Page 25 of MidKnight
The bastard transformed into a troll, straining at his chains, growing larger and larger; the spelled chains grew with him and held, unlike all the other magic of Wyle’s that had gone to shite.
Quinn simply leaned back against the wall again and watched as Abbas grew so large the chains started to choke him out and he was forced to return to human form.
Then my spy master continued our mental conversation.I don’t know that any one fairy has that kind of power.
A group?
Maybe. His thoughts haven’t gone to anyone specific yet. And that’s another thing. Fairies like to gloat. I’d have expected to hear his thoughts. Hear some smug sort of shite. But other than when I had those elven chains on, he’s shuffling—constantly shuffling g his thoughts. Who can control their mind that well?
But the shapeshifting—
Djinn can shift, too. And at least a djinni would know the customs of Cheryn. It would be easier to fit in,Quinn argued.
I thought djinn could shapeshift, but that most of their power came from wishes.
Declan’s researching it right now. And you’re correct.
So, he can’t be a djinni,I pointed at Abbas.
Not necessarily. At least, Dec doesn’t think so.
Why not?
Dec thinks it depends on the wish. Djinn are slaves to wishes. Any wish short of death is fair game. If a djinni grants you a wish, he has to fulfill it. He has to do anything to see it fulfilled.
You think that’s what’s going on?
Quinn shrugged.I just punch people, Dove.
Well, you haven’t punched any information out of him.
Quinn glared at me.I haven’t really tried yet.
Abbas interrupted our silent argument. He transformed into a giant spider, his limbs growing thinner. The magic in the chains held and transformed with him. But that didn’t stop me from shuddering as a brown spider with black spots stared at me with six beady eyes.
Sard!
Quinn tugged me to the side just as the spider spit. A white mass of web and smoking venom landed on the wall.
What in the sarding hell—
Abbas’ spider form clicked its pincers and turned his head to try again.
Quinn’s sword sliced off two of Abbas’ legs in one fell swoop.
Abbas transformed back into a human, screaming and gnashing his teeth. His left hand was nothing more than a stump. A human hand lay on the ground, a ring on each finger. Next to it, several toes rolled. The prisoner roared and then his body dissolved into black smoke. The chains couldn’t hold smoke.
My heart beat out of my chest. Fear and adrenaline swamped me, and the smoke whirled in front of my face.
Only one magical race could dissolve into black smoke. Not a shapeshifter. Not a fairy. They all had to maintain their bodies somehow. Only one creature could become an element.
Pure djinn.
Declan was right.
There were only about eight pure djinn left in the world. Sultan Raj had most of his competition killed.
I watched the black smoke condense and start to solidify into an entirely new form, one that wasn’t Abbas.
