Deep
Page 18
“Aarif, have you lost your mind? Your words do not penetrate me. I am stronger than you. I swear it, you should swim amongst the demons, because your intelligence is smaller than a tiny sea horse. How did Halima birth such a fool?” A smile painted Minkah’s lips, but I knew evil still lived in him. He had loyalty only to himself.
“He speaks truth.” The young prince said, allowing a bit of humor to fill us three. I laughed, Aarif laughed and then the moment of peace was over. Smiles faded, anger returned and the battle continued. Not for long though, I was caught, as I suspected I would be. I was no match for the two.
“So brother…how does it feel?” It wasn’t a surprise to see the false king smiling so triumphant, it was his nature.
“How does what feel? Betrayal? To see my father mocked in you? To feel the hate of blood? The void bond between three? My kingdom in the grips of death because of your lack of…compassion, your false impression of leadership?”
“Hanan, you always spoke with such…fragrance, such meaning and discernment. I understand why you have the most influence. But today, I fear that influence will end.”
“Aarif, it is your greed and pride that dictates you. There is no future for you.”
“And what of your future?” He jabbed me with his triton, not hard enough to break my skin.
“Wait, please…wait!” Eva’s voice echoed throughout the room. “Don’t kill him…” she panted. “Keep me, tell the guards to let Aella, Ben and Hanan leave. Please?”
“Eva, go to Aella!”
“Aella…” Minkah whispered.
“Don’t you even think of it, Minkah. You touch her I will rip your heart out!” His grip loosened and I slammed my head back into his mouth. He tripped back. “Eva!” I snatched my arm from Minkah, Aarif held his triton aimed at me.
She cried, she trembled. “There is no other way, Hanan…Ben needs to go home, you need to live and the guards won’t let us pass. I have to give them, what you wanted from me.”
I shoved Aarif’s triton into his chest and jumped up, loosing energy into his chest—sending him up into the ceiling. “Eva, go to Aella, you will not do this!” I dodged Minkah’s electricity and scorched him with my flame. And then Aarif, my dear brother shoved his triton into my back.
“Please let her…Eva, speak Hanan…come to me Eva, Minkah restrain your brother. Let’s hear this surface creatures offer.” Eva went to Aarif, Aella was escorted back into the throne room, cradling Ben’s frail body.
“Will you let them go, once I tell you?”
“I can only promise that once I hear the offer…Eva.” His voice was captivating, traveling through the room bringing every ear unto his command. Eva brandished the small dagger Aella had given her, and held it point first at her womb. She slowly backed away, as she pierced her flesh, drawing a dribble of blood.
“Co…”
“No! Don’t speak! Or I swear I will kill myself!”
“I don’t understand…”Aarif sounded confused, slowly trying to inch his way to Eva.
“Hanan,” she cried, “wanted me to have his baby, a child for him, to give him more power. Because your maids are barren and cannot produce, but I am fertile…I can produce a new breed, a new generation to keep Tahirah alive.” she spoke quickly without a breath.
“But then how would the curse lift?”
“I don’t know, but I could have a son for you or a daughter, whatever. It would be your blood…” She took in a hard breath. “Now tell the guards,” she whimpered as she pressed the dagger a little further, “tell the guards to release them, including Hanan before I damage myself and your kingdom will die! You know it! Your people are dying whether you give a damn or not, and you…you will follow after them. You will die, along with Tahirah.”
“Anew…It’s the prophecy.” Minkah whispered. “It could be time for our kind to evolve, to change. I’ve been reading…”
“Reading?” Aarif turned to face his brother. “You knew this, you knew this was the cure to the curse?”
“I wasn’t sure. But it couldn’t be any land, or just any sea that united. He watched Eva curiously. “Hanan knew this…he would…
“No!”
“She is Earth, but the blood of the Sea lives in all three of us. Any of us could…and the curse…She is the one.”
“No!” I shouted. “It will never work!”
“Where did you read this and will it end the curse? What prophecy?” Aarif asked still watching Eva.
“Were you asleep when father sat with us?”
“Shut up! And tell me if this will work?”
“I don’t know lord. I haven’t exactly tried it. But if the prophecy is true, then yes. It was written. Three princes,” Minkah held up three fingers, “one crowned king, one king banished,” he pointed to me, “one…deceiver crowned” he pointed to Aarif, “and then Earth. It will be the Two all over again.” He stared at Eva.
I had never experienced the expression on the king’s face, his mouth was dangling open, slowly he inched forward with his hands carefully held out. His triton clattered to the floor. He cared, at least for his life.
