The Alliance

Chapter 9

Imaan's grandfather hated me.

Either that or he just had a really good resting bitch face. I was hoping it was the latter.

We'd gone through most of the room. Greeting and receiving false congratulations- we brushed them off with thanks. Though my cousins put up more of a challenge. More specifically Kohen, seeing as he was my closest- and most favored- cousin, he knew about my views and desire when it came to marriage.

Or in this case- lack of. That knowledge fueled an interrogation towards Imaan. Ironically now they were on the other side of the room enjoying each other's company while I was here, standing uncomfortably above the gaze of her grandparents.

Her eyes caught my own and even though my face heated up in embarrassment from being caught- I didn't move them instead sending her a look that read 'save me'. She smiled before excusing herself from my family and making her way towards me.

She kissed her grandma's cheek before bending down to hug her grandpa. "I hope you guys aren't giving Ariah a hard time."

Her grandma responded, "We were just getting to know her." She sent me a small smile which I returned. She seemed nice enough. Her grandpa on the other hand.

"Still don't see what you see in her."

Imaan held back a laugh. "Al-jed-" A loud voice cut her off as the entrance doors flung open harshly.

"Never mind getting an invitation to the party, it seems like the one for my niece's wedding got lost in the mail as well." A lady in gold stood in the doorway. Before she walked towards us- well, more specifically Imaan.

She was beautiful despite being able to tell that she had spent her fair number of years on the earth. Her auburn hair was done up and brown eyes stayed solely on her niece as she approached.

"Amti." Imaan greeted as the woman hugged her. She hugged her back and before I knew it Ebrahim and Ayzal were standing beside them. The air tense as they stared each other down before Ebrahim spoke.

"Mahlia." He greeted coldly. A tone I once would have thought impossible for him to gain- yet here we were.

"Ebrahim." Clearly, they weren't very fond of each other. Her eyes travelled to Ayzal, "You must be..."

"Ayzal. Nice to finally meet you, Ebrahim's told me plenty of you." Imaan's... Ayzal reached out her hand, in the offering of a handshake.

"Funny how he's failed to mention you." She smiled a sarcastic smile, ignoring the hand stretched out in front of her before her gaze landed on me. "But you on the other hand." I widened my eyes Mahlia walked towards me, "You must be Ariah Rmah. My Imaan's fiancée."

"The one and only." Her corners of her lips turned up, "It's nice to meet you." I spoke holding my hand out for a handshake but receiving a hug instead.

"A beauty, isn't she?" I was beginning to like Imaan's grandmother more than my own.

Her grandfather scoffed before rebutting, " Oh, please Sahra. Even the devil was once an angel."

"Oh hush." Mahlia shooshed the now arguing couple. Her eyes scanning me before diverting to Imaan as she looped her arm underneath my own. "I need a moment alone with Ariah."

I looked to Imaan, who just shrugs as I'm being pulled away from the room by her aunt. "I hope you're not second-guessing anything now, Ariah Rmah." I shook my head in the negative. "Good. Because you've seen our faces already, the only way out would be death." She joked- but it didn't sound like a joke.

The darkness of the night greeted us as we left the room. A calm breeze blowing over us as the glow of scattered lights, light up our path.

"It's nothing that I wasn't expecting." I reply, my tone casual as we take our seats on a lone bench.

"Your reputation precedes you." She leans in conspiratorially. "I feared for my niece's safety the moment I heard that it was you she was marrying. But then I figured maybe it was for the best. As they say, only a monster can deal with another monster- no offense."

I waved her off. "I couldn't have taken offense even if I wanted to."

She lets out a laugh, "I think my sister would've liked you." Her eyes looked at my hand. "Her ring suits you by the way." I smiled softly at her. Imaan's birth mother still a complete mystery to me. A background check on Ebrahim Gani mentions no deceased or previous spouses. Only records of Ayzal come up.

"I think I would've liked to meet her." I say unsurely.

"Oh, she was exactly like Imaan. Excluding the miniscule murderer detail." She gained a wistful look in her eyes. "She had a way of befriending everyone she met. Maani," I nearly let out a laugh at the nickname, "is almost the splitting image of her too, except the nose. She got her nose from her damned father."

I can't keep the laugh in. And Mahlia immediately joins me. "Oh!" I startle as she claps her hands, "Turn around. I have something for you." I turn, tensing when she brushes my hair to the side, soft waves flowing on my shoulder. She lets out a gasp.

"When did they do it?" Her voice loses the airiness it once had. I wince as her fingers lightly skim across the skin. "Sorry."

"About a week ago." I answer.

"Damn Ebrahim." She mutters. I turn back around to face her once again. Although my eyes fail to meet hers.

"It wasn't Ebrahim," I chuckle, "Rather his brother." Her body seems to freeze next to my own at the indirect mention of Sahar Gani.

"Look at me Ariah." I meet her browns- nearly the same shade as Imaan's. "Watch your back when it comes to Sahar Gani. As much as I despise Ebrahim- he's nothing compared to that brother of his."

I nodded, after the branding I promised myself that I wouldn't overlook Sahar. Ebrahim might have had power but Sahar was gaining influence- that was dangerous.

"I'm going to tell you something I think my sister would've told you. Even though I'm not near as good with words as she was." Mahlia began, placing a long box in my hands. "Imaan's been through a lot. She may not show it but that's just her way of dealing with her pain. She'll make light of a situation especially when it incites unwanted emotions- all I'm asking is for you to tether onto the heaviness she tries so hard to ignore. It's time for her to let it go." She smiled a watery smile.

"I think you both will make each other very happy." She wrapped her arms around me. The hug, felt like more than just a hug.

Was she not aware that this entire marriage was a facade?

It felt like I was making her a promise by returning it as I rested my head on her shoulder. Inhaling the citrusy scent of her hair.

And I felt bad for accepting it.