Chapter Ten

"The Look"

Seti's Palace

Thebes, Egypt

1298 BC

The doors to the dining hall had never opened so quickly, as when Lord Imhotep madly dashed through their opening to the empty hallway located on the other side. He had abruptly excused himself from the table, after appearing pale and wan, claiming to have suddenly taken ill, and that he should vacate the room so as not to endanger The Pharaoh. Seti had hastily agreed, dismissing him from his presence, as a piece of meat had dangled from his moistened lips.

Now alone and clutching a hand over his stomach, Imhotep was doubled over and gagging as he fought to hold down his food, but it was a futile battle and he headed straight for the first thing that he saw: A large planter located against the far wall.

Immediately falling to his knees, sick with hatred and disgust, his mind flashed with images of the precious fingers belonging to Anck-su-namun, as their pharaoh savored them as though they were a rare delicacy. The lascivious visions were beyond anything he could take and Imhotep gave into the inevitable, vomiting into the planter what small portion of dinner he had managed to take in.

The acid from his stomach burned in his throat and a powerful ache launched an assault within his chest and stomach from the muscles contracting so violently, as a vile taste was left in his mouth. Not once had he experienced anything like this; he had never been sick a day in his life.

Breathing hard, he closed his eyes, trying to relax, but he could still see it; Seti's abhorrent tongue wriggling its way inside Anck-su-namun's ear, his teeth biting on her lobe. Imhotep flung his eyes open, wanting to make the appalling images vanish, but was met with something he had not expected.

"Eat something that disagreed with you, My Friend?" came a voice from behind, one belonging to Asim.

Imhotep wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his robes and curled his lips into a tiny, misplaced smile, as he stood to face his lifelong friend.

"Stating the obvious has always been one of your strong suits," he commended with a hint of venom, as he stared at Asim with a sardonic, twisted expression, "…My Brother…" added for extra effect.

The Med-jai only gave a kind smile. "Something troubling you?"he simply asked. "I came to see if you were alright?"

Imhotep fought back the rage that he was feeling compelled to unleash once more upon Asim. It seemed to build as though it held a life of its very own, especially after having seen the way the Med-jai had been eyeing Anck-su-namun when Seti had not been looking. The poor girl had appeared terrified whenever he had done so and had seemed to do everything within her power to avoid all eye contact with Nefertiri's loyal bodyguard. She had even kissed Seti once when he had looked upon her, sickening Imhotep beyond words.

"What did you say to Anck-su-namun?" he lashed out, accusingly. Asim raised his eyebrows and looked down at Imhotep innocently.

"Whatever do you mean? I have spoken nothing to the woman," he replied, keeping and even stare back into Imhotep's eyes.

Imhotep rolled his eyes and turned from his friend with growl. "Don't lie to me. You have gone behind my back and spoken to Anck-su-namun. Do not play me for a fool. I am far more powerful than you could ever hope to be."

"Powerful?" scoffed Asim, feeling surprised by this turn of events. Imhotep had clearly changed from the man he had once called "brother…" "Are you threatening me?" he felt compelled to ask.

"If that is what needs to be done to find answers to my questions," replied Imhotep with conviction. He was not going to let anything more befall Anck-su-namun. He felt inclined to protect her, even if it meant confronting and opposing his best friend.

"So… it has come to this, has it? Of all our years of trust and brotherhood, you turn on me for a whore?" concluded the Med-jai.

Imhotep looked Asim straight in the eyes, showing no signs that he would back down. "Tell me what I want to know."

Asim sighed and shook his head at the High Priest. How he missed his friend. Would he ever get him back? "It is none of your concern. You would do best to stay out of it for your sake and for hers."

Imhotep laughed and threw his head back, before speaking again. "'For my sake and for hers…'"

"Yes. Don't be a fool, Imhotep. Do you know how much you would be throwing away and all for a woman who does not even deserve to be spit upon by you?"

Imhotep growled again and sneered at Asim, stepping closer to him and getting directly in his face. "What did you say to her? This is the last time I will be asking."

"All you need to know is that whatever I said was to protect the both of you. You think I would care to see the downfall of my dearest friend?"

Imhotep didn't say anything. He just glared at the man before him, silently brooding. After several moments, he spoke.

"If I were you, I would stay out my affairs. I am capable of handling the situation and do not need your 'protection,' as you call it," he hissed. Why did Asim insist on meddling so much? He had a forbidden love of his own; Imhotep had even put them together! Was this the "thanks" his "friend" had for him? He felt betraye. Asim had gone behind his back and interfered. How could he trust him now?

The Med-jai's gaze softened suddenly, "Why are you so protective then over Anck-su-namun if you swear to love her not?"

Silence came again between the two and Asim wished with all his might that Imhotep would at least admit it to him if he still considered him to be a close and personal friend, but all the High Priest did was focus a hard stare back into his eyes.

"I don't love her and if I am protective over her, what of it? You saw how badly beaten she was. I am High Priest. How can I just stand idly by when someone is suffering so? She could have died and you know it, so don't come to me accusing me of feelings I could never possibly to possess!"

