Tag #20 – Seduction

Daniel couldn't believe the selfish concerns of his so-called 'friends'. They didn't care about studying the sarcophagus, even though it could save lives? They didn't care about Shyla's predicament? Hell, they didn't even care about him!

"All right, look," Jack started to say.

Daniel whirled around, trembling with rage. "No, YOU LOOK, JACK!" he spat out, jabbing a finger at the filthy colonel. "I have got EVERYTHING under control, OKAY? GOD, you never show me any respect!" He felt the shaking increase, and he knew he was due for another little 'nap'. "No time for that now; don't let them see your weakness."

Daniel forced himself to calm down a little. "Your way didn't work," he continued, in disbelief that he actually had to spell it out for them. "Now I'm handling it. All you guys have to do is hang in there!"

He waited for some acknowledgement, but all they did was stare dumbly at him. Annoyed, he shook his head and stormed out of the mine.

"They're stubborn fools," a voice whispered in his ear. "They're afraid of the power you're gaining."

"Yes…" He felt a surge of dark pleasure as the other slaves scurried out of his way in fear.

"O'Neill is afraid you won't listen to him anymore if you keep doing this," the whisper encouraged him. "He fears you'll take his power away from him."

"And then he would deserve that, wouldn't he?" One slave was too slow to get out of Daniel's path, so he kicked the crawling creature in the side. It yelped and dragged itself away, letting him continue towards the pyramid.

"You should kill them."

Daniel stopped just inside the entrance of the palace. "No." He hesitated. "That's…no. I can't kill them." What are you doing? he asked himself.

"Then you must free them." The voice changed tone immediately to a more soothing one that put him almost completely at ease. "Make Shyla grovel at your feet; make her do anything you wish. You have that power over her, Daniel."

Daniel's vision began to blur and he put a hand out to stop himself from falling. Shit. He cursed the weakness of his mortal body.

"Go to the sarcophagus."

Daniel wavered slightly as he slowly continued down the hall to the throne room. It was deserted when he got there, and he managed to key the Goa'uld device open. The lid split open invitingly, the soft white glow already beginning to shine through the embracing arms.

"Get in, and you will be strong again," the voice urged. "No one will be able to stop you."

Daniel paused at the edge, thinking. "I can't keep doing this," he muttered. "If I keep having to come back to the sarcophagus, what will happen if…?"

"It will never happen. I promise you, once you have rested you will be powerful enough that no one would ever dare keep you from using it. You will indeed be like a god. And then you can avenge yourself against everyone who has ever dared ridicule you."

With new determination, Daniel lowered himself into the golden box and let the lid close over him.