Loving the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 2) (18 page)

I’m relieved to wake up well-rested back home in my bed. I didn’t have a dream last night, which makes me hope that it’s over. A part of me argues that I’ve had nights without those dreams before, but I ignore it. I’m in a very good mood this morning, especially because Mom is starting to really like Sebastian. Not only because he’s a genie, but because he has a good heart. She told me yesterday that Sebastian does so much for us and gets nothing in return, only wishes that sustain him. But other than that, nothing. He saw how much it pained my mom that she didn’t get a chance to say bye to Daisy and he wanted to fix that, which is why he suggested the wish. I didn’t think I could love him more and more with each passing day, but I do.

I roll out of bed and plant a kiss on Sebastian’s lips. He normally wakes up with me every morning to wish me a good day at work, but he’s a little worn out from performing that wish, and I want him to rest.

As I grab my clothes, he shifts in the bed and sits up, rubbing his eyes. His hair is messy and I want to rake my fingers through it. But there’s no time for that. If I don’t move, I’ll be late for work.

“Good morning,” I greet.

“Morning. Did you sleep well?”

“I didn’t have any more dreams.”

He smiles. “That’s good.”

Half an hour later, after kissing my boyfriend goodbye a million times—it never seems to be enough—I head toward Inferno. On my way, shadows crawl around me. At first I think I’m imagining them, but I catch one on my right for a split second before it disappears. What the hell are they? I thought it was Max following me, but I see now that it wasn’t.

I stand there for a bit, waiting for them to reappear. They don’t. I decide to forget about them and go to work.

Macy rushes over to me once I walk through the entrance. “All ready for the party? Chef Charleston should be here any minute.”

“Party?”

“Yeah, Chef Charleston’s birthday party. Where have you been?”

Um, I’ve been a bit too preoccupied with Mom telling me she had cancer, healing her, then having nightmares and creepy shadows following me.

“He’s coming!” another waitress yells.

Macy grabs me and we hide along with everyone else.

***

As I walk home from work, darkness surrounds me. There are more shadows than there was this morning, almost as if they have doubled in size. I stop walking as they creep up on me from both sides.

“Lily,” they whisper. “Lily.”

My breathing is heavy, and I can feel my heart pounding in my head.

I’m only a few blocks away from my apartment. Shutting my eyes and counting to three, I let out a small yelp before running to my house. I never knew I could run this fast, but then again, I’ve never had shadows chasing me.

I throw my door open, slam it, then lean my back against it. My chest rises and falls rapidly. I don’t know if my breathing will ever get back to normal.

“Lily?” Sebastian walks into the living room. His eyes widen when he sees me and he rushes over. He places his hands on either side of my face. “What happened?”

My eyes close as I try to regulate my breathing. It’s not working. Sebastian’s arms go around my waist and he sits me on the couch, then brings me a glass of water, which I gulp down. I didn’t realize that my hands are shaking.

A few minutes tick by. I can’t talk. My throat is parched, and drinking doesn’t seem to help. Sebastian leans forward and rests his hand on mine. He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t demand an explanation. I appreciate it, because I don’t want him to bombard me with questions. I need time to recuperate.

I close my eyes and lean my head back, forcing myself to think about happy thoughts. Like the fact that Silvia woke up this afternoon. Mom texted me at work and told me how happy she was to hear the news. It was only for a bit, but at least she’s making progress. I think about George and how good he is to Mom. After what happened with my dad, I didn’t think she’d find love again. But she’s putting herself out there. I’ve never seen her so happy. And once she goes to her doctor and he confirms her cancer is cured, Mom could live in peace again.

When my body is somewhat relaxed, I open my eyes and look at Sebastian. He gives me a small smile. “Are you okay?”

“Not really.” I bite my lip and let my eyes rove around the house. Those shadows aren’t here. Maybe they didn’t follow me home.

Could I have imagined the whole thing? No, that’s impossible. It’s happened more than once. I’m not losing my mind.

“Sebastian, I need to tell you something.”

He nods for me to go on.

“I didn’t want to tell you at first because I didn’t think it was a big deal. Hell, I thought it was Max.”

He sits straight up. “Max is bothering you?”

I put my hand on his chest to calm him down. “No, that’s what I’m trying to say. I thought it was Max following me—”

“Someone’s been following you?”

“Sebastian. Let me get a word out, please.

He clamps his mouth shut.

I take a deep breath. “A few days ago as I was heading to work, I felt a presence behind me. It looked like shadows. I checked the area but didn’t see anything, so I ignored it. But it happened a few more times. When Max came after me outside the club, he told me he had been watching me and knew I didn’t have a boyfriend. He thought you were fake. In a way, I was glad he said that because that explained the presence behind me. But then after we scared him off, I figured he wouldn’t follow me anymore and the shadows would stop. But they didn’t.” I bite my lip. “And my dreams have been more frequent than you think.” I hate that I’ve kept things from him. I was just doing what I thought was right.

