Chapter Five: Unexpected Guests


With all the craziness that had happened that day, Luz was happy to finally have some time to relax. She lay on the couch, King curled up on her lap, re-reading one of her Azura books. Listening to the tiny demon's gentle snoring, she was beginning to get a bit sleepy herself.

Just as Luz had set down the book and closed her eyes, a noise broke her out of her stupor. She looked around to determine its source, when she heard it again-a light tapping sound, coming from outside. Was it some sort of animal in the walls? Or maybe that gremlin was back. She sincerely hoped it wasn't the gremlin.

"Hey, Eda?" she called. "You hear that?"

"I can't hear nothin'," called Eda from upstairs. "Why?"

"No reason, it's probably nothing," Luz said. She got up, carefully moving King onto the couch, and listened again for the noise. The tapping was getting more forceful now, which made finding it a bit easier. The constant sound led Luz over to a window, where she found…

"Amity?" Luz tilted her head in surprise as she saw the green-haired witch peering inside, tapping on the window pane. She waved once Luz saw her, but her expression wasn't particularly jovial. In fact, it looked like she had something urgent to say.

Luz opened the window to let her in; Amity climbed through, tumbling rather ungracefully to the floor. "Thanks," she mumbled, getting up and dusting herself off. "Luz, listen-"

"Amity, what are you doing here all of a sudden?" asked Luz. "And why didn't you use the door?"

"I didn't want that obnoxious old bird to see me," Amity muttered. "But anyway, Luz, you're-"

"Who's an obnoxious old bird?" Eda asked, descending the stairs, looking none too pleased at their sudden visitor.

"Not you," Amity said, nodding towards the front door, "him. But that's not important." She grabbed Luz by the shoulders, their eyes meeting. "Luz, I came here to warn you. You're in a lot of danger right now."

"I-I am?" Luz said, slightly flustered by their closeness. "That's cool. What's goin' on now?"

"I don't know all the details," Amity said, "but I know that there's some people trying to find you."

"Oh, the Inquisition?" said Luz. "Yeah, we had a run-in with them earlier today. They pretty much combed the whole town for us, but we gave 'em the slip."

"Wait, what?" said Amity. "You…" She reflected on this for a moment. "Well, I guess that explains why you weren't at school today…"

"I wasn't about to let her go back into town after a fiasco like that," Eda said, sitting down in an armchair. "But hey, free day off, right?"

"Yup!" Luz agreed. "So, is that what you wanted to warn me about, Amity? Well, you don't have to worry, I'll be careful! And back to school tomorrow!"

"Only if those Inquisitor freaks clear out," Eda said.

"No, that isn't-well, not really," said Amity. "What I was going to say...one of them came to my house just now."

"They what?" Luz said, worried. "Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" She began scanning Amity for wounds.

"No, I'm fine," Amity said, gently shoving Luz back. "He just wanted to talk to my parents. He told me...What he told me isn't important, but he mentioned you and Eda. He asked me if I knew anything about you guys, and the way he said it...he knows, Luz."

Luz tilted her head to the side. "Knows what?" she asked.

"Knows that...that I know you," Amity said. "I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure to what extent, but the way he said it, he definitely knows. A-and I'm worried that he'll try to use me to get to you. Or that he'll tell someone, like my parents, or Miss Lilith, or-"

"Amity?" Luz said. "Is everything okay? You look kinda pale." Amity was indeed white as a sheet, in sharp contrast to the bright red blushes she usually wore. "Come on, why don't you sit down?"

Luz and Amity both sat down on the couch, awaking King up from his nap. "Eh?" He looked up groggily at their guest. "When did you get here?"

"Now, you said you were worried?" said Luz. "This guy didn't say he'd hurt you, did he? Because if he did, I might need to have a word with him!" Luz grinned, cracking her knuckles unsuccessfully.

Amity smirked as well. "No, nothing like that," she said. "It's you he's after, not me. That's why I came here. I just...I don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want you to get hurt either," said Luz. "You're sure he wasn't threatening you?"

"Not outright, at least," Amity said. "He did make it sound like he might tell someone about our friendship."

"Well, that isn't much of a secret, is it?" Luz replied. "I mean, everyone at school knows we hang out. It's not that big of a deal."

"It is to my parents!" Amity said. "I-I haven't exactly told them about you. You saw how they were with Willow, if they found out about you, we'd never be able to see each other again!"

"Amity, Amity, calm down!" Luz said. "Nobody's going to tell your parents anything. And even if they do, that doesn't mean we can't still be friends, right?"

