Author's Note:
Thank you for stopping by! Here is another idea that I have cooked up in my brain so I hope you enjoy it!
Also, a few things:
1) This will update every 3 weeks to a month. This fic is actually a side project to my main ongoing story and I wanted to write this story because it kept invading my brain.
2) This chapter will have 3 chapters. This won't be a very long fic but I hope you still enjoy it.
3) If you enjoyed the story, please favourite/follow and review! It really means a lot to know that you guys like the story.
Anyways, on with the show!
It was dark out, the sun no longer shining in its splendour as the night comes out to play in the concrete jungle, the grey metropolis no longer shining against the bright sun. Now, the gloom returns to dance once more amongst the streetlights and empty streets. Nearby, a quiet suburb was met with the lullabies of crickets and birds, rising in echo to celebrate the coming of night. None dared to walk in the darkness as the shadows prey around each corner and the soft fall of rain falling in an unheard rhythm hit the ground.
All except for one.
Hidden in the rain were the soft pitter-patter of footsteps calmly strolling in the dark as if it were their plaything. The figure was strolling about, not worried in the slightest that anyone would see them. After all, what good is a scout if they were caught?
The figure was diminutive in stature, barely reaching above the knees of an average human. They were wrapped in a tattered and dirtied grey cloak, hiding away most of their features from common eyes. However, if one would walk closer, they would soon realize that this was no mere human. Muddied brown talons, three on each hand and foot, were only slightly hidden under the cloth of their cloak whereas if not for the talons, their maroon skin would surely catch anyone unawares. Under their hood, haunting eyes of brown in a field of yellow were ready to gladly pierce through anyone standing in their way with a matted hand for hair barely covering them. This was no mere creature. This was Kikimora, right hand to Emperor Belos, ruler of the Boiling Isles tasked with another glorious mission to further the cause of her lordship and the Titan's Will.
Her mission? To study the human world piece by piece in preparation for the Day of Unity that her lordship proclaimed many seasons ago. Ever since her Emperor officially took the throne as his own and proclaimed the Day of Unity years later, she was tasked to periodically visit this realm to know their inner workings and ultimately undermine them. With each visit, she feels one step closer in completing her lordship's plan. True, the Day of Unity may be far into the future but that was no excuse for preparing for the day to arrive.
This trip was not so different to the many others before. From sunrise to sunset, she observed the day-to-day activities of this realm's inhabitants, humans, and their many contraptions that filled this world. From tall, concrete structures to the metal machines populating the roads, Kikimora concluded that humans were skilled in the arts of masonry and engineering. She has no doubts that they have also mastered and refined their skills in warfare and medicine. Long ago, she already reported that the humans technologically surpassed the Boiling Isles. It was troubling to admit, but she was ultimately assured by one key thought: human's complete ineptitude in magic.
She has seen their so-called "magic". They were mere parlor tricks when compared to what a young witchling can do. She knows and has seen that these humans are incapable of performing any kind of magic and she has confidence in the fact that they can prevail through this factor.
She enters a deserted alleyway that leads into a dead-end and, upon seeing that it was empty, rummages into her cloak and brings out her most invaluable tool, a crystal orb no larger than a small stone. She checks her it and notices that the usual swirl of colours has disappeared, and it now shows the open maw of a greater demon behind the fragile glass. It was time.
Shortly after stowing away her orb, a brilliant light shines in front of her, illuminating the darkened alley and herself with it. The sound of a door opening is deafened in the rain, revealing a world rife with danger and chaos. It was the Boiling Isles, her home. Kikimora was eternally grateful that the Titan saw fit to bestow Emperor Belos with a portal door, one of the few in existence, as it made her job of scouting easier.
Just as she was about to take a step into her homeland, a loud cry of pain echoed near the entrance of the alleyway and heavy footsteps soon followed. She stops herself from entering the portal, curious as to what occurred as the human world is nothing short of their own oddities.
"GET BACK HERE, YOU BITCH!" Someone yells in utter madness, their footsteps stomping heavily on the granite. However, Kikimora also notices another set of footsteps, one distinctly lighter yet filled with urgency compared to the other one. She can also hear the distinct wailing of a young child pierce through the veil of rain, as if it were a siren crying out in the night. She soon hears footsteps enter the alley and her eyes widen. Turning around quickly, she only has enough time to prepare her hand for a spell before colliding with a large oncoming object and entering through the portal.
Kikimora lands hard on the solid ground, the rough brown grass only serving to annoy her as it invades her face. She curses, being caught off guard like this was a rookie mistake and would not reflect kindly on someone of her position. She hastily gets up to see who dares strike her before pausing, a rare look of surprise dawning on her face as she discovers who it was.
It was a woman, a human woman. She looked young yet she already looked worn down by time as the dark bags under her eyes reveal many untold struggles. Her tan skin was marred by dirt and rain, and her brown hair was disheveled, a once neat bun now frayed with protruding strands of hair. She notices that her once faint blue clothing, worn by those that frequent human hospitals, were steadily growing a lush red around her stomach with passing moment. A pity. She has fought long enough on battlefields to know that the woman does not have long to live. However, were eyes were drawn to what was cradled carefully in the woman's arms, protecting it was from the fall.
It was a baby, most likely to be the child of this woman. The child was cautiously swaddled in a cloth bundle, protecting it from their realm's elements, and has their eyes closed, whimpering in fear. Or was it pain or hunger? Kikimora can never tell.
"It's okay, cariño," Gently assures the mother to her child, caressing the child's cheek with her finger, "We'll be fine. Its okay. Its okay…," Kikimora can hear the struggle behind the soothing voice of the mother as she tries to keep the pain away from her voice. The child coos, giggling at the gentle touch of their mother. The mother was too absorbed in comforting her child to notice Kikimora and the new world around her, but that was fine. It only made Kikimora's job easier.
Ragged breathing draws Kikimora's attention towards the portal entrance and notices that there was yet another human in this world, struggling to get up from the ground. This one was a human male, his skin tanned like the human woman and his black hair was disheveled in equal measure. He was dressed in a red t-shirt and black pants, however any sort of vibrancy that was left in the colours were left dulled and darkened by the Earth's rain. His brown eyes put Kikimora on guard, as she can clearly tell the madness and detached fury inhabiting them. His stench was no better, as the intoxicating odor of alcohol perforated the air around him.
"Y-You get back here," The man's voice was slurred, and his attention disoriented but his intent was clear. He sways while getting up, nearly falling over several times before he succeeds. He picks up a nearby knife, dripping with blood, and walks towards the fallen woman. "You think you can get away from me? You will PAY for what you did to me!" His slurred outcry was ignored as he continues his approach.
It was clear to Kikimora that he will not stop. With a snap of her talons, the portal begins to shutter, its sound drawing the attention of the crazed drunkard. The man whirls around, his eyes widening at the absurd site he is seeing. An ornate door, intricate in its design appears and shuts closed, revealing a monstrous yellow eye staring directly at the man.
