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Second Chances

A sequel to Hope For The Future
By Ladybug


Chapter 13

Emma had run straight to her room after leaving Ardeth in the library. She had thrown herself on the bed, sobbing until her stomach ached. So that was it, their marriage was over. He hated her that much. He hadn’t even bothered to deny it. She felt as if her heart was wretched in two as she buried her face into the pillows and cried.

She nearly jumped when she heard the soft rap at the bedroom door. The door opened and Evelyn stepped in and closed the door behind her.

“Oh Emma,” Evelyn gasped softly and crossed the room to sit on the bed next to her sister-in-law. Emma moved into Evelyn’s arms, and she cried against her shoulder.

“He, he hates me, Evy,” Emma hiccupped. “He told me that it would be best if I limited my time with Joseph after they bring the boys back.” Emma sobbed hard against Evelyn’s shoulder. “I won’t let him take my son away, Evy. He wants to leave me with nothing!”

“Emma,” Evelyn soothed her hysterical sister-in-law with a gentle hand. “Ardeth doesn’t hate you, he is just a stubborn man! Just give him time to think things through. He will come to his senses. He may be stubborn, but he isn’t stupid.”

“It’s too late for us, Evy,” Emma sniffed as she straightened up. “Ardeth has said some very cruel things to me. I don’t know if I could ever forgive that.”

“You still love him though, don’t you?”

Emma nodded, not even bothering to deny it. “I love him so much that it’s killing me inside,” she replied, wiping her nose with a handkerchief.

“And he loves you, Emma. I see the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching,” Evelyn informed her. It was the only reason Evelyn was defending him now, because she truly believed that Ardeth still loved Emma and just needed time to get past his wounded pride. “I think he is really struggling with what is proper and law within the tribe and his love for you.” Emma started to open her mouth to deny it, but Evelyn hushed her. “Give him a chance to work this out, Emma. If you give him time, you will see that in the end he will choose you over tribal customs. But right now his ego is bruised.”

“Because I sent our son to London to try to save our marriage!” Emma stated vehemently.

Evelyn frowned. “Emma, don’t be such a ninny! You know perfectly well that it isn’t because of that. You defied him before his people. He is their leader, and in their eyes if he can’t control his wife, how can he control the whole tribe?”

Emma opened her mouth to argue, then closed her mouth with a snap. She had never thought of it that way. She had just thought Ardeth was being a spoiled brat at not getting his way. She remembered now that he had told her that she had made him look bad before the tribe, but it hadn’t sunk in what that meant. She had been too devastated over his banishment and threats of taking Joseph away from her to really comprehend what he was saying. She had lived with the Med-jai for eight years and still didn’t fully understand their ways. Emma sighed heavily. It was still most likely too late for them, but she would try to talk to Ardeth one more time after they returned safely with Joseph and Alex.

“Well, I will leave you to rest, but think about what I’ve said, Emma,” Evelyn said as she stood.

“I will, and thanks Evy.”

“Anytime, sis,” Evelyn grinned and leaned down to kiss Emma’s cheek. She straightened and left Emma to her thoughts.

It was about ten minutes later when Emma was brought out of her thoughts as a loud rapping sounded on her door. She frowned and stood, moving to the door. “Yes?” she called out.

“Forgive me, Sayada,” Rashad said through the closed door. “The young boy, Rabi, is here to see you.”

Emma wiped her tears and opened the door. “Thank you, Rashad, I will be right down.” The Med-jai warrior bowed his head to her in respect and turned and left.

Emma came down the stairs to find Rabi standing nervously in the front foyer. Rashad stood nearby, watching the boy with mistrustful eyes. Something about the boy made him nervous. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he hadn’t trusted the boy since he had showed up to deliver the message that morning. Rashad watched closely as Emma entered the foyer and approached the boy. He had been Emma’s personal guard ever since she had married the Med-jai chieftain. Ardeth hadn’t asked, nor had he assigned anyone to her, but Rashad had been instantly smitten by Emma’s beauty and kindness, and he had taken over the job when Ardeth couldn’t be there himself. Nothing had ever been said, but it was understood between him and Ardeth that Rashad would protect Emma with his life if the occasion ever called for it.

Emma smiled at Rabi, revealing deep dimples in each cheek. She stopped before him and said, “Now what can I do for you, Rabi?”

The boy looked nervously over at Rashad, then back at Emma, “I need for you to come with me,” he stated in a near whisper. “Sayadi needs you.”

Emma frowned. “Ardeth? Rabi, what are you talking about?”

