A small, thin girl made her way through the streets of Agrabah. The girl, named Xania, looked to be around fifteen, had medium length black hair and hazel eyes. She noticed some men walking into a building with a door that had the eerie look of a skull. Noticing how empty her stomach was, she followed a man into the building.
There were many men sitting around on the floor, or on tables eating, drinking, and talking. A man walked up to another man behind a table, and shouted, "Pheasant sandwich!"
The man, apparently a cook, quickly created a sandwich, and handed it to the second man. Xania approached the cook, and gave the same command. He looked at her strangely, but tossed her a sandwich and drink. After thanking him, Xania found a seat in the corner so she could think things through.
Now, if she was going to find out if her brother was living in Agrabah, then she would have to hurry. The trading caravan she was traveling with were only staying here for a few days. It had been so long since she had last seen her brother; would she even recognize him? She had been six when father had sent Mozenrath away to work under Desdain, her brother being around eleven at the time. She had been twelve when she and her mother had left father, and she was sixteen now. That would make Mozenrath in his twenties - if he was still alive.
"Only thieves allowed in the Skull and Dagger!" A large man standing in front of Xania bellowed.
She frowned. "Says who?"
"Says me. Now get out before I throw you out, like I did 'Butterfingers' over there."
Xania looked towards the man he had called 'Butterfingers.' He was a scrawny man, who was scrambling to get out if the thieves' quarters.
"I will leave if you answer one question."
"No questions, street-mouse. Get out now." The large man grabbed her, and threw her out of the building. She landed with a thump on the sandy ground.
"Lousy jackal!" Xania shouted. Her curses were only met with laughter from inside the building.
"Are you okay?" A masculine voice asked.
Xania looked up to see a tall young man standing in front of her.
"That's Skull and Dagger," the man explained, "Don't you know that's a den of thieves?"
"I do now."
"You must be new around here. You need to be more careful. What made you come to Agrabah?"
"I came to find my brother," Xania stated as she stood up.
"Well, I'm Aladdin," said the young man. "I'll help you find your brother. What's his name?"
"Mozenrath."
**********
"But...my lord...just a few more days. I know I can aid you..."
Mozenrath sent a hurling blast of bluish black energy towards the young woman. She ducked, just barely avoiding it.
"Your puny magic tricks are of no use to me," he stated. "I need someone with REAL power. A type of power I do not have yet. Get out before I blast you to pieces."
The sorcerer sighed as the frightened woman ran out. He had thought she would be the one. She had seemed powerful at the time, although he had been slightly influenced by her beautiful looks. Xerxes swam up to his master.
"Girl no please master?"
"No."
"Want me to search for new magic person?"
Mozenrath sighed again. "No."
"Why?"
"BECAUSE I SAID SO, XERXES!"
The eel quickly flew off into another room in order to escape the wrath of his master.
The sorcerer leaned over the open book on the table, scanning them for new information.
"Blast these spell books!" Mozenrath shouted. "All of these books, and not one spell I haven't tried. I've no more to learn here!"
He had studied every day for eleven years in Desdain's immense library, learning more and more each day. Now that he had studied it all, what more was there to learn?
"Jafar!" he said suddenly. "He has spell books! I must pay a visit to my uncle's chambers, and 'borrow' them."
He laughed wickedly as he split the air, and stepped into a black hole.
~~~~~~~~~~
Xania lay on the bed, listening to the conversation that was being held a few rooms away. Aladdin had insisted she stay with him in the palace until he got the whole thing figured out.
"But, Aladdin, we can't hand her over to Mozenrath." The princess protested.
"Apparently, he's the only family she has left. Wouldn't it be wrong to keep her from him?"
The princess sighed. "I just don't know. I hate to think of what Mozenrath might do to her."
Xania frowned. Hadn't she showed them that she could take care of herself? She had entered a den of thieves and came out alive. And she had lived with her abusive father for five years. That should prove that she was tough.
"Jasmine, I know what you mean, but..."
An unfamiliar voice spoke up. "Yeah, so whatever we do, we can't tell her that her brother is in the Land of the Black Sand, right?"
"Shhh! Genie, keep it down!"
Xania perked up. The Land of the Black Sand? That should be easy enough to find. She slowly got up, careful not to make any noise. She crept out of the room and into the hallway.
"Now, where would they keep the maps..." Xania whispered to herself. She leaned against a wall, and was startled when it gave way, throwing her into some sort of secret passageway. She walked down the passage, coming into a large room. It was so familiar . . . She stepped inside, shuddering as her memory received a jolt from what had gone on in the room.
((((((((((FLASHBACK))))))))))
"Xania, find the scroll about the scarab," bellowed a tall, dark man.
Five-year old Xania quickly fetched the scroll and handed it to her uncle as he sat at a table with her older brother.
Jafar grabbed the paper without uttering a word of gratitude.
