SWolf: Who's ready for some Lumity fluff?
GH: *gargles salt water and clears throat* I am!
SWolf: For any of you familiar with the Disney film Enchanted, remember the song So Close? You may want to have that ready to play for this chapter.

The ballroom was filled to the brim with partygoers all dressed in their finest livery, laughing, gossiping, dancing to their enjoyment. Brightly colored dress wear that flashed in the eye every direction it turned, illuminated by the hanging chandeliers that cast a soft magenta glow about the room, making one feel like they were living in the crystal ball of an oracle. Witches and demons milled about, casting glances at each other in the hopes the one they desired would ask them to a dance. From one of the many side doors, two figures emerged, dressed in simple, yet fine, clothes that easily allowed them to blend in with the party. Considering the fact this particular party was a masquerade, they were practically invisible to the rest of the crowd, just another couple wandering about. If a brother and sister could count as a couple.

Though they both were of the same height, the brother seemed to want to huddle as close to his sister's side as possible, her shoulders set in a defiant pose and her head held high as her mane of obsidian-dark hair flared over her back. Her dress was a deep lavender that covered her from shoulder to toe, the collar a shallow v-cut that showed her collarbone, the sleeves running down her arms to cover the backs of her hands. Black and silver patterns traced along the arms in the suggestion of flames, curling on the shoulder blades like wings.

The sister surveyed the room, her violet eyes scanning the bodies carefully from behind her black mask, demonic horns set into the forehead, and she grinned. "Alright Chi, you ready? She's waiting for you."

Her brother perked up, his face flushing behind his silver domino mask and he quickly smoothed his hair back. "Where?"

Snorting, a rather improper noise for a lady of her status, she grabbed her brother's shoulder and pointed to near the stage where a band had just finished playing a simple drifting melody and was taking a short break. "Right there."

He followed her direction to stare at the young woman standing at the far side of the stage, her long snow-white hair falling down her back like a beacon against the dark emerald of her dress. Swallowing, he started to inch away, but felt the barring of his sister's arm against his back.

"I don't know about this, what if the Master sees us?" He tugged at the sleeves of his black suit emblazoned with swirling red designs. Technically, it had been "borrowed" from the Master's closet, but his sister had promised it would be too old for anyone to recognize and cause alarm.

"Trust me, Pandor has no idea. As far as he's concerned, you're patrolling the tunnels to make sure that slimy shoggoth stays put, and I'm back home with Lupin for my night off. Besides, he's locked up in his study researching a summoning for a new demon, he won't see the light of day for at least a week."

"What about the Mistress?"

Rolling her eyes, his sister turned him by his shoulders to stare at him. "Would you stop worrying, Chiaro? You're twenty-one now, not fourteen! Surely you've got the gumption to walk up to a girl and ask her to dance at this point? I've seen you face much more horrifying things with a silver axe and inked glyphs than ask Emilia Pandor for one simple waltz."

"But, what if she doesn't want to?" Crystal-blue eyes trained on her from behind the mask. "What if she realizes I'm nothing but a weak, human boy who can't perform magic like a witch, and decides I'm worthless? I come from another world, Mezzanotte, a place where none of this exists. If she doesn't want me, what else could I do? I don't even have a staff!"

Sighing deeply, Mezzanotte let go of his shoulders and glanced around. She had been ordered to leave her staff in her room after a little incident from the last party involving her palisman chasing a chubby little brat around for throwing hot chocolate at her brother. Neither Astor nor Ophelia appreciated her argument of "the squirt asked for it" and thus, Rex had been banned from parties. That still did not mean she couldn't perform a little magic here and there.

"Alright, I was going to wait until Slithermas to give you this but, here." Lifting her hand, Mezzanotte drew a spell circle for a long shape to drop from the glowing lavender ring, and held it out to Chiaro. It was a simple black staff, no palisman on either end, but the surface was smooth and glistened with multiple facets in the ballroom light, giving an almost crystalline appearance. "I carved it from the Dragon Ash tree during our last visit to the Knee, keeping with the old tradition of branch-giving and all that. It's light, but stronger than most other materials, and can generate magic just as good as any staff."