"W-What the fuck?!" The man sobers up at the disturbing sight. He frantically looks around and finally notices that this is not Earth, but rather the Boiling Isles. Kikimora can see the appendages of the Kraken breaking the horizon, can hear the roars of manticores echoing in the air, and observes the breakdown of this lowly worm. "What is this!" He screams to himself, his delirium spiraling into unprecedented depths. A bright flash of light from the portal door temporarily stuns the man, forcing him to cover his eyes as the door folds into itself and transforms into a key. He hastily rubs away the splotches of light from his eyes and sees the portal key fly past behind him as silent as a ghost. Seeking answers, he turns and sees Kikimora staring at him coldly. However, he does not see a servant of Emperor Belos. He only sees a midget wearing nothing but rags with one arm poised as if to point.
"Where am I," He demanded, marching over with knife in hand, "What is this place? What have you done to me?" His only response was a bright circle, drawn with precise care and glowing bright red. He feels a warm and sizzling sensation and looks down and sees his entire hand, no, his entire body engulfed in orange flame. He opens his mouth to scream but there was no sound, his tongue and lungs already burnt to a blackened crisp. He struggles, of course, flailing around like the fool he is before collapsing into a pile of grey ash. Kikimora calmly walks over and, after looking with disinterest at the pile, kicks a mound of dirt over the remains.
No witnesses. No evidence.
She turns towards the woman still lying on the ground and walks towards her closely, thinking how to best deal with this last loose end before a shaky voice interrupts her concentration.
"I-Is he gone?" Kikimora turns to see the woman looking at her, her voice wavering as she struggles to stay awake. Kikimora can see a line of blood fall from her lips and her eyes look like they fall in and out of focus, "Are we safe?"
Safe? On the Boiling Isles? Kikimora nods and the woman laughs before coughing, releasing a small spittle of blood. It seems that the woman does not truly realise that this is not her world and realizing that Kikimora is not a human. However, Kikimora chooses not to mention it. A small mercy for the dying mother.
"G-Good. That's good. We're safe," She turns towards her baby and smiles, rubbing the baby's cheek affectionally with the back of her hand, "Do you hear that, Luz? We're safe." The child, Luz, giggles and opens their eyes, revealing chocolate brown eyes filled with innocence and naivety.
"W-What's your name?" Kikimora answers with silence, the breeze filling the void. "O-Oh, that's okay if you don't want to say anything. I get it." The woman tries to get up, but she can't as if a weight was on her entire body.
"My name is Camila Noceda, thank you for saving us." Saving is a powerful word. Kikimora would rather say: delaying the inevitable.
The soft babbling of the human baby filled the air for a few moments before Camila softly speaks, "It's too late, isn't it?"
Kikimora nods.
The woman bitterly laughs. She laughs and laughs before crumbling into broken sobs, tears freely falling down her face. Her child tries to raise their hands to comfort their mother and her mother reciprocates the gesture, softly grasping their tiny fingers.
"Lo siento, Mija. Forgive your mother for doing this to you." Luz only babbles in response, "Forgive me for leaving you behind so early." The mother weeps deeply, cradling her child close to her chest and wishing to the heavens above to watch over her daughter.
"Please," The mother please, looking at Kikimora with tears in her eyes as she cradles her child, "Please get my daughter somewhere safe, somewhere where she would be loved."
Kikimora nods. A white lie wouldn't hurt. After all, both will be disposed.
"Thank you, thank you," The pool of blood around her was thick and far as her shirt was ruined with the crimson ichor, "Thank you so much, stranger." Kikimora can see the woman slump back on the ground, her breathing slowing to a halt and her glazed eyes staring into the orange sky. She lovingly strokes the head of her child, her Luz, as she lets out one final breath.
"Te quiero, Mija. Always." The body lays still. The child cries. Kikimora feels nothing.
With a practiced motion, Kikimora draws a red magic circle in the air, ready to immolate both the mother and the child in a gulf of flame until a powerful presence was felt behind her.
"What are you doing, Kikimora," A recognizable, authoritative voice demanded. Kikimora immediately halted her cast and turned around quickly before kneeling, her head down as to not look at the voice's face.
"My lord, what brings you here," Asks Kikimora, feeling a small sense of fear run through her mind. Her lordship should still be in the castle, yet he is here instead. What could this mean?
"Rise, Kikimora," Declares Belos, "I am only here to discover what was delaying my best servant from her return to the castle. From what I can see, it was something bothersome, yes?"
"Sir!" Kikimora stands at attention and looks at her lordship directly. She notices that her lord, Belos, was wearing once again his pale white robes trimmed in gold and brown and donned his golden mask, hiding away all but his eyes. His staff, a mechanical construction that was a result of many ventures into the human world and many failed attempts, was held comfortably by her Emperor as he awaits an answer, "I was merely taking care of miscreants who followed me through the portal. I am currently in the process of disposing them."
"Is that true," His cold, cobalt gaze turned outwards, directing his attention towards to where the portal once stood, "That is highly unlike you to be this careless."
"My lord, Belos, forgive me for my ignorance. It shall not happen again."
"You are forgiven," He says flatly. He walks past Kikimora and towards the fallen mother.
"My lord?" Asks Kikimora, turning around and giving Belos a respectable distance from herself.
"Kikimora," Belos asks, his eyes staring at the corpse and the wailing child, "What can you tell me about these two?"
"Two humans, a mother and her child," Responds Kikimora automatically, "The mother was fatally injured with an altercation with a third human that I have disposed off," She points towards the pile of dirt surrounded by scorch marks. Belos makes an affirmation sound, causing Kikimora to continue, "The mother went into the alleyway before I entered the portal and collided with me, forcing an entry with myself and her child. The third human entered shortly afterwards."
"I see," The blue eyes of Belos shone with keen interest as he takes one of his gauntlet-covered hand and pointed at the child, "Tell me about the child."
"Of course, sir. The child's name is Luz Noceda, if her mother's name of Camila Noceda is correct. The child seems to look barely under a few months of age in Earth time. If I must admit, my lord, the child is only alive because its mother was able to escape the third human even with her grievous injuries."
"Intriguing," In a rare act of empathy, Belos kneels to Camila and, with his hand, gently shuts the eyes of a caring mother to a close. Belos then looks at the crying child and scoops it up with his free arm before placing it in the arms of a now very stunned Kikimora.
"Sir, what are you doing?" Asks a shocked Kikimora as she tries to hold onto the loud child, clearly unused to this manner.
"We shall take this child under our tutelage and raise it. We are to also prepare a grave marker for the mother in a secluded area where no one will find it."
"Sir?!" Kikimora's eyes widen. This was unprecedented! She knows that her lord is aware that humans can't perform magic and yet he wants to take in a human child and raise it like a witch?
