Farren sealed the door to the practice stadium with a complicated spell designed to not only keep people out, but also make them forget why they were even there. He hadn't kept his abilities hidden this long by exposing his magic through a moment of carelessness.

It had taken several weeks to find this spot. He hadn't wanted to use it until necessary.

Now he'd passed necessary and was moving on to desperate. Constantly casting protection spells to deter other wizards would bring attention he would much rather avoid. He didn't wish to attract a master wizard who might notice Farren's magical signature.

Unfortunately, the last few days had proven he needed to purge his body of energy soon if he hoped to survive the week. He'd almost set Dan on fire. Luckily, Dan hadn't appeared to notice.

Farren remembered the exact moment magic had overcome his mother and began to burn her up from the inside out. Her screams still haunted his dreams and jerked him awake at night. If he didn't bleed off some of his excess energy soon, he would meet the same fate.

Farren dropped his book bag by the entrance. His hands shook from nerves and magical overdose. The loud thud of the heavy sack hitting the concrete floor echoed across *

11.

the high walls, but Farren ignored the sound as he turned to examine the room. A fine layer of dust and ash coated the arena like a thick layer of frosting. Obviously, no one had used this room for years.

His palms burned and began to smoke. The sight distracted him briefly from the chills reverberating across his body. Sweat beaded on his shoulders and slithered like a thin river down his spine. Damn, he had hoped to have more time for preparation. As it was, he had to quickly purge the energy from his system before it destroyed him. He also had to call his avatar for the first time and make sure it was a creature he could pass off as unremarkable.

Illegal magic coursed through his body. Farren couldn't risk the exposure of his djinn heritage. The djinn had been banished for a reason. If anyone suspected djinn offspring still existed on this plane, the magical community would be thrown into upheaval. Djinns had been banned because of their volatile nature and tendency to create havoc for the fun of watching things burn. Powerful entities, djinn could also control the elements, depending on their type. Most of them were made of smokeless fire. Djinns didn't have a physical body unless they possessed a human. Farren's line had been created when his grandfather, a djinn, had possessed a human male. He'd never known his grandfather, but from what he learned, the djinn wasn't a nice guy. His mother had been glad of her father's banishment.

Farren still missed her. She'd died when he was only ten.

The lack of airflow caused sweat to pour off Farren before he'd walked halfway across the room. Eager to keep some of his clothing intact, Farren stripped off his shirt since the fabric wasn't fireproof. He cursed when he spotted a hole in his sleeve.

"Should've brought more clothes." He knew better, he did, but the scorching magic crackling around inside him had scrambled his thoughts. Farren hadn't been able to concentrate clearly for the past four days.

If he were smart, he'd leave Dan alone. When he'd first come to the school, he'd vowed to keep his distance from the other students, but one look at Dan and he'd been hooked. The chemistry between them was unlike anything he'd ever had before. From stories his mother had told him as a child, the djinn claimed their lovers by branding them with fire. When they'd made love, Farren had had to hold back from leaving his mark on his beautiful wizard. Wisdom tended to take a holiday when he had Dan in his bed.

12.

He would've much rather spent the night wrapped around Dan than dealing with his own overabundance of energy, but the idea that he could accidentally hurt his lover had had him rushing to the stadium to purge his system. If anything happened to Dan due to Farren's negligence, he would never forgive himself. He hoped Dan hadn't been hurt or angry when he'd cancelled their next date.

Pushing thoughts of Dan out of his mind, Farren walked to the middle of the arena.

Some brilliant wizard had formed a permanent circle in coloured stone, large enough to summon just about anything. Focusing inward, Farren concentrated a trickle of power towards the control panel on the wall. The hum of the containment wards activating calmed some of his nervous energy. He selected the highest level so there could be no chance of fire escaping. He didn't want his magic sliding through the wards and creating a firestorm, or for whatever avatar he summoned to burn down the entire campus. With the power of a djinn pulsing through him, Farren didn't know what to expect. He knew deep down that his avatar would be fire based. A wizard's companion beast always reflected their magic or needs.

The stadium had the weighted feel of a structure soaked in magic. Layer after layer of protective spells shielded the building, capable of holding back even Farren's power. This particular stadium had recently been abandoned because it lacked the luxurious amenities of the newer building across the street. The new stadiums had shiny, weak wards, flimsy and easily burnt through with strong fire-especially a djinn flame.

Farren shook his head at their stupidity.

Newer wasn't always better, but maybe this current crop of wizards didn't need the stronger wards. In the classes he'd taken so far, there had been an obvious lack of power behind even the simplest spells. Farren struggled to hide his magical ability. His plan was to graduate without calling undue attention to himself. To graduate and not get arrested for his djinn heritage were his main goals.

