Who Belongs to Whom?

Ru took a breather next to the antique piano left rusting in the attic.

"Fucking bitch! This time she'll sell both you and me!"

"Hush," a voice warned, that sizzled through Ru's neurons. "You can talk to me telepathically. If you think about what you want to say, I hear you."

"Can't you see the trap we've been pulled into?" Ru asked, without speaking at all.

"Lift your head and look," the genie said.

"Where should I look?" thought Ru. The thinking was hard for him now. His head was pounding; his ears were ringing.

Flashes of light filled Ru's vision. It felt like a severe migraine attack. He couldn't control himself due to the pain and nausea. When he stopped resisting, his head lifted slightly against his will, and his face turned towards the broken closet. On top of it, he saw a rat with eyes glowing red.

"A witch can command animals and see through their eyes, hear through their ears," the voice said. "And even speak through their mouths."

"I must run away," Ru thought, panicking.

"No, that wouldn't be wise," the genie said, stopping Ru's legs.

"Do you want the witch to eat me? What's your problem?" Ru thought.

"You can use the witch against demons," the genie suggested.

"Let's say I did that. So what do I do with you? You literally rule my body," Ru snarled.

"You're right, I need a body," the genie said with a stressed voice.

"I don't remember nice things about you," Ru murmured as he moved towards the broken mirror. "In my dreams you say to me, 'You belong to me,' etc." Despite the dust on the glass surface, he could see the blue glow in his left eye.

"Watch out for the spider," the genie warned.

Seeing the spider dangling from the ceiling, Ru covered his eye with his hand and turned his back to it with the mirror.

"There are animals everywhere. How am I supposed to hide from the witch?"

"You will not hide. You will play with the witch," the genie said. "Go back to the piano first."

Ru did as he said. "Play with the witch? She's too powerful." He took the bucket full of water and the rags and started cleaning the piano. "You must be crazy. Also, it is impossible to fix this piano."

"The witch will soon stop watching you. When that moment comes, we will turn the piano back to its former state with a little magic," the genie said.

Ru got excited. "Oh, great!"

"Can you pretend?" the genie asked.

"I'm acting right now anyway. I'm pretending to clean," Ru thought, the pressure in his skull easing, making him feel more comfortable.

"You need to get along with the witch and not be charmed while doing so," the genie suggested.

"You say it like it's so easy," Ru snorted, dipping the cloth into the bucket and wringing it out.

"We'll switch the potions and amulets the witch gives you and will give you," the genie said.

A cunning smile appeared on Ru's face. "I like this idea," he thought, while continuing to keep cleaning the piano. "Tell me how, and we'll do it."

"You are a thief, and I am a wizard. We can start with the key to the witch's room," the genie said.

"You forgot yourself, but never me," Ru thought sarcastically and added, "That was a good hint, thanks." He then stopped cleaning and stood up. "I'll do this when the witch goes shopping. Otherwise, she might catch me."

"Understood," the djinn said, completely stopping his manipulation of Ru's body. "I'm returning to my void. Think of me when you're ready."

"Hey, could you cast on me some protection spells before you vanish?" Ru requested. "And of course, renew the piano."

"Get yourself a girlfriend," the genie responded.

"What the fuck!" Ru reacted.

"Find one and convince her to stay with you here. Witches' spells generally don't work on women. Charm spells never work. Plus, a girlfriend would help you relax both mentally and physically."

"Ahem!" Ru couched. "You gave me all the girls in your harem before."

"Do I have a harem? Anyway, that's not the point," the genie said. "It would not be wise to renew the piano immediately."

"Oh, please," Ru pleaded, imagining himself as innocent as a cat, with big eyes. "At least you can renew your violin."

"I am at the end of my limits," the genie responded. "I must rest."

"You didn't do anything," Ru said angrily. His imaginary image's face was a vibrant shade of red.

There was no answer, meaning the genie had returned to his void.

After waiting for a while, Ru gave up. He took the bucket and descended the stairs noisily. He glanced around and left the bucket where it was. He took a lotion from the shelves that lined the hallway and went to his bathroom. He sat on the bathtub and began to think.

"Maybe I should call Vaelan? Clockmaker is a girl. But Vaelan is a guy. Besides, Clockmaker thinks I'm her father. Should I ask Vaelan to introduce me to some girls? Oh shit! Vaelan wants that from me. In that case, hmm..."