Chapter 2 - The Demon Knight
Luz felt Amity's arm take her waist and with a flash of purple and the squelch of slime, they fell into a mass of abominations.
"Jeez," Luz said, as the pair sat on the forest floor, covered in ooze, but alive. "Thanks, Amity."
"Of course," Amity said, helping Luz to her feet. "Couldn't let the cutest girl on the Boiling Isles become the flatest."
A rustle in the forest caused them both to snap back to the moment, eyes scanning the treeline.
But this time, a form emerged from the woods hands raised.
"Stay your spells, witches. I do not seek you this day, but the terrible beast with which you did battle."
He was tall, easily six feet, not including the four horns. Covered in black fur, with claw-like hooves and a long, swishing tail, Luz had to admit, as far as demons went, he was already intimidating enough without the sword and armor - even if he looked very much like a goat.
A heavy, tattered cloak hung from his shoulders, a whip and a variety of potion bottles adorning the belt.
"You know what that thing was?" Amity asked, relaxing a little, but not dropping her spells.
"Of course," the demon said, lowering his hands. "A vampire from the Ulnic Valley. I have been tracking it for weeks, but without its cloak, it won't dare come out in the sunlight. It will likely make its way back to the nest… Is she okay?"
Amity glanced at Luz then back at the demon. "She's fine. She's just excited about something."
"Vampires?" Luz had dropped any pretense of a combat stance and was bouncing in place. "And you hunt them? You're a vampire hunter? That's so cool!"
The demon bashfully rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, well… I mean, I hunt other demons too. And witches. I am more of a bounty hunter, overall, but I suppose I specialize…"
"I'm Luz," Luz said, offering her hand. "And this is Amity."
"Hi," Amity said, dropping her circles and folding her arms.
"Lady Luz and Lady Amity," the demon said, bowing. "I am Hebridaen Blackthorn, Knight of the Order of the Titan." He rose back up to his impressive height and glanced between the two. "And vampire hunter. Specifically. At the moment."
He cleared his throat. "A pair of young witches like yourselves shouldn't be wandering these woods alone. You can clearly handle yourselves, but vampires are cunning and powerful. Can I escort you home? Is it far?"
"I thought vampires were extinct?" Amity said, ignoring his question. "Emperor Belos hunted them all down more than fifty years ago."
Hebridaen bristled. "Well, he wasn't emperor then, was he? And he didn't wipe anything out. He and his stupid Golden Guard just drove them underground, and then blamed my Order for not protecting the people of the Ulnic Valley."
Luz stepped in front of Amity by reflex, though she kept her smile up. "Hey, so, no disrespect meant. We're not fans of the Emperor's Coven either. And I am super excited to meet a real vampire hunter. I've read so much about them and if they are as dangerous as that, and you hunt them, you must be pretty tough yourself."
"Well, I-I am… but the last of my Order. Belos saw to that. But it doesn't matter. The people of Bonesborough are in danger."
"Danger? What kind of danger?"
"Uh, Luz?" Amity touched Luz's shoulder. "What did we talk about?"
"Come on, Amity. You heard Mister Hebridaen. People are in danger. And we just got attacked. We're people. We were in danger and-"
Amity placed a finger on Luz's lips and the human trailed off. "You're not running head first into this. Not without me, and not without a plan." She smiled. "Your compulsive need to help people is charming. It's one of my favorite things about you. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk to Eda first."
Luz smiled, taking Amity's hand to her cheek. "You're right. Sorry. Okay, Eda first then help." She rounded on Hebridaen who was watching them with a curious expression. "Hey. Mister Hebridaen. You like paincakes?"
"Uh…" the demon looked to Amity, confused. "Yes?"
"She's hard to keep up with," Amity said. "But its worth it to do so."
"Indeed," Hebridaen said. "A question."
"What you got, big guy?" Luz asked, her cheerful smile spilling out.
"You mentioned… Eda?"
"Yep. She's my mentor."
"Ah…"
Amity saw the shift in his weight - one clawed foot moving behind the other.
"And… you are her student?"
"Best Human Witch in the Isles baby."
