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Sweet Obsession

Page 17

by Theodora Koulouris


  Out in the hallway, I saw all the servants scramble away from the doorway like a pack of rats. They heard, I thought sadly as the tears escaped my eyes. I told myself that I would be all right. I do not know where I am going to go, but anywhere else in the world is better than here! I had a lot to think about now. A rough road was ahead of me, but I was a survivor, and I would manage somehow.

  I walked to the end of the hallway and looked out the glass doors. The sun was shining, and the garden looked fresh and inviting. Teary-eyed, I pushed open the doors and walked outside. I took a deep breath, and the aroma from the roses filled my nostrils with perfume that was still lingering in the air. I smiled sadly. I never took the time to smell the roses because I was always busy with life’s trials. Always walking past them and admiring their beauty, but not once had I stopped to smell them. I took another deep breath and allowed the aroma to hypnotize me.

  I did not notice when Billal had walked up behind me, but his hand felt warm against my skin when he caressed my cheek and wiped away the single tear that had rolled down my cheek. I slowly turned to him and fell into his arms. He held me silently and allowed me to feel what I was feeling without passing judgment.

  A few minutes later, I pulled away. “Billal, I am hurting so much, and I do not know what to do. Please help me,” I begged.

  “I will help you, Loula. I will help you get over your pain. Soon you will be smiling again. I promise.” He pulled me into his embrace to comfort me. It felt good to be in his strong arms. I knew he cared for me. Billal gently pulled me away. “Loula, I know what happened. I spoke with Shaeena early this morning. It must have been devastating for you,” he said sympathetically. “I wish I could make it all go away, but it’s the harsh reality.” I just cried all over again.

  Just then, I heard Nidal call out as he ran toward us, “Get your hands off her! I will kill you for this!”

  I pulled away from Billal immediately and came to Billal’s defense. “Go away, Nidal!” I held up my hand to stop him from getting any closer. “Nidal, stop! Go away! You have no business being here! We’re done. Finished,” I told him coldly.

  Nidal froze in his steps, trying to read my face. But I was not going to make it easy for him. Nidal turned his cold glare to Billal and said in a cold and suspiciously calm voice, “You don’t miss an opportunity, do you? Like a cobra waits patiently until the right time to strike. You are a backstabber, you son of a bitch! You want what’s mine!” He squeezed his hands into tight fists at his sides.

  “Well, you weren’t man enough to hold on to her! And this time, I did not take her from you. She left you and came to me willingly! And Nidal, I’m going to hold on to her, and I will never let her go. She is mine now,” he said victoriously. “You were a fool to let her go! But your loss is my gain.” He smiled wickedly, showing off his even, white teeth.

  This enraged Nidal. He charged and swung his fists into Billal’s jaw. I was surprised to see so much hate in Nidal’s eyes. Billal’s head snapped backward, and he lost his balance. Quickly, he regained his footing and threw himself on Nidal like a lion. Both men fell to the ground. I was worried sick for the both of them. Backing away from the fight, I heard the queen yelling as she came running toward us. The king followed behind her. Nidal and Billal fought to the end. A lot of anger was unleashing in this fight. Some of the king’s men came and tried to pull them apart, but to no avail. They were bent on ripping each other to pieces.

  Finally, the king himself stepped in and roared, “Stop it this instance! Or I’ll throw the both of you in the dungeon!” They both stopped immediately and got up on their feet. They were both out of breath and looked like a mess. “How dare you fight on palace grounds! The both of you are fools!” the king barked, disgusted, as he walked away with his men.

  The queen walked over to me and asked, concerned, “Are you all right, child?” She gave me a warm hug. “It seems like the boys are back to being five years old again. They have not grown up. They act like little children,” she said angrily. She turned to her son. “Nidal, your concern should be to try to bring Loula back to your bed. Instead with your actions, you are pushing her further away from you. Jealousy blinds you, and you do not realize the truth!”