"Now, nephew, pay attention. This is the golden scarab. It will show us the way to the Cave of Wonders. There, a genie is buried. He will grant us our hearts' desires!"
Xania bravely spoke up. "Can I wish for a horsy?"
"Shut up, stupid girl," Jafar's brother growled, pushing his daughter roughly away from him. "You will not waste wishes on such nonsense."
Ten-year old Mozenrath grinned and sent a small burst of bluish-black magic hurling at his little sister. However, it disappeared before it reached her.
"Mozenrath! You can't be the most powerful sorcerer in the seven deserts with magic that puny! Now, back to studying! You'll be leaving to study under Desdain in a few days.
Xania, get out of our sight, you worthless girl. You're not wanted here!"
((((((((((FLASHFORWARD))))))))))
A tear slipped down her cheek as her father's words rang in her
head: 'You're not wanted here.'
She sank to the floor, sobbing as she tried to clear his voice from her mind.
She had been crying for several minutes when a flash of bluish-black light filled the room. Xania stopped sobbing, and watched in wonder as the air split apart, and a tall form stepped out. The man looked to be in his twenties, with jet-black hair down to his neck, and hard hazel eyes. He spotted her, and glared.
"What are you doing here? Get out before I blast you into the next city..."
Mozenrath stared at the girl. She somehow looked familiar. Her jet-black hair was cut to her shoulders, her eyes were light green, and her skin was fairly dark. Her eyes looked so familiar...
"What are *you* doing here?" she shot back. "These are my uncle's chambers and you have no right . . . .M...Mozenrath?" She stuttered.
The sorcerer's memory clicked the moment she said his name. "Xania?" Mozenrath stared at the girl, amazed at how much his sister had grown since he had last seen her. He looked her over carefully. "How old are you now?"
"Sixteen. And you are twenty one, right?"
He nodded, and then noticing the tear stains on Xania's face, he looked away.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked, as he busied himself with looking through a nearby book. Xania arched an eyebrow. "What?"
Mozenrath looked up from his book, and replied, "Your face."
Xania quickly wiped her tears away, trying to regain her tough-girl attitude. "Nothing. All this dust is just making my eyes water."
Mozenrath set the book down, and looked around for another. He didn't believe her story, but he did not care to hear the real one.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for a map so I could find you."
"Why were you looking for me?"
Xania looked around at the spooky room. It brought back so many awful memories.
"I . . . wanted to find you. You're the only family I have left."
Mozenrath looked up from his new book momentarily. Xania couldn't see his reaction because his back was to her.
"Mother's dead?" He asked, sounding unconcerned. He looked back down at his book, and turned a page.
"Yes. We were traveling with a caravan to Getzastan, and were attacked by marauders. Only three survived."
"How'd you get into the palace undetected?"
Xania picked up a charm from the floor, trying to remember where she had seen it before.
"The prince brought me here. But he and the princess wouldn't tell me where you were, so I snuck down here after I overheard some man say where you lived."
Mozenrath faced her, frowning. "You told them we were related?" When Xania nodded innocently, he glared at the girl. "You were lucky they didn't execute you on the spot."
"Why are you here?" Xania asked as she put the charm in her pocket and looked around for anything else familiar.
"Research," the sorcerer stated, looking through a tattered book. "I need more power."
Xania shrugged, and walked over to a dusty corner. Her mind gave a jolt as another painful memory was recalled.
((((((((((FLASHBACK))))))))))
"You worthless girl! I want to know what you're good for? You can't do magic, you can't work, you can't dance...and you will never attract a decent husband with your looks! I don't know why I keep you around!"
Young Xania cried out as he was thrown into a corner by a burst of her father's magic.
"I want you to get out of my sight and never return until you are worth something! Do you hear me? Now go!"
((((((((((FLASHFORWARD))))))))))
"Well?"
Xania brought her mind back to the present as she fought back tears. "Well what?"
Mozenrath sighed angrily. "I said, 'Are you coming with me?'"
Xania turned to face her brother slowly. "Where to?"
"My home."
Xania nodded as she walked over to him. He noticed that her eyes were starting to water again, but he shrugged it off as he grabbed her arm and they disappeared in a ball of black flames. They reappeared in the citadel's throne room seconds later.
"Welcome to my kingdom, sister. The Land of the Black Sand."
Xania was astonished. "*Your* kingdom? Since when?"
"Since about six years ago," Mozenrath stated proudly.
Xerxes flew up to his master, curling around his neck.
"No trouble, master. Everything quiet."
"Good." When he saw his sister's confused look, he smiled. "This is my familiar, Xerxes. Xerxes, this is my sister, Xania."
"Master have sibling?" the eel asked as he flew closer to get a better look.
"Yes, he do," Xania retorted, making fun of Xerxes' choppy speech. "And master's sibling would like to know how he conquered a kingdom at the age of sixteen."
