Series/Universe: The Mummy
Disclaimers: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al. Mummy characters (particularly Ardeth Bey, Lock-Nah, the Carnahan-O'Connell family and Imotep) all belong to Stephen Sommers. Original characters are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due.
Warnings: The usual ... violence, language, and references to ugliness. Oh yeah, and the original characters. Can't forget them.
Spoilers: All twenty-one episodes, both Mummy movies, though more of an emphasis on the second (and my favorite, since it has more Ardeth)
Authors Notes: Get comfy, this is gonna take a few minutes. First and foremost, please be patient ... the prologue is Ardeth-heavy, as I'm laying the groundwork for the rest of the story. Chris and the boys make their appearance in the fourth section, which I'm now writing. There are mentions of them, but Josiah is the only one to actually appear.
This is a one shot deal ... I'm not planning on writing any more stories in this AU (at least, not at the moment). However, if you wanna play in this sandbox, go right ahead. I have no problem with that.
I've changed a few things. First, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Mary is Orrin's daughter in this story, not his daughter-in-law, and Stephen's sister.
You'll note, too, that I make reference in later chapters (set in 1933) to the events of the first film being seven years in the past. That's actually canonically correct. While Ardeth and the Med-jai first knew of Rick in 1923, when he was part of the Legion, the two didn't actually meet until 1926. I've also worked around the problem of Alex, since he's eight years old in the second film. Bear with me, I do know what I'm doing.
There's probably a lot more I'm forgetting, but I'll post those author's notes as I post the stories. If you've got the TMR soundtrack, I listened to this often while writing (okay, all the time); especially the pieces 'Evy Kidnapped,' and 'My First Bus Ride.' (the source of one of the best lines in the movie).
With that in mind, enjoy the fic!
Ardeth Bey. Of all the people in the world ... it had to be Ardeth Bey. But there was no anger in the thought. Only relief. Somehow, Ardeth knew Adriana. And if that was the case, a whole lot of things started to make sense. Adriana's refusal to talk about what had happened in Egypt, aside from Stephen's murder. She was trying to protect the Med-jai ... she was trying to protect Ardeth. This changed everything.
It also changed nothing. They still had their journey to Egypt, because Josiah had a really, really bad feeling about whatever Will Richmond was up to. And maybe, once they came face to face with the Med-jai, Adriana would finally be free of the secret she had been carrying for the last two years, ever since she returned to the United States. There was also the matter of Evie and Mary Travis ... making sure those two were safe.
Right after he reassured JD that he wouldn't kill him. The kid looked ... not afraid of Josiah, but wary. The ex-preacher sighed, "Sorry, son. Didn't mean to scare you. You just ... you startled me. Of all the names you mentioned, that was the last one I was expecting to hear. Where did you hear about Ardeth, and what do you mean, he was hoverin' over your sister?" He was rewarded by JD relaxing a little.
"It was that picture in Adriana's room ... there's a picture sitting beside her bed. She's in it, along with this Ardeth Bey, and three other people. I don't remember their names, but he stood real close to her like he was protecting her. Josiah, who is Ardeth Bey? Is he someone we gotten worry about?" JD asked earnestly. Josiah had to smile. The boy swung between being annoyed by his sister's independent nature and being worried about her. Although, at the same time, Josiah understood that Adriana's independent nature played into JD's desire to protect her. He understood that. But JD still hadn't learned a few important things about his sister.
"No, son, he ain't. In fact ... if your sister is with Ardeth Bey right now, then she's safe. Safer than she's ever been in her life, 'cause that's what Ardeth does. He's a protector," Josiah replied. That was, of course, assuming that Adriana was currently with Ardeth. He couldn't decide how he wanted that to go. Because if Adriana was with Ardeth, it meant that Will Richmond intended to head for Hamunaptra ... and no one wanted that. And speaking of which ... Josiah asked next, "These other people in that picture ... what did they look like?"
"Uhm ... well, there was another woman. With dark hair. She was real pretty. And um, there was a guy with her. Two guys. One of 'em was about as tall as Ardeth ... oh-oh. Josiah, I know that look. You know these people, don't you?" the boy asked and Josiah nodded grimly. Yes, unfortunately, he did. But maybe if they were lucky ... 'they' meaning the trio in Adriana's picture ... their paths wouldn't cross Josiah's.
He didn't like Rick O'Connell. Ardeth had written Josiah, telling him that he had met up with the other man after Evelyn O'Connell unleashed something else that should have stayed buried. She had a really bad habit of doing things like that, Josiah noticed. Ardeth told only about what happened, and also of aid which had come from a young American woman whom Ardeth was protecting. A young woman whom he called, 'Ameerah.'
'Ameerah' meant princess. And Chris called Adriana 'little princess.' The incident in question had taken place two and a half years earlier. Right around the time they knew Adriana was in Egypt. It fit. It fit perfectly, though he didn't have a description of the young woman who had helped Ardeth. Not from him, and not from Tariq, who had told him the rest of the story of that particular summoning. Josiah was too wise to simply take Tariq's bias as fact. He read between the lines in Ardeth's letter, seeing what he didn't say ... and drew his conclusions.
