Ch. 5 Stained

Chapter 5

Birdie stood on her father's balcony at court and looked out over the gardens below. The enchanting oasis of palm trees and crystal clear springs greeted her from below as she leaned forward on the railing and sighed. She could hear Ali and Heyder's voice from inside, not paying any mind to her as she wandered off outside.

Birdie's eyes watched the jinns in long golden robs stroll the pathways of the rose garden with long pearl prayer beads in their hands. They paused to bow to the women sitting under the shades sipping afternoon tea in small crystal cups.

Amongst those women was Hafsa. She caught Birdie's eyes and held her gaze as she brought her tea cup to her plump full lips. Birdie didn't dare move as the woman took her time memorizing her face.

Seated beside Hafsa was her daughter, Sara. Birdie waited until Hafsa looked away to turn her eyes towards the strikingly gorgeous girl.

Sara was much like her mother. Tall, with eye-catching curves, delicate features and charming manners. Besides Hayden if anyone held the record for the most suitors at court, it would have been Sara. Everyone wanted her or they wanted to be her. She was beautiful to say the least and extremely gentle and well mannered. Sara was her mother's pride.

As Birdie stared from the balcony, Hafsa nudged her daughter and motioned towards the gate right below the balcony. Sara sat down her tea cup and rose to her feet with a sweet smile.

"Did the sun rise in the west today?" She laughed as Adan walked out into the garden towards her. "What are you doing at court?"

"I'm always here," Adan bowed. "Good afternoon, ladies."

"Good afternoon," the women all replied back.

"Care to take a walk with me?" Sara offered Adan her hand.

"It would be very rude of me to say no," Adan teased.

"Extremely rude," Sara winked.

Birdie sat quietly on the balcony as Adan offered Sara his arm and the girl happily slipped her hand through. They sat off towards the rose gardens where they knew they would be under the watchful eye of Sara's mother. Sara was a sensible girl....she wouldn't dare sneak off to the corners of court with Adan. And Adan knew that very well.

"Baby bird," Heyder called from inside.

"Yes?" Birdie straightened up and looked over her shoulder.

"Come over," Heyder called. "I want you to see something."

Giving Adan and Sara one last look, Birdie climbed down from her seat on the edge of the balcony and walked over to where her father stood looming over the table in front of him.

Thick fog rolled off the tabletop as Heyder drummed his fingers on the edge. His piercing eyes scanned the surface of the smoke as Birdie came to stand beside him.

"All this," Heyder waved his hand through the fog, revealing a miniature model of the court. "Will be yours someday."

Birdie pressed her lips into a thin line. She wasn't so sure his wish would be so easily granted.

"What's this?" Birdie asked, pointing to the mountains north of the court. "I haven't seen that before."

"The veil is forever changing," Ali said. "New lands, new territories appear and disappear every year."

"How big is the veil?" Birdie scanned the landforms in front of her.

"No one really knows," Ali shrugged.

"Not even the gatekeeper?" Birdie asked.

"Not even her," Heyder muttered.

"Did your baba ever tell you about the many years he was imprisoned by the gatekeeper?" Ali laughed.

"No," Birdie shook her head.

"Shame."

"What happened?" Birdie wanted to know. "How long was he there?"

"Such a great story," Ali teased his friend. "I'll tell you about it over dinner tonight."

"Oh yeah," Heyder looked up from the map towards his daughter. "I invited your future in-laws for dinner tonight. I hope that's okay."

"Did you tell mom?"

"It's not like she's cooking," Heyder snorted.

"Please," Ali shook his head. "I love that woman. But please don't let her cook. I'll bring dinner."

"Relax," Heyder said. "I got it. Gotta treat my daughter's in-laws right."

"Baba!" Birdie gripped her father's arm tightly. "Stop."

"Don't be shy, jellybeans," Ali laughed. "We knew you and Adan were going to get married since the day you forced him to kiss you in kindergarten."

"No one is getting married," Birdie rubbed the side of her head. "We just went on two dates."

