“Angie,” she yells, finding my misfortunes a little too funny. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“All I’m saying is, if I must use a toy more than you, why are you there? At least he was good with his lips, until…” I trail off, getting more irritated by the moment. “Want some iced coffee?”
“No–No. You don’t get to not finish that sentence. Until what?”
“Kyra, let it go,” I beg.
“I will do no such thing. As best friends, it’s your job to inform me on all successful and unsuccessful relationship partners. Until you’ve proven this was indeed unsuccessful, I’m inclined to think you’re over exaggerating.” She crosses her arms, baiting me into speaking more. But who can resist the way she sparkles with curiosity, and how high her cheeks lift when she genuinely smiles. Since being here, there haven’t been many reasons for such reactions.
“Fine,” I sigh. “I discovered while his lips pressed against me down there…” I point between my thighs for outstanding visuals–ifyou’re telling a story, you can’t forget them. “He would recite that awful phrase over and over while fumbling his tongue.” Her laughter erupts into a booming roar, bouncing off the walls as she topples upon the floor, and my skin crawls, shuddering from the phantom sensation and thankful I’m no longer experiencing it. I continue watching, unamused. “Are you finished?”
“I’m sorry, you must admit that’s funny as hell.”
“Back on topic, it’s possible you’re a genie. Just don’t come up with any annoying phrases.” She clears her throat and takes a seat.
“How would I know?”
“Wait, you said you wished for toilet parchment, and it appeared, right?”
“It’stoilet paper, and yes.”
“Then never mind, genies can’t make wishes of their own. Iced coffee?” I attempt once again to move on from the horrible memory.
“Sure.” I can tell Kyra is sad from getting her hopes up too high.
“Cheer up. It’s a good thing you’re not. Genies don’t have free will. They bounce from fay to fay, granting wishes then moving on to the next. Gaining freewill requires them to be set free of their binds.”
“Like Aladdin and the genie?” she asks. Surprise catches me.
“You know oftheAladdin?” I question, peering over my shoulder.
“I’ve read the book and seen his movies.”
“Oh, so, the mortal version then. Yeah, that was based on the fay, Aladdin, from our realm.”
“Explain.” She arches a brow, and I hand her a cup of iced coffee. With a warm smile she takes it and pulls out the second chair as I perch beside her.
“Aladdin was born an extraordinary fay who wields manipulation magic. He could get inside your head, forcing you to perceive things to be true or false, based on his discretion. Though he was portrayed weak, whoever crossed his path found out about his level of strength the hard way. He became obsessed with power, wanting to know more about magic than anyone in his class. Hell in the entireAcademy. He’d break in and steal items that could lead him to more power. One day, he was tricked into entering a cave with promises of such things, being betrayed by his closest friend. The same friend he turned into a monkey for sleeping with a woman he fancied.”I always find that part of the story hilarious. Dumb ass.
Returning to my thoughts, I continue, “Unaware his closest friend set him up, Aladdin then stumbled upon a magical lamp with sigils placed over it. Markings dating beyond the reaches of anything known at the time. Aladdin, curious of the genie’s abilities, manipulated him into getting them out of the cave, a place known for devouring souls of those who trespass. Once out, the genie told a remarkable story about his past life, using magic and other unknown gifts, which Aladdin used to hold him captive–”
“Damn, that’s fucked up. What an asshole,” Kyra interjects, locked on every word.
“After seeing how powerful genie’s order was, Aladdin formulated a plan to not only gain his abilities but become the most fearsome fay in all realms. There was a problem though. Aladdin had a crush on another fay. One he kept in secret from fear of anyone else claiming her. A princess. But her heart belonged to the one sworn to protect her father. Aladdin asked for the genie’s assistance, and when he was declined on the premise that genies cannot interfere with true love, Aladdin manipulated the princess to hate the only fay she’d ever loved–”
“Bitch,” Kyra blurts, and I nod with agreement.
“Genie realized Aladdin’s goal, but it was too late. Time had already expired for her father whom Aladdin killed, placing blame on the Princess’s true love, thus turning her against him, breaking her heart and leaving an unfillable hole as her guards cast him from the kingdom. Using the genie as a puppet, Aladdin became the hero in her book, swooping in and ensuring everyone knew of her late lover’s crime.”
“Damn, so he got away with that shit?” Passion and outrageshine from Kyra’s face as though I’m telling her life’s story. She is funny.
“The genie retaliated, feeling used in a way unbefitting of his kind. Or should I say tried. Aladdin was prepared for such treachery, taking over the genie’s mind and forcing him to relinquish the well of his aura, rendering the genie a mortal. Tales spread far and wide of his heroism for releasing the genie, which gained the Princess’s favor, and they wed, living happily ever after. But that’s not where the story ends,” I finish, finding Kyra’s gaze deadlocked on mine.
“What happened next?” she demands.
“It’s probably better coming from the source.”
Gesturing her hands in a hurried motion, she asks, “What source?”