Reverently, Chiaro took the staff from his sister's hand and stared at it, his eyes so wide she wondered if they would outgrow his mask. "I…"

"No, no, don't you get all choked up on me. You go out there, ask Emilia to dance, and show her a human is just as worthy of her love as any other witch or demon in this mansion." Squeezing Chiaro's shoulder, Mezzanotte flashed him a fanged grin and pushed him forward.

"But, what about the band? There's no way they'd play a song for me to dance to."

One of her pointed ears flicked in the air. "Don't you worry about that, now go on, go ask her."

Taking a deep breath, Chiaro clutched the staff in his hands and, squaring his shoulders, began to make his way across the room, his gaze not leaving Emilia's form. Mezzanotte watched as the witch turned to see the approaching human and, even from the distance between them, she saw the hopefulness spark in her eyes, and her grin widened.

"Now, to take care of the band." Turning on her heel, Mezzanotte strode towards the stage and the group of chattering demons and witches, cracking her knuckles eagerly. "No way they'd play a song for you, eh? Remember Chiaro, there's always my way."

Amity gaped at the glowing ball of silver and blue light hovering over the Ghost Host's palms, the demon's eyes shimmering with tears, a look she never would have thought to bear witness to. Yet, as they brought the spirit closer to their chest, she saw the unbridled bittersweet joy on their face. The spirit orb, or Chiaro, chirped softly and the Ghost Host nodded.

"Yes, it's me. Not exactly what you expected? Well, things got a little...complicated after you...after Damien…" The Ghost Host snarled deeply, but was cut off when Chiaro trilled and bobbed in the air. Clearing their throat, the Ghost Host turned to look over their shoulder at the surrounding witchlings. "Yes, yes, miscusa," Standing, the demon held out their hands for the group to see the orb. "Everyone, this is the spirit of my little brother, Chiaro. Chiaro, this is Luz Noceda, Amity Blight, Willow, Gus, Boscha, Skara, and the King of Demons."

King squealed happily and Amity rolled her eyes.

"They are the ones who have been fighting to break the curse this whole night. In fact, I do believe you've been assisting them a little yourself?" The Ghost Host arched an eyebrow and Chiaro chirped. "You never could resist helping others now, could you?" A trill was their response and the demon chuckled.

"So," Luz said, earning the demon's attention. "Damien is gone, the Nowhere Demon is out of here, what's left for us to do? We still have to find Emilia, don't we?"

At the mention of Emilia's name, the surface of Chiaro's spirit orb brightened like a very tiny sun and he swirled out of the Ghost Host's hands and around Luz's shoulders, pulling at her hair in a light brush of wind. "Whoa!" She stumbled back and Amity caught her before she fell. "What the heck was that about?"

"He's saying you don't have to find her, she's already here."

Everyone, except for the Ghost Host, stared at Madame Leota.

"Say what now?" Gus asked.

The oracle sighed and rotated to look at the witchlings. "Emilia is already here. She's been with you since you entered the mausoleum. Didn't you listen to anything I told you?"

"It was a little hard to pay attention when you were spinning us around the room with a band chasing us!"

"Wait," Amity held up a hand, cutting off Skara's words, and looked at Luz. "We didn't see anyone in the crypt except for…" Her eyes grew wide and she spun around to look at Artemis, who was perched on his interlock, patiently waiting, his eyes glowing with the same silver-blue as Chiaro. No, it couldn't be that simple. This whole time? Slowly, Amity walked over to the staff and lifted it to stare into the fox's eyes.

"Amity?"

She felt Luz approach her from behind. "What is it?"

"I, I think," she looked over her shoulder at the Ghost Host, a curious look on their face as if they were waiting for her to continue, and looked back to the palisman. "I think Emilia is in Artemis. Her soul is her palisman."

There was a brief moment of silence as the group processed her words. Then, it was broken.

"WHAT?!"

Amity turned her head to look at the Ghost Host, the only one of their party who did not show any sign of shock, but there was a curious tightening around their eyes. Not guilt, but something similar. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did."

"Why didn't you tell us from the start?" Boscha glared at the demon. "Do you realize how much time that could have saved us? We could have avoided all that fighting and getting our butts handed to us, at least Luz,"

"Hey!"

"We could have finished this whole mess hours ago! You wasted all of our time with some stupid riddle when you could have told us from the get-go!"

