Terese sent me back to the locket as she had some "work" to do. She didn't fill me in on what that work was, but then, I didn't ask either. I had a theory to check on.

Reappearing in the study in my mansion, I double checked that I could still see outside. I'd left Terese the umbrella I summoned and I had granted her two wishes.

I now had some things to test.

First, I had to check the paper that seemed to control my growth. I sat down in the chair and opened my legal pad, the words started to fill out immediately.

Name: Tristan MacLennan

Rank: Apprentice (Inherited)

Please spend 2 points below,

Power: 7

Incarnate: 7

Limits: 3

Domain: 7

Anathemas: Sacred Youth, Murder, Integrity,

Breaks: Magical Mortals, Variable Wishes, Gifted Incarnate,

I knew it, I get points from granting wishes. I wondered if I should spend them on one of my stats, but decided I needed clarification first.

"What can I spend points on?" I wrote.

You may spend any number of points on your four abilities or spend three points purchasing a new Break.

NOTE: The amount of points a Break is worth goes up with every purchase.

Interesting, I reached for the pen again.

"What Breaks are available for purchase?"

Insufficient points for inquiry. Currently Breaks cost between three and fifteen points to purchase. You must have the specified amount of points to view them.

Well that's helpful, I sarcastically thought. I decided to continue with my original plan and then perhaps save some points up afterwards. Assuming that Break costs were in multiples of three, I would check in at three, six, nine and so on.

Outside, the rain was still coming down hard. Terese was humming a song to herself while subtly dabbling with magic in a way I couldn't comprehend.

Becoming a genie seemed to make magic, or at least my form of magic, instinctual. I had no actual idea how magic works, I simply attempted something, and it usually happened.

Terese seemed to reach her destination: what looked like a basement apartment attached to a larger building. She loitered outside for a second before grasping the locket and talking into it like the mic on a 1920's phone.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"The only thing my family respects is power," she whispered, loudly because of the size difference, "there might be a fight in here, can I order you to help without wishing for it?"

I looked down at my legal pad and it filled in one word.

No.

I summoned my own old-school phone and held the mic up to my mouth.

"No Master, but I'm kinda bored, lemme see if I can help out on my own,"

Again, the paper started writing on itself.

This is allowed, however you may only use your Incarnates physical strength, along with the small magics you have acquired. Be warned that you currently have an Anathema towards murder as well.

If you die, unless you are in the process of granting a wish, you will leave this Master and lose any points or rewards accrued, you will then be sentenced to your vessel for an undisclosed amount of time.

Harsh, but that makes sense. I knew I could return to my vessel instantly, so I decided to help her out. If things go bad, she can always wish for me to solve the issue, then I would have my full power to bear.

"I'm in."

I coalesced outside next to her and gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

She took a deep breath, handed me the umbrella and walked in.

The smell hit me first, like copper and wet musty fabric. I don't know what I expected a witch's family home to look like but it wasn't that.

The floors were concrete with drains throughout, dark stains led to them, leaking from several animal corpses and one more humanoid shaped corpse in a burlap bag.

Women dressed in dark clothing wandered around the large warehouse-sized space, either drawing circles on the ground or reading scribbled texts at several foldable tables.

Near the back of the room wasn't a throne, but a carpeted and furnished tea area. It wasn't unlike my own small tea room at home.

There were three women seated within and one male servant. Two of the women looked very strange, their hair was white, but otherwise their skin was flawless. One poured whatever they were drinking for the other and kept her head bowed in reverence. The third woman looked very similar to Terese, but with deep blue eyes instead of gray, and a cruel twist in her smile.

Squaring her shoulders, Terese briskly walked us back to the sitting area, ignoring the stares that were leveled at us by every patron of the building.

Feeling a bit underdressed in just cuffed breeches, I changed into a black short-sleeve button up and black slacks with shiny black dress shoes.

There, I thought looking at Terese, now we match.

Oddly, me changing clothes seemed to get the biggest reaction out of the crowd, I could hear some of them mumbling to themselves about how they didn't see an array, others questioning their peers on how Terese managed to make a deal with an Outsider, they even said it with a capital 'O'.

"Mother," Terese said, coming to a stop on the edge of the rug, "I am here to demand my inheritance."

Shocked gasps went off around the room as one of the white-haired women, the one being served to, scoffed.

"What inheritance, Terese?" She asked imperiously, "Gift-less children have no birthrights here."

In response, Terese pulled her pocket knife from her purse. Several women started to stiffen but Terese simply slit her palm with it.

Her blood once again formed into red fire before settling into an array. With a flick of her wrist, a scarlet beam burned a perfect circle into the rug and scorched the concrete below.

"I have rectified that weakness, mother. As your first born child I demand to be named heir of this family immediately."

The young woman stood up suddenly and threw her teacup at Terese. I caught it, liquid and all with a bit of magic and took a small sip. Chamomile and lemon.

"Thank you," I said, "but I much prefer coffee."

Distracted from her fury, the young woman stared at me open-mouthed as I set the teacup carefully back on the small table with telekinesis.

"Who are you?" She demanded.

"Tristan MacLennan at your service, ah well- at her service," I said pointing at Terese. "I make wishes come true, and you are?"

"Annabeth Sinclair, heir of this family!" she replied, angrily staring at her sister. She then turned to me with a venomous smile "Whatever she's offering you, great spirit, I can triple. A retainer of this family would be treated very well, what do you say?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Terese looking at me with genuine concern. She had no need to worry of course, I had no idea if I could switch masters, even if I wanted to.

I frowned before replying, " as you can see I am already a retainer to this family, being the servant of the eldest child." I then made a show of looking her up and down before continuing, "in addition you require a certain level of power to use my services and you definitely don't have it."

While Terese tried her best not to laugh, Annabeth turned as red as a Sinclair could get (rosy pink), and stomped up to Terese before extending her hand as if to shake.

"Let's just settle this the old way, pathetic sister of mine. I, along with my familiar, challenge you and your summoned thug to a duel right now."

"Oh thank the remaining gods!" Terese sighed with relief, " this'll be so much faster then!"