Chapter 4

Ok, so I was a little mad at the prince for snapping at me. That was one of the reasons I'd left him in the dust and took off to scout ahead. I needed to cool my jets a little. Of course, having to listen to that stupid little voice wasn't helping much.

"Come… this way…" Argh, lemmie alone!

Sighing, I landed softly on the ground and started walking. I hadn't seen many enemies that posed a real threat yet, so I figured it would be safe until I hit the fortress. As I said, I wasn't about to go back to the Prince and put up with who knows how long of uncomfortable silence.

I think it's obvious by now that he's not the same man I used to tease and play around with when I was sixteen. No, he was different, his mind warped and aged by fear. Damn it, how could I have been to stupid?! I'd come down here, all anxious to see him, knowing damn good and well that he'd been on the run all this time, and I expected him to be the same Prince I knew in Azad?! Stupid, Naomi! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Girl, maybe it's time you did a little growing up yourself! The Prince is desperate and he needs all the help he can get! It's time for you to show that you aren't just extra baggage here!

With a newfound confidence, I started leaping up the path, ready to kick some serious sand monster butt. Along the way, I happened to spot a nice little rock, sitting so innocently on the ground… Grinning, I quickened my pace and then greeted that little stone with a Super-Duper-Angel-Power-Naomi-Karate Kick and stopped to admire my work as it soared through the air.

At least… until it landed with a loud 'thunk' on the head of a sand monster. Who also happened to be in a much larger group of sand monsters… that all happened to be wielding big scary swords… and whom all happened to stop and look directly at me… Oh sweet angels of the Netherlands…

"Uh… hi there…" I squeaked, "Er… um… sorry…'bout that? Heheh…" Smooth, Naomi. Real smooth. This was not going to end well.

I stepped back, lightly pulling on the collar of my blue tunic, grinning nervously as they started to approach me, wielding their weapons menacingly.

"So, uh… nice weather we're having? Heheh… heh…" Oh, they were SO not buying this. Come on, Naomi, think of something already! "Yknow… with all this sand swirling around here… don't you guys ever get chafe rashes? Cause I know a really great doctor who could fix that—" ok, BAD move.

"She's the one that came here with the Prince! Get her!" one of them cried. With that, all of them charged forward, weapons at the ready. Me, I screamed like a little girl and immediately ran away, completely forgetting that I had the ability to fly.

I ran and I ran and I ran, flailing my arms around like a moron, doing everything that I shouldn't have been doing to get out of danger. It wasn't until I jumped down off a ledge and nearly ran straight off the end of a cliff that I stopped and kicked myself mentally.

"What the HELL am I DOING?!" I demanded angrily, then stretched out my wings and darted into the air before the monsters could catch me.

As I flew up, higher and higher, and farther and father from danger, I was kicking my own ass in my mind. Damn it, Naomi, why?! Why must you keep acting like the biggest dumbass on the face of the planet?! Girl, you're smarter than this! You spent seven years at the Academy training both physically and mentally for this type of danger! Why, WHY?!

The berating didn't stop, even as I took quick refuge on the roof of the fortress. I kept yelling at myself, scolding myself for being so stupid when it was absolutely uncalled for. Damn it, the Prince needed my help! Not some useless fool to baby-sit on top of everything he already has to deal with! How many times did I tell myself that I would be there to assist him? That I would make myself useful and not extra baggage? Why couldn't I seem to live up to that oath? I sighed.

Maybe I should just go home and take myself out of the picture… After all, Gabby is probably worried about me… the way I took off without a word…

Just as I was starting to convince myself that that might not be such a bad idea, I heard a very faint cry off in the distance. Vaguely recognizing it, I looked up towards the clouded sky and searched it. I was even more convinced when I heard it a second time, and I smiled when I saw the sound take shape.

"Finally, something familiar," I said somewhat happily as a nice-sized hawk circled the sky around me, spiraled downward and landed on the ground nearby. And of course, there was an envelope tied to his leg. Hawks were pretty much the most commonly used method of communication between Angels in the heavens and Angels down on the ground. But who would be sending me a letter? Maybe it was Gabby, wondering where the hell I'd run off to…

The hawk picked at his feathers with his beak as I untangled the message from his leg, which he seemed grateful for. I closely examined the envelope, looking for some kind of clue as to who sent it, but I didn't find anything on it… no seal, for return address… nothing.

After glancing again at the hawk, I flipped the envelope over, wedged my finger into the top end and ripped it open. The envelope might not have been very fancy and decorative, but the message inside was a completely different story. The paper used was very thick like a certificate and as I unfolded it, my eyes were immediately drawn to the little golden seal in the top right corner. The seal with the Angel in the center, her wings wrapped around her, her hands folded in payer… I know that seal. From the age of sixteen, I knew that seal.

My heart started pounding for whatever odd reason. Probably because a little voice that I couldn't hear at the moment was telling me that the letter was tied to my near future… big time. I don't know why I was so hesitant to unfold and read it, but my hands started to shake lightly as they moved to open it. I was almost too nervous to find out what it said. Maybe the hawk had messed up, or got turned around in a bad wind and delivered this to the wrong person… maybe… just maybe…

To Miss Angelina Samira,

CRAP. Well… maybe it was good news? …Fat chance. How often did the Council of Angels send a letter of praise? I'll tell you how often: never. I bit my lip hard as I slowly unfolded it all the way. Maybe this was a joke? Yes, a joke. Someone somehoe got their hands on a think piece of paper, forged a seal and… forged all twelve of the councilmen's' signatures… Well, I'm doomed! Might as well get it over with and see what I did wrong and when the hearing is and how much jail time I'll be getting.

To Miss Angelina Samira,

We, the members of the Council of Angels, take great pleasure in informing you that you will not be taking up a normal occupation among the Angels. It is with great pride that we give you

I suddenly cringed when the hawk let out an ear-piercing cry, spread his wings and flapped off. I stared at him for a moment, my eyes narrowed in annoyance as he flew off. Nothing like having your eardrums shattered at the most unexpected time…

I looked around at my location. Wow, how long had I been up here? How long had I kept the Prince waiting for me? …How mad would he be when I finally got back? Oh boy, I'd better hurry and find him before he gets himself killed. Or worse. And maybe this time I'll be able to make myself useful and not bumble around like an idiot and make him wonder why in the world he had agreed to let me come.

Quickly folding the letter back up and tucking it into my tunic, I spread my wings and flapped up into the air. I just hoped he wasn't still annoyed about my antics earlier…


Kiri: Wow, this one was actually kinda hard to write... there just wasn't much happening...

Naomi: Another pointless filler chapter...

Kiri: it's not completely pointless! You got that letter, didn't you?! That's important!

Naomi: Whatever...

Kiri: Well... I guess I'll do the FAQ today, since everyone appears to be SLACKING OFF!

Naomi: They're all sleeping, you dolt! It's the middle of the night!

Kiri: So?!

Naomi: SO, some people like to actually go to sleep at night!

Kiri: ...nu uh.

Naomi: Just because you're a night owl, doesn't mean the rest of the world it, too.

Kiri: oh... shut it!

Q: What the heck was that letter all about?

A: Heheh, you'll see.

Q: Was it good or bad?

A: What do you think?

Q: Are you even gonna answer my questions?

A: maybeh.

Q: Grrr... well, isthe Prince still gonna be an ass when she gets back to him?

A: Mmm... maybe. Maybe not. Considering that Naomi is still a child at heart, and the Prince had matured quite a bit in his recent years, I'd have to say probably yes, since he's too busy looking after his own skin to have to baby-sit Naomi as well.

Naomi: I am NOT a child!

A: Really? Then what's that rattle over there?

Naomi: ...THAT IS NOT MINE YOU DOLT!

A: Uh huh, suuuure.

Q: What the HECK is that little voice in her head?!

A: Ah, the voice isn't in her head at all. It's all around her. she just can't figure out what direction it's coming from.

Q: Well, what is it?!

A: Not telling. ;P

Q: so... when's the Dark Prince gonna come?

A: Not soon enough for my tastes, but since we've only just arrived on the Island, we're all just gonna have to be patient, aren't we?

Q: Is Naomi EVER going to be able to go off alone and stay out of trouble?

A: Ha! Unlikely!

Naomi: HEY!

Kiri: what, it's the truth! But anyways, I'm really sleepeh now, so I'm going off to bed. Sorry for the filler chappy, y'all, but remember to review!