“Oh, right.” Taina pours another cup of tea and says, “My best friend, Seb, moved out recently. You’ll be taking his room. He’s across town, you’ll meet him this weekend at the barbecue.”
“The lucky witch boy found the Jade Lion,” Auntie says. At my confused expression, she continues. “I’ll explain it to you later, but he’s a big-shot mage. He also happens to be our friend. And the two of them don’t need a coven anymore. They grow up so fast.” She wipes an imaginary tear, and we all chuckle.
“Anyway, those boys have their own place across town, living their perpetual honeymoon.” Auntie’s words remind me that Boysen House is LGBTQ friendly, and that gives me more than a modicum of comfort. Being nonmagical, my parents never understood that I needed a witch community for support, and being gay only further alienated me. I’m happy to be their loving son from a distance now.
“They even have a new member of their own coven, Kai’s descendant,” Auntie says.How old is Kai?“So it’ll be good to make magical friends. And Seb gained intrinsic magic by hooking up with Kai. Who knows, maybe this new mage’s powers will rub off on you!”
They all laugh, and I chuckle along, trying to hide my blush behind my teacup. It’s been a criminally long time since I’ve touched or been touched by a man. No boyfriends were left behind when I moved away from Maryland this morning.
When I’m done with the tea, I glance around and ask, “The um…Wi-Fi?”
“Sure,” Taina says. “I can set you up with that.”
“And Ethernet?” I ask, standing up. She shoots me a quizzical look, and I continue, “For my gaming.”
“You’ll need to hook that up yourself. You have a cable?” Taina asks.
I quickly nod and put up my thumb.
“We’ll let you unpack,” Anika says, standing up. “Welcome again, Loxley!”
“Th…thank you,” I say, trying to force more pleasantries out of my mouth. All this attention has me feeling anxious, and my words are starting to fail me. When I agreed to join Auntie Lisbeth’s coven temporarily, I thought it would be a quiet affair. I’ve visited in the past, after all.
But they’re welcoming me with the red carpet treatment, so I shouldn’t be rude. I just need some downtime to breathe. So, Itake my time strolling to my car to get the rest of my stuff. I don’t want to live in Boysen House without my precious video games.
***
That night, I sit at the kitchen table with Auntie and Taina. For the second time today, we’re gathered around a teapot, but this time, it’s no welcome drink. My future could literally be at this very table setting.
“My dear nephew, do you know what a familiar is?”
I nod and push up my glasses.
“Then you know it is one of the many strategies to unlocking your abilities. Part of the reason I asked you to move in temporarily is not just because we have a vacant room. You’re my family. I want to help you, and being closer to the rest of us in the coven can augment your powers.”
Auntie touches my hand and gives it a squeeze. I’m touched by her altruism, especially since most days I feel like a lost cause. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“Don’t thank me until we find you a familiar.” She sits up straight and pushes back her long brown hair. “Or at least, you find it.”
Taina must read my puzzled expression, because she smiles and nods at me. Then, she waves her hands in front of the black teapot. Smoke wafts from the top, and the aroma is unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.
“I may be able to see the future during the full moon, but I cannot control the pieces of precognition that I ascertain. This is your journey, Loxley.” She waves her hands, and the liquid flares with purple energy shining through the edges of the teapot lid. “As a divination witch, I’ve attuned these tea leaves to allow you to scry for your familiar, the one creature bound to you by fate. A mystical pet that can allow you to channel your witchcraft.”
My pulse picks up, and I gaze at the black pot. This all seems so momentous. My destiny, my dreams, all of it could be revealed right now. My first night living at Boysen House, and I’m tasked with scrying for my own familiar. With a quick nod, I reach for the tea.
“Uh-uh-uh,” Auntie says. She hands me a pink cloth potholder. “Don’t want you burning your hands.”
I chuckle softly and take her offering. In seconds, I’ve poured myself some tea into a small white cup that resembles a narrow mug with no handle. After blowing on it and allowing it to cool, I proceed to drink. The tea isn’t delectable like this afternoon’s brew, but it isn’t bitter either. Based on my research, I know divination tea is not to be touched by anyone other than the recipient, so I’m assuming sugar and cream are out of the question.
It’s not a bad drink, so I take my time finishing it. What will I see when I’m done? Will I see the glowing, red savior from my dreams?
Five minutes later, it’s the moment of truth. Taina and Auntie gaze at me expectantly. With a deep breath, I look down into my cup of only tea leaves. “Don’t touch it,” Taina says softly. “Or shake it. Just…feel the magic flowing through you.”
“You’re a witch, Loxley,” Auntie says softly. “Tap into that side of you.”
Without looking up, I do what my coven-mates say. Holding the cup closer to me, I scrutinize the black leaves. If there is a familiar meant for me, I should be able to see it. Feel the magical energy…
After I blink, the leaves swirl in my vision. The image that appears, however, flitters and changes in a way that doesn’t make sense. It’s almost like…two things at once.