“Wait…please…put down the dagger.”
“Don’t try your trick on me. If I don’t do it today, I will injure myself another day, I will kill myself and the baby if it leads to that. Let them go!” She let out an exasperated breath as more blood flowed. Dripping down her legs, trailing along the floor as she backed away; creating trails of smudged red along the stone. “Do it now…” She breathed.
“You touch her you die!” Aarif called to the guards who crept behind Eva. “Release them! Now!” Minkah hesitantly released his grip and I ran to Eva.
“Don’t do this, Eva…don’t.” I forced her bloodshot gaze on me, “no…Eva…” I whispered, “please?” My heart weighed a ton, my soul lamented…
She stared at me, absent, no sign of the Eva I knew. “Save Ben.” And then she shoved me, and I was being pulled and I was tossed out of the kingdom gates. Lost. Hurt. Dead.
Chapter 28
Hanan
“Hanan…Master…we must go.” Aella’s thoughts filled my head, but I disregarded them. How could I move again, knowing that she would be filled with their seed. His seed.
“I cannot…” My mind broke off. “They know the prophecy Aella. It’s over.”
“You must! We need to help Ben, for Eva. It was a brave act, she saved us all. She will not let them touch her. We must save Ben now. We need to take him home, I don’t know if he is breathing.”
“It was a stupid thing she did!” Anger consumed me, my head ached and pulsed. I went to find my way back to the gates and enter Tahirah again, but was held back by Aella.
“Stupid, but brave. We can come back for her. She knows it’s what we’ll do.” She was right, Aella was right. My soul was eased for the moment and then…
Kosey…
“I’ve come to collect on a debt.” He announced. Ben was vulnerably laid against a rock, closest to the sorcerer. I clutched my triton and aimed it at him.
“Have you not been paid by my brother? Isn’t it enough that you’ve ruined four lives today? What more do you want? What debt is owed to you Predator?”
“I’ve suffered the loss of many men today…by the hand of you, her, him…” He jabbed Ben with his staff, he didn’t move. “And to the mother of…Aarif’s child. King.” Bowing mockingly, he made sure his cackle echoed in my mind.
The next move was quick and unexpected, Kosey vanished, and a spear was hurtling from up above and I saw him rise, to shield his body over Aella’s, to protect her from indisputable death. He took the spear, giving his life to another, the greatest gift, the greatest of sacrifices. The spear pierced the left side of his back, through his heart. It spoke no more.
Aella fell back into the dirt, with Ben covering her. His blood lingered up as if it were being beckoned. It danced through the water, in wisps of beauty—a pretty red sacrifice. A brave sacrifice, a sacrifice of life.
Aella cried. I felt the pain as her heart cried out to mine in sheer agony. Her anguish was so heavy that the people of Tahirah felt it and they all cried with her, to mourn the loss of a kindred soul, the loss of a Tahiran brother. “Adonai!” The voices cried together. The laments, beckoned the One and He showed up.
A bright light filled the sea, with a quick flash and then He was gone and all the tears of remembrance, echoed through the heavy water.
Aella held Ben, and I held Aella as she allowed the grief to rule her, her heart to bleed tears of pain. She clutched Ben, throwing her head back releasing it all.
“His spirit will rise and crossover. And his flesh will return to dust…” Aella rested her head where Ben’s heart would have beat as she sealed the last piece of sea weed across his chest. “You were good to me.” Two fingers over her heart, she pressed it against his heart. She wrapped her vine of flowers around his body, which was covered in seaweed, no flesh visible. The deep green of the weed brought out the rich pink flowers. It was beautiful. Sometimes death, brave death was beautiful.
We swam to the surface in silence, until we reached the shore. It was dark and none of the creatures were out. The dirt was rough and grainy against my feet. The air was potent and we both choked on the thick of it. But we pushed on and found a spot where Ben would be found.
She laid him in the dirt and pressed her ear to his heart again. Then I knelt beside him.
“I will get her back Ben, for both you and I. She will know of your bravery. I’m sorry we couldn’t be friends…But know your death will not be in vain.”
And then we vanished back into the sea…
Chapter 29
The two brothers watched me cautiously. As I held the dagger to my belly, tempted to go through with what I started and just kill myself and bleed to death. I was sure Ben, Hanan and Aella were safe now. But I waited while they watched me…
“Please…I’ve kept my word. Will you put the blade down? Please, I’m begging you.”
