The Locket of Love  Chapter. 13 part 3 of 5

The Locket of Love
Chapter. 13 part 3 of 5

As she pointed to Lea and Tamir’s dwelling, Isaiah swept Maya up in his arms, showing his surprising strength in his old age. Carrying her inside, he made his way to the guest room and laid her on the bed, encouraging her to remain calm all the while. After lighting a pair of oil lamps, Isaiah rushed back to her side, allowing her to grip his hand as tightly as she needed to.

“The… the baby is coming…”

“I know Maya, just be strong. You can do this. God is with you. He will be your strength. Have faith, and PUSH!”

With an agonizing wail, she pushed with all her might, refusing to give up. After what felt like ages, she finally felt the baby exit her womb and come to rest in Isaiah’s arms. He grabbed the softest blanket he could find, cleaning and wrapping the tiny child with it.

“It is a girl,” he said with a smile, handing Maya her newborn.

“A… girl…” she managed to say.

As the two lay there, it was immediately obvious to the older man that her health was not returning to normal in the aftermath of giving birth. Additionally, the child was barely breathing at all, being born far too early to have any real chance at survival. Feeling Maya’s forehead, her body grew colder and colder by the minute, seemingly confirming his worst fears.

“Maya… I fear that you may be dying.”

“I care not… if only my daughter… can live…”

Shaking his head, he said, “It seems that life is slipping from her as quickly as it is for you. I… I am so sorry.”

“No… no this cannot be God’s will!” she cried in anguish. “Why bring her into this world only to kill her? After such a short life, containing nothing but pain and suffering? Isaiah, please tell me there is more than this. How can this be a part of God’s plan?!”

Isaiah silently bowed his head; he had no answer for her. Seeing the dejection on his face was the final straw. Maya had lost all hope.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” she screamed, her cries of pain seeming to echo to the farthest mountains and all the way up to the gates of Heaven itself. As she continued to lie there, weeping in despair, a strange sensation washed over the both of them. It was almost as though another person was there with them.

My dear girl, you have suffered such pain, came an ethereal voice.

“Who is there? Show yourself!” Isaiah said firmly.

As he spoke, a figure began to materialize in front of them. It was a beautiful young woman, tall with brown skin and soft, black hair. She bowed gracefully to them in greeting.

“Who… are you?” Maya weakly asked. “Are you God’s angel?”

“No, I am no angel. My name is Selena. I hail from the lands far to the east of here,” she answered. “As you can plainly see, I am not human. Rather, I am a Genie and a member of the Water Tribe of the Jinn.”

“Be gone, strange creature,” Isaiah commanded. “This poor girl is on death’s doorstep, and I will not allow you to corrupt her soul in her final moments of life.”

Again bowing gracefully, Selena quietly said, “I understand your fear and apprehension, great Isaiah, for it is only natural. However, that is the very reason I am here. Maya, your cries of pain have reached all the way to the bed chambers of my master, the King Jinn of the Water Tribe. They woke him from his slumber and pierced his very soul; he feels your agony. As his most trusted vizier, he sent me here to uncover the source of the pain, and has authorized me to assist in any way my magic will allow me to.”

“And how could you possibly help her?” Isaiah asked warily.

Slowly approaching, Selena observed, “Both mother and child are near death. As humans, my magic cannot simply heal them, as much as I wish it could; the only human capable of being instantly healed by me without an actual wish is one who is assigned to me as my master, which they are not. However… there may be another way.”

Her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, Maya asked, “Can you save my daughter?”

“I believe so, but… the solution may be potentially upsetting to you.”

“Just tell me!” Maya cried.

“Shh, rest Maya. You need to save your strength,” Isaiah cautioned.

Slowly, Selena began to explain, “As a newborn infant, my magic is capable of healing your daughter by first transforming her into a genie. Once that has been done, restoring her to perfect health would be extremely simple. However, as a genie, she would not be able to remain amongst humans and would have to come with me. In compensation for this, I am authorized to grant you, Maya, one wish. The wish would not be bound by normal Genie rules and would be interpreted alongside your thoughts to ensure that you are given what you truly desire, rather than your words being twisted against you.”

“Silence!” Isaiah growled, glaring at Selena. “Maya, I implore you, do not accept this offer. It is a demon’s trade! It goes against all that is good and holy in the world God created. If you do this… there may be no hope for your eternal soul.”

Torn between saving her daughter and saving her soul, Maya asked, “What will become of my daughter if she goes with you?”

Selena answered, “Her soul has the essence of a human. Even if I were to make her a genie to save her, nothing can alter that essence. Thus, she would not be a pure Genie, as I am. Rather, the only purpose she could fulfill would be that of a servant genie. She would be given to a master to serve all the days of her life, able to use great and wondrous magic in the completion of her duties.”

“Will she… know pain?”

Closing her eyes momentarily, Selena replied, “I cannot say for sure. Once she is given to a master, she then becomes that master’s property to be dealt with at their pleasure. She may have a kind, generous master, but she may also have one who is… not unlike Ari.”

Thinking for several long minutes, Maya finally said, “Save her.”

“Maya, consider what it is you are doing! What you may be condemning her too!” Isaiah said forcefully.

“Isaiah, I thank you for everything you have done for me tonight. But I know what I must do. My daughter must have a chance at life; this is… my purpose as her mother.”

Silently bowing his head, Isaiah stepped back, knowing she was resolute in her decision.

“Save my daughter, Selena.”

Taking the baby girl in her arms, Selena hummed a sweet, wordless melody to the child. Soon, the infant began to glow with a faint blue light. The light slowly began to shrink, though it did not diminish in intensity. Finally, it faded away, leaving only a gold locket in Selena’s hand.

“She will be safe now,” Selena said reassuringly. “Now, time is short. Your life slips from you faster than ever. Please, tell me your wish. It can be anything. You can live without hunger or disease, be wealthy beyond your wildest dreams, and even have power over your horrible excuse for a husband. You can save yourself from all hardship and pain; you need only wish it.”

Now struggling to breathe, Maya reached out to take Selena’s hand and spoke her wish. “I wish… for my daughter to never know pain or suffering. I wish that… with whatever master finds her… she will be loved and cherished… for who she is… not… what she is. I wish… for her to find… a man of God… of outstanding moral fiber… who will take her as his wife… who will protect her… and ultimately… guide her into… the arms of God. Finally… I wish… to see her again… someday… in God’s… house…”


To be continued