“In the Name of Allah, the Compassionating, the Compassionate! Praise be to Allah. The Beneficent King, The Creator of the Universe, Lord of the Three Worlds. Who set up the firmament without pillars in its stead, and who stretched out the earth even as a bed, and grace, and prayer-blessing be upon our Lord Mohammad. Lord of Apostolic Men, and upon his family and companion train. Prayer and blessings enduring and grace which unto the day of doom shall remain. Amen, O thou of The Three Worlds sovereign!”

-A Thousand and One Nights

A Duel Between

I laid the final wrap of my turban and tucked the cloth in. Bowing to the floor I muttered my prayers to myself. I stood and took a moment to look at my reflection. I thought I looked strange, but it was fine. Today was special. I checked my chin. I still hadn’t grown a beard yet, but I had managed to grow a fine mustache. A charming and distinguished pair of black points that marked me as an equally charming and distinguished man. Even if only my aunts thought so. I smiled to myself and then to the newspaper in front of me. The headline: Arabic Rebels Claim Victory Over Entrenched Warlord. The picture showing many faces I knew, all armed men cheering. All except one in the very middle. A woman with a ball of fire in her hand and an arm around a man who kissed her. An infinite amount of joy and relief flooded through me. I could only hope and pray that this good fortune last, and take comfort that I would not need to pray hard for the warriors in the photo. “Alhamdulillah.”

I headed out to where my aunts were working the laundry. They smiled when they saw me and cooed at me, “Oh Harrick, what has you dressed so?”

I showed them the newspaper with its headline. They took it and their smiles grew wider. “Oh sister, look at our brother! How noble!”

As they read over the article my cousin Isabella came out. She was dressed in a casual attire with blue denim pants and a simple shirt with the symbol of a band she listened to. My aunts showed her the newspaper, “Isabella, look! Your uncles are winning our home back, Alhamdulillah”

Isabella pushed the article aside and tsked, “Your home you mean. I don’t remember that place.”

“Isabella!” They were taken aback by their niece’s comment, “Your father gave his life in hope that you would know the land of your people.”

“My people?” Isabella laughed, “My people are you two and Harrick. Those people are just names waiting to be forgotten on a tombstone.”

Our aunts gasped as Isabella strolled past them and out of the small yard. I sighed and turned to them. “Do not worry. I shall speak to her.”

I followed her out into the cross patch of narrow pathways that outlined the house that we lived in. It was a large dwelling built for multiple families, and my extended family took it all up. We were refugees from the wars that were tearing our land apart. A civil war that had cycled through escalations of violence ever since The Arabic Union fell in The Horde Invasion. Now the land was divided by hundreds of warlords who held their power through both brute and legal force.

I caught up to my cousin, “You should not be so rude to our aunts, and you should not speak so callously of our brave warriors in the homeland!”

“Sweet Mercy Harrick,” Isabella laughed at me, “You shouldn’t be so damn stuffy. And since when do you wear a turban?”

“Since our people won a great victory in the name of Allah, glory be to him.” I gave a quick prayer, “In fact, you should dawn your hijab in thanks of this great victory.”

“Great victory for what?” Isabella said with a scoff, “My dad is dead and I have no idea where my mother is. And for what, so I can one day go to a land I don’t remember and do even more dumb rituals?”

“You do not remember home? Not anything?” I asked. “I remember quite a bit, and we are the same age.”

“I remember…” Isabella looked away so I couldn’t see her thoughtful expression, “Sand.”

“There was much sand,” I said looking away. I had lost all my fury at her. Isabella had lost a lot. Her father had died soon after we had left and her mother went missing. My parents had also stayed behind, but I knew they were well. I knew they were fighting with the blessing of Allah, glory be to him. “Isabella, I know it is hard, but-”

“Harrick. Don’t.” Isabella cut me off, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Isabella. Please. I am family. You can confide in me when you-” I trailed off as I heard a strange flicking sound. I looked back to see that she was sparking a simple flint lighter that she held near a cigarette in her mouth. “Isabella!”

