Kiri: phew! This one took a while, but I was completely out of ideas! hopefully now, I'll be able to get some more done while I'm over my writer's block. And realy quickly, I really hate the last chapter... I totally messed it up, but I decided that her 'friendship' with the Dahaka would come in handly later on, so... yeah. well, enjoy the story!

Chapter Thirteen

"Finally!" I breathed exasperatedly. "Maybe now we can get off of this rock." I was finally in front of the thrown room doors. "It's too damn big, there's too many obstacles, and I think I've seen more strange, unexplainable things here than during the course of my entire life!" Needless to say, I was relieved. At least until Hadi pointed out that the doors were locked. Then my cheerful mood vanished. "Well... now what?"

"Well, there is nothing more to do, so we must wait," Hadi answered wisely.

"Well, well, look who finally gets here." That voice is familiar… I watched as the man that had started this whole mess made his presence known. "Although I was expecting to wait a great deal longer, you certainly took your time."

"Erik? What are you doing here?" My dislike for him bubbled up, but I was too surprised to see him here in this time to make it evident.

"Waiting for you to get here, obviously." He approached, but I folded my arms and turned my back to him.

"Why?" I demanded, "So you can stab me again? Perhaps dump my body into some other otherworldly substance that will only make me more of a freak that I already am?" I heard him scoff.

"No, I've already done that," he retorted, "but listen, I--" I immediately cut him off with a powerful slap, which sent him reeling backwards a few steps holding his cheek.

"Ow! I try to help you and this is the thanks I get!"

"Yes it is, you traitorous liar! If it hadn't been for you and your thirst for blood, I wouldn't be here in the first place!" when he was back up, about to argue with me, I smacked him a second time.

"What is it with you and hitting me?" he cried, "I'm trying to help you, damn it!"

"Then why don't you go throw yourself to a pack of lions! Then you'll be helping the whole world!"

"Both of you, stop your quarreling at once!" a strong female voice commended. The two of us shut up and looked. The woman in red from my vision was standing in the door, hand on her hips, eyes boring into both of us. Hadi, who had been hovering nearby, not daring to get involved, flew over onto my shoulder again. "Now who are you and what do you want here?" Erik folded his arms and looked away. Obviously, he wasn't about to be of any help. Hadi didn't look like he wanted to contribute much, either… well, guess it's up to me.

"Well… erm…" I began, unsure of how to start, "m-my name is Ravan, and I-I'm here because… I'm…" Think fast, girl! "…uh…" She approached me with a look of suspicion etched into her features. I swallowed hard and offered an embarrassed grin and a simply shrug.

"You… I know you…" she looked my over, "you were there when the prince fought Shahdee. But you were in a spirit form then." Spirit form? Not sure how I should respond, I chose to keep my mouth shut. "I've seen you in my visions as well. What is it you want here?"

"Well, I was kind of hoping to get back to my own time and back home to Babylon…" I answered. Hadi interrupted.

"Empress, may I request to speak to you?" He flapped up so he was eye level with her. She seemed a little surprised to see Hadi speak, but simply nodded and the two went off to the far side of the room. I'm not sure exactly what Hadi said to her. I know Erik just stood against the wall, eyes closed, completely ignoring me. With nothing else to do, I stood there and waited.

Whatever the two talked about, and whatever Hadi had told the Empress, it had completely changed her attitude toward me. When they returned, she seemed a little kinder toward me, and Hadi seemed satisfied. He landed on my shoulder and we exchanged glances for a second and the Empress spoke to me again.

"Alright, I will help you, Ravan. As the Empress of Time, I will assist another wielder of time," she agreed. I blinked and stared blankly.

"Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, Empress, she is still very new to this whole thing and is still learning the basics. Please, have a little patience with her, yes?" Hadi interrupted again. Kaileena eyed him a moment, before nodding in agreement and returning her gaze to me.

"Very well. I will activate one of the sand portals in this castle to send you to your own time. 'Erik' will lead you to it." She glanced quickly at Erik while saying his name and I saw him wilt again slightly from the corner of my eye. Something about the Empress is keeping him in check… otherwise he would flat out refuse. It's funny in a way. "Now hurry, before I change my mind." Erik grumpily walked toward me and grabbed my wrist.

"Come on, princess," he grumbled and pulled me along behind him.

"Hadi, what exactly did you tell her?" I questioned once we had traversed a good distance. The black bird on my shoulder only looked back at me knowingly, but didn't say anything. "Oh, it's a secret, then? Wonderful. As if I don't have enough to get a headache over already," I remarked sarcastically.

"You will find out in time, Ravan. Have patience." I grimaced.

"I don't want to have patience, I want to know," I argued.

"Now you are giving me a headache!" Erik exclaimed, sounding annoyed, "your voice is more annoying than a common fly, so either shut up and hurry, or I'll knock you out and drag you the rest of the way." Startled by his show of anger, I decided to just leaving it alone and follow him in silence.

It was eerily quiet the rest of the way and the air was so tense it was almost unbearable. I didn't want to talk for fear that Erik would hold up to his threat and something obviously had him on edge. I was curious as to what it was, but I'd have to find out later. For now, I just followed close behind, did what he told me to and kept quiet until we finally reached the portal the Empress spoke of. The only problem was that it was inactive…

"Looks like we'll have to restore it…" I observed, looking around the chamber. I waited for Erik to make a sarcastic remark about my observation skills, but it never came. I was a little relieved by this, since I didn't want to argue with him, but it was also curious that he was being so… quiet. So, I simply stood and watched as he brought the sand portal to life.

When he was successful, he stepped back, and gestured toward me Hadi took to the air and flew towards the whirlwind of sand and I approached.

"Let's hurry, before it powers itself down again," he instructed. Nodding once, I stepped forward into the center of the swirling sands and closed my eyes like the first time.