Fire and Djinn

Different Kinds of Djinn

I went and used the restroom first before getting something to eat. Here at this convenience store they had a Hunts Brothers Pizza, so I ordered myself a large box of the classic pepperoni. I figured I would be rude of me to only buy enough food for me, especially with Bo’s money. I also purchased a couple bottles of water. I took the pizza and water to the car, where Bo had just finished filling up with gas.

“You going to eat all of that?” He looked at me skeptically.

“Of course not. I also got it so we could share.” I said as I came around to the driver's side and leaned against the car as I handed him a bottle of water.

“I appreciate you thinking of me, and I will eat it. But you should know I don’t normally eat human food.” he said, eyeing cautiously.

“Oh. I apologize, I didn’t think to ask. So, what do you eat?” I placed the pizza box on the tail end and opened it. I lifted a slice towards my mouth.

“That’s quite alright. I don’t mind. Although I’m afraid of I tell you what I do eat, you would be off put.” I stopped before the pizza entered my mouth.

I lowered it and looked at him. I don’t know why but, my first thought was human blood, like vampires. I felt a pit in my stomach as I waited for him to answer me.

“I consume energy from living organic matter.” He said carefully.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Get in the car, I will be right back.” He said before walking away

I was genuinely confused but nevertheless I did as I was instructed. I closed the pizza box and took it and got into the car. Just a few moments later the driver's car door opened, and Bo climbed in. In his hand was a yellow dandelion.

“While I can eat human food, it doesn’t provide sustenance for me. I am an Elemental Djinn, which means I can convert my energy into a specific element. To harness those powers, I need to consume energy. Take this Dandelion for example. As soon as I picked it up, it started to die. Now watch.” I watched in awe as Bo’s hands glowed blue and the dandelion quickly turned into a brown shriveled twig.

“So, you draw your energy from nature?” I asked.

“I can. But I can also draw it from any living being.” Bo clipped his seatbelt and put the car into drive

“You mean, you can literally suck the life out of someone?” I asked hesitantly as I clipped mine as well.

“Yes.” He looked away as if not wanting to make eye contact with me.

“You have control over it right?” I pulled the pizza off the dash and onto my lap to secure it.

“Of course. I can’t do it by accident.” He said and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“For a minute I thought you were going to tell me that you drank blood like a vampire.” I tried to bring some humor into it. I opened the pizza box and pulled out my slice of pizza.

“Other kinds of Djinn can. I am an Elemental, but there are Djinns that are scavengers. They drink the blood of the living and then eat the corpse.” At that I felt sick to my stomach. Good thing I hadn’t eaten any pizza yet.

“Fascinating.” I said sarcastically. “Can we change the subject so I can have the appetite to eat my pizza?” I put the pizza back into the box and shut it with frustration.

“I apologize. I forgot how fickle humans can be.” He said honestly.

“Not human, remember?” I said slyly. At that he grinned.

“Yes, I believe I remember something about that.”

“Uh huh.” I said as I shook my head smiling.

Pulling out of the gas station parking lot we began driving again. It wasn’t long after leaving the gas station that we passed a sign that said 60 miles to New Orleans. I did manage to eat a couple of slices of Pizza, as did Bo. He also drank the water. I had remarked that I thought he didn’t need food. He replied by saying it doesn’t mean he doesn’t need water and otherwise he would be a shriveled-up living mummy.

I didn’t have much time to sit and think about how my life would be now. Conversation flowed easily between Bo and me. I had only ever talked like this with Lisa, and I had known her since we were babies. It hadn’t been a full day with Bo yet, and already I trusted him with my life. When you think about it, it really is daunting.

“Just a few minutes to go.” Bo interrupted my thoughts. I nodded instead of replying.

“I should warn you. Gwen can be a little eccentric.” Bo said hesitantly.

“Eccentric how?” I asked curiously.

“Eh.” He seemed to struggle to find the words. “You will just have to see.”

“Gee, thanks for the warning. She doesn’t eat people, does she?” At that Bo laughed.

“No, nothing like that. I promise.” Bo smiled.

“Oh good. I can handle a little weird. Just not cannibalism.” I shrugged.

It didn’t go unnoticed by me that Bo took the route through New Orleans that had the least amount of traffic. Was there a reason for him being so cautious, or was he just being safe rather than sorry?