Love. It has always been the element to survival. It has become what everyone seeks. It is made into various forms. Masters taking their maids or servants, Mistress bathing in lust with the poor, even those dark hearted being strapped on by those innocent blooded. This story takes place in the Kingdom of Lustia. Also known as Aladdin’s Kingdom. Where I fell in love. Where I had all my firsts. Where the man I love till this day become my intoxicating drug that I couldn’t get enough of. My name is Kari Salancho. His name, was too beautiful for me to mention. It started when I was just 14, the age of Full Growth.
“Kari, go help your brother Ayden to carry those buckets.” my mother sighed at last after watching her last child struggle like a woman. I turned to face my sissy brother. How can a boy whom is 14 be so weak?! My twin brother had plenty of issues, but strength was a birth right. “Geez Ayden! Is it that hard to carry a pale of water?!” I scolded. “Hey, I just came from a guard shift. Don’t complain, all you have to do is the simple stuff. Training for the guard post is hard as heck!” he complained. He always did. In fact, he should get a medal in his training camp just for his complaining. I picked up the heavy pail and as soon as I picked it up, I fell onto the floor. My dress got dirtier and my face was washed with dry dirt. Ayden couldn’t help but at laugh at how clumsy I was. He carried the pail without problem the rest of the way home.
When we arrived to our small farm, Mama began to boil the water to make her special Summer soup. “Nothing but bills and taxes! We should escape the country and find better land. Then, we should create our own kingdom!” my father roared from the tiny living room. My mom rolled her eyes and brother left to our room to rest.
Yes, I am poor. And to make matters worse, I lived in a house that was a 20’x 12’. I walked out of our tiny home to our small farm. My mother followed me and sat nest to me on the big oak tree.
“Kari, you are going to turn 15 soon. You need to think of the husband you will take on. At least a few options.” “No mom. I want to wait until God sends me my husband-to-be.” I hit my fist against my hand. “Then I must tell you.” she lowered her head, and I panicked. She took my hand and held it tight. “Kari, yesterday as you picked the berries and Ayden took his afternoon nap in the hammock, a man came by and offered a large sum of money, just for your hand.” “Oh my gosh, Did you take the offer?!” I yelled, pulling myself away from her. But to my relief she shook her head. “I wanted you to make the choice. He said he’d return tonight as the moon rose. He looked like as if he was a royal blooded. So I’m scared if perhaps he used a spell.”
Caution: For those who are looking at me with the “huh?” face, the royal blooded men in the Kingdom of Lustia had magic.
I rocked back to my heels and lost it. I took off into the wheat fields and climbed the Badingwa Tree. My mother tried to go after me but the tree’s “bush” was as thick as concrete. I hid there, curled up in a branch waiting for life to end. Tears began to flow from my melancholy eyes. I began to calm down slowly to be able to think it through. My family was very poor. Our life savings was barely a penny. I opened up a few branches to look at my tiny home. My mother still yelled out for me and my brother looked concerned. If a very rich man was willing to pay to take me, then I would rather my family be happy with money and position in the social world soon. My mother would smile at the gifts my father would give. They would donate to the small church in our even smaller village. My brother wouldn’t have to go through harsh training and my father would have the weekly newspaper for the rest of his life without paying. I had to make that decision as much as it would hurt me, because there was a Brightside, a bright side for my family. I looked up to the sky and tears began to flow thicker and faster. I knew the things I would give up. But if it meant happiness for my family then I would be happy as well. And I’ll get to see them, right?
Hours passed before my mother sent my brother to retrieve me, the missing princess. Last I knew, my brother told me I looked more dead than alive. My eyes stayed open and accumulated dry tears like how cooling lava accumulated on its volcano. When I entered the house my mother immediately began working on pampering me up for the royal visit. She had to use her wedding dress, since it was the most elegant piece of clothing n the house, and it was black. My long black hair was curled and straightened. My brother put on his guard uniform and my father had on his suit. My mother used my most elegant dress and finished cleaning as much as she could.
