Title:  Passion - Chapter Fourteen – For My Child

Rating:  PG13 for now
Author: Angela - [email protected] - http://geocities.com/saturnfiction
Summary:  Something’s bothering Ardeth.  Of course it’s never as simple as that.
Disclaimer:  No infringement intended.  I own Asenath, Drake, Samira, Mahmud, Abdu, Omar and Ali.
Prequel (which should be read to get this):  http://fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=654922&chapter=1
Codes:  Ardeth/Ancksunamun, Imhotep/Evy

*
”There was a boy who had the faith to move a mountain and like a child he would believe without a reason.  Without a trace he disappeared into the void and I’ve been searching for that missing person.”
Missing Person, on Live the Life by Michael W. Smith

Ardeth’s clothing whipped in the wind and sand threatened his vision as he stalked towards the Med-Jai encampment.  Abdu’s turban he had taken out of necessity, but he wouldn’t demean the boy’s robe by wearing it.  It didn’t really matter what his people thought of the western clothing he wore, anyway.  He wasn’t a Med-Jai.

His master waited for him at an oasis nearby, conjuring and maintaining the sand storm that brewed around him.  He would steal into the camp by cover of the sand and get the information he needed.  He wanted this to trouble him greatly, but for some reason it didn’t.  There was only grim determination locked into his system.  He knew what he had to do and he did not fear it.  His friends would mourn this, but Ardeth knew he had no choice.

The sands shifted uneasily beneath his feet as if they could feel what was going on inside his heart.  The visibility in the distance decreased at a steady rate as more and more earth was thrown into the air.  Ardeth drew the cloth hanging from the turban across his face, wrapped his arms around himself and pressed forward, thankful he was close.  He wanted this done.

Nothing would stop him.  Ardeth already determined that within himself.  This was too important for anything to get in his way, even if that meant hurting people.  Still, he was assaulted by memories when he slipped past the general guard easily and crossed into the camp.

The first place he would go would be Omar’s tent.  Of all the Med-Jai, this one man understood Ardeth the most—was like a father to him, and was therefore most likely to give him what he required.  The tent wasn’t far from where his own stood, waiting for his return.  Ardeth paused and was tempted to go inside it, but shied away.  It would drag him away from his purpose.  He continued on, knowing he would never walk upon this ground again.

Holding his clothing tightly, Ardeth bent close to the entrance of Omar’s tent and called for his old friend.  The response was not instant, but when it came it slammed Ardeth with a dozen emotions that made his stomach ache.  “Who comes to my tent during this?” Omar’s voice echoed out, muffled by the winds.  The tent flap opened, offering the ex-Med-Jai entrance.  He entered and stood up fully, removing the cloth from his face.  Omar gave no indication that he was surprised as he looked the younger over and grunted.  “Only one of the Bays would be crazy enough to wander about in a storm.  Come over here.”

Ardeth found himself shaking when Omar embraced him.  This man had been his father’s friend…a brother almost and as such, had helped a small amount in his raising.  He suddenly wanted to confess everything, every evil intention and everything he had allowed to be done to him, and ask this man to forgive him, but he couldn’t speak.  The task before him kept him silent.

Omar didn’t miss the dark atmosphere around his young friend.  He pulled back and gripped him by the shoulder, asking, “What’s wrong, Ardeth?”  But no reply could be given.  The elder took a breath and sat down on his bunk, his face reflective and pained.  “Insitara would be so angry with me if she knew how I had failed you.  I could never be Ardan.  I could never be what was needed.  Not to them and not to you.”

Flinching at the use of his parents’ names, Ardeth looked down before reluctantly taking a chair and allowing himself to sit.  Ancksunamun owned him already, so she could afford to wait.  “I’m all right,” he lied bluntly, knowing guilt and not wanting to share that feeling with anyone.

A crooked smile spread across Omar’s lips as he regarded Ardeth.  He brushed his graying hair back and nodded.  “Are you?  That’s why you have been gone from us for a month’s time, tending your wounds in England instead of here.”  He sighed at Ardeth’s narrowed brows.  “I should have come to you there.  I should have gone anywhere to be with you, to make sure you were all right.  But I didn’t overstep my bounds as Insitara made me swear I would never do.”

