"Anyways. That's where they soon realized I couldn't sleep alone. I took all these tests, tried every medication possible. Nothing worked. It took me passing out before they realized it was serious, and that was the reason why I got my cat. They don't have therapeutic cats here, do they?" I asked.
The guys exchanged glances, particularly looking at Cole who had a blank expression on his face. "Don't think so."
I fidgeted with my fingers as a distraction, deciding it was best not to think about when we'd have to go to sleep.
At least I napped, so it's not like I need to sleep anytime soon.
"Well, after they got me Snix, everything was pretty good, but my treatment cost more than my life was worth, and my ex-parents paid for it all. There was no way I could go bombarding them with unnecessary questions like were they my real parents. I didn't want to appear as ungrateful, and they were kind and got me Snix to help me sleep, so what else could I ask for? I let it be. Didn't think all of it was fake."
I looked back up to meet their stares and grinned. "That's really it. I was curious because the town I was in, perfection or beauty is ranked as being Caucasian, blue eyes, blonde hair, and a slim build." I lifted my hands up like I was weighing my options. "As you guys can see, I don't fit any of those qualifications, so I questioned if I'd be changed into Jinn beauty standards."
"Fantasia makes everyone into their image of beauty. That can mean being White, Black, Asian, or Indian. She gives you the choice to decide what you really want," Cole declared.
"Unless an individual is murdered because of their ethnicities, like an African being killed for being black, or any type of racial situation that leads to death, that's usually the only reason why any individual has changed their ethnicity," Jeremiah added.
"Overall, that is rare as well. A good percent of those killed for their race end up staying the way they were," Owen noted.
"Really?" I replied, thinking about it.
"When most individuals become Jinn, there’s a realization that they're starting fresh. Fantasia also assures them that there's no discrimination, which is 100% true. You're not judged because of the color of your skin. If there's ever disagreements or issues, skin is never the factor. Skill and power is what is valued here, as well as the number of wishes you've granted successfully," Luke explained.
A different servant began to head our way and Cole whispered, "You look perfectly fine as is. You don't need to fit their standards. It doesn't define your beauty." He turned around in time to face the servant who bowed and gestured for us to follow him. A small smile formed on my lips as I felt my cheeks burn a little.
"Thanks, guys," I said softly.
Luke squeezed my hand and Owen smiled and gave me a slight nod.
We followed the servant into a large room; the first half looked almost like a throne room with a gold chair situated in the middle. Behind it led to a corridor, and I could see hints of an oversized fountain. I didn't know if it was possessed or had some ability, but I was very tempted to walk straight to it.
The throne and the person who was sitting in it weren’t as interesting as discovering what was in the other room with the fountain.
I hadn't realized I'd tried to head that way, until Luke tugged at my hand, holding it a little tighter to snap me out of it.
"Easy, Pinky. Can't go there just yet," Luke urged.
"But..." I replied, my eyes glued to it.
"Now this is a rare occasion indeed. Not only is a female human in my presence, but I also have four of my Jinns in the same room and not fighting over who speaks first."
The power that vibrated off the person's voice was what broke the spell around me, pulling my attention from the fountain to the throne.
A dark-skinned man sat in an oversized throne that must have been taller than me. He had long black hair, black eyes, and wore pure gold on his neck and wrists. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and even though he looked older with immense knowledge and wisdom, he had the most perfect six pack and pecs I'd ever seen a man of his age have. He wore high-quality pants that shimmered in color from the lights above us and currently had a cat in his lap, which caught my attention immediately.
"A cat!" I announced, and once again Luke had to stop me from moving forward to try and pet it.
"You really get distracted easily, Destiny," Owen commented with a wide smile.
I blushed, realizing it wasn't my place to act rather disrespectful. "Um… my bad… uh… your majesty?" I replied and bowed my head slightly, though my gaze landed on the black cat.
