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The angels cast the lot of them to Hell.
And as for those who were left to rebuild amidst the crimson ashes of war –
‘Live in harmony and let not another precious drop of your blood be spilled over mortal concerns.’
It was the last time in man’s history that the angels were ever seen or heard of again, but their story was passed from generation to generation so that mortals would remember evil was not the only one to take all forms and sizes.
So did love, kindness, and valor.
So did those who wished for peace.
And lastly, so did the serpent that was once cursed and reviled.
~ The Tale of the Serpent
A Ramilian myth
Hyacinth closed the book with a snap and looked up with a smile. “And there ends The Tale of the Serpent.”
A chorus of disappointed cries rose from the crowd of preschoolers.
“Now, I have a question.” She feigned a look of pensiveness, her brows meeting in a frown. “Does anyone here know what Al Afea means in English?”
Hands shot up in the air, and Hyacinth laughed with delight. “Everyone knows then?”
Yes! Nem!
“Let’s say it together then. One...two...three...”
“The Serpent!”
Hyacinth clapped her hands in approval. “That’s absolutely right.” The children cheered again, and she quickly placed a finger over her lips as the little ones started becoming rowdy. “Ssssh...I have a secret to tell, but I need you to keep quiet so you can hear it.”
As the children worked hard to behave, she let her lips move in silence, and after a moment, she asked, “Did you hear that?”
Noooooooo.
“That’s why I need you to keep really...really...quiet.” She gazed at the children expectantly. “Do you guys think you can do that?” The children started to answer, and Hyacinth quickly shook her head. “No, no, just answer me with a nod.”
The children did as asked, vehemently nodding in answer.
“Very good,” Hyacinth whispered. “And as for that little secret...” She paused, letting the excitement build. “Do you know who Sheikh Rayyan Al-Atassi is?”
More nods.
“Can you whisper to me what his other name is?”
Al Afea, the kids whispered.
“That’s right,” Hyacinth said with a beaming smile. “And do you know when his birthday is?”
The kids shook their heads.
“It’s in three days,” she whispered, “and we’re going to plan a surprise for him...”
At the very back of the crowd, the sheikh, who had slipped inside the royal library unnoticed, watched in amusement as both parents and children alike leaned forward, a shared look of rapt attention on their faces.
The girl really was too good, the sheikh mused. There was nothing – not a single thing – in her demeanor that revealed the truth, which was that 24 hours ago, Hyacinth virtually needed to have her arm twisted into filling in as today’s storyteller.
I’m fucking awful with kids!
They scare the shit out of me!
Find another idiot to play Scheherazade.
But then he had started walking towards her, backing her against the wall, and when he was close enough to hear her heartbeat, he had slowly lowered his head to whisper one word into her ear.
Please.
And here she was now, and Rayyan had all but run to the royal library, unable to keep his cool in his urgent desire to catch even just the final minute of Hyacinth’s performance. If not for Khalil personally requesting all his vassals’ attendance at the meeting, he would have skipped it altogether. He would rather be here, watching her.
Al Afea looked so in love. Gadi worked hard to pick up his jaw from the floor as the storytelling session came to an end and he saw the sheikh steal one last look at the girl before stepping out of the palace library.
By the time the crowd began to disperse, the sheikh and his assistant were halfway to the department office, and the younger man was just starting to recover from his shock. Stars above, to think that such a dashing and worldly man like the sheikh could actually –
“Gadi?”
The sheikh’s assistant hastily snapped to attention. “Nem, alshaykh?”
“If you don’t wipe that grin off your face in the next second, you’re fired.”
“Understood, Your Highness.” And Gadi was true to his promise...but only for as long as the sheikh was within earshot. The moment his employer closeted himself in his office, however –
Rayyan winced as he heard the female members of his staff squeal in excitement from the other side of the door. Damn Gadi and his big mouth. He really had to teach that boy a lesson one of these days, but more importantly, he had to do something about her.
Right now, only the palace staff and those who worked closely with the finance department had taken notice of Hyacinth, whom many likened to a kitten that followed the sheikh around wherever he went. And just like a cherished pet, Hyacinth was known to be sweet and charming to those who sang praises of the sheikh, but also wild and feral to those who spoke ill of him in her presence.
