The Djinn and The Vartija: Breakfast

  Emrri

The toaster popped, and I carefully removed the once frozen waffles. My mother was still asleep, which gave me time to check on Muritage. Carrying a plate of blueberry waffles to the backyard, I walked toward the tree-house. In the dim light of dawn, I was able to see someone sitting atop the flat roof of the tree-house.

“Have you changed your mind?” I asked him once I was closer enough to not risk my voice carrying back to the house.

“I will not relinquish my hold until you release me.” Muritage answered as he continued to stare east. I shook my head.

Well, I had to try.

I lifted the plate. “I brought breakfast.”

Muritage turned his head, meeting my gaze with a scowl.

“What gave you the impression that I would find human sustenance palatable?”

I frowned. It hadn't occurred to me that djinn might not eat the same as a human or myself.

“Okay, then what does your kind eat?”

He turned away. “What sustains me is not your concern.”

I stared at him, then shook my head. “So long as you don't harm anyone in order to feed. What are you doing up there?” I took a bite from a waffle as he replied.

“If given the option of confinement or the outside, which would you choose?”

I nodded, taking another bite. After finishing the waffle, I looked around at the neighbors' houses.

“Could you come down? You're a bit too visible up there.”

Muritage stood. He was wearing umber slacks, a white long-sleeved dress shirt and a sepia waistcoat. He stepped off the roof, walking on air down to where I stood.

“How do you do that?”

“It is a simple manipulation of water molecules. A common ability among my kind.” He answered offhandedly. Meeting my gaze, he continued. “Such an ability could be compared to a vartija controlling their aura. Once one is aware of the mechanics, utilizing the ability takes scarcely a thought.”

As he walked around me, I turned to keep him in sight. “Well, I can't sense my aura.”

I took a step back as Muritage stepped toward me with a condescending smile.

“That is why I will instruct you, little tamer.”