Jinn

by Jessica Cage

  “How far do we have to go?”

  She caved, as he knew she would. No odor was worth risking your life to avoid, no matter how rancid.

  “It's gonna take about a day on foot. I got us as close as I could to her without tripping any magical radars.” All of the witches had them, alarms that went off if anyone using magic from outside of their coven came to visit. Jinn’s magic would have set off every alarm within the Ashen had he transported them any closer.

  “Is it that intense?” Mike asked. “They need alarms? I thought they had a treaty in place, no in fighting. Why do they need alarm systems?”

  “Man, let me tell you, it has been crazy around these parts since they got the hold of this place. But, they were damn brilliant in staking their claim here. Regardless of what treaties they have in place, not one of these witches are going to risk losing their homes. As I told you before, things are about to change, Boonie. We aren’t the only ones preparing for it.”

  “Why do you say that? Why was this such a great place for them to claim?” Jinn looked around. Sure the place was beautiful, but any place could look that way with enough magic.

  “The lands here are much richer with life than any other. This was the motherland, all life started here. That includes all magic. The more they nurture it, the stronger it grows. Here, even a person who has no magic can do great things if shown how. We all thought they wanted this place because at the time, no one else did. There was gold here, yes, but that wasn’t going to be worth anything after the war, we all knew that. What we didn’t know, is that there is so much more here, so many natural resources, ones that we had no idea about, but they did. Trust me. This place is like Fort Knox, above ground. Lately, though, more of those annoying barriers have been popping up down below as well. It's like they are on to us.” He winked at Briar as she entered the hatch following Mike. Once Jinn was through he scanned the area, making sure they weren’t being watched, and disappeared beneath the soil.

  “How long have you been here?” Jinn questioned Cole who removed his wraps and shades and stuffed them into a backpack. They stood inside the hollow ground, tunnels dug by hand as the Collective had few underground passages that had existed before the war. Over the years, Cole and his people worked to expand the labyrinth as far as they could without pissing anyone off. It was hard and endless work; crews worked daily on expansion and repairs to their pathways.

  “Long enough, just before they really settled in. Bounced over here from Australia about five years prior. If you ask me, this is the safest place to be. They know we are here, and as long as we keep to our areas, don’t muck up their plans, we’re all good. Unlike those over in the Scourge, we have better access to food, though it is still limited. This little excursion may mess that up though.” He paused. “You know, if you could get this done without implementing us, that would really help us out.”

  “I appreciate you taking the risk. I’ll try my best to keep a low profile,” Jinn agreed. He didn’t intend to make life harder on any of the people who lived there.

  “To help my man, Boonie? Anything!” Cole chuckled as they moved ahead.

  “What did you do for him to make him so loyal?” Briar asked.

  “Believe it or not, I have actual friends, friends I don’t have to bribe for loyalty.”

  “I didn’t mean—” she whispered, but he stopped her.

  “Yeah, okay. I know what you and your people think of me and mine. Let’s just keep that shit at bay for now while we have to work together, please. I don’t feel like defending myself to you throughout this entire ordeal.” Mike walked ahead, matching his pace with his friend. The two quickly fell into a humorous conversation as they laughed and joked about times before the war.

  “I didn’t mean to offend him,” she said to Jinn, who remained in pace with her.

  “Didn’t you though?” Jinn asked.

  The first leg of their journey brought the group to a makeshift camping ground. Beneath the surface, they did the best they could to make it work. Items, mostly stolen, were brought down to create cots inside of dug-out caverns with thin, tattered sheets covering the entrances to allow for some semblance of privacy. This was their reality, this was the life Mike wanted to get his child away from.

  “I never really thought about how they lived down here all these years.” Briar watched a family of four shuffle past their group and head down a tunnel that lead east of them, where Cole said the majority of their people stayed.

