Days passed since Luz, King and Maxwell's visit to the library when they found very little to not much on how to heal Eda's curse completely. They knew they didn't find much information but they just had to keep trying as they did so. Maxwell knew that if anyone should tell Eda about their visit to the library and why they were there for, it should be him to tell her since it was his idea in the first place.
They were at The Owl House as things were normal or normal as it gets around there. Luz, King and Maxwell were both in the living room. Both Luz and King sat on the couch while Maxwell was pacing in the middle of the room as he appeared to have something on his mind.
"Hey Maxie, what's on your mind? Hoot hoot." asked Hooty.
Maxwell wasn't responding as he didn't answer. Even King was watching Maxwell pace back and forth and he noticed that Maxwell appeared to be deep in thought. King's eyes would follow Maxwell's movements, going back and forth with his eyes. King started to giggle and smile as he had a suspicion to what could be on the young male human teenager's mind.
"I know a way to bring him out of his mindset." said King giggling. "Hey Maxie, there's a naked lady in here!"
Maxwell suddenly broke from his mindset and he blushed deeply while he looked around.
"Someone get her some clothes or a towel!" Maxwell finally spoke out loud.
"Sorry, I lied. But we didn't know how to get you out of your mindset there, we were starting to worry." said King trying to stop laughing.
Maxwell started to see what was going on or what was King's reason to bringing him out of his deep train of thought which he wasn't too thrilled about the methods but he saw that King was trying to appear apologetic with his facial expression.
"Luz, did you or Eda happen to have given King the talk about puberty, the birds and the bees and everything in that nature?" asked Maxwell looking hesitant to ask such a question.
Luz blushed, shaking her head to such a question.
"I didn't give him the talk about any of that. If anyone was to give King the talk about that, it should be Eda or anyone whose been looking after him the longest. Kind of like how it's the parents responsibility to talk to their kids about that subject." explained Luz.
"I see, than did you happen to know if Eda told you how old King is or if King told you himself? If he knows about those said things, than I'm guessing he's over the age of eighteen." said Maxwell making an educated guess.
"No one told me how old King is. The question never came to mind." answered Luz.
Maxwell showed he understood that Luz had no knowledge of King's age since no one told her nor did they mention such a subject nor did the question ever come to Luz's mind.
"And my age is something that I wish to keep to myself if anyone doesn't mind." King chimed in.
"Understood." said Luz and Maxwell in unison.
"So Maxie, what was on your mind earlier?" asked Luz curiously.
"Two things, one, thinking of others ways to help Eda with her curse." replied Maxwell.
"What's the other?" asked King curiously.
Maxwell turned to face Luz and King as he blushed from the question but he took in a breath and swallowed his nervousness.
"When you two went through that writing competition. I know you two had creative differences and it caused both of you to have a falling out briefly, but you see, I don't want any of you to have a falling out ever again because it's heart breaking. And I felt like I should've given you two some advice on the writing competition that could've helped you two avoid that situation but my mind was on helping Eda and other things as well. But the point is, I don't want you two fighting or having a falling out, it's heart breaking." Maxwell replied while expressing his words of worry.
Luz and King looked at each other as they knew that he possibly read their memories or that once his clone became part of him again that what his clone saw while watching them had shown him everything that happened during the events he spoke of. They realized that Maxwell doesn't feel good about them fighting, arguing or having a falling out. They looked back at him with an expression of sympathy.
"Maxie, we may have had a falling out during the writing competition or when our ideas clashed. But even when we sometimes have moment like that, we always manage to reconcile afterwards." Luz told him.
"Besides, me and Luz did work out an idea on how to escape and it worked. But I did apologize to Luz and she forgiven me afterwards." King reassured.
Maxwell showed a bit of hope as his blushing faded. They could see he felt better hearing what they told him.
"But you should've been there to see how your clone knocked Piniet on his slimy, lizard hiney. Just like you've said, mama said knock you out." said King looking thrilled. "He even freed the rest of the authors that he published for and the way he told him never lay a hand on his friends or a lady."
"We knew that's so Maxie, always about respect for a woman." said Luz and King in unison.
