Almost Heaven

By- An Unknown Foreign Beauty

Chapter 7- Betrayal

Jasmine was seething.

In fact, she had been seething since they dragged her home. Aladdin was mercilessly whisked away by the guards for no valid reason, and she had returned to the palace, escorted by the guards like a common criminal. The only difference - that she was not shackled or thrown in the dungeon. She asked Hakim for the explanation, but the only answer she found was silence.

"My lips are sealed." He nodded apologetically, "By the order of the grand vizier himself."

"He is not an enemy of the state or a spy," Jasmine cried, exasperated. She almost lost her temper and stomped her foot like the angry little girl she felt. "He's just an ordinary boy. A harmless boy who was showing me around Agrabah."

Hakim continued to say nothing, but there was a look in his eyes that betrayed the last thing she said.

Suddenly Jasmine realized with horror where this whole thing—her and Aladdin—was going. The head guard just found their princess kissing a common thief in the public.

"It was just…" Jasmine whispered, "I was not running away with him." She shook her head forcefully, trying to establish the truth behind her claim. But was there much truth actually? No. "He wasn't going to…We weren't going to…"

Hakim looked uncomfortable.

"I will go find Vizier Jafar and clear this up immediately," she said, stalking off.

But she did not need to go far, because her father, the sultan was already waiting for her at the door. "Jasmine. Are you alright?" The Sultan beamed, but his smile soon vanished when his eyes caught her dusty, dirty look. Her sash was askew; her turquoise pant was torn at the ankle.

"Did the boy do something bad to you?" His concerned gaze was running all over her torn clothing, and dusty feet. "You can tell me, dear. The bastard will be punished accordingly." The Sultan took his daughter's hand and led her to a seat beside him. There was so much concern in his eyes.

And anger.

He was suspecting Aladdin for kidnapping her.

Jasmine took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to approach him. Surely, he would be furious if he knew the truth. But if he didn't know the truth Aladdin would possibly be in the dungeons….hungry…beaten….or worse…..Dead.

"Baba," Forced by twin demons fear and furry, Jasmine grinded her teeth trying to rein her impatience. She needed to settle things before anyone could lay hand on her Aladdin.

Her Aladdin… It was strange how she already felt possessive of him. She had not changed or bathed since the night before. Her dark hair came out of her band. She was covered with sweat and dust from the market, and it dried on her body. Unconsciously she rubbed her fingers over her lips. Her lips still tasted like his. It was her fault that he was dragged into this mess.

She had to clear this mess before anything bad could happen to him.

Because she didn't know what she would do if she lost him.

"What's the wrong dearest?" The sultan again threw a concerned gaze to his daughter. Something was not right about her.

"Baba," Jasmine took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to tell the truth. She knew what she was about to tell would tarnish her reputation in front of her father. But Jasmine did not care anything any more.

"I was not kidnapped last night." She started slowly, ignoring the wide gaze of Hakim behind her, "I slipped out of the palace last night…."

"Jasmine!" Her father admonished. The rest of the guards stared at her with surprise. She knew her reputation would only grow worse from the moment she told them about the rest of the night, but she just simply care anymore. She took a deep breath and continued, "And that boy offered me to show around…. Actually, he saved me once in the market from being caught by one of the vendors."

The sultan blinked.

"And Jafar ordered the guards…" She began slowly, "the boy….arrested…."

"How dare you?" the sultan finally said, in something between the outraged yell of a sultan and the shriek of a father. "You left the palace unguarded?"

He knew Jasmine was a little wild but he just couldn't imagine his daughter could do something outrageous. He let go of her hand, and jumped to his feet, eyes burning. "With a boy? Do you know what that means?"

Jasmine had never seen her father so angry before. "Yes." Jasmine held her place, looking into her father's angry eyes.

"Jasmine." The Sultan still could not believe his daughter's action. Behind him, people kept looking. He looked back into Jasmine's eyes and saw the fierceness in there. Somehow her actions reminded him of his wife. He didn't know what made Jasmine disobey his order in the first place, but she had some reason for her action for sure.

"But, Baba," Jasmine insisted wildly, voicing the first logical argument that tumbled in her mind, "I want to see my kingdom. You have no idea about what is going on out there."

The Sultan looked at his daughter wordlessly for a moment. His initial anger was dissipating. Her argument was valid because she loved her people, and this realization flooded the Sultan's heart with affection. He moved to his daughter's side, and cupped her chin, "Jasmine, you have no idea how dangerous the world is out there. What Jafar did was right. You don't understand…"

Like not understanding how things work in the world outside these walls. Money. Poverty. Kissing a boy she liked…

"But…baba, the boy…" Jasmine said, finally unable to conceal her impatience anymore, "He did nothing wrong. He wasn't hurting me, he was helping me, and he deserves a reward, not to be locked up."