Farren took a slow, deep breath, trying to find his centre while lowering his body temperature to healthier levels. If he concentrated hard enough, he could reduce his internal heat by a few degrees, but it never lasted long. There was a reason why djinn, especially fire ones, had been chased out of this dimension-ninety per cent of them were insane. Fire eventually burned away djinn minds no matter how many forms they took. Many fire djinn *

13.

descendants hid by pretending to be lesser fire wizards. Since their magic was generally diluted they could get away with their deception.

Farren's family didn't support his educational goals. They were certain he would expose them all with his foolish wish for an advanced education. After years of his father's neglect and his cousin's abuse, Farren didn't care what they thought anymore. He'd gone to college not only to get a degree, but also to finally be free of his family.

Farren had to call his avatar in his Magical Theory class tomorrow. By purging his magic beforehand, Farren hoped to entice a weaker creature to his side. Unlike other mages who aspired to call the strongest beast possible, Farren needed one just strong enough for him to pass his class. Too powerful or unusual of an avatar, and questions would be raised about Farren's origins. He'd spent too much time falsifying his data to let the truth come out now. It didn't help that his instructor, Professor Firestorm, was a fire wizard. He would know the level of power a proper fire mage should have. Farren was so far past that boundary, he couldn't even spot it if he tried.

Avatars responded to the type of magic and level of magical energy a wizard had. By draining most of his magic before he tried to summon his avatar, he hoped to reduce the size and power of the creature that responded to his call. Tomorrow when he presented his avatar, Farren hoped to show them a cat or a bunny. Even an owl would be fine-cliche but fine.

Farren took off his shoes and socks and chucked them towards his bag. If he'd been thinking properly, he would have removed them when he'd first entered the room. He'd ruined more than one pair of shoes in the past by melting the rubber soles.

Taking another deep breath, Farren settled cross-legged on the floor then closed his eyes. He blocked everything from his mind and focused entirely on the air moving in and out of his lungs. With practiced ease, Farren quickly fell into a relaxed state.

In slow trickles, Farren released his energy. The floor beneath his ass began to warm, but Farren ignored the heat. Oddly enough, although fire could destroy him if bottled up inside, it never burnt his skin. The air crackled around him as if he'd set the oxygen in the air aflame. Heat blasted around him until the temperature rose high enough he probably could've baked a loaf of bread on the stone floor.

14.

After several minutes of releasing his magic into the air, Farren could finally take a deep breath without wanting to scream. The pressure pushing against his body and crushing his bones eased up. For the first time in days, the pain had vanished.

"Thank the gods and goddesses," Farren whispered. His muscles relaxed without the hard magical tension twisting him up inside. Tears of relief dripped down his cheeks.

Standing, he stumbled over to his backpack. He pulled out his water bottle and took several long drinks before carrying it back with him to the edge of the circle. Now he needed to be outside the coloured stones so the circle could contain whatever appeared when he did his summoning. If the creature was dangerous, Farren had to be able to stop it from destroying the college.

"I can do this," Farren announced to the room as if silent listeners doubted his skill.

He set his water bottle on the floor beside him then planted his feet wide to steady his stance. Closing his eyes, Farren began transmitting psychic calls to any creature that might agree to be his magical companion.

Farren didn't even want an avatar. The thought of subduing an animal of any kind, then trapping it within the bonds of his magic, repulsed him. It reminded him too much of his childhood. His relatives had sought to contain him instead of teach him, hoping to put a leash on his magic to use for their own needs later. Farren hated the thought of doing the same thing to a magical being, but he needed an avatar to pass the class.

To counter his guilt, Farren invited his avatar where others demanded, coaxed where another might order.

"Come to me, if you please," Farren entreated. He had to find an avatar. He would beg if necessary. Pride had never brought him anything but heartache and whippings.

Farren continued calling until his throat became raw and he had to take another sip of water. Only a wave of heat washing over him like a monster tide alerted him that he had company. Farren closed his eyes to protect them from the wave of flame.

"Oh no," Farren whispered once he opened his eyes.

Floating in the middle of the circle was a full-blooded djinn. Farren had seen illustrations of them in storybooks before, but had never encountered one in real life.

Confronting the powerful being had Farren trembling with fear. Djinns could be good or *

15.

evil-unfortunately, there were few in the good column. Most djinn fell in the criminally insane category.

"Greetings, child of my child." The deep voice vibrated Farren's bones. He gritted his teeth against the unpleasant sensation.

Fear sank its greedy talons into his flesh as he examined his visitor. Created of smokeless fire, the djinn poured off enough heat to warm the entire stadium. His eyes glowed a bright yellow like a possessed cat, and his humanoid shape was formed entirely of orange-red flame.

"Greetings," Farren managed to croak out through his desert-dry throat. "I think perhaps there's been a mistake. I was trying to call an avatar."

A weak avatar, and definitely not a djinn.

Maybe he should've used a focus stone after all. He'd left his rock on his desk in his dorm room because he had worried it would bring him a strong avatar.

