AN: well, well, well, we are approaching the closing stages of the action part but, don't worry, there's plenty of story ahead, only that with a more... hummmm... romantic twist. Again, I'd like to thank all of you who have taken the time to read and review this story, you guys are incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jean slowly began to regain consciousness. She peeked opened her eyes and found herself lying on a cold stone floor. Her hands were tied and after testing the rope, discovered it was on tight. Pushing herself into a sitting position, she looked around where she was. It was a large chamber, like a huge arena. She saw a stone staircase that led up to some passageway and in the middle of the chamber was a huge alter. Beyond the altar, Jean saw what looked like a moat that floated through the chamber. But instead of water floating through, it was a black mucky tar looking substance that had human bones floating in it.

"Gross," she said, wrinkling up her nose.

Imhotep was there as well, but he ignored her, as he seemed to be preparing some things, arranging several strange-looking objects around her. She didn't like what was going on and all she could hope was Ardeth hurrying to rescue her.

***

The warriors rode hard and persistently until they reached the City of Dead. Ardeth dismounted and his men did the same, in order to follow him inside one of the main chambers.

He was there, and so was Jean. She was lying on top of a stone floor next to a fire. Placed at her sides there where five canopy jars and Ardeth knew what Imhotep wanted to do. He would kill her and trade her soul for his lover's one, which would inhabit Jean's body.

"Ardeth…" She was frightened and he could tell she was extremely happy to see them by the tears in her lovely eyes. This caught him by surprise. He'd never seen look so vulnerable and beautiful before. But what surprised him even more was why in the name of Allah was he noticing that now?

"Don't worry, habibi, I am here now. I won't let him harm you," he reassured her before turning to Imhotep. "Let go of her!" He commanded.

"It took you long to follow me, Medjai," said the Keeper of the Dead with a smirk. "Your woman will now become mine."

"No, she won't." Tarek charged against Imhotep, distracting him long enough for Ardeth to help Jean break free from the ropes that tied her wrists and ankles.

As they watched what he did, a thought flashed through Jean's mind.

"Ardeth, in order to stop Imhotep we don't just need the keep him away from the Book of the Dead..."

"We need the Book of Amun Ra too!" He completed. "Where is it?"

"In that black pool over there." Jean said suddenly. "I know it."

"That is the pool of the Underworld," stated Ardeth, looking taken aback.

She shrugged. "So?"

"It is put there to be protected. If you try to pull it out, the evil spirits may drag you down with them!" He said with great urgency.

But Jean was truly set on her path. "I don't care. I will go!"

"No! Anck-su-namun's soul is there too and she will kill you before letting you take the book that will send her lover back to… "

And before Ardeth realized, she ran to the pool. She pulled up her sleeve and reached in. Just as she had grabbed it and was bringing it up, a hand from under the water grasped her wrist and tried to pull her inside. Jean yelped in surprise as countless more hands did the same, almost making her plunge into the dark pool.

Muttering a most unladylike expletive that made Ardeth's eyes widen, she kept fighting, as she was determined to succeed. As she focused entirely on gathering all her strength, a white flash of light fell from the sky and freed her from the grip of the vengeful forces. Shocked, Jean got up, with the book pressed to her chest. When she turned, she found Imhotep grabbing Ardeth from behind, holding him and ready to run a sword through him.

"And so, my ancient foe shall die."

"No!" Shouted Jean.

As Imhotep stroked, she dropped the book and ran towards Ardeth, twisting him out of Imhotep's grasp. The sword went through her chest. Ardeth punched the man, turned and pulled the sword out of Jean. Imhotep was bleeding heavily as he dropped to the ground. She clutched her chest as blood started pouring out of her identical wound. She collapsed.

"Jean…!" Screamed Ardeth.

The Medjai were staring at Jean, surprised by the turn of events. Ardeth, who was on the ground with Jean, whispered to her.

"Jean, why did you do this? Oh, Allah…"

"I need the book," she said in a faint whisper.

"Just stay down," was his reply. It sounded more like a command. A command Jean chose to ignore. She didn't have much time left.

She began crawling towards the Amun Ra Book and so did Imhotep. Jean reached it before him, but it was closed and she didn't have the key. She realized it was a good moment for praying.

' Please, someone help me,' she said inwardly.

As by enchantment, the book opened itself right on the page of the spell she needed.

Panic overtook her as she realized she had no idea what the hieroglyphics meant, but somehow, she knew exactly what she had to say.

"The chain that binds the body and heart…"

"No!" Was Imhotep's scream.

"Forces of light, tear it apart!"

Another terrible wrenching brought cries of pain from the impaled victims. They were no longer bonded but still dying from the wounds. Imhotep reached Jean and begun to strangle her.

"I will take you with me!"

Ardeth knocked her attacker to the ground and pulled him off of Jean. She was slowly losing consciousness. Ardeth shook her to keep her awake.

"Fight Jean! Fight for your life!"

Imhotep, a bloody mess, sword in hand, got up. Jean saw him come up from behind Ardeth.

"Ardeth, behind you!"

He turned around and Imhotep knocked him aside. With the last of his strength, Imhotep raised the sword over her head to finish off Jean. She opened her eyes.

"And now, we die!"

Jean, with her last breath, spoke the death incantation from the Amun Ra book that sprung from her unconscious.

"To the Dark One I call, receive back into your care …Imhotep …Imhotep …Imhotep!"

He froze as if struck by lightening and dissolved into dust, which was blown away by the wind. Jean cried out in terrible pain as that wind lifted her body and sent it flying outside the city at such a speed she soon fainted.

Ardeth tried to run after her, but everyone was knocked to the ground as the earth began shaking, the wind howling and all of the stones rolling themselves back in front of the entrances to the various tombs. The wind died down and the earth was then still. The men slowly picked themselves up off of the ground.

"Jean? Where is she?" Asked Ardeth in panic, getting up.

"I don't know, brother," said Tarek, looking equally worried.

"We need to find her, she won't last for too long in the desert, injured as she was."

The two brothers rushed outside. Some of the men had already left the cave and were preparing the horses.

" Tarek, you and Kasim choose five more warriors and follow me. Tell the others we will ride North," he ordered.

"Why in that direction?"

"I know she is out there somewhere, I can hear her heart calling out for me."

The younger brother nodded and in less than ten minutes they were racing into the desert. Ardeth was following his intuition, which had never failed him.

But after eleven hours of search, he started to lose his hopes.

"I know you are near, Jean, I can feel you. But I need you to guide me, my angel."