Chapter 12: Determination
Timeframe: Young blood, Old souls.
After their nap Luz and King awoke, Luz was changed into her usual outfit straight away as King was rummaging through a pile of books to help come up with a plan to help free Eda, the best way the little demon know how to help was to explain the History of the Boiling Isles and who Belos was. Luz sat at the window, holding the cloak Eda had left for her, and looked out the window, rattling her head trying to think. They heard a knock at the door. "Come in." Luz shouted, not looking away from the door, knowing all to well it was Eric. Eric walked into the room, closed the door and cleaned against the door. There wasn't much said as king grabbed a book and sat on the floor. "Aha, this is it." he said, and started to read out aloud.
"The Boiling Isles." King said, opening the boom to a specific page that revealed a semi-topographical illustration of the boiling isles. On one page it showed a picture of a hand and a snowy region "The knee" Luz remembered it being called. On the other page was a picture of the Titan, the body of which life on the Boiling Isles appeared to originate from. "Born from the flesh and bone of a fallen Titan." King continued. "This original magic was so potent, all life on the isles evolved to wield magic, too." He continued to explain. "For years, we explored those powers freely, until a mysterious witch appeared who declared that he, and he alone, could speak to the island." King said, flipping to another page which showed an ornate illustration of the local Emperor, Belos. "He said that we were using magic all wrong, his teaching took hold, his strength grew and he became Emperor Belos."
King then flipped to another page and continued his explanation. "He said mixing magic was wrong." The little demon stated as he showed a two page picture of the ten covens. "That only he had the right, so he created the coven system, and there our knowledge was restricted and out potential sealed away." Luz had never seen king this focused before, had the circumstances been any different she would've believed that King's sweet, yet, childish personality would've been an act. "Those who resist are called 'Wild Witches', and they face harsh punishment." Revealing of a witch being turned to stone.
"Whoa, wait, wait wait." Eric said, shocked at the image and looking at luz who was equally shocked.
"They execute them?!" she exclaimed in disbelief.
King looked at the two humans with a grim stare before speaking.
"Emperor Belos has since retreated his castle." King turned his attention back to the book. "There are whispers that say he's planning something big." King said with a serious undertone. "I wonder if catching Eda was part of his big plan, what do you think Luz?" king asked his female human friend, who turned her attention to the window, thinking. "Luz?" he asked trying to catch her attention.
Luz looked outside, remembering all the good times she has had with Eda the past while, all the magic she had learned, all the adventures. She couldn't help but feel sad about this whole situation. Her attention was turned to a lable that was attached to the cloak, it read. "TO A YOUNG WITCH FROM HER PROUD MENTOR, EDA." All in capitals, Eda's favourite form of writing. "I don't care what Belos is up to." She said, walking towards king with the cloak unwrapped, and then put it around herself. "Because today, we're saving Eda." She said, full of determination.
"Okay, but what's the plan." Eric said, opening the door after seeing Luz walk towards the direction.
"Have you thought of something?" Luz asked her friend as she walked to the one room Eda said Luz, Eric and King should stay out of.
"Nothing yet, I'm just up." Eric shrugged.
"Then we'll think of something." She said approaching the door, she took out a bobby pin from her pocket and proceeded to unlock the door.
"What's in there?" Eric asked. Eric had never seen inside this room, Luz had, in one of her more curious moods she explored the Owl House when Eda wasn't around, which led her here. A room filled with weapons.
As the door unlocked reveiling the arsenal of strange swords, axes, daggers, and other sharp instruments of fighting. Eric's jaw dropped at the sight of all of this being here, he turned to Luz who was already walking inside. "You knew all this was here?" he asked in amazement at the sight in front of him.
Luz didn't answer and proceeded to grab a large, red axe. Before she could fully lift it Eric moved forward and grabbed it from here, prompting her to snap "Hey!".
"Luz, what exactly are you thinking?" Eric asked in a serious tone, keeping the Axe away from his friend.
