Prince Jamal of Zedora is cursed with an ice-cold heart, unable to feel anything—joy, sorrow, love, or hate. That changes when he meets Sarafina Belaird. Sarafina, a maiden burdened by her cruel stepfamily, ends up in the palace after a chance encounter with the prince. Her fear deepens when she learns she is the Sheba, the one destined to break his curse. To make things worse, she begins to fall in love with him.
View MoreSARAFINA.
The morning sun shone directly into my eyes as I blinked it open. I looked around remembering that my step mum didn't allow me to sleep at home yesterday night because I didn't finish selling the knitted scarfs she asked me to make.
I had to sleep in one of the open stalls that was in front of our house. I slapped a palm on my thigh as an housefly tried to feed on me, I stood up grabbed the sack of scarfs and made my way into the house.
My name is Sarafina Belaird. My mum died when I was three. I didn't really know her cause I was very little, so I couldn't grieve her. Dad remarried when I clocked six. Kayla was a good woman or so I thought.
She was very nice to me when she was courting Dad, she bought me things,she even made scarfs for me. She taught how to make them too.
She had three daughters. Raina, Zella and Cirona. Raina and Cirona were twins,they were my age mates. While Zell was the youngest. The twins never liked me but Zella was my best friend even though she was three years younger than me.
She was the only one that understood me.
Kayla changed when she finally married my Dad, she became very cruel towards me. She made me do all the house chores leaving her daughters out of it.
Anytime Zella tried to help,she would beat me up and warn me never to indulge her daughter in filthy task.
Dad was rarely at home,he was one of the King official envoys. So he was always travelling to different cities on behalf of Zedora.
Anyways,enough about me.
.
.
* *
As I got to the door, I tapped it but there was no answer. I tapped it again.
"Who is that!" Kayla asked from inside.
"I'm the one ma" I replied.
She flung the door open.
"you! Have you finished selling the scarfs?"
"No ma, but I will take it to my spot as soon as I take my bath"
She eyed me warily and dropped another set of scarfs on me. "sell that one too and don't come back until everything is finished"
"But Mother, Fina can't go to the Market today,the prince has arrived from his journey and is going to be outside and she might get killed" Zella said from behind Kayla.
Truly, the prince had just arrived from the civilized province where he went to study more. Though I had never been outside Zedora before but I had heard stories of the people of the civilized province.
People say they think like gods and have answers and solution to every problem.
I wish to go there one day.
I don't think it is a dream that can ever come true.
"Why don't you shut up and mind your business" Raina snapped.
"Stupid girl,was I talking to you" her mother said.
Cirona looked at me and snorted.
"It would be better if you get killed, but you are still useful for us"
I sighed while Zella pulled me inside.
"Come on Fina,let's go inside"
Kayla hissed and walked away.
I sighed again.
This was my life.
.
* *
JAMAL.
"You know I still don't know why there is a special day for you to roam around the streets of Zedora,not like you can feel the sun or something" Jafar my cousin said to me as I prepared to leave.
I don't know why Dad entertained his stupid family in the palace, even a blind person will see that he and his father was coveting the throne.
But Father still believed there is always good in people, even after
Jafar's Father, Maximus tried to kill him in his sleep.
I scoffed.
That I am cursed does not mean I can't feel the sun, but I wasn't about to explain that to the moron standing before me.
"What should I feel when you say those things?"
He glared at me and stormed out.
Stupid cousin.
I grabbed my royal scarf which I use to cover my face, so that only my eyes will be seen and my way to the carriage waiting for me outside.
°°°
SARAFINA.
After freshening up, I grabbed the sack of scarfs and made my way out of the room, silently praying to goddess Ashra to bless my sales for the day.
"Are you going already? " Zella asked as I got to the living room.
"Yes, I have to go early, so that I can finish selling it before the prince comes out.
"Won't you eat something? "
I smiled and patted her. "I will eat when I get back"
"And what are you still doing here? " Kayla yelled from behind me.
"I'm going already" I said and quickly grabbed the bag and scurried out of the house.
.
* *
I wiped away the sweat forming on my head as I sat at my usual spot in the market.
I had not really made enough sales because the market was very scanty.
On a normal market day, there would have been so much rustling and bustling. But I tell you the fear of prince Jamal in the province of Zedora is the beginning of wisdom for a commoner like me.
"How much for your scarf" a lady asked.
"Five hundred dirham, ma" she picked up a blue one and eyed it warily.
"This is what you want to sell for five hundred dirham, I don't think you have any shame, even the quality burqa my son bought from Pecan province is still cheaper than this"
I sighed. This is what I face everyday.