"Luz, they threatened to ruin Willow's future, and she's a witch!" said Amity. "Do you really want to know what they'd do if they found out I was associating with a human?"

"Uh...nothing good, I'd imagine," Luz said hesitantly.

"That's putting it lightly," Amity said. "And that's why Shrike's so dangerous! I think he was waiting for me to tell my parents about you myself, but if I don't, h-he might...he might tell them about you, and then they'll make me stop seeing you, and they'll probably help the Inquisition find you, and then-"

"Hey, hey, none of that!" Luz said, the suddenness of her voice snapping Amity out of her trance. "None of that 'he might' stuff! Nobody's telling anybody about anyone or helping anyone find anyone, okay?"

"But what if-"

"Up-bup-bup!" Luz held a finger up to Amity's mouth. "'What ifs' are for comic books and fanfictions, not for real life."

Amity gave her a weird look. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how this is all going to be fine," Luz said. "Shriek isn't going to tell anyone anything, because we're going to stop him! Now, what did he look like?"

Amity shook her head. "I don't know, he was wearing an Emperor's Coven mask. He had a cape made of leaves, though, that was kinda weird. Oh, and I think he was in the potions coven."

"He was?" said Luz. "Man, what is it with people from the potions track being jerks?" Realizing what she said, she turned to Eda awkwardly. "W-with plenty of major exceptions, of course!"

Eda waved her hand. "Eh, I ain't a saint, I can admit it."

"What exactly did you have in mind, Luz?" asked Amity. "We can't just find this guy and fight him like last time."

"Why not?" said Luz. "We took out Mattias just fine, didn't we?"

"That's what I mean," Amity said. "This isn't like last time. Last time, Mattias was a criminal, so the Emperor's Coven was sort of on our side, and he only had a few brainwashed henchmen. Now, he's working for the Emperor, and he has eight other powerful agents doing his bidding! Now can you see how this might not turn out well for us?"

"...Okay, so maybe the stakes are a bit higher this time around," Luz said. "But it's still more of the same, right? Last time there were seven, this time there's nine, and we might not always be able to talk things out, but it'll be fine! We handled things last time, and we can handle them this time, right, Eda?"

"You know it!" Eda said, raising her fist.

"See? Eda agrees with me." Luz placed a hand on top of Amity's. "Trust me, this is all going to turn out fine. Nobody's gonna get hurt-not me, not you, not Eda, nobody. Right?"

"Maybe," Amity said. "But how can-"

"Here, repeat after me: Everything will be fine."

"E-everything will be fine."

"Good!" Luz got to her feet. "So, should we start planning our attack now, or wait until after snacks?"

Amity rubbed the back of her head. "Actually, I should probably get going," she said. "My parents don't know I'm gone. I kinda-sorta, may have snuck out the window…" She grinned and shrugged.

Eda snorted. "I'm startin' to like you, kid," she said. "Here, how 'bout I give you a ride back to town? Can't have Mom and Pop findin' out you're gone, can we?"

"Thank you," said Amity. "We'll talk more about this tomorrow at school, okay, Luz?"

"You got it!" Luz said, giving her a thumbs-up. Eda fetched her staff and headed for the door, Amity following behind. She gave Luz a wave as the two of them stepped out.

"Hoot hoot! Hi Amity! Long time no see!" came a voice once Amity had left.

"Can it," Luz heard Amity snap.

Once the door closed again, Luz was struck by a sudden thought. She grabbed her bag, fishing around in the contents for the item she sought. "I guess it's true what they say: history repeats itself," she said.

"Who says that?" asked King.

"I dunno. 'They' do, whoever they are," Luz answered. Her fingers closed around a notebook, which she removed from the bag, tearing out a blank page. She picked up a pen, and began jotting down notes. "Alright, let's get everything we know so far." This is what she wrote:

-Mattias: Controls abominations and minds. Leader, and grade-A slimeball.

-?: Big and strong. Maybe stupid? Builds things maybe?

-Mandrake: Plant guy, plant coven. Probably does plant things. Plant weaknesses?

-Selano(?): Bird woman. Can fly, does illusions probably. Stern.

-Loxton: ? British? Music?

-Stigma: Weird ghost lady. Goes through walls, heals?

-Sanguinus: Has big monster (Ophelia?)

-Grace(?): Can't see, maybe oracle?

-Shark: Potions. Scared Amity, so 2nd priority target after Mattias.

"There," Luz said, placing the list down on the table. "Now all we need is a plan…"


"See, I have a plan," said Mandrake. "And you and me? We're both wanderers at heart. How can you say no?"

