Love, War, and Time

Chapter 11: Hide and Seek

PREVIOUSLY. . . . . . .

And before them was the enormous palace of Azad. "We finally made it." Farah sighed happily. "Ha ha-ha." The Prince laughed joyously as he lifted Farah and spun her around. They both laughed like children, their journey to Azad was over and the battle for killed Lord Zurvan on back on. The Prince put down Farah and smiled. "It's almost over." Farah sighed.

BOOM!

The Prince and Farah turned around and then at the moment fear was instilled in bodies as a large dark figure stood about 7 yards away. The Dahaka. "Oh Allah." Farah whispered with trembling hands. "RUN!!" The Prince shouted as the Dahaka began to more over to them shaking the ground as it went and Farah took hold of the Prince hand and they began to run for their lives to the palace of Azad. . . .

"Quickly Farah." The Prince panted as they slid down the hot sand to the dirty sand ground. Farah and the Prince dared and looked back seeing that the Dahaka was right on their heels. "Faster." The Prince said moving more quickly. He could feel that Farah was struggling keeping up so he held her hand tighter as they went into the cool shade of the forest Oasis. The Prince and Farah jumped over and duck branches and tree roots.

The Prince didn't know how the Dahaka could have found them so easily. It must have been the Dagger of Time leading it to them all this time. "Hurry Farah!" The Prince shouted letting go of her hand running faster. Farah picked up her pace and took a glance back seeing that the Dahaka was rushing toward them with an astounding speed, it felt like a dark cloud was coming toward them. The Prince jumped over a large low ranch alone with Farah. He looked ahead seeing a passage to the palace wall. It looked as though someone knocked the strong stone through. The Prince looked back once more to see if Farah was still behind. "Wait!!" Farah screamed as she tripped over.

The Prince stopped and turned running over to her. "Come, Farah! We're nearly there." He said quickly helping her to her feet. "Ah, I can't." Farah pleaded as she looked back. The Prince thought fast and picked Farah up, cradling her in his arms. Farah put her arms around the Prince tightly as he ran as fast as he could holding her. The Prince fixed his hold as Farah while he quickly avoided the plant life. "Hurry!" Farah cried looking over his shoulder. The Prince gripped Farah and jumped high and slide into the broken palace wall. When they stopped, the Prince's feet hit a marble pillar. It was silent with the exception of Farah and the Prince panting from fatigue and fear.

"Why hasn't it come?" Farah whispered still in the Prince's arms as they laid on the cool floor. "Maybe the Vizier knows were here." The Prince suggested loosening his grip a little on Farah. "Well, thank Allah for that, the Dahaka stopped a while ago, he can only come but so far to this palace until Zurvan gives the word." The voice explained to the Prince with a sigh. The Prince was blinded but the soft blanket of Farah's hair. He was nervous about what he was going to see in the palace of Azad. A place that he always dreamed of going to was now a Hell.

The Prince sat up feeling Farah's hold loosening from around his neck. Farah sat on the Prince lap looking down still out of breath. The Prince lifted Farah's chin and tucked her loose hair behind her ear looking at the small scratch on her cheek. "At least me made it." Farah sighed looking into the Prince's eyes and then looking around the palace.

The Reception Hall of the palace of Azad, a marvel of art and elegance. The floor was decorated with carpets red and designed flawlessly with plant life and India imported tiles that shined as ice in the sun. The Pillar's stood tall and strong with it's hand done design's and red stripes to the ceiling that was crafted like a statue with beautiful morocco hanging oils lamps and at the end of the hall was a grand window decorated with red silk and beautiful iron works reflecting off a pool of cooling fresh waters.

The Prince and Farah walked over to the small spring and drank of the waters. Farah wet her hair and braided it down her back. The Prince splashed his face. He sighed looked around. "It seems like it hasn't been lived in for years?" Farah said turning her back to the Prince. "Or the Vizier has made prisoners." The Prince said darkly drawing The Dagger and his sword. "Put those away, let up rest of a moment." Farah said as she limped over to the window looking out to the balcony.

The Prince sighed and sheathed his weapons. "Talk about a kill-joy." The voice muttered. "Does your ankle hurt much?" The Prince asked walking over to her. Farah sat down on the cool floor and touched it gingerly. "A little, I think it's only a sprained." She sighed. "Let me see." The Prince said sitting in front of her. "You know we can't stay here long, Zurvan will surely notice us."

The Prince ignored the voice and took Farah foot gently removing her worn sandal. "Ouch." Farah winced. The Prince stopped and looked to Farah until she relaxed. "It's a little swollen." The Prince announced putting a little pressure on her ankle. "I'll be fine, I just need a minute." Farah said watching the Prince as he examined her foot. "Come." The Prince said taking her hand helping her up and guiding her to the cool springs and setting her foot in the water. "Let it set for a moment." He said sitting beside her. "It's so quiet, I hope we don't get caught." Farah said looking around nervously.

"Yeah, same here."

