Bride of Elim

CHAPTER 21

***A MYSTERIOUS PLACE***

Having breakfast together was a thing in the Baham household but without Malik it felt different, like I was in a foreign environment. Everyone was so engulfed on their own pain that we didn’t even pay any heed to one another. I had never felt so detached from people I shared a house with like I felt around my family. People had been walking on eggshells because of my little episode with Naomi the other day.

Of course everyone thought that it was because I was stressed out, that Malik’s disappearance was driving me a little crazy but I knew better. Even Naomi thought that it was the stress, whatever the wicked witch of the west had to tell herself to get some sleep at night, I didn’t care. She was going to pay for her evil deeds sooner or later.

It had been four days since I woke up and the doctor advised me to take as much rest as I could at least until my wounds were healed. Matthew had been spending a lot of time at the library searching for books and journals that might help point us to the “The Queen’s dwelling” wherever that was. Honestly I could not understand how in the world Elim supposed I was going to find the place when I had not even the slightest knowledge about it, heck even the elders knew nothing about it.

“Sister-in-law, do you think my brother will be alright?” He asked when he finally moved his gaze from the journal he had been flipping through. My poor brother-in-law, he was the most anxious of all and I understood why. Malik was the one who took care of the family, the business and protected the throne while taking care of the peoples interests. If it were to happen that we weren’t able to find the mysterious place that no one knew about, all those responsibilities were going to be his to handle which was probably scary for him because he wasn’t raised to be a leader like his brother. Malik’s disappearance definitely took a toll on him. He wasn’t the same prickly Matthew I was used to. It broke my heart to see him like that.

“Yes, I think he’s okay. Elim is always with him, right? He has to be.” I replied not sure whether I was convincing myself or my brother-in-law who desperately needed to here such words. At that time I was in a bad place as well, probably not qualified to be comforting another person. It took everything in me to remain composed and not crumble in front of him. I was missing my husband so much it hurt but I could not afford to be in despair, especially since mother was barely holding on. Since the people didn’t know about Malik’s incident, I had to be remain calm and collected even though I was barely holding on inside.

“You really think so?” He asked looking like he was going to break down and cry in an instant. I brushed his hand slightly and answered. ”Yes, I believe his greater than this situation he is just unable to come home yet. I promise I’ll find him.” I blinked back my own tears and continued searching for that bloody place.

With Malik gone, I had to some of the courts matters which needed his approval as his equal. Handling the court was pain in my butt. Imagine having to deal with a council that won’t take orders from a woman. Impudence! They dared to disregard me, their Queen. I had to be firm down and be strict with my orders so they knew I meant business. Old fools, some of them were old enough to be my grandfather which is why the felt undermined. Whatever! I was the Queen and in Malik’s absents that was my court. I didn’t need that kind of drama with all that I was going through.

I was outside in the garden enjoy the fresh air that was very much needed when the cats suddenly dragged in an unexpected guest. “Mimi, I’ve been looking for you. How are you faring.” She said as she sat down on the chair opposite mine. The nerve she had showing up and called me by my pet name. “ I was doing just fine before you showed up uninvited and invaded my space dear cousin.” I sneered. “ Mimi pleas…” She said before I cut in. ”And its my Queen to you, only my friends and family call me that.” I continued, b** you don’t know me like that.

“But we are family. You’re my cousin and I need to be here for you during this difficult time.” She spoke up, her face void of even the lightest sincerity. If I didn’t know better I might have been swayed but I knew under that sheep skin was a wolf. ”Is that so..? ” I questioned as a smirk slowly formed on my lips. She was acting all genuine and sh*t while she was the main cause of my husband’s situation. Since she was not aware of my knowledge I decided to that I would indulge her in her little game of white lotus. I wanted to see how far she was willing to go to deceive everyone.

"Yes silly, what did you think.” That bimbo might have been three years older than I was but she was sure dumb as hell not to catch the vibes I was giving her. Even a blind person could tell what was happening, I mean I beat the crap out of her but she came back or maybe it was her motive that caused her to turn a blind eye to my rudeness.

I poured her a cup of tea and we continued chatting. A short while later Matthew came rushing toward us with an old dusty looking book shouting, “Sister-in-law! I found it.” That little rascal, a prince is not supposed to run around like that. Naomi looked interested but there was no way I was letting her in on our plans to rescue my husband. “Please excuse us cousin.” I said with a smile on my face. I could tell she wanted to stay but she also wanted to be on my good books so she got up and left. “I’ll take my leave then.”

“It’s right here.” He pointed out something on what I assumed was a map. As I got closer I noticed it was a map of the forest, it outlined everything from the hut to the spring the Queens dwelling that was allocated deep within the forest. Matthew was thrilled that he finally found it after searching so much he almost hugged me which was a little adorable by the way. I was only two years older than him but I thought of him as my little brother since I was married to Malik who was seven years older than. Yes my husband was little older but I didn’t mind and neither did he. “This is great, now I just have to figure out how to get there. ” it was really great that at least we were able to locate the place but the challenge was how I was going to get there. No one seemed to know the place which meant that either no one had ever gone there or whoever went there was already dead. Come to think of it, the map was quite old and had to be hand drawn. It was not even mentioned how far the place was.

“Yeah, that is going to be a little tricky.” He stated flipping the map over. “Wait… it says only a true Queen can find the path to Queen’s dwelling.” He said with his eyes still glued on the map. I bit the inside of my mouth. “Why does everything have to be mysterious though?” I questioned, in fact everything that involved Elim was mysterious. “Because our family is not normal.” He gave me that “You know” look that needed no explanation not that I needed any. Our family was certainly not normal everyone knew that but that was just a quota of it all.

Sabah showed up a few hours after we discovered the map. I could never get used to how he always showed up when something happened without anyone informing him, it was a little creepy but I guess creepy was an understatement when you had a shape shifting husband.

"And remember it is not Elim who is cursed, the king is. You need to be careful my Queen, the witch initially cursed him to shift and remain that way forever but Elim resisted. That is why the king lost his mind and attacked you, because he can neither be a man nor an animal.” By the time Sabah finished speaking I was in utter shock. How could Naomi be that cruel? I felt anger boiling inside me. If anything were to happen to my husband I was going to have Naomi’s head. I swore in my heart that I was going to make her pay.