Betrayal

Yusraa looked down upon the boy sleeping in the pile of blankets, a soft smile crossing her face. She had no sense of time anymore, but she knew it had been quite a while since the child was placed in her care. Her love for him was much like the love she held for her young brother, Rafik. However, Yusraa couldn’t help but feel as if this love was somewhat different. Yazan was not hers, but at times she felt as if he could be.

Each laugh she heard, each tear he cried, every part of him was perfect to her. She had told herself in the past many times not to get close to the children she was ordered to care for, but her heart felt as if it could burst each time she looked upon Yazan’s face. Perhaps it was the love she had felt for Amro that helped strengthen this. Yazan was his child, after all, and Yusraa felt a sense of happiness in the idea that there was some sort of family that she had despite being Na’man’s slave.

Her romance with Amro and her care of his son was like an escape. Each day she grew closer to the little boy, and each time she was able to see Amro, her heart sang louder. When she slept, she was beginning to dream again, her mind filled with visions of finding Rafik, Amro and Yazan at her side. True it was that some of Yusraa’s happiest memories were these times.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she carefully tucked the little boy in, then exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. It was still strange to her, these meetings between Haashim and Na’man. However, she was not about to question it, as these were the only times she could be with Amro.

Yusraa quietly made her way down the hall towards the room she and her lover always met. She still could not believe neither Haashim nor Na’man caught on to their meetings, but then again, they seemed too interested in trying to outplay each other. As she passed one doorway in particular, she paused upon hearing her slave name. Cautiously, she pressed to the wall by the door and listened to the voices she was beginning to recognize as Amro and Haashim’s.

“Can Matraba do it?”

“She can. She has been taking that poison like I told her. Where is Na’man?” Came Amro’s voice.

“He demanded a moment with my new slave. Keep it from your mind. I want this done within the week. You are sure she trusts you?” His master asked suspiciously.

“Yes. I could have her do anything. You are going to take good care of her?”

“Oh do not tell me you are actually getting feelings for the woman.”

The sound of Amro scoffing was heard. “Of course not. She is just a body, used and battered. I ask because it would be a waste for all of this only to break her further or sell her off.”

“You are quite ruthless, you know that? No, she will be taken care of. That used and battered body you refer to is a fine one, at that. I look forward to using it myself,” Haashim replied. Yusraa heard the sound of a chair moving to the side. “I must get to the meeting room. I do not think my new slave will last long with Na’man. He will get bored rather quickly. Get things ready to happen. Here’s the main dose for Matraba to use on him. I have already notified the captain you and your son are expected soon. He will get you both from the city with no issue. Just do not screw this up.”

“I will see to it things go smoothly.”

Yusraa stood in shock at the side of the wall, then finally moved as quick as she could around a corner to hide as the men exited to head their opposite directions. She began to tremble, her hand resting to where her heart would be. It felt as if it had shattered into a million tiny pieces. In fact, it was both an emotional and physical pain, one she did not understand.

Everything began to make sense: Amro’s access to poisons was not coincidental, the meetings he and Yusraa had were most certainly set up purposefully, and Amro’s random attention to her in the past, were all the signs of this being a set up. How could she not see it before? Her hand clapped to her mouth as she stifled a light sob, tears flowing freely. Never once had she felt the pangs of heartbreak. On top of it all, the feeling of betrayal was all too familiar and a reminder of how all of this had begun. She could hardly hold herself back from simply collapsing from the overwhelming emotions.

She knew she had to play things right, or she would simply end up right back where she had been for so long. Her hopes of finding Rafik were still there, and nothing, not even heartbreak, would change that. Her mother’s dying wish had been for Yusraa to find Rafik. If she confronted Amro too soon, she would risk never finding out just where it was her dear brother was sent.

Slowly, she regained her composure and put on as normal and passive of an expression she could muster. It was a trick she had learned long ago, thanks to Amro. As she made her way to the room to meet the man she once cherished as her love, she began to plan her next move.

Yusraa learned the hard way that day of just what could happen when giving your heart away.