One-shot. Just a little idea I had and wanted to share with you all. I hope you enjoy.


After a long day of book signing, Luz Noceda, author of the widely popular YA novel series, The Good Witch Azura, got off the bus and walked up to her house. She let out a long yawn. "That took longer than I thought." She said as she approached the front door. "I might as well make an early dinner, then turn in for the night." She reached into her purse. "Now, where did I put those keys." She dug through her belongings. "C'mon, where are you?" She kept searching but still couldn't feel them. "Oh, genial."

Luz moved the strap of her handbag over her head and peered inside. There was no sign of her house keys. They were probably in there; she was having a hard time seeing them. She placed the bag on the ground and lifted her "Welcome" mat. Underneath was a spare key. She took it and unlocked the door. Hoot. "Huh?" Luz thought she heard something and turned to the sound. She gasped when she saw her purse was between the talons of a little brown owl. Hoot. "Tiny purse snatcher!" The owl flew away with her belongings and gave chase to it. "Get back here!"

Luz followed the owl down the street and into the nearby woods. "Stop adorably flying away!" Luz continued to chase after it and saw it fly into a decrepit-looking cabin. She stopped and stared at it for a moment. The sight of the old thing was giving her goosebumps, but she took a deep breath in and walked through the door. Creak. Creak. Creak. Each step she took on the floorboards made that sound. Creak. Creak. Creak. Inside, she saw the last things she expected to see. "Woah, and I thought I owned some weird stuff as a kid." The house was filled with all kinds of stuff: Broken toys, knickknacks that look like they're from foreign lands, and other trinkets. "But this is impressive."

"Hey, what are you doing here?!" A voice shouted, making the woman jump. Luz turned around quickly and saw it was a fourteen, possibly fifteen-year-old girl. The adolescent had ivory skin, pointed ears, golden eyes, untamed hair that was thick, long, and bright orange. She also wore what looked like a school uniform with yellow leggings and sleeves.

"Oh, hello there," Luz said, feeling silly.

The girl pointed her finger at Luz. "What are you doing in my house, lady?"

Luz looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Your house?"

"Yes, MY house." Hoot. The same owl Luz chased after then perched itself onto the girl's shoulder.

"Wait a minute, is that owl your pet?"

"His name is Owlbert."

Well, that's a cute name. "Well, he stole my bag, and I would like it back."

"Dang it, Owlbert, I've told you before. Only take things people won't miss. And when they're not looking." Hoot. Owlbert gave the girl big eyes. She patted his head. "It's okay; I still love you."

"Could you tell me your name?" Luz wondered if this girl was a runaway. She imagined her parents must be worried sick.

"The name's Eda. And I'm the most powerful witch you'll ever meet."

Did she call herself a witch? Oh, this must be some game to her, Luz thought. Alright, she'll play along. "Oh, mighty witch Eda. I am but just a humble village woman who wishes for her belongings to be returned. Can thou be so kind?"

Eda frowned at Luz, realizing she was being mocked. She then stuck her finger out. She made the motions to draw a circle. And either Luz's eyes were playing tricks on her, or this was happening; there was a string of yellow energy following the girl's finger. Once she completed the circle, a ball of fire levitated above her hand.

Luz's mouth was left agape at what just happened. "Yo... yo... yo... tú... cómo... yo... tú..."

Eda extinguished the flame. "Yeah, I'm a real witch." Hoot. Owlbert added to the confirmation.

Luz felt all the color drain from her face. "I gotta sit down." She shakily carried her legs over to a wooden chair that wasn't covered with junk. She then sat on it. She sat there in awkward silence. "I… uh… I need a minute."

Eda nodded. "Take your time."

Luz took a deep breath in then out. She just thought positive thoughts and calming images for the next few seconds. "So… magic is real?"

"In my world, it is."

"In your world?" Are aliens real now, too?

