AN: Yes, after forever I have updated. I'm sorry to say there's no earth shattering changes, no
flaming monsters or demons to crash this chapter but the story is moving along. Thanks so much
to everyone who has left a review, its means so much to me. Hope life is treating ya'll well.
~Kei
Disclaimer: Me no own.
PS: If I wasn't hopeless I would put the journal entries in italics but... html tags, me, bad...
************************** Akayla Bay: Chapter Seven *************************
'Maat stood before me, resplendent, bright, like some kind of angel. Its funny though, I
couldn't, even a breath after it happened, tell you what she looked like or wore. I just have
this burning idea of beauty and light forever seared and imprinted upon my mind. The air
smelled of lilies... I remember that too.
'Her eyes, her eyes still haunt me. Black and cold... As unforgiving and just as savage as
the desert night. There's honor in her, integrity, but she doesn't play by mortal rules, none
of them do.
'She took my hand, admist carnage and certain death, held me close as we left the catacombs of
Hamunaptra. I don't know where she took me; I can recall little but rolling, cleverly obscuring
white mist, and a feeling of security, safety, warmth that infused every cell of my being. And
we dealt.
'She offered me life for service, obedience. I did not know it at the time but Maat foresaw
some of what would pass at Ahm Shere. She sensed that the Scorpion King would rise and be
challenged, that Anubis would make one last grasp for power, for domination.
'In the old tales their powers, rituals, importance, are closely linked. Souls traveling to
the afterlife were judged in Maat's hall, their hearts and souls weighed against a feather of
Truth. Those who proved themselves to be pure and unsullied by life were blessed and released
to Paradise. Those who failed the test were consumed by Anubis.
'I won't pretend to know her motives. I know that she saw the small but integral part I would
play in the second rising of the beast and chose to make her power, her stance, known through
me.
'I accepted her deal for my life and swore obedience on the condition that I would return to
her temple before thirty years elapsed. This condition was absolute. Should I die before that
time then my burden, my promise, would be passed onto my closest blood relative. To Akayla...
'Akayla must present herself at the ruins of Maat's grand temple before the thirtieth
anniversary of my pact with the Goddess of Light and Truth. Must complete the desperate
bargain I made so long ago.
'But she cannot do it alone. She is brave, braver than any man, any mortal I've ever known.
She's fearless, a warrior, and a child. Never a child, but always one. She killed before she
understood death and I fear, Alex, that she lives before she's understood life.
'And that is why I have asked you here. I feel my time receding and, in all the world, I trust
only you enough see my daughter through. Only you Alex, son of my soul, can guide the daughter
of my blood.
'And that is my last request of you, and of her, to finish what I started. To settle my debt
with the Gods.
'Not a simple task I know, nor an easy one, and not just because of the immortals. Akayla is
not an easy woman to get along with all in herself. Sometimes, Alex, I secretly wonder where
she came from. She's nothing like her mother, and I? I am a man who lives with the sword, not
by it.
'She is made of sterner stuff than I. Even steel would break if tested against her. But there
are things stronger than steel in this world and Akayla, for all her strength, does not know
how to bend. Teach her Alex. Teach my daughter how to survive, how to live. Show her that
there is more to this world than the harsh loyalty she swore and the duties tattooed on her
cheeks.
'Show her that ultimate fulfillment doesn't have to be found in the glory of a warrior's
death.
'Save my daughter Alex. Save her from Maat and from herself.'
And then it ended.
Alex looked up and met the fuming Akayla's fiery gaze.
"Well?" she demanded. "What does it say?"
Alex smiled grimly and shut the journal gingerly. "That you and I are going to be spending
some time together."
Geitran watched as Akayla paced, furious. "Father wouldn't, couldn't... I don't need some
Englishman, some outsider, following me!"
The older Medjai crossed his arms over his chest and raised wintry brows. "And do you think
that the 'Outsider' will let you walk away, knowing your father's final request of him?"
"Damn you!" she spat. "I won't have it! I am not some untested, untried soul! I know my
duty. I am Medjai, born and raised and tempered by the desert and the sun and the wind. I am
leader and Alex O'Connell will not stay!"
Geitran sighed wearily and crossed the scant steps that separated him from a woman who embodied
all that his people valued. He dared to cup her cheeks with weathered hands, dared to lean his
brow forward until it touched hers. "And how will you force him to leave? Your father owes a
debt to the gods, but all of us, even scornful you, owes Alex O'Connell a debt as well. He
stood shoulder to shoulder with those who saved the world.
"You cannot force him away Kayla... The sooner you accept that the better off you'll be."
Her dark gaze flashed. "And I cannot tolerate his presence. He does not belong..."
"But he is here."
With a cry of frustration she tore herself away and threw the flap of Ardeth's tent open,
needing the calming presence of the open sky. She paused for a moment, black robes flapping,
and sighed as the sun, a jewel high in the crown of the sky, shone brightly and brushed her
hair sable, her face gold. Geitran followed her out more slowly, steps measured. He watched
as she stood, shoulder stiff, face upturned, and relaxed as she finally spoke.
"Alex O'Connell will accompany me on my journey to Maat's temple. Then he will never set foot
in my desert, my home again."
