Djinn

by Laura Catherine

  "Looks like it, although your telekinesis is clearly stronger."

  "How do you figure that? I can't even move the stupid ball."

  "But you did throw Will across the room," he said and I wished I'd never told him about that. "I'm not sure how useful the dream ability will be. You might not be able to interpret the dreams until after things happen."

  Seth leaned back on his arms.

  "We should focus on the telekinesis first," he decided. "The dreams won't hurt people, but telekinesis might."

  We spent more time staring at tennis balls, but it wasn't working. Maybe it was because my focus was elsewhere, with the knowledge I had not one but two abilities. Ivan might actually die from smiling.

  "Think we might call it a day," Seth decided. "It feels like something is blocking you. Making it so you can't use your ability."

  Just then the door to the training room swung open and Will, Mia and Pyke walked in.

  "Times up," Pyke announced. "Guardjinn training time." He flexed his muscles, making poses like he was a weightlifter.

  Mia glared at me as she entered the room, making sure to stay close to Will. My eyes caught on Will and my breathing stopped. A familiar anger rose inside of me, and my mind felt like some sort of energy was pushing out.

  "Kyra!" Seth shouted.

  I turned around to see the entire basket of tennis balls go flying from their basket and straight toward Will, Mia and Pyke.

  "Look out!" Pyke yelled, dodging the balls by rolling along the ground. Will grabbed Mia and they dove to the floor. Will shielded Mia with his body.

  That only enraged me more.

  Tennis balls ricocheted off the walls, faster and faster, until they were nothing more than green blurs.

  I did this. I moved the tennis balls.

  I focused my mind elsewhere, blocking Will from my mind. It took a lot of concentration to keep him out, but I built up a mental wall, keeping him on the other side. The balls fell, motionless.

  "What the hell?" Pyke said, getting up from the floor.

  "Kyra is still working on controlling her ability," Seth said causally, like it was the sort of thing that happened all the time.

  "Well maybe she should learn faster," Mia hissed, dusting off her clothes. "You could have hurt us."

  "I'm sorry," I said, not entirely meaning it.

  "As a Guardjinn you should be ready for anything. Isn't that what you're training for?" Seth said. "Especially if you're protecting the queen."

  I was shocked. I'd never heard Seth talk that way before. He was standing up for me.

  "You're right," Will agreed. "I should always be on the lookout. Thank you for the lesson."

  He bowed, eyes avoiding me. I clenched my fists at my side and a familiar heat flooded my face, but Seth put his hand on my shoulder, which calmed me.

  "We apologise for taking up your training time. We'll go now," Seth said, leading me from the room.

  I had to keep my breathing steady for fear of losing control and hurting someone.

  "Thank you," I said, once we were out of the training room and in the palace foyer.

  "No problem," Seth said. "I never really liked Mia anyway."

  That made me smile.

  "It appears your ability is linked to anger at the moment. That's good to know. I'll have to think about a new way to approach your training."

  Seth walked away, muttering to himself. I didn't follow; I was just glad to have someone who understood me. Seth may have been quiet, but he was definitely not one to be messed with.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. I felt like someone had drilled into my brain and stuffed cotton balls inside, packing it too tight. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, and it made the walk home agony. I couldn't wait to take some Panadol and lie down for a while.

  I stumbled through the front door with the enthusiasm of a sloth, dumping my training gear on the floor.

  "Darling, you look terrible," Isabelle said as she walked down the stairs, a stack of cookbooks in her hands.

  "Thanks," I replied, holding my head as if the action might somehow stop the throbbing pain.

  I closed the door and leaned against it.

  "Kyra?" Isabelle said, wide-eyed.

  "I'm fine." The room was spinning like a carousel, and I could feel my legs wobbling.

  "Kyra!" Isabelle dropped her books on the floor with a painful clatter and held me up before I collapsed.

  "I'm okay," I assured Isabelle, who was fussing like only a mother could.

  "No you're not," she said and wrapped my arm around her neck. "Come with me."

