"Hunter!"
Luz called out as Hunter fled into the woods. The rest of the owl house residents followed the teens. King asking
"What the heck happened in there?"
"Luz, what did you see?"
Eda asked as she looked towards her and the woods. Luz turned around, her eyes were gleaming as she held back tears. She breathed in as she yelled in a panic.
"Eda! Please, you have to find Hunter! We can't just leave him alone! Belos he'll, he'll…"
Kill him!
The words were stuck in Luz's throat. Eda looked at the woods and then at Luz again. Eda could see the fear and worry mixed together on Luz's face. Eda quickly turned into her harpe form, taking off to find Hunter. Luz watched as Eda flew off. Her legs turned to jelly as she collapsed to her knees, her tears finally falling. King ran up to her, worried.
"Luz are you okay!? What did you see? Can I help?"
Luz looked at the little demon clinging to her leg. She breathed in and grabbed onto him crying harder than before.
Hunter didn't know where he was running to but he had to run. The fear and anxiety he felt was crushing him the longer he stayed in that house. He stopped to catch his breath. Flapjack finally caught up to him and landed on his shoulder and chirped at him. Hunter screamed at the sudden touch and jumped. He saw Flapjack flying next to him, he looked concerned. Hunter let out a long breath as tears started to form in the corners of his eyes.
"Flapjack, I…"
Before he could say anything, he heard a rustling sound and gasped as he looked towards the noise in fear. Just then a figure came out of the woods. Hunter looked at them wide-eyed, it was one of the criminals from earlier. They were probably there to kidnap him and learn about what he saw. That thought alone set waves of fear down Hunter's spine. He grabbed Flapjack and ran.
Eda looked around trying her best to spot Hunter. Although she had her reservations about him, she could tell he needed help. And from the way he reacted he needed someone to talk to and somewhere to stay.
Ah, where is the golden nerd?... I shouldn't have called him that, Luz was upset and wanted me to find him. So I'll do what I can to find him. Besides I know how panic attacks work and he's probably still freaking out.
It took her some time but she finally saw the kid and his pailsman. It looked like he was in trouble. Three hooded figures were approaching him and he was clearly distressed. Eda gasps, there was nowhere left for him to run as the figures closed in. She swooped down and grabbed him in her talons, yelling to the hooded goons.
"You can't take my kid!"
She tossed him up and caught him, asking.
"You alright?"
Hunter looked at her wide-eyed. He was out of breath as he stammered.
"Can't, can't, can't go back!*huff* *huff* He'll, He'll…Belos will…*huff**huff* Uncle will… I, I…"
Hunter started panicking again, taking quick short breaths. Eda looked down at him, worried.
I need to get him home and quick! He's losing it again…. What did they see?
Luz was sitting on the couch, watching the door. The pit in her stomach kept growing deeper and deeper with each passing minute. Her mind telling her cruel lies about Eda and Hunter. King looked up at her, still concerned. Luz looked tired and desperate, he'd never seen her like this. He felt just as worried as she did, he asked.
"Was it really that scary?"
Luz wrapped her arms around her stomach and nodded. King swallowed hard, trying to find the right thing to say.
"Well, you're safe now, Luz. And I know Eda will find the blonde kid."
Luz looked down at King, letting her worried expression fall for a moment as she gave him a smile.
"Yeah, I bet you're right."
Just then Eda burst through the door with Hunter in her arms. She had a little trouble with her wings but she managed. Luz sprang up and ran over to them, a new set of tears ran down her face.
"Eda, Hunter! Oh, thank the Titan! I was so worried. I thought! I thought!"
"I know you're upset Luz but please don't crowd us. The kids, still losing it."
Luz looked at Hunter and could see he was shaking like a leaf, muttering to himself.
"I, I can't… go… back."
Hunter finally lost conscience. Luz's eyes widened in fear.
"Hunter!?... Eda, Is he okay!?"
Eda walked over to the couch and placed him down, answering Luz in the process.
"He just passed out. Whatever you two saw was too much for him and it broke him. He just couldn't handle the stress anymore. Although the kid always looks sleep-deprived, I'm surprised he didn't pass out before I found him."
Luz looked at him, he still looked afraid. His pailsman rubbed his face, clearly worried for him. Luz swallowed down her worries as she sat on the floor. Eda looked at her and then at Hunter, sighing.
"Luz, what happened in Belos's mind? What did you two see?"
Luz looked at Eda, another set of tears rolling down her face. She hugged Eda, burying her face into her chest. Eda rubbed her back, tiring to calm her down. After five minutes Luz was calm enough to tell Eda what happened. She took a deep breath and started.
