Preface

Genie in a Bottle


It had been thousands of years since I'd become a full-fledged Genie – though the true term was 'Jinn', none of my masters in the last couple decades had called me by that – and I still hadn't gotten anyone to free me.

As the years went by, mortal greed only seemed to grow and grow; they used up the allotted 3 wishes almost as soon as they rubbed my 'lamp' – actually, my 'lamp' was a coin. A silver coin with a bit of dirt on it. People always rubbed the dirt off. I'd thought it was clever when choosing my 'lamp' when I hit adulthood.

We Jinn could have kids once we were freed – and we kept our magic after too. But once the child reached a certain age, they got one chance to pick an object and be bound to it until they met a benevolent soul that freed them.

We had to turn 25 to become bound to a 'lamp' – until then, we were as any mortal. Any children produced before then would also be mortal, even. Though, any kid a jinni had after becoming a full Jinn would be a Jinn – no exceptions.

Inside the coin was the dimensional 'realm' that held my apartment; it was completely modern – I was able to upgrade each time I was 'summoned' – with all the luxuries of the rich. Hey – they liked it for some reason, I figured that I could try it out and see.

I had a huge bed – it was like… 2 full mattresses put together in size. I liked the space and maybe I was setting up for the hopeful day that I was freed and could have a family. I had bathrooms, luxury showers, an amazing couch, state-of-the-art kitchen, walk in closets, and very pretty dishes. I had everything I could ever want – except freedom.

I didn't care much for televisions – I could get one of those if or when my future lover wanted one – but I had a whole library. If it was romance in any way, then I owned a copy.

Today just felt different – and as a Jinn, I'd learned that meant that I would get a new master today. I hopped out of the shower and glanced at my reflection with a slight frown – the times had certain changed since my form could be considered beautiful. But I was still okay.

My long, flowing hair reached my waist in a cerulean to ice blue Ombre coloring – it was natural – and matched my bright violet eyes well. My skin wasn't flawless – it was pale with plenty of freckles; and that had been the height of beauty once. To be kissed by gods, they said.

My weight was more what caused the issue in modern times. Everyone wanted a skinny, super-model genie these days, but Jinni were well rounded. Our bellies were where our magic essence was stored – and I wasn't too powerful, so I was only 230 pounds… and a good portion of that was in my boobs not my gut. The 'fatter' your Jinni, the more powerful they were. You didn't want a skinny Jinn appearing before you – you'd only be able to ask for things like a hot dog… if that. And if a person had a Jinni before, they couldn't summon another. It wasn't possible. The process of being a master marked a persons' soul.

So, while I may not be the most powerful, I was moderately powerful. okay, I was actually decently powerful.

I headed into my closet and put on a pair of black denim jeans, a single-shoulder black top with ruffles, and ankle boots. Moving to my jewelry box, I picked a ruby star on a thin silver chain, a simple silver bracelet, and ruby tear-drop earrings.

My next stop was make-up – black and red in swirling smokey designs, cats' eye eye-liner, ruby lipstick and a light dusting of rouge.

Just as I finished, I felt the pull and popped out of my house, heeding the call of my newest master. Number 199.

I appeared before them bowed from the waist, "Greetings, master – I am Angel, the genie. You have found my vessel and will now be granted 3 wishes; A list…"

I was cut off by swords being drawn. I looked up in surprise.

Before me were several people – my new master was 6'1, about 21 years old, with brown-black hair, grey-green eyes and tanned skin. He was joined by 5 other people – one was a man who was obviously his father, with greying black hair, grey eyes and darker, sun-worn skin.

The next was obviously my masters' mother – greying brown hair, green eyes and pale skin.

Next was possibly his brother – 6'2 with cropped black hair and grey eyes with features that spoke to their father.

Another woman with no obvious relation was darker skinned with black hair and blue eyes.

Then… a boy of about 8 or 10. He was the son of the brother, I think.

"Where did you come from?" my master asked.

I pointed, "My vessel – I'm… a Genie… you know – grant you three wishes with a wave of my hand? I know – I know; I don't look like you thought I would, I appeared at a bad time, my name is contradictory… look, we're people just like you. Just because we can grant three wishes and vanish doesn't mean we aren't. As I said, my name is Angel and you are my newest master."

"Master – what like… a slave?" the father asked.

