Page 10

Chapter

Ten

Mandy stared at her computer screen. After twenty minutes, she'd managed three words: "Chapter Twenty-Three: Revelations." The rest of her brain space had been consumed by thoughts of wishes, magic, and a certain silver-haired Djinn with impossibly blue eyes.

Bach sprawled across her desk, one paw dangerously close to the keyboard. She gently moved his fluffy appendage before he could add a string of random letters to her document. Mozart watched from his cat tree, probably plotting his next attack on Kieran's robes, should the Djinn prince return.

"Focus," she muttered to herself, pulling up her scene outline. Her protagonist was supposed to be discovering a vital clue about the mysterious artifacts, leading to the climactic revelation that would drive the final act of the story.

Instead, her mind kept spinning out wish scenarios. The pendant felt warm against her chest, a constant reminder of the magic now woven into her life. Three wishes. Three chances to change everything - or nothing. The responsibility weighed on her.

Even as she tried to bring her rebellious thoughts back to her manuscript, another part of her brain kept wandering to the way Kieran's stern features had transformed when he laughed, how his eyes had sparkled with centuries of mischief.

"Stop that," she told herself firmly. "You're too old for schoolgirl crushes, especially on immortal beings."

Bach chirped in agreement, headbutting her hand for attention. She scratched behind his ears, grateful for the distraction from her wandering thoughts.

The cursor blinked accusingly from her neglected manuscript. Her deadline wasn't going to meet itself, wishes or no wishes. But how was she supposed to focus on writing about fictional magic when real magic had literally appeared in her living room?

Mandy groaned and pushed back from her desk. Her thoughts refused to settle, spinning with possibilities and what-ifs. The blinking cursor seemed to mock her attempts at productivity. There was one thing that could help calm her mind.

"Sorry guys, but mama needs to try something else." She scratched Bach's ears as she stood, careful to maintain her balance. Mozart chirped from his cat tree, green eyes following her movement.

Swimming always helped clear her head. The weightlessness of the water eased her joints, and the complex's pool was usually empty this time of day. Perfect for sorting through cluttered thoughts.

Her favorite black swimsuit with its ruched middle made her feel almost elegant. She pulled it on, added the ivory cover-up she'd bought last summer, and checked her beach bag - towel, water bottle, sunscreen, key card, phone. The pendant's warmth against her chest gave her pause. Better keep it on - who knew what rules governed magical jewelry? Mandy grabbed her cane and locked up, giving both cats a final pat.

The complex's pool area stretched in the central courtyard, surrounded by BBQ pits and picnic benches in the desert landscaping. Palm trees rustled in the afternoon breeze, their fronds casting shifting shadows across the turquoise water.

She found her favorite lounge chair, partially shaded by the palms, and set down her bag.

Slipping off her cover-up and draping it over the lounge chair, Mandy began methodically applying sunscreen to every exposed bit of skin. The strong coconut scent reminded her of beaches she'd visited in her younger days. She worked the lotion into her arms, legs, and sun block to her nose and cheeks. That painful sunburn last summer had taught her well - the results hadn't been pretty. The Arizona sun showed no mercy to the unprepared.

Finished with that, the afternoon sun warmed her exposed skin as Mandy made her way to the pool steps, her movements careful but purposeful. The water lapped at her ankles, cool and inviting. She gripped the metal handrail and eased herself down each step until she pushed off, gliding forward, letting the warm water encompass her.

The familiar sensation of weightlessness enveloped her as she moved away from the edge. Her joints, usually so stiff and painful, felt loose and free. Without the constant pull of gravity, her back relaxed for the first time in hours.

Taking a deep breath, Mandy ducked beneath the surface. The water closed over her head, muffling all sound. Bubbles tickled her face as she exhaled slowly, watching them rise toward the rippling surface above.

Peace settled over her like a familiar blanket. Here, suspended in the aqua depths, her racing thoughts finally stilled. The water had always been her sanctuary, her place of calm since childhood. Whether lake or pool, being submerged brought an immediate sense of coming home, of rightness that nothing else quite matched.

