The Djinni & The Royal

❂ The Assistant ❂

It was three years before The Djinni saw Malinda again. The Angels had been scarce since she decided to burn their precious little church to the ground. It was only fitting, they burn witches, she burns their sanctuary. She smiled smugly at the memory. That had been exciting.

Seven had fought her as best he could. She only laughed, using his name to wipe his memory. Everything he ever knew...gone. Eight had gotten away, a little burnt, but perfectly intact, unfortunately. Nine had watched calmly. Never offering a hand either way. She shook her head, yet they still trusted him. She wouldn't tell them of course. She didn't kill them either, although she considered it. But she had a long life left, and where was the fun in that?

The Djinni was shaken from her silent musings by Najwa. Her reading had faltered and she stuttered to a halt. "Wormwood." Djinni provided. The girl sent her a grateful look and she continued her reading much smoother than the first time she had attempted.

Moments later they were both interrupted as Patsy knocked and entered before given permission. "Patsy!" Djinni scolded. "Najwa and I are in the middle of important work. What is it?" She demanded.

The maid glanced distastefully at the child before lowering her head. "Mistress Edna has requested your presence, quite urgently." She said in a breathless tone, sounding as if she'd run several miles even though she'd only come from the second floor. Djinni waved a dismissive hand and turned to the child.

"I'll be back. Don't lose your place." She commanded and strode toward the door. Patsy shot the girl another glare before following her Lady out. That child had been here 3 years, no match to her own decades of service and it made her blood boil to see the two so cozy together.

"Wedding! How long?" Djinni moaned, drawing out the O. Edna glared at her lack of manners and pursued her lips.

"Don't act as if this isn't an honor. The King himself has sent you an invitation." Djinni rolled her eyes. How Edna could still act like that was something significant was a mystery to her. Royalty loved her, hell she'd self-made half of them. Whether they admitted it or not.

"How long?" She repeated in the same tone, drawing the "O" out even longer this time. Edna's face looked pinched as she folded her hands in her lap.

"From three till midnight." She said in a tight voice. The Djinni slumped and let out an obnoxious groan.

"When?" She asked, her tone never changing, knowing she must attend. As much as she hated these events, she needed to keep face.

"A week." She said quietly. Djinni stood, ignoring Edna's questions about what she would wear. She really hated weddings.

Najwa was shocked and ecstatic that she would be attending a wedding. "The Princesses wedding!" She sighed dreamily. She looked up at the Djinni's snort. The young woman sat at her vanity in only a translucent chemise. The now eleven year old only gazed in admiration.

"She was a servant girl before she called me." Djinni informed the gawking girl. Her mouth snapped shut as she sat up in interest. She never heard much about the Djinni's deals before. Now when a story was recounted, the girl ate it up.

"The Princess? She was a customer of yours?" The Djinni nodded. Najwa moved closer, watching as the woman applied powder to her face.

"Yes. She was a servant girl who wanted to be a princess. Stupid really, their lives are anything but easy." She gave a shrug, ending the conversation.

Najwa inched closer, peering at the different powders and creams she was applying. She imagined herself putting the different things on, and envisioned the Djinni looking at her with admiration. "Was she pleased?" She asked, to keep the woman from noticing her staring.

"I expect not." She answered with an amused expression. Najwa watched her bring a small brush to her lips and dab on bright red. She had pretty lips, the girl decided.

"Does she hate you?" Questioned the younger. The Djinni sighed at her constant distraction. Cosmetics took focus.

"Doesn't most everyone?" She asked impatiently, turning to raise an eyebrow at the brunette. The girl straightened, recognizing her expression.

"Am I annoying you?" She blushed guiltily. She learned early on how the woman valued her quiet time.

"Yes. I would appreciate silence as I smear this vile substance on my face." She held up her brush. The girl nodded and watched as the Djinni returned to the mirror. She looked so beautiful, elegant... dangerous. Najwa sighed, laying her face on her bent knees, trying to decide wether she wanted to be like her, or just stare at her. A question that would follow her for years to come.

Najwa watched amazed, as Patsy pulled at Djinni's corset laces. The Djinni growled and grunted at the constriction of her middle. "Just wait kid, you'll be here in a few years." The young woman said with a sly smirk.

The child frowned to cover her secret excitement of the fact. "Never!"

Djinni laughed, shaking her head. "I said the same thing." She shot a glare at Patsy as the maid gave one more pull at the laces.

Edna stuffed, squeezed, and laced both girls into gowns for the event. Djinni smiled at the very low neck on her beaded bodice. "The King will be scandalized." She said pleasantly, envisioning the royal pair flushing. Najwa giggled at her sly tone.

Edna prepped Najwa on what to say when spoken too. "You're a cousin of mine come to visit for... No. You're a fori- no." Edna sighed dramatically. The Djinni shot her an annoyed look.

"You tell them your name and that you're my apprentice. If they ask more, tell them you're not allowed to answer." She interrupted her guardian. Najwa's eyes widened, turning from the older woman to the younger one.

"Apprentice?" Edna questioned with a deep  frown. The girls eyes went back and forth between the two.

Djinni raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That's what she is, isn't she?" Najwa nodded vigorously at them, hands clasped tight in front of her. The thought made her feel so important. Edna huffed to herself about impropriety. The girl pressed her lips into a thin line, trying to hide the broad grin that threatened to stretch across her face.

'Apprentice' was such an important title. Najwa thought to herself as they neared the castle. She sat up straighter. 'I'm the Djinn's personal apprentice.' She mused, feeling giddy at the title she now had. Apprentice. If her mother could see her now! She smiled smugly. Djinni glimpsed her smirk and mirrored it, she really couldn't have found someone so like herself.

The Djinni sat back and looked at the young girl for a moment. Yes, an apprentice would be just the thing. She wouldn't be like the last Djinni, she'd be a different kind of master. A teacher.

- R&R -