Djinn's Passion Read online

  “Our protective bubble has been shattered.” Dr. Sanz followed my gaze and glimpsed the hole in the sky.

  The perfect world we’d live in… our perfect lives were all kept under a huge transparent force field, and that force field was crumbling around us. We lived in a world encased within a giant glass dome so far out that human eyes could not see it. Arcadia had been like a small dollhouse town in one of my snow globes. This was what the Magical Ones have been using their magic for…to keep up this perfect illusion of a real town.

  Feeling desperate and lost, feeling a complete lack of control, over my life, over my destiny, over all the chaos that surrounded me, I searched for one face; the one person I knew I could rely on in such turmoil. The one person I needed to see; Torrid.

  His handsome features came to my mind and the longing to see him intensified. His thick black hair and dazzling blues eyes… it’d been far too long since I’d last seen him.

  “Where are you, Torrid?” I whispered into the chaos. “What have Pim’s Catchers done with you?”

  “What do you intend to do with us?”

  Liam’s voice broke my search and brought my attention back to the reality of the situation.

  Dr. Sanz offered him a small and victorious grin. “Lure the big guns out. Your father will no doubt want to see what I’ve done with you… and, General Adon… how can he resist coming to the rescue of his lovely daughter… his one and only child.”

  We walked to the edge of the top step and looked down at the fighting. Dr. Sanz straightened his shoulders, gazed arrogantly at the deadly scene and smiled. “General Adon! Pim Seer!” His voice echoed over the scene, carrying much further than any human voice ever could into the clouds and across the air. Many stopped fighting to look up at the doctor. Many also looked cautiously around, searching for any signs of Pim Seer or General Adon.

  “Make yourself seen, gentlemen,” Dr. Sanz added.

  Glass shards fell in increasingly larger pieces, sometimes stopping small battles with its force. The ground was covered with a thin layer of glass, giving the scene a strangely fairy tale appeal that strongly contradicted the rage of war that pressed on.

  Shouts of pain rang out, piercing through the din and letting us know of the increasing number of fighters hit by the sharp shards of glass.

  A large warrior djinn, oblivious of the glass, undisturbed by the chaos, came up to the steps, his gaze steady on me as he approached.

  My heart skipped a beat. He was as handsome as Torrid and I allowed myself an optimistic glance around. Perhaps Torrid wasn’t too far away.

  The djinn disappeared suddenly and reappeared at Dr. Sanz’s side, startling the diminutive doctor. “What do you want with General Adon, little genie?”

  Dr. Sanz, caught off guard by the sudden appearance and the question, stood back and stared at the djinn.

  “Speak up, little genie. We’ve a fierce battle to fight and I’ve not the time to waste with small talk. What do you wish of General Adon?”

  Pulling himself to his full height, Dr. Sanz narrowed his eyes, obviously offended by the djinn’s insolent behavior. He grabbed my elbow and yanked me closer to him. “This is General Adon’s daughter, the lovely, and I do say, helpless Kama. Let him know that I have her in my custody and tell him that I’d like to speak to him. I think I now have the leverage I need in order to negotiate my terms. I think General Adon would be very interested to hear what I have to say.”

  The young genie, barely older than Torrid, glanced quizzically at me then turned his gaze to Dr. Sanz. “You mean…”

  A flash of blinding light cast it rays on me and just before everything around me disappeared, I heard Liam gasp and Dr. Sanz curse.

  Chapter 7

  The warm air brushed through my hair and the rays of the sun welcomed us higher and higher. I looked beneath us, looking for a magic carpet or other such device that could explain our flight, but saw only the white puff of thick clouds. I flew on some unknown force, gliding through the air with ease as I clung to the hand of the young and handsome warrior genie.

  His smile was reassuring, reminding me again of Torrid. The more I looked at him, the stronger the resemblance…and even the attraction. I wanted to ask, perhaps he knew Torrid. Perhaps he was even related.

