Chapter 11: Chapter 11

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SARAFINA

"It's you" she muttered in shock.

"I'm sorry what? " I asked, staring at her in utter confusion.

I moved back, avoiding her uncomfortable gaze. "Naja...." She whispered almost reverentially, in an uncharacteristic low tone.

"Naja?" I repeated dumbly, What's she saying?.

"You are.... " she paused suddenly, scanning my face as if trying to decipher my thoughts through my expression.

"You don't know? " she finally said.

"Know what?"

"Forget it then" she muttered curtly. "Why are you here? I mean what's your work here? I have never seen you around"

"Uhm... I'm here on punishment"

"Punishment? " she cocked her head.

"Care to tell me your offense?"

"I saw the prince?.." I replied as if asking a question.

"You saw the prince? You are the girl Jafar helped"

I nodded, biting my lips.

"Ah, it's like you are more important than I thought, what's with you and Jafar"

I cringed, why is the queen asking me stuffs like this. "Nothing my queen"

"You don't have to be formal with me, since you are not really a maid"

I almost choked. "I'm sorry my queen, but everyone has to be formal with you"

She laughed and sat on the bed, crossing her legs stylishly. "Well then, formal it is, mind telling me your name?"

"Sarafina" I replied her.

"Ha! Sarafina, very like Naja" she said smiling weirdly.

Who is this Naja she keeps talking about.

"You know what Sarafina, I actually need your help"

"My help? " I asked her.

She pressed her lips together grimly. "Or let me rephrase it, you help me... I help you, what do you say"

I blinked. Jafar asked to be my friend.... Jamal asked for my help.... The queen is trying to strike a bargain with me...

Did I mention that I'm really in for it?

Mila looked at the girl before her. There was no denying that she was Naja's daughter.

Naja....

One thing the royal house didn't know was that Naja was her friend, actually there were three of them... She, Naja and Kayla.

Nobody knew because it was forbidden to have any familiarity with the Winter clan, especially the witches among them.

They kept their friendship secret because of these, but no secret could last for a lifetime and when she was found out they had to cut all ties with each other.

Two years after they parted ways, she got married to Forbes and a year after Naja cursed Jamal, her unborn child because of his grand father's sin.

Now she had Naja's daughter before her. If she was right and this girl has a residual of her mother's powers, which she most likely would have because every girl child from the winter witch household is blessed with special powers of discerning.

Then Sarafina could help her find the Sheba, if she was really here in the palace because Abu had said she is here.

"What do you want me to do my queen" Sarafina asked politely.

"I can lift your punishment of your head" Mila told her, not answering her question.

"I'm sorry but I have to decline that, I disobeyed the laws of the city, I deserve a penalty like this"

Mila gasped in amazement, if she just declined an opportunity like that, then could she be.....? The Sheba?

No, she can't be, never. Mila chastised herself mentally. Just because she didn't accept an offer like that doesn't make her a Sheba.

Mila mentally laughed at her intended stupidity. "Well, Sarafina I don't need you to agree on that, my lifting your punishment is a final decision"

Sarafina nodded. "Do you know what a Sheba is?" Mila asked her.

"Uhm.... A kind of special maiden with a pure heart? "

"Yes, you're totally correct and here is where I need your help" Mila paused.

"I need you to find her for me in two days" she added.

Sarafina looked started. "But how will I...."

"Find her.... That's for you to know, I've helped you already, and you can keep staying at the maid quarters"

"I will inform the head maid of the new development, I will also make you the personal maid of my son's betrothed when she arrives which also means you're going to be paid for your services."

"But my queen....."

"All you just have to do is find the Sheba" Mila said with a tone of finality.

Sarafina mouth hanged open as she watched the queen walk out of the room.

One thing she knew now was, she was in a deep royal mess!

SARAFINA

"Fina is anything the problem?" Pooja asked me as we sat on our bed after lunch.

"Huh? Why?"