"Eda it was awful, the Belos we thought was just a strong emotion was really the inner Belos the whole time and the monster Belos we saw was really a bunch of pailsman souls together. It was trying to warn us the whole time but we didn't know that… we just thought it was going to hurt us… Eda, it was afraid of Belos…We also saw some memories too. He's been lying to witches for years and, and he even faked attacks on himself to make wild magic look bad… Eda, he hurt so many people and, and the golden guard… It's a lie, Eda! The title is.. all the ones before Hunter were…."
She looked at Hunter, whose face had contorted into fear as he slept. She turned back to Eda, tears in the corners of her eyes as she asked.
"Eda, have you ever heard of a grimwalker?"
Eda sighed heavily.
"Luz, I've only heard one story about a grimwalker but it's an old fool's tale and honestly they aren't real. But it sounds like you had a terrible experience. Monster pailsman souls and just seeing Belos in general. You should just relax."
Luz looked down at her knees, she felt exhaustion wash over her. Her eyes were heavy and a bit puffy. Eda ruffled her hair and smiled at her.
"Look, Luz why don't you go to bed, what happened messed with you and the kid. You need the rest even if it's only for a few hours."
Luz was about to protest but instead, a yawn escaped her lips. She blushed, as she rubbed her eyes, wiping away the remaining tears in the process.
"Eda, I don't think I can sleep after that whole. Well that."
She pointed to her head, tiring to make a show of it. Eda sighed,
"Well just try, we're keeping you home today anyway. An besides daybreak will be here soon."
Luz looked out the window and noticed the sun starting to rise. She rubbed her eyes again as she got up to head to her room. She paused for a moment.
"Eda, will you stay with Hunter? I'm afraid for him. The whole thing really… messed him up."
Glancing at him, he still looked afraid. Eda gave him an empathic smile before turning back to Luz. She nodded.
"Yeah, I'll keep blondie safe, in fact."
She yelled out
"Hooty, keep the defenses up. If you see any of Belos's men then take care of them."
Hooty, gave a weird salute with his body as he answered
"Hoot, you can count on me, Eda!"
He pulled himself back out the window. Eda looked at Luz smiling. Luz gave her a sleepy grin as she rubbed her eyes. Heading off to bed.
Luz didn't get much sleep; she was back downstairs after a few hours. She sat at the kitchen table, her face planted onto the table as she made little circles on the wood with her hand. Eda sighed as she placed a plate of eggs down in front of her.
"Alright, you're up again. So how did you sleep?"
"Ugh."
"I thought as much."
Luz picked herself off the table and picked at her breakfast.
"I'm sorry Eda. It's just… Well, it was awful but the worst part.. for me at least was that Belos and… and Philip Wittabane are… the same person. And knowing I met and helped him is just… I feel so dumb."
Eda dropped her mug as she looked at Luz wide-eyed.
"Belos is that jerk you and Lily met, in the deadwarden period!? How? He should be dead?!"
Luz looked up at Eda, she looked mad. Luz sighed.
"I don't know but it's him. He showed me the memories of when he met me and Lilith… You know in one of those memories he was talking to someone named the collector. Maybe this collector person extended his life?"
Eda dropped the pieces of her broken mug and stared at Luz, fearfully.
"Did you say the collector!?"
Luz looked at her, nervously as she nodded.
"Kid if a grimwalkers an old fool's tale then the collector is an old horror story."
Luz dropped her fork.
"Horror story… Eda, Belos is helping him. I saw it. Something about the day of unity and how the collectors below these bones. I, I don't get it but I know the day of unity is going to be a disaster if we don't do something."
Luz's eyes widened, filling with fear and dread as she yelled.
"Eda, he has the portal to the human realm up and running!"
"What!?"
Eda dropped the pieces to her mug again. As she looked at Luz fearfully.
"But you destroyed it, how can he have it running?"
"I, I don't know. Hunter said he helped Belos repair it. And he did build it the first time… which I'm starting to think he didn't build the first one."
Luz crossed her arms as she huffed. Eda sighed.
Whatever they saw was bad. This collector character is bad news and if he's with Belos… Maybe Hunter can help Luz with her portal… but without Titan's blood… Ah, I need to find a way to stop the day of unity!… But how?
"How's Hunter?"
Eda was snapped out of her train of thought as she looked at Luz. Luz looked worried. Eda smiled.
"He's still out but it does look like he made another friend."
