Heather took a few steps closer to Imhotep, worried that she'd be dragged from him by Rick or Ardeth. She could see in Ardeth's eyes the pure hatred he had for Imhotep, and it scared her to see that much hate in anyone. Rick meanwhile had already grabbed his gun and held it out, as if it would somehow help him. Heather guessed that if Imhotep had died twice before, a simple gun couldn't hurt him that easily. She felt Imhotep's arm around her waist, and she didn't mind his touch for once. It was reassuring, a comfort that stuck out for her more than anything else.
Heather looked up into Imhotep's eyes seeing the love that stretched across everything trying to destroy it, even death. Ardeth watched finding a place between pure hatred and acceptance. He needed to remain calm, if not for himself for Heather's best interest. Ardeth had learned a long time ago, that patience and reason often won in the end. "What is he doing here!" Ardeth's voice came out harsher than he'd meant it to, and he regretted that at once. Heather straightened up slightly, and Ardeth was reminded of when he had stood up in his training to be a warrior. It surprised him to see the same trait in Heather, yet it didn't at the same time.
Heather's voice was soft, almost commanding for them all to hear and obey."He's here because I love him." Ardeth studied Heather for awhile remaining completely silent. He could see more of her past life showing through. It was evident in both her eyes and in her speech. She was commanding, and her eyes showed strength in them. What worried Ardeth the most was the look in Heather's eyes. They were filled with an age that was beyond the test of time. A knowledge, which knew the world beyond death, had come to haunt her. Imhotep looked at Ardeth trying to put behind him the past. He probably never could do so himself, but he needed to at least try for Heather's sake.
Imhotep remembered how Ardeth had helped Rick and Evy destroy him in the past. That betrayal went far deeper than any hate possibly could. Even looking at Ardeth was hard for Imhotep. The fact Heather came from this family didn't bother him, but her family certainly did. They had sent him repeatedly back to the Underworld. A place he wished never to return again, it was much to even of a playing field. In the afterlife he didn't have the power he had been given on Earth, and it bothered him not to have it. Heather was brought back from her thoughts, when she heard Imhoteps's voice.
"Ardeth I do love her. I assure you that I have no wish to ever harm her" Imhotep held Ardeth's gaze trying to show he meant it, which was probably a worthless gesture. Ardeth looked at Imhotep untrusting, he had their past history to base his trust on. Imhotep hadn't been worth trusting the last few times, and now wasn't going to be any different. Ardeth had always put others before himself, it was what he had been taught to do. Heather however, was different for him. She would probably know how deep his bond went for her.
Ardeth took a deep breath knowing what he had to say would hurt Heather. "She can't go through this Imhotep. She's still a child times aren't what they used to be." Heather almost hit Ardeth, but Imhotep caught her. He would have loved for Heather to hit Ardeth, but he knew it wouldn't help him any. Heather was obviously hurt and upset at what he had said. Imhotep also knew that Ardeth was right, times were different now. Heather looked between the two of them; she wondered what a mess this was. How could this even have happened so quickly? Heather took a deep breath trying to rise once again to confront the hardship head on.
Her voice was soft, but commanding. She was becoming fonder of her voice that way. It naturally felt right, people took notice more if she did so. "I'm not a kid Ardeth! You didn't know me before all this started to happen! I can handle it just like I've been able to handle other things!" Heather stopped to catch her breath; she hadn't realized she had been yelling. She was surprised to hear Rick join in the argument, he usually kept quiet and let people sort it out themselves. "Heather, Evy has gone through this too. I watched her go through it all, and it was a mess for her. The memories, the dreams, and the complete confusion, you're not ready for that."
Rick paused to make sure she was listening to him. Evy hardly ever spoke of her past life memories, and there was a reason for it. Rick continued softer than before, he knew Heather heard every word he was saying to her. "I know the signs of them all, and that they aren't easy. You're not even halfway through it yet. Look where it's brought you so far. Can you handle still having to go through the pain of more memories?" Heather stood there confused and dumbfounded; this was too much to think about again. She didn't know anyone had been through what she had; now Rick was telling her that someone had. Maybe Evy could even help her if she asked for help.
The constant thought the next dream would be the last, was more than she could hope for. She'd hope that she'd never would have to have a dream after the next one again, yet she always did. Heather's courage was beginning to fail her, and she suddenly wondered how many dreams she would have. The sleepless nights couldn't go on forever, even Heather knew that. "How long...how long does this go on for?" Ardeth looked at Imhotep; he was filled with rage again from Heather's question. This went against every code he ever had. He broke one vow to control his temper; it finally got the better of him.
He continued to look at Imhotep, managing to maintain a vow of peace. "How could you have not told her? How could you just start this process? Without even telling her it'd be like this?" Imhotep looked away from Ardeth then to Heather then finally letting his eyes fall from anyone. He thought about what to do, or how to even handle this. He couldn't tell her the honest answer, because she'd hate him for it. Finally, he decided the best way to deal with it was to avoid the outcome at all. What was even better was that Imhotep knew by not deciding he looked better in Heather's eyes.
Imhotep spoke softly, simply trying not to appear angry or upset. "I'll let you guys decided without me. If you think this is what's best for her, simply talk it over. Don't think that I don't care about her; I do with all my heart. Coming back for her three times now should prove that, not that I have to prove myself to anyone. Like you said Ardeth, times are not the same anymore. I hope you remember that when making your decision together." Heather watched as Imhotep vanished before she could even protest. She began to cry, when she realized her one stronghold was gone again. He hadn't even told her goodbye, not even a simple I love you.
Rick left the room seeing Heather cry, he was never very good at comforting anyone. She really did care for Imhotep, Ardeth could see that plainly. Still, it hurt him more to see it; he cared so much for her now. Ardeth struggled between what was right and what was best for her. He never wanted to influence Heather's choices, yet he still once again wanted to comfort her. He stayed while the others left the room, and silently watched her cry. He wanted to comfort her to tell her he knew she'd been through so much, yet it wasn't the right time. Still he simply wanted to o tell her he knew, because he once had helped her in the past.