They had a close relationship, but the failure in that voice caused Ardeth some confusion.  He shook his head.  “That was not your responsibility, Omar.  I am a man, not some child.  I…”

The tent flap opened and a small woman swept inside.  Omar’s wife.  She threw her scarf back and smiled upon seeing their guest, making him clench his fist in irritation.  He didn’t need this, didn’t need to be distracted.  “Ardeth, you return to us?”

Before Ardeth could reply Omar held up his hand, his eyes very grave.  “Selimah, please…” he said softly and that alone seemed to convey some sort of message that the younger wasn’t privy to.  She looked down at him suddenly with assuring eyes.  He forgot about Ancksunamun and started wondering what was wrong with these two.  Had the Med-Jai told them something, some threat against him if he returned?  “I would not send you back into a storm,” Omar continued, “but if you could return to Jaheda for a little bit, while I explain some things to Ardeth, I would be grateful.”

Selimah nodded quickly and left them.  Immediately Ardeth looked to Omar, his eyes demanding to know what was being unsaid.  The elder exhaled and looked him over again.  “Ardeth, it grieves me more than you could possibly know to see you hurting like this.  I don’t know where your life has taken you this past month, but I missed you greatly.  Abdu misses you.”

At that the younger was on his feet, ready to seek another way to find the Books and seals.   He couldn’t bear this talk of people gone forever.  “I must go,” he curtly informed the other, then turned away.

“If you must,” Omar answered sternly.  Then after a moment his voice softened and grew wistful.  “Son.”

That couldn’t be ignored.  The ex-Med-Jai whipped around with flashing eyes and snapped, “What did you call me?”  His pulse raced at that, his mind wondering how this man could say such a thing, could dare try and use such a word to keep him here, knowing how much he missed his father.

The elder’s face was hard as he stood up and waved his hand.  “You heard what I said.  Now go.  Run away from this as you’ve run away from everything else.  Run away from me as I’ve run away from you.”

“How dare you create such a lie!” Ardeth yelled, fear rising up through his veins at this man’s words.  “What are you insinuating, Omar?  That I belong to you and Selimah?”  He had no brothers or sisters and that fact rushed over him, sending torrents of nervous energy through his body.  It was conceivable his parents had adopted him from Omar’s lineage, but what would that mean?  It would turn his already wrecked world upside down again, not to mention what it would mean to Omar once he had completed his task.

Omar sat back down and ran his hand through his hair, looking almost as unnerved as Ardeth himself felt.  “No,” he breathed, looking anywhere but into the other’s face.  “Insitara was a beautiful woman, Ardeth,” he began and the younger shook his head at what that likely meant.  “I know the others hurt you and I know it seems like my secret was kept in shame, but I’ve always been proud of you, my son.”

“No,” Ardeth breathed, pacing back and forth, not wanting this right now.  He had too much to deal with already.  This story was unreal, too shocking to believe.  “This is a trick of Ancksunamun.  This…this isn’t real.”  If she were playing with these emotions he would have no trouble in venting his displeasure in physical ways.  Not now, not after she had invited him into darkness.

“Ancksunamun?” the elder asked in puzzled, wary tones.  “What do you mean?”

He had slipped.  Ardeth looked down at this man that was claiming to be his father and shook his head with a raised hand.  “So, my mother is Insitara Bay?” he diverted, knowing he could not afford to speak any more of what was going on outside of this revelation.  “And she…”  His mother had had an affair on his father, Ardan Bay, the man whose very name Ardeth’s came from?  He thought of how she looked at her husband and couldn’t believe it.

Omar bowed his head, his guilt displayed plainly before his son.  “We loved each other very deeply, but in came Ardan from his station in Cairo one summer, galloping on his damn horse like something out of a motion picture.”  There was sarcasm there, jealousy being relived, but the older man gave it up.  “I don’t blame her for her love of him.  He was a very good man, but when she left me after our final fight it broke my heart.  They were married and I was alone.  But despite our past love Ardan accepted me as a friend, a brother.  We three became close knit.”

“And if you loved my father so much, how is it that you took his wife?” Ardeth retorted, trying to harden his heart to this.  It didn’t matter.  It was of the past.