We all sat in the tiny living room until we heard horses and carriages coming and parking into the front of our small home. My mother didn’t even have a chance to unlock the door before the guards and a young man barged in. “Miss Kari Salancho?” he spoke deep and low. I nodded, what else was there to do when around ten armed men and one rich one asked you questions that demanded truth?
But for some reason he felt offended. So he grabbed my arm and started to tow me away. “Mom! Mommy!” I scream for life, she extended her arm but the guards wouldn’t let her pass through. Dad tried as well but he was taken to the back. Brother was drowned in fear and was in shock. They shoved me in the smaller carriage and locked the door. Once I was safely locked my mother came running out the door and reached out for me. “Kari! Kari please be safe! I love you baby!” she cried out in pain. Dad was laying in the ground, pinned by a guard waiting for commands to leave. As the carriage began to move, it lifted from the ground and rode the night sky. My mother cried and felt to weak to keep standing. I tried to be set free, but I had second thoughts when I saw the altitude we were flying at. One thing, maybe the last thing I remember from my mothers face, was the pain she exposed with her eyes. Her face all crumpled by a loss bigger than losing her own heart. That was something I was willing to change, but first I had to rid myself of the husband who has bought me. To my soul, I promised I’d see my family happy.
It wasn’t until the young man towed me out of the carriage that I had found out I was sleeping. But when he pulled me out into the light, I ended up in the capital of Lustia. The city of Leonia. It was spit middle of a desert. The young man pushed me into a store and gave me clothes. “Hurry up and put this on. You’re black clothing will burn you.” he walked away allowing me to change in private, but still guarded. It was a beautiful white genie clothing. My belly covered in the jewels of a sweet offering. A sweet belly dancer offering. My lower face was covered and my long black hair flowed like night. The young man took my arm and led me back into the magical carriage. It lifted back into the air and headed towards the castle. Could it have been the prince himself that choose me? I thought.
It stopped in the entrance of the large structure. The guards walked by my side as if I were a prisoner. The women in their bright sari’s looked my way, some laughed. Once they closed the large double doors into a large garden, the guards left. The young man led me through the garden to find another young man with robes of royalty sitting beside a large pond. “Ehem. Your Majesty. She’s here.” he bowed pulling me down to bow as well. “Ah, swell. Come here Dear Kari.” he smiled warmly. I looked up in surprise. When I met his eyes a flash of familiarly burst through me.
“Do you know why you’re here Kari?” his voice was a warm gentle breeze. He extended his hand as a gesture to make me get closer. I took it and a thousand butterflies flied to the bright sky. I was awed by the extravagant scenery of the colorful beauties. I landed back on earth and saw into the Prince’s eyes. They were like onyx on beautiful brown skin. “Why Prince, am I here?” I finally asked. He smiled, flashing his white teeth that gleamed with the sun. “To die.” he said. The chills began to roll in with fear. “What?” escaped my mouth. “You are the purest virgin found in the kingdom. I will sacrifice you to the Goddess Al-lat for nourishment of the plants and goods for my future kingdom.” he looked to the sky. I fell down with fear crushing me. This was all too good to be true. “Only because I’m the purest virgin?” I whispered. “Of course, you’re full name is Karihma, “generosity, and noble”. The Goddess Al-lat will love a new servant. We are in drought and I will not bring this into my kingdom. You are perfect!” he laughed. I could tell when he stopped laughing. My fear crushed him too. I looked into his eyes to prove myself right. It was eating his flesh and he let go of my arm. He bent down in front of me and whispered to me, “I have many men listening to our conversation. Do not fret, I will not sacrifice you. No one will be, I’m going to trick them, so play along with me for a while.”
He backed away and clapped his hands, “Take her to my chambers, that way she won’t be touched by any man during the next two days. Hurry!” he turned and walked away. Even though he had reassured me panic was still in my brain, trying to leave but still crowded my mind. “No! Please don’t! Please!” I screamed reaching out into the sky.
They locked the doors behind me and laughed down through the hallway, “What a fine sacrifice! Al-lat will surely be happy!”