  Isabelle led me to the kitchen. Kellan was by the stove stirring a large pot, no doubt preparing dinner for tonight. As soon as he saw Isabelle carrying me in he rushed over to help.

  "Mrs Greenwood," he exclaimed, throwing his apron aside. "Is Miss Greenwood alright?"

  He took me from Isabelle's arms and sat me down on a barstool by the counter. It was nice to be sitting on something stable. The rest of the room wasn't being as cooperative, spinning and swirling. I leaned over the counter, placing my head on the cold steel.

  "What's wrong?" Kellan asked. "Should I call a healer?"

  "She'll be alright," Isabelle assured him, but the throbbing pain in my head that felt like someone was slicing away at my brain didn't convince me.

  "I'm dying," I moaned.

  "Oh dear!" Kellan yelled.

  "She's just being melodramatic," Isabelle continued and stroked my hair. "She had her first real day of training."

  "Oh," Kellan said, like that somehow explained everything. "I'll get the Panadol."

  I heard Kellan's feet dash out the kitchen doors. Isabelle's hands brushed my hair softly. It was a nice distraction from the blurry watercolour room. Everything was blending together.

  "This is because of my ability?" I asked, turning my head to face her.

  "Unfortunately," she replied. "You're not used to using your ability yet, and it's taking a toll on your body. You'll be fine, you just need some rest and water."

  Isabelle went to the sink and filled a glass for me. Kellan returned to the kitchen with a box of assorted medicines.

  "I wasn't sure what else you might need," he said. "I know how awful it feels on your first time."

  He dropped the box on the counter and started rummaging through. The noise was excruciating, and I covered my ears with my hands.

  "Please, stop torturing me," I pleaded.

  "I'm so sorry, Miss Greenwood," Kellan replied.

  Isabelle handed me the glass of water and pulled two Panadol from the packet. "Take these," she said, and I swallowed them with a gulp of water.

  "Why couldn't you just get a healer?" I asked, wishing the Panadol would activate already.

  "Panadol will do you just fine," Isabelle replied. She turned to Kellan who looked at me like I might just drop dead any moment. "Kellan, can you please help Kyra up to her room?"

  "Of course, Mrs Greenwood."

  Kellan slipped his arms around my back and under my legs, scooping me up. I hadn't realised how strong he was—judging from his skinny frame, he shouldn't have been able to do that—but he lifted me with the strength of all Guardjinn.

  "I'll come check on you later," Isabelle said and stroked my cheek. "Get some rest."

  Kellan turned on his heel and headed for my room. Thankfully he walked slowly, which helped with the motion sickness. He started on the stairs, taking each one carefully.

  "Thanks," I said, resting my head on his shoulder. "This is a bit weird, though."

  "A little," Kellan admitted. I'd never heard him talk out of turn before.

  "Sorry you have to carry me," I said, feeling on edge.

  "Oh, it's not that," he replied. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound that way at all. I've just never had to carry anyone in this house before."

  The image of Kellan carrying a sick Ivan up the stairs was horrifying and hilarious.
>
  "I don't mind carrying you," he continued. "I suppose looking after Djinn will always be a part of my job description."

  "Because you're Guardjinn," I said.

  "Yes. Being Guardjinn is a lifetime of servitude, in one form or another."

  He reached my bedroom and pushed the door open. Keisuke bounced off my bed and jumped at Kellan's legs.

  "Hey, Keisuke," Kellan said, moving past him and placing me on the bed.

  "Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked, patting Keisuke with affection.

  "I think I'll just sleep right here, just like this," I replied, curling into a ball. "Kellan, can I ask you something?"

  "Sure," he said.

  I leaned to the edge of the bed. "I mean you don't have to answer if you don't want to. It's not like an order or anything."

  He smiled. "I've come to realise that you don't order anyone around. You treat Guardjinn and Djinn as equals." He looked away, like he might get told off for speaking in such a way. "Ask me anything."

  "How did you become a cook for my family? Why aren't you a fighter?"

  I hoped my question wasn't too personal, but Kellan didn't seem to mind at all.

