The Second Night

"I am your princess. I order you to let me go." Jafar waved his hand and the guards dispersed. They obeyed him, not liking him but not wanting to be disloyal either or they would get into trouble.

Being freed the princess looked up at him. She was hidden in the dark hood of a brown cloak. It was most definitely her. He was also dressed completely cloaked.

His smirk was wide at her being found outside the palace just as he was leaving on his own business.

"She tried to flee the palace." said Razul's second in command. Even the chief of guards sometimes needed to sleep.

"That is apparent. Allow me to escort you back, princess."

He offered her his arm, knowing full well she would pull away if he took it. He was amazed she graced him with holding his arm, carefully at the wrist. So she could get away if needed.

He smiled at her, a surprisingly normal kind of smile. Eerie.

"This can be our secret."

They entered the throne room via a back passage. The guard bowed and walked away to alert the sultan.

"There is no need to wake the sultan for this. This happens so often. It's a dreadful ennui for him." Jafar declared. The guard looked torn. He looked from Jasmine to Jafar and back, trying to decide which was most important: Jafar's command or Jasmine's transgression. The treasured Grand Vizier or the headstrong daughter

The sultan surely should know of this? Seeing the experienced guard doubt, Jasmine's eyes turned to daggers. Jasmine and Jafar stared sternly and expectantly at the guard to either fetch him or leave. The man turned, still undecided and advanced to the door.

At this Jasmine turned sharply to Jafar. "No man except the sultan should have this much power!"

She spoke loud and clear. The guard stopped, turned again. Jafar eyed him, the princess followed his gaze.

"Go, get my father. I'd rather be lectured by him than Jafar. He's always done this. It's traditional."

Happy with such a decisive explanation the guard muttered "Yes, I will get the sultan."

Jasmine now smiled at Jafar. Spiteful and victorious.

"Oh, you are stubborn, princess." he whispered just for her. "Just a moment." he called.

The guard stopped again, not having quite made it to the door. Jafar swept to his side, turning his staff in his hand to a very strange angle so its snake eyes looked the poor man directly in the face.

"There is no need to get the sultan."

The guard left and did not return.

"Sorcerer."

"Yes." A broad inhuman smile adorned his face.

She had solved the mystery of what happened to her father.

Jafar was proud to share this knowledge with her.

"Don't you dare use it on me!"

"Well Jasmine, I believe we have some matters of state to discuss."

He walked over to the throne. He ostensibly put his staff to rest against it.

Disapprovingly shaking his head he said: "A princess who sneaks out of the palace…"

He sat down. The few guards protecting the room at this moment did not look up. Presumably he had used that staff of his on them before. "They don't mind me here."

He must do this often, especially at night, when no one else can see.

"You were about to go out as well. And where were you going?"

"My dear self-centered princess. It is not the first time you've ran away. I am beginning to grow… concerned." He sighed, seeing her take off her cloak and giving it to one of the guards instead of listening to him.

The guards checked the pockets to the cloak and shook his head. "You went to the marketplace with no money. Hoping to pass for a street mouse in that robe. You'd fool no one. It is not so hard to spot a diamond in beggar's clothes. Even if the only jewel they could see you wear is your pretty face. Your poor disguise would make it all the easier for something unfortunate to come to you."

"Unfortunate?"

"You are the princess of Agraba." He groaned." Every realm has its enemies. A hostage would be a preferable fate. It could be much worse if you weren't recognized by whoever got hold of you. Only a palace guard could have spotted you and known who you are. Thank Allah one was there and did before anything happened. The streets are dangerous." She marched up to the throne.

"You can't expect me to stay here. You have seen what I am faced with. My options..." Ah the suitors. "are terrible."

"So they are, but outside you could be…" He paused for drama. "kidnapped." He was himself surprised how mildly he phrased this, not wanting to think of worse.

He watched her in her princessy attire.

