Poison of Anger

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

Terms to Know:

Adze: Ritual axe used in the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony. It allowed the deceased to eat, drink, speak, and be merry again.

Anpu: Ancient Egyptian word for Anubis.

Anubis: Jackal-headed God of Death. Led the souls into the Underworld. Creator of Mummification.

Auset: Ancient Egyptian name for Isis.

Djehuty: Ancient Egyptian name for Thoth.

Dua: Praise be/Praise to! Equivalent to the word Thank You or Amen!

Duat: 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.

Nedjeb: 'Sweetie' in Ancient Egyptian.

Netjeru: 'God/Goddess' in Ancient Egyptian.

Opening of the Mouth: Lengthy and complicated mortuary ceremony.

Peseshkef: Magical knife used in the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony.

Sem Priest: Funerary priest.

Wesir: Ancient Egyptian name for Osiris.

"Through its buzzing, a wasp only ends up bringing about the destruction of its own nest." ~Ancient Egyptian Proverb

**REMEMBER! BCE time goes backward, not forward! That is an important distinction when trying to decipher which year the chapter takes place in! It is confusing for me as well!**

xXxXxXx

Thebes, One Year Prior (1294)~

The small man kneeled before him, his eyes on the floor at Seti's feet. Seti sneered. He knew what his subservient position meant.

"Speak," Seti commanded as he looked at the man's sweaty head.

The man quivered and stood up, his eyes unable to hold eye contact for long.

"My…" the man cleared his throat as he squeaked out the first word. "My Pharaoh," the man bowed, his voice normal again.

Seti yawned and rolled his eyes. This is taking too much energy. "What is it, Salih? I know you do not come bearing good news."

Salih swallowed, and the harsh sound reverberated through the quiet chamber.

"My Lord…" Salih began again, holding up his hands in a pious manner, "It is simply not there. I have researched and scoured the country for it. It does not exist. Or it has been lost to the sands of time…," he shrugged, his eyes downcast once more.

Seti felt the comings of a migraine in his temples, and his jaw clenched.

"Failure is not an option, Salih! I must have it!" Seti bellowed, slamming his fist down upon his chair. His hand ached and throbbed with the hit, but he paid no mind. It was humiliating to him. How could he, such a great and important King, not possess what he desired? It was unacceptable.

Salih shrunk back, his jaw tight as he looked at the floor, "Respectfully, My Pharaoh," he said the words carefully, looking up at him again. "I do not think it exists. It is a thing of storytellers. A legend. A myth. Nothing more."

Seti felt his patience slipping. "I do not care for your good opinion Salih. You will find what I desire and bring it to me! If it is the last thing you do…or I will find someone to replace you," Seti glared down at the small man, his lip curled.

Salih stared back at him, a hint of defiance in his eyes. Seti did not care for it. It created an ember of anger within him, burning hotter and hotter.

"I will continue to look for it, my Liege…." Salih held up his hands. "But I implore you to realize that the Scorpion King was but a man. He did not find Ahm Shere, and he was no God!"

Seti had heard enough. Slamming his fist down again, the pain throbbed harder this time. The Medjai behind him appeared and grabbed Salih under each arm, all without any word spoken.

Salih hung between the Medjai. His defiant face now held a flicker of fear. Seti smirked. Fear was his favorite emotion to witness. It was delicious.

"You will find Ahm Shere and bring me that bracelet, Salih. Or mark my words. It will be the last thing you ever do."

Salih glared back at him, his eyes sharp. Nonetheless, he nodded and replied. "You will have it."

Thebes, Late Fall, 1293~

Sighing, Imhotep pushed the mirror in front of him away. He could not bear to look at the man staring back at him. It was not even someone he recognized anymore. Tracing the edges of his eyes, he felt the abundance of new lines beneath his fingertips. His face was drawn and sallow. The exhaustion in his soul was pulling at the seams of his sanity.

Fleeting thoughts of Meri crowded his mind. He sighed again. Between worrying about the Pharaoh, his duties to the crown, and the Kingdom, he had nary any time for himself. Every waking moment was filled with a thought he spared for another. The most pressing of all was Ancksunamun, but he dared not go there. Pushing her from his mind was easier said than done, though. He saw as she sat subservient at Seti's heel each day, her face glamorous and her eyes dead. Imhotep was not strong enough to face her. It was too much to bear. He knew it was only a matter of time before Seti grew bored with her. And what was to become of her then?

