Chapter Nine
Calista awoke from a dream where she ran through a forest, pursued by dogs and men on foot, wrapped in furs, wearing horned helmets. Stretching her arms wide and yawning, she sat upright, finding herself inside an Egyptian temple and not in the forest of her homeland. Calista closed her eyes to shut out the bearded face of Wulfgar, the man who had betrayed her, but this only brought back the details of her dream. After refusing to marry him, she remembered Wulfgar out of rage had pursued her through the forest and eventually catching her, sold her to Phoenician pirates. Brought to the shores of Africa, she'd been sold for a handful of gold to desert nomads, who in turn, took her to Thebes where the priests of Anubis purchased her, and in this manner, she'd become the slave of Senmut, then finally Imhotep.
As feeling of dread crept over her, Calista jumped up, certain Senmut was coming for her. She frantically looked for a place to hide, but paused upon seeing two strangely clothed men in the temple with her, looking far more frightened that she felt. The men glanced at one another. She seized the opportunity and fled across the chamber, where she stared back at the men from behind a statue, her curiosity overcoming her initial fear.
"It's Calista," said Alex. "She's in control. I'll take care of this." He motioned Achmed to remain back.
Alex slowly approached his cousin, knowing his was dealing not with Amanda but the slave girl. He held his hands out to the side to show he held no weapons. Intrigued by the man's face, noting its strange resemblance to Wulfgar, she let him approach. When he was close to her, she looked him over from head to toe, convinced it was not Wulfgar but another man. She pointed at his unusual attire and spoke to him in her own language of German. He shook his head, indicating he didn't understand. She tried again in ancient Egyptian and immediately received a friendly response.
"Who are you?" Asked Calista. "You resemble a man from my tribe, Wulfgar, but your eyes are filled with a warmth that tells me you are not my enemy. Has Osiris sent you to help me?"
Her accent sounded thick and foreign in comparison to his cousin's own voice. Alex was amazed at the change in his cousin, or rather, not his cousin but in Calista. She was not at all like Amanda, but seemed timid and shy. Two traits that were definitly not his cousin, he thought. There was something else that was hard to ignore, for having been trained to be a slave by her Egyptian masters, her mannerisms and physical movements were undeniable meant to be sexually alluring.
"I am Alex," he said, placing his hand over his chest.
She knitted her pale eyebrows together, staring at him intently, unsure whether he was made of flesh or spirit.
"And I am Calista."
"Greetings, Calista," said Alex. "Don't be afraid. We have been sent here to help you." Alex pointed at his friend. "This is Achmed Bay. He is a Medjai. Osiris sent us here to protect you."
Calista looked over at the other young man. "I do not recognize him, but the Medjai have never hurt me in the past and have always been kind to me. They are the ones who guard the princess." She tilted her head to the side. "Osiris has sent you to me. I will then trust you. Both of you."
Achmed smiled at her. She nodded over at him. But she nearly bolted when Alex reached out and touched her arm.
"We have come from far away to help you, Calista. Very far away actually. You see, my friend and I were sent by Osiris to find his magical Orb. Perhaps you have seen it and can help us?"
"I have seen this Orb you speak of," said Calista. She glanced around the temple, then leaned close to Alex to whisper in his ear alone. "Princess Neferteri on several occassions sent me to the high priest, Imhotep, upon his request, to his quarters. What you seek is guarded by my master, Imhotep. He is my new master. But if Osiris truly sent you, why do you not already know where the Orb is kept?"
"Osiris told us only that we must find the Orb," said Alex.
"It's part of a test," Achmed added. "To prove our worth to Osiris, we must be able to find the Orb on our own, or rather, with you help, Calista." She glanced at him in a flirtateous manner.
"Who do you fear more?" Asked Alex. "Osiris, the God of the Dead, or Imhotep, the high priest?"
She considered this for some time, then with a sigh, she nodded in compliance. It pleased her to see the men smile.
"Come with me," said Calista. "I will show you the way." She abruptly placed her hand on his chest when Alex started to head toward the door where he'd seen the priests of Anubis use. She shook her head. "No. There is only one way out of the temple. I will show you, but you must promise to take me with you. I do not wish to die."
"I promise," said Alex. "Take me to the Orb and I will make certain that you leave this place unharmed. I swear it on Osiris himself."
"So be it," Calista replied. She picked up a knife from among a chest filled with treasures and golden weapons, proceeding the two men to the edge of the pit. She removed her white robe, revealing her nudity, balled it up. "Fear not." She suddenly dove into the murky water below with her bundle.