You won't be surprised to find out that the lady in question might not have a son or even own a burqa, but just so you sell cheaper for them, they make up lies.
"How much will you take it? " I asked her.
"Three hundred"
I nodded and wrapped the scarf in a neat cellophane bag.
She took it from my hand and placed some rough notes on my hand.
I smiled and pressed my palms together as a way of saying thank you.
It was called the sign of peace in Zedora. As I put the money into my waist purse, I noticed the market women whispering between themselves, and many of them began to pack their goods. Some even left their goods and started running.
Nobody had to tell me that the amir(prince) was on his way.
I looked down at my not sold scarfs. If I don't finish selling this scarfs, I would have to sleep outside again.
But I have to save my head first.
So saying, I grabbed my sack and started running.
As I was running, I noticed an old mother at the side of the road, she was probably having difficulties in walking because her steps were slow and uncalculated. She needed help.
Because if the prince saw her, he was going to kill her, not minding her age or agility.
I slowed down and walked to her.
"Need any help, Nana(grandma)?" I asked.
She looked at me and smiled. "You have to run, if the amir sees you, he will have your head" with one hand supporting her and the other slinging my bag over my shoulders, I led her on.
"Same goes to you, he is going to have your head too, so let's get you somewhere safe, I can take care of myself"
She smiled and squeezed my hand. "You have a good heart, daughter"
I sighed, father always said it, but where has the good heart gotten me?
As soon as I found somewhere safe enough for Nana to hide, which was a tiny empty horse stead that could only contain one person. I bade her farewell and left, hoping I was as far away from the amir as I could go.
I was already two streets away from home when I heard the distant sound of a carriage coming my way.
I shivered in fear as I looked around, looking for a place to hide.
I gripped my bag tightly and started running , not stopping until I bumped into someone.
My head snapped up to see who I had bumped into. But as soon as I looked up, I began to wish I hadn't, because I realised I was standing in front of no other person than Prince Jamal himself!!
Though I had never seen him before, but his royal chain and bracelets was what made me recognise him.
I quickly went on my knees , pressing my palms together.
"I'm so sorry, your highness, I didn't mean to look at you... " I stuttered in tears.
I kept pleading, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Seize her!! " he commanded.
His voice was deep and surprisingly smooth. I closed my eyes.
I heard feet rustling from different places. I was dragged roughly from the floor by two guards.
"Please amir" I begged again as I was bundles onto a horse.
"Shut up! " one of the guards yelled at me.
I gulped in fear, there was no hope for me.
I was going to be killed.
°SIX MONTHS LATER°SARAFINA.I sighed as I finished knitting the last touch on the scarf.It has been six months. Six months since I took an arrow for the royal family...Six months since Maximus and his allies who happened to be elders at the council were sentenced to death for murder and treason.Six months since Kayla was found dead at her apartment, obviously killed by Maximus.Six months since Jafar was accepted into Pecan as rightful heir of the throne, obviously he survived the knife wound.Six months since Zella and Pooja opened a dancing school with the help of Queen Mila.Six months since Ditya went back to Pecan after pleading for forgiveness in front of the whole council.Most importantly its been six months since I last saw him...Jamal.. My Jamal.Actually he went on a royal trip to the civilized province to convince them to bring their technics into Zedora,
JAMAL."We found something unusual" Khan stated once we got to the front of Maximus chambers."Don't tell me he fled the city" Appa said."Nothing like that" Khan replied."Get me out of here! Tell that wench to let me go this instant!"I pushed open the door and entered to find Maximus struggling on a chair but nothing was tying him down.I huffed. This is strange, but wait! I instantly turned to my left to find Jafar laying sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood with a knife plunged to his belly."Jafar!" I yelled getting down on my knees beside him. "You did this to your son, didn't you?" I yelled at Maximus who was staring me with a smirk on his face. I felt Jafar's pause.. It was so low, you would think it wasn't there."Thankfully he is still alive, get him to the clinic fast" I ordered as the guards lifted him up and took him out.Appa stalked towards Maximus. "Seems like someone was here before us
SARAFINA.Okay, I think right now is the time for a little drama, that's the only way I can stop them. I ran to the front of the carriage, cleared my throat and started screaming. "Stop! Stop this carriage! Stop it right now! The prince thinks he can get me pregnant and then get married to a princess huh? I will never allow that, over my dead body will I give birth to a fatherless child" The guards at the gate immediately tried to grab me, thankfully they didn't recognize me because of the burqa on my face."What is wrong with you maiden, don't you have any shame huh?" One of them asked as he got hold of my hand. I swung hack and kneed him in his dick, he doesn't know that I have thrown shame to the wind because I have to save the royal house."Tell the prince to come down, or I will go out into the festival and yell it out to the whole Zedora, and I will kill myself and the baby in addition" I screamed."Are you crazy, leave the way now!"
