Speak Softly
Classic Escape #32

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.

~~~~~~~

Evelyn sat alone in Imhotep's rooms because she had been told to stay put while he left to think. She frowned at the large golden door. They had just finished having a minor tiff and she was feeling quite peevish at the moment. Well, if he wanted to make a fool out of himself in front of the Americans, what business of it was hers? What really bugged her though, was the pretense Imhotep made of actually wanting her advice. She went through all the trouble of explaining her thoughts about certain situations and what did he do? He questioned every little thing and then had the audacity to say he understood, but he was going to 'pursue other means' and then, then when she got frustrated he would give her that positively stupid grin and finally agree with her.

Well today she had spoken to him about his habits—quite firmly, and he left so she could cool off. Now she sat on his large bed painting her toenails. She honestly didn't care if she spilled it on his linens either. Let him get mad.

Evy stuck her foot out to admire her drying red toenails. Imhotep liked red. She scowled and looked around for a bottle of pink.

She sighed and settled down to begin the other foot and just as she did the bedroom door opened quickly, startling her. She dropped the little bottle and polish spilled onto her foot and all over the floor when it burst. It looked like blood. Evy looked up to see Imhotep enter and close the door behind him. She stood up with a miffed expression and waved a finger at him. "I'm not over it, if that's what you think!"

The priest came close and took her hands in his. "You do not have to be over it, Princess. I am not here to regain your good graces." He turned his head from side to side as if he were listening and looked back. "We are under attack, Nefertiri. I am here to insure your safety."

Her brow narrowed at that as she wondered who would be attacking. True, every few months an attack would come, but he seemed a little on edge to her. There were several factions against him that could have grown enough to launch an assault on the palace and she happened to be termed one of his weaknesses. As such she was in danger.

Imhotep must have picked up on her slight nervousness. It was silly because she was totally safe with him—at least safe from others, but she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. He touched her hair and brushed his hand against her forehead. "Worry not. I will let no harm come to you."

She looked at him oddly, but that faded as he began chanting softly with a stern expression. Quite suddenly her body felt heavy and her mind drifted off. She was starting to feel too tired to stand. The king picked her up, making her want to struggle, but by the time she hit the bed she was out.

~~~~~~~

"Well, crap," Rick muttered, slipping past another guard. He had taken to ducking into open rooms and dark halls when he heard footsteps. Sneaking around with absolutely no idea where Evy could be was less than productive. This place was just too big in his opinion.

The halls seemed to go on forever and while richly decorated, were lifeless and silent. He grumbled to himself and tiptoed towards an intersection. Peeking around the corner revealed another hall that looked just the same as any other. He grunted and took it, worried he would never find Ardeth again even if he did manage to find Evy.

But he soon found out he was actually onto something this time. He could hear the hideous voices of two jackals conversing—if that's what you could call it. That was at least somewhat different. Most of the guards were human. Perhaps the jackals guarded Evy. He came to another hallway and peered around. They stood guard on either side of a very big door. The biggest he'd seen and gold instead of silver. "Bingo," he murmured, then puzzled through how he was going to go about actually getting into those rooms without drawing much attention.

Rick looked around and spotted a table standing unassumingly against the wall between two rooms. Shrugging he went for it and broke a leg off. It was better than his small bullets that didn't have a hope of taking the head off one of those things. Giving his makeshift bat a test swing, he nodded in satisfaction and strolled calmly into the hallway. "Hey!" he called, startling the creatures. He motioned them forward and ran away.

He could hear their feet scraping against the floor in pursuit and when he reached a place he deemed far enough away to avoid drawing too much attention, he stopped and turned around. One of the jackals howled when his bat swung towards its head. Rick didn't even watch it hiss out of existence before attacking the other one.

But this one had learned and ducked right away, then slashed at the ex-Legionnaire with its scimitar. Rick dodged and swung out again, this time hitting his target. The jackal's face was chagrined as it turned into dust. Rick shrugged and tossed the table leg down, then pulled out his gun.

He hadn't left the ornate door too far behind. When he returned the hall was empty as he expected it, but he still felt nervous. He could only hope she wasn't being guarded from the inside. Rick swallowed his fear and grabbed the handle. The door was unlocked. He opened it and entered the apartment, calling her name.

