"And what of your master?" Genies asked as he surveyed his young student. It had surprised him when she had so suddenly disappeared. No one found jinns nowadays. He hadn't been found for over 200,000 years! That she had been found in only a few thousand astonished him. Most went much longer without ever being discovered.
They sat in her abode, awaiting her master to call on her once again. As soon as Killian had ordered her back into her bottle, Genie had arrived shortly thereafter. They had hugged, rejoicing in their reunion. Emma had never lived a day without Genie.
She told him of how her master had freed her from her bottle. How she had crackled with energy and delight. As she had funneled free of the bottle in the form of glittering smoke, she had stretched and unfolded. She dressed in fine silks and assumed her human form, hair flowing, eyes bright, and lips painted a ruby red. When the smoke had cleared, she got her first look at her new master. He had been sprawled out, lying on the floor with eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. He was young, though older than herself, and handsome. He was warm skin and warmer blood, hard muscles all over, with dark hair and stubble on his face, and the bluest eyes she had ever seen. Her heart had sung at having such a striking master.
Now, back in her bottle, Emma could not wait to see her master again.
Genie had made sure she was safe and happy before turning to more pressing matters.
"I can hardly wait for you to meet him, Genie! He is most clever and so very handsome," Emma insisted, her eyes taking on a dreamy glaze as she thought of her master. He had frightened her, at first, with his wicked smile and dark features. However, once his lips had touched her fingers, she had felt a thrill reverberate through her body. It was unlike any feeling she had ever felt before. "Captain, of his own ship!"
"Do not grow attached, Emma," Genie chided, silently reminding her that her duty was to be a jinni and nothing else. Emma pouted at his response. She didn't understand why he was not happier for her. "Give it time, child. You have only just met him. Humans can be deceiving, young one."
"I do not believe he is trying to deceive me." Emma remained thoughtful as she recalled the memory of master. "He seems sad, and lost, but I see a good heart in him. I believe it is just buried."
"And he treats you well, so far?" Emma looked at Genie, wondering why he was asking such things. "The King has sent me. He wishes to make sure you are ok."
"The King? Why would he care about me?" Emma queried. She had only met the King a handful of times, and while he was pleasant, they had never become more than acquaintances. She was merely one of his subjects.
"Girl, please!" His voice grew high pitch and he fixed her with a look. "He cares very deeply for you. He asks about you at all the council meetings." Genie laughed. While jinns might not have human emotions, they had their own special form of sentiments. "He just wants to make sure your first master is a kind one."
"What does it matter to the King if my master is kind? There are plenty of jinns who have terrible, mean, horrible masters. Such as when you served Cleo and had to turn against your friend Haji." Emma huffed at the very thought. Killian did not seem anything like the nasty master's other jinns had spoken of.
"It might surprise you, but you are a lovely woman, and the King is very fond of you." Genie left it at that, leaving it to Emma to figure out the meaning he was trying to convey. It was no secret amongst the council that the King was looking for a new wife, a new Queen.
Emma scoffed.
"It is nearly morning, and my master shall be awake soon. You must leave," Emma insisted, hurriedly. Genie chuckled. "And tell the King all is well, and my master is wonderful and kind! Now go!"
"And handsome?" Genie fluttered his eyelashes and placed his hands beneath his chin, letting out a dreamy sigh.
"Go!"
The day seemed to drag on. Excitement over his find seemed to keep his mind from concentrating on what needed to be done. Just as Emma had said, the crew thought nothing of the fixed mast, sail, and rigging. It was as though they believed they had fixed it themselves! He listened idly as they bragged of how quickly they had fixed everything, and that they were the best crew known on the seven seas, only second to their captain!
But he let their lax behavior slide. After all, he had a jinni! A beautiful, green-eyed jinni that had plagued his dreams last night. He smiled ruefully as he remembered the vivid dream he had. Images of her long, lean legs spreading for him as she smiled alluringly at him. Her fiery touch, warming his cold heart.
