When Presley arrived back at the sphinx he rolled his eyes finding Rath and me with our arms wrapped around each others waist. "Guys, get a sarcophagus." Presley sighed, trying very hard not to laugh as Rath slowly blinked at his Prince.
"Rath, you have the strangest smile on your face right now." I teased Rath who shook his head giving me a faint frown and I just giggled. "Don't worry about it, Rath. It's very cute on you." I told him as he released my waist running a hand over his face as Presley just shrugged grinning at us.
"There you are young pharaoh. Is your mother alright?" Rath asked, making an attempt to forget how silly he must have looked in front of his pharaoh.
"Yeah, Rath. She was a little shaken up but after Mr Stone showed up she forgot all about the break-in. Thank goodness she didn't get a good look at you or the shabtis." Presley explained, nudging me when we started to walk back inside.
"I know, Presley but it's not like Rath and I get a second alone with Scarab constantly targeting us." I pointed out and Presley fixed me with a grin running ahead and I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Maybe not constantly but all of our dates so far have been ruined." I added as I followed Rath though when he reached the dining table he turned around, waiting with a faint smile when I reached his side.
"Once I finish with Presley's lessons would you like to try for a fourth date? Somewhere private and far away from the sphinx?" Rath asked, draping his arm around my waist and I giggled when he kissed my cheek. "I will take that as a yes."
"Of course, Rath though I'm not sure that Scarab will let us." I pointed out and he raised an eyebrow at me as I leaned against his side. "Still I can't help but get my hopes up."
I shouldn't have said anything because as soon as Rath finished teaching Presley about his past life as a pharaoh the TV, or spirit box as my friends called it, interrupted whatever Nefer-Tina and Armon were watching and I peered at the screen annoyed as we saw a warehouse on fire. "Knew I should have kept my mouth shut." I grumbled before we raced for the garage.
"Why would Scarab target an empty warehouse?" Presley asked, slightly annoyed as well when he found out that Ja-Kal wanted the prince to head home. "Are you sure I can't tag along?" He asked me and I sighed, nodding towards Ja-Kal who shook his head.
"No, my prince. It is much too dangerous if Scarab has set a trap for us. It is better for the lion cub to stay in the den awaiting its parents than to venture out on its own." Ja-Kal commented and I rolled my eyes when Presley crossed his arms looking towards me for help.
"Ja-Kal, I could watch out for Presley. I am getting more experience with my daggers and..." I began until he shook his head staring at me and I sank back in my seat beside Rath who frowned at Ja-Kal.
"Ja-Kal, you should not worry about Presley with Jade watching out for him. I have helped train her myself. " Rath pointed out and Ja-Kal just sighed looking towards the windshield instead of answering. "Hmph he really needs to trust you, Jade."
"I wish he would, Rath. He knows I can handle myself but he just won't admit it." I whispered, arms crossed against my chest and Armon reached over giving me a pat on the back that nearly sent me into the seat in front of me face-first. "Uh...thanks for that, Armon."
"No problem, Jade. You are getting good in Egypt-Su though I still have a lot to teach you." Armon commented and I nodded, wondering if their leader would ever trust me. Once we reached the warehouse I frowned, noting that despite the blazing fire I couldn't smell any smoke or feel any heat as soon as I drew a little closer to the blaze.
"Something isn't right." Rath muttered once we were climbed outside the Hot-Ra and I grimaced as five shabtis marched towards us aiming their scepters at us. "I believe I am right."
"With the strength of Ra!" We called out, our armor covering our bandages though when Presley started to follow us Ja-Kal shook his head and the prince rolled his eyes.
"Guess you're looking after me huh, Jade?" He said to me as I jogged over to him and I nodded, not liking this as much as he did. "So can I drive the Hot-Ra?"
"Presley, I don't even know how to drive it." I answered stepping in front of the vehicle when the shabtis started to head our way. "Oh perfect just my luck." I grumbled, blocking Presley from their sight as they aimed their scepters at me. "Guys?" I called out, instantly finding Ja-Kal flying towards me and as he shattered the shabti he gave me a quick nod towards Presley.
"It's a little hard to fight Scarab and protect the prince at the same time, Ja-Kal." I called out wincing when I heard laughter and I spun around in time to see Scarab in his armor heading my way. "Oops. What prince?" I added and Scarab grinned at me looking towards Presley who ducked behind me.
"There you are. See, Heka I told you this distraction would bring the prince to us." Scarab commented and Heka sighed, grimacing as Scarab gripped her behind her head and I swallowed grabbing Presley's arm just as Heka sent a fireball towards me. Scarab only realized how close he'd come to incinerating the prince when I shielded the prince, my armor taking the brunt of the flames.
It did managed to burn some of my bandages and after I put the flames out I growled, helping Presley into the Hot-Ra before I closed the lid. "You stay here and let me handle Scarab." I told him and he nodded, looking at my slightly burnt bandages. "I'm fine just stay here okay?" I added, my daggers appearing when I concentrated and as I turned back around I saw my friends fighting off more shabtis.
Shaking my head I raised my daggers holding them against my chest as I waited for Scarab to make a move towards the prince. "Well?" I called out and Scarab chuckled, shocking me as he turned his head and when I saw his eyes fall on Rath I growled, knowing just what he had planned when he aimed Heka at my boyfriend.
"Rath!" I called out but he was too busy taking down the last few shabtis to notice Heka and I groaned, racing as fast as my legs could carry me. "Protect the prince!" I shouted, Armon and Nefer-Tina quickly making their way towards the Hot-Ra and I made a silent prayer to whatever Egyptian god was listening that I made it before Scarab could strike.