I snatched the stick from her just as the flame caught on. Throwing it down with all the force I could place in the paper stick and slammed a foot on it. I looked at my cousin with my fury restored as she looked back with equal anger, “What the hell, Harrick!”

“I can not believe you! I can not believe you would take up smoking.” I was shouting now, waving my hands like a madman, “Have you no respect? For Allah? For yourself? For your mother?”

“Fuck you! You can’t tell me what to do!”

“I should not have to tell you not to put poison in your body! You should know better! Where did you even get them!”

“Fuck you!” She said again and made a gesture to punctuate it. She marched on leaving me behind.

I thought about following her and about yelling more. Dozens of verses came to my mind ready to be quoted with all the righteousness they held, but instead, I took a deep breath. I started to follow her. I called out, “Isabella, I’m sorry. I understand that-”

“No, you don’t!” Isabella shouted. She had stopped at a street corner that was marked as a bus stop, “You don’t understand. You can’t understand.”

“Isabella, don’t be ridiculous.” I said, “I have been fortunate enough to have my parents be alive and well, but that doesn’t mean-”

“Stop!” Isabella cut me off again, “This isn’t about your parents, or mine, or any of our family. It’s not about where our home is or what battles are being fought. It’s not about any of that.”

“Then what is it about?” I asked.

“There’s no point. You won’t understand. Because you’re you, and no matter what happens, you’ll always be you.”

“Ah, I see.” Her reasoning was now obvious to me, and she was right. So I just stood for the moment it took for the bus to come and then go. Leaving me alone. I continued on my own way.

Before long I was before West Progress High. The other students gathered in groups until they needed to head to class. Some looked at me with interest, but many did not. The school was full of odd people with equally odd appearances. A strange set of clothes was not notable. I made my way to class and took my seat at the front of the row. Before I could settle the demon kin scoffed at me.

“What kind of stupid hat is that?” He said chuckling to himself.

“It is a turban, and it is a head wrap. A tradition of my people.” I explained without annoyance.

“And the dress?” He chuckled again.

“A thobe. Also tradition.”

“Your people wear dresses as tradition?”

“Yes. Just as yours wear ugly coats without sleeves.”

He laughed at that, “Whatever.”

“I think it’s pretty cool.” Frank said next to me, “But what’s the occasion?”

I smiled at my friend’s question and raised my arms up, “My people have won a great battle back home.”

Frank and some of the others clapped at that. Adrian the demon kin was one of them, “So it’s like a victory dress with matching hat.”

“Yes. In fact, I wish to show you all.” I searched my pockets and then realized that I had left the newspaper at home with my aunt, “Ah, curses.”

“Alright class.” Mr Galacto came into the room, “Everyone settle in. We have a few things to go over before class proper.”

Everyone settled in and he continued. He went over school announcements and schedules. After we had our regular classes. None of the teachers made any comment about my attire. Which wasn’t strange. While the school did have a uniform that I wore almost every day, it wasn’t mandatory. So the teachers almost never said anything about what the students wore.

The classes eventually ended and before I could turn to invite Frank to have lunch with me XK scooped us both up and started, “Ishtar! I just love your new fashion sense!”

Neither Frank nor I resisted our friend as he carried us off. I told him, “It is not fashion. It is a symbol of my faith and gratitude to Allah, all glory be to Him.”

“Yes, yes, god is good, and all that. In fact, tell me everything.” XK dropped us at the lunch line. The rest of our team had followed and I explained how my homeland was in a civil war and that my mother and father were fighting against the warlords to restore the rightful order of the Arabic Union.

“Wait, I’m confused.” Sara said as we took our seat, “I thought they were rebels.”

“They are.” I confirmed, “Against the many warlords who made claims to the lands. Their claims were legal in the terms of the Peace Day Treaty, so other nations can not intervene directly.”

“How is that?” Frank asked, “I mean, I thought the Peace Day Treaty was supposed to stop war.”

“It’s not.” Vladimir said, “Quite the opposite really. It’s suppose to control war. To prevent a massive conflict that would destroy the world by allowing smaller conflicts to wage. A part of that is allowing new nations to declare their own state, even if that state is a one-man dictatorship.”

