Samirah sat in the crow's nest for nearly two hours, letting her idle thoughts float with the waves gently rocking her back and fourth. In the diminutive space of the nest, she was tightly enclosed to herself, barley seeing over the rim when she sat. Hamal was steering the ship towards the horizon, closer towards Aladdin's fiancé and her own heartbreak. 'Just like you, so immature to fall immediately in love with a stranger and conjure up fantasies of a future you're not meant to have. Didn't you learn from before? You're not meant for love, for a steady relationship, for marriage or children. You're not meant for stability – that's why you keep to the seas, its unpredictable; just like you.' Her mind bitterly hissed. 'He's engaged, you idiot. There's nothing you can do. The cards are never in your favor.' Sighing, Samirah let her head drop back and relax against the side of the nest. Closing her eyes, she let the warmth of the radiant sun sooth her nerves and relax her tired muscles. It had certainly been a trip like no other, one she would never forget; no matter the outcome.
She stood and stretched, yawning as she pulled at her joints and awoke them. Studying the skies she frowned at the perfect blue atmosphere with no threat of storms or even rain. They were making remarkable time. 'Even Allah wants you alone.' Scolding, she turned her gaze down to the boat and watched Hamal instinctively maneuver Sapphire through the placid glass waters, the bow slicing through the water as delicately as a razor.
Glancing out and overlooking the ocean, she thought momentarily she saw a black speck wavering somewhere in the distance. Yet, with the sun hotly beaming down upon her and glaring into her eyes, she couldn't be sure. Either way, it was of little matter. 'You need some rest, now you're seeing things.' Slowly and nimbly she climbed down the mast and joined Hamal on the deck.
"Clear from here on out." Samirah said sullenly, tying some loose rigging together and busying her hands. Anything to keep her mind away from other matters, she decided. Hamal merely shot her a sideways glance at her comment. He hadn't been blind to the attraction between his captain and their guest, and didn't appreciate the emotional struggle Aladdin was causing Samirah.
"Everything all right?" Hamal muttered lowly, keeping his eyes fixated on the sea ahead of him. Never quite a talker, it was out of his comfort to delve into a conversation with Samirah about something other than the ship, money or a location.
"Yeah." She sighed softly. "Everything will be… I hope." She offered him a thin smile before retreated back down into her cabin, hoping for some peace and a quick nap before it was her turn to take the helm. Before she reached her cabin, Aladdin came out of his. An awkward silence followed as each looked at the other, smiled stiffly and tried to get by in the tight quarters of the passage. When they touched due to lack of space, their eyes locked momentarily and both could see the inner resistance of emotions surfacing within the other over their strange new relationship that was forming irrevocably.
Aladdin paused once they had passed, turning back to look at her. "Samirah," He said rigidly, causing her to turn towards him once she reached her door, hand paused on the knob.
"…Yes?" She prompted after a stretched moment of silence.
"No matter what happens between us, or what doesn't…" He strained, nerves taut and mind racing as he tried to decide which alternative hurt him more. "I just want you to know…" He searched her eyes, the pain and anxiety looming behind her beautiful expression. "Even though this has all been one incredible ride and an adventure like none other I've ever had, one I'm not sure whether to regret or thank… I can't stop how I feel, and I do love you."
He looked at her for a few moments more, treasuring the lost and shocked expression on her face, before turning and heading up towards the deck. Samirah was more than stunned; she couldn't quite feel her hand that rested on the doorknob and her heart was pounding in her throat. Did he…? 'What are you waiting for idiot? Go get him!' Her mind raced as she willed her legs to obey and rush after him. As she climbed the stairs quickly, she called his name, giddy with delight. As she reached the top and the sun struck her skin, she couldn't find him.
"Aladdin?" She asked, turning to look at the bridge. Something suddenly moved outside her line of vision as stars exploded in the back of her head. She fell on to the deck roughly, body limp and numb as darkness slowly overtook her. Before she lost consciousness she heard a muffled scream call out her name.
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She didn't dream, she only swam in a sea of blackness that continued to overtake her as she struggled to climb free; climb towards the light. As she came closer and closer, she could hear a soft voice beckoning for her to awake, pleading her to wake. The voice was hushed, yet strained. It was beautifully soft, insistent that she leave the obscurity and helped her fight to free herself of the blackness.
