"Rath, how did your research on the amulet go?" Ja-Kal asked and Rath just shook his head looking at one of the scrolls spread out on the table.
" I have not had a chance to test the amulet again. I almost forgot to give Jade a towel earlier." He explained and Ja-Kal cracked a smile patting him lightly on the back.
"You really do care about her don't you, Rath?" Ja-Kal asked, chuckling when he noticed how dark Rath's cheeks were as the wizard straightened.
"Yes I do care about Jade. She is unlike any woman I have ever been in love with." Rath replied as he slid his hands into the bandages covering his chest. Then he frowned, still searching for the amulet. "It's gone."
"The amulet? Where did you last leave it?" Ja-Kal asked as Rath searched the desk, moving scrolls around but after he couldn't locate the missing amulet he blinked.
"I remember having it when I brought Jade a towel. I must have dropped it there." Rath said and when he started to rush back to Jade silently hoping that Jade hadn't found it.
As soon as he moved through the archway he found Jade lying on the floor and he rushed over, kneeling beside her before he carefully turned her over. "Jade, can you hear me?" He whispered and I groaned, my eyes slowly opening. "Oh thank Ra."
"Rath, what's wrong?" I whispered, trying to sit until my head spun and he gently lifted my head onto his lap, "Ohh...why does my head ache?"
"I don't know what happened to you, Jade. I was looking for that amulet Chontra gave me and I found you unconscious on the floor." Rath explained, helping me sit and after I rested my head against his shoulder he noticed the amulet hanging from around my neck. Seeing the frown I sighed to myself, my fingers touching the amulet.
"I know you told me to leave it alone but I didn't listen. Wish I hadn't because it zapped me when I put it on. Plus I can't remove it now." I apologized and after spending several seconds chewing his lip he finally sighed. "I'm sorry, Rath."
"It's alright, Jade. Now let's see if I can remove it. I am sure with my magic it will be simple." Rath explained, lifting his hands and as they glowed I waited. The amulet glowed but that was all and after I tugged at the rope it refused to budge. "Hmm this is most troubling."
"So you can't remove it either?" I asked, unable to stop my lower lip from quivering. Seeing the look on my face Rath set his hand on my shoulder, giving me a tiny smile.
"I will figure out to remove it, Jade. At least it does not harm you by wearing it." Rath said and I nodded at him as his hand covered mine. "That is something to be grateful for."
"I guess so but I'm just worried that if it was made by Scarab why target me? He doesn't even know who I am." I replied as Rath stared at me.
"Yes that is a concern though he may have seen us together and since you are obviously another mummy he targeted you for that reason. At least one can only hope. Now before we do anything else I will help you with your bandages." Rath suggested and I nodded, hoping he couldn't see me blushing once I remembered I was only wearing bandages that barely covered my chest and backside.
Once Rath finished wrapping my body with my discarded bandages, a faint blush across his cheeks the entire time, Rath helped me back to my feet.
Noting that I was still a little woozy Rath draped an arm around my shoulders and I felt a tiny smile on my lips as he guided me back to the couch.
"There we are. Feeling any better?" Rath asked and I nodded, rubbing my fingers along the bridge of my nose. "Now let me see if I can find a spell to remove that amulet." He added, walking back over to the table nearby. While Rath searched through his scrolls looking for an answer I rested on the couch the ache in my head soon disappearing.
Chontra wants revenge on Rath though he was only in love with her because of a spell. Scarab wants Presley so he can take Prince Rapses' spirit and become immortal. The mummies can't seem to get away from crazy people.
"Something on your mind?" Ja-Kal asked and I jumped, looking up to find him standing there. Once he noticed my wide eyes he gave me a smile. "Apologizes for startling you, Jade. Did Rath find the amulet?"
"Yeah I kind of found it first." I replied, holding the amulet in my hands and he stared at it then me. "I wasn't really thinking and I put it on. Now it won't come off no matter what I try. Even Rath tried with his magic and it didn't work."
"Not yet it didn't, Jade but there's still hope." Rath answered, walking over with something written on a piece of papyrus. "Now just hold still." He advised and I blinked, my back going rigid as he blinked at me. "You will not be harmed, Jade." He chuckled and I relaxed watching as his eyes moved to the papyrus.
