"Are you sure she's coming?" Heka asked and Scarab just nodded, standing in front of a stone pillar as they waited for Jade to arrive. As soon as they heard footsteps both Scarab and Heka turned around in time to see me walking in. The moment I reached them I stopped directly in front of Scarab and he smiled, chuckling as soon as he saw the blank look in my eyes.
"The plan's working perfectly just as I predicted it would." Scarab told Heka only to hear a laugh and he frowned as Chontra appeared strolling over to me.
"You mean our plan don't you? It was your idea to cast that spell on the Anubis amulet, Scarab but mine to give it to Jade ." Chontra told him and Scarab just snorted, looking on as I stared straight ahead.
"Hmph. Anyway as soon as the mummies arrive to rescue Jade we'll set their 'friend' on them. Their loyalty to their friend will be their downfall." Scarab added and Chontra just smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Are you sure they'll show up? Why would they risk their pharaoh for some woman?" Heka asked, waving her tail in front of my face only to hear someone running and Scarab looked up with a faint smile when Rath smashed down the door.
"Rath, how nice of you to join us. Oh and you owe me a new door." Scarab told the mummy who raised his sword, knocking the flame away that Chontra set his way. "Chontra, we need all four of those accursed mummies."
"One, four who cares? We'll just have to destroy them one at a time." Chontra sighed, her hands raised and as they began to glow Scarab transformed. The moment his purple armor appeared he stepped in front of Chontra and she paused staring at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Why fight Rath ourselves when our weapon can do it for us?" Scarab commented and Chontra actually broke into a cold smile the flames vanishing from her fingers before she nodded looking towards Rath who paused.
"What are you planning, Scarab?" Rath growled, slightly lost until Chontra stepped towards Jade and he raised his sword at her pointing it at the enchantress. "Don't you raise a hand to Jade or I will..." He froze the second he saw my lips moving and as he stared at me I repeated a very familiar phrase.
"With...the strength...of Ra." I muttered, without emotion and Rath blinked as armor encased my body the helmet reminding him of Anubis the god that the mummies had faced many times. With a shake of his head Rath stepped forward until I blocked his path my twin daggers appearing in my hands and when I stared at him he sighed.
"Jade, I know you won't harm me." Rath muttered barely managing to pull his sword up in time to block my attack and as our weapons struck his eyes widened slightly. "Than again I could be wrong about that." He added, dodging my foot sweep before he blocked an attack aimed at his face. "Jade, this isn't like you. You always stopped your attack even if you could win." He growled, unable to believe that someone he cared about was trying to take his head or any other part of him she could reach from his body.
"It's no use trying to talk her out of it, Rath. Jade's on our side now and besides that spell's more powerful than you can break." Scarab taunted, chuckling as I tried again to kick Rath's legs out from under him and this time he rolled as my daggers struck the floor. When they got stuck Rath took a chance and kicked my chest, knocking me back. I didn't even react from the blow and he frowned watching as I quickly rushed forward landing a blow on his chest with one closed fist.
Rath grunted, moving out of range as I pulled my daggers free following up with a headbutt. "Jade, listen to me. I am not your enemy." Rath told me as I threw one punch after another my lips curled into a sneer as I tried to strike his face. When he raised his sword the daggers struck, sending a jolt up his arms when he struggled to keep my weapons from piercing his eyes.
"That's it, Jade. Finish him off and then we'll go after your other friends." Scarab taunted, amused as he watched Rath trying not to get his face skewered by my weapons.
"Jade, you know me. It's me." Rath whispered but I just kept pushing my daggers towards his face wondering why my attacks weren't connecting. "I know you're mad with me and I'm sorry about that but that doesn't mean you can just attack me." He added, knocking me backwards with the hilt before he kicked my daggers from my hands and Scarab stepped aside when the daggers flew towards him.
Breathing hard I started to turn to retrieve my weapons until Rath rushed forward, sweeping my legs out from under me and when I landed hard on my back Rath grimaced, silently hoping that I wasn't hurt. Just winded and when I tried to push myself up Rath shook his head, planting his foot on my stomach to prevent me from standing.
"Release me, mummy." I growled and Rath shook his head briefly locking eyes with me only to see my eyes narrow. "Bring me Prince Rapses."
"You know I can't do that, Jade. I swore an oath to protect the pharaoh's son and after more than three thousand years that hasn't changed." Rath pointed out, keeping his foot planted as I struggled to push him away. "Wait a moment that's it. Jade, you remember that you told me you wanted to be his guardian as well."
