Speak Softly
Beneath The Dark

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.

~~~~~~~

The light was gone now and with it came fear of what Necromancer intended to do, and something else. It started slowly and timidly, whatever it was—an echo of emotion crawling towards them now that the uncertainty had begun. Ardeth spun in the blackness that surrounded, trying to catch something of a sensation of what hovered on the edge of his perception.

"Sajul!" he snapped and was answered by a dark sound, his friend laughing nearby. He was not a superstitious man—the world was as God made it—but there was something about this place that gave him uneasy, sad feelings that were not his own. The impending betrayal stung no less even in knowing, but something else was weighing him down. Something sentient. Creatures? No, nothing so harsh sounding as that, he sensed. They weren't driven by the same evil that drove Imhotep and Necromancer. He could feel their stolen brightness seeping into every sensation. They grieved and pawed and begged with a hunger that matched the dead of Imhotep's dungeon, but these were not evil things, twisted by the priest's madness.

They took a wailing voice, slow and indiscernible at first, bitter with despair and his friend paced in the black. "They want you."

"No," he whispered, unwilling to allow this to descend into defeat. This was a trick. He backed into a cool wall and tried to forge some sort of vision out of nothing. "What is this?"

Dust was kicked into his direction, causing him to cough as it clouded his face. "The Priests of Imhotep, Ardeth. Did I not tell you of them but a moment ago?"

He tried to shut it out, but it became louder in his mind. Even as Ardeth fought them, they tempted him, speaking an offer of long-forgotten rest. He felt hands touching him softly, voices whispering some sort of calming caress as they warned him that he was in danger, that Imhotep would kill him and all would fall to darkness. It never felt so real, so burningly hopeless until now. But these were not his emotions. "Sleep with us," he thought he heard someone hiss in the shadows.

"I can't," he replied gently, stepping from the wall and feeling the two altars on either side, naming two directions he could go if Necromancer would allow it. Chancing it, Ardeth slipped towards the left and the air grew panicked. A hand gripped his shoulder and jerked him back.

Necromancer pulled him close into a brotherly embrace he was not strong enough to pull out of, a mockery of the seemingly rock solid friendship they had once shared, holding him tightly as if they had never been parted and changed, breathing so deathly quiet and certain, "This time you will not escape. The dead have a power all their own when brought back to this hell of earth." Sajul exhaled sharply and reached up amidst the Med-Jai's struggles, brushing fingers over Ardeth's eyes. "You feel tired."

With a swallow, Ardeth shook his head and pulled away, blind to whatever may find him. "I will fight." He could feel the priests' cries in his veins at that affirmation. They did want him, desperately so. He would be guarded by his own host of human angels, kept safe and peaceful until death took him. They wanted him, wanted his life, to watch him as he would watch Evelyn and savor her breath. Images of the Field of the Med-Jai were forced into his thoughts with the promise that if he left this place he would end up there.

"No, you will not fight. And now it comes to it," the dark version of Sajul mused. "My intention has always been to kill you, Ardeth. From the very beginning, for the priest. This is what gave you your freedom. Not Evelyn's sacrifice, but my promise. That is why you live, but to die here."

His friend and brother meant to kill him here in the catacombs beneath Imhotep's temple. He did not have to question why Necromancer had turned on him. Ardeth had suspected this would come, if not by a promise made to Imhotep, then by Necromancer's own delight. That soft hissing before him prepared for one purpose—his death.

"Sajul," he said in one last attempt, knowing it would fail. If he could grab the thing's wrists and twist him around, perhaps he could escape in the other direction. Anything to free himself of this place. The Book of Amun Ra had removed Imhotep's power before and while the staff's ability to sever the priest's bindings to this earth would prevent him from returning again, he could live with having to guard his tomb against resurrection instead. The important thing was to survive.

The beings in this place seemed to tense in wait for whatever would take place and he could sense if a contest took place they would want for his success. But that gave him no comfort. They wanted him to live that he could die here. They desired him.

He felt a rush of adrenaline as he readied himself. But the creature did not attack.

To his preparations Necromancer laughed terribly and a chill spread through him. Could anything human convey such a foul, demonic intent? "No, my friend. I cannot kill you. I would if it was possible, but as I have said, it is not. Not in such a state as you are in now. And so I shall do the next best thing. I give you to the spirits here."

More footsteps sounded and the Med-Jai backed away, but Necromancer's focus was now on speaking with the denizens of this place. "His grace is beautiful, is it not? That which is repugnant to my eyes fills you with hope, my children?"

