A middle aged man dressed in black snaked his way into the back of the gala venue. He had in hand a large manilla envelope. He needed to get to Lex to get his reward. The man managed to make his way into the receiving area for food when a hand grabbed him around the throat and pulled him into the shadows.
"What the hell??" the man asked as he turned to see his attacker. It was a tall blonde man, anyone who had met the Emerald Archer genie would know it was an older version of him.
"Hell?" the attacker mimicked. "You have no idea. These words that you want to give to Alexander Luthor, should have died with your ancestors." He grabbed the envelope. He closed his eyes and the envelope glowed. "They are now forever gone, you and your family will not ever know the secrets of the beckoning." He snapped his fingers and the man's face went blank. The attacker moved to stand next to him and whispered in his ear, "You have a beckoning for Luthor."
"I have a beckoning for Luthor." He repeated like a robot.
"Make sure Luthor understands that these cannot be read by anyone but his female accomplice."
"Only read by his female accomplice." He repeated.
"Good, when the package is delivered, you will remember nothing of your knowledge of the beckoning or of ever knowing Alexander Luthor." Genies father snapped his fingers and disappeared. The middle aged man shook his head confused at his location then continued on his mission.
"The guests are arriving," Tess spoke to Lex. He was adjusting his tie in the full length mirror in the office.
"Where is the LIBRARIAN!" he snapped punching the full length mirror and shattering it.
"I ….."
Lex's phone rang and he answered. His face then lit up. He smiled at Tess after hanging up his phone and grabbing her hand and leading her down to the kitchens. In the freezer he met the Librarian. He gave over the envelope and gave the instructions he was given. "She is the one to read them." He spoke. Lex nodded. He reluctantly handed the envelope over to Tess. He gave the courier a hundred and they parted ways. Lex led Tess to the hall and started to welcome his guests.
--
Chloe's limo pulled up and she was about to exit when all the doors locked. Sitting across from her in a fantastic tux and a very angry face was Ollie. He moved to her then pinned her to her seat with his body.
"You had no right to try and drug me," he hissed.
"Really? I did what I thought was best for you. What is being here going to do?" she argued back. "I have 2 wishes left! Don't think I haven't considered using them for your safety."
"Chloe," he spoke his entire demeanor changing. "You are a miracle, my miracle. I can't in good faith stay out of this. We all have destinies to fulfill, things handed to us by the fates…"
"Again with the fates?"
"Absolutely, because they brought me to you; it's not in my nature to back from a fight. This evil will continue to threaten innocent people if it's not dealt with." Her head was bowed and she couldn't look him in the face. He gently raised his gaze to meet his. He kissed her warmly. He closed his eyes and his lamp appeared as the pendant on a chainthat hung from her neck. "I'm not above compromise, though." He smiled as his other hand reached to the pendant of his lamp that dangled above her breasts. He closed his eyes and was back in his shorts. "I will stay in the lamp that sits next to your heart." He kissed her one more time and then he disappeared into the pendant.
Chloe held the pendant in her hand and sighed. She thought for sure the wine would have worked. She had one other choice and it would destroy her. She would will him to the fates for his freedom. She exited from the limo with a heavy heart and made her way up to the steps to the ball room. She rubbed her wrists, they ached at the place where Ollie's his parents gave her the "blessing."
Chloe was in awe of the ball room. Opulent didn't begin to describe it. Expensive lighting, tables, tapestries. 'Lex spared no expense' she thought. She took a champagne flute and sipped the expensive liquid as she made her rounds of the room.
The guests were the who's who of the ridiculously wealthy. She finally made it to the receiving line. Lex saw her approach and she was given a huge hug.
"Lex," she pushed him away.
"What's the matter Chloe, no warm greetings for an old friend?"
"When I see one I will be more than generous with my greetings."
"Chloe, I'm hurt!"
"Spare me. That would require you to have feelings." She rolled her eyes. "Why are you doing this Lex?" she asked going into reporter mode.
"Always looking for the exclusive eh Sullivan?" he asked.
"The press conference will start in an hour." He smiled at her and walked away with his henchwoman at his heels.
There was a cloaked figure standing in the shadows watching the entire event. His thoughts were on one thing, "No one messes with my son."
