At Your Command

  The truth became clear suddenly, to both of them. She dropped her arms and pulled her robe more tightly around her. She didn't even try to deny it.

  "Ashamed isn't the right word. It's just that a relationship between us isn't appropriate. You're not, well, people around here don't see you as someone I would...and I was supposed to marry someone else just five months ago."

  He turned away, not wanting to look at her, not wanting to torture himself one more minute. After all these centuries, it had finally happened. He had been beaten, humiliated, tortured, but never had a master managed to fool him, until now.

  He ignored her hand on his shoulder. "Tom, I didn't mean that, not the way it sounded."

  She had convinced him she wasn't interested in wishes any longer, that she cared about him, the man, not the walking wish maker. Maggie, his Maggie, had tricked him.

  TOM SEEMED TO grow taller while she watched, but Maggie could never tell if that was her imagination or if he was getting ready to do something. Something she wouldn't like.

  "I know exactly what you meant." His voice rattled the windowpanes. "I'm not good enough for you. Me, descendent of princes, caller of the power, summoner of demons."

  She could imagine the people downstairs looking up from their breakfast. "Don't do this, Tom. You'll upset Mother."

  "Lady Sarah is perfectly capable of taking care of herself."

  "Why did you bring Glenn for her then?"

  "Why did you wish for it?"

  "Me? I didn't wish for Glenn to come here. I don't remember making any wishes really, except for you to go away. You seem to think you can waltz in here, grant the wishes you want to grant and ignore the rest."

  "Well, if that's the wish you want." He rose his arms over his head, a cloud of smoke rising from his feet. Never before had he looked so otherworldly, so supernatural. Light reflected at dizzying angles off his silver collar. His bare chest rose and fell in rhythm with his chanting.

  "Hey, you wait. You're not going to trick me again. First, that worthless cup I can never show anybody and then tracking down a missing person I could have found myself for a few bucks. No more granting wishes willy-nilly. I order you to stop. I command it."

  He hesitated, but he didn't lower his arms. The cloud at his feet rolled in on itself and the windows stopped rattling. "You have wasted enough of my time, little one. Make your last wish and I will grant it."

  And you will disappear forever.

  Was that what she wanted? She knew what she didn't want--Tom constantly interfered in her life, kept all forward progress at a standstill. Was that what he was doing or was she the one who'd put her life on hold? Was Tom only her excuse? Wasn't it best to leave this fairy tale and return to the real world? Send Tom back where he belonged before he could do any more harm?

  Suddenly, she remembered the look on Tom's face the last time he'd prepared to return to his box, and then only for a minute or two. "Won't that mean you'll have to go back to the abyss?"

  "That does not concern you, insignificant one," he thundered.

  "I...I thought you were afraid--"

  "I am afraid of nothing."

  Now he was getting on her nerves. Of course he was afraid, he was just too damned stubborn, and too male, to admit it. "In that case, I'll make my wish and we can both get on with our lives."

  He looked a little nervous now, not all the moisture that stood out on his body was from the shower.

  "Just promise me one thing. From this moment on, other than this wish, there's no more magic. Do you understand? I don't want any more whipping up desserts or conjuring pots of tea. None of it."

  Tom darkened, as if he stood in a shadow.

  "No more magic. Except for my wishes. Agreed?"

  Tom nodded, his chin moving a fraction of an inch. "Your wish, little one."

  "Can't I wish we will both be happy? You wouldn't go back to the box then, since that would make you unhappy. Not scared, unhappy."

  Tom gave her a look of pure disdain. "Lady Sarah says one must find happiness in one's own heart, not in the presence or absence of others."

  "So you're saying you won't grant my wish?"

  "I'm saying I cannot."

  "Lady Sarah, the new high priestess of genie rule-making."

  "You should not mock your mother."

  "What do you know about mothers?"

  The color rose in Tom's face again, giving new meaning to the term black expression. "You wouldn't know how to make a sensible wish if you tried. A silver goblet full of French wine. Bah! What kind of wish is that? The wish of a child or a drunkard."

