" Matt, you know being a grouch about it isn't going to help you feel better." Gus said to his friend, quietly. Matt let out a long and harsh sigh, shrugging as he folded his arms. " Look, man. You don't have to harsh your day just because your crush on Willow didn't go anywhere. You can still have fun with her, and with Hunter, as friends."

"That's easy for you to say…" Matt muttered, kicking his foot slightly in the dirt as they waited in line. " I guess you are right though...as cute and nice as Willow is, she probably really isn't my type." Matt sighed.

"It's a part of growing up, man! You will find someone someday!" Gus gave a playful smack to the back of Matt's shoulders.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one giving this talk to you? You are younger than me, after all!" Matt laughed, smacking Gus back before looking forward. "...That Hunter guy is pretty cool, though...I hate to admit it. Though, who exactly IS he if he was taught by Scooter Crane? He would have to be from a pretty high profile family, even higher than The Blights, to have access to coven heads for lessons."

" That's...not for me to talk about." Gus shrugged, rubbing his arm. " I will just say his family is pretty closely knitted in with The Emperor's Coven and leave it at that. Hunter can share the rest on his own terms." Matt quirked his brow at Gus before shrugging, stepping up to the counter to finally order the drinks.

Things were still often strange between Amity and Willow, the two still had a lot of their common interests, but Willow often found herself still being apprehensive around The Blight. She felt bad, but she understood why. Emotions on people that have long been hurt cannot just go away in a short amount of time. But, Amity was doing a lot to prove to Willow that she was a different person now.

"Hey, Amity?" Willow looked over to her friend, who looked back and gave a small smile of acknowledgement. " There has been something I've been wanting to talk to you about for a little bit." Amity lifted her brow at Willow, turning to face her fully.

"Are you doing ok?" Amity asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Oh, I am doing perfect!" Willow smiled. " I just wanted to...really make sure you know I really do appreciate what you have done… Luz told me that it was you who prompted the three of you to follow me and Hunter into the woods because you were worried, and Hunter told me at the cave when you confronted him about seeing us, you really did genuinely care."

"Because I do, Willow." Amity smiled, " You are one of the best people I have met, and I honestly still feel horrible guilt and shame for letting what happened happen… If I can prevent someone from doing that to you again, then I will." Willow smiled at Amity, before the cashier called out for the next person in line, the two stepping up to order.

" Well…" Hunter started, rubbing chin chin in thought as he brought up the information he had on Basilisk to his head. " There are the obvious details that most of everyone knows. They drain their prey's magic, but typically do not kill their victims unless they...have to. They were hunted to extinction long ago by witches and demons who feared the beast. But, if the books I was able to find on the beast are true, there are different types of basilisk that used to roam the isle." Luz's eyes were on Hunter, a bit intensely. He raised his brow at her before furrowing it. "Was there another case of a basilisk at Hexside?"

"W-what, no! Nooo...How do you know about that, though?" Luz asked.

"It was impersonating a coven official, so you can probably guess why we had to get involved." Hunter shrugged slightly, " It turned out that the basilisk had uh…" Hunter frowned, looking down at the table as the memory of the scene he and his task force found came back to him. "...let's just say the real inspector at least didn't suffer." Luz's eyes widened as she paled slightly, understanding Hunter's meaning. "A-anyway, let's just hope the one that attacked the schools was the last one left. They had grown to their 'greater' basilisk size, which was challenging enough to deal with from what I read in the report, but at least they were not a 'levia-Basilisk'..."

" L-levia-basilisk?" Luz prompted, her brow furrowing in thought and concern.

" Imagine a Greater Basilisk but older, bigger, meaner, and with the power to not just drain the magic out of a witch, but their very soul. It's said the only power strong enough to combat a Levia-basilisk's kiss was the breath of a Quezalcoatl." Hunter griminced slightly at the mention of the later creature, before shoving the thought to the back of his mind and looked back to Luz, " There used to be a legend that one lived in The Skull, but was slain by a group of brave witches." Luz slumped on the table slightly, staring at Hunter for the longest time as if trying to pick up on something. "...Is there more you want to know? I can try to find a book if you want?"

"I...might…" Luz started before sighing and rubbing at her face with her palms. She rested her head flat on the table, letting out a whining sound.

"...uuhh...oookk?" Hunter asked before he went to shove his finger into her ear...for some reason… Luz jerked back up, making a yelp and shoving her palm into his face.

"Jerk! What the heck?!" Luz cried out, making Hunter snort.

"You are the one being a brat!" Hunter shoved her face back, " Really, you going to tell me what is wrong or what?"

"I-...I can't." Luz sat back down, folding her arms on the table as she looked down. "...maybe we can talk later but...this is something that shouldn't be discussed in public…" Hunter tilted his head and frowned. Did she know of a basilisk that could be living somewhere? Maybe it was best to just let it go until later. She seemed pretty down though...what could cheer her up?