Chloe suffered through dinner and the schmoozing. She really hated that part. She had made a conscious effort to avoid holding the pendant. She would catch Lex's snitch staring at it or at her through dinner. After dinner the dancing kicked into high gear. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Chloe stood at the edge of the floor just watching, just waiting. When the song ended Lex and his Ms. Mercer made there way to the center of the dance floor.
"Ladies and Gentleman" he shouted. The room quieted. "Welcome. I'm glad to see so many familiar faces here tonight. I know a lot of you thought that I went mad when my father died. I was in unimaginable grief. The man that raised me became delusional, and when he died did it remind me of how alone I really am." He looked at Tess who had a very sour look on her face. "I am pleased to announce that I'm going to rebuild the Luthor name. Hopefully I can make amends for my fathers' lunacy. All I ask?" he snickered and signaled to someone who the closed and locked all the doors. "Is 5 million dollars from each of you." He smiled. He walked to Chloe and pulled the chain from her neck. "NO!" she shouted. He handed the charm to Tess and smirked.
"Oh yes Chloe, my time has come. I will be the most powerful force in the world." He turned to Tess. "Read the words." He spoke. She looked at Lex wearily. They had never talked about taking hostages. She was supposed to be his partner not his slave.
"I….." she tried to argue. But her voice was gone?
"Did you enjoy the drink I gave you?" he hissed ripping the folder and the pendant from her hands. He pulled his translator pen from his pocket and scanned the words. He then attached it to his blackberry. He held the pendant as her voice was playing on his black- berry. He turned to her, "Why do any of the work myself when I had someone so willing to do it for me?" he whispered in her ear. The pendant exploded and the room filled with green smoke and as quickly as it appeared it dissipated, standing before Lex was Oliver…….
Since the genie is taller, Lex had to look up at his face. Lex tried to restrain his emotions. What he really wanted to do was dance around like a football player who just scored the game winning touchdown. He only managed a smirk.
"So, you're the Emerald Archer" he spoke, genie only stared forward. Lex walked around him like a kid you just got the best Christmas present ever. Lex saw the bracelets at his wrists. 'Just like I was told, this bastard is mine, the beckoning worked.' He stood in front of the crowd and smiled. "There really is no choice for you but to hand over your money."
"What's the meaning of this?" one of the millionaires spoke.
"This is a revolution; my revolution. This thing right here is the most powerful being in the world and it's mine. I have unfathomable power at my disposal. Should I demonstrate?" he hissed. He whispered something to the genie who turned to face the crowd. He closed his eyes and in an instant all the rich people were bound in chains at the wrists and their feet and were lined up in rows. Chloe was the only one left unchained and off by herself. Ollie wouldn't look her in the eye.
"You're insane!" Someone yelled from the back.
"No name calling remember I have all the power here." Lex turned to Chloe and a chill slid down her spine. She rubbed her wrists again, they were really burning.
"Oh miss Sullivan, I can finally be rid of you." He smiled.
"Genie I wish for this trouble maker to be kept somewhere safe until I can deal with her." Lex spoke.
"As you wish," Genie spoke. He clapped his hands and Chloe screamed as the world went dark. She tripped on a cushion? Her eyes adjusted to her surroundings and seemed to be staring out of glass walls. She heard a noise and turned her head to see a shadow standing across from her. A light flicked on and standing across from her was Oliver?
"Hello blondie," he smiled.
She sat in a heap on the chaise behind her. "God I've lost my mind" she moaned as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Not hardly." He spoke kneeling in front of her.
"Is it you? Really?" she asked. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. "Well, if you're here then who's out there?"
"My father."
"What?"
"He had to have changed the beckoning some how. When Lex spoke the words, I was forced into here and he took my place."
"Where is this?"
"Well, we're stuck in my lamp." He shrugged.
"You're kidding right? But the pendant exploded?" he just smirked at her.
"My lamp is safe in your condo. I figured using a phony might slow Lex down."
"Lex? You know he's the evil?" he only nodded.
"Well you're a wealth of information."
"Chloe,"
"Don't Chloe me. I don't want to be in the dark here. I've dreaded today worrying about how I'm going to loose you…" she stood and pushed past him.
