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Mother would not talk to me, and I did not dare get close to Sawsan again. My life was split between home and work. I kissed Mother’s forehead every day, and still she would not look at me. I was sure her good, sweet heart would give in eventually, but it just wasn’t happening fast enough.
    One day I came home from work and, as usual, went to kiss her forehead, but found her just sitting there looking at nothing. I asked her, “Mother? What happened?”
    She did not answer, and she did not move. I repeated my question.
    “Mother? What’s wrong? Did something happen to Grandpa?”
    She answered in a short, worried tone: “Xanam.”
    “Xanam? Son of Uncle Santool? What about him?”
    “Your cousin Xanam was here! He asked about you, and about your grandfather!”
    Xanam was the worst of my cousins. A devil in the service of sorcerers and the worshippers of Satan! He lived a luxurious life and cared about no one except for himself. What would he want of me?
    Mother pulled me out of my thoughts. “He insisted that you must go to him. He said it is urgent.”
    “I should go to him? No way will I set a foot in Qummah after what happened to father. There is nothing between Xanam and me.”
    I ignored the topic. I had enough issues. But at least he’d gotten Mother to talk to me.
    A few more boring, routine days went by, then one day I was surprised by a black cat waiting for me in the yard. He attacked me before I could figure out what was going on, and turned into my cousin Xanam.
    “Playing hard to get?” he asked. “You think I cannot get to you?”
    “Xanam? What brings you here? What do you want from me?”
    “Shame on you! Is this any way to great your cousin? Is this how your religious father raised you?”
    “If you ever talk of Father again, I will kill you!” I said while removing has hand from my shoulder.
    He threw me across the yard with ease, then came close and said, “I’ll be more civilized than you and not respond to that insult. Just remember I can throw you to a place where no one will find you!”
    “You’re a Marid now. True?”
    “Almost. I’ll be an Efreet with your help. Of course I will pay you for your efforts.”
     
    An Efreet is a Jinni who has physical material powers. He can control everything and can take forms. If the Efreet was a devil, he is called a Marid. And, as you can expect, they are not all the same. Stronger Marids can perform harder tasks, thus making more money.
     
    I felt the weight of the world on my belly as Xanam stepped on me, making it harder for me to breathe. He continued without looking at me; he looked instead at Sawsan’s window and said with total indifference, “Didn’t your Human masters teach you love is blind? And for love there must be sacrifices?”
    I understood he was hinting at my love for Sawsan. I tried to release myself from him as I said, “Don’t you dare—”
    “Do not talk, you humanized fool! In short you either sacrifice for Sawsan, or you sacrifice Sawsan!” He increased the pressure on my belly, then removed his foot. “She is a Human, and Humans care most about their basic animal instincts. That means even the worst Human can provide more to her than you can. However, I have the key to both her and your happiness. Imagine living a real life with her and providing her with everything she ever wished for. It would be the most amazing love story—and no one would know you are a Jinni. Don’t worry, the sacrifice is very simple and won’t cost you a thing. You’ll live with Sawsan as a Human—flesh and blood—in the form she wishes for. You’ll become the knight of her dreams! Not the imaginary ghost that can’t protect her or touch her or talk to her.”
    Honestly, Xanam’s speech awakened my dreams, but I was sure his damned soul was hiding a catastrophe. I tried to hide my emotions. “And what do I have to do for this intriguing offer?”
    “The blood of Elyaseen, your grandfather!” responded Xanam without