Anger flashed through him as he stared back at the reflection of himself. The man before him was nothing but a follower, a man of impotent seed. Glaring at himself, he grabbed for his cosmetics pot. Smearing his brush with kohl, he lined his eyes with the fresh galena. The crow's feet around his eyes seemed to sprout before him, aging him as the minutes passed.

He thought of Ancksunamun's smile when they had walked the gardens together and how it lit up her entire face. The way she had trusted him, it had to have meant something, right? Now, her face was a mask of sorrow. A living corpse of one who had sold their soul to a demon.

Nausea cramped his stomach, and his hands began to shake as he perfected the liner around his eyes. Glaring at his reflection, Imhotep gritted his teeth and slammed down the palette.

"Why must you be such a coward?" He snarled at his own reflection.

Pushing the mirror away, he stood and stalked over to his bed. He grabbed the robes he had discarded there the night prior. Still shaking, he enrobed himself and pulled over the leopard skin over his left shoulder. Still gritting his teeth, he grabbed for the amulets he left on his bureau.

Grabbing for the scarab and baboon amulets he had discarded there, he slipped them into his robes. Huffing once more at his reflection, he left for the Temple. The anger and nausea battling out inside him, he stalked from the room. Today was going to be a long day.

Torchlight flickered on the backs of the bald heads. The heady scent of kyphi filled the dank room hidden below the Temple. Imhotep stood before the body of the deceased. Chanting from his priests surrounded him as the magical words filled the air. Kher-heb stood to the left of him. He washed and cleaned the statue made in the likeness of the departed. Imhotep stared at his father, his eyes even as he began the last rites.

O Great Lady of Magic
Mistress of the House of Life,
Grant us Peace,
Bring Forth Love,
So that we may see the light of day.
Dua Auset!

O Lord of Eternity,
Master of Balance,
Speak forth your truth
Weave it through the universe
So that we may come home.
Dua Djehuty!

O Great Lady of the Heaven's
Mistress of the Hall of Judgement,
Take forth your golden scale,
Allow it to see the truth,
So that we may live again.
Dua Ma'at!

We, your greatest servants, praise you, O great ones.
Dua Netjeru!

A heaviness filled the air as he uttered the last words. Nodding at the guards near the doorway, he signified that it was time for the next phase of the ceremony. The guards nodded back at Imhotep; their faces were solemn.

Through the darkness, a light shone forth, illuminating a figure in the doorway. The visage of Anubis stood there, powerful in his stance. The man walked forward, followed by two more priests of lower rankling. Nodding at Imhotep, Nofre, the sem priest, took his place on the other side of the table.

Raising his hands above his head, Nofre began to chant the libations. He awoke the dead from his eternal slumber, allowing him to eat, drink, speak, and breathe once more. Taking his adze and his peseshkef, he performed the rituals asked of him.

O Lord of the Underworld,
Foremost of Westerners,
Hear our plea.

Open the mouth of this soul,
Allow him to eat, drink, and breathe
Take him into your arms,
Allow his Ahk to come alive
So that he may fly free.
Dua Wesir!

O Lord of the Embalmers,
The Dog Who Swallows Millions,
Hear our plea.

Take the heart of this soul,
Allow him the benefit of your judgment,
Take him by the hand
Allow his soul to be granted entrance
So that he may live yet again.
Dua Anpu!

We Thank you, O great Gods of the Duat!

Nofre looked up. The dark wooden mask of Anubis glinted in the torchlight, making his face seem sinister.

"It is time, my brothers, to lay one of our own to rest. It is with a heavy heart that we must say goodbye. But it is also…Hello," Nofre said, his deep voice reverberating throughout the small room. The torches were growing dimmer by the minute.

All of the priests nodded and then looked to Imhotep for instruction. Imhotep stepped forward, his amulets in hand. Placing the scarab amulet on the corpse, he looked down at the bandaged face with regret in his heart.

