Disclaimer: Same as usual. I, unfortunately, don't own anything except my OC. But a girl can wish, right?
We rode through most of the night, only stopping for water when it was absolutely necessary. We made it back to Cairo in record time. I was scared, I'll admit it. That thing wasn't going to stop just because we had left Hamunaptra, I was certain. I wasn't even sure an ocean was enough to stop him. Jack and Daniels, however, thought that getting home would bring some safety so they dropped me and Bernard off at the fort and went to the docks to secure us passage back to America.
Gosh, Berny. He moaned and groaned the whole way back and if he had been able to cry, I'm sure he would have been doing that too. I had no idea how to help him, so I got him situated in the rooms that were made available for us and wrapped his head with gauze. "You're going to be ok Berny. I'm going to get you home." I promised him.
"Peggy, how're you going to pull that off?" he asked, or I assume that's what he was asking. I gently put my hand on his cheek in an attempt to comfort him. He flinched at first, having no warning beforehand but leaned into it, calming down. We sat like this for a little while, trying to process everything that had happened and everything that was yet to come.
That was where Jack and Daniels found us. They came barging in, banging the door, causing both Bernard and me to jump about a foot in the air. "Oh, for goodness' sake Jack! I know Mama has told you about the proper way to enter a room and it's not by making as much noise as possible."
"Sorry Peggy. We have good news, and not so good news." He said sheepishly.
"Just spit it out." Daniels said impatiently, walking over to Bernard to check on him. I heard Berny mumble as best he could that he was ok but much like me, Daniels wasn't convinced of this.
"We were able to find a boat that was leaving for America and get spots on it."
"But?" I asked.
"It doesn't leave until tomorrow." And there was the catch.
"Ok. Well lets pack everything up and get ready to leave first thing in the morning," I said. They just looked at me, blinking with confusion. "I'm not your servant. I'm packing up Berny's things and my own. The two of you go back to your rooms and pack your shit up or it's staying here." I ordered. That got them up and moving and out the door. Knowing that it wouldn't take me long to gather up Bernard's things, I went to work there first. I started in the bathroom, gathering his razor and shaving cream, as well as the rest of his toiletries from the shelf by the tub. Gathering everything in my arms, I went back out into the main room and neatly placed it all into one of his trunks. "I'll be right back Bernard. I'm going over to my room to start packing my things and clean myself up. I'll be back in thirty minutes." He nodded in response before going back to the tea I had set aside for him.
I walked across the hall and entered my rooms, leaving the door open just a little so I'd be able to hear Bernard if he needed me. Gathering my clothes from the closet, I placed them on the bed, folding them before reaching under the bed for my trunk and placing them inside. Finally, I couldn't take the feeling of dirt and sand and grime that had built up from days in the desert without a proper bath. Walking into my bathroom, I turned on the tub and added some of the bath salts that I had bought in the market when we first arrived in Cairo. Grabbing a fresh pair of undergarments along with a pair of riding pants and one of my nice flowy shirts, I set them on the small pouf in the bathroom by the vanity and got undressed.
I slowly sank into the tub, while the water was still running. The hot water felt amazing. I hadn't realized just how tightly I was wound until I could feel my muscles slowly start to return to normal. I sank lower, allowing the water to completely covering me, letting the world fall away for just a little. When I came back up, I noticed little rivets of red running down my chest. Opening my mouth, some that was running down my face ran into my mouth. When it hit my tongue, I gagged and spit it out, screaming. Blood, it was fucking blood!
I jumped out of the bathtub, slipping and falling on my ass in the process. I did my best to dry off and get the blood off of me. I quickly got dressed and ran over to Berny's room. The door was shut and locked. "Fuck!" I thought. I took my gun out of the holder by my side and shot off the handle, forcing it open. What I saw inside would be forever burned into my mind. That creature was standing over Bernard, mouth almost completely unhinged, sucking the life out of him. He dropped Berny back onto the chair, completely drained.
He turned to me and I couldn't hold back the gasp that came out. Before my very eyes he started regenerating. Skin started to form across his body. I shot at him, but it didn't seem to do anything. More shots came from behind me, and I turned to see Rick and Evy had entered the room behind me. The creature started coming at us and I pulled Evy over to the bookshelves and out of the way. In his frustration, the creature had picked Rick up and threw him into Jonathan, Daniels and Jack who had just come through the door. He walked over to us and I pulled Evy behind me. I had no idea why, but he seemed infatuated with her. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me across the room, where I landed on Jack.
