Author's Note: As some of you may already know, I am currently working on a multi-chapter series for the Kite Runner novel, Tainted Perfection, which details the life of my original character, Saria Ahmed, who is Assef's twelve-year-old little sister. The series itself is told entirely from Saria's first person perspective - however, some time ago, I began taking certain scenes from that story and writing them in Assef's perspective, too. I've now made the decision to post these side-pieces (the ones I have currently written) as a side piece to Tainted Perfection. I would highly recommend reading both stories to get a better sense of what is going on - though I will make it known that Tainted Perfection is considerably longer than this series will be.

Please note that I do not condone the actions, thoughts, feelings, and/or opinions of the characters that I write for. Please also note that this story, as well as Tainted Perfection, will contain elements of abuse (physical, sexual and mental), toxic family dynamics, murder, violence and covert emotional incest. If this is something that makes you feel uncomfortable, this is your chance to click away; you have been sufficiently warned.

I do not own the Kite Runner (or Assef, nor would I want to!). I can only claim my original characters and the situations I force them into.

Without further ado, please enjoy this first look into Assef's POV. The following piece is a short adaptation of the first chapter of Tainted Perfection. In it, the Ahmed family go for dinner at the home of the Kalahari's (who will play a huge role in the series). The evening goes off without a hitch, until the end of the meal - wherein disaster strikes.

I hope sincerely that everyone enjoys. As always, comments/reviews are welcome if you did!


By the time dinner was over, I'd made up my mind that I fucking hated the Kalahari family. Faraya especially - who did that bitch think she was, ordering us around, telling my sister where she could and couldn't sit? The look in Saria's eyes when she'd been told to sit next to Adia was nothing short of enraged. No-one but me noticed it, my sister had perfected the art of lying down to a T. But I, who knew her better than anyone, could see just how furious she was. She just couldn't say anything. Mahmood and Tanya would rip her to shreds if she dared to speak up for herself. Fucking cunts.

At least now, though, we could get going. We could get out of this house, and back home. That would be the end of it. Or so I thought. Right as we were all finishing up our meal, Javid pushed his chair back and stood up. He looked at all of us, with a beaming smile that I just wanted to smack right off of his face. "Well," he said, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I could certainly go for some fresh air after all that food."

Good for you, I thought, trying not to roll my eyes, off you fuck, then.

Javid turned and spoke to Mahmood directly. "We can chat some more about that business venture of ours while our little girls have fun playing outside." He turned, glancing towards Saria and Adia, offering them a patronising grin. Again, I found myself wanting to slap him senseless. He had no right to look at my sister that way. No fucking right to talk over her as if she weren't even there. Saria didn't want to go outside. Saria didn't want to play with Adia. That was obvious to me, why couldn't it be obvious to everyone else? Why couldn't they respect her wishes - our wishes - and just let us go home? Why did this shit have to go on?

"Sounds like a good idea, Javid jan," Mahmood replied. He stood, the back of his chair scraping against the floor. Raising a hand, he motioned for Saria, Tanya and I to rise, too. Fucking bastard must have thought himself some kind of monarch, to be able to order us around like that. Saria and I both got up, stealing a glance at one another. I wanted to tell her that I understood exactly how she was feeling. That I didn't want to be here either.

We began walking towards the back door. Saria was in front, moving like an obedient, pre-programmed robot. Mahmood and Tanya were engaged in conversation with Faraya and Javid, about what, I didn't know, nor did I care to. Every so often, Tanya would glance in Saria's direction - wanting to make sure that she didn't do anything to bring shame to the family. She was obsessed with that, perhaps even more so than Mahmood. Everything we did had to be perfect. More so in Saria's case. She was her porcelain doll - and her porcelain doll couldn't put a hair out of place.

