The Genie and the Djann

by Fan-of-Insert-Sues

"My young ones, I have a tale for you." The elder held the sand, a whisper of old magic flowing from his palm. "This tale is of a legend that has since been forgotten, where the memories of true love were taken from the very sands of time."

12. The Third Day

Chapter 12: The Third Day

The night was clear and cool and the moon shone brightly, almost but not quite full. They danced in the air, slowly twirling about while Genie held her close. His grip on her was sure and Triveni was not afraid. Nothing in the world seemed to matter save for this moment, where the very deserts sparkled like diamonds beneath the light of the moon. Time passed, Triveni contented herself with nestling her face in the warmth of Genie's neck.

Genie could not believe that he was holding the woman that he loved at this moment, could not believe that she loved him in return. He wanted to shout, he wanted to explode, he wanted to keep on dancing in the air just like this and never let her go. Finally, she pulled her head away while a smile played on her lips. "I think we should get down now… I'm starting to feel light headed."

"You too?" He breathed, knowing full well that the light headed feeling had nothing to do with their dance. He complied however and slowly began to descend back to the sands below. He set her gently down but did not release her. Instead he reached up to brush the hair from her eyes. Triveni laughed softly but her laugh was cut short when his lips had found hers in a gentle kiss that stole her breath away.

Genie pulled away and ran a broad blue thumb across her full lips. "You have such soft lips, do you know that?"

She blinked in response before her smile emerged and another laugh escaped past the lips that he adored. "I did not know. Thank you for telling me." She giggled again as she moved gently away from him and began to walk back to her hut, her long braid swaying gently from side to side. Genie followed her, floating a foot above the sand, watching the way she moved, the way she held her head.

He couldn't believe this was happening… The only question that lingered now was what were they going to do next? They had found each other but that did not change the fact that she was still a human and he was… Well, he was a djinn. He pushed the thought from his mind as he ducked passed the curtain into the hut. He watched Triveni lighting the oil lamps around her small home, her soft laughter emerging as Carpet followed behind her.

Genie folded him arms across his broad chest while a smile lingered on his goateed face. She still had her second wish, if he suggested that maybe just maybe she would wish to be immortal like him and then used her last wish to set him free. His smile grew at that thought, he would finally be free. He would be free to see the world, free to do what he pleased and go where he pleased and the best part of all would be that he would have Triveni with him. They would see the world together. Genie had never known what true happiness was until now and for the first time in his long imprisonment, he felt true hope.

Triveni had turned her head to look at him, her smile growing soft as she blew out the small flame she had used to light her lamps. Genie swallowed the sudden lump that had risen in his throat as his arms dropped slowly to his sides. Awareness sparked between them, the reality that they were together and that love had found them in the most strangest of ways. Her smile deepened as she turned away shyly and walked over to her small cooking area to gather some food from her stores and cooking utensils. "I'm going to start on dinner."

"Oh ok." Genie looked around the small room and spotted his lamp resting on Triveni's bed, glittering in the lamp light. A light bulb seemed to go off in his head as he smiled and began to back off into the doorway. "Triv, I'm going to step outside for a minute. Just rub the lamp if you need me."

"Um… all right," she said as she looked up from her food stores to see him disappear through the curtain. A puzzled look drifted across her face before she shook her head and went back to preparing dinner. Carpet was floating behind her, the upper part of his body arched with interest as he watched Triveni chopping and dicing a few different vegetables and then throwing them into a pot. He wasn't too engaged in what the healer was doing because he noticed the pebbles that were being pelted at him from behind.

Carpet turned around to see Genie's face filling one of the small windows of the hut. He placed a finger over his lips and beckoned to the magic rug to come outside. Curiosity peaking, Carpet floated out the doorway and into the cool night air. "Psst! Over here!" Genie was on the other side of the hut that faced the pond; the scent of the jasmines lingered there strongly.

Carpet flew to him and rubbed a golden tassel on his upper hem in confusion. Genie peeked into the hut to make sure Triv was busy before he leaned in to whisper. "I want to do something special for Triveni but I'm going to need your help. You're going to have to keep her busy while I work on this…"

Carpet tilted his body as he listened to Genie's plan to woo the lady he loved. What he was planning was border line on breaching the limits of his enslavement but there were a few loopholes that he had discovered during his time bound to the lamp. There were actually some liberties that he had access to when he used his magic and he was going to put it to the test tomorrow. "Now I need you to remember this for tomorrow. On my signal, you'll take her for a ride. Take her wherever you want to go but make sure that you keep her away from this spot until I let you know when it is ok to come back. Got that?"

