I'm so glad to see that the first chapter had such positive reception. And after a month of waiting, here's chapter 2.

Also the cover image was drawn by me which shows of this AU's Luz. You can get a better look on my DeviantArt account (link in bio).


Luz stepped inside of Eda's house and was met with a dark room where the only source of light being the sunlight coming through the door behind her and a nearby window which she noticed quickly; that allowed cool air to enter that felt satisfying after being under the hot sun outside. Then out of curiosity, Luz pulled the door towards her and looked behind, wanting to see what the other side looks like with Hooty's face located outside. She saw that on the back of the door was a peephole with two lenses in the middle of what looked like the back of an owl's body. Not a real owl, of course (which Luz was relieved by).

"Welcome to my humble abode." said Eda as she came in behind Luz and closed the door. The Owl Lady clapped her hands and the room was brightened by the flames of thousands of candles on the walls and hanging from chandeliers.

Luz looked up in wonder as she bears witness to the almost normal living room with a fireplace on the far wall and few couches set against the wooden walls with closed chests sitting in the room's corners. The biggest one on Luz's right had a giant version of Eda's wanted poster framed on the wall above like a picture. In front of the couch sat a wooden coffee table with a few sheets of paper littered around (some being more wanted posters) and a lone coffee mug that looks like it was recently used resting on a coaster.

Along the walls were shelves that that held bottles containing unknown liquids of different colors, skulls of creatures that looks nothing close to human, dusty crystal balls, tied bags & sacks full of whatever mysterious supplies lay inside (with a few bags have something moving inside), assorted spell books, and things that Luz recognizes from home such as a boombox and a group of baseball player bobbleheads. Other than shelves, weapons such as axes and swords were hanging by handles, some more skulls, smaller picture frames of people whom Luz didn't recognize, and a foam finger you'd see as sports games; the last one surprising Luz the most.

She then watched as normal broomsticks stood up on their bristles and began sweeping the floors which reminded Luz of an old cartoon about a mouse messing with magic. Luz then heard a great screeching noise coming from above. She looked up thinking it was Hooty only to instead find what was either a painting or carving of some owl beast on the ceiling.

Luz felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Eda asked.

Still looking at her surroundings, Luz lazily nodded.

"Yeah." she replied, seemingly distracted.

Eda took pride in Luz's answer. "Of course it is. It's my place."

The Owl Lady walked passed Luz and headed towards to what Luz assumed to be the hallway, she decided to pick with Eda for a bit.

"Impressive for a house that looks like a mix between a creepy antique shop and grandma's place." Luz joked with a sly grin and crossed her arms.

Eda made an abrupt stop. Her head craned to the side where her right eyes was narrowed into a slit, staring at Luz.

A chill went down Luz's spine, but she kept her smile. Though the thought of her making a witch with possibly no sense of humor angry made Luz want to bolt for the front door and hide somewhere in the woods.

But Eda countered Luz's fears by smiling back with her eye now half-lidded.

"I like your charm, Luz. You remind me of me when I was your age."

Now feeling relieved, Luz sighed and right as the thought of maybe things here aren't so bad, she felt her whole body vibrate from sudden thudding footsteps that shook the house.

"Eda?! What is that?" Luz asked frantically as she tried to stay on her feet from each thud.

Eda looked rather calm with no care in the world as she examined her fingernails.

"Oh, that's just my roommate." she said, unconcerned by what could be potential death.

Before Luz can say anything else, she heard a booming voice coming from the hallway.

"WHO DARES INRUDE UPON I, -" as the frightening voice spoke, Luz saw a giant shadow coming close to the doorway. She could only stare in horror at whatever it could be approaching.

"-The king of demons?" The once dark voice was replaced with more higher and less threatening. And instead of a horrid monster, a small golden-furred creature which looked strikingly similar to a little dog, but with some kind of skull on his head with two horns on top, one being broken.

The dog demon was wrapped in a towel with little ducks on it and held up a rubber duckie and gave it a squeeze which caused it to squeak. His red & blue eyes giving an intense stare.

Luz gasped. She cupped her hand over her mouth as her eyes sparkled.

The little demon took notice and immediately felt pride.

"Ha-ha! I see my power has caused this... random visitor to become awestruck." said the little demon cockily.

But while he was fueling his own ego, the little demon failed to notice Luz quickly approaching before being scooped in her arms.

"Eh?" he grunted.

"Aye, que lindo!" Luz gushed in Spanish. "Look at this wittle guy!" she continued in a cutsie voice.

Now terrified by the stranger calling him cute, the demon makes futile attempts to escape Luz's hold. He turned to Eda and reached out.

"Eda, help! This monster thing has got me!" he called.

With a laugh, Eda took the demon away from Luz and held him in her own arms.

"Luz, this is King. King, this is Luz, a human." Eda introduced.

King sunk himself closer to Eda, now afraid of Luz who approached.

"Do you want me to give you a treat?" Luz asked lovingly.

King shielded himself with his little arms and was about to beg for mercy only to realize what the human just said.

"Treats, you say?" he asked, interested.

"You eat enough treats as it is." said Eda, glancing at King's bulged belly. "And besides, she has no time for that."

Luz's smile faded as realization struck her. She held up her left arm and pulled back the jacket sleeve to reveal a black wristwatch.

"Yeah, you're right. I've been here for almost an hour. I got to get home before my bus arrives if it hasn't already."

Luz then looked up at Eda who was staring back. "It was nice meeting you two, but I have to go home. So if you could open that portal to send me back, I would greatly appreciate that."

Instead of complying with Luz's wishes, Eda's eyes darted around the room revealing that Luz's needs isn't top priority at the moment..

"Well, I would. But there's something we could use your help with." Eda began.

