The Expedition: Chapter Three

She waved her arm through the pink smoke, trying to disperse it so the cultists would not see it! What had she done? With one final wave of her arm, someone caught it from going through the smoke. She stared wide-eyed at the most beautiful genie she had ever seen standing before her. This was a female genie in a silk bikini adorned with gems, strings of pearls, and gold chains holding her skimpy clothing on! Her blonde hair flowed down her back in perfect waves and framed a stunning face that radiated wisdom and power.

"What is this?" The woman asked softly but firmly while looking deep into Amelia's eyes.

Amelia could not speak. All she wanted to do was stare at the magnificent figure in front of her, but she knew if she did not answer, the genie woman would leave or perhaps go back to sleep forever...

"This," she finally managed to say between gasps, "is my...um...my..."

She pointed to the lamp, which remained glowing as if nothing else mattered.

The genie frowned slightly, confused by something, then slowly walked toward the lamp and examined it from top to bottom. Then, she looked up at Amelia. "Who are you?"

Amelia took a few moments to catch her breath and tried to focus enough to answer appropriately without stuttering.

"My name is Amelia Zinzer. I am a humble historian who has come here to learn about this land."

The woman nodded thoughtfully, inspecting every inch of Amelia with those mesmerizing blue eyes. Finally, after staring intensely for a long time, she spoke.

"And how does your quest lead you to be here tonight? Who gave you that lamp? Was it for protection?"

Amelia felt guilty for lying but knew it was necessary to keep the genie from leaving or going back to sleep until they could get some food into her system. She glanced over at the sandstone rocks behind her, and the genie followed her gaze.

"Are there others out there?" She asked.

Amelia shook her head and pointed towards the temple ruins. "They will find me eventually."

The genie sighed and sat down on a nearby rock facing the sky; she folded her legs under her and stared upwards too. Amelia kept looking at her in awe while she studied her in return. The genie wore what appeared to be a loose-fitting outfit made of white silken fabric with intricate designs all along its surface, which included strange creatures, symbols, letters, and pictures of people doing things...things no one would normally do!

The genie began to speak softly and quietly to herself, but Amelia could hear her despite the wind blowing through her hair and the noise of the desert sands around her.

"What troubles you?"

Amelia jumped when she heard the question.

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I did not mean to disturb you..."

The woman raised an eyebrow slightly, still watching the stars above. "You are not disturbing me." She turned her gaze back to Amelia. "It's not every day that someone comes across my lamp like this." Her eyes were so mesmerizing that Amelia couldn't look away from them even if she wanted to. They held a light blue hue that shined like diamonds or icebergs on a bright sunny day. It seemed as if those eyes could see everything about her - good or bad. Something about those beautiful orbs caused Amelia's heart to skip a beat and her knees to go weak again...

She forced her attention onto the genie and found her sitting with her arms crossed under her breasts, leaning forward and staring at the stars with deep concentration.

Amelia decided to change the subject because if she didn't, she would make an untoward advance toward her! And that being another woman! Oh! How scandalous! The shame!

"Where is your home?" She asked instead of continuing their conversation. "This land must have been beautiful once."

"I do not remember." The woman responded in almost a whisper. "Old times, long ago, when these lands were green, and Djinn walked among men in the Great Empire."

She glanced down, brushed the sand off one hand, and then spoke up in a soft voice, but louder than before. "Do you want to know my name?"

"Yes!" Amelia squeaked out in return. "Please tell me..."

The genie laughed softly while Amelia stared in amazement at how genuine and musical it sounded; she had never heard anyone laugh that way before! Her words flowed smoothly without pausing between each syllable:

"My name is Shayanna, Queen of Heaven." She said proudly as she pointed towards herself.

Amelia observed her as if seeing her for the first time. She was not dressed like royalty, yet her title did fit her, despite what some people may think - like most women, Amelia was attracted to robust, independent women who could care for themselves. Maybe they reminded her of an older version of her mother - except with an even stronger aura about them that made them beautiful.

Amelia touched the genie's arm gently, feeling its smoothness against her skin. The genie looked down at Amelia with a knowing smile, moved her face closer to kiss the girl's fingers, and let go of the lamp to grab both Amelia's hands into hers...and hold them tightly! The touch sent shivers through Amelia's body and filled her mind with thoughts she wanted to act upon...but...she couldn't!

"You must be hungry," Shayanna said while gazing directly back into her eyes. "It is nearly sunrise. We should get you something to eat."

"Yes!" Amelia cried, relieved that this genie woman would not leave or abandon her. She knew others were looking for her, but it seemed unlikely anyone else would come out before morning. She would feel safer with this genie woman than alone in the desert. "Yes!" She repeated as she grabbed onto the genie's hand again. This time, she didn't hesitate and squeezed Shayanna's hand firmly. "I'm starving..." Her stomach growled loudly enough for Shayanna to hear.