"This is serious, Eric." Luz said. "Eda used her powers to save us and got caught by Lilith." Luz said, grabbing the axe and dropping it due to its weight. "Now she's the Owl Beast and has been taken before the Emperor."
"Yeah, I know, But Luz…" Eric tried to reason with his friend who wasn't interested in reasoning at this time.
"I don't know what he's planning to do with Eda, but I'm going to rescue her." She said grabbing a small, weirdly shaped dagger.
Eric felt a sting of pain at this. Was luz suggesting he didn't want to help? Was she suggesting he didn't care, or was scared? Eric took a sharp breath and spoke. "Luz, WE are going to rescue Eda, but we're not gonna get ourselves killed doing something stupid, we need to come up with…"Eric said, his words trailing off.
"With what?" luz asked seriously.
"I don't know, something." Eric answered quickly, shrugging his shoulders. "Look, Eda would want us to be smart right?" he said placing a hand on her shoulder. "So, let's think, we're smart enough to come up with some kind of plan." Eric said, his words calming Luz slightly.
King was standing there, watching the whole conversation. "Haven't you been listening?" he asked, holding up the book. "He's the emperor, He's the most powerful witch alive." He said in a fearful voice.
Luz walked past Eric and put her hand on King's shoulder. "King, please try to understand." She said in a soft tone. "Eda is in this situation because of us." She said, gesturing to herself and Eric. "Because of our stupid choice, we have to make up for it."
King saw Luz's determination shine through her eyes, but this determination may very well be her undoing he thought. "But she's in her Owl Beast form." He pointed out. "How will she even recognize you?"
"I don't know." Luz said, her eyes falling to the ground. "But we have to try anyway."
King turned to Eric, who already put his weird looking mask on. "King." Eric said, looking at his little friend. "It's what we do." He said with a smile in his voice.
King was inspired by both of the humans' determination to help Eda. "Well, then, I'm going, too." He stated.
"King.." Luz spoke.
King's shoulder's sagged as he looked Into Luz's eyes. "Me and Eda don't always see eye to eye, but I do consider her family." He admitted. "I want her back as much as you do."
His words made Luz smile, he was being so brave, for a little guy. "All right, then we've got no time to lose." Luz said hurrying out the door with king following her. Eric took a single step forward and felt that jolt of pain in his sides return, he grunted and caught himself on the table, but as soon as the pain came, it went. "Well, wasn't that bad." Eric though to himself, realising the pain had already gone. "Maybe it's starting to calm down." He thought hopeful as he left to follow Luz.
Eric looked at Luz and King, a plan beginning to formulate in his mind. "I could follow behind from a distance," he suggested. "If anything goes wrong, I can swoop in as Spider-Man. I'd have a better vantage point from the rooftops."
Luz paused, glancing at Eric with a look of concern. "That's a good plan, but we don't know if Lilith has told anyone about Spider-Man. If she has, they'll be looking for him." She chewed her lip, mulling over the predicament.
King nodded his agreement. "She's got a point, Eric. It might be safer for you to stay undercover."
Eric hadn't considered that Lilith might have spread the word about his alter ego, but what was he supposed to do? Luz was dropped into a certain death, Eric couldn't allow that to happen, even if it cost him is secret identity, this could make things a lot more complicated. But he also knew they were right. Stealth was going to be crucial in this rescue mission. Drawing unnecessary attention would only jeopardize their chances of getting Eda back.
He sighed, nodding in agreement. "You're right. I'll get changed."
Hastily, he ran back to his room and switched his Spider-Man outfit for his usual attire. When he returned, Luz and King gave him approving nods.
"Alright," Eric said, determination hardening his features. "Let's do this. We'll get Eda back, no matter what."
Luz, King and Eric looked at one another, they knew as soon as they left the Owl House there was no turning back, they'd be committed to the mission. And with a nod from the three of them, the trio set off towards Bonesborough, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Eda felt a searing pain burn through her head as she regained consciousness, she felt, wrong. Her body weighed a tone, her arms, legs and feet were completely off, her back felt off too as if there was something there. "Where am i?" she grunted, turning to look at her long, sharp claws that were bound in a red, magical rope. "What is this?" she asked confused, though, when the words left her mouth, she knew exactly what had happened. "Ah, fucks!" she cursed. "I got caught.