Eda motioned to Luz to follow her as they entered the living room. Luz looked at the couch and clapped her hands together as she cooed. King and Owlbert had cuddled up to him in the few hours she had gone to bed. She pulled her phone out and took a picture.
"Don't worry I'll keep you safe, precious cuties."
Eda looked at her slightly concerned.
Is she referring to King, Owlbert, and the red bird or to the kid… Knowing Luz it's the cute critters around the kid.
"Yeah, they got concerned for him and said they would watch him while I ran to the bathroom. Next thing I know, there sleeping with him…. King is to be expected but Owlbert, well that one surprised me. He must be a good kid if Owlbert is cuddling with him. Either that or Owlbert is there to give moral support to his pailsman. That little bird of his hasn't left him since he's been here."
Luz smiled.
"Yeah, he said his bird's name was Flapjack. But I still think Lil'rascal is a good name for him... But Flapjack is cute too."
Luz got beside the couch and patted the little bird's head. Flapjack looked up at Luz and chirped happily.
"Awe, you're worried for your buddy. Well, don't worry Eda will take good care of him."
"Yeah, I will, so don't worry."
The bird chirped again. Luz sat down, looking at Eda, and asked.
"Eda, can you tell me about the grimwalker?"
Eda looked at Luz with concern as she asked.
"Sure but why do you want to hear it? You've been awfully interested in it ever since you came back. So spill it, what did you hear in there about a grimwalker."
Luz held her knees as she glanced behind her. Hunter was still asleep.
"We saw a hallway in Belos's head… it was dedicated to the Golden Guards… but not in a good way… Eda it was a graveyard… when the real Belos showed up, Hunter asked what had happened to the other guards, to their family, and… All Belos said was that Hunter was a shame and that out of all the grimwalkers he looked the most like someone. When I asked what a grimwalker was he told me that Hunter was a better version of an old friend."
Eda sat down in her chair, a shiver ran up her spine.
"Geez, that's messed up. No wonder the kid freaked out."
"Yeah, I know if that was me.. well I don't know what I would do and honestly I don't think Hunter knows what to do either."
Eda got up and walked over to Luz. She sat beside her and wrapped an arm around Luz.
"Yeah, but the kid is welcome here. If Belos wants him then he needs to get through me. I won't let Belos hurt you or blon- Hunter again."
Luz smiled.
"Thanks, Eda."
"Alright that's enough mushy stuff, for now, so you want to hear about the grimwalker?"
Luz looked up at Eda.
"Yeah."
Eda inhaled
"All right… According to the tale, there was a man and wife and they had a child. Now an accident happened and the kid died, the woman was devastated and couldn't bear the thought of a world without her child. So she collected pailstrom wood, a galdorstone, and a few other things. After some time she came back to her husband and showed him that their child was alive again. But he looked at this child and said that's not my child. His eyes are red like blood and his appearance isn't the same."
"Red like blood?"
Luz asked as she glanced at Hunter.
"Yeah… doesn't Hunter have red eyes?"
Eda gazed at Hunter. Luz hesitated to answer. She knew Eda already knew the answer but saying it aloud would confirm it. Luz swallowed down her budding fears.
"Yes, he does."
Eda shifted a bit and sighed.
"Well anyway, the man doesn't like this thing and says it's wrong. So he claims that it's a grim reminder of what happened and that his wife has to move on. After he told her that he left and never sees them again. The woman just thinks it's funny and goes on with her child. Laughing and telling the child that if his father said that he's a grim reminder of their first child then he must be a grimwalker… It's pretty boring and doesn't really give a moral story."
Luz sighed.
"So the story is just a story."
"Yeah, a cruddy one at that. No wonder no one tells it anymore. But it's the only tale about a grimwalker. I'm guessing that Belos made it into a boring fool's tale so no one would try to make a grimwalker… Either that or a grimwalker is a dangerous spell and a difficult one at that. Or maybe no one has ever made one successfully. "
"Can't be that difficult if Belos keeps making them…. It.. I. Ah! Eda, I hate this! I hate knowing about Belos and what he did to people and Hunter and.."
Luz grabbed onto Eda hugging her tightly. Eda sighed
"I know Luz. If I could I would have you forget it all but I can't."
"I know Eda."
Luz yawned
"I'm going back to bed."
"Alright get some shut-eye."
Luz got up and left. Eda watched her with concern.
She's still shaken up about Belos and if she's like this I can only imagine how Hunter will react when he wakes up.
Eda sighed it was already dark out and neither of her two kids had woken up. She was stuck worrying about them all day. As she stirred her stew she thought to herself.
