It's been almost a year since I posted the last chapter. I honestly never meant for it to take this long. You'd think with the way chapter 21 ended I would have been able to dive right into the next one?

But clearly that did not happen.

It took me a while to come up with the rest of the plan (while writing other stories in the meantime). That said, I'm back now and I hope some of you are still here, willing to read the rest of the story and a message or a review.

Now without further ado...

ENJOY!

Chapter 22 - Devil games

The Borchardt residence

"Hello, my name is Richard O'Connell and I'm looking for Ludwig Borchardt?"

Richard O'Connell. Elisabeth couldn't believe her eyes nor her ears as the American said his name out loud. Richard O'Connell. The man she'd been looking for all this time, was standing right in front of her. On the threshold of her house. What sort of trick were the Gods playing with her?

First Dr Terence Bey showed up unexpectedly, then she discovered that Ardeth had kept her journal in his possession for Gods knew how long. The journal which contained every titbit of information she had ever collected on not only Richard but also Hamunaptra and Imhotep. And not said Yankee was standing before her.

Elisabeth crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide as much of herself as she could in her long flowy white silken bathrobe. A solid first impression she was making, but perhaps she could use it to her advantage. Richard O'Connell was here and she had to somehow make him stay there until Ardeth would come back from the museum. But already she noticed how anxious the man was, his eyes darting back and forth, over her shoulder, glancing into the house. If she said the wrong thing there was a pretty good chance he'd run off.

"I'm incredibly sorry, where are my manners." She chuckled and extended a hand his way. "Elisabeth Borchardt."

Her hand lingered between them for a couple of seconds but eventually Richard reached for it and gave a firm shake.

"His daughter?" He said, sounding a little unsure.

Elisabeth nodded. "Would you like to come in? I'll make you some Chai."

"Actually I'm in a hurry, if you could call for your father, I'd really appreciate it."

Apparently Richard had no idea her father was in Germany. She could stretch this, make him believe her father would return shortly, when in fact it would be Ardeth who'd show up instead.

"I understand." Elisabeth replied. "I'll take you to his study. You sure you don't want some chai?"

"I'm sure." He answered stepping inside and Elisabeth hurriedly shut the door behind him.

Got him. Time to make him stay for as long as was necessary.

"This way." She smiled and she lead him to her father's study room.

Excitement rushed through her as Richard O'Connell followed her through the house. Calm down. She told herself, this was not the time to think victory was already at hand. It was only the two of them at the moment and Elisabeth was pretty certain she wouldn't be able to keep him here if he decided on leaving before Ardeth would arrive.

"Here we are." Elisabeth exclaimed as she opened the door.

Her eyes shot towards the saddlebags on the bench, but most importantly her leather bound journal and a heavy feeling settled in her chest. How had Ardeth gotten a hold of it?

"I don't see your father in here." Richard stated as he stepped next to her.

"I never said he was in here, Mr O'Connell."

Immediately his head turned her way. "Then why are we in here?"

Elisabeth motioned towards one of the chairs at the desk. "Please, take a seat."

Unfortunately it seemed Richard was not in the mood for games. He clenched his jaw and licked his lips. "Look, lady,-"

"Elisabeth." She told him. "Or Miss Borchardt, whichever you prefer. Come."

She proceeded to walk ahead towards the desk, hoping her level of confidence as well as swaying her hips seductively were enough to urge him to follow. She had to keep him here just a while longer. He already declined the chai, therefore she had to think of something else. He came across incredibly jittery, seducing him, as she normally would with others when she needed something, was obviously not going to work. But what would?

Based on the sounds coming from behind her, it seemed her plan had worked a little though. Richard walked after her but didn't sit in the chair as she'd hoped. To be safe, she didn't sit down either. Not in a chair at least. Instead she planted her behind on the desk and crossed her legs, the silken robe splitting slightly showing a good hint of her thigh.

"You've had dealings with my father before?" She asked with interest.

For a few second he stayed quiet, his blue eyes observing her. "Maybe." He muttered.

"Come now, is it that much of a secret?"

"It should be. Whatever my connection is with your father, that's between me and him." Richard said.