  Cole announced that he had chosen housing away from the general population when he learned that Briar was coming. It was a better bet to keep them separate and avoid any misunderstandings. A fairy appearing in their world wasn’t going to be taken as a good thing.

  “We tend not to think about the things that make us uncomfortable,” Jinn offered as he laid down a blanket over the pallet. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

  “Mike, he grew up like this?” She adjusted her own bedding as they spoke.

  “Born and raised. His parents were some of the first to have to take to the sewers. Unless you're in an area where snakes, alligators, and crocodiles are common, you have to hide. Even then, it's not as if they are out and about with everyone else.”

  “I never really knew what they were, their deformity.” Though they were given the name slithers, not all of them shifted to snakes. A few, like Mike, could take on the form of multiple reptiles though he had his preference for the anaconda.

  “They are shifters, gone wrong. The failed experiment of a young witch trying to make something unnatural happen.” Jinn looked at Mike pensively before he continued to relay the history that wasn’t his own. “Mike’s parents were at a resort, vacationing. They’d just gotten married. As far as I understand it, the witch came out of nowhere with her spell. She wasn’t provoked, just bored likely. Nearly everyone at the resort, some five hundred people were changed that day. They didn’t know it, though. They left, went back to their normal lives, business as usual. It took a few weeks for the effects to really show. It wasn’t long after that when they realized they would have to hide. Mike’s mother got the worst of it. Her body deformed—half human, half reptile—but his father loved her, and stayed by her side.”

  “Mike was born this way?”

  “Yes, and to be honest, he’s a lot better off than anyone would have expected. Unlike those before him, his generation can actually shift from a bi-pedaled form to others, but as you can see, his skin is still not quite what you would expect of a human.” They were alone, Mike had gone off with Cole to allow the two of them time to settle in, and to give himself a breather from the judgement of Briar.

  “Damn. Well, I feel like shit now.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve been judging him, and those like him, all of this time. I never knew.” Her eyes followed the path of the hall that led east. “That family, their children, they’ve probably never seen the light of day, or played in a field. It's so beautiful up there and they are stuck down here, fearing for their lives.”

  “Well, we often make unfortunate judgements, based on biased information. That is, until we take the time to educate ourselves. Maybe you can use this experience to do that, learn more about these people and their lives. Outside of what you were told before.” Without realizing it, Jinn had already started to help Mike. Briar was listening to him, considering his words.

  “We got grub!” Mike announced as he returned with armfuls of nearly expired food and some that were far past their prime.

  “We’re going to eat this?” Briar picked up a piece of overly ripe fruit from the pile of food that Cole laid out before her.

  “Let me guess, not good enough for, your highness?” Mike huffed.

  “I j-just m-meant,” she stammered, trying to find the appropriate words. “This isn’t right, I mean …”

  “No worries,” Jinn stepped in, saving Briar from her bumbling mind. He waved his hand over the haul. Before their eyes spoiled products turned
to new—including the piece of fruit in Briar’s hand. “Sorry, but I have to agree with Briar, tempting sour stomachs the night before going into battle isn’t a great idea.”

  “Whoa.” Cole picked up a handful of food. “You think you can do that for some of the others down here? I hate to ask this of you, but I mean, these people haven’t had a decent meal in, well, ever.”

  “After all of your help, I would be happy to.” He paused. “What about risking setting off the magical alarms? This wasn’t much, but a large scale change will put out a lot of energy.”

  “Oh, we are still outside of the barriers, it should be fine.” Cole wasn’t entirely sure of their proximity to alarms, but he couldn’t pass up the chance of getting his people fresh food.

  “Well, by all means, lead the way.”

  “Thanks. You have no idea how much this is going to mean to them, especially the kids.” Cole chattered on as he headed off down the tunnel that led to the general population. Jinn followed behind him.

  The tunnel was about fifty feet long, and at the end of it was a large cavern that went deeper into the ground. A stairwell carved into the walls was the path down from the entrance to the bottom of the cavern were everyone sat. As they entered, slithers of all sort watched them. Cole grinned. He would be celebrated forever as the one who brought the djinn who fed them like kings for a night.

