Page 26 of Releasing the Djinn
Blood rushed to Nadira's face at the djinn's nonchalant yet commanding attitude about her demand. "I mean it, Idrak. I will not sleep with you again."
"I mean it as well, my lovely Nadira, you are vastly mistaken," he replied almost in a sing-song manner, which made it even more ludicrous sounding with his baritone voice. Stepping up onto the tufted platform that held the ridiculously large bed, Idrak turned and sat cross-legged onto the bed with a lithe type of grace she did not expect. "I plan on having you as many times as your body will withstand it, wife."
"And if you do it will be rape," she threw the words venomously at the creature, hoping to hit his sense of shame.
Unabashed by her words, he rested his elbow onto one knee before resting his chin in the palm of his hand. "But as you know, when it comes to you, my darling, I have no reservations about that, because you and I both know your protests will soon turn into moans for more—just as they did the last time."
Outraged, her words sputtered on her lips as she backed away nearly to the bedroom door. "I did not."
Idrak threw his head back with a laugh. "I can still feel the sweet sting of your nails digging into my skin as I rode your soft body to completion."
Shaking her head, Nadira groped for the door handle behind her. "Stop it! I don't want to remember that night."
"Not to worry," he gave her a large toothy smile like the devil he was. "I'll simply have you focus on tonight and the next night and the night after that."
Anger buttressed by acute embarrassment flowed through her veins making her legs and arms tremble at his outrageous promise. Looking wildly around, she immediately found a suitable target and grabbed the vase off the inset shelf in the wall. With all of her strength, she hurled the vase at the massive black demon smiling on top of the bed. Spearing through the air with precision aim, the vase was inches from hitting its target when the bastard demon winked out like a flame leaving only a silhouette of wispy smoke in its wake. Hitting the tufted velvet headboard, the vase bounced gently off and safely onto the mattress in a lackluster finale.
Laughter echoed across the cavernous room. "I shall enjoy that same spirit this evening when I take you to bed. Until then, you will eat and relax."
Tendrils of black smoke swirling in the corner of her eye brought her attention to the corner of the room near the windows. Just like in her room that morning, a small bistro table and matching chair appeared covered in a white linen tablecloth and silver food dome on top. The audible click of the door behind her made her jump and her blood boil.
"Bastard!" she hissed beneath her breath.
Stomping over to the small chair, she angrily pulled it out and took a seat. Lifting the dome, her hunger returned at once at the sight of the roasted chicken legs and sautéed vegetables. Knowing he meant what he said about her leaving the room, she grabbed the fork and took a bite with an angry sigh.
*
It wasn't until she finished her last bite of food did Nadira hear the door unlock.
"Stupid demon," she grumbled to herself.
Racing to the door before he changed his mind and locked it again, Nadira ran down the white hallway and down the curving staircase in the turret. Once she was back on the first floor and in the living room, she ran towards the front door. Ignoring her suitcases that sat in the middle of the foyer that wasn't there before, she made it to the heavy glass and rod-iron door. Grabbing the dark metal handle, Nadira's heart lurched in her chest when the door didn't budge. Double checking the deadbolt, she ensured it wasn't locked, but despite every attempt to tug the tall door open, nothing worked.
A desperate frustration began to well up within her until the urge to kick and scream became nearly unbearable. Stepping back shakily, Nadira's hands trembled as she realized just how trapped she was. It wasn't just the locked doors that trapped her or the thirty-minute drive from her home, it was everything. Bumping into her suitcase, Nadira stumbled sideways to avoid falling. Her nerves were fraying at the edges with each passing second as the situation she was in began to unfold before her. Backing into a nearby wall, Nadira let her knees relax as she slid down to the floor. She was truly trapped. Even if she did find a way out of here, where would she go? All of her family thought she was married to that creepy fake version of Idrak, and her parents most certainly would slam the door on her face if she tried to come back.
Staring at her outstretched legs, Nadira watched in silence as the shadowed patterns of the iron scrollwork from the front door stretched across the foyer floor from the afternoon sun. Absently, she moved one foot in and out of the casted shadow as her racing worried thoughts slowly began to ebb. Breathing deeply, Nadira closed her eyes and let her head rest against the wall. For over two years now, all she dreamed about was escaping that house. Well now look at her, she thought with a mirthless laugh. Here she was out of the house only to be trapped in another house entirely. Careful what you wish for indeed, she thought morosely.
With her eyes closed, she listened to the quiet nothingness of the grand house. Somewhere to her left, far off in the large living room was a clock gently ticking away. Inhaling, Nadira frowned at the sweet smell suddenly surrounding her. Opening her eyes, she scowled at the small golden plate sitting next to her with three warm sugar cookies sitting on top of it.
Whether it be to fatten her up or prevent her from fainting again, the djinn seemed hell-bent on making her eat.
"I just ate," she grumbled as she grabbed one of the cookies anyways.
So warm it nearly fell apart out of her fingers, Nadira used both hands to bring the warm cookie to her mouth. She groaned as the cookie melted in her mouth, of course, it was beyond delicious.
Eating another of the cookies, she looked back up to the door at the bright sunlight and treetops she could see through the glass. Nadira wasn't sure if it was the leveling out of her blood sugar or maybe the rare sense of quietness she never got to experience at her own house, but she could feel the sense of hopelessness vanish altogether within her and being replaced by the steady resolve she always tried to maintain.
Pushing the empty gold plate to the side, Nadira sat up straighter against the wall and cast a firm stare up towards the ceiling, hoping the hiding djinn could see her. "This changes nothing Idrak!" she shouted.
Pushing herself up and onto her feet, she grabbed the empty plate and walked to the kitchen, ignoring the stunning architecture and sloping windows that lined the ceiling above, refusing to bask in its stunning splendor. Setting the empty plate onto the cream Carrara marble countertop, Nadira walked to the wall of windows to her left, leading to what she assumed was the back patio and backyard. Walking to the sliding door, she let out a tiny sound of excitement as it slid open. Walking past the comfy, chic patio furniture and lush, colorful flora, Nadira ran to the side of the house and tried the ten-foot solid metal gate that separated her from the front of the house. Locked! Running to the other side of the house, she was more than a little dismayed to see the other side had no gate door, just a tall, imposing metal fence that would be impossible to climb without a ladder. Taking a few deep breaths to calm her rising blood pressure, Nadira stomped around the narrow pool with its sparkling dark turquoise water and stopped short at the short hedge of rose bushes separating her from her—death. The house was sitting on top of a cliff, she realized. Clutching her hand to her heart, Nadira's wide eyes stared over the edge of the backyard past the almost comical four-foot chain link fence. That puny thing would do nothing to stop someone from falling the thirty foot plus drop to the jagged rocks below.
"Careful now, I wouldn't want to have to stop space and time again to save your life for a second time," the familiar voice called out seemingly from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Crossing her arms, Nadira stood stiffly, staring down at the sea lapping at the rocks below. "Then maybe you should just let me go," she countered.
"I wouldn't dream of it," the voice laughed.
Seeing no point in arguing with the mischievous demon, she turned and headed back to the house when she spotted the rounded metal door hiding amongst the tall bushes. With white and pink puffy blooms framing the door, Nadira thought of her favorite book from when she was little, the Secret Garden. Approaching the door, she squinted through the partial metal meshing that covered it to see a steep set of wooden stairs leading down. It must lead down to the beach, she gathered. Trying the handle, she didn't even react when she found it locked.
