My heart slammed into my ribs painfully as panic welled within me, deep and unforgiving, dragging me under with each passing second.
A choked sob escaped me and I fell to my knees.
A huge thief swung his fist straight at Rapunzel and she screamed as she was knocked to the ground.
Cassian bellowed with rage, launching himself forward and forcing the men away from Aladdin. He sprung to his feet and they dove into the fray against the thieves.
They fought viciously, refusing to back down despite the fact that we were so outnumbered.
Meaty hands encircled my wrists and I tried to lurch away, throwing my magic at the huge man who’d grabbed me. My body was mine and I hadn’t said he could touch it!
Send him into a pit of misery! Burn him until his bones are black and his eyes are closed forever!
But instead of my magic slamming from my body and saving me as it had when Kahn had touched me against my will, it came as far as the barrier of my flesh and went no further.
Aladdin had wished for me to reclaim control of my body but without the lamp he wasn’t my master anymore. His say no longer held sway over me and a wave of panic crashed through me as I realised I couldn’t defend myself anymore. I should have done so when I’d had the chance. But Aladdin hadn’t wanted me to give myself away and I’d hidden my magic when I should have been using it to save us.
I finally found my voice and a scream ripped from my throat as I thrashed against my captor’s grip, kicking, scratching and biting in a desperate bid for freedom.
The thief cursed me as I sank my teeth into his knuckles and I wrenched out of his grasp, throwing myself across the confined space towards Aladdin.
I barely got three steps before the thief caught me again, grabbing my wrist in a grip so tight it was cutting off my circulation.
Aladdin and Cassian were overwhelmed and Egos barked a laugh as they were forced to their knees before him.
Rapunzel started screaming curses at him as she was restrained by a huge thief with only blackened stumps in his gums where his teeth should have been.
The thief who had a hold of me yanked on my arm so hard that I was thrown to the floor behind him.
I hit the ground hard, a cry of pain escaping me as my elbow crashed into the tiles.
“What the hell is this?” Aladdin demanded, snarling up at Egos like a rabid animal.
The king of thieves chuckled darkly as he surveyed Aladdin and Cassian like they were nothing more than dirt beneath his shoe.
“For a while now, I’ve had something of an arrangement going with the Queen of this Kingdom,” he said slowly, licking his lips like he enjoyed the taste of those words. “And I just got word from her that one of my gutter rats has stolen the Princess of Osaria right from her marriage bed. When Atlas told me he’d seen you in the palace while delivering a sacrifice to the Queen, I dismissed his words as nothing more than a mistake. I presumed a man who looked a little like you had been there; we all know how fanciful Atlas can be when he’s been hitting the rum. But I underestimated you. And once the Queen described the thief who’d tricked his way into the palace and won the affections of the Princess with his pretty, face my doubts surfaced. Even if she hadn’t told me your name, I’d have known exactly who she’d meant. You always did have ideas above your station, Aladdin.”
“Let us go!” Aladdin demanded. “I can get you more treasure. Fifty times as much as I brought you yesterday. Just name your price-”
“I’ve already made my deal with the Queen,” Egos hissed. “She wants the Princess, the girl and the lamp. Nothing you could offer me would come close to the price she is paying. And she’s even throwing in a bonus for killing you and your guard friend here too. Of course, I’m going to take my time delivering on that part of the deal, no need to let you die easy.”
Aladdin’s face paled slightly at that threat though he tried to hide his fear.
“Don’t!” Rapunzel cried. “I’ll come with you, I’ll do anything but please just leave Cassian and Aladdin alone! Just let them go!”
“Not much of an offer as we already have you, don’t we, Princess?” Egos teased. “Lock them up while I deliver the assets,” he barked and several of the thieves started hauling Aladdin and Cassian out of the room.
I cried out, lurching forward suddenly and managing to avoid my captor’s grip as I took him by surprise.