  “Mother, stay out of this!” Nidal said coldly. And then he turned his gaze on me. “Loula, come back to the palace with me. Please, I beg of you.”

  A stern look was on his face as he waited for my reply. He thought it was simple to forgive and forget, as if everything that happened earlier did not exist. It was very typical manly behavior. Well, I was not about to forgive and forget that easily. I wanted revenge. Someone had to pay for all the heartache.

  “Nidal, go away. I am not going anywhere with you,” I said coldly.

  I could clearly see cold sweat break out on Nidal’s face. Nidal was hurting. He looked tired as he spoke now, “Please, don’t be so quick to speak.” He stepped closer to me.

  I took a few steps backward and fell into Billal’s arms, and he wrapped his arms tightly around me. Nidal reached out and tried to pull me away from Billal’s grip, but I held on for dear life. Nidal noticed and backed away. I could tell my actions hurt him.

  Nidal’s eyes never left mine. I saw fear in his eyes as he continued to look at me. I had never seen fear in his eyes before. He must think I don’t love him anymore. I wanted to tell him that I would never stop loving him, but my ego did not let me. He had betrayed me in the worst possible way. He had made love to another woman. The hands that caressed my body had touched another woman. I closed my eyes. The stabbing in my heart was very painful. He had gotten another woman pregnant. She carries his child. My baby is dead! No! I will not go with him!

  My prince looked like he was about to cry. He held out his hand to me one more time. “Take my hand, Loula. Come with me, please. I beg you. I am deeply sorry for all the pain I have caused you. I will never stop trying to make it up to you. Please, Loula, come with me,” he begged.

  “No! I will not come to you! I will never come to you again! You have killed whatever feelings I ever had for you, Nidal! Go away. I do not want you anymore! I do not love you anymore, Nidal,” I lied through my teeth.

  Nidal stood where he was, staring at me and not believing the words I had just mouthed. His eyes were wide as he tried to figure out what to say next. The queen, who stood silently all this time, gasped at the mention that I didn’t love her son anymore.

  Billal tightened his hold on me, and he whispered for my ears alone, “Come with me, Loula. I will keep you safe.”

  “I am going with Billal!” I lifted my head up high. “He treats me with respect.”

  “Why Billal?” Nidal asked with a deadly calmness.

  “Because I have come to realize that it is him that I love, Nidal, not you.” I lied again, but this time, I felt my heart twisting with pain.

  “Stop it!” Nidal ran his hands through his hair. “You do not love him! You’re lying! Your heart belongs to me!” he said tightly.

  “You are wrong, Nidal. I do not love you, and I never have. I love Billal! It was his baby I carried in my womb, not yours. I have loved Billal from the beginning, but I stayed with you because you were the crown prince. I used you!” I lied.

  Nidal’s face changed many shades of color before anger set in. I saw his jawline tense, and he roared like a lion ready to attack. “No, you love me! The baby was mine! I know it was!”

  The queen ran to her son to comfort him. I knew I had gone too far this time. But like the fool I was, I continued pouring out the poison that finalized the end of our relationship. “No, Nidal, you are wrong about that. I’m sorry, but I do not love you. Never have, and the baby was Billal’s,” I said calmly.

  The trembling of my lips was the only thing that gave me away, and to hide that fact, I turned around and kissed an unsuspecting Billal on the mouth. Billal wrapped his arms around
me and eagerly returned the kiss. He knew I only did it to irritate Nidal. He was playing my game, and he allowed me to use him.

  That did it. Nidal looked devastated. His shoulders slumped as he turned and walked away. His mother followed him for moral support. They walked to the palace and disappeared inside. This was all too much for me. I fell into Billal’s embrace. I cried until there were no more tears left. He was so gentle with me, so understanding and so supportive. Billal was a kind man, and I knew he would take care of me.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nidal

  I was never a passionate person about any one particular thing. I was self-centered and spoiled rotten. I cared only about drinking and gambling, and sex was always on my mind. I tried my best to live my life as a young prince, abiding by my father’s rules, but I was my own person.