There was a loud chirp and Chiaro shot up to Boscha's face, making the witch yelp and stumble back as he trilled loudly, until the Ghost Host scooped their palm under the orb to pull him back.

"Easy there, Chiaro, she has every right to say that." Sighing, the Ghost Host looked at the surrounding group. "Back when everything was falling apart, when Chiaro died, I knew Emilia would take matters into her own hands. She was beyond any reason, nothing could get through to her, and I could see signs of her desperation to be joined with her lover in death if not life. I found her when she...well...let's just say I wasn't fast enough. But, I had my magic, and I had her staff." The Ghost Host looked at Amity and nodded to the palisman in her hand. "The bond between a witch and their palisman is more than just a way to channel their magic, it goes much deeper than that. They become a part of your soul, they harbor your deepest feelings and greatest magics, even when separated from their interlock, they know your thoughts. When I sensed Emilia's life was slipping away, I used every ounce of magic I had to transfer her soul into Artemis. Even though his magic was fading from existence, he was willing for his mistress to take his body for a chance to return, even though that meant he would be gone. I wouldn't risk telling the truth to the Pandors or Damien, they would have forced her back into her body and it would have become a literal living hell for her soul, stuck in a dying body, unable to pass on."

Boscha crossed her arms. "And, you're saying what you did was better?"

The demon looked at her. "No, but at the moment, it was all I could do. A lesser of two evils, if you prefer. I never planned for all of this," they gestured around the battle-scarred ballroom. "Obviously, no one did. When I regained control of myself after my transformation, I tried to give Emilia and Artemis a proper place to be kept safe. The family crypt held the strongest protections I knew, but I discovered the curse limited me from physically leaving the manor. I could only go so far before I was stopped in my tracks. So, I sent my shadows to hide Artemis, Emilia's soul put to sleep within his form, and I waited. The longer the curse lasted, and the longer I resisted draining the life force of others, the limitations of my powers grew. It was to the point I couldn't even recall the details of the curse, its memory taken from me. Until I realized that, one day," their eyes flicked to Luz. "I would need help from the outside. So, I went to Madame Leota, to see if such a thing as a prophecy could exist for this curse."

"You were a pest about it," the oracle grumbled. "Going on and on about wanting to make it right and freeing all these trapped souls. When I finally did come up with the riddle, she memorized every single word."

"That's why you gave it to us in the Portrait Room." Willow said slowly, realization dawning in her tone. "The riddle was all you had left of the curse."

"You are correct."

King snorted. "I honestly thought you just came up with it on the fly to mess with us." The tiny demon frowned and rubbed his chin. "Wait, if you couldn't go into the crypt with us, how did you possess that statue?"

"I," the Ghost Host shook their head. "I can honestly say I don't know. Not only that, but I was able to go right to the door, neither of which had ever happened. The Bewitching Hour passed, I was a shadow again, but I sensed you all were in trouble. I knew the statue would be the only way I could help, especially once I smelled Damien's magic on the corpses. But until you all entered the crypt, I could not go in."

"So," Luz muttered. "Us going in changed that somehow." She looked at Amity. "Any ideas?"

Amity shook her head, she was at a loss. Chiaro's chirp caught her attention, but the Ghost Host just shook their head, frowning.

"It was most likely from how far you all were in breaking the curse. Speaking of which," they nodded to Emilia's staff. "Why don't we help our two lovers reunite? After all, 'two hearts for two souls, love given new life,"

"The willing shall dance by the end of the night." Finished Amity, slowly looking from Artemis to Luz to Chiaro to the Ghost Host. A human and a witch, in love, to guide the lost souls of Chiaro and Emilia to their end. Just like Damien had said. A blush burned in her cheeks as she suddenly found it difficult to look at anyone, especially Luz. "And...exactly...what does that mean?"

The Ghost Host snorted. "Don't get your bile sac in a twist my dear, it's just as it sounds. A dance, a simple waltz for two who loved nothing more than to be in each other's arms. And, if I'm not mistaken," the knowing smile on their face made Amity's blush darken even more. "The two of you shared something similar against that pest Grometheus?"

Now it was Luz's turn to blush as everyone gaped at them.

"That's how you beat Grom?" Boscha snickered. "With a dance? Oh my dear sweet Titan, you two are so sappy!"