"You and me both," He moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "My mother told me what he was planning….and what he's planning is suicidal if we don't help." He whispered.
"But." She protested.
"Chloe, he can only stall for so long."
"How?" she asked.
"You have two wishes left." She gasped and turned looking into his eyes.
"No….I can't…I won't.." she began to protest, her heart breaking knowing he was right.
"Chloe, you have the power here. I can't get us out of the lamp without your wishes. My father rules over a great many people,"
"So I loose you?" she tried to look away from him.
"Chloe the good of the many over the good of the one…."
"How easily you give me up?"
"No…not easily at all….." he frowned, in all his long life her next choices would haunt him the most, "So?" he asked holding her. Chloe was defeated, unable to put her needs over the needs of Oliver's people. She nodded, still unable to meet his gaze. "Don't hide from me. I told you once you haunted my dreams. I've also dreamt about a little blond girl with curls and your smile. I'm not giving up on that." He kissed her. She pulled back and rested her head against his chest.
"Genie,I wish for us to be out of your lamp and back at the gala." She whispered. He sighed and granted her wish. They were back in the shadows. The scene had definitely changed.
Lex was sitting on a throne, Ms. Mercer was no where to be seen and the millionaire's were in a single file line to give Lex money, genie was standing with his arms crossed next to the crazy bald man.
Ollie whispered something in Chloe's ear and she shook her head adamantly. He squeezed her shoulder and she reluctantly gave in. Ollie moved away from her put his head down and then clapped his hands together. The room shook and filled with green smoke. When the smoke cleared genie was in the middle of the room.
"What the hell was that?" Lex asked.
"Nothing," he spoke grinning. "I must say Master, your wishes, surprise me." He spoke.
"You are more talkative, now?" Lex spoke.
"No, I only want you to use the full power of my power."
"Really? How is that?" Lex's interest was piqued.
"You ask for things, that are considered child's play. Don't you aspire to have more? To own more?"
"I'm listening."
"To make your world perfect, you could easily rid yourself of your enemy."
"Genie I want Superman and Lois Lane here." Lex hissed thinking about how he could finally rid himself of the super pest and his whore. Genie closed his eyes and Superman and Lois appeared in front of Lex.
"Lex!" Clark shouted moving Lois to be behind him.
"Now what genie?" Lex spoke getting excited.
"What have you wanted more than anything?" he asked smirking.
"To have all that god like power at my disposal, to rule the world." Lex smiled.
"Well then what are you waiting for?" genie challenged
"I…"
"But first, this group of people in here is a small sampling of the world's population. Do you really want to be bothered by the mundane when you can have the strength of an army of one at your disposal,and all the riches in the world?"
Lex thought about it and his eyes lit up. "Genie I wish for these people to be set free with no memory of today."
"As you wish Master." Genie closed his eyes and the room emptied with only Lois and Clark and genie, Chloe was still in the shadows.
Lex stood heading over to Clark. "You have been a pain in the ass for years; you and your do gooding. I hate that you're a freak from space and that have the adoration of the masses. You are nothing but a giant space rat…..genie" Lex shouted to his slave.
"Yes Master." he spoke pleasantly.
"I wish to have all this god like power to rule the world." He spoke pointing to Superman. Lois gasped and glared at the genie as he spoke. "As you wish."
The room flashed brightly and where Clark was, was the older version of Genie. Lois looked confused. Lex was standing in shorts only.
"My god I feel invinsib…" he spoke looking at himself until he saw the two Genies.
"What the hell?" he asked.
"Hell? Oh yes. You who wanted God like power? Superman isn't a God. You now have the power of a genie" The older Genie spoke.
Lex smiled. "Even better." He smiled.
"Not so fast," Ollie spoke. "You wanted to rule the world? Well your world is about to get really, really small." Ollie uttered some words in Aramaic and two gold bracelets appeared on his wrist.
"What is this?"
"With great power comes great responsibility." He smiled. Chloe came out of the shadows to his side. He held her to him. "You are now a genie of the lamp. The only way you will be set free is by finding the one person who knows the words to release you." he spoke grinning. Ollie turned to his father who clapped his hands and a black lamp appeared in his hands. He removed the cap and black smoke swirled around Lex until he disappeared. Ollie's dad capped the lamp and handed it to Lois.
