Eda sat in a wooden chair with King on her lap, across the desk from an unsurprised, disappointed Principal Bump. "Three students are in the infirmary because of her!" Ms. Jenkinmeyer ranted into Bump's ear. "Students who represent our grudgby team. This girl has been nothing but trouble ever since she first came to this school. Pulling devious pranks—"
"Are you still salty I stole your teeth?" Eda asked, chuckling with fondness of the prank that put her on Jenkinmeyer's radar. Even now, she does not regret doing it. She does not have regret towards many things she's done at the school.
"Not another word from you!" The teacher's tone was laced with venom, but Eda was unintimidated. Though, the same could not be said for King. He buried his head into Eda's chest, knowing she would protect him as always. "She has caused the destruction of property; partook in reckless endangerment of staff and students; has openly mixed magic; not to mention picking fights. As well as bringing pets to school, now."
"I am not a pet!" King shouted.
"That's right," Eda said. "He's my little brother."
"Whatever you want to call it, it does not belong on school grounds," Jenkinmeyer said. Eda gave the teacher and menacing glare as she turned her attention back to Bump. "And I spoke to the three of them in the nurse's office personally. They say this thug attacked them for no good reason."
Eda blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Principal Bump, I demand you do the right thing and expel her immediately!"
King hopped off Eda's lap, feeling her shifts in movement. "She's lying!" The younger Clawthorne rose to her feet and pointed at the teacher. Bump raised an eyebrow at Eda's claim. "Okay, well, not about the stuff she said earlier. But she's lying about what happened in the cafeteria!"
"Sit down and be quiet, you little criminal!" Jenkinmeyer hissed.
"Thom and his goons were picking on Lily!"
"It's true. Everyone saw it!" King backed up Eda.
"I said, sit down!" Ms. Jenkinmeyer drew a circle, and the levitating aura surrounded Eda and King again and forcefully shoved them back into the chair.
"That's enough!" Principal Bump shouted, and both teacher and student did not say another word. Though Eda would not admit this to another living soul, Principal Bump was one of the scariest witches she happened to know. Bump looked at the teacher with a stern expression. "Ms. Jenkinmeyer, I would appreciate it if you would not lie to my face."
Jenkinmeyer backed up. "W-what?"
"What?" Eda blurted out, surprised that Bump is actively appearing to take her side.
"Is this good thing happening?" King asked.
"Honestly, I'm unsure."
"I don't… Principal Bump… how can you—" Jenkinmeyer was stunned, lost at what to say.
"I've had Ms. Clawthorne in my office enough times to write a book about her incidents." Bump explained. "Enough times to know she doesn't do anything without reason behind it. And have you forgotten I know everything that goes on in this school? This means I know you did not see those students as you claim to have done. And I'm sure if I call Viney, she'll tell me what I already know."
"But… but…"
"I will deal with you later, Ms. Jenkinmeyer." Principal Bump was not the senile fool Jenkinmeyer claimed he was, and the cherry on top was seeing Bump stick it to her. The youngest Clawthorne relished the moment and stuck her tongue out at her for good measure. "However, that does not excuse what you've done." Bump looked back at Eda, and Eda looked at the principal. "You still placed three students in the infirmary."
"Oh, come on, really?" Eda whined.
"Yes, really. Everyone must face the consequences of their actions. Even you. Starting next week, you will be placed in the Detention Track permanently."
Eda's eyes widened in shock. "What?" She already knew what being put in the Detention Track meant. She would be banned from learning magic at Hexside for however long the principal considers necessary. But no one has ever been put in there permanently. King even noticed the look on Eda's face and knew how bad this was for her.
"Don't worry; you can still perform and practice magic. Just not on, or anywhere near, school grounds." Bump clarified, making Eda feel a bit relieved.
"You're getting off too easy," Jenkinmeyer grumbled under her breath.
"You will also be thrown off the grudgby team." Bump continued. "And your mother will be informed about today's incident."