Amity glared at her murderously, but Luz side-stepped into her line of sight and she relaxed at the shy smile on her face when the human took her hand.

"I guess if that's what we have to do. I mean, not like we did a bad job the last time, right?"

"But," Amity leaned closer to whisper. "Last time it was just the two of us and Grom! By the time everyone else showed up, Grom was already defeated! We didn't have people watching, or, two spirits possessing us!" She bit her lip and looked at the floor. "It just feels...wrong."

"We've already seen you two kiss at least three times by now," King rolled his eyes. "Get over it."

Luz stopped Amity's arm from golf-clubbing the fur ball across the room and tugged so she was staring into her eyes. "It's going to be okay, Amity. If how we feel for each other is how Chiaro and Emilia felt, then I'll bet you anything it's enough to break this curse. C'mon mi amor," she squeezed her hand. "Let's help them go home."

Amity felt her heart skip a literal beat as those brown eyes shined at her and she nodded, taking a deep breath and looking at the Ghost Host. "What do you want us to do?"

Smiling, the Ghost Host looked at Chiaro and Luz. "Luz Noceda, would you allow Chiaro to possess you? Your conscience and mind will still be your own, but he will have command of your body."

The human's eyes popped from their sockets and she hopped up and down with glee. "Are you kidding me?! An actual ghost possession? Be still my ghost-chasing-fandom heart!"

Skara raised an eyebrow at her. "You're not at all weirded out that a guy is going to possess you?"

Blinking at the witch, Luz shrugged. "Eh, small sacrifice if that means helping him cross over." She smiled at the Ghost Host and held up a hand to the glowing spirit orb. "Heya there, bud, you ready to see Emilia again?"

Chiaro trilled and rotated as if to look at the Ghost Host, who only nodded encouragingly, and drifted to Luz's hand. Amity could not help but grip Artemis' staff as she watched the spirit orb settle onto Luz's palm and then, slowly, sink down into her skin. Silver-blue light spread all along Luz's arm, traveling up to her shoulders to coat her entire body in a soft glow. Luz's eyes closed against the sensation that Amity hoped was not more pain, the human had been through enough, and when they opened again, they were glazed over with a blue light as the surrounding glow vanished. Slowly, Luz brought her hands up to stare at them and flexed her fingers.

"L-Luz?" Amity said, and the human looked at her.

"I'm still here," came the reply, but there was another voice with hers, a soft male voice that sounded older. "But, it's kinda weird to have someone else in here with me. Chiaro?"

"Yes,"

Everyone sprang back when the man's voice, Chiaro's voice, came from Luz's mouth.

"Ah, hello all. It's nice to finally meet you, officially. It's a little odd for me too. I haven't had a physical form for so long and, miscusi, being in a young girl's body is...different." A bright red blush rose in Luz's cheeks, making Amity giggle as she covered her mouth.

Figures her human dork would be possessed by another human dork, even if the possessor was a man. Luz/Chiaro looked at Amity and the glowing eyes widened.

"Miss Blight, I hope you don't mind my borrowing your lady friend's body. I am eternally grateful to you all for helping us."

Amity blushed, tucking her hair behind an ear. "Um, of course! We're happy to help." Titan, this was strange. Taking a breath, Amity glanced at the Ghost Host. "So...how do we free Emilia?"

"Remember what I taught you about summoning the shadows?" Amity nodded. "Same basic principle. There is a voice in there, no doubt stirring now that her beloved is close. Just listen, and you'll hear her."

Artemis' eyes flashed when Amity looked at the palisman, feeling Chiaro's eagerness radiate from Luz, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep, long breath, and letting it out. Whispers filled her ears from the surrounding shadows in the room, curious to know what she wanted of them. As politely as she could think, Amity told them she did not need their assistance with this, she needed to speak to the soul inside Artemis. Right then, she felt something brush against her thoughts, a soft, curious tapping, as if someone were knocking on the door to her mind. Directing her thoughts to the sensation, Amity imagined turning the handle to the door and pulling it open. On the other side stood a witch who looked to be in her early twenties, her eyes a deep green, offsetting the long curtain of white hair spilling down her back and the patch of black roots just above the crown of her forehead. The two witches stared at each other in open curiosity, and Amity slowly held out her hand.

