SARAFINA
Tears...
They had become a part of me ever since Kayla married Father. I swiped it off my face as I made my way out of the house with absolutely no destination.
My stomach hurt like crazy coupled with the fact that I haven't tasted anything since morning.
I decided to go to the waterfall, which wasn't really far from home. It is where I go whenever I need to think.
I got there few minutes later, I sat on a nearby rock, picking pebbles and throwing it randomly into the peaceful water.
The rush of water was like soothing notes to my bothered soul.
I began to imagine how my life would have turned out if ummi(mother) was still alive. Would my life have been any better?
Would I have to sell knitted scarfs even in the hot sun? Would I spend the night in open stalls?
Mum, can you see me now? I'm really suffering here because you just had to leave when I barely knew you. Maybe things would have been different if you were still alive.
I sighed tiredly as I relaxed on the rock, my eyelids fluttered close, forgetting my hungry stomach and enjoying the perfect solace of the waterfall.
I drifted into sleep land.
* *
King Forbes and his wife, Queen Mila stared at Abu the diviner, as he peered into the divination orb.
"Any remedies yet" king Forbes asked. Abu sighed, scratching his jaw. "Just one" he said in a creepy voice. "Just one"
Queen Mila stared anxiously at him, she was ready to do anything to save her son from the curse that had been placed on him, even before his existence.
Her son, Jamal the prince of Zedora had been cursed by Naja, a winter witch to an heart of ice and stone, years before he was born, after finding out that King Carne, Jamal's grandfather was responsible for the death of five maidens from the winter clan, two of which were her apprentice.
She had then placed a curse on his third generation which happened to be Jamal.
At first, it was called off as a bluff. Not until Jamal was born and he didn't cry like every other new born child neither he laugh. His face was still with no emotions present.
And as he grew up, his behaviors were very weird.
He didn't cry when anything bad happened neither did he laugh when things get funny, he only had a blank expression on his face.
Once she had asked him why he always had that expression on his face. His answer was simple.
"I don't have the thing you call feelings"
It then dawned on her, her son was indeed cursed. After informing her husband, the king about it.
They had taken Jamal to the diviner countless times but all he saw was "no remedy yet" now there was a remedy after twenty six years of searching, there was a remedy. And she was ready to pay any price for her son to be normal again.
"Speak Abu" King Forbes said.
Abu smiled, looking intently to the sky, whispering incoherent words.
He placed his palms on his folded legs and sighed.
"A Sheba... One with magical powers"
"A Sheba?!" Forbes and Mila exclaimed. Abu nodded. A Sheba is actually special maiden, with a pure heart whose mind is never filled with evil thoughts.
Such maiden is very rare to find especially one with magic powers like Abu had just mentioned.
"But Abu, how do we find this Sheba, they are very rare and even after finding her what next"
"Do not rush your highness, find her first"
"How do we know her? Where can we get her"
Abu laughed, dusting his palms.
"She is in your palms yet out of your reach, she is very close yet miles away, Find her!!"
* *
SARAFINA
The continuous chirping of a bird is what wakes me, I flutter my eyelids open and look around.
I was still at the waterfall and night was drawing near. I look at the flowing stream and decide to take my bath before finding somewhere to lay my head for the night.
As I took off my clothe, my waist purse fell on the floor. I gasped, I totally forgot I still had little money from selling part of the scarfs.
I smiled, at least I can use part of it to get food till I find a way of getting back Kayla's money.
After taking my bath, I picked up my waist purse and strapped it on.
"Who is there!" I suddenly heard a voice. I jumped in fright and turned to find a girl of about my age stepping out of the east bending that led to the waterfall.
"Hi" she said. I smiled tightly.
"Hi"
She walked to me. "I'm Jojo"
"I'm Sarafina, for how long have you been here" I asked.
She shrugged. "Long enough to see you bath"
I gasped. "You saw me bath?"
She laughed. "Do you always come here?"
"Not really, just once in a while"
"Okay, I'm leaving now, maybe we could walk together" she suggested.
I obliged, she looked like a nice person, maybe she could help me.
"Hey, do you happen to know anywhere I can sleep for the night?"
"Why? I mean don't you have a home"
"Its a long story" I replied her.
"I have all the time, but you can sleep at my house... There is enough room for one more person"
"No... I don't want to be a burden to you"
"I offered to help, it will be rude not to accept, besides I live with my Nana and I badly need a companion"
I smiled. "Thank you, thank you so much" I said pressing my palms together.
"Its okay, tell me your story"
I stared at her and sighed, somehow I felt like I could trust this Jojo girl.
"It all started when Father remarried" I started.....
* *
Three men sat around a table, each holding a glass of drink on his hands.
A young man walked in. One of the older men looked at him.
"How did it go" he asked.
"Perfecto" the young man replied with a grin on his face.
"How many more days" another man said.
The first man leaned back on his chair. "Thirty more days" he whispered, a dangerous gleam dancing in his eyes.
