Just a slight warning. Khan is a villain, so please do not be surprised if his acts in the future context of his story is "villainous". Also slightly graphic moments in this chapter. You have been warned.

xx

SSC

Chapter 13

Khan was not surprised by the cold, mistrustful exterior Arba held towards him (not like it was any warmer before). Ever since the previous night she had posted herself further away from him, like he was the animal she needed to be wary of. He didn't mind, he preferred it, the lack of intimidation from her end was staring to worry him.

Orlando had informed him that the Sheikh wished to speak with him after breakfast. Khan waited patiently for his arrival from the luxury of his high-back chair. Arba sat on the stool at the far corner of the study, staring into space.

There was a sharp knock on the door. Arba was quickly at her feet and looked to Khan, awaiting his instruction. He nodded in approval and she turned away to answer the door.

At her dismissal Khan arranged a few sheets of classified information on his desk into a neat pile. The Sheikh entered in his bleach white Gandurah but his face was absent of any head wear. Khan was surprised to see the man look so casual with his jet black hair swept back and primly trimmed beard.

Arba lingered behind under the arch entrance as Khan leaned over his desk to shake Zayed's outstretched hand.

"My friend we have a bit of a sensitive topic to discuss." His Highness informed solemnly.

"Sensitive, you're Highness?" Khan questioned while gesturing an open hand to the empty visitors chair in front of his desk.

"Yes, it's the matter with your Wahashi and Salim." Zayed said as he took a seat.

Arba ventured to her chair and stood in front of the seat, ready for any abrupt orders.

"Ah yes." Khan bent at the knees to sit on his own chair "What of it."

"Salim informed me that you were the one who sent the woman to his chambers." The Sheikh remarked in a accusatory manner. He cut a quick glance in her direction.

"Yes I did." Khan responded calmly.

"Did you also tell her to bed him?"

"I did no such thing." The Augument insisted, distraught by the very accusation "I wanted to reward Salim for his services as the handler, so I instructed Arba to assist Salim in any way he saw fit."

He felt a wave of seething rage that emitted from the Wahashi.

"I suppose it was my fault really, my lack of knowledge with Arabic had caused them both to misunderstand." He spoke despondently. Zayed's hawk-like gaze narrowed. His harsh features made the look seem more sinister than one of suspicion.

"I see." The Sheikh grumbled under his breath "Honest mistake at your end I suppose, but I cannot tolerate such behaviour in your Wahashi."

He rose to his feet and Khan remained seated in a lordly elegance.

"To avoid any more misunderstandings I think it is best that you discipline her." Zayed insisted diplomatically.

"Understood." Khan stood up "Do you mind if I utilize your basement to exact her punishment?"

The Sheikh smiled the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth deepening.

"My home is your home."

Khan couldn't suppress his triumphal smirk the moment the Sheikh exited.

Always think three moves ahead.

Khan shut the steel door in a clang. The sound rattled the prisoner within the cold stone walls.

Arba was pacing the width of her side of the wall when he had entered. She stopped, her posture immediately straightened in solider like elegance. Her golden eyes were gleaming behind the dark shadows. The only source of illumination was the moon light that filtered through the metal bars on the arch window, across the entrance.

Khan made his way down the stone steps, until he reached the same floor as her. Her eyes followed him until he took a seat on high-back wooden chair beside the steps.

"You may speak." He commanded and Arba didn't hesitate to voice out her questions.

"This is my punishment?" She asked taking a step forward, the chains rattled at her movements.

"For what exactly?" He responded, leaning back into the comfort of his seat. Her dark winged brows furrowed doubtfully.

"My insubordination." She said.

"Ah that." He smiled, astonishing her "I should be rewarding you actually, your rebellious actions led to the dismissal of that repulsive man."

"If this isn't punishment, what is it?" She demanded, raising her arm up to gesture at the hard, steel cuffs around her wrists.

"A test." He mused mysteriously.

"Test of what?"

"Restraint."

On theatrical queue, Orlando entered the room. He trudged down the stone steps, his footsteps heavy from the weight thrown over his broad shoulder. Khan watched Arba's reaction extremely carefully.

