Chapter 15: Truths and Lies
As we sped across the desert, my mind drifted back toward the conversation I had heard Al and Jasmine having. I felt as though she wished it was her I was confiding in and not her father, and I didn't want to hurt her, but I knew she'd be upset. The Sultan would too, but I could handle his reaction better than hers. And I could tell the Sultan then it would be easier to tell her and Genie.
Genie. I felt a bit guilty for running off and not telling him where I was going, but I knew Jasmine would explain. He would probably feel left out too, and I wasn't looking forward to telling my whole story again. I glanced over at Iago who sat on Al's shoulder pointing out where to turn and how far it would be to get to the location he had found.
I wasn't sure I wanted Iago to hear my story either for that matter. Even though Al had been confident that it would help the parrot talk about his own troubles...I was still hesitant. I knew the Sultan worried about me and to me he was like a father or a grandfather so telling him was my first step to telling Jasmine. Iago however, well I had just met it. I trusted him and he had seemed sincere about leaving Jafar, but I wasn't sure that not being friends with him for a while before I told my entire life story was the correct move.
What if he realized how crazy I was? How the sight of a circus tent sent chills down my spine and made me freeze and how I scrutinized everyone I met looking for signs of trouble. Wasn't that nutty behavior? He'd probably run and not want to be my friend. Why would he want to be a kid's friend anyway? And that brought my thoughts back to Genie. He already knew about being called a jinx, as did everyone but Iago, but none of them knew how animalistic I had been and sometimes still felt like.
"Rick, you okay?" Al asked, sliding back towards them as the Sultan smiled down at the grove of trees I hadn't noticed we were flying over.
"Just, um, mentally preparing." I muttered and he sighed.
"I'll help you. you don't have to do it alone."
"I know, but it's still something I don't want to talk about. I was...crazy."
"Hey." Al said firmly and took my shoulders. "You were drove into it, Rick. Self-defense, remember? You're not crazy. And you don't act like that anymore."
"Yeah, but I still feel it. especially when I meet knew people."
Al hugged me tightly and I felt safe from the world in that gesture. I hoped he'd always keep me safe.
"It's okay, Alaric. I've got you. Always."
"C'mon my boy, show me what this thing can really do!" The Sultan said excitedly and turned toward us. Al slid back up front and the Sultan looked from me to Al. "Is everything all right?"
"Of course, your highness." Al answered for me and I nodded.
He smiled and turned back around.
I yelped as Carpet took a hard dive down into the ravine below us and Iago landed on my chest from tumbling back.
Carpet sped up and then leveled out so that we were gliding across the top of a river, heading for the waterfall ahead. Water splashed us on both sides and I laughed, trying to shield Iago who didn't look too happy about getting sprayed.
"Hippopotamus!" I cried out as it lifted his head, mouth opening wide. Carpet sped us past it and I sighed with relief. "Did you see how big it's mouth was?! It looked ready to eat us!"
The Sultan chuckled in delight and Al snorted.
"That's the spot! On top of the waterfall!" Iago shouted over the sound of the rushing water and Carpet turned us in the right direction, flying upward.
"I'm losing my feathers here!" The parrot complained loudly, hiding against my chest in an effort to keep from flying off of Carpet all together.
"You're lucky you haven't lost more than that." The Sultan said crossly and Iago grimaced.
Carpet came to an abrupt stop, sending me, iago, and the Sutlan flying forward. The Sultan landed against some tree roots, while I landed in the bushes nearby.
Sputtering leaves and twigs, I emerged, smiling at the Sultan who was giggling at the entire thing. At least he wasn't hurt.
"Oh, what fun!" He laughed and Al sat him upright and helped him down. Iago groaned, having been squished underneath him and I went over to him.
"You okay?"
"Rug needs to learn how to stop properly." He grumbled and accepted the help I was offering to get him up.
"Iago, I have to hand it to you." Al said, coming over to us. "This is a nice place."
The parrot only shrugged.
We ate our picnic lunch in silence, sitting under the trees. As it grew closer to time to talk, I grew less hungry. The Sultan was already finished and was walking down toward the river.
"Eat your sandwich, Rick." Al prompted and I looked at him over my shoulder. He was looking at me knowingly. "You'll be hungry later." It was his way of telling me that I was worrying over nothing and that after I told the Sultan, my stomach wouldn't be twisting so badly.
"Okay." I muttered and finished off my sandwich, trying to ignore Iago looking at us in confusion.
I looked over at the Sultan and Al nudged me. "Help me clean up and then we'll talk to him, okay?"
