Emma woke several hours later. Missing Ardeth, she reached out and touched where he had earlier lain next to her. She could still smell him, that musky scent that was all his own. Standing up, Emma winced a little as she moved across the tent. She was sore between her legs. Removing her nightgown, she took a washcloth, dipped it in the basin of water and began to clean herself. Emma was thankful that Evy had thought to bring some of her clothes. She would have died if she'd had to wear that blue dress one more day. Picking out a long tan skirt with an Ivory blouse, she dressed. After she brushed her hair and pulled it back into a long braid, she began to straighten up the bed covers. That was when she noticed the small blood stain on the blanket.
"Oops." Emma said softly to herself. "Can't leave that for big brother to discover." She pulled the blanket off and threw it in the corner to be burned later along with that blue dress that she would never wear again.
Exiting her tent, Emma looked around and spotted Evy pouring herself a cup of coffee nearby. She headed towards her, "Save some for me." Emma called out.
Evy turned and smiled. "Good morning, sleepy head." She picked up another cup and poured some coffee in it. Handing it to Emma, she asked, "Did you sleep well?"
Emma sipped the hot coffee, "Yes, I did." She answered, but was really thinking, 'I didn't sleep much at all.' Emma looked around hoping to catch a glimpse of Ardeth. "Where are the boys?"
"They are off helping with the dig. Are you hungry?" Evy asked.
"Yes, actually, I am starved." Emma answered just as her stomach growled loudly.
"I guess so." Evy laughed as she began to fix Emma a plate of food.
As Emma ate, they talked about what was to come. Evy hoped they could find the book of Amun-rah and Emma was concerned that Gerald Tate still lurked about somewhere.
"Oh, I'm sure that he's dead, Emma. You shouldn't worry about that." Evy said when Emma had brought up her concern.
"I hope your right, Evy." Emma answered, lost in thought.
"Emma." Evy began, "I don't mean to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, but I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure, Evy. You know you can ask me anything." Emma answered, curious with what her sister-in-law wanted to know.
"Well, you know, Rick hates it when I meddle. But I wanted to find out what you thought of Ardeth Bay?" Evy asked.
Emma choked on her food. Concerned, Evy pounded on her back as Emma coughed. "Are you alright? My goodness."
When she could speak, Emma answered, "I am fine." Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Why do you want to know what I think of Ardeth?"
"Well, it's just that I told Rick, before we discovered you'd been kidnapped, that we should introduce you to Ardeth. I just thought you two would get along well, that's all. And now that you two have met, I just wanted to know what you thought of him?" Evy rambled.
"Really? You and Rick talked about Ardeth and me? Hmmmm, interesting." Emma said hoping that she wouldn't give herself away.
"So what do you think of him?" Evy prodded.
"I think he's an egotistical, arrogant jerk, who can be too bossy sometimes." Emma answered.
Evy studied Emma closely, then smiled, "I knew it. You do like him."
"Am I that obvious?" Emma asked with a grin.
"No." Evy answered, "but you and I are a lot a like. I think Ardeth is incredibly handsome. I may be married but I'm not blind." They both giggled.
"Uh-oh, Ardeth, we are in trouble now." Rick said loudly as they approached the two giggling women.
Ardeth frowned, not catching the joke. "Why are we in trouble?" He asked.
Rick shook his head, "You'll learn. One of these days, old buddy, you'll learn." Turning his attention to the ladies, Rick said, "Good morning, ladies."
"Good morning, Rick. Good morning, Ardeth." Evy said as she received a kiss from Rick.
"Good morning, brother." Emma said. Looking up at Ardeth, who was watching her closely, she smiled, "Good morning, Ardeth."
"Good morning, Emma." Ardeth said softly, looking at her tenderly.
"Ignore Rick, Ardeth." Evy said with a smile. "He always thinks that when two women are giggling that trouble is brewing."
"No," Rick corrected reaching for a cup of coffee, "I always think that when you and Emma are giggling that trouble is brewing."
Ardeth couldn't take his eyes off Emma. He desperately wanted to get her alone. The short time they had had together last night had only wet his appetite for her. He could feel his body already reacting to her nearness.
"Hey, listen you two." Rick started, sipping his coffee. "We are going to be pretty busy helping with the dig, so I want you two to stay out of trouble."
Both Evy and Emma gave Rick a dirty look. "Really Richard. What kind of trouble are we going to get into out here?" Evy stated.
"Well gee, Evelyn, let me think." Rick crossed his arms and tapped his foot, pretended to be thinking. "I think the last time we were out here, you raised a mummy, isn't that right, Ardeth?"
"Yes." Ardeth answered. "And I'll be damned if I'm going to get onto a wing of an airplane again, too."
Emma giggled. "I heard about that." She said and began to laugh at the image she had in her head.
