CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Nice. Where did you get that?" ask Jonathan when he saw Dakota slip the pocket watch back inside the pocket. He looked up. "Your mother brought that to you (chuckle) I could get that for free, special for my nephew".

Dakota scoop the last bite inside his mouth. His full mouth spoke. "Don't look over at her. She went to Bettany's house early this morning. So she makes us a quick breakfast". he then walks toward the sink, and grabs his bag. "Bye Uncle Jonathan".

"Yeah. Be careful". He watched Dakota walking out the house.

Abandon museum. Same day. Imhotep was seated on the empty fountain as Baltus Hafez and Lock-Nah walked toward. Looking up and seeing these two men approaching him, he didn't smile. Both men bow to Him.

"My lord". he speak in ancient Egypt. "We have to act now, you are wasting your time. Without the bracelets we cannot done something we wanted to do. I am not trying to stop you for having a family but you must listen to me.. (breath) Meela is trying to do something behind our back. I have sourced that news before it's too late".

Baltus Hafez and Lock-Nah back away as Imhotep rises up from where he is seated. His face is not in the mood.

Meela? what she is trying to do. "I can't hurt my family". Imhotep said in ancient times.

"You don't have too. As a father, you must convince the child that he will bring you the bracelet".

School day. Hand under chin. Dakota was half asleep as his eyes stared at the teacher standing near the chalkboard teaching the students including him.

Don't know why he got so tired today. He usually went to bed early even last night, like his eyes lured him into this. Perhaps this weather makes his eyes want to shut and fall asleep right away.

He tried to fight this slumbering, but his sight slowly blurred and about to snooze and then his eyes suddenly widened open, he gasped as the vision came through out of nowhere. He looks around the class thinking does anyone see this.

In fact no one seems bothered about the vision he saw right now. Which means they couldn't see anything and they just focus on the teacher who is now writing on the board.

He takes a deep closer to see what kind of vision this is. The vision was a man he knew, and it was Imhotep.

What is he trying to show him? What is he trying to do? He was smirking and his hand tried to reach him.

"Dakota?"

He snapped and got his sight back when someone called his name out, the vision he saw earlier was gone. So did Imhotep.

"Are you dreaming during the day? really? in my class?"

"I'm sorry just.. something I'd just seen.. never mind".

Shooking his head, if he tells what he saw will they believe it? The teacher then walked to his table. "Believe me or not I want you to wash your face then back in this class. Do you understand?"

"Yes".

"Now go".

He pushed the chair then ran out from the classroom straight to the boys toilet. He washed his face at the sink again and again. Then he sighs and studies his own face in the mirror.

What should I do now where the vision comes from?

.."Dakota.."

Shocking, he turned his back, shocking to see Imhotep standing right on his back. The same smirking he sees in his vision earlier, where the hell Imhotep comes from.

He didn't hear the door swing open, he didn't hear anything and now this.. Imhotep.

"How did you get in here?"

"Through the door". said Imhotep.

"No. I mean how did you know I was in here and how did you know where my school was". Imhotep smiled. "You're stalking me aren't you Imhotep!"

"I love the way you pronounce my name. I didn't stalk you Dakota".

Dakota backs away, he asks a question. "The vision earlier, it was from you". Imhotep nods. "Why?"

"Because I need your help, something your mother took from me. Before that.. I want to show you something important that could affect your life".

"I don't understand".

Dakota backs away again as Imhotep approaches him. "Don't be afraid I won't hurt my own son". Dakota was about to open his mouth when Imhotep called him a son.

Imhotep shows him another vision from his past life. What Dakota sees now was.

Imhotep was High Priest of Osiris, and carried out his position effectively, becoming the trusted adviser and close confidant of along with being the Grand Vizier to Zozer, and by Imhotep designed and oversaw the construction of the temple of Amun Ra.

Even devising the means of moving the large bricks of the pyramids, despite his position.

Imhotep lived out a great secret, the daughter of the pharaoh Princess Nefertiri was the love of Imhotep.

Dakota leaned on the sink, gasping. The vision that showed Nefertiri was his mother Evelyn.

The vision then show Dakota where Imhotep begging to spare his life from death. That night he was accused by the pharaoh.

And Imhotep had been sentenced to his own death. It is described as the worst of all ancient Egyptian curses. One so horrible, it had never before been bestowed.

"Hom-Dai curse. If you ask".

The vision was gone. Dakota eyes on Imhotep.

"My fellow priests were mummified alive and buried inside the walls of the city. As for me I was forced to suffer the Hom-Dai curse. Your mother friend the medjai, were tasked with preventing anyone from setting foot in Hamunaptra where my body buried at the feet of a statue of Anubis fearing of my return".

Dakota gulping, he spoke. "So your body was supposed to remain in Hamunaptra?" Imhotep nod yes. "What did it have to do with my mother?"

"I was awake because of your mother. There is an inscription from the book she shouldn't read, as I try to regenerate myself while I was looking for her. Your mother reborn was my destiny to be with me, as you can see now the woman I love was Nefertiri, that is your mother".

Dakota cried. "And I was like.."