I leapt towards Aladdin as tears burst free and streamed down my cheeks.
He fought against the thieves holding him and reached for me too despite both of us knowing it was pointless.
My fingertips brushed against his and I managed to snatch his hand into my grasp as my captor caught me once more. Thick arms locked around my waist and I cried out as I tightened my grip on Aladdin, refusing to release him until I was torn away.
The curling letter A on my inner wrist was burning as it began to fade from my skin and panic bled through my limbs as my heartbeat thundered a fierce denial. My fingers began to slip out of his and he growled in defiance as one of the thieves punched him square in the face.
Aladdin’s eyes never left mine, fierce determination burning in his dark gaze. It was as though his soul was trying to reach out for me, blazing with a promise he couldn’t possibly keep.
“I love you,” I choked out a moment before my hand was wrenched out of his and the A on my wrist disappeared completely. “I love you, Aladdin.”
He was yelling at the guards, trying to fight them off despite the fact that he was wholly outnumbered.
A strangled sob escaped my lips as the thief who’d caught me hoisted me higher into his arms and threw me over his shoulder.
He exited the room with two more thieves who were restraining Rapunzel and I shrieked in panic as I caught a glimpse of the other thugs beating Aladdin and Cassian into submission.
My heart tore in two. My body wasn’t my own anymore and my magic was clawing its way back into my thoughts, clouding them in a haze of purple fog.
My grief ran in a steady stream across my cheeks before dripping to the floor as I was hauled away from the only master I’d ever had who’d seen me as anything other than a genie.
That was it. I’d had my shot at life. I’d tried to remember what it was like to live and I’d been gifted so much in return for it.
I warned you not to get caught up in it.
“Don’t. Don’t tell me I told you so,” I whispered, the pain of my reality setting in all too fast.
Now look what happened. At least when you couldn’t remember, you didn’t know what you were missing. Now when we sit in the dark and the years pass us by you’ll be haunted by his eyes, his touch, his kisses and his smiles and the echoes of his words. You’ll live on and on forever without ever really living at all. Always knowing that you loved him and you lost him. And he died while you never could.
I tried to shut out her voice. She’d been growing so much quieter lately. Her input less frequent and kinder when it did come. But the acid in her tone let me know that if I ended up back in the lamp then I’d be stuck with the very worst version of her yet again.
Panic seized me. Gripped me in an iron fist and wouldn’t let go.
The world flipped upright again as the thief carrying me dropped me back to the ground beside Rapunzel.
She clutched my hand, her own features painted with terror like a mirror to my own.
“What do we do?” she breathed, desperate for me to provide an answer I didn’t have.
I shook my head, completely at a loss. It was all I could do to hold myself in my solid form. But Aladdin had made me promise to hide my magic from these people and I couldn’t bear to break my word to him on top of everything else. I couldn’t use my power to help us anyway and if Egos figured out what I was he might keep me for his own. And somehow I feared being under his control even more than I feared being handed over to Gothel.
We were back in the lower chamber of the den and many curious glances were being tossed our way by
other members of The Forty who clearly had no idea what was going on.
Egos strolled away from us to gather more men together and I started trembling as I hunted and hunted for a friendly face where none could be found.
The thief who’d carried me here moved towards us and forced me to release Rapunzel’s hand, shoving us apart so that we couldn’t even take comfort in each other’s presence.
“Don’t make a move,” he snarled right in my face. “Or I’ll take it out on your pretty-boy Aladdin before we kill him.”
I recoiled from him, backing up several steps until I bumped into a hard body behind me. I flinched away as I looked around at the man I’d bumped into and found Balthazar looking down at me curiously.
“What’s going on here then?” he breathed, his gaze sweeping over me and Rapunzel, taking in the way we were being treated.
The other thieves didn’t seem worried about him talking to me and my heart thundered as I gazed up at the man Aladdin had grown up with in this little slice of hell.