I turned to look into the large and wide window. The entire kingdom stretched for ages. I turned back again to stare at the massive mammoth-size bed. It was filled with pillows, covers, and flower petals. I proceeded to jump on it. I flew for three seconds until I hit the fluffy pillows and thick covers. I wasn’t in a palace filled with murders, I was in heaven’s clouds floating into slight sleep. The long trip had me worn out. So I decided to take a nap. It was after all, a quite mixed up day.
When I woke up in the middle of the bright moon lit night, the Prince was laying down next to me. I gasped softly and hurried off the bed. He woke up by the moment I got off and he stared in my direction. He took out spinning knives, and my heart raced. Did he think I was a robber? I stood stiffly. When he threw them my heart stopped and I fainted.
Candles stood up and he kept pouring cold water on my forehead. “Ah, you’re awake.” he smiled. “Why did you try to kill me!?” I half-screamed. He pointed behind him and there laid a tied up, and perhaps, dead assassin. I looked back at him, noticing how he was protecting me. “Oh, um, thank you.” my face heated. “Karihma, do you know where you’re family comes from?” “Yes, a long line of growers. For generations we have planted food for various people, and once the entire army of this kingdom. My mother would tell me the stories.” I smiled brightly. And he only nodded. “That’s interesting. A good thing to learn. But I already have magic so growing things isn’t a problem. Do you want to know why we royals have magic blood?” he looked deep into my eyes, reading the complex emotion in my face towards that question. “Are you allowed to tell me?” I had to ask. He shook his head. “It is forbidden because then people will get greedy and want to use the magic to take over. But you don’t seem like one of those lunatics so I thought you might want to know.” I slid closer to him, anticipating a well learned story.
“It started many years ago, when King Mohammed Aladdin ruled this very land. He was the bravest of all kings because he would face the great God Allah and receive his words. The only thing Allah did not want him to do is go into the Mountains of The Witch, Suraa. But that tempted the King to visit her. He knew that once he saw her, he would have to plead the Gods to take his life, and if he didn’t, he would have to sacrifice a pure virgin that was the most innocent beauty, for 1000 generations. That the day where the sacrifices end will be the day when a blood red moon appears in the sky. But even that, did not stop the king. He went to the mountains and disobeyed, not only Allah, but also the other Gods and Goddesses. When he saw the witch his heart flipped. Her beauty was beyond any other women that ever existed. She was taking a bath when he found her and her unbelievable beauty. He walked up to her and she was taken by surprise. Never had a man came to meet her. For seven days and nights, he stayed by her side and enjoyed her presence. Soon she had fallen for Mohammed Aladdin, and he for her. When he left, Allah was waiting for him at the base of the mountain, and he cast the curse on him. ‘Aladdin, you have disobeyed my simple rule on you, and for that you must pay the price for 1000 generations!’ he sneered his name. Suraa came out of her cave to take his hand and help him to the castle. He told her, ‘Suraa, wear this cloth over you face to prevent other men from looking at you.’ And that’s exactly what she did. And so she stayed with him. They never really married since Allah wouldn’t allow it, but when their first son was born he grew as a swell warlock. His father would tell him the story of his journey to pass on to generation from generation. And each year, a beautiful virgin was sacrificed. And every time it caused the King great pain.
“Nevertheless, each child for all these generation was born with magic. And now I have the magic.” he smiled, content with his short story. I stared at him, looking at his shining face. It wouldn’t be surprising that a long time ago, there was someone beautiful enough to hand him his face. I looked away. “You know, you are still wearing your gown, and I have yet to see your face.” his hand reached for my face. I turned away and held the thin fabric in its place. “I don’t feel comfortable showing you my face Prince…” “My name is Fahad. I am the eldest son of King Allah. And in two days I will be names his successor and the King of Final Peace. I am the 1000th great grandson of King Aladdin and his lover Suraa. I am the last one to sacrifice.” he said proudly. But then his face turned blue. “But I don’t want to sacrifice you Karihma. In fact, I don’t want to sacrifice anyone. But I must, and that’s the wrong thing. Where will I find another beautiful girl within these lands?” he put his face on his palms.
