Hey everybody!
I am so sorry for the wait. It's been super busy since school started for me on Monday.
Anyway, if you didn't get last chapter's ending AN, it meant cliffhanger. 'Cause Percy and Annabeth were hanging off a cliff!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own Jasmine O'Connell.
Mainly Jasmine POV
"What?" Dr. Terrance asked in shock. Before anyone answered, the room grew dark, the light slowly fading. Jasmine looked up, and saw the moon moving in front of the sun, blocking out the light. She gripped Rick's hand tightly.
"That aside for the moment, whatever happens, with you, Miss Carnaghan, it may give us the time to kill the creature." The doctor said, looking up.
"We will need all the help we can get. His powers are growing." Ardeth said, looking up as well to the darkness.
"And he stretched his hand towards the heavens, and there was darkness throughout the land of Egypt." Jonathan said cryptically.
"Alright. Jazzy, stay here. You'll be safe. The rest, we're going back to the fort to find who else opened the chest." Rick said, and Jasmine nodded. Evie gave her a tight hug before she left.
"Stay safe." She whispered, before pulling away, and following her brother and the Americans who were left. Rick put a hand on her shoulder, and looked past her at Ardeth.
"Look after her. I'm leaving her in your hands." He said, and Jasmine smiled.
"I'll be okay, Dad. Look after Evie. She needs you right now." She replied, and Rick shook his head, and hugged her.
"Explain to him. I think he's a bit confused. Stay safe, Jaz." He commented before kissing her forehead, and leaving, making Jasmine laughed slightly. She turned, and saw that Dr. Terrance had made a quiet exit, leaving Ardeth standing there and looking at her.
"Who are you?" he asked, his body language tense, and guarded. Jasmine suddenly felt shy, and she looked down, and walked over to the bench, sitting down.
"Jasmine O'Connell. But, in another life, I was Princess Kidashka, twin sister of Nefertiri, and daughter of Seti the First. I grew up in Thebes, and when I was older, my father betrothed me to Imhotep, and we were to marry after Nefertiri did. I hated Imhotep, however, because he was vile, and because I loved another." Jasmine said, and Ardeth sat on the bench next to her, his eyes never leaving her face.
"You loved a Medjai." He said quietly. Jasmine smiled slightly.
"Yes. He was their leader, and I was a princess. It was forbidden, and I only told my sister. She accepted it, and helped me escape with him the night Imhotep discovered us, and killed my father." She said, and felt tears beginning to fill her eyes, remembering that night.
"He ran with you through the palace." Ardeth continued, and Jasmine looked up at him, "You hid in an alcove, someplace that he and you had hidden while your sister and his best friend would chase you during your childhood. The priests found you both, and you tried to run, but Asim was taken, and killed in front of you as you were dragged to Imhotep." Jasmine felt the tears in her eyes begin to spill, her mind filling with memories. She buried her face in her hands, and began to cry.
"He swore he wouldn't leave me. He told me that we would be fine, and we would be able to be together. He promised me." She said, her voice breaking. Her shoulders shook from her soft cries.
"He regrets being separated from you. He has never forgotten the look of horror on your face as you two were pulled apart." Ardeth said quietly, and Jasmine's head shot up, looking up into his dark eyes. He was looking down at her with sadness, and… love? Ardeth reached down, and took one of Jasmine's hands in his own, and looked down at their entwined hands.
"You're him, aren't you?" Jasmine asked in a quiet voice, her tears dried, and a small smile replacing them on her features. Ardeth looked back up at her, the same small smile on his face.
"I've missed you, my forbidden princess." He said, and Jasmine laughed slightly.
"I missed you too, my Medjai warrior." She replied, and Ardeth's smile grew as he pulled her close to his chest, hugging her tightly. Jasmine buried her face in his chest, happy tears filling her eyes once again. Her mind once again filled with the happy memories of when she was Princess Kidashka. She remembered holding Asim tightly the nights before he would have to leave to protect her family, not knowing if he would come back to her in one piece. After a few minutes of just embracing, Jasmine lifted her head, and looked up at Ardeth, who was smiling down at her.