Within the halls of the emperor's palace, Mandrake had called Sanguinus over. The former leaned against a wall in the dimly-lit hallway, explaining his plans of a vague alliance between the two of them.

"I can say no because I don't trust you," Sanguinus responded. "Of all the men and women here, you are the most likely to be working to your own ends."

Mandrake scoffed. "And how exactly does that make me any different from you?" he asked. I mean, before we came here, we were practically the same thing!"

"Except I had scruples," said Sanguinus. "You and your band of thugs were little more than hired muscle. You'd sell your services to anyone who had the coin, regardless of the consequences."

"And you wouldn't?"

Sanguinus averted his gaze. "When I could help it. Sometimes I had to make exceptions to my code."

"Yeah, that's why I never had a code," said Mandrake. "Just holds you down. But code or no code, you seem like one of the more trustworthy people in this castle. We should join forces."

"We're already both Inquisitors," Sanguinus said. "How would 'joining forces' be any different than already being on the same team?"

Mandrake shrugged, looking irritated. "Alright, let me break it down: We both know that there are two kinds of people in here-ones that are blindly loyal to Belos, and ones out for their benefit. Of the latter, Mattias would sell out his own mother to get more power, Grace is nuts, Shrike scares the crap out of me, and I don't know enough about Stygma. You, on the other hand, live by a code. And that makes you trustworthy."

"That makes me predictable, you mean," said Sanguinus. "We both know this is only about your benefit."

"Hey, relax, would you?" said Mandrake. "This place is a madhouse, so we need every advantage we can get. I guarantee you that someone, either Belos himself or one of his puppets, is gonna try and screw us over sooner or later. Don't you want someone to have your back when that time comes?"

"And who better to stab me in the back than the one watching it?" Sanguinus said, looking up at Mandrake. "You didn't mention Caelano-I take it she rejected your offer as well?"

Mandrake huffed-this was evidently a sore spot. "All I'm saying is, I think it's pretty obvious that Belos is using us. And what happens when we run out of uses? We just go home, like that? It's not gonna end like that, Sang. One of us needs to take the initiative to-" He paused. "Hang on, Clawthorne's comin'," he said in a hushed voice.

Lilith walked down the hallway, approaching the two. Mandrake lowered his head, pretending not to have just been talking. Sanguinus looked up attentively as Lilith stopped in front of them.

Mandrake looked up once it was apparent that Lilith wasn't just passing by. He nodded at her. "How's it going?"

She shot him an icy glare, before turning to the other one. "Inquisitor Sanguinus."

"Yes, Miss Lilith?"

"Emperor Belos has requested your presence. He wishes to know more about your...previous encounter with my sister. He believes it may be useful in tracking her down."

Sanguinus raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? I suppose I don't have a choice. Tell him I'll be there as soon as I've tended to Ophelia."

"Very well," said Lilith. Both she and Sanguinus took a step, carrying them in the same direction. "I...suppose we'll say our goodbyes in a moment…"

Lilith and Sanguinus both set off down the hall. The latter gave Mandrake one last glance as he retreated. He mouthed 'Think about it.' Sanguinus didn't respond, but he knew he had already thought about it enough.

For most of the way, the two walked in silence. Before they went their separate ways, Lilith broke it with a quiet question: "Would you have killed her?"

Sanguinus looked up at Lilith, but her eyes were staring ahead. "Pardon?"

"Your encounter," she said, almost no emotion in her voice. "If it had escalated, would you have killed her?"

"...I make an effort to bring in most of my marks alive, if I can help it," Sanguinus answered. "And not just because it pays better."

"If that's the case, then why did Belos order you to be blacklisted by the hunters' guild?" Lilith asked. It sounded less like a question, and more like an accusation.

Sanguinus was taken aback. "I-I don't know," he said. "I've often wondered about that myself. I never assumed the two were related."

They soon reached the point where their paths split. "Just keep in mind that Belos wants my sister brought in alive," Lilith said icily. "As do I."

"I should think so," Sanguinus said. "But tell me, what exactly-"

Before he could ask his question, Lilith was gone, disappeared down the hall. Sanguinus simply shrugged it off, and headed the other way, down into the stables where his beast was kept.

On his way, Sanguinus passed by a glass door leading to a balcony overlooking a nearby forest. Unbeknownst to him, three of the other Inquisitors were out there: Caelano, Stygma, and Grace looked over the view-or rather, the former two did.

"She's out there somewhere," said Stygma. "And we're going to find her."

