Djinn Read online

  Contents

  Welcome To Hemisphere!

  Get Your Public Service Announcements Here

  Four Authors One Town

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  Epilogue

  About The Authors

  Calamity Or Death By Misadventure

  Hello, New Resident. I am Billy Baltimore, one of the Hemisphere City Planners. We’ll get you all moved in shortly, but first I have been asked to read this brief statement:

  The Hemisphere City Planners are a group of undercover authors just sitting around thinking $#!@ up. Most of that then walks the streets of Hemisphere. It’s not as important who we are as it is that you enjoy our little town. All new residents receive a robust information packet, so that they have everything they will need to survive. We the city planners welcome you. As we are fond of saying, Hemisphere: come for the great schools, stay for the weirdness.

  Okay, that wasn’t too bad, was it? Now, I really must insist that you take seriously that bit about the information packet. If you want things that go bump in the night, Hemisphere’s got ‘em, but hey, don’t worry. Everything you need to know is right in there and will give you every chance. It might help you find a great restaurant, too. Just click the link below.

  http://www.subscribepage.com/d8n7d2

  See you around, Neighbor. I think you’re gonna like it here.

  —Billy B.

  HEMISPHERE

  Anything Can Happen, and Something Always Does

  Twitter

  http://twitter.com/hemispherebooks

  Facebook

  http://www.facebook.com/TheHemisphereUnderground

  Hemisphere On The Web

  http://hemisphereunderground.com

  BILLY BALTIMORE

  Twitter

  http://twitter.com/ambillyb

  Facebook

  http://www.facebook.com/IamBillyBaltimore/

  Billy On The Web

  http://billybaltimore.deadaheadbooks.com/

  One Town Many Stories

  (But they’re all A Hemisphere Story)

  BILLY BALTIMORE

  Emma Spaulding Paranormal Detective: Sasquatch

  Emma Spaulding Paranormal Detective: Djinn

  Emma Spaulding Paranormal Detective: Soul Eater

  (Coming January 2nd, 2018)

  G. OLDMAN

  The Corgan Family Chronicles

  Book 1: Peril In The Park

  Book 2: Rise of the Watchmen

  (Coming December 5th 2017)

  J.J. BELDING

  The Ripple

  Haunted Depot: Ghost Curse Series

  Book 1: The Depot

  (Coming December 12th 2017)

  KIT NASH

  The Rectifier Series

  Book 1: Some Assembly Required

  (Coming November 28th 2017)

  To Sam and Dean, Mulder and Scully, Ash, and that new kid on the block, Wynonna. You guys kick ass.

  There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy

  —Hamlet, Act I, Scene V

  1

  Kaitlinn Gardner was freakin’ bored out of her skull. Her hands fidgeted, not for the first time, absent of her smart phone as they were. Not for the first time, she looked around her house from her vantage point on the couch. Kitchen, front room, back bedroom with adjoining bathroom. Every flat surface covered with stuff, the floors all but impassable with clothes and possessions used and abandoned where they fell. Where she dropped them.

  She huffed.

  “Someone should clean this place up,” she said.

  On some level it occurred to her that the ‘someone’ probably should be her, but that thought was unpleasant and quickly abandoned, to settle in the dim reaches of her mind like so much of her belongings on the floor. She turned her head forward to stare at the flat-screen. Reaching for the remote, her hand plopped down into a half-eaten bowl of Sugar Flakes cereal. The milk warm, the flakes soggy.

  “Ewww!” she said, shaking her hand and sending milk droplets and soggy flakes across the room. A few landed on the flat-screen and stuck there.

  Very briefly, she thought she should get up and wipe that off. She remained on the couch staring at the splattered sugar flake. A milk droplet cut a trail through the dust on its way to the entertainment center, or more properly, the mountain of empty blu-ray cases and orphan disks piled on top of the entertainment center. Even more briefly she thought she would go over to the television and turn it on by hand. Then it occurred to her she would have to change the channels by hand too. The notion revolted her and she dismissed it quickly.

  “I’m not an animal for hells sake,” she said, slumping her head back against the overstuffed cushion of the couch.

  A dust-bunny clinging for dear life to the intake vent of her air conditioning lost its grip and floated slowly down. Kaitlinn opened her eyes just as it landed on her nose. An exasperated sigh sent the dust bunny flying to parts unknown and Kaitlinn raised her head. She sat up and scooted to the edge of the couch. Staring at the floor, or more properly, the sea of detritus covering the floor, she kicked a pile of papers. Several went flying. One stayed put and it caught her eye. Filled with bright colors and smiling happy faces, it shown like a beacon of escape from the drudgery. She reached down and picked it up. It was an ad. For a game.

  PLAY THE GAME THAT IS SURE TO SWEEP HEMISPHERE!

  A NEW BE “DJINN” ING!

  PICK 1 OF 18 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENIE!

  MAKE A WISH!

  LIVE YOUR DREAMS!

  *FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. AGES 6 AND UP

  GET IT AT

  ADELAIDE’S SPELLS AND INCANTATIONS!

