"Well, well, well; look at what we have here." The Platinum Guard began in a teasing tone. "Two wild witches." She pointed at Darius and Eberwolf, with their staves at the ready. "A pair of escapees." Then to Viney and Puddles, the latter protecting the former. "And…" Then she looked over at Hunter, who had his fists up. "Whomever you're supposed to be." She turned her attention back to the wild witches. "Y'know—"
An ear-piercing shriek interrupted the Platinum Guard as Puddles got away from Viney. "Puddles, no!" Viney called out as her griffon charged at the enemy, transitioning into a pounce. But by simply pointing her staff at the griffon, the once-thought-to-be-mythical beast was trapped in a translucent blue bubble, floating helplessly.
"Well, that was rude." The Platinum Guard said.
"If you hurt her, I swear to the Titan, I'll—" Viney began.
"Relax, I won't have to hurt her as long as she behaves." The Platinum Guard pointed her staff at a wall, and the bubble rolled over to it as Puddles continued to screech. "Now, where was I?" She rubbed the chin of her mask, then snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah." She returned her attention to Darius and Eberwolf. "I was going to say that if the two of you surrender right now, I'm sure Empress Clawthorne will give you a light sentence."
"And she'll probably want us to convince Raine to surrender Latissa's independence, as well." Darius snapped back.
"It's inevitable, Mr. Deamonne. If Belos were still running things, your rebellious little town would've been reduced to ash already. Just make it easier for everyone and consider the empress's generosity."
"A lenient dictator is still a dictator." Growls of agreement came from Eberwolf. "And Raine would rather risk their life fighting you than give up without one."
The masked witch sighed. "The hard way it is then." She took a more combative stance. "Let's see how good you are without your lil' abomination tricks."
"See for yourself." Darius spun Bat Queen, forming a pink spell circle on the ground. An abomination's arm emerged from it, syncing with Darius's movements. As he pointed Bat Queen at the Platinum Guard, the arm extended to grab her.
However, blue energy enveloped her, and, in a flash, she teleported right in front of Darius. He blocked her incoming strike with Bat Queen and pushed her away, but she teleported again. She reappeared behind him, but Darius turned around just in time to cast a barrier spell against the Guard's azure fireball. But the force was still enough to knock the man back.
"Darius!" Hunter called out.
"I'm fine, Boy." He responded as he straightened himself and cast another spell with Bat Queen. Pillars of abomination sludge erupted from the ground and converged on the Platinum Guard. The armored opponent teleported to avoid the first three strikes but could not react in time to the others' pummeling her into a wall. With a circular motion, the pillars came together, molded themselves into a boulder, and launched it toward the Platinum Guard.
As soon as she regained her bearings, she saw the mound rolling towards her and knew it was too big to avoid. She struck the ground with the butt of her staff, and the floor she stood on broke apart and reforged itself into a half-circular ramp. The boulder rolled up the ramp and flew out the other side, heading right for Hunter and Viney!
"Look out!" Hunter shouted as he tackled Viney out of the way, narrowly escaping the attack as the boulder smashed through and made a hole in the ground where they once stood. "You al—" Hunter froze, and a blush enveloped his face, as did one with Viney, upon both teens realizing their position. "Sorry!" The completely flustered Hunter jumped to his feet.
"It… It's fine." Viney assured, still red-faced.
Eberwolf was rolling their eyes as they growled something to Darius. "Completely agree." He answered.
"Don't forget about me!" The Platinum Guard reminded them as she manifested a wave of stone spikes, popping out of the ground on their way to impale the wild witches.
Darius and Eberwolf jumped out of the way, the latter snarling as they held Colt in his staff form and spun him to cast a spell. A portal opened, and a swarm of bat-like creatures emerged and screeched as they flapped and fluttered to their enemy.
Blue magical energy enveloped the Platinum Guard once more. Instead of teleporting, she barreled like a cannonball through the swarm. She parted the sea of bats until she arrived right in front of Eberwolf, who did not even have time to flinch as they were kicked in the face. The furry demon yipped as they were sent hurtling into a wall, dropping Colt.
