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Hope For The Future

by Ladybug



Chapter Three


It was late by the time Rick and Evelyn left their favorite restaurant. Hand in hand, they slowly made their way back to their home, which was located just the other side of the museum.

“Mmmm, that was a lovely meal, as usual,” Evelyn O’Connell commented, looking up at her handsome husband. She really did love him. He was a romantic, dashing rogue that had simply swept her off her feet a year ago, and she still wondered how she had gotten so lucky.

Rick smiled down at his wife of a few months and leaned down and dropped a kiss on her perky little nose. “Yes, it was. But dessert will be even better.”

“Richard O’Connell, you are a cad,” Evelyn scolded in mock indignation, giving his arm a swat, but her laughing eyes, ladled with desire betrayed her true feelings. Rick chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at her in a playfulness that Evelyn loved as he leaned in to kiss her lips.

As they passed by the museum, Rick noticed the lights inside were still on. He frowned. “Em said she wouldn’t be late tonight, but the lights are still on.”

“Oh I wouldn’t worry, Rick. You know how your sister is when a new shipment of books comes in. I am sure she just got involved with reading one and has forgotten the time,” Evelyn replied, trying to draw her husband home for the “dessert” that had been promised.

“I worry about her, Evelyn. She practically lives in that library. She needs to get out and meet some people,” Rick said concerned, stopping in front of the steps that led up to the museum.

“Well, maybe we should introduce her to someone,” Evelyn suggested.

“Like who?” Rick looked down at his wife with an eyebrow raised. “Nobody around here that I know of could deal with her.”

“Richard O’Connell, I swear, you can be so mean sometimes.” Evelyn playfully punched his arm. “Maybe we could introduce her to Ardeth the next time he comes to Cairo.”

“Now why in hell would we do that?” Rick replied quickly, remembering his own thoughts earlier that evening about Emma and Ardeth.

“Richard, watch your language,” Evelyn chided, then continued with her thought. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with introducing the two of them to each other. Actually, I’m surprised they haven’t met already, as often as he shows up around here.”

“If I introduce Ardeth to Emma, he will never speak to me again,” Rick began. “Emma has a way of doing her own thing. In fact she reminds me a lot of you. She never does what she’s told and has to argue about everything. He would probably kill her within ten minutes of meeting her, and then he’d come after me. And quite frankly, I’ve already been on the other end of his scimitar once before, and I don’t wish to be there again,” Rick finished, feeling he’d made his point, and clearly remembering how Ardeth had deftly flicked his revolver out of his hand with the tip of that scimitar.

“Well, really, Richard, you’re the one who said she needed to get out and meet people,” Evelyn blustered.

“I know. I’m sorry. Listen, I’m going to go check on her. I don’t want to have to come back here in a couple of hours to fetch her.” Rick tugged on Evelyn’s hand, and she consented, following him up the steps to the front door of the museum.

When they entered the library a few minutes later, Evelyn gasped out loud at the overturned table and books strewn all over the floor. Rick had a bad sense of foreboding as he let go of Evelyn’s hand. “Stay here,” he commanded and ventured into the room, drawing out one of the revolvers from under his jacket. “Emma?” Rick called out, looking around the room. The room was a wreck, and it appeared that no one was about. Evelyn came up behind Rick, placing her hand on his shoulder. Rick jumped and spun around, his heart in his throat. “Damn it, Evelyn, don’t you ever listen?”

“Of course I listen, I just don’t always obey.” Rick wanted to throttle her right then, but he was too concerned about Emma at the moment. “I don’t think she is here, Rick.” Evelyn ventured over to the books scattered on the floor. She looked back over at Rick with a worried expression. “I think she has been kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped?” Rick repeated surprised. “Why would someone kidnap Emma?”

“Emma would never leave the library like this. We are too much alike, and I know she would never leave this mess.” Evelyn bent over and picked up a book, looking at the title of the old, worn cover. Ancient Egyptian Curses.

