Authors Note: This is, quite obviously, the second chapter to 'Just One Night'. The rating might possibly go up a notch because of a suggestive scene in this chapter, and this could be the final chapter depending on what you guys want (whether you want Jasmine to live or to die – to die means a third chapter). As I'm furiously writing the ending to this chapter at 3am in the morning as I cannot sleep, I'll scribble down the disclaimer and get on with it – Jafar, Jasmine, Aladdin and everyone else mentioned belongs to Disney.

JUST ONE NIGHT

Chapter Two

The Sultan sighed inwardly as he walked towards his daughter's chambers. On the pleading of Prince Ali, he had decided to go talk to Jasmine and see if there was any possible chance that Jasmine would not go through with the marriage to Jafar, which was to take place the following day.

It wasn't that the Sultan had anything against Jafar; up to this point he had been a perfect adviser. Jasmine had always told him that Jafar was not one to be trusted, that she ought to get rid of him and find himself a new royal vizier. The Sultan clearly remembered her sharpness with the way she had said 'when I am queen, I will have the power to get rid of you' to Jafar in anger. Now for his daughter to marry the one she had previously hated, to proclaim that she loved him…something just didn't seem right.

It also didn't make sense that Jasmine's feelings between hatred and love had seemed to change overnight. That had certaintly not been the case with any other suitor. It wasn't that the Sultan didn't mind his daughter marrying his royal vizier – just to him, Jafar seemed just a touch too old and…Well, things just aren't adding up, that's all.

Sighing once more, but keeping his composure, the Sultan slipped quietly into Jasmine's room. At the vanity, where she could not see him, sat Jasmine, in her wedding dress, her long hair flowing freely down her back, her eyes studying herself in the mirror as she ran her hair brush slowly through her hair.

'Jasmine?'

Jasmine turned at the sound of her father's voice, smiling kindly at him as she put down the brush. She was so excited about tomorrow, she could not help but try on the wedding dress, just to get a feel of what it would be like. If only everyone didn't seem to be so strongly against the marriage, she thought coldly to herself. I thought everyone wanted me to get married, and now that I'm marrying Jafar, they don't want me to.

She twirled once on her walk to the Sultan, her dress circling her legs and her hair circling her body. 'Oh Father, I'm so happy. How do I look?'

The Sultan looked up into his daughter's face. Her eyes. They never looked so dark before.

'Like your mother, my dear,' he replied, steadily, 'Radiant. Prince Ali would think so, too.'

Jasmine sighed. Not this again…not from Father. 'Father, I don't love Prince Ali. You know I can't marry someone I don't love.' She gave the Sultan a kiss on his cheek, 'Don't you worry – Prince Ali is welcome to stay if he likes. Just don't go getting any ideas.' With that, Jasmine swept softly across her bedroom to sit down on cushions, Rajah moving from where he sat on the balcony to rest across the pillows and put his head down in her lap, purring under the absentminded strokes of his jaw. She watched as the Sultan slowly sat down on the edge of the couch.

'Then why must you marry Jafar, my dear?'

Jasmine's response was so simple, so calm, that it frightened Sultan more than he could show. 'Because I love him.'

The Sultan was quiet.

Oh no, not you too. 'Father, I thought you wanted me to be married!' Jasmine finally continued, in exasperation.

The Sultan moved from the couch to sit on the pillows, beside his daughter, and took her hands in between his own. 'I do want you married…to be married a man who will take excellent care of you.'

Jasmine pulled back her hands in surprise, resting them on Rajah's back. 'Whoever said Jafar would not take excellent care of me?' Her eyes glowed with an emotion that the Sultan had never seen in her eyes before. 'I know he loves me. Why would he want to marry me otherwise?' Her eyes narrowed. 'What has Prince Ali been telling you, Father?'

That he fears that Jafar is only marrying you to become what I am, that he will dispose of you once he has gained what he wants. And the thoughts of what might happen to you, what might become of you, puts more fear and pain into me than a thousand blazing swords thrust into my body.

But as the Sultan could not put any of this into spoken words for his daughter, he kept silent. Allah, let my silence not become the death of me…the death of Jasmine.