"It wasn't that funny." Ardeth answered annoyed, but that just made Emma laugh harder.
"I don't know, ol' buddy, I thought it was pretty amusing myself." Rick grinned.
Ardeth gave Rick 'a go to hell look', but when he turned his gaze on the laughing Emma, he broke into a grin.
"Well, since I have neither the book of Amun-Ra or the Book of the Dead, I don't see anything disastrous happening. So don't worry about us." Evy stated.
Rick grabbed his wife and pulled her close, kissing her firmly on the lips. "Sweetheart, wherever you go trouble follows. And when Emma's with you that trouble doubles. Now, Ardeth and I need to get. All I ask is that you guys don't wander off. Stay near the camp and stay together."
Evy started to open her mouth to protest, but Rick cut her off, "Please, Evelyn."
Evy sighed, "Oh alright."
It turned out to be a long day for Evy and Emma. They explored the area some, but not being able to leave the area hampered their fun. It was just as well, though, they never did see the short, fat man watching them the entire day from his perch up on the hill.
It was after dark before Rick and Ardeth finally returned to the camp area. They were both dirty and irritable. Evy and Emma hurried to get the two men something to eat as they attempted to dust themselves off as best they could.
"Any progress?" Emma asked carefully.
Both men shook their heads no. "Damn thing keeps caving in no matter where we dig. I don't see how Imhotep can rise if he's under all that sand and rock." Rick grumbled.
"I wish there was some way we could be sure of that." Evy said softly.
"Well we can't stop trying." Emma announced. "We can't just assume Imhotep can't get out."
"You are right." Ardeth agreed softly. "When it comes to He Who Shall Not Be Named, we can assume nothing."
"Alright, alright." Rick growled. "If all else fails, we'll just kill the guy again and find the book and wait another year."
Ardeth put his empty plate aside and stood. "I must go and rest. I have watch later tonight." Giving Emma a long look, he then turned and left.
"Ya know sis, Ardeth told me he kissed you." Rick announced after Ardeth was gone.
"What?" Emma's head snapped around to look at Rick.
Evy looked at Rick in surprise. "You never told me that."
Rick glanced over at Evy. "You never asked."
"What else did he tell you?" Emma asked, wondering if Ardeth told Rick about last night. Surely not, she thought. She couldn't imagine Rick sitting there calmly if Ardeth had told him he'd made love to his sister.
"Nothing really. He told me that he kissed you I guess because he wanted my permission to pursue you. Poor guy, he really doesn't know what he's getting into." Rick smiled.
"Your permission?" Emma asked shocked.
"You have to understand where Ardeth is coming from, Emma. Out here in the desert things are done differently." Evy butted in. "They have strict laws. If Ardeth kissed you, then it means he is very serious about you and I would bet plans to take you as his wife."
Emma warmed at the idea of being Ardeth's wife, but she was also confused. Ardeth said nothing of marriage and she was under the impression that desert people never married outside their own kind.
"I didn't think he was allowed to do that. I'm an American, isn't that like taboo?" She asked.
"Well, the Med-jai are different. Normally, your right, they don't marry outsiders, but the men who serve as Med-jai warriors have special privileges that others don't." Evy answered, "For instance, Ardeth or any one of his men can marry whomever they wish."
"How do you know this?" Emma asked curiously.
"He told us once, when he came to visit at the museum. I had asked him if he ever planned to marry and he said he hoped to someday, but just hadn't found the right woman. He then proceeded to tell us how the Med-jai had certain privileges that other tribes didn't have." Evy answered.
"Very interesting." Emma replied, deep in thought.
"So don't play games with him, little sister." Rick warned.
Emma looked at her brother and smiled softly, "I wouldn't do that, Rick. But it's nice to know what to expect."
Their conversation turned back to Imhotep and they discussed at length what their next move should be. It was getting late and they had made no progress, when Rick stood.
"Ladies, I am beat. I'm going to bed." He announced. "Evelyn, are you coming?"
Evy stood, "Yes. It has been an exhausting day of doing nothing." She replied.
Rick turned to his sister and gave her a "here we go again" look and said, "Goodnight, Emma."
Emma laughed and said goodnight to them both. She then stood and went to her own tent, wishing that Ardeth were there waiting for her. But he wasn't and so she readied herself for bed and lay down prepared to go to sleep. But sleep just wouldn't come. After what seemed like half the night, but in truth was only a few hours, Emma got up and slipped on her robe. Poking her head out the tent flap, she looked around and saw no one. She looked over to where Ardeth's tent was and wondered if she should chance it. What if he didn't want her now? She wondered a little unsure of herself now. Taking a deep breath, she quickly, but quietly hurried over to his tent and called softly to him. When she got no answer, she began to wonder if maybe he was ignoring her. Then she remembered. Ardeth had said he had watch tonight.