Rabi reached for her hand, his eyes darting again over to Rashad. “Please, Sayada, he needs you, but you cannot say anything to anyone. He made me promise to bring just you.”

This did not make sense to Emma. “Rabi, is Ardeth in trouble?”

Rabi could see that it wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought to get her out of the house, so he switched tactics. “He found Yusuf, he wants you to come with me and bring you to him.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Ardeth has Joseph?” She nearly pushed the boy towards the door. “Show me the way, Rabi!”

They started out the door when Emma felt a hand clamp down on her wrist. She turned to face Rashad. “Sayada, where are you going?”

“Rabi is taking me to Ardeth and Joseph, Rashad. It’s ok.”

“I will go with you,” he answered, making it clear that he did not trust the boy.

Emma smiled up at Rashad. He was a tall handsome man, but without the devastating allure that Ardeth had. Several times over the last eight years Emma had tried to get Rashad to marry, but he had refused, choosing to remain as her personal guard. Why Ardeth allowed it, she would never know, for it was clear to her that Rashad had feelings for her. She had never done anything to encourage him, and he had never done anything to dishonor her, but it was clear in the way he treated her that he felt something. She assumed that Ardeth was aware of this, although they had never discussed it. But still, Ardeth trusted Rashad to watch over her, and he had never done anything to break that trust.

“Rashad, I am going to Ardeth. There is no need for you to follow.”

“I will see you safely to him,” Rashad answered, his dark eyes never leaving the boys face. Rabi twitched nervously and shuffled his feet.

“Very well,” Emma answered with a sigh. She wasn’t going to waste her time arguing with the Med-jai warrior when she knew he would follow whether she wanted him to or not. “Let us go then.”

They left the O’Connell home. Rashad informed Coman, another warrior, that they were going to see Ardeth and would return shortly. A few minutes later, Rabi led Emma and Rashad down a dark alley.

“Rabi?” Emma asked, feeling a bit nervous for the first time.

“Where have you brought us, boy?” Rashad asked as he stepped protectively closer to Emma.

“He’s right in there.” Rabi pointed nervously towards a building that looked empty.

“I do not like this, Sayada,” Rashad informed her. “Please let me return you to your brother’s home. I will return myself and look for Ardeth.”

Emma turned nervous blue eyes on Rashad. “Yes, maybe that is a good idea.”

“Ume!”

Emma spun back around at the familiar voice. “Joseph?”

“No, Sayada,” Rashad tried to grab her arm, but Emma had already bolted towards the building. He ran after her as she threw open a door that led into the building off the alley. Emma ran into the building and stopped suddenly as she came face to face with at least fifteen men with swords drawn.

“Oh my god!” Emma gasped as she realized that she had walked right into a trap. Rashad burst through the door and nearly bowled her over as he stopped suddenly, also seeing the men. Rashad reached for his scimitar with one hand, and with the other he reached out to Emma and shoved her behind him.

“Run,” he commanded gruffly as he raised his scimitar to defend his mistress. Emma spun on her heels and ran towards the exit, but two men appeared at the door, causing Emma to skid to a stop with a shriek.

“Rashad!” Emma cried out in panic. They were surrounded with no way out, and they were out numbered too.

Rashad threw a quick glance over his shoulder to see the two men blocking the exit. “Stay close to me, Sayada,” he commanded as he changed position, placing his back towards a wall.

Anger overtook her as she spun back to Rashad and spotted the sword strapped to his back. She moved the few quick steps back to him and pulled the sword out of its sheath. They would not take her without a fight!

“Put the sword down, Mrs. Bay,” came a voice from behind the armed men. The sea of men parted as a short, fat, balding man made his way slowly through to stand before them. “You have nowhere to go. You cannot win this fight.”

Emma gasped sharply when she saw the man’s face. “No! You are dead!”

The man laughed, but it was not one of humor. “No, Mrs. Bay, I’m not. But you must forgive me, I have not properly introduced myself.” The man bowed at the waist. “I am Geoffrey Tate, Gerald’s twin brother.”

“Twin?” Emma gasped. Good lord, Gerald had a twin brother? “You are the one who took Joseph and Alex?”

“Yes, but you see, Mrs. Bay, it wasn’t the boys that I wanted. It was you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You see, it was the only way to draw you out. Within the Med-jai you are too heavily guarded. I knew that if I kidnapped your son, you would have to come after him,” Tate explained.

“But why do you want me?” Emma asked, confused.

“Two things, really,” Tate answered. “The other half of the amulet and revenge.”

“Revenge?” Emma repeated.