“I’m going to go have a look in the back. Will you be okay here?” Rick asked as he headed through a doorway that lead to the back where some of the mummified bodies were stored.

“Yes,” Evelyn answered as she opened the book and found a marker placed at the fifth chapter. Evelyn recognized it as one that Emma used. A chill ran up her spine as she read the title of the chapter. Quickly she began to read the chapter on the hom-dai.

A few minutes later, Evelyn slammed the book shut much like Emma had earlier. “Rick!” Evelyn screamed.

Rick came bursting back through the doorway, gun ready. Seeing Evelyn was quite safe, he quipped, “What the hell was that for?”

“I know why Emma was kidnapped. My god, Rick, what we did wasn’t enough.” Evelyn was beginning to shake.

Rick rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. Evelyn clung to him, the memories of what had happened a year ago rushing back to her. So clear were the memories that it could have happened yesterday.

“Take it easy, sweetheart.” Rick pulled back a bit so he could see Evelyn’s face, but he continued to hold her close. “Tell me what you found.”

Evelyn showed Rick the book and the marker that was placed at chapter five. “This is Emma’s marker.” She tapped it with her finger, indicating that Emma had obviously read the chapter. “This whole chapter is on the hom-dai.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with Emma?” Rick asked, confused.

Evelyn quickly told Rick what she had found in the chapter. “And,” she finished, “if Emma is forced to read the last two incantations from the book of Amun-Ra, it will undo the first incantation and Imhotep will be freed.” Evelyn paused for effect. “Permanently.”

“Ah hell!” Rick ran a hand over his face. “Here we go again.” Rick let go of Evelyn and turned to leave. “Come on.”

Evelyn had to run to keep up with Rick’s long strides. “Where are we going?”

“Where do you think? Hamanaptra!” Rick picked up his pace, then stopped cold as a thought occurred to him. “Oh shit!”

“What now?”

“The Med-jai!” Rick groaned. “I just hope we can get there before Ardeth and his ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ boys take out my baby sister.”

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Chapter Four

Ardeth Bay and the Med-jai warriors watched as the group of men below set up camp. From their perch up on the hill, they had a clear view of the city below. It was almost mid-day and the group had arrived not more than an hour before. It had been a while since the last group came. With the destruction of the City of the Dead, fewer groups were coming. Most wanted easy riches and Hamanaptra was no longer easy to get to. It was buried under the sand and any riches to be found would have to be dug out the old fashioned way.

Idiots, all of them! Ardeth thought to himself. They have no clue as to what lies beneath.

“Will we attack?” Abdul, Ardeth’s second in command asked in Arabic.

“After night fall,” he answered and continued to watch the commotion below.

“What about the woman? It appears she is a prisoner.”

Ardeth’s gaze moved over to where the woman sat, tied up, in the shade of the still standing Anubis. If they had kidnapped a woman, chances were they weren’t gold seekers. This woman would be a sacrifice. Damn! He hated when that happened.

“Do not harm her. If she survives the attack, I want her brought to me.” Ardeth shifted in his saddle as he continued to watch the woman. Though her coloring was that of an Egyptian woman, her clothing told him that she was a foreigner. The first tendrils of desire curled deep within him as he watched her stretch and move around in the sand, trying to find a comfortable sitting position. He blinked in surprise when he recognized the stirring, and immediately stamped it down focusing his attention back on the men below.