Carpet gave a nod in understanding before he turned and flew back into the hut to join Triveni. Genie turned to look at the small oasis and the night blossoms that Triv had said were her most favorite flowers caught his eye. This was going to be perfect for tomorrow night, the moon would be full and bright if the weather was good and by the time he would be done with his gift to Triv, she would never recognize this place. Hopefully she would love it.

"Genie?" Her voice floated from the doorway as if his thoughts had been calling her. His grin was huge as he came around from the side of the hut, his dark eyes settling on Triveni's face. She caught the grin and a slender brow rose in question. "Are you ok? You've been gone awhile."

"I'm fine, never been better actually," he replied as he floated behind her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. He brushed his lips against her hair while heat rose up to Triveni's cheeks, the sudden display of affection taking her pleasantly by surprise.

"Oh," she breathed in response as she placed her hands over his and rested her head back against him.

He laughed as he settled his chin on top of her head. "It's been a strange day huh?"

"I think it was one of the best ones I have had in awhile…"

His laughter rose up at that comment and she laughed a little in turn. He gave her gentle squeeze as they stood there, watching the moon as it rose slowly into the sky.

.oOo.

Triveni was up before the sun the next morning and moved quietly around the hut as she gathered her clothing, a wash cloth and the basin and pitcher from the small table beside her bed. Genie was no where in sight but she knew that he was in his lamp and she did not want to disturb him. She went out into the cool morning toward the pond, being careful to hide behind the bushes while she bathed. She filled the pitcher and basin with water and stripped of her night dress. She began to hum softly to herself as she poured the pitcher over her head, drenching herself in ice cold water. She suppressed the urge to cry out at the freezing temperature and laughed instead as she went on to get herself properly clean.

After this was done, she took an old wooden comb that had been wrapped in her robes and began to comb the few tangles from of her long, dark hair. Her hair was the only vain pleasure that she allowed herself to have and she took great pains when caring for it. She closed her eyes as she hummed gently, the rising sun changing the sky from a deep blue to a faint pinkish-gray.

Genie had emerged from his lamp by this time, hoping to catch sight of Triveni sound asleep. When he saw that her bed roll was empty, he settled down on the floor and looked around while scratching his head. Where could she have gone so early in the morning? Carpet was still here, he had rolled himself in the corner that he had used to hang from before he had been given life, if he slept or if he chose to be still, Genie didn't know.

Leaving the hut, he stepped out into the early morning desert, his pointed red shoes dipping in the sand that was ever present just outside of Triveni's home. He glanced around only once before he was greeted by the sight of a small form bathing by the pond. Her long dark hair and the few bushes that lined the banks of the pond barely hiding the obvious fact that she was completely nude to the world. Genie stood frozen, shock rooting him to the spot as he watched Triveni comb her wet hair. She was humming to herself and a dreamy smile lingered on her full lips as she ran the comb down and down through her hair. He probably would have stood there for awhile longer if she hadn't stopped humming and glance behind her to catch him staring at her.

Their gazes locked and the reality of it all sparked and crackled in the air between them. It seemed as if time had completely went still before Genie literally turned a deep shade of red and disappeared from view in a puff of smoke. Triveni was blushing as well as she quickly dried herself and got dressed. She gathered her things while the memory of Genie looking as if he had walked face first into a wall played in her mind over and over. She was laughing by the time she walked back into her hut and put her things away. Genie was no where to be seen and Carpet was watching her from his corner, his upper body arched with faint interest. She kept her smile as she went to grab the gold lamp from her bed and gave it rub. A stream of blue smoke rising from the spout was his response and she laughed again as she reached out to curl her fingers around the blue smoke. "Genie, please come out."

Genie's blue form emerged from the spout, he was about the size of a mouse and he wouldn't look at her. He had his hands folded behind his back, he looked so embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… um…" He reached up to rub the back of his neck while he turned a deeper shade of blue.

Triveni moved to the table in the middle of the room and set the lamp down on it, shaking her head with a shy smile. "Genie, please be yourself. I like looking up at you."

Genie complied and he grew to his normal, large size. He stood before her with his shoulders hunched as he gazed down at his pointed, red shoes. He refused to look at her and in all honesty, he couldn't look at her now without having the image of her bathing by the pond stuck in his head.

"Genie…" Triveni reached out and took his large hands in her own smaller ones, she was embarrassed as well but nothing terrible had happened and he had the decency to have disappeared. "Look at me, please?"

His pointed ears were drooping as he reluctantly looked at her and the smile he saw on her face was not what he had been expecting. Her smile deepened and she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against his chest. "It's all right, it would have happened at some point I suppose. There is little privacy in a place such as this."

That was not what he had been expecting to hear either and he blinked a few times before he smiled and slowly returned her hug. He was confused beyond reason but she didn't seem to think anything of the fact that he had just seen her... His heart skipped a beat at the image that kept taunting him and he cleared his throat as he pulled away from her rather quickly. "I… uh… d-do you have any plans for today?" He kept a comfortable distance between them as he folded his arms across his chest, not trusting himself after what had happened.