"Jafar,"

"How can we keep you safe if you run away." He padded his forehead in mockconcern. This speech was serving some purpose, with him there always was a self-serving reason behind his words.

"You do not care that much about me."

He stretched his hand, almost touched her hairband or earrings. "I suppose you could have bought your way out of trouble, but these jewels could just as easily get stolen. You were at least clever enough to wear rich clothes under that cloth." His hand went to the gem worn on his own head.

"Do you know how much your finery is worth? Do you know where the gold, the jewels you wear come from?"

She shook her head obstinately. She knew these were not just found in the sands or common market. "Merchants who get them from caves." She chanced.

"Yes, in faraway mines."

"Show those to me then."

"Tut tut those are not venues for a princess to visit."

"Then take me to the market. Father can't disapprove of you as my guide." She would take that option, annoyingly restraining as it was.

"I wouldn't recommend the place." He looked at how graceful she was standing there, the slightest of her movements was entrancing.

"If I were to hide you with old age or ugliness on such 'outings'. People would still hold still and be drawn to you. There is a charm that you possess. Nothing could hide it. It's inherently you. " Was that a compliment?

"You are vile." She commented, softly, unsure, and turned back to the topic at hand. "You go out on the street, in the desert all you like."

"I am surely not a precious jewel, like you. I can move safely there and among the worst of crooks. I also possess the political clearance to do so."

"You are not entitled to this function. A street rat would be more worthy of being Grand Vizier or sultan than you."

"I achieved my position by merit. I know what is within my power to reach and I pursue it."

"The throne?" That adamant look of hers. "I will only marry the one I love."

"You have to marry a prince or have you forgotten? "

"Yes I do remember."

"This is no time to fall for a Vizier." Her face betrayed all he wished to know.

"All those lovely things you said about me this morning, you have to tell me more." His voice purred self-satisfied over his lips.

She nodded. "I'll listen." She stepped in front, back, looked furtive. He had not seen Jasmine like this before, hesitant.

She knelt before the throne and kissed the ground between his hands. She did not disapprove of his sitting there it seemed, strange.

Jafar couldn't tell if she was serious or merely playing along with him.

She looked for a moment then sat down across his lap.

"This is better." Jasmine said. A power shift occurred. Something leveled out. She was no longer the little princess getting lectured.

"Now we can talk properly, peacefully."

He looked smugly at her. "You think so?"

She glanced around, distracted.

"Where is Iago? Asleep?"

"He is making his round in the gardens. He fancies himself lord of all birds in the palace. He seeks ladies to make his harem."

"How is that going?"

"Badly, I dare say. Other birds don't like him much." A sour face came with that sentence.

Just like other humans are never fond of him, not surprisingly.

"You are unlikely friends."

A pensive "Yeees."

"My father always trusted you. Even all those years ago before you used your sorcery on him."

"Permit me, your father is not the best judge of character."

"No, but he was right that you would make a good vizier. Regardless of your unpleasantness in character and dark talents. He would even trust you as much as to make you sultan."

He rolled his eyes in an insincere thank you.

She appreciated such honesty, as when they had spoken that night and he had not been awake enough to act crawly and unctuous around her.

His fingers hand spread silkily over the small of her back.

Safely cradling her form.

"Where do you go to? Not the market place?"

"Far beyond, to deserts, thieves and scoundrels."

"On your own?"

"Yes."

Jafar leaned back into the cushions of the throne. Not having Iago around was proving oddly liberating. He found it safe to talk about his past. "I was not born into this kind of luxury. But in a desert village on the outskirts of Agraba where the houses are easily mistaken for piles of sand and the streets are narrow because many live there. I knew the discomfort of walking along those streets, of a man lingering too long by my side when he greeted me seemingly fleetingly as a friend. I saw this individual person enter the bathhouse once when I was there. I fled as soon as I saw him, before his eyes fell on me .