We packed everything back up and Al jerked his head at Iago. "Come on, Iago. You too."
"Where are we going? And what's wrong with the kid? Looks like he ate a bug."
"He's just a little nervous." Al answered before I could scowl at the parrot and I ended up looking away.
Iago didn't say anything else sensing something was going on.
Al gave me a push. "Go ahead."
Sighing, I trudged down to the edge of the water.
The Sultan was tossing rocks into the water, trying to skip them. He noticed me and smiled.
"You've been very quiet, Alaric. Are you feeling all right?" He asked kindly and I nodded.
"I feel fine or at least I will."
He looked at me to continue. "I'm sorry for not telling you about Iago. I know I told you last night, but I just wanted to say it again."
He nodded. "But that's not what has you so worried."
"No."
The Sultan sat down on a large rock nearby and patted the space next to him.
"Then come talk to me."
I sat down and slowly but surely the words came out.
And so I told him my story. Every detail including everything before the Freak Show found me. When I had trouble, Al was there, giving me support by putting his hand on my shoulder to let me know I was safe. As I was telling my story, it was as if I was reliving it, flinching when I spoke about the abuse and how animalistic I had been. Al's supporting hand, kept me steady. Iago was listening intently, but he never looked like he was pitying me. Actually, it looked like he was getting a better understanding of me and I'm sure my words to him in the palace earlier today made sense.
"So, I lived on my own for six months before Al found me in the Marketplace and you know the rest." I ended, looking up at him again.
His expression was grave for a moment and then he smiled. "Thank you for sharing with me, Alaric. I know it was hard for you."
"So, you don't think I'm too wild?" I prompted with a small smile of my own. He chuckled.
"We're all a little wild inside, my boy." He winked at me. "But you certainly had every right to be."
Al ruffled my hair and I picked up a rock, skipping it across the water.
The Sultan turned to me. "How did you do that?" I smiled and lifted another rock to show him. Al had wandered off toward Iago who was sitting back a bit.
Just as I was about to show him how a few horse riders burst through the trees near us. The horses were black and evil looking, eyes glowing a sickening red. They were galloping toward us, the riders had swords strapped to their sides and had their faces hidden beneath dark cloaks and hats.
"Aladdin!" I yelped grabbing the Sultan's arm and tugging him after me as the riders almost landed on us.
"Rick! Sultan!" I heard my brother call. The riders were gaining on us and I had to do something quick. As I turned to push the Sultan to safety, I felt a hard knock to the forehead as a booted foot of one of the riders kicked me and I fell back, rolling in the dirt. I groaned and started coughing as dust went into my lungs. I lifted my head, my eyes blurry for a moment from dirt and the color red. I wiped at my stinging eyes and found blood on my hand from a cut on my forehead that was still bleeding heavily.
A familiar squatty man was laughing manically nearby, his horse rearing up as he laughed, and I scowled.
"Abis Mal?!"
How had he gotten capable followers?
"Aladdin!" The Sultan cried and I turned my head to see the poor man being lifted off the ground by one of the riders. He flailed in the air, struggling to get away. "Stop!"
"No!" I got to my feet, determined to run after the Sultan. I spotted Al a few feet away and ran toward him. "Al!"
He looked up at me and his eyes widened. "Alaric!"
I turned in time to be grabbed by my vest and lifted off my feet by one of the riders.
"Hey, let go ugly!" I demanded, punching at my enemy. "Let go!" The rider ignored me, surprisingly steel gripped and tossed me across the horse so that I couldn't get down. "Al!" I yelped as the rider took off after Abis Mal who was leading the way to the falls. What were they going to do jump to their deaths with me and the Sultan as extra baggage?
I twisted in my captor's grip, staring up at the hooded figure angrily. "Hey, you nut, there's a waterfall!" I turned back around and shut my eyes expecting us to go careening over the edge. There was a strange noise and I opened an eye to see we were flying!
"Huh?" I glanced at the horses around me and saw that hey had all sprouted wings. "Wait a second! That grubby thief doesn't know magic! Who are you guys?" I demanded of my captor who actually looked down at me for a second, eyes narrowed.
I felt a hand grab my vest and haul me off the rider's horse. I was dropped onto Carpet who sped along to get closer to the Sultan.
"Aladdin!" Al smiled at me as I hugged him.
"Are you okay?" He said, peering closely at my head.
"It's just a cut. I'll be fine."
My brother nodded and turned, nabbing the Sultan next. We took off higher into the sky.
"Get the Sultan and that stupid kid!" Abis cried to his men and I scowled.
"You're stupid!" I shouted back and my brother rolled his eyes. The Sultan chuckled and then looked gravely at our pursuers.