She surfaced, and turned onto her back to float, letting the water support her, feeling that deep connection she'd never been able to explain to others. In this moment, there were no wishes to contemplate, no decisions to make, no ancient beings with silvery-blue eyes to puzzle over. There was only the embrace of the water, welcoming her back to where she belonged.

Mandy floated peacefully, her body suspended in the warm water as she watched wispy clouds drift across the brilliant Arizona sky. The desert air carried that distinctive dry warmth, even as the pool's surface rippled around her. Palm fronds swayed overhead, their shadows dancing across the water's surface in an ever-changing pattern.

The scent of coconut sunscreen mingled with the chlorine, bringing back memories of childhood summers spent in public pools. Even back then, she'd pretended to be a mermaid, diving deep and imagining her legs fusing into a powerful tail.

A gentle breeze stirred the palm trees, their leaves rustling with a soft whisper. More clouds drifted into view, fluffy and white against the intense blue sky. They reminded her of cotton candy, the way they piled up on themselves, constantly shifting and reforming into new shapes.

Like the clouds above, her thoughts drifted aimlessly, no longer racing with possibilities and what-ifs. Here, suspended between sky and water, everything felt simpler.

The scent of sunscreen grew stronger as the Arizona sun heated her exposed skin. She'd have to reapply soon, but for now, she simply let herself float, at peace with the moment. The water lapped gently at her shoulders, creating tiny ripples that spread outward into the larger pool.

Mandy took one last deep breath of the warm desert air, then rolled smoothly onto her stomach. She let herself sink beneath the surface, letting the familiar weightlessness embrace her as she glided forward, her arms pulling through the water in long, practiced strokes.

Her legs trailed behind her, but here that didn't matter. She'd adapted, letting her upper body strength guide her through the aqua silence. Filtered sunlight danced across the pool floor below, creating shifting patterns as she glided forward, tiny bubbles tracing along her skin.

Her lungs burned slightly, but she ignored it. After a year of practice, the full length of the pool and back was well within her capabilities. Each stroke brought a quiet triumph. Here, in this liquid realm, her disabilities meant little. The water supported her, allowing movement that would be impossible on land, until her outstretched fingers finally brushed the rough concrete of the far wall.

Mandy broke the surface and turned onto her back once more, letting the water cradle her body. She closed her eyes against the bright Arizona sun, consciously pushing away thoughts of Djinn, and wishes, and magic, to focus on her work-in-progress. Floating, she allowed her mind drift to her work-in-progress. The scene crystallized in her imagination, as vivid as if she were watching it unfold on a movie screen.

Brandi crept through the winding tunnels, her bare feet silent on the cold stone floor. The vampire's lair stretched deep into the mountain, a maze of natural caverns and carved passages that seemed to go on forever. Shadows danced on the rough-hewn walls, cast by guttering torches set in iron brackets.

Her heart thundered in her chest as she pressed herself against the damp rock, straining to hear any sound that might indicate pursuit. The ancient vampire would sleep until sunset - but his human servants could be anywhere in these tunnels.

A whisper of movement had her freezing in place, barely daring to breathe. The torch flames wavered, disturbed by some unseen draft. That had to mean an opening to the outside somewhere nearby - but it could also mean human guards posted at that exit.

Brandi's fingers traced the rough stone as she moved forward, using the wall for guidance in the dim light. The passage curved to the left, descending slightly. Not good - she needed to go up to find a way out. But the only other option was to go back the way she'd come, closer to where the vampire lord slumbered in his stone chamber.

The dripping grew louder as she crept forward. The passage opened into a larger cavern, lit by dozens of torches. Multiple tunnels branched off from this central chamber. Brandi studied each opening, trying to determine which might lead to freedom. One seemed to angle upward, and she could feel a slight breeze coming from that direction.

Mandy opened her eyes, the scene fading as the bright Arizona sunlight intruded. The atmosphere had felt just right - the rough stone walls, the dancing shadows, the constant tension of possible discovery. Urgency thrummed in her blood, as her fingers itched to capture the words before they slipped away.

