Regret Is Too Simple A Word

"How are..you.. here? I killed you.." With the last of his life Fahir Sarhan al-Hassan looked up at his little brother who stood tall over him.

"You failed, I survived so that I would see justice for my family."

"I see.." He coughed a little his skin quickly growing ashen as he clung to the knife handle still stuck in him. The light blue dress shirt he had worn underneath his jacket was quickly dyed dark by his blood.

"Ya Abi..I.." Fahir Sarhan al-Hassan wheezed unable to get out whatever he wanted to say before taking a few last shallow quick breaths. The hands around the blade slightly slackened with the loss of intent, but remained on from the grip he had held onto it with with the last of his life.

Hakim al-Hassan knelt by his son as he placed a his hands on his son's head.

"Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.1

"I regret that it has come to this abnay..I regret that I did not stop your brother when I first saw the signs. If I had maybe blood would not have spilled blood.

"I should have done something fifteen years ago when Mamud first came to me and demanded his inheritance. I could see that he desired the power to rule over others. I rebuked him and drove him away. I hoped that in time he would come to see the truth on his own.

"While we may own the land, the people belong to themselves, we are not their masters. Every life belongs to itself. This is ultimately my failing and now my youngest son and hafid are left with mess. Please forgive me." Hakim al-Hassan's face aged as he spoke, the sadness settling in deep creases, showing his almost 70 years.

Jari Maan al-Hassan pressed his hand to his side feeling where some light seepage had come through from his torn stitching.

"There is nothing you need forgiveness for, Ya Ab, my brothers have made their choices long ago."

"Excuse me sir, can you help our friend, she was taken from here by a man not too long before you arrived." A dark haired maid kneeling on the floor with a few other women spoke up.

"Jari, Jian Amal's wife has been caught into this as well, we have to help her." Hakim al-Hassan shut his deceased son's eyes and rose.

"We are not in the position to do that, I barely managed to make it in here, there are over a dozen armed men, roaming the halls." Jari Maan al-Hassan looked around the room. "Unfortunately we don't have the necessary force to provide help, we just have to hope she is unharmed."

"That is unacceptable."

"This is reality."

----

"Hey this is Jian and I's room, don't just walk in here!" Chang felt indignant as Liang Ju-Long led their party into Amira's chambers.

"Wrong this belonged to my deceased wife."

"Why are we in here? Chang looked at the men surrounding her and a fearful thought crept into her head as they had come into the bedroom. "What are you going to do to me?"

"What will happen will depend on your answer."

"Answer to what?"

"You will leave my son."

"That's not going to happen." Chang glared at the back of the man's head. "I left once because of you and I won't do that again. I promised him that I wouldn't."

"Oh that will be a promise you will be breaking today, no matter how." Liang Ju-Long turned looking at her pointedly his sharp stare made her heart feel like it was sinking like a stone in water.