"Yes, I know them," Josiah answered grimly. That was all he could say, without expressing his desire to rip out any particular organ which belonged to Rick O'Connell. Lungs, heart, whatever. Considering the amount of time which that family spent in Egypt, specifically Cairo ... it was a definite possibility that the Seven would encounter both husband and wife. He hoped not. Oh, how he hoped not!
There was a long silence, as JD assimilated this information. Then he said softly, "And Ardeth means a lot to you, don't he?" Josiah didn't know how to answer that. The obvious answer, of course, was yes. But how did he explain from that? How did he explain how he usually understood a person's desire to take care of what was theirs, and to hell with the rest of the world ... until that attitude hurt someone he cared for?
The answer came while looking into JD's eyes. This young man was the youngest of the Seven. Their son, their nephew, their younger brother. For each of the other six men, he was something totally different. And Josiah had his answer. He said slowly, "Yes, son ... he is. He's my younger brother, my nephew, my son. He is to me what you are to Buck, and what Vin is to Chris. He is my Adam, my Billy, my Stephen. I've never made a secret, JD ... that you were like a son to me. You are, and have been from the beginning. More recently, Vin has become one of my sons ... but Ardeth is my oldest son."
JD just stared at him, and Josiah continued, "I wasn't much younger than you are now when he was born. I held him in my arms. The first time, really, I had held a baby that small. I remember, I was so afraid. I was afraid of him ... I was afraid I would break him. He was so tiny, so helpless ... how could anyone help but love him?" Josiah paused, looked at JD and grinned, adding, "Mind you ... he's neither tiny nor helpless now. He's the leader of his people, one of their finest fighters, and only a few inches shorter than Buck."
JD blinked in amazement, and Josiah continued, "So yes ... I do know Ardeth Bey. But JD, this changes nothing. We don't know if your sister is even with him, so I'd be much obliged if you kept this to yourself. At least for now. We don't know nothing new about the current situation ... just that Adriana was with Ardeth until two years ago." JD nodded his agreement. It wasn't that Josiah wanted to keep anything from his brothers ... but for now, it was necessary.
By the time this ... expedition was finished, it would be necessary to put a bullet in Will Richmond's brain. That was something Evie Travis had decided earlier on in her journey to Egypt, even before he prevented her, her daughter or Adriana from contacting Orrin and letting him know that they were all right. But once he physically prevented them from sending out word, well, then Evie had sworn that she would kill the man himself if he caused any of her family harm.
By now, Orrin would be worried. And he would send his seven men out. Then it would only be a matter of time before a confrontation was had. The older woman looked at the three younger women now traveling with her. Her daughter, her daughter's best friend, and Will Richmond's wife Charlotte. Adriana and Mary stood side by side along the rail, the brunette glancing over at Charlotte ever so often to make sure she was all right.
Will had tried to separate 'Eve and Lilith,' as he liked to call them, when they left Cairo, and found Mary's rifle practically shoved up his nose. Evie had enjoyed the expression on his face entirely too much to chastise her daughter for her unladylike behavior. Especially when Mary had taken a page from the book of Chris Larabee and hissed, "If you ever try to separate us again, I swear I will blow your brains right out through your nose! I came along so I could watch Adriana's back, and I will do just that!"
Adriana had added, once more clothed in that strange cloak she had worn the previous day, when she and Mary went out, "You know, Mare, if you were using something other than a rifle, you could help with the mummification process. Now that's an idea ... we could turn Will into a mummy. I know a few people quite willing to help us, too." It had taken a few moments for both Evie and Mary to get it.
"Will, leave them alone, so they'll leave you alone," Charlotte had called out. Evie recognized the tactic. She was trying to keep peace by using herself. Redirecting her husband's attention away from the two women now taunting him, before he could hurt either one. Will glared at his wife, but backed off. Evie had the horrid sense that the young woman would end up paying for 'humiliating' her husband in front of Mary and Adriana. Never mind that he had done a fine job of it on his own.
The previous day, when Adriana and Mary had gone out with that charming Englishman, Mary had asked Evie to watch over Charlotte. Will had an argument with Adriana before she left, and both young women were afraid Will would take it out on his wife. Evie made sure that Charlotte remained with her at all times. For some reason, Will was afraid of Evie ... though that may have had something to do with the way she had rapped his knuckles with her parasol when he was rude to the girls.
The girls. Once more, Evie looked at her daughter and Mary's best friend with a thoughtful expression. They weren't girls any more, were they? No, they were women. And Evie was so proud of them both. Mary had followed her heart and her instincts, doing what she felt was right. Evie would never be sure how much of that was caused by Stephen's death, and by Adriana's subsequent disappearance in Egypt.
Orrin and Evie Travis had been the only people whom Judge Avery Wilmington had feared when he arrived in town with his daughter ten years earlier. By then, his wife had been dead for eight years, and sixteen year old Adriana had been a withdrawn young girl. She was very polite ... but there was nothing behind her eyes, it seemed. She wore a mask like nothing Evie had ever seen before.
