The High Priest's Princess

Chapter One

Thebes, City of the Living, second crown jewel to Pharaoh Seti the First. Home of Imhotep, Pharaoh's high priest, and keeper of the dead. Home to the first crown jewel, named after the Goddess of Love, Princess Hathor, sister to Princess Nefertiti, and love to Imhotep. Birthplace of Anck-Su-Namun, Pharaoh's mistress. No other man was allowed to touch her. But for Imhotep's love, he was willing to risk life itself. As Anck-Su-Namun has threatened to match Princess Hathor to another, Imhotep begged the Pharaoh's mistress not to take his love away from him. Of course, this came with a price. Anck-Su-Namun told the High Priest that he was to love her as she was his if he wanted his love to not be given away. Filled with dread, the High Priest did what he had to do. 

Filled with extreme guilt and hatred for himself, he killed the Pharaoh, selfishly, to keep his love with him. Not realizing that the mistress had no power over those things. The Pharaoh gazed at the boy that he considered a son, in the eyes, "My Priest, why?" Imhotep took a shaky breath, "I love the Princess Hathor. She was threatened to be taken away if I didn't do this." Pharaoh felt his life draining, "Who threatened my daughter?" Imhotep glared at the smug mistress, "Your mistress." The Pharaoh let out one last breath, "She has no power to do that, my son." Imhotep looked horrified at what he had done as the Pharaoh collapsed on the floor. 

Banging on the doors occurred and Imhotep looked at them, "Pharaoh's bodyguards. You witch! You tricked me!" Anck-Su-Namun smirked, "And now your love will forever be alone."  The Medjai busted into the chambers and Imhotep's priests started to drag him away, as he struggled against them, "No! She must pay!" Imhotep glared at Anck-Su-Namun's shadow on the wall as she killed herself and he vowed to resurrect her to make her pay for her crimes against his love. Imhotep felt hatred for himself, knowing that he didn't deserve his love anymore since he was the murderer of her father. 

To resurrect Anck-Su-Namun, Imhotep and his priests broke into her crypt and stole her body. They raced deep into the desert, taking Anck-Su-Namun's corpse to Hamunaptra, City of the Dead, an ancient burial site for the sons of pharaohs and a resting place for the wealth of Egypt. For his love and his revenge, Imhotep fared the gods' anger by going deep into the city, where he took the black Book of the Dead from its holy resting place. 

Anck-Su-Namun's soul had been sent to the dark underworld, her vital organs removed and placed in five sacred Canopic jars. Upon doing the ritual, Imhotep was filled with satisfaction, knowing that he'd make her second life full of hell for what she caused him. Anck-Su-Namun's soul had come back from the dead, and before he could complete the ritual, the Medjai followed and stopped him. Imhotep was filled with anger, "No!" Imhotep's priests were condemned to be mummified alive. As for Imhotep, he was condemned to endure the Hom-Dai, the worst of all ancient curses. As the Medjai went to start the Hom-Dai, a guard shouted for someone to stop. 

Princess Hathor had ran into the chamber and got on her knees in front of her love, "My love." Imhotep couldn't look her in the eyes, knowing he didn't deserve her. Princess Hathor teared up, "My love, please. Please, gaze me in the eyes." The leader of the Medjai bowed to the Princess, "Princess Hathor, the High Priest was caught trying to resurrect the Pharaoh's murderer and mistress." Hathor looked at her love, betrayed, "Please tell me it's not true. Please tell me that you are not in love with my father's bride and murderer." 

Imhotep looked at his love and teared up, "I love you, Hathor." Hathor sniffled, "Then why did you try to resurrect her? She killed my father and inadvertently killed my sister."  Imhotep gasped, "Princess Nefertiti is dead?" Hathor nodded, "She was on her balcony and fell after seeing our father being stabbed. I am to become the next Pharaoh's wife if you do not tell me right now why you went to her. Please for our child tell me you love me." Imhotep was at a crossroads, he either had to explain to his love why he was caught resurrecting the woman that tricked him and lose his love completely after telling her that he was the one that killed her father or keep silent and still lose her, dying knowing that she was to be another's. Either way, he was going to lose her. Imhotep kept silent and died inside, watching the love of his life sob as she ran out of the chambers. Then the realization hit him, his child? Was his love pregnant? Carrying his heir? She would not lie to him. 

The Medjai felt sorry for both of them, knowing that they loved each other, but one particular Medjai saw the inner turmoil that was consuming the High Priest and walked over to him, "What troubles you?" Imhotep gazed into the Medjai's eyes, "You stopped me from resurrecting the woman who ruined my life. I was going to ruin her second life for threatening my love. I was doing it for Goddess Hathor and most importantly, my love's peace. My child will be fatherless." 

The Medjai didn't understand but motioned for the Hom-Dai to proceed. One so horrible, it had never before been bestowed. Imhotep lay in his sarcophagus, screaming in pain as the scarabs feasted on his body. He was to remain sealed inside his sarcophagus, be undead for all of eternity. The Medjai would never allow him to be released, for he would arise a walking disease, a plague upon mankind, an unholy flesh-eater with the strength of ages, power over the sands, and the glory of invincibility. As he was guilty of his crimes, he would make the very one who wronged him, pay for her crimes. All while finding his love in the next life.