From what I learned Belos has been a jerk for years, he's a mass murderer of his own grim… family, and other people. He's also planning to do something terrible on the day of unity. And this collector…. Maybe Lily knows something about this and maybe something about Hunter. All I know about him is that he is, was the emperor's right-hand man and that he has that bird pailsman. He also had a panic attack and didn't take it well.
"Eda, Eda! He's walking up!"
King yelled out to Eda. Eda looked towards the living room and bolted for the room. She stopped and looked at Hunter. He groaned and sat up, his throat was dry and his head hurt. Eda looked at him with concern.
Well, this is it, will he panic again or get angry?
Hunter looked around at the unfamiliar decor around him. He couldn't make out where he was.
"Ah, my head. Where?"
"Hunter, how do you feel?"
Hunter looked over to the voice. He was confused as he looked at the person.
The owl lady…? Where?
"... You're the owl lady. Why am I here? Did you capture me!?"
Hunter got up and furrowed his brow at her.
"You did, didn't you!? When the emperor finds-"
He stopped mid-sentence and looked down. The memories came flooding back immediately. He fell back onto the couch, fear in his eyes. Eda could tell that he was going to panic again.
"Hunter, listen you're okay. I'm not going to hurt you and I won't let anyone hurt you."
Hunter looked at Eda, tears were in the corners of his eyes. He breathed in heavily, his voice was shaky.
"You don't know that. Belos is a terrible man. He… he's killed so many of our… I'm next and he'll kill me… I know too much and…"
He started taking quick short breaths. Eda could see it starting, another panic attack. She approached him slowly and placed her hands on his shoulder.
"Listen to me, Hunter. What do you see?"
He looked up at her with panicked eyes.
"What!?"
"What do you see?"
She repeated in a calm manner. Hunter's eyes darted around.
"Uh, I see the floor, uh flapjack, an owl pailsman, a chest, the rat, a… wanted poster? What does this have to do with anything?"
Eda smirked at him.
"Are you panicking?"
"Uh…?"
He looked away sheepishly.
"Why are you helping me?"
Eda scuffed.
"Kid you saw something terrible and you're pailsman and Luz both want to make sure you're okay. And I'm helping cause you need it… Well, that and you're afraid of Belos finding you and killing you and there's no way I'll let that jerk kill you."
Hunter looked at Eda, surprised.
"But, but I threatened you and the huma- and Luz in the past. I've been nothing but a thorn in your side…. So why help me. I don't… understand."
Eda flicked his nose as she sat next to him. Ruffling his hair.
"Hunter, Luz wants to help you and what happened before doesn't matter now. So stop thinking about it and how about you tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
Hunter looked up at her annoyed but then looked down at his knees.
No one has ever asked how I felt before. Or been this nice…Expect Darius…. I don't get it.
Flapjack chirped at him, sitting on his hands. He smiled at the bird and sighed.
"Fine, I'll tell you. Just don't… Nevermind."
He looked away from Flapjack and glared at his cloak that was hanging on a hook. His stomach twisted into knots at the thought of what he saw inside Belos's mind. The sigil he was so proud of, was now a grim reminder of what had happened to the prior guards. Eda cocked an eyebrow as she gazed at him.
What was he going to say?
Before Eda could ask, Hooty yelled
"Hey, Eda, how much longer do I have to stir the stew? I think it's burning."
Eda got up and bolted for the kitchen yelling.
"Ah, my stew! Mamas coming."
She stopped and turned back to Hunter for a moment.
"I hope you like root and veggie stew because that's what's for dinner."
Then disappeared into the kitchen. Hunter looked at the doorway confused.
Root and veggie stew? I've never had that before.
"Tweet."
"Huh, oh I guess… Actually.. I don't know Flapjack. I… I don't want to get killed but I…"
I don't understand what happened, what I did… Why uncle… Why Belos destroyed our family?... Why did he call me a… grimwalker? I don't…
Hunter leaned into the couch as he tried to process what happened only a day ago. He could only come to one conclusion as he keep revisiting the memories.
I'm a dead witch walking… The owl lady may be the safest place to hide at. I'm sure Belos will have people come looking for me and it'll be either to find me alive and take me back or… find and kill me for being a traitor…. I'm a traitor… Trai..tor…
Hunter gazed over at his cloak again, dread washed over him.
I don't want that cloak or the title of Golden Guard.. I'm so stupid for believing Belos… I..
