Sitting on the armrest of the couch I stared at the TV, sighing to myself. "Jade, is something wrong?" Armon asked sitting on the couch but I just shook my head turning my attention back to the weather report.
"Rath, maybe you should tell Jade." Ja-Kal said and Rath shook his head, a scroll unrolled on the stone table. Their leader watched as Rath sketched something onto the scroll looking at the sketch before he added a few more details.
"I cannot until this is finished, Ja-Kal." Rath answered glancing over to me as I rested my head on my knees. "Otherwise my plan is ruined."
"Rath, by then it might be too late. I mean look at Jade." Nefer-Tina told him and Rath looked up from his work to see me hunched over my gaze on the wall behind the TV now.
"I can see Jade perfectly fine from over her, Nefer-Tina but she will cheer up once my plan comes together. Now please let me finish this." Rath told them and with a shrug Nefer-Tina and Ja-Kal walked over to join us beside the TV.
"Jade, are you feeling alright?" Nefer-Tina asked and I just shrugged, running a hand through my hair as I stared at the wall. "Rath upset you again huh?"
"You could say that. Wonder what I did wrong this time?" I muttered and Armon gave my shoulder a pat that almost sent me to the floor. "Thanks I think."
"Sorry, Jade. Don't know my own strength sometimes." Armon said and I just gave him a smile moving my attention back to the TV.
"That's okay. At least you guys are still talking to me." I commented hoping at Rath could hear me. He looked up and I turned my head narrowing my eyes at him for several seconds just long enough to make him see how depressed I was. Once I turned back to my friends and the TV, Rath frowned returning to his work after spending a few moments more staring at me.
I know Jade is upset with me but she will be much more cheerful once she sees the surprise I have in store for her.
Bored of the TV I climbed from the couch, stretching my back. I glanced at Rath but he was too busy writing something on a scroll so I crossed my arms, tired of being ignored. Seeing me start to walk over to Rath my eyes narrowed Ja-Kal climbed from the couch quickly whispering something to Armon and Nefer-Tina who both grinned at him.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder I looked up to see Nefer-Tina, Ja-Kal and Armon standing beside me. "Is something wrong?" I asked and Ja-Kal shook his head at me.
"I've been thinking that it would be a good idea for you to get to know the city while you are staying with us." Ja-Kal told me and I nodded, looking down at my bandages.
"Of course we'll help you." Nefer-Tina added and I brightened a little. "But you need to blend in so we'll take you shopping."
"Good idea. After that I can teach you Egypt-su." Armon finished as we headed towards the garage until Rath beckoned to Ja-Kal.
"I will help Rath here while you two will help Jade." Ja-Kal answered and I nodded, following Nefer-Tina and Armon outside. "Rath, what is it? Is it about the secret you wanted to keep from Jade?" He asked once they were out of the room.
"Yes, Ja-Kal. I have finished the plans but I still need to purchase a few things. While Jade, Armon and Nefer-Tina are away from the spyhix I will need your help. Hopefully we can get back and start this before they arrive back." Rath explained, waiting until they heard the Hot-Ra leave the spyhinx.
"We can carry everything in the Skycophagus. Come on let's go and find what you need." Ja-Kal said as he and Rath left the sphyinx Rath holding on tightly to the scroll containing his plans.
I sat beside Nefer-Tina as she drove the Hot-Ra through the streets of San Fransisco, both mummies dressed in the same outfits I regularly saw them wearing in the series. "Soon you can blend in as good as us." Armon told me and I nodded, curious as to why Rath wanted Ja-Kal's help. Then
"Thank goodness. I do kind of stick out looking like this." I replied and they laughed as we headed further into the city.
A short time later I stared into a mirror, looking at the bandages covering my neck, arms and legs with a slight grimace. "I just hope this works." I muttered, picking up a shirt from the pile of clothes Nefer-Tina had picked out. "I can't go around looking like a mummy. Even if that is what I'm stuck as for the moment."
After trying on a few clothes I finally settled on a light blue shirt and a pair of jeans. For my feet I picked out a pair of red and black sneakers. Looking at myself in the mirror brought a faint smile to my face as I picked up the clothing that didn't fit well. As I started to head into the front of the store I noticed something and I reached under the clothes, pulling up a long black coat. "Okay this is nice." I muttered setting the rest of the clothes down before I slipped it on. Turning this way and that I admired the black coat. "Okay you're coming with me." I said with a grin.