"Thirty more days till attack"
• • •
SARAFINA Jojo shook her head sadly after I finished telling her my story. "I think your stepmother is possessed" she said. "I mean why will a woman be as wicked as that" I shrugged. "I don't blame her, I'm not her daughter anyway" "Nevertheless, no woman should treat a child the way she does to you, I'm surprised you haven't run away from home" I laughed. "Run to where?" She sighed as we kept on walking. It was already dark when we got to her house, she pushed the door open and entered motioning for me to come in. I entered and looked around There was a lighted candle on the table that illuminated the room. "Nana!, I'm back" Jojo yelled into the room. There was rustling of feet from the inner room. "Jolene" The voice sounded familiar. Her Nana came out
SARAFINA One time he is talking to me like he isn't the cold prince we all know and then suddenly he is living up to his title by almost choking a maid to death. And then he is looking straight at me and falling into unconsciousness. Fear gripped me when his eyes met mine after I called his name, why is it when he left the hall where I was that a thing like that happened to him? What if they think I'm responsible for his sudden cruel change. I quickly ran back into the room and resumed my work. The palace was in chaos after the incidence, words had gotten into the streets of Zedora. Did you hear what I heard? I heard voices from outside, I slowly walked to the window sides and peeped to see four maids sitting at the pool side. "What did you hear? "Do you know that new maid? &nbs
SARAFINA We got to the maid quarters and I practically shivered in fear. "Just be yourself okay, don't mind anything they say" Terai told me as if sensing my fear. I nodded as she led me to my room. It was a big room and five other maids were already there making me the sixth person. "Good evening Terai" They greeted. "Good evening girls, this is your new roommate, Sarafina" "We know her before Terai, isn't she the witch charming the royal villa?" One of the maids said. "Ah, the one Peri was talking about" another one added. "Shut up girls, why will you believe rumors about someone you haven't met" Terai scolded. "And didn't the queen mother warn you all of false rumors?" She added. The first one snorted. "It's not a rumor Terai, it is the fact, she is not even denying it"
SARAFINA If the ground can open up and swallow me now, I will gladly enter it. The deathly glares coming from the maids is enough to make me want to run away. We all bowed. "My prince" we said in unison. "Sarafina" he called again, I looked at him from the corner of my eyes. "My prince, the maid is on punishment, it is not right for you to speak with her" Zareen suddenly said. I gasped. Is she for real now? "Do you want to teach me the laws of the land" he asked icily. I bit my lips to stop my laughter. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "I'm sorry amir" she said. I want to speak to you, Sarafina" he said, ignoring her. I sighed nervously and nodded. I could hear the scoffs from the maids as he held my hands and pulled me along with him. "
SARAFINA. It was quite late when we finished our final work for the day, I was very tired and I was feeling very sleepy. But I still have to meet Jafar. I thought worriedly. I yawned tiredly as I entered into the room, I sighed in relief as I saw that nobody was there yet, they had probably gone for dinner. At least I can have a good fifteen minutes rest before they arrive and start throwing their hateful words at me as it was their normal routine. •• "Hey, witch" I blinked my eyes open to see Rai before me. I sat up. "Rai? Can you just call me my name" I asked rubbing my eyes to clear any remnant of sleepiness in it. She scoffed. "You? Your name? Do you even have one?" "More like she doesn't deserve a name" Zareen huffed from her bed. I rolled my eyes, hate everywhere. "Why did you disturb
Mila paced around her room thinking of how she was going to find the Sheba, she had only two days left, just two days. She slipped her legs into her flops and made her way out of her chambers, there had to be a way or she is done for. As she stepped out of the chambers, she suddenly collided into one of the maids who was unfortunately holding a large bucket of water.. The whole content poured on her and she gasped out as the cold hit her squarely. "I'm really sorry my queen" the maid said going on her knees. She bowed her in courtesy, while Mila stared at her not minding the cold water dripping from her body. She looked familiar. One of her guards grabbed the maid's hand and pulled her back. "How dare you spill water on our queen" The maid looked at them in fear. "I'm really sorry, I was pushed from my line" "That does
SARAFINA. "Fina is anything the problem?" Pooja asked me as we sat on our bed after lunch. "Huh? Why?" She peeped at me through a side of her eye. "Are you feigning ignorance" I rolled my eyes, maybe the queen gas already given her orders. But yet I don't think it has gotten to the nsud quarters yet or has it? "Terai said you were relieved of your duty, how did that happen." I clicked my tongue. "Seems you haven't been spending time with your roomies, I mean didn't they tell you I charm people" I replied her sarcasm dripping from my tone. "Ah" she muttered. "Let's just say you don't want to talk about it" "That's right" I drawled, stretching myself lazily on the bed. Its impossible, very impossible for anyone to understand the mess I have dragged myself into. So its better I keep it
SARAFINA. "Can you at least give me an hint of explanation of what happened between you and that guard,Akira or what's his name" I asked Pooja as we sat on the bed... She opened the book and lay it on the bed,running her hand through the contents she looked at me. "An hint huh?" She asked. "Exactly" I hushed. She fiddled with the book pages,tapping her feet on the bed post. "Even if the hint is just in two words" I furrowed my brows.... "Well,I'll manage" "Mere familiarity" she said.... "What? When you said two words,I thought you were going to say something that....." "Won't make you crack your brain for answers" she offered. "Of course" I muttered,rolling my eyes. "Complexity" She said. "Complexity?" I repeated dumbly.