He looked at himself still in the golden armor of the Golden Guard. His eyes widened as a grim thought crossed his mind. He started breathing heavily again as he discarded the armor and golden vest, leaving only his dark gray undershirt. He fell back onto the couch, taking quick short breaths again. Eda came back with a bowl of stew in her hands and saw the scene before her. Hunter was panicking again. She placed the bowl down and stopped in front of him asking
"Hunter what's wrong? What happened?"
Hunter looked up at Eda wide-eyed, afraid.
"I don't want to end up like the rest of them! There were so many broken masks! I-I don't want to die wearing that. That uniform!… I don't want to die as the Golden Guard!"
"Alright, I'll get rid of it just calm down. You're not going to die as the Golden Guard."
Eda picked up the discarded uniform, then the bowl of stew, and handed it to him.
"Here this may help calm your nerves."
He hesitated to take it but Flapjack chirped at him. Which calmed him down as he took the bowl. Eda sighed as she grabbed the cloak as well and went upstairs. She tossed the outfit in a closet and sighed.
He's more freaked out than Luz… Doesn't want to die like the other Golden Guards?.. Luz did say Belos had a graveyard in his mind dedicated to the Golden Guard…. Alright if he doesn't want to be the Golden Guard then why don't I bring him something to wear. He probably never got a choice to wear something besides what Belos wanted him to wear.
Eda walked over to a different closet and looked around. She found a sweater covered with red birds on it. The birds looked like his pailsman. Eda smiled at it.
Perfect.
Eda was back down in no time with the sweater. She walked over to Hunter and frowned. He didn't eat the stew, he gave it to King. Instead, he was hugging his knees curled in the corner of the couch. Eda sighed sitting down next to him she handed him the sweater.
"Here it'll be nice and cozy."
He looked at the sweater, he hesitated to take it. But something about it changed his mind as he gave a half-hearted smile to Eda
"...Thanks."
He took the sweater and put it on. Eda gazed at him, the sweater was a little big but it suited him. He turned his attention to his right arm. Eda looked at him with concern.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at your arm like that? It's very… worrisome…I see you didn't want the stew?"
He tore his eyes away from his arm for just a moment before he returned his eyes to his arm. He sighed heavily as he took off his glove and held his arm out. Eda looked at it, her brow furrowed.
"The emperor's coven sigil. That jerk gave you one?... How old are you? Sixteen? You're way too young to have that. Did he make you?"
He didn't answer as he glared at the mark. Smiling at it fondly before frowning.
"I was excited at first when I got my coven mark… That was 4 years ago… but now…"
Eda's eyes widened as a mix of fear and anger filled her. She did the math and yelled out.
"He marked you when you were twelve!?"
He didn't answer. Eda sighed heavily.
"Look, maybe my sister knows how to get rid of it after all she was the coven head till recently."
He glanced up at Eda, worried again. She could see that he was thinking about what she said. He looked at his mark again.
"...Thanks."
Eda smiled at him and ruffled his hair again. He hit her hand away, looking at her angrily.
"Don't do that!"
She laughed.
He actually looks like a normal teen.
"Why? Don't like it?"
His face scrunched up in anger as a blush colored his face. Eda snorted
"Even now you're a sad but bad boy."
His face and ears got even redder. Eda cocked an eyebrow.
Interesting. He's easy to mess with and just look at that embarrassed blush. So red that even his ears are red. So red like his eyes….
Eda sighed again, her smile falling.
"Sorry… Now, why don't you tell mama Eda what's wrong."
He cocked an eyebrow at her
Mama Eda?
The red fell from his face as a grim expression replaced it. He swallowed.
"You've already heard from Luz right?"
Eda nodded her head.
"We were with the inner Belos the whole time. He knows we were in there and he chose to show us those memories. Leading us to them… At first, Belos looked like the good guy, like the wild witches were attacking him…Like he was truly helping them… But, it was staged and he had one of the Golden Guards before me set off explosives and make it look like he was attacked… After the attack, he told his guard to set off the rest… It had to of injured so many people… And I didn't want to believe it. I defended it because I didn't want to think my Uncl… that Belos hurt people. But he did hurt them and then again when he first used the coven sigils… It paralyzed them or forced them to shut down. I don't know what it did to those people he tested it on but… A blizzard rolled in afterward… He had a different guard at that point too…"
Hunter's hands were shaking. Eda placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. Eda pulled away.
"Sorry. It's just… How did you feel when you saw all that?"