Killian shook his head at the thought. Now was not the time to be thinking such things. Later tonight, once he was alone with her.
When he had awoken he had been surprised to see her kneeling on the ground, rather floating while kneeling on the ground. A light seemed to encompass her, almost blinding him with her beauty and brightness. He had been afraid it was all a dream, but seeing her made his heart stutter. Words ghosted past her sweet lips and then she lifted her head and smiled right at him, a whispered "Good morning, master," passing her lips.
Oh, how he wanted to kiss those lips. She might be a jinni, but she was also as beautiful as a goddess, a siren to come lure him to his death, he was sure.
After wishing her a good morning as well, he had ordered her back into her bottle, which he locked up so that no one might accidentally find her. He was not going to let this treasure slip from his hand, or hook!
It was late once he was finally able to return to his cabin. Having turned over the helm to Smee, he made his way to the galley to grab some extra food. It hadn't occurred to him that Emma might need some food. He wondered if she was well stocked in her bottle. How did that even work?
More questions he had for her.
The whole day had been spent wondering about her and her situation. Now he looked forward to finally having the chance to speak with her some more.
Upon arriving in his cabin, he locked the hatch before moving towards the trunk he had hidden her bottle in, which was shoved under a blanket, hidden away in his closet. He was surprised to see a soft glow emanating from the trunk, though he guessed he shouldn't be. Producing a key from his pocket, he unlocked it and lifted the top. Pulling the bottle free from beneath a blanket, his fingers ghosted over it, as though he were touching her instead of the bottle.
Once again, glittering smoke filled his tiny cabin before she appeared. She was just as beautiful as she had been the last time he had seen her.
"Master!" Her soft voice was like music to his ears. He smiled.
After exchanging pleasantries, he produced the food he had grabbed from the galley and offered it to her. Her nose scrunched up as she took the hardtack from his palm and sniffed it.
"I wasn't sure if you were hungry. I should have offered this morning," Killian acknowledged, angry with himself that he hadn't thought of it before.
"You are so kind and thoughtful, master, to think of me!" Again, she found herself blushing. She placed the hardtack down on his table though. "Has thou thought of any more wishes you desire?"
Killian chuckled. If anything, she was hardworking and wanted to please him. He could definitely become used to being treated in this manner.
"Are you not hungry?" He implored. "You haven't eaten since I… well, I mean, you… you haven't eaten. You must be hungry."
"You have nothing to worry about, master. My home is very well stocked!" She smiled widely and bobbed her head in agreement. "My King ensures all his jinns remain well cared for."
"King? Of all jinns? So, there is a land of jinns?" This was beyond his wildest dreams. A land filled with jinns? Who could want for more? If he could find out where it was, he could obtain more lamps and bottles and possibly sell them! The riches he could procure if he had jinns to sell!
"Oh, no master, the King would not appreciate that at all. He would smite thee, quite viciously." Emma bowed her head and remained thoughtful. "Though, there is land, per say. We exist on a different plane than humans."
"Then how are you here now?" He ignored that she had once again read his mind. He figured it was just something he would have to get used to. Besides, if giving up his thoughts meant getting a jinni in return, he was willing to make the sacrifice.
"We exist in an indescribable realm in the same space as humans, but it is out of sync with human space-time so that the human universe may not see us until one is called on, such as when you called on me," Emma explained.
"Ah, and this King. He rules over you?"
"Not exactly." She thought for a moment, unsure of what she was allowed to tell her master. "There is a council who create the rules of the jinn. The King, well, Kings, they protect us from the outside world, especially those looking to use our powers for ill." Killian's mind was swirling as he took everything in.
"Kings? How many are there?"
"Seven."
"And what is your Kings name?" Killian inquired.
"Monday, the most brilliant and wise King there ever has been!" This caused Killian to chuckle. She certainly was naïve if she believed her king cared for her.
