Sweey: Alright, another chapter… Musicture, I've posted TWO chapters… so make sure you don't do it again! X3 lol. Anyways, just a reminder, I'm tired and I want to go play Little Big Planet. So, this chapter's gonna be cut short. BEAR WITH ME and give me a bear hug while your at it. I need one! ^_^ GO on… READ!

Chapter 4 The Warning of the Wanderer

I was called to Shadox Veroxin's main quarters and I was certain I knew what he was going to say.

"Faceless," Veroxin began, "Go after those who are after you."

"Going after me? Whatever do you mean?" I asked, playing it stupid.

"That meddaling medal-head, the Amasi shadow, and the other Ivoian warrior! You'll leave tomorrow, understand!" There was no sign of sympathy in his voice.

"Understood," I answere through cringed teeth and as I turned to leave, he stopped me again.

"Don't forget these," he said as he placed my two fighting knives and a new bow on the floor beyond the wall of shadow he stood behind.

I picked them up and said nothing as I left the room.

"Good luck Faceless…" was the last phrase I heard from him as I closed the door to that wretched room.

Fumu had been reading and when I entered the room, she stood, "What's going on, Stranger?"

I gazed at her from the shadow of my hood for a long time without saying anything while I adjusted my weapons on my belt, "Nothing you need to worry about." That was all I could manage to say without revealing the falseness of the statement.

I'd rather deal with my own problems than have people pry answers out of my mouth to questions I'd not even utter to an angel. I am a Wanderer; I can't afford to trust anyone.

Realizing that I had lost my way in my thoughts, I opened my mouth to speak to Fumu, "I'm going to go have a drink. I'll be back soon."

With those brief words, I left and headed to the tankard within Veronxin's massive fortress. I rarely ever drink… but today was an exception. I was met by fearful gazes of several people as I entered the tankard. Ignoring them, I made my way to the bar near the middle of the room.

"Ay Strangah!" A hearty greeting exploded from Teddy, the burly, plump barkeeper. We weren't all monsters in this wretched fortress. Some of us were just a little more distorted than others. "What'll it beh?"

"The usual," I replied in a hushed voice.

He filled a glass with bittersweet, red wine and I took several drafts of it. As I enjoyed my drink, the distinct smell of liquor and sweat rudely invaded my nostrils.

"'Ey, it's Faceless Stranger! You that evil demon possessed freak that does all uh' the big shot's dirty work? What's dat warnin' evry-un' says'm…? Somethin' 'bout not lookin' at yer eyes, dat it? Ah yeah, dat's it!"

I bared my teeth briefly to warn the man that he'd better shut up soon, but of course, he never took notice.

I watched from my peripheral vision as he stood unstably on two wobbly orange feet as he began to shout at the tankard customers, "Don't look to de eyes of the Strangah! The faceless death deliverer ul' have ya in chains in hell befo' you've a chance tuh sayee good-bie-ie! Don't look to his eye, the eyes of a Stranger! Be wary of duh shadows folks, he's always watching. Who knows when he'll jump in and hand ye ovah to de devil!"

At that point, I could feel every eye in the room glance at my back, then quickly away. Now, I as more than angry, I was irate.

Abruptly, upsetting my stool in the process, I grabbed the drunk man's collar and drug him to a shadow corner.

I could feel the eyes of the room upon me and the room fell dead silent with fear as I pushed the drunk up against the wall, grinding his back into its stone surface. I leaned in close, my eyes blazing green.

"Look into my eyes," I growled.

He closed his own tightly, shaking his head and pressing himself closer to the cold, stone wall.

"I said, look into my eyes you fool." I shook him violently and my voice grew lower and more dangerous as my rage issued itself further upon the man, "LOOK INTO MY EYES!"

He did and I could see the reflection of my green eyes in his own. He stared a great length of time into them and finally, his eyes clouded from one too many drinks and I let him slip from my grip and crumple to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I looked at him in disgust then turned around abruptly in challenge to the other onlookers at the sound of a gasp.

"Didn't he just warn you, you lot of fools! Don't look into my eyes!"

It was then that I saw Fumu, her eyes glazed with fear and trembling.

My eyes quickly faded back into shadow and I approached her slowly, "Fumu…"

And she ran from me, leaving me standing there, looking after her like a shadow in the firelight.

"Curse me… curse me to hell…" I growled to myself bitterly now wishing greatly that I had controlled my anger.

Sweey: It is rare for Stranger to act so rashly… for those of you who aren't familiar with him… :3 Anyways, my sister and her bo' are beggin' me to come play Little Big Planet and eat a heart-shaped Pizza…. ,:| Should I be thrilled? Hmm… anyways, please read and review! :D Happy Valentines Day!