"You saved me from the undead. I thank you." He spoke to Evy before moving to kiss her. I made to get up to stop him but before I could, something caused the piano to make a loud, jarring noise. Looking over, I saw a white cat on top of the keys, ears flat against its head hissing at the creature. He shrieked before spinning into a cloud of sand and blew out the window.
"We are in very serious trouble." Rick said, staring out the window in horrified amazement. I got up, freeing Jack to do the same.
"Are you ok?" he asked, taking in the state of my hair and red stained face. I was shaking, from fear, exhaustion or adrenaline I wasn't sure. All I could do was shake my head.
"I left him for five minutes max. I'm so sorry Berny." I wailed as I walked over to the chair where his body was, collapsing beside it. Jack came over and pulled me up, holding me against him in case I fell again. Daniels looked distraught, an emotion I never wanted to see on him. He might be an asshole, but he cared about Bernard, just like me.
I hadn't noticed I was still shaking until Daniels put his overcoat around my shoulders. I nodded in thanks, still not trusting my own voice. "We need answers." Rick said. We all nodded in agreement.
"And I know just where to go to get them." Evy said before walking out of the room, the rest of us trailing after her. We made it outside of the fort and Jonathan pulled his car up. Daniels got in the very back, a spot that was normally used for luggage, while Jack settled me in the back seat taking the spot behind the driver. Evy and Rick joined Jonathan in the front. Even in the desert heat, I was still shaking. I could feel Jack's eyes on me. I knew he was worried, but I just couldn't bring myself to say anything yet.
We drove through the streets of Cairo and got the Museum of Antiquities in no time at all. Parking out back, we all got out of the vehicle and made our way inside. "He does seem to like you, Evy." Jonathan pointed out.
"Yeah, what's that about?" Rick added.
"What's this guy want?" Jack asked.
"Well right now, I think what he wants is obvious," I muttered under my breath. They all turned and gave me a look. "What? He's already taken Bernard. It can't be that difficult to figure out at least part of his master plan." We were right outside one of the exhibits when we heard people talking in hushed voices inside.
"There's only one person I know who could possibly give us any answers." Evy said before turning into the exhibit and we came face to face with Ardeth and a man with a red fez hat. They both immediately stopped talking when we entered. "You?!" Evy said, loudly. Rick, Daniels and Jack all pulled their guns. Jonathan, fumbling a little pulled his out as well. I just leaned back against one of the walls, not making any movements to "diffuse" the situation with fire power.
"Miss Carnahan, Miss Henderson, gentlemen." He greeted us. I looked at him, confused. How did he know my name? I sent Ardeth a questioning look. Had he told his friend about me?
"What is he doing here?" Evy asked, pointing at Ardeth as if he was the bringer of death.
"Do you really want to know, or would you prefer to just shoot us?" he asked sarcastically.
"Put y'all's guns away before you embarrass yourselves." I hissed at them. "Violence isn't going to get us any answers." When none of them made to lower their weapons, I stood in front of Jack, looking at him expectantly, giving him the best mom stare I could manage. He lowered his, the rest of them doing the same.
"After what I just saw, I'm willing to have a little faith," came Rick's reply. I walked further into the room, nodding at Ardeth in greeting before seating myself on the floor in front of Seti I's chariot. The others followed my lead and Dr. Bey, who I now knew him to be, started explaining their history with this creature.
"We are part of an ancient secret society," he said. This caused me to snap my head up quickly, banging it against the chariot I was leaning against.
"Ow, sorry. Secret society? The Medjai?" I asked. Both Dr. Bey and Ardeth turned and looked at me, shock evident on their faces.
"How do you know this?" Ardeth asked, looking at me accusingly.
I held up my hands as a sign of submission. "Woah. Calm down. I had this dream while we were still out at Hamunaptra. Do you want me to explain this now? I thought we were in a bit of a hurry."
"Quite right, Miss Henderson. As I was saying, for over three thousand years, we have guarded the City of the Dead. We are sworn at manhood to do any and all in our power to stop the High Priest Imhotep from being reborn into this world." He finished, sitting down on the chair to my right.
"And now because of you we have failed." Ardeth added. I winced. 'Thanks for that.' I thought.
"You think this justifies the killing of innocent people?" Evy asked, disgusted.
"To stop this creature? Let me think…" Dr. Bey responded.
"YES!" both he and Ardeth shouted. Evy looked offended.