Amity finding out about Eda ending up in the principal's office is one thing; knowing her punishment will be subjected to one of her lectures. Eda has even made a personal theory that the fear of her lectures is what keeps her fellow Coven members in line and following orders. But now, she will be learning her daughter has officially been banned from performing magic at the school. This was indeed the absolute worst feeling of fear imaginable because she has no idea of what to expect as punishment.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Who's there?" Bump asked whoever was knocking on the door.
"Principal Bump, it's me. Amity Blight." Eda felt the air grow cold around her, and sweat trickled down her neck. Eda did not know how, but her mother found out about this.
"Oh, come in, High Priestess." The door opened, and Amity stepped into the office, and Eda saw Lilith tagging alongside her. Eda guessed her big went and tattled. "To what do I owe the leader of the Emperor's Coven and one of my favorite students, the pleasure?"
"Forgive me for interrupting." Amity bowed her head. "I wouldn't normally intrude without permission from my favorite principal, but I must speak with her immediately."
Jenkinmeyer was so angry right now that Eda could swear she saw steam rising from her head. "All you blue blood types." She hissed at Amity. "You think that because you have wealth and status, you can come in here and—"
"One more word out of you, Ms. Jenkinmeyer, and it will be the last word you say as a teacher at this school." Bump threatened, well to the point that even Amity looked stunned, and the teacher backed away. The principal returned his attention to Eda's and Lilith's mother. "You may speak to your daughter High Priestess, but please make it quick; I am not done listing off her punishments."
"Thank you, Principal." Amity nodded and turned to her youngest daughter and son. "Edalyn. King. Come on."
"Let's not keep her waiting," King said as he walked ahead of Eda, who exited with her head down.
Amity closed the door as Eda stood next to Lilith, who looked concerned for her little sister. "Mom." Eda began, unable to look her in the eyed. "I know you're disappointed in me for getting into that fight—"
"I am disappointed you chose to settle things how you did," Amity admitted. "But Lilith explained why you fought back. I would've done the same if your aunt or uncle were in her position."
"I know… but that's just not it." Eda looked at her mom, gloom in her golden eyes. "I've been a crappy daughter."
"Edalyn." "Eda." Both Lilith and King said at the same time.
"Edalyn Clawthorne." Amity's tone became stern and knelt to Eda's level. "While it's true I am reaching the limit of my patience with how you have behaved lately, never call yourself that. Ever." Eda did not respond and just looked away from her mother. She let out a sigh. "We'll talk about this when we get home. Right now, there is something urgent you and Lilith need to know."
"What is it?" Lilith asked.
"This is about the tryouts for the Emperor's Coven are tomorrow. And I know how badly you both want to get in and how I've tried to prepare you for it."
"So, what's wrong?" King asked with concern for his adopted sisters' futures.
Amity let out a sigh and stood. "Shortly after you both left for Hexside, I received a message from Kikimora about there being a change."
"A change?" Eda asked.
"What change?" Lilith asked as well.
"One I didn't believe and had to hear from the emperor himself."
Amity forced the doors of Emperor Belos' throne room open and marched inside. Two guards approached the High Priestess. Though she outranked them, coming near Emperor Belos without permission was not allowed. "High Priestess, you have not been summoned to—" Before the one guard could finish, they and their partner were tossed across the room by a pair of Abomination tendrils.
"My leg!" One of them cried as they were slammed into a wall, almost hitting Kikimora, who ducked out of the way in time.
Amity kept walking forward until she was close enough to get the attention of the Golden Guard, who stood between her and the man she wished to speak to. "Move aside," Amity growled. "I wish to speak to the emperor." The Golden Guard remained silent and intense, lacking any sort of personality like their predecessors.
"What is the meaning of this interruption?" Kikimora demanded, standing to the left of her master's throne. "The emperor has not summoned you, High Priestess."
Amity knelt, not to the imp or to the Guard, but to her master. "Forgive me, my lord. But I must request an audience with you."
