He smirks at me and runs his fingers through his now black hair. ‘What? Are you frightened?’ he says, gripping my upper arm. I shake my head but I can’t stop a whimper from escaping my throat. He laughs at this and pulls me to him, embracing me. His grip as firm as ever, he spreads his wings and everything turns to black.
I wake up, groaning softly. I look around and take in my surroundings, which happen to be dark and gloomy, and the air is cold. Shivering as I stand from the rock that I was laid out upon, I call out. “Angel,” I yell, “Where are you? Don’t leave me here!”
A small chuckle comes from behind me and I jump, nearly slipping on the ice that coats the ground. “Are we a bit confused, Nadie?” he says, sitting down on the stone bed.
“Scared, confused, worried,” I say, sitting next to him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. I bask in the warmth from his body and move closer.
“I’m sure you know where we’re at,” he whispers in my ear, brushing a few strands of hair from my face. I nod slowly as I practically crawl onto his lap for warmth.
“You said we were going to Hell. And we’re there,” I say quietly, keeping close to him. “Lots of people always think of fire and brimstone and red when they think of Hell. I know better. You took me past the city, past the rivers; you took me to the ninth circle. We’re in the land of traitors.”
I look up at his face, smirking. He smiles back to me and nods slowly. “Ah, but which part of the lowest circle?” he whispers, lifting me and setting me to my feet. Standing close to him, I peer around, but I hear nothing but a howling wind.
“Caina?” I say hopefully.
“No,” he says softly, laughing quietly.
“Antenora, you can’t have brought me any further than Antenora.” He laughs a bit louder, shaking his head causing ebony hair to flutter hither and tither.
“Ptolomæa… the home of traitors to their guests?”
“I’ve brought you to Judecca, Nadia. Judecca. I’m positive you know who lives here,” he says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me behind him.
The wind grows stronger as he leads me further into the lowest zone, closer to what is said to be the center of the earth. The ground appears to be solid ice, and I can barely stay standing because of it. The angel wraps his arms around me and picks me up, his footing not seeming bothered in the slightest.
I begin to ache from the cold and half-yell above the wind, “Where are you taking me?” He says nothing, nor does he turn his gaze from the darkness ahead. “Angel, answer me!” I cry out. Tears fall from my eyes, and freeze to my cheeks. I stare up at him, and I notice that his eyes are as bright as ever- brighter than our first meeting. I realize that no matter what I say, he won’t listen.
Giving up, I move close to him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, trying to find any warmth. I doze off, for the next thing I know the angel falls to the ground and I’m sent sliding across the ice.
“Nadia!” he shouts, “Don’t look up!” I can hear the fear in his voice, so I close my eyes tight. I can hear his grunts as he scrambles towards me, and soon his arms are around me. He scrambles to his feet, pulling me up as well.
Suddenly there is a loud rumble of thunder. I jump slightly and look up to my angel, and find his eyes closed. “Wait,” I call out, “that was a voice!”
He looks down at me and nods. “Close your eyes again, Nadie,” he whispers as he looks up. I do so, and I hear him shout so he is heard above the wind. This was in the same foreign tongue as the thunder was, but I recognized it now, though I don’t know the language itself.
And the winds ceased.
“I bring a supposed servant of yours!” my angel yells, turning my body away from his. “Don’t open your eyes, whatever you do,” he whispers hurriedly to me before pushing me away.
I start to cry out of fear and anger. I knew I was standing before Lucifer. It was as simple as that. “Why does she not look at me if she is my servant? What is her name?” I quake.
“Nadia,” the angel calls. The devil snarls.
“You mean that mortal that’s running about the surface?” The angel makes no reply, so I assume that he nods.
“I thought Little Nadie could use a reality check, Lucifer,” he shouts. “You know, she should know the truth about what she’s claiming.” The beast chuckles loudly, so the whole cavern shakes and resounds.
“Look at me, Nadia,” Lucifer says, “Look at what you claim to serve.” I turn back to the angel at this, my eyes opening wide. I rush towards him, slipping across the ice. I look at him pleadingly, my tears still frozen against my cheeks.
“Take me home,” I whimper, hugging him. “Take me away from here. Please.”