"Luz…"
"Huh?" Hebridaen had crouched lower and Luz saw his hand drifting back to the sword on his hip. "Oh no…"
"I'd heard rumors she was still alive," Hebridaen said, slowly drawing his sword, the whip in the other hand, pooling out along the ground. "But I didn't realize the Lady of Owls was passing on her cunning to others."
"Wait, it's not like that-"
"Luz, move!"
The whip cracked out and Amity screamed. Luz grabbed her as she fell into Luz's arms, but not before she tossed out a glyph of mist-making.
The thick fog exploded around them, and Luz scooped Amity up in her arms.
"Grimluun, get them!"
Luz didn't know who or what Grimluun was, but she had no intention of sticking around to find out.
"Amity, are you okay?" she asked, even as she ran at a full sprint, dodging trees and underbrush.
Amity groaned. "Ah, yeah. Titan, that hurt." They stopped for a second, Luz putting Amity back on her feet. "I feel… funny."
Luz looked at the wound along Amity's back. The whip had torn right through her shirt, and there were green welts and black veins spreading from it.
"Heh… hey, Amity? Witch blood is supposed to be red, right?"
"Yeah? I mean, kind of. I don't like that you're asking that."
There was a hiss and a small cat-like creature pounced from the trees, bowling Luz over. She shielded her face, expecting claws or teeth, but instead, there was a sharp, burning pain in her side, just under her ribs, and she struggled away from the cat.
It was as black as pitch, with three gleaming green eyes, definitely too many legs, and an overly long tail, ending in a wicked-looking stinger.
"Oh no," Luz said again. She glanced at her side, where a small but definite puncture mark was spreading the same green and black veins along her skin. "Oooh nooo…" That was so many 'oh no's. Too many for the last few minutes.
Just then, Hebridaen stomped out of the mist, frost clinging to his fur. "Do not worry, little witchlings. The poison will not kill you. I cannot take the lives of the innocent. But if the Lady of Owls is one with whom you consort, then I have no choice but to bring you in with her. It brings me no joy."
"Well," Luz said, struggling to her feet. The burning sensation in her side was intense, making her wobble. "This sparks a lot of joy for me." She spun in place, almost falling over, dragging her foot in the soft dirt, then grabbed two of her glyphs and slapped them down on the ring, before falling backward towards Amity.
There was a sudden stillness followed by a massive rush as an air burst materialized over the glyph, sending Hebridaen and Grimluun backward into the underbrush.
"Nice one," Amity said, as they helped each other stand. "My turn." She winced in pain and gestured at the ground. "Abomination, Rise!"
A few purple sparks drifted from her fingers.
Amity stared at her hands then tried again. "Rise!"
Again, her fingers sparked and sputtered, but no abomination heeded her summon.
Luz grabbed Amity's arm and pulled her towards the Owl House.
"I… I can't make a circle," Amity said, panic clear in her voice, spinning her finger again in the air. She'd never been without magic in her life.
"It's okay," Luz said, wincing as she held the stinger wound on her side. "I can. Keep going, I'll slow him down."
"Not a chance." Amity slowed as they entered the clearing in front of the Owl House. "We are together in this. Show me the ice glyph."
Luz nodded. "Titan, you're amazing."
"I know."
Amity took the glyph paper and a stick. "Grab the other side. We'll trap the whole clearing."
"Yes, batata," Luz said, throwing a mock salute and racing off, tracing the circle. "Hooty! Hooty, get Eda!"
The house demon yanked his head out of the ground to see Luz and Amity drawing in the dirt.
"My favorite pastime. Hoot! You want me to get Eda and King in on this? Yay! Mud time for everyone!"
Extending his physics-ignoring body back in through the open door, Luz could hear him yelling - "Eda! King! Amity and Luz found a new friend to play in the mud with me. Come on and join us, hoot hoot!"
She and Amity met just in front of the doorway, just as Hebridaen and Grimluun appeared from the trees.
"How are you still casting, witchling?" He leveled his sword at Luz. "Eda's trickery, no doubt. Always breaking the laws, even of the Isles it seems."
"What's going on?" Eda entered the door frame, King at her heels. "Who is that?"
"I don't know," Luz said, glancing over her's and Amity's handiwork. More than a dozen ice glyphs lay along the ring they had made, just waiting to be charged.
"He said his name was Hebridaen," Amity said, waiting for Luz's signal.