Mary was away at boarding school at the time. Her third one. The girl was nothing short of incorrigible. She wasn't a bad girl ... she simply liked doing the same things that her brother Stephen did. And the boarding schools were determined to turn her into a lady. Mary wasn't interested in being a lady, she was interested in being a person and in making a better world. She had been so young, so idealistic.
That summer, she arrived home and a seeming miracle had taken place. Evie's tomboy daughter, who preferred wearing trousers and leaving her blonde hair loose, had shattered the polite mask worn by Adriana Wilmington. The protective shield which she used to keep her father's abuse from being visible to the world. The one which kept other predators from hurting her as well. Mary totally shattered that mask, and neither girl had been the same since.
The changes in Adriana were much more obvious, as she finally had someone to challenge her ... or, more properly, to goad her. And oh, how they could argue! Mary, idealistic and ardent, and Adriana, cynical and seemingly apathetic. Key word, of course, being 'seemingly.' But let anyone insult or attack one, and the other would be raising hell. Somehow, without Evie looking, Mary had drawn Adriana into the Travis family. She had taken one look at that quiet, dark-haired young girl and there was no going back. Adriana needed her ... and it was the first time in Mary's young life that she had been needed.
Things continued in this pattern for seven years, while Adriana went away to school, to achieve her dreams of being an archaeologist. Dreams she had, even before Howard Carter opened the tomb of King Tut with his English partner, Lord Carnavon, in Adriana's second year of college. When she came home, she and Mary would shut themselves in Mary's room, and both Evie and Orrin would look up in awe and shock at the raised voices coming from their daughter's room, followed by explosive laughter.
At the same time, Mary was learning from her brother about being a journalist. An education which had ceased three years ago, when Stephen went to Egypt when he dug up information about a place called 'Hamunaptra,' and a mysterious group of men called the 'Med-jai.' Adriana agreed to accompany him, especially when she received word that her friend Vin Tanner had mysteriously disappeared while trying to track his friend, Jess Kincaid.
Vin was a young bounty hunter she had met while she was going to college in Texas, and a friendship as strange as her relationship with Mary formed. In some ways, Evie thought, the girl led a double life. The archaeology student whom Vin had known in Texas, and the ugly duckling best friend of Mary Travis here in Arizona ... though Mary punched the person who said that in the nose. That was when Evie realized how strong the bonds between Mary and Adriana had grown ... when Mary broke her brother's nose for insulting Adriana.
Stephen had learned his lesson, though, finally understanding that his sister was as loyal to the outsider as she was to the rest of the family. The outsider ... the outsider who had lived, while Stephen died. Evie was ashamed of herself, but it had taken her a long time to forgive Adriana for that. For living, when Evie's son died. What right did she have to live? And why wouldn't she tell them the whole story about what had happened in Cairo? Why did she stay there for a whole year? Why did she allow Mary to lose her brother and her best friend at the same time?
And here they were. Full circle. Evie had now been in the city where her son died, in the country. According to Adriana, they were heading to the place which Stephen was investigating. Hamunaptra. Evie had lived too many years to miss the haunted look in Adriana's hazel eyes when she spoke that name, as if old nightmares were tearing free. For the first time, it occurred to her that Adriana kept so many secrets because there were some secrets she had to keep.
Evie thought again of the confrontation between Mary and Will earlier in the day. The elder archaeologist had been casting dark looks toward them ever since. Mary and Adriana were deep in conversation, both sitting still and standing up. Adriana had created three coverings from scarves which all the women had. She explained that they would be needed, once they left the barge and got to the open desert. The young woman further warned them to yell out if they started feeling poorly. She didn't want any of them to fall victim to dehydration.
Mary reminded her that she and Charlotte had both grown up in Arizona, just as the archaeologist had, but Adriana countered that the Sahara Desert was very different. They were better equipped to deal with it than, say, someone from England. But it was still best to be careful. Evie agreed, and warned the two young women to be very careful about further aggravating Will Richmond. He was growling about uppity females taking control of the expedition away from him.
Growlings which both Mary and Adriana heard and noted. If Richmond thought he was frightening Evie's daughter or her friend, he was sorely mistaken. But Mrs. Travis still wanted the two girls to be careful. As careful as they could, because Richmond didn't care how many people had to die, for him to get what he wanted. Someone had to look out for the people on the expedition, and more and more, it looked like Mary and Adriana would be those someones.
Again, Evie looked at the strange black cloak which Adriana wore. Evie wondered about the reaction people had to it. It was almost as if they saw only the cloak, and not the woman wearing it. What did it mean ... especially those strange symbols? Time would tell, but for now, she wanted to see her husband again. The woman looked out over the Nile, silently telling her husband, send the boys, Orrin. If you haven't already, then send the boys ... because even with this seemingly magical cloak of Adriana, our girls still need all the help they can get!