Emma never realized how uncomfortable sand could be until you were forced to sit in it for hours on end. As she looked around at the ruined city, she could only imagine what it had looked like in its prime. Hamanaptra, City of the Dead. Now, three thousand years later it was a pile of rubble and sand. A few pillars still stood here and there, and of course Anubis was still here to lend his eerie presence. Looking up, Emma noticed that the men in black robes on top of the hill were still watching them. She had seen Mr. Simms point them out to Gerald Tate when they had first arrived. She hoped that these were the Med-jai, guardians of Hamanaptra. As she saw the half dozen men sitting on their horses up on the hill, she wondered which one was Ardeth Bay. Was he even among them? According to Rick, Ardeth came to the museum regularly, yet she had never met him in the eight months she’d worked there. Emma had asked Rick about Ardeth, but Rick always evaded the questions. She always wondered why, but never figured it out. Well, in either case, she needed to get this new information about Imhotep to Ardeth Bay. That was if she wasn’t killed. She suspected that the Med-jai would wait until after dark to attack. So with a bit of luck, by morning the Med-jai would have attacked, stopping Gerald Tate, Emma wouldn’t get killed, she’d tell Ardeth Bay about the book and that Imhotep would rise in a few days, and be on her way back home. Emma frowned. She was going to need a lot of luck!

The rest of the afternoon dragged by for Emma. Sitting off by herself, not able to do anything, made time seem to stand still. She alternated between watching the men set up camp and the Med-jai watching the men set up camp. Simms was extremely nervous now. He kept looking up to the hilltop where the Med-jai continued to keep watch. Emma thought that it probably drove Simms insane having the warriors watch them like that. He had every one of his men armed and ready. Occasionally she would hear Tate bark an order, but she would cringe every time she heard Bernard Wilmington and that whiny voice of his. Boy he complained a lot. Emma still hadn’t figured out what his purpose was here, except maybe to irritate the hell out of her.

As night fell, the men began gathering around the campfires to eat. Emma had also been brought in closer to the others. She had her own tent and her own campfire, which she was currently parked in front of. It was starting to get cold, so Emma huddled close to the fire with a blanket wrapped around her.

Gerald Tate, who was obviously the leader of this mess, brought her a plate with some dates, cheese, bread and some dried meat on it. He also handed her a canteen with some water in it. “Eat. I won’t have a skinny sacrifice.”

Emma blinked in surprise at his statement. “Wait a minute, I thought I was just supposed to read from the book?” she stammered. “Whiny Boy over there didn’t say anything about being a sacrifice.” Sacrifice!! Oh god, this changed everything. She was going to be content in just letting Ardeth Bay and his men come in and wipe out the group, but now that her life was on the line, it was time for her to plan her own escape.

“He didn’t?” Gerald feigned surprise. “Shall I have him come over here and tell you now?”

“Don’t bother. I couldn’t stand to hear him whine,” Emma growled.

“Temper, temper, my dear.” Gerald smiled. “Eat your food, now, like a good girl.”

“Do you mind untying me? It’s a little hard to get the food to my mouth with my hands tied,” Emma said sweetly.

“Alright, but do not try to escape. You will be no use to me dead, but I can make you wish you were,” Gerald threatened as he bent over and removed the ropes from her hands.

“Now why would I want to escape? Isn’t it every girl’s dream to raise the devil and be a sacrifice?” she grumbled as she began to eat, already thinking out her escape plan.

Gerald snorted at her sarcasm. “You should be honored to be the sacrifice.”

Emma stopped eating and looked up at Gerald. He really wasn’t that bad as short fat men go, but she couldn’t fathom why he would want to rise up a victim of the hom-dai. “Why Gerald?” finally putting her thoughts to words. “Why are you doing this?”

“You could never understand,” Gerald answered gruffly. “Men like me are laughed at and never taken seriously. You’ll never know what it is like to be humiliated and called names.” Gerald glared at her. The hate she saw there caused her to lean back a bit. “With Imhotep, I will have power beyond imagining. I’ll show those bastards who the real man is,” he spat as he whirled away from her and stormed away.

“With Imhotep, my sad little friend, you’ll be dead ten seconds after I am,” Emma said softly to herself, shaking her head. She really wasn’t hungry anymore, but she figured she’d better eat something. She would need her strength for her escape when the Med-jai attacked.

