I think you all will adore me as I have the next chapter available!
This chapter was slightly difficult to write, as I wasn't sure how to portray a certain character's...issue. Anyways, I don't want to keep you all reading here!
I'd love to hear your thoughts/opinions. I TRULY love the reviews. You all keep me motivated.
I'm only a man with a candle to guide me,
I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me.
A monster, a monster,
I've turned into a monster,
A monster, a monster,
And it keeps getting stronger.
The sound of seagulls left Raia shuddering under the blankets as she stared out the porthole. The sun was barely setting as their ship rolled into Constantinople's main harbor.
Sleep had not come throughout the night. Instead, nightmares flashed each and every time she closed her eyes; nightmares of Jenna suffering a horrible fate at the hands of her father. She could almost hear her screams, almost feel her agony. Something HAD happened. Raia didn't believe that she would be experiencing such vivid thoughts and dreams if it was nothing.
A part of her thought that perhaps it was just a deep rooted fear; that she lost her mother, a woman she couldn't remember, and so she feared losing the woman who stepped in and helped raise her, other than her aunt and uncle.
Shaking her head, Raia squinted her eyes, trying to see through the early morning fog that settled over the harbor. Her eyes hurt. Her head hurt. Her body hurt. Standing up, she stretched, the first time since she first sat down, and looked at the door, expecting Jad to walk through.
She had yet to really think about what happened last night. Each time her mind wanted to wonder to him, she forced herself to just watch the waves instead. Last night should not have happened and depending on what happens today; Raia couldn't help but fear what would happen this evening. Would he give her time if her father didn't show up? Would he just expect her to climb into bed the moment he walked through the door to announce that her father had declared her dead to him?
And if her father did show up, would she be expected to marry the moment he could set it up? Would they believe her that she was untouched, a virgin?
The thought of being sent off to the nunnery was looking more appealing as the moon faded into the horizon and the sun began to rise.
The sound of the door opening removed her thoughts as she turned in Jad's direction. He hadn't returned all night and so expecting him this early was truly a surprise.
"I see you're up already."
"I never went to bed."
Raia watched a golden brow arch as his face fell into one of concern.
"You didn't sleep?"
She shook her head, her braid flipping across her back as she did.
"I couldn't sleep."
He could only seem to nod as Raia watched him step further into the room and head towards the wash basin. "Myself and some of my men will be heading to your father's estate once Kasim gets back with the horses."
Raia lifted a confused brow, "You're going directly to my father's estate? I thought you expected to meet him here at the docks."
There was no reply as Raia heard water splash. She gave him a good solid minute before he came back from around the screen. "I don't wish to stay in this port for very long. I have another engagement I need to make within the next full moon. It will be best if I just check the house. I should be gone no more than an hour or so."
Raia felt her heart race as Jad pulled a key from around his neck and moved towards his chest that Raia had witnessed weeks ago, full of weapons. Without a hitch, he removed multiple daggers and closed the chest again, locking it.
"Are you planning on killing my father?"
His chuckle was welcomed, though Raia knew she would never admit such a thought out loud.
"No, dear Raia. I believe in protecting myself and my men."
He moved towards the door but stopped as he opened it, "Say your prayers, Raia. Pray that the god you believe in finds favor in you today."
Raia turned her back on Jed, refusing to answer, and looked out the porthole. Her heart and mind racing as the door closed with a thud.
"Do you think Aseel has left, Master Jad?"
Jad mounted his horse as Kasim eyed the docks. Jad paid little attention to Kasim as they left the main area and moved beyond to the first part of the city.
"I think he deserted her. He has never come across as the type of man to keep his vows."
Kasim nodded as he looked ahead, "You want her."
"She's a beautiful woman."
Kasim looked back towards the rest of the crew as he pulled his horse closer to Jads', " It's not just that. You don't want Aseel to marry her off to someone else."
Jad lifted a brow, "And when did you become such a philosopher, Kasim?"
Watching his dark friend shrug his shoulders, Kasim seemed to smile, " I have spent some time with her and watched her. You have always had my respect, Jasper."
Jad tensed slightly at the name, "I asked that name not be used."
He watched Kasim bow his head lightly, "I think if you told her who were-who you were related too. What we are actually doing, I think she would have received you differently; of course, not taking into account the whole kidnapping aspect and the threat of becoming a courtesan."