"Emilia Pandor?"

The witch looked down at her hand and back to her face, her eyes briefly going to the mint-green and auburn roots of Amity's hair. "Yes?"

"My name is Amity Blight. I would like to offer my form to help you cross over to the next life."

"Blight…?" Emilia repeated and lifted her hand, but it dropped back to her side. "Chiaro, is he with you?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Amity's lips. "He's here, though, you might be a little surprised when you see him. Another human came here and allowed him to possess her."

"'Her?" Emilia repeated.

Amity nodded, feeling her face heat up. Titan, even when talking to ghosts she was still blushing! "Yes, Luz is going to help us. Ghost Host, I mean, Mezzanotte, is here too to help. We've been fighting to break this curse and set you all free. All we need to do now is help bring you and Chiaro together." She stared at the witch. "That is, if you'll allow us to?"

Emilia studied her cautiously, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. It did not take much for Amity to guess she was nervous, but after a moment, Emilia lifted her hand and slowly clasped hers. "Thank you, Amity."

There was a flash of light as Amity's body was swallowed up by the blinding silver-blue warmth. When she opened her eyes again, she was staring back at Luz, but something felt very different. It felt as if her mind had somehow taken a back seat within her own body, and her arms lifted, under the command of another.

"Amity?" Emilia's voice echoed in her thoughts.

"Yes, I'm here...I think? That's not me moving my hands."

"No,"

Amity's head rotated to look up at the Ghost Host. "That would be Emilia testing her new, temporary, body. Hello, Miss Pandor." The demon dropped down to a knee in a deep bow, lowering their horned head in one smooth motion. "It's been too long."

Panic that did not belong to Amity jolted in her heart and she felt herself take a step back. "Who-who are you?!" Emilia's voice came from her mouth.

The Ghost Host looked up and Amity felt Emilia's confusion at the hurt suppressed on the demonic face. "Forgive me, m'lady, the last time you saw me I was a witch, trying to save you from ending your life. I placed your soul in your palisman, Artemis, to protect you from the dark magics that plagued this mansion."

Slow understanding dawned on Amity's face and her eyes widened. "Mezzanotte? But, how?"

"Amore,"

A warm hand touched Amity's arm, a voice she and Emilia both instantly recognized, and turned to look at Luz.

"Chiaro?"

Luz smiled softly and her hands slid alongside Amity's face to cup her cheeks, fingers lightly brushing at the pointed tips of her ears. Heat spiked deep in Amity's stomach, though she was not sure if that belonged to her or Emilia. Even possessed, Luz was able to make her heart race.

"Si, amore, it's me. Mezzanotte was sacrificed to the Nowhere Demon by Damien after she discovered he was the one responsible for my death. But instead of dying, she bargained away her soul to return to our world and protect us, all to bring this curse to an end. These witches," Luz gestured to the observant group. "They each fought with all their power to bring us back together, and the two whose bodies we are in have offered themselves to help us cross over. A human and a witch in love, just like us, amore." The hands dropped to Amity's shoulders and Luz smiled. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she pulled back in a reaction that only could belong to her and shouted in her voice. "Oh! Oh! Hang on one sec!" Reaching under her collar, Luz pulled out the thin gold chain and carefully removed it from the ring. "I think this belongs to you two."

Amity's jaw went slack as Luz dropped to one knee and took her left hand. The sound of shuffling made her glance to the side to see Ghost Host had turned their back, as well as everyone else's, to them, their wings spread to act as a curtain for privacy. Biting back a laugh of her own, Amity returned her gaze to Luz. They were fourteen, this was a proposal for Emilia. They were fourteen, this was a proposal for Emilia.

"Emilia Pandor," Chiaro's voice shook as he stared up at them through Luz's eyes. "In many ways, this is not how I expected our lives to turn out, nor did I ever dream we would have the chance to see each other again. I may just be a human from another world who cannot perform magic the same as a witch or demon, but I promise you, not all of the magic on these Isles would be enough for the love I feel for you. You had everything I did not, wealth, a grand house, power, all the protection you could ever want, and yet you chose me, an outsider who had no reason to be in this world. Despite all odds, I kneel before you now, in the body of another human, with the same love and adoration I had for you then as I have for you now. We won't know what the future will hold for us now that we are to cross over, but I hope you will be there at my side. Not as a human and a witch, but as equals, two souls joined in love. Will you stay with me?"

