This chapter starts off right where the last one finished, so if you need to refresh your memory flick back and re-read the last paragraph - continuity will add a lot to the flow of this chapter.

SilverDragon - Since when did I not finish on annoying cliffhangers? ;-)

NFI - Why, thankyou very much! I'm glad you like my work so much. :-)

Linzi - If you think that was action packed, get a load of this...! Yep, Kurtis and Lara back together again. I just love writing their interactions.

Lady Lara Croft - Gosh, I'm a bad influence on you all, aren't I? LOL I guess the reason behind Kurtis' words is kinda dark, but in a delicious kind of way. I'm only going to hint at what he means for now, but rest assured all will be properly explained by the end of the story.

Lara-is-my-rolemodel - Yeah, Go Kurtis! And even more so in this update... I'm glad you liked the scene in Sunderland's office - Travis starts out as such a nice person... I have to admit, the fries and Happy Meal quote belongs to Stargate SG1, not me. Along with various other O'Neill-isms from the show, it's a part of my daily language now. Heh.

Thanks for reviewing, everyone! Always loved. Feedback on what happens to Fishman in this chapter, please - with the plot of this story, anything could happen, and I'm not sureifhis little predicament should be permanent or not.You'll see what I mean. ;-)

Beneath The Surface

"What!" Sunderland was confused, desperate for Kurtis to complete the ritual. "What are you talking about!"

Kurtis continued to regard him with a calculating gaze from his bowed head, his teeth bared slightly in the look of a man consumed by a vicious warrior instinct. "You'll see," he snarled.

His left hand jerked and the knife bit fiercely into his right palm, a small cry of pain escaping his lips. Breathing out harshly, he flicked his hand forcefully and several drops of blood flew from his skin, splattering onto the animal skin below them.

Stormy clouds rolled in across the moon from out of nowhere, thunder rumbling across the skies and flashes of lightning strobing across those gathered at the river.

Lara gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as gusts of wind snatched her hair from her braid and flicked it into her face where it was plastered against her cheeks by the rain beating down. It wasn't just the events of the ritual, she'd seen enough mythology spring to life in her time; it was Kurtis.

Previously frozen in place with his gaze fixed upon Sunderland as the storm began to rage around him, he now dived into action. He spun the knife in his hand and shoved it into his belt with the skill of an old expert and then advanced upon the others there with a murderous intent in his eyes. Panicking, prisoners forgotten, the soldiers dropped Lara and the others and scrabbled for their weapons, overcome by a terror uncharacteristic to such hardened combatants as themselves. Lara stumbled as she was shoved away to make a clear line of fire but she found her footing and stood her ground, staring at Kurtis with amazement as he stalked towards them. Knowing Kurtis as she did she was sure that his anger was not directed at her or her friends, but the others were not so sure and Fishman grabbed Maria's hand and began to back them away, fumbling for his gun as Hillary and Bryce, lacking Lara's confidence, scrambled out of Kurtis' path.

The mercenaries opened fire at last, fingers pressed down on triggers in a constant stream of bullets, but it was useless. The Lux Veritatis only continued to march forwards undeterred, the bullets fading into nothingness as they neared his chest. He thrust his arm forwards and Lara braced herself for the invisible impact, but none came. Cries sounded around her and she stared around, eyes darting in shock, as she saw the mercenaries flying backwards through the air, limbs flailing as they and only they succumbed to Kurtis' telekinesis. Her eyes returned to him, locking onto his but receiving no gaze in return.

The thundering of waves attracted everyone's attention and screams of terror rang out as the waters of the nearby sea erupted upwards, the continual sparking of lightning reflecting off the chaotic waters as the wavefronts crashed back down again, revealing in their midst a rising, dripping giant of glistening ebony skin, golden features, and the head of a jackal. Anubis.

All except Kurtis were frozen by shock and fear, lying prone on the ground or ready to run on their feet, staring up at the impossible entity. Kurtis turned and dropped to his knees, head bowed in a show of subservience.

The creature spoke, its voice ear splitting with volume. "For I am your servant; your voice rouses me from my slumber. Arise, messenger of my lord. The Gates are open."

Kurtis raised his head, staring up at the one addressing him before slowly getting to his feet, standing tall and proud even as Anubis' head bowed in respect. The storm increased in intensity and the waters of the river at Kurtis' feet began to bubble, quietly at first but gradually gaining. Kurtis broke the spell over them as he turned and sprinted towards the nearest floored soldier, stopping them as they moved to rise with a hefty punch to their head. Grabbing their semi-automatic and pistol, he leapt back to his feet and fired a bullet between their eyes before strafing away and opening fire on the others, Anubis forgotten as the battle returned.

Regaining her senses, Lara landed a spinning kick on the soldier that had taken her weapons, following it up with a punch to their cheek as they reeled and then another kick to their stomach, leaping onto them as they fell and retrieving her pistols before following Kurtis' lead and killing them instantly. She got back to her feet, skipping backwards towards Trent as she continued to fire on any and all.

Hillary, close by, darted forwards through the gunfire and grabbed the weapons from the soldier's body, taking one for himself and throwing the other to Bryce, who caught it and began an assault on those nearest to him as he raced for cover.