"Eber!" Darius shouted. His eyes glowed as he summoned a giant abomination fist that slammed into the Platinum Guard like a runaway train. However, luck was on her side, as she managed to get a barrier up to stop herself from being crushed.
With little whimpers, Colt returned to his manticore form and flew over to check on his master. "Colt says Eberwolf is hurt." Bat Queen translated for Darius.
The tall man turned to Viney and Hunter. "You two, make yourselves useful and get Eberwolf and Colt home."
"What about you?" Hunter questioned.
"I'm giving you a chance to leave, Boy. I'd take it if I were you!" Darius applied more pressure to his spell, keeping the Platinum Guard pinned underneath the sludgy fist. The fist slowly pushed back as the Platinum Guard expanded the barrier around her. If he was not already, Darius was starting to get frustrated with her.
"Hunter, you grab Eber. I'm going to get Puddles." Viney instructed, rushing off to free her griffon before Hunter could say anything.
"I guess I'll get Eber, then," Hunter said as he ran over to the orange-furred demon, kneeling to their level. Eberwolf looked a bit dizzy, struggling to stay conscious. "Must've been one hell of a kick? You good?" Eber grumbled something as they rubbed the back of their head. "I'm gonna take that as a no."
"Come on, you stupid bubble!" Viney shouted, trying to pry a hole into the barrier. "Let my Puddles go!" Colt made a trilling sound and flew over to Viney. The girl turned to notice him and his transformation back into a staff, wanting her to use him to free Puddles. "I never used a staff before, but first time for everything." The brunette-haired girl spun Colt, forming a spell circle and casting it on the bubble, contorting and warping, seemingly in response to the action. A small hole began to appear near the middle of it. "Hang on, Puddles; Mama's gonna get you out!"
"Oh no, you don't!" The Platinum Guard declared as her barrier expanded faster and teleported. The abomination's fist slammed right into the wall. The Platinum Guard rematerialized right behind Viney, who had no way of defending herself at the moment.
"No!" Hunter shouted and, on pure instinct, ran to Viney with Eberwolf in his arms. He was not going to make it in time to stop the Platinum Guard from hurting her. Allow me. Hunter heard the voice again. Before he could even think about it, a red aura surrounded him. In a flash of crimson light, his fist suddenly made contact with the Platinum Guard's mask, knocking her away.
Viney finished pulling the barrier open, and Puddles was freed from her cage. The griffon screeched with joy and began licking Viney like a dog would its owner. "It's okay, Puddles. It's okay." Viney turned around and jumped upon realizing Hunter was right behind her. "How'd you get over here so fast?"
"I… I don't know." Hunter admitted, but he had suspicions, eyeing his satchel and the journal inside. You're welcome.
"Well, that was unexpected," said the Platinum Guard, adjusting her mask as she looked directly at Hunter. "Did anyone ever teach you that hitting a girl is rude?"
"I don't think it counts when said girl tries to kill us," Hunter replied, handing the still unconscious Eberwolf to Viney and Puddles.
"Bastante justa. And I don't know how you pulled off that little trick of yours, but realmente lo necesitarás."
"Wha—?" Before Hunter could finish his question, the Platinum Guard appeared in front of him with flashing blue. On instinct, the flashing red teleported him away from her incoming strike.
"No puedes correr para siempre." She continued to taunt and teleport again, with Hunter doing the same. They kept teleporting around the room, traveling so fast that all Viney, Darius, and Bat Queen could see were just blue and red streaks bouncing all over the room.
Darius was dizzy from watching them, and he and Bat Queen came to a non-verbal agreement that this had gone on long enough. Darius spun Bat Queen, channeling the spell, waiting for the right moment to act. "Come on, Boy." He whispered. "Give us a sign."
Hunter's movements started to slow down, and the Platinum Guard had him right where she wanted. "Gotcha!" She shouted, ready to strike. This was it! Darius flung the spell at the Platinum Guard, morphing into a sphere of abomination sludge, knocking the Platinum Guard's staff out of her hand. "What?"
