There was nothing but darkness, but Eda kept running through the shadowy void. Sweat dripped down her face; her entire body was soaked in it as she kept running. A fear like nothing she has experienced overtook her body. Crraaaaugh! It was getting closer.
Eda looked back for just a second, and her terror grew. Crraaaaugh! It took the form of a shadow, but its true form would reveal itself now and then; a four-legged creature with owl-like features and a thick coat of filthy gray feathers. It flew after her with a large pair of wings, its talons extended out like a predator about to grab unsuspecting prey. The creature's height was staggering, dwarfing the redhead. Crraaaaugh! It stretched its neck out like that of a wriggling worm with a wide-open beak filled with rows of teeth.
Eda looked forward, tears in her eyes. She saw something in the distance. They were figures… and recognized them. "Mom! Lily! Aunt Emira! Uncle Edric!" She called out to her family. "Help me!" But they did not respond. They just stared at her with a look… all of them with that same look… a look of… disgust.
"Don't speak to us," Edric told her.
"Why should we help you?" Emira questioned.
"I'm ashamed to call you my sister." Lilith hissed.
"We don't take-in monsters."
Eda could not believe what she was hearing from them, her family. This cannot be real. "Please." She cried.
But they all turned their backs on her. Then they came… Those harsh words… "Get out of here! Get lost! Someone kill that damned thing! Freak! Monster! Hellspawn!"
Eda placed her hands against her ears, trying to block out the noise as she kept running. "Ah!" She tripped and fell flat onto the ground. Bruising herself like when she was younger, and not Lilith to share the pain with her. Crraaaaugh! The beast dove at Eda, headfirst with a gaping maw, ready to devour her whole body!
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Eda cried as she shot up from her bed.
"Weh!" King, who was lying on the foot of the bed, jumped from the sudden fright. "Who?! What?! When?!" He was on all fours, bobbing his head in every direction, like an on-alert watchdog. He then looked at his sister and noticed the sweat and tears on her face. "Eda? Are you okay?"
The girl was shaking from the horrible nightmare, her breaths rapidly following the next. She looked around and realized where she was. She was in the guest bedroom Luz kindly gave her, wearing a t-shirt that was too big for her; another gift from the human for tonight while her Hexside uniform was being cleaned. Hoot! Owlbert hooted from the corner of the room, his peaceful sleep in the cozy birdcage interrupted, now trying to unlock it to be by Eda's side.
Thump! Thump! Thump! The wooden door was knocked on and slowly opened. "Eda?" Luz began as she entered the room with her mother. "Are you alright?"
"We heard screaming," Camila said. Hoot. She noticed Owlbert was trying to get out of his cage and walked over to help him.
"I… I'm fine." Eda lied. "It was just a nightmare."
"What kind of nightmare?" Luz asked, slowly approaching the bed.
"Was it about the curse?" King asked.
"Guys, I swear, I'm okay. There's nothing to worry about." She brushed her hand against her forehead, only to feel something was… off about her arm. She then looked at it. "Ah!" She screamed upon seeing that not only her arm was sprouting feathers. She looked at her other arm, and the results were the same. She looked under her night-shirt and realized feathers were popping out from all over her body.
"Wha… what's happening?" Luz asked. "Is this a witch thing?"
"No, it's not a witch thing!" Eda snapped at Luz, which she did not mean to do. She took a deep breath in, then out. "Alright, I'll just apply a little magic, and—" She drew a spell circle over the feathers over her right arm. Instead of doing what she wanted it to do, it just broke apart like glass. "No, no, no! This can't be happening! I can't lose my powers, too!" More feathers started appearing.
Luz was noticing how she was freaking out, and now this. "Eda, calm down." She said in a gentle voice.
"Don't tell me to calm down! There's nothing to calm down about!"
"No, she's right," King said. "As soon as you started freaking out, more feathers appeared."
Luz placed her hands on Eda's shoulders. "Just breathe, okay."
Eda did what she was told, with a deep breath in, then out. In, out. In, out. She was feeling her heartbeat return to normal, and her skin was not as sweaty anymore. She sniffled as tears came down her cheeks. "What's happening to me?" She spoke.
"Don't worry." Luz gave her an honest, reassuring smile. "We're gonna figure this out." Hoot. Owlbert flew free from his cage and nuzzled up to Eda's cheek, helping to calm her. Luz offered Eda a hand to help her out of bed. "Let's head into the kitchen and do some research."
Eda looked at her with confusion. "Research?"
"Yeah… uh… You know that torn apart spellbook that was lying around in the house. I took it with us."
"What for?" Eda was curious about that since humans could not do magic at all.
"Just curious what was inside. But maybe something can help."
"Well, it's worth a shot," King said. Hoot. Owlbert agreed.