Luz scowled. "What? But I helped you with those people back at the market, so shouldn't you do something for me now? Like sending me home for example?" she said, not liking what could come from this.

Eda raised one of her index fingers up. "Actually, I did do something for you. I didn't leave you to be taken by the guards so you technically owe me now." she smiled.

"T-That didn't count!" Luz retorted, growing frustrated.

"It did." Eda disagreed while presenting Luz with the same smug smile the latter gave Eda earlier.

"Woah, Eda, why are you doing this?" King asked, surprised by his friend basically keeping Luz hostage.

Eda leaned close to King with her red lips approaching his right ear which perked as she spoke quietly into it.

Luz couldn't make out what the witch was whispering, but it seemed to of caught King's interest as his furry tail wagged in excitement. What Luz once thought would be someone on her side a few seconds ago is now similar to the woman keeping her here.

King's gaze went to Luz. "Hey~" he smiled coyly.

"No!" Luz refused, throwing her hands in the air. "You both are keeping me here against my will and expect me to do a solid without question? Forget it!" she fumed.

"C'mon! You don't even know what it is." King defended.

But Luz wasn't having any of it as she looked at Eda with a hateful glare. "You better open that portal right now or I'll march back into town and bring those soldiers here!" Luz threatened.

The smile Eda once wore was now gone and was replaced with an icy stare. "If you want to do something stupid like that then I should warn you that I don't take punks ratting me out too well." Eda warned with a hint of venom.

Eda's threat did make Luz's blood run cold, but she kept a brave face and stood her ground. And if this is it for Luz, then she hopes that her mom can learn to forget her and move on in life.

Before the two women can speak further, King hopped out of Eda's arms and approached Luz with his little legs.

"Luz? I know that it's a trashy move to keep you here for our own benefit, but we really need you for this! There's a prison located far from here called The Conformatorium and-"

"You want to take me to a prison?" Luz barked, her patience now long gone. "Why? So I can be bait?"

"No, nothing like that. There's a room filled with goodies along with something I hold dear that was taken from me." King explained.

"Then why don't you two go get it? I've seen Eda in action earlier and she seems capable enough to get it easily." Luz replied, motioning towards Eda.

"Seems?" Eda scowled.

"Because it's all protected behind a barrier that repels witches and demons, and the only thing that can breach it is a human." King spoke, tugging Luz's pantleg.

"A portal that only a human can pass?" Luz asked. "Why is that a thing?"

"Well, not much humans come here if not at all. So why not make something that can't repel the minority?" said Eda.

Luz hung her head back and sighed. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?" she asked.

"No." Eda replied simply, causing Luz to groan again but louder.

"Alright, but before I agree with anything, what is it that I need to get?" Luz asked, now willing to risk her life just to get home.

"My crown!" King said happily.

"Crown? Like a king's cro- OOOHHHHHH! I get it." Luz chuckled.

"So is that a yes?" King perked.

Luz looked down at King who was so filled with hope. She'd hate to disappoint him.

"King, is it possible that you can just get a new crown?" she asked kindly, stroking his golden fur.

King's tail stopped wagging as a sad look formed on his face. "W-Well, no. That crown's special to me. Very special."

Eda knelt next to a gloomy King and looked up at Luz.

"It's true," Eda spoke, she raised both of her hands and drew a hollow circle of light out of thin air. The middle where Luz could see Eda on the other side darkened. "King was once a mighty ruler of demons," The circle lightened up and to reveal a giant creature that looked similar to King, but was the size of Godzilla with a large crown on his head.

"Until his Crown of Power was stolen from him, reducing him to... this." Eda finished narrating and looked down at King who was enjoying a back scratch provided by Luz who was on her knees and smiling down at him.

"I'd say it's an improvement." Luz smiled down at King who was trying to hide his blush.

This caused Eda to grin momentarily before she continued the tale. "The crown is being held by Warden Wrath, a demented tyrant who abuses his power, and locked away behind a magical force field as mentioned before which you need to break through." Eda finishes as the visual magic story circle fades away.

"So if you help us get the crown, we'll send you home after. I promise." said Eda.

Luz scanned Eda's face for any sign of deceit until she felt two little paws press against her legs. She looked down to see King staring up at her with big shiny eyes,

"Please?" King asked sweetly.

The hard heart that Luz claims to have immediately melted at the cute sight. "Fine," she sighed, picking up King. "Anything for the cutest thing in the world!"

"Aaggh!" King hacked, swatting Luz away.

That settles it," Eda began as she stood up. "It'll get dark soon so we have little time to mess around."

She then looked at Luz. "I hope you're good at running, kid, cause you might need to."

"Oh, don't worry, I had my fair share of running from the mall police back at home." Luz replied playfully.

Eda laid her head back and laughed only to stop seconds later. "I have no idea what a mall is."

King tapped Luz's shoulder to get her attention.

"Don't worry, Luz, this'll be a quick & easy; in-and-out job. We'll probably be back here in an hour laughing our tails off."

"That is if Luz doesn't die." Eda smiled morbidly.

A look of dread appeared on Luz's face as King replied by yelling at Eda.

"EDA!"

"Oh come on, I was just messing with her! Geez."


Chapter 1 Reviews:

DragonEmperor999: "Awesomeness!"

Thanks!

OMAC001: "Not bad so far. Can't wait to see more."

Glad you like it so far.

Crosshot: "Not bad. And don't worry: things always change between a concept and the final product. What matters is that this is finally a reality."

Thanks, that means a lot!

Helljumper206: "This was fun to read. I look forward to see more."

Thanks!

JediJaras: "Enjoyed this, and eagerly awaiting more (within reason, of course)."

Thank You