"You can't exactly blame them Evy. We've already seen some of what this thing is capable of. Some of us have felt first-hand what it is capable of," I said rubbing the spot on the back of my head where I collided with the wall in Bernard's room earlier. "And apparently it doesn't take much for curious, idiotic explorers to bring about the next apocalypse, so I would say they are justified in their actions." They all looked at me like I had grown an extra head. "You can't be surprised that I'm siding with them, can you?" I asked. "I told you that that chest shouldn't be opened. But you wouldn't listen to me." I said, this time turning my anger on my brother and Daniels. Neither one of them were happy with my accusations, throwing me dirty looks in the process.
In an attempt to diffuse the situation and change the heated subject, Rick raised his hand and asked, "Question, why doesn't he like cats?" I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped because of the look on his face.
"Cats are the guardians of the underworld. He will fear them until he is fully regenerated." Dr Bey explained.
"And then he will fear nothing." Ardeth added. I had to give them props. They were really good at finishing each other's sentences.
"And you wanna know how he gets himself fully regenerated?" Daniels asked in a panic.
"By killing everyone that opened that chest," Jack started.
"And sucking them dry, that's how." Daniels finished, several octaves above his normally deep voice. I took this time to look over at Jack. He sat stone-faced fiddling with his gun, but I knew him well enough that I could see the fear was starting to set in behind that I-couldn't-care-less attitude he was putting off. I started to panic. I was going to lose him. I already knew it. How could I stop this thing from killing him? What powers did I have to stand against some tripped out ancient priest on a revenge kick? I started to hyperventilate; my eyes wide as I tried to catch a breath that wouldn't come. Ardeth noticed this and kneeled down next to me, taking my hands and rubbing soothing circles against them. I looked into his eyes, barely registering what he was telling me. I don't know if it was the peace I saw in his deep brown eyes or the calmness in his voice, I found myself able to breathe normally again. I looked up and smiled at him. "Thank you." I said quietly. He nodded before stepping back.
I looked over and saw Jack hovering close by, staring daggers into the back of Ardeth's head. I looked at him, silently begging him to sit down and not start anything. Jack had a nasty habit of running men out of my life. While my mother might say it was my mouth, I knew it was because no man had met Jack's standards, which were higher than even our father's. I didn't know why Jack was so upset though. Ardeth was mostly a stranger to me. Besides one conversation, the only time we had spent in each other's presence was at the pointy end of the other's sword or dagger. Yeah, I found him insanely attractive and sweet, but that didn't mean anything.
"I'm fine Jack. Ease up a bit. The protective brother routine is getting old." I whispered just low enough that only he heard it.
"I don't like the way he looks at you." He said, glancing at Ardeth to ensure I knew who he was talking about.
"He looks at me no different than the rest of you," I said, "and even if he didn't, it's not your place to chase him off. If I don't appreciate his attention, I'll let him know."
Evy had ceased her pacing and turned back to Dr. Bey and Ardeth. "When I saw him at Hamunaptra, he called me Anck su Namun." She paused when we saw a look pass between Dr. Bey and Ardeth. "And then just now in Mr. Burns' quarters, he tried to kiss me." I gagged a little, both at the memory of a slightly fleshy skeleton trying to plant one on Evy but also how Berny looked when we found him. Jack sensing my discomfort, put his arm around my shoulders and just stood there with me.
"It's because of his love of Anck su Namun that he was cursed. Apparently, even after three thousand years…" Dr. Bey said.
"He is still in love with her." Ardeth finished.
"Yes, that is very romantic, but what has it got to do with me?" Evy asked, and honestly, I was a little scared to find out the answer.
"Perhaps he will once again try to raise her from the dead." Ardeth said, this time just to Dr. Bey.
"Yes. And it appears he has already chosen his human sacrifice." Dr. Bey concluded, both of them turning to look at Evy.
"Bad luck ol' mum." Jonathan said from his spot in the chariot above me.
"On the contrary, it may just give us the time we need to kill the creature." Dr. Bey said, thoughtfully. From my vantage point on the floor, I had a clear view of the skylight and noticed that something was coming into view. I stood up and tapped on Ardeth's shoulder. When he turned to me, I pointed up at the sky. Realization dawned on him as he moved towards the center of the room.
"We will need all the help we can get. His powers are growing." Ardeth said. By this point, the moon had almost completely eclipsed the sun, sending the room into an eerie glow. I shivered, feeling the effect of his power over us.
"'And he stretched forth his hand towards the heavens and there was darkness throughout the land of Egypt.'" Jonathan said.
"Thank you, Jonathan, that wasn't at all creepy." I said sarcastically.
"We need to get back to the safety of the fort." Rick said. Everyone nodded in agreement and made their way back to the car. I stayed back for a second.