Triveni was full aware of this and she only smiled as she moved over to her food stores to prepare something for breakfast. "I was going to head into town. I have to see some of the people. I need to know how the potions I had given them are taking effect on their ailments. Then I need to visit the Temple of Airosche to make an offering. Did you want to come with me?"

Caught off guard by that question, Genie only stared at the woman he had come to love beyond reason and he slowly nodded, wondering how in all the seven deserts he had been lucky enough to find her. "Y-yeah, sure."

Triveni turned to him with a bright smile and held out her cooking pot to him. "Wonderful. Now how about helping me with breakfast?

.oOo.

Triveni's hut was situated about a few miles outside of the town known as Sudari. It was a small settlement on the road that led to the city of Alart and a big rest stop for those merchants and traders that traveled through on their way to the city. Triveni had ridden on Carpet to the town while Genie remained hidden in his lamp which hung from Triveni's belt.

They landed outside of the town gates and she wrapped her shawl tightly around her face so that only her eyes were seen. She had her large basket with her bearing various potions and an old walking staff that she leaned heavily on as she walked. "Wait for us here Carpet; we will be back in a little while." Her voice revealed that she was smiling beneath her shawl and she gave Carpet an affectionate rub before hobbling through the gates. The guards who stood on either side of the gates recognized her at once and waved her through with a greeting. Triveni's grandmother had been highly respected here in town and no one knew that her grandmother had passed on. She had played the illusion of an old healer woman so well that no one knew that she was indeed the granddaughter in disguise.

It took most of the morning to go from house to house, making calls on the residents that had needed her help and checking on those who had healed nicely thanks to her potions. She made her last call on a young married woman expecting her first child and after giving advice to rest as often as she could and giving a small potion to ease the woman's nausea, Triveni set off for the temple that rested in the middle of town.

Once inside the cool building, she was pleased to find she was the only one there. The temple was comprised of a few rooms for the priestesses to live in while they cared for the temple. The main chamber itself was large with huge windows in the upper part of the chamber that allowed the sunlight to flow in, giving the entire room an ethereal atmosphere. In the center of the chamber, a marble statue of a beautiful woman dressed in flowing robes stood. She bore a gentle and serene smile upon her face with her arms outstretched in her left hand she held a jasmine and in her right hand a crescent moon. On her forehead there was a sapphire that had been carved into the shape of a five pointed star, indicating her as the Guardian of the Blue Star, Airosche.

Triveni walked toward the statue and kneeled before it, dipping her hands in the water of the fountain that the statue stood over. Removing her shawl, she ran her wet fingers across her cheeks and whispered a prayer to the Guardian as she set her small offering of incense and the dried petals of jasmine down among the other offerings by the fountain. Once she was done, she sat back in her kneeled position, watching the sunlight as it played across the statue's serene form. Genie had emerged from his lamp at this point, peeking a little. "Is it safe?"

"Yes," she laughed softly as she watched Genie hover a little from his lamp to look around. His size was small so as not to be seen and he looked up at the statue of the Guardian with interest.

"Is this the Guardian?" he asked as he studied the statue.

"Yes… the Guardian watches over all of the Seven Deserts. It is thanks to her that we live." Triveni tilted her head thoughtfully as she studied the Guardian's serene smile. "There is a legend from countless centuries past that has been handed down in Alalart. A legend of a time when great evil had fallen upon Arabia and a dark and powerful demon had crossed the deserts causing destruction and death in its wake. It was because of this demon that the Blue Star had awakened and the Guardian Airosche had been born. She descended from the light of the Blue Star during one of the great Eclipses, bringing with her powerful magic to bestow upon a chosen human to defeat the demon. The warrior she had chosen was a man named Isufa. It was thanks to the Guardian and the great magician Isufa that the demon met its end. Isufa used the magic that the Guardian had given him to cast the demon back down into the depths of the spirit world that it had come from and sealed it away. Arabia was saved from being turned into a dark world of despair. Isufa's name has been forever remembered in the pages of history and the Guardian is honored every day in songs, stories and festivals."

Triveni looked down at Genie as her smile deepened. "It is a truly wonderful story to tell and one that must not be forgotten. Evil can never truly be gone from this world and when it comes again, the people of the deserts must be ready to face it. To remember what the Guardian had given to us so that we may not lose hope."

Genie had listened to her tell the story while he had watched the statue of the Guardian. There had been something familiar about that story but he could not recall from where he had heard it. That familiar sense lingered around the statue's serene smile; he had seen that smile before. It irked him, this feeling that he was supposed to remember something but couldn't.

