- Chapter Four -

Jasmine opened her eyes into a searing white light that seemed threatened to pull her in. She winced away as her eyes failed to open in her first attempt, but cooperated more with a second try. She rubbed them weakly, still squinting against the pure blinding light that, even with her eyes closed, burned. She uneasily stood and almost stumbled back down before an arm gently caught her.

"Easy, you wouldn't want to get a crease in that dress." A familiar voice eased behind her as he helped her to stand. Jasmine spun around with wonder and amazement as she turned face to face with Aladdin. He was smiling handsomely at her, dressed dashingly in his very best clothes, topped with his purple feathered turban snugly on his head and the gold and violet robes she had seen him in more than once. She glanced down at her ensemble; a white and elegant dress that was beautifully crested with sparkling round diamonds and flowed as a snowy river behind her. A wedding dress. She did not understand, this was all so impossible; but yet she didn't have the heart to deny herself the pleasure.

"What . . . " She tried to talk, but as she blindly gazed around the ballroom, she made out family faces and lifelong friends that were spinning around the room. A song was playing; so loud, and yet beautiful, she could notimagine how she had notnoticed it at first. "How is this real?" She mumbled more to herself than anyone. The guests that danced around the ballroom seemed unfazed by her rise from the marble floor or her second near-fall. It was almost like they did not even know she was there. As if they did not matter.

Then she realized they didn't. Jasmine's mind couldn't comprehend everything. Aladdin was dead. She watched him die in front of her very own eyes, so how was this even remotely possible? Jasmine's head began to throb and she wavered yet again. Aladdin took her unsteady hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Everything was so perfect here, what was happening? Reality escaped her and she felt the strong urge to just accept and enjoy.

"Am I dead?" She wondered aloud, Aladdin smiled gently back; his expression changing very little by her blunt question. It would be the only thing to make sense. She and Aladdin were supposed to married, of course and here . . . 'That was an old dream; it's out of reach now. This is never going to happen, at least, not in life.' She reminded herself with a slight sigh.

"Come dance with me." He said to her, leading her out slowly onto the middle of the dance floor. The marble gleamed of the burning candles mounted on the walls and in the chandeliers that dangled above them. The guests that were dancing gracefully around them, parted and stood still on the sides of the floor, all eyes were on her and Aladdin. As she took less and less notice of them, they began to slowly fade off into the horizon, leaving her and Aladdin alone to the harmonious music.

"But, how is this possible?" Jasmine asked as they started to slow dance to a new melody that sounded vaguely familiar. As a few chords were struck and a couple instruments were added, she recognized the sound to be that of the song her and Aladdin had sang on their very first magical date. Her heart began to pound against her rib cage and the adrenaline was rushing to her head. It was so wondrous and so beautiful, she felt she was in a glorious daze.

"Just trust me." Aladdin whispered in her ear as he pulled her closer. "Trust me." His words began to repeat over and over, gently weaving into her ear. His hand stroked her back gently, his other hand clasped with her's. He rested his cheek against her hair and began to sway with her to the music. Their music. "All you need to do, is trust me."

"I trust you." She replied in the barest of whispers and shut her eyes. She let Aladdin lead her in the dance, rocking softly together to the gentle harmony. The feel of him was so real, so absolute. His body was strong as he held her, warm and tender. She wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms forever, to never leave his compassionate embrace.

"Aladdin, I never got to tell you. I never got to say that I --" Jasmine's words were stopped at the tip of her tongue as Aladdin put a finger to her mouth and silenced her. His loving brown eyes seemed to dance as they locked with her's. "Aladdin . . ." She sighed and felt a hot tears sting her eyes.

"Jasmine." His voice had a faint echo that covered it as it slowly began to fade and become distant. Jasmine shut her eyes and clung to him as a last attempt to keep him with her. She buried herself in the crook of his neck and inhaled the scent of him, treasuring it as she held him. He was leaving her again.

"Please don't go. Don't leave me. Please. No." She whispered in his chest. He held her very tight and continued to caress her hair and the small of her back. His words still repeated to her as he disappeared and left her alone on the floor. Jasmine searched for him, but there was nothing but a white void that began to increase and suddenly consumed her.

"Don't leave me." Jasmine mumbled into the carpet that was pressed to the side of her face. "Please." The plea stretched the contours of her face and made her wince slightly. A new headache had taken over from the daze one she had recently experienced. What was happening now? Jasmine drowsily lifted her heavy head off the floor and felt a throbbing pain that seared on her leg.