  "I'd never been a fighter to begin with," he said. "I preferred to spend my time writing or reading. It only got worse when I found out I was a Guardjinn. Training became mandatory, but I was hopeless. I didn't like hurting people, I didn't want to fight."

  Kellan didn't look at me as he spoke. He focused all his attention on Keisuke.

  "It doesn't happen very often. Most Guardjinn want to prove themselves as fighters, because they don't think they'll be good for anything else."

  "But then there are people like you," I said.

  "Yeah. My trainers pushed and pushed to get me to fight, but eventually I flat out refused."

  "You refused?"

  "I'm not a fighter and I don't want to be, no matter how rare my ability is. And they just love rare abilities."

  "You have a rare ability? What is it?" I asked, pulling a pillow under my chin to get more comfortable.

  "I can phase through solid objects." Kellan thrust his hand at my bedside table like he was going to punch it, but his hand passed right through, like a ghost.

  "That's awesome," I said.

  "The Djinn thought so too. That's why they pushed so hard. Once I refused to fight I was shunned by a lot of people, both Djinn and Guardjinn."

  "The Guardjinn shunned you?"

  "A lifetime of fighters, and for me to reject their way of life? It was like an insult."

  "I thought a lot of Guardjinn went to serve Djinn families."

  "They do but they have, let's say, not very useful abilities."

  "Oh," I said, realising his meaning. "If people shunned you then how did you get a job here? Ivan is like, the king of shunning people."

  "True," Kellan said. "Ivan wasn't the one to hire me though. Isabelle did."

  "Isabelle?"

  "She's a very convincing woman. Honestly, I have no idea how she got Ivan to do it, but they hired me as their live-in chef."

  "Wait, you live here? Since when?"

  "For about five years," he said. "There's a bedroom off the kitchen. Let's just say I wasn't exactly welcome in the Guardjinn community."

  "I can't believe they'd shun you after the way they are treated by the Djinn."

  "I broke the rules," he said with a shrug. "If you have a useful ability you help the community, you don't waste it."

  It made sense to me. Kellan's ability would be very useful, but what about his happiness? That wasn't the life he wanted.

  "Anyway, I'll let you get some rest," Kellan said, getting to his feet. "Sleep well, Kyra."

  * * *

  Sleeping was easy. My body was beyond tired, and I slipped into slumber almost immediately after Kellan left. I was too tired even to dream.

  By the time I woke up, it was dark outside. Keisuke was curled up next to me and, thankfully, my head wasn't hurting. I rolled out of bed and check the clock: 7.23 pm. My movement woke Keisuke, who nipped at my hand.

  "What's up?" I asked him.

  He bolted to the door and scratched at it with a whimpering sound.

  "You want a walk," I said, realising he'd been cooped up all day.

  I was feeling a lot better, and a walk in the fresh air did sound nice. I changed into some clean clothes and led Keisuke downstairs.

  The house was quite, but I could smell the food from the dining room. I was hungry, but Keisuke looked like he might pee all over the carpet if I didn't get him outside quickly. I wrote a quick note for Isabelle and headed out into the cold night.

  Keisuke darted about, sniffing and peeing on everything we passed. I decided to head toward the dog park to let him run around, maybe play fetch. It was dark with a few lampposts spotlighting every ten metres, but the moon was nearing its full cycle and lit up the streets. The park wasn't too far, and Keisuke was glad for the extra room to roam.

  I sat on a bench and watched Keisuke examine everything he came across. I leaned back on my hands, only to touch something that wasn't wood. I turned around and picked up a black t-shirt, with a white stripe through the centre, off the table. It was cold, like it had been laying there for a while, but the scent of male aftershave was strong.

  "That would be mine," said a voice.

  I turned to see a naked Pyke standing before me. The moonlight bounced off his skin, making it shine. It took me a moment to look away, throwing his shirt at him.

  "Always so shy," he said with a laugh. "Have you seen my pants?"

  I looked around the table, focusing on not looking at Pyke, until I spotted a pair of jeans by the table leg. I bent down and picked them up.

