Marked (The Secrets of the Djinn #1)

by Lamer, Bonnie

  “Glad you’ve been paying attention,” Brielle says impatiently. “Yes, for a human, binding them to copper is the only way to control a djinn. Things don’t work the same on their side of the veil I guess. They have different rules and magic when interacting with each other over there. I guess you didn’t really need to know that but now you do. The problem for me is that I have to get close enough to them to say the incantation and touch them and the copper at the same time. It’s a whole lot easier if they’re unconscious. Hence the weapons.” She sweeps her arm out towards her armory.

  Roman’s having a hard time believing all this even though he had solid proof about half an hour ago. “How did this person know that the djinn killed your parents? And why would he contact you to do all this? You’re small and far from intimidating. It seems like he would have picked someone with a little more brawn.”

  Brielle takes offense to that. “Kiss my ass. I can take down the djinn a hell of a lot faster than you could. We could head back to the hospital and I could prove it to you.”

  That’s mature. The way this conversation is going it won’t be long until the only words spoken are ‘fuck you and your mother too’. And Brielle’s going to clam up if we don’t keep this civil. “Okay guys. Enough. Can we get back to the point? How did your parents die?”

  Petulance is trying hard to take over but Brielle fights it off. “They were in a car accident. Kind of like yours. Only, they didn’t survive.”

  Like mine? Was their car sliced down the middle by a djinn as well? “I’m sorry,” seems the only appropriate thing to say at the moment.

  Brielle gets up from the bed and walks to the small refrigerator in her tiny, cluttered kitchen area and takes out a can of soda. “It was a long time ago.” She takes a long swig from the can she just opened.

  I try to ask this nicer than Roman did because she’s about to shut down on us. “Will you please tell us more about this guy you talk to?”

  She leans against the refrigerator door. “He contacted me because of my blog. I always suspected that something was off in the police report regarding my parent’s accident. Things didn’t add up. The car’s condition after the wreck wasn’t how it should have been for what they say happened.” She shrugs and pushes away from the fridge. “I started asking questions and nobody had answers, so I started blogging about my suspicions. I figured there had to be something supernatural about a car splitting down the middle without a tree or sign post or anything being anywhere near it. Cars don’t spontaneously rip in half. The cops said their findings were ‘inconclusive’ of course,” she holds up her fingers in quotations. “They pretty much told me to let it go; my parents were dead and me asking questions they couldn’t answer wasn’t going to change that.”

  Their car crash was just like mine. That’s quite a coincidence. Why would the djinn do that if they’re trying to stay inconspicuous? “What did you say in your blog?”

  She comes back over to the bed and sits down again, leaning her back against the wall and curling her feet underneath her. “I did a bunch of research and found that there were other accidents like that in different places in the world. One here or there, never happening more than once in the same area. I figure that’s because the djinn bug out after they’ve killed whoever they were after. I didn’t know it was the djinn, but I did suggest that there were supernatural hit men out there. Maybe not an army of them but at least one with a unique killing style.”

  “You must have been a wet dream to all the conspiracy theorists and ghost chasers.” In other words, all the crazies.

  Reading my mind, she says, “Yeah, a bunch of crazy ‘tards would contact me daily saying they had proof of this or that but none of them really did. Until Malik. That’s his name, the guy that contacts me.” That really didn’t need to be explained but it’s interesting how her face softens when she says his name. “He explained that it’s a power thing; a signature kill that some use to create extreme terror in their victims. They feed off from it.”

  At least they feed off from fear and not by eating their victims. “Why haven’t there been news stories about this?”

  “Like I said, it doesn’t happen often and never in the same area when it does. So the police sweep it under the rug. I’m guessing they don’t want to divulge to the public that they can’t explain what happened. So they lie. They say the car hit a tree or something.”

  Which everyone thought I did. “So, this Malik guy wants you to keep me? Why?” I have classes I have to attend or I’ll flunk out of med school. I wonder how many days I’ve missed already.

  Brielle’s lips flatten into two straight lines. “Until I can get you to him without any of the djinn knowing about it.”

  Fuck the pain, that makes me sit up. “You think I’m going to let you cart me off to some guy who you don’t even know just because he knew djinn were after me? For all I know he sent them!”

  “He did not!” Brielle practically shouts as hatred oozes from her pores like molasses. “If it wasn’t for him you’d be nothing but a blonde bitch flavored burp coming up from a djinn’s gut!” Oh god, they do eat their victims?

  I open my mouth to fling an acerbic retort at her, but Roman speaks first. “Ladies, please. This isn’t helping the situation.”

  He’s right, it’s not. But that still doesn’t make me trust this Malik guy. I take a deep breath and after a moment, I say, “What does he want with me?”

  “I don’t know.” Brielle has become sullen. Is that jealousy? I think it is. She certainly has nothing to be jealous about on my end.