"It is the Titan's Will," And with those four words, Kikimora can feel herself calm down and wait patiently for her lord to explain, "He has told me that this child is a wondrous gift and holds great potential for our realm. We are to raise it and give it the best care it needs. Am I understood, Kikimora?"
"Of course, sir." Belos then proceeds to walk towards the castle, Kikimora in tow.
"I am placing you in charge of raising this child, Kikimora. This job is only for my most trusted confidants and I will not tolerate any failures. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir, of course, sir." Accepts Kikimora. Long she has accepted that she will serve and protect her Emperor, her life used as Belos sees fit to use. This task is one of many she will partake to further the goals of her lord and the will of the Titan.
"Good. Then let us return to the castle. There is much more work to do for the Day of Unity and we must not delay." Kikimora quickens her pace as she thinks of the multitude of ways to mold this child into a perfect follower of Belos and how to best create this scenario.
Like an obedient servant.
Like herself.
Luz (3 months old)
Kikimora was many things. She was a spy, a soldier, an advisor. She can easily hold her own against many witches who dared fight against her liege. She could infiltrate the greatest of dungeons and escape with no injuries. She was head of the Emperor's Coven, magister for several acolytes!
"Child, you need to eat!"
What she was not was a caretaker.
It was only a week since Belos decided that it was ideal for Kikimora to harbor the child, Luz, in her care. At first, she was accepting, knowing that with her skills, she would be able to handle this small bundle of energy with ease. That quickly changed over the course of two days. Day and night, Kikimora was occupied with screaming, crying, and the occasional disposal of waste the child sent her way. That was also when Kikimora realizes that Luz was a girl as Kikimora was often the one changing Luz's clothers. Luz was also incredibly reluctant to eat whatever food Kikimora tries to give her, forcing Kikimora at times to cast a sleeping spell or a persuasion spell to get her to eat.
Unfortunately, today was one of those days where Luz was being extremely difficult and Kikimora has the slightest inkling that this was a job that was for someone else.
"Child, for the last time, you will eat this mush without questions!" Kikimora tries putting a spoon full of grain mush into Luz's mouth but was immediately wacked away by one of Luz's hands. The clatter of steel on the stone floor was only matched by the angry babbles of the child.
"Child, this is your last warning, do not test me." Kikimora grumbles as she picks up the spoon and scoops another portion of porridge into it. In the back of her mind, she begins to ponder if it were too soon to use another persuasion spell to get her to eat before a knock on the door interrupts her thoughts.
"Um, Mistress Kikimora," A voice calls out from the doorway of the dining room, "I have brought the scrolls you've requested. Where shall I put them?"
Kikimora breathes a sigh of relief as she turns to the doorway and sees one of her star pupils in the Emperor's Coven. Lilith Clawthorne, second-in-command of the Emperor's Coven and assistant to Kikimora on many matters that range from the scholarly to the magical. She can see that something must have been bothering her oldest acolyte as her normally straight blue hair was frayed, and dark circles began to form under her eyes.
"Thank you, Ms. Clawthorne. You may put the scrolls on to the table on the side," She points to a table that has remained unscathed from her attempts to feed Luz as many splotches of Luz's food lies either on the floor, walls, or furniture.
"Yes, ma'am," She proceeds to do what she was told and carefully places a bundle of scrolls onto the table. She then notices that the child was staring right at her, the brown eyes peering deep into the blue eyes of Lilith.
"If I may, who is this child?" Asks Lilith as she crouches down to the height of the child. She gives a small smile when the child happily babbles at her.
"A human girl, barely a few months old," Lilith sucks in a breath, "She is to be raised under our care and taught our ways, so says our lord, Belos."
"He knows that humans cannot inherently know magic. If she is to be taught like one of us, how will she learn magic? The old ways were lost to us."
"Be careful of what you question about our lord," Kikimora gives a stern glare to Lilith, "He already knows this, and yet he still chose to keep her. It is my job to raise her and I will see this duty with due diligence." Luz knocks away the food from Kikimora when she tries to once again feed Luz, giggling at the growing visage of exasperation on Kikimora's face.
"It seems that you are having some difficulties." Lilith says flatly. The child gives a wild smile as she claps her hands together and swings her chubby legs back and forth in her seat.
"I have been having some troubles feeding her as she is being rather difficult with me. Each time I try to feed her, she would just knock it away or spit it out. She has been causing nothing but trouble with me." Kikimora lets out a tired breath as she takes a seat on one of the many empty chairs near the table. The weariness of this morning and the continued failed attempts to feed Luz was already eroding whatever sense she had.
Lilith nods and, after pondering for a bit, takes the bowl of slowly depleting porridge and another spoon, "May I try?"
"If you insist. It will not be my fault if she decides to knock it away again."
"Okay," Lilith kneels down to the babbling child, a genuine smile on her lips as she takes a scoop of porridge and places in front of Luz, close enough to get her attention but far away to avoid being hit.
"Say 'Aah'," Lilith opens her mouth and Luz, to Kikimora's amazement, opens her mouth without complaint and parrots the sound Lilith made. Lilith then gently placed the spoon full of food into Luz's mouth with no sign of complaint from the child.
"See, not so hard now isn't it." Kikimora is not sure if that was directed towards her or the child but the rising sensation of envy within her was not hard to miss. Kikimora went off her seat and takes back the bowl and spoon, wanting to mimic the success of her pupil and to not be made a fool again.
"Say, 'Aah', Child."
"BAH!"
CRASH – SPLAT
Luz (6 months old)
"Wah! Wah!" The shrill cries of a baby resonant throughout a cluttered worm and the enchanted walls glimmer with magic, containing the sound to only this room. The sound of rough stumbling can be heard between the cries as a very exhausted figure bursts into the room.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, you shrill banshee." Hisses Kikimora, rubbing out the drowsiness from her eyes as she awakes to the cry of Luz. This would always happen in the middle of the night this past month and Kikimora swears that she is losing her grip to reality.
She reaches the makeshift crib that holds the growing body of Luz with no small difficulty, the exhaustion of past sleepless nights forcing her to stumble into the doorframe and stepping on scattered toys. Kikimora delves into the crib and picks up Luz with slight difficulty, the weight of the baby growing bigger day by day.
"Hush now, child," Kikimora tries to reassure albeit forcefully, cradling and bouncing the baby in her arms, "Its nighttime and a good little human need her rest." Luz continues to wail into Kikimora's arms, causing Kikimora to release a frustrated breath.
"Come now, child. The moon is out, and we all need our sleep." Kikimora thoughts drift back to the mother all those months ago. It was strange. Normally for Kikimora, she would be able to forget easily such a brief encounter and leave it to the whims of the mind. However, nothing Kikimora did was able to remove Camila from her mind, as if it wants her to remember.
