Chapter Eleven

Vera grunted and jostled awake as the train made yet another stop. Yawning, she picked up the book she had been reading from where it had fallen on the floor. She had been riding the train back and forth between local cities in an attempt to keep Amias confused of her whereabouts while she did research. She was riding third class to be able to afford it, and it was awfully crowded, but he had yet to make any appearance so she figured it was working. She had gotten the idea from the book she had been reading. According to it jinn and many other types of spirits were weakened and repelled by iron.

Flipping back to her current page, Vera rubbed her eyes and continued reading.

Legends say a few jinn have been sealed in prisons by angels, and in some stories, by King Solomon. This imprisonment often makes the jinni resentful and angry. When finally released from his prison, the jinni sometimes takes his anger out on the human who set him free and then continues to exact revenge on all creatures he blames for his long period of captivity-the human race being enemy number one...

"Yes, yes. They're dangerous. I know," Vera mumbled to the book. "But I need to know just how exactly they were sealed into the prisons."

She skimmed over the pages, looking for anything that seemed helpful. The problem was the person who had written the book based it on legends he had heard and had no real belief in the jinn. Not that she blamed him. A few days ago she didn't believe in them either. Something caught her eye at the bottom of the page and she perked up.

It is said that certain individuals - namely religious authorities and healers - have the ability to exorcize jinn through prayers, incantations, and issuing holy commands.

The smile on her face quickly faded as she kept reading.

However, exorcisms can easily go wrong when an unskilled exorcist challenges a powerful jinn; a person who performs this sort of task must be knowledgeable and powerful in his or her own right.

Vera wasn't certain just how powerful Amias was, but he seemed pretty dangerous to her. She wanted a fool-proof plan that wouldn't get anyone hurt or killed. So far the books she had read hadn't given her that. Besides, even if she exorcised the jinni from Kareem or her father what would keep Amias from just possessing someone else?

A person stepped into her light and she assumed it was the ticket taker. Holding up her ticket to be punched, Vera expected him to move on quickly as that had happened on the last four stops. When the new arrival made no motion to take her ticket or move out of the light, she looked up and immediately recoiled against the seat in fear when she saw Amias staring back at her.

"No, don't be afraid," he told her, holding up his hands to show her he meant no harm.

"How are you here? This train is made of iron!" she whisper shouted, looking around to see if anyone was overhearing their conversation.

"I'm not the jinni. He's not in me right now," he rambled nervously, sitting down on the edge of the seat across from her.

She glared at him, not trusting that he was telling the truth, but the train hadn't gone cold, there was no visible red in his eyes, and his voice didn't sound like Amias's.

"If you aren't Amias then how did you get away? And how did you know where to find me?"

Kareem rubbed his hands over his face. It was then she saw how very tired he looked, like he hadn't slept in weeks and with Amias possessing him, he probably hadn't. Compassion and pity warred with her suspicion and doubt and Vera had a hard time not believing him.

"The jinni sent me here," he eventually responded, and any kind feelings she had been having for him vanished. When he saw her eyes narrow, Kareem immediately set about explaining himself.

"He knows you are on the train, but he can't get to you here. That was smart of you, surrounding yourself with iron. It weakens him-"

"You said he sent you here," Vera interrupted. "Why?"

Kareem frowned. "He gave me a message to give to you, but that doesn't matter. I didn't come here for him, despite what he may think."

"Then why?"

"I know you're trying to find a way to defeat him, and I want to help you."

Vera sat up straight and leaned toward him whispering, "You know a way to stop him?"

Kareem shook his head. "No, I don't. But while I was being possessed by Amias I could see many of his thoughts. There is a place – he thought of it once - where people know more about the jinn and can help you."

"Where is it? Can you take me to it?"

"It's in Oman, around Selma Plateau in a very remote area. There is a cave in that area that was once inhabited by a jinni like Amias. The locals there are bound to know more about jinn than we do, perhaps they know of a way to get rid of him."

"Oman? But that's miles and miles away! It would be days before we got there and who knows what Amias would do to my father while I'm gone!"

"You, not we," he said, not meeting her eyes.

Vera frowned in confusion. "What?"

"I will not be going with you, Ms. Kirke."

She could only stare at him in disbelief. "But you must! He will kill you for helping me!"

Kareem smiled at her sadly. "Perhaps, but I am not afraid to die. He will come looking for you if I don't do something to keep his attention fixed here."

Vera shook her head, reaching out to grasp his sleeve. "Please come with me," she begged. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt."

"No," he stated, completely resolute in his decision. "I need to stay here. I know more about him than anyone and while he is not possessing me I can try to ward myself against him."

"Ward yourself? How do you mean?"

"As you've noticed iron diminishes his strength and power. I think perhaps if I carry some kind of iron it may stop the jinni from possessing me again, or at least make it more difficult for him. If that is the case I will be able to better protect others from him."

"But what if I'm not able to find a way to stop him? I don't know anyone in Oman and I can't speak the language," she protested.

"You will find a way," he replied. "I have faith that things will turn out for the best."

Vera nodded, realizing that there was no way she could convince him to travel to Oman with her. The train whistle blew and Kareem stood up to leave.

"I wish you luck on your quest, Vera Kirke," he said as he went to walk away.

"Wait!" she called, grabbing his arm to stop him. "The message that Amias sent you to tell me, what was it?"

"I cannot tell you," he said, pulling away from her. "If I told you, it would make you change your mind about leaving."

"Is it something about my father? Is he alright?" Vera raced around him, holding out her hands to keep him on board the train until she got answers.

Kareem sighed. "I give you my word it isn't anything bad. No one is hurt or in danger at this moment. Please, trust me. You do not need to know what he said, not yet."

"I don't understand," she complained, jerking a hand through her tangled hair in frustration.

"I know, but it is best that you don't. Please, just go to Oman and find a way to stop the djinni. I will take care of everything here," he said, pushing past her gently and stepping off of the train.

"A railroad spike!" she shouted at him from the window as the train began to pull away.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand!" he called back to her, looking at her as if she had gone mad.

"Railroad spikes are made from iron! You can find them lying around stations like this one. You could carry that around with you, to protect yourself!"

He grinned at her and tilted his head down in respect. "That is a good idea. Thank you."

Vera waved goodbye to him before slumping back into her seat and counting her money. She would need money for food and lodging as well as for transportation. According to the ticket taker she had enough money to make it to Suez, and after that she would have to find other means of transportation.

Closing her eyes, Vera clasped her hands together and did something she hadn't done since she was a little girl. She prayed. She prayed for Kareem, for her father, and for her own safety. She prayed for everyone who happened to cross the jinni's path. They would all need as much help as they could get.

...

Hope you guys liked this chapter. I know it's short, but I will have another one up soon that is longer. Please vote and comment if you get time! Thanks for reading!