Take The Stage By Storm: A Tina Storm Short Story (2) (2 page)

Julia
and I both
stared at the little prize in my hands. Then we looked at each
other. Julia made a frantic leap while I hurriedly undid the bottle
cap for a second time. Out poured the colourful smoke and the
djinni took shape.

“
Your
wish is my command, mistress,” the djinni said, its strange quiet
eyes locked on me. “Forfeit rule: no infinite wishes.”

“
I wish
for you to undo the two previous wishes made by
Julia Hathaway.”

“
Yes,
mistress.
Your wish is
my command.”

Julia
started
screaming, “No!” but the change was already upon her. Gone: her
lovely long shining hair. Gone: her expensive yet slightly
inappropriate clothing. Gone: her luminous skin. Gone: her perfect
vision. And when she cried out again in rage, her lovely voice,
too, was gone.

But there
wa
s only one way to
ensure the djinni couldn’t be used like this again. No matter how
strong my lightning-vanquishes were getting, they wouldn’t affect
something made entirely of magic. Before Julia could make another
move on me, I said to the djinni, “I wish for you to be
free.”

The djinni
looked at me and smiled in gratitude. Then it melted away with the
smoking tendrils curling into themselves.

Julia
and I
faced each other across the stage.

“You bitch,”
she snarled. “I had everything.”

“At the cost of
an innocent,” I replied. “Just be grateful I didn’t vanquish
you.”

The next
day, Sarah returned. She was her usual bubbly blonde self, and the
cast rejoiced at the ‘miraculous’ surgery and healing performed on
her leg. Our director was overjoyed as well, especially since the
troublesome Julia had quit in a huff. But he got us to work
quickly.

After all, the
show must go on.

###

Thank you for
purchasing this ebook.

Lissa Bilyk
graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts
degree with Honours in English Literature and Film.

She currently
lives in the UK with her partner.

Her first
novel
The
Edge of Darkness
, and
the first Tina Storm short story,
The Calm Before The
Storm
, are also
available on Smashwords.

Connect
online:

Blog
http://www.lissawrites.wordpress.com

Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/lissawrites

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/lissawrites