Page 5 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“I need you to find a different sort of lamp than the ones in my shop.” She described it, but frankly, I wasn’t sure why a dented copper lamp about the size of my head would be cherished in a palace, but what did I know? “You’ll have to sneak into the king’s treasure room to find it.”

“Sneak into a treasure room?” I lifted my eyebrows.

“It’s hidden in plain sight, but it’s quite special. Only one with a pure heart can touch it.”

“Me? Pure of heart?”

“I know, right?” Her low chuckle grated down my spine.

“Forget it,” I said stiffly. “If the guards catch me anywhere near a treasure room, they’ll drag me to the dungeon and lock me up forever.”

The growl she released could turn liquid to stone. “I cannot believe you’d skip the chance to help your sister.”

Growling myself, I rose to my shaky feet. “You’d hold something like that over me?”

“I understand one of the healers is quite kind. Curing your sister would not only be a simple task but a welcome one for her. Geradine in particular loves doing charity work. But, if you feel this task is too much, then—”

“No!” I lowered my voice and slumped back in the chair. “No. I’ll do it.” I had no idea how, but what choice did I have? “If you meet my demands.”

“Very well.” Her ghoulish smile made gooseflesh skitter across my skin. “I thought you’d see this my way.” Standing, she rounded the desk and latched onto my shoulder, tightening her fingers until I winced. “If you try to cheat me in this, I promise I’ll find you. Those who disobey me have been known to find themselves wandering in the ether.”

“No,” I gasped. “Please don’t send me there.” Those incarcerated in the magical ether never returned. They were not only doomed to remain forever in the mist realm, but rumor also said they suffered something even worse than death.

“You have no need to worry if you do as I ask.” Her fingers loosened on my shoulder, though she didn’t remove her hand.

“I’ll get you the lamp. I promise.” Tears stung my eyes, and I wiped them away.

“None of that. You’re a pure soul. I’m confident you’ll take care of this matter for me. Steal the lamp and bring it to me as quickly as you can.” Stepping back, she clapped her hands. “Come. If we’re going to make you a full wardrobe, we must get started immediately. You’ll do most of the work, and I expect you to also complete your regular tasks here in the shop.”

Of course.

“You’ll also send enough food and fuel for my sister for at least a week?” I asked, sticking to my original demand. I suspected my task was going to be much more complex than hers.

Her sharp gaze remained on my face. “I’ll make sure it’s delivered before you leave.”

“Then we have a deal.”

3

BOSHUN

Istomped around inside my plush, though cramped, genie quarters. When I was first trapped here long ago by an evil witch, I resigned myself to my fate. It beat what she offered as an alternative.

It was attractive enough inside the lamp. Except for my freedom, I could magic whatever I needed.

Silk bedding. A soft mattress. An enormous tub that stayed full and at the right temperature. All the food I could imagine eating. I even had a small room where I could work out—something I found myself doing a lot to alleviate my boredom.

But one year turned into another, and I lost count of how many passed while I waited to be summoned to grant wishes. I read everything in the magical library, the only reason I could keep up with the world flowing outside my lamp, and I continued to hope I’d find a way to break this curse.

In the Guide to Becoming: A Genie’s Handbook, a small pamphlet I found stuffed behind a bunch of boring treatises on the bookshelf, it said a genie’s curse could be broken, though it didn’t say how.

The odds of me finding a way free were practically nil. I was summoned regularly, but each time I left the lamp and tried to research how I could escape, I found nothing worth trying.

At this rate, I’d remain here for eternity. A genie was granted endless life.

Rising from my plush bed, I started pacing. The blankets and sheets magically cleaned themselves, and by the time I’d walked back and forth twice, it looked like a housekeeper had visited and set the place right.

I sighed and went to the gym to lift weights. One. Two. Three reps, followed by others. A fine sweat broke out on my brow, and when I paused, that also magically disappeared, as if the interior of the lamp had a cleaning fetish.

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