Date : 08.10.2011
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 3 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Zolm/OC
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Angst, Maybe Some Strong Language.
Spoilers : Possible references to Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time.
Disclaimer : I do not own anything to do with the Prince of Persia franchise. This plot and any O/C's are mine.
Summary : (AU) The Hassansins take on a mission that leads to the discovery of a secret from their past, one that could change their futures forever and Zolm finds out that maintaining emotional detachment isn't always quite that easy.
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Dasmine stood on her tiptoes and looked through the small barred opening of the cell door, her eyes widening as she saw the woman huddled in one corner of the straw bed.
Whoever this woman was, she was certainly no pauper as though she were only wearing a nightgown, it appeared to be made of the finest silk and it only made Dasmine wonder all the more why Zolm had brought her here…he had never been the kind to hold prisoners for ransom before and so her presence here must be for some other reason…but what?
Shifting the tray of food she held onto one hip, she reached into the pocket in her skirts for the door key and opened it, moving inside and placing it onto the floor next to the bed. She tried hard not to look at the woman, but Dasmine had always been far too curious for her own good and so could not resist glancing at her…then wished that she hadn't. The prisoner was beautiful; her brown eyes shining with unshed tears, her skin pale and flawless and her long dark hair falling in shiny waves all around her shoulders and Dasmine suddenly felt the need to go run a comb through her own unruly curls.
She went to move away, but the woman's voice stopped her.
"What is this place? Why have I been brought here?"
Turning slowly Dasmine looked at her and could see that she seemed truly frightened and she yet again wondered as to Zolm's reasoning.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I don't know why you are here…and if you haven't been told where you are, then it is not my place to tell you."
Zarina looked up at the servant girl, a small pretty thing with sparkling green eyes and long, lustrous curly hair and it brought her some comfort at least to know that she was not the only female here at least.
"Is he here…the one who brought me here?" she asked and Dasmine nodded. She wanted to tell the woman that she needn't look so frightened, but not knowing Zolm's intentions made it difficult, plus the Hassansin Leader was not known for his mercy upon men and women alike. He was…unpredictable… to say the least.
"You should try to eat something…" she said instead, going to leave again, but was stopped as Zarina said,
"Tell him that I wish to speak with him…that I demand to know what he wants with me…"
Dasmine turned to face the woman, eyebrows raised slightly as she said,
"Who are you?"
Zarina swallowed and replied, "I am Zarina, Queen of Parthia and your master would do well to realise what he has done!"
A low voice from the doorway had Dasmine turning and the Queen looking in that direction.
"I am in no doubt as to the realities of the situation," Zolm said, his eyes going to Dasmine who took that as her cue to leave, her eyes lingering on his until she brushed by him in the doorway and then she spotted Setam outside who gave her a nod as she continued back on up to the kitchens.
Zolm meanwhile moved further into the cell, Setam following.
"I demand to know what is going on…" Zarina said, standing and trying to sound confident as she looked upon the two men. "You said earlier that it seemed my family did not think I was fit to rule Parthia…was that true…?"
Zolm regarded the Queen, seeing through her attempt to sound convincing in her courage, but grudgingly admiring her for trying.
"I am not here to answer your demands, Highness…" he said, his voice low, calm, as he moved closer to her, Setam watching with interest.
When they had left the dining area, Zolm had told him of his suspicions about the Queen's birth-right and of the way she had been able to stop the Viper from carrying out its attack and so now they were there to try and find out more, for if this woman was a descendant of the Hassansins' previous leader, it would change their history…change a lot of things in fact.
"Nevertheless," he continued, "Did you not sense that someone was not happy with your ascension to the throne?" he asked, his tone mildly sarcastic, but inquisitive at the same time as he tried to gauge her perceptiveness…tried to work out if she was perhaps be able to see the future as he did in trance and he raised an eyebrow as the Queen looked suddenly uncomfortable.
"Azzam…" she stated and Zolm smiled though the expression looked more sinister than pleasant and Zarina took a step back as he raised an arm, a Viper slithering out to coil around his wrist, its beady eyes catching sight of her and it raised its head in interest.
"Show me again how you stopped it…" Zolm instructed and Zarina's eyes flicked to his, her stomach flipping nervously in the face of such danger and she gasped as the snake moved closer, her eyes going back to it, meeting its dark gaze with her own and though she did not really understand her own gift, having never spoke of it to another soul, she reached out with her mind, counteracting whatever command her abductor had given it and the snake retreated and slithered back up into his wide sleeve.
Zolm glanced at Setam whose brow was creased as Zarina's shoulders slumped in slight relief at having gotten rid of the reptile…leaving just the two men to deal with.
"Raise your sleeve…" Zolm said and Zarina frowned at him.
"Excuse me?" she said and he growled, his patience thin again at having witnessed her ability to dissuade his Viper from doing his bidding for a second time and he stepped forward and grabbed her arm, yanking her sleeve up her arm and dragging her closer so that Setam could see the S shaped mark on her skin.
"You see..." Zolm said and Setam nodded, his eyes going to the cold steel of his leader's.
"Coincidence or truth?" he said and Zolm released the Queen so abruptly that she stumbled backwards and landed on the straw bed with a thud.
"This is what we must decide," he said, striding from the room, Setam in his wake as he added, "Sleep your Majesty…I will have more tests for you tomorrow…"
"Tests for what...exactly?" Zarina called after him, but he did not reply and she sighed deeply as she was locked inside again and left alone to ponder her fate.
OoOoOoO
Azzam paced the floor of the Parthian palace throne room with some agitation.
Things were not going as smoothly as planned and all because the damned Hassansin had left no body for him to produce and now, now the kingdom of Parthia was hell bent upon trying to locate their beloved Queen, rescue her from her abductors and return her to her throne.
No, things were definitely not going as planned and he was only there as 'acting monarch' until such time as Zarina was returned or proven to be dead.
This was not how it was meant to be.
'I need to find out if she is still alive or not…' he thought, moving to stare out of one of the large windows. '…and if she is, get rid of her and those Hassansins at the same time…'
Narrowing his eyes he thought on it for a moment or two. The Hassansins would not be an easy target, but for all their skill they were only men…mere mortals at the end of the day and it was up to him to get together a group who could match them…if not better them. He smiled and turned toward the doorway, calling for his General.
The man moved into the room immediately, never far from his Master's side, and bowed low.
"I have a task for you…" Azzam began.
OoOoO End of Chapter Three OoOoO