Chapter 5

"Prince!" I called down after finally locating him again. I circled once to decrease my speed as he looked up at me. He stood up from his kneeling position when my feet touched the ground and watched as I dusted myself off and folded my wings back.

"Naomi," he said in a sorta greeting tone. "Did you find anything?" I came closer to rejoin my comrade.

"I didn't find anything, but the path ahead to the fortress is pretty straight forward. But the obstacles blocking the road and all the climbing it may require… that's another story. But that's the beauty of having wings." I flashed him a smirk, but he didn't react to it. He just turned his eyes back do to his hand, which I then noticed had something shiny clutched in it. "…What did you find?"

He turned to me, his eyes still fixed on his hand and he opened his palm to show me. My eyes went wide and nearly fell out of my skull when I saw what he was holding.

"What in the…" I began, my voice quiet and breathless. I carefully picked up chain hooked into the silver Angel Charm and lifted it out of his hand. "…Where did you get this…?"

"I found it over there on the ground," the Prince answered, "I figured you would see some significance in it." Oh, hell yes I did. This was one of the charms that Angels kept their wings in when they wanted to blend in when they didn't want their wings slowing them down. They were pretty much standard issue when an Angel got their job. I still hadn't got my job assignment, so I didn't have one. But these things were a real bitch to replace if lost.

I turned it over in my hand and gave it a close examination.

"You know what? Whoever lost this… left their wings in it," I said, looking up at the Prince, whom obviously had no idea what it was.

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"These neat little charms are what Angels use to put their wings away when they're not needed or wanted… I feel sorry for a poor slob that lost this," I explained. Sighing, I slipped the chain around my neck and tucked the charm into my tunic. "I'll keep this until I can get back to the Heavens. Whoever lost it will definitely be wanting it back."

"Why don't you have one?" the Prince asked.

"I don't have a job yet… But I'll be getting one soon." I looked up at him. "Well, shall we continue onward?" He just nodded once and we started walking.

I admit, my memory of the game had more than dwindled after seven years. I barely recognized anything here, and I was relying mostly on gut feelings to point us in the right direction and get through puzzles. I still had no weapon, so it was up to the Prince to do all the fighting. It didn't seem to bother him, though, so nothing was said about it. I had a big strong man to hide behind at the moment, and the Prince had a navigator. Even if that navigator had to fly up to see the land layout to figure out the best path to take, and had only bits and pieces of memories of playing the game back home, it was better than nothing.

After a while of this, we reached the fortress and after a looooong set of steps and a few sand monsters, we were in.

"Prince?" I spoke up after a while. "Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"…What is it that keeps you going like this?" I inquired, tilting my head at him questioningly. He paused a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… Seven years on the run, living like a street rat, or close to one, knowing the Dahaka wants you dead no matter what it has to do, knowing that you're completely on your own… how do you deal with that? What in the world kept you going this long?" He paused again, this time much longer, his eyes on the ground in thought.

"I…" he began, still wording his answer, "I have a lot to live for, I suppose."

"And what would that be?"

"My kingdom, my father… and you…" he sort of mumbled the last little bit, but I still heard it. I blushed softly and turned my head to the side, hoping that he wouldn't notice.

"That's sweet of you," I commented. "What about… Farah?" I watched his face when I asked that one. He seemed to go sullen for a moment.

"Farah…" he whispered her name, "She does not remember me. Or you, for that matter. It's best to just leave her be, and let her continue her life." I smirked slyly. Or, I was so gonna tease him about that.

"You still love her, don't you? Go on, admit it!" I teased, lightly punching his shoulder.

"That was a long time ago, Naomi," he told me, "it wouldn't matter either way."

"Men…" I sighed, "so little understanding of matters of the heart…" he looked at me, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Oh, and I suppose you would know all about it?" he asked sarcastically. I grinned.

"Damn right I do. I am an Angel, therefore, I know all!" I replied cheerfully, but firmly.

"You certainly don't act like it."

"Yes well… Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" He snickered. "That's it, I am SO feeding you to the Dahaka!" His humor died a little at the mention of the Dahaka, but didn't kill it completely. I didn't blame him. After all, what fun is it being chased by a big black, ugly demon that saps all the color from the environment? To be honest, I really didn't want to meet him, though I knew I would have to eventually…

For a few minutes, it was quiet and still. It was nice for about two seconds, though. Know why?

