by Ashley Nemer
“Nasir, you are out of line.”
“No, Zayn, you are out of line. Now listen to me for once, and do as I say.”
Nasir dropped Zayn’s arm and walked away. He didn’t care what excuses or reasons Zayn had to give him. Right now he was concerned with both of them. The mess had gotten out of hand, and it was time someone put a stop to it.
He pulled out his cell phone and called Mehmet. Things were ready, and he needed to know their estimated time of arrival.
“Mehmet, what is your location?”
“We are just outside of the city. I expect us to pull into the hospital in fifteen minutes.”
“Good, I will tell them you are here. They have a room ready for him and someone on standby to examine Nikole.”
Nasir closed his phone and walked to the emergency room waiting area. He looked around at the people waiting to get in and decided he should wait outside. The less people saw of him the better.
“Tamman, your children are so much like you, stubborn and always thinking they are right. You would be proud.” He spoke aimlessly out loud, not really to anyone specific, just to his long lost friend.
“One day he will make a fine leader,” the king said to Nasir while they were watching a young Zayn dress his horse to start his battle training.
“Yes, Tamman, he possesses your strength and ability. He will make everyone proud.”
“We are aware that with Haydar still on the loose, and no foreseeable end in sight for his destruction, that something might happen to me.”
“The risk is there, sire, but we both know the odds of that are slim. You are always under protection and guard.”
“Aye, my friend, but Ikram and I have been discussing this and we would like you to be Zayn’s shebeen.”
Nasir looked to his lifelong friend and extended his hand. King Tamman took it and pulled them together for an embrace. This was right; he and Queen Ikram knew that Nasir would protect their child with his life if that’s what was needed.
“I pledged my life to the crown when I joined the Ghul. But now I will pledge my life to Zayn specifically.”
Nasir knelt before his king and took his hand as Tamman presented the royal crest. Nasir crossed his hand over his heart and on bended knee recited his oath.
“I, Nasir, Emir of the Ghul, swear my life to your ebn’, Zayn Kadin. I shall look over him and protect him as if he is of my blood. I shall protect, guide and nurture him in his youth, and advise and fight for him during his ascension to the throne. On my honor, this I swear.”
He leaned up against the wall of the hospital and waited for their arrival. So much had happened in such a short time. He was getting too old for this, he feared. He hadn’t even started a life for himself, because he had devoted his life to the Royal Family. He didn’t regret that fact, but he wished he had someone to be with as well, someone to come home to at night.
“Excuse me, sir, you can’t wait here.”
Nasir turned to the childish looking doctor and said nothing.
“Sir, you need to move.”
Nasir pushed off the wall and moved toward the man, towering over him. “Watch who you are talking to. I am staying here and no one will be removing me. I suggest you leave.”
The man looked up at him. His eyes were glowing, and he didn’t know what to think. Humans never did. That was why he wished they had their own hospital, not just one wing of the human one.
“Sir, people are not allowed to wait here. This is for emergency personnel only.” The human could barely spit the words out. His legs were bent as his fear permeated the air.
“Leave me the fuck alone,” Nasir snarled at him, and then a smile formed when the man ran off.
Humans, worthless.
Nasir went back to his wall and crossed his arms, and after a few deep breaths of fresh air, he calmed down. He understood how Nikole got so riled up during a fight. The surge of adrenaline and endorphins could drive one wild.
Off in the distance, he could see Mehmet’s car driving down the main road. Good, they were here. He turned and went inside to inform Ms. Ryan of Alec’s arrival. He walked into Adara’s room and informed Zayn that his okht was close, and he would be best served showing himself as she got out of the car for support. He hoped for Nikole’s sake that Alec wasn’t going to die. She’d had enough loss in her life; she didn’t need him to leave her as well.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Leigh sat at her desk. The blue print of her abb’s quarters was lying on top. She didn’t remember leaving that out when she’d left. Had Jonothon been looking at these before his capture? Did her abb know what her plans were? That could be the reason that Haydar had tortured Jonothon so badly, but something told her it wasn’t.
“Summon my abb to my room; I need to speak with him. And send the cleaning crew here. There is a mess,” she said into the intercom. She didn’t want to see his remains. She might not have been known for caring for others, but she had cared for him, and the sight of his lifeless, useless body on her floor was upsetting.
“Ma’am, what do you want me to do with his body?”
She looked up from her desk at the servant standing in the doorway. “Burn the body and bring me the ashes. I’m going for a snack, be finished here when I return.” Leigh pushed back from the desk and walked toward Jonothon’s lifeless body. She didn’t bow her head so much as look down. Disgust and hatred overtook her essence. That was the defining moment for her, the moment that made her glad she would be killing her abb. With a sudden turn and a flash out of her office, she materialized in the pits.
The entire flock of humans gasped as Leigh appeared in the middle of the room suddenly. They looked to each other for comfort and pity. Leigh could smell the fear radiating off their bodies throughout the entire room. There were children off in the distance, crying. She hated children. The cattle started to talk among themselves, thinking they were safe with whispering.
