Page 25

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Mandy drifted up through layers of darkness, drawn by the sound of quiet weeping. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but she forced them open. The harsh hospital lighting had been dimmed, casting the room in gentle shadows.

Jacinth sat beside her bed, clutching Mandy's hand in both of hers. Tears streamed down her face, making her chocolate-brown eyes glisten.

Joy flooded through Mandy at the sight of her. She managed only the ghost of a smile, but her eyes said everything.

Mandy's chest tightened as she fought back another fit of violent coughing. The spasms made her head throb. But what truly broke her heart was watching Jacinth, the usually cheerful 900-year-old Djinn, dissolve into tears at her bedside.

"It's not fair," Jacinth whispered, her voice cracking, tears streaming down her beautiful face. "This shouldn't be happening to you. Not like this."

A small laugh escaped Mandy's lips before she could stop it, but that triggered the coughing fit she'd been trying to hold back. Her lungs burned as she struggled to breathe, each cough feeling like sandpaper scraping against her raw throat. The monitor beside her bed beeped in protest as her oxygen levels dipped.

Jacinth clung to her hand, dark eyes swimming with tears. The Djinn's touch felt warm and comforting and amazingly, some of the cough eased. Mandy gestured weakly toward the carafe on the bedside table, and Jacinth hurriedly poured her some tea. Mandy drank slowly, savoring the hot, sweet liquid as it soothed her aching throat and calmed the wracking coughs.

When the cough finally subsided, Mandy took several shallow breaths before speaking. Her voice came out raspy and weak, but she couldn't help the hint of amusement that crept into her tone.

"You're nine hundred years old," she managed, "and you still haven't learned that life isn't fair?"

Jacinth's voice cracked with emotion. "You've only just learned about magic. You got your life back, you were supposed to have time..." Her shoulders shook as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Time to explore it all, to experience everything."

Mandy's lips curved into a gentle smile even as her eyes drifted closed. Exhaustion pulled at her, making her eyelids feel impossibly heavy. She tightened her fingers around Jacinth's hand, offering what comfort she could.

"But I got to know about magic," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the steady beeping of the hospital monitors. Her lips curved in a smile, thinking back over the past weeks. "And I did get to experience my new life. So much wonder, so much joy."

She remembered the wonder of those first magical moments - the simple delight of being able to move without pain, walking in Reid Park hand-in-hand with Kieran, the thrill of ordering her mermaid tail.

"And for a while," Mandy continued softly, squeezing Jacinth's fingers as she struggled to speak between agonized breaths, "even if it was for a short time… I got to be part of… something truly special… part of a world I'd always dreamed of but never knew… it could actually exist."

Kieran's tall form materialized beside the bed, his tall frame seeming to fill the small hospital room. His white hair gleamed silver in the low light, and his ice-blue eyes held an intensity she'd never seen before.

In his hand, he held a small crystal bottle filled with an iridescent liquid that seemed to shimmer and shift colors as he moved.

He handed the bottle to Jacinth without ceremony. "Three drops in her tea, no more."

Mandy's lips curved into a weak smile. "If you're trying to poison me, that seems like overkill at this point." Her attempt at humor triggered another coughing fit, making her whole body shake with the force of it.

Kieran's silver-blue eyes fixed on her, his expression stern. "This is not a matter for jest. The elixir will ease your coughing and provide several hours of relief."

When she could breathe again, Mandy managed a small nod. "Thank you. I mean it." She watched as Jacinth carefully measured three drops into her cooling tea. "I'm okay with going out peacefully, but these coughs..." She gestured weakly at her chest. "Not exactly conducive to peace."

The liquid sparkled as it hit the tea, sending tiny rainbow ripples across the surface before dissolving completely. Jacinth helped her take a few careful sips, and almost immediately, Mandy felt the burning in her lungs begin to ease.

"Oh, my!" Mandy's eyes widened as warmth spread through her chest, radiating outward from where the elixir had settled. The burning sensation that had plagued her lungs melted away, replaced by a gentle, comforting heat that reminded her of something... someone...

She smiled, her eyes brightening for the first time in days. "It feels just like being hugged by Dean."

Jacinth's musical laugh filled the sterile hospital room, the sound somehow making everything better. Even Kieran's stern expression cracked, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he shook his head.

"Trust you to compare an ancient Djinn healing elixir to a bear shifter's embrace," Jacinth said.

Mandy settled back against her pillows, enjoying the familiar sensation of security and comfort that reminded her so strongly of Dean's protective bear hugs.