It must have sensed me staring at it because its eyes opened, revealing a pair of golden ones, and it jumped off the man's lap and walked towards me. I squealed and knelt down as it reached me, Cole moving to the side to watch me as I reached my hand out to the cat.
Staring at my hand, the cat took a few steps forward and brushed its head against it. It began to purr and nudge my hand, which told me I had permission to pet it.
"Hello there. Aren't you a beautiful cat?" I soothed, letting go of Luke's hand so that I could kneel down and continue to pet it.
"I'm assuming from Nula's reaction, that she's a Jinn?" The man began questioning the others.
"She summoned us with her wish, Father," Jeremiah replied, his voice demonstrating a mix between seriousness and respect.
"And we apologize. As you can see, she really likes cats," Luke said shyly.
It clicked in my mind that I'd totally dismissed this man or owner of the cat, and I sheepishly looked back up to him.
"I'm sorry, Nula, is it? Reminds me of my cat," I admitted and bowed my head in apology. Nula crawled into my lap, grabbing my attention once more as she curled up and continued to purr while I stroked her soft black fur.
"Well, she clearly loves you, which is rare. She normally despises strangers." The man rose up. "But I'll accept your apology. I go by Father around here. From first glance, I can tell you’re human, but on further inspection, you're not."
"She doesn't know about her past, Father," Cole announced.
Father raised an eyebrow at me, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "I see. Is there a reason?"
I didn't know if I should answer, and I looked to Owen, who decided to answer on my behalf.
"She had severe amnesia when she was eight. She'd been adopted, but only found that out recently. She made a wish and we showed up. We decided that with her approval, we'd bring her here to you."
"She summoned all four of you?" Father questioned, looking oddly surprised, which didn't sit well with me.
It makes me nervous that I am already going to be labeled weird before even entering this world.
"Yes, Father. We don't know how, but her wish was strong enough to summon all of us at once. None of us were close by or together, may I add," Cole replied.
I returned to focusing on Nula in an attempt to not look at the others’ facial expressions. "That makes me weird… right?" I whispered. I could feel their eyes on me, and I wished I could disappear and not face hearing what I figured would come with doing unexpected things.
"Weird is a human word that degrades difference," Father announced. I lifted my head to look up at him as he made his way towards me.
"Being special is not weird. Difference is needed in our world. When chosen as a Jinn, it's not because the individual has the same qualities as everyone else. They are chosen because of that one quality that is different and what makes them unique from the rest. Whether it's a physical quality or personality trait, being unique is praised here and Fantasia always has a purpose laid out for every chosen being of our world. If you summoned four of my Jinns, it has a meaningful purpose that I will not ignore."
He stood before me and I stared up at him in awe. He was the true representation of what a loving father would tell their child, and even though we'd just met, his words meant a lot to me.
"Thank you," I replied, and he smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Destiny."
"How… is
that a part of your um… Father powers?" I inquired.
A few of the guys chucked, and I looked at them with pouting lips. Even Cole had his 1cm smile on, which in exchange, made me feel less bad.
"Cole informed me that he'd be bringing you along and I requested your name," Father replied.
Nula moved off my lap and walked back to the throne. I rose up and bowed my head to Father in greeting. "My name is Destiny Alexa… uh Jinn. That's what's on my birth certificate, anyway. Destiny is fine."
Father nodded with a smile. "I am the Father of Jinns. If we go by names, my human name is Cedrick. You may call me whatever you’re most comfortable with. Just be mindful when other Jinns are present and your tone of voice.”
"Cedrick's a nice name." I paused to think for a moment. "Do some Jinns call you Dad?"
"Depending on the situation, yes."
"That's comforting," I replied. "Um… what do I do now?"
I wasn't trying to rush things, but I felt a little awkward and didn't know what else to really say. Jeremiah walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Don't stress, Destiny." He massaged my shoulders and tried to ease my anxiety, which made me smile.
"Father, we think Destiny was a born Jinn, but why would she be on Earth?" Cole went straight to the point.