"I can help you with that." Shayanna stood up, brushed the sand off her clothes, and put her right hand around Amelia's waist to guide her to her feet.

Amelia thought about resisting, but it felt nice having someone strong guiding her so she could lean against their warmth, so she just followed along without complaint.

"Come with me. I will give you some food. Afterward, we shall find your friends together, all right?"

"All right!" Amelia agreed enthusiastically and allowed the genie to walk down the hill toward the oasis, Amelia holding the lamp not far behind. The moon had set, and the stars twinkled brightly above them. They walked a short distance until they came across a small spring-fed pond surrounded by several tall palm trees whose fronds hung over the water's edge.

"Oh wow!" Amelia said excitedly while admiring the beautiful place; everything looked fresh and green, glowing with light from the full moon reflecting its surface. Shayanna pointed to a few date trees and smiled; the ripe ones are there; please, eat while I consider things a moment." She went to one of those palms and removed its clusters of dates, then sat cross-legged next to where Amelia was standing, staring at her new surroundings. She watched as the genie girl made herself comfortable between two large rocks near the water’s edge. As she moved into position, her back rested against the rock facing outward as if she were sitting on an ancient throne waiting for a guest to come for an audience with her!

"I do not think you have eaten for a few hundred years," Shayanna spoke softly, still watching Amelia out of the corner of her eye while resting her chin on one hand with the other arm resting upon her knee...almost like a queen or a princess expecting her subjects to appear before her at any time.

"I guess that's possible..." Amelia replied, taking one of the fruits and biting it open. "This is very sweet and delicious! Would you like some?"

Shayanna nodded and reached forward to take another fruit.

Amelia took another and bit it too - then another and finally offered all three to Shayanna, who gratefully accepted them all, making sure each of hers had been bitten through.

They ate quietly until they finished eating their fill and started feeling full.

"Thank you," Shayanna said while gazing thoughtfully down at the pond.

"For what?" Amelia asked without thinking because she always felt gratitude toward anyone giving her food, whether from a stranger or not.

"For saving me from being trapped inside that lamp forever." She turned toward Amelia with a gentle smile, which seemed so kind yet mysterious with her bright blue eyes. Did she know something about this woman that even Amelia did not know but would soon discover...or maybe never find out? For now, though, there were more important things to discuss, such as where to go next to find help for Amelia's friends...and how to get home safely.

Amelia hesitated for a moment when she heard those words coming from the beautiful genie's mouth: 'Saved?'

"I didn't do anything," she answered lamely while staring into Shayanna's mesmerizing gaze again.

"Yes, you did," Shayanna replied firmly with conviction. "You have given me life again after nearly four centuries since I last breathed fresh air!" The genie looked up at her palms and shook her head slowly back and forth before looking back at Amelia; her expression revealed great emotion. Then she let out a long breath and sat back against the rock, relaxing somewhat. "Please tell me your story, child. How did you come to this land?"

Amelia took a deep breath and tried to gather herself together, hoping the genie could not sense her inner turmoil. "The cultists of death attacked our ships. Mine was sunk, and I fled into the desert. My father is significant, the leader of this expedition, and I suppose the cultists are chasing me and wish to ransom me - or worse!"

Shayanna listened carefully to every word, nodding as Amelia continued her tale.

"I had been swimming for hours, but no matter how far or fast I swam, they were always behind me...and the giant swimming snakes they summoned were terrifying!" She shuddered involuntarily while Shayanna watched closely. "One snake almost caught me off guard, but I managed to put some debris from the ships between us and slipped away."

"Snakes and a cult of death," Shayanna nodded, "I know this cult. Long thought they were gone, even in the old days." Her brow furrowed slightly at the mention of those long-ago times. "They disappeared for years after their leader perished fighting his way across this land with an army of soldiers only he controlled."

Amelia and Shayanna heard the noises of men approaching.

Their eyes met.

Amelia whispered, "Do you have magic to defeat them, genie Shayanna?"

"Yes..." she replied calmly and then got up and moved closer to Amelia until her chest brushed up against Amelia's back; she felt warm! "But we should leave here now before these men find us. My magic must return; I fear I do not have much now, and lying asleep in the lamp has greatly drained me."

Amelia swallowed hard as she stared at the powerful woman standing close to her and started backing away a bit. A tingling sensation began to spread through Amelia's body again, but this time it wasn't sexual.

She felt the magic within her.

It called to her.

It beckoned her like a magnet drawing iron shavings to its poles...to pull her toward something unseen yet present all around her...it was everywhere...and nowhere...at once...all things were one...she was that which made everything else possible...the very essence of life...the heart of nature...

And love.

Shayanna grabbed her arm, and the two fled moments before the cultists flooded into the small oasis, looking for the two of them.