Chapter 16: Dawn Will Come

“That one is a nebula made of lollipops,” said George.

Laying beside him on the soft grass, his companion pointed at another twinkling star, “What about that one?”

“That is a ... marshmallow, lightly toasted,” he said, “The ones above and below are graham crackers, and the darker one next to it is a huge bar of milk chocolate.”

“Ooh, tasty,” she giggled. “How ‘bout ... that one.”

“That’s a cat.”

Her eyes brightened, “Like a giant sparkling space kitty?”

“Yeah! And it sparkles super hard and jams out with its boombox. We know it only as Sparklejam, the raddest kitty in all the cosmos.”

The Genie chuckled and playfully smacked his arm.

“What do you think that one is?” asked George.

“Hmm,” she thought as she scrunched up her nose. “That’s a portal to the lewd dimension, where everyone is always horny and fucks all day long.”

“Whoa,” George marveled. “Genie, fetch my rocket ship. We’re going on an adventure.”

She raised her fist to the sky and cried, “Adventure!”

George and his Genie giggled happily as they lay under the old hickory tree on Twilight Hill and gazed up at the beautiful starlit sky. Stafford was a sleepy town even on the weekends, and the local observatory had lobbied for a light ordinance long ago, so the pair had a lovely, undisturbed view of the Milky Way.

“Crazy day,” said George.

“You mean this isn’t normal for you?” the Genie replied.

He chuckled. “Well, let’s see. I met a smoking hot cosmic being and found out I’ve been cursed all along...”

Genie continued, “Had hot, passionate, sticky sex with your English teacher twice! And got into a fight twice!”

“Got recruited/blackmailed into playing sports ball by a football coach/mafia boss/cuck who may or may not also be a wizard or something.”

“Fucked Lacy into submission.” Genie then mimicked Lacy’s voice and cried, “Yes! No! Yes! Fuck!”

George blushed and moved along. “Made friends with Lizzie. At least, I hope so.”

“Saving her best friend’s life probably helped a lot with that. Although I can’t say how much she’ll remember tomorrow.”

“Good point. And, of course, we flew to the rescue of a princess who was also my lost childhood friend.”

“Almost died in the process, twice.”

George’s heart sank when he remembered horse-kicking that biker and the resulting catastrophe. “Killed a guy,” he said sadly.

“Killed two guys. One of them died when the portal went kaboom.”

“Right...” he sighed. “Two guys.”

George had been having fun and didn’t want to spoil the mood by dredging up bad memories. But he couldn’t help himself. “Suppose that makes me a murderer three times over,” he lamented.

Genie stayed quiet in thought before responding. “I think Piper would see it differently,” she said.

“I guess.”

“Master, we haven’t talked about what happened...”

He knew right away she was talking about the accident. George always tried to avoid the subject, but he knew it would come up eventually. She had access to practically all areas of his life, and if he couldn’t hide it from himself, there was no chance he could hide it from her. “There isn’t much to say. He was a better man than I’ll ever be, and he’s dead now. I killed him. Not even a wish will change that.”

Genie snuggled up against him. “What do you think he would say about that?”

“I don’t know. He’d probably tell me what I did wrong. Turn it into a learning opportunity.” George began imitating his father as he said, “Remember, son, your actions, even the ones you don’t choose, have consequences.”

“Then what?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“After he finished his lesson, then what would he do?”

George was utterly perplexed by this line of questioning but indulged her. “I guess ... we’d get ice cream or something.”

“Oh! I’ve heard good things about ice cream. What kind was his favorite?”

“He ... liked vanilla with lots of chocolate sauce ... and sprinkles.” He remembered a time when they joked that his father’s bowl of ice cream had so many sprinkles on it that it resembled a pile of jewels. George hadn’t thought about that since before the accident.

“Tell me more about him. Something no one else would know.”

“Alright. Um, people didn’t know because he looked young, but he was older than my mom by at least ten years, and she always kidded him about his silver hairs. Though I can’t remember how old he was. But he would always laugh it off. Said he was distinguished.”

She giggled. “That’s cute. He didn’t sweat small stuff like that?”

“No. I honestly can’t remember a time when he raised his voice—or even got pissy about something. He was always so cool. I fucking idolized him.” George thought back to the letter that came with the source. “He was trying to open your vessel, I think.”

“I’m sure lots of people tried,” she said dismissively.

“If anyone could have done it, it would have been him. He had a thing for mysteries. And he was tenacious as hell. If he wanted something, he went after it.” It took a moment, but George eventually realized the implications of his statement. “Why wasn’t he able to open it?”

She shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe I was holding out for a soft boy.” Then, she playfully poked his belly.

George reflexively angled away from her assailing fingers. “I’m serious, Genie. Why me and not him?”

Genie sat up so she could look him in the eye. She looked at him curiously and asked, “You think this might all be a mistake?”

He wilted under her scrutiny. “What if it is? I have no idea how I opened it.”

“I do,” she said firmly. “You were worthy.”

“But ... how? I-I’m nothing, a nobody, a loser...”

She shrugged again, this time with a sillier affectation. “And yet, here I am.”

George had to sit up and rest his arms on his knees. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Genie. I know this isn’t rational.” He snickered, “Fuck, barely anything feels rational anymore. It’s just that ... there is this part of me that thinks this is all too good to be true. That I’m going to wake up in my bed feeling just as shitty as I did yesterday. Just as worthless.” He sighed. “I’m ... broken, Genie. And with this curse, I’m even more broken than I thought. We don’t even know if you can fix me. Maybe it would have been better if ... It s-should have been...” He tried to look away in shame, but the Genie wouldn’t let him.

She leaned in close to cup his face in her hands and spoke softly, serenely. “Oh, Master. My sweet, sweet Master. I waited in darkness for countless millennia as nothing but a simple spirit dreaming of someone worthy. I don’t know exactly what my vessel was waiting for, but it wasn’t a simple criterion. Of all the souls who have ever graced its surface, it was you who finally set me free.” She lovingly caressed his cheek and gave him a small kiss. “Perhaps this is all just a mistake, but ... what if it’s not? What if you don’t need to be fixed at all? What if you’re exactly what I need?”

George gazed back into her beautiful eyes that seemed to glow even in the dim light. There was an intensity from her he’d only had fleeting glimpses of. She saw something in him that George wished he could see. “You need me?” he asked hopefully.

“Uh-huh. And yeah, maybe you’re a little worse for wear and need me a little bit too, but you know what? I love being needed. I love being here with you. I don’t even care if you’re worthy; I’m having a blast. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

“Why? What happens tomorrow?”

The Genie bounced excitedly as she spoke. “Nothing! And anything! Anything we want! I don’t care what, I just want to see it! And I want to see it with you!” She ran her fingers through his dark, shaggy hair. Her eyes glistened in the starlight. “Remember when I had to go inside my vessel so you could smuggle me through the shroud? I felt so much more powerful as if I could shake the entire universe. But I also felt scared, anxious, alone. I felt like I was missing something. And then, when you let me out, and I found you again, I had to contain the curse. It saps me so hard, but somehow ... I feel stronger...” She looked away, searching for words. “No, that’s not right. Not stronger. Greater. Complete.”

She hugged him tight and rested her head on his shoulder. “I know this is weird. We’ve only been together for a day, after all. We’re both in uncharted waters, and who knows what the future holds, but ... I want this. I want this so much it hurts. And not just because of our bond. You believe me, don’t you?”

He believed that she believed it. He knew it was unfair to think of it that way, but he couldn’t help himself. Life had taught him that he was unworthy. It would be a hard lesson to unlearn, but at least he wanted to. Maybe someday, he would earn the faith she had in him. It felt like the goal was worthy, if nothing else.

“Yes,” he said after a long, thoughtful pause. “I believe you.

“You promise?”

“I may not have a lot of faith in myself, but an entire day, pain-free ... that’s more than enough to give this a chance. So, yeah. Yeah, I think it’s time to believe.”

She giggled and sighed happily as she leaned into him. “Then it’s settled. You’re never getting rid of me now.”

Finally, George cracked a smile. “Thanks, Genie ... for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” she whispered.

They sat and watched the stars for a while in silence, taking in the grandeur of the autumn sky. It seemed uncomfortable initially for George, but gradually, his nerves settled, and the silence became quieter. His heightened senses, a mere side effect of the Genie’s power, let him appreciate the gentle breeze, chirping crickets, and his companion’s soft, snuggling warmth. Under the boughs of an old lonely hickory, George finally let his worries go and accepted some peace, however fleeting, breathing in the moment. Neither tired nor worried, they stayed that way for a long time.

Eventually, the Genie crawled out of his cozy clutches and stood beside him. “I think it’s time,” she said softly. She extended her hand to help him to his feet. “Come on,” she said and led him toward the tree.

