Page 18 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
“Lisbeth asked me to teach you solo magic?”
I let out a sad chuckle. “Yeah. Whatever that means. We’ve mostly conjured or repaired things, and it’s typically the five of us in the coven.”
“Never alone?”
I shrug and gaze at the ceiling. “We’re witches. Unless it’s a full moon, our powers are suppressed.”
Looking down, Kai is already gazing at me. He nods, seemingly resolved, and puts out his hand, palm up. “Let us try conjuring.” He waves his other hand over the palm, and, with a poof of green smoke imploding into the space, an apple appears. Huh.
I take the fruit and feel how solid it is. Kai truly is an all-powerful mage.
“Now you try.”
I nod and give him the apple back. With my right palm face up, I do what Kai did. I focus on the apple, the red skin, the step, and the sweetness waiting within. I scrunch my eyes and try to muster every ounce of mystic energy I can.Conjure…an apple…
After a few seconds of straining myself, I open one eye: nothing.
I let out a breath and relax. “Oh well, we gave it our best shot.”
He waves his hand, and the apple dissipates. “I have not yet given up hope.”
“Look, I don’t know many witches, but every historical tome details how witches need to stick to a coven to accomplish anything.”
Kai relaxes and faces me. “Is that how you ended up here at Boysen House? The magic called you?”
I chortle. “As if. More like Lisbeth was friends with my parents, and she deduced that I have magic in my veins.”
“So she approached and informed them?”
I lean on the back of the couch and rotate towards him. I don’t remember the last time I made a new friend with whom I could speak candidly about my witchy lifestyle. “Sort of. My family knew that she was always a fan of the occult. That’s because her family of witches raised her. Hence, Boysen House.” I point upward, signaling the roof.
“And they accepted that their son was a witch?”
“In essence, yes.” My smile falls. “But sometimes it feels like that’s the reason they moved back to Mexico. They’re mortals, so how can they help a witch like me?”
Kai seems to sense my reluctance on the topic, so he sits up straight. “And what of Lisbeth’s family?”
“Unsure. I know her dad isn’t alive, but I’m not sure where her mom is. Retired, maybe?” Pondering, I squeeze my lip and look down. “Where do retired witches go?”
Kai smiles and lies back. Now we’re simply two dudes on a couch, chatting the evening away. “I do not know. There is so much I wish I could tell you. I think I could have guided you in my past life, but now…”
“Hey, don’t sweat it, Kai.” I smile, and my fingers ache to touch him. They only need to crawl a few inches, then we’d be hand-holding on the couch. “I told you there’s no pressure.”
“And I believe you, Sebastian.” When he smiles, his eyes scrunch up, like he’s truly at peace. It’s a peace I’m giving to him, and I wonder if a mage like him could fall for someone like me.
Before I can do something wild like lean my face in, the sound of the door opening distracts us. In moments, Taina appears. “Oh hey, guys. Nice haircut, Mr. Zhou.”
“Thank you, Taina.” He nods and hops away from me on the couch.
“I had a stressful shift. Apparently people set off firecrackers no matter what time of year, then burn their fingers.” We all wince at her words while she sits down. “So, what are you witch boys up to?”
Before I can correct her—Kai isn’t a witch—Kai sits forward. “I was asked by your coven leader to teach Sebastian solo magic.”
“And to no success,” I add.
“Aw.” Taina shrugs. “I’m sorry. Hey, do you want me to read your tarot? Divination is a solo witchcraft, through and through.”
Kai looks at me, then Taina. “Another day. Right now, I would like to wash up before supper.”
