Chapter Eight- The Servant
Jasmine awoke the next morning still a leopard and lying next to Mozenrath who was also still a leopard and was waking too. They locked eyes on one another before Jasmine stretched forward and rubbed her forehead on Mozenrath's forehead. He growled softly before licking her cheek lovingly. She gave a soft purr before saying, "We must do this again. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
"As did I. We will do this again. Shall we change and begin making preparations for acquiring our slave?"
"Absolutely." Both leopards shifted back to human form and got dressed before entering the room containing the Conquest Wheel. There, they sat down at a table and started to making plans. Jasmine pointed out that it was best to wait the two weeks they had originally planned.
"Why wait? We can change perfectly at will and our ability to infect a human won't fail since we have accepted our dual natures."
"True. However, there is likely panic in the city now. No doubt, the merchant I killed last night has been discovered. If I am to succeed, it is best that it be done when security is not as tight as it will be once the body is discovered."
Mozenrath nodded. "I see. Yes, we wait two weeks."
Aladdin frowned at the late afternoon sky as he brooded in his hovel. He had failed to rescue Jasmine and her friend these last two weeks. Every time he went to Mozenrath's kingdom, he would find a protective screen keeping him out. He couldn't have Genie try to take it down with his own magic because of the fact that mixing magics was dangerous. He wasn't about to try to a rescue attempt at night because for all he knew Mozenrath had an ambush waiting for him to try a night rescue.
Another concern was apparently there was a wild animal that was attacking the city at night, which was strange considering they never had an animal attack before. A merchant had been found two weeks ago with his throat torn out. The sultan had been horrified to hear about the attack and insisted that everyone complete their business before nightfall. Only Aladdin and the guards were allowed to be out at night as they were charged with finding the animal responsible for the murder and putting it down. It was because of this animal that Aladdin insisted that Genie and Carpet take Abu and Iago somewhere safe until the danger had passed. Indeed, he had even persuaded Genie to take his lamp with him. So far, no wild animal was found.
Aladdin heard rapid footsteps coming up the stairs and he immediately leaped to his feet, poised to attack if it was an enemy. His poise slackened when he saw that his visitor was Razoul. "Street Rat," he said. "Princess Jasmine has returned and wishes to see you in her room."
A huge grin spread on Aladdin's face. Jasmine had escaped! Perhaps, she had found a cure and wanted him along to help her. "Thanks, Razoul," he told the guard as he headed past him and down the stairs before sprinting up the street to the palace's front doors. He hurried inside and headed right up to Jasmine's chambers and threw open the doors before shutting them behind him and there, on the bed, was Jasmine who rose from the bed and said softly and lovingly. "Oh, Aladdin."
Jasmine smiled sweetly at Aladdin, who embraced her with a sense of relief. "Jasmine, I'm so glad you're back."
"Oh, Aladdin, you have no idea what I went through," she said. "My friend and I weren't in control of our own bodies and couldn't resist Mozenrath's commands. We finally found a counter to break his control over us, but we are still what we call were-leopards."
"I see." Aladdin's tone was soft. "There must be some way to reverse it."
"There isn't," Jasmine stated firmly. "While we looked for a way to break Mozenrath's control, we also looked for a way to be fully human. We didn't find one; not even the Tree of Renewal can fix it."
"Okay, you win. But this doesn't change how I feel about you. Perhaps, you can make me a leopard once the full moon comes back."
"Perhaps." Jasmine smirked at her victim before slashing at his arm with her sharp claw-like nails.
Aladdin gasped at the pain and grasped at the injury, shock registering on his face. "Jasmine! Why-?"
"You said you wanted me to make you a leopard. Well, I just did. I can't believe how easy that was. You see, the friend I spoke of was actually Mozenrath and he's taken me for his mate. We've learned to transform outside of the full moon and soon you will become our leopard servant and will do whatever we command."
Anger surged through Aladdin. Mozenrath had turned Jasmine evil. Now she was an enemy as well. "I will never serve you!"
"You will soon find out that you won't be able to resist. Mozenrath and I studied our abilities well over the last two weeks." Jasmine turned her eyes to the blood red sky and watched as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Aladdin gasped as he fell to his knees while Jasmine remained standing; she chose to remain in human form in order to ensure that Aladdin would be an obedient servant. She watched as he sprouted the fur, paws, ears, teeth, and tail of an Arabian leopard. His now green eyes wer closed and he shook his head, growling softly. Jasmine sensed he was trying to fight the obedience that had been planted into him through her scratch. If he breaks the spell and tries to attack me, I'll transform and kill him. It'll be a pity, but Mozenrath and I knew that that's a possibility. But, if we can enslave Aladdin, a brave strong hero, then we can enslave anyone we choose. However, one servant will be enough.
Aladdin opened his eyes and focused on Jasmine. He padded forward and sank into a submissive bow, which told Jasmine that Aladdin had succumbed to the spell and was under her and her mate's complete control. Jasmine smirked as she climbed onto Aladdin's back and said, "Now, to The Land of the Black Sand. Let's go." Aladdin responded as he leaped over her bedroom balcony, into the garden, onto the wall, and into the streets before speeding out into the desert toward his ordered destination.