"She's crazy," said Achmed. "I'm not following her into that pit." He sighed when Calista reappeared at the surface of the water. "Are you all right?"
"Come," said the slave girl. "Come now."
Alex shrugged and jumped in, feet first. Achmed, groaning loudly, jumped in as well. She motioned for the men to follow and dove under the water. As the men were about to dive under, a loud noise overhead made them both look up to see the floor commence to move and close over the pity, cutting off the light of the torches. In near total darkness, Alex felt something pull on his leg and shouted in fear. Calista returned to the surface.
"Follow me or die."
Alex and Achmed immediately dove under the water. Keeping near the slave girl, they followed her through the murky green water, through the grated gate and emerged in a long passage with a walkway on either side. She pulled herself out, followed by the two men, and pointed at a light which flickered and wavered at the end of the tunnel. Her knife in her hand, she led the way down the walkway, ignoring the rats that crawled along the clay bricks and swam in the water.
Ripples in the water alerted Alex and Achmed that crocodiles were following them as they existed the tunnel from a hole that opened up into a lush garden. She paused to put on her wet robe, which clung revealingly to her slender, tall body, hiding nothing.
"We are near the throne room where the Medjai are located," said Calista. "But I shall take you in another direction, to the chambers of Imhotep. Stay close and remain quiet. If we are caught, we will all be slain."
Achmed caught hold of Alex by the arm. "Are you sure we can trust her?"
"Certainly. It's my cousin. She's in that pretty head somewhere. Stop worrying so much. I know what I'm doing."
Calista motioned the two men to follow her. She avoided using any paths and carefully made her way through the greenery, using statues to hide behind, until they'd made there way to the opposite end of the garden. As they prepared to run under an exist with a high archway, they heard a cry of alarm behind them and turned around to see six priests of Anubis running toward them. Calista took one look at Achmed's scimitar and seized it out of his hand.
"Stay here. I shall deal with the intruders."
With a wildness not shown before, the Germanic slave ran toward the priests with the scimitar upraised. Armed with only ceremonial daggers, Calista demonstrated her skills as a warrior and easily cut them down, one by one. She made no attempt to hide their bodies and returned to the two unusual men sent by Osiris and returned to the dark haired one his weapon.
"It is nothing," she said, noticing the amazement in their eyes. "I am a warrior of Oden and have led many armies against our enemies. There is a place waiting for me in Valhalla."
"You don't worship Osiris?"
"Only when needed. While I respect the great God of the Dead, my true god is Oden and I am destined one day to join his valkyries to claim the souls of the slain from the battlefields. I have always known this. I am not afraid to die. But I will not be slain in the name of a false god. This I must not allow to happen or the gates of Valhalla will be closed to me forever and I shall spend all eternity as a slave to the Egyptian gods."
"I'm impressed," said Achmed. "I really am."
"Why are you helping us then if Osiris has sent us and you pray to Oden?" Asked Alex as they headed out of the exist and paused as a procession of royal guards past by. He fell silent as the girl stared at him. He couldn't help but stare. While she was his cousin in the future, in ancient Egypt, she was of no relation and he found her uncommonly attractive.
"We have no time to talk."
"I need to know."
"My master serves Osiris. I will help my master. If Osiris wishes you to have the Orb, then so shall it be."
"But you are running away from Imhotep if you leave with us."
Calista suddenly pushed Alex up against a wall, her hand squeezing his throat as she glared at him. "My master has many enemies in this place. There is a condition for my help. Once I have provided you with the Orb, then you shall use its power to destroy Imhotep's greatest enemy, Senmut. He...he was my former master, a brutal, vengeful man, and I know well of his hatred for the great Imhotep. I have prayed to Osiris every day since my arrival for the all powerful god to send a messenger to destroy this evil man, and he has sent to me you and your dark friend."
"I'll do my best," said Alex. "Senmut is history."
With a smile on her lovely face, Calista led the men down an alley and into a door that led right into the royal kitchen. She grabbed a cloak off a peg on a wall that belonged to one of the workers, draped it over her head, and took them through the enormous room to the servant quarters. Winding halls and long passages and a flight of stairs finally brought the trio to a row of luxurious suites, and into the first room she went, stopping at a statue of Isis to turn the goddess' wrist. A door in the side of the wall opened.
"This is the Princess Neferteri's waiting room. Follow me. Imhotep's quarters are not far from here."