  LOCATED ON CONJURER’S ROW

  NEAR THE SHARPER MAGE AND THE CADDY CAULDRON

  Kaitlinn stared at the ad a moment.

  “Eh, what the hells,” she said, tossing the paper away where it settled into an empty laundry basket that was nestled comfortably in a bed of dirty socks and tee shirts.

  As she stood and looked around, a new panic seized her mind.

  Car keys?!

  A quick pat brought relief as she felt them in the front pocket of her pajama bottoms. A second later, she was out the door and in her bird-poop covered, pink VW Beetle. Another concern presented itself.

  Purse?!

  She sighed as she looked down at the passenger side floorboard and saw it.

  “At least something is where it should be,” she said, then headed for Conjurer’s Row.

  An hour later, Kaitlinn was back in her house, game in hand. Thirty seconds after that, she was back on the couch. Lifting the lid off the game box, a single sheet of paper lay before her on top of eighteen figurines, each about four inches tall. She looked at the sheet of paper, at the top of which were the words DIRECTIONS.

  Just a few words, or so it seems,

  Before you can get on with all your dreams.

  Pick a genie, some call it a Djinn

  Stand him up and you can begin

  Call him out nice and loud!

  Do it now, Do it proud!

  Your Djinn will appear nice and tall

  With a wink and a smile, he’ll grant you all

  When you’re ready to put him away

  To play with him another day

  Just follow the directions contained below

  Now, you’re ready, so, hey! Let’s Go!

  “Geeze! Lame, much?” she said.

  She scanned the words below the poem which were in the tiniest print she had ever seen.
>
  “Too many words,” she said, her eyes rolling in her head.

  Tossing the instructions away, she leaned over and studied the eighteen figurines, all tucked neatly in perfectly lined rows. A blue one caught her eye. She plucked it from its nook and held it up in front of her. It was clearly a female, and one of sensuous proportions. A seductive look on its face was framed in a flowing rendition of long black hair. A thin rap of cloth encircled her neck, coming down over her shoulders, barely covering her ample breasts. A paler blue dress hung low on her hips. The Female Djinn’s arms were extended, and in one hand was what appeared to be a small flame.

  Kaitlinn furrowed her brow as she stared into the emerald green eyes of the figurine. She could feel herself being drawn in by them. She shook her head, breaking the spell.

  “Geeze, K. Get a life, already,” she said.

  Looking at the base of the figurine, she saw a name stamped in gold letters.

  NADIRAH

  “Huh, cool name, I guess,” she said, shoving aside a stack of paper plates and standing the little statue on the table before her.

  “Here goes nothing. Nadirah!” she said, then waited.

  Nothing is exactly what happened. At first. She was just about to grab the figurine, cram it back into the box, and go get her money back, when she looked up. Standing before her was a more sizable and clearly more real, albeit just as sensuous, version of the little figurine.

  “Not Lame,” Kaitlinn said, staring up into the alluring green eyes of the Djinn.

  “Hello, master,” Nadirah said, her voice sultry and low.

  “Whoa,” was the only thing Kaitlinn could think to say back.

  2

  “So, what? I get like three wishes, right?” Kaitlinn said, scooting to the edge of the couch and tucking her hands under her legs.

  Nadirah narrowed her eyes at Kaitlinn, a whisp of a smile on her lips. A low purr rumbled softly from her mouth.

  “The rules first. Yes, I like that, wise one. The number of commands varies widely from Djinn to Djinn. Some offer more, some less, it’s true. I can offer you but one wish, but it can be anything you want, my master. There are no limits, so fulfill your heart’s desire,” Nadirah said.

  Kaitlinn sat back. Her mind raced as to what to ask for. A fresh question came to mind.

  “I thought you guys lived in lamps. What’s with the box?” she said.

  Nadirah cut her eyes to the still open box.

  “Tis true. The abode of the Djinn was a lamp of exceptional beauty, but lamps get lost, forgotten. It made for eons of time between summonings. A lamp is fine, but not for a thousand years. And so, the game. We Djinn like to get out. Serve our masters. This brings us to our second rule, wise one. Upon making your wish, you must pass me on to another. Should you fail in this regard, your wish is revoked, your heart’s desire lost,” Nadirah said.

  Kaitlinn frowned and crossed her arms.

  “That doesn’t seem fair. You have all these rules, but I only get one wish?” she said.

  Nadirah smiled, her eyes narrowing again.

  “It’s just the two rules… Master,” she said.

  Kaitlinn felt herself growing angry.

  “Yeah, two rules and only one wish. Not fair. Maybe I put you back and get another Genie. Is there one in here that isn’t so, I don’t know, lame?” Kaitlinn said, reaching for the box and trying to pull another figurine out.

  After several seconds of struggling, she gave up.

  “Why won’t these stupid dolls come out?” she said, looking up at the wickedly smiling Nadirah.

  “I’m sorry, my Master. You can’t summon another without dispelling the first,” she said.

  Kaitlinn huffed.

  “Oh, WTF! Is that another rule? You said there were only two,” she said.

  Nadirah bowed her head.

  “It is a rule, but it isn’t mine,” she said.

  Kaitlinn looked up at Nadirah.