He didn't answer he continued
"Then we saw the memory of what happened after I came back from Eclipse lake with the portal key. He was upset because I disobeyed him and went anyway… He told me to stay home but I didn't listen. I went anyway and he yelled at me for it… After Belos had me leave he continued talking to this shadow thing he called the collector. That's when he said…"
Belos's words rang in his mind.
Unlike the previous attempts… Of course, I don't collector, it hurts every time he chooses to betray me.
Hunter shook his head, pushing the thought away. His words caught in his throat. He didn't want to admit it aloud that he was a failure, a betrayer. That he was next in a never-ending line of death. Tears started rolling down his face. Eda gasp
"Hunter, if you don't tell me I can't help… I know it hurts but, it'll hurt worse if you keep it to yourself."
Hunter looked up at her. He could see the worry on her face but something about it started to bother him. It reminded him of Darius in the memory painting, was it pity? That anguish he felt turned into rage in a second as he snapped at Eda.
"Why should I tell you anything!? Your just the owl lady, I don't know you! What does it matter if I tell you or not! I'm a failure and a shameful person! Uncle said so himself! That I'm nothing more than a-a toy to get rid of when I stop working properly! When I fail too much and then apparently betray him. I'm nothing more than, A-A GRIMWALKER! So why are you worried about me?! I don't deserve it. I don't deserve anything but my immediate death."
His outburst ended as he placed his head in his hands, hiding his tearful face. Eda looked at him surprised.
There it is. I was wondering if he would snap soon or if he was going to wallow. Seems he's doing both. Though I didn't think he would snap at me.
"Hey don't yell at Eda like that. She's just trying to help."
King yelled back at Hunter, pointing an accusing finger at him. Hunter just curled in on himself, a sob left his throat. Eda looked down at King and waved her hand.
"King I can take care of this without any help. So why don't you see if Luz is up yet and get her some food."
"But Eda he-"
Eda gave King a stressed expression. King sighed.
"Okay, Eda."
King left them alone. Eda watched King leave a smile crossed her lips as she watched him leave.
What a good kid King is.
Eda placed a hand on Hunter's back, which caused him to jump up and back away from her. His face had a fearful expression on it as his tears fell. Eda just looked back concerned
Whoa, he's really upset… Didn't think I would see him crying…. And he's the opposite of Luz so trying to hug or soothe him won't work. Which means the kid hasn't had any kind of kind gesture shown to him before… Belos is a monster.
"I'm sorry. That freaked you out, right? Well, its okay. Just sit back down it's okay."
Eda patted the couch coaxing him to sit back down. Hunter sniffled, wiping his eyes. He returned to the spot on the couch. He curled up into the corner and avoid eye contact with Eda.
"I-I'm sorry. It's just…"
Eda gave him an understanding smile.
"It's okay. I know how you feel. I've been cursed for years and when I was your age I had panic attacks like you and I pushed everyone away out of fear for them… But what I was really doing was pushing them away because I was afraid of how they would react to my curse and what I did."
Hunter glanced up at her.
"So I get it. You don't want someone to help you but that's not true so you're stuck with us till you can admit that you want the help. After all, admitting that you need help is better than keeping it down and trying to help yourself. It took me a long time to learn that."
Hunter swallowed down a new set of tears as he looked at Eda
Curse?.. Right, she can turn into an owl beast. I saw it when Uncl- Belos tried to turn her to stone.
"I… I think I… I really don't want to die and I just… I…"
Eda gave him a warm smile
"You don't have to say it."
Luz woke up to the smell of stew and King sitting on her chest. She sat up knocking King down. He yelled
"Ah, Luz get up. Food time."
Luz smiled at him.
"Thanks, buddy. But why were you sitting on me?"
King twiddled his thumb.
"Eda told me to check on you cause she didn't want me around to see the blond kid yell at her."
"What!? Hunters awake!"
Luz picked King up and pressed her face against his. King started to struggle as he got free. He yelled
"Ah, ha! I'm free."
King ran out the door. Luz got up and headed straight for the living room and saw Eda and Hunter sitting on the couch. Tears caught in the corners of her eye as she bolted for Hunter. She grabbed him giving him a hug, he tried to get away but Luz just moved with him.
"Hunter! You're okay! I was so worried about you!"
Luz sobbed onto him. He tried to escape her grasp to no avail, Luz was holding on tightly. Eda chuckled at the scene, thinking to herself.
I needed Luz right now. Hunter was starting to shut down again.
"Ah, Huma- Luz let go!"
Hunter pushed her face away from his. Luz finally let go as she pushed him closer to Eda so she could sit on the other side of him. Luz smiled at him as she wiped her tears away.
