Warrior's Angel 4: Anywhere Is

Written by Kiriona

Chapter 1

I walk the maze of moments
But everywhere I turn to
Begins a new beginning
But never finds a finish
I walk to the horizon
And there I find another
It all seems so surprising
And then I find that I know

You go there you're gone forever
I go there I'll lose my way
If we stay here were not together
Anywhere is

The moon upon the ocean
Is swept around in motion
But without ever knowing
The reason for its flowing
In motion on the ocean
The moon still keeps on moving
The waves still keep on waving
And I still keep on going

I wonder if the stars sign
The life that is to be mine
And would they let their light shine
Enough for me to follow
I look up to the heavens
But night has clouded over
No spark of constellation
No vela no orion

The shells upon the warm sands
Have taken from their own lands
The echo of their story
But all I hear are low sounds
As pillow words are weaving
And willow waves are leaving
But should I be believing
That I am only dreaming

To leave the thread of all time
And let it make a dark line
In hopes that I can still find
The way back to the moment
I took the turn and turned to
Begin a new beginning
Still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish
Its either this or that way
Its one way or the other
It should be one direction
It could be on reflection
The turn I have just taken
The turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end.

("Anywhere Is" by Enya)

"…Naooooooomiiiiiiii…." It was soft and quiet, and drawn out like a snake hissing. "Naaaaaooooommmmiiiii…. Heheh…" I realized that the sound seemed to be coming from all around me. "Cooooome… folloooow… follooow meeee…" My senses slowly came back online, though I was still out of it. But the first thing I became overly aware of was the cold sensation slowly slinking its way around my waist, gliding over my belly like slim, frozen fingers. Those icy finger-like what-ever-it-was continued winding around me like snakes, eventually stopping at my neck. My breath caught in my throat when a sudden cold whoosh of air on the back of my neck sent a nasty chill down my back. Then something pressed against my throat… something long and just as freezing cold as everything else… like someone's hand.

"Come to me… I offer sanctuary…" The voice hissed in my ear, which only made me more overly aware of my body. "Come…" I tried to look down, but found I couldn't move. The hand on my throat slid over my neck and down to the back of my shoulder. "Come…" Now unnerved, I began trying to get my body working again, but all efforts proved futile. "Come to me…" My shoulder started to burn, and as it steadily grew from burning to scolding, my attempts to get away increased. "Come…" My eyes began to water. Whatever this thing holding me captive was doing, I was certain it was only bad news for me. Soon, all I could think about was the pain. The only thoughts on my mind were 'Get away! Get away! It hurts! It hurts so bad, hurry and escape!' "Heh…heheh…heheheh…" I couldn't take it. The pain was unbearable. Finally, I just opened my mouth and…

For the fifth time in a row, I woke up screaming bloody murder.

Loud shots rang through the air as a tiny rocket shot up into the air and exploded into a bright blossom of color against the night sky. That one was quickly followed by another, and many more after it. It was a very rare occasion for the Indian palace, one that warranted a lovely display of fireworks. In this case, it was the Maharaja's birthday.

You all should know me by now, Naomi Fox: The Wanted Angel! So welcome one and all to the fourth chapter of my early life crisis.

It's been about a month since I escaped Azad and arrived in India. Those red wings that Aaron gave me were a real blessing, let me tell ya! I wasn't bothered once, even while flying as high as I dared go. Once I got to the palace, I hid both sets of wings and appeared before the Maharaja as just an ordinary girl looking for a job. And guess what? I got one! I got a job as the Princess's personal handmaid!

But even if I had a good paying job now and I was safe for the moment, not everything was cherry in the Land of Naomi. My love life was slowly but surely falling apart. Ever since The Prince of Persia had been arrested in my place, it was like a vital piece of myself was missing. At night, I've been suffering through nightmares of what he might be going through. He could be dead now, for all I know… but every night, I'd always wake up in tears, and the feeling of loss was almost unbearable. I always tried to tell myself that he was strong and could very well handle himself, but there was always a cloud of doubt that hung over my head. That was the big problem. I didn't know!

Despite how empty I felt without my lover, I made an effort to remain cheerful and happy when I was at work. Who ever heard of an emo servant girl, anyway? But it was always there, that growing hole of nothingness. That horrible hemorrhage that only he could heal. In short, I missed him terribly and I ached to be back in his loving embrace.

Another thing that was going horribly wrong was the mystery tattoo on my shoulder. The goddamn thing was getting bigger! I first found out it was steadily spreading while taking a bath one day and saw a reflection of it in a mirror. The flames were now beginning to wind their way across my shoulders and down my back. I don't know what that thing is, but whoever put it there better hurry and get it off! It's seriously creeping me out!

I sighed heavily and rested my chin in my hands. The Prince had been on my mind for the past few hours, and it was really starting to bum me out. I mean, it's not enough that I have nightmares about him suffering through the Council's interrogations from their most sadistic inquisitors, but he's starting to butt his way into my every thought now?

"Naomi? Are you alright?" Startled, I must've jumped back about ten feet, but thankfully, it was only my dear mistress, Farah. Since I was her personal servant, it's only natural to assume we spent a lot of time together. It's only been a month, but the two of us, being young women still filled with the spirit of life, we were on a pretty steady friendship basis.

"Where did you come from?!" I exclaimed before I could recompose myself. Farah nodded to the open balcony door.

"Just there. Didn't you hear me calling you?" I sighed and returned to my position on the rail.

"No. Sorry. Did you need something?"

