Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (15 page)

Nizar turned up his nose. “What’s his deal?” he asked.

Elijah turned away from Nizar. “Nothing. Isabelle. Can I talk to you?” he asked.

Still, Isabelle remained quiet.

“Oh, now you want to talk to her? Haven’t you been ignoring us this whole time? Is she now…?” chided Nizar as he scowled at Elijah.

Elijah suddenly raised his voice. “Not now, Nizar! Any day but today, okay?”

Nizar started to grin. “Is something wrong? Did the princess dump you?”

Elijah ran over to Nizar and jerked him off his chair. “Not now!” he shouted.

Nizar shoved Elijah against the table. “Get off me!” he yelled.

Firas dropped his food and jumped up. “Hey, hey! That’s enough. We are okay, right?”

Elijah turned back to Isabelle. “I need to talk to you,” he demanded.

Nizar continued to chide. “Is this about the silver and the emerald you have hidden from everyone?”

Elijah forgot about Isabelle as his jaws tightened.

“Oh. I am sorry. Did you not want everyone to know?” queried Nizar.

Before Elijah could say anything, Firas interrupted, “Silver?”

“Emerald?” asked Bayan.

“Elijah?” said Rasha.

Just then, Karim reappeared and stared at Elijah.

Nizar kept probing. “What is it for, Elijah? Where did you get it? Is it for us? Or is it for you?”

Elijah took a deep breath. “None of your business!” he replied.

Nizar stepped closer. “Well, I think it is, seeing that we all depend on you. Did the princess give this to you? Are you going to be a noble while we all sit here and rot?” he demanded.

Elijah glanced around and started to feel alone and afraid. His voice shook. “You don’t understand!”

Nizar threw up his nose at Elijah. “I don’t want to understand! None of us do! You betrayed us!”

Elijah cried, “No!”

Nizar went over to his bag and held the silver and emerald for all to see. “You see! This is what our leader hides from us!”

“Give it to me now!” shouted Elijah.

Finally, Isabelle spoke, “Will you leave us for the princess?”

Elijah glared at Nizar. “Give it to me, Nizar.” And he took a step closer.

Nizar pulled his hand back. “We could sell them! Do you know how much food and shelter we could get for this?”

“It’s not for you, and it’s not for me. Give it to me now,” yelled Elijah, knowing that he must make his move soon or lose the valuables for good.

Nizar had reached his resolve. “No,” he yelled.

They stood face-to-face. “No more games, Nizar!”

Nizar passed the silver and the emerald to Isabelle and then unsheathed his sword. “I’m not playing any games, Elijah,” he said.

Elijah slid his sword out of its case too. “Enough!”

Firas shouted, “Wait! Stop!”

Bayan took a couple of steps back when Isabelle again broke her silence. “You would turn your back on us for the princess?”

Elijah raised his sword. “Give me the silver! Now!” he demanded.

Then Karim started walking toward Nizar.

“Give it to me, Isabelle!” said Elijah as he pointed his blade toward her neck.

Nizar glared at her. “Do not even think about giving it to that traitor!”

Karim suddenly demanded, “Put your sword down, Nizar. Just let him have it.”

But Nizar wasn’t ready to give in. “What? You dare take his side!” Karim didn’t hesitate and punched Nizar square in the mouth. He fell to the floor instantly.

Rasha gasped.

Then Karim turned to Isabelle and demanded, “Give him the silver and the emerald.”

She shook her head. “Why?” she cried.

“You can’t stop a man with passions burning like a raging fire. He will get it back one way or another. Just give it to him.”

She then slowly gave Elijah the treasure and scowled. “Don’t come back here,” she said.

Elijah glanced down at the silver and emerald and then at Karim as he disappeared again into the other room.

Elijah glanced around and lowered his head. “I am sorry…I am so sorry,” he said. He covered the silver and the emerald with his blanket and headed back out into the scorching sun.

Chapter 17

E
lijah sat on
a street corner all day long as his mind spun in circles. The day seemed to go by so slowly. He sat there, wondering what he was going to do. If Natalia ever found out what he did, it would be over. Maybe he should call it off between the two. It was the only right thing he could still do. “I can’t mess up anymore, I can’t do it. I won’t mess up her life! I won’t do it!” He looked up at the sky; he felt so hopeless. He looked up as the sun was setting. “I will end it. I must, if I don’t, I will ruin her life as well.”

