Page 16 of Bound By Wishes

As I glanced up, I saw it was the same man I’d cut with the glass in the tent. He was clutching his injured arm, bright-red blood dripping onto the sand, forming dark splotches against the pale grains. I was trapped, with no one around, and the reality of my hopelessness pressed down on me like the weight of the dark desert sky above.

The one with the busted nose walked over to me. “I was going to take it easy on you. The buyers don’t like bruises on their merchandise.” He leaned in closer, whispering in my ear. “But now I won’t.” His fingers banded around my arm, yanking me forward. The delicate sleeve of my top tore with a sharp rip, and ruby-colored beads littered the ground. My pulse pounded so rapidly, it drummed in my ears, and then I went numb.

Inky dark tendrils began to slowly churn through the air, weaving through the smoky haze of the burning tent. Everyone froze, their eyes wide with fear and awe as it spread, casting an eerie veil over the place. Hope flared in my chest as Ranen appeared, his form shimmering with power as he hovered above the men.

Ranen's dark eyes scanned the perimeter before locking onto mine. I swore I saw something ignite in his intense gaze.

“It’s a demon,” one of the men holding me said. “I told you we shouldn’t have come here. This oasis appeared out of nowhere.”

“You put your hands on my sayyida,” Ranen growled, his tone laced with death. The men holding me shoved meaway, and I hit the ground hard, collapsing to my knees. Some drew swords, others grabbed rifles that were slung across their backs. An evil smirk spread across Ranen’s face. “You will all die for this trespass.”

The men rushed to attack, gunfire exploding with a deafening roar. Bullets passed easily through his body, not leaving so much as a powder burn. Ranen’s wicked smile deepened and his hazy magic spread, tainting the air around them. It was a horrifying, deadly smoke that twisted around the men. They froze in fear as an unsettling energy hummed its lethal warning. I gasped as their bodies began to combust.

Screams filled the air, rising in pitch as flames erupted from within them, consuming their flesh. I could feel the heat radiating off them, and I watched in horror as they writhed in agony. Their bodies turned to crumbly ash, the remnants swirling in the hot air before turning into particles of black sand. Their screams faded to whispers that drifted away on the winds as the golden hues of the desert floor mixed with their dark remains.

I sat there in shock, paralyzed by the horrifying display of sinister power. The air around me felt heavy with the lingering presence of dark magic, and the pungent smell of burnt flesh filled my nostrils. The torn fabric of my sleeve fluttered against my arm, stirred by the cool night breeze, reminding me of what those men had tried to do.

I began to tremble all over. My eyes locked on the tattered remains of my sleeve, as the frayed edges tickled my skin. Unwanted memories that I had fought for years to bury deep within the recesses of my mind suddenly surged to the surface like relentless waves, threatening to drownme. My throat constricted, and I gasped to breathe. My vision blurred at the edges. I clutched my chest, desperate for relief, my fingers digging into my flesh as if I could somehow claw my way back to calm.

I felt Ranen’s eyes on me. “Don’t concern yourself with these men. They will never bother you or anyone else ever again.” I heard him, but my mind couldn’t comprehend the words.

He knelt before me. “It’s over.” Ranen reached out to touch me, but I recoiled instinctively, folding in on myself and hugging my knees tightly to my chest.

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed as tears streamed down my cheeks.

Ranen hovered before me, concern showing on his blurry face. “Sayyida?” He reached out to touch me again, and a whimper escaped my lips.

“Sayyida?” He moved closer but didn’t try to touch me again. “Let me pick you up off the ground and take you somewhere safe.”

I felt trapped within my body, an invisible vise tightening around my ribs, squeezing the air from my lungs. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the image of Mathew hovering over me. His presence filled the air, and I caught the scent of his skin, a nauseating blend of sweat and his obnoxiously sweet cologne.

“Caleena.” Ranen's voice was gentle yet firm as he tried to break through the panic that consumed me. My gaze finally shifted to his as he held out his arms again. The image of Mathew shattered. “Please.” The word was soothing, urging me to allow him to touch even though a man’s touch was the last thing I wanted at the moment.

My teeth chattered, rendering me unable to speak. I nodded my head once, giving him permission to pick me up. He slid one arm under my knees and the other around my back, effortlessly lifting me from the ground. The warmth radiating from his body coaxed me to lean into his chest. The rapid beat of my heart calmed as Mathew’s scent quickly faded from memory, replaced by Ranen's blend of masculine spices and smoky essence.

Ranen began to walk slowly, holding me tightly in his arms. Our surroundings began to rush by in a blur like we were moving at lightning speed, but Ranen’s pace remained slow and gentle. The contradiction of his pace and that of our surroundings intensified the nagging ache in my skull. I leaned my head against the crook of his shoulder and closed my eyes, waiting until the world literally stopped spinning.

“You can open your eyes now, sayyida,” he gently insisted.

I reluctantly pried my eyes open. We were on top of a massive dune, and beneath us were three massive caravans stretched across the rolling sands. Each one was decorated with intricate patterns and vibrant fabrics. The curved roofs and embellished sides and banners signaled their nationality. Smoke gently spiraled from several campfires.

I tilted my head toward Ranen. “Where are we, and who are they?”

“The marriage candidates. They are waiting their turn to be summoned into the kingdom.” Ranen nodded subtly, directing my gaze.

Beyond the caravans was a massive kingdom surrounded by a solid stone wall that made it look like a fortress. Above the wall, tower peaks with intricate designssoared into the heavens, their golden domes and minarets gleaming under the full moon. At the heart of the kingdom, a grand palace of shimmering white marble stood, its roof glistening as though fashioned from pure gold. It was a beautiful sight that I had been excited to see, but now I wasn’t so sure after hearing what awaited me inside.

Ranen’s magic billowed around us, slithering to the ground below like snakes.

I tightened my grip around his neck. “What are you doing?”

“Making you appear just as significant as the rest,” he answered, his tone icy and unyielding.

His magic continued to spiral until it crafted multiple tents of dark hues in the colors of Lidian. The area buzzed with people and animals. Ranen began to walk down the dune toward the campground. My gaze flew to the multiple strangers who crowded around the campfires, and I shrank closer to Ranen.

He smiled down at me. “Don’t worry. None of these people are real. They’re just for show. Think of them as kind of a mirage.”

I glanced up at him. “How are you going to parade a mirage through those gates?”

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