Mozenrath bowed. "It's a long story, best left untold. What matters now is that I am ruler." He looked her over, frowning. "You are in serious need of a bath and some new clothes. Xerxes, take her to the guests' chambers. Xania, you may have whatever's in there."
The flying eel led the girl down the dark passageways. Xania was in awe of the magnificent architecture: it was strange, but beautiful. There couldn't be anything like it anywhere else in the world.
Xerxes stopped at a large door on the left side of the hallway. "This your room. Master tell you to take bath. Bath over there,"Xerxes said, nodding towards a chamber down the hall.
Xania opened her door as Xerxes quietly swam away. She gaped at the size of the room. It was the largest she'd ever seen in her life! Why, even the princess of Agrabah's room couldn't be this large!
She crossed the room, admiring the fancy rugs on the floor. Opening the closet, she found more articles of clothing than she had ever seen in one place before. There were dresses of all colors of the rainbow, and shoes to match. Pants and vests, blouses and stockings; there was nothing the huge closet didn't have.
Xania walked over to her new bed, and sat on its' edge. She was surprised to see that she nearly sank into the bed! It was the softest she had ever touched. Xania giggled. Surely this room surpassed the luxuries of even the sultan's chambers!
"I trust everything is to your liking?"
Xania turned round to see her brother leaning casually on the door frame. She was beaming with delight.
"Oh, Mozenrath! It's more than I ever hoped to have in my lifetime!"
Mozenrath smiled slightly at his sister's enthusiasm. "Only the best in *my* citadel."
"It's incredible! Did father know about this?"
Mozenrath quickly frowned. "No. I never saw him again after I left. Anyway," Mozenrath said casually, "the bathing quarters are down the hall, to your right. Let Xerxes know if you need anything, and I might let you have it."
She nodded as she walked past him, and skipped off to take a bath. Mozenrath watched his sister enter the bathing chamber and close the door.
"Master like sibling?" Xerxes asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Mozenrath said thoughtfully. He then turned to his familiar, and frowned. "But, it's hardly any of your business, now is it?"
Xerxes shook his head, and wrapped himself around Mozenrath's neck. The sorcerer walked slowly into his throne room, trying to decide what he was going to do with his sister. It was out of the question to keep her--unless she had some magic that he could use. Xania had been terrible at magic when they had lived with father; that was the reason father had favored him over her. So, what could be done with her? Trade her as a slave to some trading caravan? Turn her into a mamluk and make her his servant? There were limited possibilities here.
Xerxes left his place on his maser's shoulders to fly about the citadel, looking for food. Mozenrath sighed as he watched his familiar leave. He walked onto the balcony of the citadel, and looked out over his land, lost in daydreams of his past.
A noise behind him made Mozenrath jump. It was Xania approaching the throne room with Xerxes at her side. She stepped out into the room, and twirled around to show off her new outfit.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
Mozenrath had to admit that she looked much better. Although she had chosen one of the simpler dresses to wear, it fit her well. She wore a long, dark blue dress that was trimmed with gold around the waist. Her black hair had been washed
well, and it now shone in the light.
"Quite a transformation," Mozenrath muttered.
Xania smiled, happy to get any kind of compliment from her older brother, even if it was small.
Mozenrath looked her over, surprised at how much she looked like mother.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"You have father's eyes."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Mozenrath shrugged."Whatever you want it to be."
She walked out onto the balcony with him and looked over at the city. It was quite dark, even for night. Xania shrugged it off. At least she had finally found her brother.
"Well, I'm going to bed now, if you don't mind."
"Whatever you want."
Xania skipped off to her new room, as Mozenrath shook his head in discust.
"She has too much energy," he grumbled.
----------
Xania jumped into her new bed and pulled the soft covers up around her. Suddenly, she remembered the gold medallion she had picked up from Jafar's room. She had left it in her cloak pocket. She jumped out bed and pulled the medallion out of the pocket. Hopping back in bed,
she tried to remember what was so familiar about it.
It had something to do with a spell. Some kind of spell had been used with it...a...curse. Xania gasped. Now she remembered! The day she and mother had left, father had used it to curse mother for leaving him! He had said that Mother would die within four years of that date.
The marauder attack must have been part of that curse! Tears sprang to Xania's eyes and spilled over onto her face.
It had been father's fault that mother died! It was all his fault! All of the horrible things she had lived through were remembered. She spent the hour reliving her experiences in her mind. All of the times she had been beaten...all of the times she had been looked down upon...they all came back to her.
With her pillow soaking wet, and no tears left to cry, Xania sat up in bed, resting her head on her knees. Her door suddenly opened, and Xerxes flew in, followed by Mozenrath.
"Why master's sibling cry?" asked the eel.
Xania turned her head away from the door. "I'm not crying."
