The Binder
by
James S. Love
author's note: hey everyone so I'm sorry but I have lost interest in the being hurt is a reason to heal and will continue the hiatus… but in meantime I am writing this new story and to make sure you're getting the best of my writing this fanfic will be edited biweekly… thank you for your patience and enjoy.
Chapter 1: A Lying witch, a warden, and a scarred boy
The principal's office smelled like sour coffee. Lukas Nocenda sat on the chair with his head down. The girl beside him was holding two snakes and did not dare look up at the glaring principal. The boy had pale skin and a muscular build covered by a blue shirt. His bandaged arms lay on his legs which were constricted by some blue jeans. He tried to remain perfectly still.
The door to the office swung opened and a Hispanic woman in a nurse's outfit entered the room. A worried look on her face revealed her mood. "Principal Sykes, I came as fast as I could… traffic was terrible."
"It's quite alright Ms. Nocenda… have a seat." The principal indicated that the woman take the seat between the children.
The boy looked up at her and he saw that she was scowling.
"What did they do this time Mr. Sykes?" Ms. Nocenda asked with disappointed tone.
"I'll let them tell you." The principal indicated for Luz and Lukas to tell their story.
Luz took the lead and did most of the talking as usual. Lukas chimed in when needed but he never talked out of turn, like always. After the story was done the two adults looked at the kids quizzically.
"And what were you planning on doing with this?" The Hispanic woman held up a bundle of fire crackers Macgyvered together.
"Oh, that was for the act three closer." Luz said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Mija, Mijo, we love your creativity but this was really dangerous." The Hispanic woman riffled through her purse and pulled out a pamphlet handing it to the girl. "If you cannot get it under control we may have to send you here."
"Reality check camp? You want to send us there?" Luz asked, shocked.
"We don't want to… but if you can't discern fantasy from reality we may have to. Lukas are you okay?" the Hispanic woman asked seeing that the boy was breathing heavy.
The boy's heart was racing back and forth… he could hear it… the doubt. She doesn't want us anymore. The camp is just the start, he thought as he began to feel his throat constrict. We messed up one too many times. She's gonna abandon us… just like the others… we're going back to the orphanage and no one will want us. Lukas's vision was blurry and he could hardly hear anything. What snapped him back was the voice of the latest woman to take him in.
"Mijo! Lukas! Are you having more bad thoughts?" she asked in a motherly tone. "Lukas, Talk to Mami. She just wants to help you."
Lukas was nearly out of breath and he felt as if his heart was about to stop.
The principal was fumbling with his phone preparing to call an ambulance for the boy.
"Mijo, Look at me! Mami's here… and she's not going anywhere." Ms. Nocenda then grabbed Lukas head and gently placed it on her chest.
Lukas's breathing returned to normal as his heart began to beat in time with his mothers.
"There, there... Mami will never abandon you. You are mine and the devil cannot have you." She said the last part in Spanish and it sounded similar to a prayer.
Lukas began to breath normally again. He hugged his mother and held on like his life depended on it. He replied in the woman's native tongue "I'm sorry mom… please don't hate me."
Ms. Nocenda placed her hand on Lukas's chin and lifted his face to meet hers. "I could never hate you, you are my own and I love you," she replied in Spanish before switching to English, "and I will never leave you." Ms. Nocenda kissed her son's forehead.
The boy began to smile.
"Now Mijo, have you been taking your medicine?" she asked. "The doctor said it should help with your anxiety. We both know what happens when it gets out of hand."
"Yes Mami, I've been taking my medicine. But, I still feel anxious and it still hurts."
"Okay bebe, I'll set up an appointment and see if we can up the dosage."
"Mami, I'm sorry for making you come here and I'm sorry for making Lukas's condition flare up. I'm a bad big sister." Luz said placing her hand on Lukas's shoulder.
Ms. Nocenda looked at her daughter and frowned. "No mija, you're a good big sister… and have been for the last six years since we brought Lukas home."
"Okay, and don't worry there will be no more wierdness from me or Lukas." Luz stood proudly and when she was about to leave one of her snakes struck at the principal. "That doesn't count, right?"
––––––––––––––
Both Lukas and Luz stood by the curb with their stuff packed.
"I'm sorry I got you in trouble. Are you mad?" Luz couldn't even look at Lukas.
"I could never be mad at you Luz. You're the best sister I could ever ask for."
Luz watched as Lukas scratched at his bandaged arm. The thick medical gauze always scared the girl and she felt pity for her adopted brother.
"I know you're looking at the scars."
"Lukas, you should know that I'm sorry it happened to you. I'm also sorry you don't remember who did it."
