Chapter 3
"Come… this way…"
Ever since the Prince and I had started our trek up to see the Empress, I'd started noticing this tiny little voice coming from seemingly nowhere. No, it wasn't one of those voices you hear in the back of your head that just won't shut up. No, this one was one of those voices that you hear all around you, but you can't seem to pinpoint.
I think I first noticed it when the Prince had sworn revenge on Shahdee for destroying his ship and killing his crew. It had been quiet then, and I'd heard it. A small, barely audible little voice, whispering to me, "Come this way… Come…" Of course, when I asked Princy if he'd heard it too, he just looked at me like I was crazy, so I decided not to push the issue and ignore it.
I just found it really funny that I would be hearing something beckoning me onto the island, rather than telling me to get lost. It reminds me of those old ruins underneath Azad when I was there, how I'd gotten this awful feeling that something really didn't want me there. I would've thought that this island would be listed under the restricted zones for us Angels… strange.
Oh, I completely forgot to explain those restricted zones, didn't I? Well, even the Angel society has it's own set of laws, just like humans do. We've got pretty much the same sort of thing, yknow, don't kill people, don't fly over a military runway, don't visit the hair salon on Saturday—oh no, that's was what that seer told me... Ok, forget that last one. But still, we have laws like that that you get fined for, or you get a few days jail time, or whatever the case may be.
However, there are three laws in particular that they drill into you from the moment you reach the city gates. Their called the Three Divine Laws and were supposedly set by the gods and could not, under any circumstances, be broken. I think they're pretty simple, really, even if they are annoying in more ways than one.
1) Angels must conceal information from Renegade and non-angels that may in any way compromise the purity of the Angelic bloodline, or the safety of the Heavens and it's peoples.
2) All Angels must remain clear or any and all restricted zones unless given personal, direct orders by the Council of Angels.
3) No Angel may, under any circumstances, enter any sort of relationship with a renegade or non-angel that may in any way compromise the purity of the bloodline.
You can see what I'm talking about when I say simple but annoying. Like I said, they drill these laws into you from the moment you walk into the city. They may as well just tattoo it on the backs of our heads, for cryin' out loud!
I don't really know what the penalty is for breaking one of these laws, since no one really has since I've been around, (or at least that haven't been caught). The Council has a way of knowing what every living angel is doing, every minute of every day, so the only way to escape punishment for those crimes is to pack up and hightail it away. Most of them end up becoming Dark Angels, or Renegades, as we call them.
But the original point was that I'm surprised that this Island isn't restricted like the ruins are. The whole reason I had felt that compelling feeling to get away was because I had come dangerously close to a forbidden zone. There are certain special… barriers that they put around a forbidden zone in order to keep Angels whom might accidentally wander into one away, like my case. It sends out vibes that only we can feel that give us the feeling of impending doom so we'll leave. Clever, yes.
"…So then, I set that building on fire, and then these guys jumped outta nowhere and were like 'now you gotta fight us or die!' So then I was like 'Fine then!' and I was like WHAM! BLAMO! And I kicked their ass's so royally and I sat them on the throne once I was done…" I reminisced. As we made our way up to the fortress, Prince and I had started talking and I'd gone off on a tangent about one class in particular at the Academy on simulation day. Yeah, simulations were lots of fun. "And then I looked at my partner and was like, 'look, I just don't think an inter-species relationship would work out…'"
"Well, it sounds like you had an… interesting time," the Prince answered as he pulled himself up into solid ground. But I could tell from the look on his face that he was just saying that to satisfy me so I'd shut up. Honestly, I couldn't blame the guy. I mean, he'd just spent his seven years running for his life, living like a rat, and I'd been off having all kinds of fun. Maybe I should shut up.