  I had no siblings. I was raised with my cousin Billal from infancy. We were like brothers. Billal’s father was my uncle, my father’s brother. The Persians kidnapped and executed my uncle and his wife. My parents raised Billal as their own. Billal and I, growing up, were very adventurous. We sailed across the globe and visited many countries.

  One year when we were nineteen years old, we went to the Americas. It took a little over two months to reach the New World. Fascinated with America, my cousin and I extended our stay and traveled by horse to different parts of the country. There in a little town, I saw Loula.

  It was hard for me to even explain what I felt when I first laid eyes on her. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She had big black eyes; thick eyelashes; long, thick, wavy, black hair; olive-toned skin, and a body to die for. She was Greek. Some people called her a Greek goddess. I could not disagree.

  That was not the only reason I was crazy about her. A long time ago, the night before I was to turn fifteen years of age, I had a strange dream. It was the day before I was going to lose my virginity. My father, the king, wanted me to sleep with a lot of women. He wanted me to lose my virginity and become a man, but the night before I was to lose my innocence, I saw the dream that would change my life forever.

  I saw a woman who looked like Loula. She was stunningly beautiful. I fell in love with her, and she fell in love with me. I saw the two of us making love, and the feeling was magical. It was an unforgettable experience. In my dream, I was a lot older, and so was Loula. The love we had for one another was powerful. Our lovemaking was deep. I told her that I would never betray her and make love to another woman. At fifteen, I did not understand the dream and thought nothing of it.

  In the morning when I woke up, I could not shake the feeling away. The dream felt so real. All day long, it was on my mind. I told myself that it was just a wet dream because I was going to lose my virginity today, so my mind conjured this dream together to get me ready for the big night.

  I remember when this beautiful-looking woman my father had sent to my room walked in. I did not want to touch her. I could not explain it. I just knew that I could not go near her. My father was puzzled. He said maybe I was too young. I should wait another year. But I knew that, even a year later, I would not want to have sex with another woman. I only wanted the woman in my dreams.

  Every single night thereafter when I slept, she came into my dreams, and we made love. It felt so real, as if we lived that life somewhere, at some other time, in another dimension.

  As the days turned to months, the dreams continued. I was madly in love with the woman in my dreams. I was afraid to tell anyone, for fear they might think I had gone mad.

  One night in my dream, Loula told me that I needed to be patient and we would be together one day. She told me to never stop looking for her. She said I would find her if I kept searching.

  So I searched for four years with no success. And then one night, she told me that we were soul mates. She said that, in another lifetime, we were deeply in love with each other. She said we were so happy, and we both promised each other that we would always be together. She said I had to find her before I turned thirty. If I failed to do so, I would never find her in this lifetime.

  I did not know why, but I really believed what she told me in the dream. I begged her one night to reveal her whereabouts to me. She told me to go to the New World and she would be waiting for me there. I was beside myself with excitement. The New World had to be this place I read about, this place called America.

  America was so far away. I did not know how I was going to go there, but I knew I would find a way. I asked my father to allow me to sail his ship and go to America. He laughed in my face. He told me that I was now nineteen years of age and it was time I found a bride. He said that Princess Shaeena was a good match for me and I should make her my wife. The king said I was old enough to get married and I should take a bride soon. Or else he threatened to choose one for me. After much arguing back and forth, I lied to him and said that, if he allowed me to sail to America, I would take a bride upon my return. Pleased, my father agreed, and I sailed away with my cousin and thirty-six of my most trusted men.

  Two months later, we reached America. I was thrilled to start my search, but I had no idea where to start looking for Loula. As the weeks flew by and we went from town to town, I had no success. Exhausted and feeling like I would never find her, I was ready to give up, but a week before our ship was to set sail, in this little town miles from shore, to my delight, I found her.

