Rebellion (pt. 7)

Chapter 7

Mahak had dismissed his servants an hour ago and now he slid from his perfectly fluffed mattress. Skimming across the floor he reached the opposite side and began to hit the wall. When he hit the right spot a hidden door swung open. Mahak climbed into the small opening his father had showed him right before he died.

Inching through the dark corridor he wished he had brought a flashlight or anything to see with. The only thing to do in this cramped space was to crawl and think. And so Mahak did both. He thought about the golden beauty he had seen at the restaurant that he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind, but he also remembered his father.

It was a dim memory; his father had died before he had reached his eleventh birthday. When Mahak tried to think of his father he saw in his mind a great warrior, skilled in warfare, but he couldn’t see his face. It was just a blurred image. In the ten years he had known his father he couldn’t remember a single tender moment except right before he had been poisoned.

Mahak’s father had taken him into what had been his room.

“Someday son,” he had begun. “You will be ruler and will stay in this room.”

With that he had pushed open the door to the secret passage.

“This was made hundreds of years ago, so kings could escape in times of war. My father showed this to me and now I’m showing it to you.”

When his father had died, his father’s younger brother Yaser had stepped in and raised Mahak. At first Yaser had been the father figure Mahak had never had. With little convincing he had made Yaser his chief advisor, though he bitterly regretted it now. When Yaser had what he wanted he revealed his true nature which was a cruel, heartless man who cared for nothing except power. He couldn’t be bothered with those he hurt in his quest for more power.

The transformation was almost instant and there was nothing Mahak could do to reverse it. He had never been allowed to read the Law Books like a good king should because Yaser, “didn’t want to hurt his little head” but Mahak was sure the answer to his problems could be found in the Books. The only thing he could do now was try to be with the one he loved. He had waited till the day he would meet that special someone who would take his away from this life. That quest had seemed hopeless till today.

Mahak hit his head on the low ceiling, bringing him back to the present. At the end of the tunnel was a light. He smiled knowing he was about to be out of the palace alone for the first time since he had become king. Outside was freedom from Yaser and his palace duties, fresh air but most of all his golden haired beauty.

Chapter 8

The second day on the job went better than the first. Sort of. I didn’t make any messes. But I did make a scene.

When I got there I followed Diya around like a lost puppy. I still felt hurt about the kiss but I forced myself to forget about it. Throughout the day I learned how to work and by the end of it I was exhausted. My last chore was to throw out the old water we hadn’t used.

I trudged though the crowd that was thinner but still packed and made my way to the front door. Outside I flipped a piece of hair out of my sweaty face and began to pour the water on the sidewalk. I heard a cough in front of me. Looking up I nearly dropped my bucket. Standing there was King Mahak.

“Diya!” I screamed. This guy was a stalker and I wanted backup in case I had to wallop on him.

“Don’t be scared,” he begged as Diya ran out.

“What are you doing here?” Diya interrogated in a voice that was just barely respectful.

“I said I would come to see you,” the king pointed out. I blanched, seeing he was serious about the everyday thing. “My lady, you have left quite an impression on me.”

I moved slightly behind Diya.

“Look, that’s very sweet, kind of stalkerish, but sweet. But I don’t feel that way about you. And my name’s Rachelle, not lady,” I said in a rush.

“Rachelle,” Mahak said testing it. “It’s beautiful.”

Crap, I thought. I just gave him something else to stalk over. Diya glared at me.

“Look your high and mighty, we’re just a little restaurant and people are starting to stare. Will you kindly leave?” Diya asked. Mahak’s face went from happy to confused to sad in about three seconds. He looked at me, ignoring Diya completely.

“Do you really want me to go?” he asked. I nodded slightly.

“Kind of.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” With that he turned around and began to walk away slowly. I felt horrible about popping his royal bubble. I stepped away from Diya.

“King!” I called after him. Diya put an arm on my shoulder but I continued. Mahak looked at me though big glassy eyes. “I’m sorry about this. Maybe at another time and other circumstances.” I trailed off. Mahak looked at me with a new surge of happiness.

“I’ll wait forever!” he cried happily like a tiny child, then ran off into the sunset. I looked after him.

“What just happened?” I asked Diya.

“You encouraged him,” Diya replied.

Crap.