Flames of Eternity

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story from The Mummy (1999) except for my OCs.

Here are some terms to know:

Ammit: Demon present in the Temple of Two Truths. She appears as a demon with the head of a crocodile, the mane and body of a lion, and the back legs of a hippo. She eats the hearts of those deemed unworthy.

Anubis: The jackal-headed God who was the conductor of souls. He would judge of the pure of heart in the Temple of Two Truths. He was the original lord of the underworld. He is said to have created mummification to resurrect Osiris when he was killed by his brother Set (or Seth).

Duat: The Ancient Egyptian Underworld.

Ma'at: Goddess of truth, justice, balance, and order. Ma'at was also a group of laws that the Ancient Egyptian people followed to salvation.

Set(h): The God of war, chaos, and storms. He was the brother of Isis and Osiris and was to blame for the death of Osiris. His punishment was to guard Ra as he made his way through the Underworld each night against Apep.

Temple of Two Truths:. The golden hall where Anubis took the deceased' heart and weighed it against a feather of truth. The dead would be taken to meet Osiris if the heart was pure. If the feather was heavier, their heart was eaten by a demon, and the Soul ceased to exist forever.

Osiris: Egypt's first pharaoh (according to myths) and the God of the world. Once his brother, Set, killed him, he became the God of the Underworld.

"Man is separated into Soul and Body, and only when the two sides of his senses agree together, does utterance of its thought conceived by mind take place." ― Muata Ashby, Ancient Egyptian Proverbs.

Anubis was stoic as he walked beside Imhotep. At the end of the hallway, a door materialized. Imhotep gasped. Why does that keep happening around here? He thought. What would have happened to me if Anubis had not shown up when he did? He questioned. He didn't want to know.

He could already tell that the God was perturbed by his presence here in the Duat, but he didn't know why. Imhotep knew his soul would never be allowed to rest or walk in the Field of Reeds because of the curse. The Hom-Dai...he shivered. The anger bubbling below the surface fizzled in his belly. Swallowing it away, he pondered the situation he was in.

Imhotep knew what the curse entailed, but it had never been done. He had studied it, frantically trying to make sense of the ancient scroll. It contained the words of damnation that tore the soul away from the world of the living. Cursing them to a fate worse than death. But what confused him was the anger that chipped away at his humanity. That part of the curse had never been spoken of. He didn't know what it meant.

All he knew was the accursed would have the spells chipped off their sarcophagus. Sealing their fate as a soul that ceased to exist in life or death. Imhotep would never see his friends, family, or Acksunamun again. But what little bit of his soul remained held out hope of seeing her again. It was all that tethered him to reality in this existence of pain.

Remembering his fellow priests and his father. He thought of their noble sacrifice to help him, and for that, they had met their end. The throbbing of his bruised heart was painful, and a lone tear streaked down his face. I have cursed them to this fate, too, haven't I?

Anubis stopped in front of the door, turning to look at Imhotep. He raised his eye ridges as if to ponder whether or not he should allow Imhotep through the threshold. Apparently satisfied, Anubis heaved the great doors open, beckoning Imhotep to follow. The flash of light that had blinded Imhotep before smote his eyes once again. Grimacing, Imhotep did not bother to cover his eyes against its onslaught. The brilliant light in his eyes faded, leaving only the dimness of the torches on the walls in his eyesight. The flames danced to and fro to some sacred song, beckoning him forward.

The vast cavern was coated in ancient spells. The words glowed and moved as Imhoteps eyes roved over them. The golden walls glittered with the ethereal stardust of the rooms prior. It left his eyes confused. Instead of stemming from darkness, the stardust glowed as if backlit by the sun. Walking further into the space, the doors slammed shut behind them, sealing his fate. Gulping, Imhotep looked to Anubis, whose aloofness was alarming. Why would Osiris want to see me, of all people? I have betrayed his trust. Parts of Imhotep felt guilty for all that he had done against the Gods. But other parts of him knew that he was in the right. They battled it out inside of him, neither side winning.

The floor began to slope upward. Large columns decorated with hieroglyphs flanked both sides of the room. They continued walking in silence for quite some time until Anubis spoke.

"Imhotep, we have always trusted you. I wish it hadn't come to this…." He sighed again, pushing up his golden bracelets, a nervous tick. "We have always had high hopes for you," Anubis said, sadness creeping into his voice.

