Heart of a Genie

Suletta practically jumped towards Miorine, reaching out to grab her hand with both of hers. Instead of colliding as they both expected, Suletta's hands phased through Miorine's. "Oh... Suletta forggeta." Miorine, terrified once again, stepped backwards. The look plastered on her face can only be described as the same look someone would have if their house just collapsed. Magic and other supernatural happenings were unheard of in this world. The most otherworldly ideas were flying machines and the idea that minorities deserved rights. Suletta awkwardly laughed, desperately trying to relieve tension.

You're... not human." Miorine said cautiously.

"I mean, no. Humans don't come out of lanterns." Suletta laughed, not realizing how rude she sounded. Now a bit more collected, Miorine's brows furrowed. Her expression made it apparent she didn't find this amusing at all. "W-Well anyways, four wishes! You have four wishes and I shall grant them!" Suletta announced, yet again posing.

Confused, Miorine asked "Wait, you said you're a genie?"

"Yep." Suletta answered, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"A genie... in a lantern? Instead of a lamp?" Suletta nodded. "And you're granting four wishes? Not three?" Miorine asked, puzzled.

Suletta replied earnestly, saying "Er, if you want three you can just make a wish now and you'll have three." Again, Miorine furrowed her brow. "I-I'm sorry! I'm not used to this." Suletta bowed her head against and clenched her fists at her sides.

"Not used to-" Miorine was interrupted by a sudden banging at the door. She could make out the voices of a group of men, recognizing them as her father's subordinates that were sent to look after her. She ducked, hiding behind the desk and picking up a shard of glass from the broken ornament.

Suletta looks down at Miorine, concerned. "Did you bring friends?"

Miorine shot a look at Suletta, letting her know she needs to shut up. "Get down." Suletta follows her instructions and holds her knees to her chest. The door rattled as they pulled on it. Miorine looked around the shop for another exit and saw a door leading to a back room. She crawled on her hands and knees as she made her way into the room. Suletta didn't pay attention and quickly scuttled to catch up to Miorine.

Once Miorine's eyes adjusted to the darkness, her stomach dropped. There was no way out, only a small window that could only fit a leg at most. She sat down against the wall, her mind racing. Once she realized her run was over, she shut her eyes and put her face in her hands.

Suletta sat down next to her and looked at the girl with care. "Do you want them to go away?" Miorine ignored the question. "Well, you could just wish them away." Suletta said, shoulder to shoulder with her. Miorine turned and looked Suletta in the eyes, realizing her advantage. The front door slammed open and the sound of foot steps flooding the store caused Miorine to look away and frown.

"I can't waste my wish like this." She muttered, a look of defeat passing over her grey eyes.

Suletta turned to face Miorine and leaned in. "I don't think it's a waste." They locked eyes.

A man's voice came from the other room. "Her cape, she's here!" He yelled.

Miorine cursed. "Fine, fine. I wish my dad's lackeys never found me and went home."

Suletta smiled. "Your wish is my command." She snapped her fingers, giving off a spark.

The store was dead quiet. Not even the walls creaked with the wind. Miorine stayed still for a minute and eventually got up. She carefully tiptoed to door frame and peered into the front of the store. No one was there. She breathed a sigh of relief and sat down, holding her hand to her chest and feeling her heart race.

Suletta beamed. "Now you have three wishes!" She put her hands on her hips triumphantly, proud of her work. When Miorine didn't react, Suletta grew worried. She walked to her and kneeled down. "Are you alright, MioMio?" Suletta asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Yes, I'm- did you call me MioMio?" Miorine scowled.

"E-Em, am I not allowed to call you that?" Miorine gave her a look of warning. "O-o-ok! I won't again I swear!" Suletta scooted back in terror, unaware that even if Miorine wanted to hit her she obviously couldn't. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Suletta unsure what to say and Miorine deep in thought.

"So, genie." Miorine crossed her arms.

"My name's Suletta." She corrected.

"Ok, Suletta." Suletta clenched her teeth at the unfriendly tone Miorine had. "I no longer doubt your ability, rather I doubt my sanity." Miorine got up and paced, trying to decipher her dream and how to escape it.

