Wishful Thinking (Chapter 4)

I climbed out of the shower and yawned. Swimming had worn me out…it’d been so long since I’d had so much fun! Sapphire seemed genuinely happy to be granting me wishes. However, I couldn’t help but feel…wrong for doing it. Sapphire was free now, she just didn’t understand that. Making her grant my wishes felt almost like I was putting shackles back on her. That said, I couldn’t deny how nice it was to have her around. The loneliness of living alone had forced me to become antisocial…and Sapphires annoying antics had…livened me up a little.
“At least life isn’t boring anymore.” I muttered, drying my hair.
“Master, would you like me to dry your back?”
“WHAT THE!?” I spun around to see Sapphire standing behind me, smiling. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?”
“Did you not wish for me to help you dry off?” She asked.
“I’M NAKED!” I shouted.
“Well yes…you were just showering off, so of course you would be naked.” Sapphire spoke as if she was confused. Was this not a problem to her? Had she no shame!? I covered myself with my towel and pointed to the door.
“GET OUT!”
“I’m sorry, Master!” She quickly vanished in a puff of smoke and I groaned under my breath.
“Jeez…yeah life isn’t boring…but it sure is freaking strange.”

I finally put on my new clothes and walked out to my room. I looked around for Sapphire but she was nowhere to be seen. Where’d she gone? She hadn’t misunderstood my command and left the house had she!? Oh damn, I’d never be able to forgive myself if she had run off after I exploded at her like that!
“Sapphire? Are you here? Please come out. I’m sorry for…wait…” I then noticed on my bed was the lamp that I’d found Sapphire in originally. I hadn’t left it there before…so why was it just sitting there? I picked it up and put my ear to it, as if I expected to hear her crying inside or something.
“Sapphire? Are you in there?” There was no answer. I tried again. “Sapphire, if you’re in there answer me.”
“…I am here.”
“Are you okay?”
“I am just…confused, Master.”
“I’m sorry I shouted…now come out so we can talk.”
“As you wish, Master.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“As you wish, Master…I mean…oh…sorry Mast-”
“Just get out here.” I snickered, setting down the lamp. I stepped back as red smoke began to flow from the mouth of the lamp. The smoke grew thicker and larger until at last Sapphire emerged. Her usual blue attire was now ruby red and she was sitting cross legged on the cloud of smoke she was creating. Even her eyes were red…but they maintained that mystical innocence that they never seemed to lose.
“How may I serve you, Master?” She asked.
“Sapphire…why are you wearing red?”
“Do you not like the color?” She asked concerned.
“No it’s fine just…heheh…maybe I should call you Ruby from now on?”
“Oh no Master! I like my name! Do not change it!” Sapphire squealed in desperation.
“I won’t I just…oh forget it. Sapphire, why did you barge in on me while I was drying off?” I asked.
“Many of my masters in the past had no problem with me drying them off after bathing.” Sapphire explained. “I have seen the naked male body many times.” I blinked for a moment, surprised by her answer. I had not anticipated this in the slightest!
“You…you mean to tell me that your former masters had you dry them off? Why did you do that? It’s wrong!” I cried. Sapphire shrugged.
“Master, it is a genies sole purpose in life to serve their master, no matter what it is.” Sapphire explained. “Drying off our master is only the smallest of things we can do for them.” I sat down on the bed and let this fact sink in for a moment. Sapphire had served many masters before me…and the things they’d done to her or made her do to them…just how far had she gone to serve them? How far did she think I would go? I didn’t know what to think about this!
“Sapphire…I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that…”
“Master, if I may be bold…why are you so nervous about letting me see your naked body?” Sapphire asked. “Is it because you do not feel you are attractive?”
“Drop it!” I spat.
“Because I believe that you are very attractive.”
“I SAID DRO- wait…you do!?”
“Yes Master. I would not lie to you.” I blushed when she said this and I looked away. It was true that I’d never seen myself as attractive or good looking. Most girls never really paid me any attention…but here this centuries old genie was telling me I was good looking? That had to count for something.
“Well…thank you Sa-”

