“You’re my genie?” Her Master said, his mind working through what Alessia had just told him, “And you can grant me three wishes?”

Alessia nodded idly, working through her own problems and thoughts. How could the lamp make her say these things? How could she be bound to serve anyone who held it?

“Genie, I wish for a car,” Alessia’s Master said, his voice breaking through her thoughts.

“What?” The Genie looked at her Master, too confused to even register that he had said something. And then, before he spoke again, Alessia’s magic opened up. Her body froze and she gasped when she felt the power within her.

This wasn’t like before, with Francesco or even when she was healing her Master. It felt like the very universe opened up to her. From the stars and galaxies spinning through the heavens to the buzzing atoms that built the world. Every inch of it was hers to command.

But she had one thought and one purpose, so singular it drown out everything else in her mind. Her Master needed a car.She didn’t know anything about engineering or mechanics, but the knowledge was just there, as if anyone could wander buy it and pick it up like it was a penny.

Stray thoughts and years of learning came to her from a designer halfway around the world, from a many tasked with creating next year’s feature sports car. She dug into his mind and found his sketches and ideas. And then Alessia put out her hand and made those dreams into reality.

Golden smoke poured out and swirled around the tiny alleyway and a shape appeared in the cloud of magic. It began simply. A blocky body with four wheels. Then a motor, mirrors, and seats. Then it took shape. The front end grew outward, the back folding inward. The wheels grew larger and body lowered. The twin seats wrapped in gray leather. An eight cylinder engine with chrome plating. Alessia molded the body just as the designer had thought it, giving the car a sleek, windswept look.

And then, when all the bolts, threads, gears, and wires were in their perfect and right position, Alessia’s magic pulled back and revealed a gold Ferrari so new it hadn’t been built yet. And then the well of magic closed itself behind impenetrable black gates, and the wish that had commandeered Alessia’s mind faded.

She fell to the ground and stared at the gleaming car that she had just created from nothing, her jaw agape and mind disbelieving.

“HOLY SHIT!” Her Master’s voice was piercing, and he jumped up and down with giddiness. “Holy shit holy shit holy shit! How did you do that?”

Alessia shook her head, “I don’t know, Master.” Then her Master’s hand came down and took her by the shoulder. He wasn’t rough, but his excitement shook Alessia as he pulled her up.

“Keys, where are the keys to this thing?”

“They’re . . .” Alessia’s brow furrowed and she opened up her hand, “here.” She didn’t even remember making these. Her Master’s hand flashed and he grabbed the keys from her palm. Then, like he was a child running in a toy store, he sped to the car and plugged the keys into the ignition.

The engine’s roar sent tremors into the ground as it came to life. “Damn, can this thing fly, too?”

“That wasn’t part of the wish.” Alessia said flatly, walking to the car that she made from nothing.

Her Master ran back to her and turned her so he could look at her. “Ok. Okay okay okay. What else can you do?”

“I didn’t even know I could do that.” She waved idly toward the Ferrari.

“How’s that? Aren’t you supposed to be wise and all powerful or something?”

The Genie shook her head, “Master, I became a Genie just tonight. I’ve . .. that was the first time I’ve ever granted a wish.”

“Oh, damn, really?” Her Master shook his head, “so even you don’t know what I can and can’t wish for?”

Alessia shook her head. “I suppose you could wish for that.”

“Wish to know what I can wish for? I’m pretty dumb, but I’m not that dumb. Like, if I wish for that, then I only got one wish left. Nah, you gotta figure this out, Genie.”

“So what do you suggest, Master?” The Genie said with a clever little smile and crossed arms.

“I suggest you . . . no, I command you.” Her Master pointed his finger at Alessia, “I command that you figure this out.” He puffed out his chest and nodded at his genie. “I gotta know what sorts a things I can’t wish for.”

“Command? Isn’t that just a stuck up way of saying wish?” And then something rolled over her like a tidal wave. A compulsion. An urgent and flashing need exploded in her mind. Her Master was right. She needed to know the rules of being a genie. She had to know for him, and for her. And Alessia had a feeling that the answers lay inside her golden lamp.

“You OK? Like you look like you’re about to faint.”

Alessia pointed at her lamp in his hand. “I think I need to go back in there so I can get your answers.”

Her Master looked up from the lamp to her. “You look a little scared and stuff, Genie. Is it dark in there or somethin? Cause I can leave this little lid thing open, if it is.” Alessia's Master pulled the lid off the top of her lamp.

She started to speak, but the compulsion, the desire, whatever, overtook Alessia. It took her body and broke it into the purple smoke and sand to fly back into her lamp. And when she reformed back in the tiny gold vessel, Alessia saw she was not alone.