A shadow suddenly fell across the statue's face and Triveni jumped in surprise, glancing around the empty chamber. She was not alone. She had the terrible feeling that she was being watched. Genie caught her sudden movement and looked up at her. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

Triveni only shook her head and got to her feet. "I thought I saw something, it must have been a bird flying by. In any case, I think we should leave now, it's getting late."

Genie disappeared back into his lamp without question but as they left temple, he could not shake the feeling that he was supposed to remember something, to do something. It followed him the entire way as they flew back home while Triveni had the oddest feeling that they were being followed.

.oOo.

The moment that they had arrived back home, and Triveni had put away her belongings, Genie caught Carpet's attention and waved to him. That was the signal. Carpet waved in turn while Triveni placed her basket beside the door, not seeing what was going on behind her. She straightened and rubbed her back with a sigh just as Carpet came around and swept her off of her feet. "What? Carpet? What are you doing?"

The magic rug did not let her down as he flew through the doorway and out into the hot afternoon sky. Her protesting cries could be heard drifting away as Genie watched them fly off with a smile. "And now to get to work…"

.oOo.

"Carpet, bring us back now, please?"

The sun was setting and still Carpet flew on. He had taken Triveni over Sudari and Alart, passed a few caravans and back again. The hours had passed and Triveni knew that this had to be Genie's doing. She was going to give him an earful the moment they came back home. Her anger rose as time passed, it was only when an explosion of blue sparks in the distant horizon caught their eye that Carpet turned and flew back toward the hut. Night had fallen and the moon was beginning to rise beyond the sand dunes and mesas, big and full.

Triveni was clenching her fists tightly as they descended from the sky but as they got closer the anger began to fade away. The sight that greeted her was breathtaking. A huge oasis had replaced the small pond and few palm trees that had been her home for so long. Moonlight danced on the life that surrounded a sparkling lake, making it look as if the oasis had been carved from sapphires.

As Carpet flew down into the clearing of the lake, Triveni's gasp spoke measures to the beauty that could not be seen from the sky. Arabian Jasmines lined the lake, blooming under the light of the moon. Fireflies danced above the surface of the water, looking as if the stars had come to life. Carpet had stopped on the banks of the lake and she numbly took a step down onto the soft sand.

Her hut was covered in Arabian Jasmines; the night blossoms had been draped over every inch on the outside of her home so it looked as if her home had grown from the oasis itself. It was nestled among a group of palm trees and flowering bushes. She turned around in shock, the beauty of it overwhelming her before a sudden burst of blue light engulfed her from behind. Her patched robes disappeared while a gold and silver robes took its place. White silk draped her petite frame as white, pointed shoes replaced the sandals on her feet. Gold ribbons were braided into two long plaits within her long, dark hair as she turned around in surprise.

Genie stood behind her with a gentle smile, his hand dropping from when he had cast his magic. Triveni looked down at herself before she looked up at him with a question in her dark eyes. "Genie?"

He said nothing as he walked to her and brushed the hair from her eyes. She closed her eyes at his gentle touch while she felt something comb its way into her hair. She opened her eyes and felt the object that Genie had placed in her hair. She pulled it out and stared at the silver comb, on it was the carving of an Arabian jasmine, made in such fine detail she could even see the veins in the leaves. Tears stung her eyes as she stared at the comb and a smile appeared, she placed the comb back into her hair and looked up at him. "It's so beautiful…"

Genie still said nothing as he walked behind her and ran his hands down along her braids. She leaned back against his touch with a sigh as he reached up and around, draping a silver chain around her slender neck. On the chain, a large pointed stone hung, the stone began at the top point with a gentle green which flowed downward into purple which then flowed to white at the bottom tip. It settled itself just above her breasts; it was surprisingly light for such a large stone. She glanced down at the stone pendant, the words having gotten caught in her throat as the tears filled her eyes once more. "Why..?"

Genie turned her around so that she faced him, tucking a finger beneath her chin before he leaned in to kiss her. She would have melted right there if he didn't have such a strong hold on her. He pulled back with a gentle laugh, his thumb grazing her cheek as he cupped her chin. "It's because I'm in love with you and I wanted to show you how much."

He kissed her again before he began to lead her toward the lake, step by step, until they were standing on the rippling surface. Fireflies danced around them while the jasmines basked under the light of the rising moon.

"Dance with me," he whispered to her as he pulled her close and wrapped a strong arm around her waist. She could say nothing as they began to move lightly across the surface of the sparkling water in a gentle, swaying motion. They danced to music that only they could only hear, moving slowly with the fireflies until Genie placed both of his hands on her waist, his smile ever so gentle as his touch.

"Hold on," he said before he took off toward the heavens above.