Right before we reached the back door, things took a turn for the worse. There was a slight dent in the flooring - and Saria, not noticing, tripped over it. She skidded forward, throwing her arms out in an attempt to protect herself. Nobody bothered to help her. Adia, who stood close enough to touch her, did nothing. Mahmood just grit his teeth in frustration while Tanya set her lips in a hard, thin line. No doubt my sister would be chastised when we got home for having the audacity to not be careful enough.

Wanting to help her in any way that I could, I threw my arm out, reaching for her. If I could just grab her before she fell, then maybe I could lessen her humiliation. At least, that's what I hoped to do. But I wasn't near enough to her, and my hand merely brushed against her arm, unable to get a solid grip on her.

It looked as though Saria was about to topple onto the floor, but right before that happened, she collided with a small table. On said table, there was a small, expensive looking glass vase, positioned near the edge. Guess what happened next? If you said, 'the vase fell and smashed into a million pieces,' you would be correct.

The vase seemed to fall in slow motion, toppling onto the floor while the rest of us stood motionless, unable to say or do anything to stop it. Saria lunged forward, reaching out, desperate to catch the vase before it hit the ground. But she was unable to, and within seconds - seconds that felt like minutes - the vase shattered all over the ground.

Tanya gasped loudly, as though someone just told her the world was about to end. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, her eyes wide. She looked at Mahmood, silently pleading with him to do something. To step in and fix this mess, somehow.

Saria stepped back, which was good, really, because she'd been standing far too close to that glass and I didn't want her to injure herself. She covered her mouth with her hands, trembling all over. "I…" she whispered, "oh my God! I… I'm so sorry!"

I wanted to tell her that it was okay, that she'd done nothing wrong. That it was merely an accident, these things happen. I wanted to take her in my arms, gently wipe that look of fear off of her face. But before I could even move, Faraya moved forward, almost as though in a daze.

She held her arm out, catching Saria in the chest, almost brushing her to the side, almost knocking my sister to the ground once more. Bitch. Slowly, she dropped to her knees before the broken pieces of vase, like she was faced with the corpse of a loved one. She reached forward, picking up a shard of glass, and holding it to her chest.

The sound that she made was nothing short of animalistic, a keening, broken wail. Tears ran down her face. She didn't seem to notice that the rest of us were even there, didn't notice that we could all see her crying her heart and looking like a fucking idiot. Her wails became more pronounced, more desperate.

Little Adia, the cheerful bitch that Mahmood and Tanya were so eager to force my Saria into befriending - rushed to her mother's aid. She collapsed beside her, wrapping her arms around her neck and leaning her head upon Faraya's shoulder. When she spoke, her voice quavered. "It's okay, Mommy. Please don't cry."

I clenched my fists, shooting a glare at the pathetic child. Oh, so she could defend her mother, but made no fucking effort to help my sister? She didn't say anything about how it was an accident, how Saria didn't mean to. She didn't bother asking Saria if she was okay, after almost falling over. Instead, Adia just completely ignored Saria, as though she didn't even matter. How I wished I'd brought my brass knuckles now - I'd have given anything to teach that cunt a lesson.

"I'm sorry," Saria whispered again, looking down at Faraya. "It was an accident. I didn't mean-"

Faraya cut across her. Her voice was high-pitched, her breathing ragged. "That…. That was a gift from my father," she sobbed desperately, "He made it himself. He… He passed… he passed away… last year." She clutched the pieces to her chest - as though hoping that by doing so, she'd be able to magically fix it somehow. "This… this can't… it can't be replaced."

Well, that's a bit fucking obvious if he's dead, I thought. And if it was as special as you claim, why the fuck was it just casually resting on the table where anyone could have knocked it off? You really didn't think that one through, did you?

This revelation caused Tanya to gasp again - because she couldn't do anything else. She moved to go to Faraya, but thought better of it. "Oh, Faraya jan, Faraya jan, I am so sorry. Oh my God… we had no idea, we had no idea… Saria had no idea that vase meant so much to you, oh I am so embarrassed, just so embarrassed. Please, please know that she didn't mean to do this. This is not how she was raised to behave."

