Date : 02.06.2014
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 17 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.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
They had a plan…of sorts… and as Sharad, Zarina's real birth mother, started work on something that would hopefully counteract the effects of the spell that her daughter had worked upon Zolm, Setam carefully avoided looking anywhere aside from Dasmine's face as she adjusted the laces on the bodice of the pale blue gown that she had changed into, arranging them to show off a generous amount of her ample bosom.
"You're certain you wish to do this?" he asked for not the first time since she had suggested her part in the plan.
"Yes…" Dasmine replied, and she was. She liked to think that she knew Zolm, perhaps better than he sometimes knew himself and certainly better than anyone else knew him and for that reason alone she had faith that he wouldn't hurt her.
Dasmine's father, who was stood next to Setam, gave her a look that clearly showed that he hoped that she knew what she was doing and she was about to tell him that it was alright when he produced a small dagger from his belt and held it out to her.
"Secrete this in your gown…just in case…" he paused as Dasmine shook her head.
"No Father…I will not give him any reason to distrust me further…"
"But if your plan goes awry you could use it to buy yourself some time…re-open the healing wound you said he has…slow him down…Zolm is dangerous…"
"No…" Dasmine shook her head, her long, dark curls bobbing with the action and her Father sighed. His daughter had always been wilful, especially where the Hassansin leader was concerned and but for the respect that he himself held for Zolm and knowing of the bond between the man and Dasmine, he would have refused to let her play any part in this trap that they were setting.
He exchanged a look with Setam and tucked the dagger back into his own belt, nodding at Dasmine once before saying, "I will return to the young ones…ensure they remain in their quarters. The women know to stay out of sight."
Setam rested a hand on the older mans' shoulder in thanks for a moment before he was left alone with Dasmine and she held up a hand before he could speak.
"If you ask me once more if I am certain…" she trailed off, leaving her threat hanging and Setam's mouth twitched though he did not fully smile.
"Come then, we must get into position; I sense that they are nearing."
Dasmine shivered, but ignoring her apprehension she followed Setam to await Zolm and the other Hassansins in the courtyard, the gates opened in readiness.
OoOoOoO
Zolm narrowed his eyes as he saw up ahead that the Lair gates were already open despite the fact that they had not yet given the signal. Still, it mattered not. He dug his heels into his horses' sides and spurred the animal on. The sooner he killed the traitors the sooner he could return to…
His thoughts trailed off.
Return to what? The palace? The Queen? He belonged with neither…did he?
He frowned as his horse thundered onto the hard compacted sand of the courtyard ground, the other Hassansins following close behind and he grinned wickedly as he caught sight of Setam and Dasmine stood side by side by the doors that led into the Lair.
Dismounting, he unsheathed his scimitar and looked at Setam before raking his eyes over the shapely form of the small woman at his side.
"You have decided to face your fate head on…brave…" he commented, his voice low, but full of menace.
"I…we…have done nothing wrong…" Dasmine replied, holding his gaze and Zolm sneered in response, his eyes flicking back to Setam for a moment, but his Second merely returned his stare unflinchingly.
"Which of you wishes to die first? I will be gracious enough to allow you to choose," Zolm said, swirling his scimitar once, almost lazily, seeing out of the corner of his eye how his men dismounted and came to stand in a row behind him.
Dasmine eyed the other Hassansins with a look that she hoped portrayed her innocence, hers and Setam's and then slowly turned her head to look at Zolm's Second in Command and with a barely perceptible nod of her head they moved almost as one to set their plan into motion.
Zolm rarely showed surprise and this occasion was no different and other than the slight rising of one eyebrow he made no other outward signs as Dasmine and Setam broke apart and ran to opposite ends of the courtyard, disappearing within the Lair.
With the tip of his blade, Zolm pointed in the direction Setam had gone.
"Do not kill him…that pleasure will be mine…" he growled and as his men moved to follow their fellow Hassansin, Zolm turned in the direction that Dasmine had gone, a smile creeping onto his face. He would enjoy this…
OoO
Dasmine fled through the dimly lit hallways of the Lair as fast as her short legs would carry her, determined that she would at least make it to her goal before Zolm caught up to her. She had been so sure earlier that he would be the one to follow her, but what if she was wrong? What if he sent the others…would that be better…or worse?
Her heart beat so loudly in her breast that she was surprised the sound wasn't echoing off of the walls and she found her mouth had gone dry even as she darted into the training room that had been her destination and she ran to the far wall, flattening her back against it as she waited.
He didn't keep her waiting long and her breath hitched as Zolm appeared in the archway.
OoO
As the other Hassansins entered the dining hall, they halted as they saw Setam stood with Sharad before the fire place and though this was unprecedented, they had their orders and they readied their weapons…
"My brothers," Setam began, "I will not fight you, but I need you to hear me first…"
"We have our orders," Ghazab answered and Sharad stepped forward, holding the page that Setam had torn from the Queen's book of magic at the palace.
"You must listen to him…not just for Zolm's sake, but for the sake of us all…" she said.
OoO
Zolm wondered what Dasmine was up to. Though his memory was decidedly sketchy where the girl was concerned, he somehow sensed that she knew her way around the Lair and to find that she had headed to somewhere with no way to escape him made him suspicious. He looked around and saw no weapons…and unless she had something concealed within that tight fitting bodice of hers…
A memory stirred in his mind and he let his eyes wander over her appreciatively for a moment, until she placed her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked and he growled and stepped closer.
"In a hurry to die for your betrayal, little one?" he asked, lifting one hand and Dasmine stiffened as a black Viper slid from beneath his sleeve and she swallowed hard and flattened her back even more against the wall as though it could somehow absorb her and she could disappear.
As the Viper's head rose, it's beady eyes fixing upon her, Dasmine was careful not to move again, her eyes remaining fixed upon Zolm as she said, "You are going to let your…pet…kill me? I would have thought that you would have wanted that pleasure yourself…"
Zolm did not reply, merely angled his head to one side, watching as the snake stretched closer toward her. She was so familiar to him and yet something would not let him acknowledge why and when he tried he felt that it was somehow wrong…
"You showed me how to defend myself in this room," Dasmine said then, trying to keep the panic from her tone, "I demand that you fight me now…if I am going to die I want to die by your sword, not being poisoned by one of…those…" and her eyes flicked to the snake.
Zolm frowned as another memory stirred and he could not help the sliver of admiration he felt at her display of bravery…however stupid it was…and he wondered again what game she was playing.
Raising his arm he let the Viper slither harmlessly onto one of the wooden beams above and then reached to pull a long dagger from his belt, flipping it so that he held the tip, presenting her with the hilt.
"Come then, let us be done with this…" he said, shedding his cloak and discarding his scimitar to pull from his belt the matching dagger to the one he had given her, just as she had hoped he would.
He had to remember…he had to…
End of Chapter 17