"The Ballad of Alador and Odalia"
An original The Owl House fanfic by Lemonsmoothie
The Owl House belongs to Disney and Dana Terrace.
Content warnings: There will be discussions about teenage pregnancy and sexuality as well as blood, violence, and death threats. Also risqué humor. There will also be teenagers doing impulsive and reckless things such as underage drinking. Even if I don't know the drinking age on the Boiling Isles. Anyway, do not read if you're uncomfortable with these topics. Also, the Blight family is super messed up and should not be emulated ever.
Also, it is my headcanon that hard Apple Blood is 60% alcohol by volume. The parent in me has to say this: please do not emulate anything these characters do in this story.
Time: About a year before "Them's the Breaks, Kid"
XXX
We open at the Blight Manor, the home of the prestigious Blight family.
"Our guests will be here soon," Isidor Blight said to his older brother, Alador. "At least try to be in a good mood."
"I don't see why this was necessary," Alador answered.
"We are going to be spending several hours a week with our schoolmates," Isidor chided. "We have to make a good impression. To forge connections that will be useful to us as we mature."
Alador started poring over a notebook.
Isidor snatched the notebook. "I want you to talk to at least five people at this party."
"You're going to be watching me the whole time?" Alador asked.
"No, but I'll know if you did or not." Isidor handed the notebook back. "Look, Mom and Dad aren't going to be around forever."
"How many times must I tell you?" Alador said. "If I had known I was supposed to head the Blights and be some captain of industry, I'd have taken a pass on this whole firstborn thing, believe you me."
"We can't change the places we belong, but who knows," Isidor responded. "Maybe you'll meet someone you want to interact with." Silence. "And if you don't, then you can tell me 'I told you so' and lord it over me for a week."
"Week nothing," Alador shot back. "If anything goes wrong, you're going to take all the blame and I'm going to be mad at you for a solid month."
"Excuse me, young masters," Their butler, Pierson, entered. "The first guests are here."
"Excellent," Isidor plastered on a smile. "Let them in!"
XXX
Odalia Astrild walked far faster than one would expect a teenager to walk in high heels. She was dressed in an airy light purple sun dress. Her green hair was done up in her usual bun.
"Slow down!" Her constant companion and neighbor, Iphigenia Sulzbach, caught up to her, huffing. "I know you're excited about this party, but you were the one who took forever to get ready."
Odalia scoffed. "First impression's the only impression. The Blights almost never throw parties, but everyone wants them to attend their parties. This may be the only chance I get to meet the Blight sons before we start school and everyone at Hexside will be throwing themselves at them. Can you imagine if you and I landed them?"
"Meh," Iphigenia said. "I prefer older guys." Iphigenia was eighteen years old, four years older than Odalia. She was a slim yet buxom witch with deep reddish brown hair that gradated to golden blonde at the ends. She was wearing a very pale blue babydoll dress trimmed with white lace, an angular black jacket, black stockings, with blue ballet flats tied with criss-crossing blue ribbons. Around her neck she wore an iridium pavé style pendant shaped like a rose set with countless blue benitoite stones. "But I'll definitely be your wingwoman."
"Where did you get that pendant?" Odalia asked. It was obviously way too expensive for that boyfriend of hers. Adrian Graye, practically a poster child for 'all style and no substance.' Of course, Iphigenia tended to get upset if Odalia ever spoke ill of Adrian, so Odalia kept her mouth shut and counted down the days until Iphigenia would kick him to the curb.
"Oh, this?" Iphigenia gave a coy look. "Gift from a secret admirer."
Odalia smiled. Seemed like the day she was looking forward to was getting closer. She and Iphigenia reached the edge of the Blight estate, marked by an arch reading Blight Manor.
Another one of Odalia's classmates stood by the gate. Odalia recognized her fluffy cloud of bright red hair. "Lilith Clawthorne?"
Lilith turned. "Oh, hi, Odalia. Who's your friend?"
Iphigenia gave a brisk bow. "Iphigenia Sulzbach, your upperclasslady at Hexside."
"Oh," Lilith said absently.
"Yeah, like I would pass up an opportunity to come to a party at the Blight Manor," Iphigenia explained.
"So you're crashing the party?" Lilith asked. "As I understand it, the party is only for the freshman class…"
"I prefer to think of myself as Dally's plus-one," Iphigenia answered.
"So, Lilith, where's your other half?" Odalia asked.
"Huh?" Lilith looked confused.
"That obnoxious sister of yours," Odalia said.
"Edalyn is not obnoxious!" Lilith insisted.
Odalia stared back at Lilith, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"OK, she kind of is," Lilith admitted. "But it isn't her fault!"