"Well, I suppose I could use some help getting out of this armor." That was another thing that had me a little on edge was the armor she was wearing. Call me insane as a sewer rat, but isn't that the same thing she was wearing when the events of Two Thrones happened?! "But that's for later. Why are you in here and not out watching the show?"

"I got sleepy earlier, so I came in here to take a nap. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not."

"So… have you heard the latest servant girl gossip?" I asked, trying to make conversation. "About the Angel in Babylon?" Farah took a place on the rail beside me.

"Yes, I have."

"Do you believe it?"

"I don't know. It seems a little ridiculous to me."

"I agree," I lied, "I've heard enough about it to last me five lifetimes." I looked at her. "They're even starting to say now that she apparently just waved her arms and the crops grew three times better than they have in years."

"What nonsense," she agreed and we both laughed. If there was one thing I enjoyed about my work, it was the gossip. Very juicy gossip. Especially when it was about me. They were really making me out to be some kind of goddess!

After some more conversation, I returned to my job and helped Farah free herself from her armor, which was easier said than done. We spoke a little more afterward, about this and that, the Maharaja's birthday and how everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves except, of course, Zurvan. Yes, he's here too, sadly. It's definitely safe to say that since my first day in the palace, the Vizier and I had NOT gotten along very well, for… obvious reasons. Luckily, since the Prince and I had burned Kaileena's library to the ground while on the Island of Time, there wasn't much he could do in terms of world domination. But that didn't save him from being a grouchy, greedy, snake-in-the-grass old man, and it didn't help that I was the only one there that had memories of his betrayal all those years ago. As a result, I was as rude to him as possible, but not enough to lose my job over it. Well, what's he going to do? I tell you what: Nothing!

But unfortunately, that was where I was wrong.

Farah and I watched the rest of the fireworks go off before deciding it was time for bed. I was exhausted for whatever reason, and I just wanted to fall on the floor and go into a coma for the next ten years. But before I could do that, I had another basis need I needed to attend to.

"Where are you going?" Farah asked from her big, comfy bed as I walked to the door.

"Servant quarters. I'm a little thirsty and I have some pomegranate juice from dinner saved in there. I'll be right back."

"Don't take too long!" she called as I walked out the door. Heh, seven years, and hardly anything has changed.

I started down the hall with a chipper smile playing on my lips as my mind took a nice stroll down memory lane. It seemed like only yesterday that the Prince, Farah and I were in Azad, battling sand monsters and trying to save the world. Ah, those were the days. No Hunters to worry about, no confusing romances going on… I laughed softly at a few memories in particular.

But unfortunately, I was a bit too careless with my daydreaming. I found that out when I heard a loud crash in front of me. Startled, I looked down and saw that I, in my utter disregard for the real world that I lived in, had stupidly knocked a nice vase of flowers over and it was now broke to little bits on the floor. Uh oh.

Slightly panicked, I bent down to try and pick it up, only to catch my hand on one of the jagged edges of the broken vase and cut my hand to ribbons. I immediately pulled my hand back and looked at the wound. Blood. Lots of blood. Oh crap. Okay, Naomi, just stop the bleeding! Quick, girl, find something! …NO NOT YOUR SHIRT!

And during my frantic search for something to conceal my stupidly obvious silver blood, I just happened to look up… and see none other than the Vizier himself standing there, watching me. Or rather, watching the blood drip slowly from the cut on my hand onto a small puddle on the floor…

Kiri: Welcome one and all to (drumbroll) WARRIOR'S ANGEL 4!

Everyone: (cheers and cat calls)

Naomi: Great... why do I get the feeling that things are only going to go from bad to worse?

Dark Prince: I better have a bigger part in this one, you bitch!

Kiri: Oh, don't worry. I intend to get you back in your old form some where.

Dark Prince: YES!

Prince: Hey, what about me?!

Kiri: ... you're in jail.

Prince: ...

Kiri: But don't worry! You get out of prison eventually! and you get cookies, too1

Prince: Cookies! :)

Dark Prince: ...idiot.

Prince: ;.;

Kiri: anyway, I hope everyone loves the return of FARAH!

Prince: I do!

Naomi: WHAT?! (glare)

Prince: Well, er, I mean... eh... (sweating)

Kiri ... OKAY well, I think it's time for something that we haven't done in ages! The FAQ!

Everyone: Woot! Princy, you do it!

Prince: Eh, oka- hey! why me?

Kiri: Because I'm too tired to do it.

Dark Prince: (mumbled) lazy...

Q: What the hell happened with part three?!

A: Well, it was kinda messy, wasn't it?

Kiri: Yeah Well, I was experimenting with some stuff, so it is kinda messy. but don't worry. After I finish the series, I'm hoping to go back and do some clean up!

Q: ok, so... what with Naomi's tattoo?

A: Beats me. It's probably something bad though.

Naomi: Whatever happened to Agel's dn't have darksides?!

Kiri: It's still in effect.

Naomi: Then what the crap?!

Kiri: heheh.

Q: By is the title different that the others?

A: It's nothing big, Kiri just didn't want things to become too monotonous that readers couldn't tell the four parts apart.

Kiri: Besides, I think the song kinda fits Naomi rather well!

Q: This chapter it crappy! Will it get better?

A: Well, I certainly hope so!

Kiri: Me too... there's a lot of things to cover in this one, so hang on to your hats, peoples! We're in for a wild ride! Don't bail out on me now, okay?

Q: Erm... does the Vizier know that she's an Angel?

A: ... yes... (growls)

Kiri: Well, I think that's all for today! Remember, kids, make sure you review and tune in next time for more of Kiri's special homemade chapptery goodness! Ciao!