"I didn't take you for the all-business type," said Caelano, looking over at her fellow Inquisitor.

"The only business I take seriously is my business," Stygma replied. "And being an Inquisitor affects my bottom line. The sooner we catch Eda, the sooner we can get back to our lives."

"Eda? You mean Eda Clawthorne?" said Grace. "I've heard about her. They say she's a nice girl, but a real troublemaker."

Stygma looked at the older woman with irritation. "What are you muttering about, grandma? You've never even heard of Eda before."

Caelano shot her a glare. "Be quiet." She then leaned down to Grace's level. "Grace? Where do you know Eda from?" she asked gently.

"People talk," she said, more to herself. "They think, too. About Eda. About how her future was so promising before all of this. But he still wants her by his side, despite everything."

Stygma rolled her eyes, but Caelano listened. "Who does?"

Grace shook her head. "I've said too much already. If I say more, people might get the wrong idea."

"And, what wrong idea is that?" asked Caelano.

"Well, that was helpful," said Stygma. "What good is seeing the future if you can't make sense of it?"

"I thought I told you to be quiet," said Caelano. "I'm sure it's much easier for her to make sense of what she sees."

"I'll bet," Stygma muttered.

"Hello, Briares," said Grace. Both Inquisitors looked at her, but she still faced out towards the forest below.

"There, you see?" said Caelano. "She saw Briares coming here. Just wait, he'll show up in a moment.

Sure enough, less than a minute later there was a tap on the glass door. Briares, too large to fit on the balcony with the three of them already there, merely leaned outside. "Greetings, Inquisitors Caelano, Gracious, Astygmatism," he said. "Inquisitor Caelano, I have been asked to seek you out."

"What do you need?" she asked.

"Inquisitor Mattias believes that Inquisitor Loxton will neglect his inquisitorial duties while in Bonesborough. He has asked me to keep an indirect eye on him."

"Ah. Loxton," said Grace. "I used to listen to his music, back in the day."

"Alright," said Caelano, knowing what was needed. "Get him ready, this will only take a minute." She drew a spell circle in the air, holding her hand out and concentrating as the air in front of her began to swirl and ripple.

While she did this, Briares drew a spell circle as well. A glowing circle appeared on the floor next to him, which something rose up from. A mass of intricately carved metal, covered in all manner of runes and shapes. Beneath this was a wooden handle, the thickness and almost length of a telephone pole. Briares grabbed onto his hammer, slinging it over his shoulder.

Just over the balcony's edge, a small portal formed from the ripple in the air. "Ready when you are," said Caelano.

Briares nodded, gently moving the head of the hammer over to the portal. Sitting atop the hammer was a carved metal bull the size of a lapdog, which, once it was near the balcony's edge, jolted to life and hopped onto the handrail.

"Go, Minos," said Briares. "Keep a close watch on our friend, and our enemies if possible."

The palisman snuffled, hopping through the portal. Caelano let out a breath as she relaxed her arm, causing the portal to vanish. "Is that everything?"

"Indeed it is, for now," said Briares. "Thank you for your help, Inquisitor Caelano. Farewell, Inquisitor Gracious."

"Remember to watch your head," said Grace.

"Indeed I shall. Farewell, Inquisitor Astygmatism.

"I told you not to call me that," Stygma muttered. Briares left, closing the door behind him. She turned to Caelano. "I specifically told him not to call me that."

"You know how he is with nicknames," said Caelano.

"Lovely view, isn't it?" said Grace.

Stygma looked over at Grace, who was still staring out at the forest despite her eyes being covered. "What are you even doing here?" she asked. "You can't see!"

"Such a shame we won't be able to see it for much longer..."

Caelano looked up at Stygma, who shrugged. "What will happen, exactly?" she asked.

"We will go back inside, where we can't see it," Grace answered.


"Right, get those amps up there!" barked Loxton. "And don't bust me equipment before I go on! Oy, careful with those curtains!"

Loxton stood back and watched with slight irritation as a collection of workers set up a stage for his eventual performance. It was far from the luxurious venues that he was used to, especially on such short notice, but it was passable.

One of the workers, possibly the foreman, approached him. "Uh, Mr. Loxton?" he said. "I'm not sure if you're aware of our policies, but we tend to prefer payment before the work is compl-"

"Yeah, yeah, just put it on the Emperor's bill," Loxton said, waving him off. "Now sod off, I'm in the middle of something!" The worker slowly backed away, and Loxton continued watching the workers work, unaware of the metal palisman gazing out from the shadows. "If all goes right, this might just be the best performance I've 'ad in years!"