Chapter 9: Chapter 9

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SARAFINA

Oh dear! Oh dear!, I kept chanting in my head as I made my way to Jafar's chambers. Placing my feet gingerly as I took each step closer to it.

I held my breath as I got to the door, I pressed the doorbell and waited. There was no answer so I peeped through the keyhole, it looked like it was empty.

I held the knob and pressed it down, opening it gently, I entered. I glanced around and sighed in relief. The room looked empty, I just have to clean it before he arrives.

I picked my broom and started sweeping. After sweeping, I brought out the cloth that I will use to clean the tables and figurines. I dipped it into the water and started with the table.

As I cleaned, my eyes caught a drawing on the table, it was in a book,I couldn't see it clearly because it was half opened but it looked beautiful.

My brain was telling me to go back to my work and leave there quickly but my curious eyes and fingers wouldn't listen. I placed my hands on the book and opened it slowly as I could.

My eyes most popped out of its socket as it took in the drawing in front of me. It was a drawing of a little girl, her hair flying with the wind as she stared longingly at the royal villa.

It was beautiful and it had me wondering if it was drawn by Jafar. If it was, then he is such a good artist.

I closed it back and continued my work, humming a song as I did.

I was halfway done when I heard footsteps from outside the door. My breath hitched, I bit lips in fear.

If that is Jafar, he must not meet me here. What will I do now?

The doorknob bent, I moved back unfortunately allowing the mop at my back to fall.

"Is anyone there" his voice sounded from the doorstep. I blinked squeezing the hem of my cloth tightly.

" Is anyone inside" he asked again, I moved back slowly.

"Uhm... Yes" I stuttered.

"Sarafina?" The door opened and he walked in. His eyed widened in surprise as it met mine.

He closed the door. "Sarafina what are you doing in my chamber?"

"Uhm...." I showed him the cloth on my hand. "Cleaning"

He looked at me keenly and smirked. "Ashra really wants us together if we keep seeing like this"

I gulped and moved back because he was moving closer to me.

"Continue your work, I just want to lie on my bed. I nodded hastily and put the cloth into the water and started cleaning.

"Tell me about yourself, Sarafina" he suddenly said.

I blinked, remembering when he said it yesterday before asking me if he could kiss me.

"Why? Why do you want to know about me" I hushed.

He laughed. "Let's start like this, I never had a female friend how about you being my first?"

I blinked again.

His friend? "Really?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes really, what do you say?"

I lowered my eyes... Jamal wants me to teach him how to feel. Jafar wants me to be his friend.

"You shouldn't reject a prince" he added in an amused voice.

I gulped, same sentence Jamal used for me. Is this some kind of joke or is this fate playing games on me?.

"I accept" I muttered.

He stood up. "I didn't hear you" he was closed to me now.

I took a step back. "I'll be your friend"

He smiled triumphantly. "First rule of friends, call me Jafar" he said.

A wave of dèja-vu hit me as I remembered what prince Jamal said.

•call me Jamal•

"You are not answering Sarafina"

"I've heard you..... Jafar" I replied.

"So how about you finish your work and I take you somewhere"

I gasped. "As friends" he quickly added.

"I don't work on my own free will here, Jafar" I told him.

"I know that, I will see you in the evening Sarafina"

"But I can't.... " I started to say.

"You shouldn't refuse a prince"

I shook my head slowly. "This is called abuse of power" I said, a smile finding its way to my cheek.

He laughed and I didn't know when I joined him.

Maybe being his friend isn't totally a bad idea.

Jafar stared at his father as he gulped down his wine.

"Father, didn't you hear what I said"

Maximus dropped his glass.

"Of course I heard what my coward son just said, why will you say you quit, I'm doing this for your sake"

"I'm tired of using her"

"You are a lame pussy, you've fallen for the girl right?"

"Father... "

"You are just as stupid as I thought, get out of here"

"But Father...."

"Jafar I said get out" Maximus yelled.

Jafar stood up. "But just remember son that blood in, no out"

Jafar gulped. He was held tight in one place.

He doesn't want to hurt Sarafina.

