Chapter 21: Chapter 21

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Naja stare up at them in surprise, all the event that had happened years ago start to replay in her head. But she won't remember... It is better keeping them locked up than opening the wound again.

"What do you want from me" she said.

Kayla sit on the chair opposite her while Maximus rests his back on the door frame. "It's been a long time Naja" Kayla says with a smirk.

"You have no right to call my name, Kayla" Naja gritted out. Kayla's smirk turned to a full grin as her hands bring out a dagger from her garment.

"The same way you have no right to step your winter feet into Zedora, your coming here is only going to disrupt our plans"

Naja shook her head. "You still have your foolish plans stuck up in your crazy head, who else are you deceiving huh!" Naja said vehemently.

"You can name us anything, but our plans won't be complete without a certain person" Kayla said. "The Sheba" she added.

"Don't you dare touch my daughter you maniacs!!" Naja screamed, struggling with the ropes tied around her.

Kayla chuckled slightly, brandishing her dagger. "You will have a knife to your heart before you know it, so you won't know what will happen to your daughter"

Naja kicked widely, trying to free herself... If only she is able to use her powers, she would have escaped since but it is like the room is restraining them and she can't use them unless she gets out.

Kayla hand over the dagger to Maximus who strides towards her dangerously. Naja gulps as he stands in front of her, placing the hilt of the dagger on her neck.

"Long time no see sweetheart" he said, his deep voice booming. Tears prick her eyes as she stare up at him.

"Devil" she spits out.

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Immediately Mila sneaked back into the palace, she hurriedly changed back into her royal wears and got out of her chambers as if she had been there the whole time, so that the palace won't suspect a thing.

As she made her way out of her chambers, she kept pondering over the decision she had made. It is too late to regret right? Especially when the deed has been done. But Mila is regretting now, especially when she knows that someone like Naja does not deserve the death that awaited her.

As she walked around the palace ground, her eyes sighted Jamal running towards the maid quarters. His stance looked frantic. What is he looking for? She grabbed up her gown and ran to him.

"Jamal!!" She called out and he stopped without facing her.

"Jamal" she called again, turning him to face her, only for her to receive the greatest shock of her life.

Jamal's face is wet, wet with tears... Jamal is crying?. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the tears on her son face.

"Jamal, is that..... Is that tears in your face?" She stammered, her own tears building up. Jamal looked at her sullenly, staggering towards her he threw his arms around her.

"Find her, find her for me" he whispered weakly.

Mila held him tightly, his heavy weight almost bearing her down. She blinked in confusion. "Jamal, are you okay... Find who"

His voice was small and almost inaudible as he spoke. "Find her, find Sarafina" he said and fell limp on her hands and they both fell to the floor.

"Jamal, Jamal" Mila called shaking him vigorously. "Jamal" she screamed but he was way past hearing. The palace guards already rushed to her and help her lift him up.

"Do not take him to the clinic, take him into the throne room and someone get Abu for me !!" Mila barked out her orders in panic.

"And get Ditya's maid, Sarafina !!" She added.

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SARAFINA.

"Let's take a bath before we get back to work" Pooja suggested when we get to our room. So like Pooja to always take a bath at the slightest opportunity she can get.

"okay" I agreed and locked the door behind us. As I start to take off my clothes, I suddenly start feeling an itch at the hollow of my back. Pooja turned at that moment and she screamed in shock.

"What is it?" I ask her. She stalked closer to me and peered at my back. "Your lower back is radiating light" she whispered.

"What!" My hand trace to the place where I was feeling the itch. "Right here?" I ask her, craning my neck to see it even though I know I can't.

"Right there" she affirms. "Pull of your cloth Sarafina" she said, I obey and pull of my clothe, a loud gasp escape her lips.

"What?" I ask her.

"They have a star shaped symbol at the hollow of their backs" she muttered and hold my hand to my back, she then use my finger to trace a star drawing.

"You are the Sheba" she says silently. As she says it I can see the light now, I crane my neck again and I catch a glimpse of the star shining brightly... The light is filling the room it is almost blinding

"I am the Sheba?" I say as if asking a question... There is no need to ask again.

