The following morning, Ardeth woke up and left the tent. His mind was set on the probable battle ahead. His turban back on his head, his weapons secure at his waist and across his chest. He was going to organize the things they needed for their Hamunaptra ride and then, just then, he would awake Jean and they would start their 'adventure'.
When he thought about her, he realized that never would he find another woman like Jean, he knew she was his heart and soul and the warmth of her body against his had made the chief feel invincible.
Jean got up right after him, put on some comfortable clothes and went to the Nile. She watched the water pass and thought how much she loved the Nile and that country. She dipped her hand into the clear, bracing waters of the river and splashed her face. Ardeth was watching her from a distance.
Suddenly a memory entered her mind, and it felt like it would rip it apart. Letting out a cry equal parts frustration, confusion and anguish, she stumbled to her knees, a strangled sob escaping her throat underneath a sky too bright even to notice her torment. Suddenly drained, she slumped, her shoulders sagging; her head bowed as tears of emotional distress ran down her face and her body was wracked with sobs. She raised a tear-streaked face as she felt a shadow fall across her.
"Jean," Ardeth was looking at her, his hand stretched out to her, concern etched on his face. Wordlessly, she threw herself into his arms and wept as he held her tightly to his chest, her tears dampening the fabric of his robe. "What's wrong?" he asked, but she gave no answer, save to hold onto him more tightly, her sobs muffled by his body.
She clearly wasn't going to speak to him any time soon, and Ardeth felt that Jean would be more comfortable in her own tent, not to mention shielded from the indignity of his men's prying eyes. Murmuring comforting words into her hair, he gathered her unresisting body into his arms and lifted her, walking towards the tent. A moment later, they arrived and he carried Jean through to her bed.
Once she was there, Jean could see the concern on his face and suddenly felt silly for letting him see her cry without a tangible reason and looked away.
Ardeth reached out to cup her face, bringing it back to him. "Please, Jean, tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.
She wiped away her tears and smiled. "I just…the water…Nefertiti was splashing her face with some water when she saw Anck-su-namun and Imhotep kiss and then she saw when she murdered her father. It was Nefertiti the one who alerted the guards." She gazed into his eyes, trying to put on a brave front.
Ardeth saw the effort she was making to be strong and he had an overwhelming desire to hold her in his arms. Neither one of them said a word but they could both feel the electricity in the air between them. Ardeth moved his thumb to her mouth, lightly stroking her lips.
"So you cried for her."
"It's like she cried through me. She never had a chance to do that. In blind desperation to help her father, she jumped from the balcony; she was killed instantly."
"The Pharaoh's men suspected she had been murdered."
"No, she wasn't. She just…jumped."
"For her father…"
"Yes, she loved him very much."
Ardeth nodded. "Perhaps we should wait to go to Hamunaptra," he offered.
"No, we must go today. Tomorrow can be too late. I will be ready in a minute. Go and set things. I'll meet you outside," she said resolutely.
Ardeth obeyed and prepared the horses. Jean joined him and so did the other warriors. They all mounted, he gave the signal and they rode off towards Hamunaptra. Some time later they arrived hilltop. Ardeth sat uneasily on his restless black Arabian stallion upon it. Reaching down he patted his horse gently, mumbling soft, soothing words in Arabic until the horse stilled. All the horses were jittery that day. That made the Med-jai warriors nervous. Something was not right. The horses sensed something and the Med-jai warriors learned long ago to trust their horse's instincts.
For the past years, the ruins of Hamunaptra had lay in peace. And although Imhotep had never been awoken, the Med-jai never gave up their vigil over the City of the Dead. Keeping treasure seekers away was still their main focus, though not many had come around recently. Then suddenly, that morning, mysterious winds were blowing, whipping the sand around in an unnatural way. That was not a good sign.
"So, it must be about to begin." Ardeth breathed softly in Arabic as he, Jean and his men continued to watch over the buried city. They were a small group, only the Chieftain, her, Tarek and seven other warriors. Her horse, Diamond was also nervous and after hearing Ardeth's words she turned to them.
"We must enter. Today is the day." Jean could sense the evil emanating from the area.
The men obeyed her and they all rushed into the city.
The hall they were walking down opened into a wide amphitheatre, intricately carved from obsidian. The jet black walls and floors shone like polished smoky glass reflecting and distorting the dimensions, like the crazy mirrors at a fairground. A large stone sarcophagus containing the mummy of Imhotep took center stage. The priests were gathered in a circle around it. Their dark robes merged with their surroundings. Large fiery torches dimly illuminated the room, the light flickering and playing with the shadows, adding to the disorientation. Jean had to blink several times before her eyes adjusted to the strangeness of it all.
"Why do I feel those priests have not done what you ordered, my brother?" Asked Tarek.
