Chapter 3

    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" 

• • •