Complete book currently available on Okadabooks! Only preview chapters will be available here.

HADEWA CALIPHATE,

NIGERIA.

"Hey...you okay there?"

Hudayya was replied with nothing but silence as Aria continued her actions—almost in a trance-like form. At first, Hudayya didn't give much thought to the girl's actions but now, it's a bit scary seeing her like that.

What's scarier is that the girl doesn't seem like she will snap out of it any time soon.

Aria, who undoubtedly is stuck in her own mini trance continued scrubbing the nonexistent blood on her hands—her long nails, which she had trimmed only recently, painfully drawing out blood from her hands; leaving long thin lines of broken skin but she doesn't seem to care.

The running faucet continued to wash away the bits of blood she keeps drawing out because of her scrubbing. Foams from the hand wash running down the drain along with the used water.

When they came over to the restroom to collect themselves after what they just witnessed, Hudayya mistook Aria's actions as a way of reacting due to the shock. Even though Hudayya had been witnessing these accidents a lot more than necessary for it all to be accidental these days, it still baffles her all the time.

Why are people encountering such fatal accidents now?

This thing only started the day Aali returned, and almost every day Hudayya goes out, she encounters another dead body of a Hadewa fellow being carried away by paramedics.

It's traumatizing really.

So, she got where Aria is coming from that is...until now.

Watching the undoubtedly Non-Nigerian scrub the blood that no longer exists on her hands over and over again makes Hudayya doubt whether Aria had ever encountered such event before that has to do with blood.

It must be so traumatizing for Aria to react in such way.

"Hey..." Hudayya who stood only a couple of feet away from Aria called out, softly to see whether Aria would turn.

But, just like all the other times she called her up, she was ignored.

Hudayya stepped closer to Aria, placing both her hands on the woman's shoulder she lightly jerked her away from the faucet seeing as Aria has no intention of doing so.

The girl keeps hurting herself.

It was that jerk from Hudayya that made Aria finally start to regain her senses. And it was only then did Hudayya notice Aria's teary eyes. Hudayya's spectacles covered eyes soften, a small, barely noticeable sigh escaping her parted lips.

"You okay?" Asked Hudayya, eyes roaming over Aria's face.

Aria who had been staring at Hudayya's face while trying to get back to her complete senses blinked when the woman's words sinks in. She stepped back, moving away from Hudayya as she blinked, "Yeah..." She muttered, blinking furiously to clear her glossy eyes.

Hudayya's brows drew in, not believing Aria, but she decided to not say a word regarding it. She simply nodded, and turned around to turn off the faucet. By the time she returned her gaze to Aria, the woman is already leaning on a wall to support her weight.

The event that just occurred really did take a lot out of her. She hasn't felt such way in so long.

Aria glanced at the marks on her hands, then she shook her head—gulping hard as she avoided Hudayya's questioning gaze. She didn't have to look at the girl to know what look she's featuring. She had been the similar situation before to know how it works.

"I'm sorry about what just happened" Hudayya spoke up after a while, going against her initial thought of asking Aria what made her react in such way. It wasn't her place to ask anyways.

However, she did feel the need to apologize—not because she's the Princess of Hadewa, but rather, the man that reached out and held Aria's hands meant to hold Hudayya. It happens each and every time Hudayya comes across the ambulances and dead bodies. Some person she doesn't know always comes out of the blue and holds her hand in a tight grip, staining in with blood intentionally.

Obviously, someone is trying to threaten her, but she hasn't told anyone in her family about it. She didn't tell them not because she doesn't want to them to worry about her, but rather because she limits her interaction with them as much as possible.

It's the exact same reason why she doesn't live in the palace anymore.

Nevertheless, her Royal bodyguard showed up just in time to get the man off Aria. And that had questions swarming her head—the first one being how comes the man held Aria instead of her, and the second being how comes a guard showed up at the precise moment.

She always goes out alone so how did the guard show up? After he showed up, she took Aria to the nearest restroom—which they still are in—hence, why she's yet to ask him that.

So, she felt the need to apologize because Aria got traumatized because of her. She was probably mistaken for Hudayya.

Aria looked up, lips tilted down into a frown, "Why are you apologizing?" She asked, her voice coming out a bit shaky though she tried to hide it. Realizing how she sounded, she cleared her throat to get rid of that shakiness that comes with her still bumbling fear.

"The man from earlier, I'm sorry he did that to you" Hudayya decided against going into full details. She hasn't told Aali yet, and she doesn't plan on doing that so why should she tell a stranger something no one knows about.

Aria gulped, watching Hudayya's features up close. She can tell that the girl is hiding something. She either has something to do with the incident or she knows something about the man. Judging from her stance and look though, Aria could tell it's the latter.

But if there's another thing she can tell is that Hudayya is innocent—whatsoever her reason for knowing that man is, she's innocent.

Aria knows that because she's a lawyer who has spent her life learning how to read people's face, stance and everything else in between. It's one of the reasons why she can't get fooled easily.