  One thing’s for sure, I can’t sit up anymore. With Roman’s help, I lay back on the bed again. When I’m as comfortable as possible, he turns to Brielle and says, “She’s not going anywhere until her wounds are better healed and she’s feeling strong enough to move about independently.”

  Brielle gets up and walks back to her computer. “Fine, whatever.” I guess we’re done talking for the moment.

  As Roman fusses over me, feeling my forehead and such, something dawns on me. “You don’t have to stay.” He never should have been dragged into this. However, I don’t think Brielle would have been able to get me out of the hospital on her own.

  His mouth turns up in a half-smile. “I suspect I don’t have a choice in the matter at this point.” Trying not to make me feel any guiltier, he says, “Besides, I could never abandon a patient in your condition to fend for herself. You couldn’t possibly do that in your current state.”

  “I think I’m going to puke,” Brielle mutters under her breath. I hope she does.

  “But I should let a few people know that I won’t be at the hospital for a few days,” Roman says as he pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and presses a button on the top to turn it on.

  “No way, is that the new iPhone?” Brielle asks, suddenly striding towards us with a grin. “Can I see it?”

  Roman shrugs. “Sure.” He hands it to her when she’s close enough.

  Brielle snatches it out of his hand and throws it down. She uses the heel of her Doc Martens to grind it into the floor. Roman and I are both too stunned to say anything as she reaches down and sorts through the broken plastic. She picks up a couple of things and speed walks to the bathroom. A second later, the toilet flushes. Obviously, she just flushed the pieces of his phone.

  When she comes back out, she’s not grinning anymore. “For a doctor you’re pretty damn stupid.”

  Roman’s face darkens now that he’s over the shock. “Was that really necessary?”

  “Considering I have a power amplifier sending out the sine wave, yes. The second you turned that phone on, its signal was blasted out of here like a fucking bat on steroids. You probably just alerted every djinn in the city as to where you are. Probably the cops too. You might as well have put a billboard in the center of town saying ‘find my dumb ass here’ with an arrow pointed in this direction.”

  Roman and I are both confused. I get the whole power amplification thi
ng. That would amp up the signal from his phone, but she said something I don’t understand. “Why would the cops be involved?” I ask.

  Brielle really needs to give that ‘get a fucking clue’ face a rest. “When neither you nor the doctor show back up, what do you think the hospital will do? They’re not going to think that Dr. Dumbass here took you on a leisurely stroll. No. They’re either going to think that he kidnapped you or that you were both kidnapped, or killed, by the psychopaths shooting up the hospital. Either way, they’re going to look for you.”

  Realization seeps into my mind that I do need to get a fucking clue. Roman too. This is some pretty deep shit we’re all suddenly involved with. There’s no chance that I can walk back into my old life again. Hell, for all I know, I could be wanted for killing that djinn, or guy, whatever, with my car. And now Roman’s in the same predicament. Even if he decided to go back, regardless of the fact that the djinn might be after him, how could he explain what happened to me? He was the last person to be seen with me and the circumstances were shady to say the least. I think back to that nurse who saw him carrying me in the hallway at the hospital. She had to have told the authorities by now.

  The same thoughts are going through his mind. Roman’s face has become a blank page, but there’s resignation in his voice. “You’re right. They will think that.”

  “Are we still safe here?” I ask her.

  Brielle’s back at her computer and is typing away. “I’m going to try to copy his signal and leave a false trail across the city. Hopefully it’s not too late.”

  “You can do that?” I’ve never seen that on any of the crime shows. Then again, between work and school, I don’t get to watch much television.

  “I’m trying,” is her curt reply. Her fingers are flying on the keyboard. After about five minutes and a lot of swearing, she finally sits back in her chair. “That should do it.”

  “I apologize. I should have realized it wouldn’t be safe to use my phone,” Roman says now that Brielle’s attention isn’t glued to the computer screen.

  “That’s okay. I should have asked if you had a cell phone before we even got here.” Wow, that was gracious of her. “Look, obviously I’m not thrilled that Malik asked me to do this, but I said I would. So I will.” She speaks in riddles sometimes. “But we have to have some ground rules. Basically, whatever I say goes. Otherwise, we’ll end up being appetizer, entrée and dessert for the djinn, served up fondue style. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the equivalent to chocolate fondue.” She thinks she’d be the sweet one?

  “So you want to us to follow you blindly, no questions asked,” Roman says.

  Brielle cocks her head and nods. “Basically.”

  “And I’m supposed to let you lead me to some stranger to do god knows what with me?” I have it on my lips to tell her what I think of that when her computer chimes.

  Brielle swirls her chair back to her monitors. Whatever she sees makes her scowl. Her eyes dart towards me for a split second and then back to the screen. “Malik wants me to tell you something. He says it will make you trust him.”

  “Okay.” I can’t think of anything he could say that will make me trust him.

  “He said to tell you ‘#+B (G (D/J H'-/ 92J2J’.”