As she continues to try and comfort Luz, Kikimora remembers the way the mother was holding the child, the tender care and loving gaze etched into her form even when she lay dying. It was something that Kikimora can at least respect. To die doing what she cared for. Kikimora sits down, child in her arms, as she remembers one thing the mother did with her child.
"Hush now, Luz," She says softer, gentler as she sways Luz from side to side in a methodical manner. Shifting Luz in her arms so that her entire frame lay on her right arm, she takes one of her talons on her left hand and rubs it on Luz's cheek, "Hush." The effect was nigh instantaneous as Luz was slowly and surely falling quiet. When Luz reaches to a small whimper, Kikimora gives a sigh of relief. She was half-tempted to cast another sleep spell on the child, but she was afraid of what repeated casts would do to her growth. She already casted it on her three times this week, anymore could hamper her ability to sleep naturally.
Kikimora closes her eyes. She can least savor this moment while it lasts. She doesn't notice herself falling deeper and deeper into the realms of sleep as she holds Luz close to her chest.
Kikimora opens her eyes but she knows this is not the real world. She stands within a black void with silence being her only companion. A shiver crawls down her spine. She can feel herself being watched. She looks to her left and right but there was nothing. When she turns around, she opens her mouth in shock. A gigantic skull was staring right at her, its eye sockets filled with a present flame.
"This is just a dream," Kikimora reassures herself, "This isn't real."
KikImORa
She jumps, startled at the discordant voice echoing in the void of her mind.
"Who are you!" She shouts but her voice was lost in the discord.
CoMe
She feels her form being pulled forward and she nearly screams as the skull opens its mouth and was forcefully pulled into it.
Kikimora can feel herself falling, falling further to a destination unknown. Soon, images and visages surround her, flying past her at an astonishing speed. She doesn't have time to process it all as she can only commit to mere glimpses at best. She can see the castle, but it was consumed in fire. She can see the halls of Hexside broken and torn. She hears the roars of a crowd but to what she does not know.
She sees a light, a bright light at the bottom of the fall. She sees something drawn, several shapes together to form one thing that burns bright. She finally lets out a scream.
Kikimora awakes in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as her eyes dart around to see where she was. She is in Luz's room, toys scattered on the wooden ground. The crib lays still with no one there. Kikimora almost panics before a small noise draws her attention to her arms. It was Luz, asleep in her arms as the young child squirms in her hold.
Kikimora calms herself down and does the same thing the night before, causing Luz to affectionately rub her cheek on the talon. However, Kikimora cannot appreciate the sight as her mind was preoccupied in understanding what happened last night. Flashes repeat in her mind there was one thing that stands out. It was a symbol drawn with several shapes in it that brought a bright light. Somehow, that image burnt itself in her mind and she can't seem to forget it.
Just what happened?
Luz (12 months old)
"Tell me on your progress with the child."
"Yes, sir. The child is progressing well in her development and is healthy. It won't be too long before she will be old enough to further her teachings."
"Good. Anything else that I should be made aware about?"
"No, sir."
"Then you are dismissed." The slow pace of footsteps echo down the halls of a near-empty castle. The grand throne room's large double doors slam shut, its sound echoing along the stone. Kikimora lets herself wind down, her ling meeting with her lord proceeding well. Its been like this ever since the child was in her care, every two weeks on the same day, Belos would ask of her a report on the child and other auxiliary duties he has asked of her to do. Kikimora, of course, complied, reporting everything about the child and herself. Almost.
Beyond her reason, she has yet to tell her lordship about the dream she had as she held the child that one fateful night. Kikimora shivers. The site of a disembodied skull floating in her mind was scarred in her memories and it doesn't help that a flood of images always appears when she thinks about it. At first, it was frightening, nauseating even when the memories come crashing down. Now, after 6 months, it only makes her flinch. However, there was a certain pattern, a method in the madness as it replays. It always ends with the same symbol that erupts into light. She tried researching it, but she has gotten nothing.
Kikimora approaches the door that she was looking for and enters the room. The sight she sees puts a small smile on her face as she was met with a very tired Lilith sitting down and getting hit in the face with several toys from a very excited child.
"Ah, Mistress Kikimora, you are back," Lilith gets up and expertly moves the clutter littering the ground, "And right on time too. She was getting very anxious."
"Really," Kikimora raises an eyebrow and looks towards Luz waddling towards her with arms outstretched, "She seems like herself. What happened?"
"Well, when she realized that you were gone for a while, she started throwing a tantrum. She then proceeded to throw all of her toys at me until you arrived."
"Has this happened before?"
"None whatsoever. This is the first time this happened actually." The waddling child reached her destination and made a grabbing motion at Kikimora. Kikimora obliged and picked her up but the growing height and weight was making it difficult to carry her. Kikimora's thoughts turned towards what Lilith said, her mind replaying if there was any sign of Luz acting out or was being aggressive.
"Well, then it is a good thing that I have returned from my meeting. You are dismissed for the rest of the day, Lilith."
"Thank you," Lilith bows and proceeds to walk out but something stops her. She turns around and her eyes has a serious glint to them, "The other members are becoming suspicious as to why you haven't made many appearances, Mistress Kikimora. Be aware that people are asking questions."
Kikimora mentally curses. With the extra duties that have been piled on her as well as taking care of a needy Luz, she has been neglecting her duties in training the younger acolytes into being dutiful soldiers. Any bought of training or lectures she has pushed onto Lilith for the time being, something that the demon was eternally grateful for having such a dutiful comrade.
"Thank you for informing me, Lilith," Kikimora adjusts Luz on her arms due to a dull ache forming on her arms, "There is a tome on my desk in my study, Lilith. In it you will find the latest whereabouts concerning your wayward sister. Consider it as a token of gratitude for what you have done for me to the past year."
"Thank you, Mistress," Lilith's voice was filled with emotion, her arms trembling in anticipation. She soon rushed out the room, leaving Kikimora to close the door with a slight huff. Even with all this time, Lilith still wishes to find her sister. Kikimora shakes her head as she carries Luz to her bedroom, she can't fathom the idea of trying so hard to find a phantom. Personally, she burned her bridges when she decided to follow under Belos, never understanding why her clan brood were reluctant in not pursuing a grand future. To each their own, as the humans say.
She places Luz back into her crib, reinforced with cushions and feathers when she realized that Luz is a very energetic baby and would bounce around the crib all day. Granted, as soon as Luz's feet touched the cushions, she was already bouncing around and babbling with happy noises, clapping all the way.
"Someone is energetic today," Kikimora mutters. She knows that when Luz gets like this, one of the few ways to calm her down was to entertain and tire you out. Taking a stray plush from the messy floor, Kikimora tries to dangle the toy in front of Luz to get her to play with it but was rightfully smacked away with a loud babble.
