a breath of it. Every minute that passed in this quiet place was like another bullet being loaded into a gun pointed straight at his head. Rick hated waiting anymore. He had so little patience left.

Evy was his best friend, had been for seven long years. Seven years of having a family unlike he had ever experienced in his life. And now she was locked away with that evil bastard, suffering only God knew what. Jonathan's communications were scant, nearly one message every month or two. Imhotep had eyes all over Africa searching for him.

Rick didn't keep it secret who was behind the anonymous attacks that occurred from time to time, liberating and hiding slaves of the evil priest. He wanted Imhotep to know he was alive and well, still as big a thorn in his side as ever. Rick hated Imhotep like no one else. He was the killer of Ardeth, the slave master of Evy and Jonathan, the bringer of destruction upon an entire continent and someday the world if possible. Sometimes he would fantasize about the ways he would make Imhotep pay.

But first he needed Evy and Jonathan safe. Scratching his arm and taking another puff of smoke from his cigarette, Rick walked to a mirror and looked himself over. He was going to have to shave. Nearly a week had gone by, leaving hair on his face.

Rick glanced at the clock again and back at the mirror, taking in his dark brown robes. To survive here one had to blend in and he could do it—from a distance. It was those blue eyes of his that got him into trouble when encountering Imhotep's people directly. The priest had ordered anyone found in Egypt with blue eyes to be brought before him. So far Rick had escaped that fate.

He had joined and now in some part led a small group of men and women who didn't like the thought of living under Imhotep's banner and were willing to do something about it. Some of them were younger than he, most being his age and a few older. In some ways they reminded him of the Med-Jai and he could sometimes pretend that he was back in the past, fighting with Ardeth in some battle against raiders. These people were now working on getting Jonathan out of the palace for the sake that he was Rick's friend.

He would give anything for a word—any sign that something was going right. O'Connell looked down at his shaking hands and to the clock again. "You're going to drive yourself crazy," a voice said with a chuckle. Ahamad the Cynical. He was sarcastic and held a poor outlook for the future. This man easily irritated Rick because sometimes he could feel that outlook rubbing off on him. He didn't want to picture Evy dead. The thought made him grit his teeth.

"Well, if it isn't Ahamad." He turned to the man and cocked his head back. "They send you to make sure I wasn't bouncing off the walls?"

The other man took a seat and propped his feet up on a nearby table. He remained quiet a moment, probably pausing for dramatic effect Rick thought, then smiled. "They aren't stupid, O'Connell. They know you have a lot on your shoulders. We see you worry for your friends."

Rick rubbed his forehead and glanced at the clock again. Ahamad took notice but said nothing. "I suppose I'm wrong for that, too. I should be cold and calculating."

The other man shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair. "They look to you to lead them because you've dealt with this evil before. Because you knew the Med-Jai and are as near to one as we're ever going to get."

"Is there a point you're trying to make," Rick retorted, also sitting and snatching a bottle of liquor from the table. He took a drink. "Or did you come to make me feel bad for caring? I'm not stupid either. I know you think I'm not focused on the bigger goal."

Ahamad didn't change his expression, but merely held his hand out for a drink. Rick gave him the bottle and he capped it. "My opinion doesn't matter, O'Connell, but these people either need you to fight for them too or to get out of here and do your own dirty work." He stood up, taking the bottle with him. "Mayadeh offers herself to you. I suggest you take her up on it. You need to relax."

Yeah, that's what he needed all right. To relax. He hadn't had the luxury in over a year; to sit and be Rick for a while. Maybe Ahamad had a point in that, but he was way off with his accusation that Rick was overlooking them for Evy and Jonathan's sake. If Evy got that Book safely and escaped, and if destiny played any part in this, then Imhotep might well be as good as dead soon. No, Rick had made a sacrifice there. He had put Evy in danger for the sake of waking Ardeth to kill Imhotep.

