Captured For The Sultan’s Pleasure

Jamal took a step backward when he heard the name that the man had used. There was only one person who called him such a name in the entire sultanate. From what he also knew of the person, he was already dead. How possible was it for a dead person to be alive again? When Jamal looked at the man again, he saw his eyes flashing fire and dagger at him.

“But…” Jamal started but couldn’t find a way to express his thoughts.

He could remember that day quite well. Jamal and his brother, along with their mother, and Sodeeq and Sodeeq’s brother had all gone into the building to play hide and seek. Aamil, Sodeeq’s brother, had been the one seeking while the rest had gone into hiding. Jamal and Sodeeq had hidden together since the two were inseparable friends while Jamal’s brother had gone with their mother to hide. They had been so engrossed in the game that they didn’t realize that there was a fire outbreak until the whole place had been filled with smoke. Sodeeq’s father had saved both Jamal and Sodeeq out of the fire but the other three had lost their lives. So, how had Aamil surfaced again?

“But I am dead. Right?” the man asked.

“Do you know him?” Roksolana asked.

“Shut up, woman. It is not your turn to interfere,” the man shouted at him.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Jamal shouted back at the man.

“Oh, I’ll do more than that to her. To both of you,” the man growled.

“How did you resurface? Didn’t you die in that fire outbreak, Aamil?” Jamal finally asked the question on his mind.

“No. And I’m going to make sure that you and Sodeeq pay for making my father leave me to die in the fire,” Aamil said.

“You died. The building was on fire, how were we supposed to know that you were still in the fire? My mother and brother died in that fire too,” Jamal told him.

“If he hadn’t chosen to save you because you were a royal, he would have tried to save me. I got my revenge on the man later by killing him,” Aamil smirked.

“Where’s Sodeeq?” Jamal asked, dread washing over him.

“Don’t worry, he’s not dead but he will be dead soon when I’m done,” he answered.

“What do you plan to do?” Jamal asked him.

“Burn your woman to death unless you can step down from the throne,” he said.

Jamal closed his eyes. Roksolana was more important to him than the throne. “Is that what you want? Then, I am willing to step down. Just leave her alone,” Jamal conceded.

“Jamal, you can’t do that!” Roksolana screamed and then winced at the pain she felt.

“Sultan!!” his men shouted.

“It is my throne and it’s my time to do as I wish. For the woman I love, I’m willing to let go of it!” he shouted at the men.

“Good. Now, step back from the room. Disobey and I’ll make you regret it,” Aamil commanded.

Jamal flagged his men away from the room and he followed after them. When they got to the doorpost, Jamal stopped and watched what Aamil would be doing next. The man brought some diesel out and began to pour it all around Roksolana. Dread washed over Jamal and he rushed back into the room.

“Move any closer and I’ll cut off her throat,” the man said and brought out a pocket knife which he held at the neck of Roksolana.

Jamal was lost on what to do about the whole situation. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Asleem and Sodeeq walking from behind Aamil. When he saw his best friend, he believed the other man completely. He closed his eyes and opened them again, praying that the other two men would understand the situation on the ground. He decided to engage Aamil in a conversation to draw his mind away from the people behind him and to also buy Asleem and Sodeeq time to make a move.

“Free her and have me instead. After all, she has nothing to do with all these,” Jamal said.

“She has everything to do with it. Her death would leave you in shambles,” the man said.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Sodeeq took a sword from one of the men with Asleem. For close to a year, his brother had kept him under lock and fed him only enough to keep him alive. Through the one year he had been kept under capture, he had studied his brother and realized that only the death of the man would end every trouble they were having.

When he got closer to him, he tapped his brother on the shoulder. His brother looked back and the action dislodged the knife he had on Roksolana’s neck. Before his brother could react, Sodeeq drove the knife straight into his brother’s neck. Sodeeq watched as life went out of the man in an instant. For the most part, he only felt a little remorse over the death of his brother. He heard Roksolana scream before she fainted.

Jamal rushed over to Roksolana and stooped low to her height. He began to untie the rope while tapping her cheek lightly at intervals. When he was done, he shook her lightly.

“Dawn! Dawn!! Come on, woman. Open your eyes!!!” he screamed.

When he didn’t get any response, he carried her in his arms and rushed out of the building without waiting for anyone or telling them where he was going.