It now read: "Whoever find this please deliver back to me, Merlin the mage." This got Kate thinking.
"Hey!" she said to the genie. "If it belongs to Merlin, then he might know how to break this curse, right? That's a start, don't you think? I mean., he a great magician and all."
"Well," said the genie. "He made the lamp to capture me but a hunter of magic captured me to have three wishes and then sold me off, until this disgruntled employer cursed the lamp. So Merlin did not make me per se, but the lamp. I don't know the ,man. However, he might know how to break the curse. It's a possibility. But Merlin lives in the fay realm. The supernatural world, if you prefer."
"Well, then," exclaims Kate. "I know what my first wish is. I wish to be transported to the fay world at Merlin's place."
"I really don't think it's a good idea, but it's your wish," said the genie.
Kate was engulfed in a whirlwind of colors and images and when the ground finally stabilized she was outside, under a sunny sky on a street. It was a cobbled street, with large houses and gardens. Mansions and near-palaces, really. One of the most imposing had a sign reading: "Merlin: High Wizard. On Appointment Or Ring the Bell." Indeed there was a bell and Kate pulled the chord, making the bell clank loudly. Kate waited.
"Those... weird things are looking at me strangely. They're creepy," she muttered to the lamp, or rather the genie inside it.
She had seen fairy creatures but few resembled actual fairies. More like creepy people with animal features. Elves with animal features and fancy clothes from different centuries. And they had stared at her with surprised or frowning looks. She had even seen little things looking like hedgehogs or goblins scurry away as soon as she'd spotted them.
"Well, you are a human here. What did you you expect?" grumbled the genie. "And you better beware, because..."
Just then, what really looked like a butler came forward to the gate. Except his clothes were of red velvet and that he was a giant frog.
"How can help you?" he asked with a voice devoid of any croak.
"I'm here to see Merlin. I found this and I wanted to return it to him. And ask for questions and help about it," said Kate, holding up the lamp by its handle.
"I see. But my master won't be back for a few days. You should return then. In five days."
"Oh... I'll come back then," said Kate, disappointed.
"Good day," said the frog, turning on its heels and going back towards the house.
"Damn," mumbled Kate. "What now?"
"Stay around perhaps. But it is risky. And you've used one wish already."
"Double damn" groaned Kate. "Let me think."
She was pondering under the sun when a little voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Raspberry wine, my lady? Try. For free," a creature looking like a hedgehog with a red cap.
"Thanks! I really was getting thirsty," said Kate, grabbing the offered goblet and drinking itv all in one go.
"No! Don't take it! Don't..." shouted the genie.
But it was too late. Yum! I was refreshing and sweet and... Suddenly Kate's eyelids drooped and she crumpled onto the ground, soon soundly asleep.
"Triple damn," grunted the genie inside his lamp.
Kate slowly came to as she heard voices around her. Her hands were bound in rope and she was inside a big tent. She could feel two shapes stopping near her, one looking strangely like a human-like pig with a fox's tail. But her vision was so blurry...
"Prepare that one more. As a human, she'll bring even more pretty pennies. Here's what you'll do..."
The strange fay moved away and whispered to his acolyte, meaning Kate couldn't hear. She was so tired and her head so heavy... And her vision was so blurry... And where was she? Where was the lamp? And then her blood turned to ice as she caught the words "auctions". Oh no... This couldn't be good... And what did this "preparation" entail?