Raden had disappeared to speak with a few of the town’s folk and left Azrael alone in the small house. She kept pacing around the room with her thoughts racing about herself and her powers. What was she capable of? The thought of her destroying armies upon armies terrified her.

She took a deep and shaky breath. Her nerves were all over the place, but then she heard it. A faint whisper in the breeze. It wasn't a language she knew but it was there. Azrael slipped on her shoes and quietly went outside carefully listening for that whisper again. The wind picked up and the whispers danced around her. As she began walking, they grew louder and louder the closer she went to the base of the mountain. She walked through the town and felt eyes on her but they were not of the townsfolk. The wind was gentle but pushed her forward and she went willingly. Azrael came to a part of the mountain that was a sheer wall. She peered up for about thirty feet of a flat wall.

Azrael took a deep breath and placed a hand on the mountain. She felt a soft rumble as if the mountain itself was breathing. The whispers stopped and everything became deadly silent. "What are you trying to tell me?" A soft rumble shook the mountain face. Azrael felt the power encase her hand. "I do not wish harm here only to pass." Nothing happened as she said this. She closed her eyes and placed her other hand on the rock face. "I do not know if you are here or if you are merely whispers of the past," Azrael whispered, "I pray to you Nameless Gods for safe passage across your creation." As Azrael continued, she felt the presence of another being. She dared not open her eyes.

She no longer felt the cold touch of the rock face, but the hands of someone else. Her prayer stopped but the being stayed. Azrael kept perfectly still but felt a pull from deep within. She heard a single whisper as clear as day. The language was still unrecognizable but somehow, she knew what the voice wanted. Azrael focused hard on the storm she felt rising in her. She let out a shaky breath and felt the warmth of magic rush through her fingertips. The connection to the being became locked and Azrael could feel the rush of magic between them. She knew then that she was in the presence of a Nameless God but a wave of comfort fell over her. Azrael knew then that their passage across would be protected. She shifted and the presence of the being faded away and she was now facing the rock face again. Azrael smiled to herself and felt peace for the first time.

~~~*~~~

Raden met with the priest that abided in this town. The priest stated that he could bless them before their travels. Raden had doubts that this human priest would do much for them, but he thought it would ease the minds of the already jumpy people of this minor town.

He headed back to explain things to Azrael but found she was nowhere to be seen. Panic set in immediately as he tore through the house and found it empty. His chest tightened and his breathing became rapid. He burst through the door again into the sunlight and looked in every direction for her.

"Azrael!" He yelled, "Azrael!" Raden listened for an answer, but only the wind swept through. He spread his wings fully and shot into the sky above the town. The wind whipped around him as a warning but Raden ignored the signs. Azrael was a top priority no matter how angry he made these spirits. He soared lower scanning over the empty streets.

Nothing.

The longer he searched the more dread built up. It had only been a few minutes of searching, but time seemed to slow to an eternity. Raden was becoming desperate. That's when he heard the whispers. He stopped searching and listened. They were faint and hard to hear as the wind ripped through his wings.

"Come on tell me where she is," Raden ordered under his breath. He knew this language only through what he had read. A language of the Gods. The whispers grew louder and swirled around him. He wasn't able to understand what they were saying. The wind would move and the whispers would grow quiet. After minutes of this, Raden grew frustrated. "What do you want from me!" He strained. The wind pushed him harshly and the whispers grew harsh. That's when he realized... they wanted him to follow. So Raden did.

Through the town, Raden flew until the wind ceased at the base of the mountain and the whispers ran along the rock face. He ran the length of the mountain base most hidden by trees from wandering eyes of the town. The whispers grew louder and louder until they were practically screaming in his head. Raden stopped in his tracks. Azrael stood in front of him with a rather surprised expression.

Raden enveloped her in a spine-crushing hug causing her to yelp. "What in the world Raden!" Azrael let out a giggle. "You really miss me that much?" Raden set Azrael down and ran a hand through his hair. Azrael saw the look of terror on his face and her smile vanished. "What Raden?"

"You were gone from the house." Raden's voice was slightly hoarse. "I couldn't find you."

"I came to the mountain. I was only gone for a few minutes..." Then it hit her. Raden of course never saw her leave and she never told him she would venture out of the house. "Oh my god, I didn't mean to scare you Raden I..." Raden cut her off again holding her tightly.

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"I'm not mad." Raden let out a shaky breath. "I'm not mad." Azrael held onto him tightly. She could feel his heartbeat racing and closed her eyes. The whisper danced around her as she felt another presence again. A phantom hand lay on her shoulder and Azrael let out a breath. She felt her magic run through her veins like a river and into Raden. His heart slowed and his breathing evened out. Azrael opened her eyes and pulled her head back to peer up at Raden. He was already looking at her with curiosity and worry. "What was that?"

Azrael shook her head. Whatever had just happened was not under her control. "I think we should head back." Azrael began walking ahead of Raden trying to wrap her mind around what had just occurred.

Raden silently kept pace with her but also kept his distance. He had too many questions and he intended on asking them, but now was not the time.