"Shh." The Prince ordered the voice. "What?" Farah said looking to the Prince. "Oh, um . . . Nothing." He answered quickly. "Thank you." Farah said sincerely looking into the Prince's eyes. "For what?" He asked looking back. "For saving my life. You could have just left me." She said looking down for a moment the looking back. "You needn't thank me, it was the right thing to do." The Prince scoffed. "No, really. Thank you." Farah said taking the Prince's hand. Despite all that has happened, Farah's touch still warmed him. And made him feel like nothing else that he had ever felt before. It didn't seem as though they had moved but the Prince's lips were so close to hers' he could feel her cool breath.

"Did you hear that?" The voice said suddenly. The Prince pulled away and drew his sword. "What?" Farah whispered looking around. "I think were about to have some company." He said standing up slowly. Farah looked around for her sandal and quickly slipped it on. "What is it?" Farah asked a little panicked. "Something big, hurry you aren't ready to face these creature." The Voice said. "Come quickly." The Prince said grabbing Farah's hand. The Prince lead Farah behind one of the enteric marble pillars taking out the Dagger and putting her back to the wall. "What is it?" Farah whispered leaning a little to see around the pillar. "Prince, be on your guard." The Voice advised. "Shh." The Prince said quietly when a glow appeared in the room. Suddenly a group of solider appeared along with Zurvan. The Prince gripped his Dagger and wrapped his free arm around Farah's slim waist pulling her to him gently trying to make themselves look smaller.

"Why is the Dahaka here?!" Zurvan growled to his sand soldiers. "My Lord Zurvan, I believe that they are here in the palace somewhere." One soldier said stepping forward. "Ha ha, so they have come. They could be anywhere in this damned palace, I want guards everywhere! And when you find them bring them to me." And with a flash and a loud rumble suddenly a piece of the ceiling fell. "What's happening?" Farah whispered placing her hands comfortably on the Prince's chest. "They know we're here." The Prince said darkly looking down at her.

The soldiers were given orders and they all set out on the hunt. The Prince let go of Farah when the room was emptied and sighed. "What are we going to do?" Farah asked panicked. "We finished the mission, we just have to stick together and be on our guard." He said. "That would be easy but these sand monsters are great in numbers. How are we to destroy Zurvan and the Sand monsters when we still have the Dahaka looking for us." She said in a matter-a-fact tone. And with that came a rumble shaking the floor beneath them. "What was that?" The Prince said looking around. And again their was another sound this time a loud bang and the palace quaked. "Look out!" Farah warned and pulled the Prince by his arm when another piece of the ceiling fell down behind him. "The Palace is coming apart." He said looking up. "Come on, let's get out of here." Farah said turning toward the nearest door. "We have to find the hourglass first and foremost."

As they walked though the broken metal door with a strange crest on the front to a large stone staircase and they silently made their way up the stairs only to be stopped by the sight of a large piece of the floor sticking up block their way. "Marvelous." The Prince sighed sarcastically. "We'll go around though this room." Farah suggested turning to her left to a large chamber room. The Staircase to the bottom was nearly destroyed only a third of the staircase remained. "I can't climb like you can." Farah sighed looking to the Prince who stepped forward on the staircase and walked down disappearing over the side. "Come Farah!" The Prince called in a control voice.

Farah walked over to the edge and sighed. "I can't do it." She repeated irritated folding her arms. "I'll catch you." The Prince said rolling his eyes. "You'd sure enough let me fall just for fun." She protested. "Your wasting time, Farah. Just jump." The Prince said holding out his arms.

"Fine, but if you drop me I have no problem whatsoever killing you in your sleep." Farah said walking to the edge. "Point taken." She heard the Prince mutter. Was he really going to catch her for let her fall and break her neck. She still didn't understand why she didn't trust him completely. Although he saved her life countless times, not to mention getting here on a sprained ankle.

Farah took a deep breath and sat on the edge sliding down ever so slightly and then letting go falling on the Prince instead of catching. "Oh, nice catch." Farah groaned standing up. "Yeah, I just remember I still have this thing still around my arm." The Prince grunted trying to fight back the pain on slightly landing on the sand infected arm. "I'll remember that next time." Farah sighed standing up. "But I didn't drop you, although I broke your fall." The Prince ginned. "Enough games." Farah rolled her eyes.

Farah and the Prince walked past a small day bed and then looked up to a hole that was smashed into the wall up high. "From one problem to another." Farah sighed. "I can get up there." The Prince said. "Yes, I've noticed, but I can't so I'll find another way." She said looking around for another entrance or exit. The Prince ran up the wall and rebounded up grabbing hold of a brass pole swing around it twice until he got to the next one and then change his position and swung up to a small ledge gripping the top of the whole up high.

'How does he do that?' Farah thought amazed. "I'll see you on the other side." The Prince called before climbing over. Farah sighed and looked around the room and spotted a crack behind the soft silk curtains and slipped though. It wasn't her favorite thing to do, she wasn't really a fan of bugs.

The Prince heaved himself over the broke ledge and dropped down into a cool silent hallway with small chairs and benches scattered along it. He looked to his left and then his right to make sure he wasn't heard. "Perfect, we've left the leech." Sighed the voice. "We'll meet up later." Prince countered hoping to kill the evil voices good mood. "Ha! That's what you think. I have something I need to do, I'm bored."