Her amber gaze narrowed in on writhing body slung over the man's shoulder. Orlando turned his back to her and marched to the other side of the room, that's when recognized the figure.

It was Fatima. Her face was wet with tears and her cries muffled by the clothed tied around her mouth. Her arms and legs were bounded together by the same type of white cloth. Orlando gently placed the child on cold, granite floor.

Arba's incensed stare honed in on Khan.

"What is this?" She hissed, but from the trembling trepidation in her voice, Khan knew she had a correct assumption. Orlando made a swift exit and the door slammed shut again followed by the sharp shriek of iron locking in place.

Khan raised his arm and pointed a stern finger at the terrified child huddled up at the far wall. Arba followed the direction of his arm with wide eyes, dreading the words he was about to utter.

"Khathal."

She shoulders were forced forward, the chains rattled in unison to the tremors that racked her body. Her thick mane of curls curtained the sides of her face. Her head craned back, her jaded eyes were a swirling, menacing and molten.

She shot forward, claws out ready to kill. The little girl's high-pitched screams were stifled behind the damp gag.

There was a sudden clang and Arba was yanked back by the bolted chains. Her back met the cold stone in a painful clout, but she was swiftly on her feet. She continued to thrash and pull, her deadly stare focused on the child, determined to end her life.

Fatima's cries echoed within the small space. Her body was curled up into a fetal position and she yelled out for her mother repeatedly. Khan didn't care, his attention was focused on Arba.

It was truly astonishing how much prowess the Wahash possessed. They were like mindless killing machines once the order was given. He watched her, the baring of her teeth, the blood lust in her eyes, and her struggle against the chains.

"Kalas." He whispered.

Her knees gave out under her. She fell forward but brought her arms under her in time. Arba panted heavily from the exertion. The cuffs had cut into her skin, blood dripped down her wrists.

"She is just a child!" She cried out, her voice considerably human. She raised her gaze, their eyes met.

Fatima's cries faded into the background.

Khan's iridescent orbs absorbed the sheer desperation she expressed. He had never seen her so vulnerable, so tangible.

"Please." She pleaded "Don't make me do this."

Her words hung in the air, Fatima's cries were reduced to whimpers.

Khan leaned forward. He set his elbows on top of his strong thighs and then weaved his fingers together.

"Only you have that power." He stated confidently position his chin on top of his slender fingers. She shook her head, her hair damp with sweat.

"I can't...I can't." She rasped out pitifully.

"Yes you can."

"Why?" She hissed struggling to stand on shaky limbs, her chest heaved with each breath she took.

"Why are you doing this?"

Khan didn't answer in a swiftness she demanded and he knew it irked her. He leaned back into his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I have my reasons." He responded further antagonizing her. He smirked evilly at the sight of the hate she directed at him.

"Besides, you are to be utilized as I please, yes?"

He knew it was low and crafty to throw back words she had uttered disdainfully, but the satisfaction they brought was hard to ignore. Arba was seething silently. He raised his arm towards the child again.

"Khathal."

Hours passed, each longer than the next. At each summoning Arba thrashed in riotous movements that continued to terrify the child. At some point during the tortuously slow pace, Fatima had soiled herself and the stench of urine and sweat permeated the air.

Khan once again uttered the word that seized Arba's struggles. She fell on all fours, her hands slapping the cold earth. Her limbs besieged by her weight. Her skin glistened from the exertions.

He averted his attention from her and to the wall behind her. The bolts that held the chains in place were loosening. The top corners of the anchors were beginning to detach from the walls. He was awed by the strength she possessed. He only hoped she had enough to break free of the compulsion the word had on her.

"Seems the chains won't hold you back for long." He mused pensively.

"I'll kill you." She graveled out.

Khan was astonished, his dusky brows rose in wonder. He had been threatened many times in his life. It was the first time he had heard it with such conviction. She met his stare with a fierce, carnal determination burning in them. The flesh around her mouth was scrunched up, her lips held in a deadly snarl.

"I am going to kill you for this."

"How are you going to kill me?" He inquired and sent her an arch smile that further provoked her.