"Would you were right, my child, but you're wrong." Suddenly he paused for emphasis, a fond smile on his face, "It is not a question of right and wrong. It is the question of your reputation. You can't be seen wondering with some random street boy."

"Reputation," Jasmine repeated blankly. "Baba, I know what you mean, but you can't punish someone for something he did not." Her hands clutching helplessly at her pants, she looked at him with a desperate plea, while her mind made up all the possible scenarios of the brutal tortures Aladdin had to endure.

"Please," she said, looking at the guards behind her, then at her father. "Try to understand. It is not the question of my reputation. It is a question of an innocent life. If mama were alive would you let an innocent to be punished in this way? "

She just hit his weakest point.

And his daughter's stubbornness, her unwillingness to understand the reality pushed a quiet man like the sultan at the edge of his patience. His morale was weakening with every word she spoke, and he felt a sudden urge to silence her before his heart could overrule his logic.

"Stop arguing, Jasmine." Finally, he snapped, raising his voice at his daughter, feeling bad for chiding her in this way. "Stop speaking of the things you have no idea about. You have already broken the law of the kingdom. Don't lower my head by tarnishing your reputation in the public. A princess has nothing to do with a street boy. And he will be punished for laying his hand on you."

Jasmine felt as if he had slapped her, because he too was sounding like Jafar, like the rest of the world. She hoped at least her father would understand her, but it seemed like he did not anymore. Yet in some tiny part of her, she realized her father was only trying to keep himself from breaking. "But—" She whispered, almost inaudibly.

"I know the law, Jasmine." The sultan cut her off firmly, feeling guilty as he looked at his daughter's face, at the hurt look in her eyes. But his sense of duty made him speak the next words, "Now it is time to learn yours. You must learn the duties of a princess, letting go of your childish desires."

Each word her father spoke struck Jasmine's heart like a lash, making her cringe with shame and hurt that was almost past bearing. When he was finished, she stood there while a blessed, cold numbness came over her, until she felt nothing at all. Nothing struck her like this. Nothing, not even Jafar's slick remarks. When she finally came back to reality, she thrust opened the door and ran.

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Aladdin blinked his eyes open. He wished he did not, because the bright sunlight reflecting over the sea of yellow sands almost blinded him. The heat was almost unbearable, and his body was swaying with every movement whatever he was on. Abu's familiar chattering over his shoulder made him feel better. He blinked again and looked at his transport. He was on the camel. He looked around him, at the endless sea of yellow sand stretching as far as he could see. He was not in a dungeon, not in the palace, not even in Agrabah.

"Where am I?" He whispered to himself.

"In the world of trouble boy." The answer came from a man beside him, dressed in expensive red-black robes completed with a matching turban. Aladdin narrowed his eyes. The grand vizier. Well, Aladdin could recognize him anywhere. How could he forget the man who turned the streets of Agrabah a place of terror with his army of guards? He swallowed. Being caught by the grand vizier was not really a good sign.

"I…" He licked his chapped lips, "I really did not know she was the princess. I thought she was the handmaid."

"Really?" Aladdin's camel came to halt as the vizier signaled the rider to stop. He led his own camel near him and leaned in as if telling him a secret. "Really, boy?" There was an oily smile on his lips, "She told you that?"

Aladdin nodded, his cheeks burning. How could he miss this? That bracelet was too expensive for a servant girl to wear.

"Well, finally the truth comes out." Jafar grinned, amused. "Have you wondered why you are you here?"

Aladdin nodded. He did.

Jafar's smile only grew broader. "Foolish boy. You are not the first one."

Aladdin looked down, his cheeks still burning. There was a strange lump forming inside his throat. She had been playacting with him? About everything? Of course, he was not the first one. He might be one of the strings of lovers the princess had. She was obviously tired of the peacock princes and looked at him for a change. He thought back to their moments in his tower, the way she pressed her lips against his. That couldn't have been an act, could it? His face crumpled. There was a strange stinging sensation in his eyes. He blinked hard. No, he wouldn't cry.

But who was he kidding? Of course, it could have been an act. After all, pretending to be something you weren't was how he lived nearly every day of his life. Who was to say a princess couldn't do the same thing?

"Sorry to break your illusion, boy," Jafar said almost pitifully. "But she will never be yours. She will marry a prince."