"Samirah." Aladdin whispered harshly, careful not to draw attention towards himself. Pirates swarmed Sapphire, looting and pillaging throughout the boat, searching for money and jewels, angrily disturbed when they found very little. They had come from behind and taken Hamal off guard, then, they waited until Aladdin and Samirah had risen from below deck to take over the ship.
"Samirah!" Aladdin harshly whispered again, nudging her with his foot. Arms tied behind the back of his chair and legs wrapped together in thick rigging rope, he was quite immobile, save for his feet. Hamal and Samirah were equally tied, only a few feet from his own chair, kept below deck in Samirah's cabin. Hamal was also unconscious, but Aladdin had already spent nearly fifteen minutes trying to wake him with no avail.
She stirred, and he continued to urge her awake with the burly sounds above motivating him to rouse her. When her eyes slowly opened, he smiled at her, watching her groan in pain as she lifted her head. "What happened?" She mumbled drowsily. "I feel like I was run over by a caravan."
"Almost," Aladdin said softly, offering a thin smile. "Are you all right?" Worry had overtaken him when he had been subdued to help her when they had been ambushed. Watching her be struck over the head, helpless to warn or stop the attack, and then see her unwary body fall and pass out as a result caused him more concern than he had expected.
"I think so," When she went to check her wounds and found her arms indisposed, she was quite perplexed. "What happened?" The memory came rushing back as quickly as a flood, cascading into her mind as a throb in the base of her skull reminded of the swift assault.
"Pirates," He said sullenly, watching as she quickly snapped out of her stupor and became lively and alert. "They caught us off guard, obviously."
"Where are they now?" But a shuffle of heavy boots above answered her question and made her cringe. "I knew I saw something before, it must have been their ship." The heavy boots scuffled down the steps and towards their cabin. "I was such an idiot to ignore it." She muttered to herself, but before Aladdin could console her otherwise, the door opened and a huge man entered. Draped in tattoos of weapons, skulls and images of treasures, Samirah swallowed roughly.
"Ah." The man said pleasantly as he shut the door behind him. "It seems the little captain has awoken." He joined them, pulling up a chair next to Samirah. "My men love your little boat." He smiled, exposing several blackened teeth mixed with a few shiny gold-capped fills. His mouth was lined with an unkempt mustache and a thin beard covered his chin. He wore thick garments covered in patches and atop his head rested a large captains hat, feather and all. 'All that's missing is the patch over the eye and the parrot,' Aladdin thought sardonically. The Pirate's sword caught his attention, snugly wrapped to his side the handle was only inches from his grasp. Slowly, Aladdin began to wriggle himself, trying to undo the knot around his wrists.
"She's not a little boat," Samirah argued, anger rising at the insult of Sapphire, fear nearly forgotten. "She's the fastest ship there is." She stated proudly, glaring at the captain with loathing.
"My mistake," He scoffed. "My men love your little ship." He mocked, leaning closer to Samirah. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mus'ad Captain of The Barracuda, which is now docked alongside yours. I apologize for these accommodations, but we couldn't allow any distractions in our line of work."
"I'm sure." Samirah said blandly.
"Now, my dear," He said as he grasped her chin and brought it closer towards his face, a gesture that not only enraged Samirah but infuriated Aladdin. "Please, tell me where you keep your jewels aboard this piece of driftwood and we shall spare you and your little comrades." His breath smelled of rotten cheese and garlic, making Samirah inwardly recoil, yet her expression stayed docile.
"There aren't any. We are a simple traveler's ship, as we are taking our passenger to Dukhân." She said coldly, holding her chin high as he eyed her suspiciously, his grip tightening on her.
"Really now girl," He laughed lightly. "You could come up with a better lie." Angrily and quickly he stood, his chair falling back onto the floor as he wrenched he sword from its sheath. Sadistically, he pointed the tip at Samirah's throat, slowly bringing it closer until the cool edge of the blade rested upon her flesh. "I'll ask again, and I expect the truth," Samirah's cool was faltering at the delicate touch of the blade, her breathing becoming erratic. "Where… are your jewels? You money?"
Aladdin's temper began to rise as he fought forcefully with his bindings. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Aladdin questioned, causing Mus'ad to raise a brow.
