Growing To Something More

“I don’t have time to deal with your petty problems. It’s Halloween, and there are bigger things at play.”

You’re headed down the wrong path; this is the right one..

She grins down at him, resting her back upon the trunk of the tree, tilting her head up to observe the leaves above. “I thought so. Many know of mischief and darkness in this Town. Especially those who are not quite living.” She tilts her gaze back towards him, her chuckle escaping her with ease. She showed him a mischievous smile, raising an eyebrow in his direction. “You flatter me, Sir. But I do not associate myself with something as trivial as murder. I shall leave that to the others that lurk this place.” When he appears before her, she laughs with amusement, folding her legs to allow room for him upon the branch. “Me? Why, I live here. It is not the most homely of places, but it does provide as much solitude as you may ever like.”

“Thank you.” The genie murmured with a grateful nod, taking the seat she was indicated to. She hesitated before speaking, pursing her lips together. “I wish... I wish to know something. Something the future may perhaps reveal to you.” She scratches the back of her head, wondering if this perhaps had been a mistake after all. “...Do you believe in curses, Miss?” She asked, watching closely for her reaction. However, she soon chuckled at what she said. “Everything costs something in this town. That I have learned.”

“I am a man of science, and a man of reason, yes, but above all I am human and I wish to stay that way until I can find a way to return to the world where I belong. I thought science could help me find a way to be rid of the monster that began to grow in me, but it hasn’t. You see, I created an elixir to stop the transformation, but it all it did was give the demon a mind of his own and a mind separate from mine, but he’s still living in here with me. We can’t be in control at the same time, but if I let myself dwell in bad thoughts he comes out, makes me do things out of my will, bad things, things that often get me into trouble and lose the few friends I have. I’m always fighting to keep out, but he will never be content until he has full control, and I’m afraid he’s much stronger than I am. Soon enough I won’t be able to fight him anymore and I will cease to be. I wish to have no need to fight anymore. I wish to be rid of this demon forever.”

Phoebe listens to the man, with worry visible in the furrowing of her eyebrows, the folding of her arms. “So, science has failed you, and now you turn to me.” She shakes her head, turning away from him as she began to pace, hands running through a few of the plants which grew in this part of the woods. She always felt calmer around nature, and she needed to focus upon this calm now, needed to think. No matter how foolish she knew she was being, there was something about that man’s pleading which prevented her from walking away. Perhaps it would not go wrong this time, she tried to tell herself. It had been so long since she had granted a wish - maybe she had waited long enough, maybe she could make this man truly happy? Wasn’t that what she had always wanted to do? But, things had never worked out that way, and she was most probably a fool for thinking they ever would. This was a place for monsters after all, monsters did not create happiness.

It takes a while before she faces him again. She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again, asking a question she had not intended to ask. “What... What is your name?” She speaks with a tilt of her head, the first small showing of a smile. Then it is gone again as her face becomes more sober, speaking what needed to be said. “I am sorry for the situation you have found yourself in. I truly am. But, you must understand, the wishes I cast never happen so simply. I cannot know what will happen.” She bites her lip, running a hand through her hair. She locks eyes with him, refusing to look away as she spoke again. “If you deem yourself worthy of breaking an oath that was made after years of misery, then you must accept all the consequences that come with it. I take no responsibility for whatever fate befalls you by my hand. It is your choice, and yours alone.” She knows that won’t be true, though. She always felt guilty. No matter how much she warned and protested - whenever it went wrong, she always felt the pain as much as her victims.

Phoebe’s eyes trail away from the window, focusing back upon Beverly. She smiles faintly, an apology woven into her expression as she tries to maintain her attention upon the task at hand. “Well, I do like purple.” She says, nodding her head. “See, I said you were better at the colour choosing than I.” She attempts some light humour, before her question causes her to pause. “I... Yes, I am fine.” Her first answer is blunt, but the genie sighs softly, shrugging a shoulder. “I am sorry. It’s just... a long time since I have been in town for so long. I am a bit nervous about seeing familiar faces.” She shows a nervous smile, biting her lip. “Do not mind me. I am being foolish.”

He looked around for any signs of her, but saw nothing. “Wait! Please don’t go!” he shouted, following to plead his case to the dark forest in the off chance that she might have been listening wherever it is that she disappeared to. “You don’t understand! There is nothing left for me to do. If you don’t help me, I am afraid I’ll finally cease to be, and I can’t have that. I can’t have him take over my life. I understand magic has a price but whatever it is I am willing to pay it!” He stood there for a few moments, his eyes scanning the trees, waiting for any sort of response and growing more helpless as the seconds ticked by. “Please…. don’t go.”

She listened, she listened carefully. If she had been wiser, she’d have fled and not listened to his words. For as he spoke, she heard his pain, and cursed herself for her own sorry heart. He did not seem like many of those who sought her out - he did not call out for wealth, nor for the heart of a woman he could not obtain. Something about his desires were different, more desperate, and she could not help the pity which grew in the pit of her stomach. It was with a soft sigh, that she finally moved again. She did not magic her reappearance this time, not wishing to scare as she had before. This time she climbed down the tree slowly, dropping down the branches until she eventually landed upon the grass in front of him. Her gaze was steady upon his face, watching him closely.

>

“Pardon me but have you ever seen this child before?” she asked the person in front of her. “I found him in the woods. I’m trying to find the parents.”

“If you’re here to know your future, you will have to come back tomorrow. I’m afraid I am closed for the day, there is something that requires my attention…”