Rushing into the bedroom, O'Connell skidded to a halt with wide eyes, seeing exactly what he hadn't expected to see. He hadn't gotten the chance to ask Ardeth exactly what had happened to Imhotep, but obviously it hadn't put too much of a damper on the priest's movement. He was sitting calmly in a chair facing the door, his hands folded together and eyes glistening darkly.

Suddenly those hands dropped to the arms of his chair and he braced to stand up. "Oooh boy," Rick muttered, backing towards the door with an ironic smile. A figure on the bed caught his attention and he stopped. Evy lay there, unconscious with a bloody foot. "Oh yeah, abusing her a little 'cause we escaped?" he hissed, holding his gun up as if it would do anything to the priest.

About thirty seconds later Rick found himself back in the main room, having been hit with a blast of pure will or energy or whatever the mummy was packing. Shots rang out towards Imhotep as he fired, half out of it from the hit to his head. Imhotep stormed into the room and slammed his fist across Rick's cheek. He fell to the floor and received a courtesy kick.

He didn't like where his mind was going, but he wouldn't do her any good dead. Rick gathered his strength and will to leave, shoved Imhotep back, then bolted down into hallway. Surprisingly, the priest didn't give chase.

Gasping for breath someway down the hall, Rick turned and shivered when the large door closed. A loud click echoed back to him. Imhotep didn't want them to take her. That's what he was watching over her for. He stood for long moments, at a loss as to what to do. He had just run from her and run from death. With Imhotep in there they were never going to get her out.

Years ago he would have died in that room, trying to get her out. Years ago there wasn't a bigger picture to look at, either, at least none he felt worth his life. Rick paced a little in the hall, cursing Ahamad for all those talks about the greater good. It was inconvenient and kept him from her.

