Chapter 2- Loxley
THE DREAM IS the same as it’s been for the past two years: I walk down an avenue, and strangers amble about. Their faces are blank, but I can hear their whispers. It’s nonsense, and I know I’m dreaming, but I don’t want to wake myself up. In this dream state, I can…understand everyone, all at once.
And then one stranger grows a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. Fear courses through me and I try to run away, but they’re too fast. The stranger tackles me onto the ground, baring their teeth at me. No eyes, no facial features, just a jaw of fangs.
I should be frightened, but I don’t fear for my life. This being doesn’t seem to want to hurt me. I can hear their thoughts: “Help me. You can help me.”
And I believe them. I wave my hand, and the teeth dissolve into dust. With that, the stranger gets up and walks away, and I follow suit. The stranger fades into the crowd, and my chest feels lighter. Is this my destiny, to help people with magic?
But I’m so bad at it in real life.
Before I can wake up, I turn to see a taller figure shrouded in a ruby red glow. This person makes the magic sizzle inside me. “Familiar…” it whispers.
Then I wake up. The dreams keep growing more and more vivid every night. After swinging my feet around, I shake my head and rub my temple. Then, I put my glasses on.
I might as well get up. After all, today is my big move-out, move-in day, and my aunt is waiting for me.
I just need to pack up my toiletries and bed sheets into my car, say goodbye to my parents, then drive off.
Cosmo, Virginia awaits me, a future filled with witches who can help me hone my skills.
And maybe they can interpret my dreams and let me know what the future holds for me.
Hours later, I’m standing at the porch steps of my aunt’s house. Opening the door to my new home, I’m greeted by three familiar faces. “Welcome to Boysen House!” the ladies cheer.
I can’t help but smile as I roll my luggage through the foyer. I’ve been to this old Victorian-era home―complete with two stories, several beds and baths, and neighboring the forest―many times. But today’s the first day I’m here as a resident.
“Thanks, Auntie Lisbeth,” I reply as I walk through, presumably toward my room.
“Let me get your bags while you meet the girls.” My aunt, the only witchy relative I know, all but forcibly grabs my stuff and dashes off. Before I can protest, two women approach me.
“We’ve met before, but I’m Anika San Gupta.” The tall, dark-skinned woman wearing high heels shakes my hand. “Your resident green witch, for all your plant-based magic needs.” That explains the floral print dress.
“Loxley…Boysen,” I reply. “I’m…a historical…witch.” The words “for now” almost leave my mouth, but it’s times like these I’m actually thankful for having a speech impediment. A historical witch is someone attuned to studying magical history, but I’m not certain that’s what I’m cut out for.
I push my glasses up. It’s unclear which is more embarrassing, having slow speech or not knowing what type of witch I am.
Auntie has told me many times not to feel ashamed that I don’t have a clear witchcraft focus, but tell that to my ego.
While every younger coven retreat had witches doing all sorts of potions, spells, and runes, I could never muster the right magic.
Sure, Auntie is a historical witch, but she loves her tomes; I can’t help but feel like my abilities are best used elsewhere. Now they just need to come to fruition.
Pretty embarrassing for a twenty-five-year-old who’s known he was a witch since he was little.
The other girl steps closer and shakes my hand.
I’ve also seen her during previous visits, but I’ve never chatted with her.
“Hi, Loxley! Taina Santana Martinez,” she says with a friendly smile.
She’s also pretty, in a subtle way, and she appears to be about my age.
If I were straight, I’d probably have a crush on her. “I’m the house divination witch.”
“Awesome.” The pair leads me to the living room, where a tray of tea awaits us. “I’d…love to…to scry.”
“Taina can teach you!” Anika remarks.
“What, you’re trying to get in on my territory as the resident psychic?” Taina frowns at me before cracking up two seconds later. “Kidding!”
We all laugh as we sit down. “Got me.”
“Don’t haze the poor boy,” Auntie says as she walks in. “There’s room for more than one psychic in this coven.”
“I…thought you needed one of…every kind…of witch.” I push up my glasses again, and Anika hands me a teacup and saucer.
“It maximizes the coven’s powers, but it’s not necessary.” Auntie takes the teapot and pours herself a cup. “Especially now that we can practice solo magic.”
That’s right, Auntie Lisbeth told me about geo arcanum, the rocks of power they all wield now. “How is the Union?”
“It’s fabulous, darling,” Anika says in her posh accent.
“You’re…part of it?” I ask, looking between the three. “The…wizards,” I say with discomfort. Everyone in the magical community knows about the sordid history between wizards and us marginalized witches.
“Hey, we’re friends now,” Auntie remarks.
“In fact, we’re heroes.” Taina preens, and I chuckle.
“I…wish to…join.” My words are stuck in my throat even more than usual, but the anxiety of the Union competency tests has me almost shaking. I stare at my hot drink and try not to sound so self-conscious. “My witchcraft is…” The words trail off while I sip my tea.
The ladies exchange concerned looks for a moment before Auntie says, “Well, that’s why you’re here!”
“To help you with your powers and figure out what you need,” Taina says. “I can divine you if you’d like.”
I nod with a smile.
“And you’re welcome here at Boysen House for as long as you need. You’re a Boysen after all.” Auntie smiles and puts down her cup. “The stars know my brother isn’t going to be teaching you witchy things.”
“No,” I say through a titter. After taking another long sip, I gaze at the living room. “You…are not five?”
“We’re actually down a witch,” Anika remarks. “Two if you count that traitor, Ashley.”
My smile falls. Auntie didn’t tell me the details, but one of their former coven members allegedly used blood magic on another witch and tried to kill people. It’s scandalous, but as someone with dysarthria, I need to choose wisely what questions to ask. This is clearly a taboo topic.
“We are…four?”
“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, I take 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.
My scrying almost resembles a video game glitch; the character isn’t rendering properly.
With a sigh, I shake my head. “Nothing,” I mutter.
“Aw,” Auntie says.
“We’ll try again next moon cycle,” Taina says.
“Thank you, though.” I get up and throw out my tea leaves into the garbage pail.
“Sorry it didn’t work out, nephew.” Auntie approaches me, so I try to give her my most sincere smile. I shrug as if to say, “It’s not a big deal.”
“There are other ways to find your familiar.”
“Assuming you have one,” Taina adds as she brings the pot to the sink. “It’s not a big deal if you don’t. We don’t.”
“What my dear friend, Taina, here is trying to say…” Auntie levels her a look that I know means, shut the hell up. Turning back to me, she continues, “Is that we’ll continue working on it. It’s your first day! There’s no rush!”
“Exactly!” Taina says with faux cheer.
I nod at them. “Right. I’m…tired.”
“It’s getting late. Goodnight, my dear,” Auntie says.
I bid Taina farewell and walk out of the kitchen.
After doing my bedtime routine in the bathroom, I curl up in my bed in my new room.
The coven conjured me a fresh mattress and linens, a fact that fills me with gratitude.
I’m touched that they’ve welcomed me and want to help me hone my magical skills.
And perhaps find me a familiar. That last one might not be possible, and that’s okay. I’ve been alone, isolated, and alienated for most of my life. Why would I have a super cool animal that unconditionally loves me?
Before I drift off to sleep, memories of my tea leaves dance in my mind’s eye.
The dark shapes oscillated between a turtle and a man, but that can’t be right.
And what about the glowing ruby silhouette of my dreams, making me feel whole―is that related to my familiar? None of it makes sense right now.
Unless I’m destined to meet some sort of turtle man with ruby red magic, but I don’t see how that could happen.