**
SARAFINA
"Your usual spot?" I asked.
He looked at me. "Are you always this curious, Sarafina"
I shrugged. "Well.."
He held me as we entered the carriage.
.
.
.
Few minutes later....
"Where is this?" I asked as we got down from the carriage.
It was a very a vast and empty land yet beautiful...
The sun cast a shadow on it making it look fanciful.
"I come here when I need to think it when I need to sign some documents as the prince of this land." He replied.
"Oh I muttered... It's beautiful" I said.
He held my hands. "There is still much to see" he told me.
"Really...." I said in an enthusiastic voice.
"Really" he replied and held my hand as he started running.
"Come on" he urged.
I smiled. "Of course"
~•~•~•~•~•
"Is this like...." I paused unsure of what to it.. It was a very large pool.
"It's a swimming pool... Can you swim?" He asked me.
I bit my lips shyly. "I try at least"
"Good then... How about a swimming race?" He said already pulling off his shirt.
I gulped, looking away from his broad chest that was already on display.
"You are not going to undress in front of me, are you?" I asked blinking rapidly.
"Why?"
"Uhn...nothing, just that it isn't proper for..." I trailed off as he stood in front of me... We were only breaths away.
"What .....are ....you.... doing" I stammered as his hand came behind me.
"Are you going to stay dressed if you're going to swim, I'm only trying to help pull down your zipper " he stated blankly.
I gasped.
Seriously?!
Kayla smirked at the look of utter shock on Mila's face.
"Hey best friend" she said with a cynical smile playing on her lips.
"Kayla... What are you doing here" Mila asked.
"I'm hurt Milly...."
Mila raised her hands. "Don't you dare call me that Kayla" she said furiously.
"Oh sorry, I forgot my best friend don't like that name"
"And stop calling me your best friend.. You lost the right to that title twenty seven years ago" Mila snapped.
"Why are you here" she added.
"Funny, funny.... Won't you at least offer me a seat?"
"You are not welcome here, so why would I offer you a seat"
Kayla laughed and sat on a nearby chair.
"I didn't say you should sit"
"And since when have I taken orders from you, Queen Mila" she answered scoffing.
"What do you want" Mila asked, fuming with anger.
" If I possibly want something, I don't think you can give me.... Well I lost my husband today and I'm sure you are aware"
"Salmar is your husband?"
"Obviously.... You think I don't get what I want.... You should know me by now"
Mila rolled her eyes, of course she knew Kayla could go to any lengths to get what she wants..
But does that mean... "Sarafina is your daughter?"
Kayla laughed, twirling her hair. "I see you've met her... She is my step daughter"
"Naja's daughter?"
"Typical of you to figure it out" Kayla replied.
"She is Naja's daughter and also... The Sheba"
Mila lips quivered as she sat down shakily.
Kayla furrowed her brows. "You are surprised I know right?... I told you by know you should be aware that I get what I want.... And getting information about your son's predicament is one of it" she said.
"You said Sarafina is the Sheba?" Mila asked, ignoring all what Kayla said.
"I did, and I know just how she can save your son"
Mila shot up from her chair. "You do" she asked in an agitated voice.
"Of course" Kayla replied.
"But there is actually a problem.... She can't be of any help because her mother won't allow it"
"Naja is alive?" Mila asked.
"Naja is alive... She faked her own death because of...."
"You?"
"I guess..." Kayla replied.
"You tried to kill her, I'm sure of that" Mila said in disgust.
"You killed Salmar too?" Mila added.
Kayla tapped her chin. "Are you going to do anything about it.... Because you've done worse Mila"
"What are you talking about"
"Remember Sahej?"
Mila froze...
She did remember Sahej. Sahej was her lover before she married Forbes and she even had a child for him. She had killed him when she realized he was going to be a threat to her marriage.
Kayla laughed again... Something she had been doing constantly since she got to Mila's chambers... It is good to have someone at a corner especially when that someone is Mila.
"His daughter is in the palace courts as a maid... All it will take is just one sentence to the king and you as good as gone"
"You are not going to say anything" Mila gritted out.
"And that's not all... You and I know that Jamal's curse wasn't only because of the killing of the maidens"
Mila gulped.... It was true.
Jamal's curse wasn't because of the death, it was only used as a cover-up.
Naja had cursed Jamal partly because of his grandfather's sin but mostly because Mila had stabbed Naja's mother becsuse she had confronted her on her relationship with Sahej.
"Do you remember now... So are we even now" Kayla asked.
Mila nodded.
"Good.... I'm actually here because I want Naja dead and I'm sure you do too because of Jamal"
"Why do you want Naja dead" Mila asked.
"That's for me to know.... And just so you know... The maidens deaths were orchestrated by me as a payback to Forbes for marrying you"
Mila gasped in shock. "You....."
Kayla shook her head. "There is nothing you have to say Mila.... At least I have found your cure.... All we have to do is kill Naja and get her daughter... Are you in"
Mila exhaled loudly....
