"This is not good.", Luz thought to herself as she sat in her cell, her wrists chained to the floor. The moment Luz was delivered to Belos, he had her immediately thrown in a cell. But not before gloating about his intention to not only have her petrified as an example to all those who opposed him, but to also use her as a hostage for when the Owl Lady made her futile attempt to stop him. He knew she was coming and was prepared for her.

"I have to get out of here. I've gotta warn Eda.", but no matter how much she struggled against the chains restraining her, they held her firmly in place. There was no escape and no one coming to help her before it was to late. She started looking around the cell for something she could use to make glyphs when she suddenly heard the guard outside her cell speak.

"Ma'am, this area is off limits." Luz remained quiet to listen in when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Do you know who I am? You bear witness to the woman who not only revolutionized the Emperors army, but has sussed out the treachery of my overly sentimental former husband. I have the Emperors confidence, and therefor am entitled to bask in my victory before the humans imminent execution."

A few second of silence passed. "Very well, but please be quick. The Emperor wishes to have her ready for petrification before the Day of Unity starts." the guard finally said before stepping to the side but still being within sight to remain watchful. After stepping aside, the newcomer stepped forward until she stood outside of the cell. Stepping into sight was the Blight matriarch Odalia.

"Hello Luz the human.", Odalia said with a smug look on her face. Luz was stunned for a few seconds before glaring at Odalia in silence. The last thing Luz wanted to do was to give her any satisfaction.

"Not talkative are you?" Odalia said not seemingly bothered by Luz's defiance. "No matter, as it changes nothing about your current situation."

Odalia took a few seconds to look around the dingy cell that Luz was in before returning her attention to Luz with a smile on her face. "I must say, seeing you in a cage is very fitting. Perfect for a degenerate criminal who defies her betters. Tho you won't be here long I hear, as soon you are to be petrified along with the rest of your rebellion."

The mention of Eda and the other CATTs brought back up Luz's anxiety about the situation. She needed to get out of here so that she could warn Eda and the others or at least not be a hostage used against them. She needed to do something.

Frowning Odalia continued, "You know, I was not pleased to hear that not only has my youngest daughter been associating with lesser witches again, but has also disgraced herself by dating a common criminal and a...human at that." Odalia adopted a brief look of nausea before regaining her smug expression. "But don't worry yourself too much. Despite her continual disobedience, I have curried enough favor with the Emperor to ensure that Amity is well taken care of after you're gone."

The mention of Amity caused Luz's heart to suddenly start beating in her ears. Where was she? Was she okay? Tears that she was trying to hide from Odalia, were now spilling down her face.

Seeing Luz's reaction, Odalia smirked and continued. "Obviously she will be in need of a new suitor as she will soon be single. Perhaps I can arrange something with her old friend Bosha. It might take some time and effort on my part, but eventually she'll forget about you and learn to love someone proper."

"FUCK YOU, YOU EVIL FUCKING BITCH!", Luz screamed at the top of her longs as she struggled violently against the chains holding her back. She didn't care that she lost control. She didn't care that she was crying and snarling at her tormentor. The mere thought of Odalia taking more happiness away from Amity made Luz want to her apart.

Odalia watched Luz struggle against her chains for several seconds, taking in all of Luz's frustration and misery before letting out an unnerving sigh of contentment. "Ah, that's the expression I wanted to see. I feel satisfied. Now on to business."

Odalias pendant began to glow bright, and before anyone could react, a specter erupted from the pendant and entered the guard through the mouth. The guard spasmed for several seconds before standing up perfectly strait with a purple glow in his eyes.

As if nothing was wrong, Odalia calmly walked over to the still guard and held out her hand. "I command you to give me the keys to this cell. You will stand there, quiet and obedient. And when you wake in 30 minutes, you will not remember me or the human."

"Yes Ma'am." The guard replied in a stilted robotic voice before handing over his keys.

"Good dog." Odalia took the keys from the guard, but then took the guards jaw in her hands and started inspecting his face. "Kind of cute too. Thoughts for later." Odalia roughly pushed his face away and walked back to the cell. "Now to get you out."

Luz was stunned, disturbed and confused at what she just witnessed. "W-wait. What did you just do?"