Sensing that her father wasn't going to answer, Jasmine sighed and leaned over, giving him a close hug. 'Don't worry, Father. Everything will be just fine. Trust me.'

The Sultan didn't have any choice but to believe her.

'Alright.' He rose and kissed Jasmine gently on top of her hair, 'But you ought to get some sleep, my dear. You will have a long day tomorrow.'

Jasmine smiled under this fatherly gesture. 'Yes, Father. Good night.'

'Good night, dearest.' The Sultan walked across the bedroom and, at the door, turned around. Jasmine was back leaning over her vanity, gently wiping makeup off her face with a tissue.

Take care of yourself, my dear.

Outside the palace walls, there were changes that the common folk of Agrabah were getting used to, only days after the wedding. Jafar, now sultan, and the hypnotized Queen Jasmine were now ruling Agrabah, and this fact was scaring more than a handful of people. The palace itself had been moved to sit on a high hill overlooking the city, and while still beautiful, was hardly the inviting palace it had been before. The sky had turned an unusual shade of crimson, and at the night, it was a black moon rather than a white one. Razoul and his guards seemed to have multiplied, and were forever patrolling the city.

Aladdin sighed as he pushed aside his curtain and looked out over the city at the palace. Though the Sultan had invited him – no, Prince Ali – to live in the palace, and though Jasmine hadn't minded, Jafar had had his guards hurl him out in to the city, with strong words of not to come back. So now he was back where he had started – up in the small hole above the streets, with Abu and now the magic carpet. Genie hadn't minded staying, but Aladdin decided to set him free, and now he was off, doing whatever he had always wanted to do, with the promise of returning.

Looking down onto the streets, Aladdin's brow knitted as he realized a fair few people were walking towards the outskirts of the city, bags packed. Up the street, he noticed that even more people were headed in the same direction. Boarding the carpet, Aladdin dove out the window to level with one of the folk.

'What's going on? Why is everyone leaving?'

The folk man looked at him in surprise. 'There's promise of worse to come; we're leaving while we can. I would suggest you do the same.' With that, the man continued to walk, cutting through the now thick sea of people.

Aladdin, with a sigh, stared up at the dark palace. Jasmine…do you know what's going on?

He turned back to look up at his so-called home. Not much of a home compared to the palace. 'Carpet, let's go get Abu. We've got a score yet to settle.'

'Jafar?'

Jasmine, now queen, walked briskly down one of the corridors of the palace. She rubbed the diamonds on her wedding ring absentmindedly. From her balcony, she had noticed hordes of people walking towards the outskirts of the city, and wondered if Jafar knew about this. It surely wasn't a good sign.

'Jafar?' Where is that man? Jasmine had felt she'd walked for miles and yet had not come across him. Pushing back the curtains to the throne room, she smiled to herself and walked in.

Jafar sat on the throne, tapping his long fingers on the top of his staff, his other hand unconsciouslystroking his beard. Iago sat on his shoulder, quite grateful not to be fed any more revolting crackers. The room itself was no longer the blue and white it once was, but now red and black and his throne was in the shape of a giant black cobra. Jafar himself wore the same outfit he had always worn, deciding white wasn't his colour and being the vain man he was, refused to wear the sultan outfit. So vain, but in white he would not look as half as handsome as he does now.

Jasmine linked her hands behind her back and slowly slaunted into the throne room. 'Oh, Jafar…'

Jafar looked up at the sound of Jasmine's voice, and smirked softly to himself at the sight of her. Such a pretty little thing. She still wore her red harem outfit and the gold crown, her hair long and thick down her back. He was impressed of how easy is was to have her maintain the idea that she was in love with him, it was like stealing candy from a baby – a couple of hits with the staff, and her mind was under his control.

He stood up and met her halfway, swinging her around so her back was to the throne and holding her around the waist. 'My lady.'

Jasmine smiled ran her hands over his shoulders as she kissed him, then pressed a finger against his lips after they parted. 'Do you know what the commonfolk are up to?'

Jafar's eyes narrowed as he moved her hand away from his mouth. 'What are they doing?'

'They seem to be leaving the city. In an exodus of people.'

