Inhuman Relations #5
"My brother..." You whisper, reaching out to him imploringly. "I did not mean..."
You hesitate when the ghost holds up a hand, his eyes dark and accusing; he will hear no such apology from your lips. Perhaps he does not believe it necessary? You would very much like to believe this, but the unveiled hatred in your brother's face forces you take an unsure step back in shock, your resolve wavering: the genie smiles.
"Well then, your wish is fulfilled," the genie cackles, sweeping the ghost away with a grandiose flourish. "You have seen your brother again! Oh, Cain, are you not happy? Was that not your wish?"
"Please," you beg, forgetting your nudity and throwing yourself prostrate at the genie's 'feet'. "Let him live! It was my fault! Please - just let him live again! I'll do anything you want, just let my brother live."
Laying prone with your nose pressed into the sweetly scented grass, you squeeze your eyelids tightly shut, hoping and praying that he will listen to you, see reason in your request. It was not your fault and if you can assist your brother back to the world of the living, give him a second chance...it will be the best you can do in unspoken apology.
"I could consider it..." The genie says after a long pause, raking his gaze over his softly curved fingernails, which are a fainter shade of turquoise than his skin. "I could consider it...if you can take care of a little annoyance within the confines of my collection. A dragon has broken into my enclosure and now inhabits a cave in the mountainside, depriving one of my prized possessions of a safe place to rest and frightening the lesser creatures, which prefer darkness to sunlight."
He looks stern when you chance a glance up, wondering what on earth you can possibly do about this dragon. Though the mention of some creature breaking into the genie's collection perks your interest; maybe you can later find some way to escape, if there is a way in to the zoo place...the genie's collection of what you now suppose are animals, or mutations. You snap your attention back to the genie when he continues, cheeks flushing at how your thoughts had so easily drifted from your brother to self-serving attempts at escape.
"If you can defeat this dragon and bring me his tooth as evidence - though I would be able to discover the truth of the matter even if you did dare to lie - I will make your brother live again, in your world, as he was before."
"Exactly as he was before?" You gasp, hope flaring in your chest. "In good health, happy, in the family he was - everything, everything, the same?"
"Everything will be as it was, the same," the genie nods in agreement. "Kill the dragon, bring me its tooth and your brother will drink of life once more. Do you accept my terms?"
Written by Amethyst Mare on 13 June 2012
