Chapter 2

"What is this Ardeth?"

Word was sent to Ardeth after the O'Connells got into London. Ardeth Bay, leader of the Medjai Pharaoh's sacred body guards, headed to London with haste. (Is it just me or does that sound corny?) He arrived within three days.

Evy led him to the manor's sick bay (a.k.a. the infirmary). Rick laid on a cot, his breathing heavy, like panting as if he was having trouble breathing, and still sweating uncontrollably. Ardeth looked at his friend, he was incredibly worried about this. Ardeth felt O'Connell's temperature, it was normal.

" How odd," he said under his breathe. He turned to Evy. "Mrs. O'Connell-"

"Please, call me Evy," Mrs. O'Connell, I mean Evy interrupted.

"Evy, can he keep food down?"

"I don't know, he has eaten in three days but still he vomits. It's on a schedule practically. I'd step away from the cot, he'll be vomiting in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Ardeth leaped aside as Rick shot up, clutching his stomach leaned over the cot's side and vomited. Evy handed him two towels to clean his face with and wipe away his sweat. He took a cup of water sloshed it in his mouth and spat it out, that took his energy and fell back on the cot, panting and sweating.

Evy looked worriedly to Ardeth, "What is this Ardeth?" Then Alex came into the room with Jonathan, they were in the hall listening. Alex went over to his mum and dad, he hugged his mum and then turned to Ardeth.

"Is my dad going to be alright?" he asked. Ardeth couldn't keep eye contact, he looked at the floor. Jonathan stepped up.

"What wrong with him, Ardeth?" Jonathan asked rather demandingly.

Ardeth looked up at him, "I'm afraid that he has fallen to a disease that everyone has feared but no one has named. No one has survived it for more than three days. I must get our history keeper of the Medjai to do research through our volumes of history. I must go and check." Ardeth was about to leave when he felt something on his right foot. He looked down, there, clinging to his ankle as if for life was Alex. Ardeth bent down to pry Alex off his foot. Alex looked up pleadingly.

"Call them or send them a letter! Just don't go! Please!" Alex pleaded. Ardeth looked at Evy and Jonathan, they seemed to agree with Alex. Ardeth sighed and nodded.

"Alright my son, I will stay."

Alex smiled a bit and let go of Ardeth's ankle and got up.

"HEY!" Said a weak voice. Everyone turned to see Rick, awake looking at Ardeth, "h-h-he's m-m-my sssson." Rick could barely speak.

Evelyn hugged his head. "Oh, Rick, this is all my fault! I shouldn't have read from that damned chest! If I didn't then this would have never happened!" Evy continued to wipe Rick's drenched forehead with a drenched towel.

"N-no, I-I-it's mmmy fa-fau-fault. I was the wa-wa-one wh-who w-was ha-having the d-d-damned d-d-dreams! A-as long as you aaand Alex a-a-are ookay, I-I'm happy." Ardeth stepped next to Evelyn.

"What chest do you talk of Evelyn?" Ardeth asked.

"We found a chest in Karnack, it was hidden away," she said. "Strange though, it was Rick who said to go on the expedition. Strange of him to not put up an argument for once."

"Do you recall anything it said?"

"Yes, it said there was a ring of destruction and someone who had the Eye of Horus three times on him was to fall. I can't remember much else."

Ardeth started to pace the room. He stopped next to Rick, "O'Connell, what do you see?"

"A guy in g-g-golden c-c-cage w-w-with hu-hu-huge sssnakess w-w-wi-with ar-arms a-and le-legs. W-why?" Rick said.

"I must write the letter quickly," Ardeth said as he left the room. "Don't leave his side."

Evy stayed next to Rick wiping his brow. Rick tried to fight sleep. Ardeth called from down the hall, "Whatever you do, don't let him fall asleep!"

Evy shook Rick, "Don't fall asleep, dear."

"I-I'm tr-trying to ssstay awa-awake, h-h-hon," he replied. They sat there keeping Rick awake whenever it looked like he was going to doze off.

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Okay, that all for now. Next chapter is "Release me you falcon headed freak!" Mainly on Seth and the snakemen.

Please review, thanks for the other reviews! Review even if you want to say I suck ass at writing, I wanted my sister to do this but she said it was my idea I should write it. I don't know how to put it all in words though!! So please review.

Mai Fraser (aka Artemis aka Arty.) J