Instead of asking questions, she simply nodded, pushing herself off the wall as she felt the fear slipping away bit by bit. She's still not fully well, but she can mask it off now expertly like she has been doing for years.

Hudayya's eyes moved to Aria's injured hands, making a mental debate on whether to ask the woman if she wants to put something on it or not.

Aria's eyes followed Hudayya's line of sight. She quickly covered her hands with the sleeves of her top—thankfully they're long enough that she had to fold it earlier so it would fit her.

That was all the answer Hudayya needed to know she shouldn't speak of it. So, she looked up, and offered Aria a small smile. "I'll wait for you outside"

Aria offered her a small nod.

Hudayya headed out, and stood there where two guards stood, waiting for her with hers and Aria's shopping bags in their hands.

Aria waited till she heard the soft click of the restroom door before she walked towards the faucet again, hands immediately reaching out to turn it on when she stopped herself midway. She can't repeat the same action as earlier, if she does, Allah knows what will happen to her.

So, she let out a loud, long sigh as her shoulders hunched. Dropping her hands to hold the counter hard, she tried to gather her thoughts.

Meanwhile, outside the restroom, Hudayya folded her hands over her torso and glared at both guards. "Why are you here?" She asked.

She's grateful that they showed up earlier to help her and the stranger she still doesn't know the name of, but that doesn't mean she's happy they tailed her. She had made it clear times without number that she doesn't want to be tailed by them, so why did they do that now?

The guard who helped her stared at her blankly, "We're here to guard you"

"Thank you for your help earlier, but I can take care of myself so leave please" She set her lips into a tight in, face void of any emotion to let them know how serious she is.

The other guard shook his head, "We can't do that Ranki dade. We were given strict orders to follow you around and protect you"

Hudayya didn't need to ask who. When she told them to leave, they could've listened to her had it not been that the person that gave them the order isn't her higher up.

And that means the person is either her father or mother. And she can't go against them. They're the Calipha and Queen for a reason.

So, she narrowed her eyes at them slightly before she shook her head, deciding to deal with that problem later. Now, she has something to deal with first—the girl still in the restroom.

As if knowing the though Hudayya is having at the moment, Aria choose to step out looking much more calm and collected compared to her earlier demeanor. Her gaze fell on the two bulky guards that she could remember helping her out earlier, then her eyes moved to the woman that had been with her since.

Her lips stretched into a small smile, "Thank you" Her voice came out strong, and collected—a huge contrast to how it was earlier.

Hudayya's features mirrored that of Aria's, "You are welcome" She grinned, extending her hands out. "I'm Hudayya by the way" The fact that Aria hasn't said anything about her or her family is the only thing Hudayya needed to know that Aria doesn't know her. She likes that. It's nice to meet someone who tends to treat you in a special way because he or she knows you or your family.

Sometimes, Huddaya likes being normal for a change, and Aria, is that change. That to say doesn't mean she considers her a friend.

They're merely acquaintances.

Aria could tell from her glance at the guards that they are with Hudayya—which didn't come as a surprise to her because judging from Hudayya's outfit and demeanor, she must be well off. She reminds her of her co-workers, who are all well off.

Aria grew up in a well off environment too, hence, why such glamour and all doesn't faze her. So, she didn't question the guard's presence or their exact relation to Hudayya.

She eyed Hudayya's hands discreetly, flashes of earlier events swarming her head before she quickly shook them off. She took Hudayya's hand in hers, shaking it lightly, "Aria" Her smile widened a bit—though it's nothing compared to Hudayya's grin.

"Aria" Hudayya repeated, testing how the exotic name rolled off her tongue. She nodded, "I like it. Your name is beautiful"

Aria only smiled in response. She's bad when it comes to replying compliments and such. She gets them a lot because of her looks and all. But, except when the compliments relate to her work—which she loves by the way—she doesn't know how to react to it.

Had it been Hudayya complimented her work, then she would've thanked her—a bit cockily to show how proud she is because she knows she's good—extremely, and a bit, too good.

Personal compliments though are another issue entirely.

Hudayya could tell from Aria's expression, and she chose not to pressure the woman about it. Reaching her hand out, the guard that held Aria's shopping bags handed them over to Hudayya who returned it back to its real owner, "Your shopping bags are safe...wouldn't want to lose them after spending so much money right?" Hudayya attempted to joke.

Aria didn't find it that humorous, but she smiled nevertheless, feigning a chuckle slightly.

It made Hudayya face fall, "That was a terrible joke, you didn't have to pretend to like it" She laughed, and this time around, Aria joined her for real. "I'm terrible at making jokes"

"It's a good thing you know then" Aria chuckled, meaning no offence regarding her choice of words—and Hudayya knew that. Something about Hudayya intrigued her. It made her feel attached to the woman which is weird because she just met her and she is not a people person. "Anyways..." Aria dropped her hands to her sides, her fingers curling around the shopping bags, "It's nice to meet you, Hudayya"

"Likewise, Aria"