Kaseem's eyes blazed amber with the anger he felt at Kara's disgust and defiance. "You dare?!" The man shot to his feet in a blur, and his hand shot out with inhuman speed as he delivered a back-handed slap to Kara's cheek. "This disrespect is a result of Gaia's poison and Jamal's perversion. His seed took root in dead soil and the result is an abomination." It was Kaseem's turn to show disgust.<br/><br/>"You could have known the pleasures of heaven in my bed," Kaseem told Kara, reaching and grabbing her face with a hand whose strength was at odds with how soft and smooth it was, "but I promise you will know only the torments of hell." The king said virulently. He held her fast and forced a kiss upon Kara, his lips pressing against hers in an unpleasant and unwanted manner. His tongue sought to invade her mouth but he did not get far - the offending organ struck upon one of her fangs and the king recoiled at the pain of having his tongue sliced open. It forced some of his blood into Kara's mouth, and the disgusted king shoved Kara to the ground.<br/><br/>"Take her away! Get her out of my sight!" Kaseem raged, and the guards outside entered. Two moved to either side of Kara and each grabbed an arm, hoisting her up and dragging her from the chamber while Kaseem looked at his own blood on his hand from touching his bloodied mouth. The king seethed at the sight. The guards dragged Kara through the palace and into a quarter that seemed to be reserved for females - the only other djinn that they encountered were females who kept their eyes downcast. Tarek was nowhere to be seen.<br/><br/>When they came to one chamber, a plain servants' room, the guards stopped. Within was a djinn woman who looked no older than 30, but carried herself with a manner that spoke to far greater age. She glanced up from a book and took in the sight of the guards, and then Kara.<br/><br/>"We did not know what else to do." One of the guards holding Kara said. "The king commanded we take her away, but not to where. She is Jamal's heir, and I would not take her to the dungeons of my own will. None of us would."<br/><br/>At this, the woman looked at Kara and her expression softened. "And her face? Did he do this also?" The guard nodded, and the woman frowned. "Leave her to my care." The woman said and waved the guards away. They left, and the woman put her book away and rose, walking over to Kara and ushering her into a finely made, if plain, wooden chair.<br/><br/>"My name is Amina. At one time I was a nanny for the children of the royal family." The woman said, kneeling in front of Kara and taking her hands. "I would have taken care of you, if things had gone differently. You look so much like your mother, but I think," Amina said as she looked at the red mark on Kara's cheek, "that you have your father in you as well." She let go of Kara's hands and went to pour some water in a basin, to which she added a few herbs. She swept her hand over the basin and the water immediately began to steam. She dipped a white cloth into the steaming water and then returned to Kara's side, and gently dabbed at her cheek. The warmth of her concoction soothed the young woman's flesh, taking the sting and ache away.