Stay

one.

Aaliyah smiled up at the night sky and watched the lights dance around the full moon. Small goosebumps sprouted all over her bare arms when a breeze swept by. She looked down, rubbing up and down to soothe the sudden chills.

It was nights like these, where the normal sounds of clashing swords and the smell of burning mortar were minimal, that she was temporarily reminded of it.

Of home.

Thoughts of loved ones, cherished memories, and former identities filled her mind. Her vision became cloudy as tears began to pool, forcing her to blink them back along with images of her previous life.

"Aaliyah," she heard her name being called and returned to reality. Fixing her veil, she gathered the bottom of her dress, the material soft against her fingers, almost slipping through.

"Coming," she replied, exiting the balcony, and entering the room full of women preparing themselves with the assistance of other servants and each other.

An older and heavyset woman was standing near a vanity with garments, jewelry, and scented oils.

"Silly girl," she chided, shaking her head and motioning Aaliyah over.

"Forgive me Jahida," Aaliyah offered, unraveling her garments to allow the servant to assist her with dressing.

"Oh Aaliyah. Always with your head in the clouds."

Looking over her bare shoulder, she smiled through her veil as her closest friend approached. Nadura, already dressed, makeup applied and hair styled, greeted Jahida and leaned against the vanity.

"Is there a reason behind your intrusion Nadura?"

"Intrusion?" The raven haired beauty faked a frown. "I prefer the term visit."

Aaliyah smiled, waiting for Jahida to pull the beaded corset over her head. "Yes, the journey from the room next door to here must be quite treacherous."

The two young women shared a laugh before Jahida forced Nadura to wait elsewhere while she finished dressing Aaliyah. The two piece ensemble was plum colored, the outer perimeters filled with gold beading. The corset itself was gold, with the purple v shaped fabric in front, fitting securely under her chest.

It did not take long, and so it was only minutes later the dancer was forced to sit on the cushioned bench in front the vanity so Jahida could apply her makeup. Aaliyah tensed. No matter how many times she had been through this routine, each time was harder than the last.

Jahida would reach to remove her veil, hesitating as she met Aaliyah's eyes, searching for that assurance. The young woman would nod. Jahida proceeded to remove the veil, and Aaliyah would immediately cast her gaze downward to avoid the reflection in the mirror.

The reflection that was a constant reminder of a painful past. One she could never escape because of the scar that marred her face.

Extending from the middle of her temple, making its way diagonally between her eyebrows, the bridge of her nose, underneath her left eye and all the way down to the edge of her jaw was a scar. A scar that was just as emotionally painful as it was physically. It was deep, dark, and impossible for anyone to miss. Even the veil she kept on majority of the time couldn't hide the portion that marked her forehead.

It had been almost two years since she acquired it. Since that infamous night of violence and chaos in what was once her home.

Bialya was a small country, ruled by Queen Bee who was arguably as foolish as she was diabolical. Her reign was one of terror and tyranny; her military regime responsible for the death of Aaliyah's entire family, save for her sister.