Salih had been his name. A priest of Anubis. A shy, studious man with a soft voice and a sturdy build. Salih often had disappeared late in the day, only to return later without explanation. But he had been pleasant enough to be around. His head was often stuck in a scroll, taking notes. On what, Imhotep did not know. All he knew was that after a meeting with Seti, Salih had "disappeared." His body had been found at his family's doorstep, half eaten by wild jackals.

The thought of his friend being behind this made Imhotep's stomach roil. As he looked down at the serene face of Salih, Imhotep wondered about his own loyalties to the Pharaoh. A friend is a loose term now, isn't it? Imhotep's thoughts were going haywire. That familiar feeling of hatred began to creep back into his heart. But his heartstrings still tugged in the opposing direction. He hoped that Seti had some semblance of good within him.

Imhotep continued to look down at the prone form of Salih. Who was now mummified and ready for his tomb in the necropolis of the priests. Before his eyes, the corpse before him changed, becoming that of Ancksunamun. Imhotep gasped and blinked, the image before his eyes disappearing once more. His heart pounding, he looked down at the dead body before him, breathing shallowly. If Ancksunamun is not careful, this could be her fate as well …. a light cough from Kher-heb beside him shook him from his thoughts. Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand. But his heart still beat hard in his chest.

The room felt arid and warm, and sweat dripped down his face onto the gauze below him. Imhotep sighed and closed his eyes, dizziness beginning to swirl in his temples. Saying a few quick incantations to protect Salih's body in the Netherworld, Imhotep swirled his hands together over the body. He reached into his robes for the scarab amulet he had blessed earlier that day.

Slipping the amulet between the folds of gauze over Salih's heart, Imhotep said the final words of protection. Moving his hands over the deceased, the torches on the walls began to flicker. As he chanted, a small golden light formed between Imhotep's fingertips. As it grew brighter, Imhotep closed his eyes. Folding his hands over the body, he placed the light into Saliah's heart, leaving it there.

He stood motionless over the body for some time before stepping back and nodding at his priests in the room. One by one, they filed out, leaving only Imhotep and his most trusted men.

The mirage of Ancksunamun would not leave his head. Her face swam before his eyelids, and he did his best to push it away. But to no avail. Nodding to dismiss the guards, Imhotep turned to look back at his priests.

Clasping his hands together, he motioned for them to lift the body without saying a word. It was time for the burial.

Later that morning, Imhotep found himself beside Seti in the throne room. The room was sweltering, and as sweat dripped down his brow, Imhotep shifted in his seat. Sitting here day in and day out, listening to inane drabble, drove him mad. He shifted in his chair again as the sweet scent of lotus blooms brushed past his nose, and he had to fight not to look at her. His head swam from the heat. Imhotep could feel her eyes on him, and his face began to prickle.

Huffing to himself, he looked straight ahead, paying her no mind. But it was easier said than done. She felt like a magnet.

"Nedjeb…My jewel, if you please?" Seti said from beside him, breaking Imhotep out of his tortuous state of mind. Bile filled his throat. He knew what was coming.

"Of course, my Lord," was the concubine's response, her voice lilting with each word. Her eyes flickered to Imhoteps for a moment before she looked away, shame on her features. He felt his breath hitch at the contact, their souls connecting for a split second before she pulled away.

Imhotep looked down at his hands, the familiar anger filling him once again. His hands shaking, it took all he had in him not to grab and whisk her from the room, far away from here. He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath through his nose, clenching his teeth together.

"Actually, Seti," Imhotep heard himself saying, "I would like to go over our plans for your...burial…site?" he forced out, his eyes still closed.

"My dear, hold on for a moment. Yes, Imhotep? What about it?" Seti said, pushing Ancksnamun away and turning to look at him.

Imhotep's jaw clenched as he watched Ancksunamun be roughly discarded to the floor.

Straightening up as Seti looked at him, he knew he had to have some decorum here, especially in front of her. A breath whooshed from his lungs, and he cleared his throat.

"Well…They are rather delicate to discuss here. Perhaps somewhere else?" Imhotep spoke under his breath as he looked into Seti's eyes. Imhotep's jaw clenched again, and he felt the flame of anger rekindle.

"Yes…" Seti said, clapping. Medjai rushed forth and lifted his chair. "We shall go to my chambers and discuss this further." Snapping his fingers, the Medjai hoisted the throne into the air and made their way from the room.