The royal bathhouse is far more exclusive." He added with a faint smile of accomplishment."

"Then you were genuinely concerned for me."

A small "Yes."

"Why do you go out in secret at night?"

"There is said to be a cave that holds great riches and magic. Fulfils every heart's desire of the man who finds it. It is my ambition to find it."

"and that would make you sultan.

A secret cave of stories does not sound very reliable to me. There are easier ways to get what you want than through cursed golds and tricky genies. You know of those fables monstrosities as well as I do. They will only give you trouble. It would eat you up.

"Some things are worth the risk. I'd rather be eaten on my way to greatness than slowly waste away here."

"Rajah could eat you, if I told him to."

"Yes, that would be more painful than any magic."

"I had hoped to pick someone that Rajah liked." She shrugged. "A princess could grant you all that you wish. Riches, throne, me. You can get all that without magic."

"I am aware of that."

"You are considering it."

"Your plan."

"My plan?"

"It is too beautiful not to think upon."

"What is it you want, Jafar? Mere riches and power? I think those represent deeper desires. Mine is freedom as you know …mmm expanding on what I already know of you… Is this what sorcery gives you? Freedom?"

"It does give me a lot of freedom."

"But?"

"There are other things that I desire more."

She snuggled into him, as he had done in the cushions.

"For example."

"Power. Security."

"Oh? What's the appeal? I have so much security it is driving me out of my mind."

"To me, a great deal." He continued saccharine sweet. "Security is having a roof over your head, food, servants, a royal position and the protection that comes with that, to have control over situations that you would otherwise be powerless in. It's the chance of becoming sultan, the comfort a marriage can offer." He leaned forward, snaked his arms around her.

"Security and comfort then. Those do lie within my power."

"Your fascination with me already persuaded me to act. When you left at dawn I will hypnotized your father into making you marry me."

"Hypnotized. So that is what It is called. It stops. Now. You will undo what you did."

"You want to tell him yourself."

"Yes, without your trickery persuading him."

"Your father's eyes will bulge from his head when you tell him." He says with noticeable glee. "Just seeing us together, like this should make anyone suspicious. Furthermore, pussycat, I am not a prince."

She shook her head. Not "pussycat" then. Not yet.

"For us two, it should be easy to sway him. He will be too relieved that I have found someone to my liking to think about that." He prided himself on being 'to her liking'. "I always told him I would marry who I want. Then I will meet you tomorrow early in the morning and we can to him at once."

His grin subsided to a more serious look. It appeared she really wanted this, him. Though part of him had already relished lavishly at this possibility, it seemed unreal.

Somewhere he had believed she was leading him on with promises and uncharacteristically sweet words as she had so many of the princes, to see how far she could go, to close the lid on his nose. Worse, he had fallen for it knowing full well of the trap.

It was no trap.

He observed her, sitting there her head nestled under his chin. The princess warming his lap like a cat would. Frankly he was astounded. This was even more than he would give himself credit for.

She clacked her lips.

"You will never influence my father with sorcery again."

He nodded gently in her hair.

"You will show me the world outside and protect me. And I do mean faraway places, out there where jewels, riches and fabrics come from.

The sands that made you believe in magical caves." She smiled.

He gathered his voice and smirk back together for a most important item. He was sultan. He would be sultan. He could split the world with his grin.

"And you will consider wearing red."

"Red?"

"Yes, sometimes. I like the colour."

"You," she said with a pointed stare. "will give Iago his own chamber. I don't want him as an onlooker during our nights together."

Saliva filled his mouth, speech left. She would sleep with him. Sickeningly sweet he whispered in her ear: "Yes, that is agreed then."

"I would like to know your taste."

Her warmth left him. "Would you like to see me, Jafar?" She took his hand, how small hers looked resting on his long fingers.

He stood up and let her guide him to her chamber.

This was

The Beginning of the Second Night.

-I stop the story at the interesting part. Hope you enjoyed.-