  It wasn’t hard to imagine them as brothers, the resemblance was that striking, and all the while, though I flew with a complete stranger, I felt comforted and secure. His strength reassuring me, filling me with confidence and hope when there was only despair before.

  After a few short moments, we descended, piercing through the clouds and seeing that vast land stretched out below us, a land so vastly different from the world I’d grown up in.

  I should have felt lost in this new and strange land, and, as we flew lower and lower, I should have felt increased anxiety, but, despite the strangeness of it all, I felt familiar. I’d seen it all once before, through distance.

  Torrid… it was his memories; his home. He’d shown me this strange and beautiful place before.

  As we prepared to land, a palace, brilliant in its shimmering light, appeared. It glistened like fine crystal, every angle and every curvature sending out a rainbow of light. It was more fabulous than Torrid could have ever described.

  The palace of the Western Nethers.

  The closer we got, the more brilliant and vivid the colors. I could feel the smile creep across my face. Taken in by such beauty it was all too easy to forget the anger and war we’d just left behind.

  At the palace perimeter we came upon scores of men and women who worked to prepare a huge feast. Bakers set their loaves of flat breads, long breads, and round breads in large stone ovens. Sausage makers ground their seasoned meats while pie makers rolled out their dough and prepared their perfect fruits. Two women worked arduously on a sugar sculpture while several younger boys took care of the vegetables that needed peeling, paring, cubing and slicing. Beyond them, in the lavish gardens, dozens of boys and girls gathered a variety of fruits and vegetables, all laughing and singing as they did so.

  Aromas, welcoming and enticing, filled the air, but above all, it was the sense of joy, of pride and of harmony that exuded from the large gathering; it was captivating and I could easily envision myself caught up in the festivities, eager to do my part, my share of the work. No one fought or argued. No one tried to get out of the task that they’d been charged with. There was obviously no place for enlarged egos here. Work needed to be done and they all set about doing their tasks without complaint.

  Even in the perfect world I’d grown up in, this was not quite the case. Though work managed to get done and everyone did as they were told, an underlying resentment was often felt. I’d always thought Arcadia was a peaceful and happy place to be, to grow up in, but happiness, true joy was brought to a whole new level here.

  Here, young children played in the courtyard, games of wild imagination, creation and validation.

  The warrior genie at my side took me by the hand. “Come,” he said softly, his gentle command like a loving ballad. “This is the land where we are from.” As we walked through the crowds, he nodded his greeting to the workers.

  Amidst all the hard working people of the Nethers, the young genie stopped for a moment and stood aloft, his hand just barely holding the tips of my fingers, but I could feel the strong encompassing essence of him like a loving embrace. It was a different feeling from when I was with Liam, which was a youthful desperate love or with Torrid, which was a passionate forbidden love. This handsome warrior genie’s touch gave me confidence and warmth, a comforting love. With a loud clearing of his throat, he captured the attention of everyone around us. “We welcome you at last,” he said in a clear and strong voice. “Kama, the lovely and beautiful daughter of General Adon, his one and only child.” His proud and admiring gaze swept over me as he took me in with an approving smile.

  The men and women around us smiled, some curtsied and bowed. A young boy, barely six years old, walked up
to me, his eyes shy, but proud. He pulled from behind his back a large translucent blue lollipop.

  My heart swelled. “Is this for me, young man?”

  The boy nodded. “Blue is my favorite color.”

  I winked as I knelt before him and took the lollipop. “You know what? Me, too. It’s been my favorite since I was a little girl. Thank you so much.”

  With his fingers gentle on my elbow, the handsome genie guided me up and on through the crowds and on to the palace. “You are born to walk these streets like a princess, like a Queen. The people already love you, as they love General Adon.” He reached down to hold my hand, looking into my eyes with his beautiful blue ones, “You’ve already captured the heart of that little boy, as well as the hearts of any male that had laid eyes on you. You are truly the daughter of our beloved General.”

  “Why have you brought me here?” I asked, my thoughts suddenly reverting to the troubles of Arcadia. “I should be in Arcadia with everyone else, fighting with everyone else.”