"So far," Heyder pointed out. "Did you know that some people go on their first date after they get married? Wild."

"This isn't some kind of arranged marriage!" Birdie shrieked.

"Of course not!" Ali said. "How can it be? You two picked each other."

"You two are making this into something that it's not," Birdie said.

"But think of the possibilities!" Ali pushed. "Think of what this can bec-"

"Dad."

Everyone in the room turned as Adan appeared in the doorway.

"The man of the hour," Heyder wiggled his brow.

"Birdie, may I speak to you for a moment?" Adan's hazel eyes were soft, but unreadable.

"Of course," Heyder nodded.

"Thanks, baba," Birdie muttered, stalking past him. "Just sell me away, why don't you?"

"Heyder," Adan's voice caused Birdie to stop and look up at him. "Dad. I know you guys are excited...but please stop putting so much pressure on us. We are not sure what this is yet. We need time to figure this out."

Ali and Heyder looked at each other and then back at the pair standing by the door.

"Tonight, can we all please have a normal dinner?" Adan asked when neither jinn replied to him.

"Noor is coming," Heyder said. "Nothing is ever normal with that creature around."

Adan slowly nodded, "So I take it you two will behave?"

"We're not children," Ali narrowed his eyes and glared at his son playfully. "We've been behaving longer than you've been alive."

"Very good," Adan said, rolling his eyes and taking Birdie's hand. "So proud of you two."

Birdie didn't hear anything else from the jinns as she followed Adan out. He opened a portal right outside the doors and whisked her away to the library on the opposite side of the court.

"You okay?" Adan asked, turning around to face Birdie.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Birdie asked.

"You seemed off...." Adan observed. "All day. At the meeting, on the balcony, with my dad."

"You saw me on the balcony?"

"Of course," Adan raised his hand and brushed the back of his knuckles over Birdie's cold cheeks. "I always have my eyes on you."

The memories of Sara taking Adan's arm and laughing along with him amongst the roses surfaced in Birdie's mind. She peered up at those hazel eyes and wondered if she should say something to him. But the longer Birdie thought about it, the more she realized she didn't care enough to have that conversation. If Adan wanted someone else, then so be it....

"I know that look," Adan laughed. "Say it."

"Say what?" Birdie asked.

"Aren't you going to say something about Sara?"

"No," Birdie shook her head.

"Why not?"

"There's nothing to say," Birdie sighed. "You two went on a walk, so?"

"You hide that jealousy well, sultana," Adan smirked.

"Maybe because there is no jealousy to hide," Birdie said. "When your attention is on me, I appreciate it. But I will never fight for it."

"You will never have to fight for it."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep."

"I intend to keep this one," Adan leaned in a bit closer. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

"And now you sound like our dads."

"We do look cute together," Adan grinned. "Admit it."

"Those two are planning our wedding!" Birdie huffed, taking a step back and raking her hand through her hair. "Why are you not freaking out?"

"How can I?" Adan asked. "You're doing all the freaking out for me."

"This isn't funny, Adan," Birdie groaned. "Do you know how disappointed they will be when we break up?"

"If."

"What?"

"If we break up."

"You such an optimistic ass."

"Why, thank you, my pessimistic darling."

"Don't call me that."

"Darling, darling?"

"Yes," Birdie shooed away the boy's hand when he tried to reach for her. "Where are we?"

"The seventh floor," Adan said.

"How come I've never been here before?" Birdie looked around at the dusty bookshelves and cobweb covered sofas.

The bright sunlight from the outside world was a memory behind the heavy black velvet curtains stained white from the years and years of dust they had collected. Little slithers of light broke through, providing just enough light for the eyes to make out a forgotten life left behind inside the closed doors.

"Because Heyder had all the entrances sealed to this floor."

"Why?" Birdie looked back at the boy standing in one of the few small pools of sunlight.

"I don't know," Adan shrugged. "I heard people say he grew up on this floor."

