| THE ADVENTURES OF THE O'CONNELL FAMILY Page 57 |
| him to his feet. "Uh, maybe we can discuss this...?" The leader of the group was very tall and elaborately dressed. He hooked his arm around Jonathan's neck and pulled Jon to him tightly while another guard grabbed the Book off the floor. In Egyptian, the man spoke in Jon's ear. "Stop struggling, small one, or I will surely crush the air from your lungs." Still squirming and not understanding the words fast enough elicited a swift kick from another guard right into Jonathan's abdomen. Jonathan tried to double over from the pain but was held fast by his captors. "You bastard!" Jonathan was trying to catch his breath, his chest heaving from the pain and lack of air. The leader grabbed a handful of Jonathan's hair and yanked his head back. "I have not given you permission to speak! How dare you!" Still holding Jonathan very tightly, the great man began to squeeze his arms even tighter around Jonathan. The pain was almost too much to bear. A rib cracked before Jonathan passed out from the lack of air in his lungs. The man then gathered Jonathan up in his arms like a father would a child, cradling him in his arms and proceeded to the throne room where Nephthys waited. ~*~*~*~*~ "Omin! I asked you not to kill him!" "What is wrong with him?" "Your majesty, he was not cooperating, he is merely unconscious." Omin gently placed Jonathan on the floor at Nephthys' feet. "Ah... well done! This allows me to have a little fun with my boy toy before watching him die by my hands! Strip him to the waist and tie him to this pillar to my right!" Omin quickly did as his majesty asked and soon Jonathan was placed on his knees with his hands tied tightly around the pillar. His back was bear and Nephthys could not keep from caressing the muscles in her captive's back and upper arms. "Omin, bring me the whip!" ~*~*~*~*~* Osiris slowly made his way through the palace in his quest for Jonathan. Avoiding the guards was not presenting to be a problem and Osiris was able to take his time in his search. What he saw next almost brought him to his knees. He saw a guard walking his way holding what was most definitely the shirt Jonathan had been wearing. Where he was going, Osiris did not know, but when a very tall and muscular man passed him with a leather whip, Osiris took no time in sizing up the situation. Feeling he would need help from Ardeth and Evie, Osiris began to search for them. Almost as soon as he turned around, he saw the glint of a sword about 20 feet away. His glance traveled up to who was holding it. It was Evie and there with her was Ardeth Bey. Stealthily, Osiris joined them and told them of what he saw. Evie gasped. "Oh, no! If they hurt my brother..." Her words were cut off when Ardeth placed his hand on Evie's shoulder and squeezed. "Evelyn, we will get him to safety, I assure you." ~*~*~*~*~* Back at Senbi's, Gabrielle was tending to Rick's shoulder wound. Rick was doing his best to stay conscious while the deep cut was cleaned. Seti was helping tend Nefertiri's wound as best he could. Gabrielle was on her way to give more poultice to Seti when she collapsed on the ground in agony. "Oh! No!" Her back was killing her. It was as if she were being flogged! Images of Jonathan tied up and being whipped flashed in her mind. Just as quickly as the pain appeared, it disappeared. Seti came over to Gabrielle and helped her to her feet. "Are you okay, my dear? What can I do to help you?" Gabrielle bit back a sob and told Seti what she saw and felt. Seti was taken aback and his face paled. "I had a horrible vision earlier today of my son, Ramesses II, being whipped and tortured." "He is my most-loved son and has been away for a year now training in Karnak! I fear for his life! Could it be that our visions are related?" Gabrielle locked eyes with Seti. "Oh, yes! These visions are related. For you see ... Jonathan, my love and Evie's brother is the reincarnated Ramesses II!" Senbi had just finished patching Nefret's wound and Alex was helping him. When Gabrielle fell to the floor, they both ran over to her. Alex couldn't help but hear what Gabrielle told Seti. "Has something happened to my Uncle Jon?" Senbi put a steady hand on Alex's shoulder and reassured him. "Why don't you go get your Dad comfortable so he can rest now. Gabrielle cleaned his wound and stopped the bleeding. He should rest before I sew the wound closed." With that, Alex made his way over to his father and did as Senbi asked. Seti sat on a soft pillow on the floor and motioned Senbi and Gabrielle to do the same. Calmly, Seti told them of a legend that once brought the downfall of Nephthys 500 years before Seti's time. In the legend, it was said a brother and sister of royal blood were needed together to break the curse and send |