“That’s sucks. And other nations can’t do anything?”

“They can do plenty.” I said, “Like take in refugees while our warriors fight back at home.”

“Well it’s sucks that your home is in a war, but I’m glad you’re here.” Frank lifted his juice box in a toast, “To Ishtar.”

The whole table joined in. Then I continued it with, “To Allah, Alhamdulillah.”

They muttered in response and Vlad tried to produce the blessing. I laughed with mirth as I sat back down, but my good spirit was cut down by another laugh lined with mockery.

“You must be joking. You’re only here because some mooks are fighting over sand?” Another boy sitting at the next table was leading back. He wore the school’s uniform but it was sloppy and covered in marker drawings. Some being rather rude. “I thought we had standards, but then again you are in Class J.”

“Luke, don’t be a jerk.” A boy next to him said.

“Shut up, Belen.” Luke shouted, “This guy ain’t nothing, and his folks ain’t much more.”

I slapped my hand and bolted up, “That I shall not allow. Insult me if you wish, but I will not allow such comment of my family.”

Luke laughed at that, “What are you going to do about it?”

I crossed my arms and stood at my full height, “I’ll knock some sense into you.”

Luke laughed more as he jumped to his feet. He focused will into his hand and brought fire to them, “You think you can take me?”

“I know I can.” I said, “Your tricky fire doesn’t scare me.”

“Tricky fire? What are you on about?”

“I am a being of fire. My jinn blood connects me to all flames, and I know the scent of fairy fire well.”

“What did you say!” Luke gritted his teeth, “I ain’t no fairy.”

“Your smell says otherwise.” I did not back down. Even as the other boy, Belen, sighed and my own friends tried to speak, “Now, take back your insult, or face me.”

“Fuck you! I’ll break your face!” Luke started to pull back for a punch and I started to ready myself before a voice boomed over us.

“Enough!” Mr Steinfaust yelled from the second floor, “No fighting in the school building.”

With that, we both stepped back but still held our anger firm. Luke spoke up, “If you’re challenging me to a duel, I accept. Name the sport.”

“I declare a battle of fire. If you dare then name the time and place.”

“Today, after dismissal. The courtyard.”

“Oh, I have extra classes today.” I said apologetically, “How about after that?”

“I have somewhere to be by then. Tomorrow then. Courtyard.”

I thought about it but before I could say anything someone called out, “Hey idiots! Your seconds are supposed to decide that.”

“He’s right.” Luke said and pointed back at the table, “My second is Belen. Name yours.”

“I chose my friend, Frank,” I said. Both of our second called in protest, but we didn’t listen as we shook hands and turned away leaving the lunch room. Soon my team caught up with me.

Frank was the first to speak, “What the hell Harrick!? Why would you name me at a second? Why not Vlad? He actually knows this dueling stuff.”

“I am sorry. You were the first person I thought of.”

“Well, can you switch?” Frank asked.

“Yes and no.” Vlad said, “If you decline, then he’ll have to pick another second, but that means you’ll have to say no to a friend. Which could be an insult itself.”

“Sweet mercy, fine. I’ll do it.” Frank said.

“I thank you, Frank.” I bowed to my friend, “I appreciate this.”

“You better appreciate all of us.” Jessica said, “We all just skipped lunch to support you.”

“Agreed.” XK said, “After all this, you need to treat us.”

“You don’t even eat.” Sara pointed out.

“So rude.” XK mock swooned, “Maybe I should challenge you to a duel.”

“Sure, Vlad is my second,” Sara said.

XK stomped a foot and pouted, “You’re despicable. I wanted Vlad for my second.”

“Yeah, I know, that’s why I chose him first,” Sara smirked. We all laughed. XK was always the one to cut the tension, but the situation hadn’t changed.

“I’ll figure out Belen’s schedule for the meeting.” Jessica offered and headed off with Jesse.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Right, Frank you need to learn Harrick’s schedule.” Vlad explained, “As well as what sports he’s capable of.”