"Also, to add, no other Jinns noticed her. Like, it doesn't take a lot of concentration to notice she has a different sort of energy," Owen added.
"I'd love to answer them, but I'm unsure myself and we have uninvited company," Cedrick replied, and his smile turned to a grimace, which made him appear a little scary.
Nula hopped off the throne and waltzed over to sit right at my feet before she began hissing protectively.
"Marc the Seducer. What have I mentioned about coming uninvited?" Cedrick announced. The tone of his voice told me he was peeved, and I couldn't help but shiver. It was one of those tones that gave you the 'you're in trouble' vibe.
"Out of all the damn days in the year, we have to meet him today?" Jeremiah complained as he crossed his arms.
"Who is he?" I asked.
"A nobody," Owen groaned.
"Destiny, don't focus on him for too long," Luke warned. I glanced at him and saw his threatening blue eyes. Luke's pissed? That's not good.
A man appeared at the end of the hall with a wide smile on his face. The person was 6'5" in height, with long blond hair. His skin was tan, giving me the impression that he was of mixed race and he had the perfect set of blue eyes I'd ever seen.
Personally, I liked Luke's more, but it was already becoming debatable the longer I stared at him.
He strode forward with his hands in his loose golden pants that were baggy in the middle but tight at the bottom near his ankles. He was barefoot, but with each step he took, a gold circle appeared beneath his feet. He wore a white dress shirt, but it was clearly just for show since it was wide open and exposed his eight pack. Yes, EIGHT pack.
He didn't have a chest hair in sight, and from his straight back posture and the way he held his head up, he was proud of his looks and character. HE was the true definition of what I'd call cocky.
That was a total turn off for me, and yet, I was struggling to peel my eyes off him as he got closer and closer.
Could also be the fact that those beautiful blue eyes that were in the race with Luke's were staring at me like I was a piece of cake. Hmm. A curvy chocolate cheesecake with chocolate icing...now I'm hungry… maybe not the food kind of hungry either… hmmm.
"Meow!" Nula tapped on my leg and I glanced down to look into her attentive golden eyes. Oh, cat!
I lowered back down to give her my attention, and Luke sighed. "Good thing for Nula."
"Now, Father, I've come all the way from my palace to say hello. You always sound annoyed when I'm here," Marc acknowledged. "I also heard there was an eye-catching newcomer in Fantasia, and I just HAD to please my curious soul."
"Translation. Your seductive ass was nosy and wanted to come down and see. Just be honest instead of giving some long excuse to make you sound appealing," Cole grumbled.
"Aka, no one likes your ass," Jeremiah added.
"And we have more than enough Jinns here for this entire palace," Owen continued.
"So, what we're getting at is, fuck off," Luke snarled.
Marc held his hands up defensively, giving the four guys a hurt-filled look. "Now, now. You guys don't need to be all defensive. I think we can share the lovely newcomer."
Share?
"I'm not a pet," I declared in a toneless voice as I stood a bit taller. "And I may not be from around here, but Cedrick's right. Next time learn to knock or something. It's a sign of respect. Being cocky doesn't make you attractive," I muttered.
I never imagined it would be so hard to glare at someone, but emotions were being put to the test with this guy. I was more tempted to jump him and enjoy some time in the bedroom, but I wasn't going to admit that.
"Meow," Nula added and reached out to poke my face, grabbing my attention once more.
"Feisty and strong enough to resist my charm. Where did you find this woman?"
Cole moved to stand right in front of me. "None of your business. Now say what you have to say and leave."
Cole's voice sent a fearful feeling through me, and I was glad I could only see his back and not his facial expression.
"Tone down the evil expression, Vengeance. I'm not here to pick a fight with you." Marc sighed dramatically. "And I thought you were done with women and all?"
Jeremiah stepped forward then and my eyes grew wide at the sudden golden glow in his long hair that began to float.