  I turned and Pyke stood inches from me. His shirt was on, but he was still pants-less.

  I kept my gaze on his face. He was enjoying making me feel awkward, and smiled, with his goofy grin.

  "Here," I said and thrust his pants into his chest. He pulled them on and started work on doing up his belt.

  "I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here this late," he said.

  "Keisuke needed a walk," I explained. I glanced back to make sure he was fully dressed, and then turned around to him. "Running?"

  "Nothing like a night-time moonlit run," he said, sniffing the air like it was a calming drug.

  I suddenly remembered what Seth had told me earlier in the day and my entire body stiffened.

  "When you figure out your animal, we should go running together," he said. "Though you might be a bird, so flying … swimming maybe."

  I couldn't respond. My mouth was locked shut. How could Pyke be talking to me so casually, knowing I was the reason his father had been murdered?

  "Kyra?" he asked, slipping next to me on the bench. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing," I said and stood up. "I should be heading home." I walked away in search of Keisuke when a hand touched my shoulder, turning me around.

  "Did I do something to upset you?' he asked. I could see the hurt reflected in his eyes, the corners of his lips turned down.

  "Did you do something …" The words came out a choking cluster as I fought the urge to cry. I shook my head. "No, Pyke. No, you didn't do anything."

  "Then what's wrong?"

  Pyke's hand was still on my arm, and though I just wanted to pull away, I couldn't. I owed him.

  "I found out how your father died," I said, catching his eye.

  His grip loosened, his hand falling away. All his cheery cockiness faded in an instant, leaving the sad look he'd had at the graveyard.

  "Who told you?" he said.

  "Does it matter?" I pulled my arms in close, not because I was cold, but because I wanted to make myself disappear. "Pyke, I'm so sorry."

  He didn't respond, only stared at me. His golden eyes shone under the white light of the moon. I had to apologise, and the words just didn't seem enough to be enough to explain it all.

  "I … I'm …"

  What could I say?
Sorry I got your father killed. Sorry I was kidnapped by a crazy Blooder. There was nothing I could say to make it right. Tears spilled down my cheeks in silent guilt.

  "Pyke … I …"

  He grasped both my arms, holding me with such force I half wondered if he'd crush me on the spot, but he didn't. Pyke's grip was firm and his gaze hard, but there was no anger in his eyes.

  "Kyra. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you," he said.

  "Upset me?" I gasped.

  "At first I wanted to tell you, blame you. When we first met, you defended him, and I wanted to kill you both, but you didn't know. You shouldn't have had to know."

  "It's all my fault!" My whole body was shuddering, and Pyke pulled me into a hard hug.

  "It's not your fault," he said, like it was the most true statement in all the world. "You had no control over what happened to you. It's all on him. He took you, and he murdered my father. It's his fault."

  "I should have let you kill him," I whispered into his shirt.

  He pushed me away keeping me at arm's length, but still holding onto my shoulders. "It wouldn't have done any good. It wouldn't have brought my dad back. I know that now. The important thing is that we got you back."

  Pyke brushed a piece of fallen hair behind my ear and my heart skipped.

  "Pyke …"

  "The first time I saw you …" he said.

  "Pyke …"

  "And you fought against me and I pinned you to the car …" He smiled and dropped his hand. "It's okay," he said. "I know your heart belongs to Will. We're friends. I can do friends."

  He stepped back a little to give me some space. My heart was racing, my breath coming in short bursts. Pyke had feelings for me? I couldn't believe it, but I was grateful he hadn't tried anything. I cared about him, but not in the same way I cared for Will. I wouldn't say it out loud. but I thought of Pyke like an older brother.

  "I should be getting home," I said, wiping away the dried tears.

  "Sure. I'll walk you," Pyke replied. Keisuke appeared from the bushes and nuzzled Pyke's leg.

  "You should come by the park tomorrow and hang out," he said. "Keisuke would like to play with the other dogs."

  I stood still watching him ruffle Keisuke's fur.