Black Keys (The Colorblind Trilogy #1)

by Rose B Mashal

  I didn’t reply, I only chewed on my bottom lip, not even nodding in acceptance of his apology when he said: “So, I apologize.” And when I didn’t say anything, he went on.

  “I was never in favor of this except for my sister,” he said. “Janna is too important to me, and the thought of her being killed was something I couldn’t accept – no matter what. Our traditions judge her to be killed, to pay for her mistake with her life, and any way to prevent that from happening – I was willing to take, even if it meant me paying with my own life for hers.”

  My shoulders hunched forward.

  To be honest, I was moved by his words. The love he had for his sister, and his willingness to do whatever it would take to save her life, was so touching. A wave of sadness washed over me at the realization of how the prince was a better brother than mine. He would’ve given up his life for his sister to save her, while my brother gave up my life to save his own along with his girlfriend’s.

  My heart swelled and a tear escaped my eye. Fingertips got rid of it right away before it could be acknowledged by him. I still wanted to appear strong even though I knew that my body language said I was anything but. Broken would be more apt.

  “Honestly, I have no idea what I would’ve done if your brother didn’t have a sister to offer, but I would’ve found a way to save my sister nonetheless,” he told me. “Had I known you were not accepting of this marriage, I would’ve never agreed to it.”

  “You wouldn’t?” I whispered my question, shock lacing my voice.

  “Of course I wouldn’t, it is unacceptable on so many levels.”

  I looked down again – what I felt in that moment was too much. Too much. It was the moment that removed any doubt in my heart that my brother had done all of that because there was no other choice. I couldn’t deny that part of my heart, the heart that loved him with everything in it, wanted to believe that he was helpless and this was really his only choice. Maybe it really was his only choice, but if he’d worked on finding another – I was sure he would’ve found one. The prince said he would’ve found a way, so why couldn’t Joseph?

  It killed me to know for sure that all of this really was my brother’s doing.

  My tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn’t find it in me to brush them away; there was no need to. My firm determination to appear strong faded into thin air, along with my last hope of learning that my brother cared for me and that there was more to the story.

  There was no more to the story. Joseph had sold me out. Simply. Just like that.

  “I couldn’t believe that Yoseph’s sister would be willing to leave her country, her life, and her people to come and live a life she wasn’t familiar with, but he convinced me that you were even excited to be married to a prince,” he chuckled humorlessly.

  I replied to him with more tears.

  “Your brother fooled me.”

  “That makes two of us,” I told him.

  He looked at me for a moment before nodding, his lips forming a thin line as he pressed them together. He then got up and went to a nightstand that was beside the bed, coming back with a box of tissues and handing it to me, not saying anything when I took it from him before he sat back in his armchair.

  It was then that it occurred to me that I still hadn’t offered the prince any sort of apology for what I’d said last night. After all, he only said what he’d said when I called him an animal and a filthy Arab. It was only fair that I said I was sorry as well. I did wound his pride – that was what was uncalled for. He didn’t know about me being forced into this, he had no hand in it, and so far, he was being nice – it was all an act, of course, but still …

  However, before I was able to say anything a thought came to my mind, a hope to be more clear. I wondered if he would let me get a divorce now? I mean, that’s what was supposed to happen, right? I was forced into it, and he wasn’t into this except to save his sister, and now that she was married and no damage had been done – to her – there was no need for us to stay married.

  “Will we get a divorce now?” I asked hopefully.

  “Is that what you want?” A look I couldn’t decipher shone in his eyes.

  Duh!

  “Yes,” I replied. I wanted to say ‘Of course’ or ‘Are you kidding?’ but I didn’t want to offend him anymore than I already had.

  He was silent for a moment, then he replied with a nod. “Eventually, yes.”

  “Eventually?” I asked in confusion, not knowing what he meant by that.

  “Yes, eventually,” he replied. “We can’t get a divorce now; it’d raise too many questions that we are better off without.”

  “What kind of questions? Who would ask?”

  “It’s hard to explain, you don’t know of our traditions.”

  Traditions! Again!

  “Try me.” I was losing my patience.

  He sighed. “People will wonder why would you come from the other side of the world to marry me, only to be divorced the next day, don’t you think? We can’t let the rumors start. I’m a prince, and all of the royal family has to be held to a high standard. I can’t let anyone wonder if my family forced you into this. We’re already dealing with a lot since I had to cancel my own marriage for this one, and with my sister marrying a foreigner instead of keeping the royal bloodline going. If they knew you were forced, and given that Janna married your brother so quickly, it’d raise ugly questions about why there was such a hurry, and if their marriage had anything to do with your company offering prosperity to our country, like we let them think. It could lead to her death all over again, and that is not an option.”

  My head was spinning with everything he was telling me. I couldn’t think of any one thing in all he was saying, there was so much to think about. So much!

  The rumors.

  Royal family.

  Prince.

  Canceled a wedding.

  Royal bloodline.

  Janna’s marriage.

  Our company.

