Holding a map Humam studied it checking if he made a wrong turn somewhere. He is now in between two large mountains and the place was frightening him. It's as if the sun's light is not allowed to enter through these mountains which is giving it a gloomy and dark look to it.

He scratched his head, "Mm... I should of gone around," He looked over his shoulder and saw that he was a long distance from the opening.

"Might as well keep going..."

He had Gamal move onward until it stopped in it's tracks and backed up while it's head was jolting side to side.

"Hm? What's wrong, Gamal?" He looked around and saw a pair of glowing green eyes looking down at him.

He cursed under his breath, "Mountain lions."

He whipped Gamal with the reigns and had him start running. Soon after he heard the lion chasing after him.

He looked over his shoulder and fear gripped onto him when he saw that it was catching up to them. He whipped Gamal again and had him run even faster.

Up ahead he saw a large set of gates and a ray of hope shined in him until he saw what he now knew is a lioness running up next him. She snapped her muscular jaws at his feet, but he lift it up in time before the beast was able to sink her teeth into it.

He then saw a piece of a thick stick hanging off a ledge. He immediately grabbed hold of it and hit the creature on the head as hard as he can numerous times until she snapped her jaws at it and broke it in two.

He looked up to see if he was any closer to the gates and saw that they were open which he clearly remembered it being closed, but he did not question it and is just thankful that someone saw him.

He whipped Gamal again having him run faster and slightly he is passing the lioness little by little. His heart was racing and the sound of its beating was in his ears as if that was the only thing he is able to hear. The closer he gets to the gates the faster his heart is pounding in his chest.

Just when he was about to go through them the lioness grabbed a hold of his cloak and pulled him off Gamal. She kept pulling on the cloak but he quickly took it off and grabbed a big rock near by that has a sharp edge to it.

The lioness let go of the cloak and jumped at him, but he stepped aside just in time and beat the rock on her head twice on its sharp side. Blood came gushing out the lionesses head and she yelped in pain.

She ran off and jumped onto a ledge and glowered down at him. A ferocious roar escaped from her throat that had Humam shaken. Then she ran off into the mountain.

Beads of sweat rolled down Humam's face and the pounding of his heart lessened. He dropped the bloody rock and slowly walked through the gates.

Gamal is drinking water from a large fountain in the center of the yard. Humam ran up to the fountain and found it so clean and clear that it made him so much thirstier than he already is. He cupped his hands and took some of the water and drank it. It felt so smooth against his chapped lips and parched mouth. He drank as much as he could till he was satisfied.

He looked up at the palace for the first time and gasped at its size. It looked as if it can touch the sky. The roof of the largest part of it and what stood out the most was made of pure gold along with some of the other smaller roofs. But yet they are not bright nor did it sparkle. It looked so dull as if it has lost its shine. In fact the whole place looked dull and gloomy just like the mountains.

He didn't let fear get a hold of him. He needed a place to stay for the night and food. He walked up the steps to the large doors and when he was about to knock the doors opened. He stepped inside and the place was pitch black. He couldn't see anything or feel his way around.

"Hello?" He called out but no one answered. He tried again but this time louder, "Hello!"

Soon he heard footsteps walking towards him. Then from the corner of his eye he saw a flash of light. A figure wearing a black cloak that covered his whole body was holding a match with fire burning at the end of it. He lit a candle on a wall then another, then another till the whole place was lit up.

He was now able to see. Before him is a large hall made out of this clear white tiles where you can almost see your reflection upon it. White pillars were lined up on either side of a red carpet that led all the way up to a grand staircase that split to more staircases to the left and to the right.

"Magnificent," He whispered to himself.

"Sir," A voice echoed throughout the halls.

He looked to his right and saw the cloaked figure all the way at the far corner of the hall standing next to an opened door.

"If you will follow me," the figure stepped inside the room.

Once Humam was inside there was a long table filled with a splendid feast. Three cloaked figures stood with their backs against a wall. One of them stepped forward and walked towards him.

"Our master wishes you to stay and rest for the night if it pleases you?"