Those words weren't spoken to defend Saria. Tanya didn't apologise to protect my sister, or to let the Kalahari's know that this was an accident. No, all that mattered to her was keeping up appearances. Ensuring that nobody thought she was in any way responsible for this. She glared at Saria. Were it not for the fact we were in company, she would have started her lecture right then and there.

Saria looked from our mother, to our father. They both looked at her like she'd just murdered someone, as though she were the worst human being to walk the earth. She whimpered - literally whimpered, poor thing - and bolted in my direction. I wrapped my arm around her, drawing her in. She was trembling all over, clutching onto my waist. I pulled her close, gently rubbing her shoulder, wanting to offer any kind of comfort I could. I knew she was in for a hell of a lecture when we got home, and I hoped I could at least give her some reassurance now.

Stepping forward, Mahmood addressed Javid and Faraya. "I think it would be best if we went home now. I am so, so sorry for this. I really am. I can't express my shame enough. Faraya jan, please accept my apology for my daughter's clumsy behaviour." He said the word 'daughter' as though it were some type of disgusting swear word.

Tanya grabbed Saria by the arm, forcefully pulling her away from me. Again, no-one said a word. No-one did anything, not even when my Saria winced in pain and flinched at our mother's long nails digging into her skin. No, they were too focused on Faraya's pain to care about the person who actually mattered.

"Son, come along, please, we need to go home." Her tone was a lot softer with me, but I knew that she was pissed off to high heaven. One wrong move, one wrong word from me and I didn't want to think about what the consequences would be. I stayed quiet, just following my sister and parents out to the car, not wanting to cause more trouble for Saria than she already had coming to her. Not wanting to add to the lecture that I knew was already about to happen.

We drove home in total silence. The moment we entered the house, Mahmood was barking orders left and right like a drill sergeant. "Into your room, young lady, right now!" He pointed up the stairs, just in case Saria had forgotten where her room was. She kept her head down, walking up obediently. She wouldn't speak, I knew that. She wouldn't be permitted to defend herself - even that would be seen as insolence.

Tanya and I followed behind. Sure, my mother and father may have wanted to lecture Saria on their own, but there was no fucking way I was about to let that happen. I would be there for, fuck what they thought. She would not go through this alone.

We entered Saria's room, and she sat upon her bed, head bowed, in the position expected of her when she was in disgrace. But before she could even move, Mahmood stopped her. He jabbed a finger at her with one hand, pulling his belt from its loops with the other.

"Prepare yourself, daughter."

My ears must have been playing tricks on me. 'Prepare yourself' was the term used when one of us was going to get a whipping. Surely, he couldn't mean, he couldn't dare be insinuating that he was going to lay his hands on my Saria, because of this mistake. This wasn't right. Wasn't fair one bit. And I couldn't just stand by and let this happen to her. Not without trying to defend her.

I grabbed Mahmood by the upper arm, turning him to face me. "Father, no, what are you doing? It was an accident, you saw that with your own eyes. She didn't mean to do it." He should be thankful that I was being so polite. The moment I saw him take his belt off, the moment I knew his intent was to beat my sister, my precious other half, I wanted to fucking rip him to shreds. I wanted to kick the living shit out of. Even the mere thought of anyone daring to harm Saria was infuriating. There were no words for it. The utter fucking hypocrisy, as if this son of a bitch had never made a fucking mistake in his life.

His reaction was nothing short of enraged. He slapped my hand away, glaring at me in contempt. "An accident?" he almost snarled. "Assef, Saria's foolishness could have cost me a business venture that I've been working on for months." Ah, because that was the most important thing here, wasn't it? "All because of her STUPIDITY! And she has brought shame upon us, which I plan to deal with in the proper manner. Now, you can either stay quiet and we will get this unpleasant business over and done with, or you can keep running your mouth, young man, and see just how much worse that makes things for your sister. What's it to be, my son?"

