Daniel seemed to know more about the Genie world than he let on. Making a wish in the absence of lamp was something she never thought of.

"Aladdin could make wishes without the lamp." He had told her when he was met with the stunned look on her face. Without a second to waste he wished. "I wish for the elastic band to work."

Just like last time, she felt her hands moving involuntary, snapping her fingers in quickened motions as she granted what Daniel wished for. A shock coursed through her brain, vibrating her sensory organs as a blue smoke enveloped them in the room – the elastic band barreled out of her hands on to the floor, spinning in a circular motion which reminded her of the message ball, the first time she saw it.

The black band split in two, infusing the blue smoke in its soft edges as an achromatic figure emanated from within, morphing into a more descriptive figure starting from the head down to the toes.

"COLT!" she exclaimed. Her body passed through, feeling a little iciness on her components as she dived in for a hug. Expecting a whole-hearted blow of laughter, she turned ready to spit curses in his face instead she was met with a red face.

"How could you Zyca!" He cried. "I've waited for your call ever since you left."

"Shit, I'm so sorry, Colt. It's a long story."

He folded his hands across his chest, sitting probably in his room, but to her it looked like he was sitting on bladed air. "Well."

"What."

"You said it was a long story."

So that was how she began, explaining what transpired in the past months, not that she remembered all of it for she slept through the past months. By the end she finished her telling in long sentences, her breath came out in puffs like she'd run around an arena a hundred times.

"...so that's what happened."

"I see. I understand," he smiled. "So he's your new master?" he pointed to Daniel who the whole time sat silently on her bed, watching the scene before him.

"Yes. He's name is Daniel, Daniel stone."

"Hello new master." He called out.

Daniel huffed, turning the other way. It didn't take two and two for her to put it together, Daniel was mad, really mad. He behaved like the time back at the restaurant before she got attacked, his forehead contoured in swirly lines and his lips twisted in a sneer.

"What's wrong with him?" Colt whispered. Zyca could only shrug for she knew not how to answer her friend's question.

"Waa, seeing you look human is weird," he eyed her excitingly. "A wish?"

She nodded. "To fit in."

"But you do know it's going to wear off soon – it never lasts long when used on genies."

"I never knew."

"I'm sure you wouldn't have - So, do you have any idea why Allet could interact with you?"

"No. You?"

"My only guess is your sister is already waking up," he explained. "It must be why she was able to contact you - besides I heard her cuffs were removed so that whatever my parents did would work."

"True – but that doesn't explain how she knew where our father along with the crystal were buried."

"It spoke to her maybe."

"How?" She asked.

"You know how the Tarantula said it smelt the crystal on you?" Zyca nodded. "Maybe she smelt where the crystal was."

A shilling noise filled the room, signaling them to turn to where the resonating sound came from. Soon enough it stopped followed by answer from Daniel.

"Hello?" He got up. "Philip! How are have you been." He walked out the room with the box like instrument lunged on his ear.

"He's bull Zyca. Your master's bull."

Zyca laughed. That's new, "Tell me. Does the Crystal really have that much effect?"

Colt gasped. "You don't mean, the bookish Zyca doesn't know about the crystals?" He pointed his finger at her, unable to keep his surprise at bay, falling several steps back.

She licked her lips. "Don't be such an ass. It's not like I finished every book in Master Kane's library.

Soon enough Daniel came back with a stunned look on his face, cajoling himself towards them instead of going back to where he once sat. "That was Philip. He said he's mother dead five years ago."

She stared.

"You don't seem surprised."

"The tarantula told me." She answered. "The Mama T we met was the two headed spider."

"OH." Daniel tried not to look bitter but she could tell from the sour look on his face, he was way passed being bitter. "So, we were tricked," he said it more to himself.

"It was all because of the Crystal. They wanted it for some reason."

"And they will be back." Colt spoke up adding tension. "The crystal is very powerful which means it can do many things." He paced the room. "And unfortunately, someone has beaten us to it."

"You think someone took the other half?" Daniel questioned.

Colt sighed. "I know someone took the other half. This is big."

"What is?" she asked.

"I was taught this at school," he said tapping his fingers. "Long ago, there used to be Paladinans in the genie world."

"What are Paladinans?" Zyca asked.

"Guardians of the crystals," Colt replied. "The Paladinans took care of the crystals like they cared for their children, day and night, protecting it from genie's who wanted it for themselves. After Naxeremis tried to take the crystals for himself, extinguishing the Paladinans from existence, the higher ups decided to separate them, sending fellow genies to care for them. That's one of the reasons our world is dark, the crystals together are our source of light."