Chapter 12
Ardeth sat on a large rock as he looked out into the night. It was a quiet night and he wondered how much longer it would remain so. It worried him that they could not find an entrance yet to the ceremonial chamber. Ardeth did not like loose ends, especially when it came to Imhotep. And then there was Emma. He sighed heavily as he remembered the night before. He had not meant to make love to her. It had not been his intent when he went to check on her, but it had happened. He was not sorry for it, but he didn't know if she would understand that by making love to her, he had made her his. That by the laws of his tribe, they would be married. And they would be married. There was no doubt in his mind about that now. He just hoped that she would not be stubborn on this. Foreign women, Ardeth had learned tended to be hardheaded and difficult to deal with and Emma was no exception. He smiled as he remembered how angry she would get when he ordered her around. Life with Emma would definitely be interesting, he thought. Suddenly Ardeth felt a hand touch his shoulder and in one swift movement, he slid off the rock, drew his scimitar and spun. Emma gave a little shriek and jumped back, tripping over her own feet and landing with a thud on her rear end.
Emma cringed at the Arabic curses and threats that came out of Ardeth's mouth when he realized who she was. "You little fool." He finally hissed in English. "I could have cut you in half before realizing it was you."
He was very angry with her. She hadn't meant to startle him, she called out to him and she thought he had heard her. Ardeth put his scimitar away and held out his hand to help her up.
"I am sorry, Ardeth. I called out to you, I thought you heard me." Emma apologized taking his hand and allowing him to pull her up.
Ardeth took a deep breath trying to get his anger under control. His heart had nearly leapt out of his throat when he had realized he had almost killed Emma. He had never known that kind of fear and did not wish to feel it again. He was also angry with himself, for he had let thoughts of her steal his concentration and she had been able to come up behind him without his ever hearing her. If she had been an enemy, he would have been dead.
"Why are you here?" He finally asked her. His voice was cold and emotionless.
Emma shrank back a little, her worst fears coming to the front of her mind. He didn't want her anymore. "I missed you. I couldn't sleep so I thought I would come and say goodnight."
Ardeth sighed heavily, "I missed you too, kalila, but you can not come up here when I am on watch. It does not set a good example for my men. Now please go back to your tent."
Emma took a tentative step forward, "Did you really miss me, Ardeth?" She asked shyly.
Ardeth groaned softly, "How can you ask me that?" He reached for her and pulled her into his arms and kissing her soundly.
Emma melted into him. She parted her lips in a sigh and his tongue swept in and plundered her mouth almost violently. All the fear and anger he had just felt, he put into that kiss and Emma swooned, her knees buckling. Only Ardeth's strong, muscular arms kept her from falling to the sandy floor. But just as suddenly as the kiss began, it ended. Ardeth tore his mouth away from hers and nearly shoved her away from him. Emma stumbled back and barely caught herself from landing on her rear end again.
"Dammit, woman, go back to your tent." He growled.
Emma smiled. He was hiding his desire for her behind his anger. "Will you come? After your through here?" She asked, hoping.
"Yes, now go you little lilith." He barked at her, but as she turned and hurried off, he smiled. She really was turning into his night demon and his body stirred in anticipation for later.
Emma giggled as she hurried down the path back to the campsite. He said he would come and she would have another night with him. So intent were her thoughts, that she did not see the short, fat man standing in the path ahead of her until she was almost on top of him. Emma came up short with a gasp.
"Hello, my dear. Remember me?" Gerald asked.
"Gerald, I thought you were dead." Emma whispered, fear filling her heart.
"I almost was, no thanks to your boyfriend. But we have some unfinished business to attend to." Gerald snapped stepping forward.
Emma turned to yell for Ardeth, but Gerald's hand came around her and her nose and mouth were filled with chloroform from the cloth he slapped over her face. Emma struggled with him, her robe tearing and falling off her to the ground. As Emma lost consciousness, Gerald lowered her to the ground. He then picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder and carried her off into the darkness.
It was about an hour later when the next warrior on watch came to relieve Ardeth. Ardeth hurried down the moonlit path anticipating his union with Emma. As he past by some brush, his leg caught in something and he stopped to untangle it. He frowned as he realized it was material from somebody's clothes. He brought it up to examine it in the moonlight and then fear nearly overwhelmed him when he realized it was part of Emma's robe that she had been wearing when she had come to see him earlier.
"Please, Allah no!" He whispered as he clutched the silky material in his fist and ran the rest of the way to the camp.
Emma's tent was dark as he quickly approached it. "Emma?" He called out softly, not wanting to wake anyone if she was safely in her tent. There was no answer. His heart pounding wildly, he pushed open the flap and peered inside. His worst fears were realized when he found her tent empty. Closing his eyes tightly, for the first time in his life, he wanted to cry. He prayed in his heart that she was all right and he spun on his heels and began shouting for his men.
