Will Choose: A Djinn Short

by Laura Catherine

  Kellan emerged from the back door with two cups of steaming liquid. He took a seat next to Kyra and passed her a cup. Kellan was two years older than me, but he looked younger. He was a gifted Guardjinn but had chosen to serve instead of fight which made him an outsider to the Guardjinn community.

  “Thank you,” she said and sipped her drink.

  “No problem,” Kellan replied. “See isn’t it nice to be outside?”

  “Except I can’t go anywhere,” Kyra replied.

  “Your parents said it wasn’t safe for you to leave the house.”

  Kyra sighed. “They just don’t want everyone knowing their kid is crazy.”

  “You’re not crazy,” Kellan said and blew on his drink to cool it.

  Kyra lowered her cup and looked at Kellan. “I have nightmares that end with me psychically throwing furniture.”

  Kellan frowned, but only for a moment. “Things will get better,” he said. “Let me make you something to eat.”

  Kyra grabbed Kellan’s arm to stop him from standing. “Don’t go,” she said. “I … I don’t have anyone else.”

  Kellan’s face softened and he sat back down. “It’s not right,” he said, “but I also have to follow your orders.”

  “Please don’t talk like that,” Kyra said. “I don’t need a servant, I need a friend.”

  “A friend?” Kellan seemed surprised.

  “Guardjinn. Djinn. It’s all the same to me, Kellan. I want to be friends. I need your help.”

  Even now, Kyra was trying to befriend Guardjinn. Didn’t she realise how dangerous that was for us? If Ivan found out what she was doing, Kellan could be … just like Dad … just like me.

  I retreated from the bushes and continued on to the palace. I tried not to think about Kyra but she had wormed her way into my mind. This feeling gnawed at my insides, something I hadn’t felt before. I hated thinking about what might have been going on with Kyra and Pyke. The fact he had feelings for her made me grind my teeth. And just then, when she was asking Kellan to be there for her, that should have been me. I should be the one by Kyra’s side, comforting her.

  Was this jealousy?

  I had to stop feeling this way. What Kyra did should be none of my business and yet she needed someone the way she needed comfort when she first arrived and found out the truth. I had been there for her then, but I couldn’t be there for her now.

  The palace came into view and I trudged up the steps, nodding at the four Guardjinn at the door. The inside of the palace was heavily damaged with broken windows and holes blown in the marble walls. Queen Celeste hadn’t worried about repairs except for some structural support to a few damaged pillars and placing boards on the windows. Her main focus was on outside the fence and beyond.

  “What are you doing here?” Ivan Greenwood said as he stormed across the foyer.

  “Hello, Mr Greenwood.” I bowed and clenched my teeth.

  The last time I’d been alone in the same room with Ivan was when he walked in on me with Kyra in a compromising position. I had been so wrapped up in her touch I let things go too far. I wasn’t sure why Ivan hadn’t done anything about my actions. I supposed those kind of decisions went through the council and it wasn’t a high priority since the attack.

  “Answer my question, dog!” Ivan snapped.

  “Of course. The Queen summoned me here,” I replied, keeping my expression stoic.

  “What does she want you for? She better be getting rid of you. You’re lucky we were attacked or you’d be out already.”

  Lucky? Did he actually think that way about tragedy?

  “I accept whatever the Queen decides,” I said. “If you’ll excuse me–”

  “I didn’t say you could leave.” Ivan smirked as if the power trip was a drug.

  “Ivan?” Isabelle Greenwood called from the war room doorway.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “You wanted to look over the agreement again. A Guardjinn has brought the papers.”

  Ivan’s smirk turned into a full grin. “Excellent,” he said. “I’m going to make sure there is no way she can wriggle out of this deal. Soon everything will be the way it was supposed to.”

  He turned and entered the war room, leaving me alone once more. I relaxed my muscles and watched the door in case he decided to come back out and harass me some more. What agreement were they looking at? The way Ivan spoke about it left an uneasy feeling in my stomach, but it was none of my business.

  Guardjinn should move like ghosts. We were supposed to go unnoticed until someone had use for us. The thought turned my stomach, but I pushed it down. I had never cared that much before. I had always disliked Ivan Greenwood because he was generally a horrible Djinn, but now it was more than that. The anger I felt burned in my veins and made me want to hurt him. Yet Guardjinn should never harm a Djinn – we were their protectors.

  Something was very wrong with me.

  William. Queen Celeste’s voice called in my mind. Please come to my office.

  Chapter Seven

  The Queen’s office was on the second floor of the palace. I could hear the scratching of her pen as I entered. She sat at her desk, writing. The study was one of the smaller rooms in the palace. There were red curtains and chairs, a few tall pot plants and the back wall covered with bookshelves.

  “Take a seat,” she said, not looking up from her writing.

  I sat in the red and gold armchair facing the desk. I waited silently as she did whatever it was she was doing. No doubt a letter to the High King updating him on our situation. I knew the Queen had to report things to the High King on a monthly basis. I wondered how many letters she’d sent since the attack.

  Her hand, though wrinkled with age, moved effortlessly. Her face seemed more pale than I remembered, the strain of the situation showing in the dark patches under her eyes.