  Her death.

  Wait …

  “You were engaged to another woman?” I asked.

  “Kind of, yes.”

  “What do you mean by ‘Kind of’ – you’re engaged or you aren’t, which were you?”

  “It’s complicated,” he said. I folded my arms in front of my chest once more and crossed my legs, huffing.

  “I have a very high IQ.” I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.

  The prince adjusted himself in the chair and then sighed, shaking his head. “Here with royalty and the passing of the title of king, it’s different than what you see in other countries.”

  “How?”

  “Kings don’t always pass it to their sons; sometimes they pass it to their brothers,” he said.

  I knew about that – Huda had explained to me that her father was the king before he died, and it wasn’t passed on to one of her brothers since they were all still young.

  “Because the sons could be young, yeah, I understand,” I told him.

  “Not just because of their age, but also if they don’t have an heir.”

  Oh!

  “I see. But, what does that have to do with you being ‘kind of’ engaged?”

  “Well, my father’s younger brother is the next potential king if things get to it, and it’s for all of our benefits if we marry our cousins.”

  Excuse me?

  “I’m sorry? Your cousins?”

  “Yes, it’s not forbidden in my religion to marry your cousin.”

  Oh!

  And…Eww!

  “That uncle of mine has a daughter named Talia. She’s appropriate for me to marry, her age I mean, and it’s an unspoken rule for us to get married.”

  “Hmm…And what kind of benefits would you get from marrying each other?” I asked.

  “If I become the next king, it’d mean that her son could be the next king along with her being the queen. If her father becomes the next king, it would mean that I’ll still rule a state for the res
t of my life. It’s better than just having the title of being a prince.”

  “That’s complicated,” I said.

  He raised his eyebrows as if to say ‘Didn’t I tell you that?’ but said nothing.

  “Marrying me … your chance of ruling is lower now, isn’t it?” I asked. I’d never give him an heir, but before anything, I wasn’t royal to keep him ruling a state.

  He nodded with thin lips again. “I told you I’d do anything for my sister.”

  It was my turn to nod. “It’s uh, …really kind of you,” I stated.

  “I didn’t do it out of kindness.”

  I nodded again in understanding, and then we lapsed into a few moments of silence before I asked, “Were you in love with her?” The question was going to choke me to death if I didn’t ask it, though my need to know the answer was a mystery to me.

  The prince locked his eyes with mine for a second before he stood up and walked to the round table in the middle of the room, his fingers touched the flowers in the vase that was sitting on it, his back to me when he answered.

  “I’d like to keep the answer to myself,” he said with his eyes on the flowers.

  I chewed on my bottom lip some more. The answer was clear, he was in love with her, could still be, who knew.

  I stood up and took a step towards him. “How long is ‘eventually’?” I asked him. I understood his reasons for wanting to wait, but honestly, I sort of didn’t care. It was their own drama and their own foolish rules that put them in this situation in the first place. Plus, if he divorced me soon, he could marry another and have that heir like he wanted, right? It’d be a win-win deal.

  My chest tingled for some unidentified reason at the thought of him marrying another. I was lost as to what it could mean, but figured it might be something along the lines of hope or happiness.

  Maybe …

  I decided that escaping and fighting would mean more stress for me, and given how protected the women were in this country, I knew it would be near to impossible to get away from this palace, let alone the whole country. So I had to go along with what he saw as better for the both of us, even though my better would only come when I’m far, far away from this hell-hole.

  “I’m not sure,” he said after he turned to face me. “We have to wait a decent amount of time before it seems like we’re struggling, then some time trying, then we can get the divorce without any problem.”

  God!

  “How long would this take?” I asked impatiently.

  “A year, maybe.” He shrugged.

  What. The. Heck?

  “You’re not being serious, are you?” I asked with wide eyes.

  “I think it’d be believable this way.”

  “No way. Too long!”

  “Eight months,” he huffed.

  “One month.”

  “Are you being serious? That’s not long enough at all.”

  “Three.”

  “Six months, no less.”

  Too frigging long!

  There was no way I was going to go along with this.

  “Fine, I agree.” I lied.

  “Good. And thank you.” he said. “Is there anything you need?”

  “Yes.”

  “Anything.” He offered.

  “My things, I left them in that room we first settled in,” I told him.

  “Clothes are what you need? I think there are enough clothes in here for you.”

  “I still want my own. I need my cellphone and laptop, as well.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t bring you those.”

  “Why the heck not?”

  “We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon, remember? It’s a tradition for the newlywed couple to spend the first seven days together, doing nothing else but…er, getting to know each other. I can’t bring you those and let everyone in the palace wonder why you need them so much, for them to take you away from your husband in your first days together.”

  “You’re a prince, you can skip this one tradition, no one will care,” I tried.

  “My family and I have to be role models. I should follow the rules more than anyone. I don’t make them, nor my father–the king– we only obey.”

  “Okay, just give me my cellphone, please.”