Simms’ had his men standing watch, but they still weren’t prepared for the powerful onslaught that the Med-jai warriors dished out. It was late and Emma had just about given up hope that they would attack that night when she heard the warrior’s battle cry as they swept in on the ill prepared group. She heard gunshots as she jumped up and pushed open the tent flap. What she saw was utter chaos as Simms’ men ran around grabbing their guns and the diggers scattering every which way. The Med-jai warriors were everywhere, swinging their scimitars, killing everyone in their path. Those who were fortunate to miss the killing blade were mowed down by the warriors’ horses. Looking around to make sure that no one was watching her, Emma crept out of her tent and made her way over to a fallen stone beam. Crouching down behind it, she waited for her chance. Tate’s men never stood a chance, Emma thought silently. Fascinated by the ancient tribe, Emma watched as the well-trained warriors, without effort, cut down everyone in sight. As the minutes passed, Emma could only hear the sounds of gunshots and screaming. She even thought she heard Bernard’s whiny voice, but it stopped after a while.

Finally, one of the diggers fell a few feet from her, dropping his rifle. Seeing this as her opportunity, she snatched up the rifle, checked to make sure it was loaded, and slowly began to make her way around the camp. Whenever she found a fallen Med-jai warrior, she carefully checked for signs of life, but so far the ones she had found were dead. Several times she had found herself in the path of a Med-jai warrior, but they had passed her by with barely a glance. It began to occur to her that the Med-jai where ignoring her. Maybe Rick had gotten word to Ardeth Bay somehow, and he was aware that she was here. She hurried past several as they chased down the intruders, but they paid her no attention. Rounding one of the still standing giant pillars she stopped when she saw a Med-jai warrior with a gold scimitar facing off with Mr. Simms, who also had a scimitar. The fight started off slowly as they both tested the other for strengths and weaknesses. Mr. Simms fought well for a while, but he was no match for the highly trained warrior, and the warrior finally overcame Simms, cutting him down with his golden scimitar. It was a horrible but awesome sight to watch. The Med-jai warrior moved with a fluid grace that Emma didn’t remember seeing in any of the others. She had seen men killed before, but this was a slaughter. Even as she was appalled with the ease that the warrior cut down Mr. Simms, she was utterly fascinated at his skill.

Looking around to see where he might be needed next, the warrior suddenly turned and looked right at her. The realization that he was looking at her and the intensity of his stare caused Emma to take a step back. This was one man she did not want as an enemy, she decided. She frantically began to look around for a place to run and hide. So far the warriors had ignored her, but this one apparently had other ideas. Movement caught her attention and she looked back at the warrior and watched as he raised his hand to his face and pulled down the material that covered his nose and mouth. Emma sucked in her breath at the sight of him. Good Lord, she had never seen such masculinity! Even her own brother, who was as male as you could get, paled in comparison to the Med-jai warrior who stood before her. He was taller than the others, well over 6 feet. His dark eyes showed neither friendliness nor hostility, but they watched her closely to see what she would do. She could see his hair underneath his headdress, dark curls barely brushing against his shoulders. His facial hair framed full lips, but was not a complete beard. A neatly trimmed line of hair trailed along his jaw line, leaving his cheeks clean-shaven. The tattoos across each cheek gave him an otherworldly look. He was incredibly handsome, and Emma found it hard to look away from his intense stare.

Ardeth Bay had been surprised when he turned to find the woman standing there watching him. He was equally surprised at her beauty and the instant attraction he had for her. Her dark hair was pulled back and braided, hanging over her shoulder and it reaching down to her waist. For the briefest of moments, Ardeth wondered how long it actually was when it wasn’t braided. But it was her eyes that held his attention. They were the color of sapphires, and the effect they had on him as they held his own gaze was almost as if he’d been punched in the gut. They took his breath away. He had felt the first stirrings of desire up on the hill as they had watched earlier, but he had pushed them away with the ease of a man who was in strong command of his emotions. But now, seeing her up close, this woman caught him off guard, and it almost angered him. He had no use for foreign women, no matter how beautiful. He would return her to Cairo and be done with it, he told himself. He studied her carefully, curious if she would use the rifle she held. When he had first turned towards her, she had stepped back with fear in her eyes, but now she seemed to watch him with the same curious fascination that he had for her. Slowly he took a step towards her to tell her that she would not be harmed, but her eyes shifted away from him, alerting him that something was not right. Before he could turn to see what it was, she moved forward, raising the rifle and yelling at him to get down.