"What are you talking about? I do not remember telling you that." I muttered and he snorted, watching with a slight frown as I grasped his foot though once I realized he wasn't going to let me up I let out a breath. "When did that happen?" I finally asked, slightly curious as Scarab shook his head.
"It's no use, Rath. Jade is no longer your friend." Chontra laughed and Scarab turned his head frowning at her as I stared up at Rath. "Hmm...maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"Of course you should not have, Chontra. We want Jade to finish off Rath not have a chat with him." Scarab muttered, his eyes widening when Rath reached out a hand.
"I do not need your assistance." I muttered, pushing myself up with my palms before I jogged over to where my weapons lay. Once I retrieved them I turned back to find Rath watching me with a thin smile his eyes never leaving my face as I advanced on him. Just as I reached Rath he tensed waiting for me to continue my attack but when I paused he lowered his sword, curious as I kept staring at his face with a frown. "I had a dream about this moment." I told him and Rath tilted his head to one side confused before I rushed forward, kicking his feet out from under him and when he fell to his knees with a grunt I swung my daggers, knocking his sword free when his grip loosened.
Seeing his eyes widen in shock I raised my daggers with a smirk. "Next time pay attention to your opponent. Though I suppose there won't be a next time, Rath." I whispered only loud enough for Rath to hear but as I swung my daggers towards his face he reacted grasping my wrists and I growled as he kept the daggers from slashing his face.
"Jade, you need to listen to me. I never meant to hurt you." Rath grunted, unable to believe that I was trying to murder him. "I know you wouldn't tell Scarab anything about Prince Rapses." He added and my eyes narrowed the daggers moving further down and he cleared his throat still keeping them away from his eyes.
"Jade, I should not have said that. What I meant to say is that you would make a fine guardian now and in the past. You are brave and loyal and I...I..." Rath trailed off once I blinked at him, my hands shaking and without thinking about it Rath pushed the daggers up. Confused I stepped back allowing Rath to climb to his feet with a struggle. "I...wanted to say..."
Blast why is this so difficult?
"Jade's not on our side anymore." Chontra warned and Scarab rolled his eyes, advancing on both mummies while my attention was drawn to Rath. The second Rath saw Scarab grabbing Heka aiming the snake at us Rath reached out grabbing my arm before he rolled, shielding me with his body as the fireball shot past us. "Great plan, Scarab. Guess it's up to me." Chontra muttered, smiling as Rath struggled to his feet. I'd barely climbed to my feet when a blast of purple flames hit Rath and he cried out, knocked off his feet and I shook my head when he landed several feet away.
"Rath?" I whispered, a voice in my head trying to force me to attack him while he was down. But I ignored it intent instead on finding out what the mummy knew and as I jogged to his side he groaned wincing. "What do you know? Who are you to me?"
"Jade, this...isn't the best...time." Rath managed to groan, pushing himself up to a sitting position with his elbows. "Though since Scarab and Chontra seem bent on destroying us...I am your friend...and maybe more than that."
"You are not making sense." I complained, confused and he sighed not meeting my eyes until I finally knelt in front of him and he swallowed as I held the blade of one of my daggers inches from his throat. "Answer me, Rath. Who am I to you?"
"You are my...dear friend...no that's not it exactly. I wanted to say that..." Rath began until there was a loud crash and Rath jerked back when my hands trembled. "Be careful." He scolded, climbing to his feet and I just rolled my eyes looking up when three more mummies dashed into the room heading straight for Scarab and Chontra.
"Hmph I should never have listened to you, Scarab." Chontra sighed, vanishing in a flash of purple and Scarab snorted at her sudden disappearance before he advanced on the mummies.
"With the strength of Ra!" Ja-Kal, Armon and Nefer-Tina called out, their armor appearing as several shabtis rushed towards them. With the three mummies occupied Scarab came after Rath smiling to himself once he saw that I had his attention.
"Well done, Jade. You are useful after all." Scarab laughed and I turned around when he stood over me. "Now finish what you started and destroy Rath."
"Destroy...Rath?" I muttered, looking down at Rath who stared down Scarab until I let out a breath and when I gripped my daggers Scarab smiled at me. The smile instantly changed into a look of complete shock as I drove my daggers towards his chest and he stepped back, swinging one of his armored hands at my weapons and I yelped as he knocked my daggers away. "No...I won't listen to you anymore. Rath is my friend...and my...my..."
