Chapter 1: Dinner Time
It was winter in the Boiling Isles; it was a time of blizzards and frigid conditions. The Boiling Isles was a dangerous place at the best of times, but now during a period of dark starless nights, it was even more so.
On a lonely hill sat the storied Blight Manor, home of the prestigious Blight family. Within the house the Matriarch of the family, Odalia Blight sat at the diner table with her eldest twins, Edric and Emira Blight. Abomibutler came in carrying the night's dinner. Despite having made meals for the family for well over a decade Abomibutler still managed to get some abomination goop onto the food.
Edric reached for some food only for Emira to slap his wrists "You know the rules little bro. We can't eat until everyone sits down."
As if on cue Alador came into the dining room holding a massive machine with a glowing purple energy inside. The ordinarily apathetic man was positively giddy as he showed off his invention.
"I have done it; I have finally done it!" Alador boasted.
Emira and Edric looked at each other, both very nervous seeing their father in a rare, good mood "What have you done father?" Emira asked.
"I have harnessed the essence of submission within the Abominations!" Alador's family stared at him unsure what to make of his discovery. Realizing that they would not understand his jargon he decided to explain things in layman's terms "As you are aware abominations are created to be of service to their masters, I have managed to find this part of the abomination that makes them obedient and convert it into an energy of source. Theoretically speaking if we can place it into a witch said witch will become as submissive as an abomination."
Odalia lit up at the notion "So with this "essence of submission" we could enslave any witch on the isles." Odalia started to rub her hands together "Marvellous, simply marvelous Belos will pay an arm and leg for…" Then a thought went through Odalia's mind "(Why give this to that geriatric old fool, he will probably use it to make more witless goons. If I keep this a secret, I can use it against him and get my company back.)
Odalia was so pleased that she started to clap her hands "Oh isn't this just wonderful Mittens?" She waits for a response "Mittens?" Odalia looked in the spot at the table reserved for Amity but sees nobody there "Where is that stupid child?"
"She is still in her room." Emira said nervously.
Odalia marched off in a huff, sensing he may be needed her Palisman Bruce flew down from the rafters and followed his mistress. Bruce was a charcoal black bat Palisman with ears bent in almost horn-like shapes, he could very easily pass for a regular bat if it were not for the serrated sharkesque teeth he had instead of the usual fangs that bats tend to possess.
In her room, Amity was doing her homework while her Palisman Ghost slept on a cat bed. Odalia kicked open the door snarling viciously.
"Amity Guinevere Esmeralda Blight, what are you doing here? I already told you diner was ready!"
While Ghost hissed at the sight of the Blight matriarch Amity continued to study and do her homework barely acknowledging Odalia's presence "Well you see mom, I have A LOT of homework to do because SOMEONE decided to give me extra schoolwork. I would very much like to get my work done if you don't mind."
Odalia's eye twitched in response "Mittens when I say it is time for dinner, I expect you to be downstairs in your spot is that understood."
Amity remained focused on her work "You also expect me to "maintain the family image" or such drivel. Which I cannot do with you yelling at me. Just leave me some leftovers and let me do the work YOU demanded of me."
Odalia was breathing in and out at great lengths, Odalia had to force herself to remain calm "Amity, I am going to give you ONE chance to apologize and go back into the dinning room like a good little girl. After all, if you want to grow up and be like me…"
"Being like you is the last thing I want!" Amity yelled, letting slip a grievance she had been keeping bottled up for months.
The two glared at each other "What…did…you…say?"
Amity was starting to get nervous, but she was not going to back down, she was tired of her mother bullying her at every turn and knew if she would not stop if she let her walk over her.
Amity continued "Do you think I want to grow up into someone that spends her days grovelling for the approval of people I neither respect nor care about? Do you think I want to be on my hands and knees begging people for money…
"Is that what you think I do!"
Amity smirked "I saw the way you pleading with your brokers, and the way you cowered once Belos bore his fangs. Some great witch you are buckling at the first sign of resistance, Luz is different…"
"I told you not to mention that human in this…"
"Luz has found herself facing overwhelming odds at every turn, but she still stands her ground and overcomes. Unlike you who falls to pieces when things don't go your way."
"Listen young lady if you want to run my company…"
"You mean Belos's company?" Amity smirked really proud of hitting her mother where it hurts "Belos moved in and pulled your company right out from under you and you…let…him. For one of the strongest witches on the isles, you sure fall pretty easily."
