Chapter Eighteen: Doing it Herself
"Luz? You okay?" King gingerly opened the door to Luz's room, peeking inside. "I heard you and Eda fighting, so I came to check on you. What were you yelling about, anyway? Hang on...what are you doing?"
"Uh...nothing!" King had come in just in time to see Luz halfway out the window. "Just...stretching, that's all!"
"Are you sure?" King asked. "Because it looks an awful lot to me like you're about to sneak out without Eda knowing!"
Luz left the window, pulling King into the room and closing the door. She spoke once she was sure Eda hadn't heard. "Please don't tell her!" she said. "She's mad enough as it is, and I...I have to do this for her. She thinks I can't handle it, so she won't let me go, but I have to!"
"Woah, woah, slow down!" King said. "I was just gonna ask if I could come, too!"
"You were?" Luz said, setting him down.
"Of course!" said the little demon. "I hardly ever get to sneak out around here without Eda catching me! Where were we going, anyway? A crazy night out on the town? A cool club for older kids? Make-out point?"
"No. Not anything so...fun," Luz said. "We're going to hunt down the man who cursed Eda!"
"W-we are?" he said. "That sounds a bit more dangerous than my guesses...but no less fun!" He bounded up to Luz. "Who is he?"
Luz stared dramatically out the window. "His name is Mattias Archoman, the most feared criminal on the Boiling Isles! Or at least in Bonesborough. Maybe. I don't really know all the details, but I know I'm going after him!"
"Luz, I hate to be the responsible one, but are you sure this is such a good idea?" asked King. "If he's so feared, he's probably done something to earn it, right? How do you know he won't maim you horribly?"
"Because I have these!" Luz revealed several slips of paper in her pockets, each one bearing a glyph. "Even if Mattias is as dangerous as they say, it isn't like I haven't handled plenty of danger before, right? I handled the Slitherbeast, I handled the Greater Basilisk, I handled Grom, I handled Boscha, I can handle this guy no problem!"
"Hmm...you do seem to have a pretty good track record," King said. "I'm coming with you!"
"You are?" asked Luz. "Are you sure? It's gonna be pretty dangerous…"
"Hey, if we work together, we're gonna be the danger!" said King, climbing up onto Luz's shoulders. "Lead the way, Boo-Boo Buddy!"
"Alright! Mattias, here we come!" King in tow, Luz slipped out the window. After carefully making her way to the ground, and making sure Hooty didn't see them leave, the two were off to Bonesborough.
The town was just as bustling as it always was, though this time, something seemed off. Not only did the populace seem much more on-edge than usual, but there were many more guards in place than Luz had expected. And not just Emperor's Guards, either-members of the Emperor's Coven patrolled the streets in groups, casting suspicious eyes at whoever passed by.
"Looks like we aren't the only ones after Mattias," said King.
"Seems that way," Luz said. A group of guards walked past, and she ducked behind a stall to avoid their gaze. "I don't know if they know I'm Eda's apprentice, but we'd better stay clear of them, just in case."
"How are we going to find this guy, anyway?" asked King.
Luz suddenly realized she hadn't thought much about that part. "...You know, I'm not really sure," she said. "I kinda just figured I'd follow some sort of trail, like they do in detective movies."
King hopped down off Luz's shoulders onto the ground. "If it's detective work you want to do, then let's get started! First, we need to look for clues!" He bounded off down the street, with Luz giving chase.
"King, wait up! We need to stay close!" Luz picked him up before he could get far. "Besides, we don't even know what we're looking for!"
"Hey, you're the one who thought this would be like in detective movies!" protested King. "What do they usually look for in those?"
"Well…" Luz thought for a moment. "Usually, they go back to the scene of the crime. But since there isn't really a crime scene here, we'll have to look for any suspicious activity."
"Like what?" asked King.
Once again, Luz had to think. "...I don't really know," she eventually said. "I've never been a detective before."
"Yeah, me neither," King said. However, something in the distance caught his eye. "But maybe they have!" A group of the Emperor's Coven wandered nearby, glancing at everyone they passed, and who passed them.
"Ah! Good thinking, King!" said Luz. "The detectives always get help from the police! We'll just do the same, even if they don't know they're helping us. Stay quiet, okay?"
Making sure to stay hidden, Luz and King followed after the group of masked witches. They patrolled the streets of the bazaar, heads constantly on a swivel-fortunately rarely looking behind them. Just as fortunate was the fact that nobody alerted them to the pair of suspicious figures following them. Luz figured stuff like that was just common in the Boiling Isles.