Elisabeth conjured up a coy smile. "Pity. I suspected you were the one who has helped him with certain,- discoveries. Finding tombs, digging up treasures and what not. Things he had trouble finding himself. Considering he isn't here at the moment, I'm next in line to help you out with certain problems." She cocked her head. "Unless, you're not here for help?"

"What makes you think I'm here for help?"

"Well," She began as she supported her chin with her hand. "You came here without an invitation. You look as though you haven't slept in days and you keep tapping your fingers nervously against anything you can find. The doorframe at the front of the house and now your elbow. I'd say, you're in some sort of trouble and came here looking for help?"

"Wow." Richard barked out a laugh. "You really are his daughter. Though you don't look at all like him."

Elisabeth grinned. "Thank you. Now, what is it that I can help you with instead?"

It was obvious Richard O'Connell did not trust her one bit, though he didn't seem as tense as a few second ago. He'd come to her father for help, Elisabeth was certain of it because why else would he be here? The question was, what kind of help was he looking for?

"What exactly has your father told you about me?"

Elisabeth figured that honesty would work best in this situation. She could lie of course, that Ludwig had confided everything there is to know about Hamunaptra and Imhotep, but if Richard saw through that lie she would not be able to detain him inside the house until Ardeth's arrival.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Look, Mr O'Connell. My father doesn't tell me everything, he might slip up at times and reveal something he never intended to. But,-" Elisabeth turned on the desk and reached for a box behind her. "He has a tendency for being messy and therefore leave documents in places he shouldn't."

Right, that was a lie, but one she figured Richard didn't know. She lifted the lid and took out a few pieces of paper. This was the moment of truth and she looked up at the man before her before clearing her throat.

"I haven't heard from him in a while. If he's dead I'll have to find somebody else. It is crucial that I find the city of the dead, for if my findings are correct, it contains the book of Amun-Ra,-"

The papers were snatched from her hand by Richard, whose eyes shot across the pages. But soon a frown appeared on his forehead and he looked at her. "This isn't English."

"That is my father's native tongue, O'Connell. German." Elisabeth replied. "You understand it?"

"No." He answered.

"Thankfully I do, along with English, French and Arabic. But back to business, this entry is about you and what he hired you for. Which brings me back to my initial question, what is it that can I help you with?"

It had been one big gamble on Elisabeth's part. The journal entry she'd just read was indeed in German, but it had not been about O'Connell at all. It was one of the earlier entries where her father had first mentioned the city of the dead. She'd assumed, foolish perhaps, that Richard did not understand the language, but she needed some sort of proof to show him she knew very well what sort of dealings her father had going on.

She watched the American intensely, gave yet another smile and saw him relax for real this time. He ran a hand through his chin length brown hair. He handed her the papers and started to talk as she placed them back in the box.

"I'm being followed." He said.

"Followed?" Elisabeth frowned.

"Yes."

"Any idea why?"

Richard licked his lips nervously and gave a quick glance around the room before talking again. "When I was at Hamunaptra, some things happened. Unexplainable things. I barely escaped and as I headed for the desert, I saw this group of men on a sand dune in the distance. Black horses with riders dressed in all black. Desert folk, I suspect."

Black horses with black cladded riders. Elisabeth felt a warmth rush through her. The Medjai. But that's not what Richard called them. Could it be that he didn't know about the Medjai? Why they protected most of the Egyptian tombs and ruins in the desert? If he didn't know anything about them, that definitely could work in her favour. Richard believed the people he'd seen were the ones following him, which in a sense was true.

Unless...

Elisabeth wondered. All this time it was her who had been following him, for the Medjai. But was she really the only one who'd been tracking Richard across the upper part of Egypt? What if Ardeth had sent more Medjai after him behind her back? There was a time when the chieftain believed she was incapable of finding Richard, it would make some sense to send somebody else aside from her.

But had he done so? Something she'd have to ask him later on top of confronting him about hiding her journal from her.

"And you believe these desert folks are the one following you?"

"Maybe. I know I am being followed, that much is certain. Can't tell you how I know, but I trust me on this." Richard assured her.

