Chloe came home to find her condo lit by soft lamp light. She set her stuff down and looked around. The couch was covered with green silk and green silk tapestries hung from her wall. She took another step and a chill ran over her. She looked at her clothes and her work attire was gone and she was in a green silk negligee, she just shook her head.
"Where are you?" she spoke looking around. He stepped out of the bathroom wearing green silk sleep shorts. He came up to her and hugged her tightly.
"I felt your distress today, so I thought you might like dinner and a massage."
"Ohh sounds wonderful." She smiled. She looked up into his eyes, raised herself on her toes, and kissed him. "So what's for dinner?" she smiled. He led her into the kitchen and what she saw made her melt.
"Well, I cooked; salmon and rice, fully loaded baked potatoes, Caesar salad and we have a shrimp cocktail. Plus dessert; passion fruit and whipped cream."
"You cooked?"
He nodded, "One of my masters around 150 years ago insisted that I learn how to cook. She was interesting; kind like your Martha Stewart of today. She was very molly homemaker. I'm not totally spoiled, ya know." He winked at her.
"It smells delicious" she sighed. She helped him carry food to the elegant table. He made a bottle of wine appear. They sat and ate and chatted. She loved these moments most of all.
After dinner he cleaned the mess up in a blink. She just shook her head. He made a massage table appear in her living room. She squealed as he lifted her onto the table, but before he could force the issue for her to lie on her stomach, she put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him to stand with his back to her in between her legs. She smiled as she began to massage his shoulders. He took a deep breath and let it go.
"You realize that this wasn't the purpose of this?" He sighed again. She worked her magic all the way down his back. She then massaged each arm taking a break and tracing the outline of his tattoos. She replaced her hands with her lips and starting kissing his lower back all the way up to his shoulders. He spun her around and held her face in his hands and kissed her demandingly. She pulled back and smirked.
"Brat,"
"Wench," he teased.
He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. She laughed as he plopped her onto the bed.
"I talked to my father today." He spoke.
"And?"
"My parents want to meet you." He spoke trying to gauge her reaction.
"W…why?" she asked sitting up facing away from him.
"He said that he had things to discuss with you." He moved to kneel in front of her. She sighed heavily and was quiet for several minutes.
"So, what's it like where you're from?"
"Paradise," he smiled. "The clothes are well, for the men, like this." He snapped his fingers and he was in a black linen suit and he was wearing the equivalent of deck shoes. "And the women wear this." He smiled pulling her up. She wore a green silk sarong wrap skirt and a short sleeve crop top. It was very light and airy. There were many gold bracelets on each wrist. She blushed.
"Chloe," he whispered. "I understand your reluctance, I do, but with this evil coming, they may be able to help, if,"
"Don't say it." She dropped her head, "Please don't say it. I can't even imagine it."
"Then do you want to tell me now what upset you today?" he spoke raising her gaze to meet his. She closed her eyes.
"Busted!"
"Yes you are,"
"An enemy of Clarks' is back. He is the epitome of great evil. He has been missing for 3 years. His president of public relations made the announcement and she was acting strange. I've been in the paper business long enough to know that coincidences don't exist."
"And?"
"There is going to be a gala for his return on Friday." She sighed. "If I burn my wishes, I loose you to your next Master. If I don't and wait and he finds the beckoning, I loose you anyway."
"All the more reason for you to meet my parents." He argued. "If this enemy of your friend is the great evil, than, I am out of time." He spoke holding her, smiling weakly at her. She nodded finally giving in. He kissed her cheek and in a moment they were gone from the condo.
--
The sun was setting over the palace as he held her hand in his and led her through one of the millions of doors that lead into the great building. She clung to him as if her life depended on it. She took in the sights as they made there way down the hall. Rich colored tapestries and paintings covered the walls. He led her into a room which turned out to be the throne room. She wasn't sure what she was expecting but seeing the elder genie couple who really didn't look much older than Oliver sitting at a table playing chess, wasn't it.
"Dad?" he asked. The elder genie looked up and smiled. She could see where Oliver got his good looks. He stood and came to the couple as did the woman.
"Mom, Dad this is Chloe." He smiled. They hugged her warmly.
"So you young lady are the one that has captivated my son?" His mother spoke.
"Yes ma'am" she blushed.
"I like her and what did you say she called you? Oliver?" she asked, he nodded.
"Our language has no real English equivalence." She smiled. "Oliver is nice."
"Dad, Chloe has news regarding the great evil."
"Go to the vault and grab that package I requested earlier." He spoke. Oliver nodded. He tried to pull his hand away from Chloe and she clung to it tighter.
"You'll be fine, I'll be back soon." He kissed her and then disappeared.