"How rude, Child," Scolds Kikimora, holding a stern gaze at Luz. She gets a laugh and a clap from the giggling baby. Kikimora pinches the bridge of her nose and turns to walk to the seat next to the crib, grabbing from a nearby table a large notepad and a pencil. Thankfully, this was another way that Luz calms down that Kikimora particularly enjoys doing to pass the time. She noticed that when Kikimora sketches on the notepad, Luz would always be extra attentive and quiet, her eyes easily enraptured by what Kikimora creates no matter how well they've been drawn.
The scratching of lead on paper filled the room for a couple minutes, Kikimora's eyes pinched in concentration. With a satisfied tap, she showed Luz one of the many creatures living on the isles: A griffin captured in mid-flight, spiders flying out from its beak. A cry of happiness to Kikimora, encourages her to do another drawing. Another trial of lead and lines resulted in another hastily made drawing, a few lines smudged from the rough work. This drawing was now a basilisk, its large, scaled body coiled tightly to strike with its mouth open as it brandishes its fangs at an unknown opponent. Luz gurgled at the sight, her brown eyes peering into the paper as she noticeably calms down. Kikimora soon finds herself falling into a pattern for the better part of the morning where Kikimora would draw something like a creature or structure while Luz laughs, bounces, or stares in wonder. Kikimora was so engrossed into the repetitive nature of the exchange that she soon starts drawing without thinking, drawing aimlessly to appease the impressionable child.
However, after going through a quarter of the paper in the notepad, she stops herself from drawing when she realizes what she has recently drawn. In the middle of the paper was the unmistakeable symbol from her dream, the shapes forming into some type of contraption humans would put out when it rains. The very thought of the human realm's rain brings a nostalgic sigh to her, the soft splatter of rain was such a pleasure after so many years experiencing the nuisance that was the boiling rain.
Kikimora was brought out of her thoughts when Luz was leaning out of her crib, flailing her arms to reach something.
"Luz, what are you-," When Luz hand hit the notepad, Kikimora could only watch in sheer amazement and curiosity as the piece of paper collapsed into itself and transformed into a bright ball of light.
"What?" The surprise in her voice rose as the ball of light floated slowly into the air, stopping above Luz's crib like the stars in the night sky. It was strange, really. The room felt warmer as the gentle glow of the miniature star radiated softly across the cluttered room.
"Ah! Ah!" Luz punctuated with tiny hops, her eyes wide and smile ever present as she vibrated with excitement.
Kikimora was, in a word, dumbfounded. It looked like magic. It transformed like magic. Yet it didn't feel like magic. At least, it didn't feel like magic that Kikimora was used to. There was no rush of energy going through her heart, no feeling of light headedness of brandishing a new spell, no sensation bursting out of her fingertips. It was just there, for the world to see.
Kikimora quickly drew another sigil and once again, after Luz oh so helpfully slapped her hand onto the paper, conjured another light ball into existence that floated its way beside the other light ball. Kikimora can confirm that yes, this was real, and yes, she doesn't not feel any more tired. Although Luz was held by no such notion of confusion as she tried to play with the two light balls floating about. Seeing the happiness on Luz's face causes Kikimora to crack a small smile and, wanting to humor the small child more, began drawing more sigils from the paper.
It was like the starry night of the open sky. Several balls of light float daintily around the room like will-o-wisps, moving to the gentle sway of the breeze. Somehow, the glow of yellow light didn't hurt to see. The light felt like a gentle caress, comforting and reassuring to feel.
Luz was ecstatic, running her hands through the light balls and babbling happily. Kikimora was let out a mellow laugh and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. In a way, these antics became soothing after a while. It was times like these that make doing the task worth it for the Emperor.
"Mowah," Kikimora grew still as she opens her eyes, finding Luz leaning over her crib and making a grabbing motion with her hands
"Mowah. Mowah!" She sucked in a breath, a light flutter going through her chest. She moved to pick up Luz and lightly cradled Luz in her arms, mindful of her talons to avoid hurting her.
"Silly child. What are you trying to say?"
"Mowah! Mowah! Kikimowah" A warm smile and a gentle laugh came from Kikimora, letting a talon gently caress Luz's cheek. She didn't think that Luz's first word be this of all things.
"Silly child, that's not how you say my name. Repeat after me. Kiki."
"Kiki!
"Mora."
"Mowah."
"Good! Let's try again. Kiki."
"Kiki!"
"Mora."
"Mora!
"Good! Now together. Kikimora!"
"Kikimowah!"
Luz (2 years old)
"Come now, Luz. I have something to show you." A soft hand held the rough talon of a demon, the rustling of dry grass accompanying the rhythmic footsteps through a dirt path. It was early morning, the orange glow of the Sun cresting the horizon. Kikimora can hear the soft songs of creatures waking up from their slumber but none dare approach where she was going. The child, however, was not faring as well as Luz wipes the exhaustion from her eyes, yawning without care.
The demon and human duo soon reached their destination, stopping in front of it. Secluded far away from the town and the castle lays a single stone marker surrounded by overgrowth and leaves. The stone marker was unmarked, save for a lone carving inscribed into the worn stone. It was a lone flower in bloom, laying in solitude within the stone.
"Luz," The child's head turns toward her in wonder, her growing brown hair barely covering her eyes, "Do you know where we are?"
"No?" Kikimora expected as much. After all, she hasn't visited this place with Luz before. However, she has heard before that asking questions to a developing child stimulates brain growth so this shouldn't be bad to do.
She pats Luz's head, "It's okay, Luz. This place is special for you though."
"Spe-cial?"
"Yes, Luz, special. Look," She points to the carving of the flower, something that Kikimora requested for the artisan to carve, "That is your mama."
Luz looks at the flower with confusion on her face and points with her finger, "But flower."
"Hmm, yes, it is a flower, but it is much more than that." Kikimora feels conflicted, another one of her rare feelings that arise occasionally. One hand, she feels guilty for bringing Luz here as she knows deep down that Luz is much too young to understand. It is not like Luz would remember any of this but who's to say otherwise? On the other hand, a part of her wishes for Luz to have some connection to her departed mother, no matter how small it could be.
So, this is what Kikimora ultimately decided to do for Luz, start early and ease the realization that Luz's birth mother was gone from this world and that. Luz may not understand it now but later, when she's older and when she can hold her own then maybe Kikimora can tell her the truth. That she was a human and not a witch, warlock, or demon. Kikimora brushed a stray curl of hair, revealing another one problem to solve. Sooner or later, Luz will have to leave the castle and her identity as a human must be kept a secret. If anyone outside the castle knew that the Emperor took in a human rather than any witch from the greater houses, or those that were left, than they may face another revolt.
Kikimora blinks her intrusive thoughts away. Now is not the time to brood future possibilities. She moves closer to the grave and takes out from her bag a bouquet of flowers, camellias if she recalled, and laid them neatly on the foot of the grave marker. She went through a lot of trouble to obtain these flowers and she thought that it would be fitting to use as they have a similar name to the mother.