  Queen Celeste ended her last sentence with a full stop and placed the pen down. “Thank you for coming,” she said.

  “Of course, Majesty,” I replied.

  “I hear the repairs to the fence are going well?” she asked.

  “Yes. The hole is almost fixed and we will be checking the rest of the metalwork after.” I paused. “Your Majesty, if you just wanted a report, isn’t Jack more suited to do it?”

  She chuckled. “You’re quite right. I called you here for something other than a report, just an added bonus.”

  “Then can I ask what it is you want from me?”

  “You can.” The Queen folded her letter into equal thirds and slipped it into an envelope. “I have a special task for you to do while still performing your normal duties. Of course I won’t force you to do anything. It is your choice.”

  “What would you like me to do?”

  “You have no doubt heard we captured two Blooders after the attack,” she said, her eyes turning hard.

  “Yes.” I had heard we had captives from some of the other Guardjinn, but there was no formal announcement.

  “My task for you is to watch them,” she said. “Not all the time, but you would be required to check in on them periodically.”

  “Yes …”

  “You’re wondering why I asked you to do this task and not someone else?”

  “A little.”

  “I trust you, William,” she said. “That’s not to say I don’t trust the other Guardjinn, but having the Blooders in the cells is creating tension among the council. They want a speedy trial of the Blooders, but I have more important things that need attention and I fear someone might act too … rashly.”

  “You’re worried someone will order a Guarjdinn to kill the Blooders.”

  “It has crossed my mind,” she replied, folding her hands together. “They will receive a trial at some point and I would also like to organise an interrogation, but for now I just need them alive. I am giving you a key to the cells. Only Jack and I have other keys.”

  Queen Celeste opened a drawer and pulled out a small silver key chain. She placed it on the desk, sl
iding it towards me.

  “Will you take up the task, William?”

  “Of course,” I replied, “but may I ask one question?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Why me?”

  “I trust you.”

  “You said that, but why?”

  “I am a very powerful mind reader, William, and while I do not make a habit of reading the minds of others without permission, I do on occasion break that rule.”

  She had read my mind? Then she knew about my relationship with Kyra, my confused feelings, everything I’d been up to. Of course, I had suspected she knew bits of the story, but reading my mind gave her more insight than I would like.

  “If you’ve read my mind then why on earth would you trust me?” I asked.

  “You think you’re disloyal for being in love?” she asked. “You are not the first Guardjinn to fall in love with Djinn, as you well know. It isn’t a flaw, Will, and the conflict inside your heart is exactly why I trust you. You are always thinking about what is best for others and always questioning your choices.”

  “I don’t see how that makes me trustworthy,” I said.

  “You don’t need to see it because I do. Now take the keys and check up on our prisoners.”

  I reached for the keys and stood.

  “Oh, and Will …” she said, picking up her envelope and sealing it. “I am sorry for the predicament you are in.”

  She was sorry. Why would the Queen be sorry about my feelings for Kyra? Or did it have to do with Ivan’s plan to get rid of me? Surely I wouldn’t go anywhere if Celeste had trusted me with this task.

  “If it’s any consolation,” she added, “Ivan’s request has been swept to the bottom of the pile. You don’t have to fear any consequences as long as I’m in charge.”

  I wished she didn’t know what I had been doing. Queen Celeste was an understanding woman who had strived to change the ways of our people, so she didn’t judge my actions. I was judging myself without her help.

  I gave her a swift nod and left the room.

  Chapter Eight

  The cells were located under the palace, down many flights of stairs that ended at a wooden door with a small barred window in the middle. I turned the key, the lock clicked, and I pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit room. The floor was cold, uneven stone. Thick metal bars ran from roof to floor forming various sized cells.

  I spotted movement at the back of the room and peered into one of the cells. A short man darted to the bars, hands reaching out like claws.

  “Give it to me!” he shrieked. “Give me the blood bag.”

  The man was dirty with ripped black clothes the Blooders had worn during the attack. His red irises were burning bright in the torchlight, hungry for blood.

  My chest tightened and my hands clenched. I placed my hand on the Blooder’s head and pushed him backwards.

  “No blood for you,” I said. “Not ever.”

  “Blood bags. Blood bags! So delicious and warm,” the Blooder ranted, pressing his body against the wall.

  “Don’t mind him,” came another voice. A second Blooder appeared from the shadows in the cell next door. He was my age with black hair and a dangerous smile.

  “I know you,” I said, approaching his cell.

  “Do you?” the Blooder replied, folding his arms across his chest.

  I had seen his face before but I couldn’t place it. I had met so few Blooders in my life before the attack on the compound. There was Malcolm of course and then there was the fight I had when I first left the compound in search of Kyra …

  “Allan? Alex?” I said.

  “Alec, actually,” the Blooder replied. “Have we met before?”

  “You attacked me and my friends outside the compound a few months ago,” I said.

  How could I have forgotten about that? I had only briefly mentioned it in my report to Ivan when we returned because it didn’t have anything to do with saving Kyra. Blooders were known to wait for Djinn to leave the compounds, but what if it hadn’t been like that? What if this Blooders team was scouting the compound? What if they had been planning the attack for that long?

