A Dragon's Heart

14.

“Would you like more shai, Sayyada?” Samirah asked as I slipped on a black cotton, short-sleeved gown.

“Unless you want my stomach to burst open, Samirah, I am okay. I enjoyed the shai Bilal left me this morning. So don’t worry, I am full. Besides, I am going to munch on some fruits as I read so no need for more shai.”

“Na’am, Ya Sayyada. Would you like to meet the new servants first before you do that?”

I packed my hair into a small bun, wondering if I could find anyone from the new maids to braid it. “Sure. Are they outside?”

“I’ll go get everyone before you come out,” she bowed and left.

My eyes fell on the letter Bilal had left me this morning. When I woke up, he was already gone. In his place, was a bunch of fresh flowers, a letter, and a kettle of hot shai, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And even more so, the letter.

As always, Bilal’s letter hit a nerve, leaving me already missing him. I took a hot bath afterwards, and couldn’t help but flush as I remembered what happened in the tub last night. I applied more of the salve Bilal had made, hoping it would ease more of the pain and perhaps, fully heal the bruises.

‘How are you feeling today?’ Jay asked quietly.

‘Huh?’

‘I mean, the idea of consummating the bond unnerved you. And I am not saying you shouldn’t be, just wondering how you are feeling this morning.’

‘Oh. That,’ I leaned back against the chair and closed my eyes. ‘I am fine, Jay. I will be.’

‘One doesn’t just heal from s****l assaults. You have to make efforts to fight it. You and I both know you don’t want to talk about this. You don’t want to face what happened, hence why you avoided therapy even when Natasha suggested you have it. You went a few times and stopped and I am not…’

‘Can we talk about something else or should I block you off for the day?’ I hissed.

‘Tiffy…’

‘Please, Jay. Please, not now. I can’t deal with this now. Or anytime soon. Let’s just leave it be. Please.’

I could feel her hesitation, seeing as she gritted her teeth as though to stop herself from saying anything.

‘I see he left another letter,’ she said after a while, and I released a deep sigh.

‘He did. As sweet as the ones from before. Maybe even better,’ I smiled, picking up the brown colored paper again. I brought it to my nose and sniffed, taking in a deep gulp of Bilal’s lingering scent on it.

I unfolded the letter, reading it for the fifth time that morning.

'Nurayn,

I hate that I am leaving you in bed, when all I want to do is spend the whole day wrapped in the sheets with you. But how can I when I am a commander and have duties?

But be rest assured, I will be back home tonight like I said, and I won’t be leaving for a while. I will make sure your thighs are fully healed with love when I get back. Make sure you put on the salve I made last night.

Oh, lest I forgot. Your kisses are intoxicating, and I can’t wait to get back for more.

Love and kisses,

Your Husband;

Bilal

I sighed happily, despite the nagging of Jay’s words, which I simply chose to ignore. I wasn’t ready yet. I would face it all when I was.

A knock came from the door, and I folded my paper as Samirah stepped in.

“I have them waiting outside, Sayyada.”

“Thank you,” I smiled at her as I kept the letter. I stood up, wincing a bit as my thighs rubbed against each other. Hurt like a b***h!

We stepped out, the sun already pelting us with its heat. There were at least ten women with their heads bowed down. They were all dressed in purple linen gowns, their long black hair adored with jewelries.

“Marhaba biki, Ya Sayyada,” they all chorused at the same time, their voice echoing around. Samirah was the first to raise her head and stood up.

“Allow me to introduce the new maids, Ya Sayyada. One of them is missing because…”

A loud scream cut off whatever Samirah wanted to say. She paused, turning her head south where Yasmina mentioned the servants quarters were.

“What was that?” I asked, furrowing my brows.

“I…”

Another scream shrieked through, making the girls panic as they all scrambled to their feet.

“One of the new maids is sick. It started last night.”

“How am I just learning of this?”

“It started slow. She wasn’t screaming or scratching any of us until this morning. When we left she was sleeping, so I didn’t think she’d be up already considering she had such little sleep last night.” Samirah explained.

“Do we not have a doctor here?” I asked, looking around the ladies.

They looked at each other, confused. And it took me a moment to realize that they may not understand what I meant. “A healer. Effendi. Whatever you call it here. Someone that helps the sick.” I explained as another scream shot through.

“A healer. Yes, there are two healers in the castle, Ya Sayyada. But we called the servant’s healer to check on her and she said she can’t help.”

“And the other healers?”

“They are meant for you…”

“Get them,” I hissed, making my way to the servant’s quarters. The screams were getting to be too much. Too scary for my liking.

“They both went out to get supplies as they arrived without much of those last night.”

“Lead the way,” I commanded, hurrying towards the quarters.

“Na’am, Sayyada,” she hurried to the front, the flurry sound of the other ladies following behind.

The servant quarters didn't even look like where servants stay. It looked too posh and too clean. Too beautiful with its low roofing and intricate carvings against the wall. There were several rooms scattered across the courtyard. But then another scream came from one of the rooms, dragging my attention from the designs.

Samirah pushed one of the doors open, and before any of us could step in, a woman ran out, knocking one of the ladies over.

“Hold her down before she escapes,” Samirah yelled at the ladies. Five of them rushed to pin the woman out, but she pushed all of them off and made to run again.

‘She is strong,’ Jay commented. ‘So strong. How the hell did she throw off five women? The heck is that?’

I watched as seven women now struggled to pin her down, and when it seemed unsuccessful, I asked if nothing could calm her down.

“We had to call one of the guards from the first gate to help us last night,” Samirah explained.

“Get him. Get whoever can help here,” I yelled, running to help the other women hold her down.

“I found one. He’s your new guard that came in this morning,” Samirah appeared with a tall man that had a mask over his face, leaving only his eyes open.

With a single nod, he walked up to the ladies and helped pinned the woman down. Yet, she still fought. Still threw a few ladies off of her. And then quite suddenly, as I grabbed her hand to hold her down as well, she stopped moving, throwing everyone off of her except for me and simply sat up, staring at me.

Her eyes were beautiful. The deepest shade of blue I had ever seen. She held my hand, then smiled brightly. She was beautiful, I noted. So, so beautiful. But then her hold turned bruising, and I tried to tug my hand away but to no avail.

“Marhaban!” she said in a disgruntled voice. “You are finally here!” Then her eyes rolled back, and she lost it, falling with a thud on the floor, leaving a bruise on my hand from where she held it.