I am the Sheba. I am Jamal's cure.

There is a loud bang on the door and the light immediately dims. I quickly shrug on my cloth, while Pooja goes to open the door. "Who are you here for" she asks whoever is at the door.

"I am here for Sarafina, the queen summons her" I hear the person say.

I gulp hard, does the queen know already? Is that why she asked me to find the Sheba? Or what if she doesn't know.

"Sarafina, I'm coming with you" Pooja assures me as she hold my hand and we follow the palace guard.

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Naja's eyes watered as she stared up at Maximus holding the dagger to her neck.

Once she had trusted this man, once they had been best friends and all because of his hungry craving for power, all because of his selfish intrest in vanity.. He had turned his back on her.

Naja didn't want to dwell on the past, the past when all six of them were inseparable best friends. All six of them—Her, Kayla, Milanie, Salmar, Forbes and Maximus.

Until when Maximus started craving his father's throne, when he started hating in his brother Forbes because he was the one to succeed his father.

Until when Kayla started developing feelings for Forbes and starting developing hatred towards Milanie.

Until when Milanie cheated on Forbes with Sahej and killed Naja's mother when she found out.

Until when Kayla framed Forbes for the killing of her—Naja's apprentice and her sister and made Forbes father take the blame.

Until when Milanie, Kayla and Maximus had finally betrayed her and revealed that she was a winter witch... When they knew she kept it a secret so she would be will be accepted in Zedora. (Zedora does not accept winter witches into their city because of some past history) they had ratted her out because she tried to stop their plans.

And until when she had placed a curse on Mila's unborn child because she was filled with so much rage at her mother's death. Until when she had finally been banished from Zedora and she had to leave her little daughter, Sarafina to think she was dead.

All vain.... Everything had happened because of each one of them's mistake... She is back to set it right but they won't let her.

She felt a trickle of blood run down her neck as Maximus pressed the dagger tightly to it.

The Sheba, her daughter can not only restore..m she can also destroy and that was why they needed her but she has to get to Sarafina before they do.

She will either die here or die out side here. She would prefer the latter.

"Fine Kill me and be done with it" Naja said to Maximus.

A smug smile spread on Maximus face. "Easy there sweetheart... You don't deserve a fast death.. M don't you know that slow and steady..."

"Wins the race" Naja concluded forcing out a smile. Her head already calculating ways to escape. Maximus stopped, Naja only gave replies to a sentence when she has a plan forming in her head.

"Now what do you have up your sleavew now" he asked her.

"Wait and see" she replied smugly as an idea hit her... The release of her blood will lessen the restraint in the room, then she can use her power.

She stared into his eyes, focusing.

"Let get this all done with!!" Kayla screamed and stood up. Maximus grabbed the knife and plunged it into her side.

Naja screamed in pain, she would not make it but she will see her daughter before then.

She closed her eyes and willed her powers to transport her to where her daughter is.

"She is gone" Kayla screamed ad the knife fell of Maximus hand.

Maximus stared at the empty seat, the ropes falling to the ground. She had outsmarted them.

Once again.

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SARAFINA.

Fearfully, I follow the palace guard with Pooja trailing behind me. I am scared because I don't know what to expect. Why am I being called? Does she know I am the Sheba? If she does, how am I going to save Jamal?

We get to the throne room and we enter inside. The guards stop Pooja from entering inside. The first thing I notice as we enter inside is Jamal laying sprawled on a mat. Panic grips me and I momentarily forget where I am as I rush to his side.

"Jamal!" I call, shaking him slightly... He does not answer.

"Jamal" I call yet again but there is no reply.

I come back to my senses when I hear the queen say. "He is unconscious". I spring up from beside him and move back, bowing repeatedly to the queen as I do so.

" I never knew you were this close to my son, enough to call him by his name" The Queen said, I keep my head bowed.

"I apologize for my disrespect" I reply her.

"Were you with Jamal today?" She asked, ignoring my apology. I gulp and move back.

"Yes" I reply with a small voice.