“They’re going to kill Aladdin,” I choked, forcing my voice to stay low. “You have to help him.”
“Why would I do that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me like I was insane. And I was insane. But I was also magical and I could sense things about people even when they didn’t want to admit them to themselves.
“Because he’s your brother,” I breathed. “You may have been forced into rivalry and encouraged into hatred but I know that you feel more than that for each other. You grew up together. Competed with each other. Laughed together. You love him and he loves you.”
Balthazar’s gaze flicked away from me to take in the other thieves around us so that he could make sure none of them had overheard me but he didn’t reply.
“Please,” I begged, catching his hand as I sensed he was about to walk away from me.
“No one can help him now.” Balthazar made to pull away but I tugged his hand, brushing it against my hip where the blade we needed to destroy Gothel was hidden in the fabric of my pants.
He raised a questioning eyebrow at me.
“Take it,” I said. “And give it to Aladdin. They need it more than you could possibly know.”
“A small blade won’t be enough to get them out of the shit they’re in,” Balthazar muttered, leaning closer to me for a moment. The faintest brush of his fingertips against my flesh marked him taking the blade from me. I never would have felt it at all if I hadn’t been expecting it.
He backed up a step and I pinned him in my gaze, steely determination cutting through my panic.
“He’s a better man than he ever could have believed himself to be. This place and these people have tried to forge him into something cruel and heartless but it didn’t work on him. And I don’t believe it worked on you either,” I breathed, hoping against hope that I could get through to him.
Balthazar’s jaw ticked and he shook his head slightly before strolling away from me without a backwards glance.
I wanted to believe that what I’d said was true. That I’d just handed the most important blade in the kingdom to a man who might just be the one to save Aladdin. But I wasn’t sure. Aladdin hadn’t even fully accepted what I knew to be true about his nature yet. And I didn’t know Balthazar at all. I was placing our only hope in the hands of a man who was supposed to hate Aladdin.
If you’d kept the blade then you could have given it to Rapunzel. She could have killed Gothel the moment we arrived back at the palace. But why not blindly trust a criminal you just met instead?
My mind whirled with what I’d just done and fear claimed me once again. I didn’t think we’d have been able to approach Gothel armed with that dagger, she was sure to have us searched by these thieves. But just maybe my crazy plan with Balthazar would work. I’d followed my instincts and I could only hope they paid off.
Egos stalked back to us with a group of ten of his biggest, meanest looking thieves in tow. One of them approached me and I bit down on a scream as a black bag was shoved over my head.
“Come on ladies, let’s get you back to the Queen,” Egos snarled and I was hauled into terrifyingly strong arms once again.
My heart pounded, my palms were slick and panic came for me as I found myself trapped in the dark once more. How much worse would it be if I ended up back in the lamp?
I just had to try and have faith in my gut and hope that I’d done the right thing in trusting Balthazar. Because if I hadn’t, then this was all about to end very, very badly.
Just what the world needs - to hang in the balance on the instincts of a crazy girl.
“I was trying to do the right thing,” I breathed.
And now we’re all doomed.
The wagon jostled back and forth, the chains on my wrists clinking loudly as we were transported to the palace. A gag in our mouths stopped both Kyra and I from screaming out to civilians for help. I couldn't see through the bag over my head but I was sure the genie sat opposite me; her knees brushed mine every time we went over a bump.
The sound of the bustling market called to me from beyond the wooden door and an ache filled me at how close we were to freedom. My thoughts kept snagging on Cassian and Aladdin and my gut churned with worry. But they were strong. I had to have faith that there was still a chance for them yet. And although it pained me to do it, I had to also think of Osaria. Soon, I'd be handed back to Gothel, to Kahn. And Kyra's lamp would fall into the claws of the most vile woman in the twelve kingdoms. Whatever she had planned for the genie terrified me to my core. And I hated to think of her used by Gothel, forced to do the unthinkable.