  “Fine, I’ll just put you back, then… How do I put you back, again?” she said.

  Nadirah studied her fingernails, seeming bored.

  “The process is in the instructions that came with the vessel,” she said.

  Kaitlinn looked around the table. She looked under the table. She looked on the couch, and then she looked under the couch. The directions were nowhere to be found.

  “God, I wish I had a maid to clean this place up,” she said, exasperated.

  “Done!” said Nadirah, raising her hand.

  In her palm, a small flame erupted. Kaitlinn stopped what she was doing and focused on it. The fire danced, then shot upward, forming a tendril of heat and light. Arcing across the living room, it landed on the kitchen floor and slowly formed into a figure. A few seconds later, a woman stepped into the front room. Decked in a creme colored dress and button top, she had a white apron tied securely around her waist. Sensible white work shoes adorned her feet, and a dainty white cap sat upon her head. She was clearly and definitively, a Maid.

  “Whoa! Is that a maid?” Kaitlinn said.

  Nadirah smiled and purred.

  “It is, my Master. She will keep everything in its place until Hemisphere is no more,” she said.

  Before Kaitlinn could say another word, the Maid began to move. Slow at first, her speed increased until she was but a blur of activity. Nadirah stood placidly as the Maid buzzed about the house. In just a few moments, the place was clutter free. Everything was in its place. On the spotless table in front of her sat Kaitlinn’s smart phone and remote. The Sugar Flakes were off the flat-screen and everything was clean and polished.

  “That’s awesome!” Kaitlinn said, bouncing on the cushions.

  Nadirah smiled and gave a little clap.

  “I’m so glad you approve, my Master. Now, to seal your wish, you have only to pass me on to another and let them share in your good fortune,” she said.

  Kaitlinn stopped bouncing and looked at Nadirah.

  “Who shall I pass you to?” she said, the thought giving her pause.

  Nadirah bowed her head and put her hands behind her back.

  “That is entirely up to you, wise one. Surely you can think of one deserving,” she said.

  Kaitlinn pursed her lips and stared at the now clean and uncluttered floor.

  “Hmm… well, I have this friend, Genie McSweeney. I guess—”

  “Done!” Nadirah said.

  And then she was gone.

  “Hey!” Kaitlinn said, looking around her house.

  The relief she felt at having it cleaned up and her not having to be the one that did it overwhelmed her and she all but forgot Nadirah.

  “This is great,” she said, as her eyes looked to her smart phone.

  “Yes!” she said, reaching for it.

  She had it in her hand for only a second. In a flash, the maid snatched it from her and put it back down on the table.

  “Hey! That’s mine!” Kaitlinn said.

  The maid only stared at her with empty eyes and a blank expression. It was really the first time Kaitlinn got a good look at her.

  “Geeze, you’re kinda creepy looking,” she said.

  The Maid only stood back up and looked forward.

  “Everything in its place,” the Maid said, her voice flat.

  Kaitlinn felt confusion swirl over her.

  “Yeah, well that’s really great for you, but I need my phone, so,” she said, rolling her eyes and reaching for the phone a second time.

  Again, quicker than Kaitlinn could track, the Maid snatched the phone away and put it back on the table before resuming her mindless stance.

  “Everything in its place,” she said again.

  Kaitlinn pulled one knee up to her chest and gripped the seat cushions.

  “Is that all you ever say? Everything in its place?” she said, mocking the Drone's monotone cadence.

  The Maid only stood there, staring mindlessly across the room.

  After a second of no response, Kaitlinn sighed and rolled her eyes
.

  “Fine, whatever! I wanted to watch T.V anyway,” she said, reaching for the remote.

  The Maid sprung into action and seized the remote, slamming it down on the table by the smart phone.

  “Everything in its place,” she said.

  Kaitlinn could only stare at her. She brought her other knee up and hugged them both tightly to her chest.

  “Well, this sucks,” she said, looking around her spotless house.

  3

  Emma Spaulding tried to open her eye. Only her eye didn’t seem to want to open. It wasn’t that she couldn’t open her eye. It felt like her eye muscles were working. No, that wasn’t right. Your eye never really closed; the lid just covered it. Maybe it WAS her eyelid muscles that weren’t working. That must be it. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “Another case closed, super sleuth. That’ll be a hundred, plus expenses,” she said, her speech thick and slurred.

  The thought was enough to point her mind back in the direction of unconsciousness. She felt herself drifting away when a new thought occurred to her.

  She furrowed her brow.

  “What’s wrong with my eyelids?” she said, no more clearly than the first time.

  She raised her hand to her face. Or at least that’s what she thought to do. Her arm felt like it wasn’t really part of her body. Her hand plopped onto her forehead, feeling like a room temperature piece of meat. It just lay there, awaiting further instructions. Gradually, those instructions came and Emma began to rub her eye. It felt like she was grinding crushed glass into her pupil as she scraped away the sleep that had encrusted her eyelid closed. Her lid finally opened and a miasma of light and color made her instantly regret the decision. She groaned at the intrusion. Thrumming pain reverberated in her skull. Her vision began to focus and what she saw furrowed her brow more deeply.