Prologue

As I stood, my hands tied, proverbially that was, I watched as the guards arrested Noya and Amir and knew Raj hid nearby. Don't ask me how I knew that though, I just did. I always knew where that boy was. Of course, every nosy neighbor stopped what they were doing to witness this. All over a loaf of bread. Countless others had done far worse, yet the Maharajah chose these two to use as an example of bad behavior. Never having been in trouble before, they should've only received a warning and possible fine, only he had other plans.

"No, please," Noya pleaded with them as they dragged her from the baker's stall. "Our son. Who will care for our son?"

"Leave my wife and take me. Please, spare her life!" Badr's plea fell on deaf ears. The guards had been given direct orders from the Maharajah to arrest them both and I quote, "Throw them in the dungeon. No one takes money from my pockets!"

His pockets were more than lined with greed and the blood, sweat, and now tears, of his people. I loathed the man in every possible way, yet I'd been forced to serve him for the last decade since he came upon my lamp. More like stole it from my previous master, but falling down that wormhole would do no good. In the end, he always won.

The worthless bastard.

Later that night, I snuck down to the dungeons and spoke with Noya and Badr.

"Genie, we know our fate and our time has come to an end," Badr whispered in fear of the guards or other prisoners hearing us, which would be detrimental for the three of us. I'd put a protective spell over their cell so none would be the wiser, but didn't bother to explain that to them. That's where things got tricky for me and too much shared would be too much the Maharajah could use against me. There were certain things I'd learned to keep to myself over the centuries. My magical abilities being the first.

"We only wanted to feed our boy, we could wait another day or two to eat. But Raj, he doesn't deserve this life. He deserves better."

Noya's sobs broke me, I knew her boy all too well, having watched him from afar. Such a happy lad, especially considering how poor his family was. He never asked for a single thing. At night, the family would sit together and break bread, poor choice of words given the current situation, but fitting just the same. No matter if they had enough to feed the three of them or just Raj, they made it a point that dinner time was family time and I envied them for that. Never having had a family myself hadn't bothered me before, yet now, it did.

"Please, Genie, I beg of you, watch over our son. We have no other family to turn to and no true friends." Badr's open honesty was rare in this day and age. Most would sooner slice your throat to save their own. Lies spewed without remorse, how those who did could live with themselves was beyond me. But Badr spoke the truth, no question about that and I'd do everything in my power to see to it that Raj never met the same fate I knew waited for them come morning.

"You have my word. I will watch over your son. No harm will become him."

Noya threw herself in my arms, Badr right behind her. They cried as we held one another. How I wished I could rid this place of our current ruler. He was not fit for such a prestigious position. He was fit to be housed in these very cells that held those who'd done no wrong but didn't give enough to his personal cause—to fill the palace to the brim in treasure and trove. How did he expect them to pay his ridiculous tidings from a cell?

Had I already called him a worthless bastard? Guess I should amend that to a greedy bastard. Unfortunately, he was worth more in the sense of wealth than he deserved, but his greed had no limits.

This was the first night I watched over Raj from inside his home as the boy cried himself to sleep. My heart ached for him, as it did for his parents, but our hands were tied. Tomorrow, Noya and Badr's lives would come to an end and there was nothing any of us could do to change that.

Raj's reflection that morning was clear as day, caught in the glint of the guard's blades as they unsheathed them. An eerie silence filled the square where a makeshift stage had been erected. Noya and Badr's hands and feet were bound, heads secured in the bends of the posts they were bound to. On their knees, just how our ruler wanted them.

As the Maharajah took to the stage, the onlookers dropped to theirs in a show of respect. Not for the lives about to be lost, but to save their own. Had they not, the Maharajah would've had them arrested. I nearly yelled, don't bow, he's unworthy of your servitude. But my servitude wouldn't allow for the words to come.

"This, dear friends, is what happens when you break the law. Stealing from one of your brothers will not be tolerated. Let these two serve as an example of what will come if you follow in their footsteps." He moved off to the corner of the stage as the guards took their places beside Noya and Badr. Swords raised, they came down as one, the sound of the metal blade as they whipped through the air filled the area as their heads were sliced clean off.

The only sound was that of a young child crying, having just lost both his parents in a horrific ending he bore witness to. No child should ever see such violence take place. My heart went out to Raj, the promise I made to his parents fresh in my mind. One day the evil that ruled this land would end and I for one couldn't wait. I hoped to be there when it happened.

It was from that moment on that my draw to Raj became nearly unbearable. I spent what free time I had watching over him, even as he slumbered. No longer did the children play with him, their parents having told them horrible lies about the boy and his parents. Yet when those same people needed chores done, it had been Noya and Badr they'd turned to for help. Humans could be cruel, and cruelty was an act I'd never been able to grasp.

The night of his parent's murder, I was in Raj's room and silently watched as he cried himself to sleep. I wanted to hold him and tell him everything would be all right though I knew better. The boy was in for a hard life ahead of him, though not too much financially, because I'd take care of that. The baker, Amir, and I were about to have an in-depth conversation that he wouldn't like. It was his callous act that caused this, and he'd be hiring Raj tomorrow to work for him. Pay was low, but I'd subsidize Raj's income and ensure he had all he'd need. Forever.

Forced to live in a community which now shunned him when he was nothing more than a child in need of their support and mentoring left a bad taste in my mouth. And for those who wronged this boy, I'd be the one to bring karma upon them one way or another.

As I watched Raj grow into a fine, well-rounded young man, my feelings changed. Deepened. Almost uncomfortably. Then one day, it hit me.

I'd fallen in love with him.

That wasn't part of the plan.