"My son. You are my son".

"How?" Imhotep smiles, Dakota demands the answer. "How! How can I be your son? all these years I'll be asking myself who I was and my father. She didn't tell me, all she told me was that he never existed and was a bad person who destroyed her life".

Dakota stares at him. "You destroy her life!" he points out. "It's all about you!"

"If I can't have her, no one can. I had to do something, my obsession toward Nefertiri was never endless. I took my REVENGE!"

His voice rose. Dakota feels the buildings are shaken and vibrated.

"My death wasn't an accident. It's all the pharaoh's fault I DIED! And yet you are here.. my son. I thought I would lose you, thought your mother would kill you because you.. are.. my.. blood and flesh".

Imhotep cried, he spoke back. "Bring me the bracelet that your mother took from me". his hand reached Dakota but then the door burst open. Imhotep out of sight, Dakota looks at the door.

"What took you so long?" It was his teacher. Dakota turned where Imhotep was standing just now. "Who are you talking to, come on. You missed the class, thought you were fainted or asleep inside here. Come on now".

Slowly he walked to his teacher. Tonight, no matter what he will ask Evelyn and the truths or else he will choose to stay with his father Imhotep with the bracelet he asks for.

"What is this?" Evelyn reaches the box at the table. "A gift?"

"For you son". said Robert. "Just know he likes ancient things so I found something that he could use". She smiled. "I would like to say thank you".

Evelyn nodded. Before she went home everything was settled down for Robert just he needed to ask Joe or his parents for his use.

She then grabbed her things and the box. "Don't be. We're now are friend".

Dinner with Carnahan. Evelyn noticed since she got back from home Dakota hadn't said any word, not even greeted her back from work.

Remember the gift Robert gave to her, perhaps it will cheer him up.

"Dakota". push the box to him. "My employee knows how fascinating you are about ancient things, and he gave you this. Thought you will like it". her smile wider, Dakota ignored it. "Sweetheart? what the matter. Don't you like it".

Jonathan, eyeing his nephew, Evelyn smiles again. "How about we open together after dinner, it could be fun. Am I right Jonathan?"

"Dakota. Your mother brought you a present even though it wasn't your birthday yet. You should appreciate and thank your mother, who would be polite. What with the face anyway?" ask Jonathan. "Your face shows that your mother is doing something wrong".

Evelyn gently reaches Jonathan's hand as her eyes back to Dakota. "If you don't like this gift I will return it to him". Dakota looked up. "It's just a gift".

"All these years I've been asking myself and how it started. You didn't say anything. I keep hearing Imhotep's name, but you didn't answer who he was and now I know the truth. First I want to hear it from your lips".

"You sound so tense Dakota. What is it?"

The boy didn't smile as he spoke. "Is it true Imhotep was my father?" her lips stuttering, she and Jonathan stare at each other. "So is true then".

"Where did you hear that? I don't think it was the truth".

"You lied! He told me everything. Now I give you a chance mother.. is Imhotep my father?"

"No. Imhotep was not your father".

Dakota pushes the chair, his face red angry with Evelyn who is still not telling the truth about Imhotep. Why is she doing this? Why does she keep this secret?

"YOU ARE LYING MOTHER!"

"DAKOTA!"

"I KNOW THE TRUTH! I know who Imhotep was, he is my father so you keep the secret away from me. I give you a chance to tell me the truth and you waste it". his eyes to Jonathan. "So did you. Both of YOU!"

He then ran upstairs without finishing his food. Evelyn gasps, cries and her chest hurts.

How could Dakota do this to her, what possessed him to shout at her like that. This is not Dakota she raised for, this is not him.

"Evie. It is time".

"NO! I will not lose him Jonathan".

"You will lose him no matter how hard you try to keep this secret from him. Dakota knows the truth".

"How sudden?"

Jonathan sighs, speaking back. "Imhotep is the reason Dakota knows the truth today. He must show him something that you barely speak of. So now you have to do this Evie before it is too late".

Abandon museum. Late at night. Imhotep wasn't asleep not yet, his mind was messed up. He stood at the empty balcony with the view at night. His heart keeps telling him that someone will come for him.

Who? He doesn't know yet.

Half an hour standing, he turned his feet and walked back inside but something stopped him from doing so. Imhotep then turned back at the view, searching as he looked down at the ground.

There was Dakota standing outside this building, Imhotep smiling. He quickly bolted out from the room, meeting him outside.

Meela had her eyes on Imhotep, she watched him running through the empty corridor downstairs. His black robes flowing at the back as he walk. She breathed heavily then slammed the door shut.

"What are you doing here Dakota?" ask Imhotep.

He shows Imhotep the bracelet that he accidentally wears on wrist. He stole it from his mother, he didn't intend to wear that bracelet.

That thing had a magnet attached to his wrist, so he quickly found Imhotep and told about it.

"Baltus Hafez will help you with that, as the bracelet took it off from you I want you to return to your mother". Dakota shook his head. "Why not?"

He looked up. "Because I stole this bracelet from her without her noticing and the truth.. I ran away from home".