A Bottle Full of Djinn

by Paula Lester

  Zoey groaned. “Ugh. More waiting.”

  Hope glanced at her and chuckled. “Magic isn’t always as instant as a spell. Sometimes, forces need time and proper circumstances to grow. Like I said, just be thankful there’s a full moon tonight or you’d be waiting a month to find your djinni’s container.”

  She gave the mixture one last crunch and held the porcelain bowl out to Zoey. “There’s a ceremony to do too.”

  “Of course, there is.” Zoey hated ceremonies that included other witches. There was a reason she’d never joined a coven—her magic made her uncomfortable to begin with but putting it on display for others was downright cringe-inspiring.

  “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.” Hope set her purse on the small round table. “How do you make circles?”

  “I don’t.” Zoey knew she sounded like a petulant teen, but she couldn’t help it.

  “You don’t make circles?” Hope tilted her head. “Word around town is you’ve all but given up on magic. And I didn’t see you using any against that djinni in the old lady’s room. Are the rumors true? Have you gone normal?”

  Shaking her head, Zoey pulled open a desk drawer and got out a piece of chalk. She handed it to Hope. “I do magic when I need to. Which isn’t often.”

  Hope pursed her lips. “Well, you need to today if you want to keep your residents and the occupants of Sunnyside safe from that giant blue guy in the kitchen. So, clear me some space to draw a circle and get out the sage.”

  Zoey complied with the shop owner’s request, shoving the table as close to the bookshelf as possible and rummaging through a cupboard until she found some sage and a lighter.

  Hope drew a circle on the floor, and Zoey lit the sage and smudged the room to remove unwanted feelings and bad juju.

  “Okay, now sit on the north side of the circle. I’ll take the south.” Hope gracefully lowered herself to the floor without using her hands. Zoey swore internally, berating herself for not getting around to taking the yoga classes she desperately needed to improve her flexibility. The thought brought a picture of Howie doing downward dog into her mind, and she sighed, dropping to the floor with considerably less grace and setting the bowl of herbs in the center of the circle between them.

  “We need to each say one thing we’re thankful for first,” Hope instructed. “Mine is the fresh air and blue sky we have today. What’s yours?”

  Zoey gave Hope a hard look. She’d never done or heard of a ceremony that started that way and she thought Hope might be pulling her leg. But she didn’t have much choice other than to follow along. She didn’t know the spell-work necessary to activate the mixture. “I’m grateful for Steve, Kelli, and Ashley. They help me so much every day, and they’re really pitching in today.”

  “I’d say Kelli really saved your skin by calling me,” Hope agreed.

  Zoey bit her tongue to keep a sharp response inside.

  Hope patted her knees. “Now for the incantation. Close your eyes and repeat after me.”

  Zoey took a deep breath to slow her heart rate and closed her eyes.

  Hope began to chant, “Oh, bright moon, we sit under you even though you won’t be visible until darkness falls.”

  Zoey repeated the words in as soft a voice as she felt she could get away with.

  “And we ask you to charge this mixture with your ancient power.”

  Zoey repeated it, thinking it was kind of nice. A full moon did hold power for magical folk.

  “Look down on those who wish to use this mixture for good and shine a light on their many . . . many . . . imperfections.”

  Zoey’s eyes popped open. Hope’s remained closed, and her face was perfectly calm and pleasant. There was no smirk to indicate she might be yanking Zoey’s chain. Screwing her eyes tight again, Zoey repeated the line through clenched teeth.

  Hope continued, still speaking calmly and fluidly. “And help bring acceptance for their flaws and humility in dealing with those who are smarter and more experienced than they are.”

  Zoey jumped up. “Those are not the words!”

  Hope opened her eyes and grinned. “No, they’re not,” she said. “All you have to do is make the circle and leave the mixture in the center where the light of the full moon through the window can hit it.” She grabbed her purse off the table. “But you should really repeat the mantra I gave you. I think it could help.” She winked and headed for the door but paused and said over her shoulder, “Be careful. Djinnis are tricky to handle.”

