06-13. Bunter's Tale of Djinn: Part 2

A little background:

Jinn (or Djinn) is Arabic, meaning "hidden." The word Genie comes from the Latin word "genius," originally referring to an individual's spirit guide or natural inborn ability.

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A Peri is a beautiful, fairylike being of Persian mythology, descended from fallen angels and excluded from paradise until penance is made.


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Bunter could have remained like this with Caprice for the rest of the night. So far, she had accepted him and his past. But the confessions weren't over yet.

He sighed and sat back, gazed out over the pond. How to present this next bit of history. If Emad had only kept his mouth shut, Bunter wouldn't have to explain this part. It's one thing to talk to a woman about your family, quite another to talk to her about other women.

Bunter: Caprice, you told me Emad had mentioned a harem and some crazy bet. You said you didn't believe his story, and that's good. Because, well, I'm sure he exaggerated the circumstances. Probably wanted to make the situation sound worse than it was. No need for that. It was bad enough.

Bunter: What happened was, Emad found a way into one of the sultan's harems. Just a small enclosure. Ladies from distant provinces lived there, in waiting. ... But the place was safeguarded by a powerful sorcerer. He was the one who imprisoned us in lamps. Going there was an idiotic thing for us to do.

Caprice: Emad said you spent several nights there, competing for the ladies' favors, before you were captured.

Bunter: Now see, that's what I mean. Emad's account is not completely true. It was only two nights. And I didn't do any competing with Emad. That was the idea, but I changed my mind once I got there.

Caprice: You didn't ... Why?

Bunter: Well, first of all. There was no way I was going to beat Emad in THAT game. He was experienced; I was a dumb kid. Emad knew ways to, umm, set a romantic mood quickly. I was too awed by females to manage those techniques. I left him to it.

Bunter: What Emad remembers and what I remember are two different stories altogether! Now, maybe he thought he knew what I was doing, but he was wrong. He was too busy to pay attention to where I'd gone.

Bunter: Trust me. Emad had other things on his mind besides my whereabouts. I took off right away.

Caprice: So you just left? But then how did you get caught?

Bunter sighed. Here it was. The tricky part.

Bunter: No, no I didn't leave ... exactly. I couldn't just desert my brother, now could I? Besides, there was this one girl who introduced herself. I talked to her for a while, and we, well we ...

Caprice: Marvin, just say it. You got involved with those women!

Bunter: Not so! But that one young lady, she seemed attracted to me, and we started talking.

Caprice: You've already said that.

Bunter: Right. Ok. Like I told you, I was awed. Dazzled really. Enchanted.

Caprice: She put a spell on you?

Bunter: Well, not a magic spell, but yes, it was kind of like that. She was different from the others. A Peri.

Caprice: Peri?

Bunter: One of the Peris. Like you. A Persian fairy. They're called Peris.

Bunter: Caprice, I liked her. And I didn't want Emad to touch her. I wanted her for myself. We went off alone, and I stayed with her those two days. Just her.

Caprice (pulling away from Bunter): You fell in love with her! The same as you told me! No different. ... Oh no! I probably remind you of her! You still love HER! Not me.

Bunter: No! Caprice, no! It wasn't like that at all.

How has he going to get out of this mess? Nothing he said would make this story more acceptable. He might as well just tell the truth.

Bunter: Caprice, I was fascinated by her magic. That's what drew me to her. And yes, maybe that's what was so appealing about you when I first met you. But Caprice! I got to KNOW you. I never knew that other girl. Not really.

... Even as I think of her, all I can see is YOUR face. All I can remember is the feel of YOU in my arms.

Caprice: Marvin, really? Is that true?

Bunter: Absolutely. I mean every word.

Caprice: Do you--do you remember her name?

Bunter: ... ... No.

Caprice: Marvin, your aura is a deep shade of lavender right now.

Bunter: And that proves I'm telling you the truth, doesn't it? Has to!

Caprice: It means you're being imaginative. ... Oh, never mind, Marvin. Just don't get TOO imaginative.

Bunter: Let's not worry about that woman anymore, Caprice. It was a very long time ago--and very far away.

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Bunter wished he'd been more forthcoming with Caprice from the beginning. Then he wouldn't be spending this long night confessing personal faults and misdeeds. It was a waking nightmare. But Caprice was still with him. Listening to every word, and apparently checking out his aura like it was a mystic lie detecting machine.

One more hurdle to pass. This confession was going to have to be shown, not told. Bunter hoped Caprice wouldn't faint or scream or anything like that. He led her to a more secluded spot. No need for locals to learn his secret.