"Have your fiancée put this is in a safe place." He spoke.
"But?" Lois asked.
"He is going to more than entertained in that bottle. He will be the slave to the people that he's caused trouble to, it's like living in a movie. He will be haunted by his past. This bottle is impenetrable. In about 500 years his lesson should be learned…" He smiled. Lois paled.
Chloe moved to stand in front of Ollie. His face was very somber.
"You are still bound to him though. He spoke the words. You are his genie."
Ollie nodded. "He's stuck in a bottle and you are a slave to him?" He tried to speak. "No, please don't speak. Don't make this any harder than it has to be. You can't be bound to him any more than you should be bound to me." She kissed him tenderly. "You were so right. I wasn't at all alive until I met you. You gave me more than I ever could have wished for." She held him then pulled back to study his face. "I will keep in my heart the dream of that little blond girl with ringlets." Her wrists were on fire.
Ollie's dad tried to interrupt her. "NO!" she shouted at him and he was silenced. "genie, Ollie…" she whispered as she rested her hands on his bare chest. " I love you," She whispered "and I'm sorry." She stepped back from him and stood tall, "Genie, I will you to the fates, you are free," She dropped to her knees from the pain in her wrists. The room went brilliantly bright and when the light returned to normal Chloe was standing alone in the room with Lois.
Lois walked next to Clark as he carried his friend into her condo. She gasped when she saw the changes. Her white and plain décor was gone. Rich colors filled the room. She laughed and cried at the same time. Clark gently set her onto her couch. She looked up at her ceiling and there was a cloud mural across it. She shook her head.
"Do you want us to stay with you?" Lois asked. Chloe only shook her head. They left quietly after promising to call her later. Chloe was empty. She couldn't believe that it was over. She had had a genie of her own. She closed her eyes and the images of him flashing behind her eyes. She tried to hold back the tears. It was like holding back the tide. She sat up and hugged a pillow as she remembered him tied to that huge bed and he allowed her to take her pleasure from him. His smiles and there were many. Plus that chin. God she loved that chin. Would their children have had the dimple? She kicked off her shoes and went to the kitchen. She opened the pantry to pull out the coffee and a ring with a note in it fell. She slid the ring off and read the note:
'If I could have just one wish,
I would wish to wake up everyday
to the sound of your breath on my neck,
the warmth of your lips on my cheek,
the touch of your fingers on my skin,
and the feel of your heart beating with mine...
Knowing that I could never find that feeling
with anyone other than you.
* Courtney Kuchta *
If you are reading this than I have left you, and believe me it wasn't by choice. In my four hundred plus years, I have not found what you have given me in a week. I dare say it's you love with the magic, not I. Live longer, love stronger. I have, I do. I love you Chloe. Remember you are the sunshine that brightens and warms me for all the rest of my days.
Your Genie,
Oliver
Her world collapsed. It's as if the very air she breathed was sucked out of her lungs. She could actually feel her heart shatter into a million pieces. Never again would she set eyes on those muscles, kiss those lips, hold his strong hand in hers or be bathed in the warmth of his body after hours of glorious love making. She felt as if she had just been left on an island all alone with no one to rescue her. She then got angry, all those soft words he spoke to her, now seemed like empty promises. She stood and took the ring and threw it across the room, she never heard the ping. She turned to see Ollie's mother standing in her living room holding her ring.
"Hello, Chloe." She spoke softly. Chloe only gristled at her.
"You gave my son to the fates….."
"Do you have a point or are you here to make me feel worse. I'm really not in the mood for this." She wiped her tears away and marched toward her bedroom.
"Do you want to see him again?" she asked, that stopped Chloe cold.
"Pleases don't toy with me." She begged.
"I'm not toying with you. I just had to be certain that your intentions for my son are pure."
Chloe stopped and glared at the woman. "My intentions? You question my intentions when I let go of theee most important person in my life?"
"Yes I do question your intentions. In my long life I have never seen my son act like this. You worked through the pain of the binding to release him."
"Binding?"
"The blessing my husband and I gave you was to bind him to you…." She sighed.
