"Here you go." Luz said. The author finished signing the copy of her widely popular YA novel series, The Good Witch Azura.
"Thank you so much!" The reader, a young girl, shouted and ran through the store excitedly.
The next person came up, a boy this time. "It's an honor to meet you in person, Ms. Noceda."
"Please, call me Luz." She chuckled and took the next book to sign. Luz's publisher had this set up in celebration of book five, outselling all the previous entries in her franchise combined. She was ecstatic to see so many people love her work. Numbers aside, she considered the fifth installment of her saga as her magnum opus. "Here you go." Luz handed the signed book back.
"Thank you!" The boy thanked before leaving with just as much excitement as everyone that came before.
Luz covered her mouth as she let out a yawn. While she loved making her fans happy, today was admittedly a long one. Luz Noceda enjoys drafting her books as much as any author. Still, even she has limits and wanted to get away from any writing until she can get her creative juices flowing again. With how much the fifth book is loved, expectations for number six will be nearly impossible to meet.
"Why didn't I stop at book five?" She grumbled with fatigue, dragging her hands across her face. "Why did I have to promise my publisher a nine-part epic?" Right now, there were no more people waiting for her. "Voy a necesitar un café." Luz got up and headed for the store's bakery, but not before putting up a sign to tell anyone who shows up that she will be back soon. The scent of freshly baked cinnamon buns invaded her nostrils, as well as freshly brewed coffee.
She approached the barista behind the counter, an older woman. "Hola."
"What can I get for you?" The barista asked.
"I'll take a coffee. Black, extra sugar. And one cinnamon bun. Please."
"Coming right up." The barista left to take care of the order.
"Supongamos que algunas cosas no cambian." Luz blinked, hearing the familiar voice. She turned around, to confirm who it was.
"Vida!" Luz hugged the woman she considered a sister in all but blood and name; ever since they first met at that Reality Check Summer Camp at fourteen.
"It's good to see you too." Vida Pérez hugged her back.
"Hey, Tía." Next to Vida was her teenage son, Luz's godson, Mateo.
"Mateo!" Luz broke from her hug with Vida to give one to Mateo. He wrapped his arms around her, and she felt the strength of a football captain. "Look how big and strong you've gotten."
They broke the hug as Mateo blushed. "Tía, you're embarrassing me."
"But it's true." Luz laughed, then looked back at Vida. "What are you both doing back in Gravesfield?"
"I got a new job at the museum here. So, Mateo and I are gonna move back into the old house."
"Oh, my gosh. That's great to hear."
"Excuse me, Miss." The barista told Luz from behind. "I have your coffee and your cinnamon bun."
"Oh, thank you so much." Luz turned around, paid for the items, and took them before looking back to Vida. "Listen, I need to hurry up with my break and get back to work. I'll stop by at your house for lunch tomorrow. With chimichurri sandwiches from that restaurant that we both like."
"Mmm. Prácticamente pueda saborearla. Sounds like a date." Vida could practically taste them.
"I'll see you both then. Adiós." Luz took a sip of her coffee and walked back to her book-signing table.
"Adiós, Tía," Mateo said, waving goodbye.
After many more hours of book signing, an exhausted Luz took the bus home. Skriiich. It came to a screeching stop at her house. She stood from her seat, tipped the driver, and walked off.
"Mija!" A familiar voice shouted, making Luz blink.
Luz must have been more tired than she thought if she did not notice that her mother was standing outside her house. "¡Mamá!" Luz ran over to and gave the older woman a big hug, feeling partly renewed. First, she saw her best friend; and now her mother — both of which she has not seen in years. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard your book was a huge success and wanted to come and congratulate you in person."
"Oh, gracias." Luz walked her mother up to her house.
The home of Luz Noceda was… odd. It was a large house made from white brick. The roof was blue with a slope and had an orange stained-glass window above the door that looked a lot like a demonic eye. There is a superstition about the house. Rumors said it once belonged to a witch and crossed over from the Underworld to now. It was the fantastical lore and mystery that prompted Luz to purchase the house for a reasonable price.
Luz let out another long yawn. "Oh, excuse me, Mamá." She blushed.
"It's okay; I'm sure you had a long day."
The mother and daughter approached the front door. There was a carving of a barn owl's face on it, but in place of the eyes were a pair of x's. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna take a shower first; then I get dinner made for us both. We can catch up while we're eating."