*DING DONG*

“Who could that be.” I hurried to the door downstairs, with Sapphire floating behind me. When I got to the door and saw her land next to me, I turned and looked at her.
“Um…would you mind…NOT flying right next to me?”
“Why not?” She asked.
“I don’t want people knowing I have a genie living here. Please hide or something?” I asked.
“But Master, I-”
“Just go already!” I hissed. I then opened the door. Standing at the door was an older gentleman with a small white beard and white hair to match. He looked to be in his 60’s and he had a smile on his face. He had on a very expensive suit that made him look almost like some kind of politician or lawyer. Parked on the street across from the house was actually a limo, so I couldn’t help but think I was right in my opinion. This guy was wealthy…disgustingly wealthy.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“A pleasure to meet you, young man. My name is Robert Dolph. And you are?” He extended his hand to shake and I took it, giving it a firm return.
“Thomas Ward.”
“If you wouldn’t mind, may I ask you a few questions?” Mr. Dolph asked.
“Why?” I asked. “You with the police?” Mr. Dolph laughed and shook his head.
“No, but I have close connections to the police. I’m a senator and a former judge of the state.” He said with a chuckle.
“Oh, if this is about some kind of election campaign, I’m not interested in-”
“No nothing like that.” Mr. Dolph waved aside my comment and pulled out his phone. He clicked it a few times. “An associate of mine sent this to me from a security camera in a nearby shopping mall.” He showed me the screen of the phone and I could see a very familiar clothing store…a very familiar check out line…and an even more familiar couple standing in line to buy a simple dress. “Tell me, Mr. Ward, is that you in this film?” I gulped a little, staring at myself in the screen, checking out the dress.
“Well yeah…that’s me.” I said.
“Mr. Ward, on the day this film was taken, a most remarkable thing happened…the manager of the clothing store you were in claimed that a girl you were with left a mess of clothes and dresses in the store and then, as he put it ‘snapped her fingers and caused the clothes to return to their proper place.’”
“That’s…quite amazing.” I remarked, feeling my heartbeat picking up.
“Yes very. You saw it happen, correct?”
“I might have.” I answered, wanting desperately to slam the door in his face. “Why?”
“The girl behind you in this film…is that the girl who did it?” He asked, pointing to Sapphires image. I glared up at him, fighting the urge to slug his expensive smile.
“Yes, I guess so.” I said.
“Do you know where I might find this girl?” He asked. His eyes narrowed slightly; this was the question he’d been building up to. I crossed my arms and shook my head. While it wouldn’t hurt to tell him that I knew Sapphire, I couldn’t help but feel like showing Sapphire to him would be a VERY bad idea.
“I might…but why? Did she do something wrong?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” He said.
“By cleaning up a store?” I spat. “That doesn’t sound like much of a crime to me.”
“Young man,” Dolph said, his eyes flashing with anger, “you should know that I’m not a patient man. I’m not fool either. In this video you not only speak to this girl, but it appears you came in, shopped with, and left with this girl. You two clearly know each other, and I want you to tell me where I can find her.” Before I could tell this asshole to shove it, I suddenly heard a pattering behind me. I spun around to see a small girl wearing a bright red dress running up to me. She had her hair in a ponytail and she had an innocent look on her face…but her eyes gave her true identity away. It was Sapphire!

“Hello!” She giggled. “Who are you talking to Mas-big brother?” She said sweetly, covering up her words to try and pretend to be my little sister. She looked up at the man, Mr. Dolph and suddenly, all the joy and warmth in Sapphires face drained away. Her eyes widened with shock and she stepped back a little. Her response wasn’t just one of fear…it was recognition. She knew this man.
“Oh, and who is this little one?” Mr. Dolph asked, kneeling down and gazing at Sapphire. He smiled kindly, but he also seemed very disinterested. Sapphire’s disguise seemed to work! He didn’t recognize her. But I couldn’t risk him investigating further…I had to get rid of him.
“My little sister, now it’s time for you to go.” I snapped.
“Oh, I think not. I still need you to answer a few more questions about that girl. So if you don’t mi-”
“I wasn’t asking you.” I snarled, shoving him away from her. “I don’t know where that girl is now so I suggest you get out of here before I call the police!” Mr. Dolph glared at me angrily and straightened his suit.
“Don’t think this is over…I OWN the police…and I will find that girl. If I find out you were hiding information, I’ll make your life hell!”
“Yeah, I’m pissing myself over here.” I sneered. I then slammed the door, and watched him through the window until he got back in his car and drove off.

“Wow, what a piece of work he was…he sure was interested in you, Sapphire.” I turned to look at her and I was a bit surprised to see that she’d returned to her original form, but the fear on her face was still there. “Sapphire?” I asked.
“Y-yes Master?” She asked, turning towards me. “May I serve you?”
“Sapphire, how’d you know that man?” I asked. “It’s clear you’ve seen him before.” Sapphire gulped a little and quickly knelt down at my feet, placing her hands on my pants. I blushed furiously and jumped back.
“WHAT’RE YOU DOING!?”
“You said a moment ago you had urinated in your pants. I’ll change your pants for you and-”
“Sapphire, my pants are not soiled! I was being sarcastic.”
“Are you sure? I will gladly change your pants for you and…and…”
“Sapphire, why are you so scared. Who was he!?” Sapphire looked away for a moment and she shook her head.
“If I tell you…he will hurt you! Master, I do not want you hurt! Please just forget about him.”
“I would, but he’s not going to forget about me or you! He’ll be back. I need to know what he wants from you. Tell me right now!” I snapped.
“Master, please…”
“Sapphire stop it.” I snapped. “I didn’t want to do this…but now I’m ORDERING you to tell me who that man was!” Sapphire winced when I said that word. She then bowed her head, trembling.
“His name…his name is Robert Dolph…he was my master before you, Master.”