Imhotep had no idea what that meant and looked at the God perplexed. Anubis glanced in Imhotep's direction but avoided eye contact. Before Imhotep could speak, he looked past Anubis and stopped walking.

"Yes, the Hall of Two Truths," Anubis said.

A beautiful woman sat on a throne towards the back of the alcove. Her white linen dress clung to her form, her entire body visible beneath it. A green and blue bead net slip offered some modesty. Her arms crossed over her lap, her iridescent feathers draped over the sides of the golden throne. Making eye contact with Imhotep, the woman scowled and turned away.

Dropping his eyes, he saw the large golden scale at her feet. One side held a feather, and the other was empty. As if feeling his eyes, the scale tipped to the right, dropping the feather to the floor. A small, ugly creature appeared behind the throne, sitting at the woman's feet. Licking its lips in disappointment as it searched for his heart, the woman spoke for the first time.

"Next time, Ammit." She stroked its head in reassurance. Raising her eyes to meet his again, the woman challenged him to speak. "Well, what have you to say for yourself, Imhotep?" She implored. Her voice was cold, unfeeling.

Imhotep's head was spinning. The Goddess before him grew impatient at his lack of words. The scale..my heart wasn't on it. Because it still beats inside of me. Imhotep thought. A pang went through it. Raising his hand to cover his heart, he felt it beating beneath his fingertips. His heart had spoken out against him.

Anubis sighed, annoyed by Imhotep's lack of words.

"I believe that the divine Goddess Ma'at has told you that your heart is not fit enough to be judged. What do you think of that?" Anubis said, looking at Imhotep.

What do I think of that? Imhotep thought. To you, I'm a monster! He screamed inside his own head.

"Yes, you are a monster, Imhotep." The Goddess unfurled her arms, feathered arms spread. She descended from her throne, heels clicking on the marble steps. Imhotep's mouth filled with blood as she came closer, rendering it useless.

"Don't worry. We can hear your thoughts." Anubis snickered beside him. "Guess I don't need to fix that tongue of yours."

Shocked, Imhotep went with it. Why am I a monster to you? He thought, his eyes intense as he looked at the Goddess. I have done nothing wrong! Seti is the one to be punished, not I! The familiar anger surged through him.

"You have both made many mistakes, Imhotep." She said, stopping in front of him, "But he did not make the same grave ones as you have."

Up close, she was breathtaking. Imhotep sucked in a quick breath. Her olive skin sparkled as if it contained the sun inside of it. Her amber eyes were lined perfectly with dark kohl and bright blue eye shadow. They bore into him, making him feel small. Within her face, she held a gentle kindness. But beyond that, a radiant power commanded respect from any mortal man. There was no doubt of who she was. The Goddess Ma'at, magistrate of order, truth, and justice.

I admit, my Lady, that we had an affair behind Seti's back, as you well know. He bowed his head in reticence. But I do not believe that love is a sin. Looking up, his eyes challenged her.

"He was a God amongst common men, Imhotep. The son of Horus. You are but a servant of Osiris. Taking his life was not your only transgression, and you know it." She said, accessing him with her light eyes. "You could have had any other woman. But yet you chose the Pharaoh's next wife. And that is not even the worst of it."

Imhotep did not have any answer. Everything she said was true. The anger inside him petered out, leaving behind the agonizing feeling of regret.

She continued. "You killed Seti. As a priest, you knew that murder not done in war is a grave sin. Yet you plotted." She held up her hands at him to stop him from speaking. "It does not matter what he has done. You should have known better."

Anubis, who had stayed quiet, spoke. "Imhotep." He turned to him, his eyes intense. "What has been done is done. Now you must reap what you sow. Come...we must see my father." Anubis bowed gracefully at Ma'at and turned away, waiting for Imhotep to follow.

Imhotep swallowed, anxious. He looked from Anubis to Ma'at and bowed respectfully to her before following.

"Imhotep!" Ma'at called out.

Stopping in his tracks, Imhotep turned.

"Your heart will never be pure enough to be with her again. It will always speak against you." Ma'at said her tone calm. Turning away and not waiting for his response, she sat back down on her throne. Ammit came out to sit beside her again, its soulless eyes boring into Imhoteps back as he turned away. It growled low down in its throat, angry that it had missed a meal.