Odalia roared in fury, a thin-skinned woman at the best of times she was pushed well past her breaking point. She punched Amity in the face and as she was on the ground, she summoned her staff and proceeded to beat her viciously. The strain of her actions caused her hair to become tousled.
Ghost hissed and jumped to her mistress's aid. She bite Odalia in the arm causing her to yelp in pain. She snarled and grabbed Ghost throwing her to the wall. Before Ghost could get back up Bruce morphed back into his Palisman form and pinned her down.
Before Amity could get up Odalia kicked Amity in the face using her high heels. Not satisfied she kicked her again and again and again making sure to use the pointy end of her heels each time.
The sound of the beating could be heard across the house. While in the dining room Edric and Emira held each other's hands.
"Don't get involved." Alador warned "It will only make things worse. Best to just let it play out."
Once she was done kicking her, Odalia got on top of Amity grabbed a chunk of her pink hair and pulled with a swift mighty yank. Amity screamed in pain as her hair was ripped. Still livid Odalia grabbed another chunk of hair and pulled that out. She kept ripping chunks of her hair from her head. Satisfied with seeing Amity's hair get ruined she grabbed Amity by the neck.
"You forget your place you ungrateful little fag." Odalia snarled while chocking her "Belos whore isn't here to protect you anymore."
Amity felt her head swelling as Odalia dug her perfectly manicured nails into her throat "Leave (gasp) me (gasp) alone."
Amity felt her mind drifting.
And drifting and drifting.
"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!" Amity eyes burst open as pink mana surged inside them, rampant magic burst from her causing Odalia to be caught on fire. As Odalia panicked and tried to put out the pink fire, Amity conjured some abomination flesh and covered her fist with it "LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Amity punched Odalia in the face with a mystically charged punch. The blow sent Odalia headfirst into a wall where she slumped unconscious.
Amity stood panting. As her magic dissipated, she went over what just happened. This was not the standard beating. Usually Odalia would smack her around then leave but this was different.
Ever since she stood up to her at her little show the beatings were more feral more thorough.
This however was a whole new level, Amity genuinely feared for her life. Odalia was violent and capricious, but she was not stupid, she would know even in an enraged state that Amity could have been killed.
Amity could have been killed.
Odalia almost killed Amity.
The realization of that fact caused Amity's emotions to go haywire, she felt her whole body tighten and her mind flare. She panicked and rushed down to the door with Ghost (having escaped Bruce) now following her.
Edric and Emira saw Amity hastily putting on her winter clothes.
"Amity what is wrong?" Edric asked.
Amity tried to talk, tried to explain but her rapid breathing made it hard "I can't, I can't stay here anymore. I need to go to the, the, to the Owl house. Yes, the Owl house, with Luz it's the one place I can be safe."
"Amity sweetie just calm down. You will never make it in this weather." Emira pleaded.
Amity opened the door and great blustering winds blasted through the doorway as if to illustrate her point.
"You see Amity it is too dangerous you could die out there!"
Amity pointed to her bruised face "I could die in this stupid house!" Amity pulled up her hood and hopped onto her staff. Despite her siblings, many protests Amity flew into the freezing cold night sky.
The night was pitch black; the winter cold blocked out all the stars forcing Amity to fly in complete darkness. In addition to the lack of direction, the great winter winds blew her about.
Pretty soon she had no idea where she was going.
Suddenly a mighty gust collided with her, as she struggled to maintain control, she flew into a thick tree branch causing her to fall. Before hitting the ground, she conjured some abomination flesh to cushion her fall. The gelatinous blob saved her, but she now found herself in the middle of the woods in a blizzard. Her Palisman Ghost remained unharmed by the damage and followed her dutifully.
With nothing else to do she tried hoofing it through the snow which was well past her ankles. Trudging along it became more and more obvious that she was hopelessly lost. And her clothes while offering great protection from the cold, could only do so much. She felt her body growing numb from the cold.
Desperate she used her magic to conjure some abomination flesh to act as a makeshift tent of sorts. While inside she used her fire magic to create a pink flame to keep her warm. Amity had to hope she had enough magic to sustain the spells until the sun came out.
Wanting to comfort her mistress Ghost cuddled up to Amity. Amity stroked Ghost while sobbing, the full impact of everything that just happened consuming her.
Amity felt maybe she should have stayed in the house then she would be warm and safe.
Safe.
Her mother tried to kill her.
And after that blow to her head, Odalia would never forgive her no matter how much she begged and pleaded.
And thanks to Odalia's connection she would never be punished. Now that she was part of Belos's inner circle she could do no wrong in the eyes of the law.