Raising his hands Rath moved them towards my chest giving me a faint smile before his hands glowed green, aiming his fingers towards the amulet that would not move. It lit up and I stayed as still as I could, unsure until his hands stopped glowing. "There, that should do it." Rath said though as soon as he reached for the amulet it flashed and he yelped as a burst of green energy shocked his left hand and I tried not to giggle as he shook his hand.
"Or not, Rath." Ja-Kal answered as Rath narrowed his eyes at the amulet around my neck. "Why did the amulet do that?"
"Apparently there is strong magic protecting the amulet which also prevents the wearer from removing it. I just have to try a different approach." Rath answered, narrowing his eyes at the amulet. "Let us see if this works."
Several attempts later Rath was running out of fingers and I was running out of options. "Rath, why don't you give up? It clearly doesn't want to come off." I sighed as he stuck his thumb into his mouth, wincing from the slight burn the rebounding magic had given him. "Please, Rath just take a break."
"Magic against a shielded item is clearly not the best approach. Besides I believe I have burned most if not all of my fingers already." Rath agreed, sitting beside me as I tugged at the rope. "I promise I will find a solution to this problem. You just need to be patient."
"I'm more worried about you, Rath." When he raised his eyebrows at me I gave him a weak smile. "How are your fingers?"
"Sore but I will live...well maybe live is not the right word." Rath answered, blushing when I leaned close enough to kiss his cheek. "Y...you are most welcome, Jade." He stammered and I giggled resting my head on his shoulder.
"Thanks for trying anyway. It's my own fault for trying on the amulet." I replied as I tugged at the rope. "Should have known not to try on anything that Chontra would just hand over."
"You could be right about that, Jade." Rath replied and I lifted my head in time to see him rubbing his chin. "Chontra and Scarab have worked together before."
"Are they after Prince Rapses' spirit?" I asked and he nodded, making me a little worried. "Then why would they work together? Isn't Scarab after the prince's spirit to become immortal?"
"He wants to become immortal and finish what he started over three thousand years ago." Rath explained and I sighed, rubbing at the bridge of my nose. "Is something troubling you, Jade?"
"I have a bad feeling that I've just helped Scarab." I muttered and Rath shook his head, patting my shoulder in an effort to reassure me. "Chontra did give you this amulet and she wouldn't do anything without a good reason."
"You should not worry, Jade. We will protect Presley and you as well if you need us." Rath promised and I managed a weak smile when he lightly squeezed my shoulder.
"Thank you, Rath. It's nice to have someone looking out for me." I replied and he nodded, sitting there in silence for several seconds. Then I blinked as his hand moved to mine and I felt a smile curling my lips as his hand covered mine, giving my fingers a squeeze.
I know we didn't get along very well at first but Rath's pretty kind and sweet when he really wants to be. Never thought he'd ask me out on a date.
"Jade, are you alright?" Rath's voice brought me back to reality and I lifted my head to see him smiling back at me. "You did not hear a single word I said do you?" He teased and I coughed, trying not to look too embarrassed as he chuckled.
"Sorry I wasn't listening. What were you talking about, Rath?" I asked and he gave my hand another squeeze his smiling bringing one to my lips as well.
"I was going to ask if you would like to go on another date with me?" Rath repeated and I nodded so fast he blinked back at me. "Then that's a yes I believe?"
"Of course I would, Rath. Though I think we should avoid the beach next time. Sand and bandages...ugh." I said with a shudder and he started to laugh at the grimace on my face. Hearing him laughing made me start too and our friends walked over soon afterwards wondering what was so funny.
"Did we miss the joke?" Ja-Kal asked and I shook my head, looking at my bandages for a few seconds.
"I was just saying that bandages and sand don't mix very well." I repeated and my friends smiled at that as I climbed to my feet. "Since the amulet removal is a bust do you think you could continue with my weapons training, Rath?" I asked him and he brightened, leading me back to the practice dummy.
Deciding to watch Ja-Kal, Nefer-Tina and Armon looked on as Rath went over the finer points of my daggers and how to properly use them.
