THE BEST JEANNIE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A/N: I am struggling with this fic simply because of my numerous projects, but I will try to update it as often as I possibly can! Whoever is still reading this is awesome for sticking with it and with me.
I also want to thank those who gave me an "author alert" on my works. That means the world to me, and I will try to be worthy of your respect and kindness in alerting me.
This chapter picks up right at the end of the last one.
Previously: Jeannie II changed into her true form and said, "I am a genie, and I will give you everything your greedy little heart wants!"
Jaffey gasped, but then let a cruel smile touch his small lips. He had been given the greatest opportunity to gain what he wanted most, and he would not waste one moment!
Jeannie II knew she was risking everything with this mortal. He looked like the utmost opportunist and would probably stop at nothing to gain what he sought. Yes, she knew his type, since she mirrored this Jaffey in every respect. She had to make her pitch sound good to his ears but she had to also guard herself so that he didn't seize control of her before she attained Hadji's position.
Forcing herself to sound demure and appreciative, Jeannie the Second bowed low and told the Prime Minister, "You have saved me from the pit of despair, and I will reward you with riches beyond your wildest imagination!"
Jaffey peered at the woman. He was certainly used to genies; they were common in certain areas nearby, but he wondered what she would gain by serving him. Then again, genies weren't particularly bright, in his estimation. After all, who'd want to be in the position of a servant when there was so much to gain by being in complete control? If this obviously unbalanced woman wanted to give him all of the riches, including the Sultan's seat of power, who was he to stop her?
"What riches would you give me?" He asked. "For example, would you be able to give me the woman I want above all others?"
Jeannie II said, "Let's make a deal, you and I. First, we enter the cave…then, you get the woman."
Jaffey rubbed his bony hands together. "When everyone is asleep." He told her.
Jeannie II frowned. She was not accustomed to waiting. "Well, if you want everything now, I can arrange for them to fall asleep a little early," she suggested.
But the evil Prime Minister shook his head. "That will not do," he said. "If they all fall asleep at the same time, it will look too suspicious. But, if we wait, then we will be able to leave when we please and locate this cave at our leisure."
Jeannie's sister had to admit: he wasn't as dumb as greedy humans tended to be. "Ahh…good show," she said. "Now, you call for me, and I will appear. And, I will take you to the entrance."
Jaffey said, "Yes, yes! We will meet at midnight, and then we will go."
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Jalisha pounded her huge pink pillow in frustration. Her father was being so unreasonable, in her opinion! First, she was betrothed to Jaffey, whom she'd never trusted; then, she was to be given to this Major Anthony Nelson, simply because he was wealthy and had servants. She was determined; she would marry for love, if it was the last act she did!
But how, she wondered, would she escape this time? The princess bounded out of bed and went to the open square that was in her room. She leaned over it slightly, and she saw that, this time, there were guards walking back and forth on the ground below.
She then ran to where she stored her clothes and peeled back her curtain. But all she saw was one change of clothing. Disguising herself, then, was not an option. Jalisha thought a moment; then, she considered the only possible option to avoid being married to the fair haired stranger. Opening the door, she saw the two, imposing guards.
"Your Highness," they greeted.
"Guards," Jalisha said. "I wish to see the prisoners. May I be permitted to see them?"
One of the guards told her, "You may, but I must accompany you."
"Of course," the princess said. She and the guard went toward the quarters where Mahrouf and her future husband were…they shared one room. Peering inside, Jalisha witnessed the two men sleeping in their individual beds; Mahrouf's was on the right, and Lord Nelson's was on the left. She went over briefly to Mahrouf's bed, with its enormous blue pillows, and stroked his cheek. He shifted slightly in his sleep but did not murmur. Tony was tossing and turning. She paused for a moment to study him.
He was handsome, she realized, and he had a square jaw; something that she actually liked on a man. He also was, like her, spirited, whereas Mahrouf was a little quieter. She didn't mind. He was a nice contrast, and opposites were said to attract, were they not?
Lord Nelson's pillow—a green one, had fallen off of his bed. Jalisha placed it on top of it. He flung one arm over his pillow, letting loose a soft, "Jeannie…Jeannie."