The realization of her words hitting her like a ton of bricks. His mother smiled and tossed her the ring. "Where is he?" Chloe pleaded.
"You hold on tight to that….." she smiled and disappeared.
"Where the hell is he?" she yelled. She raged for a little while longer and then marched into her bedroom she stripped out of her dress and went to her closet to pack a bag. She got on her computer and booked a flight to the place she had always wanted to go. She couldn't stay in the place that was filled with his memory and the smell of him. (which is very similar to Calvin Klein's Obsession for men ---WOW! Purrrrrrrr) She dressed in jeans t-shirt and running shoes, grabbed her bag and a coat and the left in a hurry.
"Are you sure you want to give up the lamp?" his father asked. Oliver nodded without hesitation. His father smiled than snapped his fingers and the lamp appeared in his hand. His dad then dropped it on the ground and it shattered. His dad snapped his fingers and it was whole in his hands. "You are free, from the lamp my son. The magic you know is your heritage and is very much a part of you…."
"I understand," he sighed as he packed a bag of things he would need.
"I took the opportunity to create the documents that you will need in that realm." His dad handed him an envelope with a driver's license, pass port , birth certificate, and a financial portfolio of one business man Oliver Queen. "You my son will be well off to support your family. I fully expect grandchildren."
"What about her mortality?"
His dad handed him an ornately decorated box. "Inside is the secret of the ages for our people. If she drinks of this her aging will synch with yours." His dad smiled. Oliver hugged his father and thanked him. He then went to seek out his mother who was sitting in her solar.
"Genie," she spoke. He knelt at her feet. "You are free of your lamp?" she sighed. She then smiled at him. "Love her well, I want grandkids." She teased. He hugged her and kissed her cheek. He snapped his fingers and he and all his things were back at her condo. He felt the emptiness and her grief. He wandered into her bedroom to see her clothes tossed onto the bed. He checked her computer screen and saw where she went. He smiled as he thought about how he was going to reunite with her. He closed his eyes and focused on her. He closed his eyes and disappeared.
Chloe opened the door to the suite at the Ritz. It had been her dream to stay there once, and grieving for a man who was free to come to her and hadn't was the greatest way to spend the money. She sighed as she shut and locked the door behind herself. She tossed her bag onto the leather couch along with her coat. She went to the large window to stare at the view. It was late, she had an article to write, but who the hell would believe the story about the gala. She went to go and check out the bedroom and gasped at what she found.
"Every time you see me like this all you do is stare? Do you find my body so repulsive?" the voice purred. Lying naked sprawled across her bed was one Ollie, the genie. She couldn't move. He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. "Aren't you pleased to see me?" he asked. She couldn't move. He slid off the bed and she couldn't take her eyes of the play of his muscles. He closed her mouth with a brush of his finger. She swallowed hard.
"W-w-w- where were you? Your mother said we were bound together and you weren't at the condo. I thought you didn't want me?" she whispered.
He kissed her with everything he had. He took her hand in his and placed it over his heart. "I had no idea. I was getting released from my bond to the lamp." He moved her hand with his down to his arousal. He leaned and whispered in her ear, "Does that feel like I don't want you?" he kissed her ear. He pulled away from her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Your every wish, without limit, is my command."
She sighed and fell to her knees. "I thought I lost you," She cried. He knelt down with her and with every movement she was accidentally brushing against him. He held her. He then sat and then pulled her onto his lap. He let her grieve for what she thought she lost.
He kissed her temple when her tears finally slowed. He stood with her and put her on the bed. He kissed her cheeks and then very slowly undressed her kissing every inch of skin he exposed. "I repeat, your wishes are a pleasure for me to grant you." He smiled hungrily.
By the time she was done "wishing" it was early the next morning. She was lying atop his chest and placing lazy kisses on his chin. "So you won't leave me?" she asked.
"Never."
"And I can ask for anything I want?"
"Anything."
"Can you survive in the world? You won't feel like your stuck with me?"
"I am not stuck and as for surviving, my father made sure I was well prepared to care for you and our family?"
"Family?"
"Oh yeah , both my parents want to be grandparents." He smiled as he reversed their positions. "What do you think? I for one wouldn't want to disappoint them." he then reclaimed her mouth as he took possession of her body. ………….