"Once upon a time, she wasn't allowed to even talk to the kids. Then something happened. The unknown happened, the prince fell in love with her. Oh, dear prince. He should have known better." Qasim tutted in disappointment with a shake of his head.

"There's always a reason why people do what they do." He commented.

Baraq realized that he heard the same trope from Darwish, he narrowed his eyes on Qasim's words.

"They married happily. But marriage wasn't something she was after, she was after power and magic. That's when her mother stepped up and cursed her that she will never see her until her time of death is near." Qasim continued telling the forbidden tale which wasn't even discussed in the hushed manners, since years.

"With that woman, we were cursed, too. We can't leave this village and are bound to Qamaristan forever."

Qamaristan, they were in their desired place.

"And we are just waiting for her son return, it is said that he will end it all. The curse, the unluck, and his mother, too."

"And here you reach your destination." Qasim continued and stopped at the tall red wall. Their shadows danced on the huge bricks of the the wall.

Baraq stretched his neck and looked at the tall wall.
"How do we get to the side to this wall?" Layla questioned with her stuck on the wall.

"Here's the door to the unknown." Qasim announced to them and pointed to the Iron door. To them it really looked like as a gateway of hell.

"I will go away, now that you have reached your destination." Qasim said and began to walk away.

"He was talking about me in that story." Baraq nodded as he stared at door making the ladies turn towards him.

"Yes, he was. It's all upon you, now." Nazreena said and Layla nodded her head. She was terrified of the outcomes, but she was strong and confident Baraq will end this curse, bring her family back and kill his mother.

"But how will you kill your own mother?" Hafsa queries feeling very uncomfortable on the situation, how could someone kill her own mother.

"That is question I am not bound to answer." Baraq sighed and moved ahead of them towards the huge iron door.

"C'mon let's go inside." He announced to them and stood infront of the door. Stretching out his long, skimmy fingers he pushed the door open and stepped inside with Layla beside him and Nazreena and Hafsa in tow.

As Baraq entered, he could the see corner of Qamaristan beautifully adorned with varieties of colorful rugs. They were shining brightly even in the dim light of night. The lantern were hung on the wall and their lights fell to the vast corners of land. It was first time, they had seen a village so beautifully decorated.

Baraq's ears perked up as he heard the sudden beats of the drum echoing in the dull night. The sound reverberated around them stopping them all in the midtracks as if announcing the arrival of an important person.

Infront of them was wide palace which had a dome on the top of it, it was made of a marble. Pure, white, pristine marble shining under the moon lit night. The intricate design of the palace gave away the historical design of the palace. Huge windows and doors gave a little peel of the insides of the palace, and they could see the huge chandelier shining under the flickering flames.

The beats of the drum continued as a shadow loomed outside of the palace.  The shadow walked until it turned into a silhouette. Silhouette so fine that the faith of even the loyalist men guarding the palace wavered. What was a men whose loyalty was as fragile as a worn out thread? The irony.

"Marhaba," her silky thin voice was caught in the wind making scatter away from her place and leave the way for her to walk.

"The known has finally arrived." Her silver silk gown shown under the moonlit night as she appeared infront of them.

Hala.

She was Hala, the sorcerer, the magician, the one who ruled the magic. She was as pretty as the poets described their beloved. Hala had always being pretty and her simple eyes had always had the glint, a glint to fight, to reign what was her's. But, lie has always being beautiful. Isn't it?

Layla was astounded to see the women infront of her, she was so beautifull clawed in her clothes, that even clothes have being felt blessed. God, she outshined Nazreena who always had royalty lingering with her. Nazreena was more of a Royal person than elegance. She had elegance, but it was pressed under her royal behavior, Nazreena favored fighting without lies.

Hala was totally different from Nazreena, she was elegance, she attracted attention without even asking for it. Not only that, but Hala was a mother of grown up adult and she didn't even looked like she was a mother. She was more looked as if she had just stepped up in her eligible ahe for chosing her husband. Nazreena could see it, the shine of manipulation in Hala's eyes.

Before she could say anything, Hala walked upto them with soft and light steps to them.

"We welcome our guests with happiness." She didn't said it to Baraq, but Layla.

Layla's eyes widened as she stared at the woman infront of her, before she could say anything Baraq's fingers sneaked into her hand and held it. He squeezed her palm reminding of where they were standing.

"What is your name, pretty girl?" Hala asked the wide eyed Layla who was too shocked to even answer her. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"Layla," a hiss escaped her lips as Baraq pinched the skin of her palm.

"Layla, such a pretty name." Hala drawled out the words slowly with the sultry edge in her voice.

"Tell me Layla don't you like the freedom from all the naggings?" Hala's direct question made Layla stumble on her place.

Freedom.

Nazreena and Baraq realised what Hala was trying to do, but before they could stop Layla of Hala. Hala was already leading her inside her palace.

"No offense, but I don't like the way your mother's words sound." Nazreena whispered under her breath and began walking Hala as she gestured them to.

"She had began her manipulation. And if Layla isn't as smart as she seems to be, then we are destroyed." Baraq hissed raking a hand on his keffiyeh smoothing it.

"What do we have to do now?" Hafsa questioned making their stomach churn in a nasty way.

What were they going to do now?