  "A...a...a child?" she sputtered. He was making her so mad, she couldn't think straight. "I'll have you know that before I met you, I never had more than a couple of sips of wine and most of that at Communion."

  "Are you claiming I seduced you with wine? I have been accused of corrupting the innocent before, my Maggie. One more victim added to my slate cannot damn me further into the depths."

  Her head pounded with the unfamiliar sensation of uncontrolled rage. "Innocent? How dare you call me such a thing?"

  For the life of her, Maggie couldn't figure out why she was so offended, she just knew that she was. "I am an adult, responsible for my actions. I know what wish I'm going to make. I know what you're going to say. I can't unwish wishes, I only get three. So I'm going to wish that all the negative results of my first two wishes disappear and...you, I guess I can say that since you're not entirely negative, you can stay here."

  Now she was babbling. She'd totally lost track of what she was saying. She wanted Tom to leave, but she didn't. She wanted him to hold her again, knowing they would make love before an hour had past. She wanted him to magically vanish. He had brought her to this. She was counting on magic to fix her life. "Not stay here, here, but here, out of your box, away from the abyss. Because I want you out of my life. I have to get on with my life, but I don't want you to be unhappy--"

  The cloud of smoke rose suddenly and enveloped him. Nothing could have startled her more than to find him standing there, still wearing his jeans, when the cloud cleared.

  "I will pack my things and be gone before lunch."

  "My wish--"

  "Has been granted. All negative results of your first two wishes have vanished."

  She looked around the bedroom, taking an accounting. Nothing seemed missing. Her silver goblet stood in its place next to the computer. She looked inside. It was empty.

  I'll never see him again, but at least he'll be free to go where he wants.

  "We can go down to breakfast then," she said.

  Tom nodded solemnly.

  When she left the bedroom, still wearing only in her robe, Tom didn't look thrilled at the prospect.

  Chapter 10

  TOM WAITED until he'd seated Maggie before he made his solemn announcement. "I am leaving today."

  Lady Sarah, Glenn and Chet appeared startled and sympathetic. Apparently, Maggie hadn't heard him. She was staring at Chet, who returned his attention to his pancakes. Tom considered turning him into a tree slug, but changed his mind. He wouldn't want to spoil Maggie's appetite, or break her no magic edict this early in the game.

  "Before lunch," Tom added. Still no reaction from Maggie. Was it too much to expect a show of regret? He was, after all, fulfilling her wish.

  Maggie couldn't take her eyes off Chet. Her forehead wrinkled in the most unusual way. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

  "Eating breakfast," Chet replied between bites. "It's great, as usual, Mother Yates."

  Maggie choked. Chet continued to smile. So did Sarah.

  Tom dismissed the exchange. It was that way after a memory erase. Some victims acted like asses before enough time passed to make the lack of information irrelevant.

  "Why thank you, Chet." Lady Sarah returned his smile, managing not to look quite as insipid. "I'm just happy to have you two back together."

  Tom had hated to tamper with Sarah's memory, but it was necessary. T
o erase the negative effects of his presence in Maggie's life, he had to return everyone's opinion of Chet to its original state. Maggie he would not tamper with. If she wished to renew relations with her ex- and obviously inferior lover, she could do so on her own. He wasn't going to push her.

  "So, are you going to need help moving?" At least Tom had a sympathetic ear in Glenn. His presence had resulted in an entirely positive result and his memory needed no adjusting.

  "I depart as I arrived, with nothing."

  "Tom!"

  Finally, he'd gained Maggie's attention. "My clothes then, I suppose."

  "I think I have a suitcase someplace you can borrow, dear," Sarah added.

  Chet dragged his attention, which he'd divided between his plate and Maggie, to Tom. "If you need any help moving your stuff, let me know. Maggie and I won't be leaving town for a few more days."

  "What?" Maggie's voice rose several decibels.