"How is it not her fault?" Iphigenia asked, clearly confused.
"It would take me hours to explain the complex phenomena behind my sister's chronic bad behavior," Lilith said. "So let me just put it this way: imagine you're a kid with matches but the whole world is fireworks."
"Meh, I don't get it," Iphigenia said.
"You really don't have to," Odalia said. "Forget your sister, Lilith. Why are you here? This kind of thing isn't really your scene."
Lilith held up her sketchbook and almost-completed panoramic view of the Blight estate. "Ordinarily, I'd stay home but I couldn't pass up the chance to see the Blight estate up close! The architecture of the manor is glorious. And the exotic flora in the gardens! Did you know Marcella Blight is a high-ranking member of the Plant Coven and she has an entire subspecies of tree named after her?!"
Iphigenia pointed to a trail leading left past the arch. "If you're interested in the gardens, they're that way. There's also the hedge maze and the sculpture gallery."
Lilith's cheeks flushed. "If you'll excuse me." She practically ran away.
"Pointing her in the wrong direction?" Odalia asked, arching an eyebrow. "Genius."
"What?" Iphigenia asked. "No, that was right. Couldn't stand to watch her nerding out anymore." She checked her wristwatch, which depicted a skeleton pointing to the current time. "Listen, I gotta split."
"You're ditching me?" Odalia asked incredulously. "Now?! The party just started."
"I'll only be like an hour, tops," Iphigenia said, taking out her hook-like staff. Her palisman was a black swan named Giselle.
"Well, where do you have to be that's more important than this?" Odalia demanded.
"…I can't tell you," Iphigenia answered flatly. "Not yet, at least."
"Fine," Odalia pouted. "But when you can tell me, I expect every detail."
"Sorry, Dally," Iphigenia said sadly. "I hope you can forgive me."
Odalia patted her shoulder. "Of course. I have too kind a heart."
XXX
Near the pool, Alador glanced around at the milling party guests, trying to gauge if he recognized anybody from the matriculation ceremony and the orientation. Small talk would be too hard, but maybe he could chat up fellow abomination-track students on theory or techniques. He saw a tall and muscular dark-skinned male witch carrying a wooden barrel. His name escaped Alador, but he clearly remembered that guy wearing orchid-colored sleeves.
"Hey, Blight Boy!" the stranger said. "Just the one I wanted to see…"
"And you are?" Alador asked.
"Darius Karun," the boy said. "Where do you want this keg of hard Apple Blood?" He set down said barrel.
"Take it away," Alador said. "I don't want a bunch of drunk teenagers rioting on my property." If anything gets destroyed or stolen, Father will kill Isidor and me and stuff us into matching coffins. No. He'd stuff us both in one coffin just to save money. Seriously, why did Isidor think this was a good idea…?
Darius gave a barely concealed snicker. "'Your' property? Your old man still breathes, so try not to get ahead of yourself."
"I could still have you thrown out," Alador answered.
Darius stood to his full height, which was a little taller than Alador. "I don't see your father anywhere. Maybe some would cower before you but I'm not afraid of some spoiled brat riding his daddy's coattails."
Alador stuffed his hands into his pockets to hide their shaking. Keep it together, Blight. Calling security will just prove his point, but how can I defuse this situation? Ugh, why didn't Isidor give me some sort of party host instruction manual…?
A few of Darius' sycophants had gathered around, eager to see what would happen. One of them started passing out red tumblers. Darius grabbed a cup and filled it up.
Alador reached out and snatched the full cup. "I may not be an expert on parties, but isn't it tradition for the host to drink first?"
Darius shrugged. "If the host is not a total lightweight."
"Ten snails says he can't handle it," said one of Darius' humanoid flunkies to the guest next to him, who was a very short wolf-like demon in a sage-colored tunic and brown shorts. The wolf-like guest extended his paw-like hand to shake on the bet.
Alador smirked and lifted the cup to his mouth, then downed it one gulp. He turned the cup upside down and no liquid dripped out.
Darius laughed. "Dang, rich boy! I had you pegged all wrong!"
The losing bettor groaned and took out a coin purse.
XXX
Meanwhile, Odalia had joined some of her partying classmates in a roomy courtyard. She glanced up at the sky. The sun was shining. A slight breeze blew through the clear air.
Then why do I feel troubled? Odalia asked herself. Ever since she had discovered her affinity toward Oracle magic, she dreaded these sensations. It's like when the air feels thick just before a storm. Like all heck is about to break loose.
"Is everything to your liking?" came a voice.
Odalia glanced up to meet the golden eyes of Isidor Blight. "Everything's fine."