"Does shopping always take this long?" Armon asked Nefer-Tina and she just shrugged, both mummies looking up when I walked out of the changing room. "Wow you look good."
"Armon's right, Jade. That outfit really suits you." Nefer-Tina agreed and I smiled to myself as I set the pile of clothes I didn't need down. Once they clothes I was wearing were paid for we returned to the Hot-Ra parked outside.
We made a stop at Beefy Burger, grabbing something for Rath and Ja-Kal. "I know you're upset at him but Rath's not ignoring you." Nefer-Tina said as we drove back to the sphinx as I looked at the bag clucthed in my hands.
"Feels like it, Nefer-Tina. I mean I already apologized for damaging the Jetcycle and everything. Now he won't even speak to me." I whispered, looking at my hands. "I don't know what I've done wrong."
"Rath is your friend. He didn't want to tell you but...oops." Armon said and Nefer-Tina turned her head giving her friend a slow shake of her head.
"Guys, what's going on?" I asked and Nefer-Tina chewed her lip her attention quickly moving to the road instead and I gripped the bag tighter. "So now you two are giving me the silent treatment?"
Getting no response I chewed my lip wondering why everyone was suddenly being so cold to me. We had just pulled into the garage when I dropped the bag on the seat, climbing from the Hot-Ra and without looking back I rushed away. "Jade, wait!" Armon called out as Nefer-Tina turned off the engine.
I rushed through the rooms looking for Rath and Ja-Kal though when I entered the room where I had last seen them I saw that they had left and my shoulders slumped. Dragging my feet I sat on the stone steps that led to the sarcophagi, hanging my head as I struggled not to cry. As I sat there with my head in my hands I heard a meow and I looked at my feet finding Kahti who rubbed her head against my knees.
Sniffing I lifted her up and into my arms where she purred as I stroked her head, running my fingers along her soft fur as I tried to work out why my friends had abandoned me.
"They're being so mean to me, Kahti. At least you still like me." I told her as she nuzzled my chin my tears falling onto her fur.
When I heard footsteps I pretended not to hear still sitting with Kahti curled up in my lap. I did hear what sounded like hammering later but I ignored that too. When someone cleared their throat I lifted my head and Kahti jumped from my lap as Ja-Kal waved at me.
"So I'm not invisible now?" I asked and he tilted his head to one side looking somewhat confused as I climbed to my feet. "Never mind. Where is everyone?"
"They're waiting in the garage. Rath has something he wants to show you." Ja-Kal said and without anything else to occupy my time I followed him, silently hoping that it wasn't some scroll.
If it is I swear I'll smack Rath over the head with it.
This time when we reached the garage I noticed that there was a tarp covering something and I blinked, staring at it with two raised eyebrows. "That wasn't here before." I commented and Ja-Kal chuckled leading me over to it though when I reached out to pull back the tarp he stopped me.
"Not until everyone gets here." Ja-Kal told me and I crossed my arms looking towards the tarp and whatever was hidden beneath it. Armon and Nefer-Tina were the next people to show up though when Rath didn't make an appearence I sighed, tapping my new sneakers against the stone floor. "Patience, Jade. He will be here soon."
"Where is he anyway?" I asked hearing someone else clear their throat and we all turned to see Rath walking through the archway leading into the garage. "Oh there you finally are. Nice of you to keep us all waiting."
"Jade, behave yourself." Ja-Kal sighed and I just rolled my eyes as Rath crossed the room to where the tarp lay. Still annoyed at Rath I pretended not to be interested in what the tarp hid.
"We have not been ignoring you, Jade. I was working on something and I had to make sure that you would not find out about it until the time was right." Rath explained, gripping the tarp in one hand though when he tried to pull it off it got stuck and he groaned. "Armon, could you help me?" He asked and Armon hurried over grabbing one end of the tarp.
Rath quickly released the tarp stepping out of range as Armon yanked the tarp off, revealing what was hidden underneath. As soon as I saw what he had been working on I blinked my eyes widening when I saw a sarcophagus sitting in the room, looking brand new.