"That's the second time you used my name."
He blushed from embarrassment, coloring his cheeks and ear tips as he defended himself.
"Yeah well I can't keep calling you human, can I?"
"Haha, I guess not."
His blush fell as he looked between the two people beside him. He felt nervous having so many people close to him. Eda got up, she could tell he was getting nervous. She headed for the kitchen asking.
"Luz do you want some stew?"
Luz beamed at her.
"Please, yes."
"Alright and Hunter I'm bringing you some too so you better eat it this time."
Hunter looked at Eda but quickly looked away from her avoiding her gaze. He just nodded his head. Eda disappeared into the kitchen. Luz looked at Hunter and asked
"How do you feel?"
He just looked at her and didn't answer. Luz pushed on.
"I like your sweater…Uh, you look a little less tired than normal, you know."
He hummed at her avoiding her gaze.
"Your buddies been worried for you the whole time and hasn't left your side once. You know even Eda's pailsman and King came over and sat with you."
Hunter looked at Luz, surprised to hear that.
"Really? I thought the rat, hated me."
Luz frowned at him
"His name is King and he's not a rat."
Hunter looked away again.
"Sorry."
Eda came back with two bowls of stew and handed them over to the teens. She watched as Luz smiled at the stew happily, while Hunter just looked at it unsure of it. Eda looked at him annoyed
"It's not poisoned. It's just stew. See Luz is eating it."
Eda pointed to Luz who was halfway done already. Hunter just looked at it before giving in and ate it. He was surprised by how good it was. Eda just smiled as she watched the two eat, some sense of normal returning to them. Eda sat down and waited till both had finished eating. As soon as both had finished she asked.
"So Luz out of the whole ordeal I know everything that happened. Expect why didn't you answer when I told you we had the escape potion to get you two out."
Eda watched as both teens looked at her with dread. Hunter more so than Luz. Luz swallowed as she answered first.
"We didn't answer because Belos had found us and he tried to…"
Luz looked at Hunter, worried. Hunter looked down at his hands, they were shaking again.
"Belos told me what a shame I was. He called me a grimwalker and then… Started to pull me down into his subconscious to die."
Hunter finished. Eda looked at them surprised with fear mixing in.
"Belos tried to pull you into his subconscious!"
Hunter bit the inside of his lip as he nodded his head. Luz immediately defended him.
"It wasn't his fault Eda. Belos did it without warning. I used my coat as a rope but it didn't help as Hunter got pulled down…"
Luz looked at Hunter with fearful eyes.
"Honestly I thought you were gone forever. An when that thought crossed my mind I was so angry and upset that he tried to… I stopped worrying about myself and started worrying about you."
"What?"
"I was so scared that Belos had, well…"
Luz looked away, worried. Hunter looked at Luz in wonder.
Why would she worry for me? Even in the mindscape, I was nothing but rude to her.
Then Hunter recalled what she said when Kikimora tried to kill him. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
Eda scuffed.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. Luz is a caring person she even cared for Kikimora when she had a problem. The only difference between you and Kiki is that you're a good person deep down while Kiki's a backstabber… So what exactly did you do to get out of the subconscious, Hunter. No witch has ever come back from that."
"Yeah, when you came back with that ice, vine wall combo I was surprised… That's also when you used my name the first time."
Hunter looked away from them.
"Oh, well I only had your coat and my wit so I dug around in your pockets and found all those papers with the glyphs on them. I remembered the way you used them to make that sleeping haze when Kikimora stole the pailsman from me. I just blindly grabbed them and pressed them hoping that one of them would help me… I didn't want to die and it was the only thing I could think of to escape that place."
Hunter shivered as he thought about the dark void of Belos's subconscious. How it was black and cold with overlapping voices telling him that he was a failure, a fake, a useless tool. Eda looked at Hunter, he was slowly panicking again. Eda didn't want Luz to see him panic again so she quickly changed the subject.
"Alright it's late and we all had a long day so why don't we go to bed."
Luz looked at Eda annoyed, she had just gotten up she didn't need to go back to bed. However, Luz noticed Eda pointing to Hunter with her eyes, and although he always looked tired he seemed more so than usual. Luz understood and started to play along, she yawned.
"Yeah, it was very draining. I could go back to bed. Especially with my stomach filled with that tasty stew."
Luz's play worked as Hunter yawned, but he quickly hide his face as a blush colored it again. Eda gazed at him again, worried
Did that monster not let the kid sleep? No wonder he's got such thick black circles under his eyes.
