Will They Be Rescued?
Anson left the council chamber angry, and decided it was time he went to Abdullah's house and faced the music. He had to try to get the girls back. He knew that Elisia would never forgive him if he didn't. Not that it was the end of the world if she did not, as she was his woman and would do what he said or else. He was going to try to get the girls more for himself than anything, as if Abdullah dishonored his daughters before the age of consent which was 13, he would be disgraced as well for allowing his daughters to remain with this monster.
He had to admit though he felt this was an exercise in futility. Abdullah could have him killed with one flick of his finger.
He had to admit though he felt this was an exercise in futility. Abdullah could have him killed with one flick of his finger.
Anson arrived and Akbar answered the door. Zoe heard her father's voice and came out to see him. She was happy to see him, but restrained her emotions so as not to bring him dishonor.
Zoe bowing: Hello, honored parent. I hope all is well?
Anson happy to see Zoe, but restraining himself as it wouldn't be seemly to make a scene over a lowly woman: All is well. Where is your sister?
Zoe wanting to cry: She is in the room and won't come out.
Anson wanted to enfold his daughter in his arms and tell her how proud he was of her being so brave instead he said. Has Abdullah and Akbar been good to you?
Zoe: Oh yes papa, Abdullah has been kind to us. We have our own room with toys in it. She was sad, but was trying to put a brave face on things. She didn't really understand what this was all about. Why did her dad send her and Charmaine here to live with this man? She didn't like Abdullah as he looked at her in a funny, disturbing way. She felt like he was looking at her like she looked when she saw a piece of her favorite dessert baklava. She didn't like the look, she felt like he was a lion about to pounce, and Charmaine was terrified of him. She had come into the room yesterday crying about something. She couldn't get much of a coherent nature out of her mouth, except something about marriage. Was Abdullah getting married? Would the new woman be their new mother? She just hoped that she would be kind to them. Zoe tried to get more information out of her sister, but she was just sobbing too hard. Today she refused to talk and laid in her bed.
Abdullah hearing Anson talking to Zoe stepped into the room quickly. What was Anson doing here? He had better not have any ideas of taking his girls back, or he would be sorry.
Abdullah: Good morning Anson. How are you this fine day? I hope the gods have been kind to you.
Anson trying to restrain his anger knowing it would get him no where. He bowed deeply to please Abdullah.
Anson: Kind master Abdullah. I can never thank you enough for taking notice of my two unworthy daughters and being so kind to them. You do me more honor than I deserve. I thank you for being so kind to my two lowly daughters of no account. Zoe tells me you have been kind to them.
Abdullah knowing he had the upper hand was in an expansive mood: Well of course. Two such lovely daughters as yours deserve the best. You do me an honor by letting them become a part of my household. Anything I can do in exchange for you Anson will be little compared to the honor you have done me.
Anson following the traditional run around that every Simharan did before getting to the point as these pleasantries were considered the height of courtesy and to not do them would be very insulting. Still he was impatient to get his business done.
Anson bowing again: Believe me your worshipfulness has bestowed me with an honor I didn't deserve. If my daughters please you, then I am satisfied.
Zoe watched this exchange and wondered at her father's words. His words said one thing, but she could see that her father was beyond angry. There were things her father did when he was angry that only the girls in her family could tell. His eyes squinted slightly, and his fists subtly clenched and unclenched. She had learn to avoid her father when she saw these things to not be the brunt of his anger. Yet why was he angry? Wasn't he the one who sent them here? That is what Abdullah had told them. She was confused and wondered what her father was up to. Were they to go home? She wanted that with all her heart, but she knew it was unlikely. If her father sent her here, it wasn't likely he would take them back.
Abdullah: They do please me, and so they are expected to do. They have been told the consequences of disobedience. I see you have taught them to fear bringing you dishonor. You have done well in the raising of these two.
Anson wanting to hit Abdullah for his insolence smiled instead: Well being lowly women I perhaps showed them more notice then was proper, but it was to ensure they would learn their place and make suitable wives for such a man as yourself. They will bring you greater honor.
Abdullah tired of the pleasantries shooed his son and Zoe away: Leave you two! Honorable Anson and I need to have a talk.
Akbar led Zoe away, but she refused to go farther than the bedroom door, and Akbar not wanting to anger his father by fighting with her admonished her to be quiet and not make a fuss.
Abdullah taking off the mask of pleasantness:
Now, why have you intruded in my affairs? I know about your little trip
to the council, and I must say I am most displeased. You think that they
would interfere? You are one foolish man Anson. The council knows I
am a dangerous man to cross, but obviously you have yet to discover this.
Anson swallowing his fear: I wanted to come to you, but you are not a reasonable man, and you cheated me.
Abdullah with a deadly coldness seeping into his voice: You better watch what you accuse me of Anson!
Anson: I found out that you are not an honorable man! You intend to make my daughters brides before the lawful age. You would break the law and disgrace me and my daughters with your evilness. I was also told that you would even dare to deflower them without benefit of marriage and discard them when you are done with them. Do you deny this?