"Get… away…get… off…the… island…" That's why. That little voice was back and this time, it wasn't saying 'come this way' nor was it a small, high-pitched whisper. No, now it was a lower, much creepier tone, and it didn't sound like it was friendly. I shivered lightly upon hearing it and glanced at the Prince for reassurance. I knew he would protect me… we were buddies, after all. So why didn't I feel any better?

Then, as if I wasn't creeped out enough, "Get…off…or…you'll…be…sorry…" That did it. I was now officially freaked out to the maximum level. Someone or something clearly did NOT want me here, and by the sound if it, it was gonna do whatever it had to to get me off.

"Are you alright?" the Prince asked suddenly, causing me to jump in surprise.

"Y-yeah, I… I'm fine," I answered, not wanting to bring up the little voice with him. I knew he would just look at me like I was nuts.

"You're trembling," he pointed out.

"I'm just cold," I answered quickly, hugging myself to stop shaking. He continued to stare at me skeptically. It was way too obvious I was lying. He opened his mouth to voice that he didn't believe me, but I cut him off before he could utter a sound. "Look, I really am just cold, ok?! Get off my case!" I didn't mean to snap at him like that. Not only did it convince him that I was hiding something, but it also established a stubborn, awkward silence between us. That only made things worse, since I could still hear the voice.

I bit my lip hard and tensed my muscles to try and stop my body from trembling, but it wasn't working very well. I was in good mind to listen to the voice, but another part of me still remembered my promise to the Prince and myself. I was gonna stay with him and help him out of this mess if it killed me. I couldn't let a little disembodied voice scare me away when I had so much on my plate.

Swallowing hard, let me arms hang back down by my sides and increased my pace to equal the Prince's and I quietly promised myself that as soon as this was over, I was getting my ass off this rock ASAP.


Kiri: Well, that only took forever.

Naomi: No freaking kidding...

Kiri: Sorry for the late chapter, guys. I had a LOT of trouble finishing it. Mainly because not much happens. But I've finally got it done, so here it is. But enough of my babbling, let's get to the FAQ. who wants to do it today?

Everyone: (raises hand)

Kiri: Oo wow, when did this get so popular?

Prince: Probably when you procrastinated for a month and left us all bored out of our minds.

Kiri: Well... it's not my fault... I just got a nasty case of writers block and couldn't figure out what to write! But anyway... lessie... AH, I KNOW! MIKE! He hasn't done it in a while.

Mike: Damn right. Now move over.

Kiri: ... Well, EXCUSE me!

Q: what's the shiny thingie?

A: you mean the charm? Sorry, can't tell yet, but remember it... it'll be important later.

Q: Why doesn't Naomi have one of those charms?

A: She doesn't have a job. She didn't get assigned to one, since she just took off after graduation without a word.

Q: So... who's charm is that?

A: oh, you'll see...

Q: So... the Prince wants to live just for Naomi? IS THAT LOVE IN THE AIR?!

A: ...First of all, don't be stupid. Princy boy and Naomi were best friends at the end of the first story, and she promised him they'd meet again. Of course he'd want to stay alive long enough to see her again. but also keep in mind that she isn't the only thing keeping him from resigning himself to his fate.

Prince: Yes, I DO have a throne to think about you know!

Q: BUT IT SO OBVIOUS THEY'RE GONNA FALL IN LOVE!!

Naomi: HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SAY THIS! IT'S AGAINST THE LAW AND IF I BREAK THAT LAW, THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE MY HEAD! Besides, the relationship between us is more brother and sister.

A: er, yeah, what she said. Naomi is too goodie-goodie to break the laws. and I really doubt that a romantic relationship will develope as long as the Prince is afraid for his life and Naomi is acting like a bubble head.

Naomi: HEY!

Q: so... what the hell is that little voice?!

A: oh... nothiiiin...

Q: ok... so why does it want her off the island so bad?

A: because her presence on the island is going to trigger a series of events that lead to disaster.

Q: Disaster for who, exactly?

A: (shrug) Who knows. But whoever is behind the voice is either trying to help someone else or their own self.

Kiri: OK, I think that's enough for today... and to my wonderful readers, I love you all VERY much and I just LOVE the reviews! Hopefully the next chapter will get the story a little farther than this one did, and hopefully it'll be up sooner. So keep an eye out, okies?