  Zoey shot mental daggers at the other woman’s back as she strode away. The only one who should be careful was the shop keeper. She was toeing a dangerous line by provoking Zoey.

  Chapter 15

  The rest of the evening seemed to go smoothly. They got Georgio settled into an empty suite. He was confused and quiet, but he smiled when Ashley offered him a giant platter of fruit. At Zoey’s questioning look, the cook shrugged. “Ester told me djinnis like fruit.”

  After moonrise, Zoey checked the bowl of herbs in her office to make sure the light was spilling directly onto it and then she went upstairs to get ready for bed. She chose to wear her dragon pajamas, and once she was all cozy, climbed into bed. Grabbing the mystery book on her nightstand, she settled back into the big, squishy pillow and started reading.

  An hour later, Zoey’s eyes were getting heavy. But the book had drawn her in, and she told herself she’d read one more chapter and then go to sleep.

  When the building shook, she took five seconds to cover her face with the book and groan before jumping up and rushing into the hallway where she almost ran into Steve.

  “Seriously?” He looked as harried as she felt. “Again?”

  Zoey shrugged a robe on over her pajamas. “I guess so. Let’s go see what Georgio’s up to.”

  Racing down the stairs, Zoey’s mind presented scenarios to her of what they might find, each one worse than the last. She made a quick wish that no one had disappeared.

  But the first floor was dark and quiet. How had everyone slept through the tremors? Steve was heading for the front door, and Zoey realized it was ajar. She followed her friend out onto the sidewalk.

  “Shh! I hear someone.”

  Zoey and Steve exchanged glances when they heard the whispered words. He pointed to the east side of the building, and she nodded. He took off in that direction, and she followed as quietly as possible. When they arrived at the end of the building, she was glad for the full moon because she could clearly see the four figures near the sidewalk. Even without the moon, it would be hard to miss the seven-foot tall djinni. With him were Shawna, Jerry, and Snores.

  “Just hop over!” Shawna hissed at Georgio. “Before they find us.”

  The djinni lifted a giant leg and moved toward the sidewalk, but as he leaned forward, it was as though his knee hit a solid but invisible wall. He howled and grabbed his leg, jumping backward.

  Shawna threw her hands up and rolled her neck to look at the sky.

  “There’s something magical keeping him from crossing the property line,” Jerry hissed. “Let’s just go without him.”

  “We can’t.” Shawna spoke in a theater whisper. “I need him to guard me once I’m out. Otherwise, Rivers will just catch me and drag me back here.”

  Zoey stepped forward. “I said you could go. I meant it. But Georgio has to stay.”

  The would-be escapees jerked their heads toward Zoey. Except for Snores, who simply stood where he was, staring off to the east.

  Shawna jutted out her chin and crossed her arms. “I’m sorry but I just don’t believe you. The place would be out some money if you let me leave.”

  “We can always fill your room again. I’m not in the business of keeping people here against their will.” Zoey moved forward. “Of course, I’d prefer it if you’d stay. I still think we can work something out—figure a way to make things better for you.”

  “I could never be happy here. I don’t belong in a retirement home.” Her eyes darted to Georgio and t
hen to Jerry. Quick as a flash, she snatched the djinni’s hand and raced away, running down the property line toward the backyard. Jerry hesitated.

  “Why are you trying to leave?” Steve asked.

  Jerry lifted one shoulder and then let it drop. “I’m only forty-five,” he said. “I just look seventy because flirting with the dark arts has a way of aging a person. I saw Shawna trying to sneak the djinni out and thought it looked like fun.” He pressed his lips together. “Plus, he’s the only one who knows where Howie is.” He jogged after Shawna.

  Zoey rolled her eyes. She’d known he wasn’t as old as he looked, but Jerry also liked to be in the thick of it when there was mischief afoot at the center. He enjoyed poking and prodding the other residents in just the right spots at the exact right times to provoke chaos. Then he sat back and watched. That’s all he was doing—encouraging Shawna to give himself something interesting to participate in.

  And, of course, Howie was his best friend. She knew he was upset about losing him and wanted to get him back.

