Page 53 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“I’m going to destroy it.”

Even I was stunned.

Jasmine looked like she was going to cry. But her body tightened, and that flinty look solidified in her eyes again. “You hate him that much?”

“It’s not so much about hate as cleaning up loose ends.”

“I don’t understand.”

“And I don’t feel the urge to explain myself. Move your arm so I can take the lamp.”

Swallowing hard, Jasmine stepped backward.

“I can’t touch it,” Cardia grumbled. “You need to place it inside the bag.”

“Why can’t you touch it? You created it. You trapped him there.”

“Just do as I ask!”

As if well-chastened, Jasmine scurried over to the lamp and lifted it.

“Yes,” Cardia breathed. “Soon, this will be over.” She rushed toward Jasmine.

Still hidden, I stepped close enough to be within the mirror’s reflection.

Jasmine shut her eyes and whispered. Her hands twitched at her sides, and her face softened. “Yes . . .” When she opened her eyes, a sly smile rose on her face. “As the mirror reflects my power . . .”

Cardia froze. Her gaze darted around and landed on me when she shouldn’t have been able to see me.

“You’re not inside the lamp,” she barked, reeling backward, yet remaining within view of the mirror.

“Witch’s curse, in this hour,” Jasmine shouted, her words picking up speed. “Reverse its might, let it fly.”

“No,” Cardia gasped, her image starting to waver. “No!” She spun around and leaped.

“Liberate the genie, and watch her sigh,” Jasmine cried out, her hands lifting and power erupting from her fingers.

Cardia dove toward the ground and out of the mirror’s sight, and Jasmine’s power hit the mirror and reflected in every direction.

With a shaky smile, Cardia rose to her feet. “Too late, my foolish seamstress. You should’ve stuck to mediocre embroidery.” She lifted her arms and gathered power.

Someone burst from the maze and rushed forward.

I pulled Jasmine to the side as Viscar shoved Cardia into the path of the last bit of Jasmine’s power leaving the mirror.

A pop, and Cardia disappeared.

The lamp shifted back into its original form. It glowed for a moment before the light went out.

33

JASMINE

“When did you learn a spell like that?” Viscar asked me.

We sat in one of the first-floor parlors, me and Boshun on the sofa, holding hands, and Viscar in a chair opposite us.

As for the lamp, it disappeared not long after Cardia was trapped within it, and we assumed it had found its way back to the treasure room. If we were lucky, it was buried under a pile of jewels or silk and would never be found again.

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