• • •

The clock read exactly zero. Midnight. Or past midnight, I didn't quite know. A day had gone and the winds of dusk had settled. Almost like the waves of the ocean, the events had gone yet the battlefield was burning with blood.

I was staring at the digital clock. Seeing the second stir past, followed by the minutes. Each one, going bit by bit. Yet I was forced back.

The car was moving, that much i knew. Life was going ahead yet I was stuck in that phase. I was frozen in that horizon never wanting the dusk to settle.

There was silence everywhere. Utter haunting silence that I couldn't quite make out yet despite that silence I could hear screaming. Screaming so loud it turned my hearing deaf.

Closing my eyes, Nouries face flashed before me. Her warm arms embracing me as she cried, her soft sobs reaching my ears.

" You're going to be okay. I'm always here"

She whispered whilst she stroked my face. Her trembling hands cupping my cheeks, before placing a kiss on them. She was the only one that bid me goodbye. The only one that followed traditions.

And as I left, I waited for Abi or Mom to look at me but it seemed as though their second child died that night as well.

The minute I walked out of the hall. I was left speechless seeing a sea of cars parked around us. It was as though the entire population of Istanbul had come as Moustafa took long strides. His head held high. Almost like a king.

Greeting the men waiting besides the car. He walked towards a black sleek car, before opening the door for me. All the whilst I stood there, at the top of the stairs. Gobsmacked at the scene.

They were with Moustafa.

The reality settled in as I glanced over my shoulder seeing Agha walk out with the men. Filing the stairs of the large building. And somehow, I felt trapped between the two armies.

Giving me a heated look, I realised I had been standing there like an idiot longer than necessary. Walking towards Moustafa. The man had a dark look on his face as he stared at Agha before closing the door behind me.

That was almost three hours ago.

Glancing down at my hands. I could see them shake as I held the small chain in them. The carvings of the moon and the stars.

It was Roshan's.

Holding the chain in my hands tightly. It almost felt like Roshan was here, with me. If only he was.

A lone tear came down my face making me blink it away and glance out of the window. Seeing the trees pass by in a blur.

The car came to an abrupt stop making me tense. My hands jerking towards the board. All the whilst my eyes snapping towards Moustafa. The man suddenly opened the door as he walked out, standing in front of the car. The headlights flashing across his face.

The cars that had been with us slowly stopped in the deserted road making my heart stop beating. I could feel shivers rush down my body seeing the man look straight at me. His dark eyes glaring at me. Almost accusing.

Sucking in a breath. I could see the man pull out a gun as he held it upwards. Firing it. The booming shots roaring across the sky. Lighting it up with the sin made from man.

I could feel my knees weaken as I stared at the scene in front of me. Seeing a few of them men do the same. A look of relief washing across their faces. The kind of look where there's been rain after years of drought.

I became almost numb to the scene before me. As they lowered their guns before walking to their cars; as if they hadn't just fired a rain of bullets everywhere.

I should be scared. Petrified. But all the energy within that once fought, was gone. My body was limp from all the pain and tears. There was nothing within to fight for.

The minute Moustafa stepped inside the car. My gaze trained towards the window, the one I had been staring at for the past three hours. We were travelling yet it seemed as though there was no destination.

Closing my eyes. I tried remembering the cold ocean breeze. The sounds of the waves hitting on shore. I tried imagining my fingers laced in the warm sand and then I thought of Roshan. I tried imagining him waiting for me at the shores with his big bright smile and his camera. Ready to capture moments he couldnt live.

Along the journey I must have fallen asleep because the next time I opened my eyes. I was greeted to the sight of large forest surrounding us as the car drove through a rocky hill and towards a large manor.

The gates were opened as I stared at the cars in front of us park near the patio. Glancing towards the man who was my supposed husband. I felt my heart drop seeing his bloodshot eyes staring ahead. His jaw clenched tightly and a murderous look on his face.

" Brother we're here"

A voice spoke from behind making me tense. Glancing over my shoulder I stared at two men sitting in the back. Their hench figures barely fitting in the car.

How long had they been there for ?

I mentally whispered as I glanced upwards at the faint light. The horizon slowly emerging. There remained a thin line of red and yellow colouring the skies. The colours that would soon bring morning upon us.

Glancing down at my hands and towards the white dress. I felt my flesh completely numb from the fabric. The need to get it off overwhelming me.

The two men stepped out of the car leaving me and Moustafa alone. Glancing at the man, I could feel his eyes land on me. Making my breathing hitch.

" Moustafa?" I whispered, my voice slightly hoarse from all the crying and screaming. He didn't say anything. He didn't look my way; all he did was step out of the car before rounding my side.

Opening the door I was hit by the cold morning breeze making my skin prickle in shivers. The veil from my dress fell on my shoulders as the man narrowed his eyes making me tense.

" Cover your face" He murmured as he reached towards the additional red veil before placing on my forehead. Covering my face.