A scream rang out and Lara looked over, expecting to find Maria as the first casualty of their side, but the girl was rapidly firing on anything that moved as she continued to scream in a blind panic and then Lara realised why. Lying to Maria's side was Fishman, unmoving and his jacket rapidly darkening as blood began to seep from his chest. Ceasing fire, Lara braved the onslaught as she ran to him, dropping to her knees and feeling for a pulse as her other hand tore open his clothing, but Fishman was dead and there was no hope. The bullet had taken a direct path to his heart.

Lara's gaze slid to Kurtis, who caught it and immediately understood her meaning.

"Bryce! Hillary!" he cried out over the noise, "Get her out of here! Run!"

Lara leapt forwards and grabbed Maria's hand, pulling her across the battlefield as they sprinted for Hillary. She shoved Maria to him, Hillary catching her as she fell. "Go!" Lara ordered. "Now!" Her voice carried to Bryce and, crouching low, he ran to them, grabbing Maria's hand as Hillary took her other and then they made their escape under the safety of Lara's cover fire.

They were drastically outnumbered and Anubis was only standing still, his head still bowed, impassive to the actions of the humans below him.

Kurtis' protection was apparently no longer working, as his cry attracted Lara's attention and she looked over, horrified, to find him fallen to one knee, a hand clutching his side and his face etched in pain.

"Kurtis!" All thoughts of covering him as he made his way over to escape with her left her mind and she raced across the bank once again to his side. "Are you alright!" she called out, and then she was at his side and dropped to her knees, still firing in an effort to keep them both alive.

Another figure began to tear across the battlefield from out of the bushes, attracting Kurtis' attention. "Sunderland!" he realised. "Lara! Stop him!"

Lara dived for Sunderland's legs, tackling him to the ground and wrestling against him for supremacy, the two rolling on the ground in a storm of arms and legs and punches and kicks. "Kurtis!" she cried out, "We've got to get out of here!"

Kurtis was gone. She gasped as she realised he wasn't where she'd left him but then her eyes found him again. Their efforts having reduced the number of enemies enough for Harding to risk escape amidst the bullets, he was running over the grass towards the road with Trent hard on his heels. Distracted from her fight with Sunderland, she stopped and stared as Kurtis dove on Harding and brought him hard to the ground, ignoring the gunfire raining down on them. For one horrible moment she thought he didn't stand a chance, but then she realised that not all the soldiers were concentrating their efforts on him and when one dropped from a bullet apparently fired by no-one it dawned on her that Bryce and Hillary must still be around and providing cover for them from somewhere safe in the bushes.

A little laugh of relief escaped her and then a fist connected with her jaw and her attention was quickly brought back to Sunderland.

"Kurtis!" she cried out again, getting pushed onto her back as Sunderland managed to gain the upper hand, "We've got to get out of here!" He didn't listen, just engaged himself in his own wrestling match and Lara groaned as she was punched in the stomach. Subdued by the hit, Lara could only lie breathless for a moment as Travis got to his feet and made for the water's edge, the river now bubbling and boiling ferociously.

"Kurtis!" Lara screamed again, crawling to her knees.

He could hear her shouting for him to escape with her, but Kurtis took no notice. He had something to do first. "You tortured me!" he spat at Harding, clawing at his face as Harding sought to tighten his hands around Kurtis' neck. Vincent didn't answer, just snarled angrily and then cried out as Kurtis' fingernail scratched hard over his eyelid. The pain and his sense of self preservation brought his hands away from Trent's throat and clutched to his own face, and Kurtis took the chance to return the gesture and wrap his hand around Harding's throat, squeezing to quieten him and pressing down hard to hold him still.

The other hand went to his belt and took hold of the knife. As he raised it above his victim, he revelled for a moment in the look of fear in Vincent's eyes. "Kurtis!" Lara screamed to him again. "He's not worth it!"

"I owe you," Trent breathed with venom, and then he sank the blade deep into Harding's chest. The man screamed in pain and fear, and Kurtis allowed himself a small sadistic smile before jumping to his feet and racing for Lara.

Travis had reached the edge of the bank and now fell to the floor, laughing to himself in relief and mania. Reaching out, he made to cup some of the torrid waters in his palms and drink, but a weight landed on top of him and his face was shoved hard into the mud.

"You wanna drink?" Kurtis' malicious voice sounded from above him. Kurtis scrambled from off of Travis' back and a hand pulled him up by his hair as another helped the way with his arm. "Be my guest!" Kurtis shoved him, hard, and Sunderland fell forward, howling, into the waters. The strong current swept him towards the sea, his arms flailing as he fought against the waters.

The gunfire still rained down on them and Lara and Kurtis stood on the bank, ducked under the onslaught and firing back in a vain effort to stay alive.

"We'll never make it!" Lara yelled.

"Do you trust me?" Trent shouted back.

"Of course!"

"Then jump!" Kurtis took her hand and pulled her with him as he turned and leapt into the bubbling waters. Holding onto each other for dear life, they too were swept away towards the mouth of the river, tossing, turning, spinning and spluttering. They disappeared beneath the waves of the sea and the waters settled themselves as Anubis faded from view, the storm dissipating with him and the calm waters where his body previously stood acting as if they had never been displaced in the first place.

Staring in shock from their hiding place in the bushes, Bryce and Hillary with a sobbing Maria stopped firing. With no more attack against them, the remaining mercenaries, still led by Anna, lowered their own weapons, and silence descended on the still and moonlit riverbank.

Hillary swallowed, and then spoke, reciting the passage he had found in the library. "He was swept deep, taken down into the underworld, and the warrior was seen no more."

Bryce could only let out a shuddering breath.