The Goddess's words rang in his ears. My heart will speak out against me? He thought. Will I never see her again? Wanting to weep, Imhotep followed behind Anubis, failing to notice Anubis' growing anxiety.

His mind was stuck in a continuous loop of self-hatred and flagellation. Ancksunamuns' face appeared in his mind, taunting him. Her eyes, dark enough to reach the crevices of his soul, stared at him. He remembered her long, elegant neck, which he longed to kiss once more. He recalled the soft soil of the Pomegranate grove behind the palace walls. How it had been their safe haven. The sights, sounds, smells of nature and her spiced skin all intermingled. It had been intoxicating. There was nothing like it. Imhotep's eyes fluttered closed as he walked, wanting to savor the memory of her.

"She is right, Imhotep," Anubis said, breaking him from his reverie.

Shaking his head, disoriented, he looked at Anubis, waiting.

"I can still read your thoughts. Don't forget." Anubis' eyes looked to his and then away, embarrassed. "Imhotep," Anubis said, turning to him. He stopped walking and looked at him, sadness brimming in his eyes. "She is not here." He said.

Imhotep's heart pinched. What do you mean? He asked, incredulous. How can she not be here?

Chewing on his lip, Anubis' dark eyes flicked back and forth, debating whether to answer. He started walking again, avoiding Imhotep's gaze. "I do not know," Anubis replied.

Imhotep stared at his face, waiting for more. But it never came.

They continued silent for some time, leaving the Hall of Two Truths behind them. Imhotep's atrophied muscles struggled to keep up. Coughing, the blood from his tongue sprayed out in all directions. It sizzled as it stained the walls. Smoke billowed from the droplets, and the spells on the walls glowed brighter. Anubis still had not spoken, but Imhotep saw him tense up.

The room began to come to an unnervingly high peak, and at the bottom of the slope, there were two crossroads. Looking at Anubis, Imhotep waited for his guidance. Inhuman noises radiated from the hallway on the left. Demonic chanting and the stench of blood emitted from it. Shivering, Imhotep hoped they weren't going in there. To the right, a ghastly green glow blazed from its depths. Large green and gold doors stood at the entrance. Hieroglyphics of protection adorned its ornate facade. Anubis nodded at Imhotep and made his way down the slippery slope, not waiting for Imhotep to follow.

Once they had reached the bottom, Anubis turned to Imhotep again, his eyes bleary. A large muscular hand handed on his shoulder as Anubis spoke. "Let us go inside and meet your fate."

Bowing at the God's feet in reverence, Anubis spoke. "Father."

Osiris sat on a golden throne adorned with bulls' heads. The green aventurine hall they were in glittered with sunlight. Prisms of light bounced off the mirrored surfaces, creating rainbows here and there.

Imhotep's mouth gaped open. This was the God whom he had served his whole life. Now he stood there, a walking plague, sullying the grace of his God. He wanted to run, but Anubis's hand shot out and held him there.

Anubis stood up, his eyes severe, and nodded at Imhotep. Imhotep hurried down, bowing in respect at the green God on the throne. Sweat ran in rivulets down his face as he stared at the smooth floor, wondering what was coming next.

"Imhotep." A raspy voice spoke. "You have come at last."

Imhotep looked up at Osiris, still kneeling. He had been so sure that Osiris would understand why he had done what he did, but now he was doubting it. His mind raced, but he felt unable to answer.

The God stared down at him, his eyes rummy. Adjusting his white robes, he snapped his fingers. The gauzy bandages that had hung from his body disappeared. The room seemed to stretch upward. Imhotep felt pulled down to the floor, his face smushed into the cool tile.

Returning to normal, Imhotep pushed himself up, his heart pounding hard. Is this my punishment? He thought. Looking up, Osiris sat on his throne, looking like a young man. His green skin was luminescent. Stroking his jewelry-adorned beard, Osiris continued speaking, his voice youthful.

"Anubis, fetch my scepter." He commanded with a wave of his hand. His eyes were intent on Imhotep, never breaking contact.