"It was a really fun day. But the funny thing was, all I could think about the whole time was how thankful I was for picking up some fighting techniques when we were in Azad." I retorted, also landing on the ground and folded my wings back. We started our way down the short set of steps towards a hole in the wall, which the Prince rolled under and I crawled under. There were two lowlife sand dudes there, which the Prince made fast work of with his… um… stick… He really needs to find a weapon that's worth a crap. I pursed my lips slightly as he knelt down to grab and inspect one of the dropped weapons. "Um, Prince…" I began, ready to apologize, "Was I talking too much back there?" He didn't move, or look at me.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well… because… Sometimes I go off on a tangent about something stupid, and I know that you probably don't need to be listening to me babble while you're running for your life..." At this, he stood up and looked over his shoulder at me. For a split second I thought he was gonna throw something at me, but thankfully he did something much less hurtful and not-so-full-of-broken-bones.
"I'm grateful for your company, honestly."
"Well, if I do start chewing your ears off, just say something."
"Naomi, you're always going to be that boisterous girl I knew back in Azad," he teased. Oh really? Well, two can play at that game, Princy!
"And you're always gonna be that pompous, pig-headed-but-still-very-charming-in-the-craziest-ways Persian Prince that I knew back in Azad!" I shot back, sticking my finger in the middle of his chest. His smile faded and he raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?" he asked, sort of in a challenging tone. I stepped up to him and pushed my chest out, purposely bumping it into his.
"Yeah. Got a problem with it, buster?" I demanded playfully. He just continued to look down at me. Note: he was several inches taller than I was.
"What if I do?" I grinned.
"Well then, you're gonna have to tell me your name if you want me to change my opinion." The playful look immediately vanished from his eyes and he turned away, smacking his forehead.
"Naomi!" he cried, exasperated, "did we not drop that subject seven years ago?!"
"No! I wanna know!"
"No!"
"Whyyyyyyy?!" I whined pathetically, "come ON, tell me!"
"No!" He turned on his heel and walked away, climbing up the next ledge. I followed.
"Tell me!"
"No!" I decided to scale the ledge the old fashioned way this time around and tried to climb up, but I had some trouble. Seeing my dilemma, the Prince grabbed my wrists and hauled me up. Unfortunately, I lost my footing and stumbled, knocking both of us off balance, and it all ended in the two of us on the ground in a pile. Déjà vu.
I blushed slightly when I realized how close our faces were, and quickly made to jump away and start spitting out apologies, but before I could, another thought came to mind. Instead of jumping away, I snatched his wrists and pinned them on the ground before he could react.
"Now I've got you!" I exclaimed triumphantly. "Now tell me what your name is!"
"For the last time, Naomi! I'm not telling you!" he barked.
"You will if you know what's good for you, Sand boy! Now out with it!"
"No!"
"Tell me or else!" I threatened.
"Or else what?" he dared.
"Or else I'll be forced to take drastic measures!"
"And just what do you think you're going to do?"
"Don't make me tickle you into submission, Princy! I did it once and I'll do it again!"
"Yeah, once seven years ago!"
"Just because you've grown into this fierce warrior dude with a shiny sword doesn't mean that you've lost your tickle spots!"
"Just get off of me already! We're wasting precious time!"
"Not until you tell me what your name is!"
"NAOMI!"
"Tell me already!"
"No!"
"Tell me!"
"No!"
"TELL ME!"
"NO!"
"TELL ME, TELL ME, TELL ME!"
"NO, NO, NO!"
"………Tell me."
"NO!" I put on a pout and sat up, letting his wrists go.
"Why won't you tell me?" I squeaked, hoping to play on his sympathies.
"I already told you. I don't like it, so I go by 'Prince' if I can help it. Now will you please get off of me? We're wasting time here!"
"Are you going to tell me?"
"No!" I folded my arms stubbornly.
"Then I'm parking my big butt right here and not moving until you do!" With that, I put my nose in the air and waited. I could feel the Prince glaring at me, and I also knew that he wasn't about to let some chick with wings get in his way of changing his fate. I was right about both. He was much stronger than me, so he didn't have much of a problem wrestling me off, then throwing me over his shoulder. "NO FAIR!" I shouted defiantly. "I'm just a helpless little girl and you're a big tough warrior! That's not fair!"
