Standing in front of my sarcophagus I watched as Rath paced, his arms behind his back. "Rath, I know something's wrong with you but you won't let me help you," I told him and he paused, his eyes narrowed me until I sighed. My arms at my sides I stared down at the stone floor, not meeting his eyes even when he crossed his arms against his chest.
"It's not that I don't want you to help me but…" Rath trailed off when he saw my eyes welling and he blinked, heading to my side when I sniffed. "Please do not cry, Jade." He sighed, resting his left hand on my shoulder.
"It's a little hard not to when the one person you thought cared about you keeps getting angry when all you want is to help them," I replied in a small voice, not caring that tears were now leaking down my cheeks. "You just keep pushing me away and it really hurts."
"Jade, you are right. Even knowledge that comes so easily to me I can feel slipping away. Due to recent events, I am certain that my condition will only get worse in time and that soon I will no longer remember who I once was. I would only ever admit it to you but I am afraid." Rath confessed and when I stared at him he cracked a sad smile, brushing at my tears with his palm.
"Rath, we'll figure something out. I finally found someone that I want to share my life with and I'm not about to just let you slip away from me." I told him and he nodded, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders but as we set to work on a cure I couldn't help a sense of dread that there might not even be one.
With Rath by my side we shifted through his numerous scrolls and books, all left for the guardians from Pharaoh Amenhotep. I was still having trouble with the hieroglyphics but the rest of the guardians helped me once I explained our plan to them. With renewed hope, we worked through the rest of the day and the night, Rath and I only resting long enough to recharge before we threw ourselves back into our work. But by late morning I began to despair and despite my friends' encouragement, I set down the book I'd been staring at for the last few minutes, looking over at Rath who stared at me than the book.
"Jade, you shouldn't give up," Ja-Kal said but I just shook my head, my eyes on Rath who scratched at the spot between his eyes.
"Face it, Ja-Kal. This is getting us nowhere and Rath's getting worse. Before he couldn't remember the names of the Egyptian gods and now it can't even read these hieroglyphics." I explained, chewing my lower lip as Rath finally set down the book he'd been trying to read.
"Jade, I am beginning to agree with you. I cannot even read this book and I am sure I have read it a thousand times." Rath answered, crossing the distance before he set a hand on my shoulder. "I fear it is hopeless and that I am only delaying the inevitable."
"Then I guess there's only one thing we can do," I replied, placing my hand over his and when he tilted his head to one side with a frown I managed a weak smile. "We should spend as much time together as we can," I added, swallowing a lump in my throat once it finally clicked that Rath was losing everything that made him well Rath.
"That is a wonderful idea, Jade but I am not sure where we should go or even how to get there," Rath answered, Nefer-Tina clearing her throat moments later.
"You could go to the pier. Besides I can drive you both in the Hot-Ra." She offered and I nodded as did Rath the latter not seeing me wiping my eyes. We followed Nefer-Tina into the garage and as we made our way towards the Hot-Ra I couldn't help a sniffle which in turn made Rath squeeze my hand. We drove in silence and as my thoughts whirled around my head I wondered just what the guardians of Prince Rapses would do without Rath. Then I mentally scolded myself for thinking about losing Rath not knowing that Rath was having similar thoughts of his own.
I am losing everything I once knew, my entire being is slipping away and for once I cannot do anything to fix this.
When he glanced over at me I managed to give him a reassuring smile though as soon as I turned my head Rath saw fresh tears in my eyes and he sighed, his hand clutching mine.
Even now Jade is doing everything she can to comfort me and for that, I will be eternally grateful. At least we will be together until everything disappears into the abyss leaving me a hollow shell.
Rath grimaced trying to see a way out though as Nefer-Tina parked the car a few feet from the pier he understood that there was no solution to this problem. No matter how hard they worked Rath knew that if he and Jade together couldn't figure out an answer then there was none.
"I'll head back but call me if you need me okay, Jade?" Nefer-Tina said, placing a hand on my shoulder and I nodded fighting back tears as Rath offered a hand out of the Hot-Ra. Once I heard the vehicle speed away I felt Rath's arm around my shoulders and I sniffed, fighting back tears that were equal parts frustration and pain.
Without speaking Rath led me to the pier and once we sat beside each other I rested my head on his shoulder not caring that tears were spilling down my cheeks. "I wish I could have done more for you, Rath. If only I was as knowledgeable as you maybe I could have…" I trailed off when he lifted his hand and as he wiped my tears away with his thumb he slowly shook his head.
