His grin widened. “Yeah. You could say that.”
This didn’t surprise me as my attraction to him was undeniable. Those lips of his begged to be kissed, and I was itching to run my fingers through his hair. He made me want things I normally didn’t think about. The boys who came for the dances flirted but never tried anything.
I crossed my arms. “Why won’t you tell me where I’m from?”
“Because you’re in danger, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Danger from who?” That’s what Gran said too. I hated that everyone was trying to protect me from some unknown threat. I could take care of myself.
“Lots of people.”
A scream threatened to erupt. This was unbelievably frustrating.
“Is it because I’m a goddess?” I didn’t see the point of keeping that a secret. He obviously knew more about me than I even knew about myself.
“Maybe. But it might have more to do with me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He hesitated a moment. “Can that wait? I don’t want you to hate me just yet.”
“Why would I hate you? Did you take my memories?” If he took my memories, those lessons in weapons and defense were going to come in terribly handy.
“No, it’s just that my kind, we don’t really get along with goddesses. Typically.”
“You’re kind?” My stomach sank as I started to piece together what he was saying. This wasn’t happening. He was too pretty for me to hate.
He ran a hand through his hair. The movies I’d seen of Jinn showed them as either creepy or good looking. But they never showed one that looked like Gabe. He was in a league of his own.
“How… how did you and I get together?” I tried to keep the tremor out of my voice, but I wasn’t sure I succeeded.
He dropped his shoulders. “Well, neither one of us knew you were a goddess then.”
“You’re… you’re a Jinn.” There. I said it out loud. The one being that could help me figure out my past was the enemy. His kind killed my parents.
He grabbed my other hand, pulling me close into him. His scent was intoxicating, and I swooned. This wasn’t fair. I couldn’t gather my thoughts. Everything was so mixed up.
His face was inches from mine. “Please don’t hate me,” he pleaded. The lessons on Jinn painted them as bloodthirsty monsters. They killed innocent people.
“You’re evil,” I said and pushed him away. Gabe didn’t seem evil, and he certainly wasn’t what I’d pictured.
“I was a monster. I really was. But you changed me. Please believe me. I love you so much. I could never hurt you or anyone else.”
How did he love me? He didn’t even know me. Though I suppose he did, but I didn’t know him. Plus he was a Jinn. Did he kill my parents? Did he know who did?
“I need to think.” I turned away from him.
“Liv, please let me explain.”
“Unless it’s about my past, I don’t want to hear it.” I stalked away down the beach.
He followed, his face full of anguish. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then we have nothing to talk about,” I said and spun around, glaring at him. I had nothing to fear from him, but he most definitely had a lot to fear from me.
He gripped his hair and let out a growl. “I can tell you things like… you love cats and Converse shoes. You lived with your grandma and brother and had crazy friends. I just can’t tell you anything that would send you seeking for things at home. Because even if you said you wouldn’t go sneaking out, I know you well enough to know that would be a lie.”
I chewed on my lip. This was good information. Maybe I could get more. “Who is my grandmother? You knew her too. Tell me about her.”
He opened and closed his mouth. “Liv, I can’t.”
“Was she the one who took my memories? Is that why I can’t remember her? Well, I can’t remember you either, so maybe you did. You know what? Unless you want to tell me everything, stay away from me.”
I crossed the street. He didn’t follow, and my brain raced through the things he told me. I liked cats, and I had crazy friends. I guess Josie wasn’t all that unique.
I was in danger. But from who?
None of it made sense.
Except. He was Jinn. I swallowed. He could be responsible for my parents’ death. And even if he wasn’t, how many girls had he slaughtered?
What was I going to do about that?
Chapter Thirteen
Liv
So, bitches, try not to screw this up.” Chantel glowered at us from in front of the doors of the castle. It was a Thursday, and I was more than a little surprised when Josie woke me up and said we were going Jinn hunting.
