Mozenrath could feel Diriel moving beneath him. The daemon did not once turn to look at Mozenrath but none the less made it clear that he could see the sorcerer.
How long do you think you can…
"…run from me Mozenrath."
The sorcerer shook his head, not sure of the sound had come from inside his skull or the ground bellow. He looked down as Diriel smiled up at him his beautiful body revealed and turned towards the sorcerer. "How long do you think these pitiful walls will last against me when I choose to come for you?" he asked as if truly concerned about the answer.
Aladdin saw Mozenrath lean weakly against the stones and spoke for him, demanding his own kind of attention. "What makes you think Agrabah will respond to this threat Diriel?" Aladdin spoke with more bravado then he felt.
"Respond?" Diriel laughed. "What choice have you? I stand at your gate with an army to rip the flesh from your fair city! The daemon snarled. "And you would refuse to respond?" he pointed to Mozenrath as the sorcerer slumped away in fear. "For this… a man who has threatened your city time and again? A man who is a greater villain than any other? You will risk your city, the lives of your people for a whore, who has condemned himself under my hand!" Diriel laughed, a loud, jovial sound as though the statement truly amused him. "You jest surely!"
"I have never been more serious." Retorted Aladdin.
Diriel's beast cantered back and forth, the daemon smiling with almost mad abandon as he sat atop it. He looked deep into Aladdin's eyes, searching, reading, looking for something to exploit. With a sudden guffaw he spoke again. "You want to bed him?"
Aladdin did not waver, he kept his face straight as stone. The people bellow had not heard the audacious statement, only himself, Jasmine and the guards were allowed up here, thus only they could hear everything said.
But Diriel did not need confirmation. He was a creature born and bred of carnal, insatiable lust. He could feel desire even when it was no obvious to those who harbored it. He laughed richly. "Very well. I give him to you for three days Aladdin! Have your joy of him, as little as he is capable of giving." Diriel said scathingly and Mozenrath hung his head in shame. "I will retreat beyond the mountains until the third sunset on the third day. By then have your fill of this whore and leave him bound outside the gates for me!" But as he spoke aloud, he also spoke silently, his burning eyes fixed on Mozenrath.
Take your joy of this handsome street rat while you can Mozenrath. For when I return you will never again know the sunlight or hope.
You lie. Mozenrath thought back at him, though even in his mind his voice shook in terror. The doors are locked, the cracks are filled so even a gnat can not fit through. You can not enter Diriel. You can never touch me again.
Diriel turned his head, the horns curved as though to stab out Mozenrath's eyes. He raised his head and laughed at the sorcerer, fangs gleaming for all to see. Three days my love my whore. He whispered as he turned the stallion and rode away. Three days. He rode to the edge of the dunes and as the sand kicked up round his stallions heels, he disappeared against the sunset.
"What I don't understand is why he is giving us this time." Aladdin said as he leaned back on the couch. "Why didn't Diriel just begin his attack now?"
"He's not really a fighter." Mozenrath said, remembering something all of the sudden. "Think of Paris who wanted Helen of Troy. He kidnapped her willingly but when it came down to a fight with her rightful husband he needed the help of a goddess to win." Mozenrath pointed to the wall. "He can probably sense the barriers and locks you've installed and knows it will prove difficult to get through."
"But doesn't want to admit it." Jasmine concluded. "He's trying to frighten us into giving you over. He looks all placid and willing to compromise now but something tells me in three days when your not sitting outside that wall he's going to play a different tune." Jasmine eyed Mozenrath and the sorcerer nodded. But as solid as she sounded, on the insides her mind was swirling.
Do it yourself! Tie him to a bloody steak in the ground if you have to but get him out of your city!
No. That wasn't right. They had started this feud and now they had to finish it. Besides, Aladdin had refused to give Mozenrath over point blank. How would it look if she, his Sultana, went behind his back to turn him over? It would be scandalous!
To hell with scandal! You can sense it! You know what lurks behind that clever face. Jasmine looked over at Mozenrath who was softly sniffing a piece of mango for edibility.
He's very clever Jasmine…you know what he's capable of. Who's to say this isn't all a plot to get into the kingdom? He gave his hand for power, why wouldn't he give his body for a little more?
"Now I'm just being paranoid." Jasmine muttered under her breath and Aladdin looked over. "Nothing." She said quickly and reached for a glass of wine. "All we can do right now is wait and see." She said and tipped the glass. "What did the scribes say about our food reserves?"