The voice of this figure was deep. Different from the other that first spoke to him.

"Ah yes, yes. Will you thank him for me?"

The person bowed and walked back to his original position between the two others.

Humam sat himself down in a chair grabbed all that he can from the table onto his plate and began to eat. One of the figures moved to his side holding a bottle of wine.

"Red wine, sir?"

This time the voice sounded like a females."Oh, yes please."

As she poured the wine into a glass goblet the sleeve of the cloak pulled back a little to reveal sickly pale white skin.

He noticed this and couldn't help but feel somewhat worried.

"Are you alright? You seem awfully pale."

She immediately pulled the sleeve over her hand, "Yes, sir. No need to worry."

She set the bottle down on the table and walked back to the wall.

After he finished eating his food one of the figures took him upstairs to a bedroom where he can sleep.

"Your camel is also being taken care of and your belongings are right over there," He pointed to all of his belongings next to the bed, "Tomorrow morning you will find breakfast in the same place you ate tonight. Goodnight, sir," He bowed.

"Goodnight."

Next morning Humam woke up and went downstairs to find breakfast on the table just like the cloaked figure had told him.

He ate till he was full and laid back against the chair. He looked around the room and noticed that not one of the cloaked people was around. He got up and decided to take a look around the palace.

He went up the grand staircase then took the other flight of stairs to his left that led to a long hallway with broken vases and statues aligned against the wall. The pictures that hangs on the walls were tilted and ripped with what looks like claw marks. He passed by a mirror and saw that it was shattered and its broken pieces are still lying on the floor.

Then he came up to a large door. The handle of it was a head that reminded him of a demon. He opened it and stepped inside.

Furniture, pictures, even the bed were all broken and pieces of them laid scattered all over the floor. The walls were scratched by claw marks and the curtains too. He walked farther inside and only one thing was left untouched by whatever caused this disaster is a small table.

It was beautifully carved on the legs where it looks like a vine of flowers are wrapped around them and all around the edge are small details of leaves and flowers carved into it.

But was placed on top of it dazzled the man even more. It was a desert rose that looked as if it was floating and aglow. It was in no vase filled with water but it doesn't look wilted at all.

As soon as he saw it he remembered his promise to Gamila.

He walked up to it and when he was about to remove the glass case from it a hand came out of the darkness and grabbed a hold of the top of the case keeping it in place then there was a deep growl.

He looked at the hand and fear gripped him. The hands finger nails grew out like claws and the hand itself looked rough with its blue veins showing through the skin and the flesh looked as if it were sticking onto the bones. He slowly looked up and dared to see the face of this monster.

Its teeth grew out like fangs, its red hair was wild, the flesh on its face was pale and the same as his hands blue veins showed on his face, the ears are pointed more upwards and his eyes looked as if they were shadowed showing only the bright green iris's.

Humam gasped at the sight and backed away.

"How dare you?" It growled

"I gave you shelter from the mountain lions, I gave you food, and I even gave you a place to sleep for the night and here you are steeling!" It bellowed, "You shall die for that you ungrateful little vermin!"

Humam shook with fear and went down on both knees while lifting up both his hands, "I beg of you please forgive me I had no intention to offend you. You see my daughter asked me to bring back a rose for her."

A daughter? Thought the creature.

"I will spare your life under one condition. You must promise me to have your daughter return in a month'stime, if she will come willingly and suffer for you, bur if she refuses then you will return in two month's and die by my hand."

Humam had no intention to sacrifice his only daughter for a monster like him but will have the satisfaction of seeing her one last time. So he took up the oath.

"Be gone then. Your camel is waiting outside for you along with your belongings."

Humam walked across the hall with a heavy heart and once reaching the door, nine figures, all in black cloaks, stood in front of it. They all bowed and stepped away except for one.

"We are all truly sorry for your misfortune, sir," He bowed again and stepped away into the darkness.

Hamam stepped outside and found Gamal with all his belongings on his back just as he was told. He mounted his camel and rode off with tears running down his cheeks.

~***~