There was no help for it. Age brought wisdom and in that Rick realized he wasn't going to best Imhotep tonight. There were reasons for him to live, Evy included. He turned away from the large door and began for Ardeth. Live today, fight tomorrow. He hated that stupid phrase. He hated it for being true.

~~~~~~~

Ardeth brushed his dark hair back as they crept up the stairs, ever wary of guards and jackals. They were nearing the palace's second floor and unfortunately as they came in view of the top, danger. Two jackals stood in wait for them and upon sight, attacked before anyone could prepare.

One of the growling jackals went straight for Ardeth, rushing him with a sword drawn. He dodged and went for the creature's wrist, but it was too strong and swung its powerful arm, knocking him to the ground. He groaned as pain throbbed through his side, but he didn't have time to let it bother him too much. Ardeth rolled out of the way of a falling sword and decided quickly to try the wrist again.

This time his counter-attack succeeded and he stood up to cut the creature's head off, but it wasn't necessary. He heard his former friend chanting some dark spell and suddenly the jackals hissed out of existence. Ardeth turned back towards the stairs leading up, watching as Jonathan crept towards the top.

Quite suddenly Jonathan yelped and started down the stairs again, gasping, "Big dog," as he ran past Ardeth. A very large dog did indeed follow, growling and barking as it darted towards Jonathan. The Englishman cried out when teeth sank into his extended arm and Ardeth took a step towards the disturbed animal.

Necromancer got there first, stretching out his thin, pale hand. The dog took notice of this other being and stopped dead. After a few tentative sniffs it bolted back upstairs. "Ow," Jonathan whimpered, flexing his fingers open and closed. "Bloody hell."

Ardeth peered at his torn sleeve and looked up with glinting eyes, causing the Englishman to scowl. He clapped his friend on the shoulder and turned back towards the stairs, murmuring, "We should continue." Jonathan nodded and headed up with him, Necromancer trailing behind.

The trio rounded a railing at the top of the stairs and headed on up towards the third floor. His side and arm ached from such violent use before healing could get a good start and Ardeth absently sent his hand down to the rip in his shirt. He felt blood slowly wetting the black fabric and knew he would have to see about it as soon as possible.

The third floor seemed a bit grander than the bottom and second floors. It was richer and more complex in its design, covered in lighter colors. Evy was somewhere up here. Immediately there were no guards, but Ardeth held no hope that this would be easy. He would count them lucky if O'Connell hadn't gotten himself killed.

They followed Evy's brother to a door not far down the hall and he knocked. There was no reply. He knocked again, then shrugged a moment later. "Imhotep's room," he replied bleakly, taking another drink from his bottle. "Let's pray he's not there."

"He is not," Ardeth answered that with a concealed frown. What state would they find her in if she were in the priest's bedroom? He didn't like to think of it.

Jonathan stopped them when they hit another four way stop. "The guards will mostly be running rounds about this floor, though near Imhotep's rooms we'll start seeing more stationary ones. I suggest we avoid fighting if we can."

Ardeth nodded and peered around the corner, watching a middle-aged human walk steadily away. "We'll stick to the shadows," he whispered, stepping back. "Are there many jackals up here?"

Jonathan waved his hand, but nodded. "More towards the royal apartments, though. For now we'll see mainly humans." He too peeked around the corner and took note of the walking guard. He pointed to the continuation across from the hall they were presently traveling. "We can go that way."

Steeling himself, Ardeth looked to Necromancer and said, "Will you make it?" He'd noticed the creature's uneasy pace.

Necromancer snarled and moved away. Hatred burned within those unliving eyes but changed or not, Ardeth could still see Sajul in his features. It made his stomach muscles clench. "Don't waste your cares upon me, Chosen! I warn you, Ardeth Bay, do not mistake me for something I am not." And with that he began into the hall, making Jonathan give a strangled gasp.

Ardeth knit his brows a little angrily, but didn't let his emotions get the best of him. Turning around the corner he looked at the guard and breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't noticed them. He motioned Jonathan on and they followed as Necromancer stalked on.

They managed to navigate the precarious hallways without incident, though Jonathan could swear a passing jackal had smelled them as they ducked beside a bookcase, citing Necromancer's odor. But if the creature had, it hadn't chosen to act against them. All seemed to be going well this night.

Until they heard footsteps rapidly hitting the floor, heading in their direction. Ardeth and Jonathan exchanged glances, then both men drew their guns and prepared for whatever it was that would meet them. Their enemy rounded the corner and stopped, raising his arms and breathing, "Whoa!" Seeing who it was, Ardeth put his guns away and Rick rubbed his chest, muttering, "Don't do that."

Ardeth nodded his head and looked beyond. "Have you had any luck in finding Evelyn?"

Rubbing the back of his neck and gazing back behind him, Rick sighed. There was an uncertainty there that made Ardeth uncomfortable. "Yeah, but Imhotep's guarding her."

The Med-Jai narrowed his brow and looked in the direction O'Connell had. So Imhotep had dragged himself from the depths of his own dungeon and now watched over his slave. He was going to have to do something about that soon. "Where are they?"

Rick shook his head and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Bay didn't think he was going to like hearing whatever his friend said. "Ardeth, this is Imhotep. I don't know how you got away from him or what you did, but he's obviously still in pristine health. I don't think storming in there is going to work."

