"The looming shadow,
Caught the trail of burning fire,
It burned with the chasing desire."

♤

T

he flickering flame twitches and burn with fury. Awaiting for most wanting havoc of the palace.

Zephyr trained into the palace through large and intricate balconies. The finest intricate done on domes stood proud with tales of ancient touching the edges of it.

Baraq began to stir. The ground beneath him doesn't fells so hard and grainy. It felt smooth and soft. He gulped trying to moisten his dry throat. Heavy eyes lids denied to be opened, but Baraq wasn't lazy so he drew open his eyes. Glaring at the sturdy dome above.

He was somewhere else. A place where his magic couldn't work. He tried to teleport but it work. Cursing under his breath. He yanked away the satin sheets above him. The sudden sense of air charged into his senses. It was something evil, filled with sinister.

His hunter eyes glared at the room around, taking in the wide, spacious room. Those pool of sandy liquid darkened as he heard the creaking of the door push open. He stayed awaited for the presence.

"My greetings to the sahib." The voice was thin but filled with something he couldn't pinpoint.

She could only gather the mere nod he gave.

The flame reflecting over his pale skin, smooth and shiny. His finger twitching with fury as he merely glanced at her still figure. Silence bathed over them. It wasn't calm, but it pointed at the storm been form.

"What do you want from me?" Baraq can barely keep his fury inside him. It came out cold as ice slicing over tye silence.

"Straight to business. Impressed." Commenting she moseyed near the end of the bed where he stayed seated.

His eyes drinking in her posture.

"You have magic." The mere breath were left out as if telling a secret.

He sighed crossing his arms and shaking his head in denial. The mere thought of someone else teleporting him, filled dread inside him. But, he was Baraq and Baraq never stayed with feelings.

"Tell me something new." His non-chalance knew no bound as he leisurely stood up and prowled around her, his eyes glaring at her.

Gritting her teeth she stood up, he saw mouth and nose hidden with a black veil. It reminded him of someone. Someone crying.

Layla.

Closing his eyes with a snap he sighed. The fluttering won't stop. Breathing heavily he tightened his grip on his robes.

His heavy steps fall into the rhythm of his heart as he traipsed away, ignoring her.

Her eyes widened hardly at his ignorance and she marched behind him calling his name.

"Baraq."

Ignoring her calls he walked his way trying to figure the the way to the outer world.

Seeing him ignoring her, she quietly called Hafsa in her mind.

At one call Hafsa hurriedly sauntered in the direction of Nazreena. Out of breath, she clutched her shoulder for support. Being taller than Hafsa, she towered her and narrowed her eyes on his disappearing figure.

Hafsa could easily read what she was trying to say. Hafsa being smart prevented him from stepping out of the palace. Behind her walked Al-Ghasaq. Her breath froze and shoulders tensed as she sensed him near.

"Stop following me." She hissed at him, waving him away.

Not a single word escaped from his mouth. He continued to walk down behind her like her shadow.

Alone, in the unknown palace, he tried to comprehend the leading hallway. But, all lead to the closed walls. Heart beating aloud as he turned swiftly seeing another wall of the ending hall. The ungentle swish caused his robes swirled around him as he stared to run. Run away from the unending passage if the long, wide, ancient corridors.

His feet grew cold seeing another corridor closed with the same hall. This time he ran, back to Nazreena. His mind questioning his every step. Every step nearing to her, with pot full of questions.

The black shadow wearing the hooded long gown stepped infront of him, halting him. His steps ceased so his heart beat and questions.

Just what was happening?

He only spoke one word and Baraq hurried to follow him behind.

"Layla." The mere whisper caused his heart to flutter.

The shallow breath of his echoed around him. It made him realise how this place was dead, without any chatter of people.
The steps ceased when they came near the giant oak door. The fine intricately decorated on it, all screaming lavish ancient.

With in a breath, the shadow disappeared as if it wasn't there just few moments ago.

His fingers slightly shook as he narrowed his eyes on the door. Pushing it open he witnessed the room bathed in yellow candle light. The lanterns hanging with candles on it, the bug chandelier hanging, so lavish, so beautiful. Just like a fairy tale.

The beautiful patterned carpet lain on the floor in the bright colours of fed and golden. The red velvet had threads of gold weaved into beautiful pattern, something he admired in the palace.

"What do you want?" His question piercing the heavy silence.

Nazreena stood proudly with Hafsa by her side. Her shoulders tensing with the unfolding scene infront of her eyes.

"I want a favour from you." She put forward her words. It wasn't a request rather it was a command.

Baraq smirked beneath his veil. Nazreena and Hafsa could point that out by the small crinkly skin near his eyes.

The air shifted around them and Nazreena couldn't help but grit her teeth at his demand.

"First return my magic." His fingers twitching by his side as he sensed the nervousness crawling to the tips of the finger.

He hated the gentle-ness which comes with the abundance of anger and rage. He hated it, the kindness, the gentleness.

Nazreena snapped her finger at his words and with jerk he felt the warmth flooding in his veins. Feeling confident with his magic back in his veins, he sighed. He didn't know, how she held the power to take it back from him, but he have it back, a win win situation for him.

He prowled slowly near her. Stopping directly under the huge chandelier. The flickering flames of candles did justice to his shadow, which appeared twice bigger than his real size.

"Tch, you took me as a week player." Sighing with those words he walked back slowly.

Stretching his arm he plucked out the candle from the lantern. It's hot, melted wax burned his skin. To which he didn't react. Not even the twitch in his expression.

Admiring the burning candle, he gazed at the flame. The flickering of the flame reflecting in his sandy pools, dried and hungry for destruction.

Tilting the candle, he saw the molten wax falling on the carpeted floor. Shaking his head at her Nazreena.

He continued to glare at her. She held his burning glare with confident not backing away.

Dropping the burning candle, he stepped back from the carpet.

The lavish carpet hugged the hot, burning fire like a friend. Hafsa's eyes widened and sue suppressed her gasp with her hand.

Nazreena's eyes hardened at his actions, seeing hi vanish into the thin air.

The huge flames touched the heights of chandelier, flickering and glaring. Reflecting in her hard eyes.