"First, I sincerely doubt that you are 'helpless.' Second, my mission is far too important for this fooling around. You can either help me complete what I've come here to do or stay out of my way."
I was almost stunned. I never would've expected him to talk to me that way… I was just about to open my mouth and retort, but I stopped and thought about it for a moment. I couldn't really blame him for saying that. The man was scared for his life… who was I to get in his way and slow him down?
I groaned in defeat, "Fine! Crazy time is over! Just put me down, will you? My wings are as good as useless with you climbing all over me!" He tensely set me on my feet again, obviously still annoyed that my antics has slowed him down. Well, I wasn't about to stick around and endue a tense, awkward silence while waiting for my brain to come up with something to say. So I stretched my wings out and made ready to fly away. "Alright, meaniepants, I'll go scout the area ahead and see what wonderful perils are waiting for us. I'll meet you later." Without waiting for a reply, I took to the air and zoomed off.
Kiri: woo! Another chappy in the bag!
Naomi: and it only took two years!
Kiri: ...It didn't take THAT long!
Naomi: Wanna bet?
Kiri: shush up! Anyways, yes, a nice new chappy for all my wonderful fans! Eee, I just love having fans...
Naomi: you would...
Kiri: Well, who wants to do teh FAQ today?
Prince: I'll do it this time... I don't think I've done it in a while.
Kiri: fine. I shall eat ice cream!
Naomi: HEY! Ditcher!
Kiri: (grin)
Q: What's that little voice Naomi is hearing?
A: Not sure exactly, but I think it has something to do with the fact that someone doesn't want her on that island.
Q: Wait, someone doesn't want her on the island?
A: If memory serves. Because since she's traveling with me, just her presence there triggers some events that lead to disaster... Though, I'm not sure who's trying to get her off the island.
Naomi: I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right with my Princy! He needs my help, dammit!
Mike: Well, aren't you the noble one...
Naomi: GAH! You stay away from me!
Q: Why isn't the Island of Time restricted like those ruins?
A: Probably because the Island isn't as important the the Angel society as whatever is in those ruins.
Q: What IS in the ruins?
A: I don't know, Kiri won't say. But I know it'll be something important.
Q: Why the hell don't you just torture Kiri until she DOES give some answers?!
A:...
Mike: Uh... because she has total control of our lives, maybe?! I may be brave, but I'm not crazy! You'll just have to do it the hard way and read the chapters to find out!
Q: ...FINE! So, was the Prince upset when Naomi was going on about her... simulation?
A: NO!
Naomi: Oh really? (leers)
A: ...ok, maybe a little... but with good reason! I'd just speant all those years running for my life, having to train myself to be totally alert of my surroundings at all times, having to take to the streets and live as a nameless nobody. Listening to her rant on about how much fun she had was just aggravating. But, she is a friend, and she did realize her mistake, so I can't stay too mad at her.
Naomi: Awww! That's the sweetest thing you've said to me, Prince! (HUG)
A: (blushes)
Q: HA! YOU'RE BLUSHING! YOU TWO ARE GONNA GET TOGETHER! I KNOW IT!
A: ...
Kiri: IT TELLS YOU NOTHING, STILL! He may still get with Kaileena, or Farah! Besiiiides... you know Angels can't love humans... it's against the laaaaw... heheh...
Q: ...DAMN YOU.
Kiri: (grins) Yes, damn me.
Q: Fine. So why was the Prince being an ass at the end?
A: Because Naomi was getting on my nerves. Here I'm about ready to die at the hands of the Dahaka and she's jumping all over me, demanding to know my name.
Naomi: WELL I WANNA KNOW!
A: PRIORITIES, WOMAN!
Q: Yeah... what IS your name, Prince?
A: FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT TELLING!
Kiri: Ok, I think that's enough for one day. And as an end note, does anyone have ANY idea what happened to Rhea?! She's been gone for like... ever! If anyone has any idea, then tell her to get her butt back here and finish Dark Dreams! And... that's about it. So, I'll see y'all next chappy!
