Chapter Two:
Imhotep

W/N: Here is Chapter 2, from Imhotep's point of view. Please review, constructive criticism welcome! Chapter 3: Together coming VERY soon to a computer near you!

Imhotep was born as the son of Pharaoh's Vizier, highest noble in the Lands of Egypt. He had always known that his destiny was to become a Vizier also, after his father. Yet he was not content.
He felt the great god Osiris and his temples calling him, begging him to come. He knew his true destiny was to become a priest of the god of the underworld.
It was not easy to break away from custom and tradition and become something else entirely, but he had done it. Over the years as he grew up, as he predictably became Vizier and the right hand of the Pharaoh, he planned his ascension to what was truly his. And one year, his chance came and he took it. Grand Vizier Imhotep also became High Priest Imhotep, and he was happy.
Yet not happy enough.
Something was missing, he knew. When he was much younger first his father then Pharaoh had tried to get him married, but Imhotep always refused. He felt there was some perfect soulmate out there, and none of these girls were it.
Now that he had all he could want-power, wealth, religious satisfaction-he once again wanted more. It was time for that perfect soulmate to come into his life, though he could not know it.
* * * * * *
Imhotep stifled a yawn as he stood immovably behind Seti, dressed in his Vizier clothes. Occasions of state, such as this hearing of Nubian ambassadors, had always bored him. He preferred intellectual trials to trying not to fall asleep standing up.
He glanced at Pharaoh, sitting comfortably in his throne, appearing to listen intently to the ambassadors but in fact, Imhotep knew, daydreaming (perhaps about one of his many concubines) and sighed quietly. In all outward appearances Imhotep was Pharaoh's most dedicated, worshipping subject, yet deep in his heart he had no respect for the man. He did not have what it took to be a ruler of Egypt.
When the audience was over, Imhotep was the first to leave, after Pharaoh of course. Since his duties as Vizier no longer called, Imhotep decided to change into his priest's robes and hurry down to the Temple to see how things were going there.
As he walked to his apartments, a girl with body paint, a loincloth, and nothing else on but jewelry rushed by him, not seeing him because her head was down, towards Pharaoh's rooms. He knew immediately that she was a concubine, or-as Pharaoh insisted-mistress. His heart felt a pang for them.
But two minutes later the girl was out of his head, replaced by thoughts of the great god Osiris.
* * * * * *
Imhotep spent all morning at the Temple, and afterwards thought to treat himself to some free time, which was rare. His first thought was the royal lotus gardens, which had always entranced him with their beauty and calmed his stressed mind. Feeling cheerful, whistling, and greeting everyone he passed, he set off.
As usual, they were empty. Not many came to the lotus gardens anymore, as the Gardener had died a few years ago, so now the flowers were overgrown and the fountains rusted. But to him, they had an enchanting quality of their own, and he came there often when he was feeling down. They were so big, he could be lost in them for hours.
With a contented sigh, he sat down on a fountain and closed his eyes, relaxing. Then he heard them.
Someone was sobbing heart-wrenchingly, and he could hear whoever it was stumbling somewhere near. Imhotep jerked up. Who could be so horribly sad? He followed the noise-it wasn't hard-and came to a clearing, with a fountain in the middle, and a girl sitting on it, staring in and crying.
She seemed familiar, and was wearing the "dress" of concubines, except her paint was smeared-he could guess by who. His heart broke for the poor girl. Then he gasped. She had picked up a dagger and was holding it unsteadily above her chest.
He knew what he had to do. He ran towards her and grabbed her painted wrist just as she lowered it to her heart. "No," said Imhotep, breathing hard. Had he really just done that? Touched one of Pharaoh's concubines? That was punishable by a traitor's death! He stared at her, astonished at himself, and her.
She looked up at him then, surprised, and he almost staggered backwards. She was beautiful, entrancing, mysterious, lovely. He saw intelligence and wisdom in her coal black eyes, and unimaginable grief. And then Imhotep knew he had found his perfect soulmate. He knew he loved her, with all his heart and mind and soul, though his love contained none of Seti's lust.
And then she said, in a beautiful voice that made him want to fly, "You-you.touched me! I-I will report you for treason!"
"Yes," said Imhotep dreamily, "yes, I did touch you. I am touching you now," he pointed out.
The girl twisted her arm out of his grip, but Imhotep caught the knife before it fell and put it quickly inside his heavy priest's robes. The girl suddenly began to sob again and threw herself upon the stone floor of the lotus garden, pounding the stones with her fists.
Worried, Imhotep knelt down and said, "Please get up. Please." She looked up at him. Having gotten her attention, he asked the question he was dying to know. "Who are you? I know you are a concubine, but what is your name?" He looked at her hopefully.
She looked angry, to his dismay. "Mistress," she said. "I am Anck-su- namun, Pharaoh's mistress."
Anck-su-namun.what a beautiful name! He repeated it over and over in his mind and he was filled with Anck-su-namun.
"And who might you be?" she asked, slowly standing up.
Wanting to impress her, he told her. He saw the realization slowly dawn on her, saw her look at him again, more closely. Anck-su-namun, Anck- su-namun, Anck-su-namun.
Then, all at once, her body was pressed against his, her face snuggled into his chest. He looked down at her tear-streaked face, surprised, then hugged her back. They began to kiss-
And then Anck-su-namun pulled away, looking frightened. She backed away from his still outstretched arms, shaking her head. Then she turned and ran towards the palace. Imhotep felt like his heart was breaking. He started to follow her, then stopped. He just stared after her, feeling sad and lost and alone and happy all at once.

Chapter 3 coming soon!

Hope you like the story so far.it's just starting! :D