~~~*~~~

Raden explained everything he had discussed with the town's leaders. They would depart the next day but that morning the priest would come to pray and bless them. Azrael sat silent and nodded when need be but truth be told her mind was a million miles away. As Raden finished up, Azrael excused herself to the small bedroom hoping he wouldn't follow.

She knelt down beside the bed and closed her eyes. The single whisper returned. "What do you want from me," she whispered. The air became still and chilled around her causing goosebumps to raise on her arms. "Are you here to help us?" The whisper grew louder but still in a tongue unknown.

"Azrael?"

Azrael jumped and turned to see Raden leaning against the doorframe. His arms were crossed and eyebrows knitted together. The air filled with warmth again. Azrael stood dusting off the imaginary dust on her dress. "You scared me. I didn't hear you walk in."

"Yeah, what were you doing on the floor?" Raden spoke lowly picking each word carefully.

She shrugged and met Raden's eyes. They were a dark blue against the dying light of the evening. "I was just praying. You said it yourself that we need the help if we're going to try and pass right?"

Raden nodded slightly but there was something in his eyes that lingered. Something of doubt. "You said you don't pray."

"I said I hadn't prayed in years. Why not start now?" Azrael became very aware of the environment she was in. Every sound and movement she picked up on. Raden was beginning to pry and Azrael was starting to close off again. She let out a sigh, "Look I'm tired and I think some rest would do me some good."

"Azrael." It wasn't a question or an order. Raden spoke with warmth and warning. Azrael looked up at him. Through the silence of the old house, she could hear every little movement. At that moment she could've sworn she could hear his heart beating.

She gave in to the pressure. "I followed the whispers," she quietly spoke.

"That's why you were near the mountain." Not a question. "What did they say?"

Azrael sat down on the bed. She squeezed the sheets in her hands. "I didn't understand them. I never heard anything like it, but I still understood where they wanted me to go."

"They could've killed you."

Azrael's head shot up. Raden looked almost as if he was a shadow. The light was growing less and less. "What?"

"Those whispers you heard. It's a pull from the Nameless. They've driven people mad or purposely lead others to their deaths," Raden answered rather harshly. He watched Azrael's shoulder slouch.

Azrael dropped her head feeling embarrassed over the situation. Something glimmered in the dying sunlight and caught her eye. She shifted her gaze over to the corner of the room and swore someone stood silent. She shook the thought and figured she was just tired. "They didn't though. I think they wanted to help me." Her words were quiet.

Raden let out a frustrated breath. "Azrael these entities aren't here to help you. They have such a hatred for mortals that they will do anything to kill one."

"Sounds familiar," Azrael retorted under her breath. She realized what she had said and snapped her eyes to Raden. His eyes were narrowed and jaw clenched.

"What you did today was completely idiotic." Azrael's eyes widened, but Raden continued. "For one that could've been Serkan who took you or even Merikh. Then what. There would be no telling where you would have ended up."

"Raden stop..."

"No, you need to hear this because you have no fucking clue the danger, you're in!" Raden began to raise his voice.

Azrael pushed off the bed with anger standing a few feet away from Raden. "YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT?"

The air stilled between them. Raden stood shocked and slightly impressed. Azrael on the other hand felt like the world around her was on the brink of collapse.

"I know that I'm in danger. From witch hunters to Gods older than time itself apparently, but I wanted this right whatever it was that I experienced at the mountain... I wanted that to be good. Whatever spirit it was... I wanted it to be on my side for once." Azrael forced each word out with anger. Her chest heaved forcing heavy breaths. "You said that my powers came from these Nameless Gods, but yet you scrutinize me for being curious. Truth is these entities as you called them could be the answer for me."

Raden let out a sigh. "I want you safe. We have no clue who these entities are or what they're playing at. This is just another obstacle in the way of me protecting you."

Azrael let out a laugh. Her frustration bubbled over. "I want answers, Raden. If that gets me killed..." He saw the light live her face. "Then the world will be better off."

"Azrael..."

She climbed into bed silently and faced the wall. Raden stood watching without another word. He wanted so badly to hold her but he knew she probably didn't want his company. So he turned and left.

She heard his footsteps grow silent as he left the house and she cried herself sleep. The moment she needed him the most and he left her. Like everyone before.