He looked up with moist eyes, watching Ardeth stand still before a picture of he and Selimah.   “He had been captured by raiders one time and taken away as a slave for nearly a year with a few other Med-Jai hostages.  In her anguish of losing her new husband and I my best friend, we looked to each other for comfort, secretly where no eyes would find us.  Not long after our union she found she was pregnant.  We panicked, thought to run away from the Med-Jai,” he said this with a snort, “but fortunately for her and you, Ardan and the others were liberated.  He came back in time to make it appear to most eyes that you were his.”

“Who else knows of this?” Bay asked in low, uncertain tones as he wondered how much more would be added to the weight on his shoulders.  His mind flitted back to Ancksunamun, images of her possessing eyes and whispers of her distracting caress coming back to him, promising to take away his disquiet.  She would begin to wonder where he was if he did not hurry.

Omar stood up and came to Ardeth’s side, touching his arm almost imploringly.  “A few on the council.  Selimah.  No one else, not even my daughters.”  Ardeth sighed when Omar turned him to face this.  His arms were open, asking for his son to accept this forgery of reality.  “Ardan forgave us of that, one of the most grievous things either one of us could have done to him.  I only pray that someday you forgive us as well.”

Frustration and anger welled up inside Ardeth at having this thrust into his lap now.  He backed away from those arms and frowned at the memory of Abdu refusing him.  “Why do you choose this day to bring this before me?” he asked, more out of irony than wanting to know, but his father gave him a reply.

“I bring this to you at the worst possible time in your life, boy, but only because I think you need me and…I need you to come back home.”

That shook Ardeth from head to toe, making him resent this life for doing this to him all at once.  They were all asking at the same time that he be something different to each them and he couldn’t obey every command and please Omar, Evelyn and Imhotep and keep Ancksunamun from doing more damage.   He didn’t have the strength to be all these things.  His choices were made.  “Where are the Books?” Ardeth demanded, knowing his time grew short.

“The Books?” Omar repeated, obviously wounded by Ardeth’s continued refusal to at least be civil.  “Ardeth, have you not heard a word of what I have told you?”

He reached for the younger man’s arm, but Bay jerked away with a glare.  “You tell me this story minutes after I return and you want me to accept it at face value and…and call you my father?  You say you have always been proud, and yet you tell no one, least of all me, that I do not belong to the man I have loved all of my life?  Prove your pride.  Trust me and tell me where the Books are.”  There was some manipulation thrown into those statements, but they were no less true.  Life betrayed him at every step.

The old Med-Jai looked away quietly and for a moment Ardeth tensed, fearing he would keep the knowledge and force him to find other means.  He scanned the tent for something use, but at the last moment Omar spoke.  “Rasheyd has the Book of the Dead.  Ali keeps the Book of Amun Ra in Cairo.”

“And the Seals of Horus?”

“Destroyed.”

Ardeth searched for any hint of deception in his old friend’s eyes and found none.  Ancksunamun was going to be livid.  Without offering his father any parting words, Ardeth turned away and left the tent, pausing only momentarily before letting his task move him on.  He couldn’t afford to let himself get sunk into a pit of emotion over this.  Not right now.

So Ardeth pushed it away and concentrated on pleasing Ancksunamun.  The tent of Rasheyd was nearer to the center of the camp where the elder could be better protected against any threats befalling the people.  It would be dangerous, going there to steal such a dangerous artifact, even if the storm offered him cover.  He could only pray that the elder was not in currently in his tent.

As luck would have it, Rasheyd was there when Ardeth barged in, uninvited.  He looked up from his chair with stern eyes that widened to surprise with the knowledge of just whom it was that was intruding.  “So, you return to your people?” he asked and Ardeth allowed himself to smile at the dislike in that tone.  This man did not trust him and if what Omar were claiming was true, perhaps now he could understand a little better why that was.

“Rasheyd,” he greeted with a polite bow of his head as he drew his scimitar.

*

Rick set the cards down and watched Jonathan scowl at the winning hand.  With a toss of his arms that turned into a stretch, Evy’s brother yawned.  “I give up.  You’re going to win me out of house and home.”

With a self-satisfied little smirk as he began gathering up the cards to shuffle, the ex-Legionnaire said, “Play you for your sister?”

“No way,” Jonathan replied with a little laugh as he scratched behind his neck.  “You can have her.  Speaking of which, I wonder what’s keeping them, anyway.”

