Out of the Lamp

Chapter 3: Mastered

Alia

I splutter with surprise, "w-what?" I raise a hand to cup my ear, "come again?" Did I hear that right?

Momentarily, the branded mark of Hades is forgotten as this freaking mortal all but names my kind in one guess. How?!

'You're a genie.' He states again, taking a step back and checking me out. As if it's the most normal thing to conclude to in the world. His initial surprise morphs in to a sinister smile. One that's full of mischief and cunning. It makes me squirm and nestles a pit of worry in my gut.

'Well this makes the explanations a hell of a lot easier.' I force the words out, a large lump in my throat makes it hard to swallow.

Jason shakes his head with shock and a mixture of awe. He's muttering to himself. 'I can't believe it. My old man was right?'

Old man? I'm not even going to ask.

'Two more.' I smirk. Raising a peace sign at him, his attention immediately snaps up to me.

'The first one was...?' He trails off and rubs his chin in thought.

'Back at the Drama society. Those blasted scripts!' I hit my forehead with the base of my palm, grumbling at my predicament. 'I can't believe I let it be triggered!'

I'm sure this had to fall between some of the contractual laws. Then again, having it been granted probably meant it fell just short of breaching them.

Damn it to hell.

A bark of laughter snaps me out of my train of thought. Jason's eyes are alight with a devilish fire that could give Hades a run for his money. I gulp audibly and bite back my apprehension.

'You're mine, eh?' He smirks with a dark amusement lacing his tone.

I straighten up and square off my shoulders to face him. 'For now, three wishes later, and I'm good as forgotten.'

'Now that doesn't seem fair.'

'Nothing in life is, nor does it truly last forever.' I dabble him in some cliche Genie quotes on mystic and wonder and philosophy of life. He scoffs. Big surprise there.

I pause. 'Sooooo...' Eying him up warily I proceed with caution. 'You're just going to take this all in your stride? No freaking out? No usual billion question bombardment or attempts to dissect me or pressure to perform circus tricks for you?'

A mischievous pixie grin dashes across his face, 'all in my stride.' He repeats.

'Interesting,' this guy was strange; and that's coming from a half-mortal like me! Immediately alarm bells ring in my head. Something isn't right - I just know it...

'Hmm, speaking of interesting.' He taps his chin and throws me an impish smirk. 'Let's test something out, shall we?'

'What?' I croak, the sudden gleam in his eyes making me apprehensive, unsure if I want to know what the answer is.

'Mine, in every sense of the word, right?'

'So?' I cringe at the line. How much lamer could this get? Ew.

'Come here,' he snaps his fingers and points down at his shoes.

I roll my eyes and I am just about to laugh at him when something burns on my left hip. I let out a startled yelp and raise the top up, the brand burning hot-white on my skin. It feels like something shoves me from the back and my feet stumble forward, until I hit a rock wall. A tall, muscled, alive - breathing wall?

'Ew!' I raise my palms up against Jason's chest and recoil with disgust.

His eyes are almost glowing with a dangerous blaze. Satisfaction crosses his face and he grabs my wrists, pushing me back against the door of the bathroom. His fingers straighten out and glide up my palms, interlacing with my own as he presses them back against the door, either side of me.

'All mine,' he repeats, boring his golden swirled gaze into mine. 'In every sense of the word.'

'Are you done?' I deadpan him, my eyes narrow and I relax into a bored expression.

Jason seems taken aback and releases me, letting out an annoyed grunt. 'you're no fun.'

'Oh stop.' I flush instantly, like he's paid me the biggest compliment ever. He grumbles at the sarcasm. 'Jokes aside,' I prod him hard in the chest repeatedly. 'You, stupid, master, had to touch my lamp, had to say wish, had to trigger-'

'-Lamp?' He questions. His eyes widen, 'Oh! The necklace?' He asks with a smirk. 'How does this work?' He steps back towards me and touches the metal hung on my neck. 'So cliché.'

I flinch at the intrusive touch, the feel of his knuckles rapping my collar bones sends sparks shooting through me. His touch has me on edge. I bat his hands away and tuck the golden ornament back inside of my top.

'It's a long story,' glancing at my watch, 'that'll have to wait for later. I'm due in my induction lecture, now.'

'Come here.'

My body lurches towards Jason and pins me to his hard and toned pecs. His chest vibrates as he chuckles deeply at me and I push myself off.

mWhat was that for?' I snap, grimacing at the though of all this proximity and the total control his contractual wish had over me.

'Just testing it out,' he shrugs, 'Me likes.'

'Meet me in the foyer at lunch?' I say, ignoring his last comment and throwing him a look over my shoulder as I press the handle of the bathroom door.

'Oh most definitely.'

'Keep this to yourself, goes without saying, are we clear?' I open the door and he follows me out. The few lingering students throw us quizzical looks, half amused, half aghast.

'I doubt anyone would believe me.' He points out.

I purse my lips. True, but you'd be surprised the crazies that pick up on a hint and pursue it to the end. It's happened before and certainly won't end to occur. Where there are myths there are murders.

'Wait.' Jason's command holds me in my place and I curse violently under my breath.

He sniggers and walks around to face me. 'What's your name?'

Had I forgotten even that? Man I was slipping - Ali would have my head. 'Alia, master.'

The title slips out of my mouth before I can stop myself. It's automatic and practically conditioned into my bloodline. My jaw clenches as Jason smirks, clearly loving the endearment.

'Alia.'

//A:N:
Pronounced ahhh-leeyah not aliyah or aliar but ahhhhhhhh like stretch them a vowels people - ahhhhhhhhhhh or uhhhhhhhh-leeeyah
Ahhh-leeyaaah

Work with me//