I longed to reach out to Kyra, but with my hands bound behind me I could do nothing but hope she also drew some comfort from not being alone.
The sound of the market faded away and we soon moved onto a smoother road. My instincts told me we were approaching the palace and I mentally prepared myself as we finally drew to a halt.
Be brave.
The doors were wrenched open and someone dragged me into their arms, throwing me over their shoulder. I jerked against their hold, furious to my core as I was handled with as little regard as possible.
I was planted roughly on my feet and I stumbled, nearly losing my footing. The hood was ripped from my head, and the gag forced out of my mouth too. Daylight spilled over me, making me squint against the brightness. Fear brushed against my heart and made it difficult to breathe.
We were standing in the familiar courtyard that stood outside the arching palace doors. The walls stretched high above me like a fortress and for once the sky wasn't an azure blue; clouds had rolled in, tinted red in warning of a coming sandstorm.
I looked to Kyra beside me, her hands bound by shackles like mine. Her eyes glimmered and for a moment I could see a hint of her magic shining beneath the surface. If only she could use it for her own purposes, then we’d all be saved. But that damn lamp was a cage she was cruelly enslaved to.
Egos jumped down from the front of the wagon, marching past us with an air of confidence. He took up a position in front of us and tension spanned through the atmosphere. I took a steadying breath as the royal guards posted either side of the palace doors stepped forward to open them.
A slit of light fell between them and Gothel stepped forward like a shadow given life. She was clad in an iron-grey gown with a glittering silver crown perched atop her head. My jaw tightened as hatred pounded through me.
You are not my Queen.
I hunted for my father beyond her, but there was no sign of him. Instead, a hulking figure shifted into the light and my betrothed appeared, making my stomach knot tightly. Kahn's eyes roamed over Egos then fell on me. Relief spilled through his expression and I wished I could claw it from his face and replace it with fear.
I'll never be yours. And you will soon learn why.
“Gracious,” Gothel gasped as she spotted me. “For a moment I thought you'd brought some street girl here, Egos.” She tutted as she took in my appearance and I glowered back a
t her. Her eyes quickly moved to Kyra and a hunger grew in them that she could barely contain. “I do hope you have also brought me the lamp Count Nazari had in his possession?”
Egos reached into his long robes, taking it from his pocket. “He's no Count. He's a thief and a liar.”
Gothel didn't answer as she practically ran to take it from him, her composure abandoned in her desperation to reach it.
“No!” I cried and Kyra lurched forward on my right, her way suddenly blocked by one of the thieves.
The moment Gothel’s fingers wrapped around the lamp, her face split into a triumphant smile. My heart plummeted as she caressed it, holding it close. I looked to Kyra with emotion burning a hole in my chest.
“Fight it,” I begged of her but she shook her head, a single tear sailing down her cheek.
“I can't.”
“Bring them here,” Gothel commanded and more royal guards stepped out of the palace, moving toward us in a regimented way that spoke of the magical control they were under.
The den leader and his men closed ranks, barring their way to us. “Not without payment first,” Egos snarled, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of a huge sword at his hip.
Gothel rolled her eyes, pointing across the courtyard behind us. Curiosity got the better of me and I turned along with the rest of them. Several royal guards surrounded a large wagon and as one of them pulled open the doors on the back of it, I caught sight of stacks and stacks of chests inside.
“It's all there,” Gothel promised. “Count it if you must. But I suspect you'll be here all day if you do.”
Egos strode toward the wagon, his single eye alight with excitement as he reached into it and opened the first chest. Gold glinted like stardust inside it and he released a bark of laughter as he checked a few more of them.
“Release those women, boys!” he called to his men. “Our job here is done.”
Two of his ruffians unchained our hands and I rubbed the reddened marks on my wrists with a scowl.
“I do hope the traitors suffered greatly before they died?” Gothel called to Egos and my skin tingled with rage. I turned to her as my upper lip peeled back but she ignored me entirely.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 63