I froze, staring at him, fury burning through my veins. He was threatening me, no doubt about it. Threatening to beat Saria worse to punish me for speaking out in her defence. And he would do it too. My father didn't mince words. If I found a way to protect her from this whipping, then he would corner her at a time when I couldn't keep her safe, and deliver an even worse punishment.

There was nothing for it. I would not allow a worse punishment to befall my precious sister. All I could do now was hope that Mahmood wouldn't be too harsh to her. I sat gingerly on the edge of her bed, shaking my head in her direction.

Forgive me, my love, I thought, wishing there was more that could be done. But I knew our parents. I knew how crafty they were. I knew what would happen if I dared to speak up. I couldn't put Saria through that.

Mahmood turned to Saria, his eyes narrowing. "I won't ask you again, Saria Adelah. Get your dress up and lean over the bed so you can take your due punishment." That son of a bitch. That fucking prick. Punishment? This was not punishment - this was the most disgusting and vile abuse.

Tears welling in her eyes, Saria tentatively made her way over to her bed. She leaned over the edge of it, stretching her arms out. I didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what she wanted. Narrowing my eyes at Mahmood and Tanya, I took Saria's hands in mine, holding them, offering her a slight bit of comfort. It was all I could do, and I hated myself for that.

Tanya walked around behind my sister. She leaned down, lifting the back of her skirt and moving it out of the way so that Mahmood could deliver punishment. She placed a hand on Saria's back, looking down at her with disdain, before she stepped back and gestured to Mahmood.

He raised the belt, high over his head. It came down like lightning, hitting Saria forcefully. She let out a high-pitched shriek, lurching forward. Mahmood hit her again, harder this time. Another shriek. She drummed her feet into the carpet. Her hands gripped mine desperately, as little, pain-filled whimpers escaped her lips.

It was a sickening sight. Mahmood continued to rain down lash after lash, his face contorted, sweat covering his brow. He smacked her across the thighs, and she howled, tears running down her face. It was disgusting. How dare he do this? How fucking dare he cause her pain? It was all I could do to keep it together. Every time the belt came down and my Saria cried out, it broke my heart.

She didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve any of it. I wanted to take the belt from Mahmood's hands, and beat him to death with it. I wanted to whip the bastard until every part of his body bled and he was groveling for my Saria's forgiveness. Then, I would wrap it around Tanya's neck and squeeze the life from her. I would wipe that smug look from off her face, as she stood there and watched her daughter suffer and did nothing to help.

Mahmood landed five rapid fire strikes. Saria's screaming reached a fever pitch, and she buried her face in my lap, trembling. I gently stroked her hair, rubbing soft circles into her upper back. How much longer would this go on? How much more 'correction' did he feel it necessary to give? How much longer would I be able to stand it before I did something?

But then, finally, it was over. Mahmood stood back, looping his belt back into his trousers. He addressed Saria, his tone harsh. "Sit up." She did so, her entire body trembling with pain. Now that she was upright, the tear tracks on her little face were more noticeable. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her lower lip wobbling. Seeing her cry, it was almost too much for me to handle. It was the most heinous form of blasphemy that anyone would dare to cause her pain.

"This had better be a lesson to you, Saria," Mahmood said. "Your mother and I will not tolerate any form of insolence from you." So now accidents equaled insolence, did they? "Now, you will be writing an apology letter to the Kalahari family, where you will express your deepest regret. I expect it to be done in your best penmanship, and if I find even the slightest flaw, then you and I will be continuing the discussion we just had." He tapped his belt, looking almost… proud of himself. "Do you understand?"

Saria nodded. She could barely speak due to crying, but she needed to give him a verbal answer lest she be bent over for round two, so she tried to get one out. "Y-Y-Yes, P-Papa, I understand. I… I… I won't let you down again, I promise."