Within minutes, all the med-jai warriors were standing in front of Ardeth as he told them that Emma had been kidnapped again and he wanted everyone out looking for her. Rick and Evy heard the commotion and came out to see what was going on.
Ardeth approached them, "Emma's missing."
Rick saw the fear in his friends eyes, "Missing. But how did someone get in the camp? She was in her tent."
Ardeth looked away, not able to look his friend in the eye. "No she wasn't. She came to see me where I was standing watch." Looking back to Rick, he continued, "I told her she shouldn't have come and I sent her back here. I should have escorted her. I should have known. It has to be Gerald Tate."
Evy stepped forward and placed her hand on Ardeth's arm. "Ardeth, you couldn't have known he was waiting for her. We all thought he was dead. Don't blame yourself."
"Why not, I do." Rick snapped. "You're the one who is suppose to be in love with her, you're the one who is suppose to be watching out for her."
"Richard, that is enough." Evy scolded surprised at Rick's anger.
Ardeth stepped away, he was clearly hurt by Rick's anger, but he blamed himself too. Rick was right; he was supposed to be watching out for her. Rick was right about the other too. He was in love with Emma and he knew he had to find her.
Evy turned back to Ardeth, "Ardeth, don't listen to him."
Ardeth gave her a sad smile, "It's alright, Evelyn. Rick is right it is my fault. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find Emma." He gave Rick a last look, and then turned and walked away.
Evelyn turned on Rick. "I can't believe you. I thought you were a better friend than that."
"I can't believe you are siding with him." Rick gapped at her.
"Siding with him? Richard O'Connell, Ardeth is clearly devastated over Emma's disappearance. If you would get your head out of your arse long enough you'd see that. What Ardeth need's right now is your help and support, not your blame. He blames himself enough as it is." Evy snapped at him.
Rick sighed as his shoulders slumped. "Your right." He looked at Evelyn with a chagrinned look on his face.
Evy reached up and kissed her husband on the cheek. "Go get dressed and help Ardeth find Emma."
Rick nodded and pulled her close, "Where would I be with you, little lady?" He whispered in her hair.
"Most likely dangling from the end of a rope." She quipped as she pulled away from him and went back into their tent.
Rick shrugged his broad shoulders and laughed, "She's probably right." He said to himself, as he remembered how Evy had saved him from hanging a little over a year ago. He followed her into the tent and got dressed. A few minutes later, he located Ardeth close to where they believed Emma had been taken.
"I'm sorry old man. I didn't mean what I said." Rick apologized.
"Yes you did." Ardeth answered, but then he smiled. "But I understand why you said it. There is no need to apologize."
Rick held out his hand and Ardeth clasped it in his. Their eyes met, "I know you care for her, Ardeth. I know that you would have done everything in your power to protect her if you could, so don't beat yourself up over this. We will find her and we will get her back."
Ardeth nodded and released Rick's hand. They continued to search for her through out the night, but it was as if she had disappeared into thin air. As dawn approached, Ardeth sent Abdul and most of the other's back to the dig sight. They couldn't stop trying to get through. He, Rick and about a half dozen warrior's continued to look for Emma. Rick had told Evy to stay with him. Since Evelyn was the only one who could finish off Imhotep, Rick didn't want to take any chances that this Tate fellow might come after her next.
Chapter 13
Emma slowly began to regain consciousness. She peeked opened her eyes and found herself lying on a cold stone floor. Her hands were tied and after testing the rope, discovered it was on tight. Pushing herself into a sitting position, she looked around where she was. It was a large chamber, like a huge arena. She saw a stone staircase that led up to some passageway and in the middle of the chamber was a huge alter. Beyond the alter, Emma saw what looked like a moat that floated through the chamber. But instead of water floating through, it was a black mucky tar looking substance that had human bones floating in it.
"Gross." Emma wrinkled up her nose. It was now obvious to her that she was in the infamous ceremonial chamber that Rick and Evy had told her about and she thought that if that yucky tar looking stuff was where Jonathan had dropped the book of Amun-Ra, then they could just forget it. She would be damned if she would wade in that stuff to retrieve it.
A few minutes later she discovered she wouldn't have to. She spotted Gerald entering the chamber carrying the golden book of Amun-Ra with another man and thought for a brief moment that Gerald had found some more help. But when she saw the man more clearly, she realized that this had to be Imhotep. He was tall, head shaven and handsome. He also had on nothing but a loincloth.
"God help us." Emma whispered as she watched them. "He's already risen."
Seeing that she was awake, Imhotep crossed the chamber and approached Emma. He spoke to her in ancient Egyptian. "Do you understand me?" He asked.
Emma nodded, but didn't answer. "When the time comes, you will read from the book of Amun-Ra. Afterwards, you will be the virgin sacrifice to bring back my love, Anck-su-namun."