Nothing in this city ever seems to change,
thought Elijah as he sat, leaning up against the corner wall. Every once in a while, he would glance up, only to view the same obscure faces. No one looked his way, no one at all. It was as if he didn’t exist except for when one person, a large lady carrying a crying baby, tossed him a small silver coin. It was enough to break his train of thought, though, from the relentless judgments he issued to himself. His friends didn’t want him, and now, neither did he. A loud ruckus caught his attention as a soldier chased after a boy. The shop owner was close behind, yelling, “Thief, thief.”

Thoughts of stealing instantly took his mind back to Natalia and how she wanted to be a thief, just like him. He shook his pounding head as he tried to hold on to images of her beautiful face, but they swirled away, just out of reach. He thought,
If Natalia ever found out what I did, it would be over. Maybe I should cut it off between us? Maybe Karim was right?
He couldn’t think of another thing to do to right the situation. But his mind raged on.
I can’t let her down, I can’t. I won’t destroy her life! I won’t!
he thought as tears streamed down his cheeks. He glanced up, but even the blurry, blue sky refused to give him any hope. Slowly, he stood up, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
I will end it. I must. If I don’t, I will ruin her life, as well
, he affirmed as the sun started to set in the western sky.

He took his leave of the thoroughfare and scaled the nearest wall. Within minutes, he could hear Natalia climbing. She turned and smiled just as he jumped over a low wall and immediately ran into his arms. He drew in a deep breath as he felt her warmth and strength around him, and for the first time that day, he smiled. When he pulled back, the first thing he noticed was her outfit, no longer commoner’s clothing, but rather, some sort of dancing ensemble.

He quickly drew back to her and whispered, “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you,” she replied.

A surge of fear welled up within him when images of the dead prince swirled back into his mind. He fought to ignore the throbbing sensation at the back of his neck. It became worse with each passing thought.

Natalia excitedly said, “I can’t believe you did it! The prince never showed up! What did you do! How did you get him to go away! You are so amazing!” The sparkles in her eyes instantly captured Elijah.

But as soon as he realized what she had said, the throbbing returned. “It’s nothing. I just…scared him off…,” he said as his voice trailed off.

Natalia laughed. “Really! How did you do it?” she asked.

Elijah winced slightly and quietly asked, “I…Natalia? Can…I hold you?”

She paused. “Of course, you can,” she replied as she let his arms encircle her body.

Almost instantly, his heart slowed down to a crawl as he drank in her smell, her touch, her beauty. He felt imprisoned by her love, completely spellbound. This moment brought him his first freedom of the day. It seemed, to him, like an eternity had passed since he was able to dream of this moment, the moment that his heart ached for. Her eyelids barely flickered when he lifted his hands and ran them through her hair.

Natalia rested her head on his chest and quietly asked, “Whatever happened to the man that was with us at the secret passage?”

Elijah gently stroked her hair again and replied, “It’s taken care of.” He felt his chest suddenly tighten.

Natalia snuggled closer and said, “I knew you would, Elijah.”

Elijah saw her cheeks rise slightly, but he found it impossible to enjoy the moment. He glanced at the neighboring roof and saw two shadows, motionless. Elijah closed his eyes, but the images wouldn’t leave.

Natalia gently pulled away. “Hey, I want to give you something. I carved this myself,” she said and grabbed his hand. Elijah felt something small being placed into it and wondered what it was.

He held it up in the moonlight and asked, “What is it?” as he stared at the carving of a small bird.

“It’s a hummingbird, the most precious creature on earth.”

Elijah suddenly grinned. “Is this your favorite animal?” he asked.

Natalia broke into a smile from ear to ear. “Of course! Legend has it that they carry hopes and dreams. They are sweet and carry love for those who have none.”

Elijah turned the small wooden object in his fingers. “I’ll remember that,” he replied, smiling.

She quickly raised her eyebrow. “You better!” she said.

Another movement, close by, caught his attention. A shadow darted across the corner of the roof. Elijah shook his head and closed his eyes.

Natalia turned her head, “What is it?” but looked quickly back.