The monitors beeped steadily in the background as Kieran moved closer. His large hand settled on her forehead, and blessed coolness flowed from his touch. The burning that had consumed her for days began to recede, replaced by soothing waves of relief. Mandy sighed, letting her eyes drift closed as the fever's grip loosened under Kieran's magic.

"You can use your next wish," Kieran said, his deep voice gentle. "The magic could heal you completely."

She shook her head slowly, careful not to disturb the oxygen cannula. "No. I've already had such an amazing gift - experiencing real magic, being part of this wonderful hidden world." Her voice came out weak but clear. "I got everything I dreamed of and more."

"But Mandy-" Jacinth protested, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.

Mandy smiled, remembering a much-beloved movie, seeing the scene play out in her mind's eye. " The journey doesn't end here, she whispered. "I know now… that there is more. That it's not the end. And like Pippin said… that isn't so bad ." Despite her exhaustion, a peaceful smile curved her lips as she gazed up at Kieran's stern features.

"And at least I found love," she whispered. "Real love. The kind I always dreamed about but never thought I would ever feel. Even though you didn't return it… you never wanted anything from me… except my happiness. Never demanded or expected... just gave. That's worth more than all the wishes in the world."

In that moment, Kieran felt the weight of his feelings for her shift, coalescing into a fierce clarity that had eluded him until now. It wasn’t just the temporary joy they'd shared; it was an unwavering connection that tugged at the very fabric of his being.

He had always respected her humanity, her resilience, and the way she approached life with awe. But now, as he stared into her feverish eyes, he realized how deeply he had come to cherish her—the laughter they shared, the careful way she navigated their world, and her tenacious spirit that breathed life into the chaos. He knew she had become more than just a friend; she was a bright light in his otherwise somber existence.

Caught between the responsibilities of his realm and the undeniable bond they had formed, Kieran felt the stirrings of something profound—a desire not only to protect her life but to be part of it. He wanted her joy, her laughter, her presence beside him, for every day that lay ahead.

"But I do return it," Kieran's deep voice resonated through her, his words carrying a fierce certainty that made her heart skip. "Fight this, Mandy. Stay with us... with me." His large hand engulfed hers, warm and solid, grounding him against the whirlwind of fear that threatened to consume the moment. As he held her frail hand, he felt her spirit flickering like a candle in the wind, and the rush of panic he had long fought to suppress coursed through him.

"Use the next wish," he urged, his voice deeper, with an urgency that resonated from his core. There was no longer any pretense, no walls to protect himself from the truth that had been building inside him. The thought of losing her, the woman who had so effortlessly slipped into the hidden corners of his heart, made his chest tighten.

As he squeezed her hand, feeling the pulse of her life against his palm, he silently begged her to fight, not just for herself but for the future they could forge together.

Mandy struggled to focus on him, her heavy eyelids drooping as she tried to absorb the raw emotion in his voice. After all these weeks of careful friendship, of convincing herself she was content with what they had, his words felt like a physical force pressing against her fragile spirit. She searched his face through the haze clouding her thoughts, recognizing the deep love and sorrow in his expression, a fierce plea urging her to choose to live.

The monitor beeped steadily as she took several shallow breaths. The elixir had soothed the wracking spasms in her lungs, but fatigue weighed down her entire being, making it hard to think clearly. She was so terribly tired.

“I am still only human,” she managed to whisper, her voice barely escaping her dry throat, each word a monumental effort. “And I’m sixty-seven years old.” She paused, feeling the weight of her reality press down on her. “I was already in the high-risk population. I can’t keep using wishes to stay alive forever, and there are only two wishes left.”

She struggled to keep her eyes open. "I want to go out on my own terms, while I'm still riding this wave of joy and wonder. And besides," a peaceful smile curved her lips, "now I know magic is real—that Djinn and shifters actually exist. Maybe there's something to reincarnation too."

An involuntary chuckle triggered another coughing fit. When it was under control, she managed to croak, "Maybe I'll come back as a cat shifter."

Cats! Mandy's heart clenched as she remembered her babies. Her breath caught in her throat, triggering another coughing fit. Tears welled up in her eyes as panic gripped her chest.

"Bach... Mozart!" she gasped, her voice breaking. "My cats!" The thought of her beloved cats waiting by the door for her to come home, not understanding why she never returned, tore at her heart. They'd already been abandoned once, before she'd adopted them. The idea of them feeling abandoned again... Her monitors beeped faster as her heart rate shot up.

"Oh, sweetie." Jacinth's musical voice cut through her rising panic. The Djinn's warm hand squeezed hers gently. "Did you really think I'd let anything happen to them?"

