Page 7 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
He looks away, and I take the cloth offering. In moments, I wrap the soft robe around my body. When I look up, the stranger sits down and places the cups on the table between us. “Have a seat, Mister…”
The stranger wants me to share my name. I should be more apprehensive, but something about him disarms me. Additionally, he gave me the clothes off his back, and most likely housed me overnight. So far, he does not seem to be harmful.Where have I seen his face before…?
I nod and take the seat near him. “I am Zhou Kai.”
“Joe…Kyyye,” he says, looking up and carefully sounding out the syllables. When his precious brown eyes meet mine again, he continues, “So, should I call you Mister Zhou?”
“Kai is fine.” I take the cup offering but hold it, feeling the warmth in my fingers. It could be tea, it could be poison. My instincts tell me to be wary of everyone, but this young man seems to genuinely care. “And who are you?”
“I’m Sebastian. Or Seb.” He beams at me. “Seb Suarez. Would you like cream or sugar in your coffee?” The stranger bites into the flaky bread, and I continue to study him. “I make a better brew at the coffee house I work at. Which is where two of my housemates are. I can’t wait for them to meet you.”
I try to take in all that is occurring around me. The man sips on his mug, and I’m tempted to partake, but I ought to be more vigilant. My inner lion is growling, craving for any food. When he pushes forward a small plate of the pastry, my spirit falters. I’d rather be poisoned than go hungry another second.
“Thank you,” I murmur. I devour the flaky goodness and gaze at the kitchen. Everything feels so foreign, and I spot machines that I do not recognize. “You never answered my question.”
“Huh?”
“Where am I?” I murmur with a mouth full of food.
“Oh, of course. You’re not in Hong Kong. You’re in our house in the town of Cosmo, Virginia.” My brow furrows. “Um, the United States,” he adds.
I nod.How did I get so far West?“How did you know I was from Hong Kong?” I ask as I take another pastry. It feels like I haven’t eaten in a century.
“It’s where I found you.”
I freeze. The man shakes his head and adds, “Let me backtrack.” He puts down his cup and scratches his eyebrow. “I, uh…bought a souvenir. A little totem from my vacation to Hong Kong. And you emerged from it, bursting out in a surge of wild magic.”
With my food done, I wipe my mouth. “You…know of magic?”
“Yes.” He nods. “I might as well tell you because you’re…you know…”
“I’m what?”
“You’re a being of magic, too. See, I’m a witch.”
“A witch?”
“Yeah.” He stands up and takes the used dishes to the sink. “Witches are hidden, relatively uncommon. We blend in among the mortals but hide the existence of magic. Being a male witch is rare, but we exist, too.” He looks over his shoulder at me. “And I think you’re one of us.”
After a moment of absorbing his information, I reply, “What makes you say that?”
“You had significant amounts of magic dripping from your hands when you came out of my totem.” He dries his hands and steps forward. “Well, your claws.”
“Claws?”
His smile falls. “You were in the form of a…beast when you came out of my little statue.”
“A beast?”
“Yeah. When you emerged from the jade lion.”
All bow to the Jade Lion!
The words burn in my memory, and I wince.What was that?The memory from less than a week ago echoes across my mind. My home is so unlike this place. Was it truly a week ago? Or was I asleep for longer?
“Are you alright?” Seb puts his hand on my shoulder, and it immediately grounds me. The fragmented memories of being surrounded by other mages are pushed far away for now. The confusion and panic subside as I stare at this kind-hearted young man. “Kai, I just lost you there.”
I clear my throat. “I…am right here.”
