The sun had finally set when Shayana slipped into the imperial house. Running quietly through the servant’s hall, she crept up towards a door marked Tava Bainora slave to Abua Votu Hala. As loudly as she dared she knocked on the door. Nothing. She knocked again, still nothing. Shayana sighed, Where are you when I need you, Tava? Just then a thought crossed her mind, it was possible that Tava could be in Abua Votu Hala’s daughter, Vashti’s rooms. It wasn’t likely but still it was worth trying.

Running down the long corridor till she reached a flight of twisting stairs. Vashti’s rooms, if her memory was correct were just two flights up and down a hall. Quietly she ran up the steps, two flights, and down a corridor. Slowly she approached a green door; in gold script these following words were carved: Vashti Hala, the kingdom’s pure diamond. Shayana took a deep breath and knocked. She heard a rustling sound, the sound of silk. The door slowly opened to reveal a beautiful girl no older than fifteen. She wore a long white sari with golden trimming. Her black hair was braded and looped around a small circular ball.

“Yes?” her voice was quiet, as if she did not wish to wake her neighbors. “Um… I was looking for Tava Bainora, and I was just wondering if you had seen her?” the girl frowned, “You are?” she asked slowly. “My name is Shayana, I work for Abahor Neftor I’m a friend of Tava.” The girl smiled, “She is here, would you like to come in and join us? We are enjoying an after meal snack.” Shayana smiled, “Yes, please.” The girl turned and walked into the outer of her rooms. “Close the door when you get in.”

Vashti’s outer rooms were-though it was night-exceedingly bright. Dozens of candles rested where ever they could. Two long couches were set in the center of the room, on the floor in between the two couches was a pile of cushions and upon this pile of cushions sat Tava. She was eating green grapes and had a glass of Talkd in her hand. Talkd was a very expensive and spicy drink. Her white sheath dress was draped carelessly over her shoulder.

“Shayana, where have you been?” the girl stood up quickly and crossed the small space in between them in a matter of seconds. “No where,” Shayana replied, she had suddenly decided that she did not want Tava to know of her and Zain’s little night “romp”. “You’ve been with that demon boy haven’t you? Don’t lie to me you know I’ll know if you do.” Shayana nodded; some how Tava always seemed to know just what Shayana did not want her to know. “Yes,” she said after deciding to tell the truth, “I was with Zain. Why does it matter?” Tava pursed her lips, “Abua Azora came back winded and furious. He was proclaiming that he would whip them, though he failed to say who.” Shayana bowed her head. “He would kill you next time he saw you if you weren’t his favorite. It’s a surprise he hasn’t bought you from Abahor Neftor by now.” Vashti laughed, “Oh, I would hate to belong to that lump of a man.” Shayana smiled at that, the thought of Vashti as anyone’s slave was ridicules. Vashti was the kingdom’s purest diamond, some said that she was though to be even more beautiful that the Emperor’s daughter.

The Kingdom Jewels were a group of girls praised for their beauty. They were the ones who represented the kingdom almost as much as the Emperor himself. They were painted, drawn, captured in ever way possible. And Vashti was said to be the most beautiful among them. To be a diamond said something for your beauty.

“Shayana?” Tava called, pulling Shayana out of her visions of Vashti as a slave. “Hmm?” Shayana replied hoping the girl had not been waiting long. “Why do you do it?” Tava asked.

“Do what?” Shayana looked up at the girl puzzled. “Why do you associate with him? No one else does.” Shayana felt heat rise to her cheeks, quickly she looked down to inspect the rug they stood on. The truth was she really did not know. It was like that time when they jumped from rooftop to rooftop. That spilt time when she felt as if she could fly, as if the worries and strain of being a slave were washed away. Zain did not treat her as if she were a lowly piece of privy scum, according to the people of Lareeto he was privy scum, he treated her as a human. A not trusted human yes, but a human all the same.

“Well, are we going to have an answer or not?” Tava raised her brown brows. Tava was beautiful with long brown hair and full lips but she could be more pestering than a fly Shayana thought. “I don’t know why. I just do.” Tava just smirked. But Vashti looked utterly confused. “Just who are you talking of?”

“A demon named Zain.” Offered Tava. “A demon? You associate with demons?” Vashti’s voice went up a whole pitch. “Not all demons, she just has a thing for talking to this one.” Tava said before Shayana could think of a reply. “Why don’t you tell me of this demon then?” Vashti said and walked over towards the pile of cushions. She sat and motioned for the others. Shayana sighed; I might as well it’s not going to kill me to talk about him. Just as long as I don’t go red anymore. Grabbing a hold on her emotions she went over to where the other girls sat. Not knowing she would sit there and talk for the rest of the night.

The morning seemed to go as slow as it could for Shayana. She kept wondering if Zain would make good his threat to come. She hoped he would but with Zain it was hard to tell when he told the truth and when he lied. The day was almost gone and he had not come, perhaps he’s got more sense than to come. But secretly Shayana knew he didn’t.

She was ironing a sari for Vashti in a small room off her main ones when she heard a noise come from a nearby window. Walking over to it she looked over the rail and peered right into Zain’s face. “What the? Zain what are you doing here?” Shayana said rather breathlessly. “You scare me sometimes more than Azora ever did. Get in here before some one sees you.” She stepped back while he climbed over the rail. “I told you that I was coming today, remember? Or should I just leave?” Shayana shook her head, “No, you just climbed up that wall no need to climb down right now.” from the ground to the window he had come in was quite a far fall. She was not quite sure how he had managed to climb up it. He walked over to a small bench used by the slaves and sat down, and Shayana returned to her ironing. For a while nether said anything. They just sat (or worked) in comfortable silence.

After a while Zain broke the silence. “He didn’t beat you did he? Azora I mean.” A concerned look crossed his face. “No, I haven’t seen him all day, though I am afraid to. That’s why I’m working for Vashti. See Azora can’t come into the Jewels section of the palace. Especially since the Emperor’s daughter decided to live in this wing too.” Being a Jewel herself the Emperor’s daughter Zevara Aacavino though it was only right that she live with the rest of the Jewels. Since then a strict ban had been set; no men who did not work for the Jewels or was not a servant or a slave could not go within two hundred feet of their wing (unless they were related to the girl)

“Technically Zain, you aren’t supposed to be here either.” Zain smirked at her, “I’m not suppose to be anywhere. That’s never stopped me before.” Shayana just shook her head. One day he will learn, you do have to play by other’s rules before you can play by your own. But until he did she would just have to deal with it. They went back to silence. Nether of them noticed a small person’s head lean around the corner and stare at them. Nor did they see him run off in the direction of Azora’s rooms.

When Shayana finished her ironing she and Zain went to return the sari to Vashti’s rooms. They had just reached the closet that Vashti kept her evening ware when who should walk around the corner but Vashti herself. “Shayana, is my sari…” she stopped, she had just noticed the boy standing at Shayana’s elbow.

“Hello, just who are you?”