Elijah shrugged. “When is the next prince coming?” he asked.

“Huh? Oh, in two days. He will arrive sometime in the morning.”

Elijah nodded as she continued, “I don’t know how we are going to get rid of this one. His name is Anas, the prince of Artelon. His father is said to be immortal. They call him the God-King. He has the largest army the world has ever seen. And he always gets what he wants. But I am sure if we put our heads together, we will figure it out, won’t we?” He was able to focus only on her cute giggle, but couldn’t remember everything she had just said.

His eyes quickly turned down. “Yeah,” he whispered.

Natalia pulled back a little. “I am actually supposed to be at a dance rehearsal for the prince. I just came to give you this,” she said.

Elijah took a deep breath and replied, “Thank you so much, Natalia. This means so much to me.”

Natalia touched the bird. “Well, whenever you hold this, remember that my hopes and love are with you always.”

Elijah swallowed hard and continued to fight the horrible feelings rushing through his thoughts and body.

Natalia’s voice suddenly became excited. “Well, I really have to get back…I…” she said.

He stared at her and tried to etch her beautiful features into his mind. He wanted them to stay forever. Slowly, he tenderly ran his fingers against her skin. He felt his heart pulsate deep within him as he said, “I love you.”

She slowly breathed in and pressed his hand against her face. “I love you too,” she whispered in his ear.

They continued to gaze into each other’s eyes as he leaned in. Quietly, tenderly, their lips touched, lingering as they pressed harder and harder into each other’s arms. They remained locked together as she gently slid her arms around his neck. He let his arms fall slightly and pulled her even closer. The tingling across Elijah’s shoulders forced a rapid chill to encompass his entire body. He forgot about time, pain, pressures, and the day’s events as he tasted her delicate lips and felt her gentle tongue against his. The closer they got, the warmer she felt. He pulled back but wouldn’t break the seal between their lips, letting it linger, softly, tenderly, lovingly. Finally, they stopped, but ever so slowly and pressed their faces against each other’s.

Her eyes intensified as she pulled him close once again. He squeezed his shoulders forward and nudged his chin into the side of her soft neck. “I can’t wait to be with you,” she whispered as he paused against the softness of her skin.

He slowly replied, “And I as well.”

Their lips touched once again until she gently pulled away. The last he saw of her as she walked across the roof into the dark night was her radiant smile.

His solitude was almost immediately broken as he stared after her. He turned with a start to the sound of approaching footsteps.

Karam’s crude laughter followed. “Good work. It was touching, it really was. But play time is over,” he said as he scowled.

The whites of Elijah’s knuckles quickly showed as Karam continued, “Well? Tell me the news, rat?”

“Your prince is coming in two days,” he responded.

Karam waited.

“He will arrive in the morning,” said Elijah, grimacing slightly in the darkness.

Their eyes met. “Perfect,” exclaimed Karam.

Elijah tried to turn away until Karam spoke, “Such a beautiful girl.”

“If you even dare!” said Elijah through clenched teeth.

Inches away, Karam yelled, “What, Elijah? What would you do? I could have her captured right now if I wanted to. I have men follow her every time she leaves the palace. Do not challenge your betters, Elijah. You and the princess live because I allow it.”

Instantly, Elijah felt his knees grow weak.

Karam continued, “You will continue to see her and get more information for me.”

“No. I ended it. She will no longer be in danger by…,” shouted Elijah. Without warning, Karam slammed his fist against Elijah’s mouth, forcing him down to the ground.

Elijah slowly stood up, wiping the blood from his mouth and chin.

Karam pointed his sword into the darkness. “If you want, your princess has still not made it back to the palace. Should I tell my men to kill her?” he shouted.

Elijah shouted back, “You wouldn’t dare!”

Karam punched him again, dropping Elijah instantly as his head thudded against the tiles.

Elijah reached out to push himself up, staggering, stood up, holding his head.

Karam grinned and said, “I can get used to pounding your face in.”

Blood ran freely from Elijah’s mouth and nose as Karam continued, “In fact, I think you look better this way,” he said, breaking out in laughter.

Elijah unsheathed his blade, only to be met with the sound of rustling feet and blades as ten bandits sprung forth out of the shadows.