Rick tossed the deck and stared off at the wall, tapping his heel against the left wheel of his chair.  They didn’t have Ardeth with them.  He hadn’t been told anything beyond that the ‘dark one’ stayed behind.  That worried him a great deal.  Why hadn’t they tried to save him?  “I don’t know, Jonathan.  I don’t like this—any of this.  Something weird is going on.  Just be on guard in case Ancksunamun is still part of Evy, okay?”

With a sigh the Englishman nodded and looked around Drake’s office.  Spotting what his eyes had set out for Jonathan got up, went to the bottle on the master thief’s desk and took a swig without feeling the need for a cup.  Rick grunted, agreeing.  He could use something himself.  Though he didn’t like to consider it, Rick knew there was a distinct possibility that Evy hadn’t rescued Ardeth because perhaps there was no need.  Perhaps he had been killed.  The thought of that left cold stirrings in Rick’s spirit.  Ardeth and Jonathan were his best friends, aside from Evy—who was different to him despite Imhotep.  A little guilt came with the momentary thought that it should have been the priest left behind.

It felt really very good, being out of that hospital.  Though confined to his wheelchair because of his healing side, Rick still felt a little more in control of things being here at the old hideout instead of laid up in a bed with doctors poking at him.  News didn’t have to wait for the convenience of some thief.  He was here with Drake getting everything right away.  He got word when they found Evelyn and returned her to Cairo, and had been here to know the exact moment Drake had sent his men to stop the Med-Jai from hurting anyone special to him.

Rick sighed.  It was a false illusion of handling these things he wanted to fix, but better at least.  It got that much better when the door to the office opened and Evy appeared, followed by her priest.  “Hey,” he greeted with a smart expression, eyeballing them both.  “I see Imwhoretep made it out alive, unfortunately.  Where’s Ardeth?”

Instead of giving him an irritated little smirk, Evy stalked towards him and immediately attacked his shoulder with her handbag—several times.  “Just what did you think you were doing, scaring me like that?  We came back and they said you had gone, with no idea where you were!  I thought…well, any number of things crossed my mind.  I’m very disappointed in you, running away from the hospital like that!”

O’Connell stared up with wide eyes for a moment, then looked around her to see Jonathan getting the same scolding from the priest.  “Okay, okay,” he breathed, rubbing his sore shoulder.  “I did a bad thing.  I’m sorry.  What’s wrong with you two?  Where’s Ardeth?  Please tell me he went back to the Med-Jai.”

“Ardeth stayed with Ancksunamun,” Evy answered, looking at him angrily, but he could see it was half-hearted.  She was worried about their friend and it was beginning to grow in her eyes.  “Oh, Rick, he’s still with her suffering only God knows what.  But what was I supposed to do?  He told us to leave and…and well, I…I have someone to protect now and…oh Rick, he’s in danger.  She’s immortal now!  I knew we could come back and send Imhotep and Jonathan back, maybe and the Med-Jai…”

Rick shook his head at that and tried to brush away the panic that was rubbing off from her to him.  “No Med-Jai.  I’m not sure I trust them.  They know about what happened to you and Ardeth and I think they’re willing to stop Ancksunamun at any cost, if you get me.  Evy, it’s okay.  Look, I know you were scared and it’s okay that you came back.  I’m happy you did, but I have a selfish question.  Why couldn’t Imhotep stay and help Ardeth?”

She looked very uncomfortable at that.  Jonathan came away from the priest and hugged his sister before she could speak.  “My good Lord, Evy.  You need to sit down.  Imhotep just told me.”

Evelyn shook her head, sitting in a chair her brother got and held for her, looking afraid and weary.  He swallowed and remained patient.  “He wouldn’t have, Rick.  If I wasn’t his first priority then, I am now.  I have something to tell you and you’re probably going to hate him…and maybe me.”

She didn’t have to continue and though tempted to for the sake of petty revenge, Rick wasn’t going to make her.  He held up his hand to quiet her down and said softly, “I know.  I…sorta had this feeling.”

“You…knew?” his ex-girlfriend said in a small, surprised voice and he smiled to reassure her he wasn’t angry.  Well, maybe a little.  But not at her.