His eyes became little more than slits as he wrenched himself away from Jasmine to look out over the city. Sure enough, people were walking to the outskirts. 'What?!' Jafar half yelled, half growled. He felt Jasmine come up behind him and rest her hand on his arm. 'How long has this been going on?'

'I don't know,' she replied truthfully. Calm down, will you? 'I noticed it from our balcony and came to find you.'

'Iago,' Jafar suddenly snapped, turning to the bird on his shoulder. 'Go find the guards and tell them. Have them deal with it.'

Iago grinned. 'Yes, oh evil one.' With that, Iago was gone.

Jasmine smiled and taking him by the hand, lead Jafar out of the throne room and down the corridor to their chambers. 'You're a very snaky man, Jafar.'

Jafar slammed the bedroom door behind them with his foot and picked up Jasmine, who landed on the bed with a shout. 'A snake, am I?' he asked, advancing towards the bed. Jasmine smiled and loosely covered herself with a sheet, which was immediately thrown off. Jafar growled, his vampire-like incisors showing. 'I'll show you just how snake like I can be…' With that, Jasmine screamed out before groaning as he leapt on her, pressing his mouth against her neck.

Why must all the balconies be identical in this palace?

Aladdin sighed as he circled on the magic carpet, high above the palace, searching for Jasmine's chambers and her balcony. Problem was, all the balconies looked identical, and from way up against the blood red sky, it was close to impossible to work out which balcony was Jasmine's.

No one had managed to escape Agrabah. Aladdin had watched far above the city as a sudden flax of guards had poured from the palace, racing towards the outskirts. Many had stopped and turned away at the sight of them, but those who still attempted to escape had been slaughtered.

Eventually it was Abu, who was clinging on for dear life to the back of Aladdin's vest, who managed to spot the ropes still hanging from the trees where Jafar's guards had tied him and the magic carpet up to, and knew that the balcony almost directly above was Jasmine's. Within seconds he had managed to get that across to Aladdin, and moments later, Aladdin had aimed the magic carpet for that balcony.

Aladdin didn't really know what he planned to do. All he knew was that he had to get Jasmine back and break Jafar's spell over her as well as his control over Agrabah. He had deliberately picked to come in the dead of the night, where he hoped he could awaken Jasmine in her chambers and get her out of the palace, hopefully breaking the spell, without being noticed.

If Jasmine was still…No, I can't think about that. I mustn't.

The magic carpet came to a stop on the balcony and with Abu on his shoulder, Aladdin slowly crept across to the curtains, and stepped inside the bedroom.

'Jas…' he whispered, but trailed off. Jasmine was not to be seen, and with a brisk, silent search in the room, discovered Jasmine's bed, still made and without her in it. Clearly, she no longer lived in her chambers. 'Then where else…' Oh no, please don't tell me she's sleeping with him…

Why wouldn't she? She's married to him, remember?

Oh, Aladdin remembered. How could he possibly forget? He had no choice; he'd have to go looking for Jafar's chambers, and change his plans.

'Carpet.' Aladdin turned around to the balcony, and mouthed silently to the carpet, which came over obediently so Aladdin could climb aboard. Silently they floated though Jasmine's chambers, and after opening the door and carefully looking around to make sure there were no guards, they went left down the corridor.

Spending some time searching, Aladdin realised that there weren't really all that many sleeping chambers. After accidentally going into one chamber to find the Sultan asleep in his bed, he crept back out, soon coming along another chamber with two sleeping individuals in the bed.

And the snake staff, resting across the vanity.

Aladdin's eyes grew wide at the sight of it, and he silently disembarked the carpet. Could this get any easier? he wondered as he crept across the bedroom towards the vanity. If he could get a hold of the staff and smash it, would Jasmine snap out of her trance…

'I wouldn't do that if I were you.'

Aladdin stood stock-still at the dangerously quiet male voice coming from the bed. Because of his unfortunate freezing to the spot, he was unable to dodge the sudden red bolts directed at him, sending Aladdin straight across the bedroom, far from the staff, crashing into a table and sending a vase smashing onto the floor, breaking into a thousand pieces.

