The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) (17 page)

“I
would have lost his trust if I brought you up. I would have done it myself
afterward.”

“I
don’t believe you.”

“I
can’t blame you, Leela. But, perhaps this will help.” Slowly, very slowly, he
raises his hands like a criminal with a gun pointed down his throat. He
unbuttons his shirt, and unfastens his vest. I can see now that it has smaller
round pieces of lead attached by straps. Projectiles I assume. Or perhaps meant
to lay against a Djinni’s skin. I shudder and tense, ready to flee, but he
tosses the whole thing back inside Jered’s room.

“I
thought I needed protection from you, but I see I was wrong. You could have,
should have, killed me already, and you haven’t. Now it’s my turn to show you
some good faith.”

Confessions

’ve
had enough. With the wave of my hand, Achan and I are transported to the master
bedroom of his home. It’s so big that it has its own sliding glass door that
opens onto a balcony and a small sitting room arranged around a fireplace. One
quick sweep with my senses and I know his wife is downstairs in the kitchen
feeding the two non-magical children and their friends a snack. Sophie, Jered, and
Gabe are still in Sophie’s bedroom.

I
lock the door with a wave, pleased to see that my gamble has paid off. That
“not hurting anyone” does not extend to chaining them to the bed.

“That’s
better,” I say, straddling Achan’s helpless form on the king-sized bed. 

“You
won’t kill me,” he says. He doesn’t sound so sure.

“We’ll
see,” I say, making the blinds snap closed with the flick of my finger. At the
same moment, the fire roars to life in the fireplace. “Now, where should we
start?” I watch as he swallows hard, and I smile. “If you are in a child’s
body, why do you look like you?”

“He
was my son, and he happened to resemble me already. And over time, depending on
my mood, I adjust my appearance using magic. I’ve grown tired of this look
though. Now I think I’d like something a little different.”

“Designer
children,” I say, unable to keep the disgust from my voice.

“Designer
bodies,” he agrees.

I
wish I could slap him. Wish I could dig my nails into his tender, human skin.
Instead, I lean over him, letting my hair fall around us like a curtain. His
chest moves against me with shallow, rapid breaths. Oh yes, he’s scared.

“I
cannot afford to think of them as children, Leela. It is more important to
live.”

“More
important? For who? For you?”

“Yes.
For me. For you. We’re meant to be together, Leela.”

“Ha!”
I let a deep laugh escape into the air above.

“But
it isn’t just that!” he yells. “It’s Kitra. She can’t be left to take over. You
think I am a monster? I am nothing compared to her. You know. You remember.”

“Kitra?”
I ask. Her name on my lips sounds like the hiss of a snake.

“She
did it too, found out how to stay alive,” he says. “And she kept her Djinni.”
Mira
.
Taj
. My vision blurs with rage, but Achan takes no notice. I try to
focus on his words. “I’ve kept careful track of her all this time, it wasn’t
easy staying out of her reach with a Djinni in her possession. She’s never lost
anything. And she still wants more. She won’t stop until she owns it all. I had
to call you.”

“
What
?”
He shrinks at the sound of my voice. “What do you mean
call
me?”

“You
think it was coincidence my son found you?” he asks, desperation lacing his
words.

“He’s
a Magician. I suppose I should have known he’d come from one of you,” I say.

“True
enough. But I’ve been working for centuries on a summoning spell powerful
enough to bring your stone within reach. It had to be you, Leela. Don’t you
see?” When I don’t answer he continues. “I finally managed it, and I’ve been
hunting everywhere in a ten-mile radius. Every antique and jewelry store. Every
yard and estate sale. Imagine my surprise when my son showed up on my doorstep
wearing the ring.”

“You
brought me closer through circumstance, but Jered found me first,” I say,
straightening.

“Yes,
I couldn’t have anticipated his magic being strong enough to wake you.”

“You
should not underestimate him,” I say, aware of the edge of pride in my voice.

“You
have feelings for the boy, don’t you?” he asks. My answer is the glow of my
eyes.

“You
aren’t killing me,” he says.

“How
observant of you.”

“Nor
are you hurting me,” he adds, a smile playing at his lips. I feel him relax
ever so slightly.

“Yet,”
I say.

“No.
I think you would have already done so if you were able. You have every reason
in the world to seek revenge.”

“Times
change,” I say, but I fear the understanding in his eyes.

