His Princess

The Power of Love

"Mary, Mary!" cried Evy running over to her daughter's body. "I can't believe she stabbed herself! What was she thinking!?" cried Jonathan grabbing his head. "Wait a minute. Look!" said Alex pointing to Mary's eyes which had fluttered open. Only they weren't the bright blue the once were, they were a darker type of blue. The girl slowly sat up and looked down at the dagger embedded in her stomach before pulling it out letting the blood drip onto the ground. "Mary, what are you doing!? You could bleed to death!" said Rick putting pressure on the wound while Bassel pulled some bandages off his own body and began to wrap them around her waist. The girl said nothing as she silently rose to her feet looking at the portal. "The glow, maybe the portal's not all the way closed." said Alex following his sister's gaze. "Exactly, but with the last rays of the setting sun, it will be. We must find a way to get through." said the Minotaur. "I have an idea." said Rick. 

"Careful, these old war explosives can be extremely unstable. Drop them and you'll blow us both to bits." said Rick. "A way way trip to the pearly gates or a  relaxing tour of the Underworld. Talk about your no win situation." said Jonathan. "We're running out of time." said Alex jumping up a large rock to watch the setting sun. "The boy has speed, guile, and agility. He's no ordinary Medjia." said the Minotaur shaking his head. "Are you suggesting Alex may be more? Gah! Mary, put that down!" yelled Ardeth gently putting down his own explosives and snatching what looked like an old bomb out of her hands. Mary seemed to stare at Adreth thoughtfully and even walked around him in a circle as if deep in thought. "Mary, what are you doing?" asked Ardeth raising an eyebrow. "Everybody, take cover!" yelled Rick. "Dad, are you alright!?" asked Alex coming out from behind a large rock and ran towards Rick. "Yeah, just another day at the beach." said Rick rubbing his head. "The portal, we were successful. Mary, don't go in there on your own!" yelled Ardeth chasing after the teen. 

"According to legend, Duat has 12 levels. One for each hour of night." said Evy. "Each one more lovely than the next I suspect." said Jonathan. "The army of Jin lie in the lower most level." said the Minotaur. "We'll never get there in time. Imhotep has too big of a head start." said Alex. "There may be a way." said Bassel thoughtfully. "Please don't say we're traveling via Egyptian god again! Wait a second, where IS Anubis anyhow?" asked Jonathan. "I may know of another way. Centuries ago, I was entrusted with the secrets of Duat. There exists a path which can bypass many levels of the Underworld." said the Minotaur. "A shortcut, how grand." said Jonathan. "But this journey will take us through the most dangerous and unpredictable sections of the Underworld." said the Minotaur. "I knew it! There's always a catch. How come you didn't point that out, Mary!?" asked Jonathan looking over at his niece who crossed her arms and merely tilted her head at him. "It may be our only chance of beating Imhotep to the Jin before he can use the mandilion." said Ardeth keeping a firm grip on Mary's hand before she wandered somewhere ELSE. "This way." said the Minotaur pointing down a passage. "Have you discussed your suspicions with the boy?" asked the Minotaur. "I fear he would not believe me. Furthermore I'm far more concerned for his sister. She is not herself not to mention she stabbed herself with her own dagger with no explanation." said Ardeth looking behind them as Bassel walked with Mary. "We cannot afford to wait any longer. He may be our last hope." said the Minotaur. "I'm afraid that is where you may be wrong. Something tells me you're keeping an eye on the wrong twin." said Ardeth. "And what makes you think the girl is the answer?" asked the Minotaur. "Call it a gut feeling if you will." said Ardeth looking back at Mary who seemed no be paying everyone no mind. "Whoa, too bad this shortcurt doesn't come with a handrail." said Alex as Mary looked at him before going down the stairs without a second thought. "Mary, wait for us! I say, what's gotten into you!?" asked Jonathan carefully making his way down the stairs. "Watch out, that's last step's a doozy." "Be aware, this level is guarded by the Devourer of Spirits." said the Minotaur. "That's a catchy name. What exactly is it?" asked Rick. "Its form remains a mystery." said the Minotaur. "Bit of a recluse, eh?" asked Jonathan. "No one has ever encountered it and lived to tell the tale." said the Minotaur. Tut chattered and hid inside of Alex's shirt making him laugh and pat his shirt only to freeze at the sound of growling. "The Devourer is near. Stay close, Princess!" whispered Bassel pulling the girl close to him. "OK, that dagger did something to Mary! She's not even complaining that Bassel is trying to protect her!" hissed Jonathan. "How are we supposed to fight something that we can't even see?" asked Rick. "Mom, Dad, Mary!" said Alex as an invisible force knocked everyone back. Mary glared and grabbed Ardeth's sword from him surprising the Medjia. "Mary, WHAT are you doing!?" he cried. "OK, something's definitely wrong with my twin sister!" said Alex as Mary closed her eyes almost listening before her eyes snapped opening and she slashed at the invisible creature making it roar out in pain and drop Rick and Evy in the process. "I sure hope I'm seeing things. Mary, whatever's gotten into you, cut it out!" said Alex. "Mary, give me that and stop this foolishness!" said Ardeth trying to grab Mary only for her to carefully bite the blade of the sword and climb up a large rock. Mary pressed herself between to large rocks and pushed as hard as she could with her legs until one of the rocks gave way and landed on the Devourer. "I suggest we keep moving. And YOU aren't getting let out of my sight again!" said Ardeth taking his sword back and grabbing Mary's arm. "I like the way you think, Ardie!" said Jonathan. "Imhotep now has the time advantage he needs to raise the Jin. Alex must be told and he must believe." said The Minotaur. "Mary! Stop trying to pull me! What has gotten into you!?" asked Ardeth as Mary seemed to look at the Minotaur before dragged Ardeth forward. Surprisingly for a child, Mary was pretty strong.