  “Everyone! Please gather around!” He gained the attention of the group quickly.

  “Cole, who is this?” a lanky man asked with a voice that possessed more base than his gangly form would suggest.

  “Jeremy, before you freak out, I know that none of us like unexpected visitors, but trust me, he is okay.”

  “That doesn’t tell us who he is,” Jeremey insisted as he looked Jinn up and down.

  “My name is Jinn.” The visitor spoke up for himself; there was nothing worse than being talked about like you weren’t in the room.

  “Jinn, as in Jinn the djinn?” Jeremey asked. “Funny about that naming, huh?”

  “I’m not hearing the differences in the words, but yeah, that’s me.” He laughed. “Look, Cole here has offered to help me and my friends out, and I would like to return the favor.”

  “How?” a small voice questioned, a little girl who held a piece of what looked like week-old bread from the green spots on it.

  “Like this.” Jinn walked over to the girl, knelt down in front of her, and turned the bread into a fresh roll. It warmed in her hand, feeling as if fresh from the oven. The smell rose from the cooked dough, filling the room. “Try it.” He smiled at her and she lifted the loaf to her nose.

  “It smells so good.” Her eyes grew wide, she had never known that smell. “I’ve never smelled anything so good before.”

  “It tastes even better.” He nodded. “Go ahead, take a bite.”

  As the small girl bit into the bread, everyone in the space inhaled, waiting for her verdict. “It’s soo good! Can you make more?” She beamed and Jinn nodded.

  “I’ll make as much as you like.”

  “I’m sorry,” Briar told Mike as she picked up a piece of fruit. The cheers echoed through the tunnels, Jinn must have been working his magic.

  “What do you have to apologize about?” Mike sat down after getting his cot as comfortable as it was going to get.

  “Being a bitch to you all this time. I don’t mean to be.”

  “It’s fine.” He picked up a fresh piece of bread, popped it into his mouth, and groaned, then chose another piece of fruit.

  “No, it isn’t. You didn't choose the cards you were dealt. It's not my place to hold any of this against you. It's just hard to separate the things I’ve heard from what is the apparent truth.” She waited before continuing. Mike lifted his eyes to her; he was listening. “I grew up being told about how horrible you and others like you were. Those stories told of thieves who were aggressive and abusive, monsters who preyed on my kind. I see now that what I was told, what I was taught, isn’t the truth, at least not about all of you. I will try harder to judge you solely on the person you are, and not the stories I’ve been told all of these years.”

  “You know, you could try not to judge me at all.” He winked at her before handing her half of the loaf of bread he’d been chomping on, an offer of peace.

  She accepted it and pulled a piece from the loaf, popping it into her mouth. “Yes, I could, but we both know that I would fail.” She grinned.

  “True. I guess I have to take what I can get then.” Standing up, he stretched his limbs. “Look, you aren’t the only one with preconceived notions. You’re not exactly what I thought a fairy to be.”

  “I’m not?”

  “No, you’re much worse.” He laughed so hard at his own joke he snorted.

  “Very funny. Where are you from, Mike?” Briar pulled a bottle of water from her backpack, drank half of its contents, and offered the other half to Mike who eagerly accepted the chance for hydration.

  “Well, I was born in New York, but I’m not really from anywhere. My family, my people, we don't ever really lay down roots, it's a life of a nomad. Stay in one place too long and you get caught up. It's different now, at least we get to call some place home, not that that home is something worth bragging about. It’s just good to be able to go back to the same place every night, see the same people.”

  “Do you have a family?”

  “Yes. My parents died a while back, they didn’t make it through the war, but I have three brothers and a sister.” He paused, as if considering how much he wanted to tell the woman who had yet to earn his trust. Briar wondered how much he would share with her. She understood why he wouldn’t want to, but apparently, he decided it was worth continuing. “My wife and I are expecting a little girl now.”

