Last edited and rewritten: 07/26/17 (This chapter is a rewrite. Thank you Emilie Bay for your excellent beta reading on this story)
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REWRITTEN 07/26/17
AN: I would like to thank everyone who reads and reviews this story I really appreciate it and it's what keeps this story going. You guys are awesome.
Disclaimer: No ownership intended I don't own the rights to The Mummy franchise. I ONLY own my OC and any other characters not from the movies. Please forgive me for grammar and spelling errors.
AN: Also sorry I got the year wrong for the previous chapter it was 1290 B.C. not 2134 B.C. one is from the movie and one is from when the real Pharaoh Seti I actually ruled. And I am using the MummyWiki site for info about Evy and Jonathan's parents I know its really Howard Carter, not Carnahan who found King Tut's tomb just creative license here people.
Translations:
(Mawat – Mother, Dajat- Father, Pote (m) – Buddy/mate in French slang)
- Story Starts -
Valley of the Kings – 1923
Belle's eyes flashed open as the desert sun glared through her tent curtain. The dreams fading as the fog of sleep lifted. With a groan and a tired sigh, she rolled out of her bedroll and looked around the small tent. The sounds of the waking camp could be heard, the desert coming to life from its nighttime slumber as the sun peeked over the horizon. Today was the fourth day of excavation on the tomb of King Seti I. Jean De Lune, Belle's grandfather, had decided to leave France and come to Egypt to look for the tomb and hoped to discover the lost city of Hamunaptra, which was rumored to have two sacred books buried beneath it. The old archeologist dragged his granddaughter along, to study translations as well as to spend more time with her; after Belle's long absence at a boarding school. Though excited about the tomb, she had many doubts and objections about finding the city, due to Hamunaptra's questionable history. They were many miles ways away from their Cairo hotel. Camped out a little distance away from the Valley of Kings, the view of the valley below made one's spirit rise and heart swell with excitement. This is where the magic of mummies grabs hold. So far they had found the tomb's entrance but had not been able to break into the first chamber. Today was Belle's turn to translate the hieroglyphics that were carved right above the tomb's doorway. It was a sort of game between grandfather and granddaughter, trading off translations.
Walking to the trunk in the corner of the tent Belle pulled out a white lightweight cotton blouse, light tan britches, and a pair of brown boots. Changing out of her white night shift and putting on the boots, she walked over to the bowl of water on the small table. Pulling her long, black hair back, she splashed a bit of water onto her face to clean the dust from her light brown skin. As the water stilled she looked into her reflection. A thick mass of deep brown curling waves sprouted from her head to end on her lower back framing a light brown face. Belle had a long and slightly wide nose and a cupid's bow over a slightly fuller lower lip. Dark lashes fluttered against high cheekbones and a pair of brown-green eyes stared back at her. Her slightly thick brows twitched into a small frown as she studied her features. She had eyes much like her mother did. Her mother was French and her father was of Egyptian/Nubian/English descent. She carried his proud cheekbones and nose. She was a beautiful mixture of the two. French-braiding her hair and tying it off, she walked out of the tent ready for another day of adventure.
"Grandfather, the diggers have broken through the first door and second door. They are working on the final door." The aged pale man turned from his maps and papers to look at his granddaughter. Jean was a tall and thin man in his late 70s, with short gray hair and green eyes, his cane in hand. Even as his aging body slowed him down, he still enjoyed going on excavations and could not be deterred from his work in order to rest.
"Ah! My dear Belle, thank you for reminding me about the door… This old brain does not remember things very well anymore. But that's why I have you here to help me in my old age, hm?" He chuckled lightly as he walked over to Belle and embraced her.