At that moment, Emma was thankful that her and Ardeth had made love. At least she would be saved from being a sacrifice. She shook her head, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm not a virgin." She answered him in ancient Egyptian.
Emma saw Imhotep flinch, "My servant assures me that you are."
"Well your servant doesn't know everything." Emma replied snidely. Imhotep growled and spun away from her and marched back to where Gerald was.
"You told me she was a virgin." Imhotep said angrily. He had put Gerald under a spell so that Gerald could speak and understand Hebrew, the language of the slaves.
"She is, Your Highness." Gerald cowered.
"She says she is not." Imhotep answered impatiently.
Gerald looked around wildly, "But she was when I first took her, my Prince. If she is not now, then it must be the warrior who saved her."
Imhotep looked at him closely, "What warrior?"
"The Med-jai warrior. He's their leader. I noticed that they were getting real chummy before I got her back this last time."
Imhotep grabbed Gerald by the throat, "You let a Med-jai warrior, my enemy, sleep with the woman who was to bring back my love?" He growled.
Gerald struggled for breath, "Please my Prince. I did not know. There were so many others around. Even the girl's brother and his wife are in the camp. How was I to know that the Med-jai leader would sneak into her tent?"
Imhotep stilled, "The one called O'Connell is here?"
"Yes, my Prince." Gerald answered quickly.
"Argh!" Imhotep roared and threw Gerald roughly to the floor. He turned and strode angrily toward Emma. When he reached her, he grabbed her by the arm and hauled her over to the alter and threw her against it. "My enemy may have kept me from Anck-su-namun for now, but I will have my immortality. You will read from the book of Amun-Ra."
Emma struggled to stand up. "I will not. I don't care if you kill me, I will not read it."
Imhotep studied her for a moment, and then he called to Gerald in Hebrew. "I want you to take my priests and find the Med-jai leader and bring him to me. I want him alive."
"Yes, my Prince." Gerald turned and hurried away. Up until then, Emma hadn't noticed them, but all of a sudden she saw dozens of mummies following after Gerald.
Emma was suddenly afraid, "What did you tell him?" She demanded.
"You will see." Imhotep answered with a knowing smile.
"Where is the book of Amun-Ra?"
"It is hidden." He answered simply and started to walk away. "Watch her." He commanded two mummies that had stayed behind and he left the chamber.
The morning sun was just peaking over the horizon when Ardeth found the hidden entrance. He called to Rick and Evy and they hurried over.
"Where do you think it goes?" Evy asked.
"To the ceremonial chamber." Ardeth answered.
"Do you really think so?" She responded.
"I would bet my life on it." Ardeth replied. Rick pulled a torch out from his gun roll and dug out a match. Looking for a place to strike it, he looked at Ardeth.
"Don't even think about it." Ardeth growled at him. Rick smiled and leaned down and struck it against a rock and lit the torch.
"What was that all about?" Evy asked curiously. She never knew exactly what those two were thinking when they were together.
Entering the cave like entrance, Rick took Evy's hand, "I'll tell you about it later." Ardeth followed
They had been traveling through the passageways for quite some time when Ardeth asked, "Do you know where you are going?"
"Of course I do, I'm going this way." Rick pointed a head of him.
Ardeth frowned, "We will never find her like this, there are too many passageways. We aren't familiar with these."
"Maybe we should split up." Rick suggested. "Evy and I will go this way and you can go down that way."
Ardeth nodded. Rick reached for one of his guns and handed it to Ardeth. "If you find her or you run into trouble, fire one shot. I'll do the same."
Ardeth nodded and took the gun tucking it in his robes. He took out his scimitar and had it ready. Rick also took out a scimitar that he had borrowed from one of the Med-jai warriors. He had discovered the last time they were here that it was simpler to use a sword than a gun on the mummified priests.
"Where's Jonathan when you need a good laugh." Rick said with a smile.
Ardeth returned the smile in fond remembrance of Evy's brother, who seemed to have a line and an excuse for everything. "Good luck." Ardeth said.
"Same to you, Ardeth." Rick answered and they parted ways.
Ardeth hadn't been traveling for very long down the passageway when he heard noises up a head of him. Very cautiously he picked up his pace and headed towards the noise. Suddenly he found himself in a very large chamber. He looked across and saw Emma sitting by a large alter.
"Emma." He called out.
Emma turned and saw Ardeth moving towards her. She also saw Gerald approaching him from behind. "Ardeth, behind you." She called out the warning, but was too late. Gerald hit Ardeth hard across the back of the head with a large rock and Ardeth crumpled to the floor. The chamber echoed with Emma's cry.
When Ardeth woke up a short time later, his turban was gone and he was stripped of his robes leaving him in only his pants. His arms and legs were stretched out and tied to two posts on either side of him. Looking around, he saw Emma looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" She asked softly.
