Chapter Seven: Sound Check
"So, what do you think?" asked Luz. "Saturday sleepover?"
Eda glanced up from her newspaper, giving Luz a skeptical look. "With those Inquisition creeps running around the city? Sounds like a recipe for trouble."
"Eda, you practically wrote that recipe!" Luz said. "What happened to your sense of adventure?"
She chuckled. "Kid, I got 'sense of adventure' for days. It's my sense of maternal instinct that's the issue here. I don't want you to head off to some little sleepover only to get carted off 'cause I wasn't there."
"Aw, c'mon!" Luz insisted. "It'll just be the four of us at Willow's house! We won't even go anywhere! Besides, you know how chill her dads are."
Eda pursed her lips, considering it. "Alright, fine," she said, getting to her feet. "But only if I fly you there. And I'm taking you back first thing in the morning, alright?"
"Great, sounds like a plan!" Luz said. When Eda momentarily turned her back, Luz pumped her fist. It sounded like a plan indeed, and that plan was working so far.
At that moment, King bounded up to her. "Hey, if you're having a sleepover, can I come too?" he asked. "I'll bring my jammies!"
"Aww, sorry little buddy!" said Luz, scooping him up. "This one's gonna be a girls' night. Sort of a 'no boys allowed' type of thing. You understand, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," he said, sounding only slightly disappointed. "In that case, I'll just have to-Hey, wait, isn't illusion boy going to be there?"
"Oh...um…" Luz tried to come up with an answer.
Luckily, Eda seemed to have one at the ready. "Yeah, it's no boys allowed, plural," she said. "They're allowed to have one."
"Oh. That makes sense," King said. "I'll just have to have a sleepover of my own, then." He headed upstairs to collect his stuffed animals.
Eda nudged Luz with her elbow. "Used that ol' excuse a few times back in my day," she said. "Had a few 'girls'' night out myself!"
"I'll bet!" said Luz. So, that was getting there out of the way. Now all she had to worry about was the fight with Loxton. Hopefully, Amity was having just as easy a time as she was.
Amity's mind raced as she held tight to the strap of her bookbag. Taking on a dangerous criminal was one thing-although Luz's mentor being in danger made matters a bit more pressing at the time-but taking on a branch of the Emperor's Coven was something entirely different. It was basically declaring war on the Belos-controlled Isles themselves! Plus, it didn't help that the same criminal had somehow worked his way up the ranks to be the head of this new branch. Another thing on the list of questions to ask her mentor.
Her quiet stroll through the afternoon streets of Bonesborough brought her to the familiar park where she would meet with the leader of the Emperor's Coven once a month for private lessons. She soon noticed that there were far less people than there usually were. While the park in question was normally not very crowded-most people wanted nothing to do with someone as important as Lilith-but the area inside the fence was completely barren, save for the usual trees.
Once Amity reached their usual meeting place, she understood why. Lilith was standing beside a bench as usual, but she wasn't alone. There was another figure beside her, one that Amity recognized. Shrike, crouched next to her, gazing at something she couldn't see. She froze up, unsure of what to do. She couldn't just run away, she still had her lessons with Lilith. But she didn't want anything to do with the skull-headed figure. What was he doing here?
Lilith made Amity's decision for her, looking up and noticing the girl. "Amity, there you are," she called. She began walking over, and Shrike stood up to follow. "You're late. I was beginning to worry. Is everything alright?"
Amity's eyes were fixed on Shrike, his empty eye sockets seeming to stare straight through her. "Um...No, Miss Lilith, I just had to finish up some schoolwork. Sorry for making you wait."
"Not at all," said Lilith. "It's good to know that you're keeping up on your work. Speaking of which, I imagine you've been practicing your fire spell?"
"I have," Amity said, still focused on their guest. "I'm able to cast it without a practice want now-Er, Miss Lilith, not to be rude, but...I couldn't help but notice…"
Lilith glanced down at Shrike, who said nothing. "Ah, yes. Amity, I take it you're already acquainted with Inquisitor Shrike? Emperor Belos has ordered him to accompany us during our monthly training sessions."
"Indeed," Shrike said, his non-eyes still focused on Amity. "Lovely to see you again, young Miss Blight." He held out a slender hand, which Amity reluctantly took. "You needn't worry about me. Belos simply wanted someone to keep an eye on your progress. You can simply pretend I'm not here."
"Uh...yeah." Amity figured that would be easier said than done. Especially when it was pretty obvious he had ulterior motives for keeping an eye on her.
"Now then," Lilith said, sounding quite like she was changing the subject, "shall we get started? Why don't we start off with that fire spell you've been working on?"
