Ruby what?
“Cheers!” they all say and proceed to sip. Meanwhile, my gaze is transfixed on the now-taller Gordy. Is that a…tail?
When he turns around, I lose my breath completely. He pulls off his hood, and my eyes are blown wide. “Cheers,” Gordy says, his sharp teeth on display.
He’s a reptile! And his eyes glow with a beautiful red hue. And judging by the yellow shell on his chest, he’s some sort of turtle-type creature. As he drinks his beer, I’m entranced by his scaly green skin and his clawed hands.
I can’t even blink as I’m slammed back into my memory of a few nights ago. My tea leaves showed me my familiar, an impossible being that I wrote off as a glitch.But he’s here!
Gordy is the key to my magic. He’s the Ruby Turtle, the red glow, the one destined to protect me. Fate has brought me here, to this very moment, to Boysen House, to discover him. In his human form, he’s attractive, but in this, his turtle form, he’s…even more fascinating.
Time stands still, and everyone at the party disappears as my feet are compelled to move forward. I stand before Gordy, and he looks down at me in confusion.
“Sup?” he asks. “You need something?”
The way he speaks moves me, deep within my bones. I know he’s right for me. A familiar is supposed to be a pet, but I can’t fight this pull. Gordy belongs near me; every magical instinct in my body is telling me so.
The party seems to quiet down as I reach out my hand to his chest. A small wisp of red, magical energy floats from within my palm to his chest, then back to me. That’s never happened before! This must be our connection.
“Whoa, what?” he asks.
There are a thousand words I want to say. Instead, all I can manage is: “You’re…my familiar.”
The party is silent, and I know they heard me, but I don’t care. Nothing matters except him, the most extraordinary being I’ve ever met. I need to tell him so much more, but as usual, my dysarthria gets in the way. But he has to feel this, right?
With a confused expression, Gordy steps back and says, “What?!” I startle at his almost-roar. “What did you call me?”
I gulp. “A…familiar…is a creature that…”
“A creature?” He takes another step back, and his scaled face shifts from horror to anger. “A witch’s familiar, like a pet?!”
He’s got it all wrong! I never want to offend or hurt Gordy. I need to apologize, to explain how I feel, but my tongue is caught in my throat.
I shake my head, pulse pounding in anxiety. “N…no!”
“I may be a turtle, but I’m NO ONE’S familiar!” He points at me as he yells, the fury clear in his eyes. For a moment, I fear this giant turtle man is going to maim me. Before anyone can react, however, he turns and storms off.
My familiar, the being I saw in my dreams, has rejected me.
CHAPTER 4- GORDY
(EARLIER THAT DAY)
The small boulder lands on the swampy soil with a satisfying plop. After clapping my hands together, I gaze at the water before me. Kai was generous enough to conjure up a small swamp area in the backyard for me. He, in no uncertain terms, told me to make myself at home on this part of the property. With all the trees, no mortals can see me roaming about and swimming in the ten-foot-deep mini swamp. If I squint my eyes, this whole area reminds me of my house back in North Carolina.
In the week since I moved here, I’ve spoken to Mama and Papa several times on the phone. They assure me they’re fine and that I need to focus on my new life adventure, whatever that means. The only adventures I plan to have are in video game format.
Speaking of family, Seb approaches me. We’ve gotten along great so far, but a lot of that stems from their room being out of earshot of mine. I don’t need to hear my ancestor having sex with his boyfriend. “What’s up, turtle man?”
We share a chuckle and sit on the boulder. “Just redecorating.”
He cringes. “Is it offensive if I call you that?”
I shrug and bring my tail forward. “I am what I am. I’m just happy to not, like, scare you off.”
“You could never. You’re Kai’s family. His only family until we can find the others.” I nod in response; the first night, Kaishowed me our family history books. It’s astounding knowing he’s my great-great-great uncle or something to that effect, but we live in a world with witches and shifters, so anything’s possible.
“I’m happy to have family too,” I reply with a smile. “Connecting with you guys has been really chill.”