Triveni cried out in surprise as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His deep laugh rumbled in his chest as he moved one hand beneath her knees and held her close. They flew through a thick bank of clouds before emerging among the heavens. The moon was huge and bright and the stars twinkled like diamonds.

Her laugh surrounded him and bombarded his senses. "It's so beautiful," she cried as she looked around at the endless skies that surrounded them.

"Don't let me fall!" She turned her laughing dark eyes up to his as she tightened her hold on his neck. "I'm not a genie, so I can't fly."

He held her more tightly against him and leaned in to rest his cheek against hers, his lips just above her ear. "I'll never let you fall. I'll always be here to catch you."

"Will you?" she asked, a gentle laugh emerging. However, there was a sense of sadness in her words when she spoke next. "Will you still be there the moment I set you free?"

He pulled back to gaze at the face of the woman who had given him so much joy despite the life he had been bound to. His flying eased a little as he rested his forehead against Triveni's. "My heart is with you… No matter where I go or who I am with, my heart will stay here with you."

They stared at each other for a long moment, their love for one another clearly visible as Genie flew on. Her sigh was one that was filled with emotion and her voice trembled slightly when she spoke. "You're scaring me Genie, you're never this serious."

She was right about that but… he had never met anyone who had slid so easily into his heart the way she had. He had never met anyone who made him feel as if he could be more than just… a slave bound to a magical lamp. He couldn't remember ever loving anything or anyone as much as he had grown to love her in his entire existence. With that reason, Genie hoped that what he would ask of her this night would allow her to see that it was all worth it.

"I'm sorry Triv," he said as he gave a wide smile and held her closer. "Let's have some fun then. Hang on tight."

"Oh no, please don't do what I think you're going to do… Genie, don't!"

Her next response was a scream of pure joy and terror as he shifted in the air and dove through the clouds back down toward the desert sands below. "Genie!"

Genie slowed down a little and he laughed at the slightly scared look on her face. "I'll bet you your second wish that you can fly."

"What?" If it were possible for Triveni to grow pale, she would have done so now. She kept her arms draped tightly around his neck as he adjusted his hold on her so that his hands were braced on her waist once more.

"I said that I'll bet your second wish that you can fly." He was bracing himself as she gave him a frightened look.

"Genie, you wouldn't."

"Trust me."

She stared at him for the longest time before she took in a breath and gave a nod. "All right."

His smile grew at those words and he leaned forward to kiss her with a passion before holding her up before him and letting her loose into the air. Her scream as she was released was caught up by the rushing wind, her stone pendant flying along with her braids behind her. The oasis seemed to be coming nearer at an alarming rate but for some odd reason she was not afraid. She looked around her to the sparkling stars, the full moon and the deserts below her. Genie was next to her, grinning at her and she could not help but smile in turn. It was then that a peculiar feeling enveloped her and a strange sense of weightlessness flowed through her body. Her descent began to slow until finally she was floating of her own accord, sparkles of green and blue light emerging from her small form.

Genie could not believe what he was seeing as, for just a span of a heartbeat, Triveni was floating in mid air. He could sense powerful magic emanating from her for that mere second before it was gone as quickly as it had come and she was falling once more. He reached out to catch her in his arms and he spun her around once as they slowly descended back down to the oasis.

Her arms settled themselves around his neck again and she was smiling dreamily up at him. "Genie that was amazing. You almost made me feel as if I was flying by myself."

A frown played across his face as she buried her face into the warmth of his neck. He hadn't been the one to make her float like that. He had been just about to when that strange magical force emanated from her for that mere second. Was there something more to Triveni that even she did not know? That magical force that she had given off, Genie had sensed it before. Again that feeling from earlier in the day began to rise, as if there were something he should be remembering but couldn't.

As they descended back down to the banks of the oasis' lake, Genie set Triveni back on her feet. She held onto his hands as if she was still afraid of falling but she was smiling and everything was all right in her world. The smile that she gave him was enough to push the strange thoughts from his mind and they stood at the banks of the lake, holding hands. The moon was high in the sky by this time, a perfect white orb that resembled a pearl among a sea of diamonds.

"I just love the stars, the way they twinkle and shine. No matter what happens in this world, the stars are always there watching." She turned to face him, the silver comb in her hair shining beneath the light of the moon. Her smile was one of wonder and love, her dark eyes sparkling with a happiness that bore no worries for what tomorrow would bring, only the joy of the present. The oasis was quiet and calm, its lake reflecting the stars above. The water lapped gently against the bank on which they stood together, their fingers entwined. "That's how I feel about you Genie. You're like a star, never changing and always watching the world as it passes by. A bright, blue star…"

She trailed off at that as she closed her eyes. "I don't know why but something about you reminds me of the Guardian of the Blue Star." Her smile faded slightly as she slowly opened her eyes and studied the powerful being that she had grown to love. Genie could see that there was awareness in her eyes, as if she were recalling something. "Genie... do you feel as if you should be remembering something? Something important but you just can't recall what?"