"When you find someone, let me know." He responded and chuckled. "I'll take on a mouse before I take you on, little man. There'd be more of a challenge with it." Turning his attention back to Samirah, he grinned. "Tell me, and you'll be spared, I swear it." He vowed, moving the sword along her throat delicately, enjoying the view of her chest rising and falling quickly with the pounding of her heart.
"And I'm swearing to you, there aren't any jewels." She returned, eyes never wavering from his. He studied her and knew after a moment she wasn't fibbing.
"Well then, that's a pity, isn't it?" Mus'ad responded, shaking his head sorrowfully. He withdrew the sword tip from her throat and sighed. "I promised my men some kind of payment for their work, and there's no money. I suppose I can repay them in other ways," At that he looked Samirah up and down and smiled ruthlessly. "It's been so long since they've seen a woman, I'm sure they'd forget all about the money."
Revulsion swam in Samirah, paling her face and causing a sickly sheen of sweat and perspiration across her brow. Her stomach tightened as nausea began to overtake her at the very thought of his words. "You lay a hand on her, and you're a dead man." Aladdin vowed ominously, his voice dangerously low.
"Oh, and what are you going to do, boy?" Mus'ad chuckled, "I believe the boy has feelings for you, young lady." Taking the opportunity, he walked over to her and ran his hand down her hair and along her back. He leaned down and slowly ran his lips along her neck, never taking his eyes off Aladdin's own enraged glare. His hands encircled her waist from behind as he ran them along her abdomen. Grimacing, she tried to move away, but was incapable of escaping his nauseating grasp. Pausing, he lifted his head and laughed, "Oh no, now she's tainted. I suppose I should take her off your hands."
"Camal dung," Samirah said venomously, spitting at him in the face when he turned back towards her.
"Wretched little witch," Mus'ad muttered as he wiped her spit away from his face, scowling at her. Raising his hand, he slapped her across her face so quickly and harshly, her head snapped back in reaction as her cheek burned red with pain. Gasping, the world developed into a blurred streak as her eyes watered instinctively and her head began to spin.
Aladdin used the fury of the strike to fuel his battle with the ropes and finally broke his hands free. Springing forward, he lunged at Mus'ad from behind and tackled him to the floor. Legs still bound, he was at a disadvantage yet still managed to land three good blows to Mus'ad's face before being pinned to the floor.
"Stupid, ignorant boy." Mus'ad spat, yanking Aladdin to his feet and throwing him back into his chair. He backhanded him once and felt satisfaction when he saw blood trickle from Aladdin's mouth. "You just condemned her." He pointed to Samirah, "Now I will take no pity upon her, she will have the same fate as you. She can die like a dog, like the bitch she is."
Samirah cursed in foreign tongue at him, spitting again near his feet. Heading towards the door, Mus'ad cursed at her and then stopped when the door opened and his first mate came through, a shabby thin man, more disgusting and repulsive than his captain. "Capt'n, we ain't find nothin'." He said derisively. "I 'spect there's …" He trailed off as he saw Samirah, "A girl! Capt'n, there's a girl!"
"Yes, I know you idiot." Mus'ad tried to push him through the door, but the crewmember's gaze was stuck on her. "Move on through Adham." He commanded, but little was heard and none of it was obeyed.
"Can I keep her?" He finally turned towards Mus'ad, his beady eyes pleading. "I'll share, I promise." His smile turned twisted as he looked her up and down, "I'll share her with the crew." Samirah grew paler, sickened and nearly felt like vomiting at the overheard conversation she listened to.
"No. You don't want her." Mus'ad turned back and gave her a pitiful glance. "She's dirty and a slave's whore." When this didn't seem to phase Adham, only added in infuriating Samirah, he continued. "She also bites and spits." At that, he finally gave in and turned around beginning to head back to the deck.
"All right," He sighed. "But it woulda been nice. That's for sure." He licked his lips at the thought and left the cabins.
"Wait, Adham…" Mus'ad quickly called, stopping him midway in the passageway. "I think we're just about done about this raft, we don't need it anymore. Get some kindling and flint." He paused and turned towards Samirah, his eyes glowing with pleasure. "We're going to make us a fire. A big one."
To Be Continued . . .
A/N: Please R/R! Consider it your good deed of the day. ;)