Jonathan cocked his eyebrow and sat down at Drake’s chair.  “You knew, old boy?  How?”

Rick nodded and rubbed his stomach near the injury absently.  “Yep.  Well, I suspected, anyway.”  He shrugged.  “As for how, well there’s only one answer, plain and simple.  Her chest got bigger.”  Evy narrowed her brows and O’Connell smiled innocently.  “I can’t help what I notice, Evy.  I still look sometimes.”

Evy blushed and glanced at Imhotep, who watched them mildly.  “It’s a good thing he doesn’t understand much English.  Anyway, he would never have left me unprotected with a baby inside.  Oh, Rick, what are we going to do?  I don’t think she’d kill him…at least I hope not.”

“I’ll have Drake send some men out,” he answered, avoiding the mummy with his eyes and concentrating on the immediate problem.  He shook his head.  “You say he wanted to stay?  ‘Cause of Akhenre?”

Her eyes saddened at that.  “No, Rick.  Ardeth fought him back after Ancksunamun said she wouldn’t unbind herself to Set.  I’m not sure, but I think Akhenre gave up or something.  Anyway, Ardeth said he was giving himself to her to save us…and that the next time we met he would be hers.  I know he would never hurt us, Rick, but I do know she would do anything to make him lose hope.  I hated leaving him, but Rick…the baby is…I mean how can I not put her first?”

Rick felt jarred at her saying it out loud—the baby.  But that was okay.  “No, no,” he sighed, pointing at the door and turning to Jonathan.  “Go get Drake.  We’ve got some work for him.”  He looked at Evy gently.  “The…the baby comes first, Evy.  I understand that and if Ardeth knew, he would too.”  He exhaled tiredly and thought lovely thoughts of morphine as his side ached.  Then it occurred to him.  He let his eyes hit the moody looking priest.

“What do you mean it’s a good thing he doesn’t understand much English?  How much is that?”

*

Okay…so were you all rolling your eyes at that little twist I came up with???  ;-)  hehehe.  I dunno what gets into me sometimes…but it did inspire me to write the final scene of the story…even before I’ve done with all the rest.  So, assuming this isn’t a dorky thing, expect a little more of Omar. :-)

Anyway,

Elenhiril – Seven hours, eh?  Yikes!  :-O  Thanks for reviewing, even though you’re busy!  :-)

Lula – Mmmm…Ardeth a handful…I like that thought, of him being a bad little Med-Jai.  ;-)  Yeah, though…I thought I’d throw some heart in there…she had a teensy bit in the last story, so ya know.  :-D  Thanks, my friend!

Deana – I’m gonna make Ardeth turn into the most vile creature to walk this earth!  Lol..jk, maybe. ;-)  Muahahaha.  You know…this gives me an idea…hmm.  Thanks for reading before and not going crazy, and for reviewing. :-)

Freakizimi – Passion is a sequel to another story I wrote – Fury, in which Evy and Imhotep got together.  She hasn’t turned her back on anyone, really…but she couldn’t save Ardeth cause she’s got a baby to worry about…I think she’d be concerned about that first…I mean I know that’s a tough call, but I know Imhotep would worry first about the child, then Ardeth…and I assume even if it would be hard, Evy would be the same.  Thanks.  :-)

Mommints – Thanks…I’m glad you thought Ardeth’s surrender was nicely done…I wasn’t sure.  But yeah…I like the idea, personally. ;-)  I get so tempted to do horrid things to shock you people. ;-)  lol.  Your story sounds very interesting, though, as I’ve said over email and I’ll say publicly as well, (go read it if you haven’t people!).  It’s coming very well.  :-)

Marcher – Mmmm…yes, Evil!Ardeth does sound like a happy happy thing, huh??  ;-)  Hmmm….come to the darkside, hottie!  He can use the “force” on me any day.  ;-)  I’m glad you like Immy/Evy…sometimes I think it’s getting corny, which tempts me to do something terrible to ruin it and make it more suspenseful.  Lol. 

Hadassaknamu – I’m not too evil to Ardeth?  Darn…I’ll have to keep working on that…find something totally horrendous to do to him to make you people want to kill me.  ;-)  Lol.  JK, peerheps.  Thanks for reading!

Thanks anyone else reading!  Hope you enjoy!