His head felt like a heard of camels had run over it, but he nodded, "Are you?"
"Yes." She answered.
At that moment, Imhotep entered the chamber with the book of Amun-Ra in his arms. Seeing that the Med-jai warrior was awake, he walked over to him.
"Who are you, Med-jai?" Imhotep asked in ancient Egyptian.
Ardeth looked to Emma, "What did he say?"
"He wants to know who you are, your name." Emma translated.
"Tell him that I am Ardeth Bay, leader of the Med-jai."
Emma translated what Ardeth had said into ancient Egyptian to Imhotep. Imhotep spoke again. Emma blushed, but translated, "He wants to know if you are the Med-jai warrior who took away the virginity of his sacrifice."
Ardeth gave her a strange look, then understood. He smiled at Imhotep and nodded his head yes. Rage entered Imhotep's eyes and he backhanded Ardeth hard across the face. Ardeth's head snapped to the side. When he faced forward again, there was a trickle of blood coming from his mouth and his eyes were hard and cold.
"You will pay with your life for that." Imhotep screamed at him.
Emma gasped, "No, please." She cried out to Imhotep in ancient Egyptian.
Imhotep turned and looked at Emma. His handsome face was completely emotionless. "Do you love this man?" He asked her.
"Yes." Emma answered. "Please don't kill him."
Suddenly, Imhotep smiled an evil smile. "Then you will read from the book."
Emma blanched and shook her head no, "I can't. No. I won't."
Imhotep approached her and lifted her from the floor, his hand was like a tight vise on her arm, "You will read from the book of Amun-Ra or your lover will experience unspeakable torture."
"You wouldn't." Emma paled, but as soon as the words were out, she knew that he would.
"Think about it." Imhotep said and he released her and walked away.
Ardeth saw Emma's pale face, "What did he say to you?" He demanded.
Emma shook her head, "Nothing."
"Emma, do not think you can lie to me. I see it in your eyes. He is trying to get to you through me, isn't he?" Ardeth asked.
Tears welled up in Emma's eyes and trickled down her cheek, taking a deep breath, she answered, "Yes. He said that if I do not read from the book of Amun Ra, that he will torture you until I do so."
"Emma, you must not read from the book. No matter what he does to me, I would willing give my life; it is my duty as a Med-jai warrior." Ardeth replied.
"Well it's not my duty!" Emma cried. "How can you ask me to stand here and watch him torture you?"
"Come here, kalila." Ardeth commanded her softly. Emma approached him raising her tied hands she touched his face and kissed him. "Know this, you are my heart, Emma. You are the very air I breathe and without you I would die. So please, for me, for the hope of the future, you must not read from that book. No matter what he does to me, you must not read from that book."
Tears were falling down Emma's checks as she nodded. She prayed that Rick would find them in time and that she would not have to suffer through this, but even as the thoughts formed in her mind, Imhotep returned with the book of Amun-Ra and a dagger.
"It is time." He commanded as he placed the golden book on the alter.
Emma straightened and put on a brave face. Her eyes locked with Ardeth, "I love you." She whispered to him in Arabic and she turned and walked away from him.
Imhotep turned to Emma approaching and he stepped aside for her to read. Emma shook her head and announced to him in ancient Egyptian, "I will not read from the book."
Imhotep's eyes narrowed in anger. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Gerald appeared and took a hold of Emma from behind, turning her so that she had to face Ardeth. Emma struggled, but Gerald held her still. Imhotep approached Ardeth and backhanded him hard across the face. He did this several times until Ardeth's face was bruised and bleeding. Imhotep then punched Ardeth in the stomach, causing Ardeth to grunt in pain. Emma closed her eyes and turned her face away. She tried to block out the noises coming from Ardeth.
"Open your eyes." Imhotep commanded. Emma refused. Imhotep grabbed her by the chin and roughly pulled her face to him, "Open your eyes or I swear I will cut off your eyelids." Emma opened her eyes. "You will watch." He commanded.
Anger suddenly filled Emma and she spat in Imhotep's face. He slapped her hard. Star's exploded behind her eyelids as her head snapped to one side by the force of the blow.
"You son of a bitch." Ardeth growled, in Arabic, from behind them.
Imhotep smiled, reaching over to the alter, he picked up the dagger and turned to Ardeth. "Read from the book." He commanded Emma.
Fear entered Emma's eyes as she saw the dagger. Her eyes met Ardeth's and he shook his head furiously. "No." He told her.
Emma swallowed hard, "No." She answered in ancient Egyptian to Imhotep.
Imhotep moved forward towards Ardeth. He raised the dagger and slashed it across Ardeth's chest. Ardeth gritted his teeth against the pain as Emma cried out. Imhotep slashed Ardeth again several more times, blood beginning to run down Ardeth's chest.