"Please sit," his mother spoke directing Chloe to a huge chaise. She sat and Oliver's father and mother sat in chairs across from her.
"So…do you love my son?" His mother asked.
"Wow." Her eyes shot to half the size of her face and she blushed furiously.
"Easy wife," His father cautioned. "She's very protective of her son." He smiled.
"Me too, and I'm worried, He thinks that he's out of time. That the great evil is very close."
"What do you know?" he asked. She relayed everything to him and he sat in silence.
"Who would or could know the beckoning?" she asked.
"The historians were the guardians of our peoples' secrets; most of them died centuries ago. The words were stricken from any books or scrolls. So if a historian lived, than a descendant may know the words."
"Is there anything that can circumvent them?" she spoke with increasing fear. "He told me the story of his great, well you know, up there grandfather. His love used her fourth wish to will him to the fates, to set him free. Is that the only way?"
"Would you make that sacrifice for him?" his mother asked.
"Ma'am I would rather he be free than live a life of hell." She spoke choking up. "I have 2 wishes left," She spoke.
"Easy Chloe." His father spoke. "I've searched the archives for the past two nights. I have a plan and if Oliver found out he would probably punch me in the nose." Chloe looked at the door. "He can't get back in here until I allow it. My wife asked the question that will be the key to the solution, do you love my son?"
"I haven't ever had any luck with giving away my heart." She stood and paced. "He's given me passion and romance back. If that's love, than yeah, but I just don't know. I mean I know that I would put his happiness well before my own." Tears were falling down her face. His mother handed her a silk handkerchief.
"That's what we needed to hear. Alright then, here is what we think will help." She spoke. After 20minutes Chloe felt better about the situation. His father took her hand in his and turned it over palm up. He traced an intricate design on her inner wrist and it burned a little. Then his mother did the other wrist. She looked at her wrists and the patterns weren't visible. "A blessing for you," she smiled knowingly.
"And if all else fails I will release him to the fates," she frowned. The couple just looked at each other. Oliver entered the room and handed them a box.
"Thank you son" his father smiled.
"You have a remarkable Master here."
"I agree." He smiled
"Thank you." Chloe spoke hugging them both. She turned to Oliver and winked.
"Everything alright?" he asked he looked at his parents and smiled, she nodded.
"Be safe son." His father spoke. He nodded and took Chloe back to her condo.
"So now what?" his mother asked holding her husband.
"We need to be at that gala. This Lex Luthor will have to learn the hard way that you don't mess with a genie's son." Olivers' father spoke and the furniture rattled.
"And if Oliver finds out what we did?"
"Well it wouldn't be the first time he's been angry with us." He smiled.
--
"So you and my parents had a good talk?"
She nodded. He was sitting sprawled out across the couch, she was laying on top of his body. There was a huge bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. The movie, The Crow, was on.
"You better just say what's on your mind. You're worrying is giving me a headache" He spoke as he ran his fingers lazily through her hair.
"You aren't gonna like it, just hear me out.." she spoke looking up at him. He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead.
"The answer is no." he spoke.
"But?"
"No, no way and no how am I going to stay home while you go to the gala on Friday but I think you're cute for trying." He kissed her forehead again.
"But?"
"That's all you got for me is but? I'm really disappointed. There are no buts here Chloe. You would feel better if I was here right? I would be climbing the walls worrying about you. I have never avoided a conflict ever and I'm not going to start now. It's not a forgone conclusion that these people will even find the beckoning. We may be worried for nothing."
"How glass half full of you," She snarked while crossing her arms over her chest in frustration.
"Chloe come on, do you really want to spend these next two days worrying about what may or may not happen? Personally, I would rather just enjoy the presence of your company." She could here the mirth in his voice.
"What about the,'I think I'm out of time' guy? Where'd he go?"
"He got distracted by a very smart, sexy, and snarky blond laying across his body." His voice dropped an octave and goose flesh raced down her body. She refused to look at him but he could tell she was smiling.
"Brat…"
"Wench," he laughed as she rolled over onto her stomach to face him.
"Ollie?" she spoke tears filling her eyes.
"If you finish that sentence and I will be forced to get even. Don't you dare say your goodbyes to me." She put her head down and he could feel her tears sting his chest. He sat up and pulled her up with him.
"My grandfather used to say, live longer, love stronger," he kissed her tears as they fell, "He lived almost 15 centuries and had only one love in his long life. He said finding her was like having sunshine all the time. You're my sunshine Chloe. What ever happens don't you ever forget that." She sniffed and then kissed him as if trying to steal his very soul. The movie forgotten he sifted them to the bedroom to show her exactly what he meant.