Kiri: Well, my lovely readers, I am sad to say that this might be the last chapter for a few days. I'm seriously stuck and tomorrow night, I am leaving to go up north for Christmas. I wish I could stay, battle through my writter's block, and give more to read, but you know how it is with the whole 'family' crap.

Ravan: I hope this isn't just an excuse for you to be lazy.

Kiri: ...No, of course not. I'm being forced to go up to see my brother, and i really don't see why he can't just bring his fat ass down here.

Ravan: Well, he has two kids, yknow...

Kiri: He came down for thanksgiving with both of them, didn't he?

Ravan: ...point.

Kiri: Damn right! now get back in the story, and I hope all of you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Seven

I felt content, just sitting there with my father. For a time, I just sat there, with his head on my knees, stroking his hair, just letting my mind wander. All five of my senses had returned, sharper than I remembered, and my head was cleared. But I was still having trouble remembering the dream I'd had. I knew it was important, but I just couldn't recall it…

The minutes ticked by steadily and my mind seemed to be off in it's own cozy world now, but for some reason, certain thinks stuck out at me. Something someone said about power over time flow and a dark Prince and whatnot… I couldn't make heads of tails of it, but the more I contemplated it, the more certain I was that Erik had done something to me to make me… well, different.

My mind snapped back to attention when my father suddenly shifted. He was going to wake up soon, and it was time for me to go. I put on a small pout. I didn't want to leave him, but I knew I had to. I carefully put his head on the ground, kissed him softly on the forehead and whispered, "I love you, daddy." I took one last look when I was on my feet and fled.

The pathway seemed pretty straightforward now. But the path was distorted with big gaps and high ledges. However, with some acrobatics I had no idea I could even do, I managed to get by. I stopped for a quick rest by a fountain a little ways away from the beach, when I heard the faint sound of metal behind me.

"I've never seen you around here, before… tell me, who are you?" Oh, damn it. I turned around to face a woman in the skimpiest black armor I'd ever seen, but holding two deadly looking blades, one of which was pointing at my neck. Fate must really have something against me today…

"I… uh… well…" Think, damn it! "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage… I'm unarmed." Nope, it didn't faze her one bit, except that she narrowed her bright eyes at me. Ok, let's try something else. "I'm… a bit lost… I'm looking for someone. Could you help me?" I tried to smile, but had a lot of trouble, and she obviously didn't believe me anyway. Only one option left…

"A survivor from that fool's ship that no one saw?" she questioned, "That is what you look like."

"My father isn't a fool! Now stop calling him that!" Too late did I realize my mistake and clamped my hands over my mouth. Great, real smooth, Ravan, girl. The woman's face twisted into a look of amused surprise, confirming to me that I'd seriously blurted out the wrong thing, and then it became an evil grin.

"Oh, related to him, are you? All the more reason to kill you!" She raised her swords. I just stood there, thinking to myself what an idiot I was, until for no reason whatsoever, I yelled at the top of my lungs, "STOP!"

After a moment of nothing happening, I glanced around carefully. Her blades were only inches away from my shoulders, about to chop my head off. I looked at the woman… she was still. Everything was still, and quiet.

"What the…?" I ducked beneath the swords and walked around in circles, "What in Rostam's name just happened?" I poked at the woman's armor, then at her hands and the hilt's of her swords. "Did time stop?" I poked at the water in the fountain. "Did I do this?" I got down on my hands and knees and poked at her shoes. "Interesting… now if I can figure out how to make it continue—" The woman suddenly sprang into motion and sliced through the air where I had just been, missing, of course. She growled in frustration and looked around for me.

"Where did you… There you are!" She slashed at me again, but I rolled out of the way in the knick of time and slowly scooted backwards as she approached me once again.

"Can't we talk this out—GAH!" I jumped away as the tip of her sword hit the ground next to me. She raised them once again to swing at me. "Slow down!" Suddenly, everything was in slow motion. She started to swing, but took so long that I just got up and moved out of the way. "Ok, this is getting crazy…" I watched as her swords slo-o-wly came down and quickly got bored. "Can you speed it back up, please?" And at my words, everything went back to normal again.

"Would you just hold still!" she yelled at me. She swung again, and misses me only by nanometers. In the process of dodging, I tripped and fell backwards, once again giving her the upper hand. She grinned that evil smile of hers now that she had me cornered. "Now I have you!" I watched in disbelieve as the two blades once again hurtled through the air towards me, but this time, something else stopped them…

I blinked, hardly able to believe my luck.

"Daddy?" I said absentmindedly and the woman in black sneered at my father for preventing her from killing me.

"Leave her alone!" he ordered, "She has done nothing to you!" Several monstrous looking things with masks on seemed to come out of the woodwork, wielding threatening weapons of their own.

"Kill him!" the woman yelled, and the monsters all spurred into action, surrounding my father, trying to take him down. But he was too fast and too strong for them. With fluid-like motions, he swiftly defeated every last one of them. The woman, of course, ran away like a coward while he fought like no warrior I'd ever seen. I smiled. That's my father… but something tells me I need to get out of here fast. I got to my feet and tried to leave, but I felt his rough hand clasp my wrist. Oh, I wish he hadn't done that… now I didn't have it in my heart to leave.

"Wait," he said simply. As much as my instincts were telling me to just run away as fast of I could, I turned around to face him. My stomach tied itself in knots as our eyes met, and the silence, however brief it was, nearly killed me.

"What?" I asked nervously… a little too nervously.

"You don't have to be afraid of me," he said calmly, "I will not hurt you." I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes locked with his.

"I…" I started, not knowing what to say to him, so I just threw something out. "Thank you for saving me." He released my arm and I stepped back. My legs were itching to start running…

"I was hoping you could return the favor." He didn't wait for me to reply and launched into an explanation. "I am looking for the Empress of Time. Do you know where I might find her?" Something suddenly clicked in my head… Empress of Time…

"What do you want with her, may I ask?"

"I haven't the time to explain, but I must see her." Subconsciously, I stepped back again.

"Then, I'm afraid I'm no help to you. See, I'm conducting a search of my own, looking for… my… brother… and… I've just been having the craziest day." I didn't have to lie about that, either. Our eyes met again. I really need to get out of here… Come on, legs… respond, already… "Sorry, I'm just wasting your time… I won't keep you any longer."

"No, it's alright. I hope you find him," he replied. I diverted my eyes in every direction I could.

"Um… thank you." After a short, awkward silence, he started to leave. "Uh…!" I suddenly blurted. He turned. "Good luck on your journey, as well!" I chewed my lip. "My prayers will be with you." He gave me a half smile and walked away. When he was out of earshot, I let out a huge sigh and slumped down by the fountain. "That was way to close for comfort… I have to be more careful…"

I was safe for the moment, but questions plagued my mind. Had I been the one to stop time? Bits and pieces of the dream I couldn't remember were starting to come back to me, but even as I poured over what little I knew nothing made any sense. But one thing was certain. If anyone would know anything about this, it would be the Empress of Time.

Kiri: I actually thought this chapter was kinda funny.

Ravan: I really don't see how...

Kiri: Well, you walking around Shahdee, poking at her while time was stopped. I couldn't help but laugh at that image...

Ravan: ...you're in idiot.

Kiri: I know, aren't I just? Anyways, I may or may not get through chapter 8... hopefully I'll think of something, but don't get your hopes up. you knowwhat they say. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. And with those words of wisdom, I leave you all!