It occurred to Emma that this could be Ardeth Bay, but before she could ask him, she caught movement behind him. Her eyes focused in on one of Simms’ men quietly sneaking up behind the warrior and raising a gun to shoot the warrior in the back. Emma moved forward quickly. Raising the rifle to her shoulder, she took aim at the warrior. “Get down!” she yelled in Arabic. The warrior dropped immediately, without question, and Emma pulled the trigger.

Ardeth hit the ground as the rifle went off. He heard a grunt and rolled over to see a man with a gun in his hand slump to the ground dead with a bullet through his forehead. His first thought was she was a good shot; his second thought was she had just saved his life. He turned back to the woman, but she was gone. Only the rifle she had carried lay on the ground. Getting up quickly he hurried over to where she had stood. Looking around, he finally spotted her being dragged off by a short, fat man.

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Chapter Five


The battle was over. The ruins of the city where covered with the blood and bodies of the dead. Ardeth Bay walked towards the man holding the woman hostage. His golden scimitar was sheathed at his waist.

“Stop right there or I will slit her throat,” Tate growled. He held a knife to Emma’s throat with one hand. His other was wrapped snuggly around her waist, holding her tightly against him.

“Mr. Tate, you really don’t want to do this,” Emma pleaded with him as he continued to drag her with him. Oh god, she was going to die after all!

“Shut up, shut up!” he growled at her.

Ardeth stopped a few feet from them. His gaze locked with the woman’s. She managed to give him a small smile, faintly revealing dimples in each cheek. It was as if she were saying to him, “Hey, remember me? I’m the one that just saved your life back there.” Rage welled up inside him like he’d never known. The force of it almost made Ardeth stagger. All his life he had felt the frustration and anger of the stupidity of men and their lust for power and riches, but the rage that filled him now was one that had nothing to do with power or riches. It was the rage of a man whose need to protect a woman nearly consumed him. Not just any woman, but this woman! A woman he did not even know. Ardeth shook his head to clear it. This rage he felt made no sense what so ever. He did not know this woman. He didn’t care about her one way or the other, and yet the rage was there. It was as if something inside him recognized her as his, and he protected what was his. Ardeth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. To anyone who was watching him, they would never know what he was battling against inside him. His expression never changed. Bringing his focus back to the current situation, he forced his gaze up to the little fat man and barked orders to his men in Arabic. The Med-jai warriors surrounded them, barring any escape.

“You have nowhere to go. Let the woman go,” Ardeth commanded in perfect English.

Tate pushed the knife further into Emma’s skin. Emma cried out in pain as the point of the knife pierced the skin on her neck, causing a trickle of blood to run down her throat. The hard, cold look of barely controlled rage that Ardeth gave Gerald Tate caused Emma to shudder. Suddenly she felt very sorry for Mr. Tate. “Miss O’Connell and I are going to get on a horse over there, and we are going to ride out of here. If you or your men try to follow, I will slit her throat.”

Ardeth froze at the mention of the woman’s name. Miss O’Connell? He had never met Rick’s sister, but Rick had told him once that his sister was working at the museum now. “Sons of the Pharaohs!” Ardeth cursed softly in Arabic. This changed everything. He would have to try a different tactic. Ardeth didn’t think Rick would appreciate it if he got his sister killed.

