Author's note: I know. I know. This one may be shorter than the rest of the chapters but I had writer's block and was anxious to write it down.
Rest assured I have a pretty good idea for what will come next in the next chapters especially for Hollow mind and King's tide, I've chosen where they'll be by then. As for any sport in a storm, you're gonna have to be patient.
Aurelie knew the only other way for potential allies to help her stop an incoming genocide would be to tell her story. She began with her discovering the Titan's domain.
Following Malak's advice, she made sure to translate her entries from German to English. Hopefully once they read the entire book, they'd have a clue on her intentions and why.
The rest would be up to them.
Present day
"They may be your enemies," Aurelie had said curtly once to her husband. "But not mine. Nor do I believe," she added in a rising voice, "are they enemies of humans, either. They have not harmed any human visitors, nor we them – at least not where I lived. None of us even believed they existed. Furthermore I refuse to call the others inhabitants of this world, demons. I've had unfortunate run ins with true demons and I've witnessed what they can do!"
"You speak of your… pursuers back before you set foot in the Demon Realm?" Belos inquired, his ears had pricked up at the last sentence.
"I refuse to refer to the world that had become my safe haven as such."
"Yes, you've dubbed it the Titan's domain since you first found it didn't you?"
"I have. And I shall continue to refer to it as such."
She did not know Belos remained intrigued at her past intending to find out more.
Aurelie soon noticed that Darius was suspicious of Belos' motives for the Day of Unity. Since he became Coven leader of the Abomination coven, Aurelie initially he'd be one of those vain, temperamental fops with no such patience for children whatsoever. She was greatly surprised to see that he knew a lot more about Oziel's welfare than he would divulge. However Darius remained rather aloof with Hunter, but that's expected in some way.
She'd been present from a hidden seat box viewing the official confirmation of the new Bard Coven leader: Raine Whispers, in light Scooter Crane's retirement.
A quite cordial, bespectacled musician with medium brown skin and mint-green hair with white streaks on the bottom and green eyes. However talented they were, however, they were also rather bashful about public events.
Raine pulled down hood and faced the camera. "Uh, I am honored to work with Emperor Belos in preparation for the Day of Uni-bee." They blushed at their own mistake. "Uh, I mean, Uni-ly! I mean, uh—oh no, this is going all wrong. Get me outta here!" The poor individual ran off stage in embarrassment.
Darius sighed in exasperation. "Just cut the feed."
A few days after, thanks to Darius and Eberwolf, Raine was discovered to be leading a small group of rebels. As the two are distracted by King's message and Eda and Luz crying, Raine manages to escape, but they are quickly captured by Kikimora and her Abomatons.
Kikimora taunted from atop the shoulder. "Leaving so soon?"
"I told you we didn't need help!" Darius sneered as he and Eberwolf walked over. "So, get that ugly thing out of my face. And tell Alador he's a hack, while you're at it."
"Emperor Belos was rather upset to learn that you had a hand in the recent raid incidents." Kikimora commented.
Raine smiled defiantly. "Guess I can look forward to my own petrification, huh?"
"No." Kikimora responded. "It'd be too much of a hassle to find a replacement." Her hair which was shaped like a hand raised a finger, causing Raine's coven sigil to glow. Red lines spread from it to begin them in a vine cocoon.
"The Emperor needs you alive and well the Day of Unity. But until then, night-night." Kikimora waved before the bard leader lost consciousness.
Since then, Raine was kept under watch.
Hunter had spent most of his observations of the little red bird believing he'll attack him when he lets his guard down. He started to come around to the palisman when he shares some of the berries Hunter got for him to eat.
Days later, Belos was hard at work for the portal had been completely rebuilt. He had an Abomaton inject a green substance into the door lock before using a pieced together key to open it. However, the replacement key instantly crumbled to dust. Nearby, Hunter observes the test when the little red bird palisman flew to him, chirping softly.
Hunter attempted to wave him away. "Shoo!"