Camila Noceda. A woman far stronger that what she let on. Having the courage or foolhardiness to entrust a stranger with their daughter and hope that they keep their promise.
Stranger still when the world around her went dark and the gigantic skull returns, staring her down with its torchlit eyes. She flinches and turns to Luz usher her away, but she stops, chastising herself that Luz would not appear in her own dreamscape.
"What do you want from me?" She demands although a part of her is anxious, unnerved in the anticipation of another assault of images and visions. Her first set ended nearly year ago, a few days after she drew the sigil and recreated a light spell and was able to think in peace for quite some time.
The skull opened its skeletal mouth, drawing her in with a tug. There was no voice to call out to her this time. It was only her, the void, and the barrage of new visions to accompany her in her descent into the abyss.
The images flew much slower, unlike before, allowing her to observe carefully what could be revealed. However, these new images bring her closer to home, the familiarity of the images making her uneasy. It was the throne room, the golden throne unblemished in its majesty. Oddly, Belos was not to be seen but the room was not empty. On the sides of the throne room was a plethora of banners, some that she knows by heart as she can see the symbol of the Boiling Isles and other neighbouring nations. Others she was unfamiliar with but there was one flag that she saw numerous times during her stays on Earth. The humans call it the United Nations, a coalition of nations that aid other countries on Earth if there is a crisis. However, if this flag was in this room…
"Then we succeeded," The excitement climbing in her voice, "The Day of Unity happened, and we have won. We were victorious!" If what this image was true than all of Belos' hard work has paid of spectacularly. All these different nations, all under one rule. A glorious rule under Lord Belos!
"Is this what you wanted to show me?" She shouts into the darkness. The silence was haunting, the rhythm of her heartbeat the only source of normalcy that grounds her sanity. However, a booming voice soon answers.
nO
She finds herself waking up from her daze, catching herself from falling. She takes a couple breaths to steady herself, discovering that she stood upright for the entire affair as she tries to process the whirlwind of emotions flowing through her. Anxiousness at the unknown image. Happiness and elation at the note that Belos ultimately won. Confusion as to why the voice told her no. Did it imply that the vision was a lie?
She feels something tugging her near her leg and looks down to see a concerned Luz clutching a fistful of cloth from her rope.
"Mama," She cries, the worry in her voice apparent, "Mama."
"Yes, Luz," Kikimora tries to reorient herself after her out of body experience and tries to focus on Luz, "That is your Mama." She points at the grave marker, but the girl only gave a pout, tugging harder on her robe
"Mama," She insists, "Mama!"
Oh. She picks her up, eliciting a cheer from the child and walks away from the marker, her objective done for the day. If Kikimora could listen closely, she can hear the breeze gently whisper in her ear with the sound of camellias dancing to the wind.
"Silly child. I am not your mother. I can never be."
Luz (4 years old; 5 days until "birthday")
"Mama, I'm bored! Can I go outside the castle and play?"
"No, Luz, you can't go outside today. You still have much to do still."
"But Mama!"
"No, Luz. Maybe next time."
"But you said that last time! I just want to go outside and play!"
"No, Luz. Now go back to your room and finish your studies." With a pout, a growing young girl with brown hair walked dejectedly back into her room. What was once filled with clutter and a crib was now cleaned, furnished with bookshelves, desks, chairs, and a bed. To the side was a treasure chest filled with toys to entertain her, but it remans closed, the toys untouched for quite some time.
Once the wooden door to the room closed, Kikimora let out a small sigh, rubbing the growing eye bags developing under her eyes. Luz was growing anxious day by day and Kikimora can see the rising wistfulness and curiosity in her eyes, threatening to burst if not handled correctly. However, trying to solve this would be another story as it was growing harder to keep Luz inside the castle every day. The amount of complaints she would hear from the guards would always tell of a brown-haired witch hounding them between corners and harassing them with pranks and tricks while they worked.
What to do? What to do? In the middle of this pondering, a knock on her door brings her to her senses and requests whoever it is to come in. With a slight creak, the door reveals one of the guards of the Emperor's Coven, causing Kikimora to stand at attention.
"The Emperor requests your presence," The guard curtly declares although the shuffling of their feet betrays their nervousness.
"Thank you for telling me and I will report to him immediately. You are dismissed." The guard scurries out without delay. With a nod, Kikimora goes to Luz's room and enters, seeing the young girl writing in one of the many tomes laid out across the table.
"I will be heading out shortly," Luz turns towards her and nods, but her mouth twitches, wanting to ask a question, "Continue your studies while I am gone."
"Yes, mama." With a gentle thud, Kikimora exits the room and walks towards the throne room, leaving her with her thoughts regarding the growing child. Luz has taken to calling Kikimora as her mother, even though Kikimora tries to deny such an association. The title should squarely be placed on someone who genuinely cares for her and not someone who was only ordered to take care of her.
Her thoughts then stray to the visions sent by the giant skull. Unlike the first set where they disappeared, the second set was more than able to interrupt her sleep, revealing even more images and visions than she wanted. Additionally, over the course of two years, the skull showed even more images, some filled with voices, others filled with destruction and chaos. It didn't make sense. None of these images make sense. She was also no closer to discovering who was this skull who dared to intrude in her mindscape. She even tried casting a spell that tracks those who tampered with her mind but received nothing.
A huge set of double doors indicates that she has arrived at her destination, forcing her to concentrate on handling the current situation. With a mighty push, she enters the throne room, the golden hall filled with only the presence of two.
"My lord, Belos. You have requested for me?" She kneels, hearing the beat of her own heart as she waits.
"Yes, Kikimora. I only wish to know how the child is fairing."
"Of course, sir. She is doing well in her studies and is moving at a good pace in her demonology and Witch history. Just recently, she even finished the first set of the animal lexicon so I have no doubts that she would be able to identify and handle the animals of our nation. Theoretically, of course. She still needs to be practice when she is older."
"Excellent," His chuckle sends a shiver down her spine, "But that is not what I mean."
"Sir?"
"I have been hearing from several of my guards that the child has been disruptive and impudent as of late. I had yet to realize that the child has grown unruly under your care. Do you wish to be revoked in the privilege to handle her?"
Kikimora pales and her face shoot sup to look at her unamused lord, "Forgive me, my lord, for my carelessness. The child has been unruly because she simply wants to leave the castle and play with other children her age and we know that we cannot allow that. It would jeopardize her identity."
"I see," The air stirs with anticipation. With a thud of his staff, sending a jolt of surprise through Kikimora, he states, "Then let us see if we can procure her someone to entertain her. It would be a shame for her to waste away without someone to share her joys."
"But who would we request? It would be dangerous to reveal a secret like this."
"Nothing that a greater illusion cannot solve. And I was thinking of asking someone within our inner circle."
"Then may I suggest the Blights, sir. They have been steadfast in their loyalty and have heard of a young daughter similar in age to the human."