I yawned, still not fully awake. “What can we screw up? You’re the one doing the hunting.” I had to admit, though, I was more than thrilled to watch this in action. Then maybe next time I could trap Gabe before he got away. If I could learn how to do this before I passed the tests, then I would run away and do it on my own. There was no need to jump through all these stupid hoops.
“Just don’t get in the way,” Chantel said.
“Got it.” I gave her a fake smile and a thumbs up. Chantel and three of her friends traipsed outside. Of all the people we had to go with, it had to be her. She was still spreading rumors that I wasn’t actually descended from Bast even after Amina publicly reprimanded her.
“Why are we going anyway?” I asked Josie. Lianna made it seem like we were too inexperienced.
“They always take along a few of the oracles. But because we’re seventeen, they think we’ll be getting there first. I’ve never been out on a hunt.”
Lianna floated down the stairs. “Hello, ladies. Are the others up yet?”
“They’re outside.”
“Come on then, time is a wasting.”
We stepped out into the balmy air. I loved summer because mornings were warm.
Lianna looked around at all of us. “Chantel, Ruby, do you both have your vessels?”
They took out small bottles. Lianna conjured two more and handed one to me and the other to Josie. “Every girl gets a vessel on her first hunt. It’s a reminder of what you will eventually do. Today, Chantel will hopefully catch her Jinn and become one of us. Ruby will assist her. Josie, Liv, and I will watch and herd him your direction if necessary.”
Sounded easy enough. Though, it did seem like a lot of hassle for one Jinn. Maybe this was harder than they made it seem.
“Grab hands, ladies.”
I did so, and then we winked out of existence and landed. Foreign words floated around me from the busy street. Motorbikes flew by.
“Where are we?” Josie asked.
Lianna stepped off the curb. “Hanoi. There’s a bar across the street that Jinn like to pick up their victims from. Now, girls, listen. Jinn are extremely powerful, but only with their mistresses. If one runs, we will split up and get him back to Chantel. Do you understand?”
Sure. Somehow herd a genie back to Chantel, who will be who knows where. Oh and yeah, we’re in a foreign country, so we have no idea where we’re going. Sounds like a great plan.
“Understood.” I wasn’t about to let Lianna know I was skeptical at best.
Thick smoke hung in the air of the dingy bar. I spotted the Jinn almost immediately. Two of them sat in a corner chatting. They both looked nothing like Gabe, who was the only Jinn I’d ever met, but they were handsome. Lianna’s eyes flicked over to them at the same time as mine, but no one else seemed to notice the Jinn. Maybe I was better at discernment than I thought I was. Though, truthfully, I probably wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t been around Gabe. He had an undeniable energy about him. I tried not to think about that and focused instead on the girls he probably killed.
Lianna spoke in a low whisper. “Jinn have a feeling about them that most men do not. It’s raw and sensual, and once you identify it, you’ll never forget it.”
I nodded slowly. Josie’s e
yes flicked around the bar, and Chantel and Ruby moved through the people. I focused on the Jinn.
“Is the energy different for each one? The one on the left seems weaker somehow.” He was twitchy too.
“You found him?” Josie stood on tiptoes and followed my gaze.
“Yes, very good. I would assume the one on the right has very recently taken the life force of his mistress. Bastard. I’m surprised you noticed. Chantel and Ruby are still looking.”
The one on the right met my eyes, and sheer panic crossed his face. He whispered something to the other one, and they both scrambled out of the booth and hurried for a back door.
“They’re getting away,” I said. Chantel and Ruby finally found them and took off after them.
“You and Josie go out the front. One of you go to the left, and the other should take the right. Find them and lead them back this direction.”
Without question, I did as I was told. They raced down a side street. Chantel and Ruby were nowhere to be seen. I followed, hoping I would actually be able to find this place again. I did not want to be stuck in Hanoi forever. Truthfully, that was my biggest fear. I had no idea how to travel on my own.
I saw them turning a corner, and so I did too. Right into a dead end.
