The Desert Prince and The Dreamer

Chapter 1

Zayn stood staring out the window of his study room in the West wing of the Palace. Like always, he didn't notice the chirping of the redbreast bird right outside his window or the rays of sunshine that forced their way through the half opened gigantic window blinds. He never had time for such luxury, there was always so much to do or to think about. Twenty nine years of living in the Palace and everything to him looked the same. None of his surroundings changed, same bedroom wing, same family, same gardens. He had a few paper works to clear and then he would take his usual rides. He was not a fun type kind of person, unlike his brother Shaffik and his best friend Adam, he never went out partying or events, unless he had to and he was neither inviting nor approachable at any of the events. People always kept his distance and women wouldn't even dare, only the ones who didn't fear rejection.

The only thing he loved to do was take a ride in the Desert with his Jeep and brace himself against the Desert winds and sands, only that activity made him feel alive. He also loved his quiet moments in his wing and he made sure it always stayed like that, no one dared to intrude in this part of the Palace, "Zayn..." well apart from her sister. He turned with a smile to see Sapphire clutching her chest while taking in deep breaths. He shook his head, She would never grow up.

"What did you do?" he raised his eyebrow as his sister looked at him in pretend shock.

"Oh dear brother, how little you think of me. How much longer will you continue to hurt my feelings?" She laid her hands on her chest in mock pain.

"Alright, what did you not do dear Sis?" he flopped in his chair and put his legs on the table smirking. She only knew this side of him.

"Okay fine." She sighed and sat across him pouting her lips. "The wicked witch..."

"You mean mother," he corrected her and She rolled her eyes.

"She wants me to go with her to this dance, saying there are going to be 'eligible' men." She made finger quotes on eligible.

"Well, you're twenty-one, shouldn't you be married by now?" he looked at her seriously.

"You are a pot calling the kettle black, you're not getting any younger either dear concerned brother." She pointed at him fiercely.

"I'm a man, I'll marry when I want." he stood up and walked towards her then sat before her on the table, "You on the other hand Sis are getting older and soon no man will want to marry an old maiden." he leaned over her grinning.

She looked at him and growled, "You are no fun, that's why no woman in her right mind will ever accept to marry you."

"Hmm, I don't think so, women just can't resist my looks." he smirked some more.

"Keep talking and you will have no more looks for women to admire when I craw your face with my nails." She spread out her fingers threatening, "You don't even know why I came complaining. I don't want to go to that party for many reasons, one," She held out a finger, "Dear Mother will be eyeing me through out the dance, two, those other stuck up Princesses will be there, and three, My best friend is coming home." She wailed at the last part.

"Who's your bestfriend, because If it's for her sake that you're missing the dance, She sure isn't going to be the one to marry you."

"Her name is Lailah, you douche."

"Ouch, is it a crime If I don't know your bestfriend or her name? If you mean that scrawny little girl who followed you around, that girl is trouble, I'm glad She had to go away." he said seriously and regretted when he saw his sister's crestfallen face.

"How can you say that about Lailah?" She looked down, "She is the only one who understands me, even after four years of seperation we still have that chemistry. And point of correction, I always followed her around."

Zayn rolled his eyes, all he knew was that every time Sapphire went to see that girl She would always get in trouble with their step mother and then he was too young to prevent the punishments of his Sister until he turned fifteen, he started standing in between her and their step Mom, and the Queen wouldn't dare do anything.

"Sooner or later, you guys are going to have to accept Lailah as my best friend. You better get off from that high horse you're sitting and start having a heart. Don't be like Dad and the Step." She stood up and left the room in a hurry, She was going to dress up and go to that befated dance party and meet all the bachelors there is to see.

Zayn stayed looking at the door after his sister left. Their conversations always go well until that girl's name was mentioned. He wondered what his sister saw in her, She has always refused to associate with the other Princesses and prefered that scrawny kid. He hadn't really seen her in a long time because he never left the Palace on foot and she never came in the Palace. He shook his head, he wasn't going to let his thoughts be bothered by a mere Palace maid. He turned to his desk and arranged his papers then sat down and opened his MacBook. He was going to complete everything today then he would go down and see his Father about some business.

Hours later he finished and went down. It being a weekend, everyone was home except for some people who were going for the dance and probably Shaffik. He knew his Father wouldn't go, the two were just two peas in a pod. He went down the flight of stairs and went outside, the guards nodding at him. He didn't care for any of those, he just never acknowledged the existence of other people apart from his Sister and his Father when they talked business. The others were just people who held no value in his life. He looked outside and saw his Father smoking a cigar with a cup of Aramaic coffee, his favorite. He opened the door and the old man saw him. "Father," he nodded his head acknowledging the older man whose cold eyes lit up for a second. King Sayyid was a hardened cold man; to rule a whole city one had to be that way or else people would take advantage and he loved his first son for having the same heart as him. He knew even if he died now, his son would take over in a snap of a finger.

"Son, join me?" King Sayyid wasn't surprised to see his son either, he knew he wouldn't go to the dance with the others.

Zayn went to sit across his Father and poured himself a cup of coffee. "We have business to discuss."

"I'm all ears son." The King nodded his head signalling for Zayn to continue.

"Alright, about the..."

"Boo...Oh."

The two men turned with irritation to see who had interrupted them like that. The words would have sounded scary but the voice made the men frown at the intruder.

"What the hell?" Zayn thought as his quickly perused over the person.