"And the other Kings? What are their names? Happy and Sleepy?" He couldn't wait for the answer, especially if her king was named Monday! This sounded as believable as the tale of Snow White!
"Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Though Thursday is a very mean King! He makes all his jinn work for him when they do not have masters. He is born of the darkness, and some believe he is actually an archdemon and nemesis of the Prophet!" His jaw went slack with her explanation. She was pulling his leg, she had to be. "I told you, master, I cannot lie. No jinni can!"
A laugh bubbled forth from his belly as she reminded him. Of course! He rolled his eyes. Maybe she had been stuck in her bottle for a bit too long.
When he remained quiet, Emma took a tentative step towards him, resting her hand on his arm. Her touch felt like fire.
"Master, I've never experienced anything like this before. Do you think we could talk some more?" She asked him earnestly, her green eyes wide and imploring. She licked her lips
"O-ok," Killian stuttered. He couldn't believe himself; normally he was quite the ladies' man, yet tonight, at her mere touch, he lost all thought. The feel of her hand on his arm was distracting. It felt like the fire from his dream; like tiny lightning bolts striking him and penetrating all the way to his heart.
"I would like to learn more about you, master."
"Aye. I would like to learn about your world," he insisted as he looked down into her beautiful eyes. Her lips were parted slightly, and he could feel tiny puffs of air escaping her mouth. If he just moved closer. No! He refocused. "And about you."
The excitement in her eyes shown brightly at his response.
"Excellent, I shall begin asking questions…" she remained thoughtful for a moment. "Master, tell me about your family. Where do they come from?"
He paused, shaken by her initial question. His features grew cross causing Emma to cringe at the change in his demeanor. Fear flickered across her eyes and she took a step back. He looked as angry and mean as King Thursday!
"That is not a story I wish to share," he said, voice tight and laced with anger.
She looked down, hands going to her lap.
"I meant no offense, master," she murmured, "Forgive my disobedience and for displeasing thee."
Killian had an urge to order her back into her bottle, leaving her locked in his trunk until he could sell her, so he didn't have to look at her or hear her innocent questions. That's all they were, a tiny voice in the back of his mind reminded him. She was an innocent, obviously. Naïve to the world he knew.
Still, he grew angry at her question, so he lashed out at her, as he only knew how.
"Disobedience," he snorted. "I am sure I am nothing more than a nuisance in your world. Having to wait hand and foot on one master after another"
"That is not true, master! I was merely curious about your past."
"Really, jinni?" he mocked, leaning forward and glowered at her. "And how did you become a jinni?"
Her brows knitted together, and her head lowered slightly as she tried to come up with an answer.
"I do not know, master," she sighed, her voice soft and sad. "According to another, my soul was taken when I was still a babe. I am told that just before I passed, a jinn traded places with me, forcing me into eternal servitude for others and freeing their own soul." She picked at a non-existent piece of lint on her flowing silk robe. "But it is ok, for my parents have had another child, so they are no longer saddened by my loss."
Yet again, Killian was taken aback by her response. Somehow Emma always seems to surprise
"I'll forgive your naivety if you'll forgive me for my ill manners, Emma."
She looked at him for a long moment, saying nothing in return. As her eyes gazed into his, he had the oddest feeling that she could somehow see right through him and straight into his heart, to the scars his brother and Milah's death had left on it, as well as the blackening of it when he had lost his hand to Rumple. It made him uncomfortable.
To deflect from the onslaught of emotion, he moved toward the cabinet where he kept his liquor and pulled out a bottle of rum along with two glasses. It was the only way he knew how to deal with his emotions. His jinni continued to watch in silence, her eyes following his movements as he set both glasses on the table and poured a generous amount into each.
"Drink up," he said.
Their hands touched briefly, her soft fingers brushing his for the scantest of moments. A light flashed momentarily at the contact and the cuffs on her wrists seemed to glow brightly, a heat radiating off them. Emma sucked in a breath.
