The Entanglement

by MrSova

When Amity was forced to cut ties with Willow, she was sent away for four years. In the meantime Luz stumbles into the Demon Realm making it her new home. When Amity returnes to continue her higher education at the Hexside Academy she is suprised to see a human living in the Demon Realm. A human who is apparently her childhood's friend best friend now. Cross Posted on AO3

3. Chapter 3 - Meltdown

Amity felt relieved when she finally noticed the Owl House in the clearing of the forest. Her arms were getting tired from carrying the human. Hooty was nowhere in sight, leaving the wooden front door empty. Amity asked Willow to open the doors with a slight nod. They walked in and noticed a small demon sitting on the big armchair with comfortable, red cushings.

"Weh! What happened?" King's voice filled with consternation but guided Amity toward the couch without a word. Blight put the hurt woman down and looked at her with worry for a while. The human curled up and rolled to the side, still holding her stomach. "Care to explain?" The demon added, reminding them of his existence with patience running low, being scared for Luz.

"She was attacked at school." Willow finally explained the situation to the demon.

"Where is Eda?" Amity asked King.

"She's probably at the night market playing Hexes Hold'em. She won't be back until later tonight." King explained. Amity let out a sigh. "You can deal with that… no problem… right?" Amity thought, cradling her face, taking in a deep calming breath.

"Okay… we'll have to deal with this ourselves." Amity's face has gone serious as she took charge. No one questioned her even though she expected them to call Emira or Viney. "Willow, will you please go with King to get Luz's elixir?" She asked but her planning was interrupted when she felt Luz's hand on her forearm. She looked down at the human whose brows frowned in a grimace of pain.

"No… No elixir… My stomach… Can't…" She tried to explain but was in too much pain to do so. "I took one… But it didn't hold… When Boscha…" She tried to explain but her words were interrupted with a surge of pain in her stomach. She coughed weakly and everyone noticed with horror blood leaving the human's lips. King ran to the kitchen and returned with a wet cloth to clean up his sister.

"Okay, Luz. Try to stay calm." Amity's voice turned from commanding to soft. She placed a pale hand on Luz's forehead "You know I'm not a Healer so if I won't be able to help I will call Emira, okay?" Amity asked and the human just nodded in agreement, mouthing 'I trust you'. "Guys…" Amity addressed King and Willow. "I will be needing your help because it will be painful." The two just nodded. Willow created a spell circle and vines were ready to hold Luz if that would be necessary. "Luz…" Amity looked down at the human again. "Will you please lift your shirt? I need to see the external damage." The golden eyed witch explained and Luz rolled slowly onto her back. The human could not straighten her legs due to the pain in her abdomen but she managed to lift the shirt with shaking hands, pain visible on her face. "Holy Titan…" Amity thought when she noticed the blackened abs. She tried not to show her emotions. This time for Luz's and everyone else's comfort. Yet, the look she shared with Willow let everyone know how serious the situation was. Amity then grabbed the hem of Luz's shirt and lifted it up a little bit more. She noticed additional bruises on the human's ribs. Luz's moan of pain dragged her out of her thoughts and she knew what had to be done. She created a blue spell circle and started assessing the damage. "She's lucky to be alive… her stomach… I will fucking kill Boscha." Amity's mind rambled but she reminded herself to focus. "To heal, one must have a calm mind. Peace is the only way to fix what anger has destroyed." Amity heard Emira's voice, recalling when her sister was teaching her healing spells. Once she assessed the damage she discarded the spell and took a deep breath. "Luz, I will start slowly with healing your head. Then I will move toward your stomach. Is that okay with you?" She asked but Luz could not say anything. The human just nodded in agreement while she looked at the witch with trust in her eyes.

Blight nodded at King and Willow who held Luz tightly while Amity started repairing Luz's facial cuts and bruises. It was done quickly. Facial lacerations closed up nicely and the swelling went down. Then Blight moved toward the stomach, making the human squirm and clench her fists on the couch's crimson cushions. The repair of the human's intestines was draining her magic quickly but she was not about to stop. Not until she healed Luz. Cell after cell, nerve after nerve… Luz cried out, her human scream was accompanied by the Beast's screech while her hazel eyes were going black, and brown again. "Fascinating…" Amity thought, still not understanding the dynamic of the curse Luz was experiencing. But now was not the time.