  “Really?” Briar smiled.

  “Yeah, in just a few weeks someone will be calling me daddy.” He chuckled. “You know, a few years ago the thought of being called daddy had an entirely different effect on me. I’m looking forward to it, though. My wife, Iris, she is wonderful, I can’t imagine my life without her. Now, my focus is just trying to provide something better for her, and for our daughter.”

  “That’s intense.”

  “Tell me about it. Why do you think I’m here?” He looked around the tunnel and thought of the angry witches above ground who would like nothing more than to dissect them all. “I mean, I care about Jinn and his wife, really, but risking my life to save a chick I don’t even know just weeks before my child is born, that isn’t exactly a smart idea. I have bigger plans, a hope for change, and I’m hoping like hell that Jinn can help me do that.”

  “That is noble of you.” She wondered if she would be able to do the same, put so much on the line, as he was.

  “Noble, yeah. I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” He sighed. “Some might call it selfish.”

  “Looks like you two are getting along.” Cole walked in, chest puffed out, and head held high.

  “Where is Jinn?” Briar glanced behind him and saw no one. She stood, ready to fight if needed.

  “Oh, he is coming, just saying his final good-byes.” Cole smiled to ease the tense warrior.

  “You look mighty proud of yourself, old friend.” Mike patted the chubby man on the back.

  “They will revere me.” He laughed. “They will speak my name and think of the great gift I brought upon them.”

  “Is that so?” Mike peered around him. “I don’t see anyone one revering you.”

  Cheers from the festive slithers echoed down the tunnel. “You hear that? All of them, so happy, bellies full, and they will think of one name when they think of this night.”

  “Jinn! Jinn! Jinn!” the crowd cheered on.

  “Doesn’t sound to me like they are shouting your name, buddy.”

  “Well, those ungrateful …” Cole huffed.

  “Ah, don’t let it bother you. We all know who the real hero of the night is, and it isn’t the man with hands of magic that turn rotted food
into a feast meant for a king. It’s you!”

  “You know, he conjured up steaks, magically, perfectly cook steaks.” Cole was drooling.

  “Steaks? Um … I’ll be right back!” Mike took off running toward the sound of cheers, hoping to get a fresh T-bone for himself.

  “Some friend he is. They ate them all anyway,” he muttered and Briar laughed.

  “That guy has some real issues.” Jinn laughed as he appeared in the corner behind Briar. “Sorry, I had to get out of there. You know Mike came running in and dived at the table of steaks? Good thing I conjured more or he would have likely killed that little girl for hers.”

  “Yeah, more steaks, great,” Cole mumbled. “Going to checkpoints, I’ll be back.” He sauntered off.

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “I think he really wanted to be the hero of the night, and well, the steaks kinda overshadowed him.”

  “Oh, steaks have a way of doing that. Why do you think I left Praia with so many of them?” He laughed. The steaks had been his way of apologizing for putting her on babysitting duty. If he ever needed her to forget about something, he just had to plop down a fat prime cut in front of her.

  “I spoke with Mike.”

  “Yeah? How ugly did it get?”

  “Surprisingly, it went well.” She paused, as if recalling their conversation. “You’re right. I need to educate myself more on him and his people. A lot of my people need to do the same.”

  “Well, it’s a start.”

  “Man, you sure do know how to conjure up a mean steak!” Mike walked back into their little dugout with two steaks in hand while he chewed on the rest of another.

  Jinn laughed. “You are a heathen, Mike.”

  “What? You know as well as I do, steak is a rare commodity. Sure, it may not be the real thing, but it tastes just as good!”

  “Not the real thing?” Briar asked.

  “Well, it’s magic. It isn’t carved from an actual cow,” Jinn offered.

  “You mean to tell me you happily eat fake food?” She looked at Mike who started on the next slab of meat.