At Mersendise Parking Lot

Ammarah paced nervously in the dimly lit basement of the parking lot. The cold concrete echoed the sound of every step she took, her face veiled and concealed, her real form hidden in the shadows. Around her, rows of parked cars sat in silence. Her thoughts, however, were far from still. "I hope he’s alright," she murmured under her breath.

Just as she spoke, she heard footsteps approaching. Instantly, she turned and saw Omar descending the stairs toward her. Relief washed over her as she hurried toward him.

"You were waiting here?" Omar asked, smiling lightly, though his eyes were still clouded with the remnants of the battle.

Ammarah exhaled, her tension releasing. "Are you fine?"

Omar brushed past her, heading toward his car. He nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. "Yeah... I didn’t think he’d be that weak," he said casually, though there was an edge to his voice. "Or maybe I was angrier than I realized." As he neared his car, he glanced back at her. "I swear, I could’ve killed him. But I won’t. I’ll make them beg for death instead." His eyes glinted with a cold resolve as he opened the car door and retrieved his phone, locking the vehicle afterward.

The security guard, stationed nearby, watched him with a puzzled expression, eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly open. Omar caught his look and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

The guard blinked and hesitated before asking, "Who were you talking to?"

Omar chuckled, glancing at Ammarah—who was invisible to the guard but smiling faintly at the exchange. "Oh, sorry," Omar said with a sly grin. "Sometimes I just talk to myself." Without further explanation, he walked away, leaving the bewildered guard behind.

When he finally reached his apartment, Omar slid the card key into the lock, entering the familiar space. As the door clicked shut behind him, the door to the flat next to his—number 49—swung open. Noor stepped out, her phone pressed to her ear.

"Yeah, I’m on my way, Anum. Just give me a minute... I’m starving too... Okay, see you soon," she said, her voice fading as she walked down the hall, completely unaware of Omar’s presence just a few steps away.

At Omar’s Flat

He tossed his coat carelessly onto the couch before settling down next to Ammarah, who had reappeared beside him, her presence as enigmatic as ever.

He glanced at the ring on his hand, the Circe stone now disguised as a simple stoneless black band. "You mentioned there was a way I could protect myself better... but it’s not going to be pleasant, is it?"

Ammarah nodded, her expression serious. "No. It will be painful. But now that we’ve hidden the Guardian stone in a well-protected place, it’s the next step to ensure your safety."

Omar turned toward her, intrigued but cautious. "How does this work, exactly?"

She met his gaze, her voice steady. "You’ll understand soon enough." With that, she extended her hands toward his shirt, beginning to unbutton it. Omar’s brow furrowed in confusion, but Ammarah didn’t falter. After a few buttons, she looked up at him. "Lean back."

Omar complied, his curiosity piqued. Ammarah continued unbuttoning his shirt, her hands steady, her expression unreadable. "Now," she instructed, "transform the ring back into its stone form. And uncover your chest."

Omar hesitated for a moment, then slipped the ring from his finger. As soon as it left his hand, the black band morphed back into the dark, ominous Diamond. He took a deep breath, pulling his shirt open to expose his chest.

"Place the stone over your heart," Ammarah said softly.

Omar glanced at the stone, feeling its cold weight in his palm. He positioned it carefully over his heart, unsure of what would happen next.

"Close your eyes and press it hard," Ammarah instructed. "Focus on merging the stone with yourself."

He closed his eyes and pressed the stone to his chest, but hesitated. His grip wasn’t firm enough. Sensing his reluctance, Ammarah placed her hand over his and pressed the stone with force.

"Oww!" Omar gasped, his eyes flying open in pain. The stone seemed to sear through his skin, disappearing into his chest. His muscles tensed as the sensation coursed through him.

Ammarah smiled calmly. "You’ll get used to the pain. Don’t worry."

Omar looked down at his chest, but there was no trace of the stone. His fingers touched the skin where it had entered, but it was smooth, unmarked. "Where did it go?" he asked, his voice strained with uncertainty.

