Chapter Fourteen

“The sword lifted on it’s own, mom! Really!”

The little boy was yammering at a woman. Neither of them were facing him. The woman’s long black curls hung down her back, rather matted and messy. He wanted to reach out and touch them.

“That’s ridiculous. Stop making up stories,” she scolded, though there was so much warmth in her voice, he found it hard to believe that either of them were in trouble. “Makin isn’t magic-”

His head was spinning, his body feeling week. His vision began to blur, and he fell back.

“Makin?” The woman gasped. “Makin!”

Mozenrath opened his eyes slowly, trying to gather his surroundings before moving. I’m back in the Palace. His coughed, cotton mouthed and very, very sore. His head was still pounding, and he could feeling it almost radiating down his spine and up into his chest. He groaned, lifting himself up, his muscles protesting furiously. He flinched, biting back a million words that he could have spouted out in a moment. He swallowed the taste of bile in his throat and kicked his legs off the side of the bed.

“You’re awake.”

He jolted against his will, pain rocketing through his veins.

“Don’t… do that,” he said.

“I have to keep an eye on you, kid. You should expect me to just be around.” Cassim was leaning against the opposite wall, dressed in some new clothes, no longer wearing the long blue cape. He had switched it out for a bit more impressive looking number - and it was probably cleaner too.

Mozenrath blinked blearily. “How… how long have I been…”

“An entire day,” Cassim answered. “We were actually beginning to worry Sadira might have done something very bad.”

Mozenrath stood up slowly, ignoring the pain. His clothing had been reduced to only his pants, he noticed, and when he glanced at the mirror, he saw his thin, pale form. He frowned at how frail he looked.

“Where are my clothes?”

“They’re being washed,” Cassim responded, pointing to the vanity. “There’s some clothes for you right there.”

Mozenrath looked at them with a twinge of disgust. “Are these Aladdin’s clothes?”

“Yes,” Cassim said with amusement. “Though they are too big for him. You should be able to fit in them fine.”

Mozenrath gave him a look, then yanked them off the table, folding them over his arm. “I’d like a bath first. Think they’ll leave me be for that long?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Cassim ignored him, approaching, turning his head to look at him. “Your pupils are dilated.”

“I just spent the last twelve hours or so unconscious. What do you expect?”

He shoved past Cassim, hoping to get the bath his muscles so desperately cried for.

…

“That shouldn’t have happened,” Sadira said.

“Uh, yeah, no kiddin’,” Iago replied sarcastically. Sadira and Aladdin had just filled in the group on what had happened.

Sadira shook her fist at the bird, threatening him off of his perch by her books to Aladdin’s shoulder. Jasmine sat between Sadira and Aladdin, reading over the words on the pages, confused.

“It doesn’t say anything about that happening.”

Sadira shook her head. “I’ve check a thousand times! I did everything right.”

Genie picked up one of the books, holding it with one hand so the pages flipped downward toward the floor. “Hmmmmmmm… interesting.”

“What is it, Genie?”

“Maybe he blocked it out.” To demonstrate, Genie transformed into a pile of children’s blocks, then back to his original form.

“He cleared his mind,” Sadira said. “He couldn’t have-”

“Intentionally,” Aladdin finished. “That doesn’t mean he couldn’t.”

…

Mozenrath dived beneath the water of the tub, squeezing his eyes shut as the warmth consumed him. It was the first hot bath he’d had in a very long time, and he had forgotten how comfortable it was. He burst from the water, droplets flying through the air, then fell back against the tub, sighing. The bath mistresses giggled.

“Thanks, ladies,” he said, a bit amused. The mistresses insisted on assisting - though he preferred to be alone. Still, they were rather fun to watch, giggling to themselves and simply enjoying the fact that he was there.

It was at least better than the looks he got from most women.

“You’re welcome, dear,” one of the older ones said. “I don’t believe we’ve had someone so delightful since Aladdin.”

Well that was weird. “I don’t believe myself to be very delightful. Then again, I don’t know if you mean that I’m delightful to watch or not.”

With that, the younger girls burst into another fit of giggles. It was rather contagious, tugging at the corners of his mouth. He took a few more moments to relax, then finally cleaned himself off and washed his hair. He was amazed at how much dirt it had attracted. Then again, he had passed out in the middle of a magical sand storm. The pain in his head and joints had receded substantially at least.

The giggling continued even as he got out and got dressed - in fact, it was more-so than before. Yes, rather amusing. He appreciated the fact that the clothing supplied to him was blue, and imagined that Aladdin’s reason for not wearing wasn’t just for size. He’d never seen the kid in blue - and he didn’t expect to. He let his hair hang down for the moment, not wanting to make the movement to pull it back, and headed out into the Palace.

