Genie made her magic work and a moment later a card appeared in her hand. Simply white with gold lettering and blue accents that swirled like Genie smoke. It was a save the date card and Genie created a whole box of them, declaring the wedding to take place two months hence. She handed these to her Master, who was eager to see just what her Genie had wrought. And it was at this time Genie thought it would be a good time to build a relationship with her Master. It would be easier for her to escape her bondage with the help and support of her Master, or at least, to not being stuck in her lamp. So she said something she hoped would pique Claire's interest; something about her past life free of the lamp. But she also wondered if Claire would even care.

"I hope, Master, that your wedding is the day of bliss you dreamed of. Would that I have been able to wed, before my imprisonment . . ."

"Your imprisonment?" Claire asked, stunned. "I thought you were born inside the lamp or something. Are you telling me that someone imprisoned you?"

Genie’s eyes lit up upon realizing her Master did care, after all. "That's right, Master. I was a free . . .  uh . . . person before becoming the Genie of the lamp." Genie almost let slip that she had been a he, but managed to stop herself. Who knew how Claire would react if she knew that Genie used to be male?

"That's awful. I have five wishes, right? Look, I promise that the final wish I make will be one to free you from the lamp."

"Really? O gracious Master, a thousand thanks to you." This was better than Genie ever expected. Not only was Claire feeling sorry about Genie's situation, but she also promised to free her. Claire really was a great person, and it made Genie a bit sad that she never really got to know her before her lamp.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Claire asked, catching Genie off-guard.

"Master?"

"Why the hell would I waste one of my wishes on you? You’re just a slave now. I can't believe you actually fell for that bullshit."

Genie was confused. What happened to the sweet girl whom she had a crush on for three years? Could it be that she was so blinded by love that she never knew the real Claire? Her Master was not a great person, or a nice person, and devious, in-Genie-like thoughts sprouted in her mind. From now on, Genie would twist every wish she granted to Claire. Not just Claire, but every Master to come hereafter, if they rubbed her the wrong way.

"Now, be a good Genie and grant my next wish ..." Claire began, and Genie eagerly awaited her Master's command now, rather than fearing it, as she had before. She might be bound to a lamp and a slave to her Masters, but was that any reason for a Master to be cruel to her? Genie thought not.

"I wish for . . . ." Claire made a big, sweeping motion with her arms, and Genie readied her magic. Would she be fool enough to wish for money? Or fame? Even a beginner Genie like her could twist that. ". . . well, I was going to say money," Claire said, dropping her arms and thinking to herself. "But that could be risky." She rubbed her chin. "This could take a while."

Genie relaxed and nodded demurely, "I understand, oh wise Master. Please take your time, I will be ready and at your side."

Then Claire looked up, and she had that little mischievous smile that used to make Genie's heart skip. Now it made her quake in her curly toed slippers.

"Oh, you'll just have to wait, Genie. But not out here." And then Claire held up Genie's lamp, and the wishgranter's blue eyes went wide and fearful.

"Please, do not, oh Kind Master. I assure you I am a more able . . ."

"Stuff it, Genie. You belong in your lamp." And then Genie's body burst into glittering smoke and dust, and against her will, Genie went back into her lamp to await her Master's new wish.

Genie reformed in her golden vessel, filled with its soft pillows that made it hard to stand, and the globe of light that cast strange shadows around the curved space. She tried, desperately, to remain standing, but the force of Claire moving her lamp around caused Genie to tumble. Even in here, in her own sanctum, Claire dominated Genie's life. It made it hard to plot to twist her wishes, and harder still to plot to become free of the accursed golden lamp.

Eventually the shaking stopped. Perhaps Claire had perched Genie on her mantle as a prize. But probably not. Genie and her lamp were probably tucked away safely where no one could find her. As time wore on with nothing to do, Genie wanted more and more to be freed. Freed by Claire, freed by another. Not even being human again, but being out of her lamp. Time had no meaning in this space, for there were no clocks, no sun to be seen, no moon or tides, nor even light and dark. Just pillows and an unchanging light. It did not take long for it to become maddening. Genie ran up to the edge of her vessel and tried to pound against the walls. But a Genie, it seemed, could not even touch the inside of her lamp.

"Master, please, I beg of you, let me out!" She shouted. But she was sure she was not heard. But, by miracle or circumstance, the lamp shook again. Genie's heart went up to her throat. And then she came right out of her lamp, back in front of Claire and her cute glasses and luscious hair.

When Genie bowed again, she did so because she wanted to, not because she had to (though she had to, as well), and when she spoke, she meant every word she said, "Oh, thank you, most gracious Master, for releasing me. Have you need of me?" Once again, she spoke quietly and moved gracefully. Then she looked around. They were not in any place Genie recognized, at least not at first. They were in front of a huge mansion built between the highway and the Pacific coast. A house that surely had fifteen rooms, a theater, bowling alley, and servant's quarters. It was made like a modern castle on the edge of a cliff a top white beaches.

"It took me a few days," Claire said, "but I found my second wish." She gestured to the grand house, "I wish Kevin and I lived in that house."

"As you desire, wise Master, I will make it so." Genie bowed again. Emotions swirled inside her as magic and the world opened up to her fingertips. Could she truly betray her Master? Cast her wish into a twisted light? Ideas formed in Genie's mind and she granted her Master's wish.