CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Bettany's House. Evelyn seated on the kitchen floor eating ice cream, her back leaning on the door fridge. Joe company with whom he is making a meat pie.

He smiled down at her even though she was upset about last night the way Dakota could behave toward her, she will not accept this and this is all Imhotep's fault.

"Do you have a child Joe?" she asked. "What is it like?"

"I didn't have a child nor a wife. I've been serving my life with Bettany's since I was in my early twenties, of course I was working with his father George. When his son Abraham asked me to live with him and I accepted it. He wasn't married yet that day, until he was happy with Amelia and Robert".

She chuckled. "Abraham and I are the same age". he smiled.

"You know the family well". she scoop the ice cream inside her mouth again. "Last night Dakota demanded the truth about his father".

"I know. That is why you are sitting on the floor eating ice cream, I know that kind of trick. Even Amelia if she had a fight with Abraham. I don't understand why all women always eat ice cream when they are upset".

This time she scooped a large amount inside her mouth, and he spoke back. "So the answer is yes. Does he receive the gift?"

"He barely looks at it. I keep it in my room until his mood calms down, then I give it back to him".

Baltus Hafez scans the bracelet that is attached to Dakota's wrist. Imhotep was standing not far from his son, Lock-Nah standing at the end of the corner.

Both men are watching this. "My lord. This bracelet won't take off but this bracelet will give us direction to Ahm Shere. Your son is everything for us". he said in ancient times.

Lock-Nah walked closer. Imhotep sighs. "Then we should bring my son to Ahm Shere".

"Yes. But..? we must reach Ahm Shere within a week or else the bracelet will kill him". Imhotep eyes stare down at Dakota, as a father of course he panics. He doesn't want Dakota to die like this. "That's an order".

The door then swung open, Meela on view. She smiles at the men, especially Dakota. "You?"

"Surprise". she smirked, Imhotep eyeing her. "Of course. Everything you heard from me was a lie to get to you".

Her eyes then up to Imhotep. "What a wonderful son you have, my lord". She rubbed her shoulder against Imhotep as she walked past then stood beside Lock-Nah.

Baltus Hafez frowned, said. "We have to move my lord. I suggest it tonight, we don't have much time left. For sake for your son we must".

Back in Bettany house. After eating ice cream in the kitchen, she went to another room and sat on the balcony window.

Staring at the view while her mind thinks of Dakota. She didn't realize Robert entered the room, so he stopped clearing throat.

"I hear something happens between you and your son. Is it because of the gift I gave him".

"He barely looks at it". She turned to him. "No. It wasn't the problem of your gift.. it was just me. The problem came to me. He wanted the truth that all". he nod understood. "I can't believe he acts like that, he even barks at me and I'm his mother".

Robert sighs. "Children. I don't have a child but I know. I used to be like that once, can't imagine that". he gently reached her hand. "He'll be fine after this". he smiled.

"I don't feel right. Something is going to happen in my family".

He takes his hand back but then suddenly she grabs his hand back, tightly. Their eyes met.

"Robert? If anything happens to me I just want you to know that I will never ever give up looking after you, I pray for you and I want to see you walking again".

Nod. Patting her hand. "I'll wait for you to come back to me". he smiled. "I will".

Later in the evening. Evelyn brought something for Dakota to cheer him up again, promising herself she will tell everything that she keeps from him. As she arrived at the door Jonathan was in her view, she greeted him with a smile.

"What?"

Moments later. Evelyn bite her nails when she finds out Dakota ran away from home and took the bracelet with him. How is it possible? what he is trying to do and where is he now. Could be him with Imhotep and the bracelet.

"Ardeth is not here. I've been informed he is still in Abu Simbel".

Jonathan took a seat beside her.

"Evie? He probably went to Imhotep, I am sure he is. Where could he be and the bracelet? of course Imhotep needs the bracelet that Ardeth warned us about before, we must protect the bracelet no matter what but somehow Dakota betrayed and brought that bracelet to him".

She cried. "What did I do wrong?"

"We're nothing to do wrong Evie. Just a mistake we did". he patted her back. "We wait until Ardeth comes back, we should tell him everything we know and where we should find Dakota. We cannot risk our life like this.. we need Ardeth".

He breathed. "I want you to breathe and sleep. Tomorrow we'll figure it out".

"How can I sleep while my son is staying with the monster! Jonathan! This is Imhotep we talk about".

"Imhotep won't hurt him, Evie. Dakota is his son too. He won't do anything to harm him or someone trying too as long Imhotep was there. Nobody dared to touch him".

He breathed. "Sleep. I'll be staying all night. You stay in your room and don't do anything stupid that could hurt you".

Night. Imhotep stood at the balcony staring at the night view again. Baltus Hafez, Meela, Lock-Nah and the cult are busy preparing to leave tonight.

Dakota approached and stood beside him. Imhotep looked down at him.

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't let you near the bracelet". he breathed. "What happened between you and your mother". Imhotep asked.