"Somewhat – the difference being that I grant wishes and go away after. May I know how to address you all?"

The father spoke, "I'm Bryce Cousland. This is my wife, Eleanor; our sons, Fergus and Aedan; Fergus' wife Oriana, and his son Oren."

Aedan – my master – spoke, "So… you live in a coin?"

"It's better than the cliché lamp, thank you. It has everything I need. Come to think of it… this room looks a bit old-fashioned. Where am I? Where has my coin ended up now?" I asked.

"This is Highever Castle in the country of Ferelden." Fergus said wearily as I looked over the books on the shelf.

I frowned, "I can't read these. Odd language you have. I can speak it since you're my master – I have to be able to communicate, right? But… your written word is so strange. I've never heard of Ferelden before. Whatever – you get three wishes. As I was saying before, I have a list of things I can't do – I'm not too powerful, ya know? I can't bring people back from the dead, I can't make people fall in love, I can't kill someone with my abilities, mind-control isn't possible in any form, and so on. There are things I could do, but I have a moral code of conduct and simply won't – like the killing thing. As always, I ask that you consider me and wish me free – all Jinni want to be free – but it isn't something you have to do, and in fact, you can't wish for it until your third and final wish anyway. Oh – you can't wish for more wishes; that just doesn't work. I can bring someone back from near death, but there are major consequences – like the person could be paralyzed for life – so I don't really recommend it, but… otherwise, if you want something, just say 'I wish…' and then the thing and I'll do what I can."

"… Can you prove any of this?" Bryce asked. I hummed, "I could – but enough people have tried to conn a free wish out of me that I don't really do demos' anymore."

"But… I've never heard of a Genie before." Fergus muttered.

Oren – the sweet little bun – asked, "Could you bring back Griffins?"

I thought for a minute before saying, "You know? I've never tried to before. I'll try – just for you, free of charge."

I concentrated my magic – he said bring back. I thought people had all dismissed griffins as myths. I reached into the past and pulled.

Pop! A baby griffin cub wriggled in my arms and straightened triumphantly, "It appears that I can, in fact, bring back Griffins. Aww, look at her."

I knelt by the boy and he happily began playing with the cub.

The others all gaped at me. My master said, "So… I could wish griffins back to existence… and you can do that?"

"Well, I'm not bringing them back from the dead, you know – I just reach into the past and pull one to the present. To bring them back would be to do that many times at all sorts of points in the past to not make things suspicious. And they'd all be new cubs like this one." I explained as I summoned a bottle of milk and began feeding the eager cub. I then added, "And since this wasn't a wish, this cub is mine. It gets lonely in that vessel."

A bark interrupted me from saying more – I glanced over at the large dog with grey-brown fur and blue eyes. He was cute. He sniffed me over before barking at me. My eyes almost bugged when I realized I could understand him.

"I… okay. No, I promise that I will not harm your human…" I said.

"You can understand Barker?" Aedan asked.

"He is yours – so yes. He is a very intelligent beast. Are you going to make your wishes?"

"I… can't think of anything that I need or want at the moment… so uh… no?" he looked a little lost as he glanced at his parents.

I stood with a nod, "I'll be in my coin. Either rub it or call my name and I will appear for you. Or – you can make a wish and I will hear you."

The coin in question had long been turned into a coin-keychain. The coin was inside a band of pure silver – like the coin was made of – and hung on steel loop. My master was wearing it clipped to a leather belt. One day, that amulet would be around my neck; when I was free…

I took my new cub and vanished into the coin.


I was woken from a dead sleep when my master cried in agony, "Angel!"

I poofed – not caring that I only had my sheet around me. There, on the ground, was the lifeless body of his sister-in-law and her almost dead child. I glanced at him. He said, "Can you save him?"

I nodded softly so he added, "Then I wish it – I wish for you to save my nephew."

I knelt and pulled the child into my arms – pressing a small kiss to his forehead as I worked my magic. I wasn't sure if this child would have negative side effects; but… I hoped not.

Oren opened his eyes with a gasp before falling into a sleep. Aedan looked worried, "Did it… not work?"

I saw his mother wringing her hands so I said, "It worked – I will keep him safe in my vessel until he awakes. The bad news is, this required a lot of magic. I won't be able to do more than conjure a snack for at least 6 hours. I hope you don't need me until then, Master – I can't do anything until then."

