Eda yawned as she made breakfast. She had trouble sleeping last night, she was up every half hour checking on Luz and Hunter. Making sure they were still asleep and safe. Hooty had scolded her a few times when he caught her checking up on them but she couldn't help it; she was worried. She didn't have a plan to keep any of her kids safe from the day of unity and one of them was almost killed already. She and Lilith talked about sending them away but they didn't know where they could go. The toes perhaps, it was the furthest from the head where everything was set to take place. Eda had her doubts about it since Belos could activate any sigil he wanted from a long distance. Even though she ruined Hunter's sigil she was still worried it could still activate after it was healed or if Belos forced it to work. She didn't want to even consider that. Lilith came in dragging her feet, tired. She hadn't slept well either.

"Eda, *yawn* what are you making?"

Eda looked over at her. A smile crossed her lips as she looked at Lilith. Her hair was messy and light circles decorated the skin under her eyes.

"I'm making pancakes."

Eda smiled at her. Lilith just looked at her confused. Eda sighed, rolling her eyes.

"They're a human thing. And they're really good. And before you ask, yes they are edible for witches."

Lilith cocked her eyebrow as she watched Eda. She was about to ask a question when Eda's scroll started to buzz wildly. Eda looked at it annoyed as she stirred the batter.

"So that's where I left that thing. Lily, who's calling me this early in the morning?"

Lilith glanced at it, her eyebrows knitted into worry as she looked at the photo of the caller. It stopped ringing and then immediately rang again, with the same caller. Lilith looked up at Eda, concerned.

"It's Darius, the head of the abomination coven."

"What does he want? I didn't do anything to break the law… recently."

Lilith thought for a moment before asking.

"Do you think he's calling because of Hunter?"

Eda growled as the scroll rang again, frantically.

Is Belos sending him to kill Hunter? Well, if he wants Hunter, then he'll have to go through me.

Eda put the bowl down and answered, yelling angrily.

"What do you want, Darius!? I haven't talked to you for years, so why are you calling me out of the blue?"

"Well hello to you too, Eda. I'm calling to see if you still have the little prince in your care."

Eda scuffed at him.

"Little prince?"

He rubbed his temple.

"Yes, the little prince. Is he okay? Belos didn't hurt him, did he?"

Eda was puzzled by Darius' desire to know if Hunter was alright. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

"What's it to ya if the boys, alive or not? Are you going to come here personally and kill him?"

"Perhaps Darius just wants to check on his well-being. After all, Edalyn I did say he seemed to care for him…. Or it's a trap to get you to tell him about Hunter."

Lilith whispered to Eda. Eda glared at her and then back to Darius. Darius sighed heavily, seeing that he had no choice but to tell Eda why he called.

"Eda, I didn't call because I want to kill him. I called because I need to know if he's okay. He is alive, right?… Belos didn't catch him, did he? He's still alive, right? He's still in your care, correct?"

Desperation laced Darius's tone as he pleaded with Eda. Eda frowned, her scowl falling.

The Darius I know would never sound so desperate to get an answer from someone… He genuinely cares for Hunter… but why? It's clear he didn't care about him prior.. So why does he suddenly care?

"Darius, why do you care? I mean really care?... I believe you, that you won't kill him but…Why are you concerned about Hunter? No one seemed to care for him when he was stuck in that castle with Belos. Who was clearly abusing him. So, why care now?"

"Eda, I don't have time for this!"

He said between clenched teeth a scowl on his face. Eda held her ground and scowled back at him. Darius could see he had no choice but to explain himself or else he wouldn't get an answer.

"Look Eda, it's complicated. Can you just tell me if the little prin-"

"Nope, not until you tell me why you care for the 'little prince'."

His eyes flared black, glowing green, as his abomination hair spiked. He took a breath and relaxed. He explained to Eda.

"I care for the pain in my butt because he's finally being a child. He's finally rebelling against Belos and making choices for himself… I know, I haven't exactly been the best at showing it… Showing that I care for him but it's difficult to keep an eye on him when Belos is always close by, isolating him. Making sure no one gets too close to him in any way."

Darius sighed, regret hanging on his words.

