Magic Lamp -6- Claire the Clever and Cruel

Genie's heart began to beat faster, and she dearly hoped her cheeks did not burn with shame nor her body perspire with worry. "I hide from you nothing, and could hide nothing from a wise Master such as yourself."

Claire put one wrinkled hand up to her mouth and went into thought. She narrowed her eyes, and Genie wondered what she was thinking on. And then she began to wonder if her last wish would withstand scrutiny. She made Claire believe that she was a seventy year old woman and in the correct body. But then, Genie herself had memories that her name was always Genie. She knew, if she thought about it, that was not true. She had a name once, but it was taken from her. Similarly, Claire would believe she was a seventy year old, but she still might be able to discover the truth. And if she did . . . Genie did not desire to spend a thousand years at the bottom of the ocean.

"Master, I tell you true, I have done nothing but grant your wishes and serve you loyally, for you are in possession of my lamp and have freed me from it."

"I wished that Kevin and I could settle on a wedding date."

"And I set it for two months hence, and you were most pleased."

"And then I wished to live in this house."

Genie gulped. "Of course, Master, for it is very beautiful, and I gave it to you as you intended."

"You lie to me, Genie. Because if you gave me my wish as I desired it, why would my third wish to be back in my own body? Why would I threaten to take your lamp and throw it into the Pacific?"

"Master, I, a humble Genie, cannot begin to know your thoughts. I can only do as I am commanded."

"Then I command you tell me the truth, Genie. How did you grant my third wish?"

Genie began to sweat, and it was noticeable. She wanted to keep the truth away from Claire, but Claire was her master, and so, she was compelled to obey.

Seeing Genie conflicted, Claire grew angrier. "You did do something to me, didn't you? Tell me what you did, slave!"

"I changed your memories to make you believe this older body belongs to you!" Genie cried out, then collapsed to her knees and bowed to the floor. "I'm so sorry, Master. It's just that, you were so mean to me and I desired to do wrong to you. It's not my fault. It's just how genie magic works. Please forgive me."

"Why you little bitch! You expect me to believe that this isn't your fault?!" Claire roared, kicking Genie, who then flailed across the floor in a weeping mess. "Ow," Claire uttered, upon feeling the pain caused by the kick. Being in her seventies, she just wasn't as young as she used to be. She had to watch it. After all, she didn't want to bust a hip. But, of course, from what Genie told her, she wasn't supposed to be this old at all, even though her decades-worth of memories told her she was. She wondered how old she was supposed to be.

Claire looked down at Genie, with murderous eyes. "You want to know what my fourth wish is? Well, here you go, slave. I wish that I was a powerful witch with all the knowledge and power to overcome Genie wishes. So that I will not have to depend on you to grant my wishes."

Genie gasped and mentally rebelled, but already her compulsion to serve and obey overtook her. Her Master would gain the powers and ability to be a powerful witch, and then she would have no need for Genie. And then she would be sent away and live out her life in her lamp awaiting a new Master.

"As you command, oh wise and gracious and powerful Master." Genie said. Her magic rose up and granted Claire's wish.

Genie looked at her Master, fearful and shocked, trying to pull away before her compulsion to obey overtook her. Claire was her Master, Claire made a wish, and Genie was forced to grant it, no matter how much she did not want to. Moreover. she was so worked up that by the time Claire made her wish, Genie had no way to twist it. She simply did not see anyway to twist Claire's wish. Not that it was iron clad, but she had no time to change the wish.

And so Genie's blue, smokey magic flowed out of her and enveloped her Master, who, despite her anger, showed a flash of worry. But then the magic sunk in and Claire straightened up, her old, frail prison of a body gained strength. Magic power, only a fraction of Genie's, coursed through her veins, yet making her strong enough to cast spells that could counteract Genie's twisted spells. And when it was done, Genie bowed again, all the way to the floor.

"Oh great and powerful Master, please forgive me. I am a young Genie with much to learn. I swear to neve --"

"Silence," Claire said with a wave of her wrinkly hand. She inspected her other hand, flexing it, letting little bouts of flame rise up, or light shine, testing her cantrips.

"I'll be able to undo your curses with this magic, yes?"

"Of course, Master, for that was your wish and I will al--"

"And there were no downsides? No tricks you played?"

"No Master, of course n--"

Claire nodded, "Then be gone, slave. Return to your lamp."

"Master, but, I can beeeahelllllpppppp . . ." Genie cried out as she obeyed, and into her lamp she went, back to being a prisoner to an object, back to being cut off from the outside world. She did not know her Master's thoughts, but hoped beyond all hope that Claire would release her soon. There was nothing for Genie to do, other than curl into a ball and await her Master’s call.