Willow sat on her bed as she rubbed at her cheeks. She was only halfway done with tending her plants, but they had been acting...strange. She knew why they were, but she couldn't do anything about it. It was frustrating. She put her head in her hands, trying to think of any way she could calm herself down just so her plants wouldn't be reacting to her fear and anger, but the only thing that came to mind was storming the castle, picking Hunter up, and running away before anyone could stop her.
But even if she managed to kidnap her exclusive, it wouldn't help in the grand scheme of things. She needed to learn how to better control her power, but had no idea how to even find someone who could teach her! She couldn't bring herself to trust the Plant Coven, as much as she had admired and wanted to join them before Eda's petrification ceremony. Her fathers didn't have much ability in plant magic either. She had really no one to go to other than her teacher at Hexside, but she questioned how much that would help since her teacher had already been trying to gently push her to the coven system.
Willow sighed deeply, feeling Clover shifting on her shoulder to continue to nuzzle her neck. The witch smiled, reaching up to give a loving pet to Clover. The palisman buzzed, shifting slightly to look up at Willow before she fluttered her wings and buzzed some more.
" No...you haven't told me that." Willow said, tilting her head at Clover who smiled with her eyes before continuing. She spoke of the witch who carved her, a woman who was so gifted in plant magic that one flick of her finger would grow a field of crops that could feed a town for a year. She was called 'The Dryad of Titan', people believing the woman was born from wood carved by the Titan himself. In reality, she was just another witch like them who wanted to do good by Titan and his children. Willow smiled, looking down at her hands in thought.
" She sounds amazing." Willow said, Clover buzzed in agreement. " What happened to her?" she asked, looking back at the bee, unsure if she should ask the question, but curiosity over Clover being one of the palisman at the adoption tickled her mind. Clover gave a sigh, before flying off Willow's shoulder and landing in her lap. The palisman told how when The Dryad of Titan grew older, a village at the hip was under siege by a horrible disease. It rotted the plant life, made people sick, and was difficult for witches to contain. If someone didn't figure out how to get rid of it, it would have swallowed the isle. So her witch took the task upon herself. She found the disease was actually a type of fungus, one that she soon figured out how to control.
Clover let out a sad sigh, closing her eyes as she continued. The Dryad went to a cave, then proceeded to summon all the fungus to her. Large amounts of the deadly mushrooms sprung to her call, leaving the isle's air for the damp and closed cave. The next thing Clover knew, her witch had sent her flying out of the cave, where a group of her friends were waiting...and sealed her and the fungus inside. Willow blinked, frowning as Clover shook her head lightly.
"But why did she have to sacrifice herself like that?" Willow asked, giving a comforting pet to the bee, who responded. The fungus had already infected her so deeply when she was researching, that if she was to leave, she would risk letting it spread again. However, every year since, Clover has visited the spot where the cave used to stand. The Dryad, in her last spell before she gave her life, had sown a seed into the land. Now as a grave marker, a lovely grove of Birch Trees had grown a circle around a field of Hyssop flowers, marking her sacrifice for titan. Willow frowned as she looked out the window in thought, petting Clover's cheek idly before looking back down at the bee.
"Would you like to go visit it tomorrow?" Willow asked with a small smile, the bee buzzed happily as she nodded. Perhaps, in a way, Willow would gain some answers there as well. A knock interrupted the two, Willow looking to her door with a small frown before calling out, " Come in."
"Heya, honey." Eun opened the door, peering in at his daughter. " Mind if we have a little chat?"
"S-sure?" Willow asked, shifting on her bed as her father closed the door behind him and went to sit on the edge of the bed. Eun sighed through his nose as he thought over his words, which didn't help ease Willow. She was still on edge, her plants were moving in unnatural ways that alerted her father of her emotions.
"So...when your father and I came home last night, we noticed you and Hunter were talking." Eun said, looking over to Willow, who raised her brows in worry. " We were about to step in to shoo you back to your room when we overheard what you two were talking about." Willow felt her face drop slightly as her eyes widened. Eun thinned his lips at his daughter's reaction, reaching over to take her hand. " It's ok, you two are not in trouble or anything...but your father and I really want to help so...I would like to know the details if that is ok."
