𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐕𝐄, 𝙞𝙢𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙭 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙘

Chapter six

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

I woke up only to find my throat raw from screaming and many tears dampened my cheeks, showing that I had been crying severely. The dream felt so very real. I cursed these visions. I had just realised an arm was snaked around my middle and I heard a soft and comforting voice next to my ear. "Erebus. Shh. Just a nightmare. Breath. Breath for me." Imhotep. His left arm held onto me tight whilst his right hand caressed my left cheek. I breathed in and out just like he said, although it was heavy. I gulped and swallowed, trying to shake the excess remnants of the vision out from my head. "Shhh. Easy now." He stroked my cheek and jawline, helping me to remain calm. But the tears kept coming. Did it really happen? Were my feelings for the High Priest that great? And Erebus never got to tell him. He got killed for it.

Suddenly, anger rose inside me. I shot up and stood, causing Imhotep to fall back and flinch due to my fast movement. I walked around a bit, my hands roaming my hair. I was fully aware that his eyes were on me. They always seemed to be. "Oh by the Gods." I muttered to myself in English. "What shall I do?" Imhotep sat on his knees, staring at me blankly. But I could see a gleam of worry in his eyes. The tears poured from my eyes and soon my breath quickened again.

My chest tighten causing me to splutter and I had to turn away and put a hand to my mouth to muffle my sobs. "Erebus. Is it something that I have done? Am I the reason for your sadness?" I turned sharply towards him with mixed emotions. "It was her. It was all her!" I felt like punching something. But when I found that there was nothing around me, I hit my side. I did it over and over, hoping that the pain in my heart would be overcome by this. I couldn't take it anymore. I felt nothing but suffering and anger and I had enough. My life was fine before all this. Before I met Imhotep.

No. I shook my head. Imhotep is supposed to be my past self's love. Do not think that. I sunk to the floor in defeat and exhaustion, not knowing what else to do. I punched the floor when I remember Anck-su-namun in my vision. I yelled at the pain to my knuckles but I didn't care. I felt someone grab my forearms from behind and force them towards my chest. They wrapped their arms around my small frame and it felt as if they weren't planning to let go of me. "Get off!" I squirmed and shifted but it was no use. They were by far stronger than me.

"Stop it, Erebus. Do not fight me." Imhotep. "You need to stop. You are hurting yourself and I cannot bare to see you hurt." He hesitated a bit before saying, "My love." My heart almost skipped a beat. I shook my head and scoffed in disbelief. "No. No please - please." I cut myself off with a few sobs and I felt his arms tightening around me. He shushed me again and I tilted my head back to rest upon his shoulder. I felt his breath on my neck and then a slight peck of his lips as if he were teasing me. I sighed, closing my eyes, knowing all to well that this was familiar to me. To us.

"Imhotep, my darling." I growled at that voice. Anck-su-namun called over at the man that I was currently in the arms of. Imhotep looked back at the woman with a blank stare before turning to me. "Back to bed?" I could of sworn I saw him give me puppy eyes. I smiled through my tears and nodded. He picked me up and carried me back to the blankets without a problem. He set me down and pulled some over my body before lying down facing me. With a smile on his lips, Imhotep closed his eyes and I soon did the same.

I woke to the morning sunlight draping through the sides of the tent. I sniffed, sat up, and wiped my cheeks, feeling the dying tears still lingering on them. I huffed, recalling the night before. I hope that I was not too much trouble. Looking around, I found out that I was also alone. Both Imhotep and Anck-su-namun were not to be seen. But there was only one person on my mind right now, Alex. I stood up, noticing that my top-piece of my robes was missing, my chest was completely in view. I did not cover myself as the scorch of the Egyptian sun forbid me not to. I stepped into the sun, putting a hand in front of my eyes to hide them from the blinding light that surrounded me. 

We were still in the Temple Ruins of Karnak. Although the pillars stood high and proud, they did not help much against the sun. I gritted my teeth and went to find my nephew. He was sitting in the corner that I had seen him in the day before. He was hunched over something and his manner was rather on edge. He looked around every now and again checking if anyone was there. I walked over only to see him making an Egyptian landmark out of sand. "Leaving clues, huh? Clever you." Alex jumped back, startled. "Uncle, Jesus." He put a hand to his heart but nonetheless chuckled. "Yeah. For my parents." I nodded, realising that he must miss them dearly. I knelt beside him. "It's gonna be ok. They'll find us. Your mother is smart. Your father is strong. And Ardeth, well he's both. Just hang in there. We'll get to the pyramid in time. I'll make sure of it." I told him with a smile. 

Alex sniffed and nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm just anxious." I sighed. I knew the feeling completely. I embraced him for a moment, before hearing my name being called. Or should I say, my past name. I let go of him but I still felt wary of leaving him. "Uncle, I'll be fine, just like you said. Go." Alex tried to reassure me. I bit my lip and strode away. The man in red that kept popping up found me and grabbed my arm. "Come with me. Prince Imhotep wants to see you." I rolled my eyes, wondering what it was that was so important that I had to be there for it. He led me down to the pond that Alex and I found yesterday and then left completely without another word. I shrugged and walked forward. 

Imhotep and Anck-su-namun sat side-by-side by the edge of the pond. When he saw me, Imhotep smiled warmly. "Erebus, come here. Your memories await you. Anck-su-namun, here, is no longer just body. Her mind and soul are back." He said triumphantly. I walked up to them and stared into the murky waters before me. "What if I don't want them." Imhotep raised his eyebrow and he looked as if I had offended him whilst Anck-su-namun looked somewhat pleased. "He doesn't have to get his memories back, does he, my darling?" I gritted my teeth. But Imhotep beat me to it. "Of course he does. He must. I need him to." I scoffed. "Why is that? Do I not have free will? I have had visions and I do not wish for anymore." I spat. Imhotep looked crushed. Anck-su-namun turned a little pale at the mention of my visions.

"What did you see, Erebus?" Imhotep questioned. I shook my head. "Enough. I saw enough. And I do not want more of it. It hurts and burns. Why would I want more?" He looked as if he was to say something. "No. Do not speak. All I wish now, is to go home with my nephew. I don't want to see you two again. Do I make myself clear?" I felt like punching Anck-su-namun. And funnily enough, I did. She fell to the floor and yelped. Just like the vision. I picked her up by the neck and chucked her away. "Do you remember this? Is this familiar?" I yelled at her but it was more like a growl if anything. She looked up at me with a look to say that she did. "You had a vision of that, then." She sneered. "I had the pleasure of doing it then and the Gods have given me another experience to do it again."

I shook my head. "Not this time. This time I'm walking away and you are not going to hurt me." I started to walk away, feeling slightly relished that this may be over. But I was stopped by Imhotep grabbing me from behind. He threw me to the floor and put a knee over my abdomen, preventing me from getting up. He grabbed my chin and jaw, forcing me to look at him. "You are not going anywhere." He purred down at me with a wicked smile. "I've waited too long for you. I will devour you, love you into flame." I couldn't believe it. I wasn't going to leave, was I? Imhotep's words honestly frightened me. I didn't know what to reply with so I just told him why. He smirked and started to mutter something under his breath. I soon started to feel drowsy. His face loomed over mine. "Rest now, my love. Soon we will be reunited." 

.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.