Chapter 13: Chapter 13

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"Ha,it's so good to be back home" Salmar said as he sat down to enjoy his meal.

He had just arrived from his trip to the Karo province where he had gone to represent Zedora in a meeting with the council of cities..

It wasn't a new thing. He was Zedora's ambassador after all.

Kayla gave a sly smile as she stared at her husband. "You know, we've really missed you, me especially" she said,biting her lips..

Salmar smiled innocently. "I missed you all too..." He looked around. "But where are the girls?"

"Oh,the girls...they went to the riverside, they went to wash some clothes" she lied.

"Didn't they know I'll be back today?"

"Of course they did... Just that their clothes couldn't wait"

"Oh..." Salmar said,licking his hands as he enjoyed the soup....

"I've really missed your food Kayla" he told her.

She smirked. "Really,I'm flattered"

"You shouldn't be... We've been married for...." He suddenly paused and started coughing.

Kayla stood up... "Salmar! Salmar! Are you okay" she asked feigning concern.

His eyes widened as he stared at her... A mixture of emotions flashed through it ..

Shock.. Betrayal... Pain...

"Kayla" he managed to croak out has blood spurted out of his mouth.

"You've lived enough already" she said with no emotions... "Just die peacefully love" she stated as he fell to the floor,his body shaking vigorously...

She had poisoned him.

She cleared the plates and came back.... Clearing her throat to get ready for her act...

Then she started screaming.

"Salmar! Salmar! Somebody help!"

The neighbors came running as she rolled herself on the floor screaming...

"Salmar!"

SARAFINA

I rolled on my bed,still thinking on how we were going to find the Sheba...

Pooja had gone with the other maids for her afternoon duties.

I wished I could join them because it felt awkward that I was sitting and doing nothing...

It would only even add to the hatred the maids already had for me.

But the queen had already laid down a rule that I shouldn't join them in working and no one could disobey the queen..

I got up and sllpped my legs into my flops, standing up... I decided to take a walk.

As soon as I opened the door... I saw Pooja running towards me in full speed,I quickly shifted back so that she won't run smack dab into me.

"Pooja,what is it" I asked as she got to me.

She held her chest breathing heavily.

"Pooja" I questioned again.

"Fina,there is a message from your house" she said after taking a long breath.

I paused...."what!?"

"Your....your...." She stammered.

"Pooja speak!" I yelled fear cooking up inside me.

"Your father is dead"

I moved back.... "What!"

"Your fa....."

I didn't hear the rest of her sentence....all I heard was my name being called before I slipped into unconsciousnes.

SARAFINA

Heavy pounding.....

Flashes of light....

I blinked my eyes open,wincing as the my head throbbed painfully.

Looking around I realized I was in the royal clinic.

"Fina! You're awake" I heard Pooja's voice.

I blinked again, turning my head to see her standing over me.

"What happened" I asked.

She looked at me with a pitiful expression as tears glistened in her eyes, then she looked away.

And then it came,like the flashes of a lightening... Like the sudden strike of the thunder.

Apa (father) is dead.

When Ummi died, I was so young that I didn't notice her absence... No one even acted as if she died.

Everyone went about their business just like nothing happened.

Apa didn't mourn her death for the normal six months... After a month he was already up and running.

She wasn't even buried in Zedora.

She didn't die in Zedora.

Her death didn't strike me hard.

I didn't feel the amount of emptiness I was feeling now.

I didn't know the depth of loneliness that it brought.

I didn't feel this heavy pain in my heart like I had just been hit by a carriage.

I didn't feel like dying and leaving this world like I do now.

"Apa" I whispered,my voice coming out as a low squawk.

Tears fell from my eyes as I recalled memories if Apa and I together.

The first time he took me riding on an horse...

His pure laughter as he taught me how to ride it.

The way his hands gripped my hands as he helped me steady it on the reins.

The day he took me mountain climbing... His smile as he explained the occurrences on Zedora's mountain.

The pain I feel now cannot be explained... It was from within....

From the depths of my soul...

It was like a constant tugging in my chest...

The ache didn't seem to ease...

The agony I felt was one that couldn't be relieved.

"Apa" I muttered again... Tears running down my eyes.

Pooja came toward me and placed her hand on my head.

"Just rest for now Sarafina"

I looked at her, she didn't know.

She can't understand the nothingness that I feel now.

"Apa" I whispered again, ignoring her.

"Is she awake?" Someone said opening the door.

I looked up to see Terai and the queen coming inside.

"Sarafina" Terai called as she rushed to my side. Pooja moved back.

"Sarafina, you have to stay strong.... Stop crying OK?" Terai said.

I kept quiet, staring at the ceiling blankly.

"So you are Ambassador Salmar's daughter" The queen asked.

"He is my Apa" I replied lowly.

"Accept my condolence Sarafina.... Your father was a very faithful citizen of Zedora"

I nodded, making an attempt to sit up.

As I tried to stand up, the door suddenly burst open...

"Sarafina!" He gasped out in a panic stricken voice.

My eyes widened in utter surprise.

The queen's face etched in confusion as she looked from me to him.

"Jamal?"

JAMAL

It is like an urge...

A certain craving from deep inside of me.

An addiction... I keep wanting to see her every day...

Its crazy and it sure as hell doesn't make any sense.

But yet I've come to realize that nothing makes any sense with everything that has to do with her.

Sarafina....

I got up from my bed and slipped my legs into my flops. Grabbing my ever constant dupatta(scarf), I rolled it over my face leaving only my eyes visible.

I made my way outside.

"Khan, how safe are the royal grounds" I asked my guard who was standing at the entrance of my chambers.

"As safe as it can be my prince" he replied.

"Good then, I'm taking a walk now"

"I should go with you"

"I don't think that's necessary Khan" I told him and started leaving but he still followed me.

I ignored him and walked on.

"What is happening here?" I asked as my eyes scanned the grounds... Everywhere looked disarrayed.

The sullen atmosphere couldn't be missed.

"Zedora just lost its ambassador" Khan said.

"Salmar?" I asked.

"Yes my prince, ambassador Salmar"

"That's huge..." I said and stopped.

"Where is my mother"

"She went to see his daughter who happened to be working in the palace... She fainted when she heard the news, she has been taken to the royal clinic"

I turned to him.

I don't know why I asked but I did. "What's her name"

He looked at me with a raised brow.

"Sarafina, my prince"

It took all my willpower not to grab him by the neck and ask him if he was lying.

I can't feel but yet the trembling if my hands and the rapid beating of my heart said one thing.

I was scared....

No, let me rephrase it... I feel scared that I am going to loose her..

I know its stupid but yet that's just the truth...

"Don't follow me, Khan" I said and took to my heels.

"My prince!" I heard him call but I was far gone to even listen to his call.

I got to the royal clinic, breathing hard.

"What room is Salmar's daughter" I asked a maiden standing by the door.

She moved back in fear, her lios quivering as she answered my question.

"The third room my prince"

I walked there hurriedly, flinging the door open.

"Sarafina" I puffed out as I saw laying helplessly on the bed.

Mother turned to me in shock.

"Jamal" she gasped out.

Jafar hands shook as he held his wine glass, the content spilling all over him but he didn't care less.

His mind traveled to Sarafina...

She would never forgive him if she knew of his plans with his father.

Who would anyway.

Who would forgive him after knowing that everything about her coming to the palace was planned.

From Kayla sending her to the market and her meeting the prince..

It was all planned.

From his meeting her at the cage to saving her by threatening the king.

It was all a planned work.

She was going to be used as a tool to dethrone the king.

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