"I daresay you are even more beautiful now, then when I last saw you." He said, brushing a gentle hand over her cheek. Jasmine's smile grew.
"And now you are the chief of the Medjai. Just like you always talked about." She replied, and Ardeth laughed, a deep sound that made Jasmine feel happier than ever. The two reunited lovers spent most of the next hour or so telling the other about their lives. Jasmine told Ardeth about her mother and father leaving her at the Cairo orphanage, then being adopted by Rick, and her dreams. In return, Ardeth told Jasmine about his life as a Medjai, and how long he had been watching over Imhotep's gravesite. After a while, the sound of voices startled the both.
"Your father must be back." Ardeth said, standing. He offered a hand to Jasmine, which she took with a smile. The two walked back towards the front lobby, hand-in-hand, and saw Rick standing with Evie and Jonathan, along with Daniels and Dr. Terrance. Jasmine noticed one face seemed to be missing.
"Where's Mr. Henderson?" she asked, after giving Rick a tight hug. Evie looked at her, downcast.
"The mummy got to him. And the doctor. We were too late." Rick said. Jasmine froze.
"He's almost regenerated." She whispered, her hands clenched into fists. Ardeth walked up behind her, and placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"According to legend, the black book that the Americans found was supposedly able to bring people back from the dead. Until now it was a notion that I was unwilling to believe." Evie said as they walked up the stairs of the museum. Jasmine kept her hand in Ardeth's the entire time.
"Believe it sister. That's what brought our buddy back to life." Rick replied.
"Yes, well, what I'm thinking is that if the black book can bring people back to life…" Evie began.
"Maybe the black book can kill him." Jasmine finished, and praying she was right.
"That's the myth." Evie said with a slight smile. "Now we just have to find out where the gold book is hidden." The group reached the top landing, and heard voices chanting outside. Jasmine looked out the window, and saw an even larger group of Egyptians slowly walking towards the museum, looking dazed, and covered with boils, carrying torches.
"Last but not least, my favorite plague. Boils and sores." Jonathan said dejectedly.
"They have become his slaves." Ardeth said, and Jasmine sighed.
"The beginning of the end." She said quietly, and sadly.
"Not quite yet it hasn't. Come on." Evie said, and ran back to where the black slab of stone was sitting, and she began to run her fingers over the runes. Jasmine joined her, knowing exactly what the woman was looking for.
"According to Bembridge scholars, the golden book of Amun-Ra was located inside the statue of Anubis." Evie said.
"That's where we found the black book." Daniels replied. Jasmine nodded.
"Exactly." She said.
"Looks like the old boys at Bembridge got it wrong then." Jonathan said.
"Yes, they mixed the books up. Mixed up where the books were buried." Evie replied.
"So if the black book was in the statue of Anubis, then the gold book must be inside…" Jasmine said, and searched the ancient runes quickly, with a skill that had been heavily developed over the years. Below them, the mob broke through the doors. Rick and Ardeth looked over the railing as they did.
"Come on, girls, faster." Jonathan urged. Jasmine huffed, and rolled her eyes.
"Patience is a virtue." Evie sing-songed.
"Not right now it isn't." Rick replied sarcastically.
"I'll go start the car." Jonathan said, and immediately ran down the steps. Jasmine gasped, and tugged Evie's sleeve.
"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the hieroglyph that she had just read. Evie read it as well, and grinned.
"The golden book of Amun-Ra is at Hamunaptra inside the statue of Horus!" she exclaimed.
"Take that, Bembridge scholars!" Jasmine said, and smiled brightly. Rick smiled at her.
"Let's go!" he yelled, and Ardeth took Jasmine's hand, and they followed the others outside, and hopefully into the battle that would end the creature.
Please review!
Alright, so, now that I've started my sophomore year, updates will be much slower. I'm still getting used to the new work load, but I hope I can at least update every weekend, like I've been normally doing. You all are amazing, and thank you for understanding.
Stay amazing mummies, Medjai, and pharaohs!
Love,
Enchantress