Camila nodded. "That sounds lovely."
Luz reached into her purse and dug through her belongings. "C'mon, where are you?" She kept searching but still could not feel them. "Oh, genial."
"Is everything alright?"
Luz moved the strap of her handbag over her head and peered inside, but there was no sign of her house keys. They were probably in there, but she was having a hard time seeing them. "Hold on; I'm gonna use the spare under the "Welcome" mat." Luz placed her bag on the ground as she and her mother stepped off the mat. She lifted it and grabbed the spare key, using it to unlock the door. "Aquí vamos." Hoot! "Huh?" Luz and her mother thought they heard something and turned to the sound. Luz gasped when she saw her purse was between the talons of a little brown owl. Hoot! The owl flew away with her belongings.
"Tiny purse snatcher!" She shouted and gave chase to it.
"Mija!" Camila called out as her daughter ran across the street.
"Make yourself at home, Mamá!" Luz shouted back as she chased the owl. "Get back here!" Luz followed the owl down the street and took a sharp left turn into the nearby woods. "Stop adorably flying away!" Luz continued to chase after it but then stopped and gasped at what was now in front of her. Lying on the ground, outside a decrepit-looking cabin, was a girl of fourteen — possibly fifteen — years of age. "¡Dios mío!" A small dog with dark gray fur. On its head was a skull, and it lay on the ground next to her.
"Weh." It yapped in a shrill voice, waking up to reveal its pink and yellow eyes. Then — and much to Luz's surprise — it gasped and then spoke, "A person!"
Luz gasped herself, questioning if she did hear that. "Did y… did you just talk?" The dog got up and walked over to Luz on two legs. "Ésta no puede ser—"
"Please, you have to help her." The voice of the dog, if it was a dog, sounded desperate. It was enough to snap Luz out of her shock and return her attention to the girl. The tiny purse-snatching owl was next to her. Hoot.
Luz did not know what was going on, but questioning her sanity was far from important right now. She walked over to and checked on the girl. Getting a better look; Luz noticed the adolescent had ivory skin and pointed ears with untamed hair that was thick, long, and bright orange. She also wore what looked like a school uniform with yellow leggings and sleeves. Luz placed a hand on her forehead and felt her burning up.
"Come on; we gotta get her inside." Luz picked up the girl, and the owl rested on her chest with concern. Hoot?
"Where are you taking her?" The dog asked.
"To someone who can help." Luz ran through the woods, retracing her steps, as the dog and owl followed behind her. And in no time at all, they were all right in front of her house. "¡Mamá! Open the door!"
The door opened. "Mija?" Camila asked her daughter. "What's…" Her eyes widened as she saw her daughter run into the house with the girl in her arms. "Who is that?"
"I found her in the woods, and she has a fever." Luz set the girl down on the couch. "The owl that stole my bag; it's her pet, I think. And was trying to get my attention."
Hoot. "Owlbert said he is a palisman, so you know." The dog informed them both.
Camila gasped at that. "Hizo..."
"Yes, he spoke," Luz confirmed. "But that isn't important right now. Mamá, what do we do?"
Camila blinked and looked at her daughter. "Mija, I was a veterinarian."
"I know, but it's kinda the same as being a doctor, right? And I don't know how I can explain this if we bring her to a hospital. Please, you're the only one I can think of who can help."
"Please, help her." The dog begged, looking on the verge of tears. "She's my sister. Please."
Seeing how distressed the little creature was pulled at the older woman's heart, she nodded. She looked at Luz first. "Mija, grab some towels." Then she looked at the dog and owl. "You two, find something to help make her comfortable."
"Right, Mamá," Luz said as she went and did that.
"What are you gonna do?" The dog questioned.
"I'll get her some ice water to help cool her off." Camila headed into the kitchen as the dog and owl went to do what they were told.
But before the dog left, Camila saw him approach the girl and kissed her hand. "Everything will be alright, Eda." He spoke. Hoot. The owl agreed with him. Camila did not know what was going on, and she doubted Luz knew either. But she knows one thing: she will make sure this girl — Eda, she heard her name was — wakes up.
Here is Luz's introductory chapter. I am attempting to re-work what I've written in the test chapter to fit with the rest of the story. Vida's and Mateo's introductions here were short, but they will play bigger roles after Eda wakes up. Please favorite, follow and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.