In the Human World:
Diversion
Lilith Clawthorne awkwardly adjusted her ragged cloak; one which Eda had insisted she wear for their current endeavor. Eda herself wore an even heavier cloak, which actually managed to conceal even her wild gray hair. She also wore a ridiculous mask, but the ensemble had the desired effect of concealing her identity as the two had traveled. Another matter which bothered Lilith to no end as they entered a run down, dirty, and smelly room at an inn Lilith felt certain was operating illegally. Eda, for her part, happily flopped onto one of the beds as soon as the door was closed.
"Get some rest, Lilly, we have a big night ahead of us." The younger Clawthorne announced as she practically chucked her mask onto a small table in the room. The mask made a clatter sound as it landed and slid to the edge, stopping just before it would fall.
"Of what, exactly?" Lilith crossed her arms and offered her sister a look of clear annoyance, her tone practically dripping with discontentment. "You haven't told me why we are in this mangy inn, in this questionable town."
"You'll find out when you need to know, and right now you don't need to know." Eda told her, and there was a note of finality that caused Lilith's eyes to narrow.
"I am unaccustomed to being left in the dark."
"No, you are unaccustomed to knowing you're in the dark." Eda responded in her best attempt at imitating Lilith's voice. The elder sister visibly twitched, but she paused and took a deep breath. Snapping at Eda never got her anywhere she wanted to be, and she was trying to rebuild trust between herself and her sister.
"When will you forgive me?" Lilith said this quietly, with a tone of regret rather than accusation.
"You want a laundry list?" Eda looked at her, and there was unmistakable fire in her mismatched gold and gray eyes. "We can start with when you go more than a week with out putting my kid at risk! After that, maybe you could try referring to her as 'Luz' instead of 'human' or 'Eda's pet'."
"Not the bridge again, we have talked about this, Edalyn." Lilith deflated visibly. "I knew you would save her, had I wanted her dead I would have tossed her off the bridge again after instead of telling her to go home."
"I was talking about your stunt that flung her and her girlfriend into the human realm." Eda growled as she came back to her feet. "You know, where you used the plant spell Luz taught us to literally vault our dumb kids into an unstable portal?! If the green girl. . ."
"Amity, and she is not the hu. . . She is not Luz's girlfriend." Lilith reminded, and watched Eda pause for a moment in her rant, a sly look sliding over her face.
"Oh, but she certainly wants to be." Eda outright cackled at Lilith's slack jawed expression. "Oh, I forget, you haven't seen those two together as much as I have. You should have seen them at Grom, your kid would have looked death itself in the eye to save Luz." Eda sobered a bit, the happy memory somehow grounded her back to the issues at hand. "If Amity hadn't had her scroll with her, we wouldn't even know they are alive." She sighed and sat heavily on her bed again as the previous emotions drained from her. She looked at Lilith with a hint of compassion. "I know you care about your kid too. We'll get them both back."
"They are not actually our children; you do remember that do you not?" Lilith asked this and was surprised to be met with a look of amusement. "Edalyn?"
"Your 'protégé' looked at you back at the Covention like your opinion was the most important thing in the world." The gray-haired witch's smile turned a little wicked. "Don't pretend you don't care about that girl."
"Of course I care." Lilith broke eye contact, instead choosing to turn and search her small bag for sleep clothes. "Amity is a promising young witch, it has been an honor to teach her for these past several years."
"Mmmhmm." Eda nodded and Lilith could basically hear her smirk. "A promising young witch who told her siblings to come to us for help, and to hide the situation from their parents. Face it, sister, she might not be your blood, but she's your kid." Lilith did not reply to that, both knew she did not need to. They were quiet for several minutes, each going about their own routine before sleep. It was not until each was settled in their own bed the Eda spoke again.
"I should probably warn you, you're going to have to do the heavy lifting on this one."
"What in Titan's name does that mean?" Lilith replied with out bothering to open her eyes.
"Lily, how are you at Hexas Hold'em these days?"
