Catch 'Em if you Can
"Are you sure about this, Ed?"
Edric and Emira Blight were sitting on a bench in downtown Bonesburrough. Across the street, a wild looking witch with an unruly mess of gray hair was setting up a sign reading "Amazing Wonders of the Human Realm!" above a market stall. A small creature that could have been mistaken for a dog, had it not been for the fact that the twins had seen it walking on two legs, was curled up on a make-shift table, enjoying the late afternoon sun.
Edric used the tip of one finger to slightly lower the sunglasses he was wearing and peered over the brims at his sister. He gestured to the witch, who had just plopped a cardboard box onto the stand.
"I'm telling you, Em, that lady has always got the best stuff. Julian and I –"
Emira rolled her eyes at her brother.
"Oh, well, if Julian Marsh thinks it's a good idea."
Edric elbowed her.
"Don't think I haven't noticed your sarcasm, dear sister." Emira stuck out her tongue. Ed signed. "No, stealing that lady's human stuff was MY idea. Julian is probably at home practicing. He was a big test at his school tomorrow.
Emira whistled.
"Some people have messed up pr-"
She spun to face her brother.
"Did you say steal?" she exclaimed. Edric quickly pressed a finger to her mouth. Emira glared at him.
"Quiet! Do you want every Coven Scout in town to hear you?"
Emira raised her eyebrows. Edric nodded towards the gray-haired witch.
"Just listen – that lady always seems to have human junk. There's a stand at the Night Market that pays top snail for anything from the human realm."
"The Night Market? And how do you know that?"
"Because Julian was there last night and he told me about it while we were hanging out at Marrow's."
Emira reached over and ruffled her brother's green hair.
"Ohhhhhh, is that where you were? I thought you had a date."
Emira gave a closed-mouth snicker.
Edric spoke without thinking.
"Rebekah turned me down –" His eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed.
"I mean – she begged to go out with me but I told her I was too busy – OW"
Edric rubbed his upper arm where his sister had punched him. Emira raised her index finger and scowled. Edric buckled under her gaze. He lowered his eyes, taking off the sunglasses.
"Sorry, Em. That wasn't cool."
Emira's scowl softened. She put a reassuring hand on Edric's shoulder.
"No. It wasn't. Getting rejected sucks, but don't act like a jerk."
Edric kept his eyes on the ground. His lips twinged upwards.
"I guess I could always listen to Mom - she always said girls like a man with a flair for business."
Edric straightened up and drew a circle in midair; a blue sphere materialized above his index finger. He raised this to his mouth and spoke into it; instead of his own, their mother's Odalia Blight, voice came out of it.
"What in business is going on here, Edric? Why, dahling Amity has just brokered her first business deal and will be making the family quite a lot of money!"
"Business is why I married your father, after all!"
He lowered his hand and the blue sphere disappeared. Emira let out a bark of laughter.
"Good effort, but you really missed the more charming aspect of mom's pep talks. Let me try."
Emira drew her own blue circle. She cleared her throat.
"Edric! Emira! Why can't the two of you be half as good as dahling Amity? Why, I would not be surprised to learn you two share a single brain. Although clearly Emira got the bigger half. I say, Edric, you won't last very long in business acting like this."
Emira lowered her hand as the two burst out laughing. Edric wiped a tear from his eye.
"Oh man, Em, think you nailed it! I can so picture mom saying that."
Emira suddenly turned serious.
"Business is one thing – but stealing, Ed? You saw all those proclamations from The Emperor's Coven. They are cracking down. Especially on anything from the human realm."
Edric waved his hand in the air, dismissing his sister's concerns.
"Yeah, but that's only if we get caught. Besides, I bet they're too busy searching for the 'Owl Lady', whoever that is, to notice a few down on their luck businesspeople trying to make a quick snail."
The two snickered. Emira elbowed her brother and nodded across the street.
"Look, she's going back into that tent. It's now or never."
Edric jumped to his feet.
"Then it's now!"
"C'mon, Eda! Let me wear my crown!"
"And I told you to wait until we get home, King. The way business has been going, the last thing we need is for some of those goody goody Coven Scouts to run of us out town. Again."
"But Eda, I want it now! I command it!"
Eda (the Owl Lady) rolled her eyes. Suddenly, her ears gave a little wiggle. She held up her hand as King began to stomp his adorable little feet.
"Hold on to that Squeak of Rage, King. I think I hear Owlbert."
She turned and disappeared into a makeshift tent behind the stand. Inside the tent, a few boxes filled with various odds and ends from the human realm were stacked next to a particular door with an eye in the center. Eda raised an eyebrow and took a step forward.
"Owlbert? Is that you? What did you find this time, buddy?"
Eda's ears perked up again. King's voice drifted through the tent flap, which Eda had left slightly ajar.
"Minions! Halt! Your King demands it! Hey! I said halt! Eda!"
Eda stuck her out of the tent flap. King was jumping up and down and pointing a claw up the road.
"Eda! Some mischievous teens stole my crown! I command you to chase them down and execute them!"
Eda narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not executing anyone, King. Now, Owlbert still isn't back so we'll just have to chase them down the old fashioned way."
