CHAPTER 13
1485 Words
Chapter 13: A Refuge of Secrets
Jenny barely slept that night. Every creak, every whisper of the wind against the shattered window made her jump. The genie’s warning replayed in her mind—you are not safe.
By morning, her hands trembled as she tried to tape a piece of cardboard over the broken glass. The sun filtered weakly into the room, but it didn’t bring her comfort. The glow of daylight couldn’t erase what she had seen: the red-eyed shadow, the way it lunged at her, and the power that had burst from the genie’s hand.
As she placed the last strip of tape, a faint golden shimmer filled the room again. Jenny turned quickly.
He was back.
The genie appeared by her kitchen table, dressed in a loose white tunic with golden threads woven along the collar. His expression was calm, but his eyes—those deep, endless eyes—carried a weight of concern.
“You didn’t sleep,” he said softly.
Jenny scoffed. “Hard to sleep after being attacked by a shadow monster.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “You handled it better than most mortals would.”
Jenny crossed her arms. “Well, congratulations to me, I guess. What now? You said we had to move the lamp.”
He nodded. “Yes. Seekers travel through energy traces. If we stay here, they’ll find us again.”
“Then where do we go?”
He looked toward the window. “Somewhere shielded from their senses. Somewhere old… forgotten.”
Jenny raised an eyebrow. “Old and forgotten? Sounds like a haunted house.”
He didn’t respond with humor. Instead, he walked toward the desk where the lamp rested. The way he looked at it—half reverent, half sorrowful—made Jenny realize how ancient this being truly was.
He gently picked up the lamp and turned to her. “You must come with me.”
Jenny blinked. “What? I can’t just leave! I have a shift today. And bills. And my mom will wonder where I am—”
The genie stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If you stay here, they’ll find you before the sun sets.”
That silenced her.
She swallowed hard. “Okay… fine. But at least tell me where we’re going.”
“There’s a place beneath this city,” he replied. “A hidden sanctuary built centuries ago by those who once guarded the lamp. It’s shielded from dark forces.”
Jenny frowned. “You’re telling me there’s some secret magical hideout under Manila?”
His lips curved slightly. “You mortals build your world above ours, unaware of what lies beneath. Magic never disappears—it merely hides.”
She sighed, grabbing her small backpack. “Alright, Mr. Mysterious. Lead the way.”
---
The journey took them across the city. They walked through alleys Jenny had never dared enter, then through an old abandoned church near the bay. The building looked like it hadn’t seen a visitor in decades—its stained glass windows cracked, its pews covered in dust.
“This is it?” Jenny whispered.
The genie didn’t answer. He walked to the altar, raised his hand, and pressed his palm against the marble surface.
A soft hum filled the air. The ground beneath them trembled lightly. Then—before Jenny’s astonished eyes—the altar split open, revealing a spiral staircase glowing faintly with golden light.
Jenny gawked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He glanced at her. “Stay close.”
Jenny followed him down the staircase, her heart racing. The deeper they went, the cooler the air became. The walls were carved with intricate symbols—ancient letters glowing faintly like embers.
When they reached the bottom, Jenny’s breath caught.
They stood in a vast underground chamber filled with shimmering blue crystals that floated in midair. The light reflected in her eyes, bathing the space in a dreamlike glow.
“This is…” she whispered. “Incredible.”
“This is the Chamber of Veils,” the genie said quietly. “No seeker can find you here.”
Jenny walked forward, her footsteps echoing softly. She reached out to touch one of the crystals—it was cold, yet pulsing with warmth beneath the surface.
“Who built this place?” she asked.
“Humans,” he replied. “Long ago, before your kind forgot magic existed. They protected the lamp and its bearer through generations.”
Jenny turned to him. “You mean there were others like me?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes. Each generation had a guardian. Some were brave… others were consumed by greed. The lamp chooses who is worthy.”
Jenny frowned. “Then why me? I’m not special. I’m just someone trying to survive.”
The genie looked at her intently. “You have a soul that carries light even in despair. That’s what makes you different.”
Jenny felt her cheeks warm. “You talk like you’ve known me all my life.”
He smiled faintly. “Perhaps I have. Your soul’s light is familiar.”
For a moment, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them—a strange pull, soft but powerful. Jenny’s heart skipped.
She quickly looked away, pretending to examine the crystals. “So, uh… what now? Do we just stay here forever?”
“Not forever,” he said. “But for now, until we find out who sent that seeker.”
Jenny sat on a smooth stone bench, running a hand through her long black hair. “This is insane. I was supposed to serve coffee today, not hide in a magic cave.”
The genie chuckled softly, a low, warm sound that made her glance up. “You mortals and your coffee obsession.”
“It’s not an obsession,” she said defensively. “It’s survival fuel.”
He tilted his head. “You work too much.”
Jenny sighed. “Someone has to. My mom’s sick. Rent’s due. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re tired.”
The genie’s expression softened. “You’ve carried so much pain, yet you still smile. That is strength.”
Jenny blinked, caught off guard by the gentleness in his tone. “You really talk like someone from another time.”
“Because I am.”
His gaze drifted toward the crystals, his voice quieter now. “I once had a life, too. Before the curse. Before I became… this.”
Jenny’s curiosity sparked. “What happened to you?”
He hesitated, then said, “I was human once. A prince who defied his fate. I fell in love with a woman forbidden to me, and the gods punished my disobedience. They bound my soul to the lamp for eternity.”
Jenny’s heart tightened. “That’s awful.”
He smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I thought eternity would numb me. But then you came, and the lamp awakened again.”
Jenny’s breath caught. “Because of me?”
“Yes.” He stepped closer, the air between them warm with energy. “Your presence stirs magic I thought long dead.”
Their eyes locked again. The moment stretched, fragile and charged, until Jenny looked away quickly, pretending to focus on the glowing walls.
“Well, I guess we’ll both have to deal with this… curse thing together,” she said awkwardly.
He nodded, though his gaze lingered on her. “Together,” he echoed softly.
But before the moment could deepen, one of the crystals suddenly flickered—its light dimming.
The genie’s expression changed instantly. “No…”
“What’s wrong?” Jenny asked, standing.
He turned toward her, his voice low and urgent. “They’ve found a trace of us.”
Jenny froze. “But you said—this place was safe!”
“It was,” he said grimly. “Until something… or someone… betrayed its location.”
Jenny’s heart pounded. “You mean someone else is down here?”
The genie raised his hand, summoning a faint orb of golden light that hovered before them. The air grew heavy again—too still, too silent.
Then, from the far side of the chamber, a soft laugh echoed.
Jenny’s blood ran cold.
Out of the shadows stepped a woman—dressed in flowing black silk, her eyes glinting like polished obsidian.
“Well,” she purred, her voice smooth and haunting. “It seems the lost prince has found himself another human toy.”
Jenny’s grip tightened on the lamp as she stared at the woman in disbelief.
The genie’s face hardened. “Zafira.”
Jenny whispered, “You know her?”
His reply was low and sharp. “She’s the one who cursed me.”
And just like that, Jenny realized—their refuge was no longer safe.
To be continued…
- Writer
