Re: The Wishmaster
Wish Two
She sighed as she came towards the top of the mountain, unsure of what she was going to do when she met him. Should she bow? Or maybe just listen? Should she speak at all? She twisted a finger about her silvery braid as she thought.
He would listen to her, right? It wasn’t like he’d just ignore her. He had to listen to her. She told herself this as she approached the “x” on the map.
“This map had better be right.” She paid a lot of money for it, and she already knew what she was going to wish for. She entered a strange sort of clearing as the ash began to fall from the sky. “Hello?” Her voice echoed out innocently. “Anyone here?”
“Who has called me?” He asked, not visibly, but she could tell it was a man.
“My name is Carillon Caristo, sir.” She quietly replied, standing still as if in fear of being killed should she move at all.
“Carillon? Do you have a wish?” The figure approached from her left, and she looked over the man. He seemed somewhat cold, but a sense that she had never seen before came from his figure. It was difficult to pinpoint anything about him.
“Maybe.” She replied, tucking her hands behind her schoolgirl-like uniform and rocking back and forth. “What do I have to give you?”
“Tell me first what your wish is.” He took a few closer steps, analyzing her in return, until he was only a few feet in front of her.
“Well, you see, Mr. Wishmaster, my brother, a long time ago, disappeared during an act. I’d like to bring him back somehow. And I’m willing to give anything. As long as I can have him back, I don’t care what you take.” She said after a moment, flushing slightly. “Please help me?”
“What is his name?” The figure glanced upwards after saying this, and then back at her, suddenly appearing to have something in his hand, a rock or flint of some type. After a few moments of tossing it up and down, he allowed it to fall into the pool in the clearing with a plop.
“Christopher Caristo.” She said softly, seating herself across from him.
After a few moments, he did the same, bringing a finger down and tracing something in the ash, a symbol of some sort, or maybe a name? She barely made out an M before a soft breeze made it disappear.
“You wish to bring him back, then. And you don’t care about the stakes?”
“No. Nothing is too much to pay for this.” She said softly, her eyes downcast.
“Very well. Then I shall grant you your wish.” He responded after a moment, holding out both of his hands palms up. “Take my hands, and do not let go.”
She did so after a moment, and a burning sensation shot through them. She screamed out loud in pain, clenching his hands tightly in her own, doing as he asked. A sapping, almost as if her own life force was leaving her, shot through her body.
He released her hands, and she moaned as she fell forward. His hands caught her and allowed her to lay down. “Carillon Caristo. Go home. Your wish has been granted.”
“What… what did you do to me?” she whispered.
“I’ve reversed what began your troubles. Your magic is gone now. You may be what you’ve always wished to be. A family, with your brother. Go. And be happy.”
Carillon slowly sat up. “My… my brother?” She pushed herself to her feet, waving back as she retreated down the hill, a bit groggily. “Th-thank you, Mr. Wishmaster!”
A small silver ring materialized on the man’s fiery red sash, and he rolled his index finger over the cool metal. “Another one. Another one that belongs to us…” He chuckled once more. “Yes… I can already feel her power coursing through me. How delightful. The girl had good potential. However, I suppose it’s too late for her now. Her brother is back, yes, I reversed the process. Therefore, not just her brother is home. Her father is also back.” He laughed outloud as he watched her figure below running back to her demise.
“Who knows how many slaps she’ll get? I did what she asked, in the only way I know of. If they don’t want to make the wish, they should learn not to dream…” He coldly said as he watched her. “Soon she’ll get home to her brother and her abusive father… how I love what I do.” He retreated to the stone, awaiting in shadow until the next wish came his way.