Page 2 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
I raise an eyebrow. “How did you know I needed good luck?”
She smiles and puffs on her pipe, leaning on the desk again. “We all need luck nowadays. Are you telling me life is perfect for you?”
I play with the totem in my hands and think about my ex-boyfriend ghosting me. “No, not quite.” I shake my head. “But I still doubt I can afford it.”
She shrugs. “I’ve been trying to get rid of that thing for years. No one wants it.” She taps her nails on the wooden desk. “Legend says the right totem can give someone the strength they need. So what do you say?”
I bite my lip and gaze at the lion. The carving is exquisite, and simply holding it makes me feel…powerful. And I could use better fortune in my life. After a few seconds, I look at the woman. “My flight leaves tomorrow. So most of my Hong Kong dollars are used up. Do you accept American dollars?”
She smiles. “Not usually, but for you, I’ll make an exception.”
Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I dig into my fanny pack. I’m pretty sure most of what she’s saying is bullshit, and if my coven was here, we could cast some spell to find out her deal. But I want the talisman, and she accepts my few stray American dollars, so off I go.
As I walk out of the store, I smile and take a snapshot of the item in my hand with my phone. After shoving it in my fanny pack, I stride away with slightly more pep in my step. Maybe the jade lion will be my good luck charm.
By the time I walk back to the busy Ladies Market, I remember that I want to take a photo of the shop I was just in. She deserves a good online review, after all. But when I walk back the two blocks, the storefront is gone.
Huh. I probably just got lost.
One of the only good things about living in the coven leader’s home?known as the Boysen House?is having my own massive room. I’m on the first floor with large windows overlooking the suburban woods. The nonmagical neighbors?mortals as they’re known by us witches?shouldn’t see my side of the house, not that I cast any spells alone. But still, I like my privacy, and the blackout curtains allow me to sleep through the day, a feat I need since I’m so jetlagged.
It’s been three days since I flew back home to Virginia. The other four members of my coven seemed to like the trinkets I bought them. They even seemed interested in my vacation stories, but I suspect they just want me back to brew potions for them. That is my specialty after all, since I’m the potions witch of the group.
But no amount of coffee or energy potions could combat my sleepiness. I didn’t want to sleep in the middle of the day, but here I am, waking up from a six-hour nap. I put on clothes, walk out of my room, and make my way to the kitchen. I might as well eat since I know I’m going to be awake for half the night.
“Hey, Seb.” I’m greeted with the smile of my best friend and fellow witch, Taina, at the sink.
“What’s up?” I mutter with my groggy, sleepy voice.
“Sandwiches in the fridge,” she says.
“Thanks a million. I’ll make you a salve as my gratitude.”
I reach for the sandwich in the fridge and walk back to the table. When Taina grimaces, my anxiety rises. We’ve known each other since college, and six-plus years of friendship means I can read her like a tome. “What?” I ask when I sit down.
“While you were sleeping, Kevin came by again,” she says with a wince.
I bite into my sandwich and roll my eyes. “What else is new?” I ask with a full mouth.
“This time he left a gift.” She sits down next to me. “You know I’m looking out for you, but…it looks super fancy. If it were something cheap, I would have thrown it away already.”
“And I appreciate that.” It warms my soul to know everyone else in my coven hates my ex. “Can you show it to me?”
Taina gives me a sympathetic glance before disappearing. When she returns a minute later, she plops a large brown box on the table.
“You gotta be kidding me,” I mutter. Before us is a brand new laptop. Curse Kevin for working a high-paying insurance job. “He thinks he can just buy back our relationship.”
“I’m glad you’re not falling for it, Seb.” Taina pats my hand, and I smile. “Do you want me to throw it away?”
“No. Even I can admit the value,” I concede. I stare at the thing and continue my meal. Kevin and I had some good times. Then I remember all the moments he let me down, disappearing when I needed him the most, and I scowl.
“Hey.” Taina’s voice catches my attention. “I haven’t read your tarots in a while. Maybe I can divine a future where something karmic happens to him? Or hey, we can do a two-person spell to, like, puncture his tires or something.”
I chortle and finish my food. Sometimes it pays to have a divination witch as a bestie. “Thanks, Ty. But no, this is a future I need to build myself.”
Hours later, I’m lounging in bed doomscrolling through social media. It’s dark, and the rest of the house is silent while I embrace jetlag and insomnia. The glow of my phone is replaced with a call alert from Kevin.
I roll my eyes, and my pulse picks up. I ought to let it go to voicemail and not give that narcissist the time of day. Then I spot the jade lion figurine on the table a few feet away. Even in the dark, I take in the almost ethereal green glow of the talisman. Back in Hong Kong, the pipe-smoking woman claimed it could give me power, and I think I need the strength to close this relationship once and for all.
