Part 27 (1/2)
”Ok, ok, ok,” Horace says, holding up his pudgy hands in surrender. ”No need to get violent.”
Mason closes the front door and Horace comes to stand with me and Chandler.
”Uncle Horace, Jess and Mason just told me you're a jinn,” Chandler tells him.
”So what of it?” Horace asks us defensively. ”I've done nothing but help the boy and his family out.”
”Who made the wish?” Mason asks. Since we know Chandler didn't make a deal with Horace, we needed to know who did.
”The boy's father,” Horace tells us.
”What exactly did he wish for?” Chandler asks, obviously hearing this for the first time.
”He wanted a charmed life for himself and his family. That's all.”
”And you granted it?” I ask.
Horace looks at us nervously. ”No.”
”What do you mean no?” Mason asks like he's pretty sure Horace is lying to us.
”They already had a charmed life! The fool just couldn't see it!” Horace places a hand on Chandler's shoulder. ”I knew that if I did what your father wanted it would ruin your family. So, I just let him think I granted his wish. He didn't know any different. He invited me into your home because he thought I had granted his wish. After a while I became comfortable being your uncle, your father's best friend and your mother's confidant. I was part of a family, something I'd never had before. I liked the way it felt so I let your father keep thinking we had to stay together or it would all go away.”
”But what made you not grant the wish in the first place?” I ask.
”It was something Lilly said to me once,” Horace tells me. ”She said I ruined lives with my wishes and I guess I finally realized she was right. We do ruin lives more than we help. I didn't want to be that person anymore. I didn't know I wanted better for myself until after I met Chandler's father and saw what he had. I couldn't believe he actually wanted to make a wish when I offered it to him. Some people think they need more when what they have is already great.”
”So, my career,” Chandler says. ”It's not because of a wish? I did it on my own.”
”Well,” Horace says, smiling, ”I did help a little bit, I just didn't use my magic to do it. I used yours, my boy. Your gift goes beyond anything I've ever seen. That's why you're a star.”
I see Chandler's body sag in relief.
”I need your ring,” I tell Horace not seeing any reason to mince my words. ”Faust has something we need but he won't give it to us unless we give him your ring.”
Horace looks at the battered gold band around his finger.
”Guess I really don't have any use for it anymore,” Horace says. ”I finally got something Faust doesn't have.”
”What's that?” Mason asks.
”I have people who truly care about me for me. Not because they're scared I'll leave them and break the spell.” Horace pulls the ring off and hands it to me. ”Here take it. I don't need it anymore.”
”Thank you,” I tell him.
Mason phases us back to Faust's condo. He's cooking something in the kitchen that smells G.o.d awful.
”Ahh,” he says, seeing us phase in. He grabs a white kitchen towel and wipes his hands off. ”I a.s.sume you were successful since you've come back.”
I hold up the ring.
Faust walks over to me and holds out his hand.
”Staff first,” I tell him.
”What? You don't trust me?” He asks in mock shock.
”No, I don't. Staff. Now.”
Faust snaps his finger and the staff appears. I'm not sure why he didn't just keep it out from the first visit.
He hands the staff to Mason then I hand Faust the ring.
”What do you need that old relic for anyway?” Faust asks. ”It's not like it will stop Lucifer from doing what he's planning.”
I'm completely speechless for all of two seconds.
”Do you know what he's going to do?” I ask.
”We all do,” Faust says. ”All of us under his command anyway. We needed to know so we could prepare.”
”Prepare for what?” Mason asks, just as anxious as me to gain more information.
Faust shakes his head. ”Sorry, can't say. He would have my head if I did.”
Faust looks at me. ”Why don't you ask him? I've heard he has something of a soft spot for you.”
”I have asked. He just won't tell me.”
”Just as well, I suppose,” Faust says with a shrug. ”It's not like a human could stop it from happening anyway.” Faust looks over at Mason. ”Not even you Watchers can stop it or that b--,” Faust looks over at me and amends what he was about to say. ”Not even Lilly can prevent this from happening. She can't go against all seven of them at one time.”
”Could you give us a hint?” I ask, almost ready to beg for more information.
”No. I've said too much as it is. You should leave now. You got what you came for.”
”Hey, you old b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” I hear an agitated male voice say. A door slams shut somewhere in the condo and a man I recognize walks into the living room.
I can remember when Faison and I were teenagers thinking Heath Knowles was quite handsome. I'm not sure what the h.e.l.l happened to him. Standing in front of me is a mess of a man who weighs about two hundred pounds more than he should. His blonde hair is matted to his head like he hasn't taken a bath in ages and his sweat suit is stained all over from I don't even want to know what.
”Why don't you go back into your bedroom, little piggy,” Faust taunts.
Heath barely acknowledges our presence. He glances our way but soon turns his full attention back to Faust.
”Why don't you get the h.e.l.l out of my life, old b.a.s.t.a.r.d? And take that G.o.d awful stuff in the oven with you. You know I hate the smell.”
I have to agree. It smells like someone threw up and Faust made it into a souffle.
”And if I left, where would that leave you?” Faust asks.
”Happy.”