Genie eagerly awaited her Master's command now, rather than fearing it, as she had before. She might be bound to a lamp and a slave to her Masters, but was that any reason for a Master to be cruel to her? Genie thought not.
"I wish for . . . ." Claire made a big, sweeping motion with her arms, and Genie readied her magic. Would she be fool enough to wish for money? Or fame? Even a beginner Genie like her could twist that. ". . . well, I was going to say money," Claire said, droppping her arms and thinking to herself. "But that could be risky." She rubbed her chin. "This could take a while."
Genie relaxed and nodded demurely, "I understand, wise Master. Please take your time, I will be here at your side."
Then Claire looked up, and she had that little mischievous smile that used to make Genie's heart skip. Now it made her quake in her curly toed slippers.
"Oh, you'll just have to wait, Genie. But not out here." And then Claire held up Genie's lamp, and the wishgranter's blue eyes went wide and fearful.
"Please, do not, Master. I assure you I am a more able . . ."
"Stuff it, Genie. You belong in your lamp." And then Genie's body burst into glittering smoke and dust, and against her will, Genie went back into her lamp to await her Master's new wish.
Genie reformed in her golden vessel, filled with its soft pillows that made it hard to stand, and the globe of light that cast strange shadows around the curved space. She tried, desperately, to remain standing, but the force of Claire moving her lamp around caused Genie to tumble. Even in here, in her own sanctum, Claire dominated Genie's life. It made it hard to plot to twist her wishes, and harder still to plot to become free of the accursed golden lamp.
Eventually the shaking stopped. Perhaps Claire had perched Genie on her mantle as a prize. But probably not. Genie and her lamp were probably tucked away safely, where no one could find her. As time wore on with nothing to do, Genie wanted more and more to be freed. Freed by Claire, freed by another. Not even being human again, but being out of her lamp. Time had no meaning in this space, for there were no clocks, no sun to be seen, no moon or tides, nor even light and dark. Just pillows and an unchanging light. It did not take long for it to become maddening. Genie ran up to the edge of her vessel and tried to pound against the walls. But a Genie, it seemed, could not even touch the inside of her lamp.
"Master, please, I beg of you, let me out!" She shouted. But she was sure she was not heard. But, by miracle or circumstance, the lamp shook again. Genie's heart went up to her throat. And then she came right out of her lamp, back in front of Claire and her cute glasses and luscious hair.
When Genie bowed again, she did so because she wanted to, not because she had to (though she had to, as well), and when she spoke, she meant every word she said, "Oh, thank you, most gracious Master, for releasing me. Have you need of me?" Once again, she spoke quietly and moved gracefully. Then she looked around. They were not in any place Genie recognized, at least not at first. They were in front of a huge mansion built between the highway and the Pacific coast. A house that surely had fifteen rooms, a theater, bowling alley, and servant's quarters. It was made like a modern castle on the edge of a cliff a top white beaches.
"It took me a few days," Claire said, "but I found my second wish." She gestured to the grand house, "I wish Kevin and I lived in that house."
"As you desire, wise Master, I will make it so." Genie bowed again. Emotions swirled inside her as magic and the world opened up to her fingertips. Could she truly betray her Master? Cast her wish into a twisted light? Ideas formed in Genie's mind and she granted her Master's wish . . .