Affirmative, sickening sweetness seemed to fill the atmosphere as cold hands met his flesh, pawing at his clothing, touching him personally. He would have thrown them off had there been something there to grasp. Necromancer chortled at his discomfort and fear. "We want him," the voice that seemed many whispered into the dark. "We want him to sleep here with us."

"And so he shall," the dead betrayer agreed, moving somewhere to his left as if to inspect the gift he gave. "He is life. He is to be despised."

The sadness in this terrible place increased and soft wailing, barely heard above a whisper, sounded in the depths. "No," the voices echoed intently, yet with a hint of envy. Ardeth suddenly felt dizzy and dropped to his knees under the soft urge of needful hands on his shoulders. They wanted him to stay and rest here, and though he kept fighting, knowing the urgency to do so, it felt hopeless. They were forcing fear on him, forcing their will so easily it made him tremble inside. A hand found his chin and raised it up as if someone were looking into his face. "He is life. He is to be enjoyed."

"No," Ardeth breathed, finding it hard to even stay on his knees. Pulling out of the invisible hold, he looked from side to side as if it would offer him the location of his former-friend. "Take your spell off of me!"

"It will wear off," Necromancer rasped softly and the beings waited in impatient curiousity. "Though by then you shall cease to care, so saddened and fearful you will be. I would have seen you dead, but I think this will prove better. These things are no less hungry than I, but you will live under their care. They will keep you here, savoring you and your fear until your last breath. I will have the Staff of Osiris and you will fail." The footsteps retreated and the spirits seemed to swell with a quiet, mournful joy. He felt his hair being touched as if he were some sort of pet.

"Don't do this, Sajul," he said, losing himself to the sleepy haze of Necromancer's spell and almost welcoming the peace they wanted to give in exchange for his failure. He had survived death to fight and yet his strength proved no worth in this. "She needs me. This world needs me."

Sajul snorted in contempt. "This world needs you? How arrogant you sound. You are nothing in the eyes of this world. Look at you, reduced to this. You wish me to help you, Ardeth? Ah, but you have accused me of requiring payment for my help. What can you offer?" He inhaled thoughtfully. "Lust no longer moves me or I may have demanded the use of your Evelyn. I wonder. For the world would you have given me permission to do that? To hurt her?"

"No, I would not have, you filthy creature!" Bay replied harshly, but the weakness washed quickly over his spirit again. He needed to get up, but the hands were too numerous and too heavy.

The necromancer laughed lightly at that and paced a little. "No, I thought not. Even you have your limits of heroism. So you would not let me hurt those you love, even for the sake of saving the world. Hrrr. But you would let me hurt you. I know you all too well. Do you loathe what I am, Ardeth? Do you find me repulsive and beneath you?" Ardeth kept back a biting reply and Necromancer took a step towards him. "Of course you do. I am far beneath you and a break in your pride would be the price I would demand."

Bay exhaled as the sorrow around him increased. They waited for his reply, greedily wanting for him to fail this little test. But he would not. "What would you have me do?" he asked, fearing any number of things this evil being would ask. But whatever would come, no matter how much it hurt, he would do it for her. For his purpose.

"Nothing so terrible as what you imagine," Necromancer rasped suggestively. His voice was now hungry and intrigued. "I only wish for you to lower yourself and beg. Beg me to help you, Ardeth. I am your only hope out of this place. Make it convincing."

It was a small price to pay, but the warrior found it difficult to begin. Yet he could not allow himself to remain a prisoner here. Fearing this failure and sorrowing over this betrayal, Ardeth reached a hand towards Sajul, knowing he would not escape without help. "Please," he whispered, hard-pressed, but desperate. The pawing of him stopped instantly. "Please do not leave me here. I need you to help me. Remove the spell."

Necromancer laughed kicked his hand, sending Ardeth off balance and to the floor. His voice was amused, but intent. This business was done and he had gotten more than he had planned for. "I give him to you."

The warrior gave over to his heaviness with that statement. He could almost say let them keep him, but for the knowledge of what that would mean. Necromancer laughed as he stalked away into the dark. Even now he could feel the spirits trying to comfort him, offering their peace and urging him to give up his foolish mission. "Leave me!" he hissed, but these things would not let him go. They enflamed his own fear to draw his strength from him.

Someone was pushing him down. He felt their hands on his back, easing him to the floor and guiding him to pillow his head on his arms. They soothed him, promising it would not be so bad. "I will not give up," he murmured, closing his dark eyes against the will of these many beings that took delight in the grace pouring off him. He could envision himself getting back up, but his limbs refused to cooperate.

The voices whispered and wept, each focused on him and their hurt permeating the atmosphere. They once had nothing but each other and their sadness, but that was now changed. They now had him and his fear.

"There is hope, Chosen."

