Kara smiled softly, even though Hallbjorn could not see it. Her heart warmed when he told her he worried about last night. “You weren't unkind to me. I enjoyed it all very much. But you did give me extra incentive to behave.” She would have said more to reassure him, but just then the phone rang.<br/><br/>She moved to the counter next to Hallbjorn when he put the call on speaker phone. It was a bit difficult to decipher what exactly Nix was saying because of her colorful descriptions, but Kara got the gist of what the valkyrie was trying to relay. Her eyes darted up to Hallbjorn's. It was easy to see that Kara was very interested in meeting another djinn. She had been starting to wonder if she was the only one.<br/><br/>Regardless of her mounting excitement, when Nix insulted Hallbjorn, Kara was on the verge of yelling at the soothsayer. But then it sounded like Nix's cell had dropped, followed by her muttering before she hung up.<br/><br/>Hallbjorn left the kitchen quickly to get dressed, but Kara remained where she stood and looked at the cell. There was another djinn, and she would be meeting him soon. She had so many questions. Kara would also be meeting Nix for the first time. It was time to find out who kept sending people after her. All of the answers she craved were in reach, and Kara found herself suddenly feeling extremely nervous.<br/><br/>She tried to calm herself and do away with her nerves, but it wasn't working. When Hallbjorn returned, she followed him silently to the truck. Once they were on their way, his explanation of what Errol's was only increased her anxiety. Kara wasn't even looking at the scenery. She was nibbling on her lower lip and her hands were fidgeting.<br/><br/>When they pulled up to Errol's, it looked unimpressive. Which was a stark contrast to the vehicles parked out front. She had some knowledge of cars, and the wealth that was in that parking lot alone was shocking.<br/><br/>During the short walk to the door, Kara didn't realize what the people in the parking lot were doing. After a particularly loud moan, her eyes widened with surprise as she took a closer look. Kara had never seen people just going at each other in public, and from the glimpses she got, her cheeks turned red as she blushed.<br/><br/>It was a relief to step inside and escape what she'd seen in the parking lot. But then Kara looked around the bar, and her jaw dropped. There was so much to see everywhere, and from what she had read from the Book of Lore, she thought she was able to figure out what species a few of the people were.<br/><br/>One thing was common for all of the women though. They were all breathtakingly beautiful, and dressed to show that off. Kara suddenly felt like the ugly duckling in the room, and completely underdressed. She felt she looked slovenly next to how fine the women there looked.<br/><br/>Her eyes landed on a dark haired woman with a bat on her shoulder, and it could only be Nix. When she waved, Kara returned the gesture shyly. Kara saw the skull that Nix drank from and grimaced slightly. Her attention then turned to the handsome man who sat beside her. There was no denying how attractive that man was, but for Kara, Hallbjorn would always win the contest.<br/><br/>When Hallbjorn told her to go without him, she looked to see what the problem was. The men who were making their way to him had red hair, and her gut clenched in realization of what they were. She wanted to go with Hallbjorn, but then Nix called out to her, and Kara found herself approaching the woman's table.<br/><br/>She sat down opposite of them at the table and ignored the half empty glasses that littered the surface before her. Any intention Kara had of asking Nix why people were after her when she introduced her to the other genie. He smelled of cinnamon, and she wondered if that was intentional, or perhaps something like a signature scent that some of the immortals had.<br/><br/>“Aladdin?” Kara asked politely, because she highly doubted that was his name.<br/><br/>The man chuckled and shook his head. “My name is Tarek, and it is an honor to finally meet you, Princess Kara.”<br/><br/>Kara choked at being called that, but kept her silence when Tarek continued, “You have your father's eyes.”<br/><br/>She froze, and it felt like her heart flipped in her chest. “You know my father?”<br/><br/>“Oh yes.” Tarek told her fondly, “He was my mentor when I was younger. I never met your mother, but from what King Jamal, your father, told me of Inessa, I can see her in you as well. She had to have been an uncommonly beautiful woman with a pure heart to have so thoroughly claimed King Jamal's heart.”<br/><br/>Kara finally knew her father's name. Learning that he was the king of the Djinn was a trifling thing next to learning his name. She had wondered for so long, and having that answer now made Kara want to cry with happiness.<br/><br/>When she gained control of herself, she asked, “Where is my father? Why did he not keep my mother with him?”<br/><br/>Tarek's expression grew sorrowful. “I have learned of your mother's passing, and I'm sorry that you were left alone for so long. King Jamal would have come for you, but circumstances in Janna prevented it.”<br/><br/>Though that really did not answer her question, Kara tilted her head to the side and asked, “Janna?”<br/><br/>“Janna is the realm that the Djinn live in.” Tarek explained. “In fact, the King has sent me here to guide you to Janna. He is very eager to meet you.”<br/><br/>Kara's heart beat so hard that it bruised her ribcage. She leaned forward, and in a voice breathy with hope, she whispered, “I can meet my father?”<br/><br/>Tarek smiled, and there was a hint of some hidden emotion in his eyes, but she did not know what it was. “You need only come with me, and all of your questions will be answered.”<br/><br/>Kara leaned back into her seat as thoughts raced in her head. She desperately wanted this, but was a little frightened of heading off to some other realm. Knowing that Hallbjorn would be with her did help to calm her some, but it was still a big event in her life. She looked to Nix, who had been busy coddling her bat during the conversation.<br/><br/>“Nix, should I go?” Kara asked, to which Nix responded. “Totes, Lil K. Bertil thinks you'll have a rockin' time. Don't you? Yes you do!” The last was directed at her pet.<br/><br/>Kara had learned to brush off Nix's oddness after those phone calls. She remembered what Hallbjorn told her about the soothsayer, and also what his brother's mate had said of the woman. But still, she felt a little unsure.<br/><br/>“May I have time to think on this, Tarek?” Kara asked.<br/><br/>“Of course. I'll be in town for a few days. Just call me when you make your decision.” The djinn told her. He seemed fine with giving her time, and that helped to reassure her. Kara was about to ask for his cell number when he held out a cell to her. “My number is the only one programmed into it. Nix told me you didn't have a cell of your own, so I figured this would make things easier.”<br/><br/>Kara reached out for the cell and accidentally knocked over a glass. The contents of which ran down the table and onto her arm. Whatever it was smelled noxious and made her nose wrinkle. She quickly righted the glass, then accepted the cell. “I'm so sorry. Let me go clean this up and I'll be right back.”<br/><br/>She stood and slipped the cell into her pocket, then made her way for the bathroom, which was surprisingly clean. Kara removed her sweater and after a bit of time trying to get whatever was in that glass out of it, she ended up tying it around her waist. A few minutes later she returned to the main room.