In the town of Bonesborough, CinderAmity followed close behind Lord Belos while she tried her best to carry the things he just purchased. A few of the vendors and shoppers watched the pair as they made their way through the night market together; they all wondered how someone like CinderAmity could've ended up in the care of someone like Lord Belos. Even a few younger witches and demons in school noticed her and were whispering and laughing at her. The young witch blushed in embarrassment as she felt the eyes of everyone staring at her. As she attempted to avert their gazes, CinderAmity suddenly tripped over something in the road and nearly lost her balance. But she caught herself and nothing of value had fallen. At that moment, Belos turned his head to face her; his eyes glowed blue with anger underneath his mask.
"Don't. Drop. Anything." He coldly said.
CinderAmity said nothing, but nodded and kept on walking with him. After a few more minutes wandering around the market, the two stopped outside a shop that sold various potions, oils, elixirs, and everything of the kind.
Belos paused before saying to CinderAmity, "I need to pick up an order of elixirs and I want you to stay out here. You can set the parcels down, but only until I return."
"Y-yes, sire." CinderAmity replied.
He nodded his head before making his way into the little shop. The moment he was gone, CinderAmity set the items she was carrying down on the ground next to a neighboring stand and took a few deep breaths.
"Phew." She heaved, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.
"Oh my gosh!" A new voice said.
CinderAmity turned to see a group of teenage girls walk up to her with smug smiles on their faces. She quickly recognized some of them as girls she used to go to school with while a few others were kids she didn't even know.
"Amity, is that you? I haven't seen you in forever! And… wow. You really went downhill, didn't you?" The girl with three eyes said mockingly before noticing the load beside her. "Ooh, what's all this?"
"That stuff looks expensive." A girl with short purple hair said with a nasty smirk.
"Please don't touch it. I could get into big trouble if you do." CinderAmity said, trying to sound brave.
"In trouble? Oooh, so scary. What do you think, Bria?" The three-eyed girl said.
"Don't know, Boscha." The girl dubbed Bria said as she rummaged through the items and took out a book titled 'The Works of H.P. Lovecraft'. "Looks like junk to me."
"Yeah. But I bet it'll make great kindling." Boscha replied as she started her thumb on fire like a lighter; they were about to set the book on fire.
"No, wait! Stop!" CinderAmity cried, covering her eyes.
"Hey!" A voice shouted.
The mean girls turned their heads, only to see nothing but a bright flash, which momentarily blinded them all. Bria even dropped the book in the process while the flame in Boscha's thumb went out.
"If none of you are here to buy anything, then LEAVE." The voice said.
After a moment, the girls all grumbled to themselves and walked off in different directions. CinderAmity opened her eyes to see a middle-aged woman with pale skin, long two-toned gray hair, odd eyes, and a large hook for a right hand; she was holding a camera in her left hand. The woman gave her a smirk.
"Bullies, am I right?" She asked, setting the camera down.
"Yeah." CinderAmity giggled awkwardly. "Thanks for that."
"No problem." She noticed the book on the ground and picked it up before giving it back to the girl. "Uh, this yours?"
"Kind of." She gently blew on the book and dusted it off, making sure it wasn't soiled or damaged and carefully tucked it back in the box it came in.
"Hey, you look like a potential customer. Can I interest you in any Human Realm collectables? We're having a sale today." The woman grinned, holding up a sign that read '15% Off' in big bold letters.
"Oh! Uh, that sounds nice… but I don't have any money on me."
The woman glanced at the cargo CinderAmity was carrying and raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that, kid?"
"She has nothing else to say to you, beggar." Belos' voice said from behind.
CinderAmity turned around to see Belos holding a middle-sized wooden crate; it was filled with bottles of elixir. Even if he didn't raise his voice in public, she still knew he was angry with her. The woman took a tiny step back, not wanting to make waves.
"What have I told you about talking to strangers?" He scolded.
"I-I'm sorry, sire. I was just…" CinderAmity started before the vendor intervened.
"Hey! Go easy on her. Some girls were picking on her and I was only trying to help." She said.
Belos turned his head to glare at the lady before noticing a polygraph photo coming out of the camera. He picked it up and stuffed it into his pocket. He turned back to CinderAmity before setting the case of elixirs on top of the books.
"I must pick up one more thing, then we can go home. Come." He said before walking off.
CinderAmity was about to pick up the load again when the woman stopped her and brought a wooden wagon out from behind her table.
"You might need this." She whispered.
"I… I shouldn't. I can't pay you and what if Bel—" CinderAmity started before a finger was wagged in front of her.
"Nah-ah-ah. I won't have 'no' for an answer. Take it, it's on the house." The lady winked.
"Really?"
The lady smiled and nodded before handing the girl the wagon.
"I… thank you."
CinderAmity carefully loaded Belos' items into the wagon, grabbed the handle, and jogged off with it to catch up with him. The woman waved goodbye just as a little brown owl landed on her shoulder. He hooted something in her ear.