Unbeknownst to Evie Travis, the four American women had an ally among the workers. His name was Alif, a young Egyptian who had been wise enough in the past to avoid Hamunaptra. Unlike most of those who came here. There were natives crazy enough (or stupid enough) to take equally crazy (or equally stupid) foreigners to Hamunaptra, but they usually returned empty-handed, if they returned at all. Alif had sworn he would never be that crazy or that stupid. And he was neither. But he was desperate.
He had not cared in the beginning, about any of the Westerners. This crazy man Richmond was paying much money, and a man needed to make a living, especially when he would soon marry. Until he saw the cloak which the small dark-haired woman wore. It was a cloak of the Med-jai ... most often worn by the women of the chieftain's own family. Which meant that if Alif wanted to keep living, he would make sure the woman did as well. Alif was a thief, but he was no murderer ... and he most assuredly did not want to end up on the bad side of the Med-jai.
While Alif had never encountered a Med-jai, he had met people who had. And according to these people, those who found themselves on the bad side of the Med-jai, especially the bad side of their chieftain ... also found themselves quite dead. Alif began to be more careful at that point. After he heard the women worrying about their men worrying for them, Alif had realized that the crazy man had cut off all communications. That, in and of itself, was suspicious. He didn't know if these menfolk were brothers or husbands, and he really didn't care. The women were here with a chaperone, and the small dark-haired one had contacted Jonathan Carnahan to act as her chaperone ... perhaps to warn the Med-jai?
It was quite possible. Since none of the telegrams had been sent, they had to still be in the house and Alif had begun a search. He knew it was possible that the crazy man had destroyed them, but quite frankly, Alif didn't think the man was that smart. Alif's sister worked as a maid and told him that the small dark-haired one repeatedly warned the crazy man about the Med-jai. He had ignored her warnings ... he couldn't be very smart.
On the other hand ... who would believe stories of the Med-jai, if they had never heard of them before? In any event, after hearing about those confrontation, Alif began working on his own plan. A search of the house had turned up the missing telegrams. He had also heard the blonde one mention to her mother that her friend had told the 'boys' that they would be staying in this house. That meant that this would be the first place to look. Alif gave his sister the telegrams, and gave her all the information he had.
She had agreed, since all four women had been kind to her. Alif hadn't argued with her, since they had been kind to him as well ... kind, not condescending. But it wasn't until after they left and were on the barge that Alif found out why. The small dark-haired one ... was she called 'Adriana' by the other women? He believed so. She had lived in Egypt for a time, and he was now starting to suspect that she had lived among the Med-jai. Which explained how she got the cloak which marked her as a member of the chieftain's family.
From what he had observed of the women, the other three respected her enough to listen to her, and thus, listened to what she had to say about his country. His half-brother would have laughed and told him that even women could be right on occasion. But his brother was a rich man, and Alif was not. Sheer practicality, through the years, had taught him that while women were given to moments of foolishness, so too were men.
That experience and that practicality taught him that women were just as intelligent as men (sometimes more so), and just as strong. As Alif listened in silence to Adriana talking to her two friends, he realized that these four women were among the strong ones. They had all grown up in the desert, learning at an early age how to take care of themselves. It was not necessary for the blonde woman to learn, because she was the daughter of a rich man.
And yet, she had learned any how. Men could die, she had told the other two, and they did die. And if she did not learn how to take care of herself, when there was no man present, then she would die as well. Adriana had a cruel father, and learned very young how to take care of herself. She took care of herself and her mother, up until her mother's death when she was but eight. It was not said, but Alif had the eerie sense that her cruel father had murdered her mother.
Her brother was much older than she and building a life of his own, so the only person on whom she could depend for much of her life was herself. And the crazy man's wife, Charlotte, had very little to say. But his sister told him that she often argued with her husband. There were times when the crazy man tried to use Alif's sister during these arguments. For that alone, Alif was tempted to kill him. No one used his sister for any reason.
But no. No, he would leave that to the Med-jai. He knew they would meet them. And for that reason, he planned to stick close to the women. The crazy man might try harm them, when he realized that he had been foiled. Alif would not allow that. He was too practical to consider women mere ornaments ... but he also believed in protecting them. He had laughed when the blonde one threatened to blow out the brains of the crazy man, and probably these women didn't need protecting, but he would not be much of a man if he didn't at least make the attempt.
Not just from the crazy man, but from the other tribes within the Sahara. The Med-jai were an honorable people, and their current chieftain Ardeth Bey was a very intelligent man. It would not occur to him to attack and take four Western women hostage ... just because it was so stupid. If he were to do that, the English would be out here en masse, and they would slaughter any tribe foolish enough to do that.
He had noticed that Adriana was teaching the other three women how to cover up in the desert, which would cover their fair skin and protect their identities as Westerners. He had slipped along the railing, to watch, and without thinking, told Adriana in Arabic that there was also the possibility of coloring her blonde friend's hair. He watched as she translated it into English in her head, then she smiled.