Tears fell from Amity's eyes and she was honestly not sure who they belonged to, herself or Emilia, and she nodded. "Yes, Chiaro Bane, I will stay by your side forevermore."

Eyes shining with light and tears, Luz slipped the golden band onto Amity's finger and stood, pulling her close, but stopped. "Ah, miscusi, Miss Amity, Miss Luz? I'm not sure if you two are comfortable with us-" His words were cut off when Amity pulled Luz in and the human followed suit, their arms wrapping around each other in a deep and tender kiss.

"They're smooching again, aren't they?" Amity heard King groan as they pulled apart, but she just rolled her eyes.

"Eloquently put, your majesty." Drawled the Ghost Host, looking over their shoulder to see Amity and Luz holding hands, and smiled. "Congratulations. Only one thing left to do now, and this night will be over." The demon rubbed their hands together eagerly, eyeing the witchlings thoughtfully. "Miss Skara, how familiar are you with the piano?"

"Uh…" Skara blinked and glanced around the demon at the large silver instrument sitting on the stage. "I know a few tunes...but, why do you want me to -"

"You'll see., Now," The Ghost Host rubbed their chin, looking around the room. "We really need to fix the atmosphere in here...Ah, I know." They snapped their fingers and instantly, the entire ballroom was engulfed in green smoke, obscuring Amity's vision. Waving at the haze as if dissipated, Amity stared at the now brightly-lit, completely repaired ballroom.

"What the Titan?!"

Amity turned her head and choked on a laugh to see everyone, including King, dressed in the outfits they had worn to Grom, and then she looked at her own Grom dress, the magenta skirt and dark purple bodice with her witch gem set into the chest.

"This is...different." She looked at Luz to see the human in the same black tuxedo top and purple leggings, brown laced boots, and ridiculous pink tutu wrapped around her waist. No doubt Chiaro was the one staring in outright surprise at the outfit. "Strange...but nice."

"Uh, Ghost Host?" Willow looked at the demon as they strode over to the stage, drawing a spell that cast the instruments in a green light. "What are you doing? Isn't just reuniting Chiaro and Emilia enough?"

"Now, where's the fun in that?" The Ghost Host swung up onto the stage, helping Skara up to the piano. "These two haven't been together for centuries, and besides, who doesn't enjoy a little celebratory dance after defeating a dangerous enemy? One final moment to live before crossing over to the next life."

"Mezzanotte?" Luz looked up at the stage as she slid her hand around Amity's waist and took her hand. "Are you...going to sing for us?"

The Ghost Host's smile was wide and they snapped their fingers, dimming the lights of the ballroom. The instruments began to play a soft, slow tune and, when the demon pointed a claw to Skara, the Bard student's eyes flashed for a moment with green light before turning to the piano and started to tap the keys. With another snap of their fingers, the Ghost Host conjured their staff and its shape melded into a tall microphone. Something Amity did not expect to see the demon to know about, but as they brought it to their lips, a woman's voice came out, husky and deep, with a light tone that lifted the notes as they started to sing.

You're in my arms

And all the world is calm

The music playing on for only two

So close together

And when I'm with you

So close to feeling alive

The music washed over Amity as she began to sway in time with Luz's movements, hands clasped together as they stared into each other's eyes, never once looking away. This was not like the fast, energized steps they took when fighting Grom. No flashy spins, no dips, and most definitely no abominations being summoned to fight a giant fear demon. Just the two of them, slowly turning in wide circles, guided by the music and the voice of the Ghost Host. Of all the ways for this night to come to a close, Amity had to admit this was not what she was expecting, but, as Luz pulled her in closer and she rested her head on her shoulder, she was happy this was where they were now.

And now you're beside me

And look how far we've come

So far we are, so close

It was funny, she thought, that back in that classroom when she watched the oddest looking abomination spring out of Willow's cauldron and yell "ta-da!", all she cared about was upholding her status as Top Student and getting back some silly little badge. Now, here she was, in the arms of the quirky, goofball human, and completely head-over-heels in love. Like how she could feel Emilia's love for Chiaro. So strong and so overwhelming, it almost hurt, like her heart couldn't even contain the powerful emotion.