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Willow Park wasn't normally considered impatient, but at the moment she was feeling very twitchy. She'd checked her scroll before bed, and first thing this morning, and between each class. She and Amity were still rebuilding their relationship as friends, but she at least anticipated some minor response. When lunch passed still with out an answer the green eyed witchling had lost her patience. She could see Amity from where she and Gus sat, with still no Luz in sight, and still no response to her message. She decided this might be call for drastic measures.
As lunch ended the Hexside student body began to filter back to classes. Chatter in the halls began to dwindle as they entered the various classes or filtered along to outdoor training areas. Amity Blight bid her older siblings goodbye and turned toward her own classes. With her cast removed the twins no longer felt it necessary to accompany her everywhere. The two Illusionists would likely regret that, because as soon as they turned the corner vines shot out and wrapped around Amity tightly. She made a muffled sound of surprise, the vines had also covered her mouth, as she was dragged backward and into a nearly empty girl's restroom. The lock on the door clicked behind her and the vines brought her to face a short, irate, green eyed witch.
"Hi, Amity." Willow said in a deceptively sweet tone, and gold eyes widened slightly as she had yet to be released. "I'll admit, I didn't want to ambush you this way but you've ignored my message and I'm really worried about Luz." Willow crossed her arms and kept her green eyes locked on Amity's gold eyes. "So, if I release you, will you stay and have a quick talk?" Amity nodded, as that was really all she could do at that moment. The vines gently set her down, carefully unwinding and retracting until they vanished into wherever Willow had summoned them from.
"You could have just asked me to talk." Amity said as she rubbed one arm, the vines had been a little tight on that one.
"I wasn't about to risk that you'd avoid me." The plant witch replied in an annoyed tone.
"So, how can I help?" Amity asked, looking completely open to helping but clearly clueless as to how to do so. Willow's brow twitched, and her head canted to one side a bit.
"Did you not get the message I sent your scroll?"
"Oh, sorry, I somehow misplaced mine." She recited this as the twins had told her to in case anyone asked. "What was the message?"
"Have you seen Luz? Or heard from her?" Willow asked and watched a sort of blank look cross Amity's face. That worried Willow, something wasn't right. "She hasn't been to school in days, and no one was at the Owl House, so Gus and I are worried."
"Right, of course." Amity glanced about as if looking for a way out of this conversation. She clearly found none so she spoke again. "Could you remind me who Luz is, again? Which track is she in?"
"What?" Willow didn't hide her shock and Amity shifted uncomfortably, before she spoke again in an annoyed tone.
"I can't be expected to know every student by name, can I?" She said with a challenging look that really worried her friend.
"You don't know Luz?" Willow asked this in a very slow manner, just wanting to ensure she heard her correctly. Amity responded in a haughty tone she hadn't used on anyone except Boscha in weeks.
"That's what I said. Did you want something else?"
"No, no that was it." Willow moved and waved as if to gesture Amity could go. The gold eyed witch did a small hair flip before unlocking the door and exiting. The Plant Track student on the other hand was in no hurry to return to class, not while she tried to process what just happened. She muttered softly to herself as she leaned against a sink. "Amity doesn't know Luz? Doesn't know the girl she defeated Grom with, or the one she broke her leg protecting in a grudgby match? She wouldn't lie that blatantly so what just happened?"
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So, uh, hello journal. Uhg, why am I saying hello, you're just a notebook Luz gave me? Luz is so sweet. I am so hopeless; I didn't even get past the first paragraph before I started thinking about her. She's so cute, and so oblivious, which is probably a blessing right now really. Okay, not going down that path now, that moment at the doctor's office was enough currently. Thank the Titan Camila thought I was upset about the thing they used to remove the cast.
So far there isn't any word on a way home yet, but the twins say no one knows I'm gone either. I never thought I'd be so thankful for Ed and Em's talents of ditching school and concealing things from our parents. I assume they created some sort of illusion of me, and that is both terrifying and comforting. I'll set aside all the thoughts of how that could be used against me for when I'm home. Home, wow that's another issue altogether.