"No," Birdie shook her head. "He grew up where his office is right now...on the 3rd floor."

"No," Adan looked around. "The third floor is where he grew up with his mother. This is where he grew up with Maaz....and Zubair."

"Oh," Birdie suddenly felt her heart sink. "I see..."

"This place has been abandoned since Heyder became Sultan."

"I know..." Birdie walked over to one of the bookshelves and ran a finger over the dust, leaving a trail of clean mahogany wood showing.

"I sometimes come here for the view."

"What view?" Birdie paused and turned.

"Come with me," Adan held out his hand.

"If baba has sealed this place off, won't you get in trouble if he catches you here?" Birdie slipped her hand in his.

"I'm hoping you will save me," Adan smiled, tugging her forward.

"I'll think about it," Birdie leaned her head back to get a better look at those mischievous hazel eyes.

Adan let their gaze dance for a while before he lifted Birdie and flashed her over to the stained glass balcony doors. Red, blue, green, yellow lights poured in from the outside along with the faint sound of something very familiar. Birdie's ears perked up as she took a step forward and climbed up to the balcony along with Adan.

"This is my favorite place in the whole wide world," the boy said, walking backwards to make sure he didn't miss Birdie's reaction. "You ready?"

Nodding, Birdie held her breath, finding herself matching Adan's excitement. She stood patiently as Adan reached back and pushed the stained glass doors open, revealing a spectacular view of the sandy golden desert meeting the blue sea.

With a loud gasp, Birdie ran forward. Her hair became undone and flew around her wildly as she leaned over the railings of the balcony to look out at the sea. Adan laughed, seeing the expression on her face and followed her.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" He grinned.

"This is the only balcony that opens to the sea at court," Birdie said, looking around at the walls of the fortress her father ran.

"Yep," Adan leaned down and rested his arms on the railing. The wind began to play with his curls as he peered into the horizon, taking in a deep breath and closing his eyes for just a few seconds.

"How did you find this place?" Birdie asked.

"The window to my dad's office had a view of the balcony," Adan turned to Birdie. "I asked him many times how to get here but he said this place was closed off. So....I just found my way here."

"Naturally," Birdie laughed.

"Yeah," Adan reached forward and hooked his finger through Birdie's belt loop and pulled her forward. "Naturally."

"Why did you bring me here?" Birdie asked, letting herself be pulled into his arms.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay?"

"Why?"

"Because I was worried about you," Adan reached up and caught a strand of her flying hair. "I know Heyder and my dad are being dicks to you right now. And I know your feelings about this thing between us."

"What are my feelings about this thing?"

The corner of Adan's mouth curved up. The smile didn't reach his eyes as he peered down into Birdie's silver eyes.

"I don't know, Birdie," he confessed. "I don't know what your true feelings are."

"What do you mean?"

"I hope you like me."

"I do."

"For more than just sex."

"I do," Birdie said once more.

"And not as a friend," Adan laughed. "Because I don't think I want to be just your friend anymore."

Birdie felt Adan's hand spread to her back and pulled her a bit closer.

"I don't think I can go back to just watching movies with you or seeing you at family picnics and not think about what we do when we are alone," Adan let out a deep sigh before resting his forehead against Birdie's.

"And what do we do when we are alone?" Birdie asked, feeling the boy's hand sliding down her back.

The grin on Adan's lips spread as he cupped Birdie's face and brought her mouth closer. He kissed her tenderly, letting each touch linger. He waited until her lips were warm and her breathing grew uneven to pick her up and walk her back inside the locked and forgotten chamber.

"Are you okay with this?" Adan asked as they laid back against the floor. "Is the floor hurting you?"

"I'm fine," Birdie spoke against his lips as she rushed to unbutton his shirt.

In a matter of seconds the pair undressed and laid in the splashes of color reflecting off the stained glass doors. Adan's hand moved over Birdie's smooth skin, down her legs and under her thighs. He loomed over her, kissing her until she needed air.