"D-dad uh…" Willow looked away from him, furrowing her brow. Should she really tell him without Hunter here?
"I know, sweety." Eun said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a side hug. " If you don't feel comfortable talking about this, then I will not pressure you. But, please at least be honest on a few fronts, ok?" Willow looked up at her father with a small frown before giving a light nod. Eun smiled softly to his daughter in turn, before asking his first question.
"Is Hunter really The Golden Guard?" Starting off with a heavy hitter. Willow stiffened in his grasp before forcing herself to relax slightly. She closed her eyes, knowing she shouldn't answer but…
"H-he is...yes." Willow sighed, frowning more at herself, her anxiety building in her chest. Clover fluttered back up to her shoulder, nuzzling her neck again in comfort and support.
"That is why things are difficult for him in the castle, hu?" Eun felt relief in knowing the truth, but pushed past the encroaching dread the confirmation gave him. " I take it that is why he lied to his Uncle on where he was, too?"
"H-he… yeah." Willow rubbed her face, closing her eyes. She was trying to focus on getting so upset that she let too much information out to her father. It was not her place to talk about Hunter's life like this, after all. She felt Eun sigh silently as he tried to brave his next question.
" Is...Hunter cursed?" Eun kept his eyes on Willow. She opened her eyes to look up at him in shock, before thinning her lips.
"Y-you over heard that last night?" Willow was able to connect the dots on why Eun asked. She finally lowered her head, unable to hold back a silent sob. She felt her father wrap his arms around her in a tight hug.
"It's ok, honey." Eun comforted. " I am sure he will be ok."
"You can't promise that, Dad." Willow said, rubbing her face as she felt tears starting to sting her eyes. Eun was a bit taken aback by her words, furrowing his brow in worry at his daughter. " There is so much at play...it's so unfair what he has to go through! Every time he goes to the castle I notice how his demeanor changes. He is terrified of that place, but can't just leave his duties alone!" Eun looked around at the plants in Willow's room, they were growing, lashing around violently.
" The worst part is that I can't figure out how to help him! I can't stand the thought of him being there anymore, and…" Willow sobbed, " I just want him safe." She felt her father hug her tighter into him, his eyes still darting to the plant life around to make sure they didn't lash out too much in their direction. He let Willow cry into his chest, fighting back the need to let his own tears lose for her and Hunter's situation, as he waited for the plants to calm. Usually if Willow tired herself out emotionally the flora would calm as well. After a while things did fall back to a lull, Willow still silently sniffing as she rubbed at her tears, Eun rubbed circles of comfort in her back.
"Hey…" Eun said, moving back slightly to get his daughter to look up at him. " I know things are really rough. But, I also know you and Hunter love each other a whole lot." He smiled, " Just being there for him will provide him the strength he needs. I am sure he will find a way to you, always." Willow sat up slightly to look at her father, a small frown still on her face as she nodded. Eun gave a soft smile to her, brushing her hair back. Deep down he wished he had words he could say that would make her pain go away, but he knew that there was nothing that could be said. " Next time Hunter is here, I would like for him to talk to our doctor. Maybe the first step he needs is seeing someone who can give him well needed help?"
"That...is a good idea." Willow smiled up at Eun, who nodded and hugged his daughter again.
"For now, though, go wash up and get something to eat, yeah?" Eun encouraged, gaining a nod from Willow who stood and gave a final hug to her father.
"Thanks for caring about him so much, Dad…" She smiled, before turning to head out of her room. Eun smiled as he stood, looking around her room. He felt his smile fade as he watched her plants...they were starting to act out again, not as violently as before, but he knew it was because they were not reacting to Willow. Eun sighed through his nose, rubbing his coven branded wrist as he felt the creeping want to let his magic lose and allow the plants to join in on his anger. But he long ago gave up that ability for Willow and Gilbert's safety.
Now their daughter had the same amazing abilities...he hoped deep down she would never feel she would have to lock away that power like he did.
"...When did this start?" Belos' voice was stern, almost hinting at an anger deep within him. Hunter knew he couldn't control the frown on his face, he felt stiff, and scared.
" A-a few weeks ago...a-after the l-last curse incident…" Hunter swallowed, he kept his eyes forward, too fearful to move or look up at Belos. He felt dizzy, his body crying out for him to start coughing but he forced himself to have a control he never knew he had.
