Prince from Paradise | ✔

XVII. Village of the Damned

Rabiya

The night passed on as usual with Rabiya gently braiding her long, black hair in preparation to sleep. All alone in her room, the door left slightly ajar. Her cousins were playing games to pass the time, trying to forget about the horrors. Tahmid and Shakeel were doing everything to protect their innocence, even if it meant tight-lipped smiles.

Her aunts and mother sat on the benches outside, talking of the good times of their childhood, laughing idly at the memories of their beloved brother as tears glistened their eyes at the heartache that still rang through their chests. Their husbands were beside them, comforting and speaking in soft voices, Allah's name on their tongues. 

Rabiya sighed, falling on her bed as she stared at the ceiling. She wondered about Zaina and Karim, her uncle's children and all that was left of his legacy. Those children needed her the most, yet she couldn't even fight against their mother, couldn't protect them from the blood that stained her grandfather's estate. 

Still, Adar remained in her mind through it all, his sweet words a blissful memory that kept her awake at night. She kept thinking about that night when he swore to sacrifice anything for her love, when he swore his undying vow for her hand. 

Her insides felt warm at the thought, bubbling with the anticipation to be more than two forbidden lovers, and instead be recognized as a married couple. After everything that her family endured, was her marriage really a priority? She couldn't help but wonder if all these scandalous thoughts served as a distraction rather than a story to unfold. 

Rabiya turned on her side. Allah, she wondered, is this fate? What other reason could Adar possibly serve in my life? Why can't I get him out of my mind?

With him, she felt safe. With him, she knew they could overcome anything, however, the universe would be against them. Before Adar and Rabiya could even step into a new life, their personal feuds would restrain them. If only she could break through those chains, then maybe she could be able to taste from the goblet of her happiness. 

Knock Knock.

She sat up abruptly, hearing the subtle disturbance from her window. Quickly, Rabiya wrapped a scarf around her head, throwing the shawl over her shoulder and checking to cover all strands of hair. Unlocking the hatch, she pushed the wooden covers away, coming face to face with the sweat glistened Adar, bronze skin illuminating n the soft slivers of moonlight that peeked through the leaves. 

"Adar," she whispered, smiling. 

At the sight of her, Adar's dark eyes lit up like the stars above, lost in his daze. "Why are you so beautiful in the moonlight?" he murmured, a hand reaching up to touch her until he realized the spiritual bonds of their relations. He frowned. "How I wish I could hold you even for a moment."

Her cheeks heated. "W-Why are you here?" she stuttered an attempt to change his focus. Her heart couldn't bear the sweet words he spoke, almost as if her chest would burst from the intensity. "It's late... if they catch us-"

"Shh, we'll be fine if they don't know I'm here," he said, lowering his voice even more. "I came to tell you of another attack. I am uncertain about when, but I think it may be tonight."

All giddiness left her like a lost breath. "What?"

His umber eyes fueled with warning. "You have to warn them, Rabiya. We don't have time."

That was when the splintering screams of the women in her household infiltrated the night, their husbands shouts drowned into the humidity like their strength at another uprising among villagers. Fear pummeled her stomach, twisting and churning painfully as if a knife had wound itself within. Her throat felt dry as she swallowed down the sickness.