Birdie looped her arms around the boy's neck and pulled him forward. She drove her fingers into his hair and tugged at the strands, earning a deep rumbling in the half jinn's chest. Adan bit down on her lip and rolled his tongue over it before reaching over to his jeans and pulling out the foil package from the back pocket.

As Adan leaned back to put the condom on, Birdie pushed herself to her elbows and tried to catch her breath. She watched him watch her with hungry eyes as he leaned forward and captured her lips once more with an alarming urgency that made Birdie's stomach tighten.

Adan was hard in all the places that Birdie was soft. His muscles moved under his sun kissed skin like water under silk. No matter how many times they did this, Birdie was always taken back by how fit and lean Adan was with his shirt off. She sunk her nails into his forearms as he pushed forward and entered her. Her head rolled back on the marvel floor, the reflections of the reds and the blues of the stained glass dancing over her long neck. Adan leaned down and traced the curve of her neck and shoulder with his tongue as if he could taste the flavors of the colors.

"You know. If your dad catches us....we're dead," Adan said, picking up a steady rhythm to which their bodies moved.

"Good," Birdie laughed. "That should scare you."

"You want me dead?" Adan asked, playfully biting down on her neck and squeezing her ass. "Who's gonna make you wet like this if I am dead?"

"You can't die for me?" Birdie shut her eyes and curled her toes as her stomach tightened and her body exploded into fireworks.

Seeing her reaction, Adan pulled his head back to gaze down at her. He moved faster to fit his liking as the high on Birdie's face undid him. Pushing her leg to wrap around him, Adan groaned in pleasure as he finished and fell on top of Birdie, burning his face in her hair.

"Watching you cum is such a turn on," he laughed, licking the edge of the ear.

"You didn't answer my question," Birdie said, in between trying to catch her breath.

"What question?" Adan rolled to the side and laid back.

Birdie turned her head to watch the light bounce off the high points of the boy's cheeks and nose. She felt her heart beat with a hint of disappointment before it contracted and leaped into her throat.

"Hey," Adan tugged at her hand when she didn't say anything, letting the silence between them stretch. "I'm falling very hard for you, pretty girl."

"Oh no," Birdie frowned. "I'm so sorry."

"You've bewitched me," Adan suddenly rolled over and pinned her to the floor once more. "And I can't seem to find a road that leads me away from you....no matter how hard you push."

"I don't pu-"

"Don't deny it," Adan laughed. "Loving you isn't easy."

"What?" Birdie's eyes snapped up.

Adan seemed to realize what he said as Birdie's silver eyes grew wide. His heart started to beat at the speed of light along with her as they continued to stare at each other, laying naked on the floor, wrapped up in each other's arms.

After several minutes of heart pounding silence, Adan slowly pulled back and sat up. He helped Birdie to her feet before they dressed quietly and turned to one another.

"Adan..." Birdie began, her heart in her throat.

"I don't know why I said that," Adan confessed.

"Do you...." Birdie couldn't even form the words. "Did you..."

"I meant it," Adan said without hesitation.

Birdie's heart skidded and came to a crashing halt, "Oh...."

Breathing suddenly became a very difficult task. Birdie stared at the ground as Adan rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. After a few short minutes, Adan took a step forward and placed his hand against Birdie's face with extreme tenderness.

"I mean it," he said once more, tilting her head up to meet her lips.

Birdie felt her cheeks and the tips of her ears warm. She couldn't stop the smile that slipped out of her lips despite how hard she bit her lip.

"We should go back," Adan said, rubbing his nose along the edge of her face.

"Yes," Birdie nodded.

That night, as the two families sat around the long dinner table, Adan held Birdie's hand under the table. They stayed by each other's side as Noor played the piano after dinner and Caspiana showed off her fluttering abilities. Adan stole kisses throughout the night thinking no one had noticed, but Birdie knew from the look on everyone's face that their secret wasn't such a secret anymore.

And for the first time ever....it didn't bother her.

She's happy...