"Lady of Owls," Hebridaen growled, his eyes flashing. "How can you have forgotten?"
"Oh." Eda put her head in her hands. "Titan, it's been…"
"Thirty years, Edalyn, Lady of Owls."
"Would you can it?"
"At least this ex is better looking than Warden Wrath," King chimed in, which got him a swift kick from Eda.
"Stop telling people we dated."
"So, this isn't an angry ex?" Luz asked, acting like she was wiping sweat from her brow. "Whoo, dodged that plot point."
"Actually," Eda said, shrugging, sheepishly. "Me and Heb did go around for a while. Until he found out I was cursed."
"Your reckless behavior injured dozens," Hebridaen said, stepping forward.
Luz and Amity glanced at each other. Just a few more steps.
"You always loved that about me." When he just grunted, Eda's grin turned into a growl.
"I didn't do anything wrong," she snapped. "You and your stupid code always got in the way. Where was there a place for me, huh?"
"I would have… There was always, a chance…" Hebridaen took another step forward, but there was less fire in his tone. Luz and Amity exchanged another look. Maybe Eda could just talk him down?
Eda folded her arms, but hadn't seen the circle either, because she stepped right over it to stand, hautily before the demon knight.
"A chance of what? There's no breaking this curse. I'll have it for the rest of my life. People who actually loved me, the people that I have now, took me in, feathers and all. You just couldn't stand having a beast for a girlfriend."
"That's… not true." Hebridaen gripped his sword again. Grimluun paced just behind him. "But you refused to regulate your condition."
"It doesn't matter," Eda said, holding her hand out for Owlbert to land and shift into her staff. "You're here, trying to take out old grit about me on my kid and her girlfriend. I've called for witch's duels for less."
Hebridaen took a step back at that. "I…"
"Oh, you'll fight as long as its children?" Eda sneered. "Luz is dang good, but I'm still the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles."
"Aw, thanks, Eda," Luz said, clasping her hands.
"Etgay Eadyray," Eda muttered, not catching Luz or Amity's confused faces. Instead she took another step forward. "So, Heb? You going to accept?"
"You know I cannot refute your claim to a duel, Lady of Owls." Hebridaen looked down at his sword and whip. "I must choose fairly. You are unarmed, save your staff. I will not harm your palisman…"
"Fists it is then," Eda said, and Luz finally seemed to catch on. "Kid, hold onto Owlbert for me."
Eda and Hebridaen - having planted his sword in the ground, whip looped over the crossguard - approached, hands at the ready.
"This still seems unfair, Lady of Owls."
"It really isn't, Heb."
Eda doubled over, feathers engulfing her, great wings sprouting from her back, hands and feet turning into claws and talons.
"You… managed to control it?" Hebridaen looked up at Eda, her harpy form taking her high into the air. "But, how?"
"Now!" Eda yelled.
Luz and Amity both stomped on the glyph circle, and a wall of ice rose, curling over into a massive dome, trapping Hebridaen inside.
He let out a howl that sent cracks running the breadth of the dome, making all of them clutch at their ears.
"Trickery! I should have known, Lady of Owls. Never has a truthful word left your tongue. But I need not stoop so low." Green flames danced out of his mouth. He leaned back, sucking in a chestful of air.
"Drat. Forgot he could do that." Folding her wings, Eda dove towards Luz and Amity, just as Hebridaen's gout of fire cascaded over the ice wall. "Get in the house," she commanded, shielding them with her wings. She could already feel the heat on her back, the wicking moisture of melting ice.
"Wait," Luz said, shouldering Amity's weight - the poison had done a number on her. "Where's Hooty?"
They all looked at the front door, where Hooty's body could be seen winding deep into the house. There was a quiver to it, suggesting he was moving about somewhere.
"He'll be fine as long as the house is," Eda said, glancing over her shoulder as Hebridaen paused before taking another deep breath. "Go!"
The ground shook and they all watched as Hebridaen suddenly stumbled, swallowed his jet of flame and stared at the ground.
"What-?" was all he got out before the ground seemingly disappeared, sending him into the darkness of Hooty's gullet as the house demon emerged from the ground.
"Aw… did I miss all the fun?"
"Way to go Hooty!" Eda cheered. "Serves him right coming after you two."