"I just want to know what happened to my birth parents and why they were never there for me." Lukas looked in the distance where he saw their neighbor playing with their child. Lukas' hand clenched when he saw the father and mother laugh with their child. He looked away and cursed his luck.
"Is it really so bad here? I mean, I know my mami can be strict. But she does love – we both love you."
"Luz, I know you do. I also know I'm being selfish, but, it's just I can't help but ask these questions… I feel like I'm not good enough."
"Not good enough! Who says you're not good enough!?" The voice of the old beggar who lived on this street came from behind the boy.
"Oh uh, hello Mr. Jack. How are you?" Lukas felt nervous around the old man. How does he keep finding me? Why does he keep approaching me? Lukas thought.
"How am I? Well I'm rip-roaring mad that's how I am! Who says you ain't good enough? Aren't you the boy who always gives an old beggar two-dollars from his allowance every week?"
"Yes."
"Ain't you the same boy who would listen to my stories about the creatures of the pit? The same stories that make people think I'm crazy?"
"Yes."
"Then why in the sam-hell do you think you're not good enough?" the old man asked with spittle coming out of his mouth.
Lukas noticed the distinct smell of cheap booze which meant Jack was drinking. "I don't know. It's just I don't know why my parents would give me up… I just have so many questions."
"Questions are like snakes. You have a couple and you can handle them. You have too many of them then you have a problem. Unanswered questions can eat a man alive if he's not careful." The man looked at Lukas and smiled showing that he was missing a couple teeth and those that were left had yellowed and chipped. "Besides boy, you're one of the best things to happen to this block in a while. People here are stingy and scared… Mammon's got a hold of them for sure."
"Of course, Mr. Jack."
"Oh before I forget…. When you get to where you're going tell Eda I said hi." The old man then walked off humming an unfamiliar tune.
"Whose Eda?" Luz asked, staring quizzically at the old man.
"I don't know? Maybe she's his ex-girlfriend or something," Lukas replied.
The two heard the door to their house shut and Ms. Nocenda walked out to meet them. "Oh, my babies, remember summer camp will only be three months and you'll be so busy sewing wallets and… appreciating public radio that the time will fly by."
"But we don't like that stuff. We like fantasy books with convoluted backstories and editing anime clips to music."
"Mija, your fantasy world is holding you back. Do you and Lukas have any real friends that aren't imaginary or reptilian."
"No," Luz said looking down as she dropped her book in the trash.
"Look mija, you'll thank me for this when you get back." Ms. Nocenda kissed her daughter's head before looking to Lukas. "I know you're scared, but I'll be here when you get back," she said in Spanish which always made Lukas feel better.
"Te amo mami."
Ms. Nocenda kissed the boy's forehead "I love you too. You are my child." Just then, Miss Nocenda's watch began to ring. "Oh, I'm going to be late. Your bus will be here in a couple minutes. Ciao bebe." She walked off.
After she was gone Luz went into the trash looking for something. "Where is it? Where is it?"
"Look over there!" Lukas pointed toward the woods where a tiny creature pulled the trash bag.
"Tiny trash thief!" Luz ran after him.
"Luz, wait!" Lukas looked back at the road and then to his fleeing sister. He chose to follow Luz into the woods.
The two humans followed the tiny trash thief into an old house and they soon came out into a tent.
"Wh-where are we?" Lukas asked his nerves getting the best of him. He could feel his heart beating erratically.
"Wow, I thought I had a lot of weird stuff." Luz said looking around at the boxes and crates that were piled on top of each other inside the tent.
"There you are!" a female voice called from the outside tent flap. "Let's see what you've brought."
Luz and Lukas slinked toward the opening and looked out to see a woman with sickly pale skin. She wore a strange dress and pants combo with a gold gem on her chest. Lukas noticed her hair was huge and she had a fang sticking out of her mouth.
She took out a gem encrusted cup. "Garbage" and tossed it aside. Next came a huge diamond "garbage" that was thrown away as well. She then pulled out a pair of silly glasses that made googly eyes pop out. "Now this… this will make me rich." She then pulled out Luz's book "And this will make good kindling." Eda lifted the book over her candle.
Luz dashed toward the book and made a grab for it."Sorry that's mine, thanks. Run Lukas!"
Lukas followed his sister's cue... the two bolted out of the tent. "Where's the door?"
"I don't know. But more importantly… where are we?"
The two looked out to see a bustling city. it's streets were filled with strange creatures.
"Oh no, I don't think we're on earth anymore." Lukas began breathing in and out his lungs tiring. His heart beat quicker then a drum. We're stuck here. We'll never get out. I'll never see Ms. Nocenda again… she'll never see her daughter again… it's all my fault. I should've stopped Luz… I should've. Lukas fell on his knees and grabbed his chest.