"I am a bounty hunter. An assassin. She doesn't need to know anything about my family. La Fin."
There was no further discussion as the only noise heard throughout the rest of the journey was the hooves hitting the dirt and the awakening of the city.
"That smell."
Jad could only nod as Farooq dismounted and pushed open the main gate to Aseel's estate.
Jad moved his horse to a low hanging branch and wrapped his ties around it.
"Check the house. If you find anything of importance, you are free to keep it."
His crew nodded as each went off in various directions.
"Farooq, question the neighbor servants and find out when Aseel left. Kasim, I want to talk to the Imam. Find him and bring him to me."
Both men bowed their heads lightly and took off in their rightful directions.
"Master Jad!"
Hearing a crew member yell, Jad moved quickly towards the gardens where he noticed at least five crew members had gathered.
"What is it, Henry?"
The group of men stepped out of the way as Jed stepped forward. His eyes drawn to the ground and he felt his heart drop as he envisioned Raia's face. How was he going to bring this to her? This would break her-possibly beyond repair.
"Master, I brought Imam Hassan Al-Mudhlim."
Jad stood in the middle of the courtyard as his men continued back and forth from Aseel's estate, bringing whatever he had left behind. Kasim's not so gentle shove had Al-Mudhlim stumbling forward, his robes forcing him to catch himself multiple times.
"Ahh, Al-Mudhlim. As-Salaam Allikum."
He watched the older man swallow; his throat expanding with the force. Imagining Raia in this man's bed had Jad flick his hand lightly over his sword. All in due time, perhaps.
" Wallikum Salaam, to what..to what do I owe such a pleasure?"
Jad's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword and noticed Al-Mudhlim's eyes follow the movement.
"Aseel. When did he part?"
The older man stuttered for a few moments before Jad approached him and stood before him, his taller frame making the older man step back.
"When did he part?"
"About three days ago- he headed north. He broke my contract with his daughter, stating she was dead, that you killed her. He said he needed to go to her last relatives and let them know."
Jad cursed as he moved away from the older man and paced.
"Dar-Al Harb? What would you like to do?"
Jad stopped as Kasim addressed him. He flicked his eyes towards Al-Mudhilm and back towards the garden.
"Did you not know about this? Did you not smell the stink?"
Al-Mudhlim looked past him and towards the garden as well. His dark eyes moving back and forth, "She was not my servant. I have no concern for her. "
Jad pulled his sword from its sheath, his hand gripping the hilt so hard his knuckles turned red,bringing the sword up to eye level with Al-Mudhlim, Jad had a hard time not striking him down, "Get out of my sight, old man- before I send you to your god before you desire."
Al-Mudhilm's eyes widened as he scrambled back, tripping over his feet as he moved as quickly as he could from the estate.
"Jad?"
Jad turned slightly, his eyes flickering to the garden for the last time, "Bring the body."
Raia couldn't help but smile as Nimir pretended to be a bird as he sailed across the deck, his arms stretched out as he called out with similar sounds as the seagulls above him.
Hearing horses, Raia looked out over the deck and breathed deeply when a carriage passed by on the deck.
Hearing Nimir cry out in pain, Raia turned quickly and ran to the fallen child.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Fell down."
Raia smiled as she lifted him up. Wrapping her arms around him, she soothed softly in his ear as she realized that this may be the last time she heard his laugh; the last time she ran across the deck chasing him and wrapping him up in her arms. Holding him just a little bit tighter, Raia felt the tears threaten her eyes once again. She didn't want to let him go. She couldn't. What would become of him in the orphanage? He will be left alone.
"Raia?"
Raia gasped at the intrusion in her thoughts, turning, she eyed Jad as he stood before her. His eyes seemed sad for the first time she had met him.
"Farooq is going to take Nimir for right now. You will see him again this evening."
Raia shook her head as she held on for a few more moments. She didn't want to hear it; she couldn't hear.
"Farooq, take Nimir."
Raia gasped when Farooq reached roughly for the child and Raia released him to not cause injury. "I'll see you soon, Nimir. I promise."
When Nimir smiled at her, Raia felt a small ounce of peace and waved until he was taken down below.
"Raia, I need you to see something."
Swallowing, Raia nodded as she followed Jad; her stomach curling with each step.
"Jad, just tell me."