“I thought they agreed to a fight?” Frank said.

“Still needs to be official.” Before he too turned to leave with XK and Sara, “You also need to fill up the roles. Third, Medic, and Witness.”

“And I not being the Medic,” Sara said. “I don’t like using my power when I don’t have to.”

I nodded to her. Sara had the power to heal others with a touch, but the process was painful. I’ve had a few bruises healed by her and I would rather have just been sore in hindsight. I would not ask her for such a thing.

When school was dismissed I headed to my extra class. Up on the third floor, I entered the room of Ms Chantilly for a lesson in Energy Theory And Controlled Application and was greeted by my other classmates. Two of which were from Class J, Abraham and Runesir. I sat next to them.

Abraham spoke first, “Hey, we saw what happened at lunch. We already told Frank and Belen we would accept any role.”

“I thank you.” I already knew this. I had seen their exchanges just before dismissal. “I doubt they would agree to you two.”

“We swore on our magic to uphold neutrality, and I know Luke and Belen.” Runesir explained, “I share a class with them, and I must say I too found your claim to be displeasing.”

“My claim?” I thought for a moment but couldn’t think what he meant, “What claim?”

“Your claim about his magic.”

“You mean his fairy fire?” I furrowed my brow, “But that is what it is. I know fire very well. Being half jinn I share a connection with every flame.”

“That doesn’t help very much.” Abraham said, “The most damning insults are often the truth.”

“Oh, so you’re siding with Ishtar then, Prince.” Runesir gave him a side-eye.

“I’m still neutral. That’s all that matters.” Before Runesir could say anything more Ms Chantilly started the class.

After class, I headed straight home. I called Frank and learned the details. Saturday, noon in the field yard. The third, the medic, and the witness were all people I didn’t know, but Frank said they had good reputations. I would have to meet them before the duel, but I didn’t object. I trusted Frank. We had only known each other for a few weeks but we had become close friends.

“What of the sport?” I asked, “Did he object to the brawl?”

“No, but,” I hear the rustle of paper across the phone, “He did say he wanted it to be fire magic only.”

“No dice.” I said, “We can keep it non-physical, but I won’t have it all on one element.”

“What? Why not?” Frank asked, “Harrick, you specialize in fire base magic.”

“Yes, but even the mightiest pillar can not hold a roof alone.” I told Frank, “I will not resist myself to only one of my gifts.”

“Alright, then. I’ll call Belen. Give me fifteen minutes.” Frank hung up and in fifteen minutes called back, “Alright, they agreed. All magic, only magic.”

“Within reason,” I added.

“Yeah, I’ll double-check on that, but it’s understood that it’s a fair fight.” Frank rustled the papers, “Is there anything else we need to go over?”

“I don’t think so.” I thought over it and nothing came to mind, “Well then, it should be set. I wish you a good night. Peace be with you.”

“Yeah man, I’ll see you tomorrow, Peace.” And with that, we hung up.

My moment of quiet was cut short by the almost mocking tone of Isabella, “Well well well, what’s all this? The master of virtue Harrick gets into a fight. Not very noble of you.”

“You think so?” I asked. I didn’t want to be direct with her and start another fight, “I only made the challenge because he insulted our family.”

“Is that one of the loopholes?” She lifted a lit cigarette to her mouth and inhaled, blowing out a cloud of smoke she continued, “I wouldn’t know. Never read the fine print.”

“You should not be smoking that,” I said in the very tone I was trying to avoid. I softened my voice, “That is to say, I wish you wouldn’t smoke that.”

It was too late. Her face scrunched up in anger as she looked at me, “And I wish you didn’t try to lecture every chance you got.”

She pulled in the rest cigarette before throwing it on the floor and stomping on it. She turned away and marched off blowing the smoke in front of her as she went through it. When she slammed the door behind her I sighed and sat at the table. Putting my forehead in one hand and pulling my turban off with the other and muttered to myself, “Oh Allah, I know not what to do. Be with Isabella in whatever trail she is facing and keep her strong. Be with me in my coming battle and keep me noble. And be with my family, here and at home, in their mission and keep them safe. Amen.”

