MY JENN HUSBAND

Chapter 9.THE KING COMES

*CHAPTER 9: THE KING COMES*

Asabe's house became quiet.

Too quiet.

For three days, nothing happened. No Kael. No shadows. No wind. Even the birds stopped singing.

Aisha sat by the window every day, looking at the sky. She was free, but she was not happy. She was waiting.

"Mama, why are you worried?" Zayd asked. "We are safe now."

Aisha shook her head. "My son, you don't know your father. When he is quiet, it means he is planning something big."

On the fourth night, Asabe woke up to the sound of thunder.

But there was no rain. Only thunder.

_BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!_

The whole house was shaking. The lights went off.

"Zayd!" Asabe shouted.

Zayd was already standing. His eyes were red. "He is here."

They ran downstairs. Aisha was already there. Yusuf was there too, holding a stick, shaking.

"What's happening?" Yusuf shouted. "Is it earthquake?"

"No," Aisha said quietly. "It's the King."

Suddenly, the front door opened by itself. Cold air rushed in.

A tall man walked in. He was taller than Zayd. Taller than Kael. He wore a black crown made of fire. His eyes were gold. Not red. Not black. Gold.

He did not walk like a man. He walked like a king. Every step shook the floor.

"So," the King said, his voice deep like thunder. "This is where my son hid his little human family."

He looked at Aisha. His face changed for one second. Sadness. Then anger.

"Aisha. You escaped. After ten years, you still run."

Aisha stood in front of Asabe. "Leave my children alone. You already took ten years from me. You will not take them."

The King laughed. "Children? That boy is a traitor. He chose a human over his throne. And this girl..." He pointed at Asabe. "This girl should not exist. A half-blood with tears of gold. She is dangerous."

Asabe stepped forward. Her legs were shaking, but she did not run. "I am not dangerous. I never hurt anyone."

The King looked at her. "You don't have to hurt anyone. Your existence is enough. If humans know about us, if they know about your power, there will be war between worlds. I must erase you to keep peace."

Zayd stood in front of Asabe. "Father, if you want to erase her, you must erase me first."

The King became angry. "You dare to talk to me like that? I am your King! I am your father!"

"I know," Zayd said. "And I am sorry. But I love her. I will not let you hurt her."

The King raised his hand. A ball of golden fire appeared.

"Then you will die with her."

He threw the fire at them.

Aisha jumped in front. She raised her hands. A wall of blue light appeared. The fire hit the wall and exploded.

The whole house shook. Windows broke. The roof cracked.

"Run!" Aisha shouted. "Take Asabe and run! I will hold him!"

"No!" Zayd shouted. "Mama, I just found you! I won't leave you!"

Aisha smiled, tears in her eyes. "My son, you have to live. You have to protect Asabe. That is your job now. My job is to stop him."

She pushed Zayd and Asabe out of the door. "Go! Go to the middle world! I will come!"

Zayd held Asabe's hand and ran. They ran into the forest. Into the middle world.

Behind them, they could hear fighting. Light against fire. Aisha against the King.

Asabe was crying while running. "We can't leave her! She just got free!"

"We have to!" Zayd said. "She told us to go. She has a plan."

They reached the middle world. The blue forest. Zayd stopped. He was breathing hard.

"What is the plan?" Asabe asked.

Zayd looked at the sky. "My mother said... if the King ever comes, we must find the Heart of the Forest. A stone that holds all the power of the jinn world. If we find it, we can stop him. If he finds it first, he will become unstoppable."

Suddenly, the sky opened. The King appeared in the sky, holding Aisha by her neck.

"Look!" the King shouted. "Your mother is in my hands. Give me the girl, and I will let her live."

Aisha was struggling. "Don't! Don't listen to him! Asabe, run!"

Asabe looked at Aisha. She looked at Zayd.

Her tears started falling. But this time, her tears did not turn into crystals. They turned into light. Bright white light.

The King saw the light and his eyes widened. "What is that?"

Asabe raised her hands. The light grew bigger. It covered the whole forest.

"I am not a thing!" Asabe shouted. "I am not gold! I am Asabe! And I will not let you hurt my family!"

The light hit the King. He screamed and dropped Aisha.

Aisha fell. Zayd caught her.

The King flew back, holding his eyes. "My eyes! What did you do to me?!"

Asabe stood there, glowing white. Her hair was flying. Her eyes were white.

For the first time, the King was scared.

"You..." the King whispered. "You are not half-blood. You are... the Child of Light. The one the prophecy spoke about."

Asabe did not understand. "What prophecy?"

The King looked at her with fear. "The prophecy said a girl born of two worlds will end the reign of kings. And she will bring peace. Or she will bring destruction. It depends on her heart."

He looked at Asabe. "Girl, what is in your heart?"

Asabe looked at Zayd. She looked at Aisha. She looked at her own glowing hands.

She said, "My heart wants peace."

And the light became even brighter.