Mozenrath looked up as the doors of the Throne Room opened and Jasmine walked in with a leopard right behind her. The princess strode up to her mate and kissed his cheek. "Mission accomplished. Aladdin is our obedient servant." She gestured at the cat, who kneeled before them.
Mozenrath grinned with delight. "Wonderful! What do you say we celebrate by sending our servant to hunt some food for us?"
"I like that idea, however I would like to go with him to keep an eye on him."
"I see. You want to make sure his obedience is total."
"I do."
"Very well, my dear. Aladdin, I want you to hunt down and bring some food for my mate and me. Go." Mozenrath pointed at the doors and Aladdin obeyed. Jasmine transformed into a leopard and followed her slave out the door.
Aladdin wandered deep into the desert before going into hunt mode. Jasmine made sure to stay back and let him work. If he's going to hunt, it's best to let him learn on his own. Once he's made his first kill, he'll find that being a leopard is a wonderful thing; I know I did. She watched as the male lifted his head and sniff the air before breaking into a sprint with her right behind him, hoping he had found prey instead of him breaking the obedience spell and running away from her.
She came to halt when she saw Aladdin leap over a dune and heard the sound of camel cry that was quickly truncated. She crept to the top of the dune and peered down to see a camel lying on its side with Aladdin's jaws firmly locked on its neck. He released his hold, looked up at Jasmine, and sank into a bow before saying, "Your meal, my master."
"Excellent," Jasmine commented. "Grab it and follow me." She turned around and started home, her ears picking up the sound of a body being dragged. Her servant soon appeared beside her, walking backwards as he dragged his kill. They eventually reached the Citadel's front doors where the princess instructed him to release the carcass. He did so and then sat down to await further instructions.
"I am impressed with your hunting skills. Tell me, did you enjoy it?" Jasmine asked.
"Yes, I did. It was so easy probably because of my being a leopard. It was so cool."
"I'm pleased that you like being a leopard. I will go and fetch my mate and you will guard our food so that no one steals it."
"Yes, master."
Jasmine padded inside the Citadel and as soon as she was gone, Aladdin blinked and shook his head. Uh, what happened? I remember Jasmine scratching me and then pain as I was changing into a leopard. Everything after that is just a blur. I know I was moving and I saw Mozenrath and Jasmine. I even heard myself saying things, but I'm not sure what.
The clicking of claws drew his attention and he looked up as Mozenrath and Jasmine appeared, both in leopard form. Aladdin felt a haze trying to invade his mind, but he struggled against it, determined to remember the following events clearly.
"Ah, camel. Nice work, Aladdin," Mozenrath commented.
Aladdin felt himself sinking into a bow and his voice saying, "Thank you, master." He felt horrified at his words. He had called Mozenrath his master! Then, it was true that Jasmine had implanted an obedience spell into him when she turned him. His will belonged to the others and he had no choice but to obey. This realization made his heart sink. No! He will not let himself be controlled by evil! There had to be a way to break it!
His eyes focused on the feasting leopards. Perhaps their control will break if I kill them. Wait a minute! What am I thinking!? I can't kill them. My freedom is not worth killing, even if they are my enemies. I could never kill, at least not willingly. The dead camel before him told him that he had killed under Mozenrath's orders. He vowed that he would break the spell and the best way to do that was to find the scroll with the spell on it and read it carefully. He nodded slightly to himself; he would do that in the morning.
Aladdin desperately scoured the lab. He had to find that were-leopard scroll. There had to be a way to break the spells that changed him last night and made him follow Mozenrath and Jasmine's commands.
"Aladdin! What are you doing in here?" came Mozenrath's voice from the doorway.
Aladdin turned around and found he could not lie to the sorcerer. "I'm looking for the were-leopard scroll."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"I want to break the spells that made me a leopard and make me obey you and Jasmine."
Mozenrath smirked at Aladdin's response. I won't punish him for his answer. Answering his questions would be much better. The answers will crush his hopes and his spirit.
"You don't need to find that scroll for I have memorized every word of it. The spell that makes you obey was implanted when Jasmine scratched you; therefore it cannot be broken. As for the leopard spell, once one has been marked, there is no way to reverse it. Normally, the change would only occur with the full moon, but since Jasmine and I don't need it to transform, anyone we infect will change into a leopard every night whether they want to or not."
Aladdin's eyes widened at Mozenrath's explanation and he stood there in shock as Mozenrath swept from the room. He was stuck as a leopard and would change every night and since obedience had been implanted in the scratch, he would obey his enemies day or night. I believe I am fighting their control. I couldn't last night because they wanted me as an obedient leopard servant. If I can resist their commands during the day, I can effect an escape and hopefully find a way to be free of being their slave. I'm not going to try to cure Jasmine; she's too far gone. She's an evil leopard and she absolutely loves being one.
Has Aladdin found a way to escape or will it lead to terrible trouble?