"It's almost morning. And since we're all awake, I'll cook up some scrambled eggs." Camila offered.
"You don't have to do that," Luz said.
"Yo insisto." The older woman walked out of the room. "I'll see you downstairs."
After composing herself, Eda, Luz, King, and Owlbert joined Camila in the kitchen. She had already finished making a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs. Luz helped King into a chair as Camila gave him a plate.
Luz sat down with her book and opened it. Its pages were in terrible condition. As someone who takes the utmost care of her books and manga, this got on her nerves. But she let it slide for now. "Let's see what we can find." She said, flipping through the pages. Eda sat on the chair next to the woman. She brought her blanket with her, trying to cover up the feathers.
"Oh, what smells good! Hoot! Hoot!" The bird tube, Hooty, slithered into the kitchen from the front door.
"Dios mío!" Camila screamed as Hooty came to greet her first. In all honesty, everyone forgot Hooty is here to stay. "Um… hello… Hooty."
"Hi, Camila! Hoot! Hoot! Whatcha making?"
The older woman was visibly uncomfortable with how close Hooty was. "I just made some scrambled eggs for breakfast."
"Breakfast! Can I join you?! Hoot! Hoot!"
"Sure." "No!" Luz and King said at the same time.
"Luz, do you really want that… thing sitting at our table? Eating with us? What if he decides to eat us next?"
"King, Hooty has been living with me ever since I bought the place. Even though he wasn't alive until last night… That sounded weird to say aloud. This is his home, too." Luz turned to the house demon. "You can eat with us; just be quiet, please. We're doing important research."
"Okay! I'll be quiet! You'll never know I'm here! Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty positioned himself at the table, mimicking someone sitting in a chair.
Camila let out a sigh. "I'll grab another plate! No era así como imaginaba mis últimos años de vida."
While Hooty and King ate, with Camila later joining them, Eda watched as Luz's eyes scanned through the pages quickly. "Do humans know Isle's Basic?" She asked.
Luz looked at her. "Isle's Basic?"
"That's the official language Emperor Belos established across the Boiling Isles."
"Well, it's actually like English, if not completely identical. I guess some languages are just common across dimensions." Luz took a forkful of eggs. "Los huevos están deliciosos, Mamá."
"Gracias, Mija." Camila replied.
"Eh, they're a little bland." King honestly, though a bit rudely, critiqued. But the older woman let it slide. Hoot! At least Owlbert seemed to like them, flying over to grab seconds.
"They're not! Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty shouted in disagreement with King. "They're the best meal I've ever had! Hoot! Hoot! However, I don't remember what my last meal was before I went to sleep for so long! But I'm sure it wasn't as good as this! Hoot! Hoot!"
"Aw, well, thank you, Hooty," Camila said.
"You're welcome! Hoot! Hoot!"
"Wait, stop turning," Eda spoke up and pointed at the book. "Look." Out of the corner, she and Luz were able to make out a phrase behind a dozen torn pages. It read, "Curse at Bay."
Luz flipped to the page, being careful not to accidentally rip it until they found the entire chapter written in cursive: "A Potion a Day, Keeps the Curse at Bay." It had a picture of a flask filled with a bubbling liquid, and to the left of it was a list of ingredients and instructions on how to brew it.
"This is what we're looking for," Eda said. There was text below, which she read aloud, "The perfect recipe to counteract curses of all kinds. It prevents them from rearing their ugly heads for twenty-four hours. Please consult with your local healer before consumption."
"But one problem, though," King spoke up. "If this book is from back home, then doesn't that mean the ingredients can only be found there."
"Well, I could just find some replacement ingredients." The redhead reasoned. "I do it in my classes all the time."
"Yeah, and you're averaging a C."
"I have to agree with King," Luz added. "We don't know what is or isn't bad for you two here. It could make this worse."
"Nothing about this can get worse." Eda defended as a plume of feathers puffed around her neck.
Luz stroked her chin; then, an idea popped into her head. "Well… I think I know a place where we can get some ingredients."
"Huh?" Eda looked at Luz, raising an eyebrow.
"Eda, you mentioned that every myth we have is because a little bit of your world leaks into ours?"
"Yeah?"
"So, couldn't it be possible that other things from the Isles could have leaked out here as well?"
"I… guess?"
"What are you suggesting?" King asked.
"It's a long shot, but I know someone in town who is a fan of the occult. She's also a curator at a museum where demons and magic are her main attraction. It's a fun place to go to, actually. But there might be a chance that her attractions could actually—"
"Be real." Eda finished as she stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
"Then let me grab a jacket and a hat." Luz stood from the table and began to walk out of the kitchen.
"What for?"
"To get you covered up. We don't want anyone freaking out over—"
"Feathers and ears, right."