"Full and fresh." Aladdin said. "That something. They said if we ration it out right the entire city can have full bellies for a month and a half."
"Good." Jasmine nodded. "I don't want people to walk outside the walls for anything." She looked over at Mozenrath, eyeing him up and down. The sorcerer caught her stare and ducked, avoiding her eyes.
If you're being paranoid then why won't he look you in the eyes?
Shut it! Jasmine snapped at herself. There were a hundred reasons he would look away and she could name at least ten off hand. Not the least of which being Diriel's cavalier proposal at a truce.
Three days for Aladdin to have his joy of Mozenrath.
Jasmine rejected the idea. It wasn't the thought of Aladdin dallying with another man, though that held possible complications all it's own. After all, he was Sultan, and she had steeled herself for the day that gifts would come in the form of beautiful, compliant women who were eager to sleep with her husband. It would come as it came for all rulers in this part of the world. The reward for shouldering the responsibility of a kingdom.
It was the fact that the man here was a threat to her people.
Well, perhaps not so much as he was before. Her logical mind finally decided to intervene. He has been hurt…I saw the wounds with my own eyes, I could smell the sex in the air. He was used, abused and degraded. And though some part of her, the dark part she rarely let loose, thought he deserved all of that, Jasmine could not help but feel a little spurt of pity for this man.
All his life he has known nothing but darkness. Subjected to it from an early age, razed with ideals of hatred, loathing. Power was all that mattered. The power to rise above him limitations, the power to make others…
See what he'd earned.
Jasmine realized that the conversation had moved on around her and promptly brought herself back. The councils had been called in, advisors seemed to swarm around Aladdin and Jasmine as though trying to ignore Mozenrath completely. A stupid move. He was the most valuable source of information they had after being in Diriel's control for an estimated three months. They should be pressuring him for information, not pretending he wasn't there.
Aladdin had specifically been trying to ignore the sorcerer unless it was necessary. He could recognize Jasmine's looks even when she thought her face was placid. She was getting jealous. He shrugged off the feeling. There was no need to be. Alright so he'd been paying Mozenrath a little bit of attention now and then, but not in that way. For Allah's sake the man had just been through a lot.
And, if Aladdin wasn't mistaken, Mozenrath had left the rooms this morning looking for company.
The best things to do…he realized …would be to attach Mozenrath with someone else. Like maybe Sadira. She was a witch…she would understand him better. And if he wasn't mistaken, her defense of his presence on the wall was a clear sign that she already favored the sorcerer.
But no, he wasn't about to shove off someone with as much emotional baggage as Mozenrath on a friend. Besides they needed to keep Mozenrath within sight at all times. Bent and broken maybe, but he was still Mozenrath. Aladdin needed to keep an eye on him at all times.
It was the second time Aladdin had awakened to the sound of sobbing. He knew the voice now and hesitated leaving the bed he shared with Jasmine. He turned over. His wife was sound asleep and he wrapped an arm around her, pushing his face into the pillows and trying not to hear it. Aladdin tossed for a few minuets, telling himself not to move, but the sounds reached him even through the sheets. Finally, heaving a sigh he stood up and threw some clothing on. He gave Jasmine a gentle kiss and headed out the door, going for Mozenrath's set of rooms.
The sorcerer rose as he heard the door open and felt a fear arise as Aladdin entered. He was wearing a pair of pants, his chest, hard and tanned was exposed. He looked tired…even a little irate, and Mozenrath started to push away from him.
He stopped half way. If Aladdin was here for something then he could take it. Mozenrath would have little choice. He took a deep breath and stayed on the bed, quickly wiping tears from his eyes. "Yes…master?"
Aladdin grimaced at the word. "Look, you don't have to call me that alright." He said and walked in, shutting the door behind him. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking at Mozenrath's wet pillow and red rimmed eyes.
"Nothing you should concern yourself with master." Mozenrath said softly, keeping it impersonal as he could. Aladdin groaned in frustration and crossed the distance between them.
"Mozenrath…it's late. Nobody else is around. There is no one here you have to fake for. Just…call me Aladdin like this alright." He pleaded.
Mozenrath nodded but looked unsure. "I'd think you'd be used to it by now. Sultan and all." He said softly.