Calista motioned the men to stay close, took up a torch, and entered the secret passage. The passage was narrow and the light of the torch held high in the air by Calista afforded a view of ornate drawings on the wall of the gods. They soon arrived at a door outlined in the wall, and running her fingers along a painting of Osiris, she inserted her index finger into the god's mouth. A door slid opening, revealing an enormous chamber filled with religious objects and a large bed surrounded by sheer purple drapes that slowly moved from an breeze coming in from a balcony with a view of the entire city.
"What you seek is there," said Calista, pointing at a table. On top was the Orb of Osiris, held at either end by two small statues of a kneeling Isis, her hands outstretched to hold the magical item. She waited near the passage as the two men ran to the table. "You are infidels. Do not touch it with your bare hands."
Alex removed his jacket and wrapped it around the Orb as he picked it up. Achmed let out a sigh of relief, but it was short lived as a dozen Medjai entered the room, spears held out in front of them, as they marched into the room and surrounded the two men. Calista dashed forward, throwing herself in front of the two strangers, prepared to sacrifice herself to save them.
"I can handle this."
Achmed gently pulled her behind him and stepped forward, unafraid, and with a few hand gestures, which were returned, the spears were soon lowered and the royal guards surrounded the young man, patting him on the back, accepting him as one of them despite the oddness of his clothes. The markings on his cheeks were exact copies of those on the guards, and as he introduced himself and his friends, Calista came over to stand near Alex.
"You have no fear," he said to her.
"I am afraid," Calista responded. "Afraid that I will fail my master Imhotep. You promised to slay Senmut. He lives in quarters across the royal courtyard. The Medjai can take us there. Once you have fulfilled your bargain, you will take me with you and help me find passage on a boat. I will return to my people. It is there that I belong, in the mountains and snow of my homeland, not in this hot, inhospitable place."
"It is the slave of Imhotep," said one of the guards who looked very similar to Rick O'Connell. He stepped away from Achmed and pointed directly at the young blonde woman. "The one who is to be sacrificed to Osiris."
"Dad," muttered Alex. He caught himself and fell silent.
The leader of the Medjai glanced over at Alex but thought nothing of him, despite his resemblance to Rick O'Connell. The other guards seemed close to panic, except their leader, upon seeing the woman and eagerly tried to detach Achmed from his friends so he could leave with them. He pulled away and caught Alex and Calista by their arms.
"They are my friends, Akhenaton. I will not abandon them," said Achmed. He addressed Rick O'Connell's reincarnation. "O brave and wise captain of the guard, you must believe me. Osiris has sent us here from the future on a very important mission. We need your help to complete our task so that we may return to our own realm and time."
"Senmut has already left the city to pray at the Temple of Anubis," said Akhenaton, in a voice similar to Rick O'Connell's. "He left not long ago, with a full escort and a procession that stretched as far as the eye can see. From there he will journey to the Temple of Osiris, where he will be met by our lord and master, the Pharaoh, along with his mistress and the princess, as well as the high priest of Osiris, to bless the temple on the Night of Souls. This will occur in three days. It will take that many days to reach the temple by camel. Only Imhotep will leave tomorrow morning with his own priests, and the slave, Calista."
"Then we all go with you, Akhenaton," said Alex. He motioned at himself and his friends. "All of us will go. We will dress as you do and hide in your midst until the time is right to strike against the enemy of Osiris."
"No woman may travel among us," said Akhenaton. "Perhaps Princess Neferteri will provide assistance, however, I must ask for an audience and inform her of your presence."
"I don't know about that," said Alex O'Connell. "The less who know we are here, the better our chances are for success."
Calista suddenly sagged against Alex. He tossed the Orb over to Achmed who caught it in the air, then scooped up his cousin into his arms. Akhenaton signaled for his men to place the blue robes of the Medjai around the shoulders of the two foreigners, covering the woman as well, and led them from Imhotep's chambers down a long passage, toward the royal quarters were the pharaoh's private guards were stationed. Only the Medjai were allowed in the large barracks and as others gathered around to meet Achmed, who quickly offered the right secret hand shake and hand signals, proving he was one of them, while Alex laid Calista down on the nearest cot.
"Is she all right?" asked Achmed, breaking free from his new friends to crouch down beside the cot. He placed his hand on Calista's forehead. "She is feverish."
Akhenaton walked over and gazed down at the woman. "She is caught in the spirit world. She may not return if Osiris has other uses for her."
"Obviously, her two personalities are fighting for dominance over the other. Calista is far stronger than Amanda ever gave her credit. She is no ordinary slave girl." Alex gazed down at his cousin in a loving manner, however, as he gazed at her, he suddenly realized that it wasn't merely family affection he felt for the slave girl.
