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THE NEXT DAY, I traveled to the portal the instant my father left for work, as the sun was still rising. The parents of Asher, Simon, Phillipa, and Miriam were already waiting outside the daleth when I arrived, speaking with the guard stationed there. They greeted me, but were distracted by the prince and the rest of his guards arriving.
“Jezebel,” Prince Shem said, giving me a brief nod before turning to the parents. “Good morning. As we reassured you yesterday, there’s no need to worry. We have this under control. The Guard has handled similar instances in the past, and I’ve no doubt we’ll return your loved ones to you soon.”
I noticed he didn’t say by the end of the day this time.
“Please, if you have work or other duties, feel free to attend to those. You’ll be sent word the moment they’re found.”
Phillipa’s father vanished as soon as the prince finished speaking, followed quickly by Miriam’s and Simon’s parents. Asher’s mother spoke with the prince a bit longer, but after he continued to soothe her, she left as well, leaving only me behind.
“Let’s make today count,” the prince said to his guards, as he waved them through the daleth.
I bit my lip, thinking he’d forgotten I was there, until he glanced over his shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Aren’t you coming?”
***
OF COURSE, THE PRINCE couldn’t keep his promise to the parents, because my friends were nowhere near the human world, and any remaining trail from our original travels had gone cold, making them impossible to find.
Still, they continued the search.
Day after day, I got to wake up and spend long hours with the prince.
We traveled all across the human world over the next three weeks. As long as I showed up before him and his guards every morning, and stayed until after the worried parents left, he always invited me to join him. Whether it meant anything to him or not, that was a generous opportunity I wouldn’t pass up!
My goal quickly became winning him over—as a friend at the very least. A friend in the highest of possible places. One who brought a smile to my face and opportunities to my door, instead of trouble and heartache. That was enough for now.
He laughed when I encountered my first camel—which spit in my face—caught me before I accidentally stepped on my first poisonous snake, and as we soaked up my first human sunset from a mountaintop together, his eyes were on me instead of the colorful sky more than once.
Is he like this with everyone? Or is it just me?
I sincerely hoped I was special, but I couldn’t quite allow myself to believe it.
I sighed.
Back at the castle, he likely knew dozens of Jinni girls far richer than I, who’d had their sights set on him for far longer. What were the chances he’d be interested in someone like me?
I was a fool to even hope.
Shem—as I was beginning to think of him privately, instead of Prince Shem—did confide in me, though. As the days passed, he told me stories of growing up in the castle with its many secrets. How he’d eventually convinced the Jinni Guard to go along with his schemes and even let him disappear from time to time. Such as now.
“My father tries to understand,” he said one day as we stood before a waterfall so tall it rivaled the castle back home. The rush of water thundered, even from this far away, and he had to raise his voice to speak over it. “He really does. But the problem is, it’s been centuries since he was young. My mother too. They barely remember.”
I laughed at the way he contorted his face in exaggerated pain. “Every parent is that way.” My own father was only a century and a half—he and my mother had had me when they were young—but he could rival the king when it came to understanding his offspring.
“I don’t think he wants to remember,” Shem complained, yanking his tall boots off and tugging the bottom of his pants up around his knees.
“What’re you doing?” I interrupted.
He waved at the calmer pool of water in front of us, where the roaring water quieted. “It’s hot,” he said as if it was obvious. “I’m putting my feet in.” He plunked down on a rock large enough for both of us plus a dozen more, patting the smooth surface next to him in invitation.
As a rule now, I always joined him in his escapades. So I unlaced my sandals carefully, glad that I’d worn another short summer dress, and slipped my toes into the cool water next to him. I moaned at how good it felt. Shem was right, the air was so hot it was suffocating. Cooling off instantly lightened my mood.
“Anyway,” he continued, once I was settled. “My father has already seen the world a hundred times over. He doesn’t understand that it’s all new to me. It’s just better if he doesn’t know where I spend my days.” He kicked his feet, splashing me a little, then leaned back until he was lying on the warm rock beneath us like a bed. It felt oddly intimate. Made me want to reach down and brush the stray hair from his eyes.
Shem was unaware of my distraction as he added, “Sometimes, I almost wonder if he does know when I disappear, but he’s allowing it because he knows I’d go stir-crazy otherwise.”
“My father thinks I’m working for the castle,” I admitted out of nowhere. He’d been sharing secrets, so maybe it was time to share one of mine. “But unlike your father, I’m certain he doesn’t know better. If he did...” I trailed off.
Shem waited, but I didn’t continue. I’d only mentioned my father to him briefly. Just enough to answer questions. Probably enough to reveal the cracks in our façade as well, but Shem was too polite to say anything directly. After some time, he let it pass without comment, and we just sat quietly, enjoying the view.
Now that I’d brought up my father, I couldn’t get him off my mind.
Back when we’d first started the search, I’d realized I’d be gone frequently and would need to give my father some sort of excuse for my absence.
That night, I’d fed and watered my little lizard friends, tucking them underneath my bed out of sight. Then, I’d waited.
When the doorknob finally turned, signaling my father’s arrival home, I was past the point of trembling or twisting my hands anxiously, and in a state of numb exhaustion instead.
“What do you want?” he’d grunted, slamming the door behind him, and moving to the kitchen.
I’d trailed behind, clearing my throat. Better to keep it simple. “The Jinni Guard took me on for a short-term assignment. A few days—or weeks if I’m lucky. I won’t be home much, but it’s a paid position...” It wasn’t a total lie. I’d thought of the coins hidden in my drawer.
