Kiss of Stone

by JDCLANDICE

  Chapter 11

  Korin brewed a special drink for his guests. They waited for him to speak. Some stirred with annoyance, others with utter patience as he was known as He Who Will Leave the Brotherhood. Firelight flicked in both his eyes causing them to blaze as he poured the drink into the last cup and handed it to the tallest of the jinn.

  “Our Stone is going through with the ceremony.” He said with heaviness on his heart. Stone was like a real brother to him and this ceremony held so many dark secrets he wasn’t sure if it would be the best thing for him or Samosa.

  Samosa.

  Her skin was the color of cinnamon her spiral hair like dark ribbons and her scent infiltrated his dreams; and had him waking up in sweats and sometimes floating on a mist of his Smoke, hovering in his room and having a seductive dance with her.

  She belonged to Stone. And so his heart would deflate and he would simmer down.

  Way down to reality.

  One of the jinn cleared his throat. It sounded like a motorcycle gearing up. Korin looked in his direction.

  It was Gondlavin. The tallest of the jinn.

  “Yes?”

  “This elixir will enhance our blood?”

  “For certain.” Korin eyed the jinn suspiciously. He was very handsome, as most of the jinn were anyway-part of the lure for species needing a wish. “You’ve never done this before. None of you.” Korin addressed them all.

  “Nope,” said the shortest, squarer shaped jinn. He looked conservative as if a briefcase would complete his look and he’ll just need a taxi and an office. His attraction had to be his square jaw and Sapphire eyes. He’s been in some trouble lately.

  Seven jinn. All here in between the Multiverse, hovering in the space between earth and the Milky Way. They were able to look down on earth through a floor reflecting like a mirror. From here each jinn could see everything going on down there. Korin had to prepare them for what was to come and what a task it will be. It took hours of convincing just to get them here for a talk and to enhance their blood in preparation for the ceremony.

  “This is stupid,” Gondlavin spat. “All for a human? What was Stone thinking? And-” He tasted the elixir and drank it with disgust on his face. “This stuff taste like bull’s balls!”

  “I’m sure you know exactly how that tastes.” Korin said and grinned when he saw the pained look on Gondlavin’s handsome, dark face and heard the harsh chuckles from the other jinn.

  Time to get down to business.

  “Listen up. We are doing this for our brother because he has fallen for a human.” A couple of boos and woots followed. “But he is sick and if we don’t do this it is possible he could never walk the day or worse…die.”

  “Or worse, The Grand Marid gets him,” said another smart mouth from the back. It sounded like “Jerry”. He just wanted to be called Jerry for what reason, who knew. Korin’s gaze however steadied on the one in the middle. The dazzling one with gorgeous black almost blue hair and blue eyes like none he’d ever seen before. His frame was small and he had the most androgynous look out of them all.

  He was also the quietest, wearing a smirk on his lips. His name was Lex.

  “The Grand Marid could show up at any time, this is true. But will you be there for him?” Korin pleaded.

  They all raised their cups, drank the liquid down. Their eyes glowed a brilliant ruby. Korin drank his cup as well, keeping an eye on Lex.

  He had not put the cup to his lips.

  “Brother, you will not drink for Stone?”

  Lex spoke with a voice smooth as honey. “I am not his brother. I don’t even like him.” He cocked his head to the side slightly.

  Korin pinched the bridge of his nose, slightly stressed. “Try anyway. This must be done, Lex.”

  Lex looked around at everyone else, shrugged his small shoulders and drank the liquid down, flicking out his tongue to lick the juice from his chin. His tongue was very long and he looked at Korin strangely, eyes brimming red suddenly then flickered out just as quickly.

  Sometimes, Korin wondered if Lex was a jinn or something else.

  “Alright then,” Korin announced then recited some words in their language. A “prayer” of sorts. He instructed the jinn they must drink the elixir every day for fourteen days. Keep a thermos of it if this is to work. They mumbled and some floated off, popping into brilliant pieces of light to fall back to earth.

  Gondlavin stayed behind.

  Gondlavin shook his head slowly, the heavenly stars shining bright on his short, dark hair. His hand cupped his chin. “Is she worth it, Korin?”

  “I’ve met her and she is worth it. Strong and beautiful.”

  “Sounds well but she is human. This crosses all kinds of rules we have.”

  “Indeed.”

  Gondlavin finally looked at Korin. “I hope she isn’t the death of us all. The Grand Marid will get wind of this and plan something horrible. Not just for Stone but for everyone involved.”

  “Have faith, Gondlavin.”

  “Faith?” Gondlavin spread his muscular arms. “In what? We have masters on all sides! We serve GM and humans.”

  Korin placed a hand on Gondlavin’s shoulder. He was beginning to feel older than his years. And that was saying something since he was quite ancient. “Stone has found something he will fight for. He is fighting for something we all want deep down.”

  Gondlavin’s eyes shone bright. “Which is?”

  “Identity. He is fighting for his identity.”