"Shukran, Alif," she replied, then repeated his words in English for the benefit of her friends. Alif just smiled, remembering how she had struggled with his name. Unfortunately, there were seven men in their party, seven workers, whose name started with 'a.' Since she couldn't always see his face, it sometimes made it more difficult for her to know to whom she was talking. The same was true of the other women. But they had made the effort.
The blonde one, Mary, found it awkward sometimes. There were times when he resented her, at first thinking that she was patronizing him ... until he looked at her face, and realized that she was struggling between her own upbringing and the rules of the land. He had found himself in that position himself, trapped between the ways of the English who currently controlled his country and his own upbringing.
And then there was the wife of the crazy man, Charlotte. Alif dearly hoped that Allah would reward her for putting up with such an oaf. Perhaps the curse of Hamunaptra would claim that crazy man, and allow his wife to marry another. One who could love her. Alif had heard the stories, of course, how the crazy man's daughter had died, and that made him crazy. But she had also been Charlotte's daughter, and losing the child had not made her crazy.
For now, all he could do was watch and wait. For all that he wanted the English out of his country, he did not hold the four women on the barge responsible for that. They had treated him with respect, and one of them was kin to the Med-jai. Alif still didn't know how that came to be, since she obviously was not Med-jai. But he had learned that there were some questions which were best left unanswered.
He believed how Adriana came to possess the Med-jai cloak of protection was among those questions, because she was not forthcoming with answers, especially not around the crazy man. She no doubt feared that the more he knew, the better able he would be to harm those whom she protected. However, that didn't stop him from asking the young woman, "What does the crazy man seek in Hamunaptra?"
A haunted expression appeared in her chameleon dark eyes, as she replied softly, "Death. Evil. He seeks to awaken ... something which should remain dead." Alif inhaled sharply, remembering fire balls bombarding Cairo seven years earlier. The girl continued, "I'm sure you know that they lost their daughter two years ago? Will brought it up enough while your sister was in the room ... and I happen to know your sister speaks very good English."
This was said with a smirk, her eyes twinkling, and Alif inclined his head. She continued, "He seeks the evil one, to resurrect his lost child."
She did not specify which evil one she meant. Imhotep. He who shall not be named. The curse of Hamunaptra. Alif asked very softly, "He would destroy the world?" She nodded and Alif released his breath. The young thief asked next, "You stand with the Med-jai, then? Even as you wear their cloak, which marks you as being under their protection." Once more, she nodded and Alif made his decision.
He had decided earlier that he would watch over these four women, to help them in any way he could. Now came another decision, born of practicality. If this crazy man succeeded, then there was none who would be safe. Not Alif's sister ... not his fiancé. No one. Alif looked back at Adriana, saying softly, "Then I will stand with you. That crazy man cannot be permitted to raise the evil one once more."
Adriana inclined her head, then replied in an equally soft voice, "Then I shall give you my Med-jai name. Among them, I am called 'Ameerah.' I have sent word to Ardeth Bey, warning him of Will's plans ... he will intercept us. I will make sure he knows that you have helped us." Ameerah ... princess. Then Alif would inform his fellow workers that a Med-jai princess was among them. A burden was always easier to carry when it was shared.
She watched in silence as the two women talked quietly, after the young worker left. Perhaps, if she watched long enough, she would be able to figure out how they got to be so strong. And maybe, just maybe, she could discover a way to be just as strong as they were. She was so tired of being weak. So tired of crying after yet another argument with Will. So tired of ... so tired of being Charlotte Richmond.
She wanted to be strong like her two companions. Charlotte considered herself weak, but she wasn't stupid. She knew that Adriana had asked Mrs. Travis to stay with Charlotte while she and Mary went out the previous day. She knew that, because Mrs. Travis bluntly admitted it. They were all worried about her ... worried about Will hurting her, because he couldn't hurt them. Oh, he might be able to injure them ... but he couldn't hurt them the way he hurt her.
Was that because they didn't care about him ... or because they wouldn't allow him to hurt them? For the last two years, ever since Allison's death, Charlotte had struggled to hold onto her marriage, to the last reminders she had of her little girl, and to her sanity. In a way, she was glad when they left for Egypt, because the compassion she saw in Vin Tanner's blue eyes nearly shattered what remained of her protective defenses. He could have been very dangerous to her ... and she could have ended up ruining his life.
Besides, there was Adriana, and there was obviously something there between them. Charlotte didn't think either were particularly aware of it, but it was there. The way they looked at each other sometimes, when neither was aware of the eyes of the other. And then there was the way Vin had looked at Will after her husband had denigrated Adriana, telling everyone that he was only taking her because of her connection to their backer.
Charlotte had never seen such contempt in anyone's eyes, and she had actually felt ashamed to be married to Will. That shame had eaten away at her over the last few weeks, and she found herself spending more and more time with Adriana and Mary, sometimes even Evie Travis. Despite their greater strength, she never truly felt herself inferior when she was around them ... only when she was observing them.
Listening to her two new friends now, Charlotte tried to learn what they would face in Hamunaptra. Will had never told her what was there, why he believed he could bring Allison back to life. And Adriana ... Charlotte avoided asking Adriana, after she realized that Hamunaptra frightened her. This place frightened her, and Will did not. But she should have realized that sooner, when Adriana had tried to convince Will not to go.
