Chapter

Thirteen

Mandy sat in her recliner, fingers tracing the delicate patterns of the pendant. The late afternoon sun slanted through her windows, painting golden stripes across her living room carpet. Mozart watched from his perch on the cat tree, his tail twitching with interest, while Bach dozed on the couch.

It had been two days since she'd seen either of the Djinn, and her pulse fluttered with nervous anticipation as she wrapped her fingers around the warm pendant.

"Kieran?" Her voice came out barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again, more firmly. "Kieran."

After a moment's hesitation, she added, "And... Jacinth? If you can hear me too?"

The pendant warmed beneath her touch, its heat spreading through her fingers and up her arm. She wasn't sure if Jacinth would or could respond to the summons, but something told her the younger Djinn would want to be present for whatever came next.

The air in her living room shimmered with that now-familiar trace of magic.

The air shimmered as both Djinn materialized in her living room. Mandy smiled in relief at seeing them - Kieran in his customary blue robes with their silver embroidery, and Jacinth in faded jeans, a cheerful sky blue t-shirt, and sneakers covered in yellow happy faces. Seriously?

"Thank you both for coming," Mandy said, shifting slightly in her recliner to face them better. "Jacinth, I wasn't sure if you'd hear me since it's Kieran's vessel, but I hoped..."

Jacinth's musical laugh interrupted her. The younger Djinn pointed toward Mandy's bookcase where her small collection of crystals caught the late afternoon sun. "See that blue stone there, between the rose quartz and the amethyst? I put it there the other day."

Mandy squinted at her crystal collection. Sure enough, nestled among her familiar stones was a deep blue crystal she didn't remember acquiring. It seemed to pulse with a faint inner light.

"That lets me hear if you say my name," Jacinth explained, her dark eyes twinkling.

"Sneaky," Kieran said, his deep voice carrying an unexpected note of approval.

Jacinth grinned at them both, looking for all the world like a mischievous teenager who'd just gotten away with something clever, rather than a centuries-old magical being. "Well, I couldn't risk missing anything interesting, could I?"

"I thought about what you asked me," Mandy began, not certain where to begin. "Not about the wishes. But about what I'd want to do with my life if I was pain-free." She drew a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Besides writing, I mean."

Kieran's silvery-blue gaze fixed on her with that unnerving intensity, while Jacinth leaned forward slightly, her dark eyes warm with encouragement.

Memories flooded back as recalled younger days - childhood dreams of gliding through crystal waters, the freedom of weightless movement, the joy of exploring mysterious depths. She'd always felt most at peace in the water, even now when her physical limitations made swimming such a challenge.

She couldn't help the soft smile that curved her lips. "I... I'd want to be a live mermaid."

Two pairs of eyes - one silvery-blue, one deep brown - stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"You want Kieran to turn you into a real mermaid?" Jacinth's musical voice carried a note of puzzlement.

"No, of course not a real..." Mandy started to roll her eyes, then broke off as she stared at the two Djinn. "Wait. Are you saying there are real mermaids?"

"Let's not get off on a tangent." Kieran waved one elegant hand in dismissal. "What did you mean, if not a real mermaid?"

"I meant professional mermaiding." She caught their blank looks and hurried on. "It's a real thing. People dressed as mermaids perform at aquariums, renaissance faires, even children's parties. They wear these amazing silicone tails and do underwater performances."

Mandy reached for her phone, grateful for a chance to show rather than explain. "Here, it's easier if I just show you." Her fingers flew across the screen as she opened TikTok. "Give me just a second to find my favorite video."

She scrolled through her saved videos, past dozens of cat clips and writing tips until she found the one she was looking for. The familiar sight of her favorite performer made her pause, a smile spreading across her face as she watched the graceful movements.

The mermaid in the video glided through crystal-clear water, her iridescent green tail catching the light as she twisted and spun. Long dark hair floated around her like a cloud as she executed a perfect backward somersault, bubbles trailing in her wake. The camera followed her movements as she swooped down to interact with a group of wide-eyed children pressing their hands against the aquarium glass.

Mandy reluctantly tore her gaze away from the mesmerizing performance to pass her phone to Jacinth and Kieran. "This particular performer is my favorite - she does shows at an aquarium. Look at how naturally she moves in that tail! You'd almost think she was born with it."

