Date : 09.02.2012
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 12 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.
Dasmine opened her eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight as it streamed through the open window and she frowned for a moment, confused…and then it all came flooding back to her.
The soldiers attacking, Gool being overwhelmed despite trying his best to keep the other men back, the way she'd struggled, the cold damp cloth being pressed over her mouth and nose…
Sitting up abruptly she groaned as her head swam and she raised a hand to her forehead as it began to thud dully.
oOo
Azzam glanced over at the woman as she sat up on the window seat where he had had his men place her when they had delivered her to him.
"Ah…finally…you're awake," he stated the obvious, smiling coldly as she looked at him. "No doubt you are wondering what you are doing here, in the palace…" he said holding his arms out to indicate the finery surrounding them, but Dasmine shook her head.
"You want the Queen in exchange for me," she answered him. "It doesn't exactly take a genius to work out your plan."
Azzam's mouth twitched in both anger and amusement.
"Brains as well as beauty, not bad for a Hassansins' whore," he taunted, his smile growing when he saw her slender shoulders stiffen.
"I am not a whore," she replied, glaring at him until he moved swiftly across the room to grasp her chin bitingly between his fingers.
"Is this where you tell me that he cares about you…loves you even?" Azzam said scornfully and Dasmine winced and tried to pull away from him.
"He does…" she managed and Azzam released her and laughed though the sound held no mirth.
"Good…because if he didn't, then you would be of little use to me and there would be no point in keeping you alive now would there?" and harshly he pushed her away from him, releasing her so that she fell back as he turned and walked away.
Dasmine regarded the Prince's back with barely concealed contempt and rubbing at her chin said,
"He won't give you the Queen…"
Azzam turned to face the servant girl again and narrowed his eyes.
"For your own sake, you had better hope that he does…" he said, then, turning to his ever faithful General who had been loitering in the shadows, he added, "Take her to the women to be cleaned up and do not stray far from her side…if the Hassansin does not deliver Zarina to me then this one is yours to do with as you see fit."
The General's eyes gleamed as he cast them over Dasmine's form hungrily and she shivered and backed away as he approached her.
OoOoOoOoO
"I don't understand…" Zarina said, following Setam as he and the other men hurried to ready the horses, "…why is he in such a state over the girl?"
Setam tightened the buckles on his horses' saddle before turning to glare at the Queen.
"That girl as you call her, is to become Zolm's wife and for all our sakes you had better pray that your cousin has not harmed her…" he trailed off as Zolm thundered toward them on his midnight coloured horse, reigning the animal in before them.
"You will ride with Setam," he told Zarina.
"You're taking me back to the palace?" she asked incredulously and Zolm narrowed his eyes at her before looking to Setam.
"Bring her…" he instructed and then digging his heels into the horses' sides he took off across the courtyard, his robe billowing behind him as he galloped out through the gates, the other men following him.
As Setam grabbed Zarina's arm she tried to struggle.
"No, wait…you can't take me to Azzam…" she said, but Setam lifted her onto his horse, mounting quickly behind her and as he grabbed the reigns and turned the animal toward the gates he said,
"Don't worry your Highness…I am sure Zolm has a plan."
Zarina wasn't so sure…
OoOoOoOoOoO
Dasmine struggled as she was brought to the women's bathing area, refusing to let the perfectly groomed servant women of the palace tend to her, but when her fussing caused the General to re-enter and threaten her that she either let the women do it or he would, she submitted and let the women do what they must, preferring them if she had to choose between them and the soldier. The one thing she would not budge on though was when they tried to remove the gold armlet that Zolm had given her.
"I will not take it off…" she said venomously, snatching her arm out of the grasp of one of the women.
"Very well…" the woman replied, backing down and indicating that Dasmine move into the sunken pool in the marble floor and slowly, warily, Dasmine did as she was bid. Eventually, after a time, Dasmine began to relax and allowed the women to wash her hair and body, luxuriating in the intoxicating scents around her and by the time it came for her to get out and be dried and dressed and her long dark hair styled, she really did feel quite boneless.
She knew that Zolm would come for her, was not worried on that score, but what did trouble her was how Prince Azzam seemed to believe that he could defeat the Hassansins and she worried that he had some secret weapon up his sleeve. She hoped not…hoped he was as deluded as he looked.
Letting the women dress her, she made no objections until she was placed before a mirror.
The first thing she noticed was that her normally unruly curly hair shone like silk and it hung in soft waves around her shoulders and back, the second thing was her eyes, outlined in kohl they made the green stand out like emeralds…and then she looked at her clothing.
"No…" she stated. "No…no…no…"
Whirling away from the mirror she glared at the women who backed away in surprise, not used to such objections and Dasmine was all set to find herself something else to wear when the General stepped into the room, his face darkening with desire as he looked at her.
"Very…nice…" he said, all but drooling and Dasmine grimaced as he grasped her elbow. As he moved her out into the hallway he bent and whispered in her ear, "…whether your Hassansin brings the Queen or not, you will be mine…"
OoOoOoOoOoO
Azzam looked up from the paperwork that he was checking over, watching as the wall torches flickered ominously as though since the sun had disappeared below the horizon a slight wind had gotten up outside.
Frowning he crossed to the window and leant out, his brows furrowing more deeply as he discovered that there was not a breeze to be had.
Before he turned back around, his senses alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone in the room and his lips twitched as his hand went to the hilt of his scimitar.
"You're good Hassansin…very good. It is such a pity that things have turned sour between us," he said, finally turning to see no-one.
"I know that you are there…" he continued, narrowing his eyes as he tried to distinguish between the shadows and shapes in the corners of the room.
As the silence lengthened, Azzam began to grow nervous despite the fact that he told himself he was not scared. The Hassansin was not as infallible as some would believe, especially since he had allowed one woman to bring him running into the arms of his enemy.
"Show yourself!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off of the stone walls.
In a dark recess of the room, Zolm bared his teeth in what could loosely be described as a sneer before he backed away and re-traced his steps carefully until he was back with Setam, his men and Zarina in the lower tunnels of the palace.
"Dasmine is not with him," he stated, looking to Setam and Zarina before adding, "You know what to do…?"
They both nodded and he narrowed his eyes at Zarina for a moment before turning away.
"Let it begin…"
OoOoO End of Chapter 12 OoOoO
To see what Dasmine is wearing, please see the link on my profile page and see why she's so annoyed, thanks!