I approached them cautiously, both of whom were looking for a way out. Their fear was a little exhilarating.
The one who had more power spoke slowly. “We don’t want any trouble. Just let us go.”
“Can’t do that, boys. If you come quietly, no one will get hurt.” I had no idea what I was saying. It was just the first thing that popped into my head.
The weak one lunged for me and put me in a chokehold. Shit.
I scratched at his arms, but it did no good. I was a goddess. I could do something, right?
I shoved my hand into my pocket and pulled out the vessel. He let go and tried to run. I didn’t know how this worked or what to do, so I kept it as simple as possible. If it didn’t work, they’d laugh at me and get away.
“Go into the bottle,” I commanded as he ran the opposite direction.
The bottle in my hand warmed. A pinkish smoke floated inside. The other Jinn looked around at the walls. There was no way out. Lianna rushed around the corner and eyed the bottle in my hand. “What did you do?”
“Caught a Jinn,” I said with a shaky laugh. Holy hell. I could do this. No more stupid goddess tests for me.
Her eyes narrowed. She shoved another bottle into my other hand. “Do it again.”
“But that’s for Chantel.”
“Chantel has failed. Do it again.”
“No, please. Just let me go,” the Jinn pleaded. Footsteps pounded behind us, but he kept his eyes glued to me. “I didn’t do anything to hurt you, did I? Gabe said if we left you alone, we’d be safe. I did what he asked.”
I faltered for a second. Why was he talking about Gabe?
“Olivia, now,” Lianna said.
“Go into the bottle,” I commanded.
“No!” a voice shrieked behind me. Chantel, Ruby, and Josie stood there, all out of breath.
“That was mine. You stole him. How could you?” Chantel stalked toward me.
I just caught two Jinn. She had nothing over me now. I handed the bottles to Lianna and looped arms with Josie. My hands shook with adrenaline, but I wasn’t about to let those two snotty goddetts get to me. So even though I was completely and entirely freaked out by what I could do, I was going to pretend like everything was normal.
“Can we go home now?” I asked. “I want to go back to bed.”
I had to act casual. As soon as I got back, I was packing my bags. The Jinn had no idea what was coming to them. I was going to hunt them down and trap them all.
Chapter Fourteen
Liv
Packing my bags was not on the horizon. The goddesses were in a tizzy. I was ushered up to Lianna’s office and left there for a good hour. I fell asleep in the window seat thinking of how I could escape and what my future would look like.
“Wake up,” a voice hissed. I blinked my eyes open. Macy stood over me. “They want you.”
I rubbed my face. “Who?”
“Goddess Lianna sent me to get you.”
I stretched and followed her out of the office. Just a few more hoops. I could do this. Though maybe I should hang out for a bit and learn everything I could about the goddesses. Magic was also something I would probably need. Dammit. I was ready to avenge my parents.
Macy led me to a room I’d never been to before.
“Go on,” she said.
I pushed open the door. All the goddesses from the school and a few I didn’t know sat around a large table.
“Have a seat,” Lianna said, pointing to a chair between two formidable women.
I sat and tried to shake the sleep out of my head. Geesh, this must be more serious than I thought.
“Who are you?” a woman who I’d never met demanded.
“I’m Liv. Beyond that, I have no idea. You know that.”
Lianna cocked her head. “Do we? Never before has a girl as untrained as you caught a Jinn.”
“It wasn’t that hard.”
“Oh really? Allow me to show you how hard it really is.”
She stuck her head out of the door for a few moments and then returned, speaking directly to me. “You’ve been trained. Not thoroughly, but you’ve had experience with Jinn before.”
Yeah, and his name is Gabe, apparently. As soon as this meeting was over, I would go into town and hunt him down. Now I had something to hold over him. I could threaten him with a vessel if he refused to tell me anything.
“Maybe I have, but if I don’t remember, I don’t see how that will help me.”