Amity had no choice but to run.
But run to where?
To the middle of a blizzard?
She would never reach the Owl house at this rate. She will be lucky to last the night.
Her mind started to spiral; she was going to die in these woods. She would never see Luz again, never hang out with Willow and Gus, never go to Hexside, never read to the kids at the library.
She was going to die all alone. And nobody would care.
In another part of the woods Lilith Clawthorne was struggling to pull a root out of the ground. She grunted in annoyance at the plant that seemed desperate to defy her.
The freezing conditions did not make her task any easier, but Night King roots only appeared during blizzards, and she needed as much as she could get for her research.
She finally manages to pull it out, but the amount of force causes her to fall on her back with a painful thud.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Lilith whined.
After she asked that her mind was assaulted by painful memories. Cursing her sister, abusing her authority as Head of the Emperor's coven, the humiliation Belos put her through, mistreating her students, bullying her subordinates, almost murdering Luz. She needed to stop herself or her guilt would cause her mind to spiral. Which in the current environment could be lethal.
Suddenly she hears a loud desperate cawing. Earlier she sent her Palisman Sapphire to patrol the area but had now come back to try and tell her something.
"What is it?" Lilith asked.
Sapphire continued cawing and gestured her to follow her. Lilith picked up a satchel full of Night King and lantern with a blue flame.
Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps Ghost went out of the tent in the hopes that whoever it was would be of help to them.
As she rushed out Amity tried to remain calm. She had to firmly remind herself that Ghost was just looking for help.
She was not abandoning her.
Amity was not being abandoned.
As Lilith followed Sapphire, she came across a small white cat Palisman.
"Why hello little one what are you doing out here at this untitanly hour…" As Lilith stared at the Palisman she noticed how white she was, almost as white as a "Ghost? Is your name Ghost?"
The cat meowed as confirmation.
Lilith remembered how in one of Hooty's letters he mentioned that her former student acquired a white cat Palisman named Ghost "Is your mistress Amity Blight?"
Ghost meowed again in confirmation.
Lilith kneeled down "Is Amity Blight somewhere around here?"
Ghost hopped through the snow hoping Lilith would follow her. Ghost quickly lead Lilith to a tent made of abomination flesh "Amity is that you in there? Are you OK?" No comment came from the tent, Lilith started to think the worst.
Could Amity be… no, if Lilith was too late to save her it wasn't her fault? Lilith had no way of knowing that Amity was out here. If she did know she most certainly would have saved before… NO, Amity was fine, she was always a talented witch she was most certainly alive and well.
"Amity, I know you are in there please come out." Lilith had not meant to plead but she could not muster any other reaction.
Amity heard Lilith's voice. All the times that Amity prayed to the Titan that Lilith would come and save her she showed up now! That same thought echoed in her mind each time in a different tune. One time grateful and relieved, other times angry at her audacity, other times confused and bewildered.
"Amity please I am here to help you." Lilith pleaded. In the past, Lilith would have lost her patience at this point, reached in, dragged Amity out of her tent then carried her kicking and screaming to Lilith's house, all for the sake of protecting her of course. But Lilith had a hunch as to why Amity was out in the woods and deduced that aggression would be counterproductive.
Amity found herself on two minds. Part of her wanted to rush out of her tent and hug her while crying. Another part of her wanted to stay in the tent to spite her, though her rational side knew that doing so would do more harm to herself then Lilith. If for no other reason, than lack of options Amity came out of the tent.
The light from Lilith's lamp revealed Amity's black eye and swollen face. No words were needed the situation was obvious.
"I need to get to the Owl House." Amity said her voice cracking.
"I'm sorry my dear but you are way off course."
Amity cringed believing that Lilith was judging her for her impetuousness.
"My parent's house is not too far from here. Stay the night their and I will take you to the Owl House first thing in the morning." Lilith extended her hand to Amity.
Amity stared at her hand about to reach for it.
"Amity you are not going to make it in this weather." As if in need of a reminder the winds picked up "I promise you will be safe."
Amity held Lilith's hand "Miss Clawthorne how are we going to get there?"
Lilith smiled in that way she did when she wanted to show off "Did you forget I was once the head of the Emperor's Coven." Lilith held out a piece of paper, Amity recognized it as one of Luz's light glyphs. Lilith activated the spell and a bunch of blue lights appeared. Lilith had left light glyphs at strategic locations in order to light up a path leading back to her house.
Amity gasped in awe, while she had her grievances with Lilith as a person, as a witch she was always top-notch.
"Come on my dear let's go home."