"Are you quite sure you want to continue your training, Jade?" Rath asked me and I snorted, holding my daggers as I stared at him one eyebrow raised until he gave me a tiny smile. "Fine, Jade then I will teach you."
"I know you're worried about me, Rath but I'm perfectly fine. You broke the spell over me remember?" I pointed out, spinning my daggers around in my hands and Rath chuckled when I dropped one close to my foot. "I didn't mean to do that." I muttered, kneeling to retrieve the dagger I dropped.
"Of course you didn't. I am just worried about you. Scarab never just gives up so easily." Rath answered stepping beside me before he held out his own weapon.
"You're just scared I'll wipe the floor with you." I shot back, grinning when he blinked at me. Shaking his head Rath gave me a small smile, rushing me before I was ready. When he knocked on my backside with a flick of his sword Rath smiled down at me and I stared at him, frowning.
"What was that about wiping the floor with me, Jade?" Rath teased, offering a hand and I just shook my head climbing to my feet before I grasped my fallen weapons. "Do you want to try again?"
"Of course, Rath." I replied and he nodded, taking several steps back before he rushed me a second time. This time I sidestepped and Rath stepped past jerking when I used my foot to lightly smack him in the backside. He spun around shocked and I giggled as he stared at me. "Didn't see that one coming did you, Rath?" I laughed and he snorted, unable to mask a grin.
"I won't fall for that again." Rath told him and I just shrugged holding my daggers at my side as I waited for his next move. Even using every skill he'd taught me I still ended up hitting the floor more than once and after Rath called a halt to our training I sat on the hard floor, panting despite not needing to.
"You're doing better, Jade." Rath told me, sitting beside me and I nodded my lips curling into a grin as he set his own sword on the floor at his feet. "You could use more practice at dodging my attacks though." He added and I groaned, setting aside my own weapons and he chuckled.
"You couldn't give me that could you?" I sighed and he raised an eyebrow at me. "I mean you could have just said I did great and leave it at that."
"Jade, it takes years of practice to master a skill." Rath pointed out and I rolled my eyes, nudging him with my shoulder. "The pyramids were not built in a day."
"I know that, Rath I just thought I was getting closer to being a guardian." I answered, fiddling with a piece of loose bandage on my wrist. "I shouldn't let it bother me but it kind of does."
"I meant what I said, Jade. I am proud to call you my student and my girlfriend." Rath answered, patting my shoulder before he fixed the bandage wrappng it around my wrist. "While we rest I wanted to ask you a question."
"What's that, Rath?" I replied and he gave me a tiny smile, nodding towards my amulet and as he reached for it I couldn't help feeling slightly light-headed at how close he was.
"Did Chontra or Scarab ask you anything about Prince Rapses?" Rath asked, holding the amulet between the fingers of his left hand and I frowned when he met my gaze. "Is something wrong, Jade?"
"Here I thought you were worried about me. You really thought I'd tell them the idenity of Prince Rapses?" I asked Rath and when he nodded I pushed his hand away, climbing to my feet before I crossed my arms narrowing my eyes at the older mummy.
"Jade, you know what could happen if Scarab ever discovered that Presley is the reincarnation of Prince Rapses." Rath answered, standing when I turned fully around.
"Is that all you were worried about? Presley and not me?" I repeated and he nodded again only to smack himself in the forehead when I hurried away. "Stupid Rath. All he cares about is his precious prince." I muttered angrily to myself not knowing that someone was listening until I nearly bumped into Nefer-Tina who blinked at me.
Seeing me staring at the floor chewing my lower lip with my eyes narrowed she shook her head. "Let me guess. Rath's being a pain again isn't he?" She asked before I could answer her and I raised my head giving her a quick nod. "What did he do to you this time?" She asked and I sighed, following her towards the garage.
"Chontra and Scarab kidnapped me and all Rath seems to care about is whether or not they know who Presley is. I understand why you need to keep his indenity a secret but what about me?" I told her as she worked on the Jet-Cycle.
"You didn't see how he reacted when Scarab kidnapped you, Jade. He came back to the sphinx and the first thing he did was try and find where they took you." Ja-Kal agreed and I jumped as he stepped into view.
"I hate it when people do that." I muttered, folding my arms and Ja-Kal just blinked at me. "He helped me practice but after that all he could ask was did I give away Presley's secret idenity." I explained, joined by Armon who stared at me.
"Did you tell Scarab?" He asked and I threw up my hands walking away as my friends stared at me then Armon who just shrugged. "Did I say the wrong thing?"
Shaking my head I headed towards the entrance thinking about taking a walk in the city to get all thoughts of Rath out of my head though as soon as I reached the entrance I remembered that in my haste I'd forgotten to wear my diguise. Sighing to myself I walked back to my sarcophagus hoping that Rath wasn't anywhere near. Of course as soon as I walked in he looked up from his scrolls but I kept walking opening my sarcophagus before I pulled out my clothes.
I had just crossed the room when I heard Rath clearing his throat and I sighed to myself turning around to find him looking directly at me his back pressed against the table. "What do you need, Rath?" I asked meeting his eyes even as he started to head my way. Once he was standing over me I tilted my head back slightly.
"Where are you going, Jade? You should be resting in your sarcophagus." He suggested looking at the clothing in my arms before he shook his head. "I thought after what happened you wouldn't go outside on your own again."