“Yes!” Tate snapped. “If it was not for you, my brother would have succeeded in raising Imhotep. It is because of you that he failed. For that you will pay with your life, but not until I have the other half of the amulet!”

Rashad moved closer to Emma, telling her silently that they would have to kill him first before he would allow them to take her. “My husband will never hand over the half of the amulet that you seek, Mr. Tate.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I understand that he adores you to distraction. You are his weakness.”

“I don’t know who you get your information from, Mr. Tate, but my husband and I are estranged. You will not get the amulet half by taking me. You had a better chance with our son,” Emma informed him sadly. She could sense Rashad looking at her, but she refused to meet his gaze. She stared straight ahead at Geoffrey Tate.

Tate frowned. “Well, we will just see about that!” he growled. “In any case, you will pay for my brother’s life. Take her!”

Rashad raised his scimitar to fight as the group of men moved forward with their own swords. Emma saw the futility in fighting. There were too many of them, and Rashad would only be killed. She didn’t think she could live with that.

“No Rashad,” Emma commanded, placing her hand on his arm.

“I cannot allow them to take you, Sayada,” he answered without taking his eyes from the advancing men.

“Please,” Emma pleaded softly. “You must live to tell Ardeth what has happened.”

Rashad turned his gaze to her finally. She could see the war that raged within him over his duty to protect her and the need to remain alive to tell Ardeth of Geoffrey Tate. “You realize that Sayadi will kill me himself for allowing this man to take you?”

Emma smiled sadly. “I doubt that, but please, do not fight!” Emma laid her sword down, and after a moment, Rashad also placed his scimitar on the ground.

“Wise choice, Mrs. Bay,” Tate informed her. The men moved forward. Two took Emma by the arms, and the others pushed Rashad away from her, separating them. Rashad began to struggle as his instinct to protect her at all costs kicked in.

The two men led Emma out of the building where horses were now waiting in the alleyway. She heard Rashad’s battle cry, and she turned back towards the building. “No,” she whispered.

“Kill him,” Tate ordered as he climbed onto his horse.

“NO!” Emma cried out and began to struggle. One of the men slapped her hard enough to daze her, and they handed her up to Tate on his horse. Tears streamed down her cheeks as they rode off into the darkness.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 14

Ardeth and Rick had had to pick the boys up like sacks of potatoes, throwing them over their shoulders in order to make better time. Coman met them as they approached the house.

“Sayadi,” he acknowledged his chieftain, confused.

“Coman, where are the women?” Ardeth asked, setting Yusuf to the ground.

Rick was already on his way into the house with Alex. “Evelyn?” he called out as he threw open the door.

“Mrs. O’Connell is inside, Sayada, and Rashad left with the boy to go to you,” Coman answered.

Ardeth paled. “The boy? You mean Rabi?”

“Yes, Sayadi,” Coman answered. “He came here a short time ago, talked with Sayada, and then they left. Rashad said that the boy was taking them to you, that you needed her.”

Ardeth felt as if the air had been sucked from his lungs. He wouldn’t panic. Rashad was with Emma, and he would protect her!

“Rick! Alex!” Evelyn cried out as she came running out of the library and gathered her son up in her arms. “Oh my baby, you are safe!” She hugged him tight, then set him back a little to exam and touch every part of him.

“Mom!” Alex complained. “Dad already did that. I am fine.”

“It’s a mothers prerogative to exam her son after he has been kidnapped and returned safely,” Evelyn informed him as she continued her exam. She then smiled and kissed his cheek and hugged him again.

“Evelyn, where is Emma?” Rick asked, looking around the foyer.

“Up in her room, I believe,” Evelyn answered as she saw Ardeth enter the front door with Joseph. She smiled at Joseph and was glad that both boys were back safely.

“No, she is not,” Ardeth answered gloomily.

“What?” Evelyn frowned. “She never informed me she was leaving.”

“The boy, Rabi, set us up. While we were distracted with rescuing the boys, he came here and told Emma that I needed her. She went with him. I never told Rabi to bring Emma to me,” Ardeth explained.

“Oh god, no!” Evelyn gasped.

“The only good thing is that Rashad went with them. He will protect her.”

“Damn,” Rick growled.

“Sayadi!” Coman called from outside. They all ran out the door to see Rashad collapsing to the ground. Coman caught the big man and lowered him carefully until he was lying on his back.

Rashad’s face was black and blue from being beaten. There was blood on his face and his body. He tried to stand up when he saw Ardeth approach. “No, Rashad.” Ardeth put his hand on his warrior’s shoulder. “Tell me, where is Emma?”