He wasn't telling her everything and Elisabeth narrowed her eyes suspiciously. It didn't matter. All of this would be over soon. Ardeth would get the key back safely, Hamunaptra's secret would remain hidden for as long as was possible and as for Richard O'Connell,- Well, she didn't know what the Medjai would do to him, but that wasn't her problem. She needed to deliver him and that was finally going to happen.

"Alright, I'll take your word for it. Does that mean you're here because you thought my father would be able to help you?" Elisabeth frowned.

"I figured he might know more about these people." Richard answered.

"I doubt that's the only reason as to why you're here." She countered.

The man huffed. "You are quite sure of yourself, miss Borchardt."

Elisabeth was starting to feel a little impatient. This man was like a vault, not that she could blame him, but she had hoped it would have been easier considering she was Ludwig's daughter. But perhaps that was the reason why Richard was hesitant. Had he tried to contact her father before today? Since Ardeth had called for her help? She knew he'd been to the house before thanks to Menna, but that was before she had begun to search for him.

"Alright, let's get one thing clear, Mr. O'Connell. My father has never mentioned Hamunaptra to me, not even once. Which tells me it is a big deal. If you're being followed by these desert folk because you've set foot in a sacred place, I am more than willing to help you out. Especially since I am also not in the mood to have these men show up on my doorstep and harm my father." She crossed her arms and stepped on front of him.

"That is not my intention, though if your father was aware of these people feeling touchy over an old tomb, a little heads up would have been nice." He sounded sincere.

"I think it's safe to say that this is not any ordinary old tomb."

"Another thing you're father should have mentioned." Richard's voice changed. "I would have dealt with it in a different way or not taken the job at all. Not for him at least."

Richard muttered the latter comment under his breath but Elisabeth had heard him perfectly. He was upset with her father, that much was clear. He'd come here for help. Help she couldn't provide for him. The Medjai were going to take him in. But not just him,- She paused and bit her bottom lip.

They'd make sure her father would never meddle with Hamunaptra ever again. Something Elisabeth agreed on, but exactly how would they go about it? No, it was an irrational fear. Ardeth would handle her father in a civilised manner. Wouldn't he? She could deal with it for him.

"We have a safehouse in Thebes." Elisabeth said. "My mother and I stayed there during the war. It's not be much, but it might be a good place to hide until my father contacts you."

"I appreciate the thought, miss." Richard began and he smiled swiftly. "But I'd rather wait for your father, considering I'm already here."

Pressing her mouth in a tight line, Elisabeth nodded. Ardeth better hurry. Once Richard would figure out her father wasn't coming, there would be no way for her to keep him here for long.

"In that case, I suggest we head to the parlour. It is a much nicer place to wait,-"

"Quiet." He hissed suddenly and he grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her down to the ground with him.

What was going on? Elisabeth craned her neck to look up. What had gotten him so spooked all of a sudden?

"Mr. O'Connell,-"

"Sssttt." He pressed a finger against his lips. "Stay here."

She complied and watched with confusion as Richard crouched awkwardly towards one of the windows. He moved his jacket aside and pulled out a pistol. Elisabeth's eyes widened. She should have been aware he had a weapon on him. Most foreigners carried one. This was bad. She couldn't risk Ardeth getting shot once he'd return. She needed to confiscate it somehow, that and also find out why the Yankee was crawling near the windows.

Richard suddenly moved and aimed his weapon into the backyard. His arms went from left to right in a swift motion. For a couple of seconds he stood there, gun pointed at something outside. Elisabeth slowly headed towards him, but then stopped as he waved his left hand, signalling her to stay put. She gritted her teeth.

"Mr. O'Connell, what on Earth is the matter with you?" She whispered as loud as she could.

"They're here."

They're here? Who was he talking about? Oh, good Gods. Had Ardeth returned? And was he alone or with Dr. Bey? She ignored the wave of Richard and moved until she reached him.

"Who is they?" She asked, crouching down next to his legs.

Richard cursed and swiftly looked her way. "Those men I've been telling you about."