"Edalyn Clawthorne." The masked Emperor said victoriously as he approached. "The infamous Owl Lady, the Wild Witch of Bonesburrow, and mentor of two humans, Luz and Eric." He spoke her titles, making each one seem more like an insult, but, at the mention of her two humans' names she felt a surge of anger swell within her.
"You stay way from them, or so help me Titan." Eda scapped, wishing she was free to mess up the figure in front of her, her anger doubled as soon as he let out a soft chuckle.
"You've got it all wrong." He said crouching down to be eye level with Eda. "The humans are safe for now." Belos said reassuringly, though Eda was anything but reassured. "I just want the portal they came through."
"Tough, 'cause I ain't telling you nothing." Eda said sharply. Belos looked at Eda for a long second and sighed.
"Pity." He said, rising to his full height. "although I suppose I could ask the humans instead." Belos spoke as he walked backwards, next to Eda's sister, then proceeded to snap his fingers, ordering his guards to drag Eda away.
"Wait!" Eda called out in panic. "Don't touch them…" she pleaded as the guards began to drag her away. Eda was always crafty at escape from tough situations, although she knew in her heart of hearts that there was no escape this time. She turned her eyes to Lilith, who seemed to be worried about something. "Lilith, Don't let him hurt them." She called out as she was dragged out of the chamber and down the hall.
Lilith felt nervous, the room was deathly silent. Everyone was typically quiet around Emperor Belos, but this was different, an uncomfortable silence, she felt her heart quicken, her throat dry, her hands were slightly shaking. "Uh, taking her to the healing ceremony." She asked, unable to hide her nervousness.
Belos simply stared at Lilith through his mask for several seconds then spoke. "I will not be healing her." He said coldly.
Lilith's blood ran cold with those words, she never thought that Belos, no, Emperor Belos would go back on his word. "But you promised me." She said in a tone that was barely a whisper.
"Don't be so Naïve, Lilith." Belos spoke as if he were speaking to a child. "This is the Titan's will." He said gesturing to a picture that was spread across three tapestries, the tapestried depicted what looked like witches celebrating, cheering at the sight of the Emperor's Coven in the sky. "All wild witches must be dealt with before the day of unity, you understand, don't you." Belos explained, leering his head next to Lilith's.
Lilith felt her self feel nothing but turmoil, she wanted to serve the Emperor, she had been training to all her life, but, at the cost of her sister? What was she to think? "Of course." She replied.
"Good." Belos simply said before walking away. "Oh, one more thing." He said turning around and snapping his fingers, causing Eda's staff to appear from thin air, an inch or two under Lilith's chin, allowing her to catch it. "Destroy the Owl Lady's staff, She wont be needing it anymore." Belos ordered Lilith.
Lilith simply looked at the Emperor, unable to be sure what to do next. There she stood, in the throne room, holding Owl Bert, with a broken promise from her Emperor, and her sister doomed. All her fault.
Eric and Luz had their cloaks over their heads as they ducked tried to remain concealed from the guards, they know they didn't have a lot of time, but they had to try to get to Eda. As they hid behind two columns they saw people standing outside the crystal ball store, watching the news that was being broadcasted, with the anchor man "Perry Porter", Gus' father, the two humans stopped, looked at each other, then back to the crystal orb store and listened intently.
"Perry Porter coming to you Live from outside the emperor's castle." Perry spoke professionally. "Edalyn Clawthorne, known commonly as Eda the Owl lady, has been captured and brought before the Emperor." Gus' dad said before the familiar image of Kikimora. "For the crime of attacking a coven leader and refusing to join a coven, Edalyn Clawthorne's body shall be petrified in stone, today, sundown, at the conformatorium." With those words, the two Humans' blood ran cold. "Today is a grave day for Bonesburrow." Perry said before signing off.