At the same time, Oziel had been passing and caught sight of the glowing coming from the inside of the chamber. When he got closer, he was delighted to see the little red bird palisman again, however he and Hunter were quickly silenced when Emperor Belos suddenly spoke. "Would you like to see how it works?"
Hunter gasped and quickly hid the bird palisman before approaching.
"I didn't mean to hide, Emperor Belos." Hunter said.
Belos was unmasked, he turned to Hunter with hooded eyes. "We found every piece of the door. But without the power of the real key, it refuses to open."
Oziel had walked right up to his father, looking up at the portal. "Is this a new invention?" he questioned.
Belos bent down and scooped up Oziel in his free arm, cradling the little boy against his hip with a surprising amount of practice.
"More than that, it's something that can take us to the human realm." His father answered.
"You mean the place you and Mommy lived in?" asked Oziel.
"Is it true that rain doesn't boil in the human realm?" inquired Hunter.
"It is. You know, I've been there before. Did I ever tell you that?" Belos smiled wistfully.
Hunter shook his head.
"The trees there are green, the nights are quiet... " Belos described, "I look forward to seeing it again. Were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?"
"The operation at the knee, why did you switch me out with Kikimora?" Hunter had asked.
Belos replied. "Everyone has a use, Hunter. Kikimora has her intricate little plans, the scouts carry out orders, and you... well, the Titan has big plans for you, and it would such a hassle to find a replacement. So, right now, you can be useful by staying safe in the castle."
He escorted Hunter and Oziel out of the room to a waiting Aurelie.
"And I believe it's past your bedtime." Aurelie said to her son and nephew.
"But I'm not sleepy." Oziel yawned, as he was passed to her.
"I think you are." Belos responds, gently ruffling his son's hair.
"No, I'm not..." Oziel protested softly, dozing off in his mother's arms.
Hunter said earnestly. "If this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear I can do better!"
He believed he was being sidelined because of his previous failure, and while Belos says that he's meant for something bigger, Hunter hasn't been given any other reason to think otherwise.
Belos only smiled slightly, "Good night, Hunter." And he closed the door as he bid his wife and child goodnight.
Unsatisfied, Hunter turns and runs off when Aurelie was distracted.
However, Aurelie had a bone or two to pick with her husband. She could hear him in the bedroom. She paused outside to steel herself and then threw open the door. "I don't want a governess for Oziel."
Belos turned away from the mirror.
"I heard it said you were considering a governess. I don't want one. We don't need one."
"Why are you upset? It was merely an idle discussion. However, Oziel has continuously made a bad habit of wandering into dangerous areas."
Aurelie was aghast. "You are considering it!"
"Not without your consent. However one cannot read experience. Inexperience is dangerous. People, left unchecked, will revolt. Walls and borders, unguarded, will be attacked."
Her hands clenched at her sides. "Oziel is still young and restless, all children become curious at someone point or another." She crossed the room and took his hand. "Hunter is already trying to find more ways to grow up too soon, yet he's still young." The boy wanted to be worthy of his uncle's admiration, but is terribly hurt whenever he's brushed aside. "Oziel is younger still and I want to look after him as long as he needs us. You're gone so often and we're company for each other." She whispered, "Please... Phillip."
Belos gently stroked her hair. "I want only what's best for him. You know how hard I work to make sure you and Oziel have a good life. But I'm going to need more from you." A flicker of excitement lit his face. "It's the key. I've been waiting for years for an opening like this. There's a brighter future ahead now."
Several hours later, Hunter returned to the castle with a stained scout's uniform and the portal key. Part of the blue substance – which Aurelie later learned was Titan's blood- had leaked out. Hunter handed the key to his uncle, however the reaction he'd gotten wasn't what he hoped for.
Aurelie had confronted him, the teenage boy winced but calmed when Aurelie pulled him right in for a tight embrace.
"I'm very disappointed in you but I was also terrified. Hunter, what you did today was dangerous. You know that don't you?" she addressed her nephew.
Since he was told to remain in the castle, Hunter could've just gone back home empty-handed and nobody would've said anything. But he's so blinded by devotion and dark philosophy that it doesn't even cross his mind.