" Why didn't you tell me, Hunter?" Belos half growled.
"I-it's nothing to worry about, I-I'm sure." Hunter finally forced himself to look up at his Uncle, who was scowling down at him. He felt so small, he wished he was able to figure out how to get out of this situation. Maybe it was a bad idea to not try to leave?
" Your bile-sac is clearly hurting you, Hunter!" Belos rubbed his hand across his face, not noticing the flinch in Hunter's lip. Was he seriously still going to pull the bile-sac excuse? " Perhaps I should let you rest more. I am sure you are under a lot of stress with The Day of Unity coming up, so of course your bile sac would be-"
"Why are you lying to me?!" Hunter couldn't stop himself. He frowned deeply at himself in horror as he let the question fly, and took a small step back when Belos stared holes into his soul.
"I beg your pardon, Hunter?" Belos asked through almost clenched teeth, his eyes starting to glow.
"I-I...I…" Hunter stuttered.
' Stand without fear, child. I am with you.' Hunter heard the bellowing voice within him. He was unsure why, but he suddenly felt...stronger? Hunter breathed in deeply, his fearful gaze turning to one of determination.
" I know I don't have a bile-sac, Uncle." He said, not stuttering or backing down as Belos' nose turned slightly into a snarl.
" I went to the healing coven after I couldn't get my eyes to turn back, and they showed me that I don't have one." Hunter lied, he was not about to tell Belos about going to The Owl Lady, after all. "So please...just give me the truth about this. Don't I deserve to know what is really happening to me?"
Belos stared at Hunter for what felt like an eternity, but for the first time Hunter did not flinch away or slowly change his defiance stance into one of submission. The teen stayed with his shoulders forward, back straight, and head tall as he returned the stare into his Uncle.
'How are you going to lie your way out of this one, Belos?' The voice in the man's head spat in amusement. Of course he was enjoying this… Belos closed his eyes, sighing through his nose before turning away from Hunter. The teen relaxed his stance, almost in confusion, as he watched his Uncle go to the stairs...then sit. Belos leaned forward on his knees, motioning with a hand for Hunter to sit next to him. Hunter hesitated, before going and sitting as well.
"...I suspect you already know what is happening." Belos said, looking at Hunter carefully.
"...I have our family's curse." Hunter rubbed his arm before looking to Belos for confirmation.
" Indeed…" Belos looked up at the ceiling in thought.
" But...why did you lie to me all this time?" Hunter crossed his arms over his stomach, holding himself in a closed off hug as he looked to the ground.
"I had a foolish hope that if I kept it from you, the curse would have a harder time finding a purchase in your soul." Belos sighed, lowering his head to look at the ground as well. " I hoped to give you time before it eventually started to become stronger… It appears, however, I failed you." Hunter blinked, looking over to Belos in shock at his last words.
"U-Uncle…" Hunter started, unable to find his own words before Belos let out another sigh, the man closing his eyes.
" I suppose now I should tell you about the curse…" Belos looked over to Hunter, a soft smile on his lips.
Hunter gently closed the door behind him, turning to face his room as he took his mask off again and quickly went into the bathroom. His eyes were still black...he sighed through his nose, furrowing his brow at the mirror. Lil' Rascal, who had been so still and patient as the teen talked to his uncle, finally poked out of his hood to also look at the reflection in the mirror.
'You do not believe his words." The voice in his head rang.
'I know better than to trust him about this now…' Hunter replied as he closed his eyes, sighing through his nose. He felt something staring at him...he flicked his ears, he could practically see it!
'.̸͚̣͊.̶͎̐̑.̴̠͈͐m̴͉̟͑̍i̵̭͑ḧ̴̞́ ̵̮̐è̴̬̊v̶̦́͌e̶̢͂i̴̼̔̄l̶̨̮̀e̵̘͉̐͐b̷͍̔́ ̶͖͌̒ő̵̻͌t̵͖̏́ ̸̩̙̌͌t̵̩̂ơ̸̧͕͛n̵̹͒͂ ̵̪̭̑e̸̖͆s̵̰̃͋i̵̳̼͗̓w̸̢͘ ̴͇̙̋e̸͔͒r̴̫̼̊̅a̴̛̺͚ ̷̮̿ͅu̸̫̾͋͜ō̵̳̮̒Ÿ̵̞́̅.' The creature sat, its clawed hands resting in front of its back hooves, its eyes, glowing orbs of white, on the teen.