Maxwell let out a cough which he was probably trying to hide a bit of a nervous chuckle. He blushed again with a grin, knowing that they were both right about how he feels about respect for a woman.
"Learned it from my mom." said Maxwell with a grin.
"Just out of curiosity, what was the advice you had in mind?" asked King.
Maxwell managed to snap out of his nervous, blushing state as he felt a bit of wisdom rising inside his mind.
"Competition brings out the worst in everyone. Competition is just like fame, fortune and popularity, it turns the most honest and kindest of hearts black and turns everyone into the very things they're against which brings out the evil, wicked and dark side of human nature. People have done the worst things to good people in competitions of any sort, and if they became famous, popular and wealthy because evil their actions that lead up to it, than it's not worth it. It'll even turn friends into enemies and I don't want that for any of us, nor do I want that for the both of you." explained Maxwell giving a word of advice. "It's just like what I've once said about politics, all it causes is fights, arguments, conflict, negativity, scandal, and possibly war and death. We don't need politics in this world because it does no good for anyone."
Maxwell showed a sympathetic expression when he explained his words of wisdom towards Luz and King which they surprisingly felt like they understood and agreed with Maxwell's statement. Everytime competition, the price people paid for popularity, fame and fortune and what politics does to people and the world, it all had one thing in common. It turned good people into monsters.
"That's some wise words to live by." said King kindly.
"How did you learn all that?" asked Luz curiously.
Maxwell paused for a moment.
"Lets just say that I've seen and heard of it happening many times between so many people. Since than, I don't want that happening to me or anyone I care about." Maxwell replied.
"Than you got nothing to worry about, that'll never happen to any of us again." King reassured.
Maxwell felt a sense of comfort knowing this yet he hoped it would never happen again. But his mindset was cut short when he heard the door burst open, they turned to see Eda bursting through the door, looking thrilled and pleased with herself.
"Hey there party animals! Guess what today is?" asked Eda with a grin.
"Is it your birthday!?" answered Luz.
"Is it my birthday?" answered King.
"It's my birthday!?" answered Hooty.
"No! It's human treasure day!" Eda told them.
Eda came in and closed the door behind her. She had a suitcase in one hand that she tossed up into the air and as it opened, it unfolded like someone who literally rolls out the red carpet and it turned into a door. The door opened and in came Hooty who pulled a huge bag in the middle of the living room. The bag was at least big as a boulder rock and the bag ripped open, showing it's contents. Eda happily jumped up and landed on top of it like it was a bed. She smiled, looking pleased with herself. The door folded back up into a suitcase and closed.
"Ahh, fresh garbage." said Eda in a satisfied tone.
King's tail wagged in excitement while he ran towards the pile of human trinkets.
"Ooo, gimme gimme gimme!" said King excitedly while he briefly went through the pile.
King pulled out what looked like a teddybear with a pull string coming out of it's back.
"Yes! Another worthy addition to my army of terror!" said King pulling the string.
"I love cuddles and kisses!" came the sweet voice from the doll.
"Truly horrifying!" said King with a grin.
Eda giggled from what King was doing and she turned to look at both Luz and Maxwell.
"Yo, kids. Your trash pile's getting cold. While mine's getting hot! I have never seen such an extravagant earring." said Eda with an amused expression.
Eda pulled out a coat hanger that she believed was an earring.
"Eda, that's a coat hanger." Maxwell corrected. "But it could be used as an earring, sometimes I saw a lady or more that had some exotic earrings that looked like it went from their ears to their shoulders."
"An item that has two uses, huh?" said Eda with a grin.
"You got it. But you keep my half, I'd have no idea what to do with it. Besides, you could use them for future sales to your stand." said Maxwell kindly.
Maxwell saw what looked like a small battery powered radio, he grew curious as he walked over to pick it up.
"Eda, looks like you found another radio." said Maxwell pointing it out.
Maxwell pushed a button to turn the radio on and it was playing what sounded like old hip hop music but it was a song that made Maxwell blush deeply.