Aurelie reminded him that she and Oziel still love him regardless and were worried when he was gone. She continues to be concerned for Hunter's well-being and Oziel's.
One month before the Day of Unity
Once again it was time for the Coven day parade. Oziel was especially excited since he'll be introduced for the first time since his birth.
Terra Snapdragon has been keeping Raine Whispers drugged with a tea that kept him from remembering important events regarding his rebellion and Eda until the Day of Unity. Hence, a failed rescue plan on Eda's part.
Now, Kikimora, Raine, and Terra stand on a podium in front of a crowd. Eda, Luz, Amity, King, and Hooty watch from a rooftop.
Kikimora addressed the crowd, "Um, thank you, Bonesborough, for joining us during this year's Coven Day Parade. This year is extra special because the Emperor himself has an announcement to make."
A massive projection of Emperor Belos and Empress Aurelie appeared behind the podium.
"Thank you, everyone. Together we are perfecting the Coven System as the Titan intended. The Day of Unity will be in exactly one month, when the tile is at it's lowest and the moon obscures the sun. At that time, we will journey to the head of the isles, and there, the worthy shall inherit a utopia free of wild magic."
The illusion showed a poster with the Titan's skull with branded arms extended. The crowd gasped. Somewhere on a rooftop, Eda sat with Luz, Amity Blight, King and Hooty watching everything warily.
"Free of wild magic? How's he supposed to do that?" King questioned.
The illusion then changed back to Belos and Aurelie. "There is one more thing I'd like to share with you." Belos said 'humbly'. "I've always hidden my face, out of fear. But because of your support, I can finally take off this mask."
Eda blew a raspberry, rolling her eyes. "So phony. He's just trying to distract us from his crazy utopia talk! Too bad it won't work."
However when Belos removed his mask everyone gasped upon finally seeing the face of the Emperor. A man with a face that was allegedly scarred by wild magic.
"And I gained enough confidence to remove my veil." Aurelie added. She reached and began with the one concealing her hair, letting it fall and finally the one concealing her face.
Once she removed her veil, there was a massive gasp of wonder, then several wolf whistles from some bystanders.
Willow and Gus had been shocked then unimpressed with Belos face reveal, yet when Aurelie revealed herself, they exchanged bewildered glances. This was the same woman she, Willow and Gus had nearly run into when trying to steal the Healing hat.
Those sitting on the rooftop stared, jaws dropping at the sight of the unveiled Empress.
"She's beautiful." Amity remarked in surprise.
"And she's married to Emperor Belos?" Luz said in shock. So that lady was Oziel's mother.
They continued to stare even as Aurelie cordially held up Oziel for the denizens to see him and vice versa. The little boy waved brightly.
"Thank you, Boiling Isles." Belos smiled.
The crowd cheered for them.
"Happy Coven Day, everyone!" The projection of the Royal Family exploded into fireworks.
"Is… Belos planning something?" Amity turned to Luz worriedly, "And why did he say he's going to meet you again? Didn't you already meet him? What else don't I know? What's gonna happen?"
Luz did not know. "I– I'm not sure. But for now… we'll take things one day at a time."
After midnight, Aurelie took to a ritual baths. She sang and prayed, read over the 'Book of Creation' one more time, changing to darker wear and then with the assistance of her confidantes (this included an unseen Malak), went on to the outskirts of Latissa. They lit torches Aurelie gently singing psalms into the night air. Then they began to dig in the sticky mud, heaping up a fair-sized tump. Aurelie started molding the heap. She pushed and pulled at the mud till there, until it took the intended shape.
There she and her closest allies recited the secret charms. Then Aurelie herself walked once around it. After years of planning and research, the preparation for her plan was nearly complete.
All that was missing was the scroll with the words.
To be continued…
Author's note: Yep, Aurelie's secret plan is still in effect, and she is wary that Belos is implying that they may be returning to the human world after the Day of Unity.
Now show of hands, who wants to see Luz and Lilith travel to another time pool to meet young Aurelie? So they can literally get a clue about her.