Safe and Helpful

Chapter Six: The Truth

Ethan's POV

"I don't eat," I told the disgruntled trickster. The djinn sat next to where we were standing, giggling like mad.

"You need to," She snapped, shoving the bowl of condensed molecules toward me. I believe the humans called it "food."

"Well," the djinn said between spurts of laughter, "maybe he really doesn't need to eat to survive. Technically, I don't-"

"Shut up," the trickster growled at her friend. She shoved the bowl toward me once more, declaring for a second time, "Eat."

I sighed and took the bowl, the hot ceramic burning my vessel. I sat down next to the djinn, who faced the pond, grinning.

"What?"

"I," she said slowly, "have never seen someone be that insistent on not eating Camel's food, and almost get away with it."

I turned, staring off in confusion. "Why would that be funny?"

She paused for a moment, then shrugged. "I'm not sure."

She turned to me, looking concerned. "Dude, your fingers are turning red. You might want to let go of that bowl. It's, like, right of the stove."

I looked down at my hands, unphased. Yes, my hands were burning, but that only affected my vessel... I think.

"I'm wearing a vessel," I said quietly.

"What?" The djinn asked. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm an angel of the Lord," I said worriedly, turning toward her. "I can't get hurt, right? This is just a vessel." I wasn't sure if I was reassuring her, or myself.

She grabbed the bowl from me and set it on the ground. She said something, but I couldn't hear her over my brain screaming.

I numbly followed her to somewhere, not aware of what was going on or anything else. I felt pain when I wasn't supposed to. Thoughts were flying around my head, screaming and shoving and whispering.

Suddenly, cold, rushing water stung my hands, cooling them. I fazed back into reality, staring at the djinn.

"I'm an angel, I can't get hurt," I mumbled, head still swimming.

"Oh my God. You fell."