"Then so be it. I shall send a missive for them to arrive tomorrow. You are dismissed, Kikimora, and remember, the human is the key to the Day of Unity."
With a swift bow, she walked out of the room, her thoughts drawn back towards the skull and the human, thinking how to best approach these two different obstacles. When she reaches her room, she sees that the door to Luz's room was left ajar and upon inspection, found her nowhere to be seen.
"Foolish child," She scolds to the air, "Just what do you think you are doing with actions like these. She draws a chair to the entrance and sits, waiting for the child to return so that she can hand out a punishment for this disrespect.
What she does not expect is falling back into the darkness of her mindscape, in the middle of the day no less. She stumbles and twists in the void until she stares at the perpetrator, the skull illuminated by the torches in its eyes.
"What is it now? You keep dragging me here and I want answers as to why!" A rumble shakes the nonexistent ground, causing Kikimora to look around in surprise.
ReVEal
"Reveal what?" She asks the skull. A surge of images run past her mind, but these were ones of the past. She sees the visitation of Camila's grave, the times when Luz refuses to eat, the times when Kikimora was forced to fight other witches. A shudder draws her back to reality, "Just what to do want to me realize?"
TrUtH
Another flood of images of this time it was of her lord, Belos, but something was different. There were cracks in his mask, the blue eyes that once held a dignified authority looked like it held the megalomania of a mad man. She watched as he burned villages, desecrate buildings and graves, and hound away witches in chains. She shouts when she realizes that the chained witches were thrown in an open ditch and buried. Alive.
"What lies are these? Our lord would never do anything like this! He is the emissary of the Titan's Will and he would not do such craven acts!"
BEtRayEr
Kikimora could only hold her breath as she sees what was revealed next. It was a series of images, some that happened before such as Kikimora trying to get Luz to understand a particular text, and when Luz tried to eat a light ball. However, what captures her attention was the next array of images.
It was Luz, but she looked much older, her hair growing past her shoulders and dressed in the regalia of a common witch. However, she looked so tired, so quiet. So, unlike the rambunctious child that Kikimora knows. Luz lays on a table in the room she recognizes. It was the throne room, but it was stained with marks of battle, blood and bodies laying scattered everywhere.
She soon sees someone enter the room. It was Belos, but his masked was cracked and his royal garb was torn and soiled with crimson.
"What is it that you want to show me!" Shouts Kikimora to the skull. She soon gets her wish. She can hear manic whispers. It was Belos, but why? A green circle glowed beneath Luz as he approaches the table, and he takes something from out. Kikimora's eyes widened. It was a gilded knife, slender and enchanted.
"No," Whispers Kikimora. She sees Belos stop before Luz and raises his arm upward, knife in hand.
"For the Day of Unity!" He proclaims. And plunges the knife into the heart of Luz.
"STOP!" Kikimora screams and the images shatter, leaving behind shards of memories that deteriorate in the madness. Yet, the final moments keep replaying in her head and she feels something stir within her. Questions run rampant in her head. Luz, Luz was gone. Was this Belos' goal? To sacrifice her, wasting everything that they have done? Shouldn't the goal be to become a hand of Belos, like herself?
"Why did you show me this? Who are you? ANSWER ME!"
Titan
The beating heart in the throne room appears. Soon, the throne room fades away, revealing the gigantic skeleton of the dead Titan. Something in Kikimora's head clicks, her eyes widening in the realization.
"You're the Titan. You're the one that has been invading my mind? But why? Only Belos should be able to speak with you."
False Prophet
There were no images this time. There was only the crippling realization that everything that she was taught to be true, believed to be true was false. She feels everything come crashing down, trying to come to terms that she is probably now the only one who hears, truly hears, the words of the Titan. And it all started because of a little girl from far beyond.
"What," She swallows a lump in her throat, "Everything that I've known was a lie. Everything I did for Belos was a lie. Everything that I did for Luz… What do you want me?"
She sees a flurry of images. The dimensional door. The grave marker. The key. She knows what she must do.
Go
Luz (5 years old – Happy Birthday!)
"Mama, where are we going." The shudder of the girl in her arms causes Kikimora to look down and wrap her closer in her arms.
"Don't worry, Luz. We are just going on a little field trip, don't worry." The demon reassures to the human child. She hurries through an unmarked trail through an uncharted forest. Behind her, the stone castle illuminates the night sky with an orange glow as a raging inferno runs rampant through its halls.
"Tell me, Luz, how was your play date with that friend of yours?" The demon says, trying to distract the girl from the situation at hand. The girl immediately perked up and immediately began to ramble.
"Oh, it was really cool! I played with this one girl with really pretty brown hair like mine and her friend with glasses and green hair! They played a game called witches and dragons where I was the dragon and I got to destroy the town."
"Really, Luz?" Kikimora tries to keep her tone jovial, "That's great to hear. Did you have fun?" Her ear twitches as she can hear shouts and footsteps from far away. Have they found her trail already?
"It was super duper fun!"
"Super duper?"
"Yeah, super duper fun! When is the next time that I can play with them again?" She asks innocently. Kikimora winces at the mention of it.
"Not for a while, Luz, maybe next time." Luz visibly deflates but perks up again when Kikimora asks, "What were there names?"
"One of them was Amity, the one with the brown hair like mine! She is a bit shy, but she was really fun to play with! The other one is Willow, but I don't think she was supposed to be there as she came out of hiding from the carriage."
"Really," Kikimora gives an amused smile at the child and rubs a talon on her cheek, eliciting a tiny whine from the girl.
They were at this for some time, Kikimora travelling through the forest while providing a false bravado so that Luz doesn't realize what is happening. She knows that the fire she caused in the castle will be extinguished soon with the honour and pride of the Emperor's Coven on the line. She knows that she kept Lilith in the dark, not wanting to drag anyone else into this mess. She knows that their disappearance would be discovered shortly and would be hunted down for. Every second counts and time is against her. Fortunately, she was prepared.
She grabs from one of the pouches strapped to her side a potion, one that's effects involve the rapid growth of vegetation and tosses it behind her. The shattering of glass was soon overlayed with the groan of wooden roots warping the path behind her, hiding the trail that she was surely creating.
"Mama," Asks Luz, "Why are we running away from the castle?"
Mentally cursing herself, she tries to find a suitable answer, "Because there are bad people coming for us, Luz, and I need you to be safe."
"Bad people?" Kikimora can feel Luz's heart rate rise, "Did we do anything wrong? I can say sorry!"
"No, Luz, no." She raises Luz so that both their foreheads are touching, the physical sensation calming the girl down, "We didn't do anything wrong. We just need to get away."
"To where?"
"To your home." Her pace slows down, reaching the area that she wants to go. It was worn down by the elements, but it was still standing, Camelia's gravestone. However, a lone figure beside the gravestone causes her blood to freeze.
