Chapter 45 - Taste Of His Own Medicine

Benjamin

"Grandfather we need to do something." I pleaded. I was kneeling before him at his court. It was unusual for a prince to kneel before the sultan, but it was a unusual situation.

"Son, listen to me. I know you are very fond of Jasmine, I am fond of her family as well. Still my son, there are rules." My grandfather said wit authority.

"I think he abuses her." I said, my voice breaking on each word. "If he has intercourse with her, than she is contaminated and it would be best for her to marry her brother in law." The sultan said with earnest.

I had to back out of this. "No, that is not what I meant." I said wheeling out of the situation. "I meant that I think he beats her, that he physically abuses her." I felt sick to my stomach. How could they let a innocent woman, who would possibly been raped, marry her predator?!

I was always glad that I was not inline for the throne, but at moments like this, I wish I were. I would gladly change all those banana republic rules.

My grandfather was whispering with his first wife. Then he finally spoke. "My first wife just agreed for me to take her as a wife, so that is settled then." He spoke with thought

"NO!" I shouted in the big room. My voice echoed.

Benjamin

My Grandfather clutched his leather seat with his fingers. He narrowed his eyes at me, but there was something about the way he held his lips.

"And why should I not marry her?" He said raising his head a little. "She- She is too young." I said uncertain if that would matter to him at all.

"I have watched, her body seems ripe as whine." My grandfather said with a hint of smile. "Or is there another reason? Maybe you want to take her as your wife?" The sultan questioned while stroking his beard.

"No." My face fell. I could not. I had Saphira now. Jasmine did not want to be married.

"Well, then I don't see a problem. I am aware of the fact, that she has ambitions to study and I can arrange that. She can become my advisor behind closed doors." He licked his lips.

I could not think of what he had wanted to do with her behind closed doors. I balled my fists.

"You seem upset." My grandfather said with a smirk.

I couldn't think of a proper response. I was upset. I could not marry her as I had once wanted.

I needed to buy us all a little time to come up with a better plan, because at this very moment, I had none.

"Grandfather, isn't there any other way?" I almost pleaded.

"ENOUGH!" The sultan roared, startling his wife next to him.

"Do. You. Have. Feelings. For. Her. Or. Not?!" He said each word with a sharp edge.

"Yes." I breathed. "No!" I sad as I took a fist full of my hair in my hand.

My grandfather stood up and walked towards me. His golden robe touched the ground.

"I give you a month. If you haven't decided by then, I will take her." He said with both eyebrows raised.

I need to buy us time, to come up with a better plan. "I want you to summon her to the palace." I said in a firm voice.

"Oh." My grandfather said playing with his long greyish beard.

"And why is that?" He said indifferent. "I need to spend a little more time with her before I make my final decision." I said in a bluff.

"You want a test ride?" He said smirking at me.

"Yes." I lied confidently.

"Fair enough." He mused.

"I'll tell her brother in-law to send her." I said distracted.

"I'd rather, you not tell him the real reason, or that it is I, the prince of Saudi, that has visited there home." I said in my most princely voice, firm and powerful.

"As you wish." He offered.

Saphira

Zach and I had created our own little routine.

We talked, spend time on our beach, watched movies, played card games and even studied together.

Sometimes he even stayed for dinner.

Mom didn't mind much. Although I think she thought more of it then was actually the case. I had no romantic interested in Zachary what so ever.

The worst part of it all, was that besides me sending pictures of myself to Benjamin each morning, and the occasional picture I received back, he never seemed to start a conversation with me.

This little exchange was the only contact we had. I felt abandoned by him. Not worthy of his time.

The only news I received of him was through listing to Lynn and Sierra's conversations. Of course I was too stubborn to call him myself.

The days at school dragged on and on… I couldn't find any pleasure in them. It was just a filling of my time. The only highlight I had was Zachary.

He always tried to cheer me up. Today he had made a comment on Ben passing his first tests. When he realized I didn't know anything about it, he shook his head again. "Do the two you actually still talk?" He had asked.

That had done it for me. Enough is enough! I thought.

After school I picked up my phone and the phone went over.

Nothing he did not answer.

It was three in the afternoon here in Malibu, and that meant it would be around one in the morning in Saudi Arabia, but I didn't care.

I needed to talk to him and talk to him right now. So I kept calling him until he finally answered. It took eight calls to wake him up. "Mhhh…" He groaned when he picked up his phone.

"Benjamin wake up now sleepyhead " I said playfully. "Jasmine?" He said almost inaudible with a sleepy voice.

"Who's Jasmine?!!" I yelled at him.

"Calm down Sierra, I'm sleeping, call me back in about seven hours." He mumbled.

"You know what Benjamin Al-Raji….

"I am never… Ever going to call you again." He woke up now, I think. Because his voice was suddenly alert. "My Evangeline. SAPHIRA" He said in a horror struck voice. I hung up the phone on him.

I guess he didn't sleep that night, because he was still calling me around eleven thirty in the evening our time. That meant it would be nine in the morning in Saudi-Arabia.

He would have to leave for school soon. I almost felt guilty.

Almost.

That night I just turned my phone off.

Let him feel it, I thought.