  Tom recognized that look on her face. Foot tapping followed. It took all of Tom's self-control not to duck under the table to watch. She was wearing bedroom slippers, which left all of her ankle and much of her arch exposed.

  Sarah didn't seem to notice her daughter's distress. "You two are going back to California then?"

  "No, way--"

  "Yes," Chet interrupted, seemly oblivious to Maggie, who seethed at his side. "I need Maggie to help me finish out the semester. I don't know how I managed without her. We'll make definite plans for next term. It's too late in the academic season to move before next year."

  Tom hadn't considered that. If Maggie went to California, he would have to follow closely. If he didn't, he'd return to the abyss, one wish left unfulfilled. Even after his 50-year sentence, he would not be free. Trapped forever until his Maggie returned to a house that would soon be sold. If she died without fulfilling that wish....

  Glenn, his memory unimpaired, looked confused by the conversation. "Where are you off to then, Tom? You didn't mention leaving yesterday. Has something happened?"

  Tom opened his mouth, certain a logical solution would come to him before he needed to take another breath. Maggie grabbed his shirt and dragged him out of the chair.

  "You have to excuse us," Maggie said, not letting go. "We have a few things to discuss in private."

  The instant before panic claimed him, Tom remembered Maggie believed she had no wishes left. She would make no more wishes with their accompanying commands. She could do nothing to him. Obviously, she believed otherwise.

  "Tom...Tom..." She sputtered to a stop, her finger waving in his face. "Why the hell don't you have a last name?"

  Such an irrelevant tangent. "I chose a first name for myself. If you wanted me to have a last name, you should have--"

  "Oh, don't bother. It's just easier to get mad at someone if you have two names to yell at them."

  Maggie certainly did look angry and for once Tom had no idea why. She had her three wishes, or so she thought. Chet no longer held her relationship with a "crazy person" against her. Their past association would no longer cause her shame. Maggie could now have her home.

  His Maggie in a home without him.

  Tom stared at the floor and waited. This was probably for the best. Parting in anger would make the separation easier for her. He would have to be careful not to be seen when he followed her to California.

  "What did you do to them? You promised me no more magic."

  So, that was it. She wasn't upset about his leaving only that he might have broken her silly ban on magic. His Maggie never had gotten the hang of wishes. Fortunately, she would not make another until she was an ancient. Tom tried to picture the scene--Maggie gray and bent, learning he had tricked her out of her last wish until it was almost too late. No telling how badly she would botch her last wish.

  "I have performed no feats of magic since receiving your instructions."

  "Then why is Chet out there acting like I didn't kick him out of my life last night? Why does he think we're an item again? And why is my mother looking at him as if he's her future son-in-law?"

  "Memory adjustments have nothing to do--"

  "Memory adjustments!" Maggie beat on his chest. "What did you think you were doing?"

  Tom stopped her attack. Not that she was hurting him, but he knew when she came to her senses she would regret her actions. Never had he had a more kind and gentle master.

  Perhaps he shouldn't have stopped her. Her hands were no longer on him but he held her wrists. He straightened his elbows to gain more space between them. Her bathrobe came undone.

  "It was part of your wish, My Maggie."

  They stared at each other for another moment. Neither of them moved. Then the telephone rang. The fight went out of her and she stepped into him. Maggie rested her head against the chest she'd been hitting.

  Maggie's robe loosened some more and bare flesh pressed against Tom's chest.

  "Your wish for me to be happy...I didn't thank you properly for that, My Maggie." You have a plan. You have to stick to it. "No master has ever held me in such regard. Now I can remain on this plane of existence."

  "What will you do?" she whispered.

  Maggie...if only..."I will accept the job working with Mr. Larsen at the diner. Mrs. Hanson, your piano instructor, has indicated that in exchange for yard work and running errands, I may stay in her spare room and join her for breakfast."

  "But you'll grow old, you'll..."

  Finally, he gave in. He released her wrists and touched her hair. Soft springs of gold. They caught his fingers, binding him to her. "You have given me a gift, Maggie. Something I've long wished for."