~~~~~~~

The fire was burning low and a small draft could be felt from around the earthy corner, shifting little grains of sand from the top of a large rock nearby. They couldn't remain here for long. In fact they should be on the move right now, but the poor girl needed a rest. Rick lounged against the hard surface of the cave wall, smoking a cigarette and watching this mysterious woman sleep. The fire danced on her pretty face pleasantly.

She was a remarkably able fighter for one so delicate seeming. Those guards standing watch over Aundre's cellar were every bit as large as Reyhanen had claimed they would be, but not unstoppable. Who could stand against Rick O'Connell, anyway? He grunted, flicking the ashes from his little vice. The ex-Legionnaire looked down at the prize so precariously sitting on the edge of his thigh. Just a little tip to the right and it would fall. The Star-Key had been easy enough to get, but by the time they hit the first floor disaster had struck from all sides.

Rick rubbed the aching gash on his arm and let his blue eyes hit the fire. They had just barely gotten away, but with a little luck and the grace of god had managed to escape into the night to find rest in the high rock formations off the road. They had entered the maze of caves and due to practicality and wanting to remain alive, had traversed the inside for quite some time, finally coming to another opening quite nearly on the other side. But they were still in pretty heavy danger. The caves within this rocky area were thick and confusing, but that wouldn't save them if Hughes sifted through every one. That search could be taking place right now, even. He was going to have to wake Reyhanen and get her moving.

But she would be hard pressed to walk, rested or not. Rick slid his eyes over the exposed shin, wincing at the bloody rag wrapped around it. Having your skin hacked into was never pretty or fun. It gave him an unwelcome flashback of Ardeth's lifeless form.

He knew they should go. Somehow this felt insane, dragging her around. She had insisted on leaving with him, but he had killed every guard that had seen them together. A knife to the throat and a threat to kill her would have convinced anyone in that house that she had nothing to do with the robbery. She was quite possibly safer there, anyway. What was it Beni had said? Something about standing beside the devil so you weren't in his path?

He was front and center in Imhotep's path. By now he had to have realized his failure in killing Rick and Jonathan. The king wasn't the sort of man to let loose ends wander around Egypt freely, especially after he had come so close to ending the irritation they caused. The danger was now higher than ever and Imhotep's search more ruthless if Rick knew anything about him. Any man in Egypt with blue eyes was a sitting duck.

Holding the cigarette between his lips, Rick reached into the pack Jorin had gifted him with and pulled out the scimitar he had picked up from Ardeth, thinking perhaps this girl could carry it. In the basement she had gotten a hold of one of her 'master's' little wall decorations—an old scimitar of pretty make, and had wielded it with not just a little know-how. It made him wonder where she had come from. Egypt was full of strange bedfellows now. Even the Med-Jai were no secret. With her attitude she may well have come from some rich merchant who had skill with a blade and passed it on to his only child. Perhaps he would ask her later.

Reyhanen stirred of her own accord and he was grateful he hadn't been forced to disturb her. It took her some effort to sit up comfortably and avoid hurting her injured leg. "How long have I slept?" she asked in a thick, sleepy voice. Her tanned fingers brushed through her long, black hair and he smiled.

"Few hours. I didn't want to wake you 'cause I, well to be honest, I thought you might kick me or something." Rick winked and flicked his ashes. "Cigarette?"

Rubbing her arms, the woman shook her head and gazed down at the fire. "I would not have kicked you, O'Connell," she murmured softly, a little grin playing across her lips. The pain of her leg was evident through her expression, however. No, she wouldn't have kicked him. Rick got up on his hands and knees and crawled over to her, inciting a startled little look he found pleasant.

He untied the rags around her shin and examined the large gash, wincing at the blood obscuring the wound's depth. This was bad. He tried to hide that fact when his crystal eyes raced to hers at her little whimper, but her eyes saw the confirmation. "We've got to get you out of here. Did you have any particular place to take this key?"

Reyhanen shook her head and looked down at her leg. "Those I used to work with are gone. My intent was to keep the Key on me until Allah gave me a path. Did you have a plan?"