"Lukas? Lukas!" Luz called going to him. She fell to her knees as she shook her brother. "Stay with me bro. Don't leave me."
"Hey! What's wrong with him?" the pale-skinned woman asked. She was just behind the two children.
Luz put herself between the woman and her brother. "H-he's having a panic attack… stay away!"
The woman then traced a circle in the air with her finger and flung it at the boy.
Lukas eyes felt heavy as he let out a yawn and fell asleep.
"There all better. Now we just need to talk about you intruders." The woman grabbed Luz by the collar and picked up Lukas like he was luggage.
She carried the two humans to the front of the tent and sat them on stools. She snapped her fingers in front of Lukas's face waking him with a start.
"Look, if you're gonna eat our skin… just let my brother go… please." Luz begged sticking out her hand as she looked away.
"Eat you? Why would I eat… potential customers?" she asked with a smile. She then showed a sign that read 'Eda's collectibles from the human world.'
"Oh, you sell human trash." Luz said.
"Trash? No I sell exotic curios… like this a human foot filled with holes." She showed a green shoe with holes in it. "Oh or this human candy." She showed a battery and smiled. "Or this black box that reflects only despair." She showed an old TV with a VCR on the bottom.
"That's not all it can do." Luz took a couple of the batteries and put them in the TV. It showed a workout video with a guy screaming out commands.
This started to draw a crowd of people.
"I'll pay 20 snails for the screaming box." one customer said.
"I'll pay 50!" another one shouted.
"Can I eat the little man inside?" another one asked.
Eda began taking their money and looking at the human girl. "What'd you say your name was?"
"Luz, and this is my brother Lukas," Luz said wrapping Lukas in a side hug.
"He's your brother? You don't look very similar… especially since he has pale skin."
Lukas blushed at Eda's comment and looked away.
Luz noticing this, held him tighter. "He may not be my birth brother… but he's still my brother."
Eda smiled at that and patted the girl on the head. "Looks like he's got a good sister. I'm Eda by the way. Eda the Owl Lady."
"Wow, that's a weird name for a human to have," Luz replied.
"Oh human, I'm not like either of you at all." Eda showed that her ears were pointed.
Lukas looked at the Owl Lady and began to hear chanting… then screaming… then silence… his arms began to burn as he could only see red. He heard his heart beat quicker and quicker. Then suddenly… it stopped.
"Hey kid, are you okay?" Eda began shaking the boy's shoulder.
"He's never acted like this before. Is he having a new kind of panic attack!? Lukas!? Look at me. Sissie's here, take this… please don't die." Luz began ruffling through his bag while holding his hand.
"Alright Owl lady, you're coming with us," a voice commanded. The source was a squat man in an iron raven mask.
"Oh good it's the guards," the Owl Lady said, rolling her eyes.
"You two are coming along as well. For fraternizing with a criminal." The guard lifted Luz making the poor girl drop her brother's pill bottle spilling the drugs on the ground.
"No! Lukas's medicine! He needs that you jerk." Luz screamed struggling in the guards grasp.
"Oh shut up you little bitch." The guard raised his fist and threw a punch at Luz.
Lukas' arm shot up grabbing the guard's hand… he crushed it in one move.
The guard stepped back screaming and writhing on the ground in pain. "My hand! The bastard crushed my fucking hand!"
"Run!" Eda yelled grabbing Luz's arm while she held onto to Lukas.
"If I let Lukas die then our mom is gonna kill me," Luz said as she ran holding the mumbling Lukas at her side.
"Don't worry about that. Two humans are worth more to me alive." Eda said running in the front. The Owl Lady then placed her fingers in her mouth and whistled. A staff came flying toward her and she reached out her hand for it.
"Grab on."
Luz grabbed the Owl Lady's hand and the pair flew off into the sky.
Lukas began coming to, his eyes opening groggily. "Luz, where are we?"
"Lukas, are you okay?" Luz kissed Lukas forehead. "What happened?"
"I-i don't know? I heard voices, screams, and I felt my heart stop… Why? What's going on?" Lukas then looked down and screamed "I-i have a fear of heights." he held on to his sister.
She began calming him by talking in a soft tone and patting his back.
"So kid, I never asked but I need to know… what's up with the bandages?" Eda asked as they began to descend.
"Misses Owl Lady, I don't mean to be rude but Lukas is very self-conscious about his bandages so can you refrain from talking about them?" Luz asked, descending from the staff and helping her brother off.
"Oh is he a cutter?… I knew a couple of those when I went to school," Eda mocked as she looked at her arm. "Oops forgot something." Just then the Owl Lady grabbed her hand that was still attached to the stick.