They muttered among themselves for a few moments. I tried to concentrate on what they were saying, but it was hard to follow any single conversation. Nothing made sense.
Someone knocked on the door. Lianna opened it, and Josie slipped in. She stared at me with wide eyes. Lianna led her to the front of the room and set down the vessel of one of the genies I’d caught earlier.
“I’m going to release this Jinn. He won’t get far, not with all of us here, but I want to test Josie’s abilities.”
“I’m… I’m… not ready,” Josie said with a shaky voice.
“I know. But Olivia did it. Surely you can as well. Didn’t you fly through magic?”
“Uh, I guess.”
I didn’t see how magic had anything to do with it.
“Come forth, Jinn,” Lianna commanded.
The man appeared and staggered. He glanced around the room with terrified eyes. “No, please, I don’t know anything.”
“About what?” Lianna asked, her brow furrowed.
“I didn’t mean to hurt Liv. Gabriel promised he’d leave us alone if he we didn’t touch Liv.”
“Why would Gabriel care if you went near Liv?’
“I don’t know. But he killed Jasper in front of us after he tried to hurt her. Please let me go.”
Lianna stalked toward him, and he shrunk into the corner. “Gabriel killed Jasper?”
The genie covered his face with his hands. “Yes.”
“This changes everything.” She strolled away from him, her face gleeful. “Josie, please put this genie where he belongs.”
“I… I… don’t know how.” Josie’s voice was quiet.
“Ask Olivia.”
I felt bad for Josie. She didn’t ask for this. “Just tell him to get inside,” I whispered.
Josie picked up the bottle with shaking hands. “Jinn, go back into your vessel.”
The genie stepped away. “I thought you guys were better than that.” His lips twitched.
Lianna flicked her eyes to me. “Go on, Olivia. Show her how to do it.”
I swallowed. So much was going on around me. I didn’t understand half of it, but that Jinn made me nervous.
He lunged for Josie and wrapped his arms around her.
“No,” I cried and
reached for him. He tightened his grip on Josie.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said. “Let me go.”
“You realize you are in a room full of goddesses, don't you?” I asked. He didn’t seem like a very smart Jinn.
He ran a hand along Josie’s hair. “If you send me into that vessel now, poor Josie goes with me.” He sneered.
Lianna appeared at my side. “How do you know that? That is not public knowledge.”
He gave a nervous laugh. “It’s all about who you know. I know that years ago, Abdullah took a daughter of Nut into his vessel with him. From what I hear, she hasn’t quite been the same since.”
“Is it true?” I hissed to Lianna.
“Yes. If they are holding a human, it won’t work, but since they are immortal, if they are even touching one of us when they have to go into their vessel, we go with them. It’s not a pleasant experience.”
Maybe I could wrestle Josie away, and one of the other goddesses could send him into his vessel.
I could feel the rest of the goddesses behind me. Between all of us, we’d get her away.
Josie dropped her weight and stomped on his foot. He loosened his grip, and Josie twisted out and ran. Before I could do anything, he grabbed my wrist.
“I guess you want to go.”
I lashed out, meaning to hit him in the chest and get away, but instead of meeting solid flesh, my hand went into his hot and silky chest.
He gaped at my hand in horror. My fingers teased something solid, and I drew my hand into a fist around the substance.
The Jinn groveled. “No, please.”
I squeezed harder. He’d threatened my friend. I didn’t know what was happening. I wanted him gone.
“Jinn, go back to your vessel.” I closed my fist, and he turned a dusty yellow smoke with flaming eyes for a moment and disappeared.
I stared at my hand and spun on Lianna.
“What happened?”
She gulped. The silence hung heavy in the vast room.
Kathryn came around her other side. “That’s a rather unorthodox way to send a Jinn back into a vessel. We don’t teach it, because it’s dangerous to get that close to a Jinn, but those of us who have been around long enough know what it means.”
The Glowing Sands (Sons of the Sand Book 3) Page 7