"You're overstepping your boundaries with—"
Belos then raised his right hand, and Kikimora silenced herself. "You may speak, High Priestess." The emperor said. The Golden Guard knowingly stepped aside and allowed Amity to gaze at the most powerful witch in all the realm. His eyes glowed with an eerie yet fascinating ghostly blue. The heartbeat of the Titan remained steady. "What troubles you so?"
"Emperor Belos, you know I've never questioned you. For you do what you must for the good of the Isles." Amity raised her head to him. "But please, as your high priestess, I beg you to revoke your decision for the tryouts."
"This is about Clawthorne's daughters, isn't it?" The emperor leaned forward. "The ones you've adopted. You wish for them both to not duel each other; for them to enter my coven together."
"Yes. I will do whatever you wish of me. Please, just reconsider. Don't make them fight."
Belos stood from his throne and stepped forward. "I can only guess how much this pains you, High Priestess. But I cannot revoke this decision, for it is not mine. It is an order from the Isles' true master." The gold-masked emperor gestured a gauntleted hand toward a tapestry featuring the Titan standing proud. Belos said he could communicate with the corpse that makes up the land all witches and demons call home. "Which is why I cannot alter the decision."
Amity stood up. "But my lord—"
Belos faced her. "It cannot be done." The Titan's heartbeat increased, and Amity backed up. "Leave now before I have you escorted out."
Amity noticed the Golden Guard approaching her, and she bowed in defeat to her emperor. "Forgive me, my lord." She said the words weakly before leaving, the doors slamming shut behind her.
Both sisters looked at their mother in shock at the news. "N… no," Lilith spoke first. "No. No. There has to be another way." Her voice was cracking. "You have to convince him. You're the leader of the Emperor's Coven. He should listen to you!"
Eda and King were both surprised how Lilith uttered those last words, the sounds of desperation, melancholy, and fear. The devastation upon her face was plain as the day, and she appeared to be on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry, Lilith," Amity said, empathizing with her. "Even though Belos has trust in my talents and judgments, my word means nothing when compared to what the Titan decrees."
"That's not fair." Lilith dropped to her knees, the tears now flowing, for deep down, she knows she does not stand a chance against her little sister. "That's not fair." Eda and King hugged their sister, doing everything possible to console her, not saying anything further.
Amity walked down the halls of the emperor's castle on her own, still reeling from her failure to persuade Belos. She stopped in place, feeling she was being followed. "High Priestess," Kikimora spoke as Amity turned around to face her. "I hope this isn't a bad time."
Amity narrowed her eyes at the imp. "What do you want, Kiki?"
"Just a simple inquiry. One which so happens to surround the Clawthorne children."
Kikimora did not know, but she was treading on dangerous ground. "What about my daughters?"
"You call them that, but they aren't. You didn't give birth to or adopt them through an orphanage. You just picked them up off the street. Like a pair of lost puppies."
Amity clenched her fists so tightly that she ran the risk of breaking her skin. "Do you have a point to make, Kikimora?"
"The Amity Blight who joined the Emperor's Coven at sixteen years old, working her way up to the highest position offered, would not have done what she did. I truly wonder if you have your priorities in line. That maybe you are not as strong as—"
"I will not have my loyalty questioned by you." Amity started approaching Kikimora, and the imp backed up in surprise. "I will not be judged by you, little Kikimora — a little insect that wishes to be heard, pretending to be someone important." Kikimora tripped, falling onto her rear, continuing to back away as fast as she could. "Will you continue questioning me, Kikimora? Do you intend on challenging me, little insect?"
"No." The terrified Kikimora squeaked, only now realizing just how dangerous the sleeping dragon she had awoken truly was.
"Then why are you still here? Get out of my sight before I rip you apart and recycle what's left of you into my next Abomination."
Kikimora picked herself up and hurried away as fast and far as she could from the High Priestess. Amity turned and walked down the hall, already putting the conversation into the back of her mind. But one thought lingered. If it ultimately came down to her family or her coven, which would she choose in the end?
Amity's threat to Kiki is based on the same threat Dracula made to Godbrand in Netflix's Castlevania. I think you can all guess what the next chapter's going to be about. Please favorite, follow and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.