Genie paled visibly at those words, those were the same thoughts that had been plaguing him since they had visited the temple earlier that day. "I…"

Whatever he had planned to say was lost because Triveni turned away from him at that moment as she held up a hand to shush him. She was glancing over at the shadows of the trees and bushes across the lake. Her hand fell away from his lips as she moved away from him and reached into the belt of her pants where the lamp hung. She pulled it from her belt and held it in both hands while a stern expression gripped her beautiful features. "I should have done this days ago. I don't why I haven't."

Genie could sense the sudden urgency in Triveni's stance. They looked at each other and he shook his head. "You can't, not yet. You have to make your second wish." He moved quickly to her and he gripped her hands tightly, the lamp held between them. "I need you to make your second wish to be with me. You're only human now but if you make this wish… we can be together. I've been around for so long and most of my existence I can't recall, it all was a big blur. Until I finally found you. You gave me hope and you gave me your love. I don't want to lose that. Please Triv."

Triveni glanced down at their joined hands then up at him, a moment in when she could see the hope in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but her eyes caught the movement of a shadow beyond Genie's broad frame. Her eyes grew wide as she pushed away from him with surprising force, an explosion of green and blue magic emerging from her hands and pushing him away from her. "Look out!"

A shadow of something had streamed from across the lake, missing the genie and the woman by inches and hitting the hut covered in jasmines. The hut erupted into flames, the light revealing the shadow to be sand, strange sand that was the color of blood. Genie rubbed the spot where the strange magic that Triveni had cast had hit him on the chest. It was warm and tingled with the magic that flowed from him.

"Genie!" Triveni cried out as a form emerged from the depths of the trees to stand on the bank on the other side of the lake. It was a tall man, draped in red and silver robes. His turban was gone, his dark hair flowing freely as flames danced around him. Blood red sand flowed beneath his feet and with each step he took the red sand emerged with flames curling around the edges. It was the vizier of Alalart, looking less than human as flames and blood red sand danced and flowed from his body. Blood red sand had erupted from beneath Genie's feet and wrapped around him tightly so that he could not move. The heat from the sand was unbearable and he could feel the strange power binding his own into submission. He gritted his teeth at the pain of it, struggling against the binding of the sorcerer that held him.

Asad stopped at the edge of the lake, his handsome face contorted to a manic grin as he clenched and unclenched his fists. "I should have known why my spells did not work. Centuries of searching and I finally find her, countless years only to find that YOU have taken her from me once more!"

He pointed a long finger at Genie as he said this. Genie had no idea as to what Asad was talking about and his confusion was evident to Asad. The vizier's eyes grew wide at the realization and he laughed, his laughter was harsh as he shook his head with utter amazement. "I cannot believe it. You do not remember anything? I had no idea that my curse would have worked so well." He laughed again as he tightened his fist and the sand tightened around Genie. He gasped at the pain, his eyes searching for Triveni, who was a few yards away from him. She was also bound but not by the sand that gripped him. Deep, red magical bindings held her tight and her breathing was shallow as she watched her love be overcome by the pain the sand caused him. The lamp had fallen away from her and was resting between them. Carpet had been bound in the same magical bindings that held Triveni some distance away from the flaming hut.

It seemed the only one that Asad truly wanted to hurt was Genie. Though why that was, Genie couldn't figure out. Asad was speaking as if he knew the djinn but Genie could not recall any moment in time that he had met this sorcerer. There was that strong sense of déjà vu that hung around him but that was all there was.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Genie gasped as he struggled against the blood red sand, his dark eyes never leaving Triveni's kneeled form.

Asad rubbed a few grains of red sand from his fingers, the sand falling down in a flurry of sparks. "I suppose it is a good thing that you do not remember. Ridding her of any memory of you will make it so much easier. The fact that you had even found her again is what truly amazes me. Having bound you to that lamp I had assumed that it would the last that I would see of you. And yet, I was clearly wrong." Asad laughed even more at this as he began to walk across the surface of the lake, the water sizzling as the flames and the red sand made contact. "I find you here with her. It seems that there are forces at work that are determined to see you two together." The manic smile fell from his face as he clenched fist again, the sand tightening further around the blue genie so that he could not even breathe. "However, she is mine. You were never supposed to be the one to find her. Not then and not now."

Genie glanced at the vizier, confusion mixing with the pain that bombarded his senses. Had he heard right just then? Had this sorcerer just said that he had been the one that had bound Genie to his lamp? Genie studied the sorcerer; a part of his mind scraping for any memory in time that he had seen met this man. He could come up with nothing, nothing but a feeling of déjà vu and the frustration was clear as Genie tried to struggle against the blood red sand that held him and his magic. There was something more, something that Genie was missing, and whatever it was he knew that it involved Triveni. He had to try and save her.

