Neither of the two suspected anything as Tina rubbed at the dust on the lamp. Instantly, there was a burst of smoke, and the genie once more appeared. The two intruders stared in shock.
“My, my,” the genie chuckled to herself. “Three masters in a three months? That’s a new record. That Damon fellow really had nosy acquaintances.”
“Whoah,” Tina gasped, realization hitting her. “You’re a genie! Like in that old TV show!”
“Ah, good,” the genie said. “That saves me an explanation. Yes, I am. So, what are your three wishes?”
Tina looked thoughtful, or a sporting attempt at thoughtful. Meanwhile, Lance finally managed to find his voice. “Wait, a genie? Like a real life magical genie? How is this possible?”
“Many things are possible,” the genie laughed. “The world’s a vast, wonderful place full of unexpected things.”
“Yeah, but not genies.”
The genie raised an eyebrow and gave Tina a sideways look. “Hm, your boyfriend seems to be more skeptical than you and my previous two masters put together.”
“Two masters?” Lance asked.
“Why, Damon and Monica, of course.”
Lance took a step towards her but stopped himself. Provoking this strange person, genie or not, might not be very wise. “Monica? What did you do to her?”
The genie shrugged. “I did her a favor. She didn’t even have to make a wish.”
“What kind of favor?”
“She wanted to speak to Damon to get some closure. So, I allowed her to do so in the only way she could, by making her a mermaid.”
“A mermaid!?” Tina squealed with girlish glee. “Oh, I love mermaids! I had a mermaid doll when I was little!”
“That’s very nice, dear,” the genie answered kindly, patting the girl on the head. “I must say, I have developed quite an affection for them myself.”
Off to the side, Lance was still not sure he heard correctly. “A mermaid? Why would being a mermaid allow her to talk to Damon if she was here in his apartment?”
“Because Damon had also become a mermaid weeks prior and is now living in the ocean. I believe she goes by Dana now. She’s created a new life for herself, a life full of happiness with a handsome prince and a baby on the way.”
A headache had built up in Lance’s head at all this nonsensical information. Monica’s old boyfriend had become a mermaid, and Monica had also become one to talk with him, er, her? It sounded too ridiculous, as ridiculous as rubbing a lamp and making a genie appear. And yet, here was the genie. So, that meant…
“So where’s Monica now?”
“She is also living a new life in the sea. She succeeded in patching things up with Dana and has found her own mer-prince,” the genie gushed like a proud parent boasting of her child’s accomplishments. “All in all, things worked out well for both of them. And someday, they will even be queens of their own mer-kingdoms!”
Tina sighed dreamily. “Aw, that sounds so romantic! Lancy-kins, doesn’t it sound like the best thing ever?”
Lance gulped. It did sound amazing. That is, it would if any of this made any sense whatsoever. Genies, mermaids, mer-kingdoms under the sea? It felt like his whole world had gone haywire. “Tina, I think we should get going, now.”
“Huh?” Tina frowned. “Already? But I haven’t made my three wishes yet.”
Lance eyed the genie warily. She gazed back with slight amusement. “Yeah, and I think it should stay that way. Just leave that lamp here.”
Now, Tina looked absolutely aghast. “Why?”
“Because making the wrong wish could screw up everything. It’s too dangerous.”
Tina tilted her head. “But Damon and Monica got a happy ending. Why can’t we? We’d be all happy ever after.”
“This isn’t a fairy tale!” Lance argued desperately, ignoring how the presence of a genie probably indicated otherwise. “Damon and Monica got lucky with their wishes-”
“One wish,” the genie muttered. “The second was a freebie.”
“-but that doesn’t mean we’ll be so lucky! We could end up in all kinds of trouble.”
Mental wheels turning, Tina considered this idea. Lance took this opportunity to take the lamp from her and put it down on the coffee table before leading her towards the door. To his relief, the genie made no move to follow. Maybe, he could get Tina away before she could say anything foolish. Unfortunately, mere steps from the exit, she lifted her head back up, her expression brightening. “I know!”