Instinctively I got closer to him and wrapped my thin arms around him for comfort. He looked up in surprise, as if he had never been touched before. The candle light began to fade and the time to go to rest was creeping closer. “What will you be doing tomorrow? Do have any duties for tomorrow Prince Fahad?” I looked into his eyes, they still had tiny hints of surprise in them. He chuckled and said, “No, I am free of duties tomorrow and there fore I will rest all day. It is my father who will be dutiful tomorrow. I am to stay in my room, if I get out then I will be punished.” “Well, what of me? Do I stay n here?” I sounded desperate, and I hated it. “I’m not sure. It is difficult really.” He turned his face towards the fading candle. That signaled to me that he planned something as it faded.
He turned back to me and the light ran out. I felt a weight on me, the darkness has yet to fade to moonlight, and I tried to free myself. “Karihma, I will, with my honor as Prince Fahad II, protect you from everything and everyone.” he whispered in my ear as night faded into a dream.
When I awoke in the bright morning, the Prince stood in his balcony. My face veil laid unattached to my face. Out bursts of fear spread through me as I took in the fact that he had seen my face. I quickly tied it back onto my veil and rolled off the bed. He looked at me and smiled. He motioned me forward and stretched his arm towards the land. “When the sun breaks free, the land is calm and waiting. They all want to wait to celebrate its freedom during the day. My younger brother Abraham will come today. He is only 13. But his wife has been pre-chosen. Come Karihma, lets head to my private garden.” he took my hand and lead me through the room. “But I thought that getting out of your room is prohibited. I don’t want you to get punished.” I whined. “It is in my room. This is just where I sleep. My room is this whole floor.” he smiled triumphant. He led me through more curtains until we reached the most beautiful garden I’ve seen. All types of plants from tropical lands shaded the running river and the ponds and pools.
We stopped at one particular pool with a floating bed. He motioned me towards a beautiful Princess gown. He turned around and let me dress. “Is this always here or did you ordered it so?” I asked. “I had pre-ordered it before you came to be honest. I have no sister so I was able to buy it. I had imagined you might look nice in all white.” I heard the smile in his voice and how soft it turned. “May I ask you a question?” “You’re asking already.” he laughed. “Well, I was wondering if choosing a sacrifice is picked by you or by your servants.”
He stayed quite for a while. He turned around when I was done and took my hand, tracing ancient symbols. “It is the Prince who chooses his sacrifice.” he said sadly. The sun began to touch the large garden’s roof. “When did you ever even see me? Infact, how did you even know my name?” I wondered. He smiled and took me in his arms as he twirled me around and then lifted me in the sun’s air. “I use to escape the castle in my free time and I’d have gone to every village and small town in the out skirts of this kingdom. And one day I ended up in your village, Histopia. I went to the market and saw you selling red wheat. When I went to buy some as a memoir of this village you thought I was a lost boy. Though I was older than you.
You dragged me towards your mother and we all left immediately to your small house. You fed me and gave me clothes as if I were family. And that’s when you told me your name. That night I left and promised myself I would have you Karihma.” he smiled warmly. I blushed hot like lava and red as a bright tomato. “I recall that now. I seriously thought you had lost your way because you stared at the wheat.” I became redder. He gently set me to the floor and I looked up at his onyx eyes. He took the veil from my face and smiled warmly. “Why did you keep the veil on Karihma? You’re beautiful.” his voice caressed my skin.
“Am I allowed to learn about you Prince Fahad?” I whispered. He took my hand and gently squeezed it. “Dear Karihma, you may ask me anything you wish.” he chuckled. And I did. I asked so many questions.
