Disclaimer: Mummies Alive belong to DIC
Author Note: Sorry no excuses really. I hope you forgive me for my tardiness. One more after this to go. Will be up soon. Promise!
Chapter Seven
Presley was jolted awake as his body was dropped in an undignified manner on a stone table. He groaned loudly and murmured something that sounded like profanity. Then slowly he cracked open one eye and glanced around. Emerald orbs scanned the room with a mature resignation to his fate.
"Father," Presley mouthed locking eyes with Paul was being restrained on the other side of the room by no less than four shabtis. Paul was shaking his head violently as if to tell Presley to hang onto hope.
Hope. Such a futile word for ones such as they in their situation. Presley closed his eyes and cringed on thinking how close the Pharaoh was to receiving the soul of Rapses back. Now it seemed delusion to hold to that hope.
Presley was faintly aware of his legs being shackled down and his one good wrist held up above his head. He offered no resistants just a low moan of protest and he locked eyes with his mortal enemy.
If Scarab felt any shame or guilt over what he was about to do; he did not show it. Then Presley thought of all the years the man had spent just to take his life. A half life really; a life lived only to take another's.
"No. I won't let you do this," Paul was saying on his side of the room.
Scarab ignored him and ran his wrinkly palm down the smooth surface of Presley's cheek. "So long I have haunted you. Tonight it ends."
Presley sucked in his breath and as regally and indifferently he could. "I know."
"He's my son you bastard!" Paul was screaming pulling against the shabtis with all his might. Scarab looked mildly impressed by Paul's failing efforts to free himself. "He's my son!"
"Do you think for a moment that you will be able to live life once I'm dead?" Presley asked innocently.
Scarab laughed haughtily and glanced at the two other Egyptians in the room. "Behold Prince Rapses son of the most regal Highness, Pharaoh Amenhotep."
"We just came for the spell, Scarab," one of the Egyptians complained. "Not a macabre show."
"That's my son…." Paul screeched. "My son, Jermal, that you are condemning to death!"
Jermal shrugged indifferently. "He would have died sooner or later with or without my help."
"I would have preferred later," Paul snapped.
"I second that," Presley quipped dryly. He turned his head towards Paul. "I'm so sorry…"
"Enough of this pleasant chat… to business gentleman," Scarab hissed all the while caressing his long gold staff Heka.
'
'
Pharaoh led the way down the corridors, his head held high and his strides strong and even. The three guardians followed more meekly in their sovereigns wake down the darkened corridors.
Scarab's lair was simple, boring and mostly in the shadows. Ja – Kal shivered as if he could feel the evil that was around him. Armon had his large hands over his belly; Rath was sure the larger guardian would have announced that he was hungry only Pharaoh was with them and it was hardly appropriate timing. But timing never really mattered to Armon where his stomach was concerned.
Raised voices to their right; alerted the guardians to the danger. Ja – Kal wasted no time.
"With the strength of RA!" He pulled out his gold bow and notched one of his deadly arrows indicating silently for the others to follow him. He took the mantle of leader in instinct, forgetting Pharaoh was with them once more.
Pharaoh grimaced wryly. He supposed he would have to become accustomed to the guardians' new attitudes. The future it seemed had effected them; changed them; moulded them to warriors befitting of a modern prince he supposed. But that didn't mean he had to like it.
'
'
Presley winced as cold finger tips were pressed firmly to his temple. He blinked away any unshed tears as he did not want Scarab to see that he was genuinely frightened. Above him strange words were uttered while the other Egyptians looked on as if he was a school science experiment. The older of the two was watching the door…
"Ah, Scarab I believe you've got the spell wrong…" the older Egyptian said confidently. He started to stride over.
Scarab's concentration was ruined and Presley felt himself being momentarily released from his grip. "No I was quite perfectly right, Mukasah."
"You mixed up the tenses," Mukasah insisted. "Shall I have a go."
"I did not mix up any tenses," Scarab scoffed turning his back on Presley. "Whose the ancient Egytian here?"
"Forgive me, milord. But you most certainly did utter the wrong tense…" Jermal added in jovially.
This conversation continued for a few more minutes. If Presley wasn't tied down to a stone table to have his ancient soul removed he would have found it funny. It continued until Scarab was splattering in rage and the door burst open.
