The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) (2 page)

“Do you think it’s real?” asks the friend as Jer inspects the ring.

“I don’t know, Gabe. There was just something about it. Like I couldn’t put it
down.” Of course not. You sensed the power. My power.

I suppose I should reveal myself. If I do not, the stone will force me, and at
least this way I can have a little fun with the friend....

I loosen the invisibility and freeze Jer’s friend before he can touch the ring. I
will teach him not to touch things that do not belong to him. I grin and let my
eyes glow green with power so there can be no doubt as to my nature.

My new master’s reaction is immensely satisfying. About to sit in the chair near
the desk, he spies me and misses entirely, falling to the floor with a
thud
.
His face is pale, his eyes huge and darting between me and his friend. I would
not be surprised if he fainted. But he licks his lips and clears his throat.

“Hel...hello?”

Well, that’s different.

Rules of the Game

“
reetings,
Master.” The taste of the last word is bitter on my tongue, but I cannot avoid
it.

“Master?”
he repeats. His voice is barely a whisper. I incline my head slightly. No doubt
he will ask me to kneel soon enough. They all do.

“I’m
sorry but, um, who the hell are you? And how did you get in my room?” he asks,
finally finding his feet. He is tall compared with my petite frame, maybe six
feet or so.

“My
name is Leela, and I am Djinn. It would appear you purchased more than a ring.”
I let my eyes relax and adjust my stance so that he gets a good glimpse of
cleavage. I’ve switched outfits again, picking something from the pictures on
his wall. I have had many masters and find the best way to gain some control is
through flirtation. I do not mind, now that I have a better look at him. He is
young, but well formed. His eyes remind me of Achan’s, dark as oil. Enough
years have passed, yet still my throat clenches at the thought.

His
eyes dart downward then quickly back to my own. I see his Adam’s apple wobble.
This may not be so bad after all.

“I’m
Jered. Jered Archer. So, you’re saying you’re, like, a genie?” he asks, falling
back into his desk chair. He manages to make his target this time.

“Is
that still the term humans use? Yes, I suppose I am ‘like a genie.’”

“Yeah.
Right. And I’m Lebron James.” His smile falters at my expression. “You aren’t,
like, an escaped mental patient or something, are you?” he asks.

“No.”

“This
is a trick, right? Gabe put you up to this.” He looks over to his friend as
though expecting him to burst out laughing. “Not bad, Gabe. I never knew you
were such a good actor. Hidden talents.” When Gabe still does not respond,
Jered turns back to me nervously.

I
finger the opal in the choker around my neck, and his eyes widen with
understanding. He stretches out his fingers in front of him, staring at the
ring like it’s come to life.

“You’re
for real? Unbefuckinglievable! You mean I get three wishes?”

“No.
It does not work that way. That is just a child’s story. This is real magic.” I
incline my head toward his friend, whose glasses have slipped to the edge of
his nose.

“Gabe!
Oh my God.” Jered jumps up from his seat, sending it wheeling back into the
desk with a
bang
. “Um, can you? I mean, is he...”

“He
is fine. I thought it prudent to reveal myself in privacy. I have learned
through experience that the fewer people who know, the better.”

Jered
passes a hand in front of Gabe’s face, studying him for a reaction. When he
gets none, he straightens to look at me. “He’s cool. I mean, sure he can be
annoying sometimes, but he’s still a good guy. You can let him go.”

“You
may command it, Master, but I warn you, others have been murdered by those they
call ‘friend’ after taking possession of the stone.” I lie on the bed now,
propping my elbow on the soft mattress and resting my head in my hand. My black
hair falls over the simple blue blanket, coiling like snakes. I pose for his
benefit.

 
My last master would have beaten me for speaking out of turn. I sense this one
may be a bit more pliable. Still, if a normal human murders him, thinking he
will get the stone... As much fun as the boy is, freedom is far more
appetizing. On the other hand, if too many people know, another Magician may
find out, and that would not be good.

I
study him while he debates the fate of his friend. His skin is fair next to
mine, his hair the color of sand. His body is that of a man, with muscles lean
and well-defined. His mind, well, I will reserve judgment until I know more.
Time has taught me many lessons. Most important of all is caution.

“No.
You have to let him go. That doesn’t count as a wish does it?” he asks,
collapsing to sit on the opposite end of the bed.

“I
told you, no finite wishes,” I climb onto my knees and scoot behind him. “Think
of me as your slave. A slave that can do magic.” I whisper the last in his ear,
letting my breath send a shiver down his neck. He swallows again but remains
still. I reach my hand out over his shoulder and snap my fingers – just for
effect. Gabe comes back to life with a yelp.

“What
the? Who the? How the?”

“Intelligent,
is he not?” I ask, letting my eyes glow green for him.
Yes, boy, I am
dangerous
.

“Chill,
Gabe. This is Leela. Leela, Gabe.”

“Shit.
Where’d she come from?” asks Gabe, voice shaking. I smile and drape my arms
around Jered’s shoulders. I feel him tense, hear his heartbeat speed up. His
aura shines red.