Mandy blinked through her tears, hope flickering in her chest.

"They'll come home with me," Jacinth told her. "Douglas loves cats, and Ben and Molly have been begging for pets. Plus, I don't know if I ever told you, my daughter Talya is a shifter too… she's a caracal, so she has a special connection with all felines." A gentle smile curved her lips, despite the sadness in the dark eyes. "They'll be absolutely spoiled rotten, I promise."

Relief flooded through Mandy as she pictured her cats in Jacinth's loving household. "You'd do that? Really?"

"Of course I would." Jacinth's voice held absolute certainty. "They're part of your family, which makes them part of our family too."

Fresh tears spilled down Mandy's cheeks, but these were tears of gratitude. "They like to hang out together in their cat tree by the window," she whispered. "And they need to be fed in the morning and at dinner time…"

"I know, honey." Jacinth stroked her hand soothingly, though her own tears flowed freely. "I've seen how you care for them. I promise they'll get the same love and attention from us."

Kieran watched as Mandy's eyes began to drift closed, her breathing becoming more shallow. His blue fire stirred with urgent desperation as Jacinth's quiet sobs filled the sterile hospital room.

No. He would not allow this.

Moving swiftly to Mandy's other side, he grasped her free hand firmly in his. The physical contact made his blue fire surge, sensing how weak her life force had become.

"Mandy." His deep voice carried a note of command that made her eyes flutter open. "Stay with me. You must stay awake."

She blinked slowly, clearly struggling against exhaustion. "Kieran." Her voice was a bare whisper. "So tired..."

"I know. But I need to ask you something important." His fingers tightened around hers. "Will you release one of your remaining wishes to me?"

"Of course."

Fear gripped him as he watched her fade. "No, you must say the words properly." He leaned closer, his white hair falling forward as he willed her to keep her eyes open, hold his gaze. "You must state clearly that you give the wish to me of your own free will."

Kieran watched her lips twitch with the ghost of a smile she didn't have the strength to fully form. His chest tightened with anguish at how weak she had become, how much effort even that small movement cost her.

"I knew it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the steady beeping of the monitors. "The Aladdin thing."

Confusion rippled through him. What did an ancient Arabic folk tale have to do with this crucial moment? His silver-blue eyes narrowed as he tried to parse her meaning, his fingers tightening reflexively around her frail hand.

Beside him, Jacinth let out a sound that was half laugh, half sob. "Oh, Mandy." She wiped fresh tears from her cheeks to glance at Kieran. "Remember? The genie in Aladdin was bound to the Djinn vessel - he needed a wish to be free."

Kieran pressed the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, his blue fire flickering with a mixture of exasperation and urgent concern. Even on her deathbed, this woman managed to frustrate him with her tendency to find connections to those ridiculous human stories about magic.

The steady beep of the hospital monitors counted out precious seconds as he fought to maintain his composure. Her life force grew weaker with each shallow breath, and here she was making references to children's movies.

Kieran had to laugh. The sound startled him - deep and rich, echoing off the sterile hospital walls. His blue fire danced with a mixture of exasperation and fondness as he watched Mandy's lips curve into that faint, knowing smile.

"Made you laugh," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the steady beep of the monitors.

His silver-blue eyes softened as he studied her face. Even now, pale and weak, connected to machines that tracked her failing life force, she maintained that spark of mischief that had first caught his attention. That determined brightness that saw wonder in everything, even a grumpy ancient Djinn prince who'd forgotten how to enjoy life.

Trust this impossible woman to focus on making him laugh when she lay dying. To find triumph in cracking his stern exterior even as her own life force faltered.

Jacinth's face was anxious as she watched Mandy, who seemed to be drifting, not asleep yet not awake either. Her gaze lifted to Kieran, and he saw knowledge dawn.

"You intend to bring her across," Jacinth breathed, eyes alight with hope, her musical voice barely above a whisper. "To share your blue flame with her." She hesitated, conflict evident in her expression. "But Kieran, she's in what may become her final sleep. She cannot give permission. Are you certain-"

"Have you not seen into her heart these past weeks?" Kieran interrupted softly, his silver-blue eyes fixed on Mandy's still form. "Into her very soul?"

The monitors beeped steadily in the background as he continued, his deep voice gentle but firm. "She yearns for magic with every atom of her being. It calls to her, speaks to her very essence." He opened his hand, and called Mandy's pendant to him. The nurses had removed it from her on admission, but now it appeared in his palm. He carefully fastened it about Mandy's neck, feeling the familiar warmth of his own magic responding.