"Alex, she is your cousin," cautioned Achmed, sensing his friend's attraction to the beautiful woman, which he too shared. "You think I don't know that," snarled Alex. "I should use the Orb now to activate its powers so we can return home."
"Only an innocent soul may use the Orb," interjected Akhenaton.
"And Imhotep is innocent?" Alex countered, angrily.
"Alex," spoke up Achmed, "no one ever said the high priest would be using the Orb. Akhenaton says they do not even know its full powers, but since the item came into the city, they say that the priests of Anubis and Osiris have been fighting against one another. They believe that there will be trouble at the Temple of Osiris and that the pharaoh's life may well be in danger."
Akhenaton nodded his head, confirming this was true.
"Achmed, he'll be dead before the temple is completed. It could be any day," said Alex. "I don't know when...well, you know what I'm talking about, so let's just do what Calista asks and then we'll get her to help us get back home."
The woman stirred on the cot and with a sudden gasp, she opened her eyes and nearly screamed. Alex placed his hand over her mouth, while Achmed and the guards gathered around the cot, wondering how to offer their assistance. But none was needed as the woman removed Alex's hand and her eyes fixated on his face.
"What am I doing here?" asked Amanda. She pushed Alex away and sat up, rubbing her throbbing temples. "I feel as though I've been in a fight. And why am I all wet and in a room full of...of...hey, these are the Medjai." She suddenly fell silent as she saw the reincarnation of her uncle gazing down at her. She pointed at him. "He...he looks just like...."
"We know," said Alex and Achmed at the same time. Then Achmed added, "Do not worry. Akhenaton can be trusted. He is the personal bodyguard of Princess Neferteri. We are with friends."
"Good, because I have to get back to the temple. Maybe one of these guards can take me back there. I must be there at dawn when the doors are opened and Imhotep returns for me."
Alex grabbed Amanda by the arm as she jumped off the cot, pulling her back. "You're going with us. It's all arranged."
"I am not! I am going back and waiting for Imhotep!"
"Calista said she wanted to go with us," Alex said, wanting to keep his word to the slave girl. "She doesn't want to go with Imhotep. She only wants us to slay Senmut, then we can go."
"But," said Amanda, jerking her arm free, "I want to stay and help Imhotep. If the chain of the events are not somehow altered, he will be damned for all times."
"If it is his destiny to murder Seti, then so be it."
"Alex, you are impossible. I might not be able to prevent him from committing murder, but I can convince him to spare Calista. If he does this, then Osiris will forgive him later and allow his soul to be reborn. I'm sure of it. I know you won't believe me, but I have talked to Osiris before, in my sleep, and he's shown me what I must do to make this possible. Just trust me."
Alex threw his arms into the air. "Women! You try to help them, but you're so damn crazy, you make it impossible. Just listen to yourself, Amanda. You want to help the one person who tried on many occasions to kill your father and my father and my mother. I say let's do what Calista asked and get out of this place before you do something that will alter history."
Amanda started backing away from the men. "But that's why I cam back. That's why I wanted to help William. William had no soul but knew he was the physical reincarnation of Imhotep. If I can convince Imhotep to save Calista's life, then Osiris has promised me that he will allow him to return in our times, as a man of honor and peace."
"I won't let you go," said Alex.
"There's nothing you can do about it. I'm going!"
"Be reasonable, Amanda!"
"No! I won't! I love Imhotep! I must help him!"
The Medjai gasped at her announcement, and several dropped to their knees, bowing low, with no explanation for their behavior to either Achmed or Alex. With a sigh of exasperation, Alex walked away from Amanda, pacing the floor, leaving Achmed to try to convince her to leave with them. He finally gave up and joined Alex, while the guards looked on, confused and troubled. She soon found herself surrounded by the Medjai, but as fearless as Calista, Amanda brushed past them and confront her cousin and his friend.
"I am serious about this," said Amanda. "Haven't either of you ever wondered why you two are not effected by the thoughts of another? I am fighting to stay in control, but Calista is growing stronger the longer we are here. It's obvious that neither of you lived in ancient Egypt in another life. But I did. I am living it now. Either help me, Alex O'Connell, or I swear in the name of Osiris, and Oden, that I'll leave you both here. I mean it."
"It means that much to you?" Asked Alex.
"He means that much to me. You know what happens to Imhotep in the future. I don't want him to suffer for all eternity in the burning pit of Duat, surrounded by demons and monsters. He deserves more. Until he met Anck-Su-Namun, he was a good man, and a respected high priest. She brought about his ruin. I might not be able to prove it, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she is behind Senmut's rivalry. She is a beautiful woman. I am sure Senmut has noticed. Senmut certainly noticed Calista."
