Layla

Chapter 3

Layla

Khalil finally finishes getting ready and we are off, ready to explore. We stride towards the bazaar with so much to see and purchase. We witness many animals being sold alongside fruits, grains, vegetables, clothes, and so much more!

Now don't get me wrong we have been through many city bazaars but none had this much variety nor were they this large. I pet a sheep that was being sold, feeding him some grain when my name was shouted out, "Layla!" Khalil calls from behind me. "Look I bought you this veil!" He holds a dark red lace material and it was beautiful! It was something well suited to my taste and style and the lace was so delicate and elegant.

"Wow!" I gasp in wonder, "This is genuinely gorgeous. But you shouldn't have! You know I have so many clothes and veils at home."

"Nonsense." He tisks at me. "You are my little sister and it's my job to spoil you." He pulls me into an embrace. I smile and return his gesture.

"Thank you Akhii(brother)!"

He nods and turns to speak to a merchant about one of his items. I decide to wander the city on my own for a while, quickly informing Khalil of my plans, I set off on my way.

Through my travels I watch many people and things. I purchase a bag to carry around with me and also an apple to snack on. As I walk down a street, I see a large dome in the distance. It's red in color and it almost sparkled under the beating sun; I want to get a closer look so I continue towards it hoping that it isn't too far.

After walking a short distance, I come to stand in front of an extravagant palace. It is breath taking, painted in red, white, and gold, it has a giant courtyard and many people stumble about behind the giant pillars. I'm assuming that they are slaves, as sad as it is that humans are sold and purchased for labor.

Suddenly the doors open and out steps a rather large crowd of men. They seem to be surrounding one specific person but at this distance I couldn't tell. The group were talking and laughing boisterously, being a bit obnoxious to be completely honest. Randomly they all stop and turn to stare directly at me, at first I was scared and wanted to flee the scene, which is a rare occurrence. Rarely do I feel nervous or frightened by anything especially a group of dunces. As I turn to leave, not enjoying this emotion, something stops me almost as of it were calling my name. I ignore the rest and searched through the men until I notice only one, the man in the center.

Surely he is handsome with a masculine face and fierce dark brown eyes that call out to me like no other. His skin as if touched by the sun and his hair black like coal; he has a rather muscular build, a giant of a man. But still it seems as if God himself hand molded him and continued to do so from the day he was born.

The man steps forward slowly shuffling towards me when common sense decides to kick back in. I quickly turn, pulling my veil down over my face, and I am off away from that damned palace and that enchanter. I run slowly at first, almost a light jog, but I turn to see that he had continued to follow, and I left as fast as I could. He could potentially imprison me for trespassing. "Stop! As the sheikh and ruler of the city of Jabbah, I command you to stop right now!" The man screams from behind, his voice like honey to my ears.

I froze only for a moment, my veil decides at that moment to fall off as well, he is the king?! The man is the king of Jabbah?! Of course he is! Not only is the bastard blessed with the most beautiful physical attributes of any other man in Arabia, but he's also the ruler and probably one of the richest men in Arabia too!

With that thought I flee from the scene laughing as I remember that there's no way he got a good look at me. I was half hidden by the pillars!

●••

It's been a couple of months now that we are in the city of Jabbah. We bought a beautiful home with a large orchard full of different fruit trees. We also bought slaves but they aren't slaves in our home. Simply people that work for us and are treated as equals, I do not tolerate disrespect toward another human, especially because they don't have a lot of money or aren't in the same social class.

Besides that day I haven't had a run in with the king again and I hope for it to never happen. I walk into the kitchen of my home and continue to ponder about the king when suddenly I hear a shout.

I turn around right where I came in and rush to where I heard the sound. Amena (Ah-men-ah) one of the workers had spilled tea on Zaid and he was furious, yelling insults at her. I storm towards them and pull Amena behind me. "Enough!" I shriek. Zaid immediately stops his yelling.

"Who in the world do you think you're raising your voice at right now?!" I proclaim turning to check on Amena.

Zaid stares with anger swimming in his eyes. "The slave!"

My head snaps to him so quickly, I could swear I got whiplash. I am appalled, Zaid is never like this. "Slave?! Slave?! There is no such thing. How dare you use such slang to identify a woman! You have no right!" I hiss. I am a lady who rarely loses her cool, but in this moment I am seething.

"I have every right, she is identified as such. Being bought and sold and used for God knows what!" He argues. "She is a slave, always was and will forever be. And should I decide to sell her she will be treated as trash elsewhere."

"You speak so normally of these things, as if she were a bitch and not a human being. And what if the roles reversed? What if I was her and she I? Would you still dare to use those words? Against me?" I inquire challenging him.

"Yes I would call you as it would have been." He mumbles, too arrogant to back off.

That's when I snap.

¤¤¤¤¤

Well there ya go!! Hope you all enjoyed it!! I know I jump around a lot and I hope I'm not confusing anyone!

And the man in the image is my lovely vision of the mysterious King of Jabbah. The man is a Brazilian model Lucas Alves. Though if you search him his other photos don't seem good enough to be the masculine King. But this specific image is perfection! Another one that I found could make a good King is Marlon Teixeira (also from Brazil.)

Well remember to VOTE, COMMENT AND LIKE!

Love you mucho,

Angel