"I couldn't do anything about the obvious abuse. I couldn't uphold the last promise I made to my mentor to make sure he stayed safe. It pains me to admit it but if I did anything to help the boy I would have been killed. Just like the head of the healing coven before the current head took power. Any who dared to get close to him always disappeared in a mysterious fashion and I wasn't about to be added to that list. I know, I've failed in every regard to his well-being but I won't allow myself to fail any longer."

Eda's scowl fell again as she looked at Darius. She could see the distress on his face. She had never seen him look that way before, it didn't suit him. Eda knew he wasn't lying, everything he said was true. She sighed.

"He's safe. But Belos wants him back so he can kill him. The wanted posters the jerk has posted everywhere make it clear that Belos isn't even merciful to his 'nephew'..."

Darius gave a relieved sigh. Just hearing that Hunter was safe and alive eased him.

"Oh, thank Titan. I was worried ever since he ruined our plan to invade the Emperor's mind and was sent in instead of us. I thought that he had gotten himself killed in there after learning about something he shouldn't have. Thankfully that didn't happen but afterward when you took him and told us to get lost, I was worried sick but my allies wouldn't allow me to retrieve him. The wanted posters didn't help ease my nerves either."

"Wait, hold on, that was your fault!?"

Eda yelled, pulling her scroll closer to her face. Glaring at him angrily again, growling.

"Why were you trying to go into the Emperor's mind anyway!? And how could you be so careless as to let the kids go in and not immediately go after them? Also, that was you who cornered him that night!?"

Darius sighed, rubbing his temple.

I don't have time for this.

"Yes, that was me and my allies that night. But it was a mistake, Eda, the kids going into the Emperor's mind was a big mistake and it'll never happen again. Besides, we gave you the potion to get them out. And they're still alive and breathing, thankfully. Now listen, Hunter isn't safe with you. The Emperor is sending a platoon of scouts to you right now as we speak. His intent is to get the boy back alive, for now. You need to hide him and I know the only place you can is at Hexside."

Eda bit her lip.

How does Belos know he's still alive? Did he… dream walk into Hunter's dreams while he slept last night? Or did me ruining the sigil somehow tell him that his plan didn't work the way it was supposed to? Arg, I hate that man!... Wait, gave me the potion. The flowers were from Darius!?... He said we… I'll have to ask about that later right now, Hunter is top priority.

Eda crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Darius.

"How does Belos know that Hunter is alive? You may not know this but the coven sigil can come to life and attack the person who's stuck with it. And Belos tried to kill him with it last night but thanks to me that plan failed… Also Hexside? Really?"

Darius glanced down at his arm and then back to Eda, his blood boiled.

"I was somewhat aware of that but he tried to use it on Hunter. That… However, all I know is that the order is to seize the Owl Lady and the Golden Guard and bring them to him alive. For some of those fools in the coven, alive is a suggestion. So, you better get ready to defend yourself and your kids. As for sending him to Hexside, that's simple. He recently went undercover there and made some friends, a mission Belos knows nothing about. He can easily hide there as long as he stays hidden, once there I can retrieve him and keep him safe. Very simple plan."

Eda rolled her eyes.

"I don't think that's a great idea because one, I refuse to abandon him. Two, I don't think sending him off alone is a good idea, he's a broken mess. So, leaving him alone is dangerous. And three, how are you even going to get him to trust you? You're working for Belos right now, in his mind you're the enemy."

Darius sighed heavily

"What do you mean broken mess? Just do it. He'll be fine."

"Was he fine when he got that scar on his face? Or the notch in his ear? Was he fine after he came back from Eclipse lake? How long has he been 'fine'; stuck in that castle with Belos?"

Darius felt a knot in his stomach. He raised his eyebrows, surprised.

Eda, I…. What did the little prince tell you? What did he see in Belos's mind?

Darius sighed again, pleading.

"Eda, I don't know what happened but please just once trust me on this."

Eda narrowed her eyes at him.

"Alright, I'll play along but there will be rules to this arrangement."

"What kind of rules?"

Darius asked. Eda smirked at him.

Luz woke up, her hair a mess. She didn't sleep well. She was having nightmares about Belos taking away Eda and King. After they were gone he then made her watch as he killed Hunter. Luz didn't want to admit it but going into Belos's mind had more of an effect on her than she thought and seeing how he easily attacked Hunter terrified her. Belos had no regard for anyone's life, whether it was hers, his own brothers, or Hunter's. He only cared for himself and his selfish plan of wiping everyone out. Luz thought to herself, recalling what Belos had said to them.

