Chapter One
Genie
It’s not stalking if it’s done with the best of intentions. Right?
Yeah, just keep telling yourself that and one day you'll believe it.
Shut up, brain.
Wait, where did he—???
Tap-tap. “Why are you following me?”
I spun around so fast, I had to keep my head from continuing the journey once my body stopped. For sure, that would’ve freaked the poor boy out, though the better question was, how was he able to sneak up on me in the first place?
“Oh, um…” I drew a blank. Empty. My mind devoid of all thoughts. Having no response wasn’t something that had happened before but today appeared to be a day of firsts for me, starting with being snuck up on.
Raj pressed on, arms folded across his puffed-up chest. It was cute, given his small stature, that he thought this stance would allow for a formidable appearance.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve caught you following me.
Am I in trouble with the Maharajah?” Though he put on a strong face, the quiver in his voice gave away his true feelings.
He was scared, as he should be given our ruler’s tyranny.
Little did he know I’d be there to protect him as I always had.
My sweet Raj.
“As far as I know, you’re not.”
The villagers knew me as the Maharajah’s liaison, so to speak. But none of them knew I stood by his side against my will, for the Maharajah held the key to my existence.
Or in this case, the lamp.
“Then why are you following me?”
Straightening my shoulders and squaring off, I donned a stiff, no-nonsense stance, the very one I kept while in the Maharajah’s presence as we walked amongst the villagers.
One that spoke of authority. I did my best to remain neutral.
Not easily achieved when I vehemently disagreed with the way our supreme leader ruled.
At my towering height, it was easy to keep the villagers in line. I wasn’t as bulky as the palace guards, but I had an air about me that dared them to test me.
None did.
“I keep a watchful eye across this village and report back to my mas—” Master nearly slipped out. “To our ruler.”
Though I generally didn’t tell him squat. I couldn’t stand the man. Such a waste of human life. Born into the family that had ruled this land for centuries. The spoiled, evil man didn’t deserve the life he lived.
Nothing got past Raj, though. The boy was bright, quick-witted, and a fast study.
A questioning brow quirked, having caught my faux pas, though he chose not to address it in his reply.
“True, though more times than not your attention is directly focused on me. Have I done something to offend our leader to have had him request you keep such a watchful eye upon me?”
His deep, soulful, nearly onyx eyes stared expectantly up at me.
I’d never stood this close to him, except while he slumbered.
Back to that whole stalker dilemma. His long, raven locks spread across the linens.
The sheet barely covered his naked torso.
The outline of his cock nearly visible through the threadbare sheets…
Wait, what did he just ask me?
“Ahem. Forgive me, my mind was elsewhere. No, our leader hasn’t requested I watch you.
My gaze just merely happened upon you, nothing more.
My apologies if I’ve made you uncomfortable.
” Now’s the time you would spill your usual warning to the commoner, telling them to toe the line.
Come on, let it out. Here we go. Raj, I watch everyone.
I am the eyes and ears of this… Um, Genie?
The crazed look on my face was enough to send him off. “Right. I’ll just be,” Raj hooked a thumb in the opposite direction, “I’ll just be going.”
I forced myself to stay rooted in place as he disappeared around the corner, knowing full well I’d see him again tonight.
Be strong, he’s not ready for the truth. Yet.
Or so I’d told myself for years.
He’d been of age for some time, not that age was of consequence to our ruler. Many of his wives were underage, though that was something I stood firmly by when choosing a lover.
Lovers.
I’d had many over the centuries I’d inhabited this earth.
A magical being created by accident, as the magic for which I was born through was meant for another, along with the power bestowed upon me.
My maker died that night when his spell went awry, while I’d been condemned to a life of servitude.
And a lonely life it has been. Melancholy, despair. All things I felt until Raj came along.
I couldn’t understand this connection I had to him or why. There were things that just couldn’t be explained, but I can assure you the fates had their reasons for them, and they were not to be questioned.