He shakes his head and slowly turns me around. I try to turn away, but his arms hold me tight in place. Panicking, I close my eyes. “No,” he whispers, “Open your eyes now. Look upon the master of the realm you claim to have some authority in.”
I open my eyes and scream. Confined to his waist in solid ice, the Fallen One gazes at me, his eyes flashing dangerously. I can’t look away, no matter how hard I try. I look over him, and see his six wings, and his faces, with their features of stone.
Silence overtakes the room and after what seems like an age, he speaks. “Take her away from here. It’s not her time.”
Neither the angel nor I move until Lucifer roars, and the winds start again. Quickly the angel picks me up and with a flurry of feathers we leave. I close my eyes and sob against his shoulder until everything is done and past.
“We’re at the River Lethe,” he says softly as our feet touch the ground. “I know you know what it does, so I know that you know what has to be done.” He steps away and looks at me, pity and care both evident.
I glance at the river, and new tears spring to my eyes. I crouch down at the waters edge and look to the angel.
“I’m supposed to be a dream,” he whispers, his hair now a mix of auburn and ebony. I drink from the river and he rushes towards me, catching me before I fall into the water. “I’m sorry,” I hear him whimper, “You can’t know.”
I wake up. Back in Carthage, Maharet still sleeping. I didn’t remember a thing at the time, and I wasn’t supposed to -- ever. But I did, and I do hope the angel doesn’t find out. Something tells me that he will be rather pissed that I somehow overcame the river and its purpose.
I was climbing down the mountain, away from the gates, and this shade pointed at me. He yelled, 'There it is!' and suddenly he attacked me. He didn't last long, he was so weak. But just before my final blow fell, he said to me, his eyes looking a bit lost and confused "Are you my guide? Why are you hitting me?"
I sat down afterwards, staring at the pile of dust he had become.
Eventually I continued my path down the mountain and I stumbled upon Virgil. I asked him if there was anything he could teach me. He told me that he wasnt in the mood, and that he had a headache too. Then he winked at me.
Then I got a bit lost. I kept following the trail, and when I would come to a split, something would tell me to go east, or west, and so I would. I'd just end up higher on the mountain, closer to the gates. It wasn't an enjoyable experience.
I finally made it to the base of the mountain, at the enterance of the woods. But there was a shade there. He wouldn't move out of my way. I would step to the left, and he would move infront of me. Same for the right. I... panicked. Swung out at him, and hit his surprisingly solid body. He faught back with the same fear and anger. I eventually killed him, and he looked peaceful before the shade faded from sight.
I...
I think I'm growing weaker, and I don't mean physically.
Last night my daughter took her first steps.
I was standing in the Library at the Carthage house, with
Amducious standing by.
It started when she was squirming in my arms to be set down. So I did. She stood up, and tried to take a few steps, but fell down.
I crouched next to her and helped her stand, and she tried again, and fell again.
By this time
Amducious had turned away from my bookshelf and had knelt down as well. My daughter took her first few steps towards him, and not me.
I'm proud of her, but I'm really... I dont know... Jealous too? And of
Amducious?!
And later that night, I went on an AT run. I said something about getting into my 'prep whore' role, and
Jupiter french kissed me! Icky!!
Zillah beat him up though. Yah, it was...*shudder*
So, I took some time to run around Greece.
I ran into this fellow, Molorchus was his name.
I entered the building, and he said to me 'You! You are a stranger. Perhaps you will do!' When I asked him about what, he told me about how they needed a sacrifice to keep the neamen kittie happy.
I said that I'd do it. Well, I didn't honestly think that they WOULD tie me up and drag me to the hillside.
I was very very wrong.
They tied my hands and legs together, and carried me all the way to the Tretus Pass... the men then proceeded to drop me and run. It was only a few moments until I saw the big cat just come bouncing across the hill side.
...
Let's just say that the lion has really bad breath, and really white fangs.
Later I took the time to go to Akka (I was feeling in the mood for some lemonade) and... well, Omar decided to praise me. Which I dont mind, mind you. I love it. Ruby lips and all. *giggleblush* But he praised me for walking among angels, and everyone heard.
See, I'm a bit confused here. I don't remember walking-
... unless he means -that- angel. I don't think he does...
Maharet has the chicken pox.
I have the chicken pox.
So far it seems that
Anadreva and
Rowane are the only people that have had them.
