Secrets of Silence [Imhotep]

[Heru Maahes]

• Time: 2:00 AM
  
• Setting: A dark Temple.
  
• Weather Conditions: Outside, sand is picked up high, but the moon is still visible. Windy.
  

A lonely night it was. But of course, that was how Heru liked it. He did not want to be pestered by the citizen's of Cairo, and really he thought of them all to be worthless. This was his little setting, and it seemed as if the temple had been unoccupied for some time now. Perfect. That was what he wanted. The ritual will go as I had planned it. No interruptions. Heru thought with a small smirk, soon lighting a few candles which stood on an alter.

Now folding his hands into the position of prayer, he slowly began to chant the words of his ritualistic manner, and keeping his voice dark all the while. "My lord, Apep! On this night, I am to offer you my soul. I am to pledge my loyalty, and to prove my worth to you! Great being of darkness, I am at your will. Whatever you ask of me, I shall welcome with open arms!" Heru said, releasing his hands from their current position, and reaching for a small black bowl, in which he sat on the altar.

Only moments after doing this, he pulled a dagger from his robe, and began to speak in an emotionless tone. "Apep. In an offering of respect towards you, I give you my blood. This is my oath to loyalty. This is my promise that I hold only to you! I give you my life, in return for the magick of your powers!" And just as he had said those words, he took the dagger and sliced a part of his hand--letting a portion of blood flow into the bowl.

He could feel the pain. Pain, and even so it hurt, Heru blocked it out. Pain was a sign of weakness. A sign of being inferior, like most of the people of Egypt were. And how well he knew that. All is well here. The dark man thought, lifting up his golden scepter up and motioning it over the bowl. He was rather enjoying this! Oh, how so much amusement this had caused! Apep would surely be pleased.

But even so, a noise could be heard and it broke through the still silence that had came to be. What the heck was it? Or just who was it? Surely no one else would be here at this moment! Heru just remained calm though, and realized that who ever it was wasn't anything of importance. Not to him at least. Or maybe it was? Who knew?

[Imhotep]

It was not unusual for High Priest Imhotep to make his rounds by his temple around this time of night. He would usually go to give offerings to Ra and pray like his dreaded occupation forced him. It was becoming a troublesome job, but he desperately needed it if he so wished to remain in the the Palace with Anck-su-namun and keep his 'loyalty' with King Seti I. But oh was Seti clueless, a rather amusing thought on his behalf. The poor 'King' was really a pawn of his own game. And so far, Imhotep believed there were none who were suspicious yet. If so, it would not take much persuading and convincing them with his skill and personality. A deceiver, Imhotep was. And a very skilled one at that.

With all of these thoughts, it's needless to say that Imhotep could not sleep, nor did he need much. He had already made his rounds visiting his beloved Anck-su-namun behind King Seti's back, and there would come no good from prowling around the palace at night. The last thing he needed were suspicious fools lurking around the quarters this late. Besides, the palace was rather dull at this time of night when every last person was sleeping, other than the guards on their night shifts protecting the King. This night was rather mysterious, though. It held an ominous air, though there was nary a threat to great Imhotep himself. Something felt...different. But it was not a bad feeling, no. In fact, it was quite intruiging. Something rose up inside of the High Priest as his black robes billowed in the wind.

His movements halted as there was a faint chanting not too far away. This was unusual, as few mortals had the ability to stay awake this long into the night. The chanting sounded as though it was coming from a temple, in which Imhotep himself headed in curiosity. The priest's movements became swift and stealthy, though still graceful. There was no need to arouse anything if anyone should still be awake, though it was highly unlikely. But after picking out the dull murmur as it became slightly louder, Imhotep halted just before a temple of a familiar god, though not one he would think many prayed to. Apep, one of the many gods that Imhotep himself hailed to, though none new. Interesting...His footsteps became quiet, but still audible as he passed through the grand entrance of the temple, halting as he found a man poised at the alter the a golden dagger in hand. Now this was an interesting ritual.