"Certainly." Amity stepped forward and prepared herself, taking a calming breath. She traced the circle in the air, and a small violet fireball appeared...only to fizzle out just as quickly. Hoping Lilith hadn't seen, Amity quickly tried again, but got the same result. "I'm sorry," she sighed, "I'm just feeling a bit...distracted right now."
"It's quite alright," Lilith said, stepping closer. "What is it that's distracting you?"
"I…" Amity glanced back at Shrike for a moment, before turning to look at Lilith. "I've been worried about this whole Inquisition thing."
Lilith opened her mouth to speak, but Shrike did so before her. "Worried? Young Miss Blight, I assure you that there is nothing to be worried about. It is only the human and the Owl Lady we concern ourselves with."
"No, it isn't like that," Amity said. She thought for a moment, struggling to come up with a lie. "I'm just worried that...I won't be good enough to join the Emperor's Coven." Yes, that would work.
"Oh? And why does the Inquisition make you think this?" asked Shrike.
"Yes, why?" asked Lilith.
Great, Amity thought. This couldn't be easy. "Um, well...you all seem like you're replacing the Emperor's Coven. With how powerful all nine of you are, it seems like there won't be any need for covensmen anymore."
Shrike cocked his head to the side. "Amity, I can assure you, we won't be replacing anything. The formation of the Inquisitorius Magicus was a temporary measure to apprehend the Owl Lady and her apprentice." It was subtle, but Amity was certain that this statement was partially directed at Lilith. The coven leader seemed to think so as well, as she gave him a quick glare. "Once those two have been apprehended, the Emperor's Coven proper will resume its usual duties."
"What Shrike means to say," Lilith said, "is that there will still be a place among our ranks once you complete your studies. Speaking of which...why don't you demonstrate your abomination techniques for us?"
Figuring she was not about to get any more information out of either of them anytime soon, Amity obliged. "Yes, Miss Lilith. I've been practicing that as well. I won't disappoint this time!" Amity then drew another spell circle, an abomination rising from the ground.
"Excellent form," Lilith said. "Shall we run the basic maneuvers?"
"Of course," Amity said. She stepped forward, ordering the abomination in front of her. As she did so, Shrike appeared beside Lilith unseen.
"She has marvelous form," he said, almost startling Lilith. Amity directed her abomination through several basic and intermediate commands with expert precision. "I can see why you and Belos have your eyes on her."
"What I want to know is why Belos wants you here," Lilith said coldly. "I was under the impression that my students were my own business."
"Is his eminence allowed no secrets?" Shrike replied, his gaze still fixed on Amity. Lilith said nothing, figuring that inquiring further would be pointless. "She would make an excellent Inquisitor, wouldn't you agree?"
"Excuse me?" said Lilith, glaring at Shrike.
"Apologies. Merely thinking out loud." Shrike bowed respectfully before backing off. Lilith returned her focus to Amity, trying to ignore his presence mere feet behind her. She found that was easier said than done.
"Well then, this is it," said Luz. "Everyone ready?"
Luz lowered herself from Willow's bedroom window to the ground, followed by Willow herself, then Gus, and then Amity. Willow helped Gus up, as he had fallen over on his exit.
"I guess so," she said. "But are you sure you're ready, Luz?"
"Of course," Luz answered. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I think Willow's having second thoughts about this," Gus said. "But don't worry-I'll have your back!"
"Of course I'll have her back," said Willow, "I'm just worried that this isn't the best course of action. Shouldn't you be hiding from the Inquisitors instead of fighting them?"
Luz stepped over, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Willow, I know that this doesn't seem like the best option, but I can't run and hide forever. It's not who I am. Sooner or later, the Inquisition is gonna find me or Eda, andI won't be prepared to stop them. That's why I have to strike first! Show them that I'm not just a scared kid! But I can't ask you to do that with me. This is my fight, and I don't want to drag any of you into it. So thank you for coming this far, but if you want to turn back now, I understand, and I respect your decision."
Amity spoke first. "Luz, of course we're coming with you. The Inquisitors may be coming after you, but that's exactly why we're fighting them."
"Yeah!" Gus exclaimed. "Nobody messes with our friend and gets away with it!"
Willow sighed. "I guess you're right. After all, I can't just let you run in there by yourselves, can I?" She smiled, lightly punching Luz on the shoulder.
Luz beamed, throwing her hands in the air. "Aw yeah! Operation: Party-Crash has officially begun! Everyone ready?"
"Hang on, hang on!" said Amity. "Willow makes a good point: if the Inquisitors see us, won't they come after us to take them to Luz?"