There was a crowed watching the news being delivered via the crystal balls, they all muttered to themselves, unsure what to make of the whole situation. Luz could hear that there were some that were agreeing with the decision, others were disagreeing, it mattered not though, the crowd quickly dispersed back to their daily lives as normal. Luz looked towards Eric, who's face bore the same shocked expression as hers, Luz turned back to the crystal balls and saw Lilith's face on them, the news broadcasting more information on Eda's capture. "Lilith." Luz said in an angered voice. "She cursed Eda, she captured her own sister." She continued, growing more angry with each statement. "She is the worst!" Luz exclaimed as she slammed her fist onto the wall. "If I ever see her again." she said, ready to punch the wall, however her fist being caught by King who was on her back.
"Luz, calm down." He said in a soft voice. "We need to focus on saving Eda first."
"You're right." Luz said, composing herself as she ran her hands across her face. "But how are we gonna get to the conformatorium in time?" she asked in confusion.
Before anyone could make a wild suggestion, they saw a large, muscular guard walking by whistling. Eric immediately recognized him as the guard that was the lightly sour one whenever he ran into him during his web-slinging. "We'll need to do something diabolical, something so criminally insane that they'll have to send us to the conformatorium." King suggested as he could see the whole scenario playing out in his head.
King whispered the idea to Luz and Eric's ear, Eric wasn't sure if it'd work, the Idea sounded stupid, but, there wasn't much to do. The Idea involved the three of them standing on new, fresh grass that had a "do not step on grass" sign. As the guard walked back Luz called out to the guard in a mischievous voice. "Hey!", getting the guard's attention. The guard turned around to see two humans and, whatever King was, standing on the grass, acting like they didn't know a thing.
The guard's eyes widened at the sight of them. For a moment, there was silence as he took in the scene, before he finally shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it," he muttered, rushing over to them. "Stepping on the new grass... that's a crime!"
They were swiftly guided towards a carriage that was parked nearby, the guards practically shoving them inside. As soon as the door was slammed shut, they were left in the dimly lit carriage, the sudden silence deafening.
King and Luz exchanged a glance before breaking out into wide grins. "I can't believe that worked!" Luz exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
King nodded, his own smile just as wide. "Told you it would."
Meanwhile, Eric looked at both of them, his expression one of disbelief. "I still can't believe that worked," he admitted, shaking his head. But then, a grin slowly spread across his face. "But it did."
As the carriage jostled along the path, Luz, Eric, and King fell into a silence, each lost in their own thoughts. After a few moments, Luz finally broke the quiet.
"We've got at least a couple of hours before we reach the Conformatorium," she said, her voice soft but determined. She looked over at her companions. "We should rest while we can."
King nodded at Luz's words, already curling up in one corner of the carriage, his small form shivering slightly. "Yeah, I could use a nap," he admitted, his eyes fluttering closed as he nestled his head onto his paws.
Eric, meanwhile, cast a dubious glance at Luz. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. "I mean, won't the guards get suspicious if they find us sleeping?"
Luz shook her head. "I'll stay awake and keep watch," she reassured him. "Besides, they probably expect us to be scared and restless. A little bit of rest might actually throw them off."
Her reasoning seemed to settle any doubts that Eric had, and he gave a slight nod. "Alright then," he said, leaning back against the carriage wall and closing his eyes. He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, a result of the constant adrenaline rush he'd been on.
Meanwhile, Luz sat cross-legged at the other end of the carriage, her gaze focused on the door. Her mind was racing with thoughts of their upcoming mission, but she pushed away her worries and focused on staying alert.
It wasn't long before the steady rhythm of the carriage and the quiet hum of the city lulled King and Eric into sleep. Luz, however, remained vigilant, her eyes never straying from the carriage door. She knew they couldn't afford any mistakes. They had to save Eda. They just had to.