"You aren't dreaming! I'm 100% real!" Suletta yelled. Miorine raised her eyebrow at Suletta. "I mean, if you were dream, could you feel? Or make up another person?" Miorine held her knuckles to her lips with her head lowered, still pacing. "See, watch." Suletta suddenly got close to Miorine's face, leaning in expectantly. Freezing in her tracks, she was forced to look Suletta in her eyes. They were a dark turquoise and bright. Her dark eyelashes were long and flared, only making her eyes more enticing. Miorine's eyes widened and felt her face become flushed. Suletta closed her eyes and smiled ear to ear. "See, I'm warm like a fire!" Miorine stepped back and clenched her fists, furious at the nerve of this strange girl. Suletta noticed Miorine's complexion and scratched her head. "I didn't think I was that warm."

Miorine slightly raised her fist, about to punch the dimwitted red-haired girl in the arm. "You..." She paused, realizing what she meant. The glow that surrounded Suletta wasn't the only way she mimicked a fire. She emitted a warmth, the same feeling one would get if they put their hands around a candle or if they laid in sunlight. Miorine sighed and sat down a few feet from Suletta who soon followed her lead.

Exhaustion finally made itself known to Miorine. Though, she still had a question that plagued her mind. "You said you're not used to being a genie. How long have you been like... this?" Miorine gestured at her.

"Well, I'm not sure. I mean, it wasn't winter when I was put in this bottle. Who's the king?" Suletta asked, not knowing how loaded of a question that was.

Miorine replied "Well, not so much of a king right now. Rather a collection of noble groups who should work together to make decisions but apparently don't. Who was king when you were human?" Suletta didn't fully comprehend how that system would work but refrained from saying something else stupid.

"Well, it was King Delling! I forget his last name though..." Suletta scratched her head again.

"Rembran? Delling Rembran?" Miorine suggested.

"You're right! King Delling Rembran!" Suletta closed her eyes and smiled. It took her a second for realization to set in. "Wait... you said your name was Miorine Rembran..." Suletta put the puzzle pieces together. Her jaw dropped. "Y-y-you're royalty???" She panicked and went over every time in the last hour she'd made a fool of herself.

Miorine sighed. "Not any longer. But that does give us a clue to how long you've been here. At least 2 years, at most 5."

Fists raised to the ceiling, Suletta jumped up and cried out. "YES!" Miorine looked at her with bewilderment. She's... happy? Suletta noticed her reaction and quickly explained herself. "I mean, every story you hear of a genie they've been in a lamp for like, a century! If it's only been that long, that means my mom could be still looking for me!" Suletta almost danced with joy.

Miorine's expression darkened. "Did you and your mom live in this town?"

Suletta turned to her and nodded frantically. "Yes, we lived a few houses down from here! Have you seen her, she's a bit taller than me, she has brown hair, and-"

Miorine interrupted. "No. I don't live here. No one lives here." She looked down.

"What do you mean?" Miorine didn't respond. Suletta frowned, but didn't want to push the girl she'd already annoyed. "I'm just glad she's still out there. I hope she gets here soon." Suletta rambled on. Miorine still wasn't satisfied with Suletta's explanation to her previous question.

Miorine resumed. "How did you become a genie in the first place?" Suletta froze, a stark contrast to her animated self. She faced away from Miorine, but she could still see the dark look that covered her face. Miorine dismissed her question. "It's fine."

Suletta looked up towards the window of the back room. "No, I'll tell you." She sat down with her back facing Miorine. "I... became a genie after making a wish." She laced her fingers together on her lap.

"You... wished?"

Suletta nodded. "I found the same lantern in this shop. A girl emerged and promised me four wishes. Before I could make any, I was curious about her situation. She was in great pain and hated her existence. Alone forever, condemned to forever live in a lantern and be a slave to humanity's desires. She... was so, so lonely." Suletta choked up a bit and wiped her eyes. Miorine couldn't tell if she was talking about the previous genie or herself. "But she of course had a duty. She offered me four wishes. Of course, I didn't think at all about what I was saying. I went ahead and wished for her freedom. I didn't realize that meant I had to take her place." Suletta laid down onto her side. She was quiet for a few moments, then continued. "I know she couldn't control what effects of the wish was but... she could've told me. She could've warned me somehow." She could hear Suletta softly crying. Miorine thought to herself why this imbecile would make such a decision without considering how it would effect her. It was her wish after all. After a while, Miorine stood up.

She lied down next to Suletta and gave an excuse. "It's cold." Suletta smiled to herself and wiped her own tears.