"I like big butts and I can not lie. You other brothers can't deny, that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face. You get sprung, wanna pull up tough 'cause you notice that butt was stuffed. Deep in the jeans she's wearing. I'm hooked and I can't stop staring. Oh baby, I wanna get with you and take your picture. My homeboys tried to warn me but that butt you got makes me so"
"Turn that off! Turn that misogynistic filth off!" Maxwell said sharply.
Maxwell was frantically looking for the button to turn the radio off but he found the button that turned it off and he placed the radio back in the pile of human items and shook all over with disgust. He blushed deeply as everyone in the room blushed and looked confused.
"What was that playing on that thing you called a radio?" asked Eda almost giggling.
"I'll tell you what we're not doing. We are not turning that radio on unless it's playing soft rock and roll and not that song. That song is the very definition of disrespect towards all women." said Maxwell shaking in disgust.
"Calm down, Maxie. It's alright, to be honest, that song was starting to get annoying." Eda reassured.
Maxwell felt relieved to hear such news about Eda disliking the inappropriate hip hop song. Eda looked towards both Maxwell and Luz as a thought came to her mind.
"Luz, what about you?" asked Eda. "Was what ever you're reading there from this pile?"
"Nope, it's the Hexside brochure I'm looking at. Did you know Hexside was built on the bones of its rival school? When he literally conquered!" said Luz looking wide eyed with interest.
"Yes I know all these things, I went there. It was the most harrowing period of my life." said Eda looking at herself in the hand mirror that was from the pile of trinkets.
Eda had two coat hangers that had one hanging on each one of her ears, both hung from her ears like large, exotic earrings. She was smiling as she admired herself in the reflection, she even moved a part of her hair to see how each one looked on her, leaving her to grin in admiration.
"Oh, hello!" said Eda looking in the mirror.
Hearing what both of them said had left Maxwell wide eyed. Hearing that the school Hexside was built on the bones of it's rival school that Principle Bump, the stuffed shirt, stickler for rules principle, had literally conquered when he was younger.
"Did I hear that right?" asked Maxwell.
"What? You mean that Hexside was built on the bones of it's rival school, Glandus High, that Principle Bump with the big rump conquered?" said Eda repeating the sentence.
Both Eda and Luz looked towards Maxwell when they see he asked about what was just said out loud and they saw the wide eyed expression of shock on his face. Their smiles turned to expressions of worry. Even King could sense this from what he saw.
"You alright, Maxie?" asked King looking concerned.
"Suddenly, hear that fact about Hexside reminds me of something that someone told me about." said Maxwell looking worried. "Is Hexside haunted at all?"
"Not really, no. Why do you ask?" said Eda starting to feel her protective instincts kicking in. "Now Maxie, don't freak out."
"Quick question, the dead don't rise from the grave or from the ground that Hexside is built on? No zombies or ghost from the grave or the ground?" asked Maxwell hopefully.
"Nope." said Eda and Luz in unison.
Maxwell let out a sigh of relief and his panicked expression turned to relieved.
"Than we're good." said Maxwell with a sigh of relief.
"Maxie, is there something you want to tell us? You looked like you were about to freak out there when Eda and Luz mentioned that little fact about Hexside." said King showing worry.
Maxwell knew that they were curious and since he's growing closer to them as a family, he was starting to grow more and more comfortable about talking about what bothers him to them gradually.
"Sorry I was about to freak out. When you guys told me that information about Hexside, well, back when I was eleven, there was a time when a lady told me about a hotel she used to work at in the Rocky Mountains and she said that the place was built on an ancient indian burial ground and it had a bad history that involved violence, murder, death, insanity, and during the winter months, she said that the job position of winter caretaker at the hotel was bad luck because anyone who took the job didn't last very long. This hotel was closed during the winter months and that's why they hired a winter caretaker during the winter months, once the winter months are over, the caretaker goes home and would be called to do the job again, but everyone who took on that job never lasted long. They believed the place was haunted by the ghost of people who died there, all because it was built on an ancient indian burial ground." Maxwell explained. "This lady used to work there but she quit and she took on another job."
Hearing this made them realize that Maxwell was worried about the possibility of Hexside being haunted like the hotel he mentioned and they understood how he felt about that if the school was haunted in any form. But Eda had a word of comfort.