"Oh, I see. And that is why your pillow is wet?" Mozenrath asked sarcastically.
"Leave me alone. I'm fine."
Mozenrath was about to turn around and leave when he saw the medallion in her hand.
"What's that?"
Xania struggled to regain her composure.
"Nothing." She sniffled.
He approached her, and took it out of her hands. "A curse medallion! Where did you get this?!"
"Nowhere."
The sorcerer grabbed his sister roughly by the arm, pulling her into a standing position.
"Don't give me that! How did you get this?!"
Xania winced as her brothers grip got tighter on her arm. "It was father's . . . ."
Mozenrath released her. "Answer me when I ask you a question, and next time you won't get hurt," he said as she rubbed her soar arm.
Xerxes wrapped his body around Xania's shoulders. "Master's sibling okay?"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not," Mozenrath stated.
Xania turned to face him, her face red from crying. "Since when do you care about me?"
"Who said I cared? I know what you went through, and I simply stated that you weren't 'fine'."
She glared at him. "You have no idea what I've been through! Father never threw you around, and told you that you were worthless! You were always given anything you wanted because of your stupid magic! You've have your own kingdom for six years, while I've been traveling around the seven deserts in trading caravans! So, do *not* tell me you know what I've been through!"
Mozenrath's temper flared. "No, I suppose not, sister. While you were living with our parents, I was studying endlessly day and night, never allowed to stop. Desdain tested my knowledge daily, and if I answered even one question incorrectly, I was beaten, cursed at, and locked in the rat infested dungeon to study more. I was pushed to know everything there is to know about magic. I spent years in libraries studying until I thought my eyes would fall out." He pulled off his gauntlet, revealing his skeletal hand. "I was forced to sacrifice *this* for power. So, no, sister, I suppose I don't know what you went through!" He turned to stalk out of the room, but Xania grabbed his good arm.
"Wait! How did . . . Did Desdain...?"
"It was part of my training," Mozenrath stated.
Xania motioned for him to turn around to face her. When he obeyed, she gently took his skeletal hand in hers.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little now, but the pain increases when I use my magic."
Mozenrath watched as his sister gently touched the bone. She seemed unafraid of it. She was more fascinated than afraid.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't know..."
"Think nothing of it. We both went through similar hardships, and now we know it. In
fact, I..."
"You what?" Xania asked after a long pause from Mozenrath.
He had a confused look on his face. "Let go of my hand for a moment."
She obeyed, wondering what his reason was.
"Now touch it again."
"Why?" She asked as she obeyed.
Mozenrath waited a moment. "There's no pain when you touch it. I wonder if..." He pulled away from her and looked around the room. Spotting a small hand mirror, he threw it to the ground, causing it to shatter. He picked up a piece of the glass with his skeletal hand, and made an inch-long cut into the skin of his good arm.
"Mozenrath!" Xania gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Come here," he commanded.
She did as she was told.
"Now, heal this."
Xania almost laughed.
"Heal? Mozenrath, have you gone crazy? I can't do magic and you know it!"
"Just do it!"
The girl warily placed her hand on the cut, and closed her eyes. She concentrated the way she had seen her father do so many times. After imagining the arm being restored, Xania opened her eyes. Mozenrath smiled as she removed her hand. The cut was gone!
"No way!" Xania stuttered. "I couldn't have done that; you did it, didn't you?"
The sorcerer shook his head. "I cannot heal. That is one of the things that I've yet to learn. You did it on your own."
~~~~~~~~~~Later~~~~~~~~~~
"That was you?" Xania giggled. "I had no idea..."
Mozenrath smiled. "I also made the guards trip as they were marching when we visited Jafar in the palace."
"I remember that! They were so mad that they couldn't walk straight! It was hilarious!"
The siblings were sitting on Xania's bed, leaning against the headboard. Mozenrath sat with her on his right side, as she held his skeletal hand, relieving the pain.
"The guards were so stupid. They actually believed that a water beast was attacking them."
"I remember that too! The guards came running into the palace, babbling about some creature that attacked them! That was you?"
Mozenrath laughed. "That was me. I'm surprised that they fell for it. My magic was horribly weak back then."
Mozenrath looked down at saw Xexes sleeping on Xania's lap, noticing the happy expression on the eel's face.
"You've always had a way with animals."
Xania yawned as she looked down at Xerxes. "I love animals."
Mozenrath nodded. "So I've noticed."
"So...what have you been doing in this big citadel all by yourself? Who do you talk to besides Xerxes? Yourself?"
"Sometimes." After Xania giggled, he continued, "Actually, I spend most of my time reading in my library. When I'm not reading, I'm going on some quest to recover some magical artifact."
Mozenrath went on telling how he had discovered 'the hand in the sand', but lost it to Aladdin.
"What was mother like? I hardly ever saw her when father took up my training..."
