The Djinn's Queen

Chapter 10: Lucky Charms

Funny thing, this was originally started out way differently, but then I realized there's another scene that was needed and the last chapter was a bit too short for my tastes. So I decided to give a more satisfyingly lengthy chapter. 

"I thought you don't believe in luck, Nici."

"It's not for me, it's more for Elisa's ease of mind with her getting a new job."

"Of course, of course,"

Gul opens one of her boxes containing the neatly organized trays of turquoise, gold, and silver-colored jewelry; laying them out on the table in front of both girls. Elisa continues to eat the halva given to her with one hand as she uses her other hand to inspect a man's upper half within the middle of a pair of wings and a tail wrapped into a bracelet which was imbedded with pure blue turquoises with not even a single black line shown in it. 

"Whamph phis?"

"Please chew with your mouth closed, and to answer your question, that's the Faravahar."

Elisa raises a brow at Gul.

"It's an old well-known symbol of Iran and Zoroastrianism."

"Obviously, neither of us ever heard of it. "

Nicole raises a hand as she speaks up. 

"I did, cause you know, pawnshop and antique store owner, hello."

Elisa gives a dramatic frown at Nicole as she takes another bite of her halva. 

"Anyway, there are various interpretations of what the Faravahar symbolizes, such as divine power, the sun, royal glory."

"Protection against evil?"

Gul gives a hum at this as she waves her right-hand side to side. 

"I guess that could fall under divine power, as many religions believe their gods to be above their many interpretations of evil. "

Nicole picks up another turquoise jewel, this time being an antique-looking necklace with a silver pendant. The dining room light reflects the cloudy gold-colored pyrite matrix imbedded in the smooth sky-blue gem. 

"Oh, pretty."

Elisa compliments as her eyes scan over the rest of the jewelry, noticing almost every one of them had turquoise on them. 

"What's up with all the turquoises here?"

"It was considered a precious stone during ancient Eastern cultures. In ancient Persian myth, the sky-blue gemstones would be worn around the neck or wrist as protection,"

"Against unnatural death."

Gul finishes for her niece.

"I see that you do remember what I've taught you about our family's culture." 

Nicole gives a nonchalant shrug. 

"When something's been hammered your head over and over again, you pick up a thing or two."

Gul gives a nod and a smile at Nicole. 

"You remember why these gemstones are even more precious?"

"Because they're Persian Turquoise which is recognizable by its sky-blue color. Pure blue turquoises being rare."

"So, I'm guessing they're worth a lot of money, then? How much for this one then?"

Gul looks over the bracelet that Elisa has chosen with a hand on her cheek and her index finger tapping the side of her head. 

"Mmmm... Tell you what, since your a good friend of the family and since I'm the best Auntie in the world, I'll let you both keep whatever turquoise jewelry you want."