"Now, Kikimora," The calm voice sends shivers down her spine, "How predictable. Did you really think you can take her from me?"
"My lord, Belos," There was no reverence in her greeting. Only malice, "Step aside."
"Really, Kikimora," She can feel the bloodlust permeate the air, "Do you really think that you can stop me? I am the voice of the Titan, Belos be my name!" She throws up a quick shield, blocking the incoming rush of magic.
"Is this what you want to do?" Demands Belos, sending another burst of magic her way. "After all these years serving me, you want to throw it all away for this wretched child?" She stays silent, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of an answer.
"Mama is this the bad people you were talking about," Whispers Luz, her head tucked against her chest.
"Yes, Luz. But I have to-OOMPH!" A blast hits her from behind, knocking her off her feet and into the ground. She lands on her side, protecting Luz from the fall, and quickly puts up another shield before another blast strikes it dead center.
"Mama, are you alright?"
"Yes, Luz, I'm fine." She stares at the new arrival, her eyes hardening at who it was, "Lilith, I thought you would still be in the castle."
"I was," Another blast cracks her shield and Kikimora hurries to get away, "Until I was informed that you were betraying us."
"You won't understand, Lilith," She removes the shield and nimbly maneuvers through the thick growth of the forest, calling on her vast experience as a scout to aid her at this time, "I can't let him get Luz."
"Why is she so important to you!" Shouts Lilith, casting a stray blast to shear the forest apart, "Belos would have awarded you for your services. You would have stood at the pinnacle and you want to destroy this chance!"
"Your guilt blinds you, Lilith," She casts an illusion of herself, sending it off into the opposite direction, "He speaks only of false promises! I refuse to stand by for what he has done."
"Is that so." Kikimora can feel something slam her in the stomach, pushing her out of the forest and landing with great force into the clearing. She rolls, stopping once her back hits something solid, cold, and stone. The grave marker. She struggles to her feet and, after seeing Luz still okay but fretting over Kikimora's wellbeing, places a hand on the marker.
"Give up, Kikimora," Asks Belos, walking out of the darkness of the trees and taking a seat beside Lilith, "You will not win this day. Give up the child and I may consider sparing your life."
Kikimora grits her teeth, blood dripping down her mouth, "No." She slams her hand onto the marker and a black magic circle erupts around her.
"Stay back, Lilith," The amount of fear Kikimora could hear in his voice was satisfying to hear, "You are meddling you forces you do not understand, Kikimora. Cease your foolishness at once!"
"No." A black tide erupts around like a wave, washing away Lilith and Belos in a grand surge of power. Necromancy, one of the few magic classes forbidden under the coven system and for god reason. A life for a life, the iron-clad rule that must never be broken. With each pulse of strength, Kikimora can feel black tendrils creep up her arms, starting from her hands and creeping up to her elbows. Feeling that they were far away enough, Kikimora collapses, one hand on the ground and stopping the cast as she breathes heavily.
"Mama," She can hear, "Mama, are you okay? We have to go, right? You have to get up?" Something crawls out of her arms and struggles to pull her along. She tries to move but the effort to use necromantic magic used too much of her energy than she thought. She can feel black splotches cloud her vision, but she grits her teeth, trying to power through it.
"Luz, Luz are you there?" She can see something move in front her, recognizing the familiar mop of untamed brown hair, "Good. Good. Open your hands, Luz. Quickly." She places into her hand one item from her pouch, a key with one unblinking.
"W-What is it? Mom?"
"It," She puts herself up and lays on the grave marker, struggling to stay awake, "Its your way of getting away from here."
"But your coming with me, right?" She blinks. It was getting hard to see now but she can hear the tears in Luz's voice.
"I'll be right behind you, Luz. Don't worry." She then takes something else out from her pouch, a crystal, and places it into the ground, "I have a gift for you, little light. It's something special."
"Its," Luz gingerly takes it in her hand, "Its so pretty. What is it, Mom?"
A melancholic smile fosters on her face, "Watch." She takes Luz's hand and guides it to the grave marker. Luz gasps as the crystal melds into the marker and a hulking figure emerges from the stone. As if the stone was water, something emerges from the marker, its steps thundering the ground.
"It's a golem," States Kikimora, "A stone golem. It can change and mimic the form of anyone that you want, Luz. It will also be your guardian from now on." She gives the brightest smile she could give, "Happy Birthday!"
She can feel arms wrap around here, a gesture she was not used to, but it feels nice. She can hear mutterings of thank yous mixed with crying, a sound that breaks her heart. She can hear a distant rumbling in the forest and she mentally curses. She knows that she does not have enough power to protect Luz right now. She also knows that Belos and Lilith cannot get Luz, no matter what. She also needs to make sure that Luz cannot go back to the Boiling Isles, it will be far too dangerous for her to be here.
So.
She places a hand on Luz's head, tilting it up so that she can see the girl that she raised. She can see brown eyes filled with compassion and unruly hair covering parts of her face. She wipes away some strands of hair, seeing clearly for the first time Luz Noceda. Kikimora can see the gentleness and compassion in her eyes, a type of compassion that Kikimora can never understand but always support for.
Huh.
Is this what Camila felt all those years ago?
"Mama?"
"I'm sorry, Luz. Forgive your mother. Just this once." A blue light emits from Kikimora's hand and Luz stills, her face turning blank.
A memory erasure spell.
Necessary, she tells herself. For her safety.
She turns towards the golem and hands Luz to it, making sure to grab the key before hand.
"Golem," Its stone head tilts inquisitively, "You are to henceforth serve Luz Noceda. You are to act as her guardian and protect her." The golem nods, a chattering of stone to confirm.
"You are to also to assume a human appearance," She places a hand on the golem and transfers a mental image to it, a young woman with tired brown eyes, "You are to assume the identity of Camila Noceda and raise her. Do you understand?" Another chattering of stone. Kikimora mentally asks for forgiveness from the deceased woman, knowing that there was no other way.
She takes the key and twists it into the air, summoning a demon door wide enough for the golem. "Keep her safe, Camila." Stone chatters as its steps trudge through the door, hoping that whatever is on the other side is better than here.
Once the golem was completely through, Kikimora closes the door with no shortage of pain. Just in time too, as Belos erupts into the clearing, rage burning in his eyes.
"Kikimora," His voice was level, but his eyes betray him, "Step away from the door. Now."
She looks at him straight in the ey, red meeting blue.
"No."
Belos screams as Kikimora incinerates the door, making sure not a single part was left. The ashes dance in the wind and the smell of char saturates the air.
She soon feels herself slam into the grave marker, a steel-like grip wrapping around her neck.
"You. Will. Pay." Seethes Belos. Kikimora spits on his mask.
"Burn in hell"
His eyes burned a stark red as his staff thrums with ancient power, summoning forth a gout of flame.
"I believe that can be arranged."