Max whined as the door shut. Alone again. His owner had stepped out so he stepped up, beginning his usual patrol around the living room. Nothing was getting past him, not even that other dog that sometimes watched him from the window. Not even him.

Concerned that his reflection had returned to trespass, Max scampered to the window and raised his hackles. The other dog wasn't there, but something else was. Max's ear twitched and he tilted his head. Up above, a bee drifted lazily into the apartment.

Max growled and tensed his legs. Just as the bee dipped low enough, Max sprang up, chomping and thrashing. In spite of his efforts, the bee dived away and Max crashed into the coffee table. Embarrassed, Max scurried off to the kitchen, unaware that he had knocked a glass of water onto his owner's laptop.

The laptop began to hiss and spark. Tendrils of smoke seeped out and swirled around the living room, creating a vortex. Max returned when the humming started, thinking it was another bee. It was something much, much bigger. And much, much worse.

An arm erupted out of the now-glowing laptop screen. Its fingers felt around until they found the edge of the coffee table. Max whimpered as the arm pulled and another arm appeared, followed by a right leg, then a left leg, then finally a head.

The man tumbled onto the ground and slowly stood, brushing himself off. He was wearing a shabby button-up with a worn-out tie. Lightly, he closed the laptop lid with his foot and the humming and glowing and smoking and hissing and sparking ceased.

"So who should I thank for releasing me from my modern lamp?" The man spun around, expecting someone--anyone.

His eyes narrowed when they settled on Max. Sighing, the man crouched down and beckoned with one hand. Max crawled over, tail between his legs. He knew a dangerous man when he smelled one.

The man reached down and gently pet Max's head. "Are you the one that freed me?"

Max shuddered at his touch.

"Figures." The man turned the tag on his collar around. "Ah, Max, nice to make your acquaintance. I'm Hedwynn by the way. Normally I'd hand you my business card right around now but no thumbs, can't read, no point."

Hedwynn stretched up then sunk into the couch. He glanced at Max meaningfully then patted the cushion next to him. Max jumped up reluctantly and settled in next to the man.

Hedwynn stroked Max while he talked to him. "You know what, Max? I'm blaming Raghnall for this. He's always going on about how my many deceptions will not go unaccounted for, that if I'm going to be a 'mean genie' I should expect some kind of retribution."

Max leaned in as he scratched the itchy spot behind his ear, liking this man more and more.

"And this," Hedwynn chuckled mirthlessly, "this is retribution. How am I supposed to grant the wish of a dog?" He sighed. "At least you're a good dog."

Max licked his hand playfully and Hedwynn smiled for a moment before his face fell. The buzzing in the room had intensified. Max sat up, alert. The bee was back. He pushed himself up to jump off the couch, but Hedwynn held him back. The bee landed on the chair across from them and began to grow larger until a full-sized man was sitting casually across from them. His eyes were golden yellow and locked in Hedwynn's.

"Max, sit." Hedwynn rose and gently shifted his body to shield the dog. The yellow-eyed man laughed.

"How does it feel to be outsmarted, Hedwynn? Outplayed at your own game?"

"You haven't won yet, Dennis, and you won't win--not against the all-genie and certainly not against me."

Dennis smirked. "Ah, but you forget that I don't have to beat you to win. We both know it's only a matter of time until the all-genie falls. I don't have to be the best, I just have to be the best option for successor. With you out of the picture, well that makes it all too easy to eliminate my only other real competition."

Hedwynn's eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

"The plan is already in motion. There's nothing you can do to stop it." Dennis checked his watch then smiled. "Until next time. Happy dog sitting."

And he was gone in a flash of yellow smoke. Hedwynn closed his eyes for a moment. This was bad. This was very bad. Fumbling in his pockets, Hedwynn pulled out a business card and a pen. On the back he scribbled, "I have your dog, he's fine, I'm magic, I'll be back soon," and slapped it on the table.

Max watched, perplexed, as Hedwynn then began rooting through the cabinets and the coat closet. He emerged with a leash in his hand and determination in his eyes.

"C'mon, Max." Hedwynn clipped on the leash and opened the door. "We have to go warn Raghnall."

Max wagged his tail and followed the man out of the apartment and into the world of wishes.