I Give You The Sands of Time

Red silk cover fell down on the floor, revealing a marvel of marvels: The Hourglass of Time. The gasp of pleasurable shock hit the crowd and even Prince, who got peek on the treasure in the vault covered eyes with a palm – so glare the shining of the Sand was. A strange shiver was running down his spine. Prince definitely felt danger in the air but was too much confused to dig deeper in his feelings. Constantly he was watching one of the captured Indian women. She was just a girl… Maybe hardly reached her twenties. Too gentle to be just a maid… And too anxious over something. The girl was overlooking the crowd, like searching for someone she knows. Finally Prince caught her stare. Woman's eyes begged for not do something.

What? What do you want? asked her Prince just with raising eyebrows.
Please… Do not do…begged those dark almond eyes.

"To do what?" wanted to ask young man but got distracted by the Sultan, who put palms on the fragile glass and with wide opened eyes whispered in admiration.

"The Sand… Why does it…glow?"
There was heard strong cough and the Vizier emerged from behind of King Shahraman.

"I can tell you." he said and bowed head in respect before the Sultan. King of Persia nodded, allowing the traitor to speak.
"Inside the hourglass is a marvel that no living man has ever seen." started the man his story.

"Like a spider slowly spinning his web." thought the Prince and continued listening. He could not deny that the tale was interesting. The girl, in her turn, did a boring face but eyes stayed worried, she was carefully watching the Vizier.

"Alas, only the Dagger can unlock the Sands of Time. And it belongs to a greater one then I… A young Prince, dearer to his father then all the wealth of India." like the venom of the snake the old man was dropping those words. Prince angrily frowned and looked at his father. But his parent seemed not noticing anything. Too blind he was. But why?

"Perhaps… He will oblige?"

With a little doubt young Prince looked around. All the faces were turned to him. That of the Sultan, his father, Persian soldiers… Young Indian girl stepped back and her eyes reflected the fear, even horror. But that Prince did not see. Slowly he started to walk to the hourglass.

"No." whispered woman in red.
Prince put hand on a hilt and dragged the Dagger out.

"No! Stop!" a lonely scream flew above the crowd as she broke free from her guard and ran ahead.
Too late. Prince carefully slid the Dagger in the beautifully decorated lock.

"No-o-o!" another hopeless cry as her way got blocked by the Persian guards.

The Hourglass suddenly started to pulsate and the perspective as Prince's sight changed. Just like then, in the vault. Very slowly, like Time itself started to slowdown and disturb him, Prince stepped back. Ceiling and the walls started to crumble and with fear people gathered in the middle, trying to avoid giant stones, falling from above.

Outside, above the Azad a giant storm was gathering. Lightings were drawing their deadly patterns on the sky. All of a sudden a shining pillar of light broke through the stone walls of the palace and hit the sky. Strange sound wave hit the jungle, making great old palm trees fall on the ground like they were nothing but the grass.

Sand hurricane twirled round the reception hall, triggered by the strange words the Vizier yelled. Sultan of Azad was nowhere to be seen. Prince remembered him falling on the ground. People were screaming in horror and pain. One by one they were disappearing in the Sand, caught by the unknown force.

… My father was among them…

King Shahraman tried to fight the Sand, which was foolish as it could get anywhere it wanted.
"Father!" screamed Prince but just to see his parent disappearing in the sand twirl, stretching his arm to son. Begging. For what? What could he do?

As fast as he could, young warrior tried to make his way to the entrance. And once again he got distracted. In the middle of a hall stood a lonely figure of a man. Prince recognised him as one of the generals who survived the Indian campaign. Man threw his head backwards as he was in a great pain. Light came from his eyes, mouth… Golden patterns coloured the body in demonic tattoos… A second later Prince was looking in the eyes of hell. With a gasp he jumped back, stumbled over some stone and fell back. Strangely enough the Sand did not attack him. As if it got scared of something and crawled back.

"The Dagger… It probably protects me…" whispered Prince. Too late he noticed a figure slowly coming his way. The Vizier! He was… Alive! And unharmed? How could that be!

"Give me the Dagger!" hissed the old man, clutching fingers in a dead grab, probably imagining it was Prince's neck.
"No…" muttered warrior, holding cold fingers tightly around the Dagger. His only hope to stay alive.

"You have unleashed the Sands of Time. I can undo what you have done. Give it to me!"
"No!"

The archway was collapsing so Prince took his only chance to escape the Vizier. With the speed of the light he jumped forward and rolled out just before the stones collapsed on the ground. Last thing he remembered was hitting ground. Stabbing pain somewhere near forehead. Something warm on the cheek. Nothingness.

This one is pretty short, sorry. But I still hope you will like it. Cheers,

AbgelT