Rick shook his head, but shrugged after. "Well, I got sent after the Key by a criminal, if you want the truth. If he'd hired me alone, I'd say screw him and I'd take you to a safe place. But he's got my friend Jonathan and I can't leave him behind. Jorin didn't seem all that bad. I don't think he would mind terribly if I brought you with me when I delivered the Key, but the thing is we're gonna need this Key sooner or later. I managed to get past the lock on the Book of the Dead, but that took a hell of a lot of work."

It wasn't an easy situation by any means and maybe the right thing for the world would be to leave Jonathan behind for the sake of what this Key would be used for, but he just couldn't hack it. Reyhanen, in relief to the greater good Rick's conscience was pestering him about, did not add to the already whirling fight against leaving his friend behind. "So, we sneak into town and smuggle your friend out or if all else fails, we give Jorin the Key for a while. Family is the most important thing in this sad world. Do you think we could steal it back when the time is right?"

"I don't know. We were pretty lucky to get it this time."

"It was not luck. It was destiny," she replied. She looked down and pressed on the sensitive flesh above her cut, exhaling in frustration at the pain such an act produced. "I should have been more careful," she breathed as she looked into his worried expression. "There will be plenty of time to discuss this as we walk. We should probably leave now."

"Yeah," he agreed softly, knowing this wasn't going to be an easy trip. They had darkness to cover their movements at least. That was encouraging. Rick grabbed the nearby knapsack and Key, tossing their treasure inside and shouldering it. Reyhanen tried to stand on her own, but the partially restrained groans prompted him to help her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled when she reached full height. "Nothing to it."

The maid shared his expression, but it quickly faded with the first step and a gasp. A hand tightened around his shoulder. "Here, let me," he offered, reaching down to gather her up. He hated seeing her in this terrible pain, but this was going to slow them down considerably. Leaving her was out of the question, though, no matter what the danger.

"No," Reyhanen breathed, taking another step so he couldn't get her. The sudden weight on her injury drew a cry from her as she tumbled back to the sand. "Leave me," she told him in a commanding tone, brushing her hair behind her ears and looking up with resolved eyes.

O'Connell tossed his cigarette down and crouched to help her again. "Hey, I'm guessing destiny asked me to take you along for the ride, too. Now you better stop trying to weasel more sympathy out of me, lady. You know I'm not going to leave you and well, we don't have time for me to fuss and gawk." Of course that wasn't the reason she had offered and he knew it, but he hoped a little humor might go a long way in keeping her from sacrificing herself.

Reyhanen gave him a hot glare and shoved away his helping hands, but his winning smile convinced her to ease up after a moment. The fear in her strong eyes abated a touch, but he knew this wasn't going to be easy for her. She needed a bed. Rick guiltily entertained a few mental images with that observation. "Idiot," she replied mock-acidly as he pulled her back up and grinned.

With a nod he eased her towards the cave entrance. Outside he could hear the wind howling and it unsettled him. A storm was the last thing they needed. "When it rains, it pours," he muttered to himself, feeling his pockets with a free hand. Just where did he shove that pack of cigarettes?

It took some doing, but they did finally reach the cave mouth. The sky was dark and thick, offering very little light to the two travelers. This was good. It was the perfect time to head out. Reyhanen tilted her head to the wind, gripping his shoulder to keep the weight off her injury. Her face was intense and pleasant as she listened. "I hear nothing," she said softly, looking across the empty, windswept desert. The search had not come to them yet. There was still time.

Rick heaved a sigh of relief and motioned his head towards the south with Jorin in mind. This was going to be tricky, getting Jonathan out and managing to keep the Star-Key to boot. He could just hear Ahamad, too, raving about sacrifice. And right now he wouldn't even mind hearing it. Not that he would pay it any attention—Jonathan would be rescued—but he missed him. After all the anger and hate, he missed the guy, his sister and the people. He wondered idly if Nashean had sent word yet that they weren't coming back. Of course Imhotep would have boasted to him by now. Rick grit his teeth and absently pet the maid's side as if to impart comfort or draw it or both.

"You carry sadness," she observed gently, hopping with her arm around his neck. Her eyes watched the sandy floor beneath them.

Rick nodded and thought about picking her up to ease her suffering. Oh, how he wished he could have eased Mayadeh's. He tried to keep those thoughts at bay, but sometimes they wouldn't let go and it hit him again just what was gone. "Yeah well, don't we all? I'm just so sick of people dying." He cursed and shied away from that night, again to no avail. The faces would not leave him alone and it was getting worse. "I know it's nothing anyone hasn't heard, but…ah, it's pointless."

