The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) (9 page)

I
pick up the pace. The cold air stings my face as I soar through the city,
invisible, phasing in and out of homes so I can observe the auras within. I
allow myself an indulgent smile, reveling in the feel of the wind, the
blackness of the night.

It
doesn’t take me long to find what I seek. And given the choice presented in
this one suburban house, it is easy to pick. I settle down beside the small bed
with its white lace canopy and pastel quilt, then lean forward ready to
transport us both back. Yet, at the last moment I hesitate.

The
sleeping child is beautiful, with hair woven of sand and gold, and skin the
color of cream. I study her form. So peaceful. So small. The rhythmic pulse of
her life’s breath rising and falling beneath the blanket which she clutches in
her tiny hand. Innocent. For now.

I
shake myself. What is wrong with me? I have a command. I have to get back. I
saw the strong aura shining through the covers in the master bedroom. Perhaps I
ought to take the parent...no. This child is clearly the safer choice. A
full-grown Magician – who knows what problems he might create? I inhale sharply
and will myself to be seen.

“Hello,”
I say, placing a hand on her forehead. Her eyes flutter open, and in them I see
waves of confusion, then fear, followed, most curiously, by recognition.

“You’re
real,” she whispers back.

“Yes,
child.”

“I
dreamed about you.”

I
smile and find that I am gently stroking her hair, which is soft as the finest
silk. “What is your name?”

“I’m
Sophie.”

“Sophie,
I’m going to take you for a ride, okay?”

“Can
I tell my mom?”

“No.
We will be back before she even knows you are gone. I promise.”

“All
right.”

Well
that was easy. I scoop her into my arms, letting the blankets slip back onto
the bed. She clings to my neck and buries her head against my chest. She is
warm from sleep and smells pleasant, like strawberries.

I
fly out the window and through the night, back to Jered at lightning speed,
setting Sophie down gently on the floor before the others. Even Taj raises his
eyebrows at my cargo.

The
child takes us all in, without alarm. Mild curiosity would be a better
description. And even with her pink pajamas, tangled hair, and sleep-laden
eyes, she seems at ease. It is hard to believe she is not intimidated by four
strangers twice her height.

“You
brought back a child?” Gabe’s voice is so high, I’m surprised the glass in the
window doesn’t shatter. “That’s kidnapping. We’ll go to jail.”

“I
kidnapped no one,” I say, staring him down. “She came willingly. Not that it
matters. What needs to be done, needs to be done.”

“I
don’t know about this...” Jered says, stepping forward.

“It
is perfectly safe. There will be no need to harm it,” Taj says.

“It’s
so comforting, how you call her an
it
,” says Gabe, and I see that I was
right to be concerned about the volatility of the situation. But before Taj can
strike, the child’s voice rings across the room, and four sets of eyes focus on
her.

“Hi,
Jered.”

“You
know her?” I ask.

“There’s
something familiar about her,” he says, stepping forward and kneeling before
her. “Hello.”

I
wish I’d brought the adult instead. Or that one of the other two children in
the house had the glistening aura of a Magician.

“Daddy
misses you,” she says. She reaches out a small hand to poke him on the nose.

“Oh
my God,” Jered breathes, but I remain as confused as ever. “Is it possible?
Where did you get her?”

“At
a house not too far from here,” I say, not happy with the way the others are
looking at me. “It was she or the adult. I didn’t want to risk using a full
Magician who may be aware of his powers.”

Sophie
beams up at Jered. “You know who I am, right? Isn’t that why you sent Leela to
me? She’s yours, isn’t she?”

“How
does she know this?” I ask. I hear my voice rise in volume, feel my pulse speed
up. This child is dangerous. I should know better than to trust appearances. I–

“Jered
is my brother.”

Complications

ered
drops to his knees in front of Sophie. “You’re my half-sister?” A grin slowly
spreads across his face. “But I still don’t know how you know me. We’ve never
met.” He holds out a hand, and she shakes it, giggling.

I
recall the longing in Jered’s eyes when he spoke to me of his father and
siblings. How he wished for a relationship with them.

“There’s
a bond between family members; still, its powers must be very strong.” Taj bends
to examine her. “I take back what I said before. We may have to destroy it.”

Jered
pulls Sophie behind his back and stands to face Taj, anger burning behind his
dark eyes. It is hard for me to bear. To see those eyes burn like that again.

“You’ll
stay away from her!” It is the first time I’ve heard him sound this fierce. I
almost believe he could handle Taj. But no human’s that strong.