"My fault actually. I just want the truth about my father and she didn't try to. Now I'm stuck here waiting for my death within a week". his eyes up to Imhotep. "Will my mother know where I am?".

Imhotep smiles a bit. He spoke. "She will". he bent down at Dakota level. "I will get you there I promise once the bracelet is off your wrist. I'll stop and come back to your mother".

"Do you really love her?"

"Of course. Not because she is the Nefertiti reincarnation I love, she is who she is. I can't compare they both they are the same. And I chose your mother".

Dakota snickering. "I know you will". his eyes met Imhotep. Baltus Hafez walking in. "Time isn't it?" ask Dakota to Baltus Hafez.

"Yes boy. Is time my lord".

Midnight. Evelyn was asleep in her room, Jonathan was right, she need to keep her mind relaxing for a bit. If she is trying harder that could affect her health, yes.. she needs Ardeth to save her son.

She needs energy to fight this.

The room is completely pitch black, the windows are wide open. Cold breeze slapped on her skin, with half eyes open she saw someone standing right in front of the window room.

Only the light of the moon proves to her that there's someone or something standing there.

A shadow she could see in a darkness room of her own. The shadow slowly approached her bed though it was Dakota. She patted beside her bed asking him to lay beside her, forgetting that Dakota wasn't at home since last night.

But who it could be. Then she remembered it wasn't her son.

"Oh my GOD!" she jumped off the bed. It was Imhotep who visited her. "Stay AWAY!" she leaned at the end of the corner room. "Where's Dakota?"

Imhotep sighs. "He's with me". he spoke in English. "I am so sorry. If it wasn't me.. it won't happen".

"Yes. I blame you for that. What did you do to him? what did you tell him!"

"Everything". she gasped. "Everything he needs to know that I am his father, you can't keep this secret from him. He had the right to know who I was".

Evelyn snickering, said. "And what? telling him that his father was an ancient Egyptian priest, dark magic? Will he believe it!"

"He believed what he saw".

"You manipulated his mind Imhotep!"

Imhotep slowly approached her. All he was here because he wanted to tell her something about their son and not try to argue.

Dakota's life depends on him and Evelyn. "Back OFF!"

He stop. "I'm not try to fight a word with you Evelyn. I am here because.. is our son life. He accidentally wears the bracelet on his wrist".

"You come in here to tell me that".

"Not just that. I asked him to bring the bracelet to me so he did. Once he had, he began to see visions of a journey to far-off destinations ending with Karnak. I try to remove that bracelet but could not. If he didn't reach Ahm Shere within a week that bracelet could kill him".

Evelyn gasped, cried. Don't know how to react after hearing this. Her knee weak as she slowly dropped, Imhotep caught her. She shoved him away. "Don't touch me!"

"Evelyn!" he cupped her face, their eyes met. "Listen to me. I know it is hard to believe but he's my son too. We're in this together".

"How do you say that!"

"Trust me".

"I don't trust an evil priest like you!"

Imhotep breath. "You have to. For the sake of Dakota life. We'll be leaving tonight, there is a woman who will do anything to get me. She wants me to love her, follow our journey for the next day and bring the medjai with you. He'll know what to do".

"Dakota.."

"He will be safe with me. I promise you no one could harm him as long as I was there no one will".

Evelyn didn't flinch as Imhotep kissed her on the forehead, all her mind was to save Dakota. Didn't care if Imhotep gave her a kiss or whatsoever. He gave her another kiss.

"Trust me Evelyn".

Imhotep vanishes from her sight. She didn't move for a minute until.. "JONATHAN!"

Moments later. Platform. The cult struggles with their heavy things. Imhotep and Dakota on his father's side.

Baltus Hafez, Lock-Nah and Meela walk not far from them. She makes Baltus Hafez stop his walk. She faced him.

"Do we have to babysit this boy Hafez!"

"The boy has his father. Beside the bracelet we need not the boy, that because the bracelet on his wrist we have to bring him Meela. Which sentence you don't understand".

She snorted, and spoke back. "I could cut his arm for that bracelet and leave the boy behind".

"Shut up! If Imhotep hears this you will not be forgiven. I give you advice.. if you want the boy's father then treat the boy like your own. Never tried to make Imhotep instantly kill you before you arrived in Ahm Shere. Do you understand?"

She snarled as her eyes watched Imhotep and Dakota stepping inside the train finding the compartment to stay.

Her eyes then went back to Hafez. "I have my own plans!" grit her teeth, she walks then enters the train. Lock-Nah shook his head.

"Crazy isn't it?" ask Lock-Nah to Baltus Hafez. "She never stops chasing that man".

Baltus Hafez looked up at him. "I know Meela and she won't stop until she gets what she wants".

"So true then. She does dark magic of her own". Hafez nodded. "What kind of dark magic does she learn?"

"No one knows, not even me. I bet myself she is more powerful than Imhotep or both are. With their combined powers they two definitely will destroy this world".

His eyes to Lock-Nah and smirking. He walked. "Come Lock-Nah. We have a long journey we need to get to".