It's been an experience getting to see what Luz's home is like. It's really obvious her mother loves her. Camila Noceda is just so welcoming and loving, I think I can see where Luz gets some of her. . .Her everything really. Who just takes in a random girl that followed their daughter home? That first night I was so scared she'd toss me out in the street, maybe because I really think my parents would have in her place. Camila is nothing like my parents, she's generous, kind, and loving. She really just seems to want what's best for Luz. It's nice.
I haven't been able to explore much, Camila didn't want me going out when I had the cast. Luz has been educating me about the human world with movies and videos. It's so different here. We watched some video the other day where creatures were dropping pianos from windows on others passing below. When I demanded to know how to avoid that Luz nearly passed out laughing. She promised me that doesn't actually happen, I'm not entirely sure I believe her. I mean, she doesn't have any reason to lie to me, but I guess there is just so much I don't know about this place.
Luz and I went for a walk today, with King because apparently humans have to walk their dogs frequently. I was trying not to seem nervous, most of this neighborhood seems to be one story or two-story houses spaced apart, but I kept thinking about the pianos. Luz must have caught on because she grabbed my hand and gave one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. I know she pointed things out to me along our walk, but she also kept holding my hand, so I was basically a useless mess the rest of the time we were out. I swear I heard King snickering, but I really don't want to think about what King does and does not know. What I know is that I'm going to enjoy the time I have while I can.
I have sadly accepted the fact that there is really nothing we can do from this end to find a way back. The humans don't have magic, and for some reason Luz can't even use her glyphs here. I'm fine, Luz and I tested that when her mother was at work one night. I can summon Abominations and cast any of the various spells I can on the isles. I guess, maybe, something about the isles themselves allows Luz to power her glyphs? Witches have internal magic you could say, so we don't need the Isles themselves to cast in the same way Luz seems to. I feel terrible about that, honestly every time it comes back to her mind I can see her sort of wilt. Anyone can see that Luz loves magic, and it appears that returning home might be the end of that for her.
And there it is again, the thought that feels like it chokes the air from my lungs. This is Luz's home, summer is almost over, there isn't a reason for her to return. There isn't an excuse to offer Camila for Luz to return, she was only supposed to be at that camp thing for the summer. Every time I think about this I have to stop and just force myself to breathe. I've known for a while that Luz would eventually return home, and with what happened to the portal I really doubt she'll be able to visit. So there it is, she's home now. No more game nights with Luz, Willow, and Gus. No more Azura book club in my hidden room. No more insane antics at school. No more seeing her in the hallway or getting those tight hugs she randomly gives us all. No more Luz.
Part of me doesn't want to go home, not with out her. It's stupid of course, I don't belong here. Even if I had a choice I couldn't just throw away my life, the twins, Willow, Gus, everything back home and stay here. I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't trade my parents for Camila, Titan I would gladly trade my parents for Camila. I'm a terrible daughter for thinking that, but she hardly knows me and has already shown me more love and acceptance than either of them. I'm really a terrible daughter, but maybe they aren't exactly the best parents either?
Lilith and Eda Clawthorne could fail to find a way to bring me back. That isn't a happy thought either, because then I would never see my siblings again. I'd never graduate Hexside. What would I even do in the human world if I found I couldn't get home? What do humans learn in school? How would Luz's human friends react to me? She does have human friends, doesn't she? Now that I think about it, she hasn't mentioned any human friends and I haven't seen any. That can't be right though, Luz is such a ball of everything good mixed with Titan awful chaos she must have friends. I mean, how long did it take her to befriend Willow and Gus? I really don't think she knew Willow before the incident.
And now my mind is stuck on how cute she was even covered in Abomination goo. No one should be cute covered in Abomination goo. What is wrong with me? I mean I know I . . . I know how I feel about her, but really, even the memory of the Abomination goo? Amity Blight, you have utterly lost your mind.
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"Gus, I'm telling you, something is wrong with Amity." Willow was starting to feel increasingly desperate. It was just after school, the two stood near Gus's locker, and in hushed tones she'd explained the incident in the restroom.