Well, perhaps this is a sign that I'm to sit in my library until it passes. I mean, I need to record that last angel instance anyway.
Bah. Two weeks of a real hell. I wonder if
Joel has had chicken pox...
A few days ago, I layed down to- ... well, I have a story to tell, and this is it. Well, this is all that I remember so far. I'm still not sure of the rest of it yet. Eventually though.---
Sighing, I set my daughter on the bed, trying my best not to wake her. Only a few weeks old and she sleeps like a cat. That isn’t much of a surprise though, considering I have the Cheshire looking after her just in case. Crawling onto the bed next to her, I close my eyes and sigh contentedly as I cuddle up to an emerald pillow.
I listen to my daughter's even breathing as it mixes with the sounds of the merchants of Carthage. It's a familiar sound that calms me even more, and I soon feel myself drift off.
I wake up to the bed shifting slightly. "Hi darling," I mumble as I roll onto my back, stretching. There's no response so I open my eyes, a bit curious. What do I find? Piercing blue eyes gazing at mine.
I scream and try to scramble away, but the angel is on top of me, preventing movement. I begin to whimper and he sits up, stretching his wings.
"I'm sorry, Nadia," he whispers, "I just hadn't seen you in a while." The angel, whose name I still don't know, even to this day, reaches towards me. I cringe away from him, and I happen to catch a glimpse of the room I'm in. It looks much like the room that I fell asleep in, but... older. The walls are covered in dirt, ivy, and... Well, it looks like old blood.
"Where am I?" I ask him, pulling myself to the head of the bed, the tattered sheets moving with me. He just continues to stare at me, and he leans forward slightly. I back away further, bumping into the stone headboard.
"You're...well, this place doesn't really have a name. But that doesn't matter!" he says, standing up suddenly, his wings resting close against his back. "You're with me right now, so stand up, we have places to go."
I look at him, my lips parted in a slight pant. “Wha… what are you talking about?” I state thickly. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you explain-.“ He snarls and turns to me, his blue eyes flashing dangerously.
“You’re coming with me and it’s simple as that. There are things I need to show you,” he says as he grasps my wrist, pulling me off the bed and close to him. “We’ve a long way to go, and the longer it takes, the longer you’re away from you daughter and from…” he trails off, snorting.
“Who? Joel? Oh, but I would figure you would like that,” I snap at him, trying to push myself away. His hold remains as tight as ever. I start to struggle, twisting and turning my body about but his grip gets tighter and tighter.
He pulls me out of the room, and we move down a hall. Flinging the door open at the end, we step into the sunlight. Suddenly I stop my squirming and look around. The place is modern—more so than Pittsburg. Vehicles wiz by us and I step back, into the angels awaiting hold. He wraps his arms around me, but this time I don’t resist for fear and amazement have dulled my judgment.
We walk down the street – well, sidewalk – until we reach a large open area. He gives my lower back a little nudge, encouraging me to move forward. “Do you have any idea where you’re at now?” he whispers before he steps a few paces to my right, stretching his wings wide, yawning.
“Should I?” I say, a bit puzzled. “I knew where I was earlier… sort of. It was a different version of my home.”
“This is Salem, dear.” he says to me, grinning wickedly. It’s then that I notice his normally raven hair is now a dark auburn. “This is where your Hall once stood.” I bite my lower lip and take a few steps into the vacant lot.
“This is impossible. There is no way this can be the Salem I remember and love.” I say suddenly, turning to face him. “The statue, where is it?”
“Tis gone,” he says, almost mockingly.
“It can’t be,” I mutter. This pulls another grin to his lips.
“Just like this can’t be Salem?” He laughs now, a horrible, unearthly sound. Nothing you would expect from an angel. “Dear sweet Nadie, you’re becoming so close minded. I’ll blame that man of yours.”
I sit down on the ground, my crossed arms resting on my knees. Pouting slightly I say, “All right, fine. I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I’ll go along with you, listening to what you have to say.”
He smiles widely and walks towards me, crouching next to me. “Now that’s a good little Mistress of Hell.”
I look at the ground, deciding to use my ability to pout to its fullest extent. I trail my fingers through the long, yellowing grass and bite my lower lip, waiting for a reaction from him. I glance up quickly and see that he has his eyes closed. “You know, I’m only doing this because I want to go home.”