"No! It's just, we don't like to talk about it." Luz was red-faced as she glared at the Owl Lady.
"Well if you want to go home, then you better tell me," Eda said standing in the pair's way. "I need to know… for your safety."
"Okay. We need to talk in private. Lukas go wait by the stick." Luz indicated to where Lukas could stand.
I hate when they talk about my scars without me, he thought as he sat on the staff. What's the big secret… what if she's telling Eda how ugly I am and how she hates having to defend me. I'm a bad brother. He heard the distinct clicking of a tongue and when Lukas looked to its source he saw a man covered in shadow with red eyes and a gleaming smile of white.
"Lukas! Come on, it's okay for you to follow now," Luz called, diverting Lukas's attention.
He turned his head toward her. "Coming Luz." He got off the staff and turned his head to where the figure stood and frowned when he saw it was gone.
"So kid I just heard the most interesting thing about you… tell me does Lord Morning-star still find me attractive?" Eda asked, her eyes slitted toward the boy.
"Who?" Lukas tilted his head at the Owl Lady "What are you talking about?"
The Owl Lady turned from the boy and began tapping her head with her finger. She mumbled to herself the entire walk.
"Uh misses Owl Lady?" Luz asked pulling on the woman's sleeves. "Where are we going?"
Eda stopped in her tracks and turned toward Luz with smile. "My house. I have need of your services." She then began trotting forward, leaving Luz and Lukas behind her.
Lukas slid toward his sister and whispered in her ear, "What did you guys talk about?"
"Lukas, we didn't talk about anything. It's fine, there's nothing you need to worry about," Luz replied as she moved her arm over his shoulder and pulled him toward her in a side hug. "You're big sister won't let anyone hurt you."
"Yeah I know…" Lukas rubbed his arm looking away from Luz. "… you always do."
The trio exited the forest and found a house at the edge.
"Aren't you afraid of those guards finding us?' Luz said, holding Lukas's hand leading the boy to the house.
"Don't worry my house has a state of the art defense system." The Owl Lady walked up to the door which had a strange owl knocker on it.
Lukas admired the craftsmanship. He jumped back when the knockers eyes opened and the owl smiled at him.
"Password please," it said in a high pitched voice.
Lukas screamed "It's alive!" He tried to pull away from Luz.
"Lukas calm down, it won't hurt you." Luz said, patting her brothers hand. "Now breath in and breath out."
"See what you caused Hooty? Now let us in." Eda demanded raising two fingers in a threatening motion.
"Okay! Jeez, you never want to have any fun. Hoot." The creature opened its mouth and revealed a dimly-lit living room.
"Come on in and wipe your feet before you do." Eda walked in.
Lukas palms were sweaty and he couldn't take his eye off the creature.
Luz on the other hand patted her brother's hand and lead him inside "Don't worry Lukas If he tries anything, I'll bop him, okay."
Lukas smiled at his big sister and followed her into the house.
Once everyone was inside the torches around the house began to light up with golden flame, illuminating the room with a radiant glow. The house seemed to be stacked with stuff from the human realm and the center piece was a wanted poster with Eda on it.
"Welcome humans… to the Owl House. My safe haven from the worries of the outside world and ex-boyfriends," Eda said, smirking at the last bit.
"Wow, you live here all by yourself?" Luz asked looking around wide-eyed.
"Well I do have a roommate," Eda replied looking at the archway.
Just then the house began to shake and a deep voice spoke from the opening.
"Who dares intrude upon I…" the voice said, a shadow of a huge monster with claws forming as it walked toward the archway. But, the voice soon became higher pitched when the creature came to the light. It looked like a dog with a skull mask on. "… the King of demons." it said.
Luz's eyes fell on the creature, she let out a gasp and her cheeks flushed. "Ay que lindo," she said charging the little creature, picking him up, and swaddling him. "Eda, he's so cute," she said rubbing her cheeks against his. "Who's a little guy? Is it you? is it you?" she cooed.
"No, I don't know who your little guy is. Eda who is this monster?" he asked trying to fight out of her grasp.
The Owl Lady wrapped her arms around Luz's waist and pulled her off the creature.
"This is Luz and she's gonna help us with our little problem," Eda explained as Luz made grabbing gestures for the creature.
The creature looked at Lukas who was quivering behind Eda. "And whose that chump?"
Eda then pushed Lukas to the forefront. "This is Lukas and he's special. So I wouldn't go name-calling with him."
"What do you mean by that Eda?" the creature asked, eyeing Lukas up and down.
What does she mean by that? Lukas thought.
"I'll tell you later King… for now we must prepare."
"Prepare for what?' Lukas asked.
