The Dangers of Islam: The Terrorist

Sneak Peek

Here's a look at the next book in the series, told from Iman's point-of-view

The Dangers of Islam: The Convert

Chapter: Set-up

     This was something that finally made sense. Something she could believe in with her heart and with that thought, she knocked on the twin French doors that stood menacingly in front of her. "Enter," a deep voice called out from the other side. "Dad?" Athena called out as she walked into the study. "Oh, are you busy?" "I'm a businessman, Athena. I am always busy," Alistair St. Claire said as he barely glanced up from his work. "What do you want?" "Dad! Adonis has my diary!" Artemis cried out as she ran into the study. "I've told you time and time again to knock when you come inside. I am a very busy man," Alistair scolded before looking up at his daughters.

     Athena felt as if a frog was in her throat as she looked at her father's menacing gaze. She glanced at her little sister and then the door as Adonis walked in nonchalantly. "Dad, I need a couple bucks," he said and flashed a cocky smirk at his sisters. "How many?" Alistair asked as he withdrew two crisp twenty dollar bills and handed them to Adonis, "Now what did you want?" Athena looked at her siblings and said, "You told us to explore the world and choose our own path, right?" Alistair looked at his daughter in intrigue, "Have you found your path so easily? What is it? Money? Education? Philanthropy?"

     "Islam," Athena said simply and watched her father's expression change. There was a fury behind his green eyes that Athena had never seen before and it terrified her. This wasn't the man who she used to chase through their gardens when she was a child. This wasn't the man who comforted her when her mother passed away. This man was an individual who had succumbed to his vices. He was a man that had accepted his racist tendencies and had bowed down before his bigoted views.

     Alistair said nothing as he stood up and approached Athena. She glanced at her brother and sister and saw her little sister tremble as she hid behind Adonis. This was the power that Alistair had over s children. After their mother passed away, he had become cold towards them, as if they were a burden on him. Now, he looked at Athena with nothing but hatred.

     "Dad, I-," Athena began but was silenced as Alistair's hand descended towards her and connected with her cheek. Athena staggered and fell backwards by the force of the blow. She looked up in horror, as her father seemed to be steaming at the ears. "What did you say?" Alistair asked with his teeth clenched. Athena could taste something metallic in her mouth and knew she was bleeding. In her entire sixteen years of life, her father had never physically abused her. "Dad! She's bleeding! Don't hit her!" Artemis cried out as she struggled against her brother's arms, who held her back.

     "You will shut your mouth, right now!" Alistair roared and shifted his attention back to Athena, "What did you say, girl?" Athena's bottom lip trembled as she fought an internal war as to answer her father or not. He had a murderous look in his eye, something she had never seen before which meant she was walking blindly into this situation. "I'm a Muslim, dad. I became one today," Athena whispered softly but immediately regretted the words that left her mouth as she felt her father's foot land sharply against her ribs.

******

     Iman gasped and sat up abruptly as she awoke. She found herself fighting to breathe and felt a pair of arms wrap around her. "Dawood?" Iman whispered in surprise as she fuzzily noticed a pair of blue eyes looking at her in worry. "No, Mama. Just me. Khadijah," Khadijah whispered softly before pressing a kiss against her mother's temple. "You had a nightmare." "Oh, Shehzadi," Iman whispered and wrapped her arms around Khadijah in relief, "I thought you were your father for a minute."