Geitran bowed his head and nodded.
flaming monsters or demons to crash this chapter but the story is moving along. Thanks so much
to everyone who has left a review, its means so much to me. Hope life is treating ya'll well.
~Kei
Disclaimer: Me no own.
PS: If I wasn't hopeless I would put the journal entries in italics but... html tags, me, bad...
************************** Akayla Bay: Chapter Seven *************************
'Maat stood before me, resplendent, bright, like some kind of angel. Its funny though, I
couldn't, even a breath after it happened, tell you what she looked like or wore. I just have
this burning idea of beauty and light forever seared and imprinted upon my mind. The air
smelled of lilies... I remember that too.
'Her eyes, her eyes still haunt me. Black and cold... As unforgiving and just as savage as
the desert night. There's honor in her, integrity, but she doesn't play by mortal rules, none
of them do.
'She took my hand, admist carnage and certain death, held me close as we left the catacombs of
Hamunaptra. I don't know where she took me; I can recall little but rolling, cleverly obscuring
white mist, and a feeling of security, safety, warmth that infused every cell of my being. And
we dealt.
'She offered me life for service, obedience. I did not know it at the time but Maat foresaw
some of what would pass at Ahm Shere. She sensed that the Scorpion King would rise and be
challenged, that Anubis would make one last grasp for power, for domination.
'In the old tales their powers, rituals, importance, are closely linked. Souls traveling to
the afterlife were judged in Maat's hall, their hearts and souls weighed against a feather of
Truth. Those who proved themselves to be pure and unsullied by life were blessed and released
to Paradise. Those who failed the test were consumed by Anubis.
'I won't pretend to know her motives. I know that she saw the small but integral part I would
play in the second rising of the beast and chose to make her power, her stance, known through
me.
'I accepted her deal for my life and swore obedience on the condition that I would return to
her temple before thirty years elapsed. This condition was absolute. Should I die before that
time then my burden, my promise, would be passed onto my closest blood relative. To Akayla...
'Akayla must present herself at the ruins of Maat's grand temple before the thirtieth
anniversary of my pact with the Goddess of Light and Truth. Must complete the desperate
bargain I made so long ago.
'But she cannot do it alone. She is brave, braver than any man, any mortal I've ever known.
She's fearless, a warrior, and a child. Never a child, but always one. She killed before she
understood death and I fear, Alex, that she lives before she's understood life.
'And that is why I have asked you here. I feel my time receding and, in all the world, I trust
only you enough see my daughter through. Only you Alex, son of my soul, can guide the daughter
of my blood.
'And that is my last request of you, and of her, to finish what I started. To settle my debt
with the Gods.
'Not a simple task I know, nor an easy one, and not just because of the immortals. Akayla is
not an easy woman to get along with all in herself. Sometimes, Alex, I secretly wonder where
she came from. She's nothing like her mother, and I? I am a man who lives with the sword, not
by it.
'She is made of sterner stuff than I. Even steel would break if tested against her. But there
are things stronger than steel in this world and Akayla, for all her strength, does not know
how to bend. Teach her Alex. Teach my daughter how to survive, how to live. Show her that
there is more to this world than the harsh loyalty she swore and the duties tattooed on her
cheeks.
'Show her that ultimate fulfillment doesn't have to be found in the glory of a warrior's
death.
'Save my daughter Alex. Save her from Maat and from herself.'
And then it ended.
Alex looked up and met the fuming Akayla's fiery gaze.
"Well?" she demanded. "What does it say?"
Alex smiled grimly and shut the journal gingerly. "That you and I are going to be spending
some time together."
Geitran watched as Akayla paced, furious. "Father wouldn't, couldn't... I don't need some
Englishman, some outsider, following me!"
The older Medjai crossed his arms over his chest and raised wintry brows. "And do you think
that the 'Outsider' will let you walk away, knowing your father's final request of him?"
"Damn you!" she spat. "I won't have it! I am not some untested, untried soul! I know my
duty. I am Medjai, born and raised and tempered by the desert and the sun and the wind. I am
leader and Alex O'Connell will not stay!"
Geitran sighed wearily and crossed the scant steps that separated him from a woman who embodied
all that his people valued. He dared to cup her cheeks with weathered hands, dared to lean his
brow forward until it touched hers. "And how will you force him to leave? Your father owes a
debt to the gods, but all of us, even scornful you, owes Alex O'Connell a debt as well. He
stood shoulder to shoulder with those who saved the world.
"You cannot force him away Kayla... The sooner you accept that the better off you'll be."
Her dark gaze flashed. "And I cannot tolerate his presence. He does not belong..."
"But he is here."
With a cry of frustration she tore herself away and threw the flap of Ardeth's tent open,
needing the calming presence of the open sky. She paused for a moment, black robes flapping,
and sighed as the sun, a jewel high in the crown of the sky, shone brightly and brushed her
hair sable, her face gold. Geitran followed her out more slowly, steps measured. He watched
as she stood, shoulder stiff, face upturned, and relaxed as she finally spoke.
"Alex O'Connell will accompany me on my journey to Maat's temple. Then he will never set foot
in my desert, my home again."
Geitran bowed his head and nodded.