Aladdin knew. He closed his eyes. The only thing he could remember Dalia….Jasmine's beautiful face looking at him, the way her lips tasted against his. Sometimes, sometimes he thought about a life with her. Now it seemed nothing but a distant dream. But was everything just an act?

He felt the keen eyes of the grand vizier upon him. He knew he was watching him. Aladdin blinked again. Unconsciously a drop of tear slipped from his eyes.

"Do you know the punishment for what you did?" Jafar suddenly broke the silence. Aladdin shook his head without looking at him. Everything was already getting too much to bear. Jafar simply ignored his disinterest. "Death." He continued, "It happened to whoever set his eyes on the princess before. What do they call you?" he asked, suddenly changing the subject.

"Aladdin," Aladdin answered. Nothing mattered to him anymore. The only feeling he could feel was betrayal.

"Aladdin," Jafar's expression softened. "Things happen to people like us. But when you can find a way to change your situation, you can win."

"Us?" Aladdin replied, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. The comparison seemed unlikely. The vizier was dripping in money and had the air of someone used to the creature comforts of life. It was hard to imagine he had ever had to fight for anything.

"Yes," The vizier nodded and moved something shiny in front of him. The necklace. Aladdin searched his pocket and found it empty. He opened his mouth once and closed again. The vizier just stole the necklace from his pocket right under his nose.

"I was once a street thief. Just like you." Jafar smiled, handing him back the necklace. Aladdin looked at the necklace, then back at the vizier, shocked. It was impossible. He just couldn't imagine this grand vizier running, stealing across the road like him. Jafar watched his shocked expression and smiled. "I know what you are thinking, Aladdin."

Aladdin stared. "How did you become a vizier?" He stammered. He just couldn't believe what was happening today. First, he found the handmaid was the princess, then the princess was playing with him, then the grand vizier was a street thief like him. What was actually happening? He pinched himself to check if he was actually dreaming.

The oily smile returned in the vizier's face, "Because I learned to steal something bigger. I stole a kingdom."

"What?" Aladdin's jaw hit the ground. He couldn't believe the grand vizier sharing some intimate secrets of his life with him. But why would he lie to him? He looked at the vizier's face, trying to study his expression. Something in there told him he was genuine. Watching Aladdin's curious expression, the vizier smiled, "Are you thinking why I am sharing my secret instead of executing you?"

That was his actual thought at this moment. He turned his head and saw the guards standing at a distance, waiting for the vizier's order.

"I can have your head for what you did." Jafar went on, "But you awfully remind me of my younger days. So I want to offer you an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" Aladdin's eyes widened. The grand vizier was offering him an opportunity. Opportunity…. The parrot over his shoulder repeated.

"Yes," As if reading his thoughts, the vizier smiled, "I can make you rich. Rich enough to impress the princess. But only in the exchange of a small favor."

Now that sounded like an opportunity. As a street rat, he learned not to turn down an opportunity. And every action would come with consequences. Sure he couldn't go back to Agrabah after what he did. But the vizier's offer seemed lucrative than losing his head.

He carefully tucked the necklace in his pocket and leaned in, locking his gaze into the vizier's intensively. "Tell me what I have to do?"

Slowly, very slowly a victorious smile laced the vizier's lips. He ran his gaze along with the young man before him and shook his head, "It is nothing hard, Aladdin. Do a simple work for me, and I will make you rich beyond imagination. Do you agree, boy?"

Aladdin looked away. The hot air was blowing in his face, creating a mirage at a distance. If he didn't help the vizier he would surely die, but if he helped him he might have wealth, money. His life would be changed. And with luck, he could…..

Maybe he could show the princess his worth. If not, he could simply live as a respectable man somewhere else. Also, help the people who were not lucky enough like him….

Where did his fate lay?

"Well," Finally, Aladdin tore his gaze away from the mirage, and looked at the vizier, "Tell me what to do."

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They rode through the night. The moon was shining overhead, and Aladdin's thoughts drifted to their magical meetings. What was she doing right now? Laughing about him? Mocking at his foolishness?

Or… somewhere in the corner of his mind, Aladdin wondered if she was yearning for him. Like he was doing now. He wanted to believe everything the grand vizier told about her was a lie. His fingers touched his lips unconsciously. How could that kiss be false?

Over his shoulder, Abu was chattering way. Aladdin nodded at his friend and opened his mouth to say something reassuring when, suddenly, Jafar pulled his camel to a stop. The animal grunted, and Aladdin quickly pulled back on his own reins, startling Abu and causing the camel they rode to let out its own protest.