'Then again my brother was so easily swayed by a witch. So, it all worked out, his loss was for the greater good, anyway.'

Greater good, yeah right! Belos is so cruel! He implied that he…. Killed his brother and then. Ugh, I don't want to think about it but… Seeing the sigil Hunter has tried to kill him… made me realize how much we have to stop Belos. He's going to kill everyone…. If he finds out that Hunter is still alive he'll just try to kill him again.

The graveyard in Belos's mind dedicated to the Golden Guard suddenly jumped to the front of Luz's mind. The broken, cracked masks, the portraits of how he killed some of them by magic or turned them to stone, sent chills down her spine. She hugged herself, shaking the memory away. She glanced up at Hunter, still asleep.

There's no way we'll let Belos get you. Like it or not you're stuck with us Hunter and I won't let Belos kill you.

Luz frowned as she noticed the pained expression on Hunter's face.

Is he having a nightmare?... Of course, he is Luz, you know he had it worse than you... I should wake him up before it does…. I don't want Eda to worry and I don't want to see him panic again. Or hear him scream. It just doesn't feel right seeing him upset….

Luz moved closer to him and sat on her knees. She grabbed him and started to shake him. A bit too violently as Flapjack woke up in a rage, chirping frantically. Hunter snapped awake, panting as he was shaken back and forth by Luz. She was saying something to him. He couldn't make it out, he was too panicked to notice and her shaking didn't help. Luz let go noticing that she was making it worse. She placed a hand on his shoulder, he looked at her. His eyes were panicked. Luz gave him an emphatic smile.

"Hey, it'll be okay, just breathe with me."

Luz inhaled slowly and then exhaled slowly, doing so for a while, Hunter following along. It seemed to work as he calmed down and hugged his knees to his chest. He looked at his bandaged arm, fearfully. Luz frowned, asking.

"Was it a nightmare about Belos?"

He opened his mouth and thought for a moment before closing it and looked away from Luz pouting. Luz frowned at him, a pit forming in her stomach.

It's too early to feel this way…. Tell me about it, you idiot!... Maybe if I tell him about mine he'll tell me about his.

"You know, I had a nightmare too."

Hunter looked at her with interest. Luz noticed his questioning gaze.

"It was awful, Belos-"

Hunter flinched at the name, fear in his eyes. Luz winced but continued her story.

"Well, he was tormenting me. Like I was back in his mind, showing me those memories again but… it was worse when Eda appeared and he turned her to stone, King was dragged into the ground and you were… eaten or entangled by the sigil on your arm. All while taunting me… It was horrible… and it kept going on. Like every time I got out, I somehow got stuck right where I started."

Luz took a deep breath and watched Hunter. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. He shifted slightly, finally saying something.

"Sorry… I… uh."

He stopped as he thought for a moment again.

"You don't have to tell me."

Luz got off the floor and sat down next to him and lightly punched his arm. He looked concerned.

"Hey, I told you because I wanted to. You don't need to apologize for something you had nothing to do with."

"Um, sorry."

They sat as silence fell between them. Luz gave him a strained smile.

Talk to me! Please! Tell me about yours! Ah, my plan didn't work…. Time for plan b.

"Soooo, you wanna…tell me yours?"

He furrowed his brow at her, angrily.

She just said I didn't have to tell her! And then she has the nerve to ask me about it.

Flapjack seeing him shutting down and getting angry made the little bird act as he pulled on the strain of hair that fell in his face. Hunter cried out.

"Ow, ow, ow, okay fine! I'll tell her just stop it, Flapjack!"

The little bird stopped and chirped at him, happily. Luz smiled at Flapjack and thanked him. Hunter narrowed his eyes as he looked up at the bird now resting in his hair again. Hunter sighed.

"It wasn't that bad… I think… just the lies. The lies I've heard my whole life, with no escape, echoing around me. Belos-"

He shivered as the word left his lips, he felt sick.