"Okay I think I have all of that. Let's see if I can actually hit that dummy now." I muttered as I aimed at Scarab's head and the amulet glowed but I was so focused that I didn't notice, sending both daggers flying. When it struck the head of the dummy both daggers stuck and I broke into a smile, pleased as I straightened from my crouch.
"Yes! That was awesome!" I shouted not see Rath staring at the amulet around my neck with wide eyes. "Rath, what did you think?" I asked him turning around to see my friend staring at the dummy. "Hey, Rath!" I called out and he shook himself offering me a smile and I just shrugged.
"That was a very good shot. Now let's see if you can do that again." Rath said, pulling the daggers free before he handed them back. Giving him a quick grin I turned back around walking around the dummy as I thought about where to aim next.
"Take this dummy." I whispered, taking careful aim at the dummy's chest. As soon as I aimed both daggers the amulet glowed again and this time Rath was sure he wasn't seeing things as I launched the daggers. They struck inches from each other exactly where I was aiming and I jumped in the air as everyone but Rath clapped. "Yeah I am getting better at this." I grinned as Rath scratched at his chin frowning at my back though when I did turn around I caught the look on his face.
"Rath, what's wrong? Aren't you impressed?" I asked him and he sighed, looking at the amulet for long enough to make me narrow my eyes. "Oh so you don't like the fact I'm learning quicker than you probably did with your sword."
"That is not the problem, Jade. Your amulet glowed each time you threw your daggers. I believe it has something to do how well you aim was just now." Rath replied and I threw up my hands, grabbing the daggers from the dummy before I pushed them into his hands.
"You just can't get over yourself can you? First you're mad at me for putting on the amulet and now you try to say that it's the only reason I could make those two shots. Thanks a lot for that, Rath." I muttered, pushing past him and he blinked at my back as I wandered away feeling tears welling in my eyes.
"Rath, that was uncalled for." Ja-Kal scolded and Rath sighed, staring at my back before he slowly shook his head. "Jade was doing very well so why did you scold her?"
"Yeah, Rath what's the deal?" Nefer-Tina replied and even Armon frowned at their friend. "Jade was getting better and you get mad at her?"
"I did not mean it like that, Nefer-Tina. That amulet glowed each time Jade threw her daggers and I believe that's why her aim was true. I should have explained myself better to Jade." Rath explained, heading after me as I rounded the corner heading for the entrance. I was just a few feet from it when I heard hurried footsteps and I shook my head, turning around to find Rath following me.
"Now what do you want? Come to scold me some more?" I grumbled, crossing my arms as he reached my side. "If so I don't want to hear it."
"Jade, I know you are getting better at handling your daggers. I am sorry you think I'm not proud of you." Rath apologized and I sighed as he stared back at me.
"Maybe I did fly off the handle." I admitted and Rath just stared at me until I shrugged "It's a figure of speech don't worry about it. So you're really proud of me?" I asked and he nodded, a small smile on his lips when I brightened.
"Of course I am, Jade. You are really trying your hardest to learn how to protect yourself and I am sure that you will get better as long as you keep practicing." Rath told me as I stared back at him not seeing my amulet flash until I stepped forward and Rath blinked as I kissed him full on the mouth.
The amulet quit glowing and I blinked, feeling my own cheeks darken as Rath stared at me. "S...sorry I don't know what came over me." I stammered and after a few seconds of awkward silence Rath stepped closer as I covered my face with an open palm, wanting to disappear.
When I felt Rath's hand on min gently pulling my hand away I turned my head, my eyes widening as he leaned in kissing me back. In the space of a few seconds I had my arms draped around his neck as our kiss developed into an open-mouthed one, our tongues touching before we separated both panting a little despite not having the need to breathe anymore.
"T...that was amazing, Rath. Never knew you could kiss like that before." I whispered and he just blinked, locking eyes with me.
"I did not know that I could kiss like that either, Jade." Rath admitted, draping an arm around my neck and I smiled at him. "I am learning something new everyday."
"I did too, Rath." I replied and he raised an eyebrow until I grinned. "That you are a wonderful kisser." I told him and he chuckled as our lips met for the third time.