So, he liked Mahrouf's magic cousin, did he? That made Jalisha very happy. If he didn't have designs on her, he would more than likely continue to object to her hand in marriage—she did not know the meaning of the strange word "hey", but it had sounded like an objection-and her father would have to let him go. Or would her father? The Sultan, while fair-minded, was also a traditionalist, and he was known for his sometimes awful temper. He would not look favorably on Lord Nelson's refusal kindly, and her father could sentence him to death, or the dungeons forever, where the fair skinned man would long for death. Neither fate was acceptable.
Looking at the table between the two men, Jalisha spied one chance. She knew Mahrouf would not be pleased, but…she crept up to the table and grabbed Jeannie's bottle. Taking it outside the room, and going to her own chambers where the guards were only, thankfully, pacing outside, Jalisha thought a moment, saying, "how does this work?"
Remembering the stories she'd been told about a genie's talisman, Jalisha said in a bold voice, "Bottle, I command you!"
Then, she opened it.
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Jaffey asked Jeannie's sister, "Can you tell from this distance if they are asleep?"
"Yes," Jeannie II said. After a moment, she confirmed, "They are sleeping, though the princess is not."
"Can you put her to sleep?" He asked.
Jeannie II used her powers to see if Jalisha was alone, for that is the way her particular talent worked for enacting a powerful sleeping spell. But, horror of horrors, the princess was not alone! Her square sister was near her!
Jaffey could tell that his genie was not pleased about something. Perhaps the princess was up to her usual hijinks! "What is it?" He asked.
"My sister is there! Blast her!" Jeannie II said.
Jaffey was enraged, but he forced himself to come up with a plan that he would fill his genie in on. Step one, they had to leave now. "We will put my plan into operation," he said. "Take us as close to the cave as you can, now!"
Jeannie II blinked, and they vanished.
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Jeannie the first's pink smoke grew as she came outside the bottle and then Jalisha saw the magic maiden materialize.
"Master…are you...?" Jeannie stopped, looking at Jalisha. "Princess, what are you doing?"
"I am sorry, magic one, for you, and for the man I wish to marry," Jalisha said, "but Mahrouf would never use your talents to their fullest potential, and I want to marry the man I choose! So, it occurs to me that I must gain your magic for my own purposes."
Jeannie thought about this, and she did not like where this could go. Whenever she and Major Nelson had an argument, courtesy of his lying about something, that just led to more trouble, and then more trouble and then she usually had to get them out of it. Major Nelson usually apologized for (at least to a point,) but neither of them were happy afterwards.
"Master, thou must not do this!" Jeannie implored.
"What choice do I have?" Jalisha wailed. "I can think of no other! I must use your magic; then, I will return you."
Jeannie saw the agitation in the other woman's eyes. She could only think of one thing to do. Choosing her words carefully, she asked the princess, "You love Mahrouf very much, do you not?"
"More than my own life," Jalisha said truthfully.
"Then you must tell him what you are planning," Jeannie advised. "If you lie, it will get you into terrible trouble."
"I cannot, for he will try to stop me," Jalisha said.
"Master, listen to me," Jeannie implored. "I have seen the disastrous results that come from lying and betrayal on both sides, genie to master; master to genie, and it never ends well. Your beloved will not take this favorably, believe me! You must wake him, and tell him what you are planning!"
Jalisha was indecisive. She knew her genie was right, but she was so desperate to work things to her design if that was the only way she and Mahrouf could be happy. Tears of guilt ran down her face.
Could she face Mahrouf? She wondered. Did she dare tell him what she'd done, what she was about to do?
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Tony stirred, waking up slowly. He yawned, looking briefly at the table beside Mahrouf. Not disturbing his "roommate", the astronaut stretched and rose…and then, he paused.
Jeannie's bottle was gone! Tony panicked, realizing he had no idea where her bottle was! He walked over to the massive, wooden door and opened it, causing Mahrouf to wake.
"What is going on, Lord Nelson?" He asked tiredly.
Tony waved him off, and spoke to a guard. "Did you see a purple bottle here recently?" The astronaut wanted to know.
"Yes, my lord," the guard answered. "The princess returned to her quarters not long ago with such a treasure. Was it not hers?"
Both former masters answered, "No, it was mine!" Mahrouf glared at Tony, and Tony returned the gesture. Both men issued an unspoken challenge about their genie, Jalisha's theft momentarily forgotten: Mine!
