Page 28 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

Kiki lifted a single finger. “First, my gift to you. A promise to never lie to you or any you call your own, past, present, or future. Ask the right questions, and you’ll get the truth. But it’s in my nature to be tricky, so craft your queries well.”

Talula’s jaw dropped. There’d been no stories, not even whispers, of this kind of gift. But her mother had plenty of tales of sorcerers trading various treasures/loved ones/body parts in exchange for a jinn’s honest answers. “Kiki, I’m honored.”

“Of course you are.” Kiki lifted another finger. “Second, some wisdom. The gift I gave your beautiful friend is no ordinary trinket. It may summon jinn, any jinn, all jinn, some jinn, one jinn at the will of a sorceress. The ring will not allow jinn to be bound to your command, but they can be bargained with. Or be given a cup of tea. Perhaps a sandwich.”

“The ring you gave Dahlia is a way to call you?” Talula ventured, delighted.

“Technically, yes.” Kiki didn’t make eye contact, but a flush warmed their cheeks. “Or a jinn army to vanquish your enemies.”

“Is this your way of saying you want to be friends?”

“Psh,” Kiki blew air out of their lips haughtily. “I am a jinn. We don’t have friends. We have cohorts, associates, cronies, henchpeople, interns—”

“I’m taking my third gift now.” Talula threw her arms around Kiki.

The jinn squeezed her tight, their golden headscarf tickling Talula’s nose. “I’m glad to know you, young sorceress.”

Then the wall of light disappeared, and Simon barreled through the Employees Only door.

“What did you do?” Simon’s ears lay flat against his head, teeth bared in fury.

“Just saying goodbye to my favorite barista.” Kiki danced past the dog through the doorway. “Come! Let’s do some magic, little doggy!”

Below the shop, the Volta glowed, shining tendrils of blue magic reaching toward them. Talula turned to Simon. “How do we do this?”

“I can handle the identity materials,” Simon said. “But you have the connection to the Volta. Give me your hand.”

Kneeling, she lay her hand gently at the scruff of his neck, resisting the urge to pet his fluffy fur.

“Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.”

Talula did.

“Now, think of Kiki.”

“Psh, like she isn’t already,” Kiki teased.

Talula could sense the jinn’s brightness with her eyes closed.

“Find Kiki’s home.”

“Just like that?” Talula whispered, uncertain.

“Keep Kiki in the center of your mind. The answer will come to you.”

Instead, Talula pictured Kiki in her heart. Their wicked grin and gemstone eyes, the kindness beneath their dangerous demeanor. A sense of calm washed over Talula as an image appeared—a beachside metropolis, dancing with color, light, and music. In the distance, green mountains watched over the city. It was a place to be free and alive. To find company and solace. To be wild and at peace.

Talula blinked her eyes open. The Volta showed the city by the sea that Talula had envisioned, its blue membrane casting the place in cerulean hues.

Kiki’s voice was quiet with naked awe. “Is that…for me?”

Talula smiled. “It is.”

Simon walked to Kiki and pressed his nose into the jinn’s hand. When Simon backed away, a gold medallion filled Kiki’s palm.

“Keep this close,” Simon advised. “It’ll show you where to go.”

“Time for your next chapter,” Talula said gently.