The two followed the Coven members for a while, not really getting anywhere. "I'm starting to think that maybe these guys don't know what they're doing," King said.
"You know, I think you might be right," said Luz. The group of Coven members was approached by a team of the Emperor's Guard. "Hold on, maybe they'll say something!"
Luz and King inched closer, hiding behind a nearby stall. "Any luck on your end?" they heard one of the guards say.
"Absolutely none," a figure clad in white said. "This Mattias character is more elusive than he has any right to be!"
"At least we know they're trying to look for him," said King.
"They just aren't very good at it," Luz said.
"Okay, well, we heard that there was some suspicious activity sighted at the south side of town. Could be anything, but we're gonna go check it out."
"You do that. Best of luck." The two groups split apart, with the team of guards heading south for the apparent 'suspicious activity.' Luz and King snuck after them.
"What are you planning to do when you find Mattias, anyway?" King asked as they moved.
"Beat him up, find out how he cursed Eda, and make him reverse it!" Luz answered.
"Huh. Guess I can't really argue with that," King said.
Just as before, the group of guards they followed failed to run into any leads. Their search led them nowhere, and Luz and King were dragged along with them. However, Luz spotted something suspicious before any of the guards noticed. "Hang on...what's that guy doing?" Next to a flight of stairs leading down to an alleyway sat a skinny man with an upside-down face. He leaned up against a wall, a book in his hands, though his eyes darted around at his surroundings just as much as the pages. "He sure looks like he's up to something."
The group of guards passed by the man, who nervously tried to act casual. "Afternoon, fellas!" he said. "Hard at work?" The guards didn't answer him, only staring at him for an extended period as he sweated profusely. Eventually, they gave up and left, the man breathing a sigh of relief. Luz's suspicions were then confirmed when, after making sure he wasn't being followed, the man cautiously descended the staircase.
"I knew it!" Luz said. "Come on, King, this could be our lead!" The two ran after the man and down the staircase.
"Luz? You still in there?" Eda knocked on the door to Luz's room. "...I mean...where else would she be?" She sighed heavily. "You can come out now." No reply. "Look, I know you're upset, but I...I don't want to see you getting hurt."
When there was still no response from Luz, Eda leaned up against the door, trying to find the right words.
"I don't...I know you probably think this is about me not thinking you're good enough at magic to deal with this guy. But that's not it. That's not it at all. You're...very talented, Luz. You figured out a way to do magic even though you're human, I didn't even think that was possible! You've really come a long way, Luz."
By this point, Eda figured Luz was either asleep or not talking to her. But there was still the possibility that she was quietly listening to her. So she continued.
"The thing about Mattias is, he...doesn't exactly play fair. Even if you ignore all the people he's killed or blackmailed since he took over his family business, the guy's still a monster. He finds and exploits your weakness, and he's not afraid to play dirty to get what he wants. There's no doubt in my mind that if we try to find him, he won't hesitate to hurt you. And just because you're good at magic doesn't mean he can't-Lily was just as gifted as I was, and I'm…" She trailed off for a moment. "Let's just say I'm glad I was there."
She sat down on the floor, leaning up against the wall. "And hey, I know you want to help me, but it's not worth the risk. Even if Mattias did curse me-which I'm still not entirely sure he did-we can always figure something else out, right? I've made it this far, haven't I?" More silence. "Okay. You think about that. Come on out when you're ready. And I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier." Content that Luz had heard her, Eda stood up. "Alright, that should take care of that. Come on, King, I've got some shopping to do!" Strangely, he didn't reply either. "King?"
She glanced into the room he had been napping in, only to find an empty bed. Now wondering if he had joined Luz (which was entirely possible), she returned to the girl's room and opened the door.
"You two in he-?" She stopped mid-sentence as she noticed that not only were neither Luz nor King absent, but the window had been left open. "...of course." A quiet sort of fury spread across Eda's face, and all through her being.
If anyone else had been inside the house, it would have seemed like Eda warped down the stairs, she ran so fast. Just as quickly, she grabbed her staff, threw the door open, and rushed outside.
"Hoot hoot! Where are you off to in such a hurry?" asked Hooty.
Eda answered without looking back. "I'm going to find Mattias and kill him," she snarled. "Then I'm going to rescue Luz. And then, if she's okay, I'm going to kill her too." She took off towards the town, eyes blazing.
"Luz, slow down!" King ran after Luz, down the stairs and into the underground alleyway. "I can't keep up with my tiny legs!"
"Oop, sorry King!" Luz scooped him up in her arms before continuing on. "I got caught up in the moment-this could be our guy!"
"What, chin-head over there is Mattias?" King said skeptically.