We sat and asked each other questions until midday. By then Maids came in with food that filled our bellies. We sat in the floating bed and laid there to rest through the afternoon. When I woke up it was sunset. I looked at the sun’s departure for the day and felt a hand on my hip. I turned to see Prince Fahad waking up. His face was grim at the setting sun. “This day is ending.” his voice was thick with sleep. His words ran through my veins. The “sacrifice” was due tomorrow. Everything was quite as the blood red sun left. “I have a plan Karihma. And it won’t please anyone.” “First answer me this. Why did you chose me as the sacrifice if you wanted me to be with you?” He turned his face to the water. “Because that is the only way I could have you near me. If I had ordered you to come, not being my sacrifice, then my father would have locked you up thinking you’d want the throne. And I didn’t want that. But now, Karihma, I have a plan. I know how to save you. And I know this is probably something you do not want yet but it is the only logical way.” his eyes colored hope and insecurity. But I caught it quick. His idea was not only very scary but something I had not wanted until a very long time. “No” I whispered in panic.
He was too quick. He caught my and crushed me in his arms. “Please Karihma. I know its unforgivable but you must understand that it won’t be as painful. He turned me around and kissed my lips. And it was so warm and moist against mine. He melted right through me. I tried squirming out with the tiny strength I had left. But he kissed me more passionately and it softened the rest of my strength. He began to peel his clothing and bore his chest. He proceeded to kiss my collar bone and hold me gently. He stopped and stared at me. My hair was most likely dipping in the water and the jewels pinching his chest. He then took off all of the jewels and rolled into the water. He opened his arms to take me. “We aren’t far from the edge.” I whispered. “Still, come in.” he said with warm eyes.
I crawled toward the edge of the float and got pulled in by Fahad’s strong arms. The gown got wet and the floor wasn’t far. I stood next to him, a dwarf next to the mighty God Fahad. He helped me undress underwater and then held me closely. He kissed me again and again. Each kiss more deep, more beautiful. He kissed me as many places as he could. The water was warm and the night stretched on. The sin of the moment was unbearable. I was sure that Allah was watching with some emotion towards the situation.
He held me close to his structure and then thrust me. I cried in pain as my hymen ripped to pieces. Blood rose from the water and he kept going with slight sadness at my pain in his eyes. He continued with warmth. After a while it became painless and the hot passion rose from the core of my heart. The final penetration and his final act and duty as a queen's husband, fertilizing me, was his last move. He picked me up , wrapping me in a towel as we headed towards the bed. He laid me down and climbed in. “Karihma” he whispered gently, “I love you.” he said as I drifted into sleep.
The next morning, food was waiting for attention next to me. Another white princess gown waited for me next to the food. It was still warm. I walked out of bed after breakfast and I put on the lovely gown. A note laid on the pillow and I read it carefully.
“Karihma, before you get sacrificed you will be checked if you are pure or not. It is common. You are safe now. You will be sent back to your family with guards and 2 years of separation from the castle. Don’t fret yet, because the day when those two years are over, I will find you to be my bride.
Love,
Prince Fahad”
Two guards barged in and I crushed the note and hid it under the covers as quick as a snake. “It’s time.” the larger guard laughed. “Such a waste. Well, at least you’re worth it.” said the other. They led her down the long stairs into a cold tunnel where a medic waited for her with a table. “Lay down.” he motioned toward the table. And she did.
He pulled down my pants and stuck his fingers inside of me. “Ah!” I screamed in surprise. The medic looked at both guards. “What have you done?” he growled at them. He slowly took out a knife and the guards coward into a corner. “Hey, we have done nothing! We simply brought her here!” they both screamed. “Then explain to me how she is not a virgin!” he snarled. They looked at each other puzzled. “What if perhaps...the Pri--” “FOOLS! He would never do that. I know the Prince. The last thing on his mind would be that. Take her back to her home. She’s on a two year castle suspension.” he flashed his knife as he put it back. “Wait.” he ordered the dumbfounded guards. “Why are you not virgin little girl. You just messed up the scarification. Did you know you were going to be sacrificed?” he looked deep into my eyes. “N-No. I am not virgin because I was raped back in my village by travelers. They came and raided the village last year. But we had kept quiet of the incident because we were threatened.” I escaped.