Mozenrath trailed off when he saw Xania was fast asleep. He closed his eyes as well, and drifted off into the first painless sleep he had had in over seven years.
There were many men sitting around on the floor, or on tables eating, drinking, and talking. A man walked up to another man behind a table, and shouted, "Pheasant sandwich!"
The man, apparently a cook, quickly created a sandwich, and handed it to the second man. Xania approached the cook, and gave the same command. He looked at her strangely, but tossed her a sandwich and drink. After thanking him, Xania found a seat in the corner so she could think things through.
Now, if she was going to find out if her brother was living in Agrabah, then she would have to hurry. The trading caravan she was traveling with were only staying here for a few days. It had been so long since she had last seen her brother; would she even recognize him? She had been six when father had sent Mozenrath away to work under Desdain, her brother being around eleven at the time. She had been twelve when she and her mother had left father, and she was sixteen now. That would make Mozenrath in his twenties - if he was still alive.
"Only thieves allowed in the Skull and Dagger!" A large man standing in front of Xania bellowed.
She frowned. "Says who?"
"Says me. Now get out before I throw you out, like I did 'Butterfingers' over there."
Xania looked towards the man he had called 'Butterfingers.' He was a scrawny man, who was scrambling to get out if the thieves' quarters.
"I will leave if you answer one question."
"No questions, street-mouse. Get out now." The large man grabbed her, and threw her out of the building. She landed with a thump on the sandy ground.
"Lousy jackal!" Xania shouted. Her curses were only met with laughter from inside the building.
"Are you okay?" A masculine voice asked.
Xania looked up to see a tall young man standing in front of her.
"That's Skull and Dagger," the man explained, "Don't you know that's a den of thieves?"
"I do now."
"You must be new around here. You need to be more careful. What made you come to Agrabah?"
"I came to find my brother," Xania stated as she stood up.
"Well, I'm Aladdin," said the young man. "I'll help you find your brother. What's his name?"
"Mozenrath."
**********
"But...my lord...just a few more days. I know I can aid you..."
Mozenrath sent a hurling blast of bluish black energy towards the young woman. She ducked, just barely avoiding it.
"Your puny magic tricks are of no use to me," he stated. "I need someone with REAL power. A type of power I do not have yet. Get out before I blast you to pieces."
The sorcerer sighed as the frightened woman ran out. He had thought she would be the one. She had seemed powerful at the time, although he had been slightly influenced by her beautiful looks. Xerxes swam up to his master.
"Girl no please master?"
"No."
"Want me to search for new magic person?"
Mozenrath sighed again. "No."
"Why?"
"BECAUSE I SAID SO, XERXES!"
The eel quickly flew off into another room in order to escape the wrath of his master.
The sorcerer leaned over the open book on the table, scanning them for new information.
"Blast these spell books!" Mozenrath shouted. "All of these books, and not one spell I haven't tried. I've no more to learn here!"
He had studied every day for eleven years in Desdain's immense library, learning more and more each day. Now that he had studied it all, what more was there to learn?
"Jafar!" he said suddenly. "He has spell books! I must pay a visit to my uncle's chambers, and 'borrow' them."
He laughed wickedly as he split the air, and stepped into a black hole.
~~~~~~~~~~
Xania lay on the bed, listening to the conversation that was being held a few rooms away. Aladdin had insisted she stay with him in the palace until he got the whole thing figured out.
"But, Aladdin, we can't hand her over to Mozenrath." The princess protested.
"Apparently, he's the only family she has left. Wouldn't it be wrong to keep her from him?"
The princess sighed. "I just don't know. I hate to think of what Mozenrath might do to her."
Xania frowned. Hadn't she showed them that she could take care of herself? She had entered a den of thieves and came out alive. And she had lived with her abusive father for five years. That should prove that she was tough.
"Jasmine, I know what you mean, but..."
An unfamiliar voice spoke up. "Yeah, so whatever we do, we can't tell her that her brother is in the Land of the Black Sand, right?"
"Shhh! Genie, keep it down!"
Xania perked up. The Land of the Black Sand? That should be easy enough to find. She slowly got up, careful not to make any noise. She crept out of the room and into the hallway.
"Now, where would they keep the maps..." Xania whispered to herself. She leaned against a wall, and was startled when it gave way, throwing her into some sort of secret passageway. She walked down the passage, coming into a large room. It was so familiar . . . She stepped inside, shuddering as her memory received a jolt from what had gone on in the room.
((((((((((FLASHBACK))))))))))
"Xania, find the scroll about the scarab," bellowed a tall, dark man.
Five-year old Xania quickly fetched the scroll and handed it to her uncle as he sat at a table with her older brother.
Jafar grabbed the paper without uttering a word of gratitude.
"Now, nephew, pay attention. This is the golden scarab. It will show us the way to the Cave of Wonders. There, a genie is buried. He will grant us our hearts' desires!"