Imhotep began to feel hot, as if he sat on fire. His skin burned and felt as if it was peeling away, layer by layer. But when he looked down, it was all there. Snapping back up, Imhotep looked at Osiris, now feeling as if he couldn't look away. Something held him there. His head felt cramped, close to exploding. Eyes twitching, Imhotep fought to look away, finding it impossible. His mind felt strange as if someone was inside of it. His memories flipped through his head, like pages of a book, too fast for him to make out. A splitting migraine reached its crescendo until it burst. The feelings all went away, his head feeling strange and empty.

Osiris sat back on the throne, a small gasp escaping his lips. He tsked and looked away, thanking Anubis for his scepter. He put it in the holder on the left side of his throne. Chewing his lip, he turned back to Imhotep, the fear never leaving the God's eyes. Imhotep felt the inhuman anger curling in his belly, waiting to be released. Pushing it down, Imhotep swallowed, wondering why it wanted to make an appearance now. There was no reason for it.

Osiris' fingers twirled around the head of his scepter, nervous. The golden scepter was long and heavy. It was ornate with jewels and crystals that glittered in the light, bouncing off the rainbows in the room. A lapis lazuli star at the point was suspended in gold. It twinkled like a star in the night sky. Osiris continued his nervous twirling around the head of the scepter. He absentmindedly stroked his blue beard with the other hand. When at last, he spoke, the timbre of his voice rose and fell like the waves of the sea.

"We have much to discuss but not much time."

Imhotep bowed again at the God's feet, the residual pounding in his skull leaving him mute. He looked at the God in trepidation, waiting for him to continue.

Sighing heavily, he continued to speak. "In your life Imhotep, we had foreseen you becoming a God amongst man. But something changed. Something was tampered with. A seed of darkness found its way into your soul, and now we must all pay the consequences."

A God amongst man? Imhotep questioned. How is that possible? And seeds of darkness? What do you mean? His mind was a mess of chaotic thoughts.

"Woah, my boy. Slow down." Osiris said, nervously adjusting his white robes. "Yes," he sighed. "We foresaw you becoming one of us, Imhotep. A God of the common man. Someone they could venerate and look up to. But as I said, things changed…." Osiris trailed off, his eyes aggrieved.

Imhotep did not know how to answer, so he pressed on. What do you mean a seed of darkness found its way into my soul? How did this happen?

Osiris and Anubis made eye contact before he answered. "Imhotep…" he leaned forward, eyes serious. "I am sure by now you have felt the unholy anger pulsating within you."

Imhotep froze. The anger! What is this? He thought, desperate for answers. It is not me! And it is not part of the curse placed on me, is it? The anger swirled in his stomach, turning it.

Osiris chittered his teeth, "It is the Mark of Seth, I'm afraid. The Hom-Dai. The scroll…" Osiris said, pained, his head in his hands.

Anubis cut him off, his eyes shifty. "It is time."

"What? Oh…yes, I supposed it is." Osiris answered. The scepter in his hands began to glow, filling the hall with a ghostly green light. "My boy…you have been a good servant to me all these years. And I hate to do it to you, but I must do it for the sake of humanity."

What? Imhotep thought. Do what? His body felt strange. It vibrated with internal power, threatening to explode at the seams.

The anger he had suppressed was now broiling below the surface. Imhotep was powerless to control it. It felt as though his soul was ripping in two. His head felt foggy, and he fought to concentrate on what the God was saying to him. His bones sizzled with the power of the venomous curse as it coursed through him. It embraced his heart, squeezing his last few drops of humanity from it. Clenching his teeth to hold it back, Imhotep struggled to contain it, but it was growing in strength. His body felt more robust than it had in years like he was a young man again. Imhotep felt darkness over his eyes, sealing his last bit of humanity from the world.

"Yes. I feel it," Imhotep hissed between his teeth.

Osiris witnessed the change unfolding before him. He thought back to when Imhotep had first entered the hall. Imhotep seemed so demure, so scared of what was to come. But Osiris knew of the darkness that Imhotep harbored. He had known of it for years. Osiris knew Imhotep was a good man, but he could not control his fate. It hurt Osiris' heart to do it.

Musing over what to do with his most loyal follower, the scepter in his hands radiated with power. It awaited his command. He hesitated. Could he do this? Could he really do this to Imhotep in goodwill? He looked back to where Imhotep stood, witnessing the raw power that emanated inside the boy. Osiris knew that whatever was left of Imhotep's humanity had disappeared. The curse had taken over. It was too late.