When the crimson blood was dropped into the bowl, Imhotep contained his calm and graceful composure and broke the silence of the night. "Ah, Apep. He shall be pleased with your blood," he said, bowing his head once at this dark individual. He did not know, but there was something...different that pulled Imhotep to this mysterious man. It was fascinating, because not many a person had this ability on the High Priest. This man was important, he knew.

[Heru Maahes]

Heru let out a wicked grin towards the man whom had entered the ritual setting. He wasn't expecting anyone else to be here, and thought himself to be alone. This man though, was different. But how so? Was it because he knew of what he was doing? Heru could only remain silent for the most part, and let his dark features do the talking for him. Most would be scared by now because of this.

"Indeed he shall." Said the dark man looking at the blood that seeped from his sliced hand. "But, I wasn't expecting anyone else to be here, on such a night. Who are you, anyways?" Heru asked in question as he soon wrapped his hand in a fine linen-like cloth. Heru had never seen this man before, but telling by the way he was dressed, he must have worked for Seti. Not like he cared anyway, but he did not know this man so how could he trust him right off the bat?

"And if you must know who I am, the name is Heru. Heru Maahes." He stated to the other face. And to tell the truth, he was named after a god whom he did not worship. Heru, also known as Horus. And why so did he take the name of such a god? Because he could, that's why!

[Imhotep]

The wicked grin upon the ominous man's darkened face said it all. He was unlike any other, which quite interested Imhotep to say the least. Imhotep allowed himself to break into a malevolent smile. Clearly the two were on the same page, even with an almost non-existant exchange of words. With just body language and clothing, the man already seemed wicked and deranged, though Imhotep was not one to speak, or jump to conclusions. Two of a kind it seemed, and there was something about this man that Imhotep could not ignore. And perhaps even the two shared something of the same occupation. He could not help but listen to the ritual and notice of recieving magick abilities in return. Perhaps he too was a sorceror, but it seemed to common to be true. However, this coincidence seemed naught a coincidence. Perhaps it was fate, or Apep's will.

"I agree." Imhotep's voice was fluent as he replied almost instantaneously. "It is a rather unusual location of introduction. I too did not expect a mortal to stay awake at this time of night." He silently watched the figure wrap his sliced hand that had just previously dropped sacrificial blood into the bowl before him for a few moments. "Forgive me of my careless manners," he started upon his introduction. "I am Seti I's High Priest Imhotep. It is a pleasure on this rather bitter night to meet you, Sir Maahes named from Horus," Imhotep said with no emotion in his voice. No, it was not a pleasure to meet such a man, but instead a fascination. Perhaps he was drawn so deeply to the creature because they were both extremely similar. Or perhaps Heru was just a different kind of man, one that he hardly ever had the chance to meet. Or maybe this introduction was just meant to be, in which Imhotep did not fight it.

"Pray tell, why wait so late into the night to worship?" Imhotep asked with interest, his coal black eyes fixated on the man before him. Perhaps the answer was clear enough, but the High Priest was hungry for information of this newfound creature.

[Heru Maahes]

Wasn't it obvious? Probably not, and so with that Heru paused in silence. "My friend, I usually perform such rituals when the mere citizens are asleep in their beds. I do not wish to attract attention from the likes of them. They are rather annoying!" Heru told Imhotep, and soon looking down to his altar. It seemed to shimmer, even if it was truly dark in the setting, and with the many candles the shimmering continued onward.

"And then there is the matter of the sun. Every night, I pray that Apep will triumph in tormenting Ra on his journey in the horizon. It only seems natural that this ritual be preformed at night, wouldn't you agree?" Stated the man, looking back to Imhotep. There was something certain that Heru admired about the man, but still he kept on his guard, just in case.

"But even so, the night of the full moon is often comforting. Most of my rituals are preformed at this time, so indeed this is appropriate." The dark sorcerer Heru told him, keeping his nature fearless and bold. How would Imhotep respond? That was uncertain.