"C-call me Aedan… can you fight?" he asked. I thought for a moment and nodded slowly, "Yes – but only with a bow or my hands. Shall I get my bow?"

"Please – will you join us in fighting?" he asked.

"… Free of charge. Any who think to harm an innocent child under my care will suffer." I decided. Jinni were very family oriented.

I sent the child into my vessel – leaving him in one of the 8 unused rooms – while calling for my bow. It was a Jinni special – made of a special metal only found in in the almost desolate home-realm where Jinni came from, it could shoot arrows made of pure magical energy. If a being was impervious to fire, then it might do electrical damage or frost; if a being was made of frost, it would do fire damage. The magic was adaptive-destructive.

I tied the sheet tighter around my body – no time to change when we were in a fight for our lives. Despite popular thought, Jinn were certainly killable.

People looked at me with strange faces as we passed through the castle – even in the midst of battle, you would look oddly at the woman no one knows. We stopped in the treasury, and I took as much money as I possibly could while Aedan grabbed his family weapons and armor. Eleanor had directed me to keep as much money safe as possible. I managed to take almost all of it into an unused safe in my vault in my home.

We found Bryce in the larder and I cursed before looking at Aedan, "I'm sorry – my magic… is depleted." I had already pushed it with the money…

"Makers' Breath, what happened?" Eleanor asked her husband.

"Howes' men… found me first… almost… did me in… right there…" He groaned.

"We need to get you out of here!" Aedan said.

"I won't… survive the standing… I think…"

"Then we will avenge you," I nodded – accepting this mission as another freebie. This Howe man would die before I could ever be freed.

"Yes… once Howes' men… break through… they will… find us. You must… go…"

"I'm afraid the Teyrns' correct. Howes' men have not discovered this exit, but they do surround the Castle. It will be difficult getting past them."

A man came strolling in. I had my bow drawn, but Aedan had me lower it. The man was 6'1 with tanned skin, greying black hair, a strong jaw sporting a wonderful beard, a golden earring, brown eyes and decent armor.

I was weary, "Name, rank and friend of foe?"

"Duncan, commander of the Grey, friend. And you?"

"… Angel, Genie, and I am friend to the Couslands."

"Duncan… saved me…" Bryce coughed up some blood. I nodded and said, "Then friend. Who are your companions?"

There were two dwarves, a human and two elves with the man.

The first dwarf was introduced as Sereda Aeducan, exiled princess of Orzammar – she was 4'4 with blonde hair, blue eyes and pasty skin. She used sword and shield weapons.

The second dwarf was called Faren Brosca, Casteless of Orzammar – he was 4'6 with red hair, green eyes and pasty skin marked with an s-shaped mark on his cheek. He used daggers.

The human was introduced as Solona Amell – she was 5'7 with long black hair, icy blue eyes and tanned skin. She was a witch.

The first elf was named Alim Surana – 5'6 with cropped black hair and grey eyes. He was also a witch.

The second elf was called Darrien Tabris – 5'7 with red hair and blue eyes. He used daggers too.

Aedan had a very large sword on his back at the moment – I hadn't really stopped to notice before.

"What's a Genie?" Darrien asked.

I snorted, "Look – how about we all sit around the campfire later and talk?"

Duncan spoke in a low voice to Bryce, "What is happening here pales in comparison to the evil now loose in this world… I came here looking for a recruit and the Darkspawn demands I leave with at least one. Aedan was my first choice…"

Bryce looked pained, "I… I understand."

"What? But what about Howe?" Aedan demanded. I spoke, "There is no where he can hide from me, Master. You will get the final blow – I can't kill with my abilities, I said that – but I can certainly track him down. I already took this mission. I will not be free until the mission is complete – assuming you would use your third wish to free me, that is. I am in your care until the man pays his debt."

"… Very well, then – I accept. If only to get Oren out of here." Aedan said.

Duncan then looked to Bryce, "I will take your family to Ostagar; to tell the King what happened. Then your son will join the wardens."

"I'm not going anywhere – I'll cut down any bastard that comes through that door to give you more time." Eleanor said.

I nodded solemnly to her.

Aedan looked so pained but understanding as he said, "I love you mother – both of you."

"Then live, darling." She said kindly… and we all made our escape.