"No, not him!" Luz said. "I'm saying he probably works for Mattias. And if we follow him, he'll lead us straight to him!"
"I hope you're right: the suspense is killing me!" said King.
Although the man they were following was quite a ways ahead of them, there weren't any other passageways for him to duck into-none that were visible, anyway. Luz simply hurried down this lone path, looking and listening for any sign that they were getting close. Eventually, she heard the tell-tale sounds of a conversation in the distance.
"Hold on, I think we're getting close," she said. "Stay low." She and King hid behind a wall, peeking into a pavilion slightly wider than the alleyway they were currently in.
"...And you're sure they didn't follow you?" a deeper voice said.
"Positive," said the man they were following. "They don't suspect a thing."
"Good," said the first voice. "We've got to move this product. We're behind schedule already, and Mattias won't be happy if we fall behind even more."
Luz gasped. "Did you hear that, King? I was right! Those two out there could lead us straight to Mattias!"
The two of them peered around the corner. Numerous figures were present: the skinny man from before, a large red demon with one eye, and a whole team of abominations. Each one of the abominations carried a large crate, filled with Luz could only guess what. The one-eyed man seemed to direct them, while the other one drew circles on the far wall. Each one of these circles acted as a portal for one of the abominations to step through. Where they lead, again, Lux could only guess.
"What do you think they're doing?" wondered King.
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out!"
"Luz, no!" But despite King's warnings, the girl had already run out into the open to confront the pair.
"Stop right there, las personas aburridas!" Luz shouted. The two figures looked around in shock. "That's right, I caught you! Now take me to your boss before things have to get violent!"
Once they realized who they were being confronted by, both men were relieved. "Oh, it's just a kid!" said the upside-down-face man, laughing. "Aidan, could you take care of her?"
"Gladly." As the large figure walked closer, Luz reached into her pockets, preparing for a fight. However, he simply leaned down closer to her. "Could you go and play somewhere else, please?" he said, sounding legitimately polite. "Me and my partner are trying to work here."
"Don't try that!" snapped Luz. "I don't know what you're doing here, but I know who you work for! Mattias cursed someone very close to me, and I want to have a talk with him right now!"
"Right, right, sure, kid," said Aidan. "Sorry about your friend, but Mattias has better things to do with his time than curse some random grade-schooler. You should take this up with-"
"That's not what I mean!" Luz pulled a card from her pocket, waving it at him. "I don't mean a classmate! I'm talking about my mentor, Eda the Owl Lady!" The man's lone eye went wide when Eda's name was mentioned. "Mattias put a curse on her, and I want him to remove it! ...Well?"
Aidan was silent for a moment. "...Ulrich, did you hear that?" he called back to his partner. "This kid, uh, knows Eda."
Ulrich went still for a moment. Then, quick as a flash, he drew numerous spell circles, creating numerous portals for the abominations to offload their crates. As he walked over to join his partner, Aidan drew a spell circle as well, sending the abominations over to his side.
"Miss," Ulrich said, "we're gonna need you to come with us."
"Don't try anything funny, now," Aidan said, some of his abominations cracking their nonexistent knuckles.
Luz pretended to cower. "Oh no, I'm sooooo scared! Please don't hurt me, I'll do anything you-take this!" She hurled a card at Aidan's face, causing a cluster of vines to wrap around his head. He stumbled backwards, tripping over his own abominations.
"What the!?" With Ulrich distracted and Aidan disabled, Luz darted to the side. She threw another card at the ground, causing a wall of ice to sprout up in front of Ulrich. He reeled back in shock as she prepared another card.
"So? Change your mind yet?" Luz asked, preparing to throw the card at him.
"Not even close!" said Ulrich. "Get up, you!" He pulled Aidan to his feet, who proceeded to tear the vines off of his face.
"Urgh...get her!" Aidan sent his abominations after Luz. Pulling more cards from her pockets, she sent one at each of the purple blobs headed her way. Each one burst into flames, scattering goop all over the place.
Luz dropped one of the cards at her feet, creating a small pedestal of ice for her to put one foot up on. "I'm only just getting started!" she said, glaring at the two of them. "Now...would either of you like to reconsider?"
"What are they teachin' these kids at that school!?" exclaimed Ulrich. "Come on, do something!"
"Fine, fine!" Aidan drew another spell circle, even though he seemed to have no abominations left.
"What the-maldita sea!" Luz shouted, after a tendril made from abomination goo wrapped around her ankle. She was pulled into the air as the abomination formed around her, preventing her from reaching her cards.
"Heh, not so tough now, are you, little girl!" said Aidan.