She bit her lip as she watched their reactions. Jacinth leaned in closer to the screen, her dark eyes wide with wonder, while Kieran's silvery-blue gaze remained fixed on the display with that intense focus he brought to everything.

"There are whole communities dedicated to it," she explained, warming to the subject. "They make these incredible tails of silicone - some cost thousands of dollars. And the performances they do... it's simply magical. Almost like underwater ballet. The mermaids can hold their breath for minutes at a time, doing these beautiful, flowing movements."

"I can watch videos of them for hours, imagining what it would be like. To move so freely through the water, without pain or limitations." She swallowed hard. "To bring that kind of magic and wonder to children."

"But you need to be physically fit. The tails alone weigh 30-35 pounds. Plus, you have to be able to swim powerfully enough to propel yourself through the water with your legs bound together." She gestured at her legs. "Obviously, that's not happening with my back and knee issues."

"They're absolutely incredible!" Jacinth's musical voice filled with wonder as she watched the mermaid glide through the water. "The way she moves, it's like she's dancing underwater." Her dark eyes lifted from the screen to study Mandy with keen interest. "How ever did you discover this? I've never heard of this."

"Pure accident, actually. I was having one of those nights where my back was screaming, and nothing helped. You know the kind - where you're so desperate for distraction that even counting sheep sounds too complicated? I never watch TV - I mean, almost never. Give me a good book any day. But that night, I couldn't focus enough to read, so I started browsing Netflix. They had this documentary series about professional mermaids. I thought it would be perfect - something light and fluffy to help me drift off."

Mandy laughed softly, shaking her head at herself. "Instead, I stayed up until dawn watching the entire series. I couldn't stop. It was fascinating - the training they go through, the way they make the tails, the performances..." She gestured toward her phone, still displaying the graceful performer. "That's actually one of the mermaids from the documentary. I found her TikTok account that same night and followed her, along with pretty much every other performer they mentioned in the show."

Jacinth leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling with interest. "Tell me more about these costumes. How are they made?"

"The tails at least, and, I think, some of the tops, are silicone," Mandy explained, scrolling through her phone to find a behind-the-scenes video. "The professional ones are custom-made to fit perfectly. They're absolutely gorgeous, but they can cost thousands of dollars."

She paused the video on a close-up of a tail's iridescent scales. "If I were to try it, I wouldn't start with something that expensive. There are more affordable options out there, maybe even second-hand ones. Just to see if I really enjoy it before making such a major investment."

A wry grin spread across her face as memories surfaced. "I learned that lesson the hard way. When I was little, I had this dream of owning a pony - you know, like every little girl does. Well, I finally got my own horse when I grew up." She shook her head, chuckling. "Let me tell you, the reality was a lot different from the dream. There was all this work - currying and grooming, picking hooves, maintaining the tack. And don't even get me started on cleaning the stall and shoveling the paddock."

Jacinth's musical laugh filled the room. "Just like sailing isn't simply getting onto a boat and drifting off into the sunset."

"Right?" Mandy joined in her laughter, remembering her own brief… very brief… experience with sailing.

Jacinth looked back at the phone, scrolling to another video of a mermaid performing intricate underwater acrobatics. "This isn't nearly as easy as they make it look."

"No, not at all. I know that for sure, because I've been practicing in the complex's pool."

Kieran's gaze fixed on her with renewed intensity. "Practicing?"

"Well, yes." Mandy gestured toward the window where the pool's blue waters sparkled in the afternoon sun. "After watching that docuseries, I wanted it so badly that I started practicing during the quiet hours. Swimming with my legs together, learning their movements." She demonstrated with her hands, making a flowing motion through the air. "The poses, the preens, the smiles, the blown kisses - all those little touches that make it magical for the audience."

She smiled as memories of early morning practices flooded back. "I've been working on my breathing control too. I found these great free diving tutorials on YouTube that teach you how to learn to hold your breath longer underwater while still actively swimming." A smile tugged at her lips. "My record is only a minute forty-five seconds, which isn't much compared to free divers, or live mermaids, but it's better than when I started."

"The hardest part is remembering to keep smiling underwater," she admitted with a laugh. "You'd think it would be natural, but when you're concentrating on everything else - keeping your legs together, maintaining good form, controlling your breath - the smile is usually the first thing to slip."

Jacinth scrolled through more videos, her dark eyes taking in the graceful movements of various performers. "They're mostly fairly young women," Jacinth observed, her musical voice thoughtful but not judgmental.