"She would never ask for this gift - her humility and self-doubt would prevent her from even considering the possibility. But she wants it, Jacinth. With every breath she takes, she longs for it. I've watched her these past weeks. Seen how she embraces each new magical revelation with pure joy, without fear or hesitation. Her wonder at discovering our world has been..." He paused, searching for the right words. "Refreshing. Inspiring, even."

"But to make such a choice for her..." Jacinth's voice trailed off, heavy with concern.

Kieran watched Mandy's chest rise and fall with each labored breath, his blue fire stirring with growing concern. The monitors continued their steady beeping, but her life force flickered dangerously.

"She's not thinking clearly," he said, his deep voice tight with barely contained emotion. "This illness, the fever, the constant coughing - they're taking too great a toll." His fingers tightened around Mandy's frail hand as he turned to face Jacinth. "Coming after decades of disability and chronic pain, she's simply too weak to fight anymore."

His silver-blue eyes fixed intently on Jacinth's tear-stained face. "Tell me truthfully - if she were well, do you believe she would fight to live?"

Jacinth's dark eyes widened at his question. She fell silent, her gaze moving to Mandy's pale features as she considered his words. The monitors hummed steadily in the background, marking each precious second that passed.

Finally, Jacinth's expression cleared, certainty replacing her earlier distress. "Yes," she said firmly, her musical voice carrying absolute conviction. "Yes, she would fight. She would choose to live… always."

"She belongs in our world, Jacinth." A rare smile curved his lips as he remembered Mandy's methodical spreadsheet approach to wishes, her careful consideration of consequences, her pure delight in each new magical discovery. "Her soul already speaks the language of magic. She simply needs the proper vessel to contain it." His voice softened as he recalled her earnest questions about wish-granting ethics. "In time, she will make an exceptional Wish Bearer."

Jacinth's dark eyes widened as she processed his words, her gaze shifting between Kieran and Mandy's still form. He could see the moment understanding dawned in her expression, followed by thoughtful consideration.

"You're right," she said finally, her musical voice carrying conviction. "I've seen it, too. She would adore granting wishes, I know she would!"

Kieran's blue fire stirred as Jacinth wiped the last tears from her face. Her expression shifted to the one of stubborn determination he'd seen countless times over the centuries.

"How can I help?" she asked, her musical voice steady now.

"Contact one of the elders," he said, his deep voice commanding. "Have them assist you with modifying the memories here, and ensure the medical records show Mandy improved and was discharged." His silver-blue eyes never left Mandy's pale face. "We cannot leave traces of what truly happened."

Jacinth nodded and stepped away from the bed.

The monitors beeped steadily as Kieran leaned closer to the bed, his silvery hair falling forward. Mandy dozed fitfully, lost in fevered dreams. Her life force flickered dangerously. He was running out of time.

"Mandy." His deep voice carried the full weight of his authority as a Djinn prince. "You will wake and heed me."

Her eyelids fluttered but didn't open. His blue fire surged with urgency as he clasped her hand more firmly between his.

"Amanda Dupont." The use of her full name carried ancient power, demanding attention. "Open your eyes. Now."

Her eyes opened, her gaze feverish. Her fingers, hot and dry, clutched his hand.

"Mandy." He kept his deep voice carefully controlled as he leaned closer to her bed, his white hair falling forward. "Do you trust me?"

Her glazed eyes cleared a little. "Of course I do," she whispered.

There was no hesitation, no qualification - just that simple, unwavering faith that still managed to catch him off guard after all these months.

"Then give me your wish." His fingers tightened around her frail hand, willing her to understand the urgency behind his request. "Please. You must say the words."

Mandy's voice came out as barely more than a hoarse whisper. "I give you... one of my wishes... of my own free will."

Kieran's blue fire surged with triumph as the words of freely-given permission left Mandy's lips. In one fluid motion, he gathered her frail form into his arms, his magic automatically dissolving the medical equipment attached to her body, trusting in Jacinth to keep the hospital monitors under control. Her weight felt insignificant against his chest, her life force flickering dangerously weak.

His wings - rarely manifested in the human realm - burst forth from his back in a shower of silver-white sparks. The massive, ethereal appendages stretched wide, nearly spanning the hospital room. Their crystalline feathers caught the harsh fluorescent light, throwing rainbow prisms across the sterile walls.

Cradling Mandy's unconscious form closer, Kieran brought his wings forward. The feathers rustled like wind through ancient trees as they enveloped both himself and his precious burden. With a thunderous crack that shook the windows, both Djinn prince and dying woman vanished from the mortal realm.