Jafar stormed into his Father's chambers in annoyance, breathing heavily he slammed the door shut. Maximus sat on his couch, sipping his wine. "And what brings you to my court, son?" He drawled at Jafar. "You know exactly why I am here Father!" Jafar replied in a loud tone, anger brewing off from him. "Why did you tell Ditya to call off her engagement with Jamal? And why is she getting married to me?" He yelled. "You heard the news? Then get ready to be a groom to be, I got you some suitable attires, you should try them on" "Father! What is all this about? First you wanted Sarafina off the page, now you are getting me married to Ditya without saying a word to me! Are you sure this is all for me or for your own selfish reason because I am clearly tired and I can't do this anymore" Jafar shouted. Maximus sprang up. "You said what?" "
SARAFINA."Hey sleepy head, get up get up" Pooja yells into my ear while I roll away from her, placing my hands over my ear."Get off my face Mohini and let me get some sleep" I grumbled."Not on my watch lady, now get your ass up we have a festival to attend"I sprang up. "Are you telling me we've spent two days already in this desert with a creepy guardian and only tropical winter fruits to our poor stomach""Exactly my point! Besides Marielle has practically disappeared since our first night here so minus the creepy guardian, everything you just listed is absolutely the situation here... And oh you smell like shit, you should take your bath too because you have done nothing but sulk on that same spot for the past two days" Poojs remarked."Shut up" I snapped rolling my eyes as she made her way out. Does she really have to remind me of how pathetic I have been when I keep thinking of Jamal. It's not my fault actually, it is t
JAMAL.If mother wasn't unconscious on my hand, I would have started a celebratory dance right away, I didn't want to get married to her anyway and she had just saved me the pressure of having to rack my brain for a suitable excuse to give for breaking off the engagement, only that why doesn't this feel right?"Hey take care of my mother, I would be back in a minute" I said to the maids and lay Ammi quietly on her bed, I grabbed Ditya's hands and pulled her outside, once we were safely out of earshot I released her hands and turned to her."What was that?" I ask, she stepped back and looked around, it was then I noticed tears in her eyes."Are you okay?" I asked, she shook her head and moved closer to me she looked around again and slipped a folded paper into my hands."Please, don't open it until you are alone, it is nothing harmful just don't open it until you are alone" she whispered and hurried away. I looked down at my folded fin
JAMAL.Getting out in my carriage was absolutely a bad idea because immediately people saw it they all started running helter-skelter, I sighed. "Was the petition dropped yesterday before the happenings at the council?" I asked Khan referring to the petition that I made to allow the commoners see me when they want to."Yes it was, though I don't think the king would be able to look over it because of the current situation" he replied."Okay, then let me have a word with the indigines""Now? Like right now?" He asked in a surprised tone."Yes right now, you have a problem with that?""Of course not" he replied immediately and told the coachman to stop. I got down from the carriage and waited, there was no soul in sight they had all run away."Is this really necessary my prince, there is no indigene standing... You can gave a talk with them at the festival of the rain" Khan reasoned.I clicked my tongue. "The festiv
SARAFINA. We enter the cottage and to our surprise it is already lighted. "It doesn't seem seem to be deserted" Pooja observed after looking around. "That's what I see, only that who would this place in the middle of an abandoned area?" "You are here, Sarafina Belaird" we heard a voice from behind—startling us both, we immediately turn to see an old lady standing at the entrance, a bag on her hand and a weird smile dancing on her lips. "But you didn't come alone as I see it" she added, closing the door behind her. I take step back from her. "Who are you and how do you know me?" "How do I know you?" She repeated my question and sat. "Well I know a lot of things that you can't even imagine, but you should have a seat first" she waved her hands and two wooden seats appear before us. Pooja gasped from b
SARAFINA."Fina! Fina!" Pooja yelled slamming the door shut as she entered, her voice sounded frantic so I dropped the potatoes I was peeling and rushed out of the kitchen."Hey, what's wrong" she was breathing heavily so she tried to steady her breath then she moved closer to me and pulled me back into the kitchen. I got confused."Fina, they are coming for you" she finally said. I didn't understand her, who is coming for me and why?."What are you talking about?""The council meeting, it went off the grid, The diviner was there and he said for Jamal to be completely whole you have to be sacrificed" she said in one breath.I stared at her for a while before I then threw my head back in laughter. I stopped laughing and looked back at her. "Wait, you are not joking are you?""Do I look like I'm joking Sarafina? Maximus is leading the guards down here, they are going to take you to the sacred room, and you will be sacrific
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