  He shook his head, though a gleam of approval shone in his eyes. “General Adon mentioned you were strong… brave. It’s a commendable quality… a quality worthy of your lineage, of your name.” He brought his hand up to sweep a strand of hair away from my face. “You are as noble and righteous as you are exquisitely beautiful. No doubt you have the ability to persuade everyone around you to follow you as a natural leader…”

  “But,” I prompted.

  “But, the danger remains too great in Arcadia. That renegade djinn, the plans he had concerning you put you at too great a risk. With you in such danger, in the hands of one who has so few scruples, General Adon would find himself at a disadvantage and Dr. Sanz knew that. We must never underestimate what he is capable of. He has a vicious streak he hides well, masked behind that fake grin and mock laughter. The truth is that he wishes only to rule all humans… and djinns.”

  “The allure of power,” I said absentmindedly.

  “Absolutely.”

  “So I’m to remain here in order to keep me safe? In order to ensure I don’t weaken General Adon’s chances of a victorious battle?”

  He looked down at me with his gorgeous blue eyes, laughter creasing them. “Absolutely.”

  I wanted to ask him about my destiny, my calling to battle, to save my people. If I remained here I was of no use at all. I thought of Dr. Sanz’s stunning revelations about the Magical Ones and their desire to hurt and destroy humans… perhaps this had all changed my destiny, perhaps my role in this war had changed.

  The young genie smiled. “That’s absolutely right,” he said, ignoring my stated question and answering my thoughts instead.

  I blushed, suddenly realizing his ability to read my thoughts, and my instant attraction to him, despite already in a complicated relationship with Liam and Torrid. Torrid, where was he?

  “Torrid is not too far away,” he added, no doubt answering the question I’d been dying to ask all along. “He should be here shortly. With great understanding, I can see why he would want to hurry back and see you, but, in addition to that, his brother, the crowned Prince Rodin, awaits his visit.”

  I nodded, remembering Torrid’s mention of several older brothers. “Are you from my father’s army?” I asked, trying to find the connection between him and Torrid. “Will you return to Arcadia to battle?” In the short time that I have known this handsome and noble warrior djinn, I realized I did cared about him and where he would be.

  “Yes and yes,” he said. He pushed out his chest in pride as he gazed at the land he so prized. Taking in a long and deep breath of air, he brought his gaze back to me. “There is to be a feast. Everyone plays their part in the preparation and planning. My responsibilities to the Western Nethers includes greeting the sovereign djinn and join, most joyously, in the feast. I’ll make my customary rounds of the palace and see, among others, Torrid.”

  I reached out my hand to touched his, and said, “Thank you for saving me from Dr. Sanz just now. For bringing me here to safety. I wish to join the fight in Arcadia, though, but I understand you bringing me here, and I am grateful for it.”

  The great warrior’s eyes crinkled at the corner as he nodded. “The pleasure is mine.” He lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles before saying, “Torrid is here.”

  As though summoned by the sound of his name, Torrid arrived, sweaty, breathless and more handsome than I remembered.

  “Kama,” he cried. His arms extended, he rushed to me and pulled me into his arms, squeezing me so tight, I thought I’d lose my breath. “I can’t believe you're here,” he said into my ear. His breath was heated and sweet.

  I felt the love in his arms, in his embrace and realized then just how much I’d missed him.

  “I’m so happy to see you… safe… here.”

  “I was so worried about you,” I said, pulling away as I suddenly became conscious of the warrior’s presence and interested yet embarrassed gaze. In Torrid’s embrace, I’d nearly forgotten about him. “How did you get away?”

  “They carted me away and were preparing to put the Catcher’s bindings on me. I fought them, if only for the purpose of returning to help you, but they held me two to each arm. I was outnumbered and overpowered. Just when I thought I was done for, my brother came up and struck them from behind, lopping off their….” Biting his tongue, he let his statement hang in the air.

  “Their heads,” I finished his sentence.

  They both looked surprised, but said nothing.