The water lapped at her shoulders as she stood, her feet finding the bottom of the pool. The metal handrail felt sun-warmed against her palm as she gripped it, carefully navigating the steps. Her joints protested the return of gravity's pull, but the lingering effects of weightlessness made the transition easier than usual.

Water streamed from her swimsuit as she made her way to her lounge chair. She grabbed her towel, dabbing her face before wrapping it around her shoulders. The beads of water evaporated quickly from her skin in the desert heat. Her ivory cover-up slipped easily over her head, the flowing fabric settling comfortably around her.

The short walk back to her apartment took longer than the journey to the pool - her muscles had that pleasant fatigue that came from gentle exercise, but her back was already reminding her that gravity was not her friend. She kept a firm grip on her cane, focusing on maintaining her balance as she navigated the concrete path.

Mozart greeted her with an indignant meow, clearly upset that she'd had the audacity to leave him alone for an entire hour. Bach merely opened one eye from his spot on the recliner, acknowledging her return with his usual aristocratic dignity.

The familiar comfort of her apartment wrapped around Mandy as she headed straight for her bedroom, leaving damp footprints on the tile floor. She'd mop those up later - right now the scene burning in her mind demanded attention.

Shimmying out of her wet swimsuit, she dried off quickly and pulled on her favorite writing clothes - soft cotton pants and an oversized t-shirt that proclaimed: "Careful, or you'll end up in my novel."

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, bringing up her manuscript. The cursor no longer mocked her - now it danced across the screen, keeping pace with the words flowing from her imagination.

The scene unfolded exactly as she'd envisioned it by the pool, the atmosphere rich with tension and possibility. Her protagonist's fear and determination translated perfectly into words. This was why she wrote - for moments like these, when the story poured out effortlessly, when her characters came alive on the page.

Bach's purring nearby provided the perfect background music as she typed, the steady rhythm matching her creative flow. The afternoon sun slanted through her window, casting a warm glow across her workspace as she lost herself in her fictional world.

For now, thoughts of wishes and Djinn could wait. Her characters needed her full attention, and she was more than happy to give it to them.

Kieran materialized on the pool deck, his form invisible to mortal eyes. When Mandy entered the pool, the change in her was immediate and profound. The tension melted from her features as the water embraced her, accepting her into its depths. Her essence shifted, brightening with joy as she surrendered to the weightless embrace.

He moved closer, drawn by the transformation. In all his millennia, he'd rarely witnessed such a pure connection between human and element. The way she merged with the water reminded him of the ancient tales of water spirits, beings who existed in perfect harmony with their chosen realm. Her contentment as she floated on her back, face turned toward the sky, was clearly read on her face. Her thoughts, which until now had been constantly racing with possibilities and plans, grew quiet and peaceful.

He watched as that serenity gradually shifted, her mind beginning to weave stories once again. But unlike the frenetic energy of her earlier brainstorming, these thoughts flowed like the water that supported her - smooth, natural, unforced. Images of dark tunnels and ancient vampires formed in her imagination, as clear to his supernatural senses as if she were projecting them onto a screen.

Her creative process echoed how Djinn crafted their magic - taking ethereal thoughts and transforming them into something real and tangible. Her joy in the process radiated from her like ripples across the pool's surface. Here was a different kind of magic, one that required no wishes or supernatural intervention.

Kieran observed the precise moment when Mandy's creative energy crystallized. The scene forming in her mind gained clarity and momentum, like a spell reaching its peak resonance. Her essence blazed brighter, that familiar creative lightning crackling around her once more - but now it had direction and purpose.

She burst from her floating position with surprising speed, water cascading around her as she made her way to the pool steps. Her movements held an urgency that transcended her physical limitations. He recognized the fervor of the creator, the driving need to capture inspiration before it could fade.

Despite her careful grip on the handrail, her progress up the steps carried none of the hesitation from her earlier descent. She barely paused to wrap herself in her towel, her mind already racing ahead to her manuscript.