'So, after I directly told you to never come back into the palace, you think it's funny to suddenly show up in my chambers, do you?' Aladdin stared straight up at Jafar, who suddenly stood right in front of him in full attire. He couldn't protest as Jafar suddenly reached down and grabbed Aladdin by his vest, yanking him to his feet. 'You are in trouble, street rat. Major trouble,' he hissed darkly.

'What's going on…?' suddenly asked a sleepily second voice from the bed. In the soft night light coming from the grounds outside, Aladdin could make out the pale form of Jasmine, sitting up slowly with the sheets gathered to her chest. 'Jafar…what are you doing?'

'A traitor has decided to disturb us,' Jafar replied through gritted teeth, still holding Aladdin. 'Go back to sleep, dearest.'

Dearest?! 'Over my dead body will you call Jasmine 'dearest',' Aladdin spat out.

Jafar smiled smugly at him. 'Oh, my dear boy, that's exactly what I intend to do.'

'Aladdin?' asked Jasmine, still sitting up in bed, now wide awake. Aladdin could detect no anger in her voice, just surprise and amazement. 'What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!'

'That's what I'd like to know – why he's here at any time!' Jafar yelled angrily, then Aladdin felt the metal taste of blood in his mouth as Jafar backhanded him, his grip still tight on his vest. 'Explain yourself, urchin!'

Aladdin forced himself to meet Jafar's eyes. 'I'm here to take Jasmine back. You will not have her…'

Jafar laughed. 'But you're too late,' he moved in close, so he whispered into Aladdin's ear. 'I've already had her. Doesn't it just pain youto know that she's mine, rather than yours?' Before Aladdin could reply, Jafar had thrown him against a wall, as well as Abu, and both were chained against the wall. 'And if it pains you so much,' Jafar continued, 'why don't you watch, hmm?' With that, he picked up the staff from the vanity and made his way towards Jasmine.

'Jafar, you –' Before Aladdin could continue, gags were in his and Abu's mouth. They could do little more than watch, shaking in fury.

Jasmine watched as Jafar slowly sat down in front of her, throwing part of his cloak over her cold shoulders. He rested his hand gently against her cheek. 'My Sultana… so beautiful,' he whispered softly. Jasmine smiled, and watched as he raised the staff, the eyes glowing. 'You're mine, Jasmine… you love me… and you always will.'

Jasmine's mind blanked as she stared into the staff's eyes' depths. 'I'm yours… I will always love you…'

Satisfied that Jasmine was once more under his hyponastic spell, Jafar lowered the staff before drifting his hand slowly down her neck, to cover the bite marks he had left there earlier. Jasmine arched her neck into his touch, smiling softly against the pain in her neck. She was only too happy to respond when he kissed her, pushing her body against his and draping her arms over his shoulders.

Aladdin's fury had skyrocketed, watching the embrace. At hearing his muffled protests, Jafar broke the kiss and turned around to look at him, smugly. So gullible, the pair of them. 'Is there a problem, street rat?'

The gags disappeared, but Aladdin could hardly speak in his rage. 'Jafar… you… you…'

Jafar stood up, and walked over to Iago's cage, in which Iago still slept. Jasmine fell back against the pillows, sleepy once more. 'Iago, wake up!'

At the loudness of his voice, Iago prompty did so, jumping and hitting his head against the top of the cage. 'Jafar… what time is it…?'

Jafar opened the cage. 'It doesn't matter what time it is!' He reached his hand inside the cage and grabbed Iago, waking him up fully. 'We have an intruder, and you are going to get the guards.'

Iago managed to squirm out of Jafar's grasp. 'Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.' He flew across the chambers and out of the room. 'Always me who goes gets the guards,' he mumbled. He was back within moments, three guards who had found down the corridor in tow, including Razoul, who's eyes opened wide at the sight of Aladdin.

'You, again!' Razoul scrowled darkly, racing across the bedroom towards Aladdin. Jafar unleashed the chains once the guards had strong grips on both Aladdin and Abu, and Iago flew tiredly to sit on the sheets next to Jasmine, who smiled sleepily and picked him up.

'Sorry you had to wake up, Iago,' Jasmine whispered apologetically, kissing the top of his head lightly.