“Whoa,”
I say, stepping in between. “There will be no need to harm the child.” Taj sees
the real message in my eyes.
We will deal with this threat later
. After
all, the grown Magician with two Djinn and the danger to my master’s life must
take precedence.

“I
will trust your judgment, Lee. But do not push me.” Taj snarls at Jered as he
backs up toward the bed. I step behind my Master’s shoulder, so I can keep Taj
in my sights.

“You
said Dad misses me,” Jered is saying. “How do you know that? Does he talk about
me?”

“He
thinks about you. A lot. He doesn’t know I’m listening. I don’t want to tell
him because then he’ll make it so I can’t hear. You won’t tell, will you?”

“No,”
Jered says, glancing toward me, and then Gabe.

“Can
you hear everyone’s thoughts?” I ask.

“I
hear Daddy. And Jered now that I’m here. But that’s it.”

“But
you dreamed about me?” I ask.

“Yes.
You were hugging me and protecting me from the bad person.” She giggles again,
startling me after her pronouncement.

“What
is funny?” I ask, looking around.

“Jered
likes you.”

“Of
course I do, Sophie. Leela is my friend.” I feel his eyes focus on me and fight
the warmth creeping up my neck. I don’t care how much time has passed, I will
not make the same mistake twice.
I will not
.

“How
cute,” Taj says. “It does tricks.”

“Stop
calling her an ‘it,’” Jered says. The hairs on my arms stand up from the power
sizzling in the room. I fear I won’t be able to distract Taj this time.

“Jered,
why am I here?” Sophie asks, tugging on his fingers in an attempt to get his
attention back. She feels it too, then.
Good girl
.

“We
have a gift for you,” I say. I hold out my hand, and a doll appears. It is a
good likeness, I think. With raven hair and almond skin in a traditional harem
outfit. Me if I were a Barbie doll. Sophie’s crystalline blue eyes shine with
recognition, and she reaches for it, hugging it to her chest.

“My
very own Djinni!” she exclaims. “I’m going to call her Little Leela.”

“But
I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to give it back to Taj.” I nod toward
the other Djinni.

“Then
it isn’t much of a gift,” Sophie says, still clutching it to her.

“No,
I guess not,” I agree. “But if you do give it to him when he asks, Jered will
let me give you another doll, if that is what you want.”

“Ohhh-kay,”
she says. I smile encouragingly. Whether more for her or Taj, I cannot say.

“Give
me the doll for my master’s keep,” Taj says, flinging out an open hand.

“You
didn’t say please.” Sophie pulls the doll behind her back.

Taj’s
muscles tense to the point I’m afraid they will explode. I tilt my head in a
nod, and he takes a long, slow breath. “Please.”

Sophie
kisses her Djinni tenderly on the head and hands it to him. “Take good care of
her.” He rolls his eyes, and the doll disappears from view.

“Okay,”
Jered breathes. “Problem solved. A Magician in Chicago with a Djinni who’s been
persuaded to give it over to you.”

“Wonderful.
Now we have until I give it to my master tomorrow and she explodes in anger,
punishes me, then questions me and re-orders your specific destruction in every
gory detail.” Taj sits on the bed and pulls a jeweled goblet from thin air,
wine sloshing up and over the edges as he raises it above his head. “How about
a toast?” he asks, and we each have a matching glass.

“To
the worst plan ever!”

The Beginning

“
umans
have found a way to use magic,” I say.

Taj’s
boisterous laugh stops cold at the pronouncement. We meet in the treetops of
the oasis, balancing like birds on the thin olive branches in the sky. We are
invisible to humans, so we can truly be ourselves.

“Is
it not wonderful?” I ask, continuing to dance around, leaping from limb to limb
and spinning in the air.

“How
have they managed it?” Taj asks, straddling one of the thicker branches and
pushing aside the leaves.

“I
do not know,” I say, shrugging. “What difference does it make? Now they will be
more like us. We will not have to hide much longer.”

“Does
Rhada know? She spends so much time with that woman.”

“I
do not speak with Rhada. She and Mira have little time for me since they have
become involved.”

“Mira
tends to become obsessive on occasion,” Taj says, laying a hand on my arm.

“I
care not what choices she makes.” I do not know why my chest squeezes when I
say this. I remain perplexed by human behavior, including my own.

Taj
looks as though he wishes to say more, but Mira herself materializes inches
from me. Her beautiful face is creased with worry.

 “I
have not seen Rhada in a fortnight.”