“I
think my son has ordered you not to harm me.” He laughs. Softly at first, and
then harder, until his entire body is jiggling beneath me. I snap my fingers,
and his mouth is covered with a piece of silk. It won’t hurt him, but it will
bring a stop to that sound.

“Don’t
go anywhere,” I say, patting him on the chest and disappearing.

Now
that I’ve spent some time with Achan, my anger toward Jered has ebbed, and I am
once again focused on telling him what I’ve learned about Kitra and convincing
him of the danger he is in from his father. He is the innocent in all of this.

“I
have news,” I say, reappearing in Sophie’s room to find her cuddled in Jered’s
lap, Gabe making silly faces for her amusement.

“So
have I.”

It
isn’t Jered who says it. Nor is it Gabe. Or Sophie. At the same time I appear,
Taj and Mira do as well. It is Taj who has spoken.

My
reaction is instantaneous. A wave of my arm through the air, and a wall of
smoke appears between us. I look to Jered.

“Get
everyone, uh, the humans, out of the house,” he says. I nod, and we are
gathered in the lobby of Jered’s school. Fluorescent lights flicker above the
gray tiled floor, but the students and staff are all long gone for the day, and
the quiet of the normally bustling place feels somehow disconcerting.

“Where’s
my father?” Jered screams.

“He
is no longer in the house either. Just not here,” I say.
Hope he likes being
chained to his bed in the backyard
.

“Leela!
I–” Jered starts.

“What
is this? What’s going on?” Jered’s stepmother is clutching Sophie to her chest
with one arm and has gathered her oldest two children to her side with the
other.

I
wave another hand, and they freeze in place. All except Sophie who continues to
stay still anyhow, watching us with wide eyes.

“Why
did you do that?” Jered demands.

“Because
they do not know about magic, and they should not,” I say. “For their own
safety. If you would listen to what I’m trying to tell you–”

“You
seem to know what’s best for everybody,” Jered says. “Maybe that’s why you need
a strong master. Someone who can save you from yourself.”

I
recoil, feeling as though I’ve been hit. And for once I have no words.

Jered
draws a deep breath. “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that I can’t help but feel
like none of this would have ever happened if I hadn’t bought this stupid
ring.” Jered holds up his hand with the large opal, and I stroke the choker
around my neck, tears stinging the backs of my eyes.

“Jer,
don’t you think you’re being kind of harsh?” Gabe says, pulling him off to the
side. “She’s only trying to help. I mean do you really want their whole world
turned upside down just because of us?”

Jered’s
eyes dart between Gabe, myself, and his extended family. He swallows. “You’re
right. I don’t know what got into me. Leela, I...I’m sorry. It’s just...my mom...I’m
so scared.”

“No
need to apologize for the truth,” I say. “I want permission to find Taj and
Mira. I want to speak to them. Alone.” If he is sorry, he can surely grant me
my request.

“I
don’t know.” Jered shifts his weight from one foot to another.

“I
can put everyone back as soon as I know it is safe. And they won’t remember any
of it,” I say, gesturing to the frozen family. I’m making an effort. Trying to
be nice.

“All
right, Leela,” Jered says, folding his arms across his chest. “Let’s do this
your way. You have experience dealing with the other Djinn. But I want you to
come back after you find out what we need to know.”

I
disappear without another word, and as soon as I am out of his sight, I allow
the hurt that’s been balled up in my stomach to wash over my body, claiming me.

The Beginning

have never considered myself timid. However, something about this
situation has put me on edge. I am so afraid of disappointing Achan. Of not
being able to prove my worth to the others on the Council. I try not to let
these insecurities show as I enter the meeting place.

We
are in a home in the village. It is made of adobe like the others, but the
patterns in the carved stucco on the outside are far more intricate. The rounded
arches of the doorways are higher. Clearly it is one of the nicer and
better-maintained structures around, which leads me to believe the owner is
wealthy. Perhaps the village leader? That would make sense if the Council is
planning on taking charge of the others.

I
gaze around at the colorful cushions scattered across the interior floor. All
reds and golds, like the stains on the walls and the pottery on the tables. We
stand in the rounded entry hall on a mosaic patterned out of varying geometric
shapes. Achan leads me into this place with such an air of confidence and ease.
He does not even announce our presence.

The
strong smell of incense assaults my nose, and I press the back of one hand to
it, trying to shut it out. My eyes water. Achan notices and smiles
encouragingly.

“A
bit on the heavy side?” he asks, the corners of his eyes crinkling with
amusement. He is young, but the sun of the desert can be cruel to a frail human
body. I would not change a single line or mark.