Chapter 14- Prelude to A Kiss

Merci to all my reviewers... :)

Yesh, I know that the next few lines aren't very correct in terms of layout, but I think that it adds to the overall effect so nah pulls tongue ;) And yersh, I admit, there is a POTC inspired line... ;)

Everyone for reading huggles

Stephanie and Ari snuggles

I dash behind Rick, considerably aware of the mob slowly closing in on us.

I have never experienced such relentless anxiety in all my life.

They're going to get us...

They're going to get us...

They're going to-

Oh my God.

My breath catches in my throat as there is a sudden movement; the crowd parts like the red sea, and I am no longer looking into the sore, scabby faces of the once-locals.

My heart hammers against my chest, and I fear that if it continues I will collapse.

Out of place next to the dismayed and sore people, standing out like a sore thumb, a clean shaven golden head makes its way towards us accompanied by a fez.

I feel my heart stop.

Skin as fresh as it was in his prime, his robes billowing over every inch of him, every muscle... Imhotep steps into our view. Holding his head high, like the High Priest he once was, he stares at us.

I'm sure that he's looking at each of us in turn, but somehow, for some unknown reason I feel he's looking straight at me...

Straight into my soul...

I grab my brothers' hand.

"It is the creature. He is fully regenerated." intones the Curator. "We have failed."

Oh...that means...poor Daniels...

I swallow when realisation dawns upon me.

He doesn't want the brave men around me- he wants me.

The stupid librarian who woke him up...

How come it took me so long to figure it out? I mean, for goodness sake I knew...I just didn't allow myself to believe it...

I feel my stomach drop, and I have the urge to be sick. Oh no, not now...

"Kootash dai nai..."

Oh no...

"Come with me my Princess, it is time to make you mine, forever." echoes Beni grimly.

"For all eternity, idiot." I retort, trying to hide my fear. I look at my brother, he looks away. I won't find strength in him...Oh Jonathan, please...just this once...I can't, I can't face this alone...

I look to Rick, but he is firmly focused on Imhotep.

"Take my hand, and I will spare your friends." Each word is intoned solemnly, almost casually. I am shocked at how this being can act before us, knowing what he is about to do.

I gasp. I look around me, side to side, and then down at the floor before looking to Rick.

He doesn't know...the poor man doesn't know what is being said until the man in the fez translates...

This is it. This is what I need to do, what I, put simply, must do. I owe them the very least.

Why should they die defending me? As the curator said, what is one life in comparison...

"Got any bright ideas?" I ask Rick, who slowly turns to look at me. His fingers are tense against the torch he carries. The promise of violence and death hangs in the air.

"I'm thinkin', I'm thinkin'..."

I feel strong, I know I'm going to step forward, into the creatures arms, and, and...um...he'll take me to Hamunaptra and then he'll- I'll-

Oh please Rick, don't look at me in that way! Your taunting I can stand, your humour, you insensitivity at certain times...

But not your love.

The flicker to his eyes as he regards me...I am sure he knows...

Jonathan, dearest brother, please don't look away and ignore me like I am a martyr. I'm doing this because it is right, it is what I deserve...

I swallow. I am going to be flippant. I'm going to take it on the chin I'm going-

I'm going to die.

Oh my God...Please...

Why bring us together, only for us to be torn apart? Why do you mean for me to die...Usually I wouldn't have minded, an atheist and all that but now, now I am beginning to live...Please, please... This man, the man that I met at the prison, the man I branded a lout...he's helped me discover that you cannot live your life hidden behind books.

I do not deserve special treatment but, these past few days...they've been incredible. I got to Hamunaptra for father, I found relics and-

And I met O'Connell.

I can feel myself falling into a semi-conscious state. Time seems to melt around me; I know there should be hope but there is not.

The bazaar is shrouded in unearthly silence. No noise, no sign of life. Everyone is still. I don't want to break it...

As time slows, each movement lasts a decade...my eyes eventually lock with his.

That gaze, that long, hard stare...the reluctance that draws me towards him so strongly, so urgently...

I want to stay with him.

In those seconds that seem to last a lifetime, my heart reached an understanding. I will be sacrificing more than one thing...

As long as there was breath left in that mans body, he would do anything to defend me.

And I can't bring myself to let him, it isn't right...

"I hope so." I say, breaking the glacier silence. "Because if he turns me into a mummy you're the first one I'm coming after."

