The quiet.
Out of everything, it was the first thing that struck me. Just how quiet and empty everything was. There were no neighbors and couples yelling at each other from a distance of two or more floors. No crowd of kids and teenagers or really any sort of crowd, gathering together and complaining about politics and exams. No tired men and women returning home after a long day of work. Though, strangest of all, there was no stand in front of the wrought iron gates selling shwarma for kids and adults that were in too much of a hurry to make their own breakfast.
All that was there was me in my jeans and blouse with a suitcase in hand wondering if I was still in Egypt anymore. Thinking that I should do something, I looked at the gate before deciding that it was too high for me to scale and I wasn't small enough to squeeze through.
Knowing that I was stuck here until someone realized that I had arrived, I reached into my jeans and pulled out my tarot card deck. When they were secure in my hand, I sat down on the ground with my legs crossed and shuffled the deck. I then drew the first card face up and separated the rest of the deck into three smaller piles. When it was arranged right, I was surprised to see that it was the reversed fool.
A change that I don't want to happen will occur, but that's already happened. What other change does it mean?
I then flipped the first card that represented what would happen on the earthly plane. It was the upright empress, but this was even stranger. I was moving to a place where no one knew me. Sure it wasn't that many kilometers by tok-tok from my old apartment in Shoubra, but for all it mattered I might as well be worlds away.
Just why on earth would people be gathering to me?
Still curious, I turned the next card that revealed the upright hanged man. Knowing that it signified that I needed to let go of an outdated attitude, I was left very confused. I had never gotten such a strange reading before and when doing it for other people I was normally able to interpret it accurately, but this entire reading was confusing. It just left me with more and more questions.
Finally, I flipped the final card to reveal the upright death card. Contrary to popular belief, I knew that it meant the closing of one door and the opening of the other, rather than my physical death. The question now, was what did I need to let go of?
Looking at all these cards together, I surmised that something in my life was going to change and I was not going to like this change, whatever it may be. Also, whatever this change is it will bring a lot of people to me and involve me having to sacrifice something.
"But what?" I murmured to myself.
As I was gathering my cards, I spotted, from the corner of my eye, a creature resembling those foreign gargoyles with bat-like wings, horns, red leathery skin, and smoke coming out of its nostrils.
What's an 'afreet doing here? The villa isn't near any ruins. Whatever, rule number one is never look a spirit directly in the eyes so if I ignore it, it should go away.
Deciding to ignore him by redoing my reading, I reshuffled my cards and drew them out again only to get the same reading over and over again. With each reading I did, I could feel a tick start in my jaw in annoyance.
After a while of this pattern, I muttered, "This is stupid and where are they, anyways?"
Instead of a verbal response, I got a chuckle from my unwanted companion.
"Ikhras! I'm really annoyed right now and don't appreciate being some djinn's entertainment!" I yelled while facing the 'afreet before realizing my mistake.
Well there goes rule number one.
Instead of killing me or making a move, an awkward silence developed between me and the 'afreet where we just stared each other down. To be completely honest, inwardly I was panicking and trying to remember what my dad said to do if I ever accidently got cornered by a djinn.
"You can see me?" asked the 'afreet in a deep voice that wasn't as scratchy as I imagined it would be.
And he speaks Arabic. Of course he does. With my luck, he's probably from the Magic District too.
Thinking that this response might have meant that I was still in the clear, I ignored him and sat back down to pick up my tarot cards.
As I was gathering them, the 'afreet started up again.
"Human girl-child, I asked if you could hear my voice."
I remained silent and shoved the deck back into my jeans.
"Human girl-child, answer me. I know you can see me."
Still, I did not answer him.
For a while he was silent and I thought he had given up, but then I heard a flapping sound that was followed by a thud not more than a few feet from me. From the corner of my eye, I found that he was much larger than I first assumed him to be. Up close, he looked to be well over six feet tall. He also seemed to be dressed in clothes that resembled any falahee from a village.
"Human girl-child, please answer me."
Looking back, I don't know why I answered him. Maybe it was a combination of the heat and boredom. Maybe it was my impatience at not talking to anyone since the tok-tok driver dropped me off. Or maybe it was the almost pleading look in his eyes. Suffice it to say, in that moment I chose to abandon the rules that I had grown up with.
"What is it?" I finally responded.
His gold eyes lit with relief, but he was otherwise silent.
"Well?" I asked while arching an eyebrow.
"Those eyes. That expression. I know them and have seen them before."
"That's odd considering this is the first time we have met."
"Are you from a magician's family?"
"Technically, but technically not," I responded.
"I see...then what is your name?"
"My name?" I asked with distrust in my eyes.
"I swear to you I will not use it to harm you."
"My dad once told me that although the djinn cannot lie, they are masters of telling half truths. You said that you would not use it to harm me, but how do I know you would not give my name to another to use against me," I replied bluntly.
"You are very forward for a girl, but very well, I swear not to use it to harm you and to not reveal it to any other being. Is this fair enough?"
He must be desperate to agree so easily.
I was silent for a while as I thought over his words and then I finally replied, "Laila. My name is Laila Gergis."
At my reply, the 'afreet laughed. It wasn't even a small chuckle either, but a full blown guffaw that left me gaping. True this was the first time I had ever actually talked with a djinn, but before this moment I didn't even know that they were capable of laughter, let alone the type that the 'afreet was now showcasing.
Seeing my blank stare, the 'afreet said, "Forgive me child, I just find it terribly amusing. I know another Gergis with eyes like yours and to think the one who would aid me in that plight is that man's kin is laughable."
Feeling my heart pick up pace in hope, I asked, "Do you know where this man is?"
"Thinking on it, I have not seen him in quite some time. Why do you ask?" asked the 'afreet.
I clenched my fists and stared at him coldly in response.
"Very well, I won't force it out of you. Now, I require your assistance."
"My help?" I questioned.
"Yes, one of my race placed a curse on my son and I was told that if I waited here I would meet someone who would aid me. Frankly, you are not what I expected but I suppose if you can save him, I shouldn't complain," explained the 'afreet.
"Why should I help you? And why ask me? There are plenty of Sehry more experienced than me that could help you in the Magic District."
"Do you think I have not tried that? I've tried everything and not a one has worked. This is my final chance."
"...That doesn't mean I have to help him."
"He is my only offspring and but a boy, barely fifteen," the 'afreet attempted to reason.
So we're the same age.
"I don't have any experience with curses and could get hurt for a stranger. Why should I save him? In the old stories, the heroes always die young and I don't intend to sacrifice my life for a stranger." I responded.
He was taken aback by my words and for a moment I thought he would leave, but then he said, "I see, then what if I give you something that you wish for."
"Something I wish for?"
"Yes, whether it be wealth or power, I shall do all in my capability to grant it to you once my son is well."
"Then can you give me my parents back?" I asked in a small whisper.
"Your parents?"
"A week ago they vanished and I want them back."
"I cannot revive the dead. That is the will of God alone," replied the 'afreet.
"They aren't dead...they're just gone."
"I understand. Child, if they are still living, I will do all in my power to aid you in finding them once my son is well again. So do we have a deal?"
Feeling as if I was making a bargain with the devil, I took his crimson taloned hand and said, "Deal.819Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSHRjZGpfK
