Yes, I'm still alive. I've been having terrible writer's block on this chapter, so it's shorter that all of the others. I decided to just upload what I have, instead of forcing myself to write more. I think I'll be better at getting the next chapter done, but no promises.

Once they had left Khasik's house, Nesia and the Prince headed back to the waterfront. Both of them wanted to get out onto the sea before the Dahaka could recover, and came after them again. It took them around an hour to find a ship that was going to Memphis, and then another half hour to convince the captain to give them passage. By noon, though, they were onboard and out to sea.

Once they were out of sight of the harbor, both the Prince and Nesia felt relieved. Without the threat of the Dahaka hanging over their heads, they could turn to more important matters. For Nesia, this was interrogating the Prince.

"Come with me," she ordered, grabbing his elbow, and pulling his away from the rail of the ship. She led him below decks, into the small cabin that they were forced to share due to the lack of space onboard. She pushed him inside the room, and closed the door behind them.

"I suppose you have some things you'd like to ask me, then," the Prince commented dryly.

"No, I'm going to confess my undying love for you," Nesia replied sardonically, pacing around the cramped room like a caged tiger.

"Well I'm really flattered by that, but I don't think it would really work between us," the man retorted with just as much sarcasm in his voice. "If you want to ask me something, go ahead. Otherwise, do me a favour, and shut up."

"Ooh, it bites," the woman taunted. She stopped in front of the Prince then, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Tell me everything you know about the Dahaka. Including why it's chasing you." The Prince looked away, and went to sit down on the one small cot in the room.

"Fine," he began, drawing a shuddering breath. "The Dahaka is a demon that, as far as I know, protects the time line. It only appears when something has happened that shouldn't have. It fixes whatever wasn't supposed to happen. It's only weakness that I have been able to find is water." He looked at Nesia, and saw a disbelieving look on her face. "Of course you don't believe me...it sounds like a fairy tale, does it not?"

"I'll pass judgement on that when I've heard the whole thing," she said, shrugging. "Now keep talking. What does this thing have against you?"

"I'll get to that," the Prince avoided her question. "I believe Kaileena, the Empress of Time, to be controlling the Dahaka, and using it to try and kill me."

"Yes, but why should either of them want to kill you?" Nesia asked persistently, rasing an eyebrow. The man in front of her sighed.

"Because I shouldn't exist," he replied bitterly. "My fate was to die years ago." He saw the woman begin to open her mouth, to ask another question, but he cut her off. "No, I will not tell you any more than that. I have said all I know of the Dahaka; you have your answers."

"I think I have a right to know more about why this thing is chasing you," she spat at him. "After all, it was your fault that it destroyed my ship and killed my crew."

"You think that's bad?" he shot back angrily, standing up. "You know nothing of what I have lost because of that demon and its foul mistress."

"I'm sorry if you don't think it's enough for me to have lost the two things that meant the most to me in life," she snapped, her eyes blazing. The Prince's mouth twisted up into a grim smile.

"Don't think you're the only one, Captain," he said quietly, then roughly pushed past her, going back up on the deck. Nesia watched him leave curiously, then sighed, and followed him.

She found the Prince back at the ship's railing, leaning against it as he gazed at the sea around them. The woman sighed again, then went to lean on the rail next to him.

"Hi," Nesia began, giving the man next to her a crooked grin. He ignored this, and was about to turn to leave, but she grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Listen, I don't like you. You don't like me. It's just that simple."

"How observant of you," the Prince muttered. Nesia's eyes narrowed, but she continued to speak.

"We both want the Dahaka dead, so we may as well work together to do so. Let's just try not to kill each other until we get the Dahaka, okay?" Nesia finished. The Prince gave her an incredulous look, until her realized that she was being serious.

"Fair enough," he replied, shrugging. Nesia nodded, and dropped his arm.

"And just so you know," she added, "I get the bed."

Yes, I was right. It is short.

Gravemaker: I know the Dahaka isn't evil. It's the antagonist in both Warrior Within and this story, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's evil.

Lady Discord: You're reviews are so nice and long...they make mine seem very inferior.

Saddened Soul: You're too smart for you're own good. I figure the Prince and Nesia will find out the truth about the Dahaka eventually.

I think I know what's gonna happen next, and I'll see if I can get it written fairly quickly. Just bear with me, okay?