I try to be flippant, but to no avail. My voice is stained with my underlying emotion. I'm in no doubt that he can tell...

I take a slow step forward, extending my hand. My hand shakes and I flinch when he slowly, with annoying self certainty, takes mine in his own.

His touch is cold, and I assume so are his eyes...but mine never leave Rick's struggling face.

"No."

"Don't!" I call, my arm extended to keep Imhotep back in case he advances. I beg him silently with my eyes...Don't O'Connell...Now isn't the time for brash actions.

"He still has to take me to Hamunaptra to perform the ritual." I tel him slowly and pointedly.

"She is right, live today, fight tomorrow." comments our dark desert man wisely as he restrains Rick.

His eyes linger. "I'll be seeing you again." He says darkly, in a way I have never seen him before. It's a promise, his voice self controlled but leaking a foreign emotion.

I can feel the tears threatening to spill as I give my brother a darting look. He takes a step forward, and then looks towards O'Connell. He knew. Jonathan knew I was going to go. His pale blue eyes are almost white to match his poor, sullen face.

And then, as the monster leads me away, I struggle slightly, the stupidity of my actions temporarily over riding their logic.

The only emotion I can liken it to is drowning. Watching her step forward into that bastards arms, the self satistfied smile on his smug face- her wide innocent eyes clinging to mine...

I'm shaking, almost erupting with self-control that is threatening to fail.

I've seen guys drown. I've seen the fear, no, terror register on their faces as they realise and solemnly accept...

But I can't accept this.

I goddamn won't.

Even though we didn't touch, I felt like our eyes were dragging us together. Even though we only looked at each other, she was seeking security in my arms.

I should have grabbed her. I should have held her...

If she dies for me...

I...

I should have kissed her. No, I mean a proper kiss. A kiss that would have shown her promise...life...living...

But I didn't. I was only daring enough to steal one in a prison. Oh Evelyn...why...I can't take it.

You've got so much ahead of you.

If you hadn't met me.

That bastard...

Argh...

I plow forwards and Ardeth restrains me again. "Get off me!" I yell. "EVELYN!"

"O'CONNELL!" She screams back. "O'CONNELL HE'S-"

And then the crowd of crazies advances on us. And I can't see her anymore.

"I say, the old chap lied to us."

"Not now Jonathan." I growl, dragging up a sewage drain cover. "GET IN!"

In turn, I drag them all into the sewer with distinct complaints. "Yalin naki!"

"Oh, bugger it my suit!"

I roll my eyes. "COME ON!" I extend my hand to the curator.

"NOO!" He yells as the crowd crushes him.

Knowing he won't relent, I drop into the hole and pull the grate over, pulling down on it with all my weight. Ardeth helps whilst Jonathan acts like a girl.

"Ick. O'Connell this is awfully-"

"Shut up!" orders Ardeth. "Don't you see what danger we are in? The girl-"

"You're goddamn sister." I growl. "You're goddamn sister Jonathan. He's got her. What part of you just doesn't get that yet?"

He blinks slowly, his boy like features softening. "Oh, I realise that O'Connell."

I've hit a nerve.

"But, after all, it isn't like you tried to stop her-"

I fly at him, at his tone and at his person. I feel hands tearing at my shirt.

"No! Effendi! No!"

The desert man drags me backwards. "He knows not of what he says."

But he does...the little British jerk does! I'd die for her...and he knows it...he's right; why didn't I stop her?

I take a step back, shrugging out of the mans grasp. I raise my hands.

"You ever, ever, come out with a comment like that to me Jonathan, and you won't be so lucky."

"Don't threaten me, O'Connell. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you're the only person here who cares for Evelyn."

I regard him quietly. With quiet contempt I utter- "Let's go."

I trudge through the muck, all the while wishing to reverse time.

I lost sight of him...I scream his name desperately- "O'CONNELL!"

He called mine back...I'm sure he did...

"Let me go you monster!" I yell, struggling, pushing, pinching, scratching.

"You came willingly my Princess." He leers, kissing my cheek. His hands wander and his lips reach my neck...

"She wouldn't have wanted it like this...Nih Hisemph Osir..."

He stops. "You would. For when we reach Hamunaptra, our love shall blossom like a lotus my Princess...we shall be together again...forever..."

-..

(Nih Hisemph Osir- High Priest of Osiris.)

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