She peeped at me through a side of her eye. "Are you feigning ignorance"

I rolled my eyes, maybe the queen gas already given her orders. But yet I don't think it has gotten to the nsud quarters yet or has it?

"Terai said you were relieved of your duty, how did that happen."

I clicked my tongue. "Seems you haven't been spending time with your roomies, I mean didn't they tell you I charm people" I replied her sarcasm dripping from my tone.

"Ah" she muttered. "Let's just say you don't want to talk about it"

"That's right" I drawled, stretching myself lazily on the bed.

Its impossible, very impossible for anyone to understand the mess I have dragged myself into. So its better I keep it secret.

But yet, how do I find the Sheba which I think is in this palace, just a thought though. And what does the queen even want with her?

And why did she even choose me in the first place.

Is this fate? Or pure complications?

Or maybe I was just born to get into trouble with people in higher classes.

Anything it is, I just hope I find a way out of this.

From Jafar's friendship, to Jamal's feelings and now the queen's bargain.

"Pooja" I called..

She looked at me. "What is it"

I scratched my neck nervously. "Uhm do you know who a Sheba is?"

"Who doesn't know?" She asked with an eye roll.

I scoffed. "Just a yes or no will do, you don't gave to make me feel foolish" I replied.

"You're funny, but why are you asking?"

"Maybe because I need one"

She sat up. "You need a Sheba!" She yelled. "What for?"

"Lower your voice pooja" I whispered gesticulating with my fingers on my lips.

She moved closer to me. "Start talking now" she said in a mick order.

"Well, I will tell you if you help me find out how to know one"

She gave me a suspicious look. "Promise" she said raising her right palm.

I raised my own palm and pressed it to her. "Promise"

She stood up pulled me along. "Come with me"

I stood up to follow her, I just hope I find the Sheba in two days and then I will think of what to tell Pooja without telling her the total truth, and making sure not to lie to her either.

"We are going on an adventure"

"Where are we going to Pooja" I asked her as she kept dragging me into the inner courts of the palace, taking routes that I knew were secret routes.

"To the royal library" she replied simply.

"The library? What are we going to there?" I asked with a creased brow.

"Ha!, isn't it obvious already, we are going to find a book that talk about Shebas so that we can get how to get her"

"Funny funny" I muttered and then I suddenly stopped.

"Pooja what if we get caught?"

"Do you want to get caught?" She rephrased my question.

"Of course not, this is very risky"

"Reason why its called an adventure sissy"

"You're going to put me in trouble"

She laughed. "If anybody is getting in trouble then it's going to be the both of us"

"Are you serious right now?"

"I guess" she said suddenly stopped when we got to a very small door, there were bushes around. I moved closer to her, fear clouding my thoughts.

"Here we are" she said in a singsong manner as she pushed open the door.

"Do you come here often?" I asked as we entered into the dim lighted passage way.

She chuckled. "Have you forgotten I'm a newbie"

I shook my head. "It doesn't seem that way, you passed like at least three secret passage ways when we were coming not to talk of the secluded routes you took"

"You are smart, but that's a story for another day, let's focus on entering this place without alerting the guards."

At the mention of guards, my breath hitched in fear, I held her arms tightly as we tiptoed into the inner side of the passage way.

.

.

.

Minutes later, we got out of the passage way into an open area. The place looked liked it had been deserted for centuries, it was a vast space of land with rocks and rusted piece of metals scattered on the ground.

"Where is this" I asked curiously.

Pooja looked around and snorted. "Don't step on the metals and make sure you avoid broken glass, the library is over there" she said pointing to a tall building that looked like a castle meters away from us.

I noticed that she ignored my question but I didn't push it, there might be a reason.

"How are we going to get there, it is looks farther than we can get on foot"

She chuckled. "The wonders of architecture "

"It looks but it isn't, but we have to get going"

I sighed tiredly.

An adventure indeed.

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