"And now the cavalry arrives," Mukasah muttered. "I expected them a long time ago now."
Scarab glanced at Jermal and Mukasah in horror as if they had gone and grown to heads. "YOU WERE APART OF THIS…" he screeched.
"Release my son," Pharaoh boomed across the room.
Scarab started to retreat slowly… Paul had finally released himself from the shabtis, the useless dirt robots, and yelled a war cry before ramming himself into the ancient magician.
Ahmed, who had been peacefully quiet throughout the whole proceeding, had been freed by Mukasah.
"Should we help him?" Ahmed said to Mukasah watching as Paul was pommelling his fists into Scarab as hard as he could.
Mukasah winced as a particularly nasty punch collected Scarab's jaw. "Help Scarab escape Mr. Carnarvon or help Mr. Carnarvon pummel Scarab into the ground."
Ahmed merely snorted in reply. "Looks like those creepy guardians are making short work of those statue guys." Mukasah and Jermal looked mildly amused at the stone rubble that was scattered about the room.
"Hmm," Jermal nodded to where Ja-Kal was flying about the room. "Nothing will stop that one."
"Pharaoh does not look to happy either," Mukasah murmured.
As Mukasah made his comment, Paul stepped away from Scarab's battered body. The evil sorcerer was curled up comically into a foetal position whimpering pathetically.
Paul turned to the stone table where Presley was watching him with large frightened emerald eyes. Cutting his son's bonds he helped Presley to sit up. He noticed however that Presley's eyes were trained on Scarab's slumped form.
"He won't be coming for you ever again, kiddo," Paul soothed brushing his hand along Presley's sweat brow. "Let's get you to hospital, eh?"
"Dad…" Presley sighed in frustration.
Paul said nothing but scooped Presley into his arms. "Dad I'm not an invalid. I can walk you know."
Paul sniffed in return and glanced at Jermal and Mukasah. "I take it you have a car nearby."
"Lift to the hospital Carnarvon?" Jermal quizzed.
Pharaoh however had misinterpreted Paul's intentions and stepped between him and the door. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and eyebrow dangerously lifted. "Halt," Pharaoh rapt out in a commanding tone that could in itself stop the Nile from flowing. "Take your hands off him."
"Erm… Presley who is this character? Another guardian you 'forgot' to mention?" Paul whispered in Presley's ear none to quietly.
Presley would have laughed at Pharaoh's indignant expression if his whole body didn't hurt.
"Dad, this is," Presley cleared his throat loudly looking from one man to the other clearly marking the similarities. "Pharaoh Amenhotep."
Paul stared at the Pharaoh then true to his carefree manner he replied steadily, "Nice to meet you. Now if you don't mind kindly move so I can pass."
This time Presley did snort in laughter causing a spasm of pain to run through his body. The Pharaoh looked at first murderous at the retort then his anger slowly melted into amusement.
"Where are you taking him?" Pharaoh asked genuinely inquired concern written over his face.
"To hospital he needs medical treatment," Paul replied his grip on Presley tightened slightly.
"Will you allow me access to my son's soul?"
"Will it cause death? Or injury? Or take Presley away from me?" Paul demanded a little too harshly, clearly remembering what Scarab was planning to do to his son. "Because I won't allow you near him if you mean us harm."
Pharaoh shook his head understanding his dilemma. "No. Rapses' soul belongs with me as Presley belongs to you. Rapses' soul is apart of Presley but it is not his whole self. They are both simultaneously the same and separate entities. No harm shall befall Presley."
Paul glanced over his shoulder to regard Ja-Kal. He knew this guardian to be a favourite of Presley's and the hunter was extremely protective of Presley. Ja – Kal gave a small nod in agreement to the Pharaoh's statement.
"Very well. Hospital visit first then we can see about this soul switcheroo thingy," Paul said carrying Presley out of the chamber.
Pharaoh glanced over his the guardians who were standing over Scarab. "I shall leave him in your capable hands."
"Never get in between a lion and his cub," Pharaoh heard Ja – Kal say before there was a muffled oomph! Pharaoh grinned to himself and followed Paul Carnarvon out to the 'ka.'