It had to be Ardeth, it couldn't be anybody else. Unless there were more Medjai stationed in Cairo without Elisabeth's knowledge. Although, considering how Samir had been spying for Ardeth in Cairo for many years, it was a possibility. But even so, what were they doing here at her house? Had Dr Bey sent them to her?

"Let me talk to them." Elisabeth said.

"Excuse me?" Richard arched an eyebrow and looked at her as if she was insane.

"This is my house, Mr O'Connell. I shall deal with these so called desert folk. Step aside."

Before he could stop her, Elisabeth stepped towards one of the other windows. As quick as she could she opened it and stuck her head out to see who exactly it was Richard had spotted. But when she scanned the backyard there was nobody there. The only something she could see were the horses, Sawsan and Amun.

"I don't see anyone." She said turning back towards Richard.

"You're telling me those horses are yours?"

Elisabeth blinked. It were the horses which had caused Richard the react. She suspected that he must have recognized them as those belonging to the Medjai. Or desert folk as he called them. Despite Sawsan being a white horse, the blanket on her back belonged to the Medjai tribe. This was becoming more complicated by the minute.

She had to say something before he'd get suspicious but it seemed she was at a loss for words. How was she going to lie her way out of this? Richard narrowed his eyes and she quickly cleared her throat.

"No." She answered. "I mean, they're not mine. They belong to friends of our housekeeper. Menna offered them shelter for a few hours until they're done shopping at the market."

Richard didn't reply, instead he kept looking at her strangely.

"Honestly, Mr. O'Connell. You're seeing ghosts. I assure you there is nothing to worry about. Now, if you'd be so kind to put that away and come along with me, let us wait until my father returns."

Batting her eyelashes and she motioned for him to follow her. Only he didn't and Elisabeth bit the inside of her cheek. Blasted Yankee. But then by some miracle he moved his arm, ready to holster his weapon in his jacket and Elisabeth sighed with relief.

"Thank you, now as I said earlier. Follow me,-"

It wouldn't be until a few hours later that Elisabeth realized how much of a mistake this had been. Thinking she had him all convinced to follow her, that there was nothing to worry about and that he was at a safe place. The second mistake was turning her back to him, not realizing he hadn't put his weapon away at all.

"I'm sorry, Miss Borchardt."

Were the last words she heard before something hard and painful shot through the back of her head followed by nothing but an endless darkness.

An hour later

Elisabeth wasn't going to like this, but Ardeth had to bring Dr Bey along with him. After their talk at the museum, he needed the older man to tell her what he'd told him. News which she wasn't going to like, but crucial information she needed to hear.

"Why am I getting this feeling that you only asked me to come with because you don't want Miss Borchardt to lash out at you once she hears this?" Terence exhaled annoyingly as they reached the main gates of the Borchardt estate.

"Whether she hears it from me or you, my friend, I very much doubt she will believe it." Ardeth answered. "Though I suspect you might sound more convincing seeing as you discovered it."

"You need me as a scapegoat. I see how it is. And to think there was a time when your face showed great disdain by the mere mentioning of her name." The other man shook his head. "How times have changed."

That was the truth. There were moments when Ardeth couldn't believe it either, but his heart had changed indeed. Now she was all he could think of. Her cyan eyes, like the colour of the Nile on a warm day. Her golden brown hair which shone like honey in the sun. The touch of her soft lips against his skin.

Ardeth halted at the door, the image of a naked Elisabeth lingering in the back of his mind as he pulled the string hanging near the entrance. He could hear the bell chiming in the distance and he listened quietly for the sound of approaching footsteps. A few seconds passed and everything remained quiet. He frowned and reached for the bell again.

"It seems Miss Borchardt has taken the liberty of making her own plans for the day." Dr Bey sighed.

"She assured me she wouldn't leave the house until I returned." Ardeth told him quickly.

But even after pulling the rope for a second time, there were no sounds of anyone approaching them from the other side of the door. Was Dr Bey right? Had Elisabeth grown tired of waiting and gone out for a short while?

"Perhaps she's outside in the garden." He suggested, glancing over his shoulder at the older Medjai.

Terence rolled his eyes. "By all means, let's search for her. It's not as if I have anything better to do with my time."

