Chapter 10
I tossed and turned as vivid images of Abba appeared. His face faded out and then another face appeared. It was Damon! Abba was standing next to him in a strange but familiar building, they were both smirking and then Abba said, "Tonight, Ranya dies!"
I screamed as my eyes opened and I sat bolt upright.
My whole body was drenched in sweat.
My heart was pounding uncontrollably and I was trembling.
"Ranya," The sweet voice of my older cousin rang in my ears as Malik rushed into the room and ran over to me, "What's wrong?" he asked, wrapping his arm around me.
Tears streamed down my pale face.
"Th-they're coming for me, Malik!" I cried hugging him tightly.
"Who? Ranya, what are you talking about?" Malik asked confused and worried.
"I-I had a dream that Abba joined Damon and they were in this building, it was SO familiar to me and Abba said that I'm going to die!" I panted terrified.
Malik sighed and hugged me close.
"It was just a dream. You're safe.
I won't let either of them hurt you." Malik promised. I said nothing, I just cried in his arms.
Don't make a promise that you can't keep Malik.
I sat and stared out of one of the windows of Malik's house.
It had been at least three weeks since I had left the house.
I couldn't bear to go outside let alone back to the fortress.
I was embarrassed, scared, traumatised.
I couldn't even tell Malik what exactly happened (not that I'd want to remember).
"Ranya," Malik called as he came into my old bedroom.
I slowly turned and silently looked at him, he was in his usual robes with his usual worried expression on his face, it was mixed with guilt and anger.
"Ranya, please. Speak to me!" He begged walking over to me. I turned my head back to the window and stared out, tears burnt in my eyes. I hated to see him like this but I just wasn't ready to speak with anyone yet and the one person I wanted to speak to wasn't even around.
"Ranya, you need to at least eat something! It has been three weeks and all you've had was a few drinks of water, you are freaking me out." He cried falling to his knees beside me.
I sighed and tucked my legs up into my chest. Malik swore in frustration.
"I have to go. Al Mualim is expecting me. Will you be okay?" Malik asked.
I said nothing.
"Alima and Kadar may drop by as well as Altaïr. Please just eat something, you don't have to talk just eat something!" Malik exclaimed. He sounded broken.
But again I said nothing.
Malik eventually gave up and walked out of the house. I swore under my breath as tears flowed down my seriously pale face. I felt weak. I couldn't move. I just wanted to curl up and die! I closed my eyes, hoping this would happen.
It didn't.
A few hours later, I heard a key in the lock on the door. I began to panic.
Oh Allah please, don't let it be who I think it is!
"Oh Allah! Ranya is that you!?" The sound of Alima brought a small smile to my weak face. I slowly turned and looked at her and Kadar. They both gasped and stared at me shocked and wordless.
"Ranya! Malik said you were bad but I thought he was exaggerating!" Kadar cried.
Poor Kadar.
He has never really been the strong type. Do I really look that bad?
Alima just stared at me in how horror.
"When was the last time you ate something!" She asked.
Oh brother, now she sounds like my mother.
I shrugged as the door opened again and Altaïr walked in. As soon as he saw me he nearly had a fit. "Jesus Tiny! Eat something for Allah's sake!" He said.
I glared at him.
"Malik's tried everything. She hasn't eaten in three weeks! He only ever got her to drink a few glasses of water and that's only because she passed out." Kadar explained worriedly.
"Alima, take Kadar outside for a few moments." Altaïr said.
I could listen to his voice all day. Alima nodded and she and Kadar left.
Altaïr suddenly changed.
He rushed over to me and fell to his knees. "Ranya, please. Speak to me. You are so weak. Please. The Ranya I know and love is a lot stronger than this!" He begged as he grasped hold of my arms and carefully shook me.
Did he just say he loves me!?
That did it.
I couldn't hold it in any longer.
Three weeks of tears flooded out of my eyes as I fell into his arms. "I'm so scared!" I cried shaking uncontrollably.
Altaïr wrapped his arms around me.
"Tell me what happened, tell me what he did to you." Altaïr said.
"He said he loved me. But I said I loved someone else. He got angry. He demanded I tell him who I like and when I refused that's when things got worse.
I went to go back inside but Swami came out from the shadows and hit me with his blade. I hit my head on the wall, then Swami grabbed me and held me in front of him. Abba threatened me. I still didn't want to tell him. He chose the fun way. They began beating me. And when I tried to run Swami grabbed me and pulled me back, he ripped my dress and pinned me to the ground and then Abba got on top of me. Oh Altaïr!" I cried trembling as it all played back in my mind again.
"Ranya, you can tell me anything!" He promised.
"Abba tried to rape me!" I cried terrified. "You can't tell anyone please!" I begged, trembling as he held me.
I felt his arms tense.
"I won't. I won't let Abba hurt you again I promise!" Altaïr promised. I looked up at him and I felt something.
