Chapter 4

    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 and I gasped.

    "Nana?" She was the old lady I helped earlier in the morning.

    "My daughter" she said with a surprised tone.

    Jojo narrowed her eyes. "You know her somewhere?"

    Nana sat down in the cane chair beside her. "She is the girl that helped me hide from the amir"

    "Wow! What a coincidence!" Jojo exclaimed.

    "No" Nana said, shaking her head. "There is no such thing as coincidence my daughters. This is only the work of Kismata.. Fate"

    Jojo snorted. "Nana you've started with your wise talks, but we're very hungry now maybe you can talk later"

    Nana nodded and turned to me. "My daughter, why are you here?" She said and went outside.

    "I don't have a place to sleep Nana and Jojo offered me your house"

    Nana smiled. "You're welcome here anytime"

    "Thank you Nana"

    "So did you find a place to hide" Nana suddenly asked after a moment of silence.

    "I was caught and I'm being punished starting from tomorrow"

    "I won't ask you why you weren't killed, but just remember daughter that everything happens for a reason..... Kismata.. Fate"

    I smiled. "Okay Nana"

    .

    * *

    The next morning, I woke up before Nana and Jojo. I said my prayers, took my bath, and made my way outside. I saw the kitchen at the left side of the compound. I entered the kitchen and saw some foodstuffs stacked in a side. I decided to prepare breakfast.

    Aloo Gobi(traditional dish) will be the best and fastest to make.

    I gathered the ingredients and started working, dicing and slicing them starting from the aloo(potatoes) and the kaloniji.

    Few minutes later, I had already finished preparing the ingredients. I then set the fire place and place the food in the Tandoor(traditional oven) putting it over the fire to roast.

    I waited till it was ready and I served into two different warmer, I then took it inside and placed them on the table.

    And as silently as I could, careful not to wake Nana and Jojo, I made my way to the palace to serve my punishment.

    .

    * *

    JAMAL

    "What is a Sheba?" I asked mother as she sat down on my bed.

    She had just told me that Diviner had found a solution to my curse. I was curious, I wanted to know what it is like to be normal, to be able to feel things like others and not having to read their body language before understanding them.

    "A Sheba is not a what but a who, a Sheba is s maiden with a pure heart"

    "Can there ever be one? People are past having pure hearts" I told her.

    "Abu said she is close, very close but miles away"

    I narrowed my eyes. "What is that suppose to mean?"

    "I don't know Jamal, I don't know but I promise to find her wherever she is"

    .

    * *

    SARAFINA

    When I got to the palace gate, I met a guard who was waiting for me. I was taken to the head maid, she was to assign my work to me.

    "Good morning" I said bowing my head. She looked at me and shook her head. "You're the girl who saw the prince" I nodded. "Make sure you avoid the palace maids they don't like you, they think the king was partial with his judgment"

    "I don't know why he spared me too"

    "I believe everything happens for a reason.. Ever heard of Kismata?"

    I remembered Nana's words. "Fate" I muttered.

    She smiled. "You're wise, my name is Terai"

    "I am Sarafina"

    ..

    "This place is really wide, you have to clean it tactically" Terai said to me as she took me to my work area.

    It was a very large room with pictures of the royal family hung on the wall. It was also very dusty, it looked like it hasn't been cleaned for ages.

    "I can manage" I told her. She smiled and patted my back, leaving me to clean this extra large and extra dirty hall. But at least it is better than being killed.

    .

    .

    .

    It was past noon already and I had already cleaned almost half of the room.

    I heard the door crack open and I assumed it was Terai because she had told me she would come to get me for lunch by noon.

    "What are you doing here" came the deep but Smooth voice.

    I could recognise the voice anywhere. Prince Jamal.

    I jumped in fright, my bucket falling from my hand, spilling water to the smooth floor. In my attempt to move back, I slipped but before I could land, strong hands gripped my waist.

    I gasped as he spun me around so that I was facing him.

    I took the risk to look at him. His eyes held different expression confusion, surprise?

    "We meet again" he said still holding me.

    And for some weird reason, Nana and Terai's words kept ringing in my ears.

    Everything happens for a reason.....

    Kismata....... Fate!

    JAMAL

    Don't ask me!

    Don't ask me why I didn't let her fall...

    Don't ask me why I'm staring into her gorgeous hazel eyes, wishing I could drown myself in it.

    Don't ask me why I'm jealous of the way the wind caresses her hair, sending it flying in different direction, wishing I was the wind.

    Don't ask me how I know I'm jealous, or how I can experience jealousy when I'm not suppose to feel any sort of emotion.

    Don't ask me! Just don't ask me! Because I don't know... And I'm as confused myself!

    She steadied herself and gently pushed my hands from her waist, I let her. She bowed her head in courtesy.

    "Your highness"

    I cleared my throat. "You were supposed to be killed" I said, she moved back.

    "I've seen you again, I'm certainly going to be killed this time"

    "That depends, what if I don't tell?" What the hell am I saying?

    "The law says I should be killed, it will speak bad of you if you try to keep this a secret"

    "Who made the law?"

    She looked at me, biting her lips.

    I gulped, I suddenly wanted to kiss her. This is so overwhelming, why do I want to do things I've never thought of? Why is there this constant tugging in my chest.

    Why is my heart beating so fast that I think it might burst?

    "Who are you? And what are you doing to me?" I whispered.

    Her eyes widened and she moved back, I held her hands.

    "What's your name?"

    "Sarafina, your highness"

    I gulped, this is weird or I think strange is the word. Everything about this girl is really weird.

    First I'm experiencing things I have no idea what it means.

    But strangely enough, I like it... I like whatever she is doing to me.

    If this what it is like to be humane...

    Then I don't want it to end.

    "Your highness, this is wrong please let go off me" she said.

    I released her and she moved back, I blinked.

    "If you'll excuse me, I have to complete my work before nightfall"

    "Go on, I won't disturb you"

    "You can't stay your highness, you'll get dirty"

    I nodded. "I'll just leave"

    * *

    SARAFINA

    Fate...

    As he stepped out of the room, I couldn't help but think of Nana and Terai's words.

    Maybe they were right..

    Was it fate that made me see him the first time?

    Was it the work of fate that I wasn't killed?

    Was it the work of fate that I was assigned to work here.

    Is it the work of fate that I'm seeing him again?

    If it is fate, then there has to be a reason.

    The question is what is the reason?

    * *

    JAMAL

    Cursed!

    Cursed!

    I kept hearing the voices as I walked out, I shook my head yet it didn't stop and immediately I stepped out of the room, It was like something hit me in full force!

    And then snap! I wasn't in control of my body.

    "Your highness" a maid greeted. My hands grabbed her by the neck.

    I gripped it tightly, choking her.

    Her hands held my hand, pulling, kicking frantically.

    I heard voices.

    -Don't move near him!

    -somebody get the queen!

    -The queen is here!

    -Jamal!

    My hands didn't stop choking, squeezing.

    Until she came..

    "Prince Jamal" came her soft soothing voice.

    I released the maid and she fell limp to the ground.

    I turned and she was standing there, her hair swaying with the wind.

    "Sarafina"

    My knees bucked beneath me, I slipped to the ground. Someone held me, rocking me.

    My eyes were fixed on her.

    She didn't move, she just stood there staring at me.

    My mind was calling to her, but I couldn't speak. I saw her leaving before I eventually allowed the darkness envelope me.

    •••