"Yes, they are." Mandy nodded, leaning to the side to look at the phone over jacinth's shoulder. "But I wouldn't be looking to join an aquarium show or anything like that." She hesitated, before continuing. "What I thought would be fun would be to do children's parties... you know, birthday parties and such."

"Oh!" Jacinth's face lit up with delight, her dark eyes sparkling. "That's a wonderful idea!"

The enthusiasm in Jacinth's voice made Mandy's heart lift unexpectedly. She'd never voiced this particular dream aloud before, had barely allowed herself to even think about it. But Jacinth's immediate, positive response made it feel less like an impossible dream and more like... well, like something that could actually happen.

Mandy beamed, her whole face lighting up with excitement. "Right? I could be a grandma mermaid!" Her mind raced with possibilities. "Though I'd need to come up with a special mermaid name. Something that fits the character."

"Grandmère!" Jacinth's musical voice chimed in immediately. "It's French for grandmother, and it already has 'mer' right there in it!"

Mandy clapped her hands together, the pendant bouncing against her chest with the movement. "That's perfect! Oh my goodness, that's absolutely perfect!" She could already picture it - the sparkly tail, the flowing hair, the children's delighted faces.

"And you know," she continued, practically vibrating with enthusiasm, "I already volunteer for story hour at the library and one of the local bookstores. I sit and read to the younger children. I've got this whole list of ocean-themed books that would be perfect for poolside reading."

She gestured, painting the scene with her hands. "The children could take turns sitting on Grandmère's lap while I read to them." She smiled, remembering all the bright young faces from her regular story hours. "It would be like story time, but with extra magic."

Jacinth's dark eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh, the children would love that! For that matter, I would love it too!"

Mandy couldn't help but laugh at Jacinth's enthusiasm. "You're a little big to sit on my lap for storytime."

A sound suspiciously like a snort came from Kieran's direction. He'd remained quiet during their discussion, but Mandy had noticed his silvery-blue eyes hadn't left the phone screen, studying the videos of the live mermaids with that intense focus he brought to everything.

"You are going to enjoy doing this." His deep voice carried absolute certainty. "I know this." He gestured toward the phone with one elegant hand. "When you decide to move forward with it, do not waste money on pre-made costumes. Move directly to having one custom-made, once you have settled on the look you want."

Mandy stared at him, caught off guard by both his certainty and his practical advice. The fact that he spoke of it as a 'when' rather than an 'if' made her heart skip a beat. Their enthusiasm had sparked something in her - a desire to share the full scope of her dream, not just the surface details.

"I... actually have this whole vision planned out," she admitted, heat creeping up her neck. "In my head, I mean. My dream aquarium. Not just for performances, but the perfect setup." The words tumbled out in a rush, like water breaking through a dam. "I can see it so clearly - the pool wouldn't need to be huge, just about the size of a regular backyard pool."

She gestured with her hands, trying to capture the image that lived so vividly in her imagination. "There would be these beautiful boulders along one end, arranged just right for sitting and posing as a mermaid." Her eyes grew distant as she described her vision. "Natural-looking rocks, not those fake pool decorations. Real stone, some with flat surfaces to perch on comfortably."

She caught herself up, knowing she was getting carried away. A wry smile tugged at her lips as reality intruded on her dream. "Of course, that's assuming I could figure out how to haul both myself and a thirty-pound silicone tail up onto those rocks." She patted her knee meaningfully. "Gracefully, mind you. Can't exactly have Grandmère the mermaid flopping around like a beached whale."

Jacinth's delicate nose wrinkled as she considered this logistical challenge. "That last part could be tricky," she agreed, her musical voice carrying a note of concern.

Mandy laughed, nodding in agreement. "Actually, there was a whole test about that exact thing in the documentary series. All the live mermaids had to demonstrate getting up onto the pool edge and into a sitting position - gracefully, mind you. It was fascinating to watch. Not everyone passed that test, either. Some of them really struggled just to get up out of the water, even though they were young and fit."

"I've been practicing that move too, actually," she confessed. "In the pool, I mean. Obviously without thirty pounds of silicone tail weighing me down." She felt her cheeks color as she admitted to these secret practice sessions. "But you know what? It's all about upper body strength. That's one thing I do have going for me. See, I can't kick at all when I swim - my knees won't allow it. So for years now, I've been swimming purely with my arms. As a result, my upper body strength is really great. It's kind of funny how adapting to one limitation ended up giving me an advantage in something else."