What happened next shocked both of us. At the same time we leaned in and our lips touched. For a moment it was like we were the only people there and then we both pulled away. "So, I'm guessing the other person is me?" Altaïr said teasingly. I smiled embarrassed.
"Altaïr," Alima called as she and Kadar walked back in. Altaïr quickly stood up and put his hood up to hide the fact that he had gone bright red. "Al Mualim wants to see Ranya." Alima said.
"We'll be right there dumbass!" Altaïr teased. I bit my lip to stifle my laughter.
Alima looked at me suspiciously.
"Not until she eats something!" She cried.
"Jesus Christ! I'll eat something if it'll get you off my back Mum!" I said sarcastically as a smug smirk crept to my lips.
"We'll head on." sighed Alima rolling her eyes at my comeback; I was actually beginning to forget about HIM for a little while. Maybe this new mission would be good for me, getting back into the old routine.
I stretched myself, lying curled up in Malik's house has really put my back out of place! And my head aches terribly from all the consistent crying. Also my mind riled from what happened between Altaïr and I, I suddenly felt so warm inside, a new found strength.
After getting dressed and somewhat tided up, I met with Altaïr whom I had told to just wait outside the door. His face was still so red; I wondered how long he had liked me for. "Ready to go?" he asked as he straightened himself up from leaning against the house wall.
I nodded shyly; I had even brushed my hair for him.
We didn't say much on the way there only contemplating what our mission would be. I stuck close to him, I felt safer this way. Even though it had been 3 weeks since Abba, my nerves and sanity still had not fully recovered, meaning every sound, every person and every sudden movement made me have a mini heart attack inside. I never realised how frightening the outside world could be. I cursed myself for my weakness, Abba had made me lose the strong, quick witted, and clever assassin I used to be. I promised myself I would get back to that as soon as possible.
A horse and cart of hay rushed past me, the clattering noise booming in my ears, its wheels throwing dust into my face. Curse it!
Soon the dust cleared and I rubbed my irritated eyes. I looked up as the path cleared, my heart leapt to my mouth at what I saw.
Abba was watching me from the other side of the dusty road; he leans casually against the other hay cart, a smug, sickening, purvey and evil grin written over his disgusting face. My body froze like the water in the dead of winter.
I tried desperately to move or hid but to no avail, I was utterly stuck. I wanted to call out for Altaïr, who had already crossed the road and was heading up the path unaware he had forgotten me, but my throat won't let me.
Abba started to make his way towards me, my heart pounded in my ears and my blood pumped faster until it almost hurt. My breathing was so shallow and quick I feared I might faint.
Surely he wouldn't try anything, not in bright day light with all the civilians around. Surely not.
Oh God he's getting closer. What should I do?
Abba came right up to me, so close into my personal space. He roughly grabbed my forearm, this brought back so many unwanted memories, and he held it so tight. This was my worst nightmare.
"Hello Ranya, didn't we have fun just a few weeks back? We should do it again sometime, you know, so I could finish off the job." his sickening purvey voice, filled with false affection and lust, whispered close to my ear as his grip tightened.
It sent shuddering cold shivers cruising down my spine.
"You know, you looked SO beautiful that night, oh and the way your dress ripped slightly." he spoke, whispering close to my ear.
I tried my very best to hold it together, tears where so near to bursting and my mind was so near to collapsing. I dared not look him in the face or I might just snap.
He exerted such power over me, making my mind go numb and my body go cold and shut down. I just had to hold out long enough for someone to help.
"But of course you know I'll find you again, and do even worse." he breathed on me moving closer to me, forcing me to look into his cold evil eyes and stroking my face.
My knees started to quiver and my eyes screwed shut and I screamed inside.
I wish for this to end please!
Just then, I feel Abba's presence disappear, I sighed relived. Just then, I heard a sword being unsheathed.
My eyes popped open.
Instead of Abba, Altaïr stood in front of me, protecting me, I was so pleased.
He squared up to Abba; they both watched each other intensely, as if squaring up to a fight. "Don't you dare come near her again Abba!" Altaïr warned harshly and with meaning.
"I'll get her, mark my words Altaïr!" Abba hissed back emotionlessly.
I quivered at the statement.
"Over my dead body…" Altaïr replied slowly and in a low tone of voice.
He made me feel so protected I thanked Allah he was there.
Abba just scoffed at the statement and strode off down the street. He truly was my knight in shinning armour.
After a few minutes, Altaïr turned to me and stood close to me again, I was trembling from the sudden meeting. Altaïr laid his arm across my shoulders comfortingly and led me up the path to the fortress. I couldn't thank him enough. As a delayed reaction a few tears dropped from my eyes but I hid my face with my hood so no one would see. I just wished Abba would die a terrible death for all the trouble he's caused! But for now I can place my trust in Altaïr.