"Traitor." Scarab muttered, swiping at me only to see Rath dart forward and Rath grunted as the blow connected with his chest knocking him back to the floor. Before Scarab could finish off Rath who winced I stepped directly into his path shielding Rath and Scarab's lips curled into a sneer. "You are of no use to me anymore." Scarab snapped at me, raising his arm and I grimaced waiting for the blow which never connected and I blinked as Nefer-Tina's whip wrapped around his arm pulling him back.
"I don't think so, Scarab." Nefer-Tina growled, yanking their enemy backwards as I bent to help Rath up and as he leaned on me we watched the mummies destroy everyone of the remaining shabtis. "Ready to surrender?" She laughed but Scarab just shook his head, grabbing Heka who slithered over to him and Nefer-Tina yelped as he pulled the mummy off the ground. Armon caught Nefer-tina when the whip slipped from her grasp which was all the distraction Scarab needed and we ducked as he blasted the ceiling.
Plaster covered us and when we shielded our eyes that allowed Scarab to take flight and I groaned in frustration as he flew away. "This is all my fault." I muttered and Rath sighed, his arm draped around my shoulders to steady himself.
"It's not your fault, Jade. Scarab had this planned from the start." Rath told me, holding a hand to his chest and I just sighed unable to meet his eyes.
"We should get back to the sphinx." Ja-Kal suggested and I just nodded, my head lowered. As we followed Ja-Kal I stared straight ahead not seeing Rath looking at me with a slight frown.
Once we arrived back at the sphinx I sat in front of the TV set, barely looking at Rath as he rubbed the sore spot on his chest. Once he saw me with my head lowered he sighed to himself carefully making his way towards me and my head jerked up once he stood over me.
"Jade, nothing that happened earlier was your fault." Rath told me but I quickly shook my head at him standing when he sat beside me. "Jade, you need to stop blaming yourself."
"Rath, I tried to...I..." I started to say ashamed to feel my eyes filling with tears and I turned my back crossing my arms against my chest when he stood again.
"Jade, listen to me. I don't blame you for what happened...or what might have happened. Scarab and Chontra used their magic on you to force you to attack me but you fought back." Rath began, planting his hands on my shoulders and with a sniff I turned back around.
"I'm so sorry for what I tried to do to you, Rath. I never dreamed I would hurt someone I cared about." I muttered, looking down at my feet. "So much for me thinking I could ever be a guardian when I nearly..." I trailed off, swallowing before I gently moved Rath's hands away from me. "I need some fresh air." I quickly added, heading for the front entrance and Rath sighed rubbing his chest as he watched me walk away.
"Rath, you should go after her. Jade thinks all of this was her fault and not Scarab's." Nefer-Tina commented, noticing with a faint smile that Rath had already started to follow Jade.
He found me standing in the archway, looking up at the sky with tear-filled eyes. As soon as I heard him approach I turned my head slightly unable to meet his eyes when he smiled at me though when I didn't move he placed a hand on my left shoulder.
"I wanted to tell you something, Jade. What I tried to tell you during the fight with Scarab and Chontra but I kept getting distracted. Jade, look at me." Rath said, cupping my cheek when I sniffed. "I do care about you but I couldn't bring myself to say it. Especially after Chontra..." He paused when I shifted close enough to rest my head on his chest.
"I understand why you couldn't say what you wanted to say, Rath. Chontra used her magic on you to make you think you loved her and that's never right." I pointed out and Rath smiled at me when I lifted my head. "I'd never do anything like that to hurt you." I added, trying not to grin when he lightly tapped his chest. "Well not emotionally anyway."
"Next time I should let Armon teach you Eqypt-su." Rath joked and I snorted feeling my cheeks warm up when he cupped my chin. "You are a wonderful woman and I'm sorry I didn't tell you that sooner. I will make it up to you soon."
"You could make it up to me right now, Rath." I replied, leaning in and he chuckled draping his arms around my waist as he kissed me though we broke apart once we heard sniggering and I rolled my eyes finding that we had an audience. "Figures that I can't have a moment alone with you, Rath." I muttered, secretly pleased that Rath still hadn't removed his arms from around my waist.
"You could have given us a few more minutes." Rath complained as Nefer-Tina nudged Armon and the mummy's laughter stopped especially when I turned my head noting that Presley was staring at us with a smile on his lips. "Maybe we can finish this later on, Jade?" Rath suggested and I nodded so fast I made myself slightly dizzy.