It has been at least two hours since Amity and Willow brought Luz home. The green haired witch was exhausted fixing the human with a magic she was not well versed with. She felt her bile sack was barely handling the amount of work it was forced to do after the outburst she had at school. Luz lost consciousness a while ago which made the work a little bit easier but it also made everyone in the room worry.

"I… I… Can't…" Amity whispered out of nowhere, falling back to the floor, her eyes rolling back. Willow's vines caught her just in time, elevating her legs slightly. The short witch walked over to the Blight and looked at her. Amity's mind was dizzy, her sight blurry, and her breathing was rapid. Lying on the floor with her legs up helped a bit.

"You did a great job, Amity. You can continue once you'll rest." Willow said with a soft smile. "Tell me what you did, walk me through it." She asked whilst removing vines from Luz's body and sitting on the floor in front of Amity. King took this moment to get Amity something to eat and drink. Afterall, she was not having any nourishment since she started fixing his human sister.

"I…" Amity took a deep breath and she felt her tongue being weirdly heavy "Fixed her intestines, a rupture in the stomach, and bleeding in the liver… but it's so different… The anatomy I mean. Much more… dense…" She said slowly, quietly and took a deep breath. Willow's eyes went wide in shock. "Yes, I too don't know how she managed to survive that." Amity added, noticing her friend's expression. "Was the curse's magic healing her? Was that why her eyes are black most of the time?" She thought but Willow dragged her out of her thoughts.

"Well… it's a good thing you are crushing on her, then." Willow said, hoping to bring some color into Amity's face. It worked like a charm.

"What?!" Amity exclaimed bewildered with the suggestion, sitting up quickly. Her face turned tomato red and her eyes lit up with flames of anger.

"Oh come on, Amity" Willow kept her cool and wanted to point out some serious points "You heard her screaming before anyone could. Despite your oversensitive ears you were just tuned in on hearing her." She pointed out, crossing her arms "You could have summoned an abomination to carry her here or ask me to vine her here but no… you wanted to keep her close. You carried her here through the most difficult part of the forest." Amity was bewildered. Before she could have said anything King returned from the kitchen with a cup of warm apple blood and a small snack. Willow just smiled knowing Amity will not say anything. Especially now, that King was back covering Luz with a blanket to make sure his sister is comfortable and warm.

"Thank you, King." Amity said with honest gratitude. She ate slowly. She was not sure how her stomach would handle food being so exhausted. Her eyes were glued to Luz's unconscious body. Willow just smiled at that. She recalled how Amity fought with her own feelings back when they used to be friends. She never thought she would ever see Amity losing that fight. Although she also tried to keep in her mind that they both changed a lot in the past four years. Willow reminded herself she could not forget about that.

"Amity…" Willow started after a long silence while Amity kept eating "Why didn't you try to contact me?" She asked, hoping for some more closure. The pale witch looked at her in awe.

"You mean you have never…" A sudden realization came over her and she groaned in frustration "I should have known…" She said in anger "I wrote you at least a dozen letters. I always thought you didn't reply because you hated me so much… I guess they were all destroyed." Amity put the plate down on the low table. "I'm sorry Willow. I really am."

"Don't be." Willow interrupted her. "Odalia fucked up your life since the day you were born." She added, getting up and looking at her friend, helpless on the couch. "Please, don't let her fuck this up as well." She pointed to Luz's body. Amity got up to her feet as well. This time she was not about to pretend she did not care for Luz. Deep down she knew she did. So very much. King was looking from one witch to the other being the only one not knowing what was going on. "I should go now but please keep an eye on her for me." Willow added, picking her satchel up. "Byeeeee!" Amity just nodded and watched Willow leave the Owl House. "Oh fuck…" Amity thought, realizing she was left alone in the Owl House with Luz… and King, but still. Her hands anxiously grabbed the hem of her tunic. She looked back at the unconscious form and had no idea what to do next.

"Let's take her up to bed." King offered a solution, noticing the witch froze in her actions and Amity nodded, grateful someone offered her a solution. She walked over to Luz, uncovered her and picked her up once again. Blight just thought about what Willow said about Amity not summoning an abomination to carry the human and smiled a bit. Luz unconsciously wrapped her arms around the witch's neck. The green haired girl looked down at the human's face and smiled delicately knowing she will be alright.

"Lead the way, King." Amity said and he strolled up.

