Page 62 of Bewitched By the Djinn
“A seeker then?”
“Yes. He was more in tune with people though, and their vibrations. I can kind of sense people but it’s more natural for me to feel objects. Kevin wandered off once when we were at a carnival. He got into a game booth and was hiding behind one of the giant stuffed prizes. I have no idea how he even managed to get in there, but Dad found him no problem. He could find us anywhere.”
Bennet studies me for a long moment, then gestures toward my half-eaten bread. “Are you finished?”
I nod, and he slips out from under the netting, crossing the small space to set the tray back on the table. I lean back against the pillows, letting my eyes drift shut.
There’s the quiet clink of him adjusting the tray, the soft shuffle of his footsteps as he stirs the fire. Then, a moment later, the mattress dips again.
I open my eyes. He’s sitting on the bed, watching me, his dark gaze steady in the dim glow of the firelight.
“They disappeared before Jackie’s illness began?” he asks.
“No.” I frown slightly, thinking back. “Just after. Maybe a year or so after it started.”
“Hmmm.” His brow furrows. “And then you stepped in to care for your siblings.”
“Yeah.”
There’s no pity in his expression. He nods, like he’s fitting the pieces together.
“What were you doing before they disappeared?” he asks.
“Nothing much.” I let out a small, humorless laugh. “I had just graduated from college. I was about to start my master’s degree in art history.”
His brow furrows. “Art history?”
“Yeah.” I smile a little at his confusion. “It’s the study of art through different cultures and time periods. Understanding techniques, symbolism, how movements evolved. Basically, a deep dive into the stories people have told through art.”
He nods slowly, considering it. “That sounds significant.”
I snort. “Not really. It’s not like there’s a huge job market for it.”
“Still. You had to put it on hold for your family.”
I shrug, trying to play it off. “Eh. It’s not like I was walking into a high-paying job or anything. My options were basically become a professor or work in a museum gift shop. Although it has helped me get jobs finding antiques for people, along with my magic.”
His expression turns thoughtful. “Do you miss it? School?”
I hesitate, then admit, “Yeah. Sometimes. I loved what I was studying because looking at art from the past is like a way to see the world through another’s eyes long after they’re gone. It’s a moment in time, preserved. A glimpse into how someone thought, how they felt, what they feared or hoped for, centuries ago. It’s not just history, it’s like a memory made visible.”
The fire crackles. I stare at the flicker of flames through the net, unable to meet the weight of Bennet’s stare. “You are not what I expected.”
I look over at him. “What do you mean?”
His fingers spread over the blanket between us. “Uncle always says mortals tend to be selfish creatures, obsessed with wealth and their own comfort.”
“Well. He’s not wrong.” I sink down further into the bed. “A lot of people are like that.”
His lips purse. “Hmmm.”
I take a deep breath and for a second allow myself to enjoy Bennet’s solid presence beside me, the warmth of the little room, the comfort of the space between conversation and silence.
I turn toward him. “Did you go to school? In Aetheria?”
His head dips. “I had tutors.”
“What did you study?”