Bunter: There's something more I need to tell you about Emad and me. About Djinn. ... Like fairies, some of the Djinn can change forms. Shapeshift. I told you about Emad having water abilities. You saw him in his small sea form, but he can shift into something much larger, at least for a time.

Bunter: He's a Kraken. You heard rumors of this monster, didn't you? The beast who was breaking up ships here in Rinn Fada? It was Emad. I found him out and put an end to his destruction.

Bunter: The first time I'd seen him in over 600 years, and he was wreaking havoc as a Kraken. He knew who I was, and yet he attacked me anyway. Emad is no victim at my hands, Caprice. He is not to be trusted.

Caprice: Marvin! That was the night you came home bruised and beaten, wasn't it? You could have been killed!

Bunter: Hold your sympathy, luv. I'm no victim either. I have my own demon form used for battles. Nothing like the Kraken, but dangerous. It comes with hunter abilities and ... bloodlust.

Bunter turned his back and shifted. He heard Caprice gasp and then grow silent.

Caprice: Your aura! It's so dark now.

Bunter: I never wanted you to find this out. I was prepared to let you go rather than have you see me this way. But I don't want to lose you after all, so if you need the truth and there's no other way--here I am.

Caprice: Oh Marvin, look at me. Please. I need to see your eyes. Your aura is too frightful!

Bunter turned and stepped closer to Caprice. He raised his eyes to her. There was fire, Caprice saw. Not a red blaze, but a fierce scorching heat. And within the depth of that heat, she found the man she loved. 

Bunter: Caprice, say something. 

Caprice opened her heart. She trusted him, didn't she? Of course she did!

When Caprice kissed him, Bunter's fear vanished. She hadn't rejected him! That's all he needed to know.

Before his own kiss ended, Bunter had shifted back to his proper gentleman self. He wanted her to see he was the same, no matter what form he took.

Bunter: You are amazing, Caprice!

Caprice: So, Marvin. I guess you and I are now in an exclusive, committed relationship, aren't we?

Bunter: Uh, well, if you think we're both ready and all, you know, to be bound that way?

Caprice: Most definitely, Marvin. After this night's revelations, there's no other possible outcome. Don't you agree?

Bunter: I do, my luv.

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06-12. Bunter's Tale Of Djinn: Part 1

The events leading up to this chapter in the story are found here:

Emad attempts to sabotage Bunter's relationship with Caprice.
Wimsel-Vale Wedding

But he pays the price for that ...
Once a Beast, Always a Beast

... only to be rescued by Caprice herself.
Her Nurturing Nature

Then Emad tries again to steal Caprice from Bunter.
Trust and Truth

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Having stood bravely up to Emad, Caprice thinks about what she does and does not know about the two Djinn in her life. She sensed that some of the things Emad said were true, but her intuition told her the facts were distorted. Marvin may have kept secrets from her, but Emad was spinning stories too.

Caprice: Bless, I don't know what's going on. Why are these brothers fighting like this?
Bless: Well, I'm not a Charisma Dragon, but both those Djinn sound like smooth talkers to me. Watch your heart, fairy girl. And keep an eye on their auras. Auras don't lie.
Caprice: Very good advice, Bless!

Bunter's aura was in a bit of a flux by the time he got home from his crazy rat quest. His first reaction was annoyance at the waste of time. And yet, Bunter had felt touched by the old man's defense of his ugly dogs and their strange devotion to him. Was there some odd sort of love to be found in that crumbling shack?

Love! He was being sentimental again. That was his problem. Always had been. Mushy minded. Wishing for things he couldn't have. Hadn't centuries of being locked in a lamp taught him enough about who grants wishes and who receives them?

But Bunter HAD forged a true friendship with His Lordship. That was real. Did he dare hope for a relationship equally lasting with Caprice?

Bunter thought about his brother. Now there was a lasting relationship he could live without! He had to deal with Emad more effectively now that the wedding was over. He glanced over to the aquarium beside him.

That's when Bunter realized matters had suddenly gone all wrong. Emad, that slimy Cephalopod, was missing!

And as he stared dumbfounded, wondering how Emad had escaped, Caprice stepped up between him and the aquarium. She seemed ... angry.

Caprice: Looking for Emad?
Bunter: What?
Caprice: Well, he's gone. I freed him. Not that I knew I was pulling your BROTHER out of that tank. I thought it was just an unhappy octopus wanting the sea again. Imagine my shock when Emad materialized.

Bunter: Caprice! Are you all right?
Caprice: A little late to be asking me that, isn't it Mr Bunter? Good thing Emad didn't decide to take revenge on ME for what YOU did to him!