Imhotep stared after him, collecting his own thoughts for a moment. Imhotep watched as Seti's significant heft was carried from the room without even having to move a muscle. Not that he has many of those anymore… he snorted to himself.

Turning away from the entryway, Imhotep saw Ancksunamun where Seti had left her on the floor. Her face was despondent as she watched her friends on the far side of the room. As if sensing his eyes on her, she turned and looked at him, her lips parted. Imhotep stiffened as their eyes met, his heart pounding in his throat. The way she looks at me… Imhotep thought. He recalled his numerous dreams of her, the way her body had melded into his fingertips. How soft her hair had been on his fingers…. He recalled how she had trusted him in the garden and how he had left her here, in this prison of sex and solitude. At the very whim of the man, he was growing to hate. The anger again filled him, and Imhotep sneered, breaking their eye contact.

Looking away, a lump formed in his throat as he watched her face fall. It was better this way.

Fleeing from the room, he wanted nothing more than to be out of sight of her. He could not bear the pain on her face. No, it was better if she grew to hate him too, for he was a coward. Heading for Seti's chambers, his self-hatred grew with each step.

Imhotep wrinkled his nose in disgust at the state of Seti's room. Clothes and decor littered the floor, and he had to pick his way over them to find Seti. The room was empty, save the two of them. The curtains had been opened, allowing the stifling air to move slowly through the space. It didn't abate much of the heat.

Seti had been set down at the large mahogany table on the far side of the room. The sun beat through the windows, making Seti appear like a giant, sweating pig. As usual, he was set before a large bowl of fruit, which he was picking at.

"What took you so long?" Seti asked through a mouthful of dates.

Imhotep burned at Seti's casual tone with him. It took all he had within him not to spit in the face of the man he once called his friend. Ancksunaun and Salih's faces filled his vision before he pushed them away. Schooling his features in a mask of indifference, he shut off his emotions. An apple flew at his face as Seti tossed it to him.

Imhotep chuckled and caught the apple in his left hand. Taking a quick bite, he smirked at him, hoping he looked convincing. "Not everyone is so lucky to be carried from room to room, my old friend. Some of us use our legs."

Seti rolled his eyes at the jest and gestured for him to sit. "Now, what is this about that is so desperate to discuss Hamanuptra? Surely this is no big matter?"

Imhotep sat down across from him and templed his fingers, thinking for a moment. His mind was blank as he sat there, his emotions pushing and pulsating at the seams of the walls around his heart. Locking them down further, he inwardly panicked. I forgot what we were discussing. I wasn't prepared for this. "Well…there is the matter of protection, Seti. There must be some form of deterrent to keep away grave robbers. You know it will be a hot spot for looters."

He knew he was talking out of his ass, but it had some merit. Hamanuptra had long since been a burial ground for the wealth of Egypt. But it had not been used since the dawn of the empire. It was a city of dust, rubble, and death. Imhotep knew that it would soon become a hotspot for looters, especially with Seti's wealth that was to be hidden within the temple complex.

"Yes, yes, I've been thinking about that and…I have no idea what to do about it," Seti said, sitting back, his gut resting on his lap. Looking down at it, he sighed, "I really must lose some weight, Imhotep. I cannot keep up with my pharaonic duties quite as easily…." he grumbled to himself.

Imhotep felt a quick flash of annoyance. The temporary feeling of camaraderie went out the window. This man is insufferable. He shrugged. "I will come up with a draft of my plans for protection…I will be journeying there in a few days' time, anyhow. We will discuss it when I return in a fortnight. Now…as for your eating…maybe start with dieting?" Imhotep said with a smirk. The cracks in his emotional armor were wearing thin, fast.

Through a mouthful of fruit, Seti glared at him, "I cannot do that! It is the one true love I have. There must be an easier way…."

Imhotep shook his head, "I'm afraid not. Unless you wish to train with your daughter."

Seti paled and took a harsh swallow of the cantaloupe he had eaten. "No…no, that is quite alright. Speaking of that…. Nefertiri has spoken of your great affront to her pride," Seti said, sitting back, his fingers templed. Fruit juice glinted on his chin.

I guess we're not discussing anything of importance, are we? Imhotep sighed. The project was maddening to him, but the man before him was even more infuriating. Sighing aloud, Imhotep sat forward. "Yes, and what of it?"