"My brother needs me right now, but if you can meet in an hour, I'll tell you about the dream I had, Medjai." I told Ardeth. He nodded his head in agreement.
"One hour, back here."
"See you then," I said before turning to leave. I walked past my brother who I was expecting to follow me out. When he didn't, I turned and looked at him, silently asking him what he was doing. He shook his head and nodded for me to wait for him downstairs.
Jack's POV
I didn't like that my sister and this guy were so fascinated by each other. They had only met a couple of times and I could see all over my sister's face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it, that she felt some type of something for this guy. And based on the way he worked her through her attack, I was willing to put money on him feeling some sort of something for her too. I also knew that I probably wasn't going to make it through the night, not with how everything was heading. I needed someone to protect her when I wouldn't be around to do it myself. "We need to talk." I said to him.
He led me out of the room and into a smaller alcove across the hall, looking at me expectantly to start talking. "You and I both know this isn't going to end well for me, or Daniels for that matter. There's not a lot of people I trust to keep her safe. Even fewer on this side of the world. But for some reason, you and she seem to be fond of each other," at this Ardeth looked like he was going to say something, "I don't really need an explanation. I just need your word that you'll do whatever it takes to get her through this shit and get home to our family in one piece."
He looked shocked at my bluntness but nodded his head in agreement. "You have my word." I extended my hand, and he shook it, sealing our agreement. With that we turned and walked back to the entrance, where Peggy and the rest of them were waiting for me.
Peggy's POV
I looked up when I heard footsteps heading our way, signaling that Jack was finished with his talk with Ardeth. I gave him a questioning look, but he just shook his head. I turned back to Ardeth, hoping that he might be able to give me some insight into what they had discussed but he seemed determined to look anywhere but at me. Confused, I followed the rest of the group out of the museum as we headed back to the fort.
We were all holed up in Evy's room, trying to figure a way out of this nightmare. "We must stop him from regenerating. Who opened that chest?" Evy asked.
"Well, there was me and Daniels here. And Burns, of course." Jack rattled off. I turned and walked towards a bench on the far side of the room. Bernard's death was going to haunt me for the rest of my life, I was sure of it.
"And that Egyptologist fellow." Daniels added.
"What about my buddy Beni?" Rick asked.
"Nah, he pretty much scrammed out of there before we could open the damn thing." Daniels said.
"Yeah, he was the smart one." Jack said.
"I wouldn't call him smart. More like self-serving and narcissistic." I said from my spot in the corner.
"Yeah, that sounds like Beni." Rick said.
"What about you Peggy?" Evy asked.
"As soon as the curse was mentioned, I was forced out of the ruins, so I'm clean, so to speak." I said, frowning at Jack as I did so. Not that I wanted to die, but I shouldn't be allowed to live while he died for something that I started.
"Now we need to find the Egyptologist and bring him back to the safety of the fort." Evy suggested.
"Right. She stays here. You three, come with me." Rick ordered, pointing to Jonathan, Daniels and Jack. Everyone started yelling at once with Daniels and Jack determined to stay put, Jonathan not wanting to leave either and Evy on a mission to go along.
"You're staying here too. Just because he's not after you doesn't mean I want you running around out there looking for him, trying to get yourself killed." Jack informed me.
"And what do any of you know of Ancient Egyptian curses besides Evy? You're going to need me!" I yelled at him.
In the process of Evy and I voicing our displeasure of the way things were going, Rick picked her up like a sack of potatoes and tossed her into her room, with Jack doing the same to me. "Jack, when I get out of here, you're dead! That mummy isn't going to be able to use you for your fluids by the time I'm through with you! There won't be anything left!"
"O'Connell, you are not leaving me in here!" Evy shouted as Rick closed the door, locking us both inside.
"Oh, this is ridiculous! We're supposed to just sit here like lame ducks while they go out and try not to fuck things up any more than they already have?!" I exclaimed.
"Jonathan if you don't open this door right now!" Evy was still trying to reason with them. I had an ear to the door trying to figure out what exactly was going on outside.
"Evy, shush. I think Rick and your brother have left."
"They wouldn't."
"I'm pretty sure I just heard the door close. And I only hear Jack and Daniels out there right now." I said, before putting my ear back to the door. I heard Jack fiddling with his gun and Daniels pacing, mumbling under his breath, but other than that, it was quiet in the other room. "Try and get some sleep. Who knows when we'll be able to do that again." I told her. Evy grabbed her nightgown before going behind a partition in the room for some privacy. I looked away and found some of Evy's books on the desk in the corner. Flipping through them, I found a biography on Seti I and settled into a plush armchair to read it.