"Towering over me… and…"

Taunting me, making me feel pathetic and then he choked me. Tiring to kill me! End me and make another one like he wanted! Make a new grimwalker with my corpse! I could feel him ripping me apart! Other Golden Guards just glaring as he did it, all of them telling me that I should have run when I had the chance. That I was stupid for coming back to him.

Hunter stopped, his hands shaking. He was unable to continue, fear slowly consuming him. Luz felt that pit in her stomach forming again. She grabbed onto his hands, and he flinched and looked at her. Luz smiled at him. His fear was slowly being replaced by annoyance at her gesture.

What's she doing? Does she think I'm weak?

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me anymore. I'll listen when you're ready… For now, why don't we change out the bandage on your arm? The old one is probably no good anymore and the wound probably needs to be disinfected again."

Hunter looked at his wrist and frowned, looking at the copper-colored spot that was underneath the blue band-aid Luz gave him. He looked back at her.

"I would rather have the Owl Lady treat it than you."

Luz pushed him lightly, smiling.

"That's harsh. I'm a pretty good nurse."

He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"I doubt that."

Eda poked her head into the living room.

"Hey, are you guys hungry? Cause I made pancakes!"

Luz cooed

"Pancakes! Eda you wonderful, beautiful lady where did you get pancakes?"

Pancakes? What are pancakes?... Un- Belos did tell me that they were synonyms with Flapjacks… So, I'll finally see what a flapjack is…

"I had a stash. I only make them for special occasions and today you two need some good comfort food."

Luz made her way to the kitchen with Hunter following behind her.

Luz looked at her plate and smiled happily at it as she ate her pancakes. Hunter just looked at them confused, they were flat and brown but they looked fluffy. He didn't really understand why Flapjack was named after these things. Flapjack was much cuter and fluffier than these pancakes. Hunter glared at the plate and then looked up at Flapjack asking.

"Why did your original owner name you after these things, again?"

Flapjack chirped and pecked at his head. Hunter winced at him which caused the cardinal to stop. Luz just watched them as she ate her pancakes. She asked Eda.

"Eda, what are we going to do about Belos and the day of unity?"

Eda looked up at Luz, almost choking on her pancakes. She coughed.

"Luz, let's enjoy breakfast, and then we'll worry about that."

"But Eda."

"Edelyn's right, just enjoy the pancakes and then we'll worry about Belos."

Lilith told Luz as she took another bite of her pancakes. Luz pouted as she ate the rest of her breakfast. They ate in silence. Eda finished first; she clapped her hands together. Everyone looked over to her. Eda smiled, her eyes landing on Hunter.

"How's the wound?"

Hunter looked down at his arm and shrugged.

"It's fine."

"It needs to be cleaned and rebandaged."

Luz added. Hunter glared at her but nodded his head in agreement after a minute. Eda smiled at them, as she pulled out the medical kit and a few glyphs.

"Well let's fix that and see if these healing glyphs Lily made will do anything to help."

Hunter shook his head as he glared at the glyphs.

"Just change the bandage, it'll be fine without any healing glyphs."

A hint of fear laced his voice. Eda frowned at him.

But Lily said these would wooooo- oh right! Almost forgot why he's bandaged up and what I said about that sigil. He probably doesn't want to risk it healing and being able to harm him again.

Eda put the glyphs down and held up the medical kit.

"Alright, just a new wrap."

Eda made her way over to Hunter, pulling up a chair and sat beside him removing the old bandages. She pressed her lips together as she pulled the last bandage off, looking at the wound. It had dried blood caked onto it in a messy puddle. She could smell the iron from the blood, the skin looked red underneath the blood. The cuts hadn't scabbed over properly they were shiny with ooze on them and semi-scabbed. Eda grimaced at them.

Well, this didn't scab over right… then again that's what happens when you cover a cut…. If Darius sees this he may kill me, even though I told him about it…. Oh, well.

"Well, it's not that bad."

"I've had worse."

Hunter said coldly, looking at the scabbed spot on his arm. Trying to find the sigil beneath the dried blood and scabs. Eda didn't like the way he said that but didn't want to ask. She just pulled out the disinfectant and a cloth and started to clean out the wound again. Hooty came in through the window yelling.

"Guys, I just wanted to say that I did a great job keeping you safe so can I have a pancake? Please! I really want one?"