"Lemme go!" said Luz. She tried to struggle, but it was like being wrapped up in jello. "You creeps!"
Ulrich laughed. "Hey, you're the one who wanted to see Mattias! We're just making it easier to transport ya!"
"Luz!" King ran out from his hiding place, attacking Aidan's leg. "You let her go!"
"King, no, get out of here!" Luz shouted.
"What the?" Aidan was surprised with King's sudden appearance, but didn't react otherwise. "Beat it, you!" He shook the tiny demon off of his leg. When King ran at him again, he drew back his other leg and delivered a sharp kick. King yelped, tumbling up against the wall.
"King!" Luz yelled, unable to run to his side due to her current situation. "That's it, you just crossed a line!"
Ulrich laughed. "Oh, trust me, you have no idea! Now, how about we go and see the man in charge, hmm? I'm sure he'd love to see you!"
Luz continued to struggle. She could almost reach her cards. "Nothing personal," said Aidan. "Just doing what Mattias wants."
"Now...shall we?" Ulrich drew another spell circle, creating another portal. He, Aidan, and the abomination carrying Luz walked towards it.
King struggled to his feet, unable to do anything as he watched them walk away. "Luz! No!"
But something happened. Mere moment before they could disappear into the portal, something blocked their path. An object landed in front of them-a staff. A staff with a carved owl at the top.
Something else landed behind them-or rather, someone. Eda stood up, glaring at the pair of men. "Looking for someone?" she said coldly.
"Crap, it's her!" said Ulrich. "Aidan, do something!"
"Working on it!" Aidan summoned several more abominations, all of which sprinted at Eda. Even without her staff, she dispatched each without issue with blasts of fire. "Come on, come on…!"
While they were distracted, Luz managed to reach her cards. A tangle of vines burst out of the abomination, freeing her from her goopy prison. Her first thought was if King was okay; she rushed over to him. "King, are you okay?" She scooped him up into her arms.
"Oww...he kicked me!" King whined. "Who kicks a demon?"
Luz hugged him to her chest. "Don't worry, King-Eda's taking care of them!"
"Alright, enough playing around!" Eda summoned her staff back to her hand, with it hitting Aidan as it went. She spun it around above her head, slamming the tip down into the ground. Several pillars in Hooty's likeness burst up from the earth, before slamming down on the two thugs.
When the dust settled, Ulrich stood next to Aidan, holding a magical barrier above them both. "Enough of this indeed!" Drawing another spell circle, he created a portal on the wall behind them. He ushered Aidan through it before turning to glare back at Eda. "Don't try and follow us! You'll regret it if you do!" He stepped into the portal, which vanished, leaving the three of them alone in the alleyway.
"Luz," said Eda. She didn't sound angry. In fact, Luz wasn't sure what she sounded like at all.
"Uh, y-yeah?" she replied.
Eda's staff vanished as she walked over to her and King, leaning down to Luz's level. "Are you...alright? Did they hurt you?"
"N-no, I'm fine," Luz said.
"Oh, good," said Eda, clearly relieved. "In that case-WHAT IN THE TITAN'S NAME WERE YOU THINKING!?" Her relief now replaced with anger, she grabbed Luz by the shoulders, almost shaking her. "Are you insane!? You could have gotten yourself killed!"
Luz freed herself from Eda's grip. "What, everything was fine!" she said defensively. "I could have handled them!"
"You call almost getting captured 'handling' them!?" snapped Eda.
"They were taking me to Mattias!" said Luz. "I was about to escape anyways-and I could've gotten to the guy who cursed you!"
"After I specifically said we were not going after Mattias!?" said Eda. "And what did you hope to do when you found him? You really think he'd be that easy to beat?"
"He can't be any more dangerous than the other things I've fought so far!" Luz shot back. "You know what I think? I think you just don't think I'm good enough! You don't think I have what it takes to be a real witch!"
Though subtle, Eda looked genuinely hurt by this accusation. "That has nothing to do with-" She stopped herself, sighing. "Nevermind. We're going home."
Eda re-summoned her staff, climbing aboard. She indicated for Luz to do the same. "After all of this?" said Luz. "But we're so close! We almost made it to-"
"Home." And that was all Eda said. Luz, still angry, climbed aboard as well. The two of them, plus King, flew back towards the Owl House.
Unknown to the both of them, something else had been watching these events unfold. A small creature stared down from atop the roofs, before spreading its wings and flying away.
Later that night, completely unaware of the events that had occurred earlier, Lester made his way back inside. He opened the door as he had done so many times, slipping inside, and locking it behind him, as he had likewise done so many times. Certain he was alone, as he had been so many times, he turned on the lights to his living room. But he was not alone.