I could still feel my shoulders shaking despite my extreme efforts to make them stop. I couldn't go into the fortress when I was like this!
Oh Allah, give me strength!
"Ranya, are you alright?" Altaïr asked as we stopped outside the large arched entrance. I opened my mouth to speak but only whimpers came out.
"I-I..." I couldn't speak, I was still traumatised. My breathing was short and quick.
Oh great! Another bloody panic attack!
"Oh Altaïr! Don't let him come near me please!" I cried wrapping my arms around Altaïr as tears streamed down my face.
"Ranya, I won't. I promise. Please, you need to relax!" Altaïr soothed hugging me back.
"I-I can't! What if he tries it again? What if he does worse? What if he and Damon team up and then come to kill me?" I asked panicking, shaking out of control.
Altaïr gently pulled me over to the side of the fortress, knowing that I wouldn't like Malik or Alima or Kadar to see me like this.
"I will be with you. I won't let them hurt you. My brother will pay for what he did to you as will Abba!" Altaïr promised putting his hands on my face and gently moving my head so that I would look into his eyes.
"But-but-" I broke off as Altaïr kissed me again.
I closed my eyes and somehow I became relaxed. After a minute or two he pulled back and looked at me. I smiled shyly at him. "The Ranya I know would beat the crap out of both of them and wouldn't let this stop her!" He explained. I raised an eyebrow.
"And is that the Ranya you like?" I asked smugly as we walked underneath the arched entrance. Altaïr turned away from me and went red again.
I couldn't help but blush as well. This was defiantly going to help me regain my strength and wit.
We were just about to walk into the fortress when Swami came out in front of us. I snarled as he smirked at me.
"Haven't seen you in a while Midget." He smirked. I heard Altaïr growl angrily.
"And I see that you have finally come to the realisation of how ugly your face is that you are reduced to lurking in the shadows like an unwanted pile of crap!" I shot back. My smug smirk danced to my lips. My wit was back. Swami snarled and released his blade.
I yawned in lack of interest.
"I'm an assassin. You really think I'm scared of a teeny tiny piece of crappy steal?" I cocked my head to the side mockingly. Altaïr laughed. "Pathetic. Now, if you'll fuck off, I have to see Al Mualim and you know he doesn't like to be kept waiting!" I went to shove my way past Swami when he grabbed me back.
Suddenly, the flash backs of three weeks ago played in my mind. "Listen to me Ranya, I don't like you very much so I'm gonna make this quick!" Swami snarled bringing his sword up.
"Get off her!" Altaïr snarled punching him in the face as Alima and Malik came out of the fortress. Swami released me and stumbled backwards.
"Thank you!" I muttered as Alima and Malik ran over to us.
"Ranya, are you alright?" Malik asked hugging me.
"Yes! I'm fine. I just really want my weapons back! You know I don't like attention!" I sighed.
Malik rolled his eyes.
"Well Al Mualim wants to see you and then you going to the doctors!" Malik smirked. I shoved him away from me.
"No! I am not going to the doctors! I am fine! I don't need to go!" I protested angrily as Malik smirked smugly.
"Either you go like a mature adult or I lift you. Your choice." He said shrugging. I glared at him.
"Watch my lips jerk face. There is no way in HELL that you are going to lift me and there is no way in HELL that I am going to see the doctor! So fuck you!" I retorted walking into the fortress.
"Ranya..." Malik said coming up behind me. I punched him hard in the stomach. "NO!" I said as Malik grunted and doubled over clutching his stomach.
"Just because you are my older cousin doesn't mean you can tell me what to do!" I smirked.
"Malik!" Alima cried rushing over to him and helping him up.
"He was asking for it Dumbo!" Altaïr teased smugly as he laughed and joined me at the stairs. Alima glared at him. I bit my lip to stifle my laughter.
"Ranya!" Kadar called as he ran over to me and gave me a huge hug. I smiled at his concern. "I take it I've been missed!" I smirked. Malik smacked himself in the face with his hand.
"Smug much?" He said.
I shot him the finger and with that we all made our way to Al Mualim's office. Malik knocked gently out if mere politeness.
"Enter." Al Mualim's voice boomed. We went in. Everything was the exact same. He was still not a happy-assassin-master-bunny. As soon as we walked in he looked up from the scrolls on his desk. "Ranya, where have you been for the past three weeks!?" Al Mualim asked.
"At Malik's house." I said.
"Why?" Al Mualim asked. I looked at Altaïr for help. He knew I couldn't speak about it. Altaïr stepped forward and whispered my reason in Al Mualim's ear. Al Mualim's face hardened as Altaïr stepped back. "I see. I will deal with Abba later but know I have a mission for you, Ranya and Alima,"
Yes finally!
"I want you to go and find information on Damon." Al Mualim said. My face lit up. Finally! Now I can have MY revenge! "Get geared up then go." Al Mualim said dismissing me and Alima.