It was all I could do, and as I readied for the night I made a note to ask forgiveness for lying to my aunt when she asked why the house smelled of smoke.

***

Saturday came fast. I had once again dawned my turban and thobe. I was fighting for the honour of all my family, and when you go to a fight you dress on the scale of the terms. I would not show up in some casual wear. I arrived sometime before noon and saw a crowd had gathered. Many students were excited to see a real fight it seemed. I even saw some of the teachers, though they seemed to be more keeping the peace across the crowd.

“Mr Mirmen,” I greeted my teacher with a bow, “Did you come to cheer me on?”

“No Mr Ishtar, I, and the other teachers, came to keep you from burning the school down.” He explained, “We won’t interfere unless we have to, and if we have to it’ll be a major write-up for everyone.”

“I see. That’s while the damoclean dagger.” I said.

“I’m not worried, but it’s a part of the job. Now get going. Don’t want to be late.”

He was right. I bowed and made my way to the back of the school where Frank greeted me and brought me to the arena that the bulk of the crowd outlined. There I stood at one end with Frank. On the other Luke and Belen faced us. In the center were three senior students who, to my surprise, turned out to be the three highest ranking students in the school. The biggest one, who was also in the middle, drew everyone’s attention with a clearing of his throat.

“I am Razputin Ivanov, and I am the third for this duel. I am the older brother of Vladimir Ivanov, who is team leader of one side of this duel. I have swore to be fair, and no one has objected.” Razputin explained. He towered over the other two with natural bulk. His scaly skin was the same shade and texture as his brother, but his frame was expanded by powerful muscles, and while Vlad tried to downplay his features Razputin had a razor sharp sheen on his claws, fangs, and in his eyes.

“This is Doctor Issac Norris, and he is the medic for this duel.” He gestured to a fairly average-sized guy. Issac wore a full-cover lab coat worn by many super scientists. A pair of goggles were wrapped around his forehead where his hairline would have begun on his bald scalp. “Yes, he has a doctorate, and yes, he is sensitive about it.”

“It’s not sensitive to demand your due respect.” Issac barked. “I earned that title.”

“Da, I know.” Razputin waved him off, “He is a mutant and will be using his own equipment. He has swore to maintain the health of all involved. Do either side object?”

Neither side did.

“Good.” Razputin continued gesturing to another guy on his other side. Tall and well-built he had a laid-back demeanor to him, “This is Nathaniel Borson, and he is the witness for the duel. He is wielder of the Mantle of Thor.”

Nathaniel took a short handle battle hammer off his side and spun it around, “Yep, I got a sharp eye to go with my problem solver here. So don’t worry about me missing any details.”

“Da. He has swore to be honest and truthful about the event taking place. Do any object?”

Again there were none.

“Good, everyone here knows the terms.” Raz rotated an eye to the school’s clock face. “The fight begins at noon.”

The crowd of students and the few teachers among them watched the time tick away. Many looked toward the school itself, but some others used their own watches on their wrist or from out of their pockets. All the while I stared Luke down as he returned the favor. As the time whittled away the crowd’s mutters rose and fell until the school clock aligned at twelve and, due to the school’s time schedule set to the hours before and after noon, made no sound, but we certainly did.

“El haj co!” I swung my arms out and sent a wave of fire out and then summoned more will to form a circle around me to be both shield and focal point. Luke took the defensive, waiting until the second after my attack to launch a blast of his own fire to break through the flame wall coming at him. Then he focused will into his palm and hurled a fireball into the wall of my will. The flame spread around my circle blocking my view for only a second which allowed Luke to disappear. He gathered will at a spot on my left unleashing a second blast before I focused my own will to deflect it. It wasn’t a fire blast, but raw force and it sent me a step back. To my other side, I felt the gathering of energy and reflexively blocked off the force blast that Luke sent from a second position he was occupying. I started to shape my will when the feeling of another gathering came from behind me. Luke was somehow in three places at once, or was very very fast. I took my will and instantly reshaped it from an outwards attack into a shifting force.

