Arthur and the Djinn: Chapter 8
Chapter 8
As Isabelle walked to the Performing Arts Centre she inhaled the cold night air, enjoying it's sharpness. So sharp. So fresh. She loved the dress she wore, which was mostly comfortable. It was the one she picked and wanted to wear tonight. She thought of the music, laughter and friendly chats she would have. There was only one thing bothering her. Leonard.
Leonard had disappeared for a short while after suggesting she would have foreboding regrets and then the Djinn came to visit for a little while. The Djinn asked Isabelle to command her to do things and Isabelle had fun with this, enjoying the few hours she had with the Djinn before darkness fell and the Djinn had departed. Once Isabelle left her apartment Leonard then appeared again, silent. At first she thought it was just Joogi. Joogi followed her everywhere, risking life between cars in traffic. Jog always did. It wasn't just her cat that followed tonight. Tonight Leonard came too. Isabelle ignored him at first and he followed her silently. Now he was just floating along like some annoying dark mass... thing... and Isabelle found this beyond irritating.
'Spooky!' Isabelle snapped, stopping suddenly. 'What pesky little adventure are you going to invite me along to this time? I'm dressed to follow your every ridiculous command' she said, bowing a little discreetly in case anyone might see or hear.
Leonard remained silent. Isabelle, almost forgetting there were residential houses nearby was ready to scream at him but then decided otherwise.
'Fine' she said. 'A new tactic? Very well. I'm going out. I am not going to regret having a good time. Forget you and that thing you do.'
Another fifteen minutes later and Isabelle arrived at the bottom of the carved marble steps that lead up to the entrance of the Performing Arts Centre. She paused for a moment peering up, admiring the stonework. It was beautiful and it could so easily go to waste if people decided to just not care. She loved the building. In some ways it made sense to her. In others it did not. She knew she loved the building and she always felt good there. It was all that mattered in that moment. Isabelle could now hear the sound of other human life, not just the general droning of traffic. The sound of car doors closing, talking, laughter, footsteps and the soft hint and beat of music somewhere not too far away. Smiling, Isabelle skipped up the steps, greeted others and donated as she entered. It all felt so good. Leonard came too but Isabelle barely noticed, giggling a little to herself.
'I guess he just does that'.
Isabelle visited the bar several times, cheered others on during speeches and chatted excitedly with people she knew and others she now met.
'What a great turn out!' she thought, grinning. There was so many people! Then across the room she spotted him. Arthur. 'Oh my god' she thought. 'He came'. Isabelle got another drink from the bar and headed towards them.
Isabelle walked over to Arthur and Rachel who were chatting with Jen. 'Ah, useless Jen'. She thought. 'Who will you be talking about today?' As Isabelle approached Jen excused herself, offering to buy Arthur and Rachel drinks. A brief fake smile to Isabelle.
'Hey' smiled Isabelle, greeting them both. 'How are yas?'
'Hey Isabelle' said Arthur smiling.
'Hi. have you been here long?' asked Rachel.
'Yeh, a while' said Isabelle. 'I've only just noticed you. What about you?'
'A little while' said Rachel. Arthur nodded.
'I'm having a great time. Are you's?' asked Isabelle.
'Not my taste in music' said Rachel.
'Yeh she can't STAND it' joked Arthur, laughing, making reference to the name of the band.
Rachel frowned and turned away, which made Isabelle laugh.
Out of the corner of her eye and not far away Isabelle saw Jade come out of the kitchen area. The door swung silently closed behind Jade. Eyes wide she looked as though she had seen a ghost.
'I gotta go. It's a great turn out' said Isabelle stepping away arm extended. 'Have fun'. Isabelle didn't hear what they said.
Isabelle rushed up to Jade. 'Hey. You look like you've seen a ghost.'
'No. It's nothing' said Jade.
'Hey. Hey. It's ok. What's going on?'
'I just don't want anything to do with it. Please don't tell anyone. They'll know it was me who told you.' With that Jade rushed off. Isabelle stood there staring after Jade, watching her. She watched Jade as she kept walking and then leaving through the door shortly after.
'Not cool' thought Isabelle, turning around and opening the door to walk inside the kitchen.
Inside, Isabelle didn't need to pretend to be surprised. Sitting on a bench was Jen with a bottle in one hand pouring champagne all over two glasses that sat on the counter. No one seemed to notice Isabelle had entered and Jen with several others laughed along at the puddles forming on the bench. No wonder Jade had left. Jen was Jade's boss.
'Finally' said Jen, extracting a small bag from her barely covered breasts. Jen removed two pills and with more accuracy and placed them into the glasses she had clumsily poured.
Isabelle walked up to Jen who then suddenly noticed her presence. 'Oh my god. When did you get there?' exclaimed Jen, laughing.
'You're drugging them?' asked Isabelle in disbelief.
'They will love it.' said Jen, waving the bottle in her hand, spilling some onto herself. The others who had watched in silence as she confronted Jen stifled giggles.
Isabelle looked at them 'You all knew?' Jen rolled her eyes.
Angry, Isabelle backhanded the glasses, knocking them off the counter just as Natasha walked in.
'No one is supposed to be in here!' growled Natasha angrily. 'Everyone out! Except Isabelle'.
Natasha watched as the others walked out, laughing and muttering things under their breath. Afterward, Natasha turned to Isabelle. 'Isabelle.'
'Jen was spiking drinks' exhaled Isabelle sharply, motioning towards the door.'She was drugging them.'
'Who is them? Are you sure?' asked Natasha.
'It's true' said Isabelle. 'Everyone else here knew but they thought it was funny.'
Isabelle told Natasha everything she knew.
'Ok. I'll handle it' said Natasha 'but you still need to clean this mess and pay for the glasses you broke. Don't talk to anyone about it.'
'Thanks Natasha' said Isabelle 'then I think I'll go'
After cleaning, Isabelle left the kitchen. She gritted her teeth at the irritating sound of Jen's laughter which seemed to carry over the sound of the crowd and headed towards the door. Then she texted Rachel anyway.
Suddenly someone grabbed her arm. It was Tony.
'Where are you going? What happened in there? People are saying things.'
'I'm going Tony. Don't worry about it. Come for a walk if you really want and I'll tell you'
Tony walked with her and he listened to everything she said. Isabelle trusted Tony. Tony didn't know any of these people so he was also able to listen without bias.
Together they went to the police station and Isabelle made a report. Then Tony walked her home. Tony offered to talk to Natasha about the events but Isabelle declined, offering he find out more for her instead.
As Tony walked away she watched him, wondering how things got this bad.
'Darling' squealed the Djinn from behind Isabelle, swaying side to side. 'It's your time to shine'.
Isabelle turned and face the Djinn and Leonard who had been behind her.
'Are you dancing?' asked Isabelle, screwing her face up.
'I'm so excited' squealed the Djinn again, now wobbling. 'Tell her how wonderful it is Lenny' she motioned to Leonard encouragingly
Leonard sighed 'You will make choices tonight. They will be you're choices.... after we get there. Then things will never be the same.'
Having nothing else to do and not wanting to go home yet, Isabelle set out with Leonard and the Djinn. Not long later Isabelle raised her hand to her forehead when she realised she was back at the Performing Arts Centre.
'Not ok' she said to Leonard and the Djinn.
The Djinn and Leonard just smiled.
'I can't....'
Isabelle stopped mid sentence. In the grounds, in the dark, along the high walls of the centre faint flickering glows could be seen.
Isabelle sighed.
'Well its a good thing I'm in the right mood for this' she said, walking into the darkness. 'Let's get em'