"Not as much as you'd think. I'm trying to get people to stop scarping the floor whenever they see me and all." He sat down opposite the sorcerer, feeling awkward. Aladdin resolved not to move any closer. "What happened?" he asked gently and Mozenrath shrugged as if to say nothing. "Moze…come on I could hear you crying from the other side of the palace."
"I'm sorry I woke you then." Mozenrath answered.
"Don't do that!" Aladdin snapped, suddenly ferocious. He grabbed Mozenrath by the shoulder and held him there. "Stop apologizing for everything like you don't care!" he ordered. His resolve had lasted all of ten seconds but damn it this was infuriating. "How long are you going to keep up this charade Mozenrath? How long are you going to pen up your emotions before they explode!"
Mozenrath had gone stiff as a rail, his face turned away, his eyes closed, expecting to be hit.
"Look at me." Aladdin ordered quietly. "Look at me!" he yelled. Mozenrath winced at the harshness of the words but opened his eyes, looking up at Aladdin. "How can you stand to be like this? How can you just sit here and let everything happen around you?" He made a noise in the back of his throat as though disgusted. "Gh it's like your not even Mozenrath anymore."
"Why would you want me to be?" Mozenrath asked slowly, afraid of the answer. Aladdin did not understand. "It's easier to not be myself Aladdin. Nobody wants me to be Mozenrath. Think about it." He said a little more boldly. "Would you rather have Mozenrath back, attacking your city and threatening those you love?" he asked and Aladdin shook his head no. "See Aladdin."
"But it's better than this." He said. His hands had still not let go of Mozenrath. Their faces were an inch apart, he could smell nag champa and lavender on Mozenrath's skin, like some far exotic fragrance. "At least then you'd…" Something like electricity clicked in the air and Mozenrath moaned slightly. Aladdin's hands gripped his arms so tightly he was cutting off circulation. The marks had not disappeared and it hurt like hell. "Sorry.' Aladdin said and let go, watching Mozenrath fall back against the sheets. "I'm sorry…I forgot."
"You are such a hypocrite Aladdin." Mozenrath said and brushed the locks of hair from his face. Resentful gray eyes stared up at a befuddled hero. "You talk to me about being afraid to be myself. Your afraid to be a Sultan." He pushed forward, a little bravado, just a small amount would have to power him for now. He was too scared to think of anything else. "You never wanted this kingdom, just the princess. And now, when it's all shoved in your face you'd rather run and hide or sail away on your carpet then deal with what you've been given."
"Oh really?" Aladdin grit his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Well if that's true why am I here now? If I did want to just sail away on Carpet then why am I fighting this battle? Why didn't I just run?"
"Because you're an idiot!" Mozenrath shot back. "No other Sultan in the world would have taken me from Diriel."
"Your saying you want to be his?"
"No! Gods I'd rather die than go back to that daemons bed! But Aladdin don't blame me for this situation your in. I didn't ask you to rescue me. I didn't ask you to bring me here…"
"I don't blame you!"
"Yes you blame me just as much as you blame yourself. Because in your heart Aladdin your not a Sultan. You're a hero. You'd have rather spent the rest of your life saving people and being totally unconcerned with how others make do." Mozenrath said confidently. "You are a Sultan now! You have to learn to be ruthless."
"Like you?" Aladdin chuffed and turned away. "A tyrannical Sultan is always watching for those who will betray him." Aladdin quoted, though he could not quite remember what from.
"And a weak Sultan will never command the respect he needs." Mozenrath retorted. "You even afraid to take what's yours by right." He muttered softly.
Aladdin stood there for a second, his jaw opened, his temper quickly unraveling. "I'm..I'm what?" Mozenrath seemed to suddenly know he'd pushed it too far and began to back away. Without warning Aladdin surged forward, grabbing Mozenrath around the wrist and yanking him close. "You think I'm afraid of you?" he said, his bravery challenged. Mozenrath tried to shake his head and whisper no but Aladdin gave him no opportunity.
He pushed his fingers through Mozenrath's hair, slamming the sorcerer's lips onto his with such ferocity it hurt. Aladdin's other arm wrapped tightly around the waist, holding him, pushing their bodies closer as a muffled sound of shock came from Mozenrath. Aladdn pried Mozenrath's mouth open, slipping his tongue quickly in to tickle his.