  But why was Snores involved? As Jerry took off, sprinting after Shawna and Georgio, the retired detective slowly turned to follow them. Steve began to jog after the trio, as well, but suddenly, Snores waved a hand and mumbled something. The lawn in front of Steve glistened and he slid and wobbled. “It’s ice!” he cried before landing heavily with an “oof.”

  Zoey sighed. Snores was sleepwalking. And sleep-magicking. He did that sometimes, and it was always crazy. She stood still for a second, unsure what to do first. Then she rushed to Steve, offering him her hand. When he grabbed it, she pulled, but then she lost her footing. Twirling her arms to try and get her balance, she squawked and then toppled, landing on Steve with a dull thud. “Oof,” he said again.

  “Sorry!” She delicately tried to extricate herself, but by the time they’d managed to disentangle their limbs and crawl to the edge of the small field of ice to get to their feet, the four would-be escapees were out of sight, lost to the darkness of the tree-lined backyard.

  “Aargh.” Zoey balled her fists in frustration. “I really wanted to see what happened in the next chapter.”

  Steve gave her a puzzled look as he adjusted his glasses, which had been knocked askew during their highly ungraceful ice dancing stint.

  She sighed. “Come on. We need to get Snores to wake up and somehow convince Shawna to calm down and wait for a more peaceful time to take her leave of Sunnyside Retired Witches Community.”

  They jogged down the property line toward the backyard together. It wasn’t long before they came upon the motley crew of potential escapees again. Jerry was kneeling, his hands laced together to form a stirrup which Georgio was placing his foot into. Apparently, they’d decided to try and catapult the giant blue man over the line of goofer dust and off the retirement home’s property. Zoey narrowed her eyes and wondered if that would work. She really should have done some research on goofer dust and its use as a containment system for errant magical entities instead of indulging in the fictional mystery novel.

  But it had a talking cat in it, and she couldn’t resist that.

  She rushed toward Jerry and Georgio but it was too late. The djinni stepped into Jerry’s hands and the ex-dark sorcerer launched the giant into the air. He soared, arms wide, and a slight smile graced his face. Then his forehead appeared to hit an invisible-but-totally-solid wall, and he slumped down it like a mime, landing in a heap on the ground. Moaning, he held his head in his hands. Shawna knelt beside him, peering into his face. “Do you have a concussion?” she asked.

  “How would you be able to tell?” Zoey snarked. “He already has amnesia. You guys aren’t going to be able to get him off the property. Steve and I made sure he’d have to stay here until we figure out what’s going on with him. So, why don’t you all just come on inside so we can get some sleep?” She didn’t mention that she was still hoping to finish that chapter.

  Snores made a sleepy noise and raised his hand. Zoey and Steve crouched, ready to react to whatever mayhem the ex-detective induced in his sleep. She shouted the retiree’s name, trying to wake him up, but he just made more noises.

  Shawna was yanking on Geogio’s arm in a futile attempt to pull him to his feet. She straightened and stomped her foot. “Come on!”

  Her irritation was contagious to her djinni, who got to his feet awkwardly, crashing a shoulder into the invisible wall. He roared and raised both hands, shaking his fists at the air. Rain poured down in a deluge of warmth that drenched all of them almost immediately. Snores blustered and shook his head violently, droplets spraying out in every direction. Looking around, he sputtered, “Where am I? What’s going on?”

  “You were sleepwalking.” Zoey used the most soothing voice she could muster given the circumstances. She pushed wet black bangs out of her face and stepped toward Shawna. “You have to calm down. The more upset you get, the crazier magic Georgio is going to do.”

  A drop of water hung off the end of Shawna’s nose. She glared at Zoey. “Last I checked, I’m an adult, and I don’t have to obey you.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud. I’m not ordering you! But if you keep getting worked up, your djinni could drown us all. Or disappear us to wherever he stashed Howie. Or do who knows what else!” She knew her voice was shrill. She felt Steve lay a hand on her arm and took a deep breath. More calmly, she said, “I’m really not trying to be bossy, but I have to take care of everyone at this facility. It’s my job. You can go whenever you want to, but he has to stay.” She jabbed a finger at Georgio, whose amber eyes glowed like mirror images of the full moon.

