The Djinni & The Royal

❂ Obsessions ❂

Djinni gasped at the pain that crushed her insides. Her stomach crammed up into her chest and her breathing shallowed. This was it, she would die in this contraption. What a horrible, weak way to die...

Her breathing became harsh, her body was stiff. Her ribs felt fractured as the torture device tightened even more. What would her legend be? Crushed to death by a maid? The humility! If she wasn't dead she'd be so embarressed. This was the end...

"Oh stop being so dramatic!" Edna scolded as the maid tied the corset strings. Djinni scowled and grunted at the horrid contraption wrapped around her middle. "You are not going to die. In my day, we always dressed proper. I'm still alive aren't I?" Edna lectured.

Djinni rolled her eyes. "Barely." She muttered under her breath. Edna shot her an icy look.

"What was that?" She questioned, her expression daring the youth to repeat. Djinni straitened from where she had been bracing her hands in the wall.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Her voice claimed, breathless and innocent.

The maid Patsy interrupted their spat by holding up the last of many petticoats. Edna was far too ladylike to growl, but if looks could kill... Djinni smiled sickly sweet. Patsy tucked a dark hair behind her ear awkwardly.

"Carry on." Edna ordered, suddenly turning and leaving with flourish, her dress billowing out behind her.

Djinni chuckled, her dramatic nature seemed to be rubbing off on the old woman. It took long enough. Being a teenager for decades should've had impact on the older woman sooner than it did.

Djinni was ready to leave an hour later. Grumbling and huffing she strode down the hall, growling at the stairs for becoming so difficult to take. Jasper rushed forward, holding out an arm. Djinni took it instinctively. He hid a smile.

"You look lovely." He smiled down at her. She rolled her eyes.

"I look like a boy in a doll dress." She glared at him. His smile dropped and turned grave.

"The most attractive boy playing dress up, I have ever seen." She stopped and looked at him before bursting into laughter.

"Seen many, have you?" She asked. He nodded, continuing to the door.

"Oh yes, it's actually one of my favorite last times." He said smoothly. She snorted, clutching his arm harder, as she laughed. He grinned.

Edna raised an eyebrow at the Djinni's improved mood but asked no questions.

"Scandalize them my Lord." He declared. She pushed away from him, gasping for breath from laughter and the torture device.

"I will do my best, MAKE them accept us." She strode to the door, pumping her arms in an over dramatic Manish fashion. "Come woman!" Djinni ordered Edna in a deep voice. Her guardian stared in shock as the girl marched to the carriage. Edna looked at the butler. Jasper shrugged.

"Women..."
.

The party was worse than The Djinni had imagined. People were everywhere in gown and suits; she could barely walk without stepping or tripping over a long train. Djinni strode to the waiter, not caring that she was stepping on about fifty dresses. The waiter froze, seeing her red eyes and matching hair.

"Djinni, how may I serve you?" He asked with a slight accent, bowing his head. She straitened, pleased at the respect she saw in his countenance. "Dammi qualcosa di potente." She smiled. He looked up in surprise but nodded. She laughed watching him scurry away.

Haymich was wading through the crowd at the Yule ball. Eight had been invited by the princess herself. She insisted they speak alone, leaving himself to wander through the snobs. He paused to get a drink, when he heard something that made him turn in surprise. Perfect Italian.

The girl the words had come from was barely a woman. She had ginger hair up in complex braids and a deep green gown that showed her tiny frame just right. He went up to her before he could stop himself, always one for conversation. "Evening." He greeted. She shot him an annoyed look.

"Evening." She greeted distastefully, recognizing his Angel ring. She turned away again; he wouldn't cause a scene here. He smirked and held out a hand.

"Care to dance?" He wondered. She stared at his hand in surprise. He obviously didn't know who she was... Was he daft? Slow? The waiter brought her drink. She snatched it off the tray and downed it, making both men widen their eyes.

Djinni looked back at the man with a sudden quirk of her lips. "Why not?" She placed her hand in his. This could be fun.

"What's your name?" The man asked. Djinni smiled charmingly.

"Alice." She lied, her voice silky. She leaned into him a bit

"Mich." He smiled down at her. She blushed lightly, looking off to the side.

"So, are you enjoying yourself?" She asked, her tone innocent. He eyed her suspiciously, her mood had turned completely. One moment cold and confident, now uncertain and innocent?

"I am now." He said truthfully and looked her in the eyes. He frowned slightly. Red? That was odd, not many people had red eyes. His suspicion grew when he saw the corner of her mouth quirk into a predatory smile. "You know Italian?" He asked, realization starting to dawn on him.

She twirled under his arm, stirring the air with her perfume. "Yes." She watched him thoughtfully. He couldn't really be so thick, could he? He nodded.

"You speak it very well, how long have you been studying?" He asked. She was twirled again as she answered. He inhaled the intoxicating smell of her hair. She smelled soft, like cherry blossoms and roses.

"Oh, I'm not certain... Two decades?" She guessed, her back pressing into his chest. She was surprised at the firmness of this chest. She was struck again at how young he was compared to his predecessor.

Her answer made him freeze. She smiled wickedly, her back still against. She leaned to the side, so she could look back at him. Her face was a breath away from his. "Don't worry; I never play the same game twice." She whispered, thinking of her first meeting with Eight brought a smile to her lips.

Mitch gulped. She giggled and reached a hand back to stroke his cheek. "Don't worry, Nine." She pressed her lips to his ear. "I won't tell about this little meeting." He shivered at the feeling her her mouth against him, her smell heavy in the air. She pulled away, her lips twisted into a smug grin. Angels... They never learn. Djinni sauntered away leaving a very confused, flustered man in her wake.

Haymich had never, ever, not once, been struck speechless by a woman. He stared at the girl as she moved farther away, her smell following her through the crowd. He felt the sudden urge to grab her and demand to know how she had made him react the way he did. He didn't, of course. In fact she probably did nothing. She held that same glow about her as archery did when he first witnessed it. That interest that would spark a passion that only grew... He smirked; maybe his plan would work better than he thought. He'd even have a new passion to study. With that he turned to find Eight.

R&R