With concern written in his blue eyes, Jonathan looked between the men. "Maybe if we sneak in there…"

"No!" The voice came from Necromancer, who hissed in dissatisfaction. "We will leave the slave behind. He means her no harm."

Rick grunted at that and made a face at the intrusive being that seemed slightly too fond of giving orders. "Doesn't mean her harm, huh? That's why she's in there with blood on her?"

"B-blood?" Jonathan stammered, alarmed by this. He looked down the hall in confusion. "Imhotep's no prize, but he's not usually that violent with Evy. Are you sure?" Rick nodded gravely.

Ardeth rubbed his finger along the trigger of his gun. They didn't get this far to leave her behind. They couldn't leave her to that beast—that thing that had killed his people and enslaved the world. He was weary of the intensity of this night, but unwilling to leave a friend behind. "I can fight him. I can…" He stopped, seeing Necromancer's mildly curious gaze. Just what was going through that ruined mind of his?

The undead Med-Jai raised his chin condescendingly. "Blood or not, he means her no harm and has not for as long as I could sense him. She will endure until a later time. We must leave now if you are to acquire the Staff of Osiris! Will you see the guards come down on us? There is still time for escape, though it is a very small opening."

Bay again looked down the hall, then back into Rick's eyes. His friend inhaled and shook his head. "Trust me, I hate this. But the world needs you. I don't wanna leave her here, but we won't do her any good dead or in Imhotep's torture chamber."

"You will return for her," Necromancer rasped temptingly, his voice oddly more gentle that usual. Not that that said much. "Now is not her time to enter the world again, but there will come a day when you will save her. We must go now."

Ardeth ran a hand through his dark hair, struggling with what he knew was right and his desire to save Evelyn as he had all but promised. Actually, he had promised her within his own mind. Ardeth looked up at Rick, seeing his friend's oddly intense gaze. He could see a conversation taking place sometime in the future if his own confused feelings kept surfacing before the ex-Legionnaire.

"Where do we go now?" he asked, looking to Necromancer, since he seemed to have all the answers. Ardeth suddenly wanted to wipe that all-knowing expression off his former friend's face.

It was Jonathan that replied, though. He pointed down the hall they had come from and said, "We've got to head to the kitchens. Rick's friend Mayadeh is there, disguised as a serving girl. She's got further information about where we should go."

That was an answer everyone seemed satisfied with. Clapping Ardeth on the shoulder, Rick nodded and followed Evy's brother, breathing, "Okay. Let's get you out of here."

They made it back to the staircase, but not without being spotted. Two young guards broke into a run towards them and the four men began down the stairs as fast as their legs could carry them. They hit the second floor, the guards hot on their trail, and as Ardeth rounded the railing Rick bumped him. Ardeth tried to grip the railing for balance, but Rick had grabbed his sleeve in his own stumble and together they slipped down, both men landing uncomfortably down a few stairs. O'Connell swore and helped his friend back up, muttering, "We are definitely getting too old for this."

With a smile Ardeth was about to make a smart reply, but stopped himself, remembering what had happened the last time he answered that statement. The necromancer spared him a glance and Bay held his tongue as they continued their escape. As soon as they hit ground level, Rick turned and pointed his guns. Jonathan followed suit and Ardeth held up the sword he had taken from the jackal.

One of guards went down with a bullet to the knee, tumbling towards the four men below. The other took the confusion as an opportunity to leap down before his friend hit the floor. Landing right in front of Rick, he sent a fist into the ex-Legionnaire's stomach and Ardeth thrust his sword. The guard deflected and backed up towards Necromancer and the undead Med-Jai scratched him with long nails. He cried out and Jonathan shot him.

"We've got to get out of here," Rick breathed, looking to Jonathan for direction. Ardeth sheathed his sword and waited.

The Englishman nodded his head towards the hallway and the four took off, ducking the sight of guards and other palace denizens. Being some indeterminable time past midnight, the kitchen wasn't very populated, but neither was it empty. Ardeth was the first one in and a young girl screamed. He gave a friendly smile and tried to motion her quiet, but another figure caught his attention as Jonathan skidded into him, knocking him further into the room.

A very large man with a frying pan started heading in their direction. He glared Ardeth down with an almost evil fury, taking a swing. He rammed his hip into a table in trying to escape and groaned at the pain. The cook—at least Ardeth hoped the blood on this man's shirt was from handling meat—ignored the others and continued on him, growling, "You! You are the dark, misbegotten fool that's been sneaking around here with my daughter? I promise by sunrise you will no longer have the qualifications of being a man!"

Ardeth widened his eyes at that and fumbled for the sword he had attached to his belt. The cook grinned in delight at finally having his chance to expend a little justice, but Bay hadn't been sneaking anywhere for the past week. The pan came close to hitting him this time and he shook his head, dodging yet another hit. "Please! You have the wrong person!" he gasped, moving behind a counter.

That didn't stop the cook from swinging the pan again, and certainly didn't stop him from throwing it at the fleeing Med-Jai and yanking a hatchet up from his meat block. "You lie!" he accused, fingering the hilt of his weapon a little too fondly. "Oooh, you better pray, boy. Pray really hard."