They were standing near a peculiarly shaped dune of sand. Aladdin followed the vizier's gaze but saw nothing. He turned his gaze at the man beside him and tried to decipher the creepy words the vizier was now muttering under his breath. After a while, his muttering stopped, and he looked at Aladdin.

"Your life begins now." He grinned.

"What?" Aladdin was confused, but his eyes followed Jafar's outstretched arm and caught the sight of a cave now appearing from the dune, shaped like a lion's mouth.

"Go inside." Jafar smiled at him, eyes distant, as he was in a trance. "The cave of wonders."

"Wonders…" The parrot called Iago repeated again.

"Me?" Aladdin squeaked. The cave rumbled and tumbled with every step they took near it. Abu let out a screech and wrapped his tail around Aladdin's neck. The cave's mouth opened slowly, and a blast of warm air blew in his face. It didn't look much safe.

"Yes, boy." Jafar smiled a triumphant smile. No one, except this boy, could approach to this near this cave safely. "It is your chance." He went on, "Inside you will see all the riches of the world, but take nothing, except an old oil lamp. No matter how sorely you are tempted…" And stared at Aladdin for a moment.

"I will try my best not to be tempted." Aladdin nodded and stepped inside. The cave was lit by a strange orange glow emitting from the core, the stairs looked much like a tongue than a stair. He looked back. Jafar looked almost nonexistent from this point inside the cave.

Take nothing but the lamp. He muttered to himself. There were heaps of gold, diamonds, rubies lying at his feet, and the temptation kept growing and growing. He took a deep breath and pushed his hands deep inside his vest pocket. There was a voice whispering in the wind "One whose worth lies far within, a "diamond in the rough. Take nothing but the lamp."

Abu let out another frightened chatter and buried himself deeper into Aladdin's hood. But before he could offer him comfort, the sand beneath his feet began to give away, and with a scream, Aladdin and Abu were sucked deeper into the cave.

And they finally landed on something soft.

A carpet.

Sliding off and getting back to his feet, he cocked his head. The purple rug appeared to be floating about a foot off the ground. Aladdin leaned down, trying to see how it was suspended. Was it caught on something? But there was nothing. No matter where he looked, the carpet seemed suspended without anything. He shook his head. It was not possible.

The carpet moved its tassel excitedly, pointing at him and towards a rock. Aladdin's mouth fell open. It was alive.

And it was a rug.

Unless…. He had heard stories, but he had thought they were just that—stories. Apparently not.

"Abu.." he looked at the money over his shoulder, "Is it a magic carpet?"

The carpet began to nod, and Abu sank deeper into Aladdin's hood. Well, that was a surprise. But he waved back to the carpet anyways. "Ah, hello carpet."

Pleased, the carpet waved its tassel and hugged Aladdin tight. Aladdin marveled at the softness of the rug. It felt like a soft, warm, alive being hugging him. Something like Abu. "Good boy." He patted the carpet's tassel. Abu let out a jealous screech from his hood.

Aladdin decided to ignore him and asked the carpet about the lamp. The carpet nodded again and pointed its tassel to the heart of the cave.

Aladdin decided to follow the carpet's lead. Mounds gold, rubies, and jewels sparkled around them, Aladdin's finger itched to touch every time he laid his eyes on the untouchable jewels. He clamped his hands in fists inside his pockets and walked on. On his shoulder, Abu seemed to be in trance. His little monkey fingers were itching. And he did reach out for a huge sapphire on a nearby wall.

The cave rumbled.

"Abu," Aladdin warned, and grabbed Abu before touching the jewel. They were almost close. Aladdin's eyes drifted over the riches around them, but he was focused. If he wanted a life outside this cave, he needed to stay focused.

For himself.

For Jasmine.

The path seemed endless. He wondered if he could ever find what he was searching for. "Carpet," He asked absentmindedly, "We are looking for an old brass lamp…:

Aladdin didn't even need to finish his question. The carpet pointed one of its tassels toward the heart of the cave. Large pillar rose from the heart of the cave, forming a circle around another higher rock, floating in the air. In the middle there was a small brass lamp, shining over the topmost pillar.

That was not hard, Aladdin thought to himself, as he followed the carpet. He dropped Abu at the foot of the nearest pillar and rubbed his hands. He needed to climb these pillars.

"Keep your monkey hands to yourself." He told Abu, getting a nod in return. He sighed in relief and began climbing. Abu kept screeching angrily, but he had no choice. He needed to rein his temptation.

