Bathed Silver in Mercury

XXI. Nick and Elerie

"Elerie's here by the way," Vail stated as he led Nick through the underground tunnels of the crusader tomb. 

Nick's heart leapt.  "What?"

"She followed you. She really shouldn't be here, you know." Nick stared blankly back at him. "Dude, Ahmanet is never going to let her live, you know that right?"

He realized Vail was right. He would have to make sure the mummy didn't get anywhere near her.  But he had to find her first. 

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that with mummies crawling around down here!" she scolded when he did find her.

"Sorry."

"God, trying to give me a heart attack?"

"What the hell are you doing here?!" he hissed. "I told you I've got to do this alone-"

"I know!" she hissed back. "I know! But I don't want you to have to."

Nick led the way.  "He's right, you shouldn't be here."

"Who's right?"

"Vail."

"Vail?"

"You shouldn't be here. I told you I need to do this alone-"

"I know, I know. And I respect that, but I want you to know that you don't have to. We both entered that tomb. We both played a part in setting Ahmanet free.   I'm here for you. Now let's go get this bitch."

As always, Nick was impressed by her fierceness. "Okay, yeah let's go."

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The tunnels were indeed crawling with mummies, awakened by Ahmanet's power, the skeletal bodies of crusaders risen from their tombs. And they were vicious.  This provided many scares and close calls.

Elerie shrieked when a mummy she hadn't seen coming up behind her was decapitated by Nick. Both were distracted by this, so neither saw the mummy that came up and shoved them off the path and down into a murky pool of water. 

Disoriented, both splashed around. She shook violently from the scare and shock of the cold water. "W-where are we?" she squeaked.

"I don't know-"

"How are we going to get out? What are we going to do-" Her bright eyes were wide and she was trembling in panic.

He reached out to hold her cheeks comfortingly, having her look at him so she wouldn't be distracted by their current surroundings and predicament and making her focus on him. 

"This is all your fault! All your fault! If you had just listened to me – none of this would have happened!" She was hysteric, flailing her arms and smacking the water. 

"Shh, shh, I know, I know." He held her cheeks in both hands, making her look at him.  "You're right."

This caused her to pause.  "Y-you're actually agreeing with me?"

"Yes.  You're right, this is my fault, all my fault, and I'm going to figure this out, I promise. Just stay with me, okay? Stay with me."

She reached up and held his face too.  Now she looked close to tears.  "I-I'm scared."

"I know, but it's going to be okay-"

"Don't leave me."

"No, never-"

He was cut off as something dark began to rise out of the water behind her.

No, not something, someone.  

A mummy.

The  mummy.   

He just made out Ahmanet's smirk in the dark as she grabbed Elerie and dragged her down.

(That scene where Ahmanet rises out of the water is so creepy, but I love it! ;)

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))