For nearly a week Amity had been unable to focus on anything. The thoughts of Luz, or more specifically her injuries were all she could think about.
Those were clearly claw marks. Something big must have attacked her. A gryphon perhaps? She does have a period in beast keeping… no gryphons only have three talons and that mark had five. Maybe some demon or monster attacked her when she was alone.
Every time she met with Luz she could see that something was up. Her normally excited attitude was missing replaced with intent focus. A focus that sadly took up all of her time. She still walked to school with her but instead of talking about their shared interests Luz would mutter these words. "going through more… twice this week she's trans-" only to look up and see Amity's worried expression.
"Oh, sorry Amity don't worry about me. Just some harmless human talk."
"Luz…"
But before she could say more Luz would rush off giving some random excuse. So, for three days Amity was left to simply do her best and stay by her side hoping that Luz would open up.
But when three days turned to four and then five followed by her skipping school Amity became worried. So worried that Lilith noticed during her training when after the ward spell she created became unstable before fizzling out of existence. Her limit of magic met she slunk to the ground as a slightly concerned Lilith walked over.
"Amity are you okay? I know that spell is a bit advanced, but it shouldn't have taken that much out of you."
"It.. it's nothing miss Lilith. Just something on my mind is all."
She quickly picked herself up and chastised herself for showing such a weak display in front of her mentor. Pull it together Amity a Blight never shows weakness.
She expected Lilith to give her a warning or end the lesson stating something along the lines of "If this is your limit then we shall end things today." But that never came. Instead, she led her over to a small table and motioned for her to sit down.
"Amity as of late I've noticed a distinct lack of focus from you. Now normally I wouldn't get involved in another's personal matters but as you are my most talented pupil I am concerned."
To say Amity was surprised was an understatement.
Lilith, the head of the Emperor's coven. The second most powerful person on the entire Isles is concerned about me?
As if sensing her thoughts Lilith continued. "Yes, you heard me correctly. Now I won't force you, but I would appreciate it if you told me what has you distracted."
"It's just… recently my friend Luz has been getting injured."
"Really?"
"Yes, and at first it was nothing more than light injures, nothing that wouldn't heal on their own in a day but then they got bigger and I had to use that spell you taught me. She told me it was nothing but now I'm not so sure."
"Interesting, what kind of injuries were they? Burns? Cuts? Nothing broken I hope."
"No, it-they were just a rather large claw mark on her arm."
Lilith went still in her seat and Amity would swear she saw something flash across her mentor's eyes. Something that she would swear to the titan looked like fear.
"Miss Lilith?" she asked after a few moments of near unbearable silence.
"Sorry Amity just an old memory. Now as for your friends mark, I may have a theory but If my theory is correct your friend may be in danger."
"What!?"
"Yes, but like I said it's just a theory, however if you could gather some information for me I may be able to hopefully alleviate some worries."
"Of course, what do you need me to do."
"First tell me something. You hang out with Luz often?"
"We walk to school together and share abomination class. Sometimes we hang out after school in town or in the library."
"Good, now secondly how often does she get injured and have you heal her?"
Amity felt her body grow heavy with worry as her mind recalled the recent times, she'd had to heal Luz.
"She's gotten injured twice so far. I don't know if she'd gotten hurt again and if she has, she hasn't told me." Unable to stop herself she began to imagine Luz getting injured again. How she'd hide it from her until it became unbearable. Her body began to shake as these thoughts consumed her.
Lilith nodded placing her hand atop Amity's trembling ones.
She looked to see a calming smile on Lilith's face. "Amity don't worry as your mentor I will help you if I can. All I need you to do is gather a bit of information for me."
"What kind of information?"
"At this point any amount you could gather would help. However, if you could gain information about my sister that would truly help."
"Your sister? Oh you mean the owl lady."
"Yes, you see she mentioned something to me last time we met. Something that I hope is not the case." She looked away watching as Amity leaned in. "if it is then Luz could be in danger."
She saw Amity's eyes widen and her hands clench. Having succeeded in getting her full attention she put on the mask of caring mentor.
"But don't worry Amity my sister is a known liar so this could just be a trick. All you need to do is try to get some information out of Luz. Do you think you can do that?"