She is about yo say something when one of the guards come in. "Abu is here" he tells her. Abu the diviner?

"Usher him in" A man walks in, he looks creepy and I step away from Jamal side as he entered. His eyes meet mine and he stops.

"You. Know. Who. You. Are?" He stops at every word he says. I stand transfixed to a spot. Is he talking to me? Of course he is.

"Abu, He suddenly went—" The Queen start to say but he raise his hand to stop her. He then turn away from me. "What did you do, Milanie" he said.

I shake in fright, did he just call her by her name. I look at the Queen and see that she is fidgeting. What did she do?.

"I... Did....... I did...... Nothing" she stammered. Even a deaf man would know she is lying. Abu laughs and looks at Jamal.

"He will die, if she does not see her daughter" Abu said and start to leave.

"Abu wait!" The Queen called in a panicky voice.

"Are you ready to talk?" He asked her.

She nodded frantically and looked at me, tears falling down her eyes. "Your mother is alive, Sarafina" she says.

I stare at her and then burst into laughter. I keep laughing until I feel tears running down my eyes. I stop laughing and peered at her, she is giving me a strange look while Abu just stands there. "You are not joking are you" I ask.

"She is not joking" Abu replied. I want to laugh again but I caution myself.

"Naja is your mother" She continues. I breathe in loudly. "And she was the one who placed a curse on Jamal because—" she paused, biting her lip.

"You don't want me to tell the story myself, Milanie" Abu said.

"Because I killed her mother" She finished. The picture starts getting clear.

"Apparently my Ammi faked her death because some people wanted to kill her, right?" I said.

The Queen nods guiltily. "I killed Naja's mother because she knew my secret and when Kayla...."

"Kayla?" I cut in..m. "My step mother?"

"Your stepmother" she affirms. "Kayla told me you are the Sheba and that your mother won't let you help Jamal because of my wrongdoings to her"

"So you decided to kill Naja my mother" I finished.

"She was going to come into Zedora, I signed her death sentence."

"As we speak, she is either dead or on the verge of death" Abu says and turn to me.

"You will not be able to save Jamal if you don't see Naja" he added.

I stare at Jamal laying on the mat, unconscious to the happenings around him. "Where can I find her"

"She is here" Abu says smiling. The queen and I move back. "Here?" We say in unison.

Abu points to a spot on the floor, and there is a lady on her knees, blood seeping from her side. How did she get here?. She looks up and I gasp in shock. The woman looking at me is a older version of me.

I fall to my knees at her front, she smiles at me. "Sarafina" she says weakly.

Tears fall from my eyes. "Ammi? You are not dead?" I ask.

"I am not dead, I'm sorry for leaving you alone.... I just had to go" she is in so much pain that her voice only come out in little gasps.

"Do not speak please .." Her head whips up to the queen. "Milanie" she says in a hoarse voice. "You have my daughter huh! Hope you are treating her well" she chuckles. "She is your only hope, your son's lifeline.... Ashra is repaying you for your deeds. You think killing me will make her help you... Killing has never helped you" she laughs dryly.

"You killed Sahej but could not hide Mohini for long"

My eyes widen. Mohini? Is that Pooja?

"You killed my Ammi because of it.... It still didn't bury your secret, your son is dying because of your sins and my mistake.... You still won't admit and tell Forbes the real reason why I cursed Jamal..m you are pathetic" her voice is already failing.

"You can't die Ammi, you have to make up for the time you have missed" I say tearfully.

Her frail fingers grip my hand. "Do not let hate blind you! You alone can restore our mistakes and you alone can destroy everyone including yourself" she says.

I don't understand her but I nod. "I will die Sarafina for you to live and fulfill your purpose.... Ashra chose as the Sheba for a reason... Don't misuse it" as she says this her breath starts to cease.

"I forgive you Milanie" she says as her eyelids close.

"Ammi" I call in fear... "Ammi" I call again. The hand gripping mine release it hold and she breaths her last.

Silence as I take in what just happened.

"Ammi !!!" I scream.

"Ammi!!!"

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