A/N: Hey everyone! Here's chapter 3.5 of The Emperor's Cage; it won't specifically follow the episodes, though it borrows loosely from the Escape of the Palisman episode in season 1; also, if you're a Keeper of the Lost Cities fan, please check out my fanfiction Choice book 1! Enjoy! - FF
To two comments I've received from one of my readers (I am so sorry for not responding to you privately, I've been having trouble accessing your reviews!), I will put the answers to your questions here. For the first one, Lilith is conflicted about whether or not to tell Belos where Luz is. She knows that Eda definitely has some connection to Luz, but she is curious as to why Luz panicked when she saw her. Lilith is going to attempt to get answers from Belos about why Luz really left, but for now, Luz's secret is safe with her. As to your second question: Willow already knew Vee was a basilisk thanks to chapter 1, when she shifted into a fake Abomination, and Gus knows thanks to Bump's offhand comment to Luz about keeping herself and Vee off Hexside grounds. As for Luz using her powers in the last chapter, it was a spontaneous thing because, similar to canon Luz, she hates seeing those she cares about in danger and would do anything to protect them. Gus and Willow assumed that Luz is just incredibly skilled in ice magic, and that Marshmallow was some kind of Abomination. I hope this clears some things up! Please review if you have anymore questions or constructive criticism (I will do my best to reply and accept both!)
Owlbert was acting . . . weirder than normal. He had been off Eda's staff all day, and kept attempting to fly out the door, though Hooty quickly brought him back after the fifth time and Eda's yelling storm.
"What do you think he's doing?" Vee asked the Owl Lady as she tried to catch her Palisman. Since he could no longer get outside, he had taken to being a nuisance in other ways. Namely by making a very short-tempered Eda chase him around the Owl House.
"I don't know, why don't you ask him?" Eda snapped back. "Owlbert, get your tailfeathers back here this instant!"
Owlbert hooted something in reply, enraging his witch even further.
"First of all, watch your language! Look, if this is about me leaving you at the Night Market the other day -"
Owlbert swooped down to peck her before flying away before she could grab him.
"OW!"
"Did that really hurt?" Vee asked. "I thought your hair -"
"It's the principle of the thing! Owlbert, what in the Titan's name do you want from me?!"
Owlbert hooted. Eda was so surprised she lost her footing and crashed into a nearby pile of junk.
"Eda!" Luz and Vee rushed to the older witch's side, but she had already popped back up and was staring at her Palisman incredulously.
"You want Luz?" the Owl Lady demanded.
Luz blinked. "Pardon?"
Eda turned to her, frowning. "He says he wants you to follow him." Owlbert hooted, landing on Eda's shoulder. "And that the rest of us can come too - of course we're coming, you featherbrain!" Eda snapped.
"I shall wake King," Luz said hastily, making her quick departure.
"I'll come with you!" Vee agreed, slithering after her.
"Owlbert, where exactly are we?" Eda asked her Palisman.
They had been walking through the woods for about half an hour, and still Owlbert didn't show any signs of his intent to stop. Glancing over a wing, Owlbert hooted something.
"Yes, I know that!" Eda grumbled. "I meant, where are you taking us?"
Owlbert chose to ignore that question and continued flying forward.
"I don't know if I like this," Vee muttered, shoving another light spell in her mouth. She had been eating them non-stop the deeper into the forest the group went. While Luz could understand her friend's anxiety - she hesitated to call Vee 'sister' quite yet, despite the slip-up during the Moonlight Conjuring - her hand was beginning to cramp.
"Vee, I need to pause momentarily," she said, handing paper and pen to the basilisk. "Here you are. Draw them the way I have been showing you."
Vee nodded gratefully and immediately drew multiple different light glyphs on the same page.
Luz's eyes widened. "Vee, wait -"
There was a large flash of light, sending everyone reeling backwards.
When Luz was able to come back to her senses, she found King helping Vee up while Owlbert hooted concernedly at Eda.
"I'm alright," the witch grunted, getting to her feet.
"That was so cool!" King enthused. "Can you do it again?"
"I don't think -"
Vee was cut off by the flapping of wings. Owlbert hooted happily, flying forward to nestle on top of the large bat-like creature's head.
Eda was frowning. "Bat Queen?" she asked, stepping over to Luz and helping her stand. "Owlbert, why did you bring us here?"
"Owlbert senses something special about child," the Bat Queen said, stepping forward and sniffing Vee. "Ah, basilisk. Welcome, child."
"T-Thank you," Vee squeaked out, shying away from the giant bat.
The Bat Queen turned her attention to Luz. Something within her shifted, and she gasped softly. "You've come back?"
Luz frowned. "Pardons, Bat Queen, yet I do not know you."
The demon's gaze turned sad. "Ah. You have her mannerisms. Forgive me. I see why Owlbert brought you. We recognize you."
"How?" Luz asked. "I have never come to this part of the Isles, to my knowledge."
The Bat Queen considered her. "You don't know," she realized.
"I hate to interrupt, BQ," Eda cut in, "but is there a reason you know Luz?"
"Hm, good name," the Bat Queen approved. "You're gifted, young one. You must let go." She spread her wings, flying to a nearby branch. "Come find me when you know truth."
"Wait, please!" Luz cried. "What truth? What do you mean, Bat Queen?"
The Bat Queen smiled sadly, beginning to fly into the air. "Good to see you." To Eda, she said, "Take care of Palisman."
"I always do," Eda replied, raising an eyebrow.
Luz glanced at the mark on the Bat Queen's foot. "I shall return," she said quietly.
The Bat Queen smiled at her. "Good. I look forward to visit." She disappeared within the leaves of a tree.
"Well, that was strange," Eda commented. "Any idea what BQ meant, kid?" she asked Luz.
Luz shook her head. "I do not have a clue."
"Huh. Anyway, we'd better get back to the Owl House."
"Yes," Luz murmured, glancing over her shoulder. "We should . . ."
A/N: So, there's that half-chapter out of the way! We'll figure out why Luz is so familiar to BQ later on in the story. For now, I'm posting a couple of polls with name suggestions for both BQ and the Collector (I am NOT calling them BQ and Collector everytime I have to bring them up). Please try to respond to the polls! And have a great day (or night!) ~ FF