We're so close to reaching

That famous happy end

Almost believing

This one's not pretend

What would have happened, she wondered, if she had not had that chance encounter with Luz in the market earlier that very day? Well, that was an easy question to answer. She would still be treading on the thin ice of her fragile emotions, too afraid to admit to Luz how much she cared for her, and this mansion would still be mired in it's curse. Everything that had happened to them was all because of some silly boiling rain storm and her idea to use the abandoned Pandor Mansion for shelter. If only she had known just what shen was getting them into, but, as she looked up to meet Luz's eyes, she would not have had it happen any other way.

Let's go on dreaming

For we know we are

So close, so close

And still so far

Amity had closed her eyes, feeling lulled into a blissful comfort by the soft swaying of Luz cradling her, not wanting it to end, not caring if their friends were watching them. A soft glow seeped through her lids and she winced, opening her eyes and pulling back to see the silver-blue light from earlier swirling around not just her, but Luz too, surrounding them in a whirlwind as two figures began to emerge behind them. Her eyes widened in dawning recognition, a command she realized was her own, as Emilia and Chiaro smiled at the pair. There was a flash of gold and she looked down to see the solid metal band glinting off Emilia's finger, and the witch smiled.

"Thank you, Luz and Amity." Emilia looked up at the stage to the Ghost Host. "Mezzanotte, thank you for everything. You've done so much to protect this house and the souls trapped inside. I only wish there was something we could do to free you."

The Ghost Host shrugged, but Amit could see their grip tighten on the staff in their hands. "I know where you're headed, and trust me, I'd be bored in an instant. Besides," they grinned at the group of witchlings. "I've got a new group of souls to protect, and many sins to atone before I can go to rest. You two get out of here, before the real Nowhere Demon decides to make a comeback."

The couple turned to each other and, lacing their hands together, faded away until they were hovering over the floor as orbs of light, and began to drift up to disappearing into the ceiling.

"Wait!" Luz looked at the Ghost Host. "Where are they going?"

The demon shrugged and jumped off the stage to walk to them, Skara following behind. "No one really knows what is on the other side of the afterlife, but, if I can take a wild guess, it will be a much better place than the Chaos Realm. Congratulations, Team Owlet, you have broken the curse of Pandor Mansion."

Gus' eyes wided. "Wait, that's it? What about the other souls trapped here? What about the mansion? Shouldn't something happen?"

"What did you expect? Fanfare? Fireworks?" The Ghost Host ruffled his hair. "Not all curses end in a grand spectacular fashion. Besides, now that the gateway to the afterlife is open, the rest of the happy haunts will be free to cross over when they are ready. All that's left now is to get you all home."

"Great!" Luz took Amity's hand. "How do we do that?"

"Why, it's very simple. All you need to do is wake up."

Amity watched the smile drop from Luz's face, her own brimming with confusion. "What do you mean 'wake up'? We're already awake. How can we possibly wake up if we're not dreaming?" She saw a look pass over the Ghost Host's face as the demon picked Rex and Artemis up from the floor and handed the cobra staff to Luz, not meeting their eyes. "Ghost Host? What's going on?"

"When you agreed to break the curse, you were taken to a dimension overlapping the real world, where the curse was at its strongest and where time stood still. A sort of purgatory existing in between the world of the living and the afterlife. Back on the Boiling Isles, it is early morning, and now, you are free to return to the realm of the living." A bittersweet smile pulled at the demon's face as they looked at the witchlings. "Thank you, all of you. Not just for breaking this curse and freeing these trapped souls, but for giving me a reason to live again. Before all of this, I too was an outcast, refusing to conform to my family's image, unable to find anyone who could make me feel like I belonged. Chiaro and Emilia were the first to see me for who I was and now, even in the body of a demon, you all chose to accept me."

Bottom lip quivering, Luz let go of Amity's hand and ran to grab the Ghost Host in a tight hug. When Amity saw the tears slipping out from beneath her eyes, she hurried over to join in the embrace, feeling everyone else huddle in. There was a light shuffling as the Ghost Host wrapped their wings around the group, holding them close, their deep purr resonating through Amity's body.