"No, dear one you did everything possible to help me and for that I am grateful. I just wish we had more time together." Rath answered, leaning in when I did though as soon as we heard laughter I narrowed my eyes. Quickly climbing to his feet Rath searched the sky until he saw Scarab and I growled, pushing myself up as our enemy chuckled at us.
"That was turning my stomach," Heka complained, giving me a grin as I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Scarab, you have the worst timing. What do you want?" I snapped at him and he fixed me with a tiny smile.
"To find you and Rath, of course, Jade. I knew that you would be desperate for a cure." Scarab explained and I frowned completely lost until he produced a small bottle from his pocket which glowed yellow.
"You did this to him didn't you? I should have known." I growled and he just chuckled, finding my anger amusing for some reason. "Let me guess; you can cure Rath but there's a price."
"Of course there is, Jade. The question is what are you willing to pay to help Rath?" Scarab asked, looking over at Rath who blinked at him looking confused.
"You want me to hand over Prince Rapses don't you? As you can see he's not here." I replied the smile he gave me sending a chill down my spine.
"I know that Jade but you can still help me in exchange for this," Scarab replied, waving the bottle back and forth until I crossed my arms. "Just give me the identity of Prince Rapses and you can have this." He added and I just sighed as Rath scratched at his cheek looking even more lost as he stared at me. "If you don't decide soon Rath will be gone forever."
"Scarab, even if it means losing Rath I won't just tell you anything. What you thought I'd just let you win just like that?" I taunted and he growled as Heka rolled her eyes.
"Told you she wouldn't help you," Heka replied and Scarab shrugged, hiding the bottle before he aimed Heka at me. "Still at least we get rid of Rath." She added, a fireball shooting from her mouth and as it hurtled towards Rath I rushed to block it wishing that I'd changed into my armor just as it hit me right in the chest.
I stumbled back, glancing over my shoulder to find Rath standing directly behind me. Inches from the end of the pier I glared up at Scarab and Heka the latter sending another fireball our way. "With the strength of Ra!" I managed to shout but even with the armor the fireball sends me backward and when Rath grabbed my shoulder to steady himself I slipped, both of us falling off the pier and down into the freezing cold water below.
The next thing I remember was trying to swim but with my armor weighing me down I sank further, unable to remember how to change back to my bandages. I started to panic, knowing that technically I couldn't drown being already dead but that still didn't stop me from trying desperately to swim back to the surface.
But as I panicked I didn't even see Rath shaking his head, blinking before he turned his head in time to see me sinking into the darkness. Gritting his teeth he swam towards me as my mind tried to work out how he still remembered but when he grabbed my arm his other hand touched the amulet hanging around my neck. In a flash, my armor vanished and with a grin he grasped my hand, never leaving my side as we swam back to the surface.
We broke the surface of the water with a gasp and as I coughed Rath wrapped an arm around my waist, helping me back to the sand. I lay on my side gasping and as Rath knelt beside me he patted my back as his gaze swept towards the sky. "Scarab, how dare you attack my girlfriend." He growled and as I raised my head, wiping water from my eyes he helped me to my feet.
"You should be a mindless shell of your former self," Scarab complained and Rath just shrugged, giving me a tiny smile as I stepped up beside him. "You did this didn't you?" He said to me as I squeezed water from my hair.
"How should I know, Scarab? This was your brilliant plan after all." I countered and he snarled at me, aiming one of his hands at me this time as Rath held out his left hand concentrating. This time Rath knocked the magic bolt away from me with the sword that appeared, giving me a tiny smile before he stepped in front of me.
"With the strength of Ra!" He called out, his armor covering his body. "Jade, I believe you should sit this one out." He observed when I wobbled on my feet and as he rushed towards Scarab I knelt on the sand, wondering how long it would take to feel less waterlogged.
"Jade is right you know. Why did you make a potion that would wash off in the water?" Heka asked, Scarab too busy aiming at Rath to answer though once she saw him glaring at her she snorted.
"I didn't think they would end up near the ocean, Heka." Scarab finally snapped, barely dodging the magic bolt Rath sent his way. "Now be quiet so I can concentrate." Shaking my head I launched myself to my feet only managing a few steps before I started to fall but when someone grasped my hand I looked up to see Armon who grinned at me.
"Need a hand?" He asked me and I nodded, wondering just why I felt so out of breath. He picked me up jogging over to the Hot-Ra and after he deposited me back inside the vehicle I watched on slightly annoyed as he joined Rath. When Nefer-Tina waved at me, climbing from the Hot-Ra clad in her armor I sighed, wondering when the rest of the mummies had gotten to us.