"Maxie, if the school was haunted like that creepy hotel you spoke of, than no one would go there and it would be abandoned, left to rot. But if it was haunted like that hotel, than I'd make sure you and Luz would be safe or make sure you two would go to a school that wasn't as dangerous or creepy like that hotel." Eda reassured.
Maxwell's reassurance was confirmed by Eda's words as he felt a sense of comfort from her. He knew that since Eda went to Hexside and she's older which meant that she knew more and she knew better.
"That's good to know. Although, I know it's none of my business or none of anyone's business but in your own words, what was it like for you there? If it's too personal, than I'll understand and I'll stay out of it." said Maxwell showing compassion.
"Some days were better than others. But man, was I wild child. But to answer your question, I'll keep that to myself for now." said Eda politely telling him she didn't want to talk about it yet. "Maybe one day I'll you two about it."
"Sounds fair." replied Maxwell respecting her choice.
"Maxie, just out of curiosity. What happened to that hotel you mentioned?" asked Luz curiously.
Maxwell's relieved expression turned to a blushing smile as he knew one of them would ask him this.
"The lady told me that some time in the eighties which was the last time anyone worked there before it became abandoned, there was a mishap in the boiler room. Someone was suppose to maintain the boilers in the boiler room but failed to do so, creating too much pressure as time ticked by and it resorted to the hotel exploding. The place was burned down to the ground and there's nothing left." explained Maxwell as he knew this sounded graphic.
They heard this and knew this was a surprise to even them. Eda and King both seem to show very little shock since they've seen a lot of chaos in their lives, both witnessing or causing it.
"I guess that hotel was one day going to go up in smoke?" joked Eda with a laugh.
"You're not bothered by the story?" asked Maxwell curiously.
"Kiddo, I've seen a lot in my time and if I've seen anything that is chaotic as the situation that hotel went through, than I've taken on scarier, tougher situations than that." said Eda looking calm about this. "And why did this lady tell you about that hotel and what happened to it?"
"She was teacher we used to have at my old school. Apparently, she was always trying to make sure we don't do anything that could ruin our lives and at times she told us about that hotel and it's violent, insane, and horrible history. She even had shown us a newspaper article on it, well, she did that during the season of Halloween since it was involving a haunted hotel and spirits haunting the place. I think she used it as a method of teaching us to avoid making bad choices. It was entertaining to some, in my opinion, I think she needs more sympathy since she went through a disaster there which resulted in her having a broken arm. But she's alright, she was a good teacher." Maxwell explained.
Eda, King and Luz gave a relieved expression and figured if this supposed teacher was a good egg like Maxwell says she is, than they felt fine with it.
"Not to sound rude but are we forgetting anything?" asked King curiously.
"Don't think so." answered Maxwell. "Luz, anything?"
"Well, I was wondering what going to Hexside was going to be like when going there with you, Willow, Gus, Amity." said Luz till a wide eyed expression was shown as if she remembered something. "Amity! Oh cramity! We're supposed to meet so I can get my Azura book back!"
Luz got up from the couch in a hurry and was heading for the door.
"I'll go with her. Don't worry Eda, she watches my back, I'll watch hers." said Maxwell leaving with Luz. "Luz wait up!"
The two human teenagers headed out the door and ran outside as they closed the door. Eda and King were in the living room and looked at the radio that Maxwell told them not to turn on. King was about to take a look at it.
"King, I wouldn't turn that on. That song it played is annoying." warned Eda.
King looked up at Eda with a grin and chuckled.
"You and Maxie are so perfect for each other." King lightly teased.
"Lets not make jokes about that subject or just imagine you and me living together like we do and wondering if I make you wear clothes, and treat you like a baby, and lots of cuddles." said Eda grinning in an optimistic tone.
King had a wide eyed look of shock on his face. He usually didn't like being cuddled, wearing clothes or being treated like a baby. He blushed deeply and almost looked horrified.
"Eda, I never meant to joke about that." stated King.
"Relax, little man. I know, I'm just messing with you." chuckled Eda.
King let out a sigh of relief. As things settled down, somewhere in the market place, both Luz and Maxwell searched for Amity.