Chapter Eleven
hello! before we begin, I just want to let you know that this chapter is rated "M" for mature content. this chapter depicts a death via the slitting of one's wrists, not in a suicidal sense, but you will be experiencing death from the first person point of view. I censored it as best I could, and it's not too gory or depressing, I don't think. anyways, please read at your own discretion! enjoy :)
Slowly, slowly, slowly, I open my eyes. Just doing that takes energy. So, I close them again before I can see anything. My whole body hurts. I feel so insanely tired, my head is pounding, and my legs feel numb. I feel as if all of the energy has been drained from my body. I roll over.
"Awaken, Alexandria."
A deep voice booms through my ears, reverberating through my chest. I force my eyes open again, and see nothing. There is no change. I blink a few times, and again, there is no difference. I have to lift a hand to touch my eyes to determine if they're truly open. They are. And yet, I can't see anything.
"You have made a mistake. A very grave mistake. One with dire consequences. You have taken a life from me."
I open my mouth to respond, but no sound comes out. The dark voice continues speaking.
"You must pay for your crime. A life for a life. That seems fair, doesn't it?"
The Arabic rolls off of this tongue with supreme ease. I can feel ancient magic humming around me.
"You have taken a life from me. I now demand yours. You must make your sacrifice by the next dark moon, or I will reclaim the life you took from me, and more."
Say what now? My life? This thing wants me to kill myself? That's insane.
"Alex? Alex. Hey. Are you okay?"
A different voice this time. Ahk?
"Alex. Alex, look at me."
All of a sudden, I can see again. I blink a few times, dazed, to find myself sitting up on a chaise. I blink a few more times. Slowly turning my head, I find Ahk's worried face mere inches from my own. When our eyes finally lock, he smiles.
"There you are. Are you alright?"
I move my mouth to respond, but the inside of my mouth is as dry as a desert. I doubt that my brain is functioning smoothly enough to even form words. Instead, I lay back against his chest, forcing him to lower us back down onto the chaise into what I suppose was our position before I woke up. I am laying on his chest, in between his legs, with his arms around me. I'm so tired. Ahk is very warm. His arms around me make me feel safe, unlike that strange voice from a few moment ago. I swallow a few times.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Almost a full twenty four hours. We missed our flight. We would have woken you up, but Father insisted that it was perfectly normal, and you need to regain your strength after…"
"Right."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Very tired, but fine otherwise."
"Good. What were you dreaming about?"
I pause, attempting to shake off the sudden uneasiness that has overcome me. Was that just a dream? A part of me really doesn't feel that it was. I should tell him.
"I had a dream where I was in darkness. And there was a voice…"
"And what did it say?"
"It told me that I would need to pay for my crime."
"Your crime?" he asks, brows knitting in confusion.
"I stole a life from him. He wants mine in return."
Ahk's eyes widen, "And you saw nothing?"
"No. I felt as if I was blind. It was very scary."
"I'm sure it was. I'm very sorry you had to experience that."
"What does it mean?"
"You were visited by Osiris. He doesn't take kindly to those that take lives from him. But to ask for yours in return… No. I'll die before I let you die."
Footsteps interrupt our conversation.
"Is she awake?" Larry asks, coming around the corner and seeing me.
"Oh. Hi." he smiles at me.
"Hi."
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Fine."
Larry walks over to me and sits down on the end of the chaise. More footsteps sound through the Egypt exhibit. Merenkahre and Shepseheret come around the corner, followed be Nick. He has gotten a change of clothes and looks decidedly not dead. Ahkmenrah's parents smile when they see me, but they look a little stressed. Nick, however, breaks into an ear to ear grin, and rushes over to me. He wraps me in a hug, forcing me to leave Ahk's arms.
"You're incredible. You are so incredible. Saying thank you doesn't even seem like enough. You saved my life."
"Thank you is a good place to start, though. I would do anything for you Nick, you're my family."
He smiles at me again, before going back over to my uncle. I settle back into Ahk's chest, wishing I could fall back asleep. But, everyone knows that I am awake. There's no getting out of this now. We sit in an awkward silence for a moment, before Ahk breaks it.
"She had a subconscious meeting with Osiris."
Shepseheret's mouth drops open for a moment before she remembers her manners, and Merenkahre looks deflated.
"It's good it happened now rather than later. What did he tell you?"
I don't feel like sitting up, so I don't.
"He said that I would have to pay for taking a life from him by the next new moon."
"That's tonight." Shepseheret murmurs.
"And what did he say the price was?" Merenkahre asks warily.
"My life."
Larry tenses immediately, "No. No way."