Abdullah angry, spoke icicles dripping from his words: You dare say such things to me? I am an honorable man, and I will not have my motives disparaged by someone of lowly station such as yourself.
Anson getting angry as well: I see you do not deny my words.
Abdullah seething: I am the most powerful man in Al Simhara, and you would do well to remember that. I am a law unto myself, and if I choose to marry your daughters now or 5 years from now, you are powerless to stop it. I am doing you a favor rescuing your guttersnipe daughters from obscurity. They would have nothing and be nothing without me. They will be given every thing it is in my power to give them, and this is more than these lowly, less than nothing women of yours deserves. They deserve nothing but to be a man's vessel of desire and I am going to make them more. Now leave before you make me regret my generosity, and make them prostitutes in my brothel instead.
Anson growling reached out his hands toward Abdullah's throat wanting to hurt him.
Abdullah reached out and took Anson's arm, twisted it and threw him to the ground laughing at how easily he could defeat him.
Anson swallowing his fear: I wanted to come to you, but you are not a reasonable man, and you cheated me.
Abdullah with a deadly coldness seeping into his voice: You better watch what you accuse me of Anson!
Anson: I found out that you are not an honorable man! You intend to make my daughters brides before the lawful age. You would break the law and disgrace me and my daughters with your evilness. I was also told that you would even dare to deflower them without benefit of marriage and discard them when you are done with them. Do you deny this?
Abdullah angry, spoke icicles dripping from his words: You dare say such things to me? I am an honorable man, and I will not have my motives disparaged by someone of lowly station such as yourself.
Anson getting angry as well: I see you do not deny my words.
Abdullah seething: I am the most powerful man in Al Simhara, and you would do well to remember that. I am a law unto myself, and if I choose to marry your daughters now or 5 years from now, you are powerless to stop it. I am doing you a favor rescuing your guttersnipe daughters from obscurity. They would have nothing and be nothing without me. They will be given every thing it is in my power to give them, and this is more than these lowly, less than nothing women of yours deserves. They deserve nothing but to be a man's vessel of desire and I am going to make them more. Now leave before you make me regret my generosity, and make them prostitutes in my brothel instead.
Anson growling reached out his hands toward Abdullah's throat wanting to hurt him.
Abdullah reached out and took Anson's arm, twisted it and threw him to the ground laughing at how easily he could defeat him.
Zoe seeing her father humiliated and being afraid for him rushed out without thinking: You bad, bad, bad man! You are not an honorable man! You are a bully, and a coward. You should be ashamed of yourself. I heard you saying you would make me and my sister your wives. I would rather marry a camel than you! I will not marry you! I hate you! You are mean, nasty, and a bully! I don't know what a prostitute is, but I would rather be one than be your wife! I will go home with my sister! You can't make us stay!
Abdullah taken aback at the fire of this snit of a child and angered by her insolence slapped her. Anson still on the ground dazed couldn't think clearly or react.
Abdullah taken aback at the fire of this snit of a child and angered by her insolence slapped her. Anson still on the ground dazed couldn't think clearly or react.
Zoe tired of being pushed around by the men in her life, her brothers who were mean to her, her father who treated her less kindly than her brothers snapped. She stood up and started to kick and scratch Abdullah as he tried to defend himself. Akbar came out after hearing the scuffle and tried to help, but was afraid to interfere as it was a real battle. She might have only been 8 years old, but she was like a tigress. Anson finally came to his senses, but didn't want to interfere as it might make things worse.
Abdullah surprised by her ferociousness was taken off balance.
Abdullah: Akbar, Anson get this wild cat off of me.
Abdullah: Akbar, Anson get this wild cat off of me.
Anson realizing this would not go well finally came to his senses. Akbar reached down to grab Zoe, but it was with great difficulty as she was fighting as if her life was on the line, and perhaps he thought it was.
Anson angrily: ZOE TABITHA! STOP! YOU ARE DISGRACING ME! IF YOU DO NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY I WILL DISOWN YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN!
Anson angrily: ZOE TABITHA! STOP! YOU ARE DISGRACING ME! IF YOU DO NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY I WILL DISOWN YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN!
Zoe reluctantly let Abdullah go.
Abdullah to his embarrassment found himself on the ground and with difficulty picked himself up. Anson looked at his daughter proudly. She was a fighter and would be ok. He had to admit though he still was worried especially about Charmaine who still hadn't come out of the room.
Akbar looked at Anson imploringly and Anson knew what he had to do for Zoe's survival sake. He had to do the hardest thing he ever had to do and it would leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Abdullah to his embarrassment found himself on the ground and with difficulty picked himself up. Anson looked at his daughter proudly. She was a fighter and would be ok. He had to admit though he still was worried especially about Charmaine who still hadn't come out of the room.
Akbar looked at Anson imploringly and Anson knew what he had to do for Zoe's survival sake. He had to do the hardest thing he ever had to do and it would leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Abdullah stood up and back waiting to see what Anson would do. He had his own ideas of what he would do to this insolent %$#@&.