“Today,” I continue. “The shadows followed me to work. Then on my way home, they surrounded me, like they wanted to attack me. They called my name. Over and over. I was so terrified and ran home.” My body quivers.

Sebastian encloses me in his arms, pressing his cheek to mine.

“What do you think the shadows and the dreams mean? Do you think they’re connected?”

“I don’t know,” he whispers against my cheek. “I’m hurt that you didn’t tell me. I don’t want to change the subject or make this about me, but you know how much I love you and want to protect you.”

I kiss him softly on the lips. “I do. I’m really sorry. I guess I hoped that if I forgot about them, they’d go away.” My eyes search his. “Do you forgive me?”

“Of course I do. I can never be mad at you, my beautiful Lily.”

I feel terrible, especially because he’s being so sweet about it.

“I’m going to walk you to and from work every day, if that’s okay,” Sebastian says. “I want to watch over you and see what these shadows are.”

I hug him close. Normally I like to take care of myself, but having my genie by my side will help calm my nerves. “Thanks so much.”

He nuzzles his nose in my hair. “Anything for you.”

***

I toss and turn in bed as something chases me down the meadow, chanting my name. The voice is male, but I’ve never heard it before, other than in my previous dream.

Sebastian isn’t anywhere to be found, nor is anyone else. It’s just me and the meadow and the shadows.

As I run, something knocks into me and I tumble to the ground, into the tall grass. I look up and find a dark shadow, the black cloud. Hovering over me.

Hiding my face with my elbows, I yell, “What do you want from me?”

“It’s time, Lily.”

“Time for what?”

“It’s time. It’s time. It’s time.”

It swoops down on me, causing me to feel like my limbs are being torn off. I scream.

A hand shakes my shoulder. “Lily!”

I open my eyes and find Sebastian staring down at me with a worried expression on his face. He pulls me to his chest. “It was just a dream.”

It felt so real. I can still feel pain all over. Drawing back, I push some hair out of his eyes, wishing I could tell him I’m fine. I’m far from it and am done lying to him just so he’d stop worrying about me. I can’t do this on my own. I need him.

I lift my head to tell him how important he is to me, when I notice something crawling on the wall. It’s a shadow. I back away from him like I’ve been zapped with electricity.

More shadows gather on the walls, causing the walls to close in on us.

Am I still in my nightmare?

“Lily, what is it?” Sebastian asks.

I back away even more, banging into the wall near my bed.
Wake up
, I yell to myself.
Wake up
!

Sebastian’s eyes fill with even more worry. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. My gaze is locked on the shadows creeping up the walls. They shoot down at me, just like they did in my dreams. At once, my body burns like I’ve been doused with oil and someone threw a match on me. I screech, thrashing around. The shadows—smoke, since they’ve grown thicker—fill my lungs and I can’t breathe.

It’s all around me, sucking me in. The burning pain is excruciating.

I manage to call out Sebastian’s name and feel his hand clasp mine before everything goes black.

When I come to, I’m staring at the sky. Except it doesn’t look like the sky. It has a darkness to it, one I can’t explain. As I sit up to survey my surroundings, I take in the trees, flowers and tall grass.

The meadow from my dream. Am I still dreaming? Glancing back at the sky, I notice black clouds moving around. I’ve never seen anything like it, only in my nightmares. I must still be sleeping, yet why do I feel very much awake?

This meadow isn’t entirely like my dreams. It’s darker, almost as if it’s encased in evil.

Flexing my fingers, I don’t feel any pain. My body is in one piece, and there is no evidence of burn marks.

Someone stirs beside me. Sebastian. His eyes flutter before opening and he examines where he is. He stares down at himself, and that’s when I realize his skin isn’t gold anymore, but peach-colored. His jaw nearly drops to the ground. He leaps to his feet, stepping to the right, then to the left as he combs his fingers through his hair. “This can’t be,” he mutters, pacing around some more. “This can’t be.”

I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. “I think this might be a dream, but I don’t know. Everything is so confusing.”

He whirls around. Shock, complete and utter shock, fills his eyes. “Lily, what are you doing here?”

“What?”

A hard swallow makes its way down his throat. He examines his surroundings again. “I must be dreaming. But genies don’t dream.” He paces again, then looks down at himself. “Am I even a genie?”

I catch up to him and grab him by the arm. “Sebastian?”

He faces me. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“What do you mean? Where—”

“Humans can’t come to Ortarus. They can’t survive here.”

I feel like I’ve been hit over the head with a block of stone. Everything around me starts to sway. Ortarus. Sebastian just said we’re in Ortarus. All this time, I must have been dreaming of his home world. But why?

Sinking down to the ground, I pull my legs to my chest and rest my chin on my knees. Ortarus. I’m in the dreadful place known as Ortarus.

Sebastian drops down next to me. He tucks me close, but doesn’t utter a word. His head must be swarming like mine is.

“I dreamed of this place,” I tell him. “But it wasn’t as dark. It was light and sunny and full of life.” Except when the black clouds stormed down on me.