Belle had always loved this about her grandfather, he was a kind man with a sense of humor; always looking on the bright side of things. Her parents had died when she was but a child. Her grandfather was the only family she had left. Being an only child and with no aunts or uncles, it was just the two of them. Belle Celestia Sanura Amera was always curious and stubborn even as a child. At a very young age, her parents would often find her in the historical museum looking through the Ancient Egypt exhibit, or read about the old legends and curses. She would spend hours there. Her mother, Angelique De Lune Amera, fondly known as Ange, would smile at Belle's love for everything Egypt. Just as she herself had fallen in love with it. That was how she meet Belle's father, Maahes Amera, while abroad in Egypt studying art. They had met when Angelique was out shopping for more paints, and on her way back to the hotel, she stopped at a stall to look at a necklace, only to have her purse stolen. Yelling curses she chased the thief, trying to throw her shoe at him to slow him down. Belle remembers her mother laughing every time she got to that part of the story. Maahes, who was leaving work at the fabric shop his family owned, saw what was happening and as they ran past, he tripped the thief with a bolt of fabric he was holding and proceeded to tie the teenager up with the length of cloth and sat on top of him for good measure saying "It's not nice to steal what others have worked hard to achieve. Now, time to give back what you stole, little mouse." Her father took the purse from the thief with a pat on the head, he stood and turned to hand it to her mother, pausing with his mouth slightly agape as Angelique giggled at the odd scene they made. Taking her purse from him she thanked him for his help. He nodded his head, still gaping, as turned with a frown at the boy and gave him a right tongue lashing for stealing the purse. Finally, she sighed and pulled out a five-pound coin and asked Maahes -whose eyebrows went up in surprise- to untie the teen. Handing the coin to the shocked boy, she said "It's never a good idea to steal. Here is money for a meal and I want you to look for a job. If you have no other to care for you, you must make a safe way to care for yourself. Give yourself chances at survival in the best way possible so you can live free of the worries and burdens that you now carry. No more stealing." The teen nodded and thanked her with tears in his eyes, hope in her word. She sent the boy on his way and turned to Maahes with a bright smile and he could only smile back; amazed at the woman before him. Belle's father always said that was the moment that he fell in love with her mother. It was her kind words and brilliant smile that first spoke to his heart and soul. He used to call her his Angel, and he was her mother's world. Maahes later hired that same boy to work in the shop and gave him room and board. Eventually a year later he left with her back to France where she introduced him to her father. They were married, and a year after that little Belle was born. Sadly they died in an accident eleven years later. Now, ten years after their deaths the 21-year-old returned to the country where her parents first met to accompany her grandfather, and study Egyptology.
"Grandfather, why are we going to Hamunaptra? I thought that place was just a myth." She asked as they walked through the dig site. Most of the inner chamber of the tomb had been excavated, finding many different artifacts that would, after being studied, be placed in the Cairo Museum.
"An old friend of mine once spoke about there being a book of great value there, the Book of Amun Ra. I want to see if he was right about its resting place. He had always had the same love for Egypt like I did; God rest his soul." Jean spoke about his late friend, missing him on this adventure.
"I'm sorry Grandfather. What was his name? If you don't mind my asking?" Belle spoke softly, with caution, and hoped she had not upset him by making him talk about an old friend.
"Oh child, no harm was done" he chuckled with a sad look in his eye and a fond smile. "His name was Howard Carnahan; you know he loved Egypt as much as I did. So much so that he married an Egyptian woman, just like your mother married your father. Quite the pair those two were what with their shared love for archeology. Oh, how I miss the old pote! Sadly he and his wife died in a plane crash many years ago.
Though I do know that they had two children… they should be about your age now, his daughter at the least, anyway. Her name was something with an "E" in it… oh, my memory is not what it used to be, you know… I believe Eva or Evelyn or something the like. And her brother… older, he is. I am certain of that. His name was… Jonathan; I think. Or maybe Jason? Though I never did get to meet them; and I lost contact with the family a little while after Howard and his wife died…" Jean trailed off with a sigh as he recalled Howard. He had many fond memories of his dear friend and would keep them close to his heart.
Belle was surprised by all this information. Not only to find out they were seeking the books… But also to find out that her Grandfather knew the man that had found the burial chamber of Tutankhamen… What a find it must have been!
And again, those books… She could not believe how much the Book of Amun Ra was sought after, even if the search for the lost city failed time after time. She used to hear stories about the spells and enchantments as a young girl. But as she got older she never gave much thought to it, or the second mysterious and elusive book, the Book of the Dead, or their location. It was just a myth. She had taken it all as just that, myths and rumors of things long forgotten. Though to her, even if it existed, the mystical Book of the Dead would just be a book with the rights, rules, and guides for a spirit's safe passage into the afterlife; which was painted on the walls in hieroglyphs in almost all the tombs in the valley.
As the sun began its journey below the horizon, the group of twenty workers began to pack up their tools and the many findings, before making their way back to camp for the night. One of the workers made dinner over a fire as everyone sat around talking about the day, what was to come tomorrow or just joking around. Belle sat in her tent with a lamp, pouring over books and looking at different trinkets and tablets found today in the tomb. She was examining a dusty tablet, trying to decipher the third line when she first heard it. The sound of muffled hoofbeats against the sand getting louder as they approached. And then the gunshots started. The camp was under attack.
Last Edited 07/23/2017, 07/26/17
Hope you liked it! Please review and favorite my story constructive feedback is welcomed! Next chapter out soon, until then…
DovieDM-1991-Promised Wings signing out!
