Sure enough, her expression cleared suddenly. She sat up straight, energy crackling around her as her fingers returned to the keyboard with renewed purpose. The words flowing from her imagination carried that same pure joy he'd witnessed in the pool, though now it had found focus and direction.
Another laugh bubbled up as she worked, this one accompanied by a satisfied nod. Whatever scene played out in her mind clearly met with her approval. Her essence blazed brighter, the creative force surrounding her almost visible even to mortal eyes.
Kieran found himself oddly reluctant to leave, drawn by the simple pleasure she took in her craft. Her delight in weaving stories reminded him of young Djinn discovering their magic for the first time - that same sense of wonder and possibility, of creating something from nothing but thought and will.
Kieran sensed Jacinth's presence an instant before she materialized beside him. Her essence carried that familiar spark of mischief that always seemed to herald trouble. She moved closer to the window, studying Mandy with obvious satisfaction.
"Do you see now?" Jacinth's voice was uncharacteristically solemn. "Why I chose her for your vessel?"
He did see, though admitting it stirred complicated feelings within him. The way Mandy approached her craft echoed ancient magic - taking ethereal thoughts and manifesting them into something tangible and real. Her mind worked in patterns similar to Djinn spellcraft, building layers of meaning and possibility with careful precision.
Even now, she paused in her typing to consider her words, that familiar look of concentration crossing her features as she tested different phrases silently. The creative force around her gathered and coalesced before bursting forth in another flurry of typing. Her essence blazed bright with joy at capturing exactly the right combination of words.
"Yes," he admitted to Jacinth, his voice low. "I understand why you chose her."
Mozart's green eyes fixed on him through the window, the cat's whiskers twitching as he sensed the Djinn's invisible presence. Animals always knew when Djinn were near, their instincts unhampered by human limitations. The orange tabby's tail swished once before he settled back into his nap.
Mandy, however, remained absorbed in her work, completely unaware of her audience as she shaped her fictionalworlds with the same dedication a Djinn might apply to crafting complex enchantments.
"She approaches her art as we approach our magic," Kieran added softly. "With reverence for its power, and joy in its possibilities."
Kieran watched Jacinth's form dissolve into wisps of smoke, her knowing smile lingering in the air like desert heat. His jaw tightened at her presumption - that eternally irritating certainty she possessed about matters that weren't her concern.
And yet... his gaze returned to the window where Mandy sat typing, completely absorbed in the flow of her story. Through the glass, he observed as Mandy paused, head tilted in consideration, before her fingers flew across the keyboard once more.
He had intended to speak with her again about her wishes, to provide further guidance on their proper formation. But watching her now, so deeply immersed in her creative flow, he found himself reluctant to interrupt. This moment of pure creation deserved respect, like a perfectly balanced spell reaching its crescendo.
Kieran allowed his form to dissolve into wisps of smoke, leaving Mandy to her work. His tower materialized around him, its white marble walls gleaming in the eternal desert sun. The familiar space welcomed him, every surface polished to mirror brightness, reflecting the blue-tinged light that filtered through the crystalline windows. Here, in his sanctuary, the ancient magic of the Djinn realm thrummed through the very air, as familiar as his own heartbeat.
A touch against his leg pulled Kieran from his contemplation. Dinen weaved between his feet, the Djinn cat's spotted fur rippling with tiny blue flames of pleasure. The massive feline's purr vibrated through the marble floor like distant thunder.
Missed you. Happy you're home.The sentiment flowed through their connection, accompanied by fleeting images of Dinen waiting in various spots around the tower - sprawled in a patch of sunlight by the crystal windows, perched on the library shelves, curled up in Kieran's favorite chair.
"I wasn't gone that long," Kieran murmured, though they both knew time moved differently between realms. Dinen simply butted his head harder against Kieran's hand, unconcerned with such technicalities.
Dinen's broad nose pressed against his trouser leg, whiskers twitching as he investigated the lingering scents from the mortal realm. Through their bond, images of Bach and Mozart flashed - Dinen's curiosity about the two cats he'd scented on Kieran's previous visits.
"No, I didn't go inside to visit them this time." Kieran kept his voice neutral, though something in his chest tightened at the admission.
Why not? Playful. Different.A wave of questioning rolled through their telepathic connection, accompanied by more images of the mortal cats. Dinen's spotted tail swished, blue flames dancing along his fur.
Kieran turned away from those questioning golden eyes, moving toward themajlis- living room in the Western world - with its comfortable cushions and low tables. "It's complicated," he mumbled, more to himself than to his feline companion.
The word felt inadequate to describe the swirl of emotions he'd experienced watching Mandy work. Her creative energy had called to something long dormant within him, awakening memories and feelings he'd thought safely buried beneath centuries of duty and protocol.
He conjured some tea for himself, and a bowl of honey wine for Dinen, a treat the Djinn cat enjoyed. He would return to themortal realm when Mandy called. For now, let her create her worlds in peace.
Chapter
Eleven
Mandy satin her favorite recliner, laptop balanced on her knees as she edited her latest chapters. She'd written three chapters in the last three days - chapters she was deliriously happy with. Mozart sprawled across the arm of the chair, occasionally batting at her fingers as they moved across the keyboard.
A whisper of movement drew her attention. She turned her head, seeing Kieran materialize in her living room, his silver hair catching the afternoon sunlight. His presence filled the small space, somehow both intimidating and welcome.
"Sabah il-khayr," he greeted.
"Sabah il-noor," she responded with a welcoming smile.