"Yeah, it's not something dangerous is it? I cannot let Lukas get hurt." Luz then leaned in close and whispered "...he bruises easily."
"Well let me tell you." Eda then summons a story book and opens it. The pictures in the book animate to add to the witches story. "King used to be a mighty king of demons. But when he lost his crown of power he became this."
"You this mean this little bundle of joy?" Luz asked with King in her arms.
"Our goal is to steal the crown back from the evil Warden Wrath and give it to King, so his power may be restored. In exchange for that service we will send you home."
"I don't know? It seems dangerous."
"I mean we are your only way home." She then picked up King by head. "Besides who could say no to this little guy?"
"No! Don't encourage her!" King tried to fight out of her arms and failing miserably.
"We'll do it!" Luz said.
––––––––––––––
A lightning bolt struck the side of the Comformitorium. The black stone fortress that served as a prison for the criminals of society. It's imposing form loomed over the group riding the Owl Lady's broom.
"Alright, you remember the plan humans?" Eda asked, the broom descending in the yard of the prison.
"Yeah. We go in, find the contraband room, and then I go past the barrier and fetch King's crown."
The Owl Lady shot her fingers toward Luz and clicked her tongue. Without another word the Owl Lady flew high into the prison.
Lukas stuck close to his sister wringing his hands together. Why does this place seem so… familiar.
Lukas's head started pounding, his knees buckled, and he broke out in a cold sweat. The screams had returned to his head. Not just that, he could swear he heard a baby's wail. His arms began to burn and he felt his scars begin to ache and tear… like someone was taking a blade to them.
"Lukas," a seductive voice said, Lukas felt it talk directly in his head. "We need you to wake up… wake up!"
"Lukas! Please wake up." Lukas heard his sister say as his eyes slowly opened.
"Wh-what happened?"
"You started acting weird and fainted. Then I smacked your face to make sure you weren't dead," the creature replied chortling.
"What's going on with you? You've been acting weird since you got here." Luz asked placing her arm under her brother's side and helping him up.
"I don't know, I think it's just that I haven't had my medicine in awhile," Lukas explained. He looked up at the structure and the storm clouds over head. "Let's just go… we need to do this so we can go home."
The trio snuck into the castle and made their way toward the holding cells. Inside they saw three prisoners. The first was a dark-skinned vampire girl writing in a book, the second was a big blue-skinned creature with holes in his body, and the third was a big-nosed head with tiny arms and legs.
"Hey how'd you guys escape your cells?" the vampire girl asked, grasping the bars with her hands and looking at the group.
"Uh, we're not criminals," Luz replied, sticking her hands up and backing away from the girl.
"Not yet you're not," King added bopping the human girl on the nose.
"Neither are we… the warden just locks people up 'who don't fit in,'" she said using air quotes for the last bit. "Me I like to write fanfic about food falling in love. I like food. I like love. Let me write about it!"
"I'm in here because I like to eat my own eyeballs," the blue creature said. He showed that it was true by taking his two eyes and eating them. They then rolled back into his skull.
"We are agents of fwee expwession," the big nosed creature said.
"What about her?" Lukas asked.
"She's into conspiracy theories," the vampire girl replied.
"The world is a dodecahedwon," the creature added.
"Well we can just get you out of here." Luz then dashed to the huge lever near the cells and began trying to pull it down. All she managed to do is hang there and strain like she was trying to do a pull up. "No, my weak nerd arms," she exclaimed.
"I can hear you, runts!" a voice boomed. The entire room shook as the sound of boot steps resounded from a nearby door.
"It's the warden. Hide," the vampire girl said.
"Luz over here." The trio hid inside a cell and tried to stick to the shadows.
The door to the cells swung open with a crash and a man in a plague doctor mask walked out. "What are you all talking about?" His voice was imposing and when he looked down he saw a wanted poster for the Owl Lady. "Ah, Eda the Owl Lady, she cannot escape our grasp for long."
"We awen't a afwaid of you… we will fight you. We will wesist."
The warden opened her cell.
"Hooway I'm fwee."
The warden then grasped the creatures throat and lead her toward the door slamming it behind him.
"Just go, leave us here," the vampire girl said. "The warden will capture you too."
"Luz, are you okay?' Lukas placed his hand on his sisters shoulder.
"They don't deserve to be here. None of them do. They're just like us." She looked at the prisoners and her eyes began to water.
"I know what you mean, but I don't know if we can do anything," Lukas said, but felt a buzzing in his ear.
"Are you going to let that simpleton dictate your actions?" The buzzing voice of a hundred insects entered his ear. "The Owl Lady approaches boy, do not disappoint me."