Stepping out of the car, I felt my legs shake, now utterly numb from the position I was sitting in the car. Gripping on to the nearest thing possible, my hands now held on to Moustafa's arms who cursed under his breath.

" I'm sorry. I can't see" I whispered truthfully as I felt his hand hold on to mine tightly. To a point where he was hurting me yet I was too frightened to voice my opinions.

The man nearly dragged me his way making me hiss in pain not accustomed to the dress nor the heels I was wearing. I could hear the sound of the doors opening and a voice reached my ears.

" Moustafa what's this "

A feminine voice asked, horrifed as I felt Moustafa drag me further and I sensed we were now inside the house.

" Moustafa you're home? Who is this?"

" What have you done? Who is she"

Voices from all around greeted us making my stomach roll. My hands turning utterly cold.

" Enough" The man boomed as I felt him release the hold on my hand before it travelled towards my face. Lifting the veil up.

I could feel my eyes flinch from the sudden bright lights, making me close them. It took me a few moments for them to get accustomed to the bright lightening.

I was greeted to the sight of an older woman suddenly, around in her late fifties staring at me in shock. Her scarf was tied behind her hair as she held prayer beads in her hands. A look of utter horror flashing in her eyes.

My gaze travelled from her towards a young woman. Possibly a few years older than me standing near the door way. Much like the older woman, her hair was tied back by a scarf yet allowing a few strands to fall on her face. She was utterly beautiful.

My eyes then travelled towards an older man sitting on a chair with the prayer matt on the floor. His greying hair covered by the hat he was wearing.

This was his family.

" Answer, my son, who is this woman?" The older looking woman asked as she took a dangerous step forward making me back away a little.

" Mother. Meet my new wife" Moustafa spoke loudly causing the entire room to fall in utter silence. A range of looks played across the woman's face as she staggered backwards. Staring at me in horror and then in disgust.

" What? Who is she? Which family is she from? Did you run away with her"

She bombarded us with all these questions as I heard the slamming of a door and the next thing I knew. A man was storming towards us. His face utterly livid.

Something was so familiar about this angry man who now stood head to head with Moustafa. Yet I couldn't quite pinpoint. Their angry faces mirroring each other.

" Murat"

Moustafa warned as the man landed a blow to his face making the man stagger a little. Almost like poking a sleeping bear, Moustafa stood up straight. His arms flexing as he walked towards the man before him. Gripping him by the collar.

" How could you do that? To hamza. To Abi. To Elif and Mirya?" The man, Murat spoke as his angry eyes landed on me making me tense. My breathing halting. Fearing the man before me.

" Tell them Moustafa. Tell them how you married the daughter of the man who killed your brother" He yelled loudly. His haunting voice echoing all around.

" Whose forefathers killed our grandad. Tell them Moustafa how you married Fatih Khizan's daughter"

As soon as those words left the man's lips. I felt my body turning limp seeing chaos stir before me. Coming to life.

The woman, I'm assuming Moustafa mother stalked towards her son and easily striked him across his face. The woman who stood near the door looked down, tears falling down her face whilst I stared at Moustafa. Who was now glaring at his mother.

" How could you? How could you betray your brother like that? Did you not play with him, with these hands?" The woman sobbed hitting Moustafa chest as I stood there. The scene somewhat familiar before me.

" I did it for Hamza. I did it for him" He yelled holding on to her shoulder before the woman looked down. Breaking in to tears.

A good few minutes passed us as the woman heaved. Tears rolling down her face.

As if feeling my eyes on her the woman suddenly glanced upwards. Her cold icy eyes staring at me. Almost predator like she raised her hand. Ready to strike me.

Gasping in fear I closed my eyes awaiting for the impact, but it never came. Opening them slowly, I stared at the angry woman seeing her hand being held back by a larger one.

" Not her" Was all Moustafa said as the woman shrieked in anger before taking a step back and sitting on the chair beside the table.

" Elif take her upstairs" Moustafa spoke, gripping on to my hand before pushing me forward; as the woman nodded before indicating for me to follow her and I did. Anything to get away from here. From this nightmare.

The short distance from the room to upstairs wasn't that long yet to me it felt like a millennia. I could hear screaming and yelling from downstairs yet somehow I was now used to it. I wasn't scared of if no more.

" You'll stay in Moustafa's room I guess" The woman commented softly as she pushed the doors open towards Moustafa room, with a simple bed and a wardrobe accompanied by a desk with paperwork and his laptop.

" Are you his sister?"

I murmured as she helped me towards the bed. Noticing how heavy the dress was. Shaking her head she placed a hand on my back making me hiss and bite back a sob. Yet, the pain I had from my back, it couldn't compare to the one in the womans eyes as she spoke. Leaving me breathless.

" No, I'm his sister in-Law.

Hamza's wife"

• • •

Wow! That was a lot.

What do you guys think so far? What are your thoughts on the new characters?

Thank you all so much for your support and comments. It means so much to me. And lastly thank you so much for all the artwork you sent. The beautiful gold collage is done by

Thank you for taking the time to read ♡