"Say another stupid comment and I'll make sure you think twice the next time you want to come and pay an uninvited visit."
Nula snuggled against me, her body shaking in fear and I took a deep breath before I maneuvered around Cole and moved right up to Marc, which must have been a surprise to him because his blue eyes grew wide.
"Leave," I ordered. I didn't know where my confidence had come from, but even I could tell the simple word held some type of power.
He stared at me like I was completely crazy, but I stood my ground. He blinked a few times and shrugged. "I guess if the lady wants me to step out for a bit; I can't argue. Inform me when you're done with your Jinn initiation. I'd love to mentor a strong woman like you."
He winked at me before he gave the others a smug smile and turned away. I remained where I was until he left, and Nula began to purr once more, content in my arms.
"Playboy vibes," I mumbled. "He's bad news, isn't he?"
"Bad doesn't justify THAT individual," Owen grumbled and walked over to stand in front of me. "You did good, Destiny."
"More than just good. That was phenomenal!" Jeremiah praised.
I turned to give them a confused look. "All I did was tell him to leave."
"You may not have realized, but you commanded him to leave," Cole admitted.
"Commanded? I just told him to leave. I guess it's a command, but it wasn't like I forced him to," I reasoned.
Cedrick chuckled, which caught our attention, and the sound made me feel proud of my defensive behavior. We turned toward him and saw the return of his Father expression.
"Destiny, it seems your Jinn powers could be unlocking due to you being in this realm. You'll understand once you've gone through your initiation with Fantasia herself, but you did, in fact, command him to leave. Marc is just good at pretending that something doesn't bother him, but that was quite a shocker."
"Oh. I didn't mean to. Is he mad?"
"Probably." Cedrick shrugged.
I grinned. "Good."
The guys began to snicker, and Jeremiah ended up laughing outright. "I don't care what anyone says, we're mentoring her."
"We're? You guys can't ALL mentor me," I pointed out and turned to Cedrick as if for clarification. "Right?"
"Hmm. You're technically right. All four of them can, but one has to lead. It'll depend on the nature
of your magic and title. You think you're ready to see Fantasia?"
I glanced around at the others for a boost in confidence, feeling as if there were butterflies in my stomach now that I had to go forward with the initiation.
Luke smiled and reached out to pat me on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, Destiny."
"More than fine. She's gonna ace this," Jeremiah emphasized.
"We're rooting for you, Destiny. Don't stress," Owen added.
I glanced at Cole, who now had his hands in his pockets compared to before where they were in tight fists like he was about to punch Marc in the face.
"Break a leg."
"That's horrible advice." Owen groaned and shook his head.
"You know she's going near water. What if she literally breaks her leg and can't swim?!" Jeremiah stressed.
"This is why we can't have nice things," Luke mumbled.
Cole rolled his eyes and looked away. "Whatever happens, you're one of us."
A wide smile formed on my lips, and I turned back to Cedrick who also appeared pleased. "I'm ready then," I assured him.
Lowering Nula down, Cedrick directed us to the fountain that had drawn my attention before. I needed a second to concentrate, already feeling the strong pull towards the water, but I wasn't going to go in these baggy clothes.
"The water will call to you. I have a hunch that you feel the pull already, but it will get much stronger. Don't fight it. Just allow it to pull you in and your body will feel like it's falling backward. Allow it. Even though you're in the water, you'll be able to breathe and won't drown. Fantasia can read your mind, and depending on how strong your magic is, she will be able to talk to you at any time after this initiation if you need her. Don't be afraid. Think of her as a mother and she'll listen to all your concerns. The process can take a while, but time is a lot slower there. Don't rush, and ask as many questions as you’d like," Cedrick explained
"All right," I replied and looked down at my clothes. "Can I take these off though? I don't want them getting wet."
"Certainly. There are white robes in that change section to your right." Cedrick motioned with his hand. "Aren't you a tad warm in those?"
Wish For Me (Destiny Jinn Series Book 1) Page 7