"Stop it, stop it!" Emma cried furiously struggling against Gerald's hold.
Turning to her, Imhotep demanded, "Read."
Emma's eyes moved to the golden book of Amun-Ra that lay open on the alter. "NO!" Ardeth called out in his pain. "You must not!"
Chapter 14
Rick and Evy hid behind a large rock just inside the entrance to the ceremonial chamber. Evy had to cover her mouth from crying out when she saw Ardeth tied up and bleeding. "My god, Rick, we must stop this. Imhotep is torturing Ardeth to get Emma to read from the book."
Rick peered over the rock to take in the situation. There were about a couple dozen of Imhotep's priests posted about the chamber. They really wouldn't be a problem. The problem was getting Imhotep away from the book of Amun-Ra so that Evy could get to it and read. Without Ardeth's help fighting, it was going to be tough. But then, Rick thought, I've been in worse situations.
"Alright." Rick said to Evy. "I want you to stay here until I clear the way for you to get the book, understood."
"Yes." Evy answered.
Rick turned to her, "You will obey this time, right?"
"Really Richard, this is no time to get into that." Evy chided.
But Rick wouldn't budge, "Evy?" He threatened.
"Yes, I will stay here until it's safe to get the book." Evy answered obediently.
Rick nodded, scimitar in hand, he took a deep breath, then ran forward and began swinging the scimitar, cutting the priests down as he went.
Imhotep had just turned back to Ardeth with the dagger, when he heard noises behind him. Spinning around, he saw the one man he hated above all others. O'Connell. Crying out in rage, he commanded the priests to kill O'Connell. He then turned to Gerald and told him to go help.
Gerald pushed Emma to the ground and went to join the priests in the fight. Emma glanced around and spotted where Gerald had discarded Ardeth's scimitar a few yards away. With Imhotep distracted with the fight on the other side of the chamber, Emma crawled over to the scimitar and carefully cut the rope tying her hands. Standing up, she quickly made her way around and came up behind Ardeth. She made quick work of the ropes tying him to the posts and Ardeth collapsed to the floor. Emma gathered him in her arms and kissed his bleeding face. Ardeth struggled to stand up, but his arms were numb from being tied above his head for so long.
Imhotep turned in time to see Emma helping Ardeth stand up. He was furious that the same people were ruining his plans again. He grabbed for a sword that he had hidden by the alter and ran at Emma and Ardeth, swinging it Ardeth's head. With a speed she never knew she had, Emma let go of Ardeth, raised the scimitar and blocked the deadly blow. Imhotep yelled his rage and swung the sword again. Again Emma blocked the blow. She hoped that Ardeth would get the use of his arms back soon, because she didn't know how long she would be able to fend of Imhotep's attack.
She didn't have to wait long. Ardeth quickly came up behind her, his hand sliding up her arm to grab the scimitar by the handle. Emma quickly moved out of the way as Ardeth took the next blow and began to counter attack, moving Imhotep back away from the alter.
"Remember, you must not kill him before Evy has read the last two incantations." Emma called out to Ardeth. "Just keep him busy." Ardeth grunted indicating that he had heard her and continued to fight with Imhotep.
Emma looked across the chamber and saw Rick fighting the priests and Gerald. She knew that Evy must be close by. Grabbing the book of Amun-Ra off the alter, she spotted Evy coming out from behind a large rock near the entrance. Making her way carefully across the chamber, she met Evy with the book.
"We must hurry." Emma said, breathing hard from carrying the heavy book. Turning the book so that Evy could read it, Emma turned her head to watch the battle.
Rick had just polished off the last priest and was facing down Gerald. "You've got to be kidding me." Rick said, as he looked at the short, balding fat man.
"I would die for my Prince." Gerald spat and ran towards Rick to attack him.
"No problem." Rick answered and drew out his gun and shot Gerald in the chest. The bullet pierced his heart and he was dead before he hit the ground.
Putting his gun away, Rick turned to the ladies, "Girls are we making progress?"
"Patience my love, patience." Evy cried out frantically looking through the book for the other two incantations.
"Why does she always say that when our lives are on the line?" Rick asked himself as he turned to go help Ardeth. "Need some help, ol' buddy?" Rick asked as he bounded up next to his friend.
"What took you so long?" Ardeth asked while fending off blows from Imhotep's sword.
"Nothing." Rick blocked a blow taking over the fight to give Ardeth a rest. "I was just enjoying the torture show that's all."
Suddenly Imhotep stopped fighting as they heard Evy begin to read from the book. He cried out and doubled over in pain as she began to read the second incantation. Falling to the ground, Imhotep wreathed in pain. Finally he stilled as Evy began to read the third and final incantation. As Rick and Ardeth stood back and watched, Imhotep's body began to shake violently as it raised from the floor and floated in the air. As Evy finished the last words a bright light flashed in the chamber causing them to turn away and close their eyes. When the flash was gone, they all turned back and Imhotep's body was gone.