  “Do you see my cellphone with me?” he asked, hands flying in the air on both sides. “I’m not happy with it, either, trust me.”

  “This is ridiculous,” I said in frustration, my arms flying in the air.

  He seemed offended by my statement, but didn’t say anything about it. He only said something else that made me even more confused.

  “I’d appreciate it if this stayed between the two of us.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Let’s just say that, other than how word would spread like a forest fire, things would get really ugly if my mother found out.” Why am I not surprised by this? “I would also prefer if my sister didn’t learn what a jerk she just got married to.”

  She didn’t know …

  “Okay.”

  Escaping the first chance I got was my goal.

  “What on earth am I going to do in this room for seven days? I’m going to be bored out of my mind!” I groaned in frustration.

  “Sex,” the prince said.

  WHAT?

  “Excuse me?” I asked with wide eyes, disbelief filling my voice. I wondered if he was out of his mind himself or had suddenly gone crazy. I mean, he’d seemed okay just a minute ago and was talking somewhat reasonably. But now? Not so much.

  Oh, my God! I thought…I thought we’d made it clear we are not interested in each other. I thought we’d be starting our faking now. He didn’t really think we’d go that far in faking!

  “Sexy days,” he replied.

  “Sexy days? What do you mean by ‘sexy days’? We can’t have sex. I won’t have sex with you. I thought we just talked about how this was all a mistake! I can’t do that, I can’t have sex with you! Please, tell me you don’t think we should!”

  Oh, my God! He really doesn’t think we should start working on that heir he needs, does he?

  The prince stared at me while I panicked and spoke hysterically, a frown on his face and a confused expression.

  “What does ‘sexy days’ even mean?” I asked in a whisper, as I saw him taking a step in my direction. My vision blurred with tears though I had no idea why they were there at all, I was just scared.

  All of the thoughts from last night and the ones I had just had two hours ago came rushing back to me–the fear, the terror…I hated it.

  The prince paused after the one step, then looked at me with something I couldn’t read once again–he was so hard to read. He then took the few steps left between us and stopped only when our bodies were almost touching.

  My breath was caught in my throat when he bent his head down and brought his face so close to mine. I closed my eyes, causing a sad, lonely tear to fall down my cheek when I felt his breath on my neck as he spoke near my ear.

  “Six days, Princess. We have six days left, not seven. Six. S. I. X.” he said in a very soft voice.

  Wha- … Oh.

  Oh!

  He had a small smirk on his lips when he backed away a little to look into my eyes; I had opened them once the realization of what he’d actually meant settled in. It looked as if he was trying to contain his smirk. It fell right away though, once he noticed the tear that had ended its path beside the corner of my lips.

  He stared into my eyes for a moment; something strange was filling his green eyes. It was sort of sadness, mixed with sorrow, but it mostly just looked like sympathy, and then he looked away.

  I hated it.

  It upset me that I had earned that kind of look from him; I hated that I looked pity-worthy. And I blamed it all on my brother: the feelings I had, the terror, the fear and the shame. I was ashamed of myself for looking so weak and venerable.

  But who was I kidding? I didn’t only look weak and venerable, I actually was. I was completely
alone, in this room, with this perfect stranger. I was supposed to be his wife; I was his wife. He could kill me or worse, he could rape me, and I wouldn’t be able to stop him. I might say ‘no’, I might scream, might fight, but I’d always lose. He was built, taller, and much stronger than me; I had no chance against him.

  I heard the prince as he cleared his throat. I wiped my cheek with the back of my hand, removing the sign of my misery. “You should eat something, you haven’t eaten since yesterday,” he said. “There are lots of food in here, and I think you might like it.” He pointed to the big, round tray that Mona had left a few moments ago on the table that was in the middle of the room beside the vase.

  It was only when he said that that I noticed I was actually famished. I offered him a small smile but didn’t make any move, only bit my lip and looked around the room nervously. It felt awkward to be eating with him for some reason. I mean, wouldn’t it be so weird to just eat together like that without talking? I wouldn’t know what to talk with him about. I didn’t want to make small talk with him, anyway.

  “Uh, would you like to eat in the sunroom?” he asked.

  “Sunroom?” I asked in confusion. “I can leave the room today?” Hope wrapped my voice.

  “Uh, technically you wouldn’t leave the room if you went to the sunroom,” he told me.

  “But, there is no sunroom here!”

  He frowned. “Yes, there is. Hasn’t your brother shown you aroun-” He stopped mid-sentence, then looked down and shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. “Of course, he hasn’t.”

  No. He was too busy pointing a gun to my head, I thought sadly.

  “Come,” he motioned for me to follow him as he walked toward the huge mirror that was next to the bed. I stood beside him and waited for whatever he wanted to show me in that mirror. I only saw our reflections.

  “Uh...” Before I could say anything, the prince flipped a button that was on the wall beside the mirror, which made the line in the middle of it spread open to reveal a big room behind it.

  I stepped inside unconsciously, noticing that it was a freakishly huge, enclosed sunroom.