"Activate it," Ammarah said, her voice gentle but firm. "But don’t think about transforming into Axen. Just focus on the stone."

Nodding, Omar closed his eyes and willed the power of the stone to awaken. His eyes turned red, the energy surging through him, and slowly, the stone became visible on his chest again, its surface glowing with untamed power. Omar exhaled, the tension easing from his body. "What’s the benefit of this?" he asked, glancing up at her.

Ammarah’s eyes held his, her expression soft but determined. "This ensures your safety. Even if they capture you, no one can take the stone from you. If anyone tries, the stone’s power will kill you both. And if you die, they’ll never get the Guardian stone. You’re the only one who can remove it."

Omar chuckled, his tension easing. "Impressive." He leaned back against the couch. "What would I do without you?"

Ammarah smiled playfully. "You’d miss me, of course."

Omar’s smile faded slightly as he considered her. "Do you trust me?" he asked, his tone more serious now.

She tilted her head, curious at the question. "Of course I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be helping you."

He leaned forward, his eyes searching her concealed face. "Then why do you still hide your face from me?"

Ammarah’s laughter echoed softly in the room. "When you fall in love with a human," she teased, "I’ll remove my veil."

Omar narrowed his eyes, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "So, what? You think you’re so beautiful that if I saw you, I’d fall in love?"

She laughed again, but there was a faint sadness in her eyes. "Maybe."

Omar’s voice softened, curiosity replacing the teasing tone. "Did my brother ever see your face?"

Ammarah’s smile faded. "No," she replied, her voice quieter now. "He was different from you. Serious, always weighed down by his responsibilities. He rarely laughed or talked much. He missed his family… always carried the weight of his duty. I was the only one he spoke to, but even then, we weren’t close. More like allies, not friends."

Omar paused, absorbing her words. "Why do you help us?" he asked.

Ammarah’s gaze sharpened as she looked at him. "Because the Circe stones were created by my uncle. He sacrificed his life to craft them, entrusting them to the Harzams for a purpose. But the power he used cost him dearly. My father, the king, couldn’t retrieve the stones from the humans because of a rule in our realm. He appointed the Guardian to protect the stones, but the other Harzams grew greedy and turned against the Guardian. That’s why the Guardian’s lineage was kept a secret."

She looked away briefly, her expression shadowed with old memories. "Your brother was chosen by the last Harzam Guardian, who entrusted the stones to him before his death. And now, that responsibility is yours."

Omar was silent for a long moment, his thoughts swirling. "But why can’t your father take the stones from humans?"

Ammarah’s eyes met his again. "Because he’s seen the future of Circe stones. And now, if he intervenes, it will disrupt the natural order and lead to even worse consequences. He can’t interfere, even though he knows what’s to come."

Omar nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her words. "So... you’re a princess," he said with a faint smile.

Ammarah smiled back. "Yes. Now take some rest, tomorrow we'll have to deal with that guy."

"Hmm... Yeah. Good night, Princess," Omar said softly.

"Good night," Ammarah whispered, vanishing from sight.

Noor At Parking Lot

After dropping off her friend Anum, Noor drove back in her dark red hatchback, the hum of the engine soothing her nerves. As she maneuvered into her usual parking spot, her eyes caught a familiar sight—a sleek car parked not too far away.

Omar’s car.

She furrowed her brows, leaning slightly forward as if that would offer a clearer view. “What’s he doing here?” she murmured to herself, shutting off the engine. For a moment, she wondered if Zain lived in the same building. The thought nagged her as she stepped out of the car, locking it with a beep before heading inside.

At the Reception Desk

Noor walked up to the reception counter, where a female employee, Sofia, greeted her with a polite smile.

"Hello, ma’am," Sofia said.

"Hi," Noor replied, her tone casual but curious. "Actually, my friend just moved in here, and I wanted to drop by. Can you help me with his flat number?"

Sofia nodded, typing on her computer. "Of course. What’s the name?"

“Zain, though I can’t remember his last name," Noor said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Sofia scanned the tenant list, her fingers pausing on the keyboard. After a quick check, she looked up. "I couldn’t find anyone named Zain living here."