"I'll try miss Clawthorne. In fact, I'm actually meeting her after this."
They sat there for a while as Lilith molded the questions Amity could ask Luz before sending her off.
Less then an hour later Amity saw Luz arguing with some stall owner while holding a empty potion bottle.
"What do you mean fifty snails?! A few days ago, it was only thirty! Eda is your best customer for crying out loud!"
"Look kid I know that, but this potion isn't exactly easy to make and with her demand outweighing my supply I have to raise the price. I told her to inform me days in advance for her order and that this day might come and that she'd have to be prepared."
Luz fumed and Amity saw her nearly crush the container before taking a few deep breaths visibly upset. Amity's heart nearly broke seeing this and she started rushing toward her as Luz reached into her pocket and started to panic again.
"Crap Eda only gave me forty. Look can't you just do Eda a solid and lower it just this once. She really really really needs one today."
"Sorry kid fifty or nothing." She reached Luz just before Luz could say or do anything else.
"I can cover it."
Luz reacted with both surprise and joy quickly hugging her tightly. "Really! Oh my god thank you Amity you're a life saver, literally!"
As the snails hit the counter Luz quickly grabbed the potion attempting to put it away before Amity could notice. But she still saw some words in the blur.
A day… keeps…at bay. What in the titan's name did she buy?
Once away from the stall Amity mustered her courage and dragged Luz into an alley away from people.
"Luz I'm going to ask you something and I want the truth alright?"
"Uhhhh yeah okay."
"Luz what's going on lately? You're not yourself, your getting injured."
"Amity that was just kin-"
"It was not the little demon!" she said grabbing Luz's shoulders and getting close. In any other situation the red on her face would be embarrassment form how close she was, but not now. No now her face was from worry and slight aggravation.
Luz noticed the tremor in her friends' hands as she eased up.
"Luz please tell me. I've been worried about you and the not knowing keeps pulling my imagination into some very dark places."
Luz sighed seeing for the first time just how shook-up Amity was.
"I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you enough for you not to worry. I hope that's enough."
Amity nodded and backed up hands rubbing against themselves as she waited.
"Alright, Eda's been a bit unstable lately. Grumpy, hungry a real beast when she doesn't get her potion. Sometimes and I can't stress how rare this is but…"
"But…?"
"Sometimes she losses herself and thrashes about. You know accidently breaks things and purely by accident of course I try to stop her. Twice now I've gotten a bit to close and her long claw like nails have accidently scratched me is all."
As Amity listen to Luz she did her absolute best not to let her facial expression change. For while she presented the calm smile of a listening friend inside she was enraged.
She hurt Luz! Her own teacher! When I get my hands on her I'll…
"Anyway, to stay herself she needs her potion." Luz pulled it out and showed Amity.
This time Amity quickly studied it biting her lip when she saw the large label.
A bottle a day keeps the curse at bay? She's cursed! Cursed and hurting Luz, wait father once told me about curses. They're bad and only get worse with time…wait Eda's nails are just longer regular nails, Luz's mark was defiantly a claw mark. Luz why won't you tell me everything I just want to keep you safe.
Luz saw the expression in Amity's eyes and tried to ease her worry. "Amity I'm fine really. Eda just needs her potion and everything will be okay. Speaking of which I really need to get to her. Talk later okay!" she rushed off leaving Amity more worried then ever. So worried that she couldn't stop herself from following after Luz at a distance. Thankfully, Luz was so focused on getting back to the owl house she didn't notice her.
When she got close, she hid behind a tree as the door flung open and Amity saw something that made her gasp. The owl lady stood there looking worried one eye black and her arm partially covered in what looked like feathers.
"Great timing kid things were starting to look dicey." She quickly gulped down the potion and relaxed as it took effect turning her back.
Luz however wasn't as relaxed.
"Eda…"
"Kid I'm fine really. So I'm up to three a day instead of one no biggie. Now come on in and stop worrying my curse hasn't killed me yet." She said it as a joke and although Luz laughed Amity heard the pain even from her hiding spot.
Walking away in secret Amity balled her fists in rage.
"Don't worry Luz I'll make sure you stay safe. That's a promise."