  “I kind of figured it out. I guess it would be the only way you can stop a Catcher.” I looked at them. “They’re not just human, are they?”

  “You're right. They’re human, but they’re also more than that. There’s some magic in there, something they got from a thin line of djinn.”

  That part I hadn’t figured on and I gasped my surprise. “Catchers have some genie in them?”

  “Yes,” Torrid said. “Not much, but it’s enough. It’s just enough to give them a touch of magic. A long long time ago, when genies and humans were allowed to marry, the line of human and genies became Catchers, turning against genies. Marriage between humans and genies were then outlawed. Even when our greatest hero, our greatest warrior, General Adon fell in love with a human woman and had you.” Torrid paused. “Most of the lines from such union has thinned out over time, but you are the strongest one now. And yes, you will have some of that magic which Catchers have to capture genies.”

  It took a short while for all this to sink it. I was a djinn, but also a Catcher, like Liam. No wonder Governor Pim wanted to raise me as his own…to become a Catcher with him…but a Catcher with strong djinn magic. “So we have more in common than the other humans?”

  “You’re catching on fast,” Torrid said, his fingers grasping mine and holding tight. “That must be why I love you so much. You're beautiful, in so many ways. Your heart, your intellect and… you, your beautiful eyes, your captivating lips.”

  Despite his last words echoing directly into my head, I blushed in front of the older genie who still stood with us.

  He coughed into his hand, his gaze amused. “I’ve heard of your beauty, that of your heart, but that of your features as well. I thought my little brother was exaggerating, laying it on too thick. But the moment I saw you, I knew he’d not been lying. It’s no wonder he’s fallen so madly in love with you, Kama.”

  For a brief and foggy moment, I tried to follow the sense of his words. His brother… loving me…

  “Are you…?” I stammered.

  He grinned and nodded. “I’m Rodin,” he said simply, gazing into my eyes.

  The handsome genie who’d so gallantly brought me back to the Western Nethers was indeed Torrid’s brother. But more than that, he was the crowned Prince Rodin.

  I blushed, almost embarrassed by my instant attraction to him. He was so much like Torrid, yet so much more grounded, experienced. With his charisma, I couldn’t help being drawn to him.

  “Isn’t she exquisite?” T
orrid asked Rodin, proudly.

  “She is,” Rodin agreed. “More than I ever imagined.”

  Chapter 8

  After I got past my embarrassment, Prince Rodin left us to tend to his responsibilities and Torrid led me inside the palace. Contrary to many palaces I’d heard of, this one didn’t show an abundance of opulence or vulgar riches, but rather a homey feel that was welcoming and warm.

  The walls, adorned with scenes of play, love and laughter, rose to well over twelve feet high. Twinkling little lights lit every corner of the main hall and whimsical throw rugs added warmth to the gleaming floors.

  “Is this really where you live?” I asked, awed by the beauty and simplicity.

  “Almost all my life.” Holding my hand he led me up the stairs and down a long and wide corridor. Pushing open double French doors, he said, “And this will be your suite during your stay.”

  I brought my hands to my lips as I gazed at the playful and definitely girly room. Blooming flowers, sparkling crystals and cushy pillows of satin gave the room a burst of color that was unimaginable. I squealed my glee as I hopped into the room and gazed around.

  “Not to be presumptuous, but we asked a few of the women of the area to gather clothes that might be suitable for tonight’s feast. Not that it’s anything fancy or anything, but you might want to wear something other than your Arcadian attire.”

  I gazed down at my dingy and wrinkled clothes and nodded. “How thoughtful. I’ll have a look.”

  “And I’ll leave you to rest and get ready. I should be back in an hour to escort you down to the feast.” He walked to window. “You have a view of the entire courtyard from here, not to mention much of the Nethers countryside. It’s truly magnificent.”

  I came to his side, admiring the view that so seemed to touch him. “You must really love it here.”

  “I do. I’d never realized until recently, until the threat of war, just how much I love my homeland. I’d do anything to protect what we have here.”