Xania bravely spoke up. "Can I wish for a horsy?"
"Shut up, stupid girl," Jafar's brother growled, pushing his daughter roughly away from him. "You will not waste wishes on such nonsense."
Ten-year old Mozenrath grinned and sent a small burst of bluish-black magic hurling at his little sister. However, it disappeared before it reached her.
"Mozenrath! You can't be the most powerful sorcerer in the seven deserts with magic that puny! Now, back to studying! You'll be leaving to study under Desdain in a few days.
Xania, get out of our sight, you worthless girl. You're not wanted here!"
((((((((((FLASHFORWARD))))))))))
A tear slipped down her cheek as her father's words rang in her
head: 'You're not wanted here.'
She sank to the floor, sobbing as she tried to clear his voice from her mind.
She had been crying for several minutes when a flash of bluish-black light filled the room. Xania stopped sobbing, and watched in wonder as the air split apart, and a tall form stepped out. The man looked to be in his twenties, with jet-black hair down to his neck, and hard hazel eyes. He spotted her, and glared.
"What are you doing here? Get out before I blast you into the next city..."
Mozenrath stared at the girl. She somehow looked familiar. Her jet-black hair was cut to her shoulders, her eyes were light green, and her skin was fairly dark. Her eyes looked so familiar...
"What are *you* doing here?" she shot back. "These are my uncle's chambers and you have no right . . . .M...Mozenrath?" She stuttered.
The sorcerer's memory clicked the moment she said his name. "Xania?" Mozenrath stared at the girl, amazed at how much his sister had grown since he had last seen her. He looked her over carefully. "How old are you now?"
"Sixteen. And you are twenty one, right?"
He nodded, and then noticing the tear stains on Xania's face, he looked away.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked, as he busied himself with looking through a nearby book. Xania arched an eyebrow. "What?"
Mozenrath looked up from his book, and replied, "Your face."
Xania quickly wiped her tears away, trying to regain her tough-girl attitude. "Nothing. All this dust is just making my eyes water."
Mozenrath set the book down, and looked around for another. He didn't believe her story, but he did not care to hear the real one.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for a map so I could find you."
"Why were you looking for me?"
Xania looked around at the spooky room. It brought back so many awful memories.
"I . . . wanted to find you. You're the only family I have left."
Mozenrath looked up from his new book momentarily. Xania couldn't see his reaction because his back was to her.
"Mother's dead?" He asked, sounding unconcerned. He looked back down at his book, and turned a page.
"Yes. We were traveling with a caravan to Getzastan, and were attacked by marauders. Only three survived."
"How'd you get into the palace undetected?"
Xania picked up a charm from the floor, trying to remember where she had seen it before.
"The prince brought me here. But he and the princess wouldn't tell me where you were, so I snuck down here after I overheard some man say where you lived."
Mozenrath faced her, frowning. "You told them we were related?" When Xania nodded innocently, he glared at the girl. "You were lucky they didn't execute you on the spot."
"Why are you here?" Xania asked as she put the charm in her pocket and looked around for anything else familiar.
"Research," the sorcerer stated, looking through a tattered book. "I need more power."
Xania shrugged, and walked over to a dusty corner. Her mind gave a jolt as another painful memory was recalled.
((((((((((FLASHBACK))))))))))
"You worthless girl! I want to know what you're good for? You can't do magic, you can't work, you can't dance...and you will never attract a decent husband with your looks! I don't know why I keep you around!"
Young Xania cried out as he was thrown into a corner by a burst of her father's magic.
"I want you to get out of my sight and never return until you are worth something! Do you hear me? Now go!"
((((((((((FLASHFORWARD))))))))))
"Well?"
Xania brought her mind back to the present as she fought back tears. "Well what?"
Mozenrath sighed angrily. "I said, 'Are you coming with me?'"
Xania turned to face her brother slowly. "Where to?"
"My home."
Xania nodded as she walked over to him. He noticed that her eyes were starting to water again, but he shrugged it off as he grabbed her arm and they disappeared in a ball of black flames. They reappeared in the citadel's throne room seconds later.
"Welcome to my kingdom, sister. The Land of the Black Sand."
Xania was astonished. "*Your* kingdom? Since when?"
"Since about six years ago," Mozenrath stated proudly.
Xerxes flew up to his master, curling around his neck.
"No trouble, master. Everything quiet."
"Good." When he saw his sister's confused look, he smiled. "This is my familiar, Xerxes. Xerxes, this is my sister, Xania."
"Master have sibling?" the eel asked as he flew closer to get a better look.
"Yes, he do," Xania retorted, making fun of Xerxes' choppy speech. "And master's sibling would like to know how he conquered a kingdom at the age of sixteen."