  Roman scoffs. “How is saying something in Arabic supposed to make her trust him? She doesn’t even know what you just said.”

  “Trust me, my dear one,” I whisper to myself.

  Chapter 9 - Malik

  Those words trigger something in my mind. The room disappears as a feeling of warmth washes through me, filling me with a love I have never felt before in this life; yet I know I have somewhere in time. It’s a love that takes away all pain, all sorrow. It steals my breath away. This love wraps around me, comforts me, and shatters any illusion I had of resistance. My place is with Malik. Malik, who has whispered these words to me now and what feels like an eternity ago.

  I remember. I can feel myself in his arms as he whispers those words right before saying good-bye. I beg him to let me stay but nothing sways him. I can’t see his face; I can only feel his blond hair tickling my cheek as I cry into his shoulder. I don’t want to leave him but I must. For both of us, I must. We will never be safe if we’re together.

  “Skye, what’s wrong?” Roman’s hands are on my cheeks and he’s shaking me slightly. “Skye, answer me.”

  “I have to go to him,” I whisper.

  “No, you don’t.” His intensity shocks me back into awareness. “You don’t know him. This could be a trap.”

  “I did know him once.” I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling right now. “I need to be with him again.”

  If he squeezes my face any tighter, my head is going to start leaking brains out my ears. “Two minutes ago you had no idea who this guy is and now, because he said ‘trust me’, you are ready to go off and live happily ever after with him?”

  “You’re hurting me,” I say through my pursed lips triggered by his grip.

  Immediately, he lets go. “I’m sorry. That was not my intent.”

  Brielle is looking at us curiously. “Why are you so gung ho against her going to see Malik?” I don’t think she’s any happier than he is about this, but she’s trying hard not to show it.

  Roman stands up and crosses his arms over his chest. “She’s my patient and I don’t want her in a situation where she could get injured more than she already is.”

  Brielle snorts. “Yeah, that’s it. I could tell you had a boner for her back in her hospital room. Isn’t there some sort of ethical code or something about not screwing your patients, Doc?”

  If she was a guy, he would have already slugged her. “I am not screwing my patient. I simply care about her wellbeing.”

  This conversation would be uncomfortable anyway, but since I’m the patient they’re talking about, the discomfort level has been amplified. “I don’t think I could screw anyone in my current condition.” Um. That didn’t make things any less awkward. “Can we get off the subject of my sex life please?”

  “Fine with me. I don’t want to picture you two doing the nasty. And just so you know, it’s not going to happen on my bed.”

  If I could get up, I’d slug her this time. She’s so crude. But, she saved my life. I have to keep saying that over and over in my mind. Her intentions are good even if her personality is lacking in a few areas. Though I do think her shares of tact and geniality were put aside so she could have extra helpings of bitch and bitchier.

  I don’t want to keep arguing with her. I’m too exhausted. “Look, I really appreciate what you’ve done for me. If you hadn’t come to the hospital, I’d probably be dead. And I’m sorry that there’s a connection between me and this man that you obviously care for, but could we call a truce?”

  That is not a ‘truce’ face Brielle has on. “Who says I care for him?”

  “Okay. My mistake, you don’t care for him. Can we still call a truce? We’re obviously stuck together for a while.” If we’re together long enough though, I’d put money on one of us becoming homicidal towards the other.

  Chapter 10 – Copper Control

  She narrows her eyes and stares at me for a long time. So long that I fear her eyes are going to dry up if she doesn’t blink soon. She startles me when she finally says, “Are you guys hungry?” She turns back to her kitchen area and opens the fridge again. “I don’t have much. We could order pizza or something but you guys are paying. There’s not a lot of money in djinn hunting. I have a slot in the garage that the pizza guy will slide the pizza into. He knows I like my privacy. I like pineapple and bacon on mine. If you guys want something else you’ll have to order two pizzas.”

  Abandoning her futile search of her empty fridge, she returns to her computer. “Alright Doc, hand over your credit card.”

  Roman looks at her suspiciously. “You’ve already expressed that the djinn are technologically savvy, so wouldn’t they be able to trace my credit card usage?”


  Brielle snorts. “By the time I reroute the transaction, they won’t even know what country you’re in.”

  He looks doubtful but Roman pulls out his wallet and opens it. He selects a card and hands it to Brielle.

  As we wait for the pizza, I’m surprised to find that I’m hungry. Considering the extent of my injuries, the fever I know I have, and the terror from earlier, I would have thought my appetite would be gone for a long time. But, I am also completely wiped out. How am I going to stay awake long enough to eat? My eyelids are closing on their own accord and as much as I fight to keep them open, they simply won’t cooperate.

  The Tylenol™ that Roman found in the packed medicine cabinet has taken just the tiniest edge off from the pain, thank god. I crack my eyes open to see that he is now wandering around Brielle’s apartment looking at her stuff, which is annoying the hell out of her. She keeps telling him not to touch things. He touches them anyway.