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**
SARAFINA
"Wow!" I exclaimed at the sight before me. Jafar brought me to a garden.
A beautiful one at that.
I stared in awe at the golden glow of the garden, the way the little droplets of water caress the grasses.
At the end of the garden there is a small grove if trees, buzzing bees surf the open spaces from flower to flower, desperately seeking pollen.
The pollen looks like floating grains of pixie dust, scattered by the blustery wind. "It's beautiful" I muttered.
"You like it" Jafar whispered behind me. I shivered at the close proximity between us.
"It was my mother's garden, she put in my care before she died."
"I didn't know my mother before she died, you should be happy you knew yours"
He sniffed, I gripped his hands, soothing him without saying any words.
It was just us, standing in the midst of a beautiful garden, our silence sharing our grief in pure understanding.
"Sarafina, what will you do if you get betrayed by someone so dear to you" he asked quietly.
I looked at him. "Why are you asking me that kind of question?"
He sighed. "Just answer me"
I shrugged. "It depends on how dear the person is to me, but nevertheless I might certainly not be able to take it in"
Tears shimmered in his eyes. "Are you okay Jafar" I asked.
"I'm sorry, Sarafina" he said as he hugged me.
Confusion flickered in my eyes but I still held on to him.
"Is something wrong Jafar" I asked.
"Just keep quiet and let's remain like this"
I nodded, ignoring the fact that he is suddenly acting weird.
Jafar held unto her, rocking her and regretting his final decision.
In the little time he had known her, he had come to like her a lot if not loving her.
But how can he explain to her that everything, every single thing was just a facade.
Yet he had chosen power over her.
He had lost her, even before he had her.
Mila paced around her room thinking of how she was going to find the Sheba, she had only two days left, just two days.
She slipped her legs into her flops and made her way out of her chambers, there had to be a way or she is done for.
As she stepped out of the chambers, she suddenly collided into one of the maids who was unfortunately holding a large bucket of water..
The whole content poured on her and she gasped out as the cold hit her squarely.
"I'm really sorry my queen" the maid said going on her knees.
She bowed her in courtesy, while Mila stared at her not minding the cold water dripping from her body. She looked familiar.
One of her guards grabbed the maid's hand and pulled her back. "How dare you spill water on our queen"
The maid looked at them in fear. "I'm really sorry, I was pushed from my line"
"That doesn't count" the guard growled.
Mila raised her hands to stop the guard.
"Stop harassing the girl Marlo, let go of her hands"
"But my queen.... " he started to say.
"I'm sure you heard me" Mila said.
The maid bowed her head, her lips quivering in tears.
"Come with me" Mila told her.
SARAFINA
As we started our work this morning, u could see the mischievous glint in the eyes of Zareen and Anushka.
They had been unusually nice to me since morning, though I knew they were up to something. Even Pooja noticed.
We walked in line to the dining to get our food, I was holding a bucket of water which I was to dispose at the back of the dining hall, when I was suddenly pushed out of my line and into the queen who was just coming out of the palace.
I gasped as I lost balance and toppled, the whole water in the bucket pouring on her. I turned back to see Zareen and Anushka smirking at themselves.
I gulped and turned to the queen falling on my kneels. Oh how am I going to get out of this mess now.
"Come with me" she said after telling the guard to stop harassing me.
I nodded bowing my head as I followed her into the palace.
She took me to a room. "I know you are sorry, but it will be a little partial if you are not punished"
I nodded still bowing my head. "You look familiar, have I met you before" she asked as she raised my head up with her finger on my chin.
I avoided her eyes as she stared at me and then she moved back.
"It's you" she muttered in shock.
"You can't let Jamal get married to Ditya!!" Kayla yelled at Maximus with so much fury burning in her eyes.
"Easy there love, too much yelling sores your throat" he replies her with a smirk.
"Cut the crap max, if he gets married to Pecan's princess, we can't get the throne!"
Max laughed, shaking his head. "Is that what you think?, because I don't think so"
"You don't think so? Are you for real now?, once they have Ditya on their side then they have the whole of Pecan!!!!"
Maximus licked his lips, a cunny smile playing on it. "Even a thousand cities can't stand the wrath of just one Sheba" he said calmly, clicking his tongue.
"A Sheba?" Kayla asked, fear written in her face, how did he find out?
"You are surprised huh? You think I wouldn't find out that your step daughter is a Sheba?"
Kayla blinked, moving back. "I can explain" she muttered.
"Ah, you can explain... Wait did you think I won't find out that Naja is her mother?" He paused.
"Or that you killed her or tried to kill her but ended up killing her apprentices in the process, one of which was her sister"
"You then tried to frame Forbes, because you thought he was supposed to get married to you and Not Mila?, well crazily my Father had to take the blame, making Naja place a curse on Jamal before he was born"
"I... I didn't..... I'm.... " she kept stammering.
Max stood and walked to her side. "Its funny how you finally killed her and married her husband instead because you knew her daughter is a Sheba and every Sheba brings good luck to a family"
"Max...."
"You know I actually decided to make a deal with Pecan's princess by telling her Jamal is cursed but I had change if heart."
He sat down back, drumming his fingers on the table. "Let me tell you something shocking, Kayla"
"Naja is alive" he stated.