For a moment, Bunter couldn't speak. Bloody Hell.

Then he recovered his wits.

Bunter: It--it's not what it looks like! Honest. I don't know what Emad told you, but I guarantee he was lying! I had to put him in a--a safe place for a short while, until after the wedding.
Caprice: A safe place, Mr Bunter? Using fire magic to trap him?
Bunter: It's just that too much was happening, and Emad was causing trouble. I needed to protect the family! Caprice, you've got to believe me.

Caprice looked at the glow of colors radiating from the man before her. Shades of red, black, yellow. His emotions and thoughts were all erratic, a swirling tirade. Angry, destructive, but surprisingly, afraid. ... She hesitated.

And Bunter immediately rushed on. Cajoling.

Bunter: I'm so sorry you got mixed up in this. I would never have exposed you to any danger. Far from it! I was trying to shield you from, uh, worrisome unpleasantness.
Caprice: Worrisome unpleasantness? That's what you call this? Really, Marvin! You have to stop hiding things from me. I mean it. I can't be with you if you keep this up!

Caprice saw Bunter's aura blaze bright yellow, then violet. Yes, that was definitely fear she saw.  But he was also summoning inner powers. He was trying to get a sense of HER feelings, read HER thoughts. Why, of all the nerve!

Marvin was going to schmooze her again! The man was so predictable!

Bunter reached out to Caprice. If he could only touch her, she'd remember her feelings for him. It was the only thing Bunter could think to do. He'd made a real hash of things.

He had to get Caprice away from the scene of his crime. Then he could set things straight. ... Caprice loved the outdoors. Yes, that would soothe her. All right then! Bunter cleared his throat.

Bunter: Let's find a quiet spot in a garden somewhere, luv, under the moonlight. I'll explain everything, I promise.
Caprice: Very well, Marvin. But make your mind up right now. It's the whole truth ... or we're finished.

Again Bunter's aura flashed bright yellow. He had finally gotten the message.

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Bunter and Caprice sat beside each other in the library park. Things weren't too cozy though.

Bunter: I hardly know where to begin. I guess you want to know about me and my brother. ... We're only half-brothers, for one thing. Different fathers. All Djinn though. Emad's father Hadi Faraz and our mother Ava were married. Entertainers. Faraz was a magician. Mother, a singer. Emad became an acrobat.

Caprice: What about you?
Bunter: Well, I did some acting. But our family was fated. It actually broke up before I was even born.

Caprice: What happened?
Bunter: My mother had an affair with a warrior passing near their camp. This was back in 1250 Persia, you remember. Maman told Emad's father about her lover. She was going to run away with him and take Emad with her. Instead, she received word that Rahim Bahador had been killed in battle.

Caprice: Oh no! Your father?
Bunter: Yes. And then Maman discovered she was expecting me. But it was too late. Faraz would have nothing to do with her. He took off, and Maman was left alone to provide for herself and two sons.

Bunter was silent for a minute, then continued his tale.

Bunter: Djinn are natural beings of fire, but I also inherited my father's enhanced fire and warrior blood. My real name is Majid Bahador. And make no mistake; I was a little devil.

Bunter: Emad's a water genie. Conflicting aspects there, water with fire. Growing up, he was even wilder than I was. But Maman was air. Adaptable and clever. She was a survivor, so we made out ok, despite us boys.

Caprice: Your mother must have loved your father very much, risking everything to follow him. I'm so sorry he died.

Bunter: The truth is, Caprice, I'm illegitimate--a bastard. But Maman accepted and loved me. I reminded her of my father Rahim, you see. She always said I looked like him, same ways about us.
Caprice: You are your mother's child of love, Marvin. Not a bastard! She never thought of you that way.

Bunter: ...No. But every year, Emad grew more and more jealous of me--and resentful of losing his own father. He didn't blame Maman. He blamed me.
Caprice: That's unfair!

Bunter: Oh, he wasn't always so mean. And most of the time, I was too spoiled to notice. I must have been an annoying little brat! I idolized Emad though. He was my big brother ... and my stand-in father. But that was a heavy role for someone like Emad.

Bunter: There's more to this story, Caprice. I want you to understand who Emad and I really are. The rest of our history isn't easy to share, and I'm afraid you won't be able to accept it all. But it has to be told. ... First though, I have something else to say--about us.

Caprice focused her attention on Bunter's aura. It was blue with gold and green threads shining through. The light was clear and unwavering. She knew Marvin would tell her the truth. They moved closer together.

Bunter: Caprice, I love you!

Then he kissed her. And for a time, dark secrets were forgotten.