“Forgive me, Sayadi,” Rashad rasped out, then winced in pain. “There were too many of them.”

“Where is Emma, Rashad?” Ardeth asked again, trying to keep calm. He would not panic, even though he felt as if his world was spinning out of control.

“He took her,” Rashad answered, then broke into a coughing fit.

“Who took her?” Ardeth demanded, giving Rashad a little shake. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he whipped his head around to see Rick shake his head.

“Easy there, ol’ buddy,” he said calmly. “We will get her back.”

Ardeth breathed in sharply through his nose, his nostrils flaring out. He nodded once and turned back to Rashad, who had finally stopped coughing. “Forgive me, Rashad. Do you know who took Emma?”

Rashad nodded. “Tate,” he whispered.

“Tate?” both Ardeth and Rick asked simultaneously. “Gerald Tate?” Ardeth asked, confused.

“No, his brother,” Rashad winced. “Geoffrey Tate. He said something about wanting half of an amulet and revenge for his brother’s death.”

“Oh my god,” Evelyn whispered.

“If Geoffrey Tate is looking for the amulet half, then it’s a good chance he is looking to continue with what his brother started,” Rick said, thinking out loud.

“Go back in time and raise Imhotep,” Evelyn stated.

“Where were you both when Emma was taken?” Ardeth asked Rashad.

“Over at the old abandoned pottery shop,” Rashad answered. Ardeth nodded, indicating that he knew of the place.

Standing up, Ardeth looked at Coman. “Get Rashad inside where he is comfortable and tend to his wounds,” Ardeth ordered. “I want two of you to remain here. I want you to come with me, and the rest will escort Yusuf and Alex to the village where they will be safe until I have found Emma.”

“Aiwa, Sayada,” Coman answered immediately.

“Have one of the men inform Abdul what is happening. Tell him to have the men ready for battle. I will send word to him through you if we need the men.”

“Aiwa, Sayada,” Coman answered, then turned to carry out his duties. He barked off several commands in Arabic and several of the Med-jai warriors came and helped Rashad up.

“Sayadi,” Rashad called out to Ardeth. “I tried to protect her. She was alive and well when they took her away.”

“I know you did, Rashad. Do not worry,” Ardeth told him, wishing that he felt as calm on the inside as he portrayed on the outside.

“Abu,” Yusuf finally spoke up. He had remained quiet up till now, but now he wanted to know about his mother.

Ardeth dropped to his knees before his son and looked him straight in the eyes. Sapphire eyes just like his mother’s. Ardeth felt his heart clench. He had been a fool, and now he may have lost the most precious thing of all to him, his wife. The incident in the library came rushing to the forefront of his mind, and he wanted to cry out at the thought that that was the last thing that had happened between them. Ardeth blinked back the sting of tears that threatened to form in his dark eyes. If they made it out of this alive, Ardeth swore right then and there that he would do everything in his power to make it up to Emma. He would move heaven and earth for her.

“Yusuf,” Ardeth began, “I must go find your mother. You be good and go with Alex and the men back to the village.”

“You will bring Ume home?”

“Aiwa, al ibney (yes, my son).” Ardeth hugged Yusuf to him. “I will bring her home. I promise.”

“I want you to go to the Med-jai village with the boys, Evelyn,” Rick informed her as the group of men approached.

“Like hell I will,” Evelyn answered defiantly.

“Evelyn, I don’t have time for this,” Rick begged her. “Please, go with the boys.”

“I am going with you,” Evelyn answered. “The boys will be fine with the men escorting them. I am going to help you find Emma.”

Rick sighed. He should have known better than to suggest that she go back to the Med-jai village, but he had to try. “Alright, then let me get my gunnysack and let’s go.”

Rick went into the house to retrieve the sack that contained all his weapons and ammunition while Ardeth saw the boys off with his men. After they were gone, Ardeth went into the house and checked on Rashad. The two warriors had him in a guest room, stripped of his clothes, and were cleaning his wounds. He met Rick at the bottom of the stairs. Rick handed him the shotgun as he swung the gunnysack across his back.

“Ready?” Rick asked him. Ardeth nodded, a sad but determined look in his eyes. Rick reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze. “We will find her.”

“I am a fool, al zameel,” Ardeth stated quietly. “She is my life. If anything happens to her . . .” Ardeth let the sentence die, unable to complete it.

“We will find her, Ardeth, and the two of you will work everything out,” Rick answered confidently. “Don’t lose it on me now, ya hear? I need you. Emma needs you!”

Ardeth took a deep breath and nodded. “InshaAllah we will find her quickly!”

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Second Chances - Chapters 15-16