In the peaceful silence of the carriage, Eric found himself adrift in the world of dreams. The setting was comforting at first, like a memory playing out. He was back home, in the city of New York, the high-rise buildings around him mirroring the ones from his reality. The light of the day was soft, casting long shadows and turning the city into a canvas of orange and pink hues. He was swinging through the city, the thrill of the wind rushing past him, the sense of freedom overwhelming and exciting.
But as dreams often do, the scenario began to twist and turn. The buildings warped and contorted around him, looming over him ominously. The once soft light now appeared harsh, and the familiar cityscape felt alien and hostile.
And then he noticed his reflection in the mirrored windows of the skyscrapers as he swung by. It was still him but different. His body seemed elongated, his limbs distorted and more arachnid-like. Eight glowing eyes stared back at him, and his usually red and blue suit appeared to be coated in a thick, bristly fur. Panic surged through him, but his dream-self continued to swing through this nightmarish city, his reflection relentlessly following him.
Back in reality, Eric tossed and turned in his sleep. A soft grunt escaped him as his dream took a more horrifying turn. His mother and father, Luz and his friends he made from the P.I.E.E - appeared in his dream, their faces filled with horror and revulsion as they looked at him.
"No, it's me," he tried to reassure them, but his voice came out as a chilling hiss that only seemed to frighten them more. He reached out to them, but instead of his hands, there were grotesque appendages.
With a jolt, Eric woke up, his body drenched in cold sweat. His heart pounded against his chest, and he had to take a few moments to calm himself down, to assure himself that it was just a nightmare. But deep down, a fear lingered, the horrifying image of his dream-self refusing to fade away.
The carriage gave a sudden lurch, snapping Eric back to his surroundings. His eyes found Luz, who was staring at him with a hint of concern. "You okay?" she asked softly, her brow furrowing in worry.
"Yeah," Eric replied, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Just...a weird dream." He decided to downplay the whole thing; the last thing they needed right now was another complication.
Luz didn't look entirely convinced but chose not to press. "How long have I been out?" Eric asked, trying to shake off the remnants of his nightmare.
"Couple of hours, I guess," Luz answered, suppressing a yawn.
Eric glanced at her tired face. "Why don't you get some rest, Luz?" he suggested, pushing himself to sit up. "I'll keep watch."
Luz hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between her need for rest and her instinct to stay alert. But eventually, she nodded, settling herself into a more comfortable position. "Wake me up in a few hours," she said before closing her eyes.
As Luz drifted off to sleep, Eric sat back against the wall of the carriage. His mind was still a whirlwind of confusion and fear from his dream, but he pushed it all aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.
As the carriage trundled on, the rhythm of its movement lulling the occupants, Luz shuffled closer to Eric, her head gradually dropping onto his shoulder. Eric stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, a soft smile playing on his lips.
In the quiet of the carriage, with Luz's steady breathing as his only companion, his mind started to wander. His thoughts led him back to the time when their paths had first crossed, to the day when a young, adventure-loving girl had turned his life upside down.
Only days had passed after his family's move to Gravesfield, Connecticut, from Colorado. The transition had been a significant change, leaving him feeling out of place and lonely. That was until he met Luz. She was different from the other kids, filled with stories and a zest for life that was incredibly infectious.
He remembered their first interaction vividly. Luz, with her unkempt hair and wide, gleaming eyes, had bounded up to him in the schoolyard, bursting with energy and enthusiasm. She had asked if he wanted to join her on an "epic quest." At first, he'd been taken aback by her excitement, but it was her genuine warmth that had drawn him in. Before long, they were inseparable, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.
Their days were filled with innocent adventures and shared laughter. There was no talk of the Boiling Isles then, no threats of dark magic or looming battles, and certainly no foreboding dreams of terrifying transformations. There were only two kids, navigating the trials of life and finding solace in each other's company.
he soft rhythm of Luz's breathing brought a sense of calm, pushing away the lingering images of his nightmare. Eric looked out of the small barred window of the carriage, the distant outline of the Conformatorium looming ominously in the horizon.