"I know what you mean, Owlbert. I think she needs a little extra help, too." She said.
Lord Belos and CinderAmity made it to another corner of the market where food and drinks were mostly sold.
"I'm here for my order." Belos said to a stall owner as he placed four gold snails in front of him.
The owner wasted no time; he took the money and grabbed a dozen griffin eggs, blood sausage, a loaf of bread, and a bottle that read 'Black Diamond Apple Blood'. Belos took them and handed them all to CinderAmity, who promptly put them into the wagon.
"Consider yourself lucky I'm allowing you to use this wagon." He hissed; she grimaced in fear, but nodded.
"Belos? Oh Belos!" A new voice called.
He turned his head to see a group of elder witches looking at him a good ways away; one of them, a woman with long green hair and wearing a magenta dress, was waving him over with a big smile on her wrinkled face.
"Wait here. I'll only be a moment." He said to CinderAmity.
"Yes, sire." She said before he walked off to see what they wanted.
As she waited, CinderAmity failed to notice a group of rowdy teenage boys wearing winged shoes flying above the market and trying to fight one another. Eventually they got so reckless that they flew straight towards CinderAmity, who screamed in fright and nearly fell backwards right onto Belos' things. But luckily, she felt someone grab her hand and stop her before she could fall. She reluctantly opened her eyes and saw her savior; it was a girl with short brown hair, brown eyes, and wearing a purple hoodie with cat ears. Her eyes widened in surprise as the girl gave her a concerned look.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked as she carefully pulled her back to her feet.
"Uh, uh…" CinderAmity murmured; she was at a loss. After a moment she shook her head and regained her thoughts. "Oh! Yes, yeah. I'm okay. Thanks for the save." She felt her face turn bright red.
"No problem. Those jerks never have anything better to do than stupid stuff like that." The girl replied as she watched the boys fly off.
"I'm just glad everything here is still intact." CinderAmity said, referring to the load. "A few more seconds and all this stuff would've been destroyed… and I would probably be as good as slaughtered." She froze. "Oh Titan, that reminds me. I'm not supposed to talk to you."
"Huh? But we just met."
"I know." She brought her voice down to a whisper. "But I shouldn't talk to strangers in general. Belos forbids it."
The stranger's eyes glanced in Belos' direction; he was still talking with that group and his back was turned. She looked back to CinderAmity and gave her a mischievous smirk.
"Well… he seems pretty occupied right now. And who says he has to know?" She said with a wink; CinderAmity shyly smiled back.
"I… I guess you're right."
They shared a laugh.
"So, uh… what's your name?"
The stranger paused for a moment before saying. "…My friends call me Luz."
"Luz, huh? Well, nice to meet you." The girls shook hands before CinderAmity heard what sounded like a soft hissing sound. "Wait, did your shirt just… hiss?"
"Huh? O-oh! I almost forgot." Luz said as the little head of what appeared to be a snake with a cat muzzle and ears poked itself out from her shirt. "Sorry. Don't mind Stringbean."
"Stringbean?" CinderAmity asked.
"Yeah, my snake-shifter palisman. She's always up to something, right girl?"
Stringbean smirked at Luz before noticing her new companion. She flew closer to the young witch and carefully inspected her before she started affectionately nuzzling her cheek. CinderAmity's face only turned even redder in response.
"Wow, I think she likes you." Luz said with a giggle.
"She's adorable." CinderAmity said, scratching Stringbean's belly with her finger.
"Yeah." Luz replied as she watched the exchange; a blush was starting to form on her own cheeks. "So, what's your name?"
Before CinderAmity could say anything else, a small voice called out,
"Luz! Luz!"
The two girls turned to see a little demon with black and gray fur, purple and yellow eyes, and a horned skull for a head running towards them. He stopped in between them, gasping and wheezing for air.
"Luz, finally! I… I have… Lemme just…" He said in between heavy breaths.
"Something wrong, King?" Luz asked.
"Sorry." The little demon, King, finally caught his breath. "Your mom is wondering where you are. We need to head back home, like now."
"Oh. Okay." Luz said, sounding disappointed. She turned back to CinderAmity. "Sorry about that."
"It's fine. I'd better be going, too."
"Well… I hope to see you again."
"I do too… Luz."
The two shared an awkward smile before Luz walked off and disappeared in the crowd with King and Stringbean. She waved goodbye, not caring if Luz saw it or not. CinderAmity was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even notice Belos approaching her until he put a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you smiling about?" He asked sternly.
Her eyes glanced up at him nervously before she said, "It's… not important." She took a hold of the wagon handle.
"…It'd better not be. Let's go. You still have many chores to do at home." Belos took her by the hand and practically dragged her away.
"Yes, sire." She said obediently.
But what CinderAmity didn't know was that at that moment, she had met someone very special… from the Human Realm.