I’d protected him since his parents’ arrest and subsequent deaths by order of our demented ruler.
Publicly humiliated and beheaded as an example of what would happen to those who broke his precious rules.
All for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their hungry family.
To this day, Raj still lived in the single room his family inhabited, with no idea that I’d long since ensured he’d never be removed from it and would always have a roof over his head and food on his table.
Amazing what humans would do for a few coins.
The owner of the building didn’t so much as bat a lash when I offered to buy it from him.
So many secrets I’d kept, waiting for the right time to tell Raj.
But would that day ever come?
Hope was all I had and the notion that with my truth, forever wouldn’t be spent alone. Raj would be there.
Later that night, as I sat inside the small room I wished to whisk Raj away from, I found comfort in his light snores.
To curl up beside him and hold him in my arms would be a dream come true.
How elegant he’d look amongst the fine luxurious linens that adorned my bed.
I’d run my fingers through his hair and lull him to sleep after a hearty round of lovemaking.
Dress him in delicate fabrics and decorate his body with my collection of precious jewels.
I had the perfect ruby for his navel. The visual was so clear, so perfect.
With each passing moment it became harder to ignore my desire for this boy.
When he was young, I’d watch him play and thought nothing of it.
I’d only believed my role in his life was to keep a watchful eye, as I did all through his schooling years.
But as he grew into a man, that’s when the tides changed.
The realization I was meant as more than a protector solidified that.
No longer did the playful youth enjoying a game of stickball stand before me, but the handsome man I yearned to build a life with.
The one I’d unsuspectingly slipped money, food, clothing, and supplies to.
The very man who lay in the bed sound asleep before me.
“Sleep well, sweet boy. For I will return,” I whispered, and with the thought of home, I disappeared just as the sun rose and returned to my eternal tomb to begin a new day.
Over the centuries I’d collected precious artifacts, rugs, textiles, gold, you name it, and kept it safe within the never-ending confines of my lamp.
Given it was a magical place, there was no beginning nor end to it.
It went on infinitely. The areas I most utilized were decorated to my tastes, though it still never felt like a home.
Only a place to rest my head between calls from greedy masters.
The one I was currently ruled by was a demonic brat.
One wish remained firmly in his grasp, yet every time he beckoned me to his side, I held my breath.
And when he refused to use it, it took all I had to bite my tongue and not lash out.
It would do no good anyway and then he’d know where I stood with that issue and use it against me.
He tormented the villagers, driven by greed and his lust for shiny objects, mainly gold.
His demand for a ridiculous amount of tidings to be paid by the villagers infuriated me.
As though he needed the money. His family had amassed a wealth they were undeserving of.
Meanwhile, our people starved or were killed for doing their best to survive, just as Raj’s parents had been.
Too bad I couldn’t grant myself wishes or I’d rid the world of all the evil bastards such as him.
My hands were tied, and I hated it. Had I been free of the Maharajah’s grasp, things would be different.
Well, at least until the next slimy bastard stumbled upon my lamp or I was awarded freedom.
Like that day would ever come. Forever. I was enslaved to this tomb, destined to be alone unless I found a way for Raj to join me.
Only one way came to mind, but would Raj be willing to accept it and relinquish his freedom by joining me in eternal servitude?
This wasn’t a decision or an act to force upon him.
If I did, he’d only grow to hate me over time.
I’d have to earn his trust and love and show him a glimpse of the life we could have together.
Minus the iron shackles that led mine. Then and only then would he grasp the magnitude of what the choice to be with me entailed.
Eternal life.
In the beginning, maintaining a human form was tiresome.
As with anything, time erased that, though I preferred my natural form while away from prying eyes.
A green whisp, barely visible to human eyes, massive forearms adorned with gold shackles around each wrist. A visible sign of my enslavement.
Sure, I had a touch of freedom and could use magic for things outside of my master’s wishes, though I could not harm him in any way.
Much to my dismay.