Chapter 35
Rami
Iwatched in horror as Nahlah’s head collided with a protruding rock, the last of her breath escaping in a stream of bubbles. As she passed through a portal, vanishing from sight, pure rage consumed me.
Enough.
I”d tolerated the oppression of the Sultans and the theft of my years for too long. I possessed more power than most beings in this universe, and now that I had someone to fight for, it was time I took control of my destiny. With an angry roar, my genio powers erupted in a blast of purple light, the force obliterating the tentacles that held me, tearing apart the underwater landscape. Once freed, I swam as fast as I could, manipulating the water to propel myself through the portal after her.
I emerged into utter chaos.
Before me was the Mirage, a place I remembered from when Sultan Ghazi was obsessed with capturing Captain Sinbad. Fortunately, he”d lost interest by the time I discovered the hidden portal leading to this sanctuary, sparing me from revealing its location. But now it was ablaze. The Sultan’s soldiers—my soldiers—were wreaking havoc, filling the air with the stench of smoke, screaming, and death.
Sprinting through the entrance, I cast a location ward, desperate to find Nahlah. Panichadclouded my judgment when I”d realized we would face a dreamscape, driving me to prioritize her immediate safety instead of preparing her for its dangers.The dreamscape was a merciless trial, using one’s greatest fears, memories, and regrets against them. It dragged its prisoners deeper into despair the longer they failed to recognize the illusions. Eventually, they were stripped of their sanity, lost forever in a repeat of their worst nightmares come true.
A shimmering purple line materialized, indicating she was nearby, and a wave of relief washed over me as I broke into a run.Dodging and pushing soldiers out of the way, I followed the trail to an isolated wing. When a piercing scream echoed from my left, Nahlah”s voice filled with terror, I sprinted down the long corridor. I burst into the room at the end of the hall just as a massive shadow panther—one I recognized as Captain Sinbad”s familiar—lunged at her, his sharp teeth bared.
Summoning a gust of wind, I sent the animal clear across the room, where it splintered into shadowy fragments against the far wall. Spinning, I hurried forward and kneeled beside her, fear clenching my heart. She was pale and covered in blood, her body shaking uncontrollably as she rocked back and forth, clearly lost in hysteria.
When I gently brushed her hair away from her face, she jerked back, startled by my presence.“Rami?” she whispered hoarsely.
“It”s me,” I replied softly.
She recoiled instantly, fear overtaking her features. “No! You need to go! Everyone I love is dead because of me. You need to get far away,” she insisted, her eyes dilating with fear.
”Nahlah, it”s okay,” I murmured soothingly, hoping to anchor her back to reality. ”This isn’t real.”
She blinked slowly, visibly struggling to process my words. “What?”
“We’re facing Kaliya’s trial, remember?” I motioned around the room. “This is an illusion.”
“No,” she shook her head furiously. “You’re wrong. I watched them die—Ummi, Kenz... zie, Ala, and... d Amu Sinb... bad,” she stammered, her teeth chattering. Her normally tan skin was turning paler by the minute, her breathing shallow, eyes glazing over. I knew I needed to anchor her quickly, to help her see through the illusions, or the trauma would cause her to lose her mind permanently.
“I know, and I’m so sorry you experienced such horrors,” I scooted closer, taking her hand and lifting it to my cheek. “Focus on the feeling of my skin,” I instructed softly. “Notice its warmth,” I guided her hand across the scruff on my face, “and the texture difference of my beard.” Bringing it down to my neck, I asked, “Can you feel my pulse?”
”Yes,” she nodded hesitantly, and I leaned forward, pressing my forehead to hers.
“Look at me, hayati,” I murmured, smiling as she met my gaze. “What color are my eyes?”
There was a moment of silence as she studied my face. “Light blue.”
“Good!” I exclaimed, relief flooding through me as her focus sharpened.
“They’re beautiful,” she added softly, a hint of her usual warmth returning to her voice. “They put the stars to shame.”
“So you’ve told me,” I chuckled, running my thumb across her knuckles.Encouraged by her responsiveness, I remained still as she traced her fingers down my nose, over my cheek, and along my jaw. When she paused at my lips, I couldn’t resist gently kissing her fingertips.
She shivered, the color gradually returning to her cheeks. “It feels real.”
”I know. The dreamscape feeds on our fears, growing stronger with every second we remain under its control. But it can’t hold you if you keep yourself grounded.” I conjured a yellow honeybelle flower in my palm. “Keep this with you. If you feel your sense of reality shifting before we can get out, focus on its beautiful colors, unique textures, and soothing fragrance.”
“Shukran,” she murmured.
“You don’t need to thank me,” I replied, helping her to her feet and handing her the flower.
She turned her hand over, staring intently at the sandsilk lily branded on her skin, before looking up at me under long lashes.”Shukran,” she repeated, tears tracking down her cheeks as she took the flower. Immediately, her torn and blood-stained kaftan began mending itself, and I exhaled in relief. The more she reconnected with reality, the quicker the dreamscape would unravel.
“Let’s go,” I suggested, smiling as her hair smoothed back against her scalp and re-braided itself, the streaks of blood fading back to her natural black.
As we moved through the Mirage, it responded to her recovering mental strength, the wreckage clearing. Walls straightened, furniture repaired itself, and shattered glass floated upwards, fitting into their window frames. Broken tiles rearranged themselves back into detailed zellige designs and torn curtains and rugs wove themselves back together. The air, once thick with death and despair, grew lighter and fresher, the scent of blooming flowers surrounding us.
As we finally reached the entrance, the Mirage stood fully healed, a shimmering blue protection ward snapping into place around it.
Nahlah dabbed tears from her eyes, shaking her head with a laugh. “I don’t know how Kaliya conquered the dreamscape all alone.”
”Thankfully, we have each other,” I replied, pressing a kiss to her hand.
No sooner had the words left my mouth than the ground beneath us trembled, flinging Nahlah backward and tossing me in the opposite direction. The unsettling sensation of passing through a portal churned my stomach as I landed hard, my head striking the ground with a thud.