Free Will Power: A Djinn Short by Laura Catherine Page B

been interested in that kind of thing. He was never really interested in following rules in general, but Mia kept him in line.
    “I told her this morning to come, but she’s still trying to find work so she doesn’t have to be in training anymore. If you’d have told her, she would have come.” Pyke winked and I rolled my eyes.
    I’d known that Mia had feelings for me ever since we were kids, but I’d never felt the same. I couldn’t. I’d grown up with her and Pyke; they were family. I didn’t want to hurt her though, and I was waiting for Mia to take interest in someone else.
    “She’ll be at the park later,” Pyke continued. “You can talk to her then.”
    “Eh-hmm.”
    Someone cleared his voice behind us. I turned to see Ivan Greenwood standing in the palace foyer dressed in a black suit, his tie tight around his throat. His bushy brows were turned down in a V shape as if being in the same room as us was an insult.
    Ivan Greenwood, like Mrs Baxter, was on the council. He and his wife were very close to the Queen and had some strong opinions on the way the Djinn community was being run. It was no secret that Ivan disliked Queen Celeste. From what I’d heard, he opposed her every decision and constantly tried to undermine her authority.
    “Mr Greenwood,” I said and bowed. Pyke followed my lead.
    “I want to talk to you,” he said to me then flicked a hand at Pyke. “Leave us.”
    Pyke clenched his fists, but did as he was told. “I’ll see you later,” he said.
    Ivan was a cruel person, especially toward Guardjinn. I had heard stories from Guardjinn who had been in his employ — none of them good — but it was our duty to serve. Our opinions didn’t matter.
    “What can I do for you?” I asked. I hadn’t had much experience talking to Djinn. I was still in training, and hadn’t received a posting yet.
    “I spoke with the Guardjinn instructor,” Ivan said. “I wanted to know who his best pupil was and he recommended you.”
    Ivan eyed me up and down with disgust, his lip curled. His gaze lingered on my bandaged hands. “Perhaps he was wrong.”
    “What do you need me for?” I asked, ignoring the jab.  
    Everyone knew Ivan’s daughter had been stolen as a baby by a Blooder, Malcolm Lockhart. I knew the story all too well because it was Pyke’s father who had been hired by Ivan to retrieve her that night. Malcolm killed Grant Danvers and left Pyke to grow up without a father. Ivan had sent many Guardjinn after Malcolm, and some came close, but no one ever succeeded.
    It was impressive that Ivan and his wife had continued to search for their missing daughter for sixteen years. Usually outside of the compounds a Djinn didn’t stand a chance of survival; Blooders always lurked on the borders waiting to strike. They were always looking for a new blood supply.
    Malcolm was different, though. He stole the Greenwoods’ daughter, and from the accounts of the Guardjinn who had been sent to retrieve her, Malcolm was raising her as his daughter, as a human.
    “I’m sure you are aware that my daughter is still missing,” Ivan said.
    “Yes.”
    “I have spent time, money and resources with no results. It is time I changed my tactics.”
    “And what would those changes be?” I asked, already knowing where this was going.
    “I need someone younger, someone who can get close to my daughter without being noticed. That’s where you come in. I want you to bring her back.”
    “But I’m not a full Guardjinn yet.”
    “You are now. I will give you information on her last known whereabouts, a car and any money you need. You may take a team or go alone. I don’t care, as long as you bring her back.”
    Ivan pulled a yellow envelope from his suit and handed it to me.
    “What makes you think I can bring her back when everyone else has failed?” I asked, and realised that I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn.
    Ivan gritted his teeth. “I am doing you a favour by hiring you before you have