Sebastian’s chin rubs against my forehead as he nods. “Ortarus used to be a beautiful place before King Sorenten rose to power. The entire place grew dark due to his wickedness and thirst for power.” He pauses. “I don’t remember it, since I was very little when he took the throne, but I’ve heard many people talk about how good life used to be.”

The grass is very tall, and it’s hard to see much, only the trees and flowers. I don’t know if anyone is around.

“Sebastian, why are we here?”

He shakes his head like he has no idea.

“The shadows,” I say. “They engulfed me. I remember calling your name and felt your hand grab mine. And the next minute we’re here.” I turn to him. “Did you mean to bring us here?”

His eyes are very wide as he says, “I’ve never been able to travel to my home world.”

He’s right. All those years he was a genie, he wished to go back to help his little sister, but he was never able to. Why can he now?

“Is this a dream?” I ask.

“No.”

I look around some more, unable to see much. “Where are we?”

“In one of the largest forests in Ortarus. It’s easy to hide from the palace guards, since the grass is so tall.”

I gape at him. “Palace guards?”

He nods. “King Sorenten has many guards protecting him and the people of Ortarus. They’re like the police, but they’re brutal, torturing and killing whenever they see fit.” He swallows. “A few of my fellow servant boys have been executed by the guards. For no reason at all. The guards were bored and were looking for some fun.”

I hug him close. “I’m sorry.”

“I could have easily been chosen.”

I bury my face in his chest. He folds his arms around me. “I don’t want you here,” he whispers. “I don’t know how it happened, but we need to get back to Earth.”

“How?”

He rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t know.” He closes his eyes and waves his hands around, using his magic to try to get us home. It doesn’t work. “Lily, can you try to wish?”

“I wish to go back to Earth.”

We stare at each other. He doesn’t move, doesn’t swing his arms around.

“So much for that,” I mutter. “You’re not gold, which means you’re not a genie anymore.”

He nods, then eyes the sky. “It’s getting dark. We should hide here and then…figure something out in the morning.”

The thought of being in these woods so late at night sends shivers down my spine. The wind whooshes against the grass, causes a sound that nearly deafens me. It’s as though someone is crying out in pain.

Sebastian holds me close.

“What is that?” I ask.

He’s quiet for a second or two. “Cries of those who were murdered. They don’t get buried. The guards use their magic to disintegrate the bodies.”

“That’s terrible.”

He sweeps his arm over his eyes. He must be thinking about his sister Renaya’s suicide. I’m sure the king ordered her body to be disintegrated as well.

“I need to get you out of here.” His head whips from side to side, as if that will give him the answers he seeks. He strokes my cheek. “If something were to happen to you, I’d never forgive myself.”

I rest my hand on his that’s touching my cheek. “We have to stick together.”

He fingers my bottom lip. “I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that you’re here. You’re the first human to have ever stepped foot on Ortarus. You shouldn’t be able to breathe.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I suppose it’s the same way Ortarians can’t come to Earth unless they’re genies. Humans can’t survive on Ortarus. Yet you can.” His eyebrows knit. “I must have brought us here. But why? How? I don’t understand.”

“We can’t worry about all that stuff now. We need to get through the night and then figure out a way to go home.” If circumstances were different, I wouldn’t mind exploring his world.

Sebastian lies down on the ground and pulls me on top of him. I snuggle up to his chest. He shifts some of the grass to give us more cover. “You sleep,” he tells me. “I don’t need to rest.”

“Are you sure?”

He nods. “Also, I know this world better than you do and can protect you better.”

“If you’re sure.”

He kisses me. “I am. I won’t let any harm come your way.”

I make myself comfortable on his chest and shut my eyes. Sleep doesn’t seem to want to come to me. I’m still shaken up about everything that’s happened. First the dreams, then the shadows, and now traveling to Ortarus.

None of this makes sense.

My thoughts drift to Mom. If I don’t make it back to Earth, how will she deal with losing another daughter? No, I
have
to get back. I don’t know how, but Sebastian and I need to try.

“Hey, Sebastian?” I whisper.

“Yes?”

“Is there anyone who can help us? Anyone you trust?”

Sighing, he shakes his head.

“What about that elder who helped you return to Earth?”

“I don’t know who to trust anymore. For all I know, he could be telling all my secrets to the king.” He tightens his hold on me. “I’m going to get you back to Earth, Lily. I promise.”

I gaze into his eyes. Though it’s dark out, I can see them clearly. “What about getting yourself back to Earth?”

He shakes his head. “My life isn’t important. Yours is.”

“Seb—”

“I’m just a genie who’s destined to live a lonely, empty life. But you, you have so much to look forward to. Culinary school and following your dream to become a professional chef.”

“Your life is important, too. All my dreams mean nothing if I don’t have you to share them with.” I look deeper into his eyes. “We’re going to leave this world
together
.”

He reluctantly nods.