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Diya hesitated a little before saying, “There is a snake’s venom on Abdoul Mujeeb’s household. When our father took the throne of the Ottoman Empire and tried to expand the realm, there was a piece of land just beyond the kingdom. He ordered that it be brought into the Empire and that new buildings be constructed there. It turned out to be a snake’s nest. When he learned the place was full of snakes he ordered all the snakes to be killed. That’s what they did. But what they didn’t know was that the queen of the snakes was a witch. Before she died she spat a curse on Abdoul Mujeeb’s household: all the children he would father would be half snake, half human. And so it was. It wasn’t only Aymane — any of Abdoul Mujeeb’s children could turn into the kind of snake you see me as now. But Rouksar is different. Every time her eyes turn into those snake eyes and someone looks into them, that person changes status until she gives that person a kiss and then they return to normal. That’s why we call her Medusa.

I was seventeen when I started turning into this snake. It terrified me. When I told Daddy, he told me the story of how I became a snake. Hearing that, I hated the kingdom. That’s why I stopped living in Saudi Arabia altogether and moved to the UK. When I got tired I would travel to Dubai, Jordan, or Asia — I finished my studies among those four cities. Aymane’s snake is different too — he drinks human blood, and his victims are always women. Daddy did everything he could to stop Aymane from drinking blood, but he failed. Aymane even made Rouksar drink blood without her knowing. Then he learned witchcraft. When Daddy saw things were getting out of hand he sent him to Rome to consult a great sorcerer to remove the snake from Aymane. But instead of weakening the magic, the sorcery only got stronger; he couldn’t undo it and the snake only grew. I won’t lie to you: when Aymane tried to kill you seven years ago, I knew — I overheard him talking about it. That’s why I came into the Saudi palace that day, to save you. But the very first person I ran into scared me — seeing you alive after all that chilled me. That’s why I decided to follow you to Nigeria: I was afraid Aymane would harm you if he found out you were alive. You may have forgotten, but I remember: whenever you go to visit Papi in the Ottoman Empire — you and Tesnim — Aymane tries to kill you. But he’s never succeeded. The opposite has happened — whenever you go to the Empire I am not there. So you don’t know who I am from the day we met.

From the moment I looked at Baby I knew she had jinn in her. I also knew Malik had entered her and told you that you must first break Aymane’s sorcery before you can kill him or remove his head. I know where Aymane hid his magic, but I cannot tell you because he hid it inside RIANNA on the day of their wedding — that means you would have to kill RIANNA. That is why I kept my mouth shut; besides, I wasn’t sure you would believe me. One mistake and Aymane would turn into a snake before you. I didn’t want to tell you because it is one of those things I never want to remember in my life. That’s also why I studied how to remove the snake from my body, and thank God it has been receding slowly through Quranic study and nighttime prayers — because the snake hates religion. At first it was as big as Aymane’s. Forgive me for hiding this from you all these years but I don’t know how to explain it to you. I’m just afraid if I tell you you’ll hate me — I couldn’t bear that. I’m so sorry,” she finished, her voice breaking as if she might cry.

She paused a little, then continued, “When someone is poisoned, I immediately thought of Rouksar, because she’s the only one who has poison. I begged her to give me the antidote; I even promised her that if you survived you would marry her, but she refused. She said if she gave me the antidote it would kill her. I asked her why, but she wouldn’t tell me because Aymane had sealed her mouth with his magic. Fortunately, the spirit inside Baby woke up — it wasn’t that he wanted you to die for the antidote; it was his jealousy. That’s why you see our father didn’t care about her death; he knew who she was. That’s also why when Aymane first took power he tried to stop him but then attempted to kill him — so he kept silent because there was nothing he could do. Forgive me — my family has hurt you in many ways. Please find some place in your heart to forgive me. I know even if I die my soul will not find peace if I don’t tell you the truth.”

Malik let out a huge, relieved breath, then stood up. He watched Diya, who was guarding him with tear-filled eyes.

Slowly Malik walked up to him and stopped, then reached out his hand. Diya gave a cool little smile, lifted his own hand, and placed it gently on Malik’s.

As Malik rose, he brushed away Malik’s tears and said, “Honestly, I thought you were going to tell me something big — instead you sit here and cry like a little child. Do you feel so delighted?”

“How could you say that to me after what I told you?” Diya asked.

Malik withdrew his hand slowly, as if he knew nothing, and said, “What did you tell me? I didn’t hear what you said,” and he headed for the door.

Diya grabbed his hand quickly and said, “Don’t go — you haven’t told me anything, please.”

Malik turned and said to him softly, “Please, man, you’ve been bringing me here and making me sit and cry like a child for some time now. I just want to go see my babies.”