Willow looked at her funny. "I mean, I guess that's sorta like what I said…"
"Don't worry; I thought of everything!" said Gus. With a wave of his finger, what seemed to be a clump of black fabric appeared in his hands. He pulled it apart into three black scarves, handing one to Willow and one to Amity. "There! Now we'll just be Luz's faceless accomplices!" He tied the scarf around his mouth. Willow and Amity were skeptical, but tied them on as well.
"Good thinking, Gus!" said Luz. She scanned over the mask-clad trio. "Aww, I couldn't have asked for a better team of ninja minions!"
"Um, I don't know about this…" said Amity. "There aren't that many witches in town with their hair dyed green…"
"Yeah, you do stand out in a crowd," Luz said. She gasped lightly. "Wait, hang on!" She slipped off her hoodie, handing it to Amity. "Here, put this on!"
Amity stared at the jacket like Luz had just pulled a space alien out of her pocket. "W-what?"
"It'll cover up your hair!" said Luz. "Go on, what do you have to lose?"
"O-okay…" Amity gingerly picked up the hoodie, pulling it over her head and sliding her arms into the sleeves. "Now what?"
"Put up the hood," Luz said.
Amity pulled the hood over her head...only for it to cover up her face. "How am I supposed to see with this on?" she asked, her voice muffled by the fabric.
Luz giggled. "That's because you've got it on backwards! Here, let me help." She stepped over, turning the jacket around once Amity had pulled in her arms again. She then put on the hood, and stepped back to admire her handiwork.
"...What?" asked Amity, puzzled by Luz's expression.
"You look so cute with little kitty ears!" Luz squeaked. Amity averted eye contact, grateful that her scarf covered up her bright red cheeks. "Okay, enough of that-let's get moving!"
The four heroes set off towards the center of town. There didn't seem to be any guard presence, which wasn't unusual for nighttime in Bonesborough, but struck Luz as odd given the big event. Soon enough, they would hear the murmur of the crowd as they grew closer.
"So," Luz whispered to Amity, "any news on Loxton's weaknesses?"
"Oh. Um, about that," she said. "I didn't get the chance to ask Lilith about the Inquisition. Shrike was there, and I didn't want to tip him off to our plan."
"He was at your meeting with Lilith?" said Gus. "Why is that creep following you?"
"Apparently, Belos ordered him to keep tabs on me," Amity said. "At this point, I don't know if I believe that. For all I know, Mattias is using him to spy on me."
"We'll deal with him later," Luz said angrily. "But right now, let's focus on the music man over there. Gus, scenario: I'm fighting an angry bard. What should I do?"
"Well, first of all, you should get him to stop playing music," Gus replied. "It's the source of his power."
"Alrighty, pretty straightforward," said Luz. "We'll work as a team: I'll keep him distracted, and you guys...you have speakers in this dimension, right?"
"For amplifying sound?" said Willow. "Yeah, they're pretty standard. Taking them out would probably weaken his power."
"Exactly!" said Luz. "See, we're coming up with a plan already! Once we quiet him down a bit, we'll-"
"Shh! We're here!" Amity said, pulling Luz aside before she walked into a large crowd. Gus and Willow followed. All of them ducked behind a building, peering out to scan the area.
"Huh. Pretty good turnout," said Gus, noticing the size of the crowd.
"What do you expect when he doesn't charge for tickets?" said Amity.
"Okay, let's wait for him to start, and then we'll-wait, he doesn't? Why not?"
"Because of his ego," said Amity. "He wants as many people here as possible, and free admission means a bigger audience."
Suddenly, the crowd went silent. Bright lights shone down onto the stage. The red curtains slowly parted, and the lights moved with them, keeping the stage itself shrouded in shadow. A magically-amplified voice ran out: "Ladies an' gentlemen of Bonesborough, welcome to the comeback of the century!"
Some of the crowd started to cheer as a steady drumbeat emanated from the stage, accompanied by a few bass riffs. The lights swept over the crowd, as the music steadily began to build.
"Put yer hands, or tentacles, or whatever you got together for the one...the only...LOXTON!"
The crowd went wild as pyrotechnics exploded behind the band, and the spotlights focused on Loxton. He wore his Inquisitor mask, and the crest folded up behind his head had flared out, now resembling a mohawk rather than a ponytail. He held a staff above his head, to which a spider palisman was attached.
"Now then...let's get it started!"
He drew a spell circle, which extended into a glowing red line. This line then split into six, each one attaching to one of the palisman's eight legs. More red lines appeared, forming the shape of an electric guitar over his staff, which he prepared to play.
"FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT!"