My mother, Allah bless her, is a jinn. A being of fire made flesh. The jinn are very much like humans. They eat and sleep and even need water, even if only a raindrop a day. They live and love and eventually die like all mortals. The greatest difference between humans and jinn is their connection to fire and the power around it. Magic, as it was officially called, but the magic of the jinn was deeper than the simple influence of wizards. It was their life force. It was our life force.

The weight of the world faded from my senses as I turned my body into raw energy and vanished into thin air. I moved the essence that was me up and away just as Luke let off a fire blast from all three positions. I allowed my body to reform, an action as easy as dropping a heavy rock, and was floating over the other side. We had swapped places as well as roles. Luke’s trick was in fact a multiform. He had made two copies of himself to perform a huge opening attack but was now suffering the aftereffect. The human mind is not supposed to exist in more than one place and the shock had thrown him into a loop. I gathered and shaped more will. Sending some down and around to keep me hovering I turned the rest into a dozen balls of fire and sent them flying to Luke. He recovered only enough to bring a shield up in front of him leaving his back exposed to a direct missile.

Luke stumbled forward and I turned my lifting force into a cushion as I dropped to the ground and was hit by a seismic blast. I had miscalculated. I thought Luke would throw an attack into the sky leaving himself open, but he had predicted or guessed that I would land. I had not managed to reshape my will into my circle and it broke under the force. I was sent flying back only to be stopped by a force blast from Luke. He had managed to move across the arena and perform an attack without my notice. Now in the center, I tried to again shift my body into the air, an action as easy as lifting a heavy rock, but only managed to lighten my body in time for Luke to send another seismic blast that launched me up into the air. I lost all sense of the world as a tumbled in the air. My body returned fully solid and I managed to locate the sun in the sky giving me a starting point on which way up was. Which I used to deduce that the kick from the figure suddenly silhouetted by the sun was sending me in a downward direction.

I hit the ground. Hard.

When I regained my senses a dark blue light was shining over me. I was confused by this because I didn’t believe I had been hit that hard and had thought the light was supposed to be bright white like the sun. Luckily the light faded and the box it came from was moved to reveal the actual sun. I heard the voice of Raz.

“The terms were no physical attacks. You are disqualified.” His tone was certain.

“Come on!” Luke shouted, “Earth shaping counts as a magical attack.”

“Yeah,” Nathaniel chimed in, “But a drop kick doesn’t. Even if it’s twenty feet in the air.”

“I didn’t! That was a force blast ask anyone here.” Luke said back. His temper was growing.

“No one here but us has a say. I saw a kick. You lose by default.” Raz stated firmly with no room for reproach.

“Delay that,” Isaac said next to me looking over his omnitool. “All my scans show he was only hit by a full kinetic blast. There was no physical contact. Not even a scuff mark.”

“See! I told you!” Luke shouted in victory, “I win.”

“Ladno, ladno, I declare you the winner,” Raz said as the crowd cheered and booed.

I sighed to myself as a vision of my mother appeared before me. Her face was of disappointment in me. In my daze, I called to her image, “Mama, I am sorry. I tried to honour the family. To honour you. But I failed. Forgive me.”

Her face turned to a smile as she called back, “My noble son, there is nothing to forgive. You did very well.”

As I closed my eyes and returned to unconsciousness I was comforted by the words.

I woke up under the lights of the school infirmary. I was familiar with the room from my many visits of classmates after field days. This was the first time I was the one in the bed. I looked around and found the clock read just after one. The fight had started at noon and lasted what felt like an hour, meaning it likely took a minute if not two for Luke to defeat me. Which means I had been out for at least an actual hour. Frank was at my side and noticed I was awake.

“Hey, man.” Frank said, “You doing alright?”

I nodded, “Yes. I lost, but such is life.”

“Yeah, it was a pretty hard hit too. The medic says you almost had a concussion, but your body was still semi-shifted, or something.” Frank explained.