Time was slowly ticking by and Rick and Jonathan hadn't returned yet, which didn't bode well. Evy was in a dead sleep, completely unaware of the world around her. I'll admit I was a little jealous. I was wired, twitchy even. I heard Daniels start to complain and shout that he was going to get something to drink. And of course, Jack, being Jack, shouted down the hall for him to get him some bourbon. Even during a crisis that could land him dead, my brother was willing to risk death for bourbon.
"Don't worry about the door." I heard Jack say before I heard the door click. Leaning against the door, trying to hear him better. I heard him start to mess around with his gun again, causing me to roll my eyes. This boy didn't need any more excitement, yet here he was messing with his gun. I heard the wind howl and Jack gasp. I heard him cock his gun, and some voices in the wind but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
I started banging on the door. "Jack don't you dare go messing with that! Get back here and let me out!" It got really quiet for a second, and I naively thought we were going to be ok when I heard the wind howl again and start blowing in the other room. I heard this deep, guttural scream that sounded like it came straight from the depths of the underworld, and a thud as Jack got thrown to the floor. I was crying and banging against the door, trying my hardest to break the damn thing down.
The screaming continued but now it wasn't just that of the monster, I heard Jack screaming too. I stood there, still banging the door, crying, pleading with whoever was listening upstairs to save Jack. I heard a weird gurgle noise and then the sound of something dropping to the floor. The wind picked up again and I saw sand start coming in through the keyhole. I grabbed my gun and shrank into a corner. From the sand, I saw the creature start to take shape, more man than the skeleton he was the last time I saw him. I knew that he had gotten to the Egyptologist, as well as my brother. Nope, stop yourself Peggy. Now is not the time to fall apart. I raised my gun, trying to distract him from Evy. "Hey ugly!" I shouted, trying to distract him.
He seemed amused by me. He smirked and stalked towards me. I was already in a corner so all I could do was watch as he approached me. He brought his hand up to my head and taped my temple. My eyes rolled back into my head and I crumpled to the floor, darkness taking me.
I came to in a beautiful golden room, bathed in sunlight. Trying my best to shield my eyes from the extremely bright sun, I made to sit up. I looked around and found myself in a temple wearing a gorgeous dress, like an Egyptian queen of old. I walked over to the balcony and saw the Nile river below with boats floating in its breathtaking blue waters. But these weren't the modern boats that I used to seeing on the river. Movement to my right caused me to turn. I saw a woman with the head of a lioness. "Sekhmet." I whispered, recognizing the Egyptian warrior goddess.
"Chosen One, I have waited a long time for you," She said. "It is an honor to meet you." At this she gave a slight bow.
"What do you mean, chosen one?" I asked, confused and if I'm being perfectly honest, a little terrified.
"It was said since the time that Imhotep was cursed that he was destined to rise again. The Pharaohs, fueled by their desire to prevent this, tasked the Medjai with guarding the resting place of Imhotep, a task that has proven futile, as you can now see. To ensure that the Medjai would not be completely decimated, as Imhotep vowed to exact his revenge on them for stopping the ritual and cursing him with the Hom Dai, the Medjai made a pact with me to bless them with a warrior that would be able to protect them from the wrath of Imhotep. That protector is you." She explained. I was staring at her, wide-eyed at this point, in disbelief.
"How am I supposed to protect them? I'm just one person, I was only taught how to use a gun. How can I be much help?" The questions just flew out of my mouth, coming out all garbled and meshed together. She smiled at me. I'm sure she thought it was reassuring but to me, it reminded me of a predator smiling at its prey right before it goes in for the kill.
"You are my vessel in the mortal realm. I will guide you and give you the strength you need to fulfill your purpose. You won't need to protect the whole of the Medjai. Their chieftain will be traveling with you. Keep him safe. He holds his people in his heart. Should anything happen to him, the twelve tribes will fall to ruin and legend."
"So, no pressure, right?" I asked her sarcastically. She just smiled again before tapping my temple, much like Imhotep had done. I collapsed to the ground, once again surrounded by darkness.
AN: Please don't hate me for killing off Jack. I spent a lot of time thinking of a way to maybe avoid it but in order to preserve the original story and where I wanted to take my character, I needed to sacrifice him. That doesn't mean it felt good though. Thank you so much to those who favorited and followed this story. I'm still working out the kinks in my writing and this has given me encouragement. Thank you kidameko for your lovely review. I've already grown to love Margaret and I'm glad that you find her as likeable as I do.