The Lamp

Chapter One

I never thought it would happen like this.. The spirit realm has been my home, ever since I died. My spirit had roamed endlessly through the void until I met..Them. The Jinn. They saved me, and turned me into a jinni. My original name was lost to time long ago. They named me Altah, meaning the rising of the stars.

Now, I sit in this wretched lamp; on an annoyingly comfortable couch. The round room is very small, but I've dealt with it the best I could. I frown, thinking. My people had trapped me in this prison for a prank that went too far. The smoke mixed with hers, but it would easily wash out, it wasn't a big deal. I roll my eyes. 'What happened, happened. You can't change the past.'  I fold my arms. "I've been in this prison for..-" I count on my fingers quickly and trail off. "76, 92, 7,243, uh.." I pause, staring at the glass coffee table. "I 've been in this position for over eight thousand years.." I frown. "And not one of my masters have been the one to free me of this curse!" I growl, slamming my fists on the coffee table.

Supposedly, after granting a special master all three wishes and gaining their trust, I must trust them with my life; in order to be able to grant my own wishes and be free of my punishment. "But I did that on a consistent basis! I give someone my lamp, therefore my life force at this point, so.." I frown. "GAHH!"  I hit the table again, shattering the glass.

I scoff, snapping my fingers, fixing the table. I stare off into space at the purple and white polka-dotted walls. "If something happened to this lamp, I-.." I blink, and shift my gaze to my crossed legs on the cushiony couch. "I don't know what would happen to me now.."
They tied me to it, so if it was destroyed; I probably would be too.

The past cycles through my memory. 'Alyssa, with the lamp as a charm for her bracelet; Zuri, with earrings and the lamp was a charm on them.' I shudder. "That one was weird." 'Aladdin, who had the audacity to not even hide the lamp..' I frown. "I never liked him." 'Ana, with the head band; Lin Sy had the ring, and Rose with the hair clip..'

My jaw falls open a bit. "I haven't  thought of her in a long, long time." I mutter. Rose was the only one I actually bonded nicely with. We became something of friends, until I ruined it.

I hadn't meant to, but I ended up lying a bit about my jinn abilities. She found out that I couldn't fulfill the part of the deal, under conditions that I could grant my wishes, and accused me of not trusting her. Tears form in my eyes. I sniffle. Rose was the only real friend I had, aside from the other jinn. After our fight, I called back the lamp and sent myself back to the cliffside, where she had found me. She objected, but I had already made up my mind. She had searched everywhere for me, but I was gone. I blink. I haven't had a master since that day, about three thousand years ago, I believe.