Read Online The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury - Free Book Online Page B

and not very inclined to swoop in and save his drunken hide.
    See what comes of kissing strange girls in dark alleys?
I want to tell him.
    The girls stop to rest after several minutes, letting Aladdin drop rather heavily to the ground. I alight on a beam above them and listen.
    â€œHow much farther?” one asks. Through her veil, her voice is high and girlish.
    â€œWe’ve barely gotten anywhere,” replies another.
    â€œMy back is killing me!”
    â€œ
I’ll
kill you if you don’t stop complaining, Ensi.”
    â€œNo names!” snaps the leader.
    â€œNo one’s listening!” Ensi protests. “Look around—we’re alone!”
    â€œSomeone is
always
listening. So be silent, and let’s keep moving.”
    The girls sigh and hoist Aladdin up again, two with his arms, two with his legs. Exposed beams above them provide perches for me to flit to as I shadow them.
    â€œHe’s heavier than he looks,” one complains.
    â€œIt’s all these muscles,” says Ensi, giggling. She’s holding one of his arms, and she squeezes his bicep appreciatively. “You didn’t tell us he was so
handsome
. What a shame we had to put a bag over his head. And you had him wrapped around your finger!”
    â€œShush!” Their leader turns and draws a finger forcefully across her lips, signaling for silence.
    Suddenly a shadow drops in front of them, and the girls halt. The shadow rises and drops its hood; it’s another girl, this one tall and lithe, carrying a supple bow.
    â€œRaz!” Ensi cries. “What is it?”
    She reports, “Guards ahead. Too late to run. Act casual.”
    The girls curse, drop Aladdin roughly, roll him into a gutter, then lean against the wall, hiding him with their cloaks. I land on the edge of the roof above them, the cool night wind ruffling my feathers. From my perch, I can see around the bend in the road, where the guards are walking toward the girls. There are six in all, wearing chain mail and pointed helmets.
    When they round the corner, the girls look down at their feet. If
casual
is their intention, they’re not doing a very good job. Five girls, dressed head to toe in black, standing silently in the gutter isnot exactly a common sight at any hour, much less the middle of the night.
    And indeed, the guards stop short when they spot them.
    â€œYou there,” calls one. “What are you up to? Don’t you know there’s a curfew?”
    â€œJust heading home,” says the girls’ leader, keeping her eyes averted.
    The guards, instead of walking on, gather around them, grinning and nudging each other.
    â€œAnd where’s home?” asks the first. “Madame Padyme’s pleasure house, perhaps?”
    His fellows laugh appreciatively, their eyes glowing with interest. The girls group closer together. Their hands move subtly, fingers wrapping around concealed weapons. Behind them, Aladdin groans.
    The guard cocks his head. “What’ve you got there, eh?”
    â€œNone of your concern.” The girls’ leader lifts her chin, stepping forward and staring down the guard.
    He only laughs. “Tell you what, ladies. We’ll make a deal. We’ll give you the chance to
persuade
us not to arrest you for suspicious behavior. What do you say?”
    Ensi sidles up to him and runs her finger down his chest. “Well . . . I’d say that’s quite generous of you.”
    His tongue darts across his lips, and he snakes a hand around her waist—only to have her twist out of reach and fling a hand toward him, a burst of blue powder exploding on his face. He drops instantly. Ensi already has another handful of the stuff ready, drawn from a pouch on her belt. The other girls draw daggers, and Raz nocks an arrow onto her bow. They all pull veils across their faces, protecting themselves against the powder Ensi throws.
    The guards, startled only for a moment,