It was, Adriana said quietly, an evil place. Will had laughed at her, told her that she was just being a stupid woman. There was no such thing as evil places, only evil people. Adriana's eyes darkened with rage, but she told him in response that there were evil places. She had been to such places ... and she had been to Egypt. He hadn't. Will stormed out of the room at that point. His usual reaction when someone brought up a point he couldn't counter.
And then there was Mary, who had threatened to blow Will's brains out through his nose the next time he tried to separate her and Adriana. Charlotte smiled faintly, remembering the look of pure terror on her husband's face. She was a bad person, she knew, for enjoying the expression on Will's face when he realized that Mary Travis would go to any lengths to protect her best friend.
What had happened to them? She could remember a time when they were so happy. Will had adored both her and Allison. Charlotte sighed and shook her head impatiently. That's your problem, m'girl, she thought, almost able to hear her Irish grandmother's voice in her head, you keep reacting, instead of acting. Will treats you as he does, because you let him get away with it. Look at the way he reacts when he's around Mary and Adriana. They aren't afraid of him. For the love of your daughter, the only thing you still hold sacred ... stand up for yourself!
Charlotte slowly pushed herself to her feet, never leaving the table where Mary and Adriana sat. So close to the railing. Why was that? Charlotte moved cautiously from her seat, until she joined them at the table. Mary looked up with one of her dazzling smiles, and said, "Please, sit down, Charlotte. We were wondering when you would finally join us." They were? But why ... ? Mary added, "I wanted to invite you to join us, but Drina convinced me to wait. She wanted to see if you would make the first move."
Charlotte looked at Adriana, who shrugged her thin shoulders with an impish grin. She said, "Well, Chris has always told me that everyone has a different way of dealing with their life. Mary was able to bulldoze her way past my defenses ... but I had a feeling that the same strategy wouldn't work with you." Charlotte looked from one woman to the other, having the strangest feeling that she had been manipulated.
And yet, she couldn't really bring herself to be angry. Looking at them now, Charlotte realized that Mary and Adriana drew their strength from each other. They knew they weren't alone ... and that made a huge difference. Charlotte asked, "What can you tell me? About what to expect? And why does everyone look at your cloak the way they do?" That was something which had been bothering Charlotte for the last two days.
"Welllllll," Adriana began. Mary grinned impishly, then yelped. She gave Adriana a glare to end all glares, and the brunette fired back, "Don't even try it, Mare ... you forget. I learned from the best, between Chris and Ardeth. Besides, I know what you were about to say." Mary responded by crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue. Charlotte found herself laughing, and Adriana added, "Real mature, Mare. Real mature."
But Adriana's remark had brought another question to mind. Several, actually. Charlotte asked before Adriana had a chance to answer her previous questions, "Who is Ardeth? And who is this man ... Jonathan? The one from yesterday?" Adriana looked at her with an amused expression, and Charlotte realized the other woman was making sure she was finished with the questions. When Charlotte said nothing more, Adriana took a deep breath.
"Well, I'll answer your questions in reverse order ... Jonathan, the man yesterday, is Jonathan Carnahan. An old acquaintance of mine ... we've fought side by side in the past, or back to back, or however you want to put it," Adriana replied. She paused, took a sip of her tea, and continued, "And Ardeth is Ardeth Bey. A friend who will be intercepting us before we reach Hamunaptra, and before your husband can instigate the end of the world."
Charlotte was on the point of asking another question, what that meant, exactly, but a hard kick to her ankle stopped her. She glanced in the direction of the kick, to see Mary shaking her head vehemently. Adriana continued, "Ardeth is the man who gave me the cloak. He's the chieftain of a warrior tribe, who prevents people such as your husband from raising dead people and generally causing trouble. And, before you ask ... that's a really, really long story."
"Then tell me ... we have plenty of time, from what I hear," Charlotte answered. She was already making plans to move her things into a different stateroom. She could see Will staring at her. She wasn't the only one. A half second after that, Mary shifted sideways, neatly blocking both Charlotte's ability to see Will ... and his ability to see her. Mary winked at her impishly, and Charlotte fought back a giggle.
"Well ... let me think. Mary, do you think we have room for one more, in our room? If we lay down some blankets?" Adriana asked. Mary nodded, her green eyes dancing with laughter as she saw where her friend was going with this. She wasn't the only one. Adriana continued, "You've declared your allegiance is no longer with your husband, by coming to sit with us. If you stay with him in your stateroom, he'll make you pay for it."
It was time, then ... time to pull back, before she destroyed her marriage all together. But instead, Charlotte found herself replying, "He can't make me pay for anything, if I'm not there." An approving glance passed between the two friends, and Charlotte continued, feeling good about herself for the first time since Allison's death, "What can I do to help, once we get underway? I'm sick of being reactive ... I want to be proactive now. I want to help, in any way I can."
