The Desert song

Magi's, Princes, Maid's, oh my!

I knew the voice was calling to me from the dungeon. It echoed in my mind for a few minutes, until I couldn't bear it any longer. I slid out of my blanket on the floor and tip toed out of the room I shared with Alyssa. It wasn't as awful as it seemed, there was cotton on the floor that made it feel like a bed, and the room was fairly installated, so it was cool in the mornings and not so hot in the day.

I slowly walked up the stairs out of the maid rooms into our common room, a place where we can talk with fellow maids and make our clothes and meals.

~Mor~ ~Morgiana~

The voice was closer than before, and I started breaking out in a cold sweat. I ran down the stairs and out of the maids' building. It was close to the palace, but not connected. I shivered and ran down the path into the main gate of the palace. I looked around for guards. They were supposed to be here always, but some got a little to drunk on grape wine, and disregarded their posts.

I slipped out of the gate and worked my way towards the town square.

I wasn't very sure where I was going, but I wanted to get somewhere closer to the voice that was driving me crazy.

At last I found myself at the beginning of a large staircase in the open. It was very wide, enough for a line of at least 50 people to walk in, and long enough for a entire army to fit. And at the top, a tower higher than the palace, and it seemed to go up as far as the sun.

"...So, so high.." I muttered and took a step back.

..Maybe if I.. No! How could I even think of going in that thing!

"...Mor? Where are you? Haha! There you are!"   "Haha!! No! You cant catch me Saare!"  "I....Got you!" .. "No!! Haha Saare, stop it! Haha!" .. "Mor..what story this time?" .."The one with the Gin!" .. "Mor! You mean genie right? Ok.." .. "Yay!" .. "Once upon a time, there was a tall, tall tower. And inside of that tower, were many difficult challenges, like man eating beasts, dangerous labyrinths, and many other life threatening things." .. "Oh no!" . "Yup! But at the end, if you survived, you were given gifts of power, wealth, and magic!" .. "Oh!! So pretty!" .. "Yes.. but what was most prized of all were the genies. Magical beings that would grant your every wish." .. "I want one! Me, me! I want one, but I have no wishes to be granted!" .. "..You don't want anything? Not even money for toys or food?" .. "Nope! I have brother, and as long as I have you, im happy!" .. ".... Thank you, Morgiana. Your my treasure too." ..

The memory faded like a dream, slowly drifting away into the darkness. My brother.. Saare. My cousin, Ali baba, all of them, all of my family.. gone. Taken by the sickness that swept our kingdom.

I curled up on the floor and started to sob. I wanted them back.. I wanted my family, my life back. I wanted a genie, this time. If I had no one, then I had no reason to be alive. For the first time in the few days since I had left my hometown, I noticed something.

I was lonely.

I was sad.

I was.. alone.

"Don't be lonely!" The little boys voice shouted.

"..Wha-" The voice came from all around. 

"Don't be sad! I'll be your family! If that's what you want, Mor, i'll do anything! I lov-"

"Hey, you! What are you doing here!" A deep voice called to me.

I turned around to find the Magi staring down at me with a confused, and angry look on his face.

"Your.. the magi of this tower, aren't you?" I asked.

"You didn't answer my question, stupid girl. What are you doing at my dungeon? Did you- hey, are you crying?" He leaned down closer to get a good look at my face.