It was not so hard to reach the top, and when he did, his hand accidentally brushed over golds and jewels. Every time the cave rumbled in a warning. He carefully removed his hand from the gold and continued to climb.

And finally, he was on the top pillar. In one quick move, he snatched it up. "Ha-ha!" he cried. As he looked down to show Abu, Aladdin's eyes grew wide and he let out a frightened shout as he caught Abu grabbing at a bright red ruby.

But it was too late. Abu's little hand had closed around the ruby.

Instantly, the cave let out a monstrous growl. The whole room began to rumble and shake, splitting one of the cave walls wide open. A river of molten lava began to pour out, melting gold and jewels instantly. A moment later it barreled into the pillar that Aladdin was clinging to, knocking it over. A scream caught in his throat as Aladdin was sent flying down—straight toward the deadly lava.

Just in time, the carpet swooped up and caught him. Landing on the carpet's surface, Aladdin let out a triumphant shout as they began to swerve around falling pillars and waves of lava, heading toward the exit. His shout died when saw Abu sitting over a rock, nearly swollen by the molten lava. He stirred the carpet low, and grabbed Abu, as the cave behind them continued to collapse.

The carpet flew on. Swooping right and left, up and down, the carpet managed to avoid being hit and burnt, but the exit was closing with every minute they spent inside the cave. He caught a hazy outline of Jafar standing at the exit and caught the carpet's tussles.

Almost there.

Wait until I tell the princess about this… In the stories he heard from his mother, the heroine often ran into the victorious hero's arms.

Wait, till he became the hero of his own story.

Just then a rock fell from above, sending the carpet and Abu flying downwards. Aladdin frailed his arms and landed with a painful thud at the ledge of the entrance.

"Abu.." He looked down to find the monkey safely landing over rock nearby, still intact on the carpet, looking up he found Jafar waiting for him above.

The carpet was painfully trapped under a rock below. Suddenly the rock beneath his feet gave out and Aladdin slipped. Fortunately, he gripped the edge, trying to keep him on the ledge. Spotting him, Jafar ran closer.

"Give me the lamp." He hissed, his eyes were glowing with anticipation.

Aladdin could hardly keep himself steady, his arm muscles were straining. The lamp was hanging from his belt. It was too painful to reach for it.

"Can you give me a hand?" Aladdin shouted.

"First the lamp!" Jafar shouted back.

Aladdin shook his head. "First, your hand!"

"You must trust me, Aladdin," Jafar said. "Give me the lamp."

Underneath him, lava erupted with a sickening growl of a dying lion. Abu screeched and climbed over Aladdin's shoulder, wrapping his tail tightly around his neck. Aladdin looked below. The carpet was still trapped under a rock, and his legs were swinging over a thousand feet of molten lava.

It was hot, it was hard to breathe with every passing second. Besides, it was the lamp that he was after. He promised the vizier. He couldn't hold on any longer. He had no choice left. So what did it matter if he gave it to him now? If he waited, he might fall to his death. Lifting the lamp, he offered it up to Jafar. "Now, your hand!"

"How about my foot?" Jafar answered. With lightning-quick speed, Jafar snatched the lamp and slipped it into the satchel he had over his shoulder. Then he slammed his foot down on Aladdin's hand. As Aladdin screamed in pain, Jafar turned and began to head back out of the cave, leaving Aladdin dangling off the ledge.

"Oh no!" Aladdin screamed. He wanted to hit himself. How could he not see this? The vizier was a con artist before he was the sultan's advisor. Of course, he would trick him, played him a fool!

Now he was gone with the lamp, leaving Aladdin waiting for a fiery death.

He never imagined dying like this. He imagined being thrown in the dungeons, but not death. Memories began flooding his mind- his mother, his father….Jasmine.

Did she really play with him? Was everything the vizier told about was true?

But after now he didn't believe anything the vizier said.

Possibly she was just as desperate as he was. Suddenly he felt guilty for not saying goodbye to her.

But did it really matter anymore? He was going to die anyway.

Just then, the cave gave one last terrible roar, and a huge tremor sent Aladdin flying backward.

Jafar looked back as the cave of wonders began to disappear into the sand dune.

Inside Aladdin tumbled back into the cavern, falling into the darkness and lava, with no way out, no treasure—and no lamp.

Done with this giant chapter. Sorry, it reads exactly like the movie novelization, but I wanted to stay true in this part. Don't worry, it will be different from now on. I will explore more into the Genie lore and other Arabian folktales.

Reviews, faves, and follows will be awesome. I do love hearing from you, as well as suggestions if you have any.