“Fine,” my father had interrupted. “Maybe you’ll be worth something after all. Make sure you bring home every shekel.”
It’d been harder than usual to keep my face calm. My father reminded me of Asher, which reminded me of what he’d done, and in turn, of what I’d had to do.
My mother had been right: People used you. Better to keep them at a distance where they couldn’t do any damage.
***
“YOU’RE NOTHING LIKE the Jinn at court,” Shem said the next day, laughing at my stories of the crowded acropolis.
My face must’ve fallen, because he was quick to add, “No, no—I like that about you.”
His words hit me unexpectedly. They gave me the same giddy feeling that I had with Asher. Except this time the boy looking back at me might actually mean them... I wanted desperately to believe he did.
“Trust me, it’s a good thing,” Shem continued, unaware that my heart was sprinting ahead of him, full of dangerous hopes. “Everyone in the court is completely vapid. Conversation always turns to the crown, and if I’d ever consider sharing it with someone.”
“Hmm,” I dragged out the word playfully, stepping closer to him, pretending sudden interest. If I were being honest with myself, it was more like revealing feelings that had been growing all along. “And would you?”
When he rolled his eyes, I winked at him the way he was always winking at me and laughed. “You can’t blame them for wondering. After all, have you looked in a mirror lately?”
It was easy to laugh with him, even if I was blushing because I meant it.
And I knew I was being hopeful, but as the weeks passed, part of me thought that when all of this daleth business was over, there might be a chance he’d still want to see me.
The only dark spot in my day was when I had to gather fresh food to feed my friends and refill their water before I left each morning. I tried not to think about them if I didn’t have to. Showing up at the daleth as early as possible and staying as late as they allowed each day, I made the most of this short season. Shem made me feel safe for the first time in... as long as I could remember.
I knew they couldn’t keep the search going forever, but I didn’t want them to close the portal anymore. I didn’t want this to end.
Still, my luck had to run out eventually.
“Tomorrow is likely to be our last day,” Shem was saying now as we strolled through a rainforest, stopping to admire a colorful bird with a beak the same size as its body. We’d traveled three times to reach this unique location, stretching Shem’s traveling ability—though in truth it wasn’t much stronger than my own.
His voice was low, eyes downcast, as he added, “This isn’t the first time we’ve been unsuccessful in finding missing Jinn, but that doesn’t make it any easier.”
He offered me a helping hand to step over a fallen log. When he picked a lush, pink and orange flower and held it out to me, my cheeks weren’t flushed from the heat this time.
I tried to also seem disheartened at the news, instead of relieved. When I thought about not seeing Shem anymore after tomorrow, I didn’t have to pretend to be disappointed. Searching for the right words, I cleared my throat and said, “I wish they’d never gone through the daleth. And I hate that we’re giving up...” Because I won’t get to spend time with you anymore.
Shem stopped to face me, waiting until I looked him in the eye to speak, “I need to apologize to you. For raising your hopes in what ended up being an impossible situation. I truly thought we would find them, and I feel personally responsible for the failure.”
“It’s not your fault,” I murmured. If he only knew just how true that was.
We turned to continue walking in silence until I asked, “Will you tell the parents in the morning?”
“No.” Shem turned away and shook his head, blowing out a frustrated breath. “We’ll bring them to the castle and tell them after the daleth is closed. And after we’ve had a chance to plan a formal shivah to mourn their children’s passing and honor their memory. I probably shouldn’t have told you either, truthfully. But I thought you should know.”
“I appreciate that,” I said softly, smiling at him. “I’d always prefer to know.” My words held layers of meaning.
“Oh, yes?” Though his eyes were still sad, he gave me a small smile. “And does that apply to everything? I suppose I should also let you know that you look very lovely today.”
“Thank you.” I smiled back. I’d shifted my face in small increments over the last few weeks to slowly add more color to my cheeks and lips, darken my lashes, and make my blue eyes sparkle with a hint of silver. The slight changes could easily be mistaken for makeup, and over time I hoped those who knew me would forget I’d ever looked any different.
The thought reminded me of my friends, still in lizard form, back at the acropolis. Still in their jars, but moved to a better hiding place beneath the bed.
I knew what I needed to do with them now.
Tomorrow was my last chance to do it, and I’d been putting it off over the last few weeks. There’d never been a good time. The prince had posted a constant guard by the daleth, day and night. And I’d enjoyed spending my days with him so much that I hadn’t wanted to waste a second of our time sneaking away. But now it was necessary.
Before that portal was closed, I needed to bring my friends back over to the human side one final time... and leave them there.
I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.
It has to be done.
Grimly, I pressed my lips together and lifted my chin.
Shem read my change in expression and misunderstood. “I really shouldn’t have told you about tomorrow. You don’t have to come if seeing them seal the daleth will be too difficult for you.”
I turned away, lifting my hand to my eyes as if to brush away a tear, because I couldn’t fully hide how I felt. A mixture of anxiety and anticipation. The only thing that will be difficult is not getting caught. After weeks of worrying they might somehow find evidence of what I’d done, the biggest clue was about to finally vanish. “It won’t be too difficult,” I managed to say, eyes downcast. It will be a relief.
But once again the reminder that it’d be my last day with Shem caused me a pang of disappointment. I’d have to make the most of our time tomorrow. “There’s still a small chance they could be found,” I said, clearing my throat as I turned back to face him. “I’d like to be there, if that’s all right? I’ll stay out of the way.”
He smiled down at me, standing close enough to reveal the startling flecks of silver in his pale blue eyes. “I’d enjoy that very much.”