Asad turned his burning gaze to the woman kneeling at the banks of the lake, watching as she took in faint breaths, trying to fight against the magical bindings. "I was right about you all along Triveni; you are more than just a woman. The powers you possess are equal to no other force in all of the Seven Deserts. You may be human now but once you are 'awakened', you will remember who you had been and you will see me the way you meant to centuries ago."

Triveni shook her head, her dark hair falling across her forehead. "You… I will never look at you as anything more than a demon. My love belongs to the one my heart has chosen." She turned her gaze to Genie then, tears welling in her eyes. "No one will have my heart but him…"

The rage that gripped the vizier's face made him look gaunt and skeletal. "Lies! He's filled you with lies!" Asad clenched his other fist and Triveni screamed as her bindings tightened around her.

"Don't hurt her!" Genie growled, trying to fight against the blood red sand that held him. He had to escape but his magic was bound and Triveni did not have the lamp so she could not use her wishes. He was stuck and the vizier knew this well enough as his manic, dark eyes broke away from Triveni.

Asad glanced down at the golden lamp that had fallen to the ground between the genie and the woman and a cold sneer curled his lips. "I will not hurt her, never will I hurt her. But you my dear genie, you will no longer taint her with your magic." He lifted a single finger and the shifting red sand that flowed beneath his feet spiraled up toward his hand before taking shape into a flaming spear that hovered above the lake's waters. "Take a good look at your lady love, it will be the last you will ever see her again." He laughed then as he released the flaming, blood red orb, its target the golden lamp that rested in the sand.

What happened next was straight out of a nightmare. Time seemed to slow as Triveni cried out, her body erupting with blue-green light. The dark red bindings that held her fell away to nothing but sand as she got to her feet and rushed to the lamp...

Genie was aware that he was yelling. He was aware that the sorcerer was screaming. However, all that he could see was the flaming spear as it punctured Triveni's side with a sickening impact that sent her flying across the sand, the lamp held safe and tight in her small hands. The spear had lost its shape at the moment it came in contact with Triveni and dissolved to a pile of blood red sand. The blood that spread across her tanned skin and into the silk of her gold and silver robes, however, did not dissolve. It grew and began to drip down against her side, her breath hitching as she stared at Genie. She barely could manage a reassuring smile for him.

"No no no!" Asad was screaming at the top of his lungs as he tried to twist away from the red sands that were beginning to surround him. "Not again! I was so close! So close! She was meant to choose me! She was supposed to choose me!" His cries continued on as the blood red sand surrounded him completely and finally cut away the screams of the sorcerer that tried to escape whatever force that was now compelling the red sand to engulf him. The royal vizier was lost in the red sand that swirled above the lake of the oasis. It spiraled and swirled into itself until there was nothing left but a single curl of red sand and flame which faded from view.

The sand that had bound Genie faded away to nothing and the moment he was free, he rushed to Triveni's side. Gently he cradled her against him, shaking his head as tears began to slide down his cheeks. "Why…?"

Triveni took a gasping breath as a faint smile touched her lips, the blood that oozed from her side not ceasing it its flow. "…h-had to protect…l-love you…"

Genie leaned down to grasp the hands that still held his lamp. "Use your wish now. I can save you, please Triv." His voice grew hoarse as he watched the life flow from the woman he loved. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening, not now, not after they had finally found each other.

"I… k-know now…" Triveni said as she reached up to place a hand against his cheek and he gripped it in his own.

"Triv please, I can't save you unless you make a wish… please I need you with me."

She shook her head weakly, her eyes drooping. "N-no… f-free…"

Genie squeezed her hand tightly as he kissed it. "Damn it Triv! I can't save you unless you wish it. Please… please… wish for me to save you. Please Triveni, I love you."

Her smile was a sweet one as she took in a deep, shuddering breath. "Y-you will r-remember… no n-need to be s-sad… it's n-not… t-true goodbye… w-will see…" Her breathing grew faint as her smile wavered. There was something in her eyes, the knowledge of something that she had just discovered and was trying to explain. "G-Genie… remember us… Y-you are my love…true y-you… my K-Ka...hil..." Her whisper trailed off as her breath left her with a soft sigh and her eyes slowly closed.