Rath grunted as I pushed him forward and as he managed to spin around, expecting an attack his eyes widened when he saw me giving him a quick grin before a flash of fire struck me and I cried out. As soon as the fireball struck me it ignited, burning the bandages near my stomach and even with the armor it knocked me down.
Rath rushed forward, quickly batting out the flames as I gasped from the pain. "Jade!" He called out as I lay on my back, my daggers forgotten as I wrapped my arms around myself willing the pain to go away. "It's going to be alright. The burns aren't that bad." He soothed and I managed a weak grin as he helped me sit though as soon as he touched my stomach I gasped, shaking.
"Protect Prince Rapses!" Ja-Kal ordered and everyone except Rath and I nodded, shielding the prince from Scarab who growled at us. Once he started to head towards Presley, Nefer-Tina cracked her whip in front of the villain who glared at her.
"Don't even think about it, Scarab." Armon warned and Scarab shook his head taking flight as Ja-Kal took to the air. As soon as Heka sent a fireball his way Ja-Kal dodged in mid-air losing sight of Scarab because of the distraction. "Great he got away again." He grumbled, looking over in time to see Rath trying to help me to my feet.
"Jade, we must get you back to the sphinx." Rath sighed though ever time he tried to lift me I cried out from my burns and he looked towards Armon who had already jogged towards us. "Armon, would you...," He hadn't even finished when Armon lifted me into his arms and I grimaced keeping one arm draped over the burnt bandages, "Mind carrying Jade?"
"No problem, Rath." Armon replied, carrying me with no effort back to the Hot-Ra. As soon as he set me down beside Rath I groaned, wincing as Nefer-Tina started the engine.\
"Jade, I will make something for the pain but until then you need to stop moving about." Rath said and I whimpered, allowing him to lift me onto his lap. "There we are. Now just hold tight until we get back." He whispered as Ja-Kal landed in the Hot-Ra, looking at Presley who nodded towards the warehouse. Despite the pain I noticed that the building wasn't burning anymore and I lifted my head slightly looking towards it. "Most likely magic based to draw us out." He said and I sighed, resting my head on his chest before he'd even finished talking.
"Worked like a charm." I coughed, closing my eyes for a moment only to feel someone touching my left arm and I groaned trying to shift away.
"Jade, just relax. I need to use to salve on your burns." Rath told and I cracked open my eyes finding him holding a stone bowl in one hand his other holding onto my arm.
"How bad are they?" I muttered and he sighed, reaching for the bandages covering my stomach only to pause. When he cleared his throat I heard several sets of feet moving from the room and I grimaced as he slowly unraveled the blackened bandages. I managed to sit with Rath's help though once I set eyes on the burns I groaned, trying not to look as Rath dipped his fingers into the bowl covering them with some sort of green paste.
"You will be fine now please hold still." Rath said and I nodded, keeping as still as I could though the burns still stung and I whimpered gritting my teeth as Rath covered the entire area of my stomach with the paste. The paste felt cold against my stomach and I managed a weak smile lying back once Rath had finished. "There now try and rest. It will take sometime before you are ready to fight again. Whatever possessed you to jump into the flames like that?" He asked me and I just shrugged, sitting when he stood next to the bed.
"You were in danger and I just reacted. I know I was supposed to guard Presley but..I couldn't just let you get hurt." I told Rath who shook his head.
"I told you to guard the prince and you didn't listen." Ja-Kal answered when he returned a few minutes later, standing close by with his arms crossed against his chest. Once I looked over at Rath I sighed as he fixed the hunter with a frown. "For now you are confined to the sphinx until your wounds heal."
"No thanks to any of you." Rath answered, his anger clear on his face as he narrowed his eyes though before anyone could move I reached up and Rath looked down once I gave his fingers another squeeze. Softening he focused all of his attention on me instead. "Whatever were you thinking, Jade? You could have been...well you are already dead but you would have been gone forever from this world and my side."
"Rath, it's not Ja-Kal's fault. Blame Scarab since he's the one who tried to..." I trailed off with a cough and Rath touched my forehead with his long fingers, a faint smile on his lips.
"You are right, Jade. The blame lies squarely on Scarab. I am sorry, Ja-Kal for losing my temper." Rath finally admitted but Ja-Kal just nodded a trace of a smile on his lips as he walked over to where I lay in my sarcophagus.
"Jade, like Rath said you need to stay put." Ja-Kal told me and I snorted, barely able to move without my stomach hurting.
"Not to change the subject but...where exactly am I?" I asked, tapping the bed beneath me and Rath fixed me with two raised eyebrows. Once he realized I wasn't joking he chuckled.
"Your sarcophagus of course, Jade. Since you couldn't stand up I asked Armon to set it down horizontally." Rath explained and I cracked a weak smile my fingers finding the blanket beneath my body. On further inspection I noticed the pillow under my head and Rath grinned back at me. "I thought it would be more comfortable if you had a pillow as well."
I didn't know what to say though when I felt my eyes tearing up Rath sighed, kneeling beside my sarcophagus when I lifted my arm covering my face with one hand. "Here you go." Rath said, handing me a torn piece of bandage and as I wiped my eyes he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Please do not cry, Jade. You should not let Scarab get to you."
"I know but I was really trying to protect my friends this time." I mumbled, sniffing and he shook his head his fingers stroking my cheek. "Guess that didn't work out so well."
"You protected me, Jade and that's what counts." Rath told me, giving me a faint smile when I yawned. "Now you should rest. You can't protect your friends and fight Scarab if you're injured and tired." He added and I nodded, resting my head on the pillow he'd taken from the bed before I closed my eyes.