Fifteen - Papa

JADE

Why does this happen? Every time I see him I feel tears threatening to brim over. I miss my papa so much but I have to try and use common sense in this. I sighed. Now that Papa is here we were allowed to begin eating. He moved to his seat beside Amon at the high table so he wasn't able to see me, not that I wanted him to see me at that moment. I watched him move there and saw how Mumm-ra tensed at the sight of me.

Perfect. Not letting Mumm-ra know about Papa's arrival has finally given us an advantage and made this plan worth it.

The servants brought carried the food in on silver platters and served everyone. The smell wafted up to my nostrils and my stomach reacted in kind, clearly accepting the food before it got into it. Traditional Yaznakan foods lay before us in their splendor, calling out my name. I would love to just dig in like I usually do but here, I was supposed to be a lady. I huffed out a breath, annoyed a little.

I picked the cutlery and began eating when I realized everyone had already begun. Soon I was halfway through my food. I looked up to the high table and our similar eyes met. My father was looking directly at me. I watched as his eyes widened then he blinked many times, The next thing I knew he was choking on something. My natural instincts prompted me to go and help him but I did my best to restrain myself.

He coughed then drank the glass of water that was handed to him by Amon. Amon said something to the guard Papa came in with, who was standing behind Papa. The guard nodded and led Papa somewhere. I stopped eating, waited for some minutes before excusing myself fro the table. I went out of the hall and down a hallway, I guessed they may have gone through. I walked through many hallways till I came to one that had a familiar-looking guard in front of a door.

As I walked to the door he looked at me but didn't say anything. I knocked at the door and opened it. I took in a deep breath and entered. The only source of light in the room were the dimly lit candles that did nothing to enhance seeing. A figure stood before one candle, staring into it, thinking.

"Papa?"

He spun around so fast the candle he was standing beside flickered repeatedly, threatening to go out. He stood there watching me, not moving.

"Iris?"

I couldn't keep it in anymore. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I rushed into his open arms.

"Papa, I have missed you so so much," I sobbed as he held me closer.

"I have also missed you, my little flower. Where have you been? What happened? Are you alright? What happened?," he said worriedly.

I chuckled a little and sniffed.

"I am fine, Papa. As for where I have been and what happened, it's a long story."

"I guess it is a good thing I have a lot of time."

_______________________________

"And that's how I ended up here in Amon's palace today."

"So you are telling me that all this happened because of Mumm-ra."

"Yes."

"And that because of that you became an assassin to have revenge by killing him?"

"Yes?"

"So how do I help?"

I stared at him for some moments before I stammered,

"Wh-what?"

"I said how do I help?"

"You....want....to....help...?"

"Yes but first we must do something."

"What?"

"Torture him."

"Torture him?", I repeated, surprised.

He nodded.

"Torture. Mental torture. A quick death will be meaningless. We'll pay him back for every year that we suffered, for the pain we endured and for every second Najat Kamilah and Isis Jasmine we're not with us. What do you think?"

"That's perfect, Papa."

He smiled and hugged me again.

"Papa?"

"What is it?"

"Need a favor."

"A favor."

"And promise you will do it."

"I promise, now tell me."

"Make an alliance with Amon."

"Why?"

"Just think of it as a way to get back at Mumm-ra."

"Okay then. What kind? Treaty, exchange--"

"Marriage."

"But, flower, you know we have no close relative to give out into marriage."

"Papa. Me."

"Huh? Come again. What did you just say?"

"I said a marriage alliance."

"Between you and Amon? No no no no--"

"Papa! You promised."

"I know but--"

"Papa?"

He was quiet then,

"Why?"

"Personal reasons."

"So for these personal reasons you are willing to sacrifice the happiness of finding love."

"Yes, Papa. I know but I have a perfect plan and getting married to Amon is necessary."

"That's completely absurd."

"I know. So are you with me?"

"Can I ever be against you?"

I smiled and hugged him.

"We have to go or else someone will suspect something is going on", he said.

"Papa?"

"Mmm?"

"What about the guard at the door?"

"Don't worry, he won't say a thing. He already knows about you."

"Huh?"

"Let's just go."

___________________________

Being a lady is so difficult. Perfect manners. Perfect gestures. Perfect curtsies. Perfect rejection. Perfect everything. I sighed, walking into my room after excusing myself from the conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with me. I shut the door and proceeded to take off my earrings. The moment I did that there was a knock at the door.

"Jade, it is me."

I opened the door to reveal Ameera who was smiling. She came into the room and it was clear she was in a good mood.

"What's got you smiling brightly this evening?"

"My secret admirer wrote to me again."

Ameera had been receiving small cute notes from her secret admirer who was yet to be known. Everyday a note arrived I could practically see her face glowing as she went about her normal routine.

"Awwww, that's so sweet. I'm sure he wrote something even sweeter", I said wiggling my eyebrows at her.

She blushed a deep red and tried to cover it with her hands. I laughed heartily at her cute reaction.

"Let's just get you out of these clothes."

"Finally."

She laughed at that. She helped me undress then she went to place the dress and the undergarments in the wardrobe, leaving me, naked, standing there with my hair in the updo with the jewels and the necklace still on. Suddenly the door opened and this time it was Amon. For the first three seconds, we just stared at each other then his eyes moved lower, out of nowhere I screamed.

He spun around and shut the door, blushing profusely. My arms were now crossed over my chest, covering what I have to. I stood there, red-faced.

What the hell just happened? The first man to see me naked was Amon?! What the fvcking hell?!

"Jade! Jade! What's wrong?"

Ameera came rushing to my side. For some moments I didn't speak, I just stared at nothing then,

"I just had the most traumatic experience of my life."

"What? What happened?"

"A a....rat....saw me naked."

"Huh?"

"Don't ask questions."

____________________________

I am so tired right now but I'm gonna keep going. I have nothing to rant about today so...

.....

Jade has finally met her father after all these years apart and both of them are now planning revenge on Mumm-ra together. An alliance? Marriage? Personal reasons?

...

Still, nothing to talk about so...

~Sayonara~

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