Free Passion by Kailin Gow

free of Noj’s grasp.
    A
loud clang from the floor caught my attention and that of many Catchers.
    “Bring
me the head of that damned djinn,” Zanlord bellowed with fury as he pushed the
heavy doors of the ward open.
    I
turned to Torrid.  “We have to get you out of here.  At this rate they’ll kill
you.”
    His
bellow only added fuel to Torrid’s fight.  With sudden herculean strength, he flung
off the Catchers on his back then turned his fury on Noj.
    The
aching in my head faded just enough to allow me to do my part in the battle.  I
took the lead of a nearby djinn and bottled a Catcher.  The reduced Catcher
shouted his displeasure, but it didn’t keep me from bottling another and
another.
    Soon
the Catchers were outnumbered and the few who remained, chose to abandon ship. 
They ran for cover, pushed through secret escape doors while djinns and Magical
Ones took over.
    But
one Catcher stayed put, determined to get the prized djinn.
    Zanlord
pounded his way up the steps that led to the landing.  “You should have stayed
where you were safe and sound, Prince.  Out here anything can happen.  Out here
accidents happen when Catchers get a little overzealous.”
    He
pulled out a large leather whip, the tip equipped with the leather band meant
especially for Torrid’s wrist.  “Safe inside the confines of that office, I was
responsible for your safety, but out here…” He snapped the butt end of the whip
into his open palm.  “Out here I can’t be held responsible for what happens to
you.”
    With
a quick flick of his wrist, he snapped the tip of the whip to Torrid’s wrist. 
For a moment I thought Torrid was caught as the leather band wrapped three
quarters of the way around his wrist, but he dodged the band.
    Seething
with hatred and resentment, Zanlord flicked the whip repeatedly, each time
stepping closer.
    “Run
while you can, Kama,” Torrid ordered as the oversized Catcher came closer.
    “No,
Torrid.  I’m staying with you.”  More confident than ever in my magical powers,
I turned Zanlord’s whip and leather band on himself.  His eyes wide with shock
he looked at his wrist, while his jaw dropped with disbelief.
    “This
fight is over,” I said.  I grabbed one of the smaller bottles, rushed to
Zanlord and bottled him before he could even see me coming.

 
    Chapter 9
     
     
    W e didn’t have time to rejoice. 
     
    Part
of the battle was won and without Zanlord to lead them, many of the Rogue
djinns ran around aimlessly, fighting off Magical Ones in an offhand manner.
    “Continue
to free as many djinns as you can,” Torrid said. “It won’t be long before more
reinforcements come in to try to stop us.”
    But
before I could free even one djinn, a strange and foreboding silence fell over
the ward.  I wanted to believe it was the fall of Zanlord that was responsible
for the sudden hush, but as I looked into the startled eyes of the freed djinns
around me, I knew that our luck was about to run out.
    I
turned, my eyes wide with surprise as I looked into the equally surprised eyes
of Dr. Sanz.  An army of hundreds stood at attention behind him.
    “I
guess these are the reinforcements you were dreading,” I murmured in disbelief.
    “Well,
well, darling,” Dr. Sanz called out.  His voice echoed into the furthest corner
of the ward, bringing chills to every djinn and hope to the Rogue Magical Ones.
    I
tasted the bitter bile that rose to the back of my throat; fear mingled with
hatred.
    “Is
this the infamous Dr. Sanz I’ve heard so much about?” Torrid asked.
    “The
very same.”  I cocked my head prettily to Dr. Sanz and pulled out the most
confident and self-assured voice I could.  “Are you surprised to see me, Dr.
Sanz?”
    He
cleared his throat and blinked repeatedly then straightened up.  “I’ll admit I
didn’t expect to see you here in the ward.”
    “I
imagine you didn’t expect to see me anywhere.  I’ll make an admission of my
own; I nearly didn’t survive