"Good evening, brother."
Lester shot backwards, almost losing his footing. He had not expected to hear any voice, but this voice was the last one he wanted to hear. "M-M-Mattias?" he stammered at the cloaked figure lounging on his sofa.
"Yes, it is me, in the flesh!" The figure rose to his feet, removing his hood. The terrifying visage of a vampire bat stared back at Lester, complete with pointed ears, sharp fangs, and piercing yellow eyes that seemed to bore straight through Lester's very center. "I would have thought you'd be glad to see me!"
"I...No! Of course not!" Lester tried to inch closer to the stairs, but Mattias moved with him. It was clear now that he was a prisoner in his own home.
"Too bad. Can't say I didn't expect that, though." He held out his hand towards a nearby chair. "Please, won't you sit down?" Lester did so. Mattias didn't ask-he ordered.
"W-why are you here?" asked Lester, terrified. "I haven't done anything to you!"
Mattias chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, Lester. Sweet, naive Lester. Can't a man come and visit his dear younger brother?"
Lester clutched the armrests on his chair like they could protect him from his brother. "But that's not why you're here, is it? Especially not right now. You...you want something from me."
"Naive, and yet observant," said Mattias, grinning. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I came here today, dear Lester, because I need your help."
"And why…" It was as if the words didn't want to leave Lester's throat. "...why would I h-help you?"
"Because, you've never been one to say no," said Mattias. "Especially not to me. Then again, I suppose nobody says no to me." She shot a glare at his brother, despite his smile remaining. "If they know what's good for them."
"W-what is this about?" asked Lester. "What could I have that you could possibly-"
"You know, you already know!" said Mattias. It wasn't quite a shout, but the loudness nevertheless made Lester flinch. "Everybody and their grandmother knows I'm back to working again. And that includes our mutual friend, Eda Clawthorne. Now, I know you and her were close. And don't think I don't know you know where she lives."
"You...you're not stupid enough to go after Eda!" said Lester. "She's stronger than you are, and you know it! Whatever you want from her, there's no way she'll give it to you!"
"How very true," Mattias said. "Which is exactly why it is very fortunate for us both that Eda recently picked up a little owlet of her own. She has an apprentice now, and I think we can use that to our advantage!"
"Mattias, no!" said Lester. "This isn't about her, we don't have to bring Luz into this! We-" He went silent once he realized what he said.
Mattias chuckled. "So, you're acquainted enough to know her name!" he said. "Tell me a bit about her: what does she look like? Are she and Eda close? Where does she live, hmm?"
"I-I don't know, I swear!" said Lester. "I only know her name. And even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you!"
"You would," said Mattias. The way he said it was casual, but there was a clear threat behind the tone. "Are you sure that's all you know? You must have met her."
"That's all I know!" said Lester. "Y-you're wasting your time, Mattias! Just leave them be!"
But Mattias wasn't listening. His focus was turned to something upstairs, something that Lester could neither see nor hear. And it was something that pleased him, given the wide grin that spread across his face. "Well, brother dear, it looks like you have another guest."
A quiet fluttering sound came down the stairway. Its source came into view: a bat, having made its way inside through the hole in an upstairs window. The bat flew around the room a few times, before perching on Mattias' shoulder.
"Welcome, Wulfrick," Mattias said. "Come to share your secrets with me?" Silence, a hidden conversation that Lester could not hear. "Did she, now?" Their conversation continued. "Ah, well, I suppose that's to be expected." Whatever his palisman said next caused Mattias' face to grow grim. "You're certain? She is, without a doubt?" After another moment, Mattias turned to face his brother, a grave look in his eyes. "Lester."
"W-what?" he answered.
"You said you didn't know anything about Eda's apprentice, but there is one. Little. Detail. That you certainly would have noticed. And yet, you neglected to bring it up."
"And...what would that be?" asked Lester.
"Edalyn Clawthorne. Is associating. With. A. Human." He spat out the last word, as though it hurt his lips to say it. "I think a detail like that would be pertinent to mention." His tone was calm, eerily so.
"I-I didn't think it would have mattered-"
"It matters!" Lester recoiled at Mattias' shout. "Eda is letting a human run around on the Boiling Isles-and she's teaching it magic, no less! Enough games-you're helping me end this right now!"
"And how are we going to do that?" Lester asked. He was afraid he already knew the answer.
"Eda needs to learn the hard way the consequences of her actions," Mattias said. "Find her for me. From there…" He stared out the window, glaring. "...I will handle the rest."