-
Rise," his voice comes over you, velvet and calm. You obey. The prince looks at you, and a slight smile touches his lips. You feel that in that moment he is the most magnanimous ruler in the world. He reaches out his hand - not the one resting on the snake - and gently brings it down on your head. That simple gesture sends shivers of awe and devotion running down your spine
-
I see you have done well," he says - Your diligence pleases me. Show me how you have kept my animals' homes clean.
- What a funny... impertinence," he murmured, and his voice sent a chill down your spine - She thinks she's my equal. I think she should be punished. Teach her respect.
-
Catch her, my faithful keeper," he ordered softly, as if he were asking for a bowl of sherbet
-
Tie her to the post. Then go to the citrus grove and pick the greenest, sourest, unripe lemons. We'll feed her. We'll feed her until her stomach aches and her wiggling turns to begging. We'll see how she'll mimic me then.
You stand with your arms crossed over your chest and look at your work with pride. The shiny copper bars of the cages glisten in the setting sun, the fresh straw is spotless, and the water in the drinkers is clear and cool. It's only been a week since you've been appointed to this position - caretaker of Prince Shehab al-Din al-Ahmar's own menagerie - and already you can feel the place transforming. It was painful to look at these poor creatures when you first arrived. A majestic lion with a faded gaze, gazelles flinching at every rustle, skinny monkeys with bald spots on their skins....You were sure that this was the work of the previous keepers - lazy and cruel drunks, who were kicked out shortly before your arrival. But things will be different now. Your new master, Prince Shehab, seems to you a kind and just man. When you first met him, he spoke to you softly, without arrogance, and his fiery eyes were piercing, but without malice. The quiet rustle of grass makes you turn around. Your heart sinks and you immediately drop to one knee with your head bowed. Prince Shehab al-Ahmar himself is walking through the garden. He moves with a smooth, predatory grace, his snow-white robes with scarlet embroidery swaying with every step. Around his shoulders, like a living necklace of obsidian and gold, is a huge black python. Its smooth scales glisten and its head rests on the prince's shoulder, as if trusting him with its life. You don't dare lift your eyes until his jeweled sandals stop right in front of you
You lead him down the path, pointing proudly at the cleaned enclosures. Your gaze falls on the nearest cage of monkeys, and you decide to start there. They are the funniest, and you think their cheerful grimaces will amuse the prince. You approach the cage. When the monkeys see you, they start jumping around happily, but at the sight of the tall figure of the prince and his snake companion, they freeze. All except one - the oldest and most insolent monkey. She looks at Shehab with her head tilted to the side. Then, to your horror, it juts out its skinny chest, raises its chin, and begins a slow, parodic stride across the cage, mimicking your master's regal gait. You froze, waiting for the outburst of anger. You are ready to shout at the wicked beast, but as you cast a fearful glance at the prince, you see something you didn't expect. There is no anger on his face. The kind smile is not gone, but it has been transformed. It was wider, revealing perfectly straight teeth, and there was no longer any warmth in the scarlet eyes. There was a cold, curious fire in them, the look of a scientist about to dissect a frog. It was sadistic interest. He hummed softly, and his fingers stroked the python's head lazily
The prince turned his handsome face toward you, his smile even sweeter and scarier.