Disclaimer: I don't own Aladdin.

The plot has now officially begun!

Chapter 8

Unveiled Identities

(Jafar)

The next morning, I awoke feeling disoriented. Very disoriented, and confused.

I was hoping fervently that the fiasco with the carpet and the Sultana had been a dream, because it was quite crazy to become true. Groaning, I put my hand to my head, realizing that I was also nursing the mother of hangovers, and migraines too. Last night had been a banquet, and Razoul had apparently taunted me into drinking a little too much wine. My eyes widened, a few clips from the bonaza coming back.

Finally deciding that I really didn't want to get up after all, I sank back onto the bed. I was blessed by Allah if the Sultana didn't remember any of that, because if she did, then I would be lucky to escape from the court with my head still intact. Jala emerged from her lamp, looking like she was trying to keep a straight face. "Don't," I said flatly as she opened her mouth.

Just then, Haillie floated in under the door. I groaned and rolled over in my bed, shutting my eyes and trying to ignore the ringing of my ears. "Not you," I growled.

From somewhere behind me, I heard an inane giggle, and then Iago repeating, "Not you." "Yeah, and the Sultana was all like, 'You're too skinny!' and he was all like tipping over the carpet!" Another giggle. I flipped over and sat up, even though it made my head want to split open. "You know? For somebody who looks like they just got dipped in pepto bismol, you're pretty annoying," I complained.

I heard a cough from behind me. Jala was sitting cross-legged on my covers, looking quite cross. "Could you just lay off of her for one second? She's been through a lot more than you'll ever go through, though I must admit, that show with the Sultana was quite intriguing." She was trying hard to keep a straight face, I could tell. A smart comeback was always hard to think of when Jala was around; it wasn't easy admitting that she was the first person that had ever caught me tonguetied.

At last, I coughed too and replied, "Yes, but that show also made you turn green with envy." Jala's eyes widened. "Of all of the low, shallow excuses that you could make up!" I smiled charmingly at her and raised an eyebrow, tilting my head toward her slightly. "Admit it, darling. You can't resist me." Jala made a disgusted face at me and vanished back into her lamp. Well, that got rid of her fast.

Now, I had to deal with Haillie.

……………………….

Two hours later, it was time for me to attend to my royal duties. It had taken a toll on my limited abilities to get Haillie out of my chambers. My head was still banging, and my ears were ringing, and I kept having to lean against the wall. This I found preposterous, as I considered leaning on anything or anybody a weakness. It was unimaginable and unacceptable for myself to be doing it!

It was a relief as I walked into the cool, spacious throne room. However, I made the mistake of looking at the high-domed ceiling to thank Allah, which made my stomach clench. I forced it down, but instead ended up collapsing in a heap, with my red and black garments swimming around me, right in the middle of the marble floor, clutching my head. At last, I pressed it to the marble and felt the cold seep through my head. "Ah, yes…"

A titter. I peeked out of the folds of silk and marble at reality. Standing with his arms crossed was Razoul, at last having his chance to look down at me. "Eh, boss?" he asked uncertainly. The fool.

However, I felt a stabbing bruise to my dignity as I unwillingly pushed myself off of the floor and stared down at the smaller man, at last at my rightful place: above him. "Yes, Razoul?" I asked him stonily. Over the years as Grand Vizier and closest place to the throne, (even closer, after finding Jala!), I had learned to never let your inferiors bother you. "Er, um, nothing," Razoul muttered, and walked away. I smiled triumphantly.

Before sauntering up to the throne to my place, I complacently patted the small, elegant gold lamp in my black belt. In return, I got a small wisp of very hot green smoke that made my draw back my hand. Apparently, Jala wasn't in a mood to cooperate. Well, she had no choice: I had my wish ready for her tonight.

………………….

I collapsed onto the bed in my chambers, completely worn out.

Today had been host to a very large, extra long line of peasants. Apparently, Agrabah had never been needier. Sighing, I pulled out Jala's prison from my belt and set it on a desk. "Jala, come out," I said, tired. Jala materialized with her back to me, arms crossed. I glared at her braid. "Jala." "Yes?" she replied curtly. "What do you want me to do, apologize?" I snapped. "I'm the master and you're the genie here."

I heard an odd sound then, halfway between a sob and a sniffle, I could guess. My back stiffened and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. I might have almost become ruler of the world and could kill men with ease…there was no doubt, I had a blackened heart. However, there was one thing that I just could not witness. Crying.

Jala turned around. What looked like green puffs of smoke were coming from her painted eyes, which I supposed to be tears. "Yes, and that's what I'll ever be, right?" she yelled. "Your genie! Your slave! I'm worthless except to wait on your every whim! Do you know how that feels, Jafar? I'll bet that you have no idea what it feels like to be enslaved to the one man that will never love you." I was shocked speechless. "But Jala," I said. "You despise me. I thought we had an agreement that we'd be enemies."

The green genie turned on me in disbelief. "Honestly, Grand Vizier, you are really a little stupid." She gave a weak chuckle. "You haven't figured out that I love you?" With that, she shrank back into the lamp. With all thought of my first wish forgotten, I lay back in my bed and gazed at the ceiling, back at hating the world again.

Sunlight, burning hot, poked through my hooded eyelids, and I peeked them open, cursing the sun. Was it morning already? I had fallen asleep at four in the afternoon, something that did not ever happen in the history of an evil genius, especially not with their nemesis watching. Iago squawked and perched on my shoulder. "Wow, you got hit hard, didn't ya, boss?" he chirped smartly. I did nothing but stand up and glare slightly at him. Iago might be my best friend, but I wasn't in the mood for smart cracks.

Warily, I eyed the golden lamp sitting innocently on the table, almost expecting Jala to materialize with more of her sarcastic remarks. This morning, there would be no more of those, and I only then came to realize that I was only appreciating my only somewhat human friend once she was gone.

I sighed. "Iago, did you have any idea?" The parrot shrugged. "Course I did. Anybody with a heart would!" That just made me lapse into silence. Was that what I was then, a monster? A twisted person beyond reach with a blackened heart, no feelings at all to make room for my mad quest and desire for power? The image of evil, unreachable. It was all I had ever worked to be, yet, it was that person that I despised at that moment, once at I had experienced what it was to be human.

Then, suddenly, I knew what I had to do.

Inhumane was one thing that I might have been good at, but apologies were not. It was a shame that it was just what I had to do. A little voice in the back of my head, (or it could have been Iago), kept saying that I was throwing my evil career down the drain. Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie would end up on top. I tried my best to ignore it as I stepped over to Jala's lamp and tapped it slightly.

"Jala? Are you in there?" I whispered. Completely silent and no reply. Well, I didn't blame her.

I took a deep breath and just let it all out. "I'm sorry." Silence. Wow, I really wasn't good at this. Maybe I had become more corrupted over the years than I realized. "I'm really not good at this," I admitted, feeling like a fool talking to a parrot and a lamp, (even if they were my best friends, which seemed very sad indeed). "But I'm sorry. I'll understand if you never forgive me, you'll be another addition to a long list of people who never have."

With that, I swept out of the room, and for the first time in my life, I felt the burn and sting of tears as they leaked out of the corner of my eyes.

A/N: Showing the soft side of Jafar there. Sorry if I'm like pressing his chapters, I just love the evil characters! Next chapter will either be Sorrah or Sultana, because I REALLY need to play them out more.