She knew she was making a deal with the devil but yet she was tied to a corner already.
"I'm in" she breathed out.
JAMAL
I know it's wrong.
No.. It is very wrong...
This thing with Sarafina.....
This thing that always makes me come back and just like oliver twist, asking for more.
But yet I can't seem to stop. Every fucking time, I want to come back to her.
I want to hear her voice.
I want to see the way her lips pucker up together when she is confused.
I want to stare at her and drown myself in the way the wind blows her hair, making it fly in different directions.
It's crazy, yes I know... Especially when I'm cursed to no feelings..
But one thing I've noticed is that when it comes to Sarafina, I might have a tiny winy bit of feeling, which is very weird.
"You cheated!" Sarafina gasped out as we came out of the pool.
I looked at her as she kept breathing heavily, her chest heaving...
The rise and fall of her breasts couldn't be missed or the way her wet tiny underwear material clung to her body, showing the outline of her nipples.
I gulped hard at my stray thoughts.
Focus Jamal... Focus.... And don't forget that your betrothed is arriving tomorrow. My subconscious warned.
"You think I cheated?" I asked.
"Or you won't admit that you are a bad swimmer" I added.
"Such arrogance" she huffed.
"You call that arrogance or you just won't agree that I'm better than you" I replied her, my lips stretching a bit.
She suddenly stopped, staring at me with an unreadable expression.
I rubbed my face, thinking there was something on it.
"What?" I asked.
"You... You" her voice shook.
"What?" I asked again.
"You just smiled" she said after a while.
"I smiled?" I touched my lips.... I have never smiled for as long as I can remember.
She nodded vigorously, her own lips stretching with a smile.
I paused. "Make me smile again" I told her.
"What?" She asked with a wide eye.
I put my hands around her waist and pulled her to me.
She gasped. "Jamal...." She started.
I smiled again at the way she said my name... It seemed like it was only made for her lips.
She jumped instantly, clapping with an excited stance.
"My prince, you just smiled again" she said happily.
"Why are you this happy about me smiling?" I asked.
She frowned slightly. "Is it bad that I'm happy that you are smiling for the first time in your entire life"
"No, of course not... I just..." I trailed off.
"Princess Ditya is arriving tomorrow" she suddenly said as she sat down at the edge of the pool, slipping her legs into the pool.
I shrugged. "You don't have to remind me"
"Is that not why you asked me to teach you.."
"How to feel" I completed.
"Yes... But unfortunately feelings cannot be taught... It's like an awareness... A kind of power that surges from within... Its like..." She closed her eyes, spreading her arms wide open.
"Like... Magic" she added.
"Magic" I repeated staring at her.
She dropped her hands and looked at me. "Its kind of ironical that five days ago, you almost had my head"
"It would have been the biggest mistake of my life, I owe Jafar for saving you" I told her.
"Do you believe in fate?" She asked.
I gave her a skeptical look.
"Kismata.. Fate is just a formality"
"Is that what you think..."
"Maybe" I said shrugging.
There was silence for a while....
It was peaceful.
"Thank you Jamal" she said breaking the silence.
"Thank you? For what?"
"For helping me forget apa for a while"
"If I can help you forget it for a lifetime, I would do it ,Sarafina" I said truthfully.
"I can't go home for the burial rites"
"Why?" I asked.
She smiled sadly. "My stepmother would gladly have my head"
"Your stepmother? Is that why you were on the streets the day you saw me?" I asked.
"Does it matter.... Its all over, isn't it"
"But she was putting your life at risk" I yelled, clenching my fist.
Anger...... It's strange.
"There is nothing you can do about it" she said, ignoring my outburst.
"I can have her prosecuted for child abuse!"
"Why?"
"Why what? You were..."
"Almost prosecuted... But got saved by Jafar instead I was given a thirty days punishment which has been lifted by the queen.."
"My mother lifted your punishment?" I asked confused.
She clamped her hands over her mouth.
"I shouldn't have said that..." She muffled.
"Why did she lift up your punishment" I asked removing her hands from her mouth.
"Uhm..... Actually..."
"Tell me Sarafina" I said sternly.
"What if...."
"She finds out you told me? She won't, I promise you"
"She asked me to look for a Sheba"
A Sheba?
I gasped, remembering when mother said only a Sheba could reverse my curse.
But why would she ask Sarafina to look for her? Or is there something about Sarafina that Mother knows.
"Did she tell you why?" I asked.
Sarafina shook her head. "She didn't, do you have any idea?" She asked with raised brows.
"A Sheba is like the cure to my curse" I told her.
She was silent for a while.
"I don't know why the Queen chose me but I promise to find her for you, Jamal" she finally said, staring at squarely in the eyes.
I cupped her cheeks. She had no idea that her being with me is enough cure than a thousand Shebas put together.
"Thank you, Sarafina"
***