The main priest was holding the Book of the Dead and was speaking an incantation from it in Ancient Egyptian.
" I call upon the Dark One, according to the ancient covenant, give us the presence of the one that I name… Imhotep… Imhotep… Imhotep!"
"Stop that at once," ordered Ardeth.
"It is too late," answered one of the worshippers, "look!"
They all stared as a form took the shape of Imhotep.
"I told you to leave or die," said Ardeth to the cultists, "you refused. Now you may have killed us all. You have unleashed the creature that we have feared for more than 3,000 years…"
Ardeth stopped talking as Imhotep opened his eyes and stepped out of the water. They could smell the decaying odor of his body, or what was left of it. The sight was really revolting and it made Jean look down, while Tarek took a few steps back.
Ardeth grabbed Jean and pushed her behind him to protect her. The worshippers fell to their knees and Imhotep opened his arms; a struck of lightning hit them and they were killed instantly. But what was more amazing was how his body became fully regenerated after that.
'All those people... their life forces must have restored him,' thought Jean. "So much for dealing with the devil and ending up burnt," she murmured to Ardeth.
He gave her a faint smile as Imhotep turned to them. He advanced up to her, and Ardeth moved to intercept him. Imhotep glanced at him then back to her, while a look of understanding crossed his face.
"It is always a beautiful woman who brings down the strongest man. You have me in your power."
The two of them realized that when he took possession the cultists' souls, he also sucked up his knowledge… and language. A wave of dizziness made Jean grasp Ardeth's arm as something in her mind seemed to click.
"Did this…thing speak in Arabic?" She asked, trembling with fear.
"Yes, Jean. Why?"
"Because… I… I understood what he said."
"Allah…"
As the two of them stared at each other in astonishment, Imhotep watched the man intently. He was clad in long, black robes, with a scimitar at his side. This one was a true warrior spirit, intelligence and dedication alike shining in his eyes. His posture indicated a sensible caution, but no fear. A good ally to have, and a dangerous enemy. He looked at the tattoo patterns on his cheeks and the back of his hands.
"Med-jai!" he spat the word out as if it tasted bad. They had been Pharaoh's personal guards- was it possible that they had survived this long? Yes, apparently they dad. "You must die!" He shouted.
Ardeth was distracted by a sound coming from behind and Imhotep saw his chance, knocked him to the ground, turned towards the black waters and spoke an incantation. Multitudes of souls from hell rose up out of the waters, taking form and substance.
Ardeth spoke in a very low voice as he got up from the hard floor. "These souls have become his slaves. So it has begun, the beginning of the end."
"Not quite yet, it hasn't," answered Jean, assuming a defensive position.
The souls attacked them, and Jean grabbed the scimitar Ardeth had given her to defend herself. While they were fighting, Imhotep ran to the Book of the Dead that had fallen from the vanquished priest's hold and frantically looked for an incantation. She realized Imhotep was at the book and ran towards him, but not in time. Imhotep spoke.
"For all eternity, now it's begun, forces of dark, chain us as one!"
As Jean reached Imhotep, he spoke the last words. She cried out in pain and fell to her knees as she felt a terrible wrenching inside. Ardeth rushed to Jean's side and helped her up.
"What has happened?" He asked
"He just bonded me to him. If he dies, so do I." She turned to the Med-jai "Just keep your guns and swords on him. And if he tries anything, kill him."
"No…" protested Tarek, "it would hurt you"
"It's the only way to keep him in line."
Imhotep stood up and turned back to Jean.
"You and I are one. If I die, you shall die also."
"I'm not afraid to die. If you try to kill them, they will attack you," she retorted fiercely.
"You are as brave as you are beautiful. I shall let you leave now."
Ardeth narrowed his eyes and glared at Imhotep as Jean considered his offer.
"Ardeth," whispered Jean, "we need to leave this place. Leave him alone."
"Why on earth would we do such thing?"
"We will need all the help we can get. His powers are growing."
"Jean is right, brother. Live today, fight tomorrow." Tarek backed Jean up.
"OK." said Ardeth reluctantly.
"We will be back, Imhotep."
"And I will be waiting for you."
They all went outside and Tarek went to his brother.
"I will take five men to deliver the news about Imhotep, you will go back to the camp and take care of Jean, right?
"With my life. Go back to the camp soon. We will attack tomorrow."
***
HI EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again, thanx a lot for the lovely reviews!!!!!!! You'll notice that in this chapter I've changed the entire story on the 'restoration' of Imhotep's body, but well, I had to simplify some things. And I must apologize, I know this isn't one of the best chapters I've written but I'm studying for my organic chemistry and anatomy exams and I have barely even time to breathe.
Still, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Love, Jeanne.