Mozenrath bowed. "It's a long story, best left untold. What matters now is that I am ruler." He looked her over, frowning. "You are in serious need of a bath and some new clothes. Xerxes, take her to the guests' chambers. Xania, you may have whatever's in there."
The flying eel led the girl down the dark passageways. Xania was in awe of the magnificent architecture: it was strange, but beautiful. There couldn't be anything like it anywhere else in the world.
Xerxes stopped at a large door on the left side of the hallway. "This your room. Master tell you to take bath. Bath over there,"Xerxes said, nodding towards a chamber down the hall.
Xania opened her door as Xerxes quietly swam away. She gaped at the size of the room. It was the largest she'd ever seen in her life! Why, even the princess of Agrabah's room couldn't be this large!
She crossed the room, admiring the fancy rugs on the floor. Opening the closet, she found more articles of clothing than she had ever seen in one place before. There were dresses of all colors of the rainbow, and shoes to match. Pants and vests, blouses and stockings; there was nothing the huge closet didn't have.
Xania walked over to her new bed, and sat on its' edge. She was surprised to see that she nearly sank into the bed! It was the softest she had ever touched. Xania giggled. Surely this room surpassed the luxuries of even the sultan's chambers!
"I trust everything is to your liking?"
Xania turned round to see her brother leaning casually on the door frame. She was beaming with delight.
"Oh, Mozenrath! It's more than I ever hoped to have in my lifetime!"
Mozenrath smiled slightly at his sister's enthusiasm. "Only the best in *my* citadel."
"It's incredible! Did father know about this?"
Mozenrath quickly frowned. "No. I never saw him again after I left. Anyway," Mozenrath said casually, "the bathing quarters are down the hall, to your right. Let Xerxes know if you need anything, and I might let you have it."
She nodded as she walked past him, and skipped off to take a bath. Mozenrath watched his sister enter the bathing chamber and close the door.
"Master like sibling?" Xerxes asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Mozenrath said thoughtfully. He then turned to his familiar, and frowned. "But, it's hardly any of your business, now is it?"
Xerxes shook his head, and wrapped himself around Mozenrath's neck. The sorcerer walked slowly into his throne room, trying to decide what he was going to do with his sister. It was out of the question to keep her--unless she had some magic that he could use. Xania had been terrible at magic when they had lived with father; that was the reason father had favored him over her. So, what could be done with her? Trade her as a slave to some trading caravan? Turn her into a mamluk and make her his servant? There were limited possibilities here.
Xerxes left his place on his maser's shoulders to fly about the citadel, looking for food. Mozenrath sighed as he watched his familiar leave. He walked onto the balcony of the citadel, and looked out over his land, lost in daydreams of his past.
A noise behind him made Mozenrath jump. It was Xania approaching the throne room with Xerxes at her side. She stepped out into the room, and twirled around to show off her new outfit.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
Mozenrath had to admit that she looked much better. Although she had chosen one of the simpler dresses to wear, it fit her well. She wore a long, dark blue dress that was trimmed with gold around the waist. Her black hair had been washed
well, and it now shone in the light.
"Quite a transformation," Mozenrath muttered.
Xania smiled, happy to get any kind of compliment from her older brother, even if it was small.
Mozenrath looked her over, surprised at how much she looked like mother.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"You have father's eyes."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Mozenrath shrugged."Whatever you want it to be."
She walked out onto the balcony with him and looked over at the city. It was quite dark, even for night. Xania shrugged it off. At least she had finally found her brother.
"Well, I'm going to bed now, if you don't mind."
"Whatever you want."
Xania skipped off to her new room, as Mozenrath shook his head in discust.
"She has too much energy," he grumbled.
----------
Xania jumped into her new bed and pulled the soft covers up around her. Suddenly, she remembered the gold medallion she had picked up from Jafar's room. She had left it in her cloak pocket. She jumped out bed and pulled the medallion out of the pocket. Hopping back in bed,
she tried to remember what was so familiar about it.
It had something to do with a spell. Some kind of spell had been used with it...a...curse. Xania gasped. Now she remembered! The day she and mother had left, father had used it to curse mother for leaving him! He had said that Mother would die within four years of that date.
The marauder attack must have been part of that curse! Tears sprang to Xania's eyes and spilled over onto her face.
It had been father's fault that mother died! It was all his fault! All of the horrible things she had lived through were remembered. She spent the hour reliving her experiences in her mind. All of the times she had been beaten...all of the times she had been looked down upon...they all came back to her.
With her pillow soaking wet, and no tears left to cry, Xania sat up in bed, resting her head on her knees. Her door suddenly opened, and Xerxes flew in, followed by Mozenrath.
"Why master's sibling cry?" asked the eel.
Xania turned her head away from the door. "I'm not crying."
"Oh, I see. And that is why your pillow is wet?" Mozenrath asked sarcastically.
"Leave me alone. I'm fine."