If she were discovered doing that Rick had no doubts what would happen to her. He looked up at the clock again. The good of the whole didn't escape him. He would pay for their freedom quite possibly with Evy's life.

~~~~~~~

Imhotep sat within the shadow of his throne room, his dark eyes trained upon the window. Morning was near and still there was no word on where his slave had disappeared. His fists clenched in irritation. How dare she hide from his anger after everything she had done? He gave her mercy by allowing her to live here in splendor, very nearly his own queen!

He sent a fist into a nearby goblet, knocking it to the floor with a splash. The red contents hit his feet and stained the bottom of his white robe. "My king is angry," came a voice from the right. An Egyptian man stepped forward with a bow. He was well clothed if Imhotep knew anything of this time's fashion. "Can one slave really cause you such unrest?"

Imhotep glared and exhaled. "Do not question me, Nashean. I am Pharaoh and you are but a servant. You know nothing of my thoughts."

Egypt's 'Advisor of Foreign Relations' smiled slyly and nodded his head. "Yes. I am your servant, Lord Imhotep. I am merely concerned for your kingdom, Majesty. We are getting closer." Nashean produced an envelope. "President Roosevelt wishes to speak with you, if you will let him. His letter asks you to be rational. The Americans are afraid because they are close to falling. General Hitler expressed as much to me in his correspondence."

"Rational," Imhotep repeated with dark amusement. He crossed his arms. "You will tell the leader of this nation America that if he wishes to meet with me, I will allow it. I will even cross the border to my palace in London."

The advisor widened his eyes. "My Pharaoh, you cannot do that. You are Imhotep and Egypt. Slaves should come to you and bow to your p…"

Imhotep held up his hand, already weary of this man's talk. If Nashean thought him a fool that could not see through his flattering words, he would someday pay for it. It was plain that the world was vastly different. A smart man would work with that instead of against it. "Hold your tongue before I order it cut out." Images of an ancient act done upon him came with that statement and the priest frowned in irritation. "I will be rational, as this president asks. A man that does not change with the times ultimately dies with his age. I will hear him out."

Nashean's face was dark. He did not want Imhotep reaching out to other countries or allowing any room for mercy. One day he would have to die—one day soon if Imhotep grew tired enough. The priest glared at him a moment in contempt. "No sooner than two weeks to prepare. Today I leave the palace to search for Nefertiri."

If Nashean had been annoyed before, his mood became fouler at that suggestion. He did not like Nefertiri. She feared her king as well she should, but sometimes in her boldness she offered him advice that he deemed worthy of his consideration. This sniveling weasel didn't like that because it took away from what little imagined control he thought he had. Still, the advisor remained passive and over-pleasing. "Let your servants handle that, my Pharaoh," he pampered.

The priest pushed himself up from his throne and ignored Nashean, calling for his guard. "Come, my servants. We seek for Nefertiri. She will not escape my wrath easily." He offered the advisor a meaningful glance, then swept through the throne room, his stained white robes flowing behind him. He would like his slave's counsel before meeting this leader of one of the last lands he was trying to conquer.

But also she had defied him and that was something he could not allow.

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad and Nashean belong to me. Author: Angela – jedinineofnine@hotmail.com

A/N:

To Reviewers: Hmm, just to be clear on intentions, Evy knows it's important to get Ardeth to safety until they figure this out because right now his being able to stop Imhotep is one of the most important things in the world, but she hasn't like forgotten Jonathan. Nor has Ardeth forgotten he and Rick, but in his disorientation I thought it best to have him concentrate on direction from Evy for a time. :-) Anyway, just thought I'd say that. :-O Hehehe.

Patty and JonnyCarnahan – Thank you both for your reviews!!! Jonny'll get out of the palace eventually…I've got a plan for he and Rickybug. :-)

Marcher – Lol…why, "Beating Up Ardeth" is my middle name. ;-) I'm glad you like the way I handle him…and yes, I do always try to give out the TLC. ;-) There would be nothing in the world like petting him. *lesigh* Which way to the matrix??? Thanks!

Hadassaknamu – Actually, this isn't a sequel to 'Passion'. Evy and Immy's baby doesn't exist in this timeline…and I didn't wanna make him evil. I really didn't. In fact, the story was at first going to be him coming back to find the world in a shambles, but alas. Ardeth tempted me with his prettiness. ;-) Thanks!

Deana – Hehehe…well you know me. Love overwhelming him with impossible odds. ;-) *evil chuckle* Thanks!

Marxbros - Thanks! I'm glad you like the idea and was inspired by 'WWOW'. :-) Actually, you inspired me to write this…I was a little leery about posting it at first though, cause I wasn't sure if you'd think I was being a twit or some such, but after reading 'Hereafter' I was like…aaaw. I wanna make Immy evil! (Which, btw is an AWESOME story and anyone who likes this would LOVE Hereafter, so go reaaaaad it!!!) But anyway, I figured out story lines would be different enough where it wasn't like I was being a twit. ;-) Hehehe.

Mommints – Thankya…I'm glad you liked the descriptions. :-) I tried to capture weirdness as well as I could…lol. Anyway, I'd tell Ardeth anything he wanted to hear as long as I got to hold him. :-O Maybe someday I'll go back and do the past, as I said..but I wanted to begin with the shock of, "Holy cows…he was dead?" Lol. ;-)

Thanks anyone else who is reading and enjoying. :-) Hope you'll drop me a note sometime in the future and let me know what you think.

-Angela