“I fear it was more than almost.” I said back, “There before I went out I saw my mother before me.”

“Yeah,” Frank said.

“I spoke to her. Said I was sorry for losing.”

“I hear that, and I agree. You did good, man. Real good.”

I looked to Frank and furrowed my brow, “Wait, how do you know what my mother said in my vision.”

“In your vision?” Frank raised an eyebrow, “I was right next to you, man. I heard the whole thing. She helped carry you here.”

“She carried me?” I asked, “How?”

“Well Isaac had a stretcher and we each took an end. Set you down on the bed.”

“You and her? She is here?”

“Yeah, just outside. She’s talking to Mr Mirmen right now.” Frank pointed to the door.

I stood out of the bed against Frank’s protest and walked to the infirmary door. Opening it I saw Mr Mirmen. He was facing away from me and talking to someone. I only saw a trace of the telltale red of the jinn. “Mom?”

Leaning to the side my mother revealed herself. Her smile lit her face and her eyes started to water as she opened her arms and embraced me in a hug. “Harrick, my son. You have grown so much since I saw you.”

“I’m so glad to see you.” We parted from the hug and I asked her, “What are you doing here? Did something happen? Is father okay?”

“Yes. He’s fine. More than fine. We made a major victory.”

“Yes. I saw in the newspaper. You freed another land claim and returned it to The Arabic Union.”

“Yes we did, and with it came a major shift in our favor. A truce was called, and so we decided to come see you.”

“Is father here?”

“No, I’m sorry. There was business to do, and I also had the advantage of a shortcut through Otherside that only I could pass through.”

“Shortcut? And it allows you to travel here in less than a week? And you never told me? I could have visited you.” I was heartfelt at this.

“I’m sorry my son, but the path is only for full jinn. You couldn’t make the trip if you wanted.”

“Why didn’t you visit before?” Frank joined us in the hall and asked. “Harrick says he hasn’t seen you in years. I’m not judging though.”

“It’s fine. The path starts in the area we just liberated. I couldn’t come before now, but now I can, and I will. I’ll come visit you as much as I can. I promise.” We hugged again.

“Well now,” Mr Mirmen chimed in, “Not to spoil the mood, but the school doesn’t allow loitering in the halls. Even during the weekend. So we’re going to have to get moving.”

I was about to speak when my mother spoke. She apologized and bowed and started making her way with me and Frank following. “Frank, do you have anything planned for tonight, because I would love to have you for dinner.”

“Oh, umm… yeah, I’m free tonight.” He answered and then asked, “You mean as a guest, right?”

“Francis! My brother!” I shouted, “Of course she means as a guest. How could you even ask that?”

“Dude, I’m a Greek demigod. Like a third of my family has eaten other members of my family. Sorry to be a jerk, but I’m not risking it.”

My mother laughed at that, “Well worry not. We jinn eat the same foods as humans, and tonight I’m cooking a whole feast.”

We returned to my home where my mother started the preparations. The entirety of my family was gathered in the dining room. The largest room of the house, and of the dozens who ate and sang, Frank and I were the only men there, and thus were the only ones not allowed in the kitchen. Something Frank found disappointing being quite the chef, but we allowed my aunts, great aunts, and cousins to work with my mother at the helm.

“Sweet Mercy, Mrs. Ishtar.” Frank said between bites, “This is amazing. You have to give me the recipe.”

“No can do Frank.” My mother smiled, “It’s a family recipe.”

Frank turned to me, “Well, you hear the woman. We’re getting married.”

That made me laugh, “I do not think my father would approve.”

“Because you’re his only son?”

“Because that would be extortion!” I roared with laughter.

Frank snapped his fingers, “Dang, there goes plan B as well.”

“What was plan B?”

“Marry one of your cousins and get the recipe like that.”