Yet he was in with no way of pulling out.

SARAFINA

It was quite late when we finished our final work for the day, I was very tired and I was feeling very sleepy. But I still have to meet Jafar. I thought worriedly.

I yawned tiredly as I entered into the room, I sighed in relief as I saw that nobody was there yet, they had probably gone for dinner.

At least I can have a good fifteen minutes rest before they arrive and start throwing their hateful words at me as it was their normal routine.

••

"Hey, witch" I blinked my eyes open to see Rai before me. I sat up.

"Rai? Can you just call me my name" I asked rubbing my eyes to clear any remnant of sleepiness in it.

She scoffed. "You? Your name? Do you even have one?"

"More like she doesn't deserve a name" Zareen huffed from her bed.

I rolled my eyes, hate everywhere. "Why did you disturb my sleep" I asked her.

"Your sleep huh, don't you know why" Anushka asked in a mocking tone.

"She has forgotten that she used her charms on the two princes, you know one will be for the morning time and the other for the night" Rai sneered.

Oh! I totally forgot about my meeting with Jafar.

"Just tell her that prince Jafar asks of her, what's with the insults" a girl whom I didn't notice before said.

"Pooja, why don't you shut your mouth and mind your business, you don't know how things are done in this room before your arrival" Zareen snapped at her.

"Don't mind her, she is still a newbie" Anushka chipped in.

"You girls are only jealous of the girl, that's why you're saying bad things about her" Pooja said and grabbed me up.

"Come, let me take you to him"

I smiled at her and followed her outside.

"You are new here right" I asked her.

She smiled. "I'm Pooja"

"So they said" I replied. "Thanks for standing up for me back there"

"You should learn to do it yourself" she told me.

I cracked. "Sometimes making them see you as weak from the start is the best thing, so that when you get to the position above them, they will always regret trying to trample on you"

"Wow, that's quite a logic" she told me.

"Sarafina" Jafar called waving at me from the front of the banquet hall.

"I think it's best I leave you here" Pooja said.

"Thank you Pooja" I replied her as she waved at me and went back to the quarters.

Jafar smiled at me as I got to him.

"Hey friend" he said. I rolled my eyes.

"Friend huh?, good evening"

He grabbed my hands. "Come on, let's get going time isn't on our side"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Where are we going to?"

"It is for me to know, it is for you to see" he said smiling as he grabbed my hands and pulled me along with him.

Kayla and her daughters were in the kitchen when Zella suddenly raised her voice. "Ummi, Father is returning today and Fina has been away for almost three days now, what will you tell him when he is back" she asked.

"Is that your problem? It's hightime your Father knows that she is not a part of this family" Kayla replied with no remorse in her voice.

Zella shook her head, she couldn't fathom why her mother and her sisters hated Fina so much.

Though she knew Fina worked at the palace now which means she would have to stay in the palace, she had only asked to see her mother's reaction.

She just hoped her father won't find out about it.

"Please let's forget about that witch and focus on meaningful things" Cirona said loudly.

Kayla smirked. "Meaningful things huh" she asked.

Raina and Cirona laughed. "Our prince is getting married" Raina said after some time.

"What!! You're joking right?" Cirona exclaimed.

"Do I look like I'm joking? He is getting married to Pecan's princess"

Kayla's head snapped up. "Princess Ditya?"

"Yes princess Ditya" Raina affirmed.

"Very funny, your jokes are not working on me tonight"

"She is not lying, there is a ceremony to welcome her arrival in three days" Zella chipped in and left the kitchen.

Kayla dropped the knife on her hand causing a loud clatter on the floor. "Jamal is getting married?" She asked in a panicked voice.

"Mother are you okay" Raina asked her mother whose hand was shaking vigorously.

Kayla pulled off her scarf. "He can't get married" she started saying, her hands pulling her hair.

"Mother"

"He can't get married, no that's not possible"

"Mother are you okay"

She turned to her daughters, her eyes blazing. She grabbed her scarf from the floor and ran out of the eyes.

Jamal can't get married.

Especially not to Ditya.