**
Jafar stormed into his Father's chambers in annoyance, breathing heavily he slammed the door shut. Maximus sat on his couch, sipping his wine.
"And what brings you to my court, son?" He drawled at Jafar.
"You know exactly why I am here Father!" Jafar replied in a loud tone, anger brewing off from him. "Why did you tell Ditya to call off her engagement with Jamal? And why is she getting married to me?" He yelled.
"You heard the news? Then get ready to be a groom to be, I got you some suitable attires, you should try them on"
"Father! What is all this about? First you wanted Sarafina off the page, now you are getting me married to Ditya without saying a word to me! Are you sure this is all for me or for your own selfish reason because I am clearly tired and I can't do this anymore" Jafar shouted.
Maximus sprang up. "You said what?"
"I said I am tired and I quit!"
"Then you are clearly insane! I brought you into the royal house as a son..." Maximus stopped as he said that.
"What? What are you talking about?" Jafar asked, hoping he had not heard right and his Father has not just indirectly said he was not his son.
"Since it is out, then you have to know"
"That?"
"You are not my son... Practically you are the illegitimate Prince of Pecan"
Jafar stepped back in shock, pain clearly evident in his glistening eyes. "You are not my father? And I am a Prince?"
"Illegitimate.. I was on a journey when I met a lady heavily pregnant. Turns out she had an affair with the prince now king of Pecan and got pregnant for him. When he was to be crowned king an arranged marriage was set for him and your mother was banished from Pecan, she died while giving birth to you and I took you in as my son... That was twenty six years ago"
"And now you want me to get married to my half sister!"
Maximus threw his head back in laughter. "You think the marriage is for you.. Your name is just a cover, I am the one getting married to her and you..." He stalked toward Jafar bringing out his ever present dagger are just a tool in my quest to reach the top.. You would be gone in no time" he laughed again and plunged the knife into his abdomen.
"Father!" Jafar croaked out as tears slipped from his eyes, blood spurting out of his stomach and his mouth.
The door suddenly swung open to reveal Sarafina, her eyes traveled to the dagger in Jafar who was already laying sprawled and unconscious on the floor.
Maximus stared at her and took a long sip from his wine before dropping it back on the table. "Look who is here, if it isn't the oh so perfect Sheba of our day"
* * *
SARAFINA.
The moment I stepped into Zedora, I knee something was definitely wrong, especially when my mind kept thinking of Jafar.
Marialle had gotten us the quickest way to get to Zedora, the flying mat- it was one of the ancient magical means of transportation- so we landed at the inn Pooja described for Zella, I didn't have the time go in or even see Zella, instead I told Pooja to go ahead to the festival and I materialized into the palace, into Maximize chambers.
And here I am, a dagger in Jafar's stomach and Maximus staring at me like a maniac. Of course he is a maniac.
"You killed your son!" I yelled as I knelt down beside Jafar, I felt his pulse and it was so low.. I immediately cast a spell over him to keep it that way. I have to deal with Maximus first.
"Is that what you think? Aren't you supposed to be all knowing or something.. You should have figured out he isn't my son by now Lady Sheba" he slurred. He was drunk but wait Jafar isn't his son?
"You.. Just came to ruin my plans, I have been planning this for thirty good years but you had to come, Naja had to birth you... You slime bitch! And now I can't move further but I tell you I will kill them all even if I have to die for it.. I will kill all of them that think they can sit on that throne that should be mine! Forbes and his whore wife and that cursed son of theirs... You think killing me will stop everything huh? But dear you can't be in two places at once.. One arrow each for them all, right to their heart and poof! All gone"
I gasped.. He had sent archers into the festival to kill the whole royal family! "You are absolutely insane Maximus! I will make sure I wipe you away from the face of this earth... Only that you don't deserve a fast death, you deserve a slow and painful one" I stretched my hands to him and binded him.
He kept struggling as he couldn't move. "You stay right there, 'cos I will be back for you." I pushed open the door and ran out.
"What have you done to me!" I heard him yell and I smirked.
The festival was holding at the gates of the palace, I had to be there but I can't use my powers yet because I have a greater fight to use it for and I am actually getting weaker.
The festival was already in full swing when I got there, the whole place was fully packed as people both young and old dancing to the sound of the drums.
The festival of the rain is a celebratory ceremony to welcome the rainy season, practically it is done a week before the first rain of the year.
My eyes scanned around as I pushed through the crowd, the royal family has not arrived. I have to get to them before they get here. I ran back into the palace to see their carriage already moving out, first was the king's carriage, followed by the queen, followed by Jamal and Ditya's own..
How will I stop them now?
* * *
SARAFINA.
Okay, I think right now is the time for a little drama, that's the only way I can stop them. I ran to the front of the carriage, cleared my throat and started screaming. "Stop! Stop this carriage! Stop it right now! The prince thinks he can get me pregnant and then get married to a princess huh? I will never allow that, over my dead body will I give birth to a fatherless child" The guards at the gate immediately tried to grab me, thankfully they didn't recognize me because of the burqa on my face.
"What is wrong with you maiden, don't you have any shame huh?" One of them asked as he got hold of my hand. I swung hack and kneed him in his dick, he doesn't know that I have thrown shame to the wind because I have to save the royal house.
"Tell the prince to come down, or I will go out into the festival and yell it out to the whole Zedora, and I will kill myself and the baby in addition" I screamed.
"Are you crazy, leave the way now!"
"Hell no, tell prince Jamal to come down here"
"Close the royal gate!" The king's guard ordered as King Forbes himself got down from his carriage. I sighed in relief when I heard the closing of the gates.
In no time, King Forbes was standing before me with two guards holding me down. I scoff inwardly, as if I would harm the king, the real danger is out there in the festival.
"Young maiden, what do you want and why do you accuse the crown prince wrongly" Forbes finally said. I took a step towards him but the guard held me back, I pulled down my burqa for him to see and his eyes widened but he didn't talk, I pulled it back down.
"Let her go" he said to the guards and I could sense their shock but they freed me immediately. "You ran away, why are you here again and what is about you being pregnant for my son" he stated eyeing me suspiciously.
"I wanted to stop you, if I had said it more politely no one would have given me a listening ear" I replied.
"What do you want Sarafina, my son has his memories back thanks to you but I thought this is all over"
"It is not over for your enemies, you can't go into that festival" I said.
"Who is she? And why is she pinning a pregnancy on my son" I heard Queen Mila's voice, she has also come out of her carriage and she was now standing beside the king.
Suddenly acting on instincts, I hugged the both of them, pushing them down in the process and then I felt it, that stinging bite of an arrow piercing my back, they had entered the palace, A loud scream followed, I am not sure if I was the one screaming or if it was the guards.
"This is why you can't go into the festival" I whispered my voice coming out like a croak, one thing I noticed before I slipped away was the arrow.
It is poisoned.
* * *