She hadn't let him down, not by a long-shot. Quite the opposite, in fact. Mahmood just nodded in approval. Tanya, who had up to now done nothing but stand there and watch as Saria was beaten, walked over to her and knelt down. She placed a hand on her shoulder. Saria flinched - and let out another scared whimper. "It's okay now, my baby," the bitch cooed, "your punishment is over. You took it so well, so well, like the good girl you are. Come and give Mommy a hug."

What the fuck? What the actual fuck was this? She did nothing to help when Saria was being hurt, and now she wanted to offer comfort? She wanted to act like she was a good, kind, loving mother? After the way she just behaved? Fuck that. Absolutely fuck her. Stupid fucking bitch.

Saria cringed away, shaking her head. She lifted herself up, wincing with every movement. "A-Assef…" she sobbed, reaching for me. I didn't need to be told twice. I lifted her up into my arms, holding her on my lap, rocking her back and forth. She crumpled against me, sobbing uncontrollably. Mahmood and Tanya exchanged a glance, then left, the door shutting with a click behind them.

Now that we were alone, finally, I could offer my sister the understanding and the love she deserved. I pressed a kiss to the side of her head, tucking a blonde curl behind her ear. "It's okay, Liebchen," I whispered, hoping that the use of the nickname I reserved for her and her alone would soothe her pain, even a little, "It's okay now. You're fine, it's all over. They've gone, they won't hurt you again. I promise. Just… just calm down now, alright?"

I sounded like a hypocrite, because I was the farthest thing from calm. But I didn't want my sister to hyperventilate and make herself sick. "Deep breaths, Saria, that's it. In and out."

Slowly, her breathing began to return to normal. She pulled away and looked up at me. Her eyes were still puffy, but some of the fire was starting to return to them. "Will you stay?" she asked in a tiny voice, "at least for tonight? Please? I… I don't think I can fall asleep without you tonight."

There was no need for her to ask. I could never deny my Saria anything, especially not when she'd gone through something like this. "Of course, sister. Go ahead and get your nightgown on, and I'll be right here when you get back."

Saria nodded, and went to get changed in the bathroom. I watched her stagger out of the room, every movement looking like it caused her untold agony. She would feel the effects of the belt for at least a week. All of this for a vase. All of this because some cunt had decided to freak out over some gift her now-dead father made her. I wanted to kill the entire Kalahari family, wanted to rip the flesh from their bones, for their part in the awful maltreatment of my precious sister.

She returned within minutes, climbing into bed. I pulled the covers up over her and kissed the top of her head, wrapping my arms around her. "You know, sister," I whispered in German, "that Adia girl should have done more to help you tonight. That entire family has made an enemy of us, and I promise, if you ever feel the need to make payment against them, then I'll help you. I promise, you will have whatever retribution you seek against them."

I meant that, too. I would do anything for my Saria, anything that she asked of me. She was the only soul in this universe for whom I reserved even a modicum of my love. I would set the world aflame and build her an empire from the ashes, if that's what she wanted.

She looked at me through tear-stained eyelashes. "Alright, Assef, I love you." Then she smiled, the most beautiful sight to ever grace this earth, "from the moon to all the stars."

"I love you from the moon to the end of the universe," I replied.

Saria snuggled closer to me, "I love you more."

Chuckling, I kissed the top of her head. "Not possible."

That was a little ritual Saria and I had done ever since we were children. Yet another way for us to bond. Some may find it childish, but it brought us both comfort. And I meant it, every single word. She was my moon, my stars, my other half. The only person in this entire universe that I ever loved, that I would ever truly love.

As Saria drifted to sleep in my arms, I made a vow, to myself, and to her. No matter what, I would protect her. I would give her the justice that she deserved. I would do anything for her, my love, my soul, my dearest Saria.

For her, anything.

For her, always.


I hope that you enjoyed that! The next scene will detail how, in my canon, Assef came to be known as "Assef the Ear Eater". I'll try to have that out soon. Please comment, favourite, subscribe - it means the absolute world when people like my writing!