It actually felt good to have a moment alone, without eyes watching his every move - whether concerned or untrusting. He blinked slowly, his head still a little foggy after his previous ordeal, and of course, the dream following. He bowed his head, stopping in his tracks for a moment, a wave of sadness washing over him for no real reason.

My mind… it’s… blank.

“Maybe he blocked it out.”

“Hm?” he lifted his head, stepping closer to the doorway on his left.

“He cleared his mind. He couldn’t have-”

“Intentionally. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t.”

He stepped into the room, clearing his throat. The group looked up at him with wide eyes. He looked down on them, sitting around the books with puzzled expressions.

“I’d appreciate it if you discussed this with me whether than about me,” he said, his eyes narrowing.

“You’re… awake,” Sadira said, blinking.

“Where’s my father?” Aladdin asked immediately.

“I preferred if I could take my bath alone, thank you - not that that happened anyway-”

“Allah, Mozenrath,” Sadira interrupted, looking particularly guilty. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine,” he replied stoically, not in the mood to bother with her.

“N-no… I… want to help you.” She rushed over to grab his arm.

“No, thanks. I think I’ll figure it out on my own.” He yanked it away from her, leaving her standing with her arms extended. He glared at her. “I’d rather not go through that again, thanks.”

“It wasn’t her fault,” Aladdin argued, coming to Sadira’s defense.

“Oh?” Mozenrath fired back, feigning surprise in sarcasm. “Well, you’re probably right. I just get a lightning bolt shoved into my skull all the time!”

“L-look,” Sadira jumped in, holding her hands between them, separating them. “It was the spell that set it off - but it wasn’t my execution of it.”

Mozenrath blinked. “What?”

“I did everything right,” she said, turning to him. “Mozenrath… have you ever had a memory charm placed on you?”

She looked him in the eyes without a moment’s hesitation. It made him a bit uncomfortable that the woman was so trusting. Even worse, he didn’t have an answer.

“I wouldn’t know. I worked for a wizard when I was young. All kinds of things could have happened.”

“Well, when is the farthest back you can remember?”

“I… n-no. No.” His face hardened. “I don’t need your help, and I don’t need you prying into my past. Stay out of it.”

“But-”

“No.” He whirled around and stalked out.

Aladdin came running after him. “What? Mozenrath, this could-”

“My past is none of your concern,” he replied. “If you want to find another way to keep me under wraps, go right ahead. Even if you have to lock me up in your dungeon. I am not divulging a thing of my past to your or anyone else!”

Aladdin seemed rather taken aback by the response. “What… happened to you?”

Mozenrath glared. “Think of trying to work for Jafar as a child. Then multiply it times ten or so. Use your imagination.”

He continued his descent down the steps and out into the courtyard. Aladdin didn’t follow. Mozenrath sat on the edge of the white, feathered fountain, gazing into his reflection.

“Who do they think they are?!” he whispered, mainly to himself. “Thinking they can just figure out who I am. I…” he gazed at his reflection again. “I don’t even know who I am.”

He sighed. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe I should tell them. But… I just can’t.”

Rajah was snoozing close by, and had perked to the sound of his voice, lumbering over with an odd feline grace. He stared at the tiger.

“Are you going to judge me too?”

The tiger gave him a look - as if an animal could - approaching slowly. Gingerly, he reached out and stroked the cat’s head. Oddly enough, he responded, laying his head in his lap. Mozenrath felt a soft smile form on his features.

“Oh, you like me now, huh? I should have tried this before.” He sighed. “Must be easy. Getting to laze around the Palace all day. No worries at all. Constantly attended to by a beautiful princess? Yes, you definitely have a life here, tiger.”

The tiger grunted.

“Er… Rajah.”

The tiger nodded, pleased.

“Oh, I don’t know what I’m going to do. What do you think?”

Mozenrath looked at the wildcat then shook his head. “I’m talking to a cat.” He scratched the tiger behind the ears. “Well, at least you trust me.”

“They’d find out, there’s so much more to me…”

He looked up, but he saw nothing. He shook his head. “Maybe you shouldn’t. I’m going crazy, you know.”

He stood up and made his way back to the doorway, Rajah keeping close at his heels. “Maybe I’m not doing any good here. Maybe I should just… go.”

He had no idea that he was being watched.

End Chapter Fourteen

(Author's Note: Filllllerrrrrr. ; )