"What the hell are you doing?" Carolyn tried to call out, but it was no use.
She was no longer inhabiting her daughter's body; she was now trapped in some kind of container.
"Uh, uh. You are done causing trouble, little witch." Roland waved a finger at her.
In a fit of rage, Carolyn tried her hardest to break free from her glass cage.
Roland turned to her, his eyes a blazing turquoise.
"I bind your spirit for eternity. You shall do no more harm from now until the end of days."
She felt the power drain from her spirit as he repeated his chant, tying a black ribbon around the bottle that was to be her eternal home. As he placed the jar atop a high shelf next to the other containers, he felt as though he was no longer alone.
"How may I serve you?" he asked with no real conviction.
"Am-Sher-Al, what have you done?"
"I have simply eliminated a threat, Mistress."
"So now you see fit to take matters into your own hands?"
"I simply did what I thought best for you."
"Or, did you do what you thought best for the young witch? Tell me Am-Sher-Al, have you gone soft? Do you have feelings for her?"
"I feel only the need to serve you," he said, turning toward the voice.
It was difficult for him to hide his feelings at the best of times. Djinn were not known for their ability to lie.
"I find this all very disconcerting, my love," his mistress spoke in a purr as she took on physical form. "I want what is mine, nothing more, nothing less. Is that really too much to ask?"
"Of course not, Mistress."
"Well, I see I will have to get my due another way, then." She reached up and pulled the jar with the black ribbon from the shelf. She turned the jar over in her hands, eyeing the contents. "I have to admit, I never liked dealing with this vile creature. All swearing and drinking like a sailor. She never struck me as very trustworthy, to be honest." She tossed the jar from hand to hand before replacing it on the shelf. "Serves her right, being bound for eternity."
"What is your plan now, Mistress?"
"I think I'll keep that to myself for now, my sweet. I am not exactly sure who I can trust."
"As you wish," Roland bowed his head. When he looked up, his mistress was gone.