Mozenrath did not wince as he was thrown against the bed, face first into the pillows. He had known this would come, sooner or later. It was all a matter of time and Aladdin would ravage his body. He bit his lips shut, willing himself not to make a sound as Aladdin's weight pressed into him, his hands finding the center of the rich green material and tore it apart, exposing Mozenrath's naked torso.
It wasn't till he heard the shriek that Aladdin seemed to come back into his senses and stop. He had grabbed Mozenrath's arms as a way of pinning him down, forgetting the burning red signs there. They now blazed angrily back at him, his own finger prints against the sore and burning flesh disappeared back to normal color. Mozenrath lay there, his eyes glazed in pain, his body arched, ready…braced for what he was sure was coming.
Aladdin nearly threw himself off the bed and away from Mozenrath, looking at his hands as though they were blood stained. He covered his face with them, closing his eyes as he realized what he had come so close to doing. "I…Oh Allah…" he looked at Mozenrath who was just starting to realize that he was no long pushed down. The sorcerer raised enough to look at Aladdin, confused and apprehensive.
Damn it but he looked so innocent, half naked, wavy black hair covering his eyes. His moist, full lips were drawn open as though about to scream. The pale blue bed sheets were wrapped around his body, wavering in the breeze. Mozenrath touched his arm where Aladdin had grabbed it and made a low whimper.
"I'm sorry." Aladdin said just loud enough to make it out. "Allah Mozenrath I'm so sorry." He ran for the door, terrified of himself, of what he had come so close to doing.
Jasmine awoke to the feeling of strong, pursuant hands between her thighs, playing along the folds of her pussy. "Aladdin…" she moaned softly. Her nipples were hardened like little chocolate chips, her little clitoris already swollen and wet. Clearly he had been at this for a few minuets before she'd awakened. His fingers slipped in and out of her tightening slit, pushing little pressures along the way.
"Do you want me to stop?" he whispered to her gently, his mouth already working against her back and neck muscles. His warm, moist tongue slipped along her spine and he pushed another finger in as she opened herself up to him.
"No!" Jasmine begged and arched back against his body. "Aladdin…please don't stop…"
"But I thought maybe I was waking you up." He teased and began to rub his hand around her rib cage, raking his nails down her stomach and up again to touch her hardened breasts.
Jasmine giggled girlishly and turned around to face him, shrugging off the covers and revealing her body. "Aladdin…" she whispered, touching his chest and kissing down his neck. "Aladdin…your flushed?" she said softly. "Are you all right?" she asked, an eye brow arched. He blushed brightly and pressed a virile kiss to her lips. She took that as an answer. Men oft awoke from dreams liken to their desire in real life. She had learned that since marriage. It would explain the heat from his skin and tussled, tossed look of his hair.
Not that she was complaining.
Aladdin swiftly moved down her body, taking in her breasts, chest, abdomen, and pelvis with his fingers, than his tongue. Jasmine could not help a girlish squeal when his lips met those between her legs and he wrapped his mouth around them. Little wet sounds of suction echoed in the hall as he devoured her femininity.
Jasmine whimpered. She desperately longed to bring his manhood to her in the same way. But properly bred girls didn't do those things. And she must maintain, no matter how badly she longed to take his hardened shaft between her lips and…
Her imagination was bringing her closer to climax. She loved nights like this to begin with. They were quick, but passionate, as if tension had been successfully mounting all day just to explode in a cacophony of desire and need. Aladdin rose up and spread her thighs open, settling comfortably between them and pushing in, his shaft filling her body in the way the both wanted.
Jasmine felt her tightness swell around him, the soft, sensual lips pulling him in deeper and deeper. She arched and moaned, wrapping her arms around Aladdin's shoulders. He grinned and began to set a steady pace, thrusting with increasing speed, just to slam himself completely in and slow down, prolonging the inevitable.
Aladdin held her close, smelling the sweet, womanly scent of her flesh and being. He called out her name, his lips roaming her mouth with fervor. "Jasmine!" he called out as she bucked against his penetrating rod. She answered him with her own sounds, begging him to bring her with him as their bodies climbed high and higher.
Jasmine finally felt Aladdin collapse in bed beside her, the both of them warm and satisfied. Jasmine hummed in contentment and settled her head against his hardened chest, cuddling with his arm around her. Aladdin kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair, turning her cheeks up to look at him.
"Jasmine…I need to tell you something." He said softly, a sense of dread growing.