Mozenrath was about to turn around and leave when he saw the medallion in her hand.
"What's that?"
Xania struggled to regain her composure.
"Nothing." She sniffled.
He approached her, and took it out of her hands. "A curse medallion! Where did you get this?!"
"Nowhere."
The sorcerer grabbed his sister roughly by the arm, pulling her into a standing position.
"Don't give me that! How did you get this?!"
Xania winced as her brothers grip got tighter on her arm. "It was father's . . . ."
Mozenrath released her. "Answer me when I ask you a question, and next time you won't get hurt," he said as she rubbed her soar arm.
Xerxes wrapped his body around Xania's shoulders. "Master's sibling okay?"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not," Mozenrath stated.
Xania turned to face him, her face red from crying. "Since when do you care about me?"
"Who said I cared? I know what you went through, and I simply stated that you weren't 'fine'."
She glared at him. "You have no idea what I've been through! Father never threw you around, and told you that you were worthless! You were always given anything you wanted because of your stupid magic! You've have your own kingdom for six years, while I've been traveling around the seven deserts in trading caravans! So, do *not* tell me you know what I've been through!"
Mozenrath's temper flared. "No, I suppose not, sister. While you were living with our parents, I was studying endlessly day and night, never allowed to stop. Desdain tested my knowledge daily, and if I answered even one question incorrectly, I was beaten, cursed at, and locked in the rat infested dungeon to study more. I was pushed to know everything there is to know about magic. I spent years in libraries studying until I thought my eyes would fall out." He pulled off his gauntlet, revealing his skeletal hand. "I was forced to sacrifice *this* for power. So, no, sister, I suppose I don't know what you went through!" He turned to stalk out of the room, but Xania grabbed his good arm.
"Wait! How did . . . Did Desdain...?"
"It was part of my training," Mozenrath stated.
Xania motioned for him to turn around to face her. When he obeyed, she gently took his skeletal hand in hers.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little now, but the pain increases when I use my magic."
Mozenrath watched as his sister gently touched the bone. She seemed unafraid of it. She was more fascinated than afraid.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't know..."
"Think nothing of it. We both went through similar hardships, and now we know it. In
fact, I..."
"You what?" Xania asked after a long pause from Mozenrath.
He had a confused look on his face. "Let go of my hand for a moment."
She obeyed, wondering what his reason was.
"Now touch it again."
"Why?" She asked as she obeyed.
Mozenrath waited a moment. "There's no pain when you touch it. I wonder if..." He pulled away from her and looked around the room. Spotting a small hand mirror, he threw it to the ground, causing it to shatter. He picked up a piece of the glass with his skeletal hand, and made an inch-long cut into the skin of his good arm.
"Mozenrath!" Xania gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Come here," he commanded.
She did as she was told.
"Now, heal this."
Xania almost laughed.
"Heal? Mozenrath, have you gone crazy? I can't do magic and you know it!"
"Just do it!"
The girl warily placed her hand on the cut, and closed her eyes. She concentrated the way she had seen her father do so many times. After imagining the arm being restored, Xania opened her eyes. Mozenrath smiled as she removed her hand. The cut was gone!
"No way!" Xania stuttered. "I couldn't have done that; you did it, didn't you?"
The sorcerer shook his head. "I cannot heal. That is one of the things that I've yet to learn. You did it on your own."
~~~~~~~~~~Later~~~~~~~~~~
"That was you?" Xania giggled. "I had no idea..."
Mozenrath smiled. "I also made the guards trip as they were marching when we visited Jafar in the palace."
"I remember that! They were so mad that they couldn't walk straight! It was hilarious!"
The siblings were sitting on Xania's bed, leaning against the headboard. Mozenrath sat with her on his right side, as she held his skeletal hand, relieving the pain.
"The guards were so stupid. They actually believed that a water beast was attacking them."
"I remember that too! The guards came running into the palace, babbling about some creature that attacked them! That was you?"
Mozenrath laughed. "That was me. I'm surprised that they fell for it. My magic was horribly weak back then."
Mozenrath looked down at saw Xexes sleeping on Xania's lap, noticing the happy expression on the eel's face.
"You've always had a way with animals."
Xania yawned as she looked down at Xerxes. "I love animals."
Mozenrath nodded. "So I've noticed."
"So...what have you been doing in this big citadel all by yourself? Who do you talk to besides Xerxes? Yourself?"
"Sometimes." After Xania giggled, he continued, "Actually, I spend most of my time reading in my library. When I'm not reading, I'm going on some quest to recover some magical artifact."
Mozenrath went on telling how he had discovered 'the hand in the sand', but lost it to Aladdin.
"What was mother like? I hardly ever saw her when father took up my training..."
Mozenrath trailed off when he saw Xania was fast asleep. He closed his eyes as well, and drifted off into the first painless sleep he had had in over seven years.