I clenched my teeth, gripped the handle—my body trembled, it seemed so impossible for me to relax. How could I? I had just given over my power, my body to two deceitfully evil bastard mers who I hated!
“I hate you…” I choked, blood spewed from my lips. “I hope you die…and…” My head swam around, as I lost more blood, a puddle was forming, but before I could focus completely on the pool of blood surrounding my feet, there was a loud screeching sound…like a cry. It sounded like hundreds, maybe thousands of voices united. Sorrowfully.
“What was that?” Panic stricken, breath laden. “What is that!” I staggered from left to right. I couldn’t take the noise, I couldn’t take the sight of evil, and the loss of blood and so, “what…” inhale, “is…” exhale, “that?” I whispered heavily. “Benjamin.” It all went black.
Chapter 30
I sat on a beach, my feet covered in warm sand, I wiggled my toes…a light breeze swept over my face, the wind rustled the long leaves of the palm trees. It was so peaceful. I looked behind me and waved to my mother and father, both dressed in white, they waved back. I smiled up at the warm sun as it melted the cold away, and then closed my eyes to listen to the water lapping at the shore.
I ran my hand across my harden stomach and felt a sudden sharp pain.
“Ouch.” I sat up, gripped my side and cried out, panting like a dog. “Help! Daddy? Mommy? Someone? Help!” Sweat pricked at my forehead. No one came to help me, I looked around and I was alone on the beach, in pain. The only thought I could think was…water. I needed the water. So I stood up and walked towards the shore, leaning to my side, the pain was excruciating. My walk slowed and soon I was crawling, still breathing heavy…I stopped and cradled my swollen belly. Wearily, I yelled out.
Hanan, I thought in my head and his name soon after left my lips.
My hand touched the water and suddenly He was there emerging from the water smiling…the sun obscured my vision, and Hanan’s face was hidden by a shadow, though his body glistened as water rolled off his skin.
“It is time Eva.” He walked towards me and began guiding me to the water. I glanced over my shoulder, wanting to see my parents again. Instead I saw Ben running after me, shouting for me to stop. But I couldn’t, I wanted to go, I needed to…be with him, Hanan.
My stomach ached again and I knelt over cradling my belly, my swollen belly. The pain only intensified as the contractions were more frequent. Falling into the shallow water…I yelled again…My baby, I kept saying, clutching my stomach.
“My baby…Ben…” I sat up gasping for air. I didn’t see Ben, instead I saw the devil sitting Indian style at the foot of my bedding of seaweed. My wound throbbed and I laid back. Remembering where I was. I was in hell.
I looked down at my body still wearing the weed coverings, except I was decorated with tiny white beaded shell bracelets, seven on each wrist. Three anklets, a choker fashioned in more tiny shells with a train leading down my back—very uncomfortable.
I reached up and touched my hair, braided in the tiniest braids with more…can you guess, tiny shells at the ends. It was all beautiful, but I wasn’t in the mood to play pretty.
“Why all of this?”
Minkah stared at me for a long while before he spoke and said, “Ceremonial. You will copulate when you heal. You were a gift, so you must be dressed as such.” His eyes were cold as ice and flickered on and off as he spoke. “But…it will not be Aarif who you will give your womb to. It will be me.” He stood to his feet and called a maid who waited in the shadows of the room. “Bahiti, do not leave her side. You will sleep with her until she is fully healed. I want to be alerted as soon as this happens. Report to me each time Aarif appears. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my Lord.” The beautiful maid bowed her head. Her hair was silky and flowed down to her waist like a fall of black water. Her skin was beige, and the patches of scales on her legs were a yellow iridescent, occasionally reflecting green and pink. She came and kneeled at my side, staring straight ahead until Minkah left.
Tears streamed down the sides of my face as I damned myself for what I’d done. I should’ve killed myself, I thought. I have already killed myself, my body was not my own.
But I had to remain hopeful. Hanan and Aella would be back for me. They would be back.
“Do not worry…your freedom is near.” I looked at the pretty maid, but she only stared straight ahead.
“Did you say something?”
“I’ve said nothing.” She responded coldly.
About the Author
Angela Annette lives in a cozy studio apartment in Long Beach, California with her Persian/orange tabby cat Gza. When she is not writing, she is engrossed in hours of video game play or dancing the cha cha. Most importantly, Angela is an advocate for the well being of children and is working towards building and running an orphanage in Africa. Her dream and life goal is to raise up orphanages all around the world, in hopes of giving a child a childhood and a shot at life. “18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
Contact Info:
Email: Angelaannette7@yahoo.com