She Devil

Kiedi was furious, his men had failed him, they had failed to bring the Med-jai chief to him, and now he was protected by one of those damned guardians. He tried to remember the tails of the scared protectors. They were witches, charmed beings possessors of beauty, wile and magic. They controlled fire and could bend material objects to their will. They were trained as warriors from the day they were born. In short they were dangerous. He knew a few of his weaker men would have problems with killing women, he however had no such hang ups, he would kill his mother if it led him to infinite riches and power.
He had also heard the stories of Imohtep. He knew he was no longer a threat, so he had rounded up a group of bandits and thugs to help him get the book of the Med-jai, he had hired diggers to help him when he undid the spell that hid Hamunaptra from evil eyes. The only problem was, he was missing the Med-jai chief, and he was the key element of the puzzle. He needed Ardeth Bay’s blood to unlock the book.
The short fat man looked up as one of his men ran in.
“They have come to us, they have walked right into the trap, just as you said they would”

Almara had made some inquiries and had found out that some men were using an underground complex as a base. No one knew what exactly they were doing but it was decided it should be checked out.

Rick and Ardeth entered the tunnel first, followed by Evie and Almara with Mett bringing up the rear. She had offered to go first but sheer male pride had forced them to decline.
“Dammit it all to hell” Evie swore. The small group all turned to look at her in surprise
“What’s wrong?” Rick asked.
“I ripped my skirt” Evie replied looking sheepish.
They quickly carried on along the tunnel, they eventually came to a large room, it was dark and damp. Eventually it was determined there were two tunnels. It was decided that Rick and Ardeth should go down one, and Evie, Almara and Mett should go the other. Firing one shot if they got into trouble.

They where half way down the tunnel when Almara felt that something was wrong, she didn’t want to be away from Ardeth. It had nothing to do with her love for the warrior, she sensed something, something that scared her, that thing was death, it almost seemed to be creeping up behind her. She knew it was taunting her, letting her know there was nothing she could do to save the man she loved. All of a sudden a thought came into her mind. Yes there was something she could do.
Mett and Evie turned in shock as Almara turned and ran back the way they had come at a phenomenal pace. They ran as fast as they could, knowing exactly where she was going. The reason however escaped them.

Ardeth and Rick were backed up against a wall literally. They had entered what seemed to be a ritual chamber, as soon as they had relaxed slightly they had been ambushed.
A short fat man stepped forward a distorted smile on his pudgy face. He reached into his oversized red robes and pulled out a small jagged dagger out, it’s blade glinting in the torchlight.
“Ardeth Bay, I have been waiting for you, you will make me a very rich man” Kiedi laughed slyly. Rick protectively stepped in front of his friend. Before he could do any damage he was set upon and tied up. Ardeth however hadn’t moved. Hadn’t Almara said she had, had a vision of a man in red robes throw a dagger and kill him? His heart sank, the gods wished him to die, so he would die, he despaired at not seeing his beloved again. Two men removed Ardeth’s robes, leaving him naked from the waist up, they held him as Kiedi made a deep cut across his chest. He was about to make another cut, when the two men holding Ardeth burst in to flames. Kiedi backed away in horror. Rick looked up and saw Almara standing at the entrance to the room. She quickly killed the men that had ran at her. Ardeth managed to grab his sword.
Rick watched in horror, everything seemed to be a blur, the man threw his dagger, but before it reached it’s target Almara appeared. The dagger hit her in the chest she fell to the floor motionless. Ardeth went berserk, he felled everyman in the room in a matter of seconds. Evie untied Rick and they rushed over to where Ardeth was cradling Almara’s body in his arms. Evie sank to her knees as she realised her cousin was dead.
Ardeth looked up at Rick tears staining his face.
“What am I to do?”
It was all Rick could do not to break down, the look on his friends face almost killed him, he remembered how he had felt when Evie had died a few years previously. He sent up a prayer to the gods, Allah who ever was listening. Ardeth had helped save the world on two different occasions it was about time he got something back.
“You are right O Connell, Ardeth doesn’t deserve to lose the woman he loves neither did you, that is why the gods allowed her to return to you.” Mett said exiting the shadows.
“That’s is why Almara will be returned to you Ardeth, she is still needed, she has to give the guardians an heir, and of course the Med-jai need an heir as well.”
Ardeth looked at the big cat hope in his eyes. “Lie her down, and step away” she commanded. Ardeth did as he was told. He and Rick watched in amazement as a bright light engulfed her body. Evie smiled as she remembered the warm feeling that had caressed her body as she had taken a breath. She had also received a glimpse of her future and knew she was destined to grow old with her husband, she had been told in a round about way it was her reward for helping to defeat Imohtep. She prayed Almara would be as lucky.
Ardeth rushed forward as Almara sat up.
“My love” she gasped as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Devil do not leave me again” he sobbed in relief.
“It is alright my warrior, everything is going to be fine”
Evie noticed her cousin had a serene smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes.
“Come, we must get the book back to the Med-jai elders. And then you are all invited to our wedding” Ardeth smiled helping Almara to her feet.
“Oh but Jonathan and Alex will be disappointed to miss it” Evie cried in despair
Almara looked disappointed.
“We will wait until the end of the month, but no longer” Ardeth replied hoping he could control himself till then.