"Now that the crystal has been broken what does it mean? Daniel asked.

"Its guardian must have broken it purposely in two and buried it for safety after they defeated your father?"

"Then that's all right? He's dead and the crystals safe," she said. "I can come back now." She muttered as her gaze shifted to Daniel's who was already watching her silently.

Colt scoffed. "If the crystal was safe as you say, why could you take it without anyone stopping you? Mum sent you to get the crystal because she knew it wasn't safe," he said. "You father is very powerful Zyca, too powerful for anyone who enters a fight with him to come back alive."

"So, we are to find the other piece?" Zyca's insides bubbled with a tiny flame.

"In this house, and mind you, dangers are lurking everywhere."

At that, it seemed as if he had spoken dreadful word for her thoughts trailed to the painful feelings she got from the encounter from the two headed spider, and she knew from what he said, they would be back. She rubbed the injured spot on her shoulder which was hidden inside the sleeved shirt she wore, searching her mind on how the second piece would be found.

"What if the second piece isn't here?" Daniel spoke up. "What if it was already taken by someone? And they are currently looking for the other piece which is in our hands."

Pacing, Colt hummed with his hands on his smooth looking chin. "That's a huge possibility. A beast must have gotten their hands on it already."

"The crystal broken and kept in one place seemed stupid to me," said Daniel plucking himself of the mattress which returned as soon as it stood, leaving a cease on the prismatic sheets. "I wouldn't do that if I were the guardian."

"True," she nodded. It did seem stupid, foolish in fact.

Colt shook his head. "I don't know. Mother did send you to where the crystal was," said Colt biting the tip of his finger as he continued his pacing. "Something doesn't make sense."

"Bad habit Colt," she corrected him.

"Oh right, sorry," he cleaned his finger on his flimsy looking trouser. Colt gasped, raising his head a centimeter high until his eyes watched the two. Zyca noticed his eyed danced with a realization glint. "What if... No." He started pacing once again left and right, a little faster this time.

"What is it Colt?" Zyca questioned, her eyes hazy from watching the black-haired boy gait the room. She wanted to ask again when he hadn't replied to her question but Daniel beat her to the task.

"C'mon spit it out."

"What if – just what if the danger is already here in this house looking for the other piece? Someone who lives here, maybe in disguise."

Daniel scoffed. "That's impossible."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is," Daniel pressed.

"It a possibility."

By then, the two of them had met right in front of her, each trying to say who was right and who was wrong. Surely Zyca could have spoken up then, slapped them on their shin until they stopped their argument perhaps, well she would have only done that to her best friend, touching Daniel then would not do her any good.

"It's not true! A load of crap is what you say."

How could she tell Daniel that his family's butler thought his step mother was shady? Zyca squeezed her eyes tightly, standing up she turned to the window. Her ears turned deaf to their arguments. What if his step mother who filled the space his mother had left was the crystal thief? That would mean, she was part of her world, or another like how the tarantulas had theirs. Although it was just a possibility, she couldn't leave out the fact, she might be the culprit.

"I think we should search."

"What!" The two of them answered simultaneously.

Zyca turned to them, gulping a lump down her throat. "Time's running out Daniel. We can't leave out the possibility that someone here might be the thief" She voiced her thoughts, well not all her thoughts for she left out the major fact she should have told.

At the stroke of noon, Colt had to go back after a hooter from the background. "Ugh... I totally forgot they were coming?" He cried. "When are we going to see again? The band was just for a use." They looked down at the split band.

"I wish I could hug you but I really don't want to pass through your insides." she laughed.

"Yeah," he trailed, biting down on his lower lip. "I miss you Zyca."

"I miss you too. I even wanted you to come protect me like you normally do when I got attacked," she said. "I don't know what I'll do without you."

A look of hurt crossed his features. "Don't be too trusting Zyca."

"I don't understand."

He took a brief glance at Daniel. "Not everyone is what they seem..." It seemed he wanted to say more, she could see that but the hooters from different genders became louder as seconds went by.

'Colt get out here – Colt we brought games – Colt!!' He looked behind perchance at his friends. "I have to go now."

"What do you want to tell me Colt?" she asked but he only shook his head, when bulgy hands rounded his neck. "Next time."

"Ok then. Say hi to your parents for me and your annoying brother."

"Will do."

"Watch over her Master Daniel," he called out to Daniel who replied with a grunt as his voice attenuated along with his body until there was nothing more than a midget obscure left.

Zyca didn't know what he wanted to say to her but she thought none of it for if it was of any importance, he could have come out right to say it to her face.