Iago shut his eyes. 'It's okay,' and nestled himself against her breast, immediately falling back asleep.

At the opposite end of the bedroom, Jafar was ordering the guards and their captives out of the chambers. 'Go to the throne room – we will be there shortly.' He grabbed a hold of Aladdin's vest, 'And don't try any funny stuff, either.' Letting go, Jafar stalked back to the bed, and the guards dragged Aladdin out of the chambers.

Waiting in the throne room, fifteen incredibly tense minutes passed. Aladdin was thrown to the floor in front of the empty throne, one strong foot from two guards pressed down on his back. Looking up blearily, he saw Razoul holding Abu firmly in his grasp, in a way so Abu couldn't bite him.

Strong footsteps snapped him away and he looked in the opposite direction to see Jafar and Jasmine walk in, Iago peached on his shoulder. Aladdin felt his fury rise again at the sight of Jafar, who looked particulary dangerous, but felt a prang in his heart at the sight of Jasmine, dressed beautifully in a pink harem outfit but with long sleeves, her hair freely flowing down her back, her crown in place and her blank eyes tired. There was silence as Jafar sat down in the throne, staff in hand, and Jasmine sat on a pile of pillows at his feet, resting an arm on his knees and resting her head on her arm tiredly.

'You can let him go,' Jafar muttered, waving a hand. The guards slowly let go of Aladdin, who stood up in some pain.

'And you can let Jasmine go!' Aladdin spat out.

Jafar smiled, slipping his free hand into Jasmine's hair and slowly trailing a few strands of her dark hair out between his fingers. 'Oh, she's free to go.'

Aladdin blinked. Did he just say what I think he said? 'You'd let her go…?'

Jafar still continue to smile a strange smile, picking up the ends of Jasmine's hair and kissing it lightly. 'Of course. But really – what could you possibly offer her?' The smile had turned into a sneer. 'She doesn't love you, and it'll be a threatening place, living with a homeless street urchin in a tiny alcove in the city.'

'She doesn't love you, either!' Aladdin yelled out, 'She hates you!'

Jafar smirked. 'Let's ask her, shall we?' He reached under the mass of Jasmine's hair to cup her chin, turning her head to face him. 'Jasmine, my sweet, you love me, don't you?' he whispered, just loud enough for Aladdin to hear, into Jasmine's blank eyes.

Jasmine smiled slowly and pressed her fingers gently against Jafar's wrist. 'Of course I love you.' That's a girl.

Aladdin felt his heart crash against the cold marble floor. Oh, Jasmine, can't you see you're under his hypnosis, his power?

Jafar looked over at Aladdin, who looked absolutely crestfallen. 'She's made her choice, urchin. Give it up.'

'Your Majesty.' Razoul cleared his throat. 'What about him breaking into the palace?'

'Ah, yes.' Jafar stood with a frightening smile, letting Jasmine's head fall against the cushioned throne. He walked steadily over to Aladdin, a sword forming in his hands. 'You won't be seeing morning, my dear Aladdin.'

Aladdin's eyes grew wide, and a gag was suddenly placed back in his mouth, with Razoul's foot pushing down into his back.

But suddenly Jafar paused. 'Wait.' He turned and looked back at Jasmine. 'Dearest.'

Jasmine looked up, and was blinded as she was instantly immersed in a red light. Aladdin watched, stunned, as her clothing changed right before his eyes, the pink harem outfit transforming into a black corset-like top and a long blood red skirt, both made from a sweeping satin material. As the red light died down and Jasmine walked slowly over, Aladdin looked up into her eyes and saw eyes full of hatred and cruelty.

She's not my nice Jasmine anymore, he thought disheartedly. She's as evil as him now.

'Darling.' Jafar said calmly, offering the sword to her. 'Why don't you do the honours?'

Jasmine's blank, evil eyes sparkled as she took the sword. 'Gladly.' Aladdin fell back in surprise as Jasmine pressed her gold incased footagainst Aladdin's shoulder, pushing him backwards, keeping her foot there so he couldn't escape. 'Good bye, Prince Ali,' she whispered. 'You won't be concerning yourself with us anymore.'

TBC