Nick sobers, "This is my fault."
"What? How is this your fault?"
"If I hadn't punched him, he never would have-"
"Nick. Don't blame yourself. I would save you again a thousand times over again without question."
"You don't have to say that, Alex."
"Of course I do. It was my choice to save you."
He sighs, knowing that we won't get anywhere going back and forth like this. Merenkahre takes the opportunity to cut in.
"If we do not act in time, Osiris' consequences will be worse than your death. This is the only way. Kahmunrah has already brought Osiris' wrath upon this family. We cannot further provoke him without consequence."
Ahkmenrah's arms tighten around me, "I won't allow it. I would rather die in her place."
Merenkahre's eyes sparkle with paternal love, "My son, that is a very brave offer. But, there is another option. It is risky, though."
We all wait with baited breath as Merenkahre gathers his thoughts, "We will kill you, but-"
Ahk all but bolts out of the chaise. His father holds up a hand, and Ahk keeps his mouth shut. He leans us back on the chaise again.
"As I was saying. We will kill you. But, we will kill you under the ceremony that our family went through to bind ourselves to the tablet, and make us immortal. If you are bound to the power, you can be brought back to life when in contact with the tablet. But there is a risk to this. When the tablet dies, nothing can bring it back. Since you are the tablet, we have to hope that your link to the power outweighs the actual power within you. If it doesn't, we will all die."
We sit in silence for a moment as it sinks in. It's risky. How do we know that the bond will be more important to the power than my body that is hosting it? It's terrifying. Not only I could die, but Ahk and his parents could, too. Osiris's threat must be a serious one for them to risk their lives as well. But, looking over at Nick, I'm realizing why I did it. I would do it again, even knowing these new risks. There's no telling what is going to happen, but it's worth a shot. If it means I don't have to bring the "wrath of Osiris" onto us, then I'll do it.
"Are you willing to try?" Ahk asks softly.
I look up at him for a moment. His eyes are big and warm, and safe. I should do this. I need to put myself second. If I don't die, we'll think of it as an added bonus. If it means that Larry and Nicky and Ahk and his parents get to be spared…
"Yes."
An unspoken tension suddenly makes the air too thick to breathe in. I just agreed to a potential suicide mission. I could die for real. I could die. But for my family, it's necessary.
"We need to begin. Luckily for us, those that sent us on to our next life packed a trunk with the necessary provisions for us." Shepseheret stands, beckoning for me to follow her.
With a sigh, I pull myself from Ahk's arms and follow her deeper into the exhibit. We come upon a trunk pushed against a wall, which she opens. Inside, there is a white cloth, and a sharp looking dagger. She pulls out the white cloth, which turns out to be a dress, pants, and shirt. She puts the pants and shirt back, and hands me the dress.
"Put this on, please. No other clothing is permitted. These clothes were blessed by the priest, you must wear them."
I turn away from her, taking the dress and making my way even further down the hallway. I find a reasonably secluded spot between some chests, and strip out of my clothing. I cringe a little as I remove my bra and underwear, but she said no other clothing. I slip the cotton dress over my head. It is loose, luckily, and doesn't show too much. It is long and flowing, and makes me feel like some sort of angel. Do hair ties count? I don't want to risk it. I take my black hair out of its tie. It falls over my shoulders and down my back in soft waves, creating a stark contrast to the white dress. I fold my clothes and bring them back to Shepseheret, who takes them and sets them next to the trunk.
"Normally, the ceremony involves a cut to either your neck or wrist, a major artery. All the tablet needed was one drop of blood, and you were bound to it. But in this case, we don't know if the power will still take blood to be bound to it, or how it works. Since the power is already inside of you, and so is your blood, you could be bound to it already. Or, you could not. There is no way of knowing. In addition, Osiris demands your life, not just a drop of blood. Instead of being able to staunch the flow after one drop, you're going to need to bleed out. And die."
My stomach wrenches at those words. Not only do I have to die, but I have to bleed out. What an awful way to die. That is what scares me. Not the death, but the dying. But if Ahk and his parents could do it every day, then I can do it for one night. Either way, I'll only have to die once. The question is if I'll wake up. Ahkmenrah's mother and I walk back to the exhibit, where the men are waiting.
"Larry, Nick, you'll have to wait outside. Please, say your goodbyes now." Shepseheret says with a grim smile.
Nick hugs me fiercely, "I love you. I still can't believe you're doing this for me. You're making all of my other cousins look bad."
He finishes his sentence with a shaky laugh, and it's then that I realize he's starting to tear up. It only makes me hug him tighter.