"Come on, I'll show you to your room."
Hunter looked at Eda shocked.
"My room?"
"Yeah, you can't just stay on the couch the whole time. Besides if and that's a big if for some reason Belos's guards get passed Hooty I don't want you alone down here. It would be safer for you upstairs."
Before he could even protest Luz grabbed his arm and lead him to the stairs pushing him up them. His pailsman trailing behind them. Eda opened the door to Lilths old room and turned the lights on.
"Tada!"
It was about the same size as Luz's but had an actual bed. A luxury Lilith couldn't live without. And there were piles of books lined up around the room, with a desk in the corner. Luz pushed Hunter forward grinning at him, waiting to see his reaction. Hunter just looked around, something about it felt like home. His pailsman landed on his shoulder and chirped, he smiled at him.
"You think so too."
Luz and Eda gave each other knowing looks. Hunter turned towards them both, avoiding their gaze. Rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Um, Thanks for… Well, everything… I.. um."
"Awe save it. I already told you that I won't let anyone hurt you and I meant it. Now get some shut-eye. Cause I know I need some."
Eda yawned as she turned away and headed toward her room. Luz looked at her and then to Hunter.
"Night Hunter."
"Uh… night… Luz."
He closed the door. Luz followed after Eda and caught up with her, asking.
"Eda, will he really be alright? Hunter seemed down."
Eda looked at Luz, seeing that worry return to her face. Eda sighed happily.
"Luz, he'll be okay I'll make sure of it. So don't worry too much about him, after all he's tougher than he looks. He'll bounce back and be his annoying, nerdy self in no time. Why do you think I gave him Lily's old room? She loved her books and couldn't bring them all with her. Hopefully, he'll read them and feel better."
Luz smiled at Eda
"That's so sweet of you Eda… Thank you for doing all this for him."
Eda ruffled her hair.
"I'm not doing it for him, I'm doing it cause there are two stubborn, sweet kids that saw something scary and needed help since they didn't know what to do about what they saw. Besides if Hunter is here then maybe we can get him to tell us something about the day of unity. He bounds to know something."
Luz looked down again, something was nagging at her.
"Maybe but Eda even knowing what he knows it'll be hard to get him to answer anything. Belos was his guardian for his whole life and taught him everything he knows, even with this he'll have a hard time telling us anything."
Eda patted Luz's head.
"I know Luz but he can't keep everything bottled up. At least if I talk to him he might open up or even if it's you. If he says anything then we'll take it but Luz."
Eda looked right into Luz's eyes and gave her a serious expression.
"Don't push him. He's on a fine line and if we push too much he'll fall off and snap and you don't want to be on the receiving end of it. He won't hesitate to belittle you or make you feel useless. A trait he probably got from Belos and one that needs to be broken."
Luz swallowed hard as she looked at the door to Hunter's room.
"Okay, Eda I won't push too hard."
"Good now get to bed or stay up or whatever. I just know that I'm going to bed. I was up all night and day worrying for you two."
Eda walked into her room and closed the door. Luz looked at the door. She decided to go back downstairs to get another bowl of stew. Once she got to the kitchen she grabbed another bowl and filled it with stew. King hopped into the chair next to her asking.
"Luz, do you feel better today?"
Luz looked at him and patted his head.
"Yeah, I feel better today. I'm just worried about Hunter is all but I feel better."
King looked down for a moment and then back to Luz.
"Luz?"
"Yes, King?"
"I just want you to know that earlier today when blondie woke up he had another panic attack and then when Eda tried to help he yelled at her. It was odd to see. I mean I've never seen anyone yell at Eda the way he did. He also was belittling himself while he did it… Is that normal?"
Luz patted King's head again as she took a quick sip of her stew.
"It's normal King. Teens do it all the time when stressed so don't worry too much about it… You know I heard from Willow that he's a fan of Rulers Reach."
King looked at Luz with interest.
"Really?"
Luz nodded her head at him. King laughed as he hopped out of the chair.
"I must get my most amazing interrogator and prepare for tomorrow. For I will strike at his weakness and learn what he liked most about my book."
Luz watched King runoff.
Hunter had another panic attack… That's probably why he was in that sweater. He didn't want to wear the Golden Guard uniform anymore… Belittling himself?… Eda, we have our work cut out for us. He has major problems. I knew a few kids with self-esteem issues that belittled themselves back home and they usually ended up in therapy…
Luz felt her yellow egg-phone chime, she looked at it and smiled. Amity was asking if she was okay since she missed school today. Luz sighed happily and messaged back.