"Maybe she's gone dark on us again." Gus suggested and started to clearly shift into his conspiracy mode again. Willow sagged against a locker as Gus started speaking excitedly. "What if Amity herself was involved in capturing Luz? What if she's been working for the coven the entire time? Oh, no." He went wide eyed and his voice became a panicked, high pitched, whisper. "What if she and Principal Bump finally dissected Luz and we've been on the wrong trail this whole time?!"
"That's ridiculous Gus, there is no way Amity would dissect Luz now." Willow felt her scroll vibrate, absently fishing it out expecting a message from her fathers. She lost focus on Gus's reply as she saw the message displayed on her screen. "Wait, I just got a message from Amity."
"I thought she lost her scroll." Gus stopped adding to his conspiracy theories as he moved to read the scroll as well.
{Sorry this reply took so long, I'm not even sure how long it took. Luz is safe, I promise. Go talk to Ed and Em, probably at the house, they said our parents are gone for a while. They should have gotten a message from me too but in case they haven't show them this one and tell them Luz and I want them to explain everything.} From Amity.
"But she just told me she doesn't know who Luz is, and why does this sound like she isn't around?" Willow asked, but Gus being the excitable boy he was had latched on to the assurance Luz is okay. He bounced away a bit, doing one of his victory dances and throwing his hand up for a high five. Willow gave him a dry look, but that quickly turned to surprise. Amity was walking past, saw Gus waiting for a high five, and slapped his hand with a smile. She then walked away as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Willow and Gus both stared after her in silence, just observing as she continued out of sight.
"I know we both saw Amity. . ." Willow started.
"But that was not Amity." Gus finished for her and they shared a concerned look. "Maybe we should just head on over to Blight Manor."
"Agreed."
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Edric, Emira, and Mittens 2.0 had been home for less than twenty minutes when someone knocked at the manor door. The twins exchanged a look, before flipping a coin to see who would answer. Edric lost, so he wandered over to the door, swung it open and found Willow and Gus standing on the step. He leaned against the door frame casually and gave them a friendly smile, especially happy to see Willow around again after years.
"Hey, are you two here to see Mittens?" He asked in his best playful brother voice. "She's actually grounded right now, so I can't let you visit her but I can tell her you stopped by."
"Cut the act Edric." Willow's tone reminded him of an annoyed teacher. "Are your parents here?"
"No, why would you want to see them?" He was so confused he didn't even see what was about to happen until Willow had pushed him, mostly gently, back inside and Gus had closed the door behind the three. He blinked down at the short witch, and her green eyes glared up at him. "Are you okay, Willow?"
"I have spent days worrying about one of my best friends, only to have another friend forget she exists and then receive a vague message that sent me here." She poked him in the stomach and Edric puffed out some air as she continued to glare. "Edric Blight I want to know what is going on. I want the truth, and I want it now. Where are Luz and Amity? Who or what has been going to Amity's classes?"
"Oh, they're here." Emira's voice drifted over to them from the doorway of the sitting room, she held her scroll in one hand and sort of waved it at her brother. "Just got a message from Mittens that says to tell them."
"Great." Edric rubbed his stomach and edged away from Willow, making it to his sister side and whispering to her. "Willow is scary now, please stay between us. She used to be so sweet."
"Come on you two, let's sit down." Emira showed them into the other room, and Gus and Willow both eyed the Amity who wasn't Amity doing her homework. Emira smirked at them and gestured to the Abomination student. "That is Mittens 2.0, probably the single best illusion Ed and I have ever created."
"Wait, Illusion?" Gus moved to stare at Mittens 2.0 closely, she gave him a look that made him back away. He looked again to his upper classmen. "But she high fived me, and Willow basically assaulted her. How did she hold her form?"
"Willow did what?" Edric was clearly startled and looked between Willow and Mittens 2.0.
"She kind of kidnapped me and dragged me into a restroom today." Mittens 2.0 informed him, still doing her homework. "She didn't hurt me."
"And you thought you were doing that to Amity?" Emira gave Willow an impressed look. "You really have become a brave one. Way to go Willow."