"We're leaving now!" Darius ordered, hopping onto Bat Queen and flying over to pick up Hunter. He grabbed the teen off the ground, not allowing him a moment to get comfortable as the wind rushed past them, out the hole the boulder had previously made to freedom. Puddles screeched as Viney rode her, holding onto the griffon with one hand and Eberwolf and Colt with the other, following behind the wild witch and human.
The Platinum Guard ran over to her sludge-encased staff and, with all her might, managed to pry it free. She approached the edge of the opening, watching her enemies escape. "Bueno, eso es genial." She grumbled, seeing they were so far that she could not catch up with them on her staff. "Hopefully, the empress is in a good mood when I tell her about this."
Raine carried King in their arms up the stairs and into his room, laying him on the mattress. He tuckered himself out after the game of catch between parent and child. "Sleep tight, my baby boy," Raine said softly, giving him a quick peck on his skull. King looked like a puppy and preferred to sleep like one, too, curling into an adorable little ball with his tail between his hind legs. Their wife used to joke that they would not have to spend snails getting him a pillow or bed sheets.
As Raine went to turn the lights off and let him sleep, they turned to a framed picture hung on the wall. The image was one of their favorite memories, of a photo with King three months after adoption, so small he looked more like a plushy than he does now. He was sitting on a couch with a younger Raine, who looked not that different from their current self, but with fewer wrinkles. On the opposite side of the couch was a woman with fiery red hair with hints of grey, yellow eyes, and porcelain skin. Seeing his wife, Eda Clawthorne, former head of the Emperor's Coven, so full of life resurfaced feelings of melancholy. Belos had to be stopped; they knew that and had come to terms with why she made the choice she did... but... "I wish you were here to see him grow up."
"Mx. Whispers."
"Ah!" Raine jumped as they heard their name called and looked to see Katya standing in front of them.
The witch put her hand to her mouth. "I didn't mean to startle you." She apologized.
"It's all right. Did you need something? Please tell me Amber didn't do something illegal."
A soft smile showed itself on the young woman's face. "No, nothing like that. Darius, Eberwolf, and Hunter are back. Darius said he had something to tell you."
Raine huffed through their nose, hoping Darius came with some good news and not more trouble for Latissa. "Thank you, Katya. I'll go see them." Raine turned the light off in King's room and closed it, leaving it open just a crack so they could hear him if necessary.
Raine entered their office and sat behind their desk, eyes on the closed door that Darius, Eberwolf, and Hunter were no doubt behind. "You can come in." They spoke. Darius opened the door and was the first to enter with Bat Queen perched on his shoulder; next came Hunter, followed by Eberwolf. Much to Raine's surprise, the short, furry witch had Colt with them, snuggled in their hair. They had an ice pack against their head, too. But more importantly, if they had Colt, then that must mean… "Please tell me you didn't break into the Conformatorium."
"Okay, we won't," Hunter answered.
"What were you thinking, Darius?" An understandably ticked Raine asked the tall man, face burning red.
"I was thinking of seeing what he could do," Darius said, glancing at Hunter. "And I say he is worth keeping around."
"Oh, yeah, just talk about me like I'm a lost puppy," Hunter grumbled, only to catch Eberwolf giving him a deathly glare. "Um… no offense."
"We are fighting against the Empress's Coven, after all." Darius reminded.
"But we don't have the numbers to match Lilith if she decides to retaliate." Raine reminded, taking off their glasses to rub their eyes with their forefinger and thumb. "While I'm happy Colt's back with Eber, it doesn't change the fact we need to pick our battles carefully."
"Well, maybe you'd like to learn that Dr. Noceda and the Platinum Guard were at the Conformatorium."
That seemed to grab Raine's attention. "The Platinum Guard I get, but why would the empress send her right-hand woman?"
"The Empress's Coven's up to something. I don't know what, but I think it warrants further investigation."
"We'll discuss this more tomorrow morning. You all look like you could use some rest."