"Eda!"
The Owl Lady turned to see Amity collapse into Luz's arms.
Amity's eyes flickered open to find King inches from her face. She would have swatted him, but her whole body felt like it was made of unchanted abomination clay - sluggish and without strength.
"She's awake," King yelled, making Amity wince.
"Please… no… talking," she made her mouth say.
King made an indignant sound as he was hefted out of the way, replaced - blissfully - with Luz's concerned knot of an expression. She dabbed a cold cloth to Amity's forehead and looked up at Eda.
"So? How long?"
"Sorry, Luz," Eda said gingerly turning around, careful to not knock anything over with her wings. "Unless you want to find me some voles, I'm going to have to make the antidote like this. And it isn't easy."
"What did he do?" Luz asked, trying her best to hide the throbbing pain in her side. They were sitting in the kitchen, Amity laying on the table, and Eda busying herself with a cauldron on the stove.
"Hebridaen hunts dangerous demons and witches. His whole order of self-proclaimed knights use a type of venom that dilutes a witch's bile sack. Makes it nearly impossible to cast a spell, any spell. It's not deadly, but it isn't pleasant."
Eda grunted in exasperation as she knocked over a can of something, spilling it. "Hang and blast it."
"Here, let me help," Luz said, hopping down and scooping the powder back into the can. "Would it be easier for you to tell me what to do?"
Eda looked over her clawed hands and nodded. "Probably best, yeah. Just… I've not shown you much potion magic… This is my own concoction, so it's a bit… cobbled together."
"Just show me what to do." Eda didn't miss her concerned look toward Amity. "I won't mess it up."
Over the next twenty minutes or so, Eda directed Luz around the kitchen, gathering, slicing and crushing ingredients. While Luz marveled at just how knowledgeable Eda was about potion magic - not that she didn't think Eda wasn't good at it, but to experience it was something else - Eda made note of how focused Luz was.
Gone were the distracted little side questions, or numerous 'whoa's and 'what's that's'.
As they watched the potion bubble over the stove, slowly turning from a brown sludge to a beautiful sapphire blue syrup, Eda put her hand on Luz's shoulder.
"Great job kid."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Eda used a ladle to stir, taking a small sniff as she pulled it out. "We have another few minutes. Think you can manage the rest? I need to hunt some voles down for the Owl if I want to be me again, any time soon."
"I… yeah, I think so." Luz looked over the hastily scribbled notes - given the number of crossed out sections and stains, along with little doodles in the margin, this was first written down by a much younger Eda. "Just need to make sure its 'blue and true'. Right?"
"You got it." Eda looked over at Amity, who was dozing after some of Hooty's sleeping-nettle cookies. "Don't worry. She'll be okay."
"I… if I do it wrong…"
Eda took Luz by the shoulders and stared her in the eye. It was tough to see her so rattled. Yesterday had done a number on her, and she still didn't really know why. But that wouldn't stop her from trying.
"The worst possible thing that can happen to Boots is that she makes a mess on my floor or speaks backwards for a day. I've done both while perfecting it. Be patient. You can rush a lot of magic, half-ass it all the way and still get something out of it. Potion making isn't like that. But it's also more art than math. You have a talent for magic, Luz. Even without a sack of bile around your heart, you're as good as they come. Trust yourself."
"Thanks, Eda." Luz hid her face as she hugged her.
Eda just patted her head, gently. Not too long ago the mere proximity of another person would be enough to send her running. But Luz's hugs had a way of getting to you, like the common mold. "No worries, kiddo. I'll be back soon."
"Eda?"
The Owl Lady stopped by the doorway, glancing over her shoulder at Luz.
"Why do you have this potion?" Luz looked over the recipe again, then at the cellar door, where Hooty had pelleted Hebridaen. "I'd thought you two… you know… dated. What happened?"
"Long story kid. Maybe later. Let's just say, I got a taste of being magicless for a whole week. It's not fun. Remember to take a spoonful yourself. It's not deadly, but it lasts a long time. Hurts like the dickens the whole while."
Luz sat down on the stool next to Amity's head, running her fingers through purple hair.
Amity's face - twisted in pain and tears - relaxed as she felt Luz's hand, finally drifting off into peaceful sleep.