"How that tub of lard get someone with magic on his side?"
I dunno. I'm sure Iago had something to do with it."
"What?"
"You were wrong about him, Rick. The one time you were wrong." Al muttered and I frowned.
"But-"
"He had a guilty expression, Alaric! He knew what he was leading us into! That's why he volunteered this spot."
"Oh." I said quietly, starting to feel uneasy. Had I lost my ability to read people? But Iago had seemed so sincere... Maybe that was the trick.
Al noticed my expression of unease and he started to speak up, but the Sultan gave a cry. Up ahead was a quick rising whirlpool of water that had come out of nowhere and Carpet couldn't get past fast enough. The water twister bumped the magic carpet and the Sultan tumbled off before I could catch him. I was only saved by grabbing my brother's vest.
"Aladdin!" He cried disappearing into the water.
"Oh no!"
Al turned around and frowned. "We have to go back, Carpet!"
The rug spun us around and we went toward the twister. We found the Sultan and both Al and I leaned in to get a hold of him, but the water sucked us in and off of Carpet and we were then inside the swirling water. We spun for a while before it spit us out into the chilly river below.
Sputtering, I came back up and looked for Al. I spotted him ahead of me in the rushing water.
"Al!" I called and started toward him, the water carrying me toward the edge of the waterfall.
"Rick!" He cried and grabbed a rock to keep from going over closer to the edge of the waterfall. The rushing water made me go under several times as I bobbled toward him and I came up coughing water each time. He reached a hand toward me as I neared but something grabbed the back of my vest and hauled me up out of the water before our fingers touched.
"Aladdin!" I sputtered, dangling down above the river. My brother scowled before Abis Mal neared him and kicked him in the face, knocking him off the rock with a maniacal laugh.
"Hey!" I hollered at him before looking over and freezing as Al went over the edge of the waterfall. "No, Al!"
The rider holding me surged forward and Abis followed grinning stupidly.
"Yes!" He shouted in glee and I scowled at him before looking down the waterfall, worriedly. He'd survive wouldn't he? But then I saw the rocks down below and shuddered.
"Wha-" Abis stated and to my surprise, the rider still dangling me blasted magic down at my brother. "What are you doing?!" He cried in protest as the magic swarmed my unconscious brother and Al was set gently in the leveled-out bottom of the falls, bobbling in the water as it carried him away.
The rider turned away and flew the horse back to the shore, where I spotted the Sultan tied up near a tree, the other riders guarding him.
"Are you nuts!?" Abis Mal complained, hopping off his horse. "You saved him!"
I was dropped unceremoniously onto the hard ground by the silent rider and scowled at the pair of them.
The fat thief ran toward the rider, sword drawn. "He was this close to being a greasy little smear on the rocks!"
The rider burst into flames and I yelped, scurrying back as he and the other riders merged together a new form took their place. Someone I thought had been long gone.
Jafar grabbed Abis by his tunic and hauled him up from the ground.
"Listen, you little-" He began before regaining his cool and dropping the pudgy thief. "I mean my dear Abis Mal. If you will remember the plan. It is not yet time for the boy to meet his end."
"Um...I knew that."
"Soon our revenge will be complete, and you shall have your third wish."
Now it made sense. The magic wasn't Abis it was Jafar.
"Oh, boy, the little wishy." He said like a gleeful toddler.
"You big moron! You released Jafar!?" I shouted at the thief, startling them both. "How stupid are you?!"
The sorcerer merely smiled at me. "Still as big mouthed as ever I see."
"Still as ugly as before I see." I retorted and his eyes flashed with rage briefly. "So you managed to get stupid to work for you? I bet you're the reason he's only got one wish left." I glared at Abis Mal as Jafar turned around. "He probably tricked you out of the other two because you're such an ignoramus."
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
"Did not, you little brat!" He screeched and stomped away from me.
Jafar had his back to me and with still Abis grumbling and occupied, I turned to make my escape.
Abis turned as I jumped into the bushes nearby.
"Jafar, he's getting away!"
I ran through the trees dodging here and there and hoping to get as far as possible. As I made my next jump I felt something wrap around my middle and I was forced backward.
Abis Mal tumbled out of the bushes, huffing and puffing. "You...little...runt." He breathed out and I blew him a raspberry.
I was turned around to face my captor and I grimaced at Jafar.
"Such a clever little street rat." The sorcerer said, eyeing me warily. "It's too bad I have to kill you." He zapped me over to the Sultan before I could think about running away again and I was tied up next to him.