"I'm not gonna argue with that," Hunter replied with a yawn.
"I could use a nap," Darius admitted, with Eberwolf also yawning. "Have a good night, Raine."
"You, too." Raine wished the trio before they departed.
On his way to Darius's and Eberwolf's abode, Hunter spotted Viney placing a saddle onto Puddles as the griffon ate something from a feed bag like a horse. "Heading out, already?" Hunter asked the girl.
She turned to face him, nodding her head. "Yeah, my folks are probably worried about where I am." She spoke. "They're probably out searching for me right now."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, won't the Empress's Coven be looking for you?"
"Well, compared to you guys, I don't think I'm on the coven's most wanted list." She laughed. "It's no problem."
"Touché," Darius answered. "And I know Latissa is filling up with more people trying to get out from under the empress's thumb, but there should be room for you and your family if you want."
"Ah, you don't worry about me; my family's like Puddles. We can't stay cooped up in one place forever. But thanks."
Eberwolf barked something as Colt came to life. The manticore palisman flew over to Puddles, who stopped eating to address him. "What's this about?" Hunter asked Viney. Before the girl could answer, they both saw the griffon and manticore touch heads, letting out whimpers.
"They're saying goodbye." Viney guessed, with Eberwolf yapping some more as if confirming. "They said Colt told them that Puddles looked after him while imprisoned." She walked over to pet her griffon. "You're gonna make a good mom someday."
"Well, if this is the last time we see each other," Hunter awkwardly began. "Then… I guess… I just want to say… it was nice meeting you."
"I wouldn't stay that this is the last time." The brunette chuckled. "If you're ever in Bonesborough, you might see me there." Viney mounted Puddles just as the griffon and palsiman finished their goodbyes, and Colt returned to Eberwolf's side. Puddles screeched and took a running start, flapping her wings furiously and leaped off the ground, rising higher in the air as the griffon and her rider flew off into the distance.
"It looks like you've made your first friend your age," Darius commented.
"Yeah, I guess," Hunter replied, realizing that he had made not only a friend on the Isles but for the first time in his life, then yawned.
"Before I take you to my home, we all have questions for you."
Hunter looked at all their expectant faces, confused. "What kind?"
"For starters, you can explain how you were able to perform magic at the Conformatorium. Humans should be incapable of such a thing." Hunter was not only stared at by Darius but also by Eberwolf and Colt, and a recently awakened Bat Queen.
"Please tell us, child." Bat Queen said, sounding concerned for him.
Hunter rubbed the back of his head. Perhaps they deserve to know about the journal. He knows nothing about it and seems to know a lot about him. It could very well be dangerous. "Well, I—" You can't tell them about the journal, Caleb. If you do, they will take it away. You need my power if you wish to survive here, and you know it. "I'm… not sure. It just happened." He said it as if he were dazed.
The witches and palismen looked at Hunter. They probably know he is lying. "Well, whatever the case, we'll worry about it another day," Darius replied. "You must protect yourself, and we won't always be with you." Eberwolf yapped in agreement.
"But we'll keep watch. Make sure it and you are safe." Bat Queen added.
"Um, thanks." The teenager replied.
"Come, the sooner we get home, the sooner we can go to bed," Darius said, leading the way. "And I, of all people, need my beauty sleep." Eberwolf and Hunter followed behind the man and the palisman on his shoulder. The blonde teen now felt guilty that he had to lie to them. Don't worry, Caleb. A small lie is worth the power. Trust me.
Well, here's the next chapter after months of going quiet. Aside from long hours at my job, my college work has been one writing assignment after the other. The last thing I wanted to do after all that work was more writing, even if it was for fun. So, I've been working on this at a snail's pace. For those wondering, Huntlow is still the central pairing; Hunter and Viney are just friends. I can't make any promises that the next chapter will come out faster; I'll expand on how these Boiling Isles differ from canon. Also, looking forward to Oct. 15.
Please favorite, follow, and leave a review; feedback is appreciated. And feel free to leave suggestions to help improve the story.