"In case you're wondering we've been tracking you. Just in case something like this happened." Nefer-Tina explained, racing after Armon before I had time to open my mouth. I sat back in my seat still wet and very annoyed with my friends even as I watched them fight Scarab.
Ja-Kal flew towards the sorcerer aiming his bow but when Scarab threw a magic bolt towards their leader Ja-Kal blocked the blast with one of his arrows. Seeing himself outnumbered Scarab turned around in midair and Ja-Kal started to follow him until a blast from below knocked him out of the sky, Armon catching him before he could strike the ground.
Shaking his head Ja-Kal stood looking on as a dozen shabti aimed their scepters our way. Not content to just sit on the sidelines I stumbled from the Hot-Ra, my mind quickly going over the spells I'd learned from Chontra before I returned to my friends' side. Rath was a little surprised to see me strike the closest shabti to him with a fireball and I grinned, giving him a thumbs-up before I started to edge closer to him. "Jade, while I do appreciate the assistance you should rest," Rath told me but I just rolled my eyes, drawing on the knowledge I'd gained before I threw another fireball that landed directly at the feet of two more shabti who turned their attention to me. Which allowed Nefer-Tina to wrap her whip around one, spinning it around so it collided with several others shattering them.
I grinned enjoying the battle but as time wore on and we found ourselves facing the last four I knelt, the blow Scarab had landed on me making me wince. "Armon, could you carry Jade back to the Hot-Ra?" Rath called out and after Armon punched one of the last remaining shabti squares in the face, sending pieces of it flying everywhere Armon nodded carrying me over one shoulder.
Once the battle was over and pieces of shabti littered the sands I leaned back, happy that we had won. When Rath climbed back into the Hot-Ra he noticed the tiny smile on my face and he chuckled. "You were very brave out there, Jade. Not just in the battle with the shabti but you also protected me from Scarab." Rath told me, giving the hand I lifted a squeeze.
"I didn't do that much, Rath. Everyone worked hard to beat Scarab." I countered but he shook his head, looking over at his friends who all nodded in agreement.
"Rath told us during the battle that you refused to give up Prince Rapses' identity even knowing that this could be your only chance to save Rath," Ja-Kal told me and I blinked, raising an eyebrow at Rath who smiled at me.
"Yeah you were amazing," Nefer-Tina added and I ran a hand over my face, unable to stop myself from grinning.
"You would have made a great guardian back in Egypt, Jade." Armon agreed and I buried my face in both hands, knowing that I couldn't blush and Rath just laughed draping an arm around my shoulders.
"I guess so." I managed to answer, resting my head on Rath's shoulder. "Though I still need to learn how to change back. I sank like a stone." I added with a shudder and Rath snorted, holding me close as Nefer-Tina drove the Hot-Ra back towards the sphinx. Even the sniggering I received from my friends once we returned to the sphinx didn't embarrass me. When Rath guided me away from them as they started to head to the magic box and after he headed further into the sphinx his hand never leaving mine I grew curious.
"Rath, is something wrong?" I asked him once we reached a door that I hadn't come across before. Once he opened it he led me inside closing the door gently behind him and as I looked around, finding a shower and sink Rath cleared his throat. "I know I was reckless but I just couldn't let Scarab hurt you."
"Jade, I am proud of you," Rath told me and as I stared at him he raised his hand gently brushing my hair back over my shoulders. "You would not give up our prince even if it meant I would be lost."
"Rath, everything you and the rest of my friends have worked for would have been for nothing if I had given up Presley's name. He's my friend too even if I'll never be a guardian." I replied and Rath nodded, tracing my chin with his thumb before he leaned in. I could taste saltwater on his lips and as Rath deepened the kiss he wrapped one arm tightly around my waist. When we broke apart I rested my head under his chin, shivering from the saltwater still dripping periodically from my bandages. "Not that I am not enjoying this but I could use a hot shower and clean bandages," I suggested and Rath nodded, looking towards the shower with a slight frown.
"What is this 'shower'?" Rath asked and I grinned, leading him towards it with one hand. Curious, Rath watched as I fiddled with the hot and cold taps until the water was hot but not scalding. "Whatever are you doing?"
"Taking a shower, Rath. I suppose you never took a shower in ancient Egypt huh?" I replied and Rath nodded, only catching himself when I giggled. "I won't tell Armon that you didn't know what a shower was. Your secret's safe with me, Rath." I added, lightly patting his shoulder when he rolled his eyes at me. "Would you like to try one?" I offered and he nodded curious despite not knowing just what having a shower meant.