"If you stay dead, I want you to know that you're the best person ever. If you come back, I want you to know that you're the best person ever. Okay?"
Now I'm starting to cry. The enormity of the situation is finally starting to hit me. Death is a scary thing. What is it going to feel like? He finally lets me go, wiping his eyes and smiling at me. Larry is next, hugging me so tightly I find it hard to breathe. I couldn't care less.
"I love you so much, Alex. You are such a kind-hearted person. You're so strong, and brave. And we'll catch you on the flip side, okay, kiddo?"
"Okay."
He smiles at me, and the two Daleys make their way out of the exhibit. I wipe my eyes and turn to the waiting royal family. Merenkahre holds out the dagger to me. It is carved with many different hieroglyphics and symbols. As always, they speak of eternal life and Khonsu's light. It's too bad that Khonsu doesn't have much to do with the tablet anymore.
"This blade has been blessed by the priest and tied to the power. If you use this blade to take your life, there is a chance that you will be bound to the tablet, and you will be able to rejoin the world of the living. Or, you will not. Either way, you will be fulfilling Osiris' requests for a life. Are you prepared?"
"Yes."
I take the weapon. The magic within me senses the dagger, and a zing of power jolts through me.
"Then you may begin."
I have to do this by myself? I'm shaking. I have to push this blade into my wrists, and bleed out, and die. That feels so wrong. I take in a deep breath, and exhale. There's no going back now. I can do this. I can do this. I take another breath, and bring the dagger to my left wrist. Slowly, I drag the blade over my skin. It stings, but I grit my teeth and will myself to ignore it. It cuts smoothly, and deeply. Almost immediately, my blood begins to drip down my palms, off of my fingertips, and to the floor. I switch hands, staining the metal with my blood. I slice it across my right wrist. The blood begins to pour down my hand. I feel as if I'm about to throw up. I'm very dizzy. Suddenly, my fingers go weak. The heavy metal clatters to the tiles beneath me, the sound clanging harshly off of the walls. The blood drips heavily and steadily, creating two good-sized puddles on either side of me. I'm forcing myself to take deep breaths, but I can't seem to get air into my lungs. My vision blurs for a moment, the blood making me go nauseous. I waver on my feet for a moment.
I hear Ahkmenrah's pained voice, "Please."
I hear Merenkahre, "Go."
Moments later, I feel familiar arms wrapping around me, and lowering to the floor. Ahk is getting my blood all over him, but I don't think that he cares. He delicately pulls me in to his lap, cradling me against him. I'm feeling sick and lethargic. The sight of my oozing wrists makes me feel nauseous. Maybe the Egyptians were just a little morbid. I'm still trembling, and I think I'm crying, but I'm not sure. He threads his hand through mine and squeezes lightly, bringing me comfort and terror at the same time. I can't move my hands nearly as well. I feel weak. Am I really going to die? What if I don't come back? I don't want to die. I didn't get to say goodbye to Ahkmenrah.
"Ahk?" my voice sounds strange to my ears, quiet and weak.
"Mmm?"
He leans in closer. I can see tears glistening in his eyes, and I know that mine are watering, too.
"Thank you."
His smile is beautifully bitter sweet, "For what?"
My vision is starting to waver in and out of focus. I feel very tired. I'm not aware of my bleeding anymore, despite the fact that I can feel the warm crimson trickling down my arms. It is staining the pure white dress with a deep red. I feel… calm. I feel like I've taken a ton of sleeping pills.
"For everything. You help me find strength even when I'm terrified, even when I'm dying." I let out a teary giggle.
Before I can process what's happening, his lips are on mine in a gentle kiss. I focus the rest of my energy into him, tightening my grip as best I can on his hand, and kissing him back. Butterflies stir in my stomach. Finally, we break away. I lean my head against his chest, and this time, I don't have the strength to lift it back up. I can feel my fingers falling loose again. I can't seem to catch my breath. This is it. I can feel a cool, peaceful feeling spreading through me. I'm dimly aware of Ahk's lips on my forehead.
"Sleep in peace."
dangggg this chapter was deep. ouch. I had fun writing it though! I hope you liked reading it :) hello and thank you so much to corrinnee, horseygirlforthewin, What's so wrong with me (you're the best for following me as well!), Goldensilver2, and KatieMcRae96! you guys are the best! thanks for your endless support and your awesome reviews! please continue to leave those, it gives me such joy to read them. even a simple "good chapter" will suffice, but it means so much to me to know what you guys are thinking of the story and how you like it! if you enjoyed, please review, favorite, and follow, and I'll see you next chapter! :D