Her determination radiated from her like waves of heat as she gathered her belongings. The pendant swung against her chest, catching the sunlight. His vessel had adapted to her completely, its magic harmonizing with her natural energy in a way he'd rarely witnessed. Even now, it supported her urgency, lending her strength as she made her way back toward her apartment.

Kieran found himself following her, drawn by the pure creative force emanating from her being. Her pace, while still constrained by her physical needs, held a driving purpose. With each step, the story continued to build in her mind, bringing new details into focus. The vampire's lair grew more elaborate, the tension more palpable. Her protagonist's fear and determination twined together like perfectly balanced elements in a complex enchantment.

Kieran maintained his invisible presence outside Mandy's apartment when she entered, observing through the large front window as she worked at her computer. Her fingers flew across the keyboard with surprising speed.

He watched as Mandy's creative energy flowed through her fingers onto the screen, her essence blazing bright with pure joy in the act of creation. The sight stirred memories long buried beneath centuries of duty and protocol.

He remembered the first time he'd granted a wish - the wonder in the young girl's eyes as her simple desire for a garden bloomed into reality before her. The pure delight that had coursed through him as flowers burst from barren soil, their sweet fragrance filling the air, and watching her joy. Back then, he'd reveled in using his powers to bring such happiness.

When had he stopped finding pleasure in the magic? Somewhere between council meetings and diplomatic missions, enforcing ancient laws and maintaining the delicate balance between worlds, that spark of joy had become lost, overshadowed by more important things. And yet - were they more important?

Jacinth, with her impulsive nature and generous heart, had seen what he'd forgotten. She'd recognized in Mandy someone who still possessed that childlike sense of wonder, that ability to find magic in everyday moments. Someone who could remind him of what he'd lost sight of.

Creative force emanated from the woman before him. Her imagination painted worlds as vivid as any Djinn magic, weaving stories that could transport readers to realms of possibility and wonder. She wielded words the way he wielded magic - with precision and purpose, yes, but also with unmistakable joy.

The realization settled over him like desert sunshine. Jacinth had been right. He'd allowed his responsibilities to overshadow everything else - forgotten why Djinn chose to become Wish Bearers in the first place. It wasn't just about maintaining balance or following protocols. It was about this - the pure delight of creation, the joy of bringing wonder into the world.

Not that he would ever admit it to Jacinth. She was already far too pleased with herself over this situation. But perhaps he owed her a debt of gratitude nonetheless. Through her meddling, she'd forced him to remember what it felt like to approach magic with enthusiasm rather than mere duty.

His blue fire danced within him, more active than it had been in decades, responding to Mandy's creative energy. Perhaps it was time to remember how to find joy in the magic again.

Kieran watched as Mandy's face lit up suddenly, a delighted laugh escaping as she read back something she'd written. The sound carried even through the glass, rich with genuine pleasure. Bach, who was curled on the cat tree in the corner of the room, lifted his head at the noise before settling back into his nap.

Mandy paused in her typing, resting her chin in her hand as she stared at the screen. Her brow furrowed in concentration, lips moving slightly as she tested different phrases silently. The creative energy around her didn't diminish during these contemplative moments - instead, it coalesced, gathering like storm clouds before lightning strikes.

Sure enough, her expression cleared suddenly. She sat up straight, energy crackling around her as her fingers returned to the keyboard with renewed purpose. The words flowing from her imagination carried that same pure joy he'd witnessed in the pool, though now it had found focus and direction.

Another laugh bubbled up as she worked, this one accompanied by a satisfied nod. Whatever scene played out in her mind clearly met with her approval. Her essence blazed brighter, the creative force surrounding her almost visible even to mortal eyes.

Kieran found himself oddly reluctant to leave, drawn by the simple pleasure she took in her craft. Her delight in weaving stories reminded him of young Djinn discovering their magic for the first time - that same sense of wonder and possibility, of creating something from nothing but thought and will.

Kieran sensed Jacinth's presence an instant before she materialized beside him. Her essence carried that familiar spark of mischief that always seemed to herald trouble. She moved closer to the window, studying Mandy with obvious satisfaction.