"That human is called possession. It is a master level application of oracle magic. Though I don't expect you to understand." "Sigh. How I wished one of my children would inherit my talent in oracle magic. Sadly it wasn't ment to be."

Luz's thoughts were buzzing around a mile a minute as Odalia unlocked the door to her cell and approached her. "I don't understand."

"Of course you don't. The colossal mess you've made of my plans speaks volumes of your simple intellect." Odalia said adopting a sour look on her face.

"Your plan?" Luz asked confused on what she was talking about.

Odalia knelt down to Luz's level before fixing a scowl at Luz. "It's bad enough that you've dragged my daughter down to your level of delinquency and defiance, but you've also butted you head into my family's business ruining any hope of keeping my children uninvolved. Had my children "stayed grounded" they would have remained safe in their rooms, unbranded and protected by the best abomotron security on the isle. Not only that, but because you turned my bleeding heart of a husband into an active traitor, the Emperor has removed all his personal abomotron security in fear of them becoming compromised. Removing my plans of assassinating him."

Luz tried to process what she just heard, but was still utterly confused "Wait. So all this time, you've been secretly good all this time." Luz adopted a skeptical glare at Odalia. This was the same Odalia who just a few hours ago attempted to kill her. The heartless woman who not only emotionally manipulated and abused her family, but knew of the Day of Unity and did nothing. "I don't believe you."

Odalia scoffed. "That's fine, because I'm not. I don't care about you or your rebellion, or your fight for justice and freedom. I care about only one thing, my family and how we benefit. I'm ambitious, not stupid. The absurdity of the idea that Belos intends to drain the entire Isle yet leave me and my family alone while also making us royalty is utterly ludicrous. I didn't get where I am today by being gullible enough to blindly accept every too good to be true deal put my way. And even if Belos did deliver on his promise to make me royalty, who would I rule over? Humans?"

"No, instead I went along with it, playing the part of the blind follower and giving Belos all the soldiers her could ever want. Not only putting me in the perfect position to assassinate him but also allowing me to set up my own private military with his blessing. Killing Belos and saving the Isles would have made everyone indebted to me. They may have even make me Empress out of gratitude and fear." "Mmm, Empress Odalia." She sighed, "sounds elegant does it not?"

Odalia unlocked Luz's restraints and stood up dusting herself off. "So no human, I've not turned good."

As the two of them exited the cell Odalia roughly grabbed Luz by the arm, her nails digging into her skin. "And make no mistake, you are and never will be worthy of my daughter." Odalia spat with venom. Her eyes filled with contempt and barely contained rage. "If I had it my way, I'd ether leave you here to rot or have you put in a box and sent back to whatever mud hut a human like you came from and away from my daughter."

Roughly letting go of her arm, Odalia regained her composure. "But loathe as I am to admit it, you have your uses. Even if you all die, you and your rebellions propensity for chaos might be enough of a distraction for me to kill Belos."

"Now chop chop little human." Odalia said clapping her hands together. "You've got work to do. I myself need to prepare. And if you happen to die whilst stopping Belos, I'll say a few nice words at your funeral and pretend to approve of you post mortem. It's the least I can do. You're welcome."

Luz stood silent for a few seconds before beginning to walk away. She grateful for the rescue and the chance to help Eda and the others. Not only that, but Odalia was now technically an ally against Belos in a fight where they needed every advantage and ally they could get. But the utter fury and hate pumping though her veins almost made her want to throw up in protest at the mere though of being on the same side as Odalia. To be indebted to her. Turning around Luz saw Odalia once again fondly inspecting the guard as he stood there helpless.

"Odalia." Luz shouted.

This gained Odalia's attention as she turned around, obviously annoyed that the human was still here and interrupting her fun. "What do you want human? Can't you see I'm busy, er, preparing?"

Gaining her composure, Luz adopted the smuggest look she could muster on her face. "You're a bitch and I made out with your daughter."

Luz quickly turned around and ran down the hall, but not before memorizing the utterly furious look of Odalia's face. She even laughed as Odalia started shouting uncouth obscenities at Luz. Worth it. After all the enemy of my enemy is still a colossal bitch.