"I can drive you both into town." Camila offered.
"Thanks, Mamá. But I was thinking we would take the bus," Luz said. "Let Eda see what Gravesfield is like. Also, I think someone should stay here to watch Hooty."
"I don't need anyone to watch me! I'm a big-boy house! Hoot! Hoot!" The house demon said, reminding everyone of his presence in the kitchen.
"Probably a good idea." Eda agreed, then looked at King. "You should probably stay here, too."
"What, why?" The little demon asked his sister with concern. "What if something happens to you out there?"
"Nothing will happen to me, little bro." The redhead patted his head. "If something bad happens, I'll have Owlbert book Luz and me back here." Hoot! Her palisman perched himself on his master's shoulder. Eda kissed King on the forehead. "We'll be back soon."
The bus ride into town was surprisingly relaxing. Eda did not use public transportation much back in the Isles, but when she did, they were very… unpleasant. The only real complaint the witchling had was that the jacket and hat she disguised herself with — in addition to the sprouting feathers — was making her itchy.
"You couldn't have found somethin' more comfortable for me?" Eda asked Luz, still scratching her body.
"I was looking for something that would fit you." The woman admitted.
"Whatever, let's just find the museum and go home." Eda followed Luz down the sidewalks to where they had to go. Eda looked around, taking in just how unique the Human Realm is. There were many similarities to Bonesborough, but it was different, too. It was less chaotic for one thing, and the people went about their day carefree. There were no guards from the Emperor's Coven to make them look over their shoulders constantly.
"Luz?" Another voice made itself known. Eda and Luz turned to see it came from a woman sitting at a table with a boy around the witchling's age outside a café.
The woman looked somewhat identical to Luz, except her hair was shorter and neater and had cute barrettes. She had a blue jacket over a yellow shirt and a pair of jeans with white shoes. The teenager — obviously the woman's son — shared similarities with her; like hair, eyes, and skin color. He had some defined muscle and broad shoulders, and even sitting down, he was a head taller than Eda. He wore a buttoned-up jacket that reminded Eda of her grudgeby one and wore long black pants with brown shoes.
"Oh, hey, Vida." Luz greeted the woman, then looked at the teen. "Hey, Mateo. I wasn't expecting to see you two here."
"Mom wanted to show me the place she used to hang out at with you and her friends," Mateo explained. "I just had one of their bear claws and can see why you like this place?"
"Humans eat bear claws?" Eda asked Luz, whispering. "That is hardcore."
Mateo then turned his attention to Eda. "Tía, ¿quién es la niña bonita?"
"Oh, this is Eda." Luz introduced the witchling. "She's new in town."
"Hi." Eda quickly waved. "Can we go now, Luz?"
Mateo got up from his chair and walked over to Eda. "Hey, there. I'm Mateo Pérez." The teen then noticed Owlbert perched on her shoulder. "And who's this little guy?"
Hoot. Owlbert replied in a manner Eda recognized as being friendly and defensive at the same time. "This is Owlbert." Eda introduced.
"Owlbert? Ha. It's cute."
"Well, it was nice to meet you, Mateo. But Luz and I gotta get going."
Mateo looked to Luz. "Where are you two going?"
"Oh, uh… Eda wanted me to give her a tour of the town. She's… part of a transfer program going on at Gravesfield High." Luz made up on the spot.
"Really? I was unaware of that." Vida mentioned.
"Yeah, so I just want to make her feel as home as possible."
Vida gave Luz a strange look, one Eda recognized; adults would give her that look when they are suspicious about what she has or has not told them. "Well, Eda." Vida looked at the disguised witchling. "I hope you come to enjoy the place. Where are you two heading?"
"To the museum. She wants to see it."
"Do you mind if we tag along? I wanted to take Mateo there next and catch up with Delilah. She still works there, right?"
"As far as I know, yes. And the more, the merrier."
"Then let's get going," Mateo said. "Lead the way, Tía."
Luz walked ahead of the others, with Eda by her side and Mateo and Vida behind them. "He keeps calling you, Tía," Eda said to Luz. "What does that mean?"
"It means Aunt or Auntie," Luz answered.
"So, you're all related?"
"No, not by blood. Vida and I have kinda been like sisters since we were teens. And I'm considered Mateo's godparent."
"So, what do you think of the town so far?" Mateo asked the redhead.
"It's… quiet," Eda replied, turning to him. "Quiet compared to where I grew up."
"I feel the same way. But I kinda like it. I think you'll like it, too."
"Yeah, sure." Eda gave him a small, friendly smile before looking away. She wanted to end the conversation there and did not want to make plans for how long she would stay here. After she gets the ingredients and brews that potion, it is back to finding a way home.
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