Chapter 6 #2
Rocking back on his heels, Dad looked Jasha from head to toe and back again.
“Still, your magic is clearly present today. Baby magic, almost, like it’s slowly trickling to the surface.
Today’s the first time we’ve seen you since enough has pooled together, making its presence unmistakable.
I’m actually disappointed in myself for dismissing the possibility all this time.
” He studied Jasha more closely. “You’ve probably got latent abilities coming to life because of the sword, which didn’t help our earlier readings. ”
Oh, now, that was a good theory. I looked at the sword in question, feeling like a picture missing lots of pieces had suddenly gained a few.
Jasha glanced between us, mouth pulled down in an uncertain manner. “Is that really possible? It was odd when I started seeing the huodou, but I haven’t noticed anything else. I don’t feel different.”
“Think of how Kris suddenly became a medium because of our bond,” I offered. “If you’re around the right kind of energy, and the energy’s strong enough, it can kickstart any latent talents you might have.”
“It’s not common,” Dad said, “but it’s not super rare, either.
This does happen to people from time to time.
There’s lots of precedent. My guess? Because the sword’s cursed, your latent magic activated in order to protect you.
Although I’m confused why it’s formed so slowly.
Practically a glacial pace compared to most magic users. ”
Dad’s logic made all sorts of sense to me and apparently to Jasha as well. He huffed and nodded, clearly thinking hard over there and processing the reality-shifting information we’d thrown his way. “Yeah, okay, I can see how this happened. But…I, uh, don’t know what to do from here?”
“While I can see you have magical ability, I can’t tell you what type at a glance.” Dad looked him over again. “So, really, our first step is to figure that out. After we determine the type, I can reach out to the larger magical community and find you a mentor.”
Jasha’s brows shot to his hairline. “I get to be a sorcerer’s apprentice? Wicked.”
“Something like that, yeah.”
I wasn’t surprised Jasha rolled with the life-changing news. He was kind of a golden retriever in human form, pretty easygoing from day to day. Wait ’til I told Kris, though. My wife would hit the roof.
I turned toward Jasha. “You and Kris are an odd pair of friends who attract weird shit.”
Jasha’s eyes cut to mine, a wry smile in place. “Is that a compliment coming from a demon slayer?”
I shrugged. “Depends on the day.”
Dad clapped his hands together, gaining our attention.
“All right, we’re going to set this topic aside for now.
I want to see if the curse changed in response to Jasha’s surge in magic and get Jo Jo the latest information.
Poor man doesn’t know what tools to pack.
” Dad paused mid-step and looked about. “Usually one cat says hi by this point. Why’s everyone up and hiding? ”
“I don’t know,” Jasha admitted with a frown. “They’ve been acting cagey all morning. I think something is prowling around outside again, hopefully not another bobcat. They keep sniffing at the windows or door and then jumping back up on the higher perches.”
“Could be a stray dog or raccoon or something.” I shrugged. “We get critters in the city often. It’ll sort itself out.”
“The sword, however, will not.” Dad grabbed the sword and moved for the back room.
Jasha paused me, asking in a lower tone, “Did Kris tell you I’m interested in meeting some of your friends?”
“She did! It’s great, honestly. Knowing them and knowing you, I think you’ll at least hit it off as friends.
But some of my female friends have zero luck in dating.
It’s a hard career to have and date, y’know?
We’ll let them know you’re interested and choose for themselves if they’ve got the bandwidth, but in the meantime, know we’re happy to host a friend so they can meet you, at least. Or give you phone numbers so you can try talking?
You helped Kris for years without expecting anything in return, and she adores you to bits.
You’re a solid guy, and I’d trust you with my friends. ”
He looked surprised by my standing ovation, smile breaking out. No doubt he didn’t want to break any kind of bro code, but Jasha was one hundred percent trustworthy with women. I had no qualms introducing him to my friends.
“Let’s get the sword fixed first,” I requested. “Jo Jo’s going to be here tomorrow, after all. After we clear that hurdle, we’ll figure out how to get people in the same place.”
“I’m fine with that plan.”
“Zhen!” Dad called from the back room. “Can you hold the camera for me?”
“Oh, sure.” I turned to the back room to help him, Jasha on my heels. I noted the cats were shrinking back, barely visible at all in their little cubbies on top of the shelves. Maybe I should take a look around before I left. No way this behavior was because of a raccoon.
