Part 26 (1/2)
”Ok, let me get my sword and we can go.”
I wasn't about to go meet a genie without some kind of protection. I decide to leave the plasma pistol at home. I seriously doubt it would make a dent in Faust even if he tried something.
Mason phases us to a condo in New York City where Faust lives with his patron, Heath Knowles. As soon as we arrive, I'm met with white: white walls, white furniture, white kitchen, white-washed hardwood floors. The only things that bring any sort of color into the living s.p.a.ce are the black and white pictures hanging on the walls and the wall of windows letting the colorful view from outside peek in like an urban mosaic.
A man walks around the corner from the kitchen area. He's tall and rather debonair looking in a cla.s.sic Fred Astaire/Gene Kelly kind of way. His brown hair is slicked back and he's wearing, of course, a white s.h.i.+rt, pants and flip-flops.
”Ahh, Ms. Riley, I presume?” He asks, coming to stand in front of us.
”Faust, I presume?” I answer back.
”Where are my manners,” Faust says, holding out his hand to me.
I look at Mason, not quite sure if I should shake hands with the jinn. Mason nods once, letting me know it's safe.
I shake Faust's hand and marvel at how smooth and delicate it feels. I instantly know Faust hasn't done much with his life except feed off the wishes of others.
”Mason said you wanted me to do you a favor before you'll give us Balaam's staff. I'm not sure what I can do for you. You're not going to ask for my first born child are you?”
Faust laughs. ”No nothing as dramatic as that. Aren't you Chandler Cain's girlfriend?”
No one's asked me that point blank before. I side step answering it.
”What does your favor have to do with Chandler?”
”I need you to get something for me.”
”Does Chandler have it?”
”No but his agent does.”
”Are you serious?” Mason says unexpectedly, making me jump slightly with the strident way he asked his question. ”I thought the two of you buried that hatchet years ago, Faust.”
”I would like to bury a hatchet in that nit wits skull,” Faust says fuming.
”He'll never give it to Jess.”
I hold up my hands to make them both stop because I'm completely lost in the conversation they're having with one another.
”What the h.e.l.l are you guys talking about?” I ask. ”What does this have to do with Chandler's agent?”
”Do you want to tell her,” Faust asks Mason, ”or shall I?”
Mason faces me. ”Chandler's agent is a jinn.”
”And you didn't think that was something important to tell me before now?” I ask in exasperation.
”Horace seemed harmless enough and I didn't want you to think badly of Chandler for using a jinn to get where he is in the music business. Plus, Horace seemed keen to stay out of the way whenever you and I were around. I didn't see him as a threat to you.”
”So Chandler cheated to get where he is?” I ask. ”He made a wish with this Horace?”
”It looks that way.”
”No.”
”No?”
”No. Chandler wouldn't do that,” I say with complete confidence. ”Chandler may have led a charmed life but I don't think he would cheat to get what he wants.”
”Well, I don't care about the boy,” Faust says dismissively. ”I want you to get me Horace's ring.”
”Why do you want his ring?” I ask.
”Because if I have his ring, he can't make any more deals with people,” Faust tells me, a cruel smile stretching his lips.
”Ok,” I say still not quite understanding, ”and why is that important to you?”
”Because he's a sniveling little b.a.s.t.a.r.d who doesn't deserve to be a jinn! He gives us a bad name. If that b.i.t.c.h hadn't used King Solomon's ring on me to take it back, Horace would be where he belongs, in that nasty little p.a.w.n shop of his downtown.”
”I take it by 'b.i.t.c.h' you're referring to Lilly?” I ask, feeling my temper make my palm itch to slap the c.r.a.p out of Faust.
”Who else?”
I give in to the itch. I slap Faust so hard across his left cheek he staggers back from the hit. He holds a hand to his cheek and stares at me in surprise.
”Don't ever call her a b.i.t.c.h again to my face or anyone else's. Do we understand each other?” I ask him, not even attempting to temper my anger.
I see Faust's eyes leave my face and travel to the sword on my back. I get the feeling he knows what it is without me having to take it out and demonstrate its power.
”Fine.” He says, rubbing his cheek and lowering his hand. ”Just get me Horace's ring and you can have the staff.”
”How do we even know you actually have the staff we need?” I ask.
Faust snaps his fingers and a long wooden staff that doesn't really look like more than some piece of driftwood to me is clutched firmly in his hands.
”Is that it?” I ask Mason, since I have no way of knowing for sure.
”Yes. That's it.”
”Ok then. I guess we need to go talk to Horace.”
Chapter 17.
Mason phases us to a hallway in a nice looking hotel but it isn't the one I'm used to phasing to when visiting Chandler.
”Did he move?” I ask.