Asim only shook his head. The defensive reaction Imhotep so adamantly portrayed gave it all away. This was not like him at all. "I am sorry, but that is something that I cannot believe. I am sorry, My Friend, but please understand that what I have done was for your own good. If you truly do love this girl, you will not pursue her, for you will bring nothing but pain to the both of you… and loss…"

Imhotep averted his eyes and looked to the ground, as together the two men stood in the quiet of the halls. Imhotep understood that what Asim had done was with the best of intentions, but it was impossible to accept. He was now even more lost than before. What had once seemed as the right and true path now seemed blurred and corrupt. He didn't know what to do…

The doors to the dining room suddenly parted, revealing to the two men within the corridor the Princess Nefertiri, her head held high. She stopped when she saw her faithful bodyguard and the High Priest loitering before her. A look of concern and confusion came over her, as she stepped over to the both of them, the doors being pulled shut behind her.

"What is going on? Is everything alright? Imhotep, are you feeling any better?" she asked with worry in her voice. A look passed between Imhotep and her lover.

"It is nothing, My Dear Princess… All is… taken care of," answered Asim, with a deep breath. "It appears that the mighty Imhotep has become the victim of a slight cold," he said with a slight expression of amusement.

Surprised by this, Imhotep looked up at Asim. He would not turn him over for his feelings? A renewed respect for their friendship suddenly set in and he found himself giving in to a smile of his own.

Nefertiri reached out her hand and rubbed Imhotep's shoulder. "Then you should be in bed," she scolded, lightly."I will appoint your second in command to handle your duties at the temples, as well as any preparations for the festival until you are well again."

Imhotep appeared to give a somber smirk. "I am fine. Thank you," he said, rather curtly, which caused the princess to take her hand back with some uncertainty.

What had come over Imhotep?

"Come. I will escort you back to your chambers, Princess" interrupted Asim, as he took her by the arm in an attempt to avert her attentions from the High Priest, but Nefertiri pulled herself away and stepped once more over to Imhotep. She leaned in close, never one to give up when she sensed there was something deeply wrong.

"Are you certain that everything is alright?"

Imhotep turned his head away from Nefertiri and looked at Asim with a small, ironic smirk on his face, before addressing the princess. "I am not the one you should be asking that question to," he replied, before he began to walk off down the hall, his robes flowing behind him.

When he was far enough away, Nefertiri turned to Asim in great perplexity.

"What was all that about?" she asked, hooking her arm with his. Her escort just shrugged.

"I haven't a clue; he wouldn't tell me. You know how Imhotep is. I'm sure he's fine," he insisted, beginning to lead his princess into the opposite direction the High Priest had gone.

Quietly, Nefertiri laid her head upon his strong shoulder. She was exhausted and all this worry and curiosity was beginning to take its toll on her. Her thoughts came back to the suspicious happenings of the dining hall… but her head was suddenly lifted when she heard the clicking of doors from behind them. She turned just enough to see Anck-su-namun standing in the hall now… and she was looking rather longingly in Imhotep's direction.

Nefertiri's eyebrows knitted more closely together at this. What was going on? There was something between those two… of that she was certain. She just didn't know exactly what. Her distrust of Anck-su-namun grew to new heights, as two servants suddenly flanked the mistress, causing Anck-su-namun to straighten and tense, before turning her head from that direction and into Princess Nefertiri's.

Their eyes crossed paths ever so briefly, and the princess could see the fear of knowing when one had been caught in the other's black eyes, at least until Anck-su-namun nervously averted her distrustful gaze to the floor and walked after her servants toward her chambers.

"Did you see that?" Nefertiri wasted no time in getting to the point. Her father had brought her up to not dance around the subject at hand.

"See what?" asked Asim, looking down the hall, as though he were trying to figure it out.

Nefertiri shook her head. "Nevermind… I guess I was just seeing things, that's all…" she said instead, but secretly her mind was reeling to figure it all out. What exactly had that look been about?

Her thoughts brought her back to the that night a week ago when Anck-su-namun had been presented to the kingdom… Imhotep had truly not been himself that night, upset and reclusive… more so than usual…

Suddenly the princess' heart skipped a beat and she gasped mentally.

No… she thought. It wasn't possible! Or… was it? Were they, or was Imhotep at least, in love?

Nefertiri instantly turned her head to Asim again. "Are you sure everything is going to be alright?" she asked for reassurance. She would trust Asim's word, even if she couldn't trust Anck-su-namun… and she wasn't so sure anymore how much she trusted the High Priest…

"My Princess, I would never lie to you. Everything is and will be fine. Do not worry," he comforted, stopping to kiss her forehead, before they turned the corner.

Nefertiri nodded and pursed her lips together in thought. She still sensed something was up and she was beginning to feel quite certain that Imhotep housed feelings for that whore, but Asim had never steered her wrong… and so, she would believe him, but that did not mean that she would let down her guard…