When we entered the back room, Dad had the sword on the table, ready to go. “Zhen, let’s—”
Without warning, the back door burst open, metal bouncing off the wall. I whirled, reaching for a sword not at my side, and cursed myself for not being armed. Just because I was in Demonbreun didn’t mean I was safe, I should know that by now. Dammit, my nearest weapon was in the truck!
Dad grabbed the Viking sword since it was on hand, though he didn’t unsheathe it or undo the shield. It would make a good blunt weapon, actually.
I held my breath, ready to start chucking tubes of paint, but what prowled through the door was not at all what I’d expected. Not a demon, not a deranged murderer, but a…cat?
That was no domestic kitty, though.
Now, I was no cat expert, but it kinda looked like a mini leopard?
White along the chest, a caramel color on the top, with lots of stripes and some spots all along the coat.
The head was small, ears compact, and it looked like it could absolutely take a person down.
Despite it being the size of a medium dog.
Seriously, I wouldn’t put this cat over thirty pounds.
It sniffed the area, curious, but didn’t look aggressive. As if it had every right, it waltzed over to Jasha and rubbed its head against his knee, a growly purr erupting from its throat.
Jasha held utterly still and croaked out, “What the hell is an ocelot doing here?”
Trust the cat lover to know the breed.
I was, uh…like, holy shit. My thoughts were a slippery slope and I stood at the edge of them in socks with no grip. “Dad, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m seeing magical energy whirling around the, uh, ocelot.”
How the hell did you even call for a familiar without calling for a familiar? I knew for a fact Jasha hadn’t done so—he didn’t know he had magic until minutes ago—so that wasn’t even possible! Seriously, how?
“Your eyes do not deceive you.” A slow grin took over his face, blue eyes brightening. Dad was as excited as I was when buying a new shiny. “Jasha, I’m dying to know what type of mage you are now, as that’s quite the familiar you’ve got.”
Jasha croaked out a sound, eyes bugging from his head.
I snorted a laugh and whipped out my phone because this? Absolutely a Kodak moment. Kris was going to be so mad she’d missed out.
“F-familiar?” Jasha wheezed. Then looked down at the cat growly-purring up at him, and his eyes went round with wonder. I’d swear to you, he was living out a childhood fantasy. “Really? You sure?”
“Pretty damn sure, man. Most mages have familiars of some sort. It’s part and parcel of having magic.”
Jasha made noises only birds of prey could hear, seriously vibrating in place. He was absolutely ecstatic and I was thrilled right along with him.
Not quite sure of the timing on its arrival, though.
Over the last few months Jasha had sensed a large stray cat sometimes lingering in the area, and a bobcat had been caught in the area two weeks ago, making it hard to tell when the ocelot had arrived amongst all the other wild animals.
I wasn’t an expert on familiars and their timing.
Could be Jasha’s magic had to reach a certain threshold before it could sense him and come?
Actually, quite likely. Plus, if it had to travel some distance to get to him, I could see why it’d taken a hot minute. Where were ocelots even from…?
Jasha slowly knelt down. The second he was more at kitty height, the ocelot rubbed its chin against his, the growly, rumbling purr so loud I could hear it from a few feet away.
Jasha carefully petted its back, and the purrs somehow got louder.
Oh yeah, definitely his familiar. That cat couldn’t get any happier.
I’d Google what an ocelot was later, because curiosity demanded so, but this didn’t seem the moment. I was too busy recording. Kris would be totally jealous she didn’t get a cat familiar. I mean, the huodou basically were her familiars, but po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
Dad took charge, as he was wont to do in these situations.
“Zhen, you get the updated information on the sword’s state for Jo Jo.
Jasha? Close up your store for the day. I’ll help you settle your familiar and start the paperwork to register it.
Otherwise, you get to explain to the authorities why you have a wild cat without an exotic animal license. ”
Oh. Yeah. That would be bad.
Jasha beamed up at him. “Please and thank you.”
I spied an orange tail beneath Jasha’s worktable. Oh, right. Really hoping familiar would be chill with the rescue cats, too. If not, we were about to have a whole new set of problems.
Well, one thing at a time.
Three hours later Jasha and furball were settled, so I drove Dad home, then went home myself. I entered through the back door to find Kris home early and in the kitchen making dinner, which was awesome. I was starving.