The buzzing stopped when Eda came to the two with a smile on her face. "We're in luck! The warden is torturing a pitiful creature. What's wrong with you guys?"
"Nothing. Let's go," Luz said, her head bowed.
"What about you kid? Feeling sick? Anything hurt?" Eda looked Lukas up and down. Her eyes always returning to his bandaged arms.
"No, I'm fine. This castle is just messing with my head is all," Lukas said following his sister.
"Yes! My crown! I can feel it calling to me." The group came upon a stone door with a huge knocker on it.
"He's so cute when he is hungry for power," Eda cooed.
The Owl Lady then opened the door and revealed a huge beam of light shooting toward the heavens. The bridge that lead to the beam was chipped and not well maintained.
Luz walked up to the barrier and looked back at Lukas. "You stay here, big sis will go in, get the crown, and we'll be home before you know it."
"Okay, I love you," Lukas said. He was sweating because right beside him he saw a beautiful white-skinned man with two bird wings sticking out of his back.
The man looked at the beam and stood beside Lukas. Nobody else seemed to notice him.
"I love you too, little bro." Luz entered the barrier leaving Lukas with the strange man.
"You've got a good sister… I wish my own siblings were as nice as her," The man said in a melodious voice. It had a calming effect to the nervous boy. "You're both gonna do great things. Just remember one thing, my child… there is a plan for everyone." Then the man faded away leaving Lukas confused.
"Hey kid, you got a mile long stare going. What's up?" Eda asked, stepping toward him like he was a deranged animal.
"It's just, since me and my sis arrived here I've been feeling… weird," he explained rubbing his arm and looking at Eda. "I think it's just the stress and anxiety… I need my medicine."
"Weird? Weird how?" Eda asked sharpening her gaze on the boy's arms.
"You wouldn't understand." Lukas backed a few feet away, trying to keep his distance from the Owl Lady.
"Try me." Her voice was stern and she made sure that her eyes were locked with Lukas's when she said it.
"I-I've been hearing voices in my head, and I saw a strange shadowy creature back at your house," he said, fighting the urge to avert his gaze from the woman.
Eda nodded her head to this. "Uh-huh, did this shadow give a name?" She stepped closer to the boy and was about to grab his arm.
"I got the crown!" Luz screamed from the barrier when her body came out of it.
Eda straightened up and clapped her hands together. She turned her head toward Luz and forced a smile. "Excellent Luz, bring it here."
Luz waved at the witch and ran across the bridge.
While the girl handed the paper crown over to the creature. Eda's gaze returned to Lukas. "Let's continue this debate later. Okay Lukas? Oh and let's just keep it between us… it'll be our little secret… okay?" The last bit had a hidden threat behind it, even though the witch wore a smile.
Lukas nodded and tried to walk past the witch.
Eda placed her arm over the boy's shoulder and leaned into his ear. She said something in a tongue that Lukas didn't immediately understand. Her voice sounded scratchy and it reeked of dark intent.
Eda took in Lukas reaction and smiled. "Ah, I'm just teasing ya kid. You really need to lighten up."
Once the pair had returned to Luz and King. The human girl looked at Lukas and warmly grinned.
"So that crown doesn't give King any power… does it?" Luz asked, her tone dull and reeking of disappointment.
"Just look at him. Me and King don't have much in the world. So if that dumb crown is important to him then it's important to me. He means as much to me as your brother does to you." Eda placed her hand on Luz's shoulder.
"You know what? I get it." Luz looked at Eda with a knowing glance.
"Excellent! Now let's leave before the warden finds us and loses his head," Eda said as she stepped back. She turned around and landed face-first in the chest of a huge man.
"Too late." The man's arms became a saw blade and cut Eda's head off.
The head landed in Luz's hands and the human girl screamed when she caught it.
"Ow, oh I hate when that happens," the head spoke.
The warden snatched Eda's head from the girl and ordered the guards to his aid.
"Now that I have you in my clutches Owl Lady… I would like to ask you on a date."
"What?" Lukas asked, when the guards grabbed him from behind.
Luz was set upon by a guard who lifted her above his head and carried her to be next to her brother.
"You always eluded my guards. You were the one who got away… that is something I always found so alluring. I knew stealing your pet's toy would make you come to me. So what do you say? I mean, it's not like you have much of a choice."
"I hate everything you're saying right now," Luz said, struggling against the guards grasp.
"Shut it!" he shouted. He then pointed to the guard holding Luz, "Punch that mouthy brat in the jaw."
The guard dropped Luz and before the human could flee forcefully lifted her by the arm then slammed his fist into her jaw… drawing blood.
Luz let out a sob. Hhe rubbed her busted lip.
