Alex stopped and turned. He pushed his way through to the front of the group. "Come again."
Imhotep raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
There was a rustling sound and suddenly, the room was ringing with thousands of tiny black bugs. They where shifting but not moving.
Jonathan groaned. "Those bugs."
"Good Lord!" snapped Ariela. Her whip cracked three times and the bugs nearest her went flying back into the darkness.
"The fair one?" asked Evy.
"You," said Imhotep.
Her eyes narrowed. And slowly her wrists moved.
"I'll die before you take her," hissed Rick.
"But will you see your son and daughter die as well? As well as your wife?"
Ariela stopped moving. Her eyes flashed to Alex.
He looked at her.
Both of them where thinking the same thing. This had been mistake to come in here.
"Why do you want me?" asked Evy.
"That does not matter but yet, I will still tell you. You will replace what I have lost," said Imhotep. "No harm will befall you."
"Wait."
All eyes went to Ariela. She looked at her mother. "Take me instead." Her eyes went to Imhotep. "I know what it is you want."
"Ariela, no!" snapped Alex.
"Ariela!" cried Rick.
Ariela looked Imhotep straight in the eyes. "Take me instead of my mother. And I will give you back your Princess."
Imhotep stared at her. "What?"
"Let my mother and family out of here alive and well. And I will let you take me instead. And in exchange for giving me back to my family, I will try to restore your Princess to you."
"Done."
Ariela's eyes closed. Then she turned and her eyes met Amir. "Get them out of here," she hissed. "Now!"
"No!" shouted Rick.
Tears filled Ariela's eyes. "Aredth, get them out of here. Now!"
Alex came forward but Jonathan grabbed him. "Do as she says," he said. "We're no help to her if we're eaten by those bugs."
Aredth grabbed Rick and hauled him out.
Amir turned and looked back. "Ariela!"
Ariela had sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands.
Aredth let go of Rick once they where out of the tunnels. His men surrounded him.
"What happened?" demanded one.
"We found him. He took young Ariela."
Amir drew his dagger. He made a cut on the back of his hand. "See, I how easily I shed my blood. I will shed his much easier if she is harmed."
"Come with me."
Ariela's head came up. She eyed the black bugs and slowly stood to her feet. She drew her gun and slowly followed Imhotep.
"Can you truly give me back the Princess?"
"Maybe," said Ariela.
The bugs moved and Ariela fired, blowing several of them back.
"How do you get these things away?"
"No matter. We are here."
Ariela turned and gasped. She stopped.