"It's about time you woke up." Mozenrath's cruel voice spoke from behind her. As she craned her neck around, she looked at him as he leaned against the corner of his desk, arms folded and his head cocked to the side. He had an annoyed statement mixed vaguely with an amused one. He casually walked over to her and sneered down upon her. A gesture Jasmine was beginning to get used to.

"Just get it over with and kill me." Jasmine hissed with venom. After the recent dream, she had an even larger void in her heart and a stronger yearning to join him. Seeing what could've been, made everything she had traveled there for seem worthwhile. To regain some of her composure, she sat up and rubbed her raw cheek that had been on the carpet for, who knew how long.

"Princess. Do you really think I would just end your life," He snapped his fingers together and smirked. ". . . like that? Especially when you ask for it? Please, what kind of man do you take me for?"

"I take you for a coward." Jasmine said with much more bravado than she felt well inside of her. With her energy drained and her spirit diminished, she had no idea what she was getting to or why she was bothering. But still, something was burning inside of her the pushed her on; to walk over the line and keep going without return. After all, she had nothing to lose. "A man who hides behind his magic and lacks true bravery and courage that he claims to hold."

"I would watch what I say, if I were you." Mozenrath warned as his blood steamed to his gauntlet and caused it to automatically glow a violet haze.

"Mozenrath, you're nothing but a weak, inconsequential, low and vial snake that deserves everything you shall get; a painful and horrible death." Her voice was low and raging, her temper hot and reeling. Straining from the pressure on her leg, Jasmine found the fuel in her rage to stand against the pain and face him. "When you took this kingdom, you betrayed the man who taught you. He was weak and old, unable to battle you. But, even though you claim to be the most powerful sorcerer in the Seven Deserts, you are no more powerful than the words you speak; vain and shallow!"

Mozenrath felt his mouth twist into and angry frown and a feral snarl escaped his throat as he slashed his gauntlet in front of her face, sending her sprawling once again to the floor. Jasmine gasped and coughed from the blow, but did not take long before she rose to her feet once again and stared him down. "Jasmine, I'm warning you." To illustrate his point, Mozenrath lifted his glove and let the azure glow return to it.

"No, I'm warning you. I'm warning you of all the gruesome and malevolent deeds that shall not go unpunished, once left by your hand. You kill without thought, without consequence and without mercy. You deserve to die over and over, for each death you have caused." Jasmine's hands shook slightly in the balled fists they remained in at her side. Her nails cut into her palms and a trickle of blood escaped her tightened hand.

"And why am I the one to be punished, Princess?" His voice was suddenly unnaturally calm and cool. Mozenrath cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. The glow was slowly draining from the gauntlet and weakening the inclement glow. "Haven't you realized yet? Haven't you thought of who really killed Aladdin?"

Jasmine's placid face suddenly changed as her brow furrowed in confusion. "Mind games won't work on me, Mozenrath. So don't even try." She stepped back as he stepped towards her. Her voice wavered slightly, and she was sure he heard it.

"You haven't figured it out, have you?" He smiled at her befuddled statement. "Let's think about this, shall we? Remind me Jasmine, who was it that Aladdin took the blade for? Who was too absorbed in what was happening, they didn't react or block what was coming? Who trembled in the face of danger and showed her true cowardly face? You, Jasmine. You."

"Stop it. Stop it!" Jasmine's heart was beating so fast and violently, she thought she might throw it up with the bout of queasiness that threatened to make her fall. Her knees buckled and caused her to sway, her palms were sweaty and stung as it flowed into her self inflicted cut that already was burning in her hand.

"What's a matter, Princess? Can't face the truth. Don't you see? He was just trying to protect you, trying to save you from me. Which, in the past, you have shown to be able to take care of yourself, so what happened? Why did you freeze and allow Aladdin to take something that was meant for you?"

His words sliced into her and cut out her throbbing heart; shredding it to pieces. Her face was white and perspiration covered in a slick and cold dew across her brow. Jasmine's stomach was in knots and constantly became tighter and tighter. She clutched her side as her vision began to blur and double of everything was dancing before her eyes. "Stop it." She said again, but it was faint and strangled.

"Stop what? From telling you what you've known since that day? The truth?" He walked closer to her; only a mere foot separated them. He sneered down upon her glossy eyes and felt a twitch in his mouth that was struggling to become a smile. "The blame is solely upon you. Get it now, Princess?" He paused and let his next words roll around in his mouth before he spoke them. "Aladdin is dead because of you."

To Be Continued . . .

Please R/R!