Where's my flying carpet?
Finding one might not be so impossible in this situation. I could learn to fly the carpet. I could be back at the hotel in no time.
"Why am I here?" I ask, staring at the tiled patio and the oasis and desert that surround it.
Umnana laughs. "Didn't you want to experience what it's like to be a djinn? Now you can. We gave you the powers of the djinn."
I burst out laughing, incredulous. "Sure. Right."
His eyes glowing with affection, Shodfui says, "Why not give it a try, tech man? See for yourself. Taste the power we're offering."
I shake my head. "I'm already immortal, and now you want me to be a djinn?"
Umnana laughs. "You need to understand us, don't you? Besides, you don't have ALL the djinn powers. Only some of them. Try something."
"I have to get back to my hotel."
Shodfui touches my arm with his strong other-worldly hand. "We'll bring you back as soon as you use your powers. That's simple, yes?"
It sounds too easy.
"Are you djinn bored or something? Give the human powers, watch hm make a fool of himself? Bet you never did this with my grandparents."
Umnana smiles, and her skin looks like it's spangled with stars. "Your grandmother fared better than your grandfather, I'll admit. All the women of your family have. Maybe females just have an easier time adjusting."
Okay, that sparks my masculine drive. "I am NOT going to back away from a challenge that my Gram won."
Shodfui laughs softly. "It's a pity Daji got to you first. You'd make a splendid mate for a djinn. So spirited and intelligent … and too proud for your own good."
I cross my arms. "I'm flattered, but I don't swing that way."
He shrugs. "Your loss. Especially since Daji is a handful."
"And you're a regular cinnamon roll, I bet."
"Well, I am called 'The Friendly.' And speaking of that, isn't part of your job liaising with different guests and communities, maintaining the hotel's friendly reputation? You're the new owner. As your people say, you need face time with your potential clients."
He might wear a vest instead of a three-piece suit, but Shodfui could put MBAs to shape with his thumbnail summary of Marketing 101.
"Okay." I smile. "Show me your palace."
"First, show us your stuff," Umnana purrs.
"Right. What do I do?"
I can conquer this challenge. I can. The family honor is at stake.
Shodfui points at a bird sitting on the balcony. "You see that owl?"
I glance at the sand-colored owl. "Hard to miss. He looks comfortable. Probably waiting for a bat to fly past, and boom, instant dinner."
"Well, I want you to make him disappear. I suspect he's a spy."
"Maybe a drone," I say. "Last year I was at CES in Las Vegas, the big consumer electronics convention, and this one company had a drone that looked like a hawk, modeled after the US military's drone."
"It's not mechanical," Shodfui says. "We can feel it. It's a real owl, sent by a rival djinn clan."
Djinn clan wars. That definitely sounds like a fantasy novel.
Shodfui stretches out his arms. "Just channel the energy from your heart through your hands. Concentrate on the owl disappearing and reappearing somewhere else."
"Where?"
He shrugged. "Desert below should do."
"Make an owl disappear. Right. And make it reappear."
The palace gleams white lite the full moon around us, and I feel like my little resort could probably fit in its ballroom. What am I thinking? It's not a "little resort." It's the place where gods stay and play.
"Where Gods Stay and Play. That's our tagline," I say.
"FOCUS, mortal! Recite the magic words. 'Reappear where I command! I send you to the desert sand!'"
I say the words with authority, remembering every fantasy book I've ever read and every movie I've seen. "Reappear where I command! I send you to the desert sand!"
Fiery energy flows from my hands, and for a moment I think it's going to barbecue this poor little owl, or drone, or whatever it is.
The magic surrounds the owl, coming within an inch of singing its wings … and fades away.
"Try again," Shodfui commands.
Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and I plant my feet. I am not going to be the one to embarrass the family, even if my parents don't know about any of this. They're probably going to their book club right now, in blissful ignorance.
I bellow the words. "Reappear where I command! I send you to the desert sand!"
Again, the flames shoot out and envelop the bird. The owl blinks and hoots, aware of its intended fate too late. I steel myself for the smell of burning feathers …
"You can open your eyes now," Shodfui says, amused.
I open my eyes and gasp. The owl is gone! And no scorch marks. Nothing. I made the owl disappear. I did it! Dancing wildly, I feel like I've achieved a milestone.
Shodfui slaps me on the back, and I wheeze. Djinn strength even tops Thor's strength. Not that Thor dares to backslap me. Maybe he's saving that for when I visit Asgard. At the rate things are going, I'll probably wake up there tomorrow.
"You did very well, mortal." Shodfui propels me toward the palace. "You must be hungry after all that. I've ordered a light meal for you. And don't tell me you have to get back to the hotel. You can have one meal with us. It's the least we can do for what Jastam did."
"I think we're square now."
"Nonsense! What he did could have been embarrassing for every djinn in this clan."
The pieces fall into place. "And then the rival clan would probably show up and stake their claim. They'd probably gloat over you getting kicked out of the inn."
"Ah, you understand the situation perfectly! You know, your grandparents talked about you with such pride. I can see why."
I feel suddenly exhausted, like I've been doing manual labor around the hotel all day. My eyelids droop. Semi-immortal I may be, but invincible I'm not.
My vision blurs and I fall into a deep sleep. I'm dead to the world.
My dreams are a tumble of confused images. Gram casting a spell and making an owl disappear. Me romping with Daji through a peach grove. My inn appearing on the cover of Travel + Leisure Magazine. A shadowy figure stalking through the halls of the resort. Me playing catch with Sun Wukong.
When I wake up, a dark figure looms over me. Half-asleep, I think it's one of the djinn climbing into my bed to have their way with me. Not Shodfui—he seems to respect me. But one of the others. I give the amorous djinn a mighty shove …
My attacker snarls, and I feel fox fur against my palms.
"DAJI? How did you get here?"
"Never mind that! Just wait till we get home, and I'll give you a lesson you won't forget. What were you thinking, daring the djinn to take you away? I ought to put a leash on you!"