'Why do you talk like that sometimes, but not others?' Hunter found himself asking. The creature tilted its head before giving a light shrug. ' Then...at least tell me, how much was Belos lying to me?'
The creature stood, walking over to Hunter before sitting down in front of him. It rumbled deep, but didn't respond to his question.
'What, are you suddenly giving me the silent treatment now?' Hunter felt annoyed. Did he not deserve the truth at all from Belos, this thing, or anyone else?
'.̸̫̀.̷̙̔.̸̖͉͌̅ŷ̷̪ḓ̷̨̽͊á̵̧̭̓è̸͈ř̸̮l̴̽̽͜ͅa̴̼̺̎ ̸͎̦̊̐k̵̡̋̌e̷͕͓̊͠e̷͉͐s̶̢̋͐ ̶̣̑u̷͈̇o̶͍̒y̷̹̩̍ ̸̢̑͝ͅs̶̘̞̈r̸̩̹̈̕e̵̯͋w̶̙͠ś̷̱͂n̵̝͒à̸̤̓͜ ̴͇͇͐ę̷̞̎̕h̶͎̳̒̚ț̸̢̐̅ ̶̩̎̋ẅ̴̪̠́o̵̘̎̕ṇ̶͙̋k̴̡̍ ̶̢̛̱ụ̴̗̎̉o̸̭͗Y̵̡̊' The creature responded. Hunter furrowed his brow, before looking down from the creature. Belos' explanations didn't add up. He didn't explain how the curse found them originally, stating he forgot. But of course the biggest blaring red flag was...
'...if this curse did pass from my Father to my Mother… You would have already possessed Willow." Hunter confirmed.
'.̴͔͔͑d̸̥͍͛̔ē̷̛̯̭e̷͉͔̋͗ḑ̷̝͛͂n̸̒͌ͅI̵̥̔.'
' So what is really going on?" Hunter looked back up at the creature, but it was gone. Hunter stared at the ceiling of his bathroom. He breathed in deeply before sighing through his nose and looking back to his reflection. Lil' Rascal chirped a question, making Hunter turn his eyes to the palisman and smile before petting him.
"Yeah, bud...I'm ok." Hunter frowned lightly before looking back to his reflection. It was too easy for him to pick apart the lies Belos told him. That the curse was passed by 'emotional bonds' and not blood. That's why Belos 'Kept Hunter from Others' and was 'Distant himself'...what a load of garbage. If this curse was passed by emotions, Willow would have shown symptomes weeks, no, MONTHS ago! Hunter felt his blood boiling, as well as the rage from the creature that resided in him.
Hunter lowered his head as he gritted his teeth, he needed to plan carefully. He was no longer going to be a puppet for Belos, that much was sure, but how could he leave? How could he get out and make sure that they didn't trace him to The Parks or The Owl House? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud roar of pain and defiance. Hunter turned, quickly running to his window to look out. The Quetzalcoatl had arrived!
She looked like she was in so much pain, unable to do anything against her bindings as they kept her still, save for her being able to roar out. Even at this distance Hunter could see her eyes were darting around like mad, he felt his heart sinking. She didn't deserve this fate. But, suddenly, her eyes landed directly on him. She stared, now quiet, at the teen. He could practically feel her plea for freedom. Hunter raised his hand to rest on the glass of the window, keeping eye contact with her.
'We will get our freedom, one way or another…all of us.' he thought to himself. The Quetzalcoatl, as if she heard him, relaxed. The ones tending to her probably thought she did so defeat, but...Hunter knew better. He felt the creature inside him shift again as he stepped back from the window.
'Speak the spell to share in his pain...and in your soul I shall make my chain.' Hunter remembered what the beast spoke in the dream. A plan was forming...he just needed a little more time for the details.
_AN_
We are in the TRUEST of endgames now! Only 5 chapters left! Get pumped! Get ready! There is going to be THINGS and STUFF happening! I love you guys, thank you for staying with me throughout all of this. Please leave a comment, as always 3