Noor’s smile faltered for a second, her curiosity only growing. "Hmm... okay, thank you," she said, turning as if to leave, but something stopped her.

Curiosity gnawed at her. She spun back toward the desk, trying to keep her voice steady. "Actually, can you check if there’s a tenant named Omar Azdar?"

Sofia's fingers moved quickly, and in a few seconds, she looked up with a nod. "Yes, Omar Azdar. He’s in the 50th flat."

Noor raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, right beside me. Thanks," she said with a smile, before heading toward the elevators.

Outside Omar's Flat

Once she reached her flat, the 49th, her steps slowed as she walked toward Omar’s flat. A wave of uncertainty washed over her. She hadn’t expected to find him here, so close to where she lived. What was he up to?

With a quick glance around, Noor tiptoed toward his door, her heart beating faster with every step. She leaned in, pressing her ear lightly against the door. Silence.

Biting her lip, she quickly retreated, her curiosity far from satisfied. Slipping back into her own flat, she leaned against the door, mind buzzing with questions she couldn't quite push away.

In The Morning

The soft morning sunlight filtered through the windows as Omar finished breakfast with his agent. Standing up, he grabbed his jacket and glanced at Ammarah, who just seated on the couch, her face partially hidden by her hood.

“Where are you going? It’s Sunday,” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Omar paused at the door and turned to her, a faint smile on his lips. “I’m visiting my brother,” he said casually, before adding with more weight, “And I need you to dig up everything about that guy from the Post Office. We need to visit him today.”

Ammarah gave a brief nod, her gaze steady. “Okay.”

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Omar’s expression hardened. “I want to meet Robis.”

Ammarah’s reaction was immediate—her head shook in firm disapproval. “No. You won’t.”

A smile flickered at the corner of Omar’s lips. “Don’t worry, your highness. It’s part of a plan. Maybe we’ll get some useful information.”

He stepped closer, his tone softer. “Do you trust me?”

Ammarah crossed her arms, turning slightly away, as if shielding herself from the weight of the question. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll meet him. I just want to see my enemies up close,” he said, with quiet determination. Without waiting for a response, he walked out of the flat, his mind already focused on the path ahead.

In the Elevator

As Omar entered the elevator, the doors began to slide shut when a voice rang out.

“Wait!”

Omar quickly pressed the button, and the doors reopened, revealing Noor hurrying toward him. Both froze for a split second, their eyes locking in surprise.

As she stepped inside, she glanced at him suspiciously. “Are you following me?”

Omar turned toward her with an easy smile. “Good morning, Noor,” he greeted her, his tone polite, but with a hint of flirtation. “Though, I don’t have your social media yet.”

She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “I’m talking about physically following.”

Omar met her gaze, slipping his hands into his jacket pockets casually. “No, just because you’re beautiful doesn’t mean I’m following you everywhere. I actually live here.”

Noor blushed slightly, the color rising in her cheeks as she avoided his eyes. She looked at him again briefly, then turned away, pretending not to care. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

As Noor was stepping out, Omar lingered in the doorway for a moment. He smirked, throwing her a playful wink. “Nice to meet you… neighbor,” he teased, before walking toward the parking lot.

Noor watched him for a beat longer than she intended before heading to her car. She started the engine, her eyes glancing toward Omar as he got into his own vehicle. Just as she drove off, she noticed him pulling out right behind her.

On the Road

Noor kept glancing at her rearview mirror, her suspicion growing. “I swear he’s following me,” she muttered, though a small smile crept onto her lips.

The road stretched out ahead, and as the minutes passed, Omar’s car remained steadily behind her. But then, suddenly, Omar’s car signaled right, overtaking her in a smooth, effortless maneuver. He turned down a separate road, the movement catching her attention.

Noor’s brows furrowed as she watched his car head toward a sign that read, Gelbama Forest.

“What’s he doing there?” she murmured to herself, curiosity flaring again. “He really is complicated.”