"Rath, i wasn't alone last time and besides I'm a grown woman in case that slipped your notice. I can take care of myself." I retorted blinking when he crossed his arms with a thin smile on his lips and for a brief moment my mind flashed back to how much I'd enjoyed those same lips until I hurriedly shook my head feeling heat in my cheeks. "Anyway I'm just going for a walk around town. How much trouble could I possibly get into?" I added and he sighed rubbing the bridge of his nose before he answered.
"Jade, I just trying to keep you safe from Scarab. You don't know how dangerous he can be." Rath told me and I groaned turning my back in him. "Be reasonable."
"You just rescued me because you were worried I'd give away Prince Rapses' identity didn't you?" I asked him and he chewed his lip not answering until I turned my head feeling my cheeks heat up a second time. "So I was right and you don't care about my safety unless it involves the prince." Shaking my head at him I headed back towards the sphinx's entrance leaving Rath speechless once again.
"Smooth move, Rath. Why can't you just admit that you care about Jade as much as Prince Rapses?" Nefer-Tina asked, having been listening to every word.
"My duty will always be to my prince." Rath finally answered moving back to his scrolls intent on finding something to occupy his time though he couldn't concentrate unable to forget the look of sadness on Jade's face as she left the room.
"Rath, we all made the same oath but that was over three thousand years ago. Why can't you just admit that you are in love with Jade?" Nefer-Tina replied, taking the scroll from Rath's hands when he didn't respond. "I'm being serious."
"So am I, Nefer-Tina. I almost let my heart rule me once before and I won't risk my duty again." Rath shot back taking the scroll before he set it back on the table. "Now I have work to do."
"Whatever you say, Rath." Nefer-Tina sighed wandering away though she noticed when she looked back at Rath he was looking at Jade's sarcophagus with a frown on his face.
Now dressed in my disguise, which made me smile a little despite how mad I was at Rath, I headed outside which no clear destination in mind. It wasn't until I found myself walking the halls of the museum that my smile grew not knowing why I felt drawn to the place.
"Probably because I'm a walking, talking mummy now." I muttered to myself getting some odd stares which cause me to nod at them vowing never to keep my thoughts to myself.
Well I guess spending time here will help me forget all about Rath...darn I'm doing it again.
As I wandered around the museum I finally stopped in front of a statue of Anubis and as I stared at it I touched my amulet, still curious as to how Rath knew which Equiptian god was my favourite.
"It's like he can read my mind sometimes." I whispered, glancing around in case someone heard me but the area seemed to be deserted and I let out a breath giving the statue another longer look before I shook my head moving away from it before I started to head towards the exit. "I should head back soon. Maybe Rath's decided to apologize for the way he acted." I muttered as I crossed the building though as soon as I saw the exit sign I heard heavy footsteps and I paused, turning around only to find no one there.
The sudden silence made me uneasy and I quickly made my way outside but the footsteps started again and at first I secretly hoped that I was hearing my own footsteps which I continued to hope right until two Shabi stepped into my path and I stumbled back as one swung its arm at my face narrowly missing hitting me. "Okay that was just rude." I snapped at them wishing I'd brought my daggers along as I moved further back out of range as the same one followed me, the second standing in front of the exit.
Chewing my lip I dodged its punch kicking at its chest which only sucedded in trapping my foot and as I hopped on one leg it pulled back its fist. This time I managed to grasp its fist feeling very stupid as I hopped on one foot until I lost my balance landing on my backside which dislodged my foot finally breaking the Shabti. Dazed I stared as another Shabti, the one who was blocking the exit advanced towards me and I groaned climbing to my feet before I dodged its strike, dashing around it before I rushed through the unblocked door.
"Wish I'd brought my daggers with me though I probably couldn't get them through the metal detectors." I said as I rushed from the museum not stopping until I reached the city before I ducked into an alleyway.
Peeking out I looked for any trace of the Shabtis but when I couldn't see a single one I let out a breath. "How did they find me?" I wondered as I started to walk in the direction of the sphinx only stopping in place when I remembered something.
"I can't let those Shabtis follow me back to the sphinx. Guess I'd better go back to the city and stay there until I'm positive I'm not being followed." I sighed as I crossed the street wondering how long I'd have to stay away.
Several hours as it turned out and I sighed to myself, standing in an alley as I waited for a shabti to walk past my hiding place. "This is getting ridicolous. I'm tired of these Shabtis and I'm sick of Scarab. I don't know how he's tracking me but it's getting out of hand." I whispered keeping my voice low in case one of Scarab's minions heard me.
Once the Shabti walked away I shook my head getting ready to leave my hiding place though I'd barely taken a single step when I stumbled and I leaned back against the concrete wall.
"Now what's wrong with me?" I muttered, sitting on the ground when my legs started to tremble. As I looked up at the sky I noticed that the sun was setting and I shook my head wondering how long I'd been outside. "If the sun's setting I must have been outside for hours. Wish I could get back to my sarcophagus but I doubt my legs could carry me. Kind of wish I hadn't gotten into a fight with Rath but it's too late now." I mumbled, resting my legs against my stomach. "Not the best place to rest but what can I do?"
I had just closed my eyes when I heard voices and I instantly jerked awake hearing footsteps getting closer and I groaned, wondering if I had the strength of fight more than one person.
"Not Shabtis because they don't talk." I whispered as I struggled to my feet hoping that it wouldn't come to a fight. Not that I could put up a fight right now as my legs wobbled again and I had to lean on the wall behind me to stay upright. "So much for all the practice with Rath. Why isn't he here when I really need him?" I added not knowing who I'd be facing in a few seconds but determined not to go down without a fight.