George watched her intently. Most of her actions that day had been theatrical, manic, or outright silly, but there had been times that made him realize there was more going on under her magically enhanced surface - something deeply personal to her. And even though she insisted that he was her Master, this part of her felt private in a way the rest did not.

He accepted her help, pulling him up, and cautiously asked, “What’s up?”

With unconscious ease, the Genie dragged her finger down the trunk, leaving a trail of lingering pinkish-purple energy all the way to her feet, then another line perpendicular to that, making an upside-down T. Then, she slipped her fingers into the glowing line and pulled the bark aside like a flowy curtain.

“Won’t you join me in my tent?” she said with a spicy wink. Then she disappeared through the folds.

He could see warm light peeking from behind the flaps and followed her through. Inside was a space much larger than the trunk of any tree, about the size of a master bedroom; its walls of sparkling pink silk were lit with complimentary orange, yellow, and purple light emanating from flickering paper lanterns casting soft shadows throughout. There were cushions and pillows of all shapes and sizes arranged just so in every nook and cranny. In the center, recessed into the floor, was a vast bed cornered by smaller versions of the old hickory outside, their canopies combined to create a leafy ceiling that let the stars peek through. Sheer gossamer curtains between the lower branches billowed without any breeze, teasing a tantalizing view of the Genie’s nude form.

George suddenly realized he was also naked and smirked, “No clothes allowed, huh?”

“We won’t be needing them,” she said confidently.

The entire scenario felt dreamlike, as if she’d led him out of any real space into a small slice of comfy, cozy paradise just for them, his modesty not invited. He stepped through the diaphanous, barely tangible curtains and took in the splendor of his companion’s body. She reclined languidly across the cream-colored sheets and posed to maximize her allure, her hair splayed over her pillows. The light danced on her skin in harmony with her whim.

Without thinking, he caught his breath and whispered, “Damn...”

She smiled knowingly, then beckoned him closer with her finger. George plopped down next to her, making her bounce and let out a playful giggle. She gave him a teasing kiss, which George turned into something more passionate.

“Wow,” she gasped after he let her go. She gazed at him giddy, her eyes filled with excitement. “Someone’s feeling frisky. Are you ready to keep your promise?”

George searched his memory and realized he’d made so many promises that day he wasn’t sure which one she was referring to. “Uh oh...”

“Oh gosh! You forgot? Master, how could you!”

“It’s been a busy day! Remind me, and I promise to ... do the thing I promised.”

She gave him a sassy tilt of the head and huffed. “Allow me to refresh your memory.” She reached down between them and ran her fingers up the length of his shaft. “You promised me that you would fuck my brains out all night.” She pushed him on his back and straddled him. “And I insist that you always keep your promises.”

He swallowed. “I think I can live with that. In fact, let’s add it to my list. Rule number two: always keep my promises.”

“Lay back, you bad boy,” she purred.

No sooner had George done as she commanded than the Genie deftly swung her thigh over him and straddled his face facing away from him. She leaned forward and angled her folds toward his lips, beckoning him to taste her. George was shocked, but any words were muffled against her sex.

“Drag me across the land, make me watch you fuck the living daylights out of those sluts, then make me go back in my vessel, and you still have the nerve to forget about your poor little sexy Genie? For shame!” She ground against him harder, forcing George deeper into her delicious cunt. George grabbed her big round cheeks and played along, licking her folds and darting his tongue inside her. Her eyes fluttered, and she moaned, “Hmm, yes! Keep doing that, and I might forgive you, Master!”

George was in heaven. Her luscious body was exquisite in every conceivable way, from the sounds to the smells to the way his fingers sunk into the flesh of her bouncy ass. She leaned forward, and her bountiful breasts smooshed against his abs, her hard nipples poking against him. His cock felt harder than ever, and his hips thrust upward, fruitlessly searching for stimulation. Predictably, the Genie couldn’t leave his solid weapon alone for long and wrapped her lips around the head without complaint.

She moaned his mind, “Yes, Master! Gobble that pussy while I suck on this fat dick!”

George had seen plenty of memes and jokes about the nicest number online, and that’s what he’d always thought they were. The real thing couldn’t be that special. But experiencing a sixty-nine firsthand made him understand why it had such a pleasant reputation. He lovingly focused all his attention on her beautiful vulva, kissing and sucking and squeezing her tight butt. Likewise, Genie once again demonstrated her perfect oral skills, knowing precisely where to lick with the right pressure. With sloppy abandon, Genie enthusiastically shoved his cock into the back of her mouth while she fondled his bloated balls.