Lukas looked at what the guard had done and gritted his teeth.
"Leave her alone!" both Eda and Lukas exclaimed.
"Oh, how's about I break her legs then. Do it!" the Warden ordered.
The guard tried to lift Luz but she fought against him. He tried to pull her up but she dead weighted him and weakly flailed.
"I'm gonna need some help," he called over two guards who grabbed Luz's arm and extended her body so that her right leg was showing.
"No please! Don't break my legs! I beg you!" she cried.
"What's taking so long? Do it!"
"Stop it!" Lukas roared his voice deepening as it echoed throughout the prison, shaking the very foundation, and filling the guards with dread.
They looked at the boy with fear in their eyes. The guard's holding his arms were trembled.
"So you want to be broken first… alright then." He pointed to the guards holding Lukas's arms. "Break his legs first. Now!"
Lukas was seeing red, he heard Eda's words in his head, and then he heard the voice of the man with angel wings.
"You've got a good sister," his voice echoed in Lukas' mind. He felt all the anger and fear in his life flood his thoughts and all he could think was to hurt those who would hurt him.
"What will you do to protect her?" the swarm-voiced man asked.
He felt his muscles expand and his body glew in a red aura. "Anything," Lukas said in a whisper, his body went limp after he said this.
"Well, looks like he tired himself out. Break his legs! Do it!" the warden ordered.
The guard aimed a kick at the boy's leg and stomped down. A sickening crunch was a result.
"Lukas!" Luz cried.
The guard grabbed his foot and screamed. "Ouch! It fucking hurts so much! It's like I stuck my foot in a bonfire. Ouch! Fuck!" The guard's entire body burst in flames and he fell to ground screaming bloody murder.
The other guards backed off sticking their hands up in surrender.
"Ugh, cowards! I'll handle this boy," the warden roared, his body expanded and arms morphed into tendrils. The bloated figure of the warden loomed over Lukas.
The boy sprung at the warden and dodged his foes many strikes by the skin of his teeth. Lukas leveled a strike at the warden's head and only just nicked Wrath's cheek chipping his mask. The boy flew toward the wall and once his foot touched stone, he hopped off and leveled a kick to hit the warden.
Warden Wrath grappled the boy's leg before his attack could land. The warden slammed the boy's body on the stone.
Rapidly the boy's body met the floor. Lukas went limp in the warden's tentacle.
The warden chortled at his prey and lead him to be face-to-face with the head of Eda. "I think I may have killed him." The warden's gleeful display ended when his tentacle began to emit smoke. "Did it suddenly get hot in here… why does my hand feel like it's burning?"
Eda held a wide-eyed stare at Lukas in the wardens arm. She noticed the boys body was jerking and she saw that his right arm had a burning brand on it. Red as molten iron, the brand peaked out of the bandage.
"Ouch, what the hell!" he exclaimed. His right tentacle burst into flame. Wrath's screams shook the rafters and he dropped to the ground, rolling to smother the fire.
Lukas gently floated down head first onto the stone floor. When he was just above the ground, his body did a complete one-eighty as he flipped and landed on his feet. He pulled his fists back and firmly planted his feet on the ground. Lukas smirked at the warden and opened his eyes to reveal two glowing pentagrams with nine red rings where the white of his pupils used to be.
"What are you?" Warden Wrath asked, the fire still burning him.
Lukas turned his gaze to Eda's head. He then repeated what the Owl Lady said to him… in the same scratchy dark language. The boy flew toward Wrath, kicking the warden's skull and sending the man into wall with a crash.
Eda's body returned to where its head was lying, picked it up, and returned it to its proper place.
The guards holding Luz had run away after their boss's defeat. Luz ran toward her brother and was met by Eda who stood between the siblings.
"Eda, what are you doing?" Luz asked, looking past the witch and toward her now quiet brother.
"It's not safe for you here. We need to go." Eda noticed Lukas was walking toward the two with a methodical pace. "Now!"
"Not without Lukas!" Luz pushed past Eda who ran after the girl.
"Kid wait! He's not who you think he is!" Eda caught up to the human girl and met the eyes of the boy. She saw all her worst mistakes come back to the forefront of her mind. She took a single step back and gritted her teeth at such cowardice.
"Lukas?" Luz asked, concerned and reaching her hand out to Lukas.
"Luz," the boy replied in his same sweet voice. He then fell on the girl's shoulder and let out a scream. He held on to her. "I-it hurts! M-my heart. It's burning! P-please h-help me… Luz." The boy closed his eyes and his body went limp in Luz's arms.
"Lukas!" the girl held her brother and felt her neck. "This isn't good, his pulse… it's fading."
