A/N: Yet again I completely suck at updating regularly. However, this chapter ended up being quite long with a lot of dialogue so embrace the small victories I guess? :-)
The afternoon sun washed over Jasmine while she lay on the cooling stone of the large, garden fountain. Gingerly she dipped her fingers into the still water, disturbing its glass-like quality. She watched as the ripples spread out to cover the breadth of the pool before disappearing into obscurity and then began to ponder on how quiet the past month had been in the palace. Day to day life had become calmer, predictable, tolerable, and-if she was being honest with herself-some days were even enjoyable. She had learned to view her husband as a lesson of power rather than a monster, and this shift in view brought with it more changes than she could have ever wished for. His violent tendencies toward her morphed into not kindness but passion. Now when his hands met her it was not to strike her down but to wrap her into himself, to keep her close. And close was where she wanted to be. She found herself studying him. In times when he was alone and deep in thought to times when he interacted with others from servants to various men of power, she watched intently in an effort to absorb even an ounce of his strength. In fact, she had begun to take in parts of his qualities and even took on a new selective reserve to replace the childlike outbursts that she was so well known for. Jafar had noticed this change in her as well and in turn began to treat her more like a queen in front of others, almost taking a sense of pride in her. This evolution between them surely must surprise them both.
When her musings began to fade she noticed her reflection in the fountain start to dim. The sun was setting and this evening was reserved for a political dinner that would be hosted in the palace. Reluctantly, she left the peace of the garden and made her way up to her room. To her surprise she found the bed draped with a slim, long dress that was as rich and black as her hair. It was almost too beautiful to disturb and she decided that she would not do so until it was necessary.
For an hour she prepared, cleansing her skin with scented water, lining her eyes so that they became mesmerizing, and elaborately tying her hair in a high ponytail, creating a coal waterfall down to the middle of her back. The feel of the fabric as she slid it over her legs was luxurious and once it was on completely she noticed how it clung to her body like a second flesh. The sleeves went from her wrists to the tips of her shoulders, barely capping them. She spent a moment admiring this work of art until something caught her attention. Turning her body she could see in her mirror that the dress was backless, exposing her skin from the top of her shoulder blades and plunging down to the very bottom of her lower back. Her heart sank as her vision narrowed in on the scars that still bore the pain of her husband's anger.
"How is it that even the most expensive fabrics in the world are shrouded by the beauty of your eyes?"
Jafar's snakelike ability to appear from nowhere was uncanny. He slowly approached her, taking in his prize more with each step until is slender hands encased her shoulders. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the burning and tempting sent of sandalwood that laced her raven hair. She smelled enticing and dangerous.
"Are you as pleased with this dress as I am?"
She placed her hands on top of his and spoke carefully, "Jafar…please take these scars away. I know that you can and I cannot bear to look at them one more day. I do not feel whole."
His face turned stoic as he drew his hands back to his sides, backing away from her slightly.
"No Jasmine. I will not do that."
She quickly turned around to look directly into his eyes. "Why? Why would you say that? I know that you have the ability! All they do is remind me of a past pain, of something that I need to forget. And do you want our guests to see the cruelty you are capable of?"
Feeling that she was beginning to get out of control he swiftly pinned her against the wall, holding her wrists firm and burrowing his eyes deep into hers. She seemed frightened which satisfied him.
"No, Jasmine I do not want them to see what I am capable of. I want YOU to see what I am capable of. As you so succinctly put it, they serve as a reminder to you. And this reminder is not something that you need to or will ever forget. I have admired the progress you have made recently and encourage you to find strength; however, I will never let you forget who allowed you to have that strength. I will never let you forget who is truly in control and will always be. And most importantly, I will never let you forget what can happen, what is at stake, if you choose to defy me. Do you understand?"
Feeling trapped both in body and in words, her gaze went to the floor, symbolizing her acceptance of defeat.
"Yes."
Her voice was soft and gentle and after a moment of appraisal, he released her from his grasp.
"By the way, I have something special for you, my dear."
He turned to present a folded piece of cloth. Hesitantly, she walked up to it but then looked at him in an unsure manner.
"Open it."
Her fingers worked the beautiful fabric until it revealed its contents. A shimmering gold chain sat delicately on top of the material with a large, glowing ruby hanging on at the bottom. Overcome by its beauty, her hands fled to cover her mouth. She had never seen something so marvelous. Jafar guided her to face the mirror. He stood behind her, draping the jewel over her chest and clasping it behind her neck. His fingers made their way to her collarbones and rested.
"This is a new reminder for you, a reminder for my queen to never forget her own power, the power that her king has given her."
"It's so beautiful…"
"Yes it is. The power of beauty. However, power that comes from within can be just as potent. Jasmine, bring me the flowers in the vase that is sitting on the table by the door."
His sudden request confused her but she decided not to ask. As she took a step toward the door he held her in place.
"No. Bring them here."
"I don't understand."
He took her hand and placed it on top of the jewel so that she was holding it tight and took her other hand so that it was reaching out to the vase. He whispered in her ear.
"Concentrate. Do not go retrieve the vase. Have it come to you. You own it after all."
She felt a warming sensation fill her chest and to her surprise the vase lifted in the air and made its way to her outstretched hand. Excitement rushed through her veins, stunning her speech.
"You told me that you wanted my power, well here is a little taste of it, my pet."
"I can make things move?"
"This jewel is enchanted. It fosters the wearer's inner strength, and as long as it is in your grasp, you have the power to manipulate things."
She exhaled heavily in disbelief. Satisfied, Jafar turned her to face the mirror, plucked a bud from the flowers in the vase, and placed it in her hand.
"Make it grow."
Clasping the jewel once more the bud began to open up into full bloom right in the palm of her hand. Jafar took the flower and delicately placed it in her hair, surveying her form in the mirror. His hands slid down to clasp her waist and he took in her scent.
"You are simply enticing tonight. You need to stop tempting me, pussycat, or we will never make it to our guests."
Although Jafar was losing himself in Jasmine, her eyes remained locked on the jewel and on her new found source of strength.
"This power feels so wonderful. It makes me want to move the oceans, to move the deserts. It almost feels…dangerous."
Ignoring his advances she walked herself over to their balcony and looked up into the darkened sky.
"I want to move the stars." She turned back to him in earnest.
"Am I able to change the stars?"
Jafar went over to her and turned her around so that her back was against his chest and they were both looking up into the net of stars.
"Why would you want to change something so perfect? It would be wise of you to be careful with this gift, pussycat, I would not want you to lose control."
He took her shoulders and brought her back into his chest, relaxing her into him while he began to leave small kisses down the side of her neck. She was enjoying the moment when all of a sudden she saw something dart across the sky, almost splitting it in two. She jolted up and leaned forward over the balcony in an attempt to follow it with her stare.
"What? What is it?" Jafar was just as jolted as she was.
"Did you see? There was something-"
Taking in his quizzical yet looming look, she thought it best to not finish her thought.
"It must have been a shooting star."
Still seeming a bit uncertain of the truth in her statement, he lifted his hand toward the sky and gradually a single star turned from hot white to a rich, bright red before falling from the sky.
"If you want the stars, you shall have them."
She smiled as he wrapped his body around hers. Once again, he began kissing her neck and pushed his hand into her lower back, bringing her closer in with passion.
"But the guests-" she weakly protested.
"Let them wait."
As he took her over, she managed to get one last quick look at the sky to recover what flew so fast in front of her before Jafar crushed his mouth with to hers. In a moment the beautiful dress was in a pool around her feet, replaced by his flesh.