  I felt overwhelmed with joy that I found my soul mate. I did not know how I would convince her to believe what I was about to tell her, but I knew in my heart that I would find a way and we would be together. My men thought I was crazy, but that did not stop me from following my dreams.

  She was running the corner bakery shop for the people she lived with. I sat outside the little coffee shop down the street, where I had a perfect view of the bakery and sipped the unsavory coffee until she was done with work. Then I followed her discreetly, just to see her walk home. Her beauty mesmerized me. I was madly in love with her.

  I tried to get as much information about her as I could from the people who lived in town. Loula was only fifteen years old. She had been an orphan from a very young age. The people she lived with opened up their home to her and raised her like their own. They had a son who was my age, a young, good-looking lad who worshipped the ground Loula walked on. He was her second shadow. Wherever she was, he was right behind her, guarding her as if his life depended on it. She didn’t look too interested in him. I could tell because, when she spoke to him, her eyes never looked into his. I could not contain my excitement.

  One day, I followed her after she left work. I noticed that her bodyguard was not with her. She did not take the same route as she usually did. Instead of going straight down the wide cobblestone street, she turned down the corner and headed down the opposite side. I quickened my pace, not wanting to lose her, and I saw that she headed toward a dirt road that led to a prairie. I was glad the shadow man was not around. I had her all to myself.

  Loula walked into the prairie and stopped at a place where there were wildflowers in full bloom everywhere. Loula found a spot and sat herself down. I saw this as my opportunity to announce myself. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked up to her. I startled her when I said hello and apologized for intruding during her private moment. At first, she was cautious, not saying much and eyeing me suspiciously. But as we spoke, I saw her relax, and she even threw me a smile. I melted. I knew at that moment that I was totally in love with her.

  “What is your name?” She asked.

  “Nidal.” I said, withholding the part that I was a prince. She did not need to know I was the crown prince of Arabia.

  She padded the dirt floor next to her and asked politely, “Would you like to sit down?”

  I sat down next to her, and we talked until sunset. Our conversation was very pleasant. She smiled at me the whole time I was with her. My heart pounded loudly in my ears. This felt like my
dream was turning into reality. When I looked into her eyes, I remembered our lovemaking in the dreams, and I just wanted to take her in my arms and make love to her right here in the prairie.

  I found out many things about her that day. She was lovely on the inside as well as the outside. My heart burst with love. She told me about her life with the family she lived with. She said that Angelo, the young man, the only child of the couple she lived with, was a nice person. She said he had declared his love to her, but she was not sure if she felt anything for him. Loula said he had asked for her hand in marriage, but she refused him, saying she was not ready for marriage yet.

  I was holding my breath, and when I heard her answer to Angelo’s marriage proposal, I let out a big sigh. I was so glad she had turned him down. I was having the best time of my life until Loula stood and announced that she had to return home because it was getting late. I asked her if I could see her again, and she threw me the most beautiful smile I had ever seen and said she would meet me here in this spot on the morrow.

  We walked back in silence, each in our own thoughts. I was overjoyed. This was the happiest moment of my life. Tomorrow, I would tell her everything. I would pour my heart out, and then I would beg her to come with me to Arabia.

  Right before we reached the town square, Loula turned, looked me in my eyes, and said. “Thank you, I had a lovely time. I feel like I have known you for years. Have you visited our town before, because you look very familiar?”

  My heart skipped a beat. She was remembering me from another time, another dimension. I just knew it! But I could not tell her the truth yet. I did not want to scare her.

  Loula said softly, “Nidal, I’m sorry but you cannot walk with me after this point because someone might see us together, and that would create major gossip, which isn’t good for my reputation.” I immediately withdrew from asking if I could walk her all the way home.

  I bid her good night, but not before asking, “Can I meet you at the prairie again tomorrow?”

 

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