Raia stopped for a moment when Jad stepped onto the loading dock and turned towards her, "Follow me."
Stepping off the ship brought a light moment of hope for her future, especially as she stepped foot on solid ground.
"Is my father truly here?"
When Jad stopped and turned towards her, his head shaking, Raia felt her heart drop once again. Dread began from her core and spread throughout as her body began to shake.
"Raia, I need you to listen to me, please."
Hearing the sound of horses, Raia finally looked up and saw Kasim, his dark complexion seeming to shine in the rising sunlight. The dark pavement caught her attention when there was a large white blanket upon it; its shape similar to that of a person.
Raia swallowed hard. God, no.
"Jad..Jad..who.." Raia choked back a sob as she brought a shaky hand to her face, "who is that?"
Feeling Jad's hand on the small of her back, she tore her eyes away from the ground and up into his sky blue eyes. For the first time since she met him, there was kindness, a true deep kindness present. His eyes than became sad as he squeezed her clothing, his breath light on her face as he brought his forehead against her own.
His voice was so low, Raia strained to hear him as he spoke, "Forgive me, Raia. I beg of you."
"Who is it?"
Raia knew her voice was demanding but she refused to show propriety at this moment.
Jad lifted his head and nodded towards Kasim, whose own face was pulled tight.
Raia held her breath as Kasim bent down and pulled the cloth away from the face.
For a moment, there was silence-as if even the seagulls and sea froze waiting for the reveal. Raia stepped forward, her legs trembling and barely holding her up. She feared the only reason she was still standing was because of Jad's grip on her lower back. Then, without thought, Raia heard a heart wrenching scream pierce the air and before her world went black she realized that the scream came from her own lips.
"Shhh, Raia. I'm sorry."
Raia gripped Jad as he rocked her back and forth, wrapping one of his blankets around her small form. Showing her Jenna's beaten and broken body this morning was not something he wanted to do, but she needed to know the kind of man her father was; what he was capable of, what he did.
Jad felt his anger boil over as he realized he never expected to care for Aseel's daughter in such a way. His hand continued to sooth her sobs as he rocked her gently. She had continued to cry out even as she passed out-her body reaching out for an unknown touch. How could Aseel do such a thing to his daughter? What kind of man discarded his own flesh and blood?
The longer he thought on it, the angrier he became. The more he wanted to hunt the man down and drag his body back to Raia and drop him at her feet-wanting to place whatever punishment she decided to inflict on the man.
He had ordered Jenna's body to be brought on board and instructed to set sail. He knew that he would offer Raia her chance to say goodbye to her handmaid and give her a funeral worthy of what she dedicated her life too.
"What now?"
Jad's thoughts were interrupted as Raia looked up from his lap. Their eyes connected and Jad felt his heart stop at her red rimmed eyes; her defeated look.
Her voice was so broken when she spoke, Jad wasn't sure he was speaking to the same woman as before, "So when do I become your whore?"
Jad closed his eyes, his head shaking. "Raia, not now."
"I didn't get to say goodbye to Nimir." Her voice cracked as he saw more tears flood her eyes.
Jad shook his head, "He's up on deck with Farooq."
He felt her head nod against his chest. She had yet to move, her body still trembling with every other breath she took. They had been laying like this for the past two hours once Jad had carried her back to his quarters.
He waited a few moments before he decided to look back down at the woman in his arms and noticed she had finally fallen asleep.
Jad shifted slightly as he lifted Raia and let her crawl under the blankets. He pulled an extra blanket over her as the wind seemed to seep through the shipboards.
Brushing a few stray hands away from her face, Jad stood up straight and moved out of the cabin. Coming up the stairs he met Kasim, as his right hand man stood waiting.
"I want him found, Kasim."
Kasim crossed his arms over his chest, "Dead or alive?"
"Drag him to me kicking and screaming."
Kasim nodded as Jad stared out into the sea. "Our next stop, take two men with you that you believe will be best and hunt that bastard down."
Kasim lifted an eyebrow, "Do you think he'll be in Italia?"
Jad nodded as he gripped the ledge, "He's heading to England. I want him found before that."
Kasim bowed slightly as Jad's grip tightened, his muscles straining as he leaned forward and back, his body wound tightly.
"Find him, Kasim. Find that bastard and bring him to me."
-LAla
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