"It is finished." Ardeth said quietly. He looked across the chamber at Emma as she dropped the book and ran to him. He caught her in his arms and held her tight, kissing her gently. Evy joined them and Rick slipped his arm around her and kissed her.
"So, let's say we blow this joint." Rick said as he took Evy by the hand and headed for the exit.
Ardeth located his robes and Emma helped him slip them on, taking care not to bump against the nasty slashes across his chest. Taking her by the hand, he smiled at her. "You did well." He said.
"You ever do that to me again and I'll torture you myself." She threatened.
Ardeth slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. "You can torture me anytime, kalila." And he kissed her deeply. "I love you, Emma O'Connell." He whispered softly in her ear.
"Hey, you two want to knock that stuff off?" Rick yelled from where they had entered the chamber.
Ardeth released Emma and smiled, "You want to kill him or shall I?"
Emma smiled back and they turned to leave hand in hand. "Oh please, let me do it."
Prologue
Nine months later:
"Okay, Emma, one more push." Evy told her.
"One more? That 's what you said, 5 pushes ago." Emma cried out as she bore down and pushed with the last of her strength. Emma heard a baby cry and she sobbed as she collapsed against the pillows.
"There, there." Evy cooed to the tiny baby she held in her arms. She handed the baby to Ardeth's sister, Amina. "It's a boy." Evy announced as she cut the cord.
Amina cleaned off the baby's face with a warm, wet cloth and wrapped him in a blanket. She brought him to Emma and laid him in her arms. "I wish your father had made it back in time. He will be so disappointed to have missed your birth, my son."
"What are you going to name him?" Amina asked.
"He will be named for his daddy." Emma smiled. Little Ardeth cried as he tried to nurse his mommy's finger. Amina helped Emma into a sitting position and Emma put the baby to her breast. The women all smiled as he smacked his lips and began to suckle.
Suddenly Ardeth burst into the tent, "Emma?"
"Back here." Evy called. Evy herself, was nine months pregnant and due any day.
Ardeth entered the room and rushed to Emma's side. "Your too late, my husband. Your son couldn't wait for you." Emma smiled.
Ardeth looked in wonder at his son that suckled at his wife's breast. "My son." He whispered in complete awe at the miracle of life.
"Congratulations, Ardeth." Evy smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"Yeah, congratulations big brother." Amina echoed.
Rick stuck his head in, "Hey, am I an Uncle, yet?" He entered the tent with Jonathan close at his heels. Amina quickly grabbed a blanket and covered Emma so that she wasn't flashing everyone, but yet they could still see the baby.
"Thank you, Amina." Emma smiled at her.
"I have a son." Ardeth announced proudly to Rick and Jonathan.
Rick and Jonathan approached the happy couple. Rick leaned over and kissed his sister on the top of the head. "Congratulations, sis." Rick turned to Ardeth and grabbed him in a big bear hug. "You too, brother-in-law! I knew you could do it."
Ardeth was caught off guard by the affectionate display by Rick, but he recovered quickly, "Yeah, and I even beat you to it first."
Rick playfully pushed Ardeth away from him and said in mock anger, "Oh yeah? Well if I had of known you were messin' with my sister before you two got married, ya damn Arab, you wouldn't have."
"Oh, you know about that, huh?" Ardeth replied sheepishly.
"Oh, you know about that, huh?" Rick mimicked with a comical look on his face.
"Alright children, that is enough." Emma announced when the baby began to cry.
"Sorry, Emma." Rick and Ardeth said simultaneously.
"Maybe I missed something." Jonathan began scratching his head, "But I wasn't even aware that Emma was pregnant."
Everyone in the room turned and looked at Jonathan like he was nuts. He'd returned from his dig a few months back and Emma and Evy being pregnant was all they talked about. Rick lifted a finger and wagged it at Jonathan like he was going to say something, but then he just shook his head and turned to his wife.
"I think your brother spends way to much time out in the sun." He said.
"I think, perhaps you are right." Evy agreed and began to shoo Rick and Jonathan from the tent. Amina followed. "Come on, let's allow the new parents some time alone. Emma needs some rest."
Ardeth gazed lovingly at his wife. "I am sorry I was not here, kalila." He apologized after they had left.
"It's all right, my love, I will forgive you this time." Emma teased. "But next time . . ." She left the thought hanging to tell Ardeth there would be many more children for him to witness their births.
Ardeth smiled, "I love you, my heart." He whispered softly as he leaned over and kissed her gently, then bent and kissed his son's dark fuzzy head. He had never been so happy, so content since he'd found Emma. The restlessness was gone and the missing piece in his life was now filled. He had a son now and with Imhotep defeated, never to rise again, for the first time in his life, Ardeth had a hope for the future.
