Oops! I Caught a Genie!

Chapter 21

The man watching my cell checked on me every few minutes. I could not tell for sure for lack of a clock, but it felt like intervals of thirty minutes between checks. He brought a glass of water every six checks. That was probably three hours then. The last time I had looked at a clock was before we had been attacked at the elder’s cabin, there had been an old-style clock that had read 4pm. Assuming three hours plus however long it took me to wake up, I concluded that it was past eight at night. I couldn't account for time zone because I had no idea what time zone I had been in for the past day or so.

A sharp clank came from the door. Followed by a shout.

“Are you ready to listen to reason?”

It was the fat man’s voice. I debated my options. Refuse and remain in the cell, unable to do anything, for who knows how long. Or I could play along and possibly gain trust enough to get word to someone who could help me. Going with option two, I muttered that I was in fact, ready to listen to his spiel. I didn't word it exactly like that of course.

The guard opened the cell door and unhooked my chains from the wall. Leaving my hands cuffed together, he led me to a room different from the one before. This one looked similar to a martial arts or dance studio. Mats lined the floor and there were wall length mirrors that stretched through the middle of the grey walls. Two large wooden doors interrupted the mirrors, I assumed they led to a closet containing equipment or some sort.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Training room. You will be staying here.”

“Where do I sleep then?” I muttered.

“A room will be provided after you are done with the day’s training exercise.”

“Why are you training me?” I asked skeptically.

“To show you that you have been deceived by the djinn.”

That being said, he turned around and exited the room. Closing the door behind him roughly.

Walking to the double wooden doors, I tested the handle. It moved slightly, but the door did not open.

I turned around, only to come face to face with a young man about my age. Face to collarbone actually. I was shorter than Fritz by half a head and Liana was taller by a couple inches, this guy was at least a head taller. I would guess he was at least two meters tall. Bleached blonde hair and blue eyes looked down on me curiously.

“You must be Speevil.” He said with a warm grin.

“Nora.” I corrected stiffly. Not wanting to be known by my father’s reputation. It still hurt, a few days ago I would have been fine with it.

“I’m Shullat, I will be training you.” He said, extending a hand in my direction. In his palm was a pair of green and rust colored wristbands.

“What are those?” I asked.

“Training bracelets. They make it more difficult to access your energy. When you have those iron chains removed for training purposes, I will begin to teach you how to use your energies. Put them on so you can get used to wearing them, and we will start with strength training.”

I put the bands on my wrists, thinking they looked a bit like those gold wristbands that Genie wore in the Disney version of Aladdin.

Once he saw that I had them on, he walked around me to get into the closet I had tried to get into. Pulling a key chain from his pocket, he unlocked the door.

Typical gym equipment, dumbbells and other types of weights and a couple punching bags. Machines were in the back. A few things I didn't recognise sat in neat stacks in the left corner. Green orbs with swirling rings inside, could they be used to train binders?

Shullat pulled out a pair of fifteen pound dumbbells and handed them to me. The weight of them nearly pulling my arms to the matted ground.

“We will start with weight training, your arms look like twigs.”

“Thanks” I replied, infusing as much sarcasm as I dared into the word. I held back a small smile when I remembered that Fritz was about a tweedy as I was. At least Liana had some weight to her, she could pick me up and toss me around.

“Why do I need weight training? I thought that old man wanted another binder, not a bodybuilder.” I grumbled as he instructed me to raise the dumbbells.

“Stronger, healthier people tend to take mental training better.”

“Are you calling me unhealthy?”

Without a response to my inquiry he grabbed two more dumbbells and demonstrated what I should do and told me to do it.

----

After I had finished his arm exercises, he had me do a lot of pushups and squats. It reminded me horribly of gym class. I wasn't out of shape, but I was no professional athlete and my whole body ached as they walked me to the place where I would be sleeping that night.

I was led into a pitch dark room and without turning the lights on, they closed the door behind me and there was an audible click as they locked the door.

I felt around the doorframe for a lightswitch, finding the panel I moved the switch up and light flooded the room. It wasn't small, but it wasn't large either. It seemed about right for a room on a ship designated for a lower class worker. I saw the bed and calculated the distance from the light switch to the soft looking bed. Flipping the switch back off, I sprinted to the mattress. It wasn't as soft as my memory foam mattress back home, but it still felt like heaven to my sore muscles. I was out like a light. Goodnight creepy ship, please be a nightmare and be gone when I wake...

Shout out to burgundybear! Read her book As You Wish, its awesome!