AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I made it out to Omar, his eyes danced and sparkled and looked like he had an internal fire. I knew he couldn’t really see me behind the veil and the cloak, but I was excited for him to unwrap me and see all the glittering jewels he’d so carefully picked out and purchased. Yasmin had told me that on the actual day of our wedding I was to wear all white and all diamonds, but for now, for the rehearsal, I was to wear the Prince’s favorite color.
My legs were shaking as I went to my knees to kneel before my future husband. I bowed my head and I was confused when I heard a hush go through the gathered family and servants. I peeked up and saw that Omar had also gone down on his knees, and this confused me. I whispered, “Did I do something wrong?”
He leaned over and said in a low tone, so only I could hear, “No my goddess. I simply wish to kneel to you as well.”
He stayed on his knees and I again bowed my head. He reached forward and lifted my veil and then pushed the hood off my head, exposing all the tiny curls that Yasmin had painstakingly put in my hair. Omar put a finger under my chin and lifted my eyes to meet his
golden inferno, and that was when I began crying. He simply smiled at me, but it slew me to my very center and then everything blurred as the tears began popping from my eyes.
The religious man officiating cleared his throat and began talking in Arabic and Omar rose and then offered me a hand. I stood facing him, on shaking legs as I dabbed at my cheeks. He reached forward and unclasped the cloak. I didn’t move, as per the instructions, and Omar stepped up close to me to push the garment off my shoulders and to the ground at my feet.
Again I heard a collective sound of appreciation from the gathered and the look in Omar’s eyes was as if he were a starving man and I meal. His words caught in his throat and I knew he was holding back tears as well. The man in full headdress and white robes began speaking again and Omar took my hand and turned both of us towards the official.
I’d been learning some of the language, not much, but Yasmin had worked on my comprehension of just eight words, which said official just now questioned. “Do you give yourself wholly to this man?”
I looked towards Omar who gave me a tiny nod. I looked back at the official and in a weak voice I said, “Yes I do.” In the native tongue of my finance. Omar clutched at my hands when he heard my voice speaking the words that would bind me to him permanently.
He spoke the same words after a string of questions I didn’t understand. Yasmin told me that the male in question is asked if he is prepared to be the master and protector of the female. I joked that there weren’t any vows of love, only those of slave and master. Yasmin said that marriage in their culture was rarely about love, usually simply about possession acquisition of a commodity. She also told me that within their culture it was not only permitted but expected of the King to have a small harem, or at the very least, another woman on the side. I’d of course scoffed and said something like that would never happen. I will never forget Yasmin’s expression and how many doubts filtered into my mind after that conversation.
I was once again sniffing and sobbing and Omar was leaning in to kiss me when I heard a far off shout. Initially I thought it was part of their rituals to have people on boats hailing from afar, but then I heard a shout of warning and then, gunshots. People were screaming and suddenly Omar was on me, flattening me to the ground. I heard the gathered all begin to flail and fall to the ground as well. I also heard the sound of speed boats or maybe jet skis’, and much louder gunfire returned from our area.
Omar gripped at my head and suffocated me with his weight. He kept muttering, “Anna, it’s okay, okay, it’s okay; be still. I will protect you.” The whole scene felt as if it lasted ten times longer than it actually did, and by the time Omar began to move off me, I was afraid to open my eyes.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Someone shouted in Arabic in a frantic tone and both Omar and I looked that direction in the same moment. Armand was on the deck and one of the guards was pressing his hand against Armand’s left shoulder. Even though I didn’t understand the exact words, I knew what he was saying to Omar’s second; hang on, it’s okay, help is on the way.
Omar touched me and again said, “Stay down Anna. Do not move!” And then he ran towards his downed man. He hunched his shoulders and ran in a protective crouch and then fell to his knees next to the immobile Armand. He leaned down and put his ear to Armand’s mouth and then he checked for a pulse. He said something to the man pressing the flat of his hand to the bullet wound and they quickly switched places and the other man scuttled off. His hands were soaked in blood.
My hearing was wonky from all the gunshots in such close proximity and everything took on a surreal, slow motion sort of landscape. I heard others sniffing and weeping and more shouts from men. Within a few seconds and more men appeared and together they picked up Armand’s inert body and fled the scene towards the helicopter pad. Omar remained with the flat of his hand tightly to Armand’s chest and then they were gone.
I obeyed Omar and didn’t move other than to crawl towards the edge of the stage and then slide down to the more protected side. One of Omar’s brothers dashed towards me and threw my red cloak around me and then asked if I could walk. I suddenly seemed incapable of speech, so I just shook my head, indicating I wasn’t sure if I could walk or not. It hadn’t registered yet in my brain that I was either already in shock or well on my way there.
Zahir didn’t miss a beat and scooped me up into his strong arms and dashed for the back entrance of the house. As soon as we were safely inside, he set me down on the couch and looked into my eyes. He asked me something, but his voice seemed far away and distorted. He shook my shoulders and repeated, “Anna, stay here!”
I nodded and he fled. Alath was next and Yasser was helping her over near me on the couch. She had a gun in her hand and was vehemently shouting in Arabic. It appeared as if she were enraged and wished to chase the infidels all by herself. Yasser took her gun and in a stern voice he pushed her to the couch next to me and he pointed at her, commanding something. She continued to shout and scream and pump her fist in the air, but she didn’t move from her seated position, or even look at me as her brother disappeared back outside.
When she did acknowledge me, her eyes were furious and again I didn’t comprehend her words. I think she was mad at me, but I was really out of it and at this point I was so dizzy even my vision was blurred. I leaned forward and dry heaved a few times, but I’d been too nervous to eat anything so thankfully my stomach was empty. Alath continued to shout. If it was at me or just at anyone, I was unsure. I leaned back against the couch and then I tried to lay down with my head on the arm. It was then that the tooth rattling shivers began vibrating up my spine. I closed my eyes and must have passed out, because I don’t remember anything after that.
My next lucid moment came when Omar carried me to the chopper and held me as we took to the air. Then the next thing I knew, I was in our bed at the penthouse and my same nurse from a month earlier was sitting in a chair reading a book. The second I groaned, she came to me and petted at my cheek.
“Mistress, do not be alarmed. You are safe in the Master’s Palace. You are safe. Can you hear me Mistress? Do you know what day it is? What is your birthday?”
I answered her questions and asked for water. After I drank a few gulps, I sagged back against the pillows and sighed. I felt really off and I asked, “Did you drug me?”
“Yes Mistress, you were given a sedative. You should rest if you can.”
“Where is Omar? Is Armand okay?”
“They are still at the hospital. Sir Armand nearly lost his life. The bullet was not far from a major artery near his heart. The last information delivered said he was still in surgery. His Highness is with him.”
“Good.” I replied and then asked for my phone. I hadn’t been using it much since Omar and I had mainly been together all these past weeks, but it was soon found and I texted Omar.
Anna : I’m awake, but drugged. Going to back to sleep. Don’t worry. I love you.
Within seconds he responded;
Sleep love. You are safe. I will return tonight. I love you.
