Life From Your Lips (Ruby Rose fanfic)

THIRTY-FIVE (Iselen POV)

Ruby's laughter echoes against the walls of this old room, it's been centuries since the last time a sound like this was heard in the depths of Karnak temple, probably, and scorpions and spiders shake below us, surprised by the vibrations. I push her slightly to move forward, impatiently, clenching my jaw and trying not to look at those disgusting and poisonous creatures. The sting of a scorpion hurts like a bitch, above all when there aren't powerful modern painkillers available, and I don't want to go through that situation again. Even if these ones aren't the lethal type, according to the high priestess.

"Fuck you, Lara, or Tiyi, or whatever your name is... I'm going to kick your ass so hard that you won't be able to sit down in your own trial," I growl angrily and the princess lets out another giggle.

"That's the spirit, Meri. I'm happy to see my feisty Iselen back again..."

"Get me out of here, Praa Sat, please..." I beg getting more and more nervous.

"We're almost here... See? I told you to trust me." A flood of relief spreads through my body when my foot steps on firm stone again and I can't help heaving a sigh, leaning my back on the wall because my legs feel weak suddenly. "Have I told you how much I love you, nebet?"

"Not since this morning," I answer pouting and she smiles.

"Sorry, my bad. I love you, Iselen, and will love you forever in every world and life." Ruby's lips meet mines and her tattooed hand cups my cheek gently; tension leaves my body definitely, I know everything will be all right as long as the Isis' high priestess remains by my side.

"I love you too. Let's go and find those assholes... Do you have any idea where we are?"

"I guess we're under the lake," she whispers pointing at the ceiling above our heads, the stone shines because of moss and moisture under the lamp light, there aren't paintings or reliefs here. "A channel connects it to the river, maybe they intend to escape that way..."

"Well, they're going to be disappointed, I'm afraid. I heard Amenenjat asking your brother to let him borrow the war boats your father built to fight the People of the Sea and they're monitoring the river Nile, searching every small fishing boat that's trying to get out of Thebes."

"The captain of the Medjay has bad taste to choose new wives but he knows how to do his job..." she mumbles walking slowly. "I don't like this, everything is too quiet and I can't hear Tiyi and Djedi's footsteps anymore. This place is giving me the creeps, we need to get out of here, Meri."

"I'm not crossing that bridge again so you better move on," I answer, following her angrily despite I'm very scared. We're lost in this massive temple of Amun and no one knows where we are, I don't think the guards have heard Ruby screaming from the hypostyle hall and they won't come to help us. "Do you think this is a trap?"

"I don't know, Iselen. What's that?" We both turn around, surprised because we can hear thumping sounds that echo across the tunnel... and, in addition to that... "It sounds like a toilet cistern."

"Praa Sat, I think it's the lake above our heads... There're pieces of rock falling on the floor, the tunnel is going to collapse and will get flooded..." I whisper quietly because I feel out of breath, panic runs wild through my veins and makes my legs shake but this is not the right time to pass out, damn it. "Run!"

Ruby doesn't think twice and grabs my hand before running down the corridor, I try to protect the oil lamp flame with my body because it doesn't stop shaking with the soft breeze, but it's difficult and I'm sure it'll go out soon, we'll be lost in the darkness... we could fall into a pit... full of scorpions... I shudder, terrified, but clench my jaw and keep running, clung to the princess to make sure I'm not losing her in this labyrinth. Ruby runs while extending her arm, grazing the wall with her fingertips to follow the path, while water sounds louder behind us and we can smell the moisture in the air.