Seti sat back and studied Imhotep's face. Before long, he spoke, "I do not discourage such a union. You are a fine fit for this family, you know. Besides…having you as my son would be great fun," Seti grinned at him.

Terror flashed through him as he thought of Nefertiri. His throat closed up, making it hard to breathe. Forcing himself to relax, he rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I do not think that is in anyone's best interests, my old friend. I am more than twice her senior."

Seti cocked an eyebrow, "So what of it? One of my other wives….hmm…Hes-ra, is it? Yes, I believe so. Well, she is twice my junior as well, and we get along just fine."

Imhotep felt his cheeks beginning to burn. The excuse that he had given Nefertiri was not going to work here. He had to think fast. "I have decided to keep an oath of celibacy….It will keep me from becoming quite as distracted as I have been as of late…." Sweat pricked his brow.

Seti stared at Imhotep, his face stoic. Breaking out into a monstrous laugh, Seti yelled, "You! Celibate! Imhotep, you are a riot!" Seti said, boisterous. Wiping tears from the corner of his eyes, his laughter dissipated into a light wheeze. "No…I believe you shall be just fine. In fact…I will allow you to wait to marry Nefertiri in a few years' time. A secret betrothal! I do not want to make my greatest friend uncomfortable. Even if it is silly…" he grumbled, his voice trailing. But his eyes were still merry.

Imhotep swallowed, unsettled at the change of events. Today had already turned into a very long day. "As you wish, Seti. But please. Keep it tasteful and many, many years from now." In fact, never would be preferable. Imhotep could feel his sanity slipping away with each passing moment. The snake of anger curling at the base of his spine was awakening with each moment.

Ancksunamun flashed through his mind, and Imhotep had to fight his own mind to rid himself of her. Thankfully I saved her some time alone this morning. But it is never enough…there is always more to come.

Conflicting images of her being desecrated and humiliated crowded his mind. His self-hatred burned with each breath. Swallowing, his breath began to choke him. Closing down once more, his emotions stunted. But the memory of her beauty was all that stuck there. The image of her in the garden shone brightest in his mind…the hazy moonlight making her face ethereal. The fireflies floated behind her in the darkness, and her dark eyes looked up at him. Her pouty mouth poised for a kiss…. Imhotep shut down the memory as quickly as it had come, unsettled at his lack of willpower. Shaking his head, Seti came back into focus with an unnerving grin.

"Splendid old friend!" Seti said, punching Imhotep's arm. "I shall inform her of this news. Perhaps this will make her want to rejoin your lessons. Now they have even more meaning behind them!" Seti said, his face bright.

Imhotep nodded, his jaw tight. He was in for a hell of a time with Nefertiri. She was relentless with her feelings for him. Now it would be insufferable. Imhotep cleared his throat, "Yes, that is all copasetic, Seti. But we came here to discuss your plans for Hamanputra, not future marriage proposals." His head was swimming in confusion.

Seti's smile was bright as he dismissed Imhotep. "You go do whatever you master architects do, and I'm sure you will come up with something. After all, you are my Vizier. I trust your judgment."

Imhotep blinked at Seti's abrupt ending to the conversation. But he should have been used to it by now. "That can be done. Permission to do as I please then?"

Seti looked at him through his lashes, his face pseudo-annoyed. "Not anything you please, Imhotep. You know what pleases me!"

Imhotep swallowed, a mixture of annoyance, fear, and tiredness washing over him. He could never have an intelligent conversation with this man, could he?

"As you wish," Imhotep said, standing up and pushing away his chair from the table.

Seti sat and watched Imhotep, a silly grin on his face. "I cannot believe you will be my son someday!"

Imhotep rolled his eyes, a smirk coming to his face. His hatred for him was temporarily forgotten. "I guess I shall be."

A/N: Hi, everyone. Thank you for being patient with this late update! I just got back from vacation at the beach with my family, and I worked on this while I was there. I just wanted to polish it up a bit before posting. Thank you for all of your support and amazing comments. They make me so happy!

Also, side note. If you are a practicing Kemetic, please credit me if you use the spells I wrote above. I put a lot of thought and heart into them, and it would mean the world to me. Thanks in advance!