Osiris' heart was heavy. Imhotep had always been a loyal servant to him. He had worshipped him so reverently. Washing and bathing his stature, morning, noon, and night. Imhotep had prayed to him, always asking for his guidance, and Osiris had always granted it. The soft spot he felt toward Imhotep felt bruised, raw. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he felt older than ever. Millions of years of living had taken a toll on him. Smiting souls never got easier.

The guilt washed over him in waves. He could not contain it. It was not the boys' fault that he found himself here, a shell of his former self. Seth, Osiris' brother, had done this to him. Had cursed Imhotep to this fate, locking him forever in a hell of torment. Osiris still had no idea what Seth had in mind, but he knew it was nothing good. None of the Gods had seen Seth in years. He lay in hiding. Flashing back to the days of Anubis' revolt in his teenage years, Osiris shivered. He hoped it was nothing of that caliber.

Looking down at Imhoteps bronzed form, he could see the boy's restrained breathing. His tattered black robe hung around his ankles, swaying with the movement of his body. Imhotep's eyes were closed tightly, his teeth clenched. Osiris knew it wasn't long now before it would be too late. He had to protect the people of Egypt. It was his duty. Sadness cut through his heart. Sighing, Osiris brought down his scepter to the floor, striking its base. The lapis star glowed brightly through the growing gloom.

"If you feel it, Imhotep, then I have no choice. You must be banished to the realm of demons, where your soul will be for eternity."

Imhotep's mouth gaped open, and Osiris felt the fear strike in his heart. Imhotep's mouth was suddenly regenerated, allowing him to speak.

"I will not leave here without Ancksunamun! Where is she?" His eyes blazed, the curse becoming more dangerous by the minute.

Osiris swallowed. Time was of the essence. "As Anubis, no doubt, told you. She is not here. And she never will be." He held Imhotep's gaze steadfast.

"What has she done that deserves such a fate?" Imhotep shouted.

"It is what you both have done that has sealed her fate. And it has sealed yours as well." Osiris gripped his scepter, ready for the curse to erupt. Imhotep could not hold on for long, he knew.

"What has she done that was so terrible? It was me, not her!" Imhotep said, stepping forward menacingly.

"You shall have to wait and see," Osiris said, his finger on the trigger. Imhotep stepped closer, his eyes completely black. Imhotep was swept from the room in a flash of green light, banished in an instant.

Turning to look at Anubis, Osiris sighed. "See to it that the humans bury him underneath your statue."

"Why?" Anubis asked, bowing at his feet again. His eyes were serious.

"You will be in charge of protecting the human race," Osiris said. "And let us pray that he is never awoken."

Anubis stood up, solemn. His dark eyes flickered. "As you wish, father."

Pain. There was nothing but unimaginable pain. He screamed in agony as the hands of the demons ripped away at his flesh. Incinerating it, feasting off of his misery. All he could feel was the weight of the pain he had caused others.

He felt the bodies, his priests…his family, being mummified alive. The disappointment and terror they had felt moments before their deaths. He saw the kind eyes of his father, Kher-heb, treating him as his own son, loving him until his death. The memories came quicker and quicker, each a heavy burden to his soul. Seti's face flashed through his mind. Imhotep felt the familiar feeling of friendship strike up in his heart before it was torn away by hatred. Seti had been his first friend in the palace, and he had been his greatest enemy in death. The pain of being stabbed in the back coursed through him, leaving him yowling in anguish. But it was not his own back he felt. He felt every stab wound upon his flesh, piercing him through the heart. The same pain Seti had felt when he had killed him. The pain seemed to increase minute by minute. The imps of hell laughed gleefully. They were having fun.

He didn't know how long he had been there. It felt like an eternity.

The face of a beautiful young girl smiled at him through the gloom. He struggled to remember her name, but it seemed like the demons were there to do more than feast on his pain. They wanted to add to it in any way they could. A golden face with dark eyes looked at him. In her mouth, he could hear the words I love you. Suddenly the face shrank back, becoming a corpse, the flesh rotting and falling off her skin. Imhotep began to weep. The memories of his life hitting him now in full force. Ancksunamun...