As soon as King jumped onto her shoulder, Eda, surprisingly spry, vaulted over the stall and took off up the street, dodging left and right to avoid colliding with any of the various witches and demons strolling the streets. Turning a corner, Eda skidded to a sudden stop. About fifty feet up this side street, a small crowd was gathered around a group of Coven Scouts; Eda immediately spotted her box of human goods in the arms of one scout and, with a start, noticed a teenage girl with green hair being restrained by another. The girl was struggling to break free, and doing well, in Eda's eyes, but was no match for the Scout, who twisted her arm behind her back. She let out a cry of pain.
"Ow! You're hurting me!"
The Scout tightened his grip. Emira gritted her teeth. The guard leaned close.
"Yeah? I don't really care. The Emperor will be very interested in why you are running around with all of this human junk."
Eda and King watched as the girl was marched away. They exchanged a glance.
"We're not just going to let them take her away, are we, Eda?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, King. You know I love a good brawl as much as the next witch, but I don't think there's much we can do against that many. We need to move the stall before they find us again."
Eda gave one last look down the street at the rapidly disappearing Coven Scouts and turned to walk away. King watched over her shoulder until the procession has turned another corner and was lost from view.
Of all the things Emira had expected after being throw into a cell at the Bonesburrough Precinct, her mother barging in the front door was not at all at the top of the list.
Odalia Blight marched right up to the Scout behind the desk.
"My name is Odalia Blight. I'm here to pick up my daughter."
Before any of the Scouts could reply, Odalia reached out and dropped a sack on the desk with a loud click. Emira knew from the sound that it was a bag stuffed with snails.
'I'm probably going to get a lecture about costing the family money' Emira thought to herself.
The three Coven Scouts in the room exchanged looks with each other and the large sack of snails. Finally, the Scout behind the desk got to his feet.
"Mrs. Blight, your daughter and an unknown accomplice were apprehended in possession of several items from the human realm. Emperor Belos – "
"My husband and I have provided Abominations to the Emperor's Coven for years. My daughter is a stupid little girl and made a mistake. I suggest you take these snails and let me deal with her."
Emira clenched her teeth and fists. Of course, her mother would come for her and of course she wouldn't hesitate to casually insult her.
The Coven Scout looked down at the sack, back to Odalia, and back to the sack. He pocketed the sack with a swift motion and nodded to one of the other Scouts in the room. Rising to her feet, she pulled a key on a chain from around her neck and unlocked the cell door. She stepped aside and jerked her head, indicating Emira should clear off.
Odalia turned and walked towards the door.
"Come along, Emira dear. I'll deal with you at home."
Emira walked out of the cell, her shoulders slumped and her eyes on the ground. She followed her mother out of the precinct and down several streets. Finally, Odalia turned towards her daughter. Emira was surprised to see that her mother was breathing in giant gulps of air and sweat was glistening on her face.
"Mom, are you ok?"
Odalia laughed and wiped her forehead.
"Oh man, I think that was my best illusion ever."
Emira raised an eyebrow, confused. Suddenly, something clicked in her brain.
"Ed?"
Odalia disappeared in a poof of blue smoke and Edric stood in her place, looking just as breathless as the apparition of Odalia had. He grinned. Emira walked up to him and punched his shoulder.
"I thought they were taking you to a different precinct."
Edric rubbed his shoulder.
"You're lucky I'm so slippery. Sorry for the harsh words back there. I figured the more abrasive, the more believable, y'know?"
Emira fluttered her eyes.
"My hero. Let's get home. You look ready for a nap."
Edric stifled a yawn.
"A nap, a snack, and straight back to bed."
The two walked in silence for ten minutes, both lost in thought. Finally, they were able to make out a large house – their house. Emira broke the silence, grabbing Edric's upper arm.
"You know she's going to find out about this, right?"
Edric nodded.
"Of course, she will find out. She ALWAYS finds out. She'll yell, we'll get grounded, it's nothing new."
He elbowed his sister.
"But we'll get through it. Together."
Edric slowly cracked open the front door; he slipped through and held it open for his sister. Emira squeezed through and they gentle closed it, careful not to make a sound. Edric knew it was silly – sneaking into their own house, hoping to avoid a confrontation that was inevitable. The twins shared a quick joint grin before.
"Edric! Emira!"
Busted. The twins spun around. Odalia Blight stood in a doorway leading off of the main entrance. Beside her, their younger sister stood with her hands on her hips, a smirk on her face. Emira tried to break the tension. She gave a wave and a false smile that was 100% gleaming teeth.
"Heya, Mom, Mittens!"
Beside their mother, Amity's entire face flushed red. Emira grinned. Odalia's scowl grew by a few inches.
"Did you think I wouldn't find out! The precinct contacted me just a few minutes ago. Running from the Emperor's Coven? Pretending to be me and bribing a Scout to get your sister out of jail? What were you thinking, Edric?"
She held up a hand, although Ed hadn't opened his mouth.
"Don't say anything." She placed her hand on her forehead. "Sometimes, I wonder if you two share a single brain."
Edric and Emira exchanged a quick look. Odalia continued, although she seemed to be talking to herself more than to her children.
"This is fine…we can fix this…I can call in a favor….Kikimora owes me…"
Finally, she looked back at the twins.
"Edric, Emira. You're grounded. I'll figure out how long later. Just go and let me fix this."