Again I laughed, but Frank’s words had made me realize that my cousin Isabella was not present. I excused myself claiming to need the restroom and exited the dining room. I opened my senses and started to search around. I felt the spiritual fire from my mother. A beacon onto itself. Frank also had a powerful fire in him as demihumans did. The rest of my family had strong but mundane flames in them. I reached out further. The other homes had their own families, but the one I was looking for wasn’t in a home, but on top. All alone on the roof, I felt Isabella’s familiar flame as well as the sparks she was trying to coax into a full fire. I made my way up to the roof, and there she was sitting on the edge and looking over the neighborhood. The flicking sound of the lighter was joined by its flicking light that she held close to the cigarette in her mouth. As I stepped closer she looked at me. Her eyes were filled with water ready to become tears.

“Oh great.” She said shutting her eyes as a few tears escaped. “Of course, you would find me eventually.”

“You come up here often?” I asked trying to be as gentle as possible.

“Only when I need to get away from you.” She continued to try lighting the cigarette.

I stepped next to her, “Isabella, I-”

“Don’t even start. I don’t want to hear any of it.” She said gritting her teeth still flicking the lighter.

“Isabella. Please. I am sorry. Sorry for,” I stopped and tried to think of how to say what I wanted to say, “I don’t know. There is a party down there with our family, your family, celebrating. Come join us. I know it’s not a solution, but it is a relief, even if small.”

“No, it isn’t” Isabella continued to spin the flint with her thumb, “There is no relief. That’s what you don’t understand. I don’t have anything.”

“What do you mean? You have so much. You have family!” I cried out.

“Do I? Is that what they are? Family? A bunch of old women who do nothing but pray for the day they leave the only place I’ve known. Until they give up and find a man to marry and disappear. You? Who has to make every moment of life in line with your righteous morals with all your power. That’s my family?”

She was sobbing. The tears streaked her face as she continued to flick over and over. She choked out, “I asked your mom about my mom. She said she wasn’t sure, but I saw in her eyes. My mom is dead. I don’t even remember her, and she’s gone. My dad is dead. I never spoke to him. I don’t know if I even met him, but he’s gone. I do not have anything in this world. I can’t even get this damned lighter to light!”

She threw the lighter into the distance and curled up wrapping her arms around her knees. She didn’t hold back. Her sobs rang out across the summer night. I lifted my hand and extended my first two fingers. With only a nudge of will I brought fire to my fingertips. The light caught Isabella’s attention. She looked up to see the flame as I offered it. She took one look at me before sticking the end of the cigarette into it and inhaled the first drag of smoke. I ceased the fire and looked out over the neighborhood and towards the city.

“Isabella. I understand that I don’t understand. I can say I do. I can say I know how you feel. The fear, the dread, the struggle to keep hope, and the sorrow when hope fades, but it’s not the same. I understand that. That even though we are blood, that we live in the same place, we also live in completely different worlds. That we have different worries. That I’ll likely never know how it feels to be you. But Isabella, I still feel. I still have fears, and hopes, and worry about the things in my life.” I turned my gaze to her and the expression she wore, “I understand that we aren’t the same, but that doesn’t mean we’re completely different. I can’t be there for you for everything, but I can try to find where I can. If you let me.”

I offered a hand. She snuffed the last bit of the cigarette out and took it. Together we started our way down. She asked, “Umm… do you know how to tie a hijab?”

“Do not bother.” I waved her off, “My mother has already convinced three of our cousins to remove theirs.”

“Really?” Isabella smiled at that. “Just like that?”

“Yes, told them there’s no point in hiding yourself in your own home. Our great aunts tried to tell her that they wear them in support of the war.”

“And what did she say to that?”

“Nothing. She just offered to get beer for the party.”

“What?”

“Yes. What is the point of virtue without vice she tells them. Luckily I convinced her to forget about it.”

“Bah. You would.” Isabella scoffed, but laughed after, “Your mom is cool.”

“Yes, she is. I am glad to have her as my mother.” We finally made it back to the feast. A chorus of claps were timing a beat that my mother was dancing to. To the disapproval of our great aunts. My seat next to Frank was taken by one of our cousins who had her hair down. I looked over the room and took everything in as Isabella greeted everyone and took a seat. I was truly one of the most blessed souls in the world. “Alhamdulillah.”