Jacinth's dark eyes filled with sympathy. "You are making lemonade with your lemons," she said, nodding.

Mandy grinned at the reference, pleased the Djinn understood. "It's a fact of life for me. But you know what? All that arm strength I've developed? It means I don't have much trouble getting myself up onto the edge of the pool."

Kieran's intent gaze fixed on her with that intense focus. "Tell me more about this dream pool of yours."

Mandy sat up straighter in her recliner, her whole face lighting up as excitement bubbled through her.

"Well, it would be built next to a gentle slope," she said, gazing into the distance, trying to find words to express the vision that lived so vividly in her mind. "There'd be these shallow stairs leading down on either side, and - this is the really cool part - an observation window below the water line. The children could watch from there while I'm swimming."

"Underneath, there'd be these shallow rocks and water plants, making it look more natural - more like a pond than a swimming pool. I'd surface near the rocks to talk with them for a bit, then dive back down to perform more underwater."

Mandy sighed wistfully, as reality intruded on her dream. "I can see it all so clearly in my mind. Every detail, every feature..." She shook her head, frustration creeping into her voice. "But it's impossible to actually show anyone, to explain exactly what I see. I'm no artist - I can't draw it out or make people understand how perfect it would be."

"I can see it." Kieran's words came abruptly, cutting through Mandy's musings.

She stared at him, caught off guard by the statement. He shrugged one elegant shoulder, but his expression had gone distant and aloof, that same icy demeanor he'd shown that very first day in her living room.

"As clearly as you visualize it in your mind," he continued, his deep voice carrying that otherworldly resonance, "I am able to see it as you do."

Excitement bubbled up through her chest. "Wait - do you think... Could a wish translate that into actual blueprints and sketches? Real architectural drawings?"

Her mind raced with possibilities as the words tumbled out. "Because if I could get proper plans made up, I could start getting estimates for the concrete work, and the glass installation, and the construction costs..."

Jacinth looked at her sideways, those dark eyes taking on a distinctly sly expression.

"What about the house?" Jacinth's musical voice carried a note of pure mischief.

"What about what house?" Mandy frowned at her, perplexed.

"You can't tell me there's not a house on the property with the pool." Jacinth's knowing smile widened. "And that you haven't pictured it."

Mandy sank deeper into her recliner, caught out in a way that made her face flame. "Oh, that house." She cleared her throat, suddenly finding Bach's tail-twitching very interesting. "Yeah."

She avoided Jacinth's amused gaze. Of course she'd pictured the house - how could she not? It had grown in her imagination right alongside the pool design, each feature carefully considered and refined over countless sleepless nights.

Jacinth nudged her shoulder. "Come on, tell us about this house. We want to hear all about it."

Kieran gestured gracefully with one hand, encouraging her to continue.

Mandy couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as she settled back in her recliner.

"It's beautiful," she said, her eyes going distant as she pictured it. "A single-story Spanish style house with cream-colored walls and a red tile roof. There's this gorgeous courtyard toward the back that overlooks the pool. The house is U-shaped, with the entrance in the center. The kitchen and dining room would be on one side, and the bedrooms on the other."

A contented sigh escaped her as she continued, "And there would be a library." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "With one of those rolling ladders like in Beauty and the Beast. And maybe even a turret, with window seats lining the walls of the 2nd floors so I could look out in any direction. There would be sweeping views, overlooking the desert and mountains… "

Mandy broke off mid-sentence, closing her eyes with a heavy sigh. Realizing she'd once more gotten carried away, she blushed furiously.

"I'm sorry. For a minute there I just..." A soft chuckle escaped her as she opened her eyes again. "I do that a lot, actually. My imagination grabs hold of an idea and starts running down impossible rabbit holes."

Mandy tried not to shrink back a little, as Kieran fixed her with a glacial stare, his aristocratic features hardening into stone. Only a slight muscle twitch in his cheek betrayed any emotion as his silvery-blue eyes bored into her.

"It is not impossible." His deep voice carried that otherworldly resonance that made the hair on her arms stand up. "From your vision, I can create this for you. If you wish it."

Before Mandy could respond, he simply... vanished. One moment he was there, the next - nothing but empty air where he had been standing. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the spot, half-expecting him to reappear.