"Still waiting for an explanation of where our friends are." Willow reminded them, clearly not in the mood to be side tracked.
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"Here we are!" Eda announced and Lilith sighed.
"This is a gambling den."
"This is an underground, high stakes game." Eda corrected, hustling Lilith along. Soon Eda had bribed the bouncer and they were inside. Various tables littered the room, smoke swirling near the ceiling. Eda, still in her ridiculous disguise looked about slowly. After long moments, she nodded toward the far corner. "We start there."
"Start?" Lilith cast a dubious look toward her sister.
"Surely you didn't think this was one and done? Come on Lily, get with the program." Eda led the way and the former coven leader resigned herself to a long night of seemingly pointless gambling. She had a fleeting worry that perhaps this had nothing to do with the portal, that perhaps Eda was just looking to make back some money. But no, that human, Luz, meant far too much to Eda for that. If Eda claimed this would somehow lead them to the source of the original portal, this was something Lilith would have to comply with. Whatever would come next surely had to be easier than attempting to storm the Emperor's Castle again to gain access to the damaged portal.
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Amity and Luz were sitting in the backseat of Camila Noceda's car, and Luz was practically bouncing with excitement. Camila would occasionally glance at the two through the rear-view mirror, a smile seeming to be permanently etched on the older Noceda. Amity tried to look at least entertained, but she wasn't really sure what she was about to experience. Camila had rounded the girls up about an hour ago and suggested they all go to the movies, and Luz had become this complete ball of excitement at the idea. Luz had tried to explain to Amity, but she was talking so fast and Amity was a bit distracted by how cute she was being. She both loved and hated that at the moment. She did catch that it involved an indoor venue and snacks.
"Here we are." Camila pulled the car up to a curb and turned to look back at the two. She handed an envelope back to Luz who gave her a confused look. "I remembered something I need to do, but you girls go enjoy yourselves. Luz, message me when you are ready, and I'll pick you two up."
"Oh, okay." Luz took the envelope, clearly finding this surprising but accepting it none the less. She opened the door, got out, and then reached in to offer Amity a hand up. Amity glanced at Camila and could swear the woman winked at her, but then the green haired teen was out of the car and standing beside Luz. They watched her mom pull away and drive off, before Luz caught Amity's hand again and led her toward where many humans were standing in lines. Amity forced her focus away from their hands to big signs with glowing letters above the lines.
"What are those signs?" Amity whispered to Luz, trying not to be overheard.
"The movies that are playing, and the times their showing." Luz told her, reading over the lists herself. "It looks like there's a romcom starting soon."
"A what now?" Amity gave her an odd look and Luz giggled.
"Sorry, a romantic comedy." Luz supplied and Amity bit her own lip. "We should watch it, I saw the preview months ago and it looks really funny."
"Okay." Amity agreed, though her mind was telling her to ask about anything other than a romance movie. She shifted her mind to that moment in the car again, had Camila really winked at her. Why would she. . . Oh Titan, please don't say Camila noticed her crush on Luz. Please, please don't say Luz's mother noticed Amity has feelings for her daughter.
"Are you feeling alright, you're red again?" Luz was whispering really close to her ear and Amity felt like she was choking on air.
"I'm fine!" Amity almost yelled, and thankfully Luz laughed it off. She took calming breaths, trying to center herself a bit. She even told herself, no, Camila surely hadn't noticed Amity's crush. Luz's mother would not try to engineer a date with out telling the teens. Nope, it was clearly all in Amity's mind. Nobody knew her secret, at least no one in this realm.
Amity was so busy telling herself that, she didn't notice that Luz actually had a small blush of her own. And she didn't catch that Luz stuttered slightly when she spoke to the teller to buy their tickets. If King were present, he'd be laughing his little head off at the two. As it was, he was aware of exactly what transpired, because Camila Noceda had talked the idea out to the 'dog' yesterday when no one was around. King had decided not to warn the two, because honestly, they were both stupidly oblivious and King was amused but also tired of watching them dance around each other.