"Where should we go?"
"There are many things I want to show. They're all in one place."
"Okay."
Cassim turned his horse towards the layer. They stopped on the shore across from the mountain.
The stallion snorted and stomped his hoof.
"He senses home."
"Cassim, there's nothing here."
"Just wait and watch."
Cassim held his right hand out towards the mountain.
"Open sesame!" he yelled mightily.
Before Carina could ask why he yelled that the water started to bubble! The mountain opened and the water parted!
The stallion galloped inside with Iago flying alongside.
Cassim stopped the stallion and got off. He helped Carina down.
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
He led the horse off to the left. He came back about five minutes later.
"Come on."
Carina followed Cassim. They had gone a ways when she suddenly stumbled. A moment later a human skeleton came down in front of them!
Both Carina and Iago screamed. Cassim cut the rope holding the skeleton and threw it off to the side.
"Sorry. Forgot about that."
Cassim led her to the place he had taken Aladdin. They went into the room, and Carina stared in awe.
"Wow. This room is beautiful."
Cassim showed her the golden ship.
"I'm glad neither of us was on that ship."
Cassim took her hand.
"Wanna see the best part?"
"What could be better than what I've already seen?"
"Close your eyes. Don't open then until I say."
Cassim led her somewhere. He moved and put her arms around his neck.
"Hold on and don't let go, whatever you do."
The next Carina knew she was being lifted off the ground!
"Cassim, what's going on?"
"Relax. It's okay."
Finally her feet touched the ground again.
"You can let go of my neck now."
Carina let go.
"Cover your ears."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
Carina covered her ears. She felt Cassim's arm slip around her waist. He guided her somewhere. When they stopped again she felt his arm leave her waist.
He pulled her hands down.
"Open your eyes."
Carina opened her eyes and gasped.
They were on a small, square, stone balcony. It gave them a perfect view of the sea and the rising sun!
"Oh, Cassim. It's beautiful."
"It gets better."
"How?"
Cassim stood up on the railing.
"What are you doing?! Get down before you fall!"
"Relax, Carina. I've done this hundreds, mabey even thousands, of times."
He held his out to her. She heasitated and looked at his face.
He smiled reassuringly.
"Trust me. I won't let you fall."
Carina took his hand and let her help her up onto the railing.
"Look down."
Carina looked down and saw that the water looked only like a patch of blue!
"Do you feel like you're on top of the world?"
"Yeah."
Cassim went behind her, for there was a ledge that stuck out on the railing.
Carina moved a closer to the edge of it. She suddenly felt Cassim's warm breath on her neck and right cheek.
"Now..."
He was whispering right by her ear.
"... close your eyes again."
Carina closed her eyes once more.
"Put your arms out away from your body."
Carina did as she was told.
"Take a slow, deep breath of the fresh sea air."
Carina slowly took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"How do you feel now?"
"I feel like a bird flying above the sea."
"Be quiet and listen."
Carina obeyed. After a few minutes Cassim's spoke again.
"What did you hear?"
"I heard the waves washing against the mountain, and the call of the seagulls."
"Take another deep breath and slowly let it out."
Carina did as she was told.
"How do you feel now?"
"I feel lighter than air. I feel like I'm flying."
"Good. Because you are."
"What?!"
"Open your eyes."
Carina opened her eyes and grabbed onto Cassim's neck. They were flying up in the air!
"Carina, it's okay. You won't fall unless you don't believe."
"Believe what?"
"Believe in the magic and wonders of true love."
"I do believe it the magic and wonders of true love."
"Let go of my neck."
Carina slowly let go.
"We'll see if you truly believe. Don't worry, I'm right here to catch you."
Cassim let go of her waist. She stayed where she was! She smiled at Cassim. He smiled back, moved over, and went down beside her.
He took her hand and flew down towards the sea. He leveled about three feet above the water. Carina put her hand down, and her fingers went across the water. She pulled her hand back up and smiled at Cassim again.
He returned the smile and went back up in the air. He turned back towards the layer.
"Why are we going back?"
"This doesn't last forever. Only for a short amount of time."
They landed on the balcony. A moment later Carina no longer felt lighter than air.
"Not a moment too soon. If we had been just a moment late we'd be in the sea!"
"That was amazing!"
"I know."
"Was that the best part?"
"Not quite."
"What could be better than *that*?"
Cassim was able to keep the hurt from his face but unable to hide it in his eyes!
"What's wrong?"
"The bast part is this..."
Cassim leaned in closer and kissed her, a passionate, full tounge action kiss.
He pulled back after a few moments.
"You're right. That was the best part."
Cassim chuckled and helped her down the ladder he had climbed up to get to the balcony.
What Could Have Been by Cassim fan