"Sure Hootcifer. You deserve it."

Lilith tossed one over to Hooty.

"Wait, don't!"

Eda and King yelled out. Hooty caught it and ate it. Eda sighed heavily, as Lilith asked.

"Why, not? He deserves a reward and these are quite tasty for being human food."

Eda rolled her eyes as she started to rewrap Hunter's arm. Eda glared at Hooty, waiting for something. Lilith was about to ask why Eda was watching him annoyed until he started to make a hacking sound. Everyone looked at him, Luz yelling.

"Oh, man he's going to throw up, isn't he!?"

"Yeah."

King said deadpanned. They watched as a huge lump made its way up Hooty's throat, as it left his beak. Throwing up his insides right onto Eda's floor. Eda sighed, as everyone else recoiled in disguise.

"Oh, Hootcifer that's just barbaric. Why would you eat it and not tell me you would get sick?"

"This is why I don't make pancakes often. Every time I make them Hooty always eats one and then throws up because they don't agree with him at all. But he loves the taste."

Eda deadpanned, glaring at him annoyed.

"Why does he eat so much garbage?"

Hunter asked as he looked at the pile of trash Hooty threw up. King ran over to it and kicked the pancake out of the throw-up. He then saw some of their mail amongst the split up.

"He ate our mail too."

King picked up the pile of mail and looked through it. Luz asked.

"Hooty, why do you eat so much garbage?"

"I don't know. I just really like this stuff… And I don't have pockets."

Hooty answered as he started to roll around on the ground. Luz just shook her head at Hooty dreading the clean-up.

"Hey, this one is addressed to me."

Luz looked down to King, looking at the black envelope in his hand. The font on it read King Clawthorn. Luz smiled.

"What's it say?"

King tore the letter open and read it. He gasped as he held out the letter and a rock that was encased in the envelope.

"It's a letter from my dad and a map. I think he wants us to go to his home. I can find out where I came from."

Lilith took the map out of his grasp and looked it over.

"There's nothing out there. I've looked all over that area and nothing but finger bones are out there."

Lilith handed the map back to King. King pouted.

"Well, maybe you're wrong. You've been wrong before."

Lilith took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"You're right. Maybe something is out there and you should go check it out. Right, Eda?"

Lilith looked at Eda with a smile. Eda looked up meeting Lilith's gaze, noticing the gleam in her eye.

What's with that look? What are they talking about?

"Uh, sure it's a great idea, Lily."

King jumped up and down on the ground. Luz walked over to Eda asking

"We're not sending him to this place alone, are we? I mean we can all go but what about Belos? We need to stop him."

"Of course, he's not going alone to… where is he going again?"

Eda asked.

"Ow! That's too tight, pay attention to what you're doing!"

Hunter snapped at Eda. Eda looked at his arm taking a quick, sharp breath.

"Sorry."

"To find my dad. He left a map and said that our people are warriors! So maybe they can help stop Belos. And who knows maybe I'll become their leader."

King said. Eda rolled her eyes and looked at Luz.

"Luz, you and Hooty can go with him if it's over on the fingers, though you'll need a boat. I can steal one for you guys."

Luz looked at Eda and Hunter and then to King.

"Well, we could ask the crew from the Skelidomius hunt. But Eda aren't you coming?"

Eda looked up at Luz, putting the finishing touches on Hunter's new bandage.

"No can do, me and Lily have a few things to take care of here. You know, to prepare for the day of unity. So, have your adventure and tell me all about it when you get back."

Worry overtook Luz's features. She didn't like the way Eda said that. It sounded like she was hiding something from her. Before she could ask, King jumped onto the table yelling.

"Then let's go minions. My dad is waiting for me."

Luz smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Okay, King, just let me get dressed."

She looked back at Eda, her smile fell as she left the kitchen. King pointed at Hunter.

"You're coming too."

Hunter just stared at King but before he could disagree Eda spoke.

"Nope, blondie stays here, King. He doesn't get to go on an adventure this time."

King pouted but didn't argue with Eda he hopped off the table and followed Luz. Hunter crossed his arms and glared at Eda.

"'Blondie really? That's a terrible nickname."

"It's better than most, she gives out."

Lilith snipped as she fled the kitchen.