Shivering, Akhenaton kissed an ankh hanging around his neck. "The priest you speak of, Senmut, is a dangerous man. He has long tried to sway our Pharaoh to pray to Anubis and not Osiris. The Medjai have many times in the past fought with the priests of Anubis, and we have defeated them each time. We shall again."
"And if it is Calista who is behind Imhotep's downfall?"
Akhenaton shook his head. "I know not the future."
"Well, I do!" Amanda announced. "Alex, I in control of this body. For now. Return me to the temple. I will meet you down river at the Temple of Osiris. Just make certain you are there with the Orb on the Night of Souls. Somehow I'll convince Imhotep that he must trust me. If I can keep him from sacrificing Calista and help her escape, then Osiris will be satisfied and Imhotep's soul will be released from the underworld Duat in three thousand years to be reborn again. Is that so much to ask?"
"It's too risky," said Alex, worry lines creasing his forehead and his eyes filled with concern. "I can't allow it."
"You have no choice. None of us do," Amanda replied. "This is why we are here, Alex. I have to go through with this or Osiris isn't going to let us go home. Do you understand?"
Alex sighed heavily. "Oh, very well. I know how you are when your mind is made up. But we'll go back to the tmeple shortly before dawn. It is safer for you to stay here with us for the night than try to last an hour more in that cursed place. I promise. I'll get you back in time, Amanda." He glanced at the duplicate of his father. "Will you help us return Amanda, I mean, Calista, to the royal temple before the sun rises?"
"Yes," said Akhenaton. "Leave it to me."
Shortly before dawn, Akhenaton led Amanda, Alex and Achmed, all dressed in hooded blue robes, to the royal temple. As the outer doors were barred and sealed, he showed them another way inside and revealed a secret door which the priests of Anubis had used the night before in their attempt to murder Calista. She handed over her blue robe to Akhenaton once he opened the door and motioned for her to enter the dark shaft that led within the temple. Left wearing only her transparent white robe, she cut a beautiful but vulnerable figure as she hugged each man farewell, then entered the small passage.
A short crawl brought her crawling out into the interior of the temple. The first rays of sunlight trickled in from a small hole at the top of the vaulted ceiling. The sides of the hole were inlaid with crystals, which caused the light to be directed to Osiris' gem filled eyes, making them glow bright blue. It was quiet within the temple and the torches had long since burned out, however, she could plainly see the giant statue of Osiris. She came to stand at the steps leading up to the statue and knelt down, her arms crossed over her chest and bowed her head.
Within a short time, she heard noises outside the doors to the temple, though she remained in a submissive position, even after noticing at her side the two dead cobras. With a groan, the large double doors were opened inwards and a line of priests dressed in loincloths entered the room, with Imhotep bringing up the rear, carrying a folded robe in his arms. The priests formed two lines in front of Osiris, chanting softly, while Imhotep came forward and with quick salute to his god, he joined her on the steps and placed his hand on her shoulder. Then he noticed the two dead poisonous snakes.
"You have survived the night. Osiris has blessed you, Calista. You are worthy to serve the great god of the dead."
Amanda remained in full control of the body and her senses, and as she lifted her head to look upon Imhotep, looking as handsome as ever dressed from head to toe in a long gold robe that hung open, revealing his bare chest, and a maroon ornate loincloth around his lean hips. Se could not help the softening of her gaze or the trembling of her lips at the sight of his manly beauty. Nor could she stop herself from pressing her cheek against the hand resting upon her shoulder. She loved him. Whether he felt anything for her or not did not matter. Nothing matter except that she was there, in ancient Egypt with her childhood fantasy lover, and he was real and solid, close enough for her to touch, and within her was the means to save him for a life of torment in the pits of hell.
His hand slid off her shoulder immediately and he motioned for her to stand. She rose to her feet and glanced down at her white robe. It was soiled and torn. Yet, Imhotep made no comment on the condition of her robe, bent on the task of placing around her shoulders a plain robe of gold, similar to those worn b his priests. He left her long braid beneath the neckline of the robe and lifted the hood over her golden hair, briefly meeting her gaze, before he turned her around to face his priests. The priests, numbering twenty, immediately bowed their heads.
"Come Calista," said Imhotep into her ear. "The priests will remain here and pray." He gazed back at Osiris, then back to the slave, a puzzled look on his face. "You will tell me of your ordeals once we are on the boat and sailing toward Karnak."
"Yes....master," Amanda heard herself say.