His companion remained silent for the moment and Rick felt foolish. He was supposed to be strong, wasn't he? That's what they all expected of him. It's what he expected of himself. He had probably made her fears worsen. Reyhanen exhaled and hopped, looking him over thoughtfully. "It's all right, O'Connell. I know your grief. I share it. The world shares in it. Sometimes I think of my brother and wish he were here to help me. To guide me. But I'm glad he never saw these days. I know it sounds terrible, but for those that have passed I think we should be happy that the pain is over."

It sounded so hopeless, yet she was right by some measure. The pain was over for Ardeth, for Mayadeh and her brooding brother. And the years stretched on before him, a man left alone to stop this tide of terror. Rick sighed and nodded, then looked back across the desert. The air felt moist and that meant rain. That was one thing he was going to have to complain to Imhotep about while he killed him. "Yeah. You're right. It's the selfless thing to think, isn't it? I just miss them."

Reyhanen gave his shoulder a squeeze. "As do I. Did you lose someone recently? You were the friend of Lady Nefertiri, were you not?"

Rick nodded quickly and stopped when she stumbled. "I'm gonna pick you up for a while. How's that sound? Nice free ride on a strong stud like me?" A wink made her bat his shoulder. "I might even let you use reins next time."

"Only if you're able," she replied tartly and he chuckled softly, picking her up. "And can I use a bit to shut you up?"

"We'll discuss tack when the time comes and I'm more than able," he assured her, glad he could pick up the pace a little. The better time they made, the bigger shot they had at actually getting away. "Yeah, I know Lady Nefertiri. Evy to me. No, she's okay…as okay as she can be with that bastard hovering over her, anyway. God, I really hate that man." Rick wiggled his nose as a few sprinkles started to fall. Reyhanen groaned. "I just lost a couple really important people the other day and it's still fresh on my mind. They didn't die very happy deaths, if you get me."

Pillowing her head on Rick's shoulder, the maid sighed tiredly and played with the collar of his shirt. "Would you like to talk about it? Unburden yourself?"

Why did everyone have to talk about it? Why should he have to relive those horrible events, those gut-wrenching moments just to talk about it? Rick shook his head, gazing intently ahead. He had no desire to go into the story. He had thought of it enough for today and was already feeling wearied. "No. You wanna talk about your brother?"

He felt her shake her head against him and the answer was as he had expected. "No."

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean, Mayadeh, Sajul/Necromancer, Arya, Layla, Sania and Reyhanen (and a few less significant originals) belong to me.

A/N:

To Reviewers:

Wellduh – Thanks! I'm glad you like him, I wasn't too sure about him. :-O :-D Thanks for the feedback on this story and my Mummy/LOTR.

Lula – Thanks my friend! I much appreciate your feedback! Yes, I quite enjoyed writing Kay myself…need more funny moments given all the darkness going on. And yes, I live but to torment Ardeth's character, for he does not exist and is not mine and that really, really ticks me off. ;-) Hell hath no fury like a woman with no Ardeth Bay in her life. So I pay him back with my writings. :-D Thanks for the compliments, Lu!

Marcher – You mean Kay? :-D Thankie, my friend! And thanks for your compliment on Neccy, it's not only sometimes difficult or nervous trying to capture another character someone else has made, but also to make a personal character that is in depth, realistic and interesting. So I'm glad he's complicated enough that you can't decide what to think about him…I can't either! ;-)

Marxbros – Aaw, thanks for not only reviewing the last chapter, but the one before! Anyway, sorry about the cliffhanger. Originally the Ardeth part before that, the last chapter and this chapter had been combined into one big Ardeth chapter, but it was really big and I thought people might find it daunting, so I tweaked it and split it. I'm happy you liked my Jonathan, if you like him I know I must be on the right track. :-D Thank you for your compliments all around.

Jessie C – Thanks my friend and thanks for help with the website! You totally rock! :-D

Dead-Girls-Watch – Thanks muchly for your review, my friend! Thanks for following my story as you have and giving me the feedback. It means a bunch!
:-)

Mommints – What can I say? I got a thing for blue and gray eyes. :-O Like Elrond! Mmmmm. Hot Elf Lord. ;-) Thank you for the link and review. :-D Sorry about the teeth edge…at least he's left Ardeth alone now, huh? Much needed break.

Deana – Yes, want to be left alone in the dark with Neccy, so Ardeth will have something to do, other than look purty and break hearts. :-D Thanks my friend!