His eyes open quickly and I look back to the ground. “Nadie, you say what you want, but we both know you don’t mind me, or the trouble I cause,” he says in a level tone, leaning forward to embrace me. I feel his arms wrap around me yet again, and I put my own arms around his neck. I can feel him stretch his wings far and we leave the ground, surrounded in a whirlwind of sound and light.
We land and I fall to the ground in with an ungraceful ‘thud’. Laughing, he extends a hand, which I grasp and he pulls me to my feet. He looks at me, peering over my entire body, and I shift uncomfortably. “You may want to lose those,” he says through a snicker, pointing at my feet.
“I think I’ll be fine,” I hiss, knowing that I’m going to have to try my best not to fall.
He continues to snicker. “All right then, don’t expect me to help when you fall then,” he says through a shrug. “And you’re to keep up with me, Nadie. This sand isn’t an excuse for you not to.” With this, he walks towards a slightly wooded area, walking close to the shore. He stops a moment later and looks over his shoulder.
“You have thirty seconds to get over here,” he calls out to me.
“Yeah?” I shout back, “What if I’m not there in thirty seconds?” I sit down in the warm sand, squirming a bit until I’m comfy.
“I won’t take you home.” He’s grinning again; the tone of his voice suggests it. I won’t give into his threats though. Closing my eyes I lie down in the sand, resting my head in my arms.
I lie there for a few moments, listening to the waves beat upon the shoreline. I feel as if I’m starting to drift off, when suddenly I’m lifted off the ground. His arm tight around my waist, the angel flips me over his shoulder.
“Let me go!” I shriek, kicking frantically. “Put me down right now, damn you!” He lets out a roar of laughter as he carries me to the woods he was originally walking towards. I keep squirming around I reach for one of his wings, thinking it to be a weak spot. My fingers barely touch the feathers and his laughter stops abruptly, as does his walking.
“Nadie, if you wish to remain healthy, you will release your hold on that,” he growls, both of his hands gripping my hips.
“And you, angel, will set me down once I do. I’m not afraid of you, and I’m not afraid to rip out a few feathers.”
“Release my wing,” he says quietly, anger lacing his words. All right, I’m a bit afraid now, so I let go. He grumbles loudly, and I feel my feet touch the ground. “Don’t do that again,” he hisses and pushes himself past me, entering the woods. I rush after him.
“Where are we going?” I inquire, stepping over rocks and semi-large branches. He doesn’t say anything, and the horrid silence follows us until we come across a large path that is partially blocked by two stones.
He stops next to one of the boulders and stares at it intently. “We’re going to Hell,” he whispers. I blink in surprise.
“Hell? Why the hell are we going there?”
A while ago,
Anadreva gave me this vial.
Ana gave me this vial, hoping to help me deal with my dreams. Well, the contents were supposed to give me a nice, dreamless sleep.
I had carried it around for ages. Since before
Maharet was born.
Joel and
Malia both insisted that I didnt take it. But I was in Carthage, going through my things, and it was just sitting there. Standing in my living room, I quaffed the potion.
I passed out right there. Yes, I know I should have listened to
Ana, but it was an impulse thing. Had I not took it then, I never would have.
I dreamt. Its as simple as that. I had a dream, with that relentless angel. The contents of the dream were so similar to the last angelic dream, that its frightening. The only difference? This dream lasted so much longer.
Finally I was able to wake, but I was in the bedroom in my Agrabah home. Very odd, and very creepy.
Joel fussed when he found out that I took the vial.
Amducious made a half threat towards
Ana. God, they need to relax. Its not like
Dreva-druid provoked this. The vial was meant to help me, and I know it. Try explaining that to a few men, though. *sigh*
I went on a bit of a ... shopping spree.
... I added an Atrium and a Library!
I can study now! In my own house! I.. it will be great fun. I can finally sit down and try and figure out what that angel wants. Or finish my trivia questions. Or something...anything. Perhaps I can teach myself the art of dreams again. I used to be so... informed.
Amducious also visited (whilst did alot of people. I gave
Anadreva a gift. Hehe). As he left, he gave me a rose, and told me to use it should I ever need... anything.
*shrug*
I also need to lay off the alcohol. Got completley shnoggered the other night, and got really... friendly.