The lamp that she had held on to tightly slipped away from her slackened grip and fell with a thud to the ground. Genie shook his head in disbelief as he held her against him. "Triv? Triveni please, open your eyes. Please, please don't leave me." He rocked her as he buried his face against her hair, his tears falling down into her dark locks. "Please Triv… please…"

He kept rocking her even when finally hit him that she was gone. Her blood stained his hands but he did not care, he did not care about anything now. Carpet kept his distance, his body drooping with sadness. They did not notice the old man that stood on the edge of the trees, seemingly watching the scene with a grim face. His hair was long and silver, hanging past his shoulders. He wore old, brown robes and he leaned heavily on a wooden staff that bore a bright blue jewel on top. Tattoos made from blue ink adorned his cheeks and his pale blue eyes gazed straight into the distance beyond the grieving djinn that held the body of his only love.

The elder gripped his staff tightly, the blue jewel upon it flashing with light. "You must let her go," he said as he slowly walked forward, his unseeing eyes having seen all of the evil that had went on within this oasis that had been created out of love.

Genie looked up at the elder that stood before him and then down at Triveni, who looked as if she were merely sleeping. His face was a pale shade of blue and his tears still fell from his dark eyes. The old man stood before him with a look of sympathy upon his weathered face. "You must let her go now."

Genie shook his head gently as he set Triveni down upon the sand, cradling her head with utmost care. "I… don't understand how this could happen," Genie whispered as he trailed his fingers across Triveni's cheek. His throat grew tight as he closed his eyes. "All of this… I finally found her and… I just don't understand…" His frown was deep, his voice filled with anguish as he turned his bloodshot eyes to the elder that stood over Triveni. "I know you… I've seen you before… did you know the sorcerer that…?" He couldn't say it; the words remained lodged in his throat as he glanced down at his only love.

The old man's blind eyes seemed to look over the blue genie before he gave a single nod. "I knew of him. He is a terrible soul and I am sorry to say that he had taken her from you. She gave her life for you…" His blue gaze traveled down to the woman whose blood had had been spilled in such a place of beauty.

Genie tore his gaze away from the sight of the wound on Triveni's small form. His voice trembled as he shook his head. "She gave her life for me? For what? An eternity without her? I don't want that..." He looked at the gold shackles that were still bound on his wrists. "She was going to free me… We were going to see the world…"

"You have a choice…" The elder spoke as he moved his staff over Triveni's still form. Blue light enveloped her and she rose into the air. He moved her slowly toward the middle of the lake. Earth rose up from the bottom of the lake and began to cradle her as she was lowered down to rest within the earth. The jasmines that lined the banks of the water began to float from their roots toward the small island that was Triveni's final resting place, They covered her grave until all that there was were flowers blooming beautifully beneath the light of full moon.

Genie had watched all of this without saying a word, his heart was broken and it seemed to fall apart even more at the sight of the grave that the elder had made. It was beautiful, covered completely by Triv's favorite flower.

The elder cocked his head thoughtfully to the side, his blind eyes moving from side to side, as if reading something. "She gave her life for you and with that sacrifice you will have your chance at the freedom she had wanted to give you." He set his staff down on the sand and Genie's lamp rose into the air between them. "You will sleep. You will sleep until the one who bears a heart as true as the one who had loved you sets you free."

Genie could feel the pull of the lamp as the elder finished speaking. He could feel his form beginning to disappear as he kept his dark eyes on the small island covered in Arabian Jasmines. "What will happen?" he asked as he stared and stared at the jasmines. He was hoping that a part of it was a dream and that he would wake up to find Triveni standing in the middle of her hut with her potions and the smile that she gave only to him. But it was not a dream…

The elder's magic had taken hold of Carpet when he had taken hold of the lamp. Both were enveloped by blue light, waiting for the genie as he stared at the grave of jasmines. The old man merely shook his head as he held his staff at his side. "At the chance that you are free of your enslavement of the lamp, you will find this place again. No soul will touch this place that had been made from true love. Only you will know of this paradise. Remember it well. Time will pass and this land will be forgotten by all. Remember everything that has transpired here, remember it all. You will need to when the time comes…"

Genie looked at the elder, his sad, blue face revealing the many questions that he wished to ask but could not find the voice to.

The elder had a thoughtful smile on his lips as he turned to look at the island of jasmines. "You will sleep in a special place that I have made. It is highly guarded and only those who are worthy may enter. There are many powerful artifacts there that have been kept well hidden from even the most desperate of beings. You will be safe there until the time is right. You will realize… When the time comes you will know. Do not lose the joyful spirit that you had found while being here. Keep it with you always. It is as Triveni had said. It is not a true goodbye… not truly…"

After these words, Genie felt the world spin in a kaleidoscope of deep blue hues and sparkling blue and white light. His last thought of awareness was that if he should ever have the chance to be free… If he could ever be truly free… He would wish to see Triveni just once more…

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(a/n) Thank you all for reviewing, faving, alerting and just reading! Special thank you to Bookworm Gal and Geekgirl for always leaving feedback, it's much appreciated!