Page 54 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
CHAPTER 22- SEB
IN THE DARKof night, I’m driving as fast as I can. Fortunately, I recall where the portal across town is.What if we’re too late?
Taina puts her hand on mine as I grip the steering wheel. “Hey,” she says. “We’ll be okay.”
“Will we?” I bite my lip and make a sharp turn. “Did you divine that?”
“Even if everything you’re saying is true,” Lisbeth says. She’s seated in the back next to Anika, who has the decency to look almost as anxious as me. “And I’m not saying it is or isn’t…”
“I had the vision,” Taina says in an annoyed tone.
“And I felt Kai calling for help,” I add.
“But like, I’m sure Ashley has her reasons,” Lisbeth argues. “Those wizards have hoarded the geo arcanum for generations.”
“I don’t care! This gripe you have with wizards doesn’t matter right now.” I accelerate and look at Lisbeth in the rearview mirror. “What matters is saving Kai. She’s weaponizing him to hurt people.”
“Wresting someone’s mind, their autonomy, their body.” Anika shakes her head. “That’s a line that no mage should ever cross.”
Taina points up and adds, “I felt her blood lust. She wants to murder anyone who gets in her way. And Kai could get blamed, or caught in the crossfire.”
I squeeze the steering wheel at that grim thought. “The geo arcanum needs to be protected, regardless of how you feel about wizards. There are too many threats to our dimension,” I say.I frown and nod. “I know you hate wizards, but attacking them using another as a…as a vessel?”
Lisbeth sighs. “I know. She must be stopped. I just didn’t think she was capable of such violence.”
“She’s just like any of us,” Anika remarks. “Except her ancestors tried to make peace with wizards, only to get shunned. And she told me they got burned because of it. Do you not remember her sordid history?”
“Which means she has an axe to grind.” Taina taps my shoulder. “Listen, we’ll get there and stop her. Somehow.”
I nod, but more anxiety thrums through me. Even if we do find her, she’s on a rampage. How are we supposed to stop a vengeful witch when she controls the Jade Lion?
Several minutes later, we rush through the portal to the Union. No one was around the mansion, and the gate was destroyed. Only a being of immense magic could have knocked the metal down, so I knew we were on the right trail.
And now my coven and I are here. The Union is quieter now, and the dark Scotland sky looms through the windows. “What on Earth…?” Anika says. The others look just as overwhelmed at the change in location.
To our left, we’re horrified to see a wizard, bloody and battered, with claw marks in his chest. Kai would never do this of his own free will, but I can’t deny that only a beast man could have left these claw marks. The four of us quickly patch him up with a healing spell, and he’s left stable, but unconscious. Not wanting to waste more time, I instruct the girls to follow me, and we make our way to the source rock.
I pass the double doors I remember from my visit. When I walk down the hall, I hear the commotion. When I see what’s going on past the glass, my heart drops.
The geo arcanum is breaking. A massive lion-shifter, the man of my dreams, is yards away, clawing at it. Behind him, just as we expected, stands a petite, nefarious figure. They’re shielded by runic magic, and other wizard guards are casting spells, bursts of orange and yellow against the barrier, but to no avail.
“There she is!” Taina says.
“Wait, who are you?” One tall wizard guard approaches us. “You’re not the backup we called.”
“But wearethe backup, wizard,” Lisbeth says with contempt.
I raise my hand to get her to stop. Then, I turn back to the guard. “We’re here to help. We know the witch inside there.”
The man looks away at the horrifying occurrence yards away in the center of the large room, then back at us. “And who exactly are you?” He raises his hands, and they glow with energy. “Are you even members of the Union? We’re closed. You shouldn’t be here.”
“We’re part of her coven. She’s weaponizing the Jade Lion,” I say. My heart aches when I glance at Kai, continually pummeling the giant rock. “But we can work to stop them. We can save your source of magic.”
The guard glowers at me, and his palms glow brighter. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t lock you up, witches.” I gasp and raise my hands up in an innocent gesture.Is he going to take us out?
“Because of what he just said.” We turn to see the source of the booming voice. My heart is relieved to see Luther in his trench coat marching down the stairs. Behind him are three older wizards in dark coats. “I believe he gave you the best reason of all.”
The guard gasps and stands up straight. “Agent…High Council.” He bows reverently, and I smile at Luther.