The Sultan smiled at me and I smiled back reassuringly. I think he was glad to have company even if I couldn't exactly help.
"And you, Iago," Jafar grinned callously, turning toward the parrot I hadn't noticed before. How long had he been there? Iago flinched as the sorcerer-turned-genie faced him. "You have done well."
"Please," Iago muttered, looking far away from me, his head turned shamefully. "Don't mention it." I knew then that I had been right about the parrot all along. Jafar had obviously coerced him, otherwise he would have been mocking me and the Sultan, made evil little faces at us like last time. I didn't say anything, but I felt better knowing that somewhere inside Iago really had turned against the mad, power hungry genie. Only he was too afraid to face him alone and for that I couldn't blame him.
With a wave of his hand, Jafar made us all disappear, and I blacked out.
I woke up to someone talking softly and rolled my head slowly. My head ached and I groaned at the angry pulsing. The talking stopped.
"Alaric?" A voice asked softly. "Are you all right?"
"Jasmine?" I turned toward the sound of her voice and opened my eyes. She was manacled to the wall, eyes fierce and full of anger. I didn't have to ask why. I didn't recognize the room we were in, but I had a feeling it was one of Jafar's secret hidey-holes. Apparently, he had many.
Her eyes softened as my eyes landed on her and she looked at me sympathetically.
"Are you all right?"
"Just a headache. Did he hurt you? Are you all right?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Tell me and I'll kick him good."
She smiled at me. "No, just threats." Her smile faded. "What happened to Aladdin?"
"He went over a waterfall, but Jafar saved him. He has plans for Al to come home I'm sure." I responded and she nodded.
The Sultan sighed. "That fiend will ruin Agrabah."
"You can say that again." I muttered and then something screeched.
"Abu?"
The monkey was strapped to the wall as well, his expression worried. I glanced around and found Genie inside a giant glass ball. He looked all cramped inside.
"Genie, you okay?"
"Little stuck, shorty, but I'm okay." He managed to get out.
Suddenly the door to the room we were in opened.
Jafar strode in, Abis following after him gripping Carpet.
"Jafar, you fiend!" The Sultan raged. "I should have known that this was your treachery."
"But I couldn't have done it without Iago." The genie purred, smiling at the parrot who had been so quiet I hadn't noticed him on the little perch on the wall.
The parrot flinched as if someone struck him. "Eh, I-I played a minor role really." He said nervously, casting me a look. I gave him a small smile to say it's okay and he tilted his head at me before smiling back. He understood I believed him and I think it gave him relief from guilt.
"Oh, please." I said to Jafar, rolling my eyes. "We all know you manipulated him into doing it. He was obviously tired of your whining and that's why he left you!" In seconds, a magical red glow engulfed me and then came the magic.
The pain that wracked my body was worse than anything I had ever felt before. I could hear Jasmine and the Sultan both shouting at Jafar to let me go and my body jolted like I was being shocked all over.
When the pain faded, I was hanging tiredly from my manacles, the weight of my body making my wrists ache and the metal chafe my wrists as I dangled above the floor unable to support myself even somewhat. Sweat drenched my face and body from trying not to scream from the pain.
"That'll teach you to be quiet." He hissed at me and I managed to glare at him. I couldn't get a breath of air good enough to respond. Genie was looking at me worriedly and I made myself smile at him, but he didn't buy it for a second. Iago was staring at me, torn between pretending to be on Jafar's side or not.
"Jafar!" Abis shouted and I tore my eyes away from the parrot. Carpet was struggling to get away. "This rug won't cooperate!" Carpet got away and started for the ceiling. Jafar zapped him with a roll of his eyes. Carpet was pulled back down and chained to the wall.
"Oh, when Aladdin returns…" The Sultan threatened.
"I think we have ample time to prepare for his arrival." Jafar said as he patted the ruler on the head as he snatched his turban.
"What do you mean?" I asked him loudly and he turned to me with a dark chuckle.
"Not to worry little street rat your end will come soon enough." I glared at him, but fear crept into my heart. What was he going to do to Al? Iago met my gaze and winced again. I heard a ripping sound and looked over to see Jafar slashing at the Sultan's turban with a dagger.
"Hey, that was a nice hat!" Abis whined. "I could've worn that hat." I rolled my eyes at the big baby.
"We need this hat for our plan."
"Couldn't we use a different hat for the plan?" He pouted.
"Oh, no." Jafar spoke to Abis as if he were a baby, which is what I thought he was being so whiny and all. "The Sultan's turban and this dagger are exactly what we need to seal Aladdin's doom." I glared at Jafar as he disappeared with the turban and the dagger.
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