Leigh opened her eyes as they flared lime green, the color she was known for. She let her gaze trail across the room, scanning from wall to wall, all the cattle chained up ready for the slaughter. She enjoyed feeding not only on the blood but the fear her position in life engendered in the lesser species.
“Don’t look at her, and she won’t pick you,” she heard one of the men say. Her head turned sharply to her left as she stared down the male dumb enough to speak.
“You think I don’t smell your fear? IDIOTS! All of you. You are all nothing but food for our survival.” Leigh hissed. She smiled, showing off her fangs, and walked up and down the walls. She watched as the little children cried, and the adults turned their heads away from her blazing stare.
“You, I think, will do fine.” She grabbed a slender brunette female and pulled her away from the wall. She laughed as the woman let out a piercing scream.
“Please let me go. Ppplease, let me go!” the woman cried out. Leigh pulled the metal chains out of the wall and let them fall to the floor as she grabbed the woman by the hair and dragged her across to the table.
“Let you go? Not likely. What’s your name, filthy cattle?”
The woman’s eyes started to glaze over, fear paralyzing her. “What’s your name?!” Leigh barked out.
The woman was trembling as she meekly said, “Shelley.”
Leigh ran her hands up the woman’s legs and over her stomach. She looked down into her eyes as she cupped her breasts and bared her fangs. The human screamed again and instantly Leigh’s mouth was latched into the woman’s neck. Her fangs broke the skin and the woman spilled her blood into Leigh’s mouth. She began to suck on the wound, drawing the blood at a rapid pace. The other humans in the room averted their eyes and held onto their neighbors for fear that they would be next.
As she drained the body, she released her mouth and growled out, blood dripping off of her fangs and down her chin. She looked to the child who was clinging to his mother’s leg in front of her and flashed in front of him, fangs bared, and sank her teeth into
his neck. His mother’s screams and his tiny cries warmed her spirits as her grief over Jonothon washed away.
She pulled the child’s chains from the wall and dragged his body along with the other woman’s to the fire pit and tossed them into it. The burning flesh, the sizzling of hair on fire, and the crackle of the embers echoed throughout the room as the other humans stood along the walls in silence, watching Leigh closely for her next move.
She left the pit with a new-found sense of purpose. She wouldn’t grieve over the weak for another moment. Had he been meant to live, he would have fought and won against her abb. She took the long route back to her quarters, hoping it would be enough time to dispose of his remains as she’d requested. Her boots clacked across the tiles as she walked towards her room. She knew he was waiting on her as she felt his presence when she turned the corner.
“Did you see my present, bent?” Haydar watched her approach, his excitement evident in the grin painted on his face.
“You didn’t need to do that. You know I am loyal to you, and you didn’t need to rid us of one more warrior.” She tried to hold her tone and not let her anger seep through.
“You know why I chose him. I know what you are planning. You would not be a Khaled if you did not seek some sort of overthrow of family members. However, Leigh,” he pushed off of the wall and stalked towards her, rising to his full height and looking down at her to make sure she knew what he meant, “you will not be able to kill me, although I applaud the effort. Jonothon is dead because you valued him, and you need to know that compassion of any kind is a weakness and will get you killed. Remember that. The next body that will be on the ground will be yours if you choose to keep on that path.”
Leigh didn’t back down. She held firm as she looked into his eyes, her irises changing to pale green, her fangs still coated in the humans’ blood as she snarled.
“The only one who needs a lesson right now is you, Abb, and I intend to be the one who shows you the error in your ways.” She didn’t give him an opportunity to speak; she simply vanished.
Leigh appeared out in the woods, seeking the solace her omm used to help grant her as a child after a hard fight.
“I will find a way to defeat you, Abb, if it’s the last thing I do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Can you get there any faster, Mehmet? Gods, he is going to die!” Nikole said as they approached the city. She could see their destination in the distance, but patience had never been her virtue.
“I’m going as fast as I can, Nik. Calm down. He will be okay.” Mehmet tried to remain even-toned, but it was hard to manage when she was so emotional.
“Mehmet, hurry!” Nikole could hear Alec gasping for breath, and she feared he wasn’t going to make it. She quickly went beside his head and put her hands with his. “Alec, I’m here, baby. Please, I’m here. Don’t go. Focus on me.”
“We’re here, and they are waiting on us.” Mehmet pulled the car into the emergency parking, and the hospital staff swarmed the car. They pulled Alec from it and put him on a stretcher, whisking him away. Nikole didn’t get a last moment to say goodbye or tell him she loved him. She felt Mehmet behind her. He lightly pressed his hand at the small of her back and guided her into his arms. She hadn’t liked being close to him since that day back in Zahle. She liked to push it out of her mind. But right now, she needed comfort. Nikole wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in the crook of his neck. The tears started, and Mehmet immediately tried to calm her. For several minutes, they stood outside of the hospital and held each other tight.
“Nikole.” She heard Zayn behind her and released Mehmet, turning as she rushed to him. Zayn held onto her and stroked her hair. He nodded his head towards the car indicating Mehmet could take his leave.
“Honey, I need to tell you something.” Nikole started to shake her head repetitively. She didn’t want to hear whatever he wanted to tell her, and whatever it was couldn’t be true.