"Is..this a sarcophagus? Where did it come from?" I asked, moving towards it and after a slight hesitation I ran my fingers over it. "Who did it belong to?"
"Actually I designed it for you, Jade." Rath revealed as he moved to stand beside me, watching with a tiny smile as I stared at the motif of a jackal on it. "While you were sleeping in my sarcophagus," He started and when I coughed he chuckled, "The idea just came to me. What do you think?"
"It's beautiful." I finally told him finding my voice and his smile obviously pleased with my reaction. "Is this why everyone's been ignoring me?"
"I am afraid that I may have gone somewhat overboard with my secrecy. I never intended you to think that I was not your friend anymore." He explained as I knelt to get a closer look at the motif. "I was not sure what god you worship so I chose one for you. I hope you don't mind."
"It's wonderful, Rath. Thank you and I'm...sorry I was being a pain to you earlier." I apologized and he just waved his hand, setting a hand on my shoulder when I straightened. "I should have known my friends wouldn't turn against me like that."
"Of course not, Jade. You're one of us." Armon answered, standing next to us and after Nefer-Tina and Ja-Kal joined us I smiled.
"Yeah I guess I really am now." I agreed looking down at the sarcopaghus with a slight fornw. "So who's going to help me carry this into the other room?"
We managed to pull it along pretty easily with the trailer that the mummies used to pull the Nileator behind the Hot-Ra. Once we settled on a spot near their own sarcophgi I relaxed watching on as Nefer-Tina and Ja-Kal sparred while Armon watched. Rath stood at his stone table, humming to himself as he studied a scroll.
As quietly as I could I made my way towards him though Rath knew that I was there because as soon as I stepped behind me he turned around, making me yelp when he tapped me on the shoulder. "I thought I could sneak up on you." I explained and he gave me a tiny smile, looking on as I peered at the scroll resting on the table.
"Not someone as well trained as me, Jade." He laughed his eyes travelling to the outfit I was wearing which I had forgotten to remove. "I did not get a chance to mention this but that outfit suits you perfectly. You will blend in with no trouble at all when we next leave the sphinx."
"You really think so, Rath? Thanks for the compliment." I said spinning around only to bump the table with my hip and the scroll rolled off. "Oops sorry." I muttered, kneeling to pick up the scroll only to feel a hand grasp it at the same and I lifted my head once I realized who the other hand belonged to.
"It was my fault when I knocked the table." I replied, trying to look anywhere but at Rath's face when we climbed to our feet. As I handed back the scroll though it didn't help when our fingers touched and I found myself looking directly at his face. We just stared at each other until someone cleared their throat and I quickly gave the scroll back to Rath, who turned his attention back to the table. "I'll let you get back to your studies." I stammered, heading over to the stone couch.
"That was embarrassing." I muttered, sitting beside Armon. "What was I doing?"
"You were staring at Rath." Armon told me and I groaned, hiding my face in my hands as Ja-Kal and Nefer-Tina walked over to join us. "What did I say?"
"Jade, if I didn't know better I would think you are attracted to Rath." Ja-Kal commented and I crossed my arms over my head wondering if mummies could blush.
"Jade, you can tell us. We can keep a secret." Nefer-Tina added and I finally uncovered my head to see the three mummies looking at me. "Besides we could see the way he was looking at you in your disguise."
"M...maybe I do like him. At least a little." I admitted glancing over to see Rath staring at his scrolls though he did glance up in time to see me looking in his direction and he quickly looked back at the table. "Great now he probably think's I'm weird."
"You are a human who got turned into a mummy. You can't get any weirder than that, Jade." Nefer-Tina pointed out to me and I let out a giggle, nodding as she and Ja-Kal sat on the couch with us.
"I guess you're right. So you guys were keeping quiet about the sarcophagus right? Wish I'd known that instead of moping around." I replied as Armon used the remote to click through some of the Tv's channels.
"We wanted to tell you but Rath wouldn't let us. Once he saw how upset you were however he tried to finish it quicker. At least now you know why." Ja-Kal told me and I nodded as I looked over at Rath who was currently reaching for a scroll on the ledge over him. This time I couldn't help breaking into a smile as I stared at him not caring if anyone noticed.
Which of course they did though thankfully they kept it to themselves.