Ardeth ignored his comment and walked away from the main door towards the small path located on the right side of the house. The same route they'd taken last night with the horses. A pink red brick bath surrounded by a vast collection of lemon trees. He soon spotted Amun underneath the wooden canopy.

But only Amun.

He halted abruptly, causing Terence to bump into him.

"By the Gods, Ardeth." He cursed. "What is the meaning,-"

"A moment, Dr Bey."

He rushed towards Amun and frantically glanced around the backyard, looking for a sign of Sawsan. His brother's horse was nowhere to be seen. Had Elisabeth indeed gone out with the creature? He very much doubted it after the journey they'd had through the desert. But an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach and it continued to rise. Towards his chest, where his heart began to beat rapidly.

His gaze shot towards the house where he spotted one of the windows being open. A window he knew all too well. It led to Ludwig Borchardt's study. Normally this would not be something out of the ordinary but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Without waiting another minute, he ran towards the open window, jumped and pulled himself up, making his way into the room.

"Ardeth!" Dr Terence Bey shouted from outside. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Head to the front of the house." Ardeth called out. "I shall open the door for you."

The chieftain didn't wait for a response, instead he walked into the room, trying to figure out if he could spot anything out of the ordinary. Only it looked exactly as it always did to him. Even if something was different, what were the odds of him noticing? Perhaps he was being paranoid. He couldn't deny that there was still a small part of him which feared Elisabeth would run from him one day, for feeling guilty of choosing him over Samir.

He breathed in deeply and walked through the room. Past the desk, the chair, the bench with his saddlebags.

Suddenly he stopped.

His saddlebags. His eyes darted towards the book next to them and they immediately widened. Elisabeth's journal. The one he'd found back in Samir's saddlebags, her journal which Ardeth had confiscated in secret and kept hidden from her these past weeks. He had the intention of confronting her about it at some point, but other things had happened in the meantime. Such as falling madly in love with her.

Now it would appear the secret was out.

Elisabeth had discovered he had stolen from her. That he knew every secret she never told him about.

Ardeth's heart sank. Was this why Sawsan was gone? Had Elisabeth taken the horse and left her house because she was angry with him? She had every right to be, even if he had some right to feel as equally upset with her for not telling him everything either while she stayed with his tribe.

No. No, he couldn't believe it. Would Elisabeth really react in such a manner? He had no idea. He honestly didn't know. The only thing he did know was that he felt incredibly afraid.

The bell chimed through the house and Ardeth realized he still had to let Terence Bey inside. A lump formed in his throat and his feet felt heavy as he dragged himself through the corridor towards the front door.

"Finally!" Terence grumbled as Ardeth opened the door. "For a moment there I thought Miss Borchardt had caught your attention and you'd forgotten all about me."

The older man walked inside and stared into the empty entrance hall. "Well, Ardeth? Where is Miss Borchardt?"

"I,-" Ardeth opened his mouth only to close it again.

"Are you alright? You look rather pale all of a sudden."

Ardeth swallowed. "I think she is gone."

::::::...::::::

A few hours had passed and the house was just as quiet as when Ardeth had returned. So far there had still not been a single sign of Elisabeth. Evening was approaching slowly and Ardeth was starting to lose all hope while Dr Terence Bey was beginning to lose his patience. Ardeth had called on Menna for help. The old lady and Elisabeth's former nanny, might have more luck in locating her than they had.

"Maybe she got scared, knowing you discovered all of the secrets she'd kept from you and left to continue her search for the American." Terence suggested. "We all know she was in this for the money and once she found out it concerned Hamunaptra,-"

"Silence." Ardeth shouted. "I will not hear of this. I do not believe her interest in money and Hamunaptra is the same as it once was."

Terence scoffed. "Foolish. A snake might shed its skin, but it will always remain the same snake."

Anger boiled within Ardeth, but he kept it together. For the only other emotion larger than rage was that of despair. He didn't believe Terence. Not his Elisabeth. He'd seen the change in her first hand. She would not fall back in her old ways. The only logical reason was that she felt betrayed by him for keeping things from her. That's why she had run off. Ardeth prayed to the Gods that she would return to him.

