Page 91 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra’s cries escaped her throat, and her moans echoed her memories: the beatings, the torture, the deaths she was forced to endure.
Zahra screamed, though she was numb to her reactions. All she felt was pain.
Zahra still flinched when she heard the crack, but it took until she did not hear another one to realize the last hit had not hit her. Ringing penetrated her ears, her sight blinded by light and tears.
A man stood between her and Bahiti. The rod landed at Bahiti’s feet. “Leave,” he growled, and she was gone.
Kanefer.Why was he here? He was supposed to be with Darius in Khem.
Zahra gathered her dress around her chest as he came toward her. The world spun, and her body crashed into the floor.
“Zahra.” He touched her arm, and she screamed and kicked him.
“Leave me!” Her limbs shook, numb and uncoordinated as she sat up, trying to escape. But there was nowhere to go. He was blocking the door.
The man pulled his hand back. “I am here to help you.”
“You abandoned me,” Zahra cried. “You told me that you would save me, but youlied!”
“I am sorry.” His voice was tense with emotion. “Zahra, I am here now. I shouldn’t have left you.”
She smacked his hand. “Stay away from me, Kanefer!”
There was a moment of silence before his voice came again. “Zahra, look at me. She is gone.Bahiti is gone!”
Zahra froze. His words rang through her mind. Kanefer had never spoken about Bahiti in that tone. He sounded angry, determined even. This was not Kanefer.
She blinked hard, focusing on the face before her. Her lips quivered as she spoke, her voice small. “Namir?”
“Yes.” His black eyes were horrified, watching her as if she was unrecognizable.
Zahra’s stomach flipped over, and she struggled for breath. “Y—You can’t be here.”
Namir moved closer, pausing as she flinched. “Why not?”
“You were not supposed to see.” It was after she said the words that she realized what they had meant. He had seenher. He had seen itall.
Namir spoke, but Zahra did not hear it. He had seen. He knew. And, unlike everyone else that learned of her secret, hewouldn’tforget.
“Zahra?” Namir asked. “Can you hear me?”
Zahra crawled away, hiding herself the best she could. “D—Don’t look.”
“I must,” Namir said, removing his cloak. She flinched as he offered it to her. “Zahra, you are not well.”
“I am fine.” She hugged her knees to her chest, hiding in the darkest corner of the room. “You can leave. I will see you tomorrow?—”
“No.” Namir shook his head. “I will not. I am sorry. I will do anything for you, but I will not leave you here.”
Zahra choked down a sob. “Why did you come?”
“I came for you.” He watched her with careful eyes. “Ramses had seen you come inside, and when I came looking for you, I heard—” His gaze focused on the bloody rod on the ground near them.
Zahra shut her eyes, turning her head away. Her lip trembled as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Zahra, I want to help.” His voice cracked. “What can I do for you?” He moved to stand. “I will get a physician. I will have Ramses?—”
“No. No, please.” She turned toward him, reaching out with her shaking hand. “Don’t leave. Please, don’t leave me!”