"What are you- Ah!" The Prince winced, his Sand infected arm brightened from the last time he looked at it. "You'll stay bored until I get rid-- Ah, Ahh!" The Prince cried as the pained quickly intensified bring him to his knees. It was white hot and searing like in his nightmares. "What's happening to me?" The Prince grunted trying to fight the pain. A dark cloud surrounded the Prince and lifted him. The Prince fought the force that seemed to be taking him over. Then just as the suddenly as the pain started it stopped and the Prince fell to his knees.

"Hmm, that's better." The Voice said. The Prince opened his eyes and looked to his hands. The weren't his. They were black and hard. "What have you done?" The Prince whispered looking to the sand infection going across his chest and arm. "I've been waiting for you to come to Azad so I could do this."

"What have you done?" The Prince said growing angry as he rushed over and looked at his reflection in a small water fountain. "What have I become? A Sand Monster?" The Prince said touching his face. "Call it what you will, Prince, but you have been given the ability to destroy your enemies. Now use it!" The Voice hissed. "Why then is this happening to me?" The Prince asked turning away from his reflection. "You have been infected by the Sands of Time, as I'm sure you've noticed. Maybe it's the Dagger, maybe it's all the time you spent amongst the Sands or," The Dark Prince paused chucking, "amongst the Empress. Either way your resisting it. Mostly."

"Mostly?"

The Dark Prince sighed. "Have you not realized? I am your untapped potential, your unrealized dreams. I am apart of you." He said. "Your in side of me?" The Prince asked. "Think of it this way: you have been given a gift. Your stronger, faster. . . .the-"

"Uglier." The Prince sighed looking at his reflection again. "Now, now. . ." The Dark Prince said. "I cannot let Farah see me like this!" The Prince panicked. "Worry she will prefer the new you?" The Dark Prince smirked. "Charred Skin, glowing eyes, melted face. I'm sure it will be love at first sight." The Prince countered sarcastically. "Why ever not?" The Dark Prince said coolly. "She'd probably use me for target practice." The Prince added.
"See you worry too much, all the time 'Farah this, Farah that'. You forget she is only a tool until you get to the Vizier and once that happens you can either kill her or just leave her." He said.

"I can't kill her, much less leave her. I need her." Prince said. "I like the first choice better." The Dark Prince said lightly. "You would. Now I have to walk around Azad looking like a Sand Monster. I have to keep this secret from Farah." The Prince stressed as he walked down the hall into the next room. "For what? She's bound to find out." The Dark Prince said with a sigh. "So, I rather keep this to myself." The Prince said stepping over a chair and box. "Shh, we have some company." The Dark Prince hushed. The Prince stopped and looked behind the threshold of the door seeing two sand monsters. "Play time." The Dark Prince whispered. "Sneak up on them and strike them down."

The Prince looked to his arm and saw that the Dagger Tail shining. He stepped toward and then sprinted to the sand monsters whipping out the Dagger Tail beheading the Sand Monsters where they stood leaving nothing but the warm glowing sand dust. "That was too easy." The Dark Prince scoffed. "I wonder why?" The Prince said as he pressed on. "Because this is the power that I give you and because I think all the sand creatures are gathering in the most obvious places in the palace." The Dark Prince added. "Damn. I hope Farah hasn't run into any trouble." The Prince sighed walking. "Would you get to Zurvan and forget about that stupid female!" The Dark Prince shouted. The Prince stopped at a staircase and sighed seeing that it was broken.

"Stop shouting, I have to concentrate." The Prince ordered taking a few steps back and then running to the wall quickly running across it and then grabbing onto a iron rod with a grunt. "How convenient." The Prince sighed and started swing himself until he made a full three-sixty around and then he let up whipping out the Dagger blade that wrapped about a broke pole that was on the wall and then running across it to the other side. He sighed as he stood with his perfect landing. "See, I'm useful." The Dark Prince said smugly. The Prince imagined he was grinning wickedly. "You talk too much." The Prince noted.

Farah walked past that fountain where the hole the Prince went through was. "Prince?" She called looking around. 'He must have went on.' She thought as she walked though the door. Farah made her way down the hall and stopped seeing the collapsed staircase. It was too far for her to jump so her turned and looked around seeing a small door way that was easy to over look since it was nearly covered by a tapestry. She walked over to the small archway and stepped though pulling away spider webs as she went. It didn't take long for her to reach the other side. It was a large ledge that was over looking a small wash room filled with Sand monsters moaning and walking about with weapons in hand.

'If I stay still they probably won't notice.' Farah thought lamely as she began to back away but then a Sand creature spotted her and threw some an ax her way. Farah ducked and quickly drew her bow and arrow and fired at the sand monster, but they came never the less. But she was safe somewhat for now since she was so high up.

Farah looked in the corner of her eyes to see how many arrows she had left, and it wasn't many.

I hope everyone will like this chapter. I have a few more chapters to edit. Loads of stuff is beginning to happen. I hope you stick around and enjoy.

Peace

Sakura123