"What is the plan should she not return?" The older man questioned. "We still haven't located the American."

"No matter what happens, the search will continue. We were on his trail and now that we know more about him, I'm sure we will be able to locate him soon enough."

Ardeth understood where Terence was coming from and why he was bringing it up, but the American was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He had to make sure everything was alright between him and Elisabeth. That her discovering the journal would be nothing more but a little bump in the road. Something they could easily overcome.

The front door clicked and creaked and Ardeth jumped up immediately as Menna entered the hallway. Her face was glowing with sweat and she pushed the door shut with her hip. Ardeth rushed towards her and grabbed her hands, not thinking she might need a moment to catch her breath.

"What news do you have, Menna?" He asked her in Arabic. "Please tell me you discovered something."

Menna pulled her hands free and wiped them on her skirt. "My sweet danaya. I don't know where she is. But I heard,-"

"You heard? What did you hear?" Ardeth was beside himself.

The older lady exhaled and looked up at him. "The people at the end of the street saw a white horse today."

"Sawsan?" Ardeth sighed with relief. It had to be Sawsan.

"They say they saw my danaya on the horse." Menna continued.

The Medjai chieftain wasn't sure whether he should feel relieved that Elisabeth had been spotted or that she indeed had left with Sawsan. But to where? Hours had passed already. Had she left Cairo? And if so, where was she going to?

Immediately he turned to Terence Bey who had decided to join them in the entrance way. "We need to send out a search party. Any of our people in the city needs to be on the lookout for a white horse and Elisabeth."

Ardeth felt a sudden tug on his sleeve and he looked down at Menna. Her expression sad. Of course she was. She was no doubt just as concerned about all this as he was.

"They told me she was not alone." The woman said softly.

Not alone?

"Who?" Ardeth demanded.

Menna shook her head. "A white man. Not from around here."

A man? With Elisabeth. No. Ardeth took a step back. There was only one man his mind could think of. But he didn't want to believe it. Surely this was a mistake. Ardeth dragged his hand across his face. This was not happening.

"Thank you, kind madam. Perhaps some chai would be nice at the moment? I need to talk with the Chieftain for a moment. I'm sure miss Borchardt will return shortly."

Terence motioned for Menna to leave the hallway, all the while smiling politely. The older woman hesitated but listened eventually. She threw Ardeth another apologetic look, one he unfortunately didn't catch. Once she was gone, Terence turned to Ardeth.

"This sounds rather unfortunate, I must say." He commented.

"This is not Elisabeth. She wouldn't do this."

Terence huffed. "Are you sure? To me it sounds exactly as something miss Borchardt would do."

Ardeth shook his head. Not his Elisabeth, not after everything they'd gone through. Everything she had done for his brother when he was on the brink of death. She would not betray the Medjai. She simply wouldn't. Ardeth wetted his lips and couldn't stop a roar of anger escaping his throat.

"Perhaps I should retreat to the museum for now." Terence said as he jumped back slightly from Ardeth's outburst. "I shall gather a search party. It doesn't matter what is going on exactly, finding them is more important."

The curator stared at the Medjai chieftain who took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself. After a couple of seconds Ardeth adjusted his turban and turned his attention to Terence.

"I agree. I would also ask of you to send message to my tribe, most specifically,- to Samir." Ardeth's voice sounded firm. "My brother knows her. We will need his help."

Dr. Terence Bey nodded and without wasting another minute in the Borchardt residence, walked out the front door, slamming it loudly as he left. A quiet spell settled in the entrance way and Ardeth stumbled sideways until he hit the wall on the right. His hands forming into fists.

Elisabeth was gone. She'd left him, just as he'd feared she would. But why? For the reason the older Medjai member had suggested? Or because of what he had done? Ardeth needed answers, but most of all he needed her. He had to find her.

May Allah help him, he had to get her back in his arms.

Oh, poor Ardeth...

If only he knew Elisabeth hasn't left him at all, not voluntarily at least.

But on the bright side... Samir will return!

I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Until next time!

(Do not worry, it won't take a year this time).