Heat crept up her neck as she turned to Jacinth, who remained perched gracefully on the couch. "Is he angry?" Uncertainty make her voice quaver. She hadn't meant to upset him. "Because he thinks I might wish for that?"

Mandy glanced around her small living room, suddenly uncertain. The air felt charged somehow, as if traces of Kieran's presence still lingered. She lowered her voice to barely above a whisper.

"I don't even know if he can still hear us."

Jacinth's musical laugh filled the room. "No, he's definitely gone." Her dark eyes rest on Mandy's face a long, uncomfortable moment. "And he's not angry, not at all."

"Then why did he just..." Mandy gestured at the empty space where Kieran had been standing moments before.

"Because he wants you to wish for it," Jacinth said simply. "And I think he's afraid you won't."

Mandy frowned, puzzled by this revelation. "Why would he care either way?" The whole idea seemed absurd - an ancient, powerful Djinn prince concerned about her potential wishes?

Jacinth's expression softened, but her words were direct. "Because you're one of those people who's more likely to focus on what you should wish for, rather than what you really want." She tilted her head, studying Mandy with those knowing dark eyes. "You'll probably talk yourself out of this dream and choose something more... practical."

Color flooded Mandy's cheeks as the truth of those words hit home. She brought one hand to her heart, the age-old gesture of acknowledging a direct hit. " Touché ," she murmured, unable to deny the accuracy of Jacinth's assessment.

Jacinth's dark eyes were intent on Mandy's face. "You know, being a Wish Bearer has never been about fixing all the world's problems." Her musical voice carried a gentle note of understanding. "That's not why we do this, those of us who choose to become Wish Bearers."

Mandy frowned a bit in puzzlement. "What do you mean?"

"Our purpose isn't to solve global issues or create sweeping changes." Jacinth's expression softened, her lips curving in a smile. "It's about bringing joy to individual lives, creating moments of happiness that ripple outward."

The truth of those words settled deep in Mandy's chest. She thought about all the videos she'd watched of children's faces lighting up at their first sight of a live mermaid, their squeals of delight when offered a chance to touch a sparkly tail.

"It would make me so happy," Mandy admitted. "Not just performing, but bringing that kind of magic to others. You should see how children react during my regular story times. Their eyes get so big, and they lean forward, completely caught up in the tale."

A smile spread across her face as she imagined it. "Can you picture how much more magical it would be with Grandmère the Mermaid? Reading stories about the sea while actually sitting by a pool, maybe splashing my tail in the water for emphasis?"

"That's exactly what being a Wish Bearer is about," Jacinth said, her musical voice warm with approval. "Creating those moments of pure joy, those memories that last a lifetime."

Mandy realized how perfectly her dream aligned with what Jacinth was describing. Not saving the world or solving major problems - just bringing a little more magic and wonder into it, one child at a time.

Jacinth nodded, an almost knowing look in her dark eyes. For a moment, Mandy wondered if the Djinn could read her thoughts after all, despite her earlier denials.

"Happiness becomes its own reward," Jacinth said, her musical voice carrying a note of deep understanding. "When you bring joy to others, it multiplies. It spreads outward, touching lives you might never even know about."

"The world needs more happiness," Jacinth continued softly. "More moments of pure magic and wonder." Her dark eyes sparkled as she gestured toward Mandy's phone, still displaying the video of the graceful mermaid performer. "More dreams coming true."

The pendant pulsed warmly, almost like a gentle encouragement. She twisted it between her fingers, drawing comfort from its familiar warmth as she considered the possibility that maybe - just maybe - her seemingly impossible dream wasn't so impossible after all.

Jacinth rose gracefully to her feet. "I think I've given you enough to think about for now." Her dark eyes sparkled with that familiar mischievous light. "I'll be in touch."

Before Mandy could respond, Jacinth leaned over and, stretching out one slender hand, bopped her nose with a finger. The unexpected playfulness from such an ethereal being startled a giggle from Mandy's throat, and Jacinth's musical laugh joined in.

Jacinth's expression softened. "Keep thinking about the pool, the landscaping, the house." Her musical voice carried a note of encouragement. "The more detailed your mental images, the better Kieran can reproduce it for you." She tilted her head, those knowing dark eyes fixed on Mandy's face. "If you decide to wish for that."