"Do you see now?" Jacinth's voice was uncharacteristically solemn. "Why I chose her for your vessel?"

He did see, though admitting it stirred complicated feelings within him. The way Mandy approached her craft echoed ancient magic - taking ethereal thoughts and manifesting them into something tangible and real. Her mind worked in patterns similar to Djinn spellcraft, building layers of meaning and possibility with careful precision.

Even now, she paused in her typing to consider her words, that familiar look of concentration crossing her features as she tested different phrases silently. The creative force around her gathered and coalesced before bursting forth in another flurry of typing. Her essence blazed bright with joy at capturing exactly the right combination of words.

"Yes," he admitted to Jacinth, his voice low. "I understand why you chose her."

Mozart's green eyes fixed on him through the window, the cat's whiskers twitching as he sensed the Djinn's invisible presence. Animals always knew when Djinn were near, their instincts unhampered by human limitations. The orange tabby's tail swished once before he settled back into his nap.

Mandy, however, remained absorbed in her work, completely unaware of her audience as she shaped her fictional worlds with the same dedication a Djinn might apply to crafting complex enchantments.

"She approaches her art as we approach our magic," Kieran added softly. "With reverence for its power, and joy in its possibilities."

Kieran watched Jacinth's form dissolve into wisps of smoke, her knowing smile lingering in the air like desert heat. His jaw tightened at her presumption - that eternally irritating certainty she possessed about matters that weren't her concern.

And yet... his gaze returned to the window where Mandy sat typing, completely absorbed in the flow of her story. Through the glass, he observed as Mandy paused, head tilted in consideration, before her fingers flew across the keyboard once more.

He had intended to speak with her again about her wishes, to provide further guidance on their proper formation. But watching her now, so deeply immersed in her creative flow, he found himself reluctant to interrupt. This moment of pure creation deserved respect, like a perfectly balanced spell reaching its crescendo.

Kieran allowed his form to dissolve into wisps of smoke, leaving Mandy to her work. His tower materialized around him, its white marble walls gleaming in the eternal desert sun. The familiar space welcomed him, every surface polished to mirror brightness, reflecting the blue-tinged light that filtered through the crystalline windows. Here, in his sanctuary, the ancient magic of the Djinn realm thrummed through the very air, as familiar as his own heartbeat.

A touch against his leg pulled Kieran from his contemplation. Dinen weaved between his feet, the Djinn cat's spotted fur rippling with tiny blue flames of pleasure. The massive feline's purr vibrated through the marble floor like distant thunder.

Missed you. Happy you're home. The sentiment flowed through their connection, accompanied by fleeting images of Dinen waiting in various spots around the tower - sprawled in a patch of sunlight by the crystal windows, perched on the library shelves, curled up in Kieran's favorite chair.

"I wasn't gone that long," Kieran murmured, though they both knew time moved differently between realms. Dinen simply butted his head harder against Kieran's hand, unconcerned with such technicalities.

Dinen's broad nose pressed against his trouser leg, whiskers twitching as he investigated the lingering scents from the mortal realm. Through their bond, images of Bach and Mozart flashed - Dinen's curiosity about the two cats he'd scented on Kieran's previous visits.

"No, I didn't go inside to visit them this time." Kieran kept his voice neutral, though something in his chest tightened at the admission.

Why not? Playful. Different. A wave of questioning rolled through their telepathic connection, accompanied by more images of the mortal cats. Dinen's spotted tail swished, blue flames dancing along his fur.

Kieran turned away from those questioning golden eyes, moving toward the majlis - living room in the Western world - with its comfortable cushions and low tables. "It's complicated," he mumbled, more to himself than to his feline companion.

The word felt inadequate to describe the swirl of emotions he'd experienced watching Mandy work. Her creative energy had called to something long dormant within him, awakening memories and feelings he'd thought safely buried beneath centuries of duty and protocol.

He conjured some tea for himself, and a bowl of honey wine for Dinen, a treat the Djinn cat enjoyed. He would return to the mortal realm when Mandy called. For now, let her create her worlds in peace.