A/N: Chapter two! The first chapter was just some worldbuilding, here's where the action really starts!
Special thanks:
Firstly, to Eris. Besides being the artist of the very lovely art I commissioned to serve as this fic's cover, they also just provided a ton of kind words and encouragement.
Neo, for a bunch of ideas and support.
Crow, too. Love ya, bby.
& Laine.
"How- how did this happen! He- he DIED! You- you three personally stomped his lights out!" Luz said, pacing back and forth in the living room of the Owl House.
Standing alongside Luz was her girlfriend Amity, as well as Eda, Raine, and King. Sitting on the couch was Emperor Belos, former ruler of the Boiling Isles. All of them thought it best to not take any chances - He was bound to the couch he sat on with a couple simple spells.
But- something seemed strange about him to Amity and Luz… And it wasn't just that he died the last time they saw him.
Firstly, it was- his body language, it was skittish. Scared. His eyes were darting around the room, looking for any and any escape. This was a bit of a surprise, considering he had kept his composure until literally being melted by the boiling rains.
Secondly, it was-his face, it didn't didn't have that…Green…Scar across his face. What was it? A strip of rotten flesh? Disgusting, was what it was.
Lastly, he looked the same as he did from his failed excursion to the human realm on the Day of Unity. 17th-Century formal wear. Messy ash-blonde hair pulled into a loose ponytail, brown boots & britches, a grey waistcoat, and a high-collared navy blue overcoat with the sigil of Gravesfield emblazoned on the left breast.
The last time he was fully formed, he'd took on his Deadwardian Era appearance. Far younger, with brown hair and a beard.
"I wish we knew…" Raine sighed, putting their hand to the side of their face. "I was taking Eda down to Lake Lacuna, for a romantic getaway, and…We heard suspicious rustling from the woods."
"So, what, did he like- try and give you a sneak attack, or…" Luz asked.
"Actually, no, he- tried to run…" Raine resigned. "He's claiming that he can't remember a thing."
"Riiiiight." Luz said, rolling her eyes. Very much remembering how he tried to pull a similar excuse after he was torn from the Titan. That he was 'cursed, and now he was free.'
"You know, if he's claiming amnesia… I have an idea!" Amity got an evil, cat-like grin. "We'll prove he's lying! With a pair of memory tweezers!"
"That's right! I remember them from Photo class." Luz said, as she snapped her fingers.
"That's a pretty good idea. Put his back right up against the wall!" King let out a small laugh, and a matching evil smile. "I don't think I have a pair, though…" Eda sighed.
"You stay here, I'll go and give Bump a call. See if he has a spare pair." Raine said, wasting exactly zero time in grabbing the crow-phone and running up stairs.
Que an awkward few minutes, as all three of them just kind of sat in silence. The girlfriends both just kind of…Stared at Belos, for a moment. Watching his body language and facial expressions. He still looked…Scared, but he had an air of defeat about him? Like he'd tried to fight, but given up.
After a minute, Amity walked over to Eda, and asked a question that was burning in her mind. "What's gonna happen to him?" She tried to be sneaky, not wanting to freak him out further.
To which, Eda let out a snort-laugh. "King says we should take him to the knee, and let him fend for himself." She, of course, had no such reservations. "My vote is we take him to the Conformitorium and cast a petrification spell. Give him a taste of his own medicine." At this, his eyes went wide, but he still said nothing.
Both Amity and Luz were both made a bit… uncomfortable at how…gruesome these options were. But neither was going to argue. They were both extremely aware of what Belos had done, the crimes he committed, and the damage he caused to the Boiling Isles. Luz moreso, having seen them first hand.
After a moment of hesitation, Amity finally spoke up. "Well…What if…. What if it turns out he's telling the truth, and he genuinely can't remember a thing?" This was a possibility so small in all of their minds, that, Eda's answer was a shrug, and King just laughed and said a sarcastic "Yea, right."
Finally, this awkwardness was broken when Raine reappeared. "He said he'll be over within the hour."
The next thirty minutes were…Well, just as awkward, but at least they had Eda to break the tension. They cracked some jokes, talked about their lives, all while ignoring the obvious Elephant…Er, Emperor in the room.
Eventually, there was a knock at the door from Bump. "Here you go, Eda, I managed to find a spare pair in a drawer. Keep them as long as you need." He smiled warmly.
"Oh, my…" Belos muttered, as he got a good look at Bump. His cheeks turning a light shade of red. Though, Bump didn't see him, since Eda was blocking the doorway. Purposely not trying to let the secret out.
"Alright, you're coming with us." Eda grumbled, as she undid the spell binding Belos to the couch. He complied, standing up and following them as the group walked upstairs and into a spare room. It was nice and dark, no windows. It was going to have to act as a darkroom for a bit.
"Sit." Eda ordered, to which Belos immediately complied. "This shouldn't hurt…Much." She teased, as she plunged the tweezers into his ear and pulled out a quintet of prints.
Prints usually didn't take long to develop, a few minutes at most. All four of them watched with bated breath, as the deep grey photos slowly…
Turned black.
Huh?
Luz picked up one of the photos to inspect it closer, her thumb brushing against the ink. It smeared on her thumb…No, it wasn't ink, it was…Ash.
It was then that the realization dawned on the room.
He was telling the truth.
