Magi: The life of Sinbad's daughter

Chapter twelve

Third P.O.V.

Mazikeen was walking through the hallways with Hakuryuu. It was evening but not really late and the kids just ate dinner. "Here's your room. If you need anything you can come to me every time. Good night." As she was about to walk away, he stopped her. "I have to speak with the king. Do you know where I can find him?" He asked, serious all of a sudden. "Uh, yeah. Follow me." She lead him to the office of her father and knocked on the door. With a "Come in." Mazikeen opened the door and peaked her head through. "Hey Dad? Hakuryuu wants to speak to you." He looked up from whatever he was doing and stood up, smiling. He walked towards them and she stepped aside so he could walk out. "How can I help you, prince Hakuryuu?" The king asked. He smiled but his eyes narrowed a little. "Why does he walk with my daughter at that time? And alone?!"  He thought. "I need to talk to you about something important." Hakuryuu stated seriously. Sinbad nodded "Let's have a walk." Mazikeen just stood there with her hands on her back. "Well, I'm going to bed. Have fun. Good night." She was about to walk away when Sinbad grabbed her arm gently and pulled her to him. She panicked slightly because of what happend the last time he did this. His eyes widen when he noticed that and quickly let go. Only now he realized what damage he had done. "Prince Hakuryuu can you give us a minute? We can meet at the balcony." Sinbad said. "Sure, no problem." Hakuryuu said and walked away leaving the two alone while Sinbad turned to his daughter with a soft frown. Once the prince was out of sight he pulled Mazikeen into an embrace and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I'm sorry." He started. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on him. He felt her relax and spoke again with a soft voice. "I didn't know it affected you so much. I'm sorry." She breathed out deeply. "It's just... Every time someone did something bad to me they didn't regret it and sometimes repeat it. I'm not used to someone apologizing about it." He looked down at her sadly. "I don't drink much alcohol anymore. I would never do that aga-" "I know!.. I know." She interrupted him. "But I can't help it. It won't be like this forever. I just need some time. I promise." He smiled at her. "Take all the time you need."  "Thanks but you're taking your time right now, Haku is waiting." She chuckled. His smile dropped and he pulled away a little to look at her face. "What's going on between you two? Why were you alone with him? And why do you call him 'Haku'?... I don't like him." He pouted like a child. "Pfft... Hahaha!" She burst out laughing. He looked at her surprised for a second but smiled. It was the first time he heard her laugh with so much joy. She leaned her forehead on his chest and continued giggling. "You know that Haku has a crush on Morgiana, right?" She asked smiling up at him. "Wait, what?" He looked at her surprised. She just giggled at him. "You should go. It seemed pretty important. Goodnight." Before she could pull away from him, he kissed her forehead. It wasn't something he would normally do but since he met her he felt different. Finally he grew up. He still acted like a child sometimes but he was more responsible now. He pulled away from her. "Goodnight, my jewel." He spoke with a smile. She smiled back and turned to leave while he made his way to the balcony to talk with Hakuryuu.
A few hours later Mazikeen was asleep in her bed. She was turning from left to right and breathing heavily. She cried a little and sweated when suddenly she bolted awake and sat up quickly. It wasn't the first time she had a nightmare but it was a long time since the last one. She threw her blanket to the side and stood up. She rushed to the door and burst through it but she didn't get far. Sinbad was on his way back to his room and when he was about to pass her room he heard something from inside. He thought she was asleep and wanted to open the door but before he even could reach his hand out it burst open, revealing his hyperventilating daughter. His eyes widen and he panicked when he saw her like this but most of all he got worried. Still scared and confused she wanted to rush past him but he grabbed her. She panicked even more and he could hear her fast and heavy breathing. He pulled her in front of him and looked at her worriedly while holding her shoulders but she didn't look at him. He looked at her for a moment waiting for her to calm down but she didn't even relax the slightest and just kept staring at his chest, she was too scared to look up at him. She was scared that it wouldn't be her father but somebody else. Once Sinbad realized she wouldn't move so he moved his hands to her head to make her look at him. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see who it was. "Maze, please look at me." He begged with concern in his voice. She bit her lower lip and slowly opened her eyes but still didn't move. He sighed, knowing that she wouldn't move. He crouched down and picked her up. She quickly threw her arms around his neck and buried the lower half of her face into his shoulder. Sinbad pushed the door close with his foot and walked towards her bed. He laid her on her bed and looked down at her. Laying on her side, shaking and facing him with one hand under her head and the other one beside her head, she just stared at nothing for a moment. Many thoughts kept racing through his mind and he reached his hand out to stroke her head but before he could reach her she grabbed his hand and yanked him to her. Taking aback by the force of it, he almost fell on her bed. He managed to turn to his side and sat down beside her. His eyes widen and he felt both of her hands on his and she pulled it to her upper chest but his eyes softened when he looked at her. She looked broken but she finally let someone in and that someone was none other than the king himself. For so long she had to be strong for her friends but now she could finally be weak. After he felt her relax a little he spoke. "What happend?" He asked quietly, not wanting to scare her further. She closed her eyes. "I... I had a nightmare." With his free hand he cupped her cheek. "Do you want to talk about it?" She breathed out deeply to calm herself a little and shook her head when she started speaking. "It's nothing special. I had this dream for years now." She opened her eyes to look at him. "When I was twelve my adoptive parents got murdered. I saw everything... I'm sorry." She apologized with a small sad smile. He gave her a confused look. "What are you apologizing for?" She sighed. "Normally I wouldn't cry in front of others about this. I'm sorry for worrying you and for being a burden.-" She wanted to say something more but he interrupted her. "Stop." He said firmly, which surprised her. He moved his hand from her face to her hand that still held his and enveloped her hands in his while pulling her up to sit next to him. "You're not a burden. Never apologize for crying in front of me and I'm your father so I'm always gonna be worried. Most importantly you should know that you can talk to me. About anything and anytime. All right?" He asked, smiling at her. She smiled back and hugged his side while resting her head on him. "Thank you." He hugged her back, happily. "Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Mazikeen asked quietly and again a little embarrassed but he found it quite adorable and gladly accepted it. He leaned his back on the headboard of her bed and expected her to snuggle up to his side but instead she laid horizontal on her bed with her head on his lab, the back of her head facing his side. She blushed a little from embarrassment but didn't really care right now. She just needed some comfort and he was there to give it to her. He just sat there, stroking her hair. "Thank you." Sinbad said quietly. She turned her head a little to look at him, which caused him to stop and gave him a confused look. "For opening up to me. Thank you." She smiled at him and turned back. "Thank you for being there for me." He smiled and returned to stroking her hair until she fell asleep, which didn't take long. He sighed disappointed. He was glad that she was asleep but he didn't want to leave her. Reluctantly, he put one hand under her head and one around her waist. He slowly pulled her up a little and laid her down with her head on the pillows. After tucking her in properly he left the room. He was happy. Happy that his daughter didn't reject him like he expected her to do before he met her.