“The
ring,” my new master croaks. I nod.

“She
was in the ring?” Gabe asks, drinking me in. “You mean trapped or something? Is
she a zombie? Because suddenly, having my brains sucked out through my ears
doesn’t sound so bad.”

“I
know not of this zombie,” I snap. Friend of my master or not, this boy irks me.

“Sorry,”
he says, and I relax a bit. At least he has some manners. “Is she a ghost?”

“Do
I look like a ghost?”

“She’s
a genie,” says Jered.

“Djinni,”
I say.

I
can actually see it dawn on Gabe, understanding gradually lighting up his eyes.
And then, “Hell yeah! We get three wishes each,” he says dancing around like he
is in danger of soiling himself. “You’ll give me a turn, right?”

I
lean over my master’s ear again, letting my hair shield us. “See?” I whisper.

“It
doesn’t work that way, Gabe. She explained while you were frozen.” The way my
master’s voice cracks pleases me.

“I
was frozen?”

“Sorry,”
I say.
I’ll show you ghosts.

“Explain
it to him, please,” says Master, slipping out from beneath my arms so he can
see me. “I’m still not sure I get it.” Damn. He gave me a direct order.
Polite, but direct. Now I am compelled.

“Explain
what?” I ask, sitting back on my heels. It all depends on how he words it.

“The
rules. Tell us the rules of having a Djinni.” Double damn.

“First,
only one with magic can control the Djinni,” I say. Might as well get it out of
the way. “Sorry again, Gabe. Second, I am tied to the stone in the ring. As
long as you own it, you own me and all my power. Of course, even my power has
limits. Third, I go free only if you command it or you are murdered without a
new master taking possession of me.” I collapse back on the bed and stretch
like a cat. I do enjoy the sensations of the corporeal body. I always have.

“I
think she’s got you confused with someone else.” Gabe laughs, and Jered’s
face turns a deeper and deeper pink. I raise my eyebrows in question.

“He
means I don’t have magic. Well, unless you count that disappearing coin trick
from fifth grade.” Master blinks his big eyes at me. Those eyes, Achan’s eyes,
were once my greatest weakness.

I
rise and saunter toward him deliberately. “You do. It is not much compared to
mine. If humans had that kind of power, no one would have bothered enslaving
Djinn. But it is there. I can see it as plainly as the dimple in your cheek.” I
run one finger along the side of his face, enjoying the shiver it elicits.

“I
really don’t,” he says in a breathy way.

“Let
us do an experiment,” I say. “I am going to try and kill Gabe, and you will
stop me.” A dagger materializes in my hand, and before he can say a word, for
surely he would command I stop, I throw it.

I
know that to him it is merely a second. But for me, time slows. The aura around
him spikes and throws itself outward. I help guide it, just to illustrate my
point, and it flies between the tip of the blade and Gabe’s head.

Time
resumes, and the dagger appears to hit an invisible shield, clattering to the
ground. Both boys stare unblinkingly at me, Master’s hand outstretched toward
Gabe. I smile and bat my eyelashes.

“You
just tried to kill me!” Gabe says.

“It
was perfectly safe. I told you Master would stop it.” I shrug and conjure a
fistful of grapes, which I start popping in my mouth one by one. The sweet and
sour taste explodes in my mouth, a pleasure I have not experienced in quite
some time.

“You
shouldn’t have done that,” Master says, and I cringe.

“I
have upset you, Master. Forgive me. I merely wished to demonstrate your own
power.”

“Don’t
do it again.” My glare is as sharp as his. He has given me a direct order. He
is learning his place a bit too quickly. I quell the look as soon as I catch
it, but he has already seen. I brace myself for punishment, but none comes.
“How do I know it was me that did that and not you?” he asks instead, running a
hand back through his hair. “I mean this could be some kind of trick. I’ve
never used magic in my life, and then poof, here you are, and suddenly I can?”

“You
are very clever, Master. No. I do not deceive you.”
At least when you ask me
directly
. “You ask me the rules; I answer.”

“Jer,
you know what this means?” Gabe paces before the dresser. I feed a grape to my
new master. He spits it out because I have taken him by surprise. But I smile
encouragingly and offer another.

“This
means,” Gabe continues, “that we can have anything we want. Anything.”

“My
master can have anything.” I correct him, hoping I will not be forced to obey
this mindless human as well. I am used to humiliations, but that is too much.

“Call
me Jered. Or Jer. Please, Leela.”

I
nod my head, trying not to let my shock show. This must be some trick designed to
lull me into complacency. Well, I will not let it. I am a thousand years older
than him. He will not best me.

“Well...one
thing’s for sure,” Gabe says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Your mom is
going to freak.”

The Beginning

have watched him for many moons and still do not tire of his beauty. He is a
shepherd who loves a girl. A foolish girl who does not return his love because
he is only a shepherd. Humans are odd. We Djinn have monitored their progress
for millennia, and humans are far more entertaining than the Neanderthals that
preceded them. I know I am not the only one who has taken to watching more
carefully nowadays. To imitating.