Eda looked at the boy and her hard eyes softened. "Okay kid, we need to get him back to my house. I have a few healer's runes left and that should help. Hand him here." Eda held out her hands to cradle the boy.
Luz held Lukas protectively but one look at him made her give the boy to the witch.
"Now let's go!" Eda summoned her staff and let both Luz and King get on. She then laid Lukas's body on the broomstick but before she could mount her leg was grappled by a tentacle.
"No! You're not getting away from me that easily!" the warden yelled, his body much smaller then it had been and he pulled the Owl Lady to him.
"Eda!" Luz called.
"Go on without me!" she said, slapping the end of her staff and exclaiming, "Gun it magic stick!"
The staff flew off and surged toward the holding cells.
Luz, quick on her feet, maneuvered the staff to the switch that controlled the cells and slapped it down. The cages swung open but no one exited it.
"What are you doing? You're free!" Luz exclaimed, the sound of battle in the other room filled her with anxiety.
"What's the use? The warden will just capture us again," the vampire girl said, sitting against the cell wall.
"He always does," the eye eater added.
"Depwession is a jail you can't escape fwom," the big nosed creature said.
"Who cares! You're not criminals… you're weird! You should be proud that you are an individual and not like the rest. It's people like Warden Wrath who want to make you fit a mold. I say let's show him what happens to people like that. Whose with me!?" Luz screamed.
The three prisoners rose with a cheer and ran with Luz into the cells.
Eda was being held down by the warden who gloated over her.
He heard the war cry of the criminals.
"I like to eat my eyeballs!" the eye eater said raising his fists.
"I think the wowld is wun by gophew people!" the big nosed creature added.
"And I practice the ancient art of fan-fiction!" the vampire girl added.
They rushed the warden and pushed him against the wall.
"And I am Luz Nocenda. You'd be wise to remember me Warden Wrath and beware… now eat this sucker!" Luz then reached into her backpack and threw the giant bundle of firecrackers striking the warden in the mouth. She watched him swallow the bundle and it blew him up from the inside out.
After the Warden was defeated… the three prisoners walked out of the prison and gave Luz a thumbs up.
"You did good kid… now let's hurry we need to get him back to my house." Eda grabbed Luz and then gathered everyone on her staff… flying off into the distance.
Once the group returned to the Owl House Eda rushed Lukas into her living room. She slammed him over the table and ran to her closest. "Luz, hold him still. King say reassuring things."
Luz held Lukas' hand while he weakly looked at her. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine – bam." King slammed his paw into Lukas face.
"Give me some room I've got the healer's rune right here." Eda dashed to the boy and slammed the glyph into his heart.
The power coursed through Lukas' body and he went still.
"Lukas? Lukas!" Luz exclaimed, placing her ear to his heart. "It's stopped. No!" Luz cried, draping herself on her brother.
"He's not dying on my watch… clear!" Eda forced Luz off of her brother and laid her hands on his torso sending a small shock into his body. "Clear!" another shock as the boy's body jerked. "Clear, damn it!" Eda let out another shock and this time the boy rose, gasping for air.
"Lukas! You're okay." Luz charged her brother and wrapping him in a hug. "I thought I'd lost you forever. Thank you Eda."
Eda smiled at the girl "Don't mention it kid. I mean he did save my life… and you did too as a matter of fact."
"Okay I'm glad you feel that way… because I have a question." Luz said, pressing her fingers together.
"Ask it," Eda replied.
"Can me and Lukas stay with you?"
"And why would you want that?"
"To learn magic and be witches like you."
"I don't know… humans aren't supposed to be able to learn magic."
"Maybe it's because none have tried."
Eda snapped her fingers and smiled at the girl… she let out a boisterous laughter. "You got me there kid… you know what, you can stay. But you'll have to work for me to learn new spells."
"Deal! Come on Lukas."
Lukas walked at a snails pace upstairs. He and Luz were led by King to a small closet.
The two humans made their sleeping bags next to each other and laid down to rest.
Meanwhile, downstairs Eda was reading a huge tome.
"Come on where is it? I know it's in here somewhere… there you are!" Eda looked at the text diligently and began murmuring as she read.
"Eda!" King yelled.
"Not now King… I'm busy. There are crackers in cupboard."
"No Eda, why did you say that Lukas was special?"
"Why do you care? Jealous?"
"No! I'm worried… he did things at the prison I thought a human could never do. What is he?"
Eda sighed and patted the stool next to her. "King what I'm about to show you… you can't tell the humans… deal?"
"Deal!"
"Alright… look here." She pointed to the text.
"The pit? You can't mean that pit? What does that have do with the humans?"
"I don't know, but I have a hunch. And Titan help us if it's correct."