"There is no mistake." The djinn's voice echoed through Farren's head like a megaphone. "You are one of my children."

Farren bowed. "I do not contest that, but once again, I wasn't trying to call you." He tried to keep his voice respectful. Farren had no idea if boundary circles even worked on the djinn. Maybe it could drift over the line without Farren's interference.

The djinn's laughter rang through the room. "Djinns don't need avatars, not when we can become anything. Why would you trust another creature with your magic? I see I have much to teach you, djinn. Luckily, I have nothing but time."

Farren didn't like where this conversation was going. How did one banish a djinn? He tried again. Maybe an explanation would make the djinn more agreeable. "I need an avatar for my class."

The djinn sneered. "The mortals here have nothing to teach one of my blood. You aren't like the others. You are more. Much more." He narrowed his amber eyes. "You called me from the djinn plane. It took twenty wizards to send me, but only you to call me back.

Unfortunately, your magic is enough to bring me through planes but not to stay. You'll need an artefact to attain both."

Farren hoped he hid his relief well. The only artefact he knew of was on his aunt's wrist and he planned to leave it there. The last thing he needed was for this powerful creature to be *

16.

walking this plane. From the djinn's aura, Farren had no doubt his relative had earned his banishment. He knew the creature considered himself superior to Farren. The best way to get out of this was not to challenge the djinn. Farren didn't need to magically battle the djinn to find out who was stronger-he already knew he'd lose that fight. "I am sorry for my weakness."

The djinn shrugged. "You can't be responsible for your weak blood. That doesn't mean you can't be of use to me. Of my offspring's children, you are the only one strong enough to bring me this far. When you grow into your magic, you will be able to pull me entirely onto this plane to stay. For this deed I will make you my lieutenant, a position I don't grant lightly."

Farren dropped to his knees and bowed his head. This was worse than he'd thought.

He carefully kept his expression thankful as he quavered inside. "I am honoured you think so highly of my meagre skill. Thank you for this opportunity."

Not sure of the djinn's abilities, Farren carefully cleared his mind.

He dared to glance up through his lashes. The djinn gave him an approving smile.

"You are properly humble before my magnificence, child. I rarely like anyone in your particular branch. The rest of your group is a bunch of blowhards with pitiful abilities."

Farren couldn't argue with that perception. "I am pleased you find me worthy."

The djinn's heat rolled over Farren like a desert wind filled with shards of the summer sun. "I suppose in order for you to fit in with these pathetic mortals you will need this avatar you seek. I will grant you two items to help you on your proper path."

Farren didn't dare breathe. If he said the wrong thing, he doubted even the protective circle would save him from death. As affable as the djinn acted, Farren had seen the brutal calculation in the creature's eyes. The djinn was like the rest of Farren's relatives, only interested in using him. Once Farren had served his purpose, he had no doubt the djinn would cast aside his burnt-out hull of a body.

"Thank you."

"You may call me Grandfather."

Farren figured that honorific would work as well as anything since he didn't know the djinn's name.

The name!

17.

A remembered scrap of knowledge floated into Farren's head. If he found the djinn's name, he could control the creature. For djinns, their name held the secret to their power.

Farren had enough human in him that he couldn't be controlled by his name, but the old laws of magic influenced the being before him. If Farren learned the djinn's true name, Farren might get out of this situation alive.

"My first gift is your own lamp. Despite what you might've heard, a lamp isn't the home of a djinn. It has no power over us. Instead, lamps are made of a rare magical substance that absorbs and protects our magic. It will help you deal with the magical overload that drives many of us insane. Djinns without lamps are often consumed by their own power."

That explained a lot.

"Were a lot of lamps lost?"

The djinn nodded. "They were destroyed by the wizards. They wanted to control us and bind us to their will. They believed if they held our lamps, they could force us to do their bidding. When we refused, the power ate us up inside. I was one of the few who escaped that fate. There aren't many of us left, but we have grown in strength. With your help we can take back your plane."

"I haven't heard any good stories about the djinn," Farren answered carefully. If he agreed to whatever the djinn said to make it go away, he knew the creature would pick up his lie.

The djinn sneered. "Why would you? You live among our enemies. If they told you about our good deeds, they would have to admit they made an error in banishing us all."

"That's true." Farren didn't want to get involved in a philosophical argument with a being who could crush him despite their family bond. He didn't get along with the rest of his family and he didn't trust that they would do what was best for mankind. If his cousin had been in this situation, she would've jumped at helping the djinn whether he was insane or not. Betina was a power-hungry bitch.

A flame appeared in the middle of the djinn's hand. It grew brighter and brighter until Farren had to look away. The clank of metal drew his attention. Opening his eyes, Farren spotted a small brass lamp at the edge of the circle. He knew better than grab at it. If he reached over the line, he'd break the protection and free the djinn. A quick glance showed he'd been right. The djinn watched Farren with a gleeful expression. Despite what the djinn *