There was another glance between the friends, and without even realizing she was doing it, Charlotte held her breath.
"You stay with us, once we get started for Hamunaptra. We stay in a group, together, and that's gonna make it easier for Ardeth, once he intercepts us. The other thing is ... stay on your horse ... or camel ... if there's a confrontation between myself and your husband. The best thing you can do, if that happens, is stay out of the way. Don't try to help. All three of us may be needed later, when the boys show up," Adriana explained.
The boys? Mary took over then, saying, "By now, my father will be anxious about us. He'll send the Seven to make sure that we're all right. It's only a matter of time before they arrive. When they do ... well, from what Adriana has told me, we might find ourselves caught in the crossfire between two sets of men, marking their territory." Translation being? Mary added, "Chris may not know that Ardeth is friendly."
"I'm in," Charlotte said simply. Over the last two weeks, she had watched as her husband slowly lose touch with reality. Charlotte had wanted to die with Allison, but something inside kept forcing her forward. And now she knew that the best thing she could do for her daughter ... was to keep living. If she stayed with Will now, she would not survive. She could feel it in her heart and in her soul. Her best chance for survival lay with these women. For you, my sweet baby, Charlotte thought, for you.
Vin Tanner felt like he was in limbo. A few days earlier, he had not felt like they were running out of time. But the closer they came to New York, the more that sense dissipated. And the more he felt that they were on borrowed time. As the train made its way across country, Vin had too much time to think. He and Chris sat for a long time ... just sat there, against the window. Neither spoke. Neither needed to.
About sixteen hours into their journey, Chris said softly, "Take a look." Vin looked away from the window, to see Josiah looming over JD. Vin looked back at Chris, sandy eyebrows raised, and the older brother added, "Think JD mighta put his foot in his mouth. Josiah don't react that way to just anything." Vin just smiled at that, and at the relaxation of tension in Josiah's shoulders as he sat down beside the boy.
"No, he don't. Got a feelin' that it may be tied to whatever Bucklin and JD argued about this mornin,' Chris," Vin replied. Chris nodded, and Vin added, "Ya doin' okay?" Chris looked back at him, but his expression didn't change at all. The younger brother rolled his eyes, saying, "Chris, there are two women out there ya care 'bout. Stop bein' such a stubborn ass, and admit it!" Now Chris glared at him, but as had been the case since they met ... it did no good.
"Mary and I are just friends, Tanner, like you and Adriana," Chris elucidated. Vin sat back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest with a smirk designed to drive his brother absolutely insane. It never failed to work, either. Chris growled, "We are!" Vin said nothing, just grinned impishly. Suuuuuuuure they were, and next thing you knew, Bucklin would be givin' up on women!
"Whatever ya say, cowboy ... but I 'member who was ready to beat the livin' shit outta Wickes when he kidnapped Mary, and you saw that bruise on her face," Vin replied knowingly. Chris just growled at him again, making Vin laugh. He really enjoyed deviling his brother. He had so many years of practice. After a moment, Vin added, "And don't be sayin' the two a' ya are anythin' like me and Drina."
"Well, you best watch what you say around Buck about his baby sister, or he'll be getting the wrong idea about you. And then, your ass really will be grass, little brother," Chris retorted, his green eyes gleaming with his own brand of mischief. Vin just shrugged. He could handle Bucklin. He'd been doing it for the last two years ... and one of them years, was when they was goin' through the ugliness involvin' Buck, JD, and Drina's pa.
"I kin handle Bucklin, and he knows better 'n do anythin' stupid. Drina would kick his butt, and he knows it," Vin pointed out. Chris just grunted, and Vin continued, "Would sure like to know where she learned some of them moves. 'Cause I sure as hell didn't teach her, and they ain't yer style. Figure she mighta learned some of them moves while she was in Egypt. But I never did meet no desert tribes that would teach a woman to fight."
"That's because you weren't looking in the right place," Josiah said, sitting down with them. He settled himself down beside Chris, saying, "Just found out something. It changes everything, and it doesn't change a goddamn thing. I tol' y'all in the past, that I've lived in Egypt, lived among the desert tribes." The brothers nodded, and Vin wondered if this had to do anything with the name he had mentioned.
Josiah continued, "This particular tribe, the Med-jai ... their chieftain is a friend of mine. I watched him grow up. His name is 'Ardeth Bey.' He's a bit younger than Ezra and Nathan." Vin knew the two polar opposites were both thirty-four, which meant this Ardeth fella was about thirty-two or thirty-three. Josiah paused, as if trying to decide how much to tell them. Vin knew from past experience that he wasn't keeping silent out of a lack of trust.
Chris, however, said, "Josiah, you've got a point to all this. Why are you tellin' us about this Ardeth Bey?" Vin rolled his eyes, and found himself on the receiving end of yet another glare from his brother. And again, it had no effect on him whatsoever. Keep this up, though, and Vin figured he and his brother would need a little rumble when they got to Egypt. Neither of 'em liked close quarters that much.
