Chapter Thirteen
Before I can do any more damage, I turn and run out of Egypt. My legs take me down hallway after hallway until my lungs are burning and my vision is too teary to see anything else. I slide down the wall and to the floor, burying my head in my hands. Huge sobs wrack my chest. What am I becoming? What if I can never be normal again? How many more people am I destined to hurt?
The sound of footsteps interrupts my train of thought. I don't even need to look up to know that it is Kahmunrah. I can hear his thoughts. He wants to take me, and use my power to "take over this miserable excuse for a planet". His words. Not mine. What little control I regained over my body disappears as the magic shifts into protection mode once more. I freeze Kahmunrah just as he comes around the corner. His face is frozen in a look of perpetual confidence. I'll be sure to wipe that off. How dare he, thinking that he can harness the power for himself? He is not worthy. I must protect the power.
"Don't kill him!" Shepseheret shouts.
My body is frozen in a defensive stance, prepared to eliminate the threat. I can sense Shepseheret, Merenkahre, and Ahkmenrah running up behind me. Nicky has stayed with Larry in the exhibit to care for his burn. The one that I gave him. I notice that the royal family is keeping their distance from me.
"My Queen, you must consider this. He has caused nothing but harm to our family. Perhaps death should be a possibility." Merenkahre murmurs.
Shepseheret glares at him, "How could you say that? He is our son. I know there is goodness within him, Merenkahre. Please. Give him a chance. We should just speak to him."
Merenkahre looks skeptical, "My Queen, please. Kahmunrah is dangerous. He cannot be reasoned with. He went through his own brother for the throne. Nothing will get in between him and his ambitions. In this case, it is Alexandria. Will you really risk her?"
He went through his own brother? What does that mean? Shepseheret turns to me, eyes glittering with tears. She loves her son. Somewhere deep inside of her, past the guarded heart, she still harbors a mother's love. I don't want to kill Kahmunrah. He may be venomous, but he doesn't deserve death. No one does. The power within me seems to disagree. The threat is vulnerable. I should strike now, while he's unguarded. I cannot allow damage to the magic. I have to reason with the voice in my head. I can strike him down in a matter of seconds. Why not give him a chance to justify his death? Shepseheret looks as if she is about to burst into tears, and Merenkahre looks similar. Ahkmenrah is gazing at me with a mix of suspicion, terror, and awe. I can't handle him being afraid of me. This is his family. They would never forgive me for taking Kahmunrah's life. Slowly, I manage to release my hold on him. He continues to stride towards me and the powers surge to life again, prepared to fight for protection.
"Don't come any closer. You have ten seconds to explain yourself before I seriously injure you." I threaten.
Kahmunrah chuckles, "Don't worry, dearest. I am pleased to inform you of a way to make you comply with my wishes."
What is he talking about, and why is it making him so confident? If he knows anything about this power, he should be afraid.
"Go on." Merenkahre murmurs, apprehension in his voice.
Kahmunrah leisurely takes a few steps closer. I squeeze my eyes shut to keep the powers at bay. My fingers are itching to murder him for getting too close to the power. I must protect the power.
"I'll get right to the point, then. As I'm sure you've experienced, dearest, the power that you have within you is dangerous. The gods knew this. They created a weapon to combat your strength, something that could truly control, or kill, you if the need ever arose. I happen to posses such a weapon, and I have no qualms about using it on you."
"Why would you kill me if you need me?"
"I would only kill you if you refused to help me. I've always found that torture can be rather persuasive. And if you still refuse to help me, I would rather you be dead than available for use by someone else."
"I am not just an object to be used by whomever pleases!"
I can feel electricity crackling through my veins. My powers are begging me to hurt this man. I'm starting to feel that I wouldn't be opposed.
"This is your last chance, dearest. Help me willingly, or I will force you to help me. It is your choice."
My blood is boiling, "Never."
Kahmunrah shrugs, "Then watch your back. You're not as powerful as you think. I'll be in the Hall of the Afterlife if you change your mind. And if you make one move to try and kill me, I won't hesitate to use my weapon."
Now, the only thing keeping me from killing him is his threat. If he can truly kill me, it wouldn't be prudent to hurt him at the risk of him using his weapon and damaging the power. What if Kahmunrah isn't bluffing? Is there truly a weapon that can take away my powers? Or worse, kill me? It makes a sickening amount of sense. Of course the Egyptian gods wouldn't be stupid enough to let such intemperate power run rampant. But how did Kahmunrah of all people obtain the weapon? The evil pharaoh can tell his threat has made me pause, and he takes the opportunity to make his escape. I can feel a collective sigh of relief rush from his parents. Ahk hasn't torn his eyes away from me. Finally, the power subsides again, leaving me feeling dizzy and heartbroken. I slowly turn around to face Ahkmenrah and his parents. Matching expressions of concern grace their faces.
