Page 6 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
My coven gets closer, and their palms, outstretched before them, glow with yellow witchcraft. This incantation was the closest catch-all that Lisbeth could find without knowing the nature of the beast’s condition. Right now, I’m praying it is a curse and I didn’t make myself bait for no reason.
I take a step back, and the shadow monster looks left and right. The others are slowly approaching, and the magical circle begins to light up. The runes etched in the grass glow with yellow and white streaks. The monster seems apprehensive, and it’s at that moment that I see he resembles a large hairy human from the neck down.
My fingers tingle, and I feel the magic thrum through me.Duh. I’m a witch too. So, I lift up my palms and chant along.“Burning ice and summer storm. Rid the shackles, reveal your form,” I say in sync with the others. My palms light up, and I catch the attention of the beast.
Wind whips around us, and our coven chants even louder. The ladies are standing right outside the circle, and the magic flows around me like a small tornado. The energy from their hands becomes a beacon of blinding light, lassoing the beast in place. It lets out a strained roar, and I wince in sympathy. It may hurt him for a moment, but I know this is the right thing to do.
So, I raise my palms and take a step forward, drawing its attention. When I let out my magic, the power goes straight into his chest. We chant one last time, a shout above the howling winds, and the energy implodes, signaling the end of the spell. My body slumps, like I was just holding up something heavy for several minutes, then dropped it. This happens sometimes with spells, but we’ve never done anything of this scope since Taina and I joined the coven years ago. I shake out my hands and try to focus on the abrupt return of darkness. The runes dissipate, and the chalk remnants float away. That means success, right?
Taina rushes to my side while the others run to retrieve the lanterns. “Are you okay, Seb?”
Her words are tuned out when I notice the being in front of me. Where the monster stood is a smaller form. I walk away from my friend and toward it. Once again, my mystical instincts are pulling me closer, but to danger or safety, I’m not sure.
I take six steps forward slowly, my heart pounding hard in my chest. When my eyes adjust, I see…a man, kneeling in the darkness.
I kneel in front of him just as Lisbeth and Anika approach with lanterns. The air is still, but I can see he’s breathing. Cautiously, I put my hand out to touch the bare shoulder of the man before me. He’s warm, and his head jolts up at the contact. Imove back, startled by the sudden appearance of his face before mine. In the glow of the lanterns, I can see him clearly.
It’s a man, alright. A presumably Chinese man with long, dark hair is grasping my shoulders. He appears older than me, but not by much. His face carries a shocked, distressed look, and I give him a moment to study me.
Oh, and he’s naked. The man kneeling before me is muscular, with strong cheekbones, a toned neck, and clad only in his birthday suit. His skin is smooth, and I resist the urge to stroke his handsome face.
But more importantly, I need to make sure he’s okay. He seems so weary and confused, nothing at all like the monster he once was. Still, his dark brown eyes reach into my soul. “Hey…you’re okay now. We won’t hurt you,” I whisper.
He nods and reaches for my cheek with his right hand. It didn’t even occur to me that maybe he doesn’t speak English. Before I can inquire further, he gently touches my face. I’m frozen, and a chill goes down my spine at the contact. It feels almost intimate, which is absurd, because I don’t know him. Two minutes ago, he was a lion monster with claws.
Now, he’s a strong, handsome stranger. And his eyes are rolling back as he faints in my arms.
CHAPTER 3- KAI
WE BIND YOUinto stone, trapped in time.
Your magic will not be part of this world.
We bind you into stone, trapped in time.
We…bind you…
…trapped…
I spring upright out of sleep, gasping for air. The words of the nightmare persist in my ears. Or were they memories? Perhaps there is no difference.
The warm sun on my face makes me squint. To my left, a window lets in the bright light, and I hear the most peculiar horse-drawn carriages outside. When I look down, a large quilt is draped over me, and underneath, black fabric is wrapped around my waist. Otherwise, I’m naked in a room I don’t recognize.
In fact, I recognize nothing. I have no idea how I got here. But a savory aroma and the familiar sounds of cooking call me forward to another room. Mustering up courage, I stand up, ready to explore my surroundings. Holding on to the soft black fabric around my waist, I cautiously step forward.
When I turn the corner, I find myself in what appears to be a living room connected to a kitchen. If this is a prison, I certainly have a significant amount of freedom. But no, the home seems lived-in, with decorations and furniture in the living area. When I walk forward, I spot a man standing by the stovetop.
He turns around, and my fingers flex, ready to cast protection magic. But the young man with a boyish face in front of me looks shocked, and he makes no moves to attack me. I do not recognize him, but I also have no recollection of the recent past. Did this stranger with the trim waist and strong cheekbones kidnap me? Between his dark skin, huge eyes, and curly black hair, he is almost definitely not native to Hong Kong.Is that where I am?
“Ngo dei bene do?”I ask. My arms slowly move to a defensive stance, but the man does not seem to want to assault me.
“Uh…uh…hey! You’re finally awake!” He smiles, and it is almost as dazzling as the morning daylight.Focus, Kai. He could be a warlock, or a beast with an illusion spell. I need to ignore his kind smile, charming voice, and that curly hair I want to run my fingers through.
When I don’t reply, he clears his throat and his smile falls. “I, uh…made breakfast. Or lunch, rather, since it’s almost afternoon. It’s just croissants and coffee, but I didn’t know when you’d wake up. I assumed you’d be hungry.” He holds out a peculiar cup with a handle. “Wait, do you speak English?” He shakes his head and frowns, and I immediately miss his happier face. He mutters to himself, “Cauldrons, why didn’t I look up a translator spell?”
I relax my shoulders and grip the fabric around me. “It is okay. I speak English.”
He smiles, and his whole upper body sags in relief. “Thank the stars,” he murmurs. “Oh, here, let me give you my robe.” He takes off his outfit to reveal more tantalizing dark skin. He steps forward, and I try not to stare at the way his sleeveless shirt tugs his tight body. “It was hard to, um, put any clothes on you while you slept. Now that you’re standing upright, we can cover you, so you’re, um…decent.”