"I am going to rip your throat out and then plunge it into your heart." She spat viciously, beads of sweat dripped down her face.

"That's very imaginative, and highly unlikely." He insisted earning a low growl from her. "You can't even stop yourself from wanting to kill a little girl, how will you possible end me?"

The question hung in the air, she fell silent once more. She lowered her stare to the ground, morosely.

He almost pitied her.

"I didn't do this to you Arba. I didn't make you this way. I am not the enemy." He reminded. He hoped the sympathetic warmth he applied to his voice would ease her, but they didn't. The hate in her golden orbs she directed at him, continued to swirl and brighten in abhorrence.

"You are all my enemies and I will kill all of you."

He didn't take her vow lightly. It was filled with a wild, determined antipathy to be considered irrational. She had had these thoughts for the longest time and they were just surfacing.

Good. He couldn't help but think. They will fuel her on the path to liberty.

"Think about it this way." He said "The sooner you are done the sooner the child can return to her mother's awaiting arms."

He stood up with an urge to stretch his legs. Khan regally clasped his arms behind him and uttered the word again.

"Khathal."

The despair on her face morphed into a beastly snarl. She sped forward, the chains rattled, the metal clattered at an attempt to restrain her. Fatima had her face between her hands. Her screams were reduced to pathetic sobs as Arba continued to fight the manacles with a wild violence.

Khan eyed the iron chains, his attention focused on the anchor. At each swing of her powerful arms, the bolt continued to weaken and in the next moment.

The chains were no longer holding her back.

Arba fell on to all fours. Her palms slapped the ground. Her head craned back, strands of wet hair masked molten gold eyes focused on the crying child. The Wahash pushed off the soles of her feet and charged ahead.

Fatima's screams pierced the air.

Suddenly everything was dead silent. Like the end of a war where it felt like a vacuum had sucked out all the air from the space and all that was left was just nothingness. Arba had managed to stop herself, yet her arm was frozen above her head, mid strike.

Fatima had fainted. From an over dose of fear or the exertions it had on her heart, Khan didn't care. His fanatical gaze was fixated on the woman. He stepped forward, moving to an angle so he could see her face.

Her expression was stricken, her eyes wide and flickering from gold to amber. For a moment, he didn't know what her frozen form meant. He didn't know if he had broken her from the compulsion or her spirit.

"Khathal." He repeated his deep, clear voice resonating around them. Her body was raked with tremors again and her elongated fingers curled into her palm.

"No." She gasped out almost inaudibly. She shook her head; beads of sweat escape the ends of her hair in sprinkles.

"No, no no no." She continued to repeat to herself like a soothing mantra. She jolted back, her rear end made hard impact with the floor beneath her. She scrambled back on her hands while shaking her head repetitively. Khan watched her scramble away and just when she thought she was far enough, she stopped and curled into her body.

Then her body unexpected hunched forward and sounds of painful retching filled the room.

Khan scrutinized her for a moment unsure of what to do or say. Had she broken free? Was the vomiting an unfortunate side effect of her battle?

Khan left her to her heaving and moved in quick steps back to the door. His fist banged against the metal once and it opened in response.

Joaquin stepped in and stood beside his superior.

"Return the girl back to her mother." Khan ordered his focus still rested on Wahash. Joaquin didn't hesitate to obey and approached the unconscious girl and gathered her up into his able arms. He was then swiftly out of the room, leaving Khan alone with her.

Her gagging had seized, but she hadn't moved from her hunched position. Khan ignored the distasteful stench of her emptied bowels and decided to step to her.

"Arba?"He called gently. She didn't respond instead she fell on to her side. Khan was immediately beside her. He pulled her till she was lying face up. She was unconscious and breathing gently. He pushed back wet strands of hair from her face. Beads of perspiration littered her forehead and upper lip, but colour had returned to her cheeks, she seemed almost peaceful.

It had worked. Khan couldn't help but feel smug. He gently scooped her body into his arms. She was heavier than she seemed, but it wasn't a weight he couldn't handle. Her head lolled over his forearm, her limbs lifeless.

He turned away from the scene of her liberation and walked up the shorts steps and exited the cold dark room.

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