My voice wavers more than I intend it to, "Would he really kill me?"
The fear in Ahkmenrah's eyes melts as he sees that I'm back in my own head. He hesitantly walks towards me. I cringe, waiting for the power to rush into me again, but there is nothing. The magic recognizes the one that it is bound to, and sees that it isn't a threat. Thank goodness. I don't think my heart could handle hurting Ahkmenrah. He pulls me in to his strong arms. I'm enveloped in his warmth, and the tears start to fall again. I feel as if I'm falling apart. I have no control over my actions anymore, and I have no doubt that I am capable of killing someone. My greater fear, however, is that it will end up being someone I care about. Recalling Larry's horrified face sends a fresh wave of sobs through me. It was me that caused that chaos. I hurt my own family. I hurt someone that I love without a second thought because of the power's influence over me.
"Ahk," I take a shaky breath, "I'm so scared."
He softly shushes me, pressing his lips onto the top of my head, "I know you are. You must remain strong. You can get through this."
He pulls away from me, giving me a small smile, "I have faith in you, Alex. You are the bravest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing."
Ahkmenrah's words send a flutter of butterflies through me. Suddenly, a memory of my death that I had previously repressed comes floating back into my mind. Soft lips on mine, and the taste of salty tears… He kissed me. Ahk kissed me. Before I can let myself feel excited, my memory flips back to the terrified expression on his face when I burned Larry. He's afraid of me. And he should be. I pull away from him, trembling.
"Ahk, you have to stay away from me. I couldn't bear to hurt you."
He gives me a sad smile, "I understand. Just know that I support you. The person that is deep inside of you, not the one influenced by the power."
"Alexandria," Merenkahre interrupts, "what can we do to help?"
My mind flits back to the thought that the tablet put into my head earlier.
"The power said something about continuing the High Priest's journey. A search for truth?"
Merenkahre's face turns contemplative, "The priest was a very reclusive man. If he was working on a project of some sort, it was nothing that I knew of."
Shepseheret nods her agreement.
"Do you think," Merenkahre starts uncertainly, "that you could allow the magic to tell you a bit more?"
My chest tightens at the thought of willingly relinquishing what little control I have over myself so willingly. I can feel the hum of that second life corroding my will power. Soon enough, there will be none of me left. But, I see the logic in Merenkahre's suggestion. Maybe the power would be able to tell me more about the priest's journey?
I nod reluctantly, "I'll do it. But please, don't make any movements that I might interpret as a threat. I couldn't bear to injure any of you."
The royal family steps back, keeping a good distance from me so as not to end up like Larry. I doubt that the power would harm them on account of them being bound to it, but I'm not willing to take any chances. I close my eyes and take a deep, shaky breath. Slowly, I allow the walls I have built around my free-will to deteriorate. The magic sinks into my brain cells, filling my head with thoughts that aren't my own. I can't stop them this time. My voice sounds choked, but I try to relay the message as best I can to Ahk and his parents.
"I must protect the power. My duty is to the power. It is my job as the vessel to ensure its glory. I am responsible for caring for the power. I will use it to the best of my abilities, and let nothing stand in my way. These mortals do not stand a chance against me. All those who oppose will die. I must finish what the High Priest started. When the journey is made, all questions will be answered. The search for the truth will be complete. I must return to the place where it began, and complete the search for the truth."
The words stop, and I know that the message is over. I can feel the power humming in my veins as I decide what to do next. I need to regain my thoughts. I fight for control again. My head is pounding with the strain of my internal battle, but I eventually force the power out of the portion of my thoughts that belong to me. I loosen my clenched fists, my breath coming out of my lungs in one big whoosh.
"What does it mean?"
The three of them all tilt their heads, and I can see how they're related. Suddenly, it clicks into place, "The place where it began. The place where he was first given the power. We have to go Egypt."
ahhhhh hi sorry about that cliffhanger. also, very very sorry about not having updated in AGES. I have been SO SO busy, the show that I have been rehearsing for day in and day out is opening next week, and once it's over, I'll have tons of time to write! so hang on until then, guys. anyways, hello and thank you to Antrisity (thanks for following me!), Dreamers Are Real (you're the bomb for following me ty!), smilesrawesome3579, CauseImHappiness (you're the best for following me!), StUpeDKID (thanks for favoriting me!), DemontaDark, chloejayne123, 1211 (for following me and the first!), DreamerJess, AvidReader06 (thanks for favoriting me ily!), MrsAnniething, Hassingthecoolone, WalkersAreInfinite, and antaures for favoriting and following! thank you guys so so so much for your reviews and your incredible support even though I've been MIA for a while. words cannot express how grateful I am for every single reader!
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