Created: 5/21/2016
Last Edited: 07/27/2017
Thank you everyone for the reviews and well wishes and a special thanks to my friend and beta-reader, Emilie Bay for helping me get through a rough patch in both my life and my writing.
Also, chapter 2 has been REWRITEN. If you wish to go back and read it you can, there are a few changes from the original chapter hope you enjoy it. I will be posting it along with this chapter. Check it out, please!
PREVIOUS AUTHER NOTE REMOVED! THIS IS CHAPTER 18!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own The Mummy nor will I ever own it.
~Chapter 18 – Ten Plagues of Egypt~
The return back to Cairo was tiring, taking Belle and the others longer to get back to the city. Without the use of a barge this time, the journey that should have only taken a week took about almost two weeks instead. Belle was relieved when on the evening of the eleventh day the city lights came into view as they made their way to Fort Bryton. She couldn't wait to get to the fort's hotel she could sleep for a week she was so exhausted.
She gave a heavy sigh as she deposited her bags on the floor of her room. She ran her fingers through her hair and retreated to the bath with a grimace; and cringed at the amount of sand that clung to the dark strands. Once clean and in a pair of loose linen pants and a light long sleeve tunic she made her way to the bed. Belle flopped down on the bed breathed in the clean floral scent of the Egyptian cotton linens and closed her eyes. Soon her breathing evened out and she was deep in sleep.
Belle's eyes fluttered open and took in the white room, if it could be called that. The only indication it was a room and not an empty space, was the floor beneath her feet. "Hello Belle."
Belle turned sharply to the voice behind her. The room shimmered, she found herself in a familiar throne room. There on the dais sat Hathor, Bastet, and Isis. "So, the creature has arisen." Bastet's voice carried a slight twinge of displeasure as it echoed throughout the vast hall. Hathor gave the cat goddess a slight glare before turning her concerned gaze to Belle. Isis sat quietly on her throne, a thoughtful look in her eye before it clouded into a mask of indifference.
"Yes, unfortunately, but that is the least of our worries right now." Isis turned her gaze back to Belle. "Do not be troubled by what Bastet says; we do not blame you."
"Speak for yourself, Isis. Had she gotten the others to leave before any of this happened, we would not be in the bind that we are in, now would we?" The goddess purred harshly, her green eyes flashing. Belle frowned, her brows coming together and her gentle features turned into a deep scowl. Her anger grew with each word. How could they expect so much of her when she had little to no details of what she was supposed to do! Feeling as if the words Ardeth spoke were once again thrown in her face. She'd had enough of the blame game.
"You know what? I've had just about enough of this! You say that it's my fault that Imhotep is back when clearly; I didn't read from that accursed book! You say that I was supposed to stop them from entering Hamunaptra. Knowing that I had no ability to do so, whatsoever! You think that I'm some savior when I don't even have one ounce of knowledge about what's going on. Oh and let's not forget my supposed powers, let alone using them!
" I am sick and tired of being the one who is blamed for something out of my control. You and every Med-jai in Egypt thinks that I have betrayed them when I don't even know what the hell is going on!" Belle paced back in forth in front of the three beings; her rage an all-consuming storm as the goddesses watched with slight apprehension and curiosity, her eyes giving off a soft glow. They caught sight of a brilliant emerald before dimming to hazel. They were almost amber in color. Turning sharply to the goddesses she ripped the amulet from her neck. It bounced and cracked as she tossed it at Bastet's feet. "I am not a pawn! I will not bend to your will, or anyone else's!" Eyes locked onto the three in a harsh glare. Belle's whole body trembled as she gulped down air to try and calm her raging heartbeat. There was an eerie stillness in the air, Belle's heavy breathing the only sound that echoed in the depths of the hall.
"You are right." Hathor's voice cut through the silence like a knife. She slowly stood from her throne; her beautiful face set in a disappointed frown. "We in all honesty have one-sidedly told you nothing and have expected things from you that you can't give at this point in time. For thousands of years we have waited you and now we have ran out of time. It seems we lack the patience we once had, and in our haste leave little room for compassion for your feelings on the subject and for that I am sorry." She brushed the back of her fingers against Belle's cheeks bring them down to gently cup her chin in her hand. Hathor's gaze turned soft and her eyes glossy with tears as she looked into Belle's eyes. There lay all the confusion, anger, pain, sadness, and fear she carried; out in the open for all to see. Hathor gave a sigh before she turned back to the thrones stooping to pluck the amulet from the ground before taking her set on the dais.
"There is much we must explain. With every age—
The goddess' words faded when a faint explosion and a scream which caught Belle's attention. The sounds of chaos became clearer and she awoke with a jolt, sitting up and swiftly rising from the bed, only to stumble as the building shook. Something hit the ground with a resounding boom. Not knowing what to think, with the sounds of a thunderstorm and screams filling her ears; Belle rushed to the window on the far side of the room and her confusion and panic turned to pure horror at the scenes outside. The sky was a rumbling of dark swirling mass clouds and there was an electrical charge in the air that raised the hairs on the back of her neck. It was not the threatening storm cloud, which caused the sinking feeling of dread and the racing of her heart; but the molten rock and hell-fire that rained from that dark sky. The burning boulders fell from the heavens to the earth setting buildings ablaze to crumble and fall; people running about the streets ducking into constructions to take shelter, only to be crushed by burning rubble. Some of the soldiers ran about the fort, one of them disintegrated to ash as the fiery debris caught him alight, screaming as he burned. Turning from the window and fleeing out the room, down the corridor, Belle heard a sound she never wanted to hear again. A screeching roar filled the air, coming from down the hall. She halted, frozen in place with the realization of what it was and where it was coming from. Belle's room was on the same floor as Mr. Burns. "Oh, no." That thought shook her from her frozen state; sending her racing down the hall, pushing past fleeing bodies to the source of all the chaos. He had come. He was here. And he wanted to finish what he started.
Sorry guys, I did not mean for this story to go without a new chapter for so long that was not a re-write. Lot's happened with me losing a job and getting a new one along with moving. I hope you enjoyed it. I know it was short but keep a look out for the next one soon. Please follow, favorite, and review until next time…
DovieDM-1991-Promised Wings signing out!