Anson was so proud of his daughter, but had no choice. He had to alleviate the situation as best he could.
Anson: I have never been so disgraced in my life Zoe! You have brought great dishonor on me. You dare shame me like this? You have made me to be despised by your future honorable husband, and I have never been so angry in my life. You are a poor excuse for a daughter, and I am ashamed not only for myself, but for you and your sister. It would serve you right if honorable Abdullah didn't punish you harshly and have you sent away forever! I will no longer be able to look at you anymore. You are not my daughter from this day forward.
Zoe was upset. How come her father was so angry? All she was doing was defending her father. To her horror it came to her. She made her father appear weak and despised. She realized she had done a really bad thing. Now she not only had to deal with whatever punishment Abdullah would choose to impose, but she lost her father. She was beyond upset. How could she a lowly nothing have done this thing?
Anson: I demand you grovel and beg forgiveness of your honorable husband to be!
Zoe being upset, still wasn't ready to grovel to Abdullah or anybody. She stood there.
Anson barked: I command you to do it now!
Zoe with tears in her eyes looked at her father begging him not to make her do this. To her surprise she saw him smile at her, nod his head imperceptibly, and wink. She might be young, but understood. Her father was proud of her. He was trying to protect her. With that knowledge she took courage, and got down on her knees bowing low to Abdullah.
Zoe: Forgive me my liege. I forgot that I am but a lowly woman, and did something unforgiveable. I pray that you will find mercy in your heart to forgive me. I am lower than the insects on the ground. I beg you to show me mercy to this most unworthy one. I will serve you and be your ever loyal wife. I am willing to take any punishment you see fit. Please forgive me my most gracious Lord. Zoe said this with as little sincerity as she could get away with.
Abdullah smiled to himself hearing the insincerity in her voice. In spite of his anger at her humiliating him, he couldn't help but admire her spirit. She would be a fitting wife for him a great man like himself, but she would have to redirect that fire in her to other channels. He smiled thinking with all that fire she could be a real tigress in his bed. Well he would punish her, but not enough to quench that fire. Yes he wanted her to keep that fire, but still she would have to learn her lesson, he would see to that.
Anson knowing there was nothing to be done bowed and made his leave. He could not get the girls away not after that. He would have to find a way to get them somehow, but no way would Abdullah let them go now. He would have to go home without the girls and find a way to explain to Elisia that the girls were in the hands of a cruel monster and there was nothing he could do to get them away short of killing Abdullah and he didn't have the courage to do that.
Anson was so proud of his daughter, but had no choice. He had to alleviate the situation as best he could.
Anson: I have never been so disgraced in my life Zoe! You have brought great dishonor on me. You dare shame me like this? You have made me to be despised by your future honorable husband, and I have never been so angry in my life. You are a poor excuse for a daughter, and I am ashamed not only for myself, but for you and your sister. It would serve you right if honorable Abdullah didn't punish you harshly and have you sent away forever! I will no longer be able to look at you anymore. You are not my daughter from this day forward.
Zoe was upset. How come her father was so angry? All she was doing was defending her father. To her horror it came to her. She made her father appear weak and despised. She realized she had done a really bad thing. Now she not only had to deal with whatever punishment Abdullah would choose to impose, but she lost her father. She was beyond upset. How could she a lowly nothing have done this thing?
Anson: I demand you grovel and beg forgiveness of your honorable husband to be!
Zoe being upset, still wasn't ready to grovel to Abdullah or anybody. She stood there.
Anson barked: I command you to do it now!
Zoe with tears in her eyes looked at her father begging him not to make her do this. To her surprise she saw him smile at her, nod his head imperceptibly, and wink. She might be young, but understood. Her father was proud of her. He was trying to protect her. With that knowledge she took courage, and got down on her knees bowing low to Abdullah.
Zoe: Forgive me my liege. I forgot that I am but a lowly woman, and did something unforgiveable. I pray that you will find mercy in your heart to forgive me. I am lower than the insects on the ground. I beg you to show me mercy to this most unworthy one. I will serve you and be your ever loyal wife. I am willing to take any punishment you see fit. Please forgive me my most gracious Lord. Zoe said this with as little sincerity as she could get away with.
Abdullah smiled to himself hearing the insincerity in her voice. In spite of his anger at her humiliating him, he couldn't help but admire her spirit. She would be a fitting wife for him a great man like himself, but she would have to redirect that fire in her to other channels. He smiled thinking with all that fire she could be a real tigress in his bed. Well he would punish her, but not enough to quench that fire. Yes he wanted her to keep that fire, but still she would have to learn her lesson, he would see to that.
Anson knowing there was nothing to be done bowed and made his leave. He could not get the girls away not after that. He would have to find a way to get them somehow, but no way would Abdullah let them go now. He would have to go home without the girls and find a way to explain to Elisia that the girls were in the hands of a cruel monster and there was nothing he could do to get them away short of killing Abdullah and he didn't have the courage to do that.