Rick crossed his arms and leaned against the wall with a smart expression, saying, "You've been a bad, bad boy, Ardeth. I told you to change your gigolo ways, but did you listen?"

Jonathan smirked beside him and motioned at the little drama unfolding. "And we thought Imhotep was bad. I say, our friend might wind up dead tonight, Rick."

With a disgruntled sigh, Ardeth dove for the floor as the hatchet sailed by where he had been standing seconds before. He frowned up at his friends and hissed, "Do you two mind?" The cook stormed towards him and Ardeth scrambled to his feet.

The young woman who had screamed and run for another exit in the kitchen wrung her hands and shook her head. "Daddy! This isn't even him!"

"Of course you would say that! I'm gonna kill him!" the cook replied, his gaze focused.

But before Ardeth could be killed, another voice entered the room, that of a woman who said sternly, "Jalil! What in the name of Amun are you doing?"

The cook stopped his mad pursuit for a moment breathlessly and shook his fist. "This urchin has been fooling around with my little girl and he's going to get what's coming to him! That's what!"

The dark haired woman looked the group of companions over and shook her head. "I know them. I'm quite sure you have the wrong man." She smiled to the ex-Legionnaire. "Did your friend do this?"

With a small chuckle, Rick shrugged, but amended at Ardeth's hot glare. "Nah. " He leaned a little closer to the cook conspiringly. "He's got a wife at home and from the looks of it I'd say he likes his women kinda ugly. Your daughter sure isn't that." He winked at the young girl and backed away when the large man rumbled. Ardeth groaned and rolled his eyes.

Jalil crossed his arms and inhaled deeply, looking to the woman. "If you vouch for them, Mayadeh, I will stop."

Mayadeh nodded her head and pointed towards another room. "Go get the broom, you big oaf. Look at this mess!"

Muttering darkly, the cook stalked back and disappeared, disappointed that his fun was over. With a longsuffering sigh Mayadeh looked Ardeth over. "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I hadn't expected you tonight. Jalil's just a little upset about young Asimah here and her secret paramour."

Blushing a bright shade of red, the young girl winced and said to Ardeth in a small voice, "I'm sorry. You just sort of came at the wrong time, you see."

Ardeth waved his hand and inwardly calmed his frayed nerves. This was probably one of the strangest escapes he had ever taken part of. Rick elbowed him playfully and asked, "We ready to go?"

Mayadeh nodded. "Yes. I can take you out the back way. A path has been prepared."

She turned on her heel to leave, but something stopped them all from making it out the door. The main kitchen entrance swung open and a darkly dressed young man with long, black hair and a thin frame came in, saying, "Asimah? You here, my little minx?" His voice oozed with too much charm.

Knitting his brows and after everything feeling the need for a little justice of his own, Ardeth grabbed a pan and headed towards the thin man, ignoring his friends' startled questions. The boy frowned at the Med-Jai and opened his mouth to speak indignantly about being so approached, but Ardeth cut him off. "This is from the cook," he said deeply, knocking the young man in the head and handing him the pan after.

"Ow!" the kid whined, staring at Ardeth in complete shock. He looked to his blushing girlfriend and said, "What's wrong with him?"

Asimah slipped past the group and gathered her boyfriend up, dragging him towards the door, answering, "I'll tell you later. We better leave before Daddy comes back."

Jonathan edged towards the backdoor. "Speaking of leaving…" He left it hanging and waited.

Mayadeh nodded and followed, motioning the others on with a strange look at Necromancer on the way. They stepped out into the cool night air and Ardeth elbowed Rick. "I do not have an ugly wife," he chided. Then a mischievous grin spread across his lips and he decided he couldn't help but say it, though it may get him into trouble. "Evy will be so upset you said that about her."

Blue eyes widened and his jaw set, Rick stopped walking and pointed a finger. "You're a very bad man, you know that? I'm not talking to you."

Bay chuckled at his friend and glanced back at the third floor. Somehow leaving her there felt just like leaving his people strung up in mockery. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean, Mayadeh, and Sajul/Necromancer belong to me.

A/N: Hey! I wrote a LOTR story, aren't you proud? Well, it's a tiny ficlet about Elrond *shivers in delight* and his dark, jaded thoughts. Lol. As if there weren't enough of those running around. ;-D

http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1175969

At any rate, hope you enjoyed this chapter of Softly…I couldn't help that Gigolo reference…I had been listening to it while I wrote that seen. ;-D

To Reviewers:

Cutiegirraffe802 – Hey! Nice to see another new face…thanks for the review and recommending the story! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your story!

Marcher – Hehe…yeah, I figured they'd better have some hope before those thoughts of ending it all come pouring on in. ;-) Thank you muchly for your compliments! I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Immy needed to have his butt kicked a little, ya? ;-D

Mommints – Hehehe..I hope you worked on your story! ;-D Thank you for your compliments as well! And yeah, being accurate is a good, heppy thing. :-) You sounded like you knew horsey things! :-)

Deana – Mmmyeas. Ardeth saving ME. Good idea. ;-) *swoon* How does one swoon??? :-O Thanks!

Marxbros – I totally agree with you on Jonathan. :-) He's a nice look at what prolly more often than not people would behave like or similar to. Lol…it would get tiresome being with all those "heroic" people too. ;-) Thank you for the review…more Jonny and more Evil!Imhotep on the way! :-D