"Because John Dunne saw a picture of Ardeth in Adriana's bedroom. A picture of Ardeth, with Adriana, and three other people. That year she spent in Egypt ... I'll lay money down that she was with the Med-jai," Josiah replied. Vin looked straight at the older man, who added, "Now ... that don't mean that she's with them. I ain't sure if I want her to be with them or not. That could be the best place for her ... and the worst."
It was Josiah's turn to get hit with a Chris Larabee glare, and the big man continued, "I don't mean to be cryptic. But it could go either way."
"All right," Chris said calmly ... a little too calmly for Vin's liking, "Then tell us what this means, if anything. If you're right, and Adriana is with these Med-jai, then where is Richmond headed? Why hasn't Orrin received any word from the women?" Josiah sighed, then looked at Vin. The young man returned the gaze with a frown, trying to remember what he had been told about the Med-jai ... or Magi, as he had always heard.
"There's only one place he could be headed, really. Hamunaptra. Fabled city of the dead, and the resting place of Egypt's greatest treasures. And a place of terrible evil," Josiah replied. Vin shifted uneasily, trying to remember where he heard that name. It wasn't while he was in Egypt, but after he had come back to the States. After ... after the Seven was formed. Who told him about Hamunaptra?
"Why is this Hamunaptra place so evil?" Chris asked. Which was part of what was actually troubling Vin. Josiah sighed quietly once more. But Chris wasn't finished ... he asked next, "And if this place is so much trouble ... why is Richmond going there? How do you know that he's headed for Hamunaptra?" Shut up, cowboy, Vin thought, and let the man answer the damn questions!
"I don't know that he's headed for Hamunaptra, not for sure. But if Adriana is with Ardeth, then that is Richmond's destination. The Med-jai protect the city of the dead, from people who don't respect its power ... who don't understand its dangers. Twice now, trouble has resulted from those people," Josiah replied. Vin was real familiar with that kind of people. Seemed like he dealt with 'em most of the time. Josiah continued, "As to why is it so evil ... I'm not even sure how to explain this. Just ... it is."
Chris accepted this, and Josiah explained, "As to what Richmond wants with Hamunaptra. It's just a guess ... but there are legends, that along with the wealth of ancient Egypt, there are books within the City of the Dead. Books which contain spells ... which give the reader power over the living and the dead." Now Vin was gettin' a real bad feelin' in his gut. Josiah went on, somewhat reluctantly, "I think Richmond intends on using those spells himself."
"Shit," Vin breathed, remembering a conversation he had with Charlotte Richmond just before the group departed, "he's aimin' on bringin' his little girl back from the dead!" Josiah nodded, and the tracker sank back against his seat once more. It wasn't that big of a leap, logic wise. Josiah had just told him that there were spells which gave power over the living and the dead. Richmond had never recovered from the death of his daughter. SHIT!
Chris, who was no stranger to that desire, asked softly, "But if he brings her back from the dead ... what's the price? There's always a price, ain't there?" Josiah nodded, and that knot in Vin's midsection pushed its way up to his heart and lungs, making him feel like someone had both organs in a giant fist. Chris asked very softly, "Josiah ... what ain't you tellin' us?" Josiah closed his eyes, as if very tired.
"If I were to tell you ... you wouldn't believe me. But yes. There is a price. If I'm right, and Will Richmond succeeds in what he plans to do ... then this place will literally become hell on earth," Josiah answered after a moment. His face was totally serious, no sign of laughter in his blue-gray eyes. Vin shivered, and Josiah looked at him. His face softened, ever so slightly, and he added, "But brother Vin ... I ain't for sure that's where Richmond's going. Or what he's up to. And even if he is ... it ain't too late to stop him, especially if that little hellcat managed to warn Ardeth in time." Vin had to smile at Josiah's use of Chanu's nickname for Drina.
"No, but it's the best lead we've got. That why you told us, Josiah?" Chris asked and the big man nodded. Chris continued, "All right. Josiah, you and JD know what Ardeth Bey looks like. We'll need at least one of you to come with us, make sure we don't accidentally kill him while tryin' to get our women back." Both Vin and Josiah smiled at that ... though Vin was smiling because he had referred to Mary and Drina as 'their' women.
"Trust me, brother," Josiah chuckled, "it won't be such an easy thing, killing Ardeth Bey. The man is as intense as you are, and has the same quiet deadliness as brother Vin here." Vin raised his eyebrows at that. Judging from what Josiah just said, it sounded likely that this Ardeth had protected Drina. For that alone, Vin wanted to meet him ... and now, he had just gotten another reason. Josiah added, "And I hadn't planned on telling you right away, but I realized you'd need to know about the Med-jai, so we could start making plans."
Chris answered with a feral grin, saying, "Well, we got plenty of time, so start talkin,' Josiah ... the more I know about the Med-jai, the better we can plan." Josiah nodded. Vin adjusted his own position, to make himself more comfortable. He had a really weird feeling this would end up being a really, really long story. He hoped Adriana was with this Ardeth person. 'Cause if she was, at least she was with two someones who could watch her back.
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