  When she stepped away, Tom felt chilled.

  "You're not going to do any magic tricks, are you? Whip up a castle or something and a few dozen dancing girls to clean for you?"

  Colder than he'd ever felt in the dead of the Minnesota winter. "You don't think I can survive without using magic. You think I'm an incompetent fool. You're not just ashamed to be seen as my lover, you're ashamed to be seen with me period."

  The kitchen door slamming shut interrupted them. Maggie looked like a woman who wanted to say much more, but who let curiosity get the better of her.

  "No more magic," she warned. Then she tightened her bathrobe and stalked back to the kitchen.

  TOM IS LEAVING. Tom is leaving. Maggie staggered toward the kitchen determined to live through this. She was going to enjoy living alone. She was going to love it.

  If Tom wasn't ready to be on his own, she'd be in the area at least until fall. She didn't think for one moment he'd actually stick to his promise, but maybe he could learn to curb his magical impulses. He'd have to learn to or he'd land in a world of trouble.

  As for Chet, she didn't care what he remembered or didn't remember. Her decision would stand. She wasn't going with him to California or any place else.

  "Chet, I..."

  Tom was right behind her when she came to a halt before the kitchen table. Her mother was alone.

  "Where did everybody go?" Maggie asked.

  "Chet went to fill his car with gas."

  Her mother stared at Tom oddly. A quick evaluation revealed the reason. Maggie had mussed his hair and his button down shirt had come undone. She tugged on her bathrobe tie again. If Sarah's mind was fuzzy about their relationship, they would both soon remind her.

  Which of her problematic beaus to settle in first--Tom at his new digs with reminders that making things go puff was not allowed, or Chet on a big jet back to quakeland?

  Glenn made the decision for her when he came into the room, suitcase in hand.

  He gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek first and then addressed Maggie. "I'm afraid I have to cut my visit short. An emergency at home."

  Maggie hadn't quite adjusted to thinking of Glenn as having any home before Tom spirited him here. "Nothing serious, I hope."

  Glenn shrugged. Sarah answered for him. "His son is in the hospital."

  Another bit of information for Maggie to digest. Sh
e had imagined Glenn to be alone in the world.

  Glenn rested his hand on Sarah's shoulder. "It's not like he's a kid or anything, must have turned forty some time back, but my ex worries about him and wants me there."

  Married? His son would have been what? Seven or eight when he was stationed in Japan with her mother. Tom pulled out a chair for Maggie to sit.

  Glenn seemed to know what she was thinking. "It wasn't your mother's fault. I didn't tell her I was married when we met."

  Sarah patted his hand where it still rested on her shoulder.

  "I'm not proud of what I did, but, well, I confess I can't truly be sorry either. The only thing I do regret was running away instead of ending it properly. I do love your mother, Maggie. I always have."

  A honking horn interrupted him. "Well, I guess Chet's here."

  Maggie's mother got up to walk him to the back door. Their kiss was brief. Maggie looked away.

  "Good-bye, Lady," Glenn said.

  "Good bye, dear."

  Maggie gave her mother a count of ten before she set into her. "How could you welcome that man back into your life after he deceived you?"

  Sarah shook her head. "Maggie, it was thirty years ago. I don't know why, but when I saw Glenn again, I remembered the hurt he caused but I didn't feel it. What I felt, really experienced again, was the love we shared."

  What had gotten in to her mother? Too much time on her hands after Dad's death. And romance novels. They were putting funny ideas into her head. "So now that he's not married, you plan to take up where you left off?"

  Her mother's face took on a glow that had been missing before this morning. "This was about closure, Maggie, not about reuniting with a long lost love. For all these years, Glenn needed to say good-bye and he's done that. I thought I needed to tell him how much I hated him, how he had ruined my life, but once I saw him, I knew it wasn't true. I needed to forgive him and to admit to myself that I did make the right decision when I married your father."

  "You don't intend to see him again?"

  Her mother frowned and pursed her lips. "I can manage my social life, dear. You seem to have your own to handle."