  Alec snapped his fingers. “I remember you now, Willy, right? Your companions killed two of my people. I barely made it out alive.”

  “I should have finished you when I had the chance,” I growled.

  “But then we wouldn’t be having this lovely conversation.” Alec grinned.

  I had to let Jack know about Alec’s presence outside the compound all those months ago. I wondered if Ivan had even told Queen Celeste about the fight. Would we have known something was up and maybe been better prepared or would everyone think it was a normal occurrence? Could I have done something to stop the attack? Could I have saved Pyke?

  “What are you thinking about, Willy?” Alec asked. “Reminiscing?”

  I glared at Alec with a bubbling hatred. I wanted to cut open his throat and watch him drown in his own blood, but the Queen had entrusted me to keep these Blooders alive … for now.

  “Why did you attack us?” I asked, trying to keep my cool.

  Alec raised his hands and wriggled his fingers. “It’s a mystery,” he said in a creepy voice.

  “Is there another attack coming? What’s your plan?”

  “Plans. Plans,” the other Blooder mumbled. “Yes, yes. Lots of plans, all twisty twisty. Then blood will rain down on us and the powers will be all ours!”

  Apparently, the crazed Blooder was done talking and went back to huddling in the corner of the cell. I turned my gaze back to Alec and he shrugged. “Pretty much what he said. Twisty plans, blood raining down, you know, the usual.”

  “You find this amusing?” I growled.

  “I find many things amusing. Your hair, for instance.” Alec laughed and I felt the urge to hit him again.

  I didn’t have time for this pointless conversation. He wasn’t going to tell me anything. Celeste had said there would be an interrogation in the future and I knew Jack would get the honours. Right now, I had to get back on patrol.

  “Leaving so soon?” Alec said, pressing his grinning face to the bars. “And we were just getting to know each other.”

  “I’ll be back soon enough,” I said. “Then we’ll see who’s smiling.”

  Chapter Nine

  I left the palace and headed back outside the compound. I circled the fence passing groups of Guardjinn checking the metalwork. I spotted Jack standing in a field with his arms crossed over his chest, another Guardjinn beside him.

  “Well, look who made it back,” Jack said. “Frank you can take a break.”

  The Guardjinn next to Jack nodded and headed back towards the front gate.

  “How was your meeting with the Queen?” Jack asked as I took my position next to him.

  “She asked me to watch over the Blooders in the prison cells.” I pulled the keys from my pocket to show Jack.

  He smiled and pulled out a matching set of keys from inside his jacket. “She asked me who I recommended for the job and choosing you was easy,” he said.

  “Thank you,” I replied. “Have you gone to see them?”

  “A few times. Usually check in on them once a day. The short one is out of his mind, but the other one …” Jack was lost in thought and I wondered if he suspected something about Alec.

  “I’ve met that one before,” I said.

  Jack raised an eyebrow. “When?”

  “When I went to rescue Kyra Greenwood. He was with two other Blooders. We killed them, but he got away.”

  I left a silence between us.

  “What’s bothering you?” Jack asked.

  “I can’t help but wonder if I’d gone after the Blooder and finished the job then maybe none of this would have happened.”

  “You think they were scouting the area back then?” Jack said reading my thoughts. “It’s possible, but I honestly don’t know if we would have picked up on it.”

  “Maybe we would have sent out more patro
ls and figured it out. I mentioned it in my report to Ivan but I don’t think he told the Queen.”

  “If that’s the case then I’ll let her know and she can deal with it.”

  “I should have killed him …”

  “Let me ask you this,” Jack said, “why didn’t you kill him back then?”

  “Because it wasn’t my mission,” I replied instantly.

  “Then there you go. It wasn’t your job to chase him down. So don’t beat yourself up about something you can’t change.”

  Jack was right. I couldn’t change anything now and worrying about it wouldn’t help either. I wasn’t used to all this indecision and regret. Was it because I didn’t really feel things before or just that this was what being a Guardjinn was like?

  “You’re different,” Jack said, looking me over. “I said you were the same old Will the other day, but I was wrong. I didn’t see it before, but you’ve changed.”

  “I learned how to turn my sense of touch on,” I replied. “Things have been … different since then.”

  “How did you master it?” Jack asked.

  I didn’t respond right away because I didn’t want him to know it was Kyra who had changed my world.

  “Practice,” I said at last, which wasn’t a complete lie. Kyra may have triggered it, but I did have to practice in order to control it.

  “You don’t seem happy,” Jack said.

  “It was overwhelming at first,” I said. “Everything was different and I still find myself feeling things – not just physical, but emotional things I don’t understand.”

  “I can’t help you with that, I’m afraid,” Jack said. “I barely know much about my own emotions. Maybe it’s a guy thing. They say talking to someone can help, but I don’t know. All I’ll say is you need to keep your emotions in check. The job comes first, above everything else. Just like after the attack – many of the Guardjinn had lost people they cared about, but they still did their job and grieved later.”