Golden light spilled out of the windows and into the opaque night, warmth penetrating the body of the winter traveler in front of the fire. Happiness and laughter echoed faintly, the sounds of youth and joy comforting the lonely soul.
They were in the kitchen/dining room washing dishes when Gabriel wandered over to the entertainment system and turned on the radio. He snickered when he recognised the song that flooded over the speakers.
"'I feel like I've been locked up tight for a century of loneliness...'"
"DJ, it's your song," he teased.
The other boy scowled. "Just because the aljunnu are mixed up with genies in mythology doesn't mean that we are genies."
But the others were joining in on the good-natured ribbing of their comrade.
"C'mon, Deej, sing!" Tobias cried, unusually flamboyant. He was dancing around the kitchen, waving a dish towel in the air. He threw back his head, and then the change rippled over him and he became a willow-slender blonde girl with a pair of bellows for lungs. He belted out the lyrics at the top of his voice, shimmying slightly too-thin hips. " 'I'm a genie in a bottle, baby!' "
DJ threw a glare that would have killed a lesser man, but girl-Tobias was dancing across the dining room carpet now, oblivious.
"You do grant wishes though, right?" Keith asked.
"It's not a wish if you have to pay the favor back, and we certainly don't grant three to any one person," DJ responded tartly.
Christian had had too much sugar, and was giggling. "But we can put you in a bottle, right?"
DJ's blue eyes blazed, colour creeping into his usually pale face. "You most certainly can not! I don't fit-"
And Asia made a grand sweeping gesture with one arm. The air in the room shimmered, and suddenly DJ vanished into thin air. Asia held up one hand, and a clear cork-topped bottle stood upright on her palm. A three-inch tall DJ was inside, pounding on the glass, mouth moving as he shouted even though no sound was heard. Keith fell back against the counter, hooting with laughter. DJ kicked the glass wall, to no effect, scowling again.
Asia smiled condescendingly at him. "Aw, don't frown, you ruin your pretty face." She grinned at Christian and Gabriel. "The mortal girls at the high school would love this, the most beautiful boy in a bottle. In my hand I hold a small fortune, right here!" She lifted the bottle.
Girl-Tobias sashayed across the room and snatched it from Asia. He (she?) danced around the room, shaking the bottle slightly and crooning the words down at the firmly trapped aljunnu.
" 'I'm a genie in a bottle, baby! Gotta rub me the right way, honey...'"
"Hey, where's DJ?" Angel asked over the music, stepping into the room.
Tobias immediately stopped dancing and held the bottle behind his back, shape=shifting back into his original form.
Christian flicked off the radio.
Angel surveyed the five faces around him, gazing steadily at the floor as if they'd all been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
An amused smile quirked up the corner of his mouth. "Okay, where is he?"
Tobias held up the bottle guiltily.
Angel crossed the room in a few quick strides and took the bottle from him. He peered into it curiously, eyes widening.
"Is this really him? How did this happen?"
Four hands pointed to Asia simultaneously.
Angel arched an eyebrow. "You did this to him?" He held out the bottle where DJ was pounding his tiny fists against the wall again. "Take him out."
Asia grabbed the bottle and cradled it close protectively, pouting like a small child. "No!" Then she held it up to the light, turning it slowly. "I have a genie. It's a real treasure."
DJ's voice exploded across the web. (I am NOT a GENIE! Let me OUT!)
Asia laughed and uncorked the bottle, tipping it upside down.
A full-sized DJ appeared on the tiled floor in a heap at her feet.
Everyone laughed, too, as he picked himself up and dusted himself off with as much dignity as he could muster.
He glared at Asia. "In my hands I hold your sleep."