"Good to hear," Isidor said. "I'm your host, so if you need anything, just find me and there won't be too long to wait."
"You're a Blight?" Odalia asked.
The boy extended his hand. "Isidor Blight."
Odalia shook his hand. "Odalia Astrild. So…" She put on her most charming smile, which happened to be rather toothy. "One day this whole estate will be yours?"
Isidor's face fell. "No. I'm the younger brother. My brother Alador will be the Highmost Patriarch of the Blight family."
"Hey, that still counts," Odalia said. "You'll have the ear of the Highmost Patriarch. All of the political clout, none of the responsibility."
Isidor laughed. "Yeah, if I didn't basically need to hit Alador on the head with a pile driver to get him to pay attention to me."
"Your brother sounds fascinating," Odalia said in a sweetly oozing voice. "I'd like to say hi."
Isidor gave a brisk bow. "Your wish is my command, dear." He extended his hand again and Odalia took it. They were both smiling, but for obviously different reasons.
Isidor even hummed happily as he led Odalia through the grounds, searching for his older brother.
Alador was sitting off to the side of the pool, apparently keeping score for a game some of the party guests were playing in the pool involving trying not to get sucked into various whirlpools.
"Alador?" Isidor asked.
Alador turned. "What is it, Isidor? I'm following your stupid orders to…" He turned and met Odalia's gaze and stopped.
Odalia met his eyes. Her cheeks flushed red.
Isidor watched them, confused.
Alador got up, his scorekeeping duties apparently forgotten, moved closer to Odalia…
Then he let out a massive belch. The belch was so forceful that the elastic holding Odalia's bun in place snapped, letting her green hair fall down in cascading waves around her shoulders. Odalia failed to notice.
Alador's eyes widened in horror.
Isidor's own face reddened as he got a whiff of Alador's very potent alcohol breath. "How did you get drunk so fast…? Never mind. I don't want to know. I am going inside to look for a sobering potion, and you're coming with me, because if Dad catches wind of this, then…" He trailed off.
"But but but," Alador whined. "I wanna stay and talk to the pretty girl!"
"Well, the pretty girl does not want to smell your alcohol breath, so come with me and once the sobering potion kicks in, maybe you can properly introduce yourself to her…" Isidor grabbed Alador's arm and tried to pull him toward the manor. "Seriously, this isn't funny!" Isidor dug his heels into the ground, only to meet more resistance. "Titan, give me patience…"
Alador sank to his knees.
"No," Isidor cried out. "Do not go boneless on me!" A few more futile tugs and Isidor facepalmed and used magic to lift Alador. "Sorry about my brother's behavior…"
Odalia watched them go, her cheeks still red. She continued watching until their backs were no longer visible. Her stomach growled, so she moved to where a large buffet of hors d'oeuvres was set up for the party guests.
Eda Clawthorne, aka Lilith's little sister who followed her around like a puppy, stood on one side of the table grabbing anything within arm's reach and shoving it into her mouth. Her cheeks were puffed out like some rodent's.
Odalia wrinkled her nose and took a sandwich. "For the Titan's sake, Clawthorne. Can't you at least act like you're in decent company?"
Eda blew a raspberry. "Can you at least act like you're not an uptight bitch?"
Odalia would have made a retort, but she was too hungry, so she just chewed on her sandwich.
Eda turned back to the table and picked up some moonfruit. "You've gotta try this stuff!"
Odalia swallowed her bite of sandwich. "This will be the only chance you get to try them. They're two hundred snails a pound."
"Holy…" Eda grabbed the full tray and began stuffing them into her mantle pockets.
A piercing scream sounded through the air.
Eda turned toward the source of the sound. "That was Lilith…"
"It came from that way," Odalia said.
They both ran toward the direction of Lilith's scream.
Lilith stood with her back to the wooden gate of Marcella Blight's prized main garden, her pale skintone even paler than usual. Her glasses had slid down her nose with sweat and her hands were shaking.
"Lily, what happened?" Eda asked, clearly worried.
"Edalyn," Lilith said, in a surprisingly authoritative voice. "Summon the authorities…"
Eda nodded and went toward the manor.
Odalia moved to go past Lilith, but Lilith grabbed her arm.
"Don't…" Lilith said. "You can't go in there…"
"You can't tell me what to do!" Odalia snapped, pulling her arm out of Lilith's weak grip and opening the gate. "Now what is going…?" Her voice caught in her throat.
What she saw would haunt her for the rest of her life: a pool of blood, Lilith's sketchpad laying in it, and Iphigenia's body impaled against the trunk of a honey locust tree. A livid thin line was visible around her neck.
Odalia sank to her knees and screamed.