Despite their rivalry, Mahrouf and Tony knew they had to work together to get the bottle from the princess. "Okay, so…Rouf, we'll go to her room and get the bottle, and then Jeannie will choose!"
"It is acceptable," Mahrouf agreed. Besides, I wish to know why Jalisha would do such a thing!
Their plans in place, Tony and Mahrouf went to the princess's chambers.
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"I cannot stop now, not when I am really doing this for us," Jalisha said, blinking back her tears. "When I have secured my future husband, I will tell him everything."
Jeannie sighed, saying, "Very well, master." She was totally disappointed, but she forced herself to concentrate on the business at hand. "What is it you wish?"
"Can you make Mahourf fall in love with me so that he will want to do something to win me, or make my father change his mind?" Jalisha asked.
Jeannie thought about that. She had wanted to get Major Nelson to love her, but she also knew about the consequences of invoking the forbidden spell. Hadji would be furious, and she could lose her genie power. Besides, her father had told her once that love spells clouded men's minds. If Tony Nelson was to marry her, she wanted him to do so without any forcing on her part. Seeing Jalisha's expectant look, Jeannie knew where her duty lay.
Knowing Jalisha had not commanded anything, Jeannie told her, "I am able to do both things easily, master; however, you might not like either one as much. Love spells are unpredictable, and tend to make one obsessive, and your father had been tempted by Jaffey to change his mind."
Jalisha was beyond angry. "Jaffey!" She exclaimed. "Uhhh! He is the spawn of the evil one, and a heartless jackal! I should have known!"
"So, perhaps we should forget the whole thing, master," Jeannie suggested.
Thinking of a plan, Jalisha said, "No, no, wait! I am reminded of the laws of my people. If I can secure my freedom by buying it out from under my father, I can become Sultan temporarily so that I can change the law and marry my beloved."
"You cannot do that now?" Jeannie asked, curious.
Jalisha shook her head. "No, I cannot," she responded, "because I do not have riches of my own. They are my father's, and may only be given to me when I wed."
"Like a dowry?" Jeannie asked.
"Yes," Jalisha said. Her genie thought a moment, then she smiled.
"I know where there is an abundance of treasure," Jeannie said.
Jalisha's brows drew together, as she asked, "But why can you not bring the treasure here?"
"Because I cannot use my magic inside the cave," Jeannie said. "It is protected by a powerful spell of some kind. But I know that mortals can break the mystic energy and retrieve it."
Jalisha's mind urged caution. If the cave was protected by magic, there might be a powerful spirit that would not welcome any beings trying to get the riches therein. But, what choice did she have?
She decided she would see for herself, and if she could, take enough of the treasure to win Mahrouf. "Take me as far as you are able, I command it!" She said with authority.
Jeannie folded her arms, but just as she was about to blink, Tony and Mahrouf ran inside. She knew she had to obey Jalisha, but there was no reason that she couldn't bring her former masters to the cave's entrance, too. Relieved, Jeannie blinked.
Moments later, all four were at the entrance of the cave.
"You brought them?!" Jalisha cried angrily.
"Why did you engage in this treachery?" Mahrouf asked his beloved, his voice full of anguish.
Jalisha was so sorry for what she had done that she enveloped Mahrouf in a warm embrace, temporarily leaving her bottle unattended. Mahrouf pushed her away, albeit reluctantly. Jalisha watched him as he walked away from her.
"Jeannie, what is this?" Tony wondered, using his "you're going to be in trouble" voice.
Jeannie tried to open her mouth, but she couldn't. "Jeannie…?" Tony asked, softer now. The magic maiden blinked, and then, all three mortals were in chains, and their mouths were bound. A foul wind spewed forth.
From out of the howling wind, a voice said, "Ahhh…I have guests! You three will join me?" Jaffey emerged, saying to the princess, "So dangerous of you my future bride to, ahem, leave this lying around." In his hand, he held Jeannie's bottle.
Jeannie II and Jaffey grinned evilly. "Now, you will be our prisoners," Jaffey said. He nodded at Jeannie II, who blinked, and materialized some guards who were loyal to the Prime Minister.
Jeannie I was unable to move or think. As the mortals realized their perilous predicament, all three wondered what would happen next.