The medic looked deeper into my eyes and then cut the rope that bounded my hands. “Inforn the King that the Prince had made a mistake. This girl is no longer known as virgin. She cannot be sacrificed.” he turned away and left as I sat there, free as a bird, waiting for the strike of happiness to come. And when it did, I remembered that I’d get to see my brother, my mother and my father again. To sell red wheat in our tiny market.
I climbed back on the carriage and said a silent good-bye to Prince Fahad for two years. It took almost the whole day to arrive back home. I still wore that princess gown the prince gave me, since it was the only memoir I had. When they knocked on the door and my mother opened the door she was at first scared. But when she laid her eyes on me, joy and great happiness of the return of her daughter reduced her to tears. “Kari! My child!” she dragged me down and hugged me tightly. Ayden and father rushed at the sound of my name thinking perhaps they brought a corpse, but it was me, alive, at home.
2 Years Later
I laid down on the farm’s biggest tree and began to think of the past days. My brother Ayden and his new wife were sharing the glory of an upcoming baby. My parents were still strong and they took care of all of us with as much as they could. My mind kept drifting back to those dangerous days where the Prince and I shared something more than forbidden. Ayden’s wife’s mother use to work at the castle and would tell me of the few times when she saw anyone of royalty. But I couldn’t help but feel his warmth in my dreams and his touch with the wind.
Ayden tried to tell me to forget those days because to the family, they were days filled with black. But after I had returned home my mother used the money for the house and to place her into the higher parts of the village. I kept my white gown as a way to never forget that night where I was more than just loved, I was adored.
“You really shouldn’t even think that those days where bright Sis. Mother cried until the day you returned.” he kept telling me. But I needed to see him now. My two years were done.
I climbed down the tree and ran to the house through the field. The long grass caressed my skin as I ran by and hurried. When I arrived to the house Mother was cooking rice and chicken. Something of occasion, never something normal. “Is it Farah’s Birthday?” I asked. “No.” she smiled. “We just got a proposal letter for you Kari.” she smiled widely. My heart sank just a little. “From who? From who mother?!” I sounded excited and panicked. “To be honest, it had no name. It only stated that he would come tonight to introduce himself.” she kept smiling, “But it did say that he is from the village of Desret. That quite a village, they do many Royal jobs. Last time they were asked to protect the First Prince during a visit to Kripir.” her mom bragged on. But it’s not the Prince I dreadfully thought up.
I let my mother talk and I left to my room, my own room now since Ayden had married. I curled up in my covers and pillows and tried not to cry loudly.
I was to put on my white gown, the only one in the house that cost more than gold. I placed on every jewel and each piece carefully. When I looked at myself in the mirror to put on the kohl, I looked at myself with the gown. Remembered how the prince said I looked beautiful with out my face veil. But I put that on any way. I walked to the kitchen and my mom hugged me tightly. Ayden and his wife sat at the sofa cushions feeling her swollen belly. And father, already ready, sat next to them reading a book. Mother wore my old purple gown. I sat at the table waiting for his arrival. A gush of wind hit the little house and we all shuddered a bit from the coldness of it.
“Fall is coming soon.” my mother said softly.
A knock came from the door, loud enough to ring my ears. Everyone stiffened. The world shrunk into a piece of rice pebble for me. My mother leaped out of the kitchen to get the door. When she opened it a young man stood there and looked directly at me. I gasped in surprise. He smiled at me with warmth. He walked in as if nothing was a problem and he took my hand. He smiled as warm as ever. “I’m sorry for intruding. I hope I’m not a bother.” he chuckled. It was, without a doubt, My Prince Fahad.
Years went by, ten at the least. King Fahad and I had four beautiful children. Ali, Lanai, Aladdin, and Karihma Jr. It gave my mother a shock when she found out he was the First Prince. The wedding was grand and Ayden and his wife lived in the same house, with their eldest boy, Sinbad. My mother resided in the Castle’s retirement home along with the old King and Queen. Even they were shocked to know his choice of wife, but never went against it. We took each others hands and led the kingdom of Lustia with a love so great, even darkness began to love.