"What is this?" she asked. When he didn't respond right away she lifted the glass up to her nose and took a dainty sniff. Her nose wrinkled at the pungent smell.
"Alcohol. More precisely, rum."
He downed his glass.
"What is rum, master?"
When he didn't answer, she followed his lead and drank the entire glass. Her eyes went wide before crashing shut, her body shuddering, and a tingle following its course. She gagged and coughed as the alcohol made its way down. Her face reddened, and she had to shake her head once she had finally swallowed the liquid.
"How do you drink it as easily as tea, master?" A hiccup escaped her lips as the drink worked its way down her esophagus. A long, slow-burning sensation following its path.
"Practice makes perfect."
He poured himself another and quickly drank it, knowing he was bragging, but wondering if it was something he should be bragging about. He offered another pour, but she shook her head furiously, refusing to drink again.
He chuckled. Her actions amused him.
"You're teasing me, master." A sly smile crept up her lips and a light seemed to fill her eyes. They glittered like an emerald in the sun. "One should not mock a jinni! I could turn you into a serpent with two heads or a pillar of salt!"
"Quite the opposite," he rushed to assure her. He did not doubt that she could turn him into a two-headed serpent, something he surely did not want to be. "I am mesmerized by you, my jinni."
Emma returned his smile, happy that their argument seemed to be forgotten. She looked up at him through lowered lashes, a coy smile playing on her lips.
The fiery feeling returned within him as his dream from the previous night played in his mind. He took another shot to make the feeling go away, savoring the familiar burn in his throat. His jinni remained close by, her eyes still on him. Feeling the walls closing in on them, Killian thought swiftly of a way to break the silence and his galloping heart.
"It is getting late and I must retire soon. Would you care for some fresh air? It must be very stuffy in that bottle of yours." He stood up from his chair and offered his arm.
She nodded. "If it would not be too much trouble, master. I would love to see the stars. I have never seen real stars before!"
He was startled by her comment. Never seen stars? How was that possible? Did she not have stars in her world?
Despite a few crew on the deck, which Emma made sure they did not remember a thing, it was quiet. The night was clear and crisp, the sky full of stars and the moonlight marking a silver path on the dark water. His hook rested low on her back, guiding her to the rail. He noted, yet again, that she floated everywhere she went as flower petals trailed in her wake.
He would need to speak with her about the importance of walking once she was his companion.
She inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh, salty air.
"I am told, humans use stars to navigate. Do you, master?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at them.
"Aye," he answered. He was glad to be outside. The air seemed to clear some of the rum from his mind. "My brother taught me when I was younger. He said that once I knew how I would always be able to find home."
"Master…" He hummed in response. His eyes watched her delicate features in the silvery moonlight. "You and I will be sharing as many wonderful moments together as there are stars in the sky." She turned to meet his gaze, a smile pulling her lips up. "Just thinking of it makes me excited."
He blinked at her statement, pondering if the small amount of rum she'd had was enough to make her speak gibberish. Perhaps she could see the future as well. They fell quiet after that. After a while, he steered them back to his cabin. Killian pulled her bottle from the shelf beside his bed and stared at it. He wondered how comfortable it was.
"Do you need anything, Emma?"
She glanced at the bottle and smiled.
"It is very spacious master. As I said, the King takes very good care of us. He ensures we want for nothing!"
He nodded until a thought popped in his head.
"Except your freedom?"
A flicker of emotion crossed her face as she considered his words. But it only lasted a moment before she schooled her features, a wistful look settling on her pretty face.
"My only want is to serve you, master."
Her response, surprisingly, saddened him. He uncorked her bottle and offered it toward her.
Emma smiled at him, "Thank you for a wonderful night, master." And just like that, she was gone, a puff of glittering smoke filling his cabin momentarily before disappearing into the bottle.