"Alright, look. I come from a place called the Demon Realm." Demons are real! Her mother always told her to keep her little cross necklace on her. Now, she feels like she should've listened. "Don't worry; it's not the place you're thinking of. I live on an island called the Boiling Isles. From there, every myth you have in this world is caused by a little of mine leaking in."

"L… like what."

"Oh, y'know. Griffons, vampires, giraffes…"

"Giraffes?!" Okay, she had to be making that one up.

"Oh yeah, the Isles kicked them out ages ago. A bunch of freaks if you ask me." Hoot. Owlbert seemed to agree. So, maybe not.

"So, do you live here all alone with Owlbert?"

"Oh, no, we have another roommate." Eda whistled between her fingers. "Hey, King, get out here!"

Mounds of trash were being moved to the side as something approached. Luz thought it was going to be one of the mythical monsters Eda mentioned. "Who dares call upon I…" A shrill voice announced as a small canine creature with dark gray fur, pink and yellow eyes, and a skull on its head pushed a way through. On top of the skull was a Burger Queen kid's meal crown. "The King of Demons!"

The first and only reaction Luz had to seeing "The King of Demons" was, "Aww!"

"Eda, what is this creature? And why doesn't she fear my awesome presence?" The King of Demons asked before looking back at Luz. "Tremble before me, mortal!"

"King, this is…" Eda paused and looked back at Luz. "What was your name?"

"Oh, right. It's Luz Noceda."

"This is Luz Noceda. She's just here for her bag. Hey, Owlbert. Would you be dear and mind fetching that for her?" Hoot. The owl flew off into a pile of trash then came back with Luz's bag, dropping it in the woman's lap.

"Thank you." Luz looked back at Eda. "One last question, how did you three get here?"

Eda reached into her hair, dug around and pulled out a key with a yellow eye attached to a string. "With this." She pressed the eye, and a door suddenly unfolded itself into existence. "I used this door to leave the Isles months ago."

Luz blinked. "You've been here for months!"

"Yep." Eda pressed the eye again, and the door folded into nothing. "And I couldn't be happier."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She had a look on her face as if she just bit into something bitter tasting. "Let's say the Isles doesn't feel like home anymore. And I doubt anyone there is gonna miss me or notice I'm gone."

Luz was all too familiar with that sense of teenage angst. She felt the same way at least once or twice during her adolescence. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Heck yeah, I do. King, Owlbert, and I can do whatever we want here." Eda pulled out a deodorant stick. "Like I can eat this bar of human candy." She bit into it, only to spit it out a moment later. "That is disgusting."

"That's because… never mind." Luz stood up from the chair and walked over to the teenage girl. "Look, it's probably none of my business, but I think you shouldn't be living on your own like this."

Eda folded her arms. "I think we're doing fine. Thank you very much." Hoot. Owlbert folded his wings, mimicking his master.

"Yeah!" King shouted in agreement.

"I'm just saying, my house isn't far from here. If you want a better place to stay." Luz offered.

Looking at Luz as if she was expecting a catch, Eda asked, "You would let us stay at your place?"

"Until we can figure something out. I think you both deserve a warm bed for a couple of nights."

King perked up at the sound of "warm bed". "Oh, yes! I agree! I agree!" King said, pawing at Eda's leg. "She can also make us dinner that isn't roadkill."

Eda sighed with a small laugh, and replied, "Alright, Luz. I'll take up your offer. If only so that I don't have to cook tonight."

"Well, I was gonna cook up some mangú tonight?"

"What's that?"

"Oh, I think you'll love it. Its green bananas mashed with butter and topped with sautéed onions that have been cooked with vinegar."

Borborygmus. Eda's immediately turned red in the face upon realizing that was her stomach growling. "Okay, I'm game."

"Excelente. And after dinner, I'll get a spare room set up for you and King. And I think I have a birdcage for Owlbert if he wants it…" Luz rambled on as Eda, King and Owlbert traveled beside her and left the cabin, walking through the woods to the kind human's home. The first person to show any of them some form of kindness in a long time.