Part 18 (1/2)
”I'll tell you when I'm ready to make a wish. Don't lie to me again.”
Lova lowered her head and did not respond.
As I walked toward my hotel, I tried to count the days I had been gone. Twelve? Fourteen? Would my father still have a room at the Hilton? Had my mother flown over from the states to help find me? I had not bothered to work out a story to explain my absence. The only practical excuse was that I had been kidnapped. But if I brought up kidnapping, my father would bring in the police and I would have to answer endless questions. Being experts, they would probably figure out that I was lying. Where would that get me? it was not until I entered the hotel lobby that I glanced back to make sure Lova was following me. She held back twenty feet. To me she looked mostly solid, 90 percent, but the rays of the sun pa.s.sed straight through her. The image was spooky. She cast no shadow.
Her expression was pa.s.sive. I wondered if djinn experienced emotions the same way we did. True, they possessed a desire to manipulate, to control, but I wondered if they could feel love.
I hurried through the lobby to the elevator and pushed the tenth-floor b.u.t.ton. My card key was still in my day pack, along with my binoculars and compa.s.s. Lova hurried into the elevator before the doors closed. We were alone for a few seconds. The elevator had a mirror. Lova did not show in it, but I still did. I had put back on the same jeans and white s.h.i.+rt I had worn the night I left.
”Do you need to take the elevator? Can't you just float up to the tenth floor?” I asked. She hesitated. ”this is an . . . Elevator?”
”Yes. Do you come from a mechanical civilization?”
”We have tools. But not like these.”
”Do you know what electricity is?”
”No.”
”Can you walk through our walls?”
”I suppose. I'm not used to this world.”
”Are you angry at me for forcing you into this world?”
Lova considered. ”What I do now, it is my duty.”
”What does that mean?”
”You're human. You would not understand.”
”Try me.”
Lova did not answer, merely shook her head. There was a copy of USA Today USA Today outside my father's door. There were copies outside all the rooms. I picked up ours and checked the date. outside my father's door. There were copies outside all the rooms. I picked up ours and checked the date.
the paper was dated the day after I had left.
Only twelve hours had pa.s.sed since I had left.
But I had been gone two intense weeks! I had been sunburned, dehydrated, kicked by goats, betrayed by a friend, stabbed by a djinn. My mind overloaded as it tried to squeeze all those events into one normal night. It seemed impossible. So this is what the carpet had meant when it said time was not a constant. I could not accept it. But I had to; I could not deny the date on the paper. It meant, as far as my father knew, I had only been gone overnight. I opened the door and walked in. My father was having breakfast in the living room. Eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. He smiled when he saw me.
”You're back early. How was the slumber party?” he asked.
He had not said my name. I did not want him to use it, not with Lova standing nearby. Eventually he would say it, but the carpet had a.s.sured me that knowing only Sara would not give the djinn true power over me. Yet it would give her a little, and I didn't want her to have even that. I forced a smile. ”It was fine.”
”How was your new friend?”
”Well, you remember rini? I introduced you to her.”
”I know. Does she live nearby?”
”I was able to walk to her house.”
”I forget. How did you two meet?”
”she works in this hotel as a maid.” Which was true, but I was going to have to find rini fast and have her back up the details of my story.
”Great. I'm glad you have someone to hang out with.”
”I like her; she's sweet.” I paused, glanced behind me, saw Lova studying my father. ”Hey, Dad, do you mind if I take a quick shower?”
”No problem. Want me to order breakfast?”
”Please. I'll have what you're having.” inside my room, I was careful to stow my backpack in my chest of drawers. My father was not nosy by nature, but he was a dad and I was his little girl-it was better to be safe than sorry. I asked Lova if she was tired, and she surprised me when she said yes.
”But you don't have a physical body,” I whispered.
”It is a drain to exist in this dimension.”
”Are you suffering?”
”No. But it is what you would call . . . Stressful.”
”Do you wish to rest?” the red fire flickered in the depths of her eyes. ”Djinn do not ask humans for wishes.”
”That's not what I meant. Do you want to lie down and take a nap?”
”Yes.”
”Lie on the floor, not on my bed. Remain there until I call for you.”
she started to stretch out.
”Do you require food?” I asked.
”Nourishment.”
”What type?”
”Human blood is preferable.” I spoke firmly, a little louder. ”You won't be drinking any human blood as long as you're attached to me. understood?” she nodded, although she did not look convinced.
”Are you all right in there?” it was my father.
”Yeah!”
”Who are you talking to?” my father asked.
”I'm just talking on my cell.”
”Hurry up with your shower. Your breakfast is coming.”