  Shawna shook her head and clenched her fists. Georgio’s body language tensed along with hers, and then he began to turn in a circle.

  “What’s he doing?” Zoey glanced at Snores, who had managed to orient himself and was watching the djinni closely.

  Georgio twirled faster and faster, and as he did, the rain around him swirled too until it had created a small funnel. With a quick jerk, the huge blue man stopped turning and threw his arm out toward Zoey, Steve, and Snores, and the mini-tsunami streaked toward them. Before Zoey could react, Snores raised both hands and said, “Shield!” The tsunami stopped short of the three, quivering with intensity as it tried to get past whatever the retired police officer had thrown up.

  Steve lifted his hands, said an incantation, and the funnel rose slowly into the air. Once it was high enough, he flicked his wrists, and it exploded, only rain once more.

  Zoey stepped forward to approach the three escapees, but they were gone. They must have taken the opportunity to high-tail it out of there while the other three were busy with the mini-tsunami.

  “Where did they go?” Steve spun around, searching the darkness for any sign of the others.

  “I don’t see them.”

  “We’d better find them fast. It’s only a matter of time before Jerry figures out he just has to smudge the goofer dust with his toe to create a break the djinni can get through.” Steve squinted as he continued to look for movement in the yard around them.

  “There!” Snores shouted, raising a hand. He was pointing toward the back corner of the yard, farthest away from the building. They all jogged that direction. The rain let up as they ran until it was gone.

  When they arrived, Jerry appeared to be deep in thought. He was staring at the ground, and Steve shot Zoey a look. The dark sorcerer must know about goofer dust, and it appeared as though it wouldn’t be long before he figured out what was keeping Georgio from crossing the property line. Then all he had to do was drop to all fours and feel through the grass until he found the line Steve had poured. Disrupting it would break the barrier and allow the djinni to waltz right out into the community.

  Shawna shot a glare at them, but she seemed to have calmed down, and the djinni, with his close connection to her, was more placid too. He shook his head like a bear, sending rain droplets spraying out of his long hair in all directions. The full moon glinted off the tattoos on his neck, making
them appear to move even more than normal.

  “You must all be tired,” Zoey said. “Let’s go inside and get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, we can sit down and discuss this situation. We’ll figure out a mutually agreeable solution. What do you say?”

  Shawna shook her head firmly. To Jerry, she said, “Have you figured it out yet?”

  In response, Jerry knelt and ran a hand through the grass. Alarmed, Zoey knew she had to take immediate action or risk losing the djinni. She touched Steve’s arm and stepped behind him, hoping her assistant would understand that he needed to watch out for her while she concentrated. Closing her eyes, she called on the earth around her to respond. She immediately felt the answer, mixed with joy at being able to commune with her again so soon. She paid her respects and made her request. Instantly, she knew it had been granted because Georgio howled with anger. Opening her eyes, she saw that he was enveloped in a gauzy light that seemed to come up out of the ground, wrapping gently around the giant like tentacles. “Okay, let’s go inside.” Zoey spun on her heel and marched toward the back door of the building. The tentacles carried the djinni along behind her as though he were in a floating bubble.

  “What did you do?” Shawna demanded, jogging along. She tripped on a clump of grass, and Snores caught her arm. She yanked it away from him.

  “I asked the earth to bind him and carry him inside for me,” Zoey explained. “Like I said, I can’t have him loose in Sunnyside. We have to figure things out first.” She shot a look over her shoulder. “But you can go whenever you want. I hope you’ll stay.”

  Shawna didn’t respond, but she continued to follow, though she slowed to a walk. When they entered the complex, she headed toward the residency wing where her room was without another word.

  Chapter 16

  Getting Georgio comfortable in his room again didn’t take too long. “I’m tired,” he said, and his heavy eyelids corroborated the statement. He began to strip out of his wet clothes without modesty, and Zoey hurried out of the room and shut the door behind her.