"Hey, Luz." Hunter said, leaning against the table with his elbow as he stared at the human, who looked back to him with a quirked brow. " Do you think Willow likes me?" He asked, smirking at her as Luz snorted and finally gave a laugh before suddenly becoming stoic.

"No." Luz said, deadpanned. Hunter gasped, putting his hand on his chest in offence.

"I don't like how good you were able to say that."

"Say what?" Gus asked, setting down a tray of different drinks on the table. He passed out the different iced drinks, leaving Amity's and Willows where he would assume they would sit next to Luz and Hunter. Matt went to take a sip from his, sitting as he turned to look where Willow and Amity were still waiting for their food to be served.

" My skills as an actor are unmatched, I'll have you know!" Luz said, dramatically putting her hand to her chest. Hunter snorted, leaning back in his chair as he rolled his eyes.

" I guess I can't argue with that...sometimes you act competent." Hunter smirked at Luz, watching as she pulled the most OFFENDED face he had seen, Gus and Matt both snorted before laughing.

" Wow! Woow! Coming for my life like that? Wow!" Luz threw her hands up, unable to think of a good come-back.

"Here they come!" Matt said, motioning to Amity and Willow who carried trays of snacks, soon meeting with the table and setting the assortment down.

"We got an assortment of everything! Funnel cake, deep fried eyes, pretzels." Amity listed off before sitting. Willow picked up a bag of candy while she sat, sitting it in front of Hunter with a smile. Hunter raised his brow at her before picking the bag up.

"They sell just the green flavor of Pungent-Blotch Adolescent?!" Hunter flicked his ears as he smiled at Willow. She gave a giggle into her hand as Hunter ripped open the bag and shoved a handful into his mouth. The teens soon were picking from all the different snacks, chatting about different happenings across the isle and school gossip that went over Hunter's head.

"Oh! Did you guys hear that The Emperor's Castle just expanded their Beast-keeping stables?" Matt piped up, excitably. Hunter stiffened, his eyes focusing on the table as he listened to the younger, oblivious to how everyone else but Matt also shifted uncomfortably. " Apparently they added a HUGE cage! What do you think they will put in there?"

"U-uhh...Maybe something like, I don't know uuuh…" Gus felt awkward trying to guess, considering the leader of the coven was, quite literally, sitting across from him. Matt let out a small sigh, looking over everyone.

"Look guys, I get it. You are all uncomfortable with The Coven system because your loyalties lay in Eda the Owl Lady…" Matt started, shrugging as he rolled his eyes slightly. " But just think about it this way… How cool would it be if the Coven brought in something like a...like a...Leviathan!" Matt's eyes sparkled as he smiled at the thought. " Imagine seeing THAT walking down the street!"

"Leviathans need a water tight environment, though. The cage was built for...something else." Hunter couldn't stop himself, he really should have thought that answer through. Matt paused and stared deeply into Hunter in question. He gave a shrug to the other teen, " The pictures I have seen tell me that it has to be something with wings, in my opinion…" Ha...like he didn't already know what was being thrown in there.

" You sure do know a lot…" Matt stated, half grumbled. " Seriously, though, you have to be part of one of the bigger families on the isle! Who are you?"

"Aah...Just Hunter?" Hunter shrugged at Matt. Willow shifted, moving to take his hand under the table to give him support.

" What did you say your last name was again?" Matt asked, leaning forward as he stared holes into Hunter. Wow...first time in a long time since that question propped up.

" I don't think I ever stated my last name, and honestly I am not too comfortable with giving it…" Hunter narrowed his eyes slightly at Matt, trying to get his point across.

"Fine, don't then. I am sure I can look you up-"

"That is enough, Matt." Willow cut him off, stern and powerful in her voice as she stared her own holes into Matt's soul. Hunter couldn't help but shiver slightly, sneaking a look over at her.

"..r-right, sorry…" Matt muttered, sinking into his chair slightly.

"...WELL, I am stuffed! Are we ready to go?" Luz piped up, trying to break the thick air. Everyone muttered a mix of agreements, standing to help clean up the table and go throw the trash away. Willow turned, hooking her arms around Hunters and smiling up at him, causing him to blush and rub his neck as the two started to walk.

"Alright! Next is the main event!" Gus said excitedly, almost going into a run as his eyes locked on the building ahead of them. " Come on, guys! Come on!"

" Wait up, Gus!" Amity called out, following after him. Hunter smiled to himself before frowning, looking up at the building labeled 'House of Realms'. He swallowed, knowing inside was the mirror Gus wanted to look at more than anything...and the answer to a question he had not thought of before until now.

_AN_

Oh ho ho, yes indeed... Luz was upset about stuff that went down in Yesterday's Lies. I hope you guys do not mind about me putting more of my own ideas and story stuff into this!

But as always thank you for reading! Please leave a Review! I love you!