“No, no, no, no,” she kept repeating over and over. The automatic doors opened behind them, and Nasir came outside, looking at his family as they embraced. Walking to them and wrapping his arms around each of them, they all silently held one another. Neither of the men had said it, but Nikole knew. Alec was gone.
“Do you want to come say goodbye, little okht?” Zayn asked as he continued to hold her close. Silently, Nikole nodded her head. Nasir stepped away and let the two of them walk back into the hospital alone. Mehmet walked up next to him after parking the car.
The two men looked at each other. “She is going to need you and extra protection.”
“I know, and I don’t have any issues with spending more time with her. It’s she who doesn’t want to be around me.”
“Well, you need to help her get past that, because we lost Zayn for three months, and we cannot afford to lose her also. To beat Haydar they need to be a united force. So do whatever you need to. Love her, fuck her, be her best friend, I don’t care, but it’s your job to keep her focused.” Nasir stared down at Mehmet, his eyes never breaking the lock with his. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. I understand.” Mehmet didn’t need to be instructed more than once. He was very loyal to the crown and to Nasir.
“The only reason I’m not going to order your death for allowing her to escape, especially since it put her directly in harm’s way, is because she is going to need you to heal. If you want to survive past this invasion we are experiencing, I suggest you get Nikole to love you once again.”
“That was a long time ago; we won’t go back to that.”
“Zayn won’t allow you to live past this without a valid reason. That’s your only hope. Mark my words, Mehmet. It is now, or never.”
“You do not need to tell me twice, Nasir. I know my mistake. Now if you will excuse me, I need to tend to the princess.” Mehmet left Nasir and walked into the hospital in search of the Royal Family.
Zayn held onto Nikole’s hand as he walked her back to the operating room. The hospital staff opened the doors as they approached, and she saw the pity and sorrow on their faces as she moved past them. Zayn walked her across the threshold. The nurses had just finished cleaning the blood off of the equipment. The air was as thick as bricks, and Nikole felt her lungs start to close. Her legs stopped, and she couldn’t move past the end of the bed.
“Do you want to see him, Nik?” Zayn never let go of his hold, as he used his free hand to stroke her back and encouraged her. Alec’s body was marred; Nikole couldn’t take the sight of him.
“Alec?” she whispered. The room was silent except for her voice. “Alec?” she said again with a bit more volume.
“Nik, he’s gone,” Zayn said softly.
“ALEC!!” Nikole screamed at the top of her lungs. Her body started to collapse, and Zayn caught her in his arms, supporting her against him. Her hands were burning with fire across her palms. Zayn let the water out of his body, running it across his skin, tempering Nikole’s fire.
“ALEC!!” she screamed out again, the tears rushing down her face.
Zayn moved his body in front of hers, blocking her from seeing Alec’s lifeless corpse. Nikole became irate, screaming and crying to be with him. “Nikole, please.”
“Stop it! Stop, Zayn, let me hold him.” Zayn stepped away, and Nikole rushed to his body, leaning on the operating table and holding onto Alec. She didn’t want it to be true, she kept calling out to him, “Alec, no. Please Alec!! Come back!!” Zayn motioned for the hospital staff to leave them alone. He rested his hand on his okht’s back as she wept for the man she’d loved.
“I’m so sorry, Alec. This is all my fault. I never should have stayed with you. I’m so sorry.” Over and over Nikole wept for him. Zayn watched her fall apart and felt utterly helpless to do anything about it.
“Excuse me, sir,” a man said from the back of the room standing just outside of the door. Zayn and Nikole both turned around to look at him. “What do you need?” Zayn asked.
�
��I need to remove the body; there is another patient in need of this room.”
“No, you can’t have him,” Nikole said as she turned back around, draping herself over Alec’s body. “He’s not ready to leave yet.”
“Ma’am, I really have to take him. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but he needs to come with me.”
Zayn moved forward toward the hospital worker. He tried to remember that this hospital had humans in it, and they were not accustomed to Algula ways. The cover might be foreign dignitaries who stayed in Colorado, but that didn’t mean every day staff knew how to treat them. “My sister said we are not done here yet. Did she not make herself clear?”
“She did, but I have to get this room ready for the next patient. This one needs to go to autopsy.”
Zayn leaned his head lower so the human who stood at 5’9” could look him into the eyes. Zayn’s irises had started to swirl yellow, causing the hospital staff member’s jaw to drop, and for a moment or two, he looked like he had seen a ghost. Zayn spoke to him calmly.
“You will leave us alone, or,” he paused as his fangs dropped from his mouth, “or I will kill you, your choice.”
The man backed out of the doorframe and quickly ran down the hall. Zayn let the door shut as he returned to his okht’s side.
“Should we say something in his honor?” she asked as she looked up at him.
“If you want to, we can.”
“Will you, I’m just…”
“Yes, I will. Come stand; let us show our fallen hero respect.”
Nikole stood and slipped her left hand into Zayn’s right hand, gently placing her right hand on Alec’s forehead. His body was now cold and stiff. It was evident there wasn’t anything remaining.