"You're part of Team Owlet now, and us weirdos have to stick together." Sniffling, Luz buried her face in the demon's chest. "We love you, Mezzanotte,"

"I love you too, tessoro, all of you. Please don't think this is the end. Anytime you need me, know this mansion will be waiting for you. And don't think I won't be sending you all off without something to watch over you. But, for now, you all must return to your world." The demon chuckled and Amity felt them lift their hand. "Take care of each other, Team Owlet." The sound of their fingers snapping echoed all around as everything went pitck-black and a gust of wind swirled around them, lifting Amity from the warmth of the Ghost Host's body. She cried out and groped blindly through the darkness, finally feeling a hand wrap around hers.

When her eyes opened, Amity found herself staring up at a ceiling curiously shaped in an octagon design, her back resting on the cushions of a musty-old couch. A warm body was pressed against her side and she turned her head to see Luz crammed between her and the backrest of the couch, rubbing her face with her free hand, the other still holding tightly to Amity's. Behind them, light seeped through the moldy wooden shutters of a window, giving a hint of early morning sun. Wait, then that meant...Sitting up, Amity stared at the four, regular-sized portraits of four nameless witches on the walls, an empty fireplace, and a cracked mirror hanging over it. Moans filled the room as Gus, Boscha, Willow, Skara, and King slowly stirred awake, all back in their regular clothes. Holding her head, Boscha sat up and rubbed at her third eye.

"What the Titan just happened?"

"The tale has ended for those who have passed," a voice drifted up from the chair behind the desk, making Gus spring back. "Love endures all, no reason no rhyme. It lasts forever and forever all time."

"What the?" The witchling darted around and lifted a familiar green orb from the chair. "Madame Leota?"

"Who did you expect? Zolo the Great?" The oracle arched an eyebrow. "The Ghost Host said you all would be leaving with a memento from the mansion. Lucky me gets to stick with you."

Willow's eyes widened and she reached into her pocket, pulling out a handful of strange, oval-shaped seeds. "These are...seeds from the Pumpkin King!"

"Great," Boscha groaned, using Chiaro's axe as a crutch to stand. "Just when I thought I was done with that freaky thing. At least I get to keep something useful." She jerked her chin at Skara. "What'd you get?" She frowned at the large metal torch the Bard girl held up. "What the heck is that?"

"Just a memento," she grinned and Gus snorted.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh!" squealed King, jumping up and down, hugging the Art of Demonic Summoning to his chest. "Yes! Yes! Now I can add to my demon book!"

Seeing the title, Amity rolled her eyes and swung her feet to the floor, helping Luz sit up. "You okay?"

Running her fingers through her hair, Luz sighed and shrugged. "I...I think so." She laced her fingers with Amity's and smiled. "We're together, that's enough for me."

"Bleh!" King blew a raspberry at her. "Does that mean I get to keep Rex then?"

Instantly, Luz' eyes widened. "Say what?" She flipped over to stare at the cobra palisman resting against the arm of the couch. Eagerly, she grabbed the staff and held it up, but nothing happened. The palisman's eyes were closed, the white stripes over its lids unmoving, the hood retracted.

"I guess he's back to sleeping again," Amity muttered, seeing the disappointed look on the human's face. "I'm sure he'll wake up."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. So," Luz turned to her. "What about you? What'd GH leave you?"

It was then Amity felt something small and narrow in her hand and she looked down to see a long, shadowy black stylus resting in her palm.

"Oooooh," Luz leaned over. "What's that? A new training wand?"

Chuckling, Amity held it up. "Something like that."

A dull thud filled the room, and everyone went still, jumping when another quickly followed.

"What was that?" Gus whimpered, hugging Madame Leota's crystal to his side.

Slowly, Boscha stood and, lifting her axe, walked to the door to pull it open. Another thud echoed and a voice cut through the air.

"Hey, kiddo! You in there?"

The door flew open, knocking Boscha to the floor, and a tall figure appeared, her mass of grey hair taking up most of the doorframe, owl staff clutched in her hand, and her feral dual gold and grey eyes locked onto Luz. Sheepishly, the human girl shrank back on the couch and snapped a finger gun at her mentor.

"Heeeey Eda...so...funny story..."

One final chapter to go...Holy Titan...