And the Seams Slowly Unravel…

L.A.: Sorry, I took so long to update. I was finishing up school/ got sick/ had to take my dog to the emergency clinic. I just really settled down to write again. Hope you enjoy it!

Xerxes was startled from his sleep by laughter. Yawning, Xerxes stretched before investigating the noise.

Mozenrath was hunched over his crystal globe. The light from the globe made his face look like an eerie skull.

"What's wrong?" Xerxes asked as he slithered toward him.

"Nothing's wrong," Mozenrath said, a smirk plastered on his face. "Everything's gone according to plan."

Xerxes' eyes widened. "Does that mean…"

"Yes," Mozenrath said. "It's time to make our move."

Xerxes jumped when a growl came from the curtain to his left. He shivered when he saw black mist seep out of it. For a brief moment, the mist took on the shape of a clawed foot before evaporating.

"Is that coming?" Xerxes asked.

"Oh no," Mozenrath said. "I won't bring it out to till the main event."

When Anna woke up the next morning, her lips were still tingling. It was a reminder that what had happened that night wasn't a dream.

"I can't believe that really happened," Anna said as she sat up. She let her feet dangle of the side of her bed for a few moments before sighing and standing up. "Today's going to be awkward."

It was going to be awkward because not only did she have to face Carpet, but she also had to figure out what the whole situation meant to her.

And, she really had no idea how she felt about the situation. Carpet had been an imaginary character for most of her life. Now he not only existed but he was also human? She just couldn't comprehend it.

Plus, the idea of someone loving her? She was too young. It couldn't be possible.

She tensed slightly when she felt someone tap her shoulder. Whirling around, she saw Lizzie staring at her.

"Geez, relax," Lizzie said. " It's just me."

"Sorry, not much sleep last night." Anna said.

"Okay, well I was just coming to get you for breakfast," Lizzie said. "If there is one thing this place does right it's breakfast."

Anna felt her stomach grumble as she laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, breakfast sounds good right about now."

She had avoided Carpet all day. She just didn't know how to handle him yet. She didn't think anybody noticed either… well almost everybody. Iago and Abu kept giving her strange looks but didn't comment.

It was now nighttime and out of sheer habit, she woke up at midnight. She tossed and turned for a few minutes but soon gave up.

With a sigh, she stood up and slipped out into the hallway. She didn't want to go to the courtyard yet. She still wasn't ready to face Carpet. Instead she resigned herself to wandering the halls.

The palace was different at night. Her footsteps echoed louder and the moonlight casted strange shadows shaped like mosaic designs on the walls.

Anna enjoyed the solitude. It gave her time to collect her thoughts. She let her feet take her to where ever they wanted while her mind drifted.

Thirty minutes later, she found herself at the entrance of the courtyard.

"Better quit delaying the inevitable," Anna sighed.

She stepped out into the courtyard. She was surprised to find it empty…well almost empty. Rajah was sprawled out in front of the fountain. He lifted his head and chuffed at her.

Anna remembered a friend telling her that when a tiger chuffed at you, the tiger would be offended if you didn't chuff back.

She attempted to chuff. It must have been good enough because Rajah flopped back on the ground.

Anna walked over to Rajah and sat on the edge of the fountain. "I wonder what you're doing out here," She said as she reached out and pet him. "I thought you would be sleeping in Jasmine's room."

Rajah leaned into her hand as his tail swished back and forth.

"You've been avoiding me."

Anna looked up to see Carpet staring down at her.

Rajah tensed and growled slightly. He sniffed the air and, when he caught Carpet's scent, flopped back down on the ground.

"Oh," Anna said as she returned her gaze to Rajah. She felt Carpet sit down next to her. They were silent for a few moments

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"What?" Anna said, surprised by the sudden apology.

"I'm sorry I forced you to kiss me yesterday," Carpet said.

"Well, I wouldn't say forced," Anna muttered. Her cheeks flushed as she quickly said. "I mean, don't worry about it."

"Still, I am sorry," Carpet said, his eyes drifted to the ground. "I just wanted you to know…before tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Anna said. "What's tomorrow?"

"I've decided to tell the others tomorrow," Carpet laughed slightly. "I can't stay like this forever."

"Carpet…" Anna said.

"It's the right thing to do," Carpet dragged his foot across the ground. "I mean, a carpet would make a terrible human, right? Might as well go back to just being a carpet."

"Don't say that," Anna said causing both Carpet and Rajah to start. "If you want to be a human then you shouldn't give up. Your friends will help you find a way."

"They're used to me being a carpet." Carpet looked away from her. "It's better this way. Nobody would want me to remain human anyway."

"I would," Anna said.

Carpet stared at her, as if he were trying to read her mind.

"Besides it should be about what you want," Anna said.

Carpet leaned toward her, placing his forehead against hers. "What I want, I can't have."

Anna felt her blush deepen as his breath tickled her lips. Suddenly, it didn't matter that he was a carpet or that this whole situation didn't make sense.

"You know," Anna said slowly. "You can always try again. You may get it a second time."

Carpet's lips twitched into a smile. "But what if I get rejected?"

"I don't think you will this time," Anna said.

That was all she had to say for Carpet to kiss her again.

This kiss was gentle and sweet, as if he were trying to enjoy the moment for as long as he could.

They finally broke apart for air. Grinning, Carpet brought his hand up to her face brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I guess we could try to see if there is a different alternative when I tell them."

"Well, well, well," a voice said behind them. "Isn't this adorable." Mozenrath smirked down at them from his perch on the wall

Rajah growled as he stood protectively in front of Anna. Carpet took Anna's hand in his as he glared at Mozenrath.

"It seems you've been enjoying the side effects to my little spell," Mozenrath said as he brought his gloved hand up. "Too bad, I have to ruin it." He snapped his fingers and bags where thrown over Carpet's and Anna's heads.

Rajah's growl was cut short as Anna heard a loud thump. The last thing she remembered was Carpet's hand being torn from hers before she slipped into unconsciousness.

L.A.: I know it's short and a cliffhanger. I'm terrible. Hopefully, I can start the weekly update though. Also, it is true that you're supposed to chuff at a tiger if it chuffs at you. I have a friend who interned at a conservation center that had tigers. I got to visit her, so cool! Anyway, you know what to do. READ and REVIEW!