Out loud, Ardeth barked out some more commands to his men in Arabic, and the Med-jai warriors began to fall away. Tate, seeing the warriors backing off, eased up with the knife and began pulling Emma toward one of the horses. Emma’s eyes never left the man she now knew had to be Ardeth Bay. Fear that he was going to allow Tate to take her welled up inside her. Panic overwhelmed her and she began to struggle.

“No, please . . .” Emma cried out, but was cut off when she felt the cold blade press against the skin of her neck again.

“Be still, Miss O’Connell. I have no problem with killing you,” Tate growled in her ear. And as if to prove the point, he pushed the blade harder into her neck, pricking her skin.

Remembering that she had spoken to him in Arabic earlier, Ardeth hoped she did indeed understand his language. Regaining eye contact with her, he spoke softly to her in Arabic, “Stop! I will come for you.”

Emma stopped her struggle then, nodding her head indicating she understood, and allowed Tate to put her on the horse. Tate climbed up behind her and sent the horse galloping off into the dark.


They had been traveling for several hours, and Emma could see that the dawn was quickly coming. Had she misunderstood the Med-jai leader when he said that he would come for her? She knew her Arabic was a bit rusty, but she was certain that that was what he said. Emma looked out into the darkness, wondering if he was out there following.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Tate suddenly spoke. “If you are wondering if they will come to save you, you can stop. Those desert dogs care for nothing but themselves.”

“Those desert dogs as you call them are the Med-jai. They are the descendants of Pharaoh Seti’s bodyguards and protectors of Hamanaptra. They are an honorable tribe,” Emma retorted.

“It doesn’t matter who they are. You are still nothing to them, and they will not waste their precious time hunting us down just to rescue you,” Tate spat out.

Emma considered telling Tate of her brother’s friendship with the Med-Jai leader, but then thought better of it. If he for one moment thought that the warrior would come after them, he might decide to just kill her now and get rid of the extra weight.


Ardeth Bay watched them until they disappeared into the darkness. He barked out orders to his men as one of them approached leading his horse. Swinging up into the saddle, Abdul approached.

“You don’t mean to go after them?”

Turning to his second in command, he answered, “I must, Abdul.”

“Is it the woman? She is no concern of ours. Let the foreigner have her, Ardeth, we don’t have time for this,” Abdul argued, grabbing the reins of Ardeth’s horse.

“I cannot leave her, Abdul, she is Rick O’Connell’s sister.” And as if that wasn’t enough to convince Abdul, looking out into the darkness, he added softly, “And she saved my life.” Abdul nodded his understanding at this revelation and stepped back, releasing the horse’s reins. “Get this mess cleaned up. I should be back by dawn.” Ardeth reined his horse around and headed off into the darkness in the direction that Tate had taken Rick’s sister.

Ardeth found them with ease, but hung back, not wanting to get too close yet. He wanted the man to relax his guard, so he would have to follow for a while. Letting his thoughts wander a bit, he allowed himself to think on the woman and the unexpected feelings she brought out in him. So, this was Rick’s sister. They looked nothing alike. Ardeth tried to remember what Rick said her name was. It started with an “E” he thought, like Evelyn’s did. Edith? No. Elizabeth? No. Emily? No. Emma! That was it, Emma.

“Emma,” he said out loud, letting the sound of it roll off his tongue.

She definitely stirred his blood. If it weren’t for the unusual life he lived, he would think it strange that a woman he never met could peak his interest and arouse his body so completely. It was almost a relief to feel the way he did. None of the women in his tribe remotely attracted him. His people were getting restless for him to marry and have a son. Ardeth was beginning to think he’d never find the right woman. He wasn’t foolish enough to think he would ever marry for love, but he didn’t have to marry someone who didn’t attract him physically. And Emma O’Connell definitely attracted him physically! She and Rick looked nothing alike. He would have never guessed they were brother and sister. Allowing himself a seldom seen smile, Ardeth thought to himself, Wonder what Rick would say if he knew I wanted his sister?

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Hope For The Future - Chapters 6-8