A few seconds later Amity placed Luz on her bed. She removed the blankets from underneath the human girl. "What a mess!" Then the witch removed the brunette's shoes and flannel. The rest would have to stay as Amity felt it was not her place to remove any other layer of her clothing. She blushed at the thought of it though. She placed a blanket over her body and looked at her now calm expression on the healed face. She wanted to remove a wild strand of brunette's hair but she stopped her hand in mid-air and bit her lower lip in hesitation. She was just about to turn around and leave when she heard a quiet murmur.

"S-stay…" Escaped Luz's lips. "Please…" Amity looked at King who just stared at the frightened witch with a grin.

"You heard the girl." King laughed, "You are more than welcome to stay, you should know that by now." He added and then he left the room, closing the door behind him. Amity had no idea what to do, her heart was racing. She was on the brink of panic. She wanted to hold Luz but she knew it was unacceptable. She was just left there with a weird decision paralysis. It took a while but finally she decided to take a place in the chair next to Luz's bed. The same one where she read Azura to the unconscious human just a few weeks ago. Amity discarded her own boots, jacket, and watched Luz from a safe distance, making sure the human was safe, resting. The witch did not even notice when she dozed off, most probably more tired than she let herself realize.

Luz woke up in the middle of the night hearing some strange noises coming from the chair by her window. She fought away her excruciating headache, opened her eyes, and noticed Amity in the weirdest position, sleeping in the chair. Her head was shaking from one side to the other. Her hands were clenching and sparkling with purple embers as if she was about to set everything on fire. Luz sat up and winced when she felt pain in her abdomen.

"Don't touch me!" Amity mumbled angrily in her dream. She then snarled, showing off her fangs in anger, and let out a long hiss. "Don't…" She continued and Luz tried to wake up the witch delicately with a gentle whisper.

"Amity." There was no response.

"C-can't trade me! D-don't own me!" Amity yelled, frowning brows in pained expression and the ember turned into fire that erupted from her hands. Luz's eyes went wide in fear, the witch would hurt herself. Despite the pain in her abdomen Luz got up and walked over to the sleeping figure. It was not much of a walk considering the chair was a few feet away. "Shit, what do I do?" The human panicked.

"Amity…" She repeated, delicately stroking the witch's hair, and then cupped her cheek. The fire died down and the sleeping figure leaned into the touch. Luz sighed with relief and then touched Amity's hand. She was freezing. "Oh, I hope I won't regret it…" The human thought while she brought Amity into an embrace and delicately moved her over to the bed. She then covered the witch with a warm blanket and slipped into the bed as well. "Hands on the covers, Clawthorne!" She scolded herself with a smirk but suddenly she felt Amity snuggling into her. Luz was surprised but went with it nonetheless seeing how Blight needed the comfort of another body. She placed her right arm underneath the witch's neck. Her breathing evened out and she was clenching her pale fists on Luz's shirt. "Cute." The human thought, smiling warmly at the smaller figure. It was not long before Amity's scent engulfed Luz, she felt herself relax and fell asleep as well.

Amity started waking up very slowly. She was feeling incredibly comfortable. Warm, safe, surrounded with all too familiar lemon scent. Suddenly she realized she was not only hugging someone but she was being hugged back. "It can't be right…" She thought and cracked one eyeopen. She looked up and noticed Luz's sleeping form. The witch's heart rate increased drastically. She looked down and noticed they were both under the same covers and the Clawthorne was holding her up close in a protective manner while the Blight was snuggling closely, her leg resting between the human's her leg in the human's tight. The feeling of another body scared the witch. But what scared her the most was the fact that she enjoyed it with all her heart, and wanted more.

"Weh!" Amity yelled, jumping up from the bed, falling to the floor with a thud. That woke up Luz who mumbled something incoherent before realizing what was going on. She sat up too quickly, trying to react to the ruckus but her stomach still hurt her. She just winced a bit.

"Amity, are you okay?" She asked with a small groan, noticing the green-haired witch on the floor. The golden orbs stared back at her in shock.

"How the hell… why are we…" Amity started rumbling while her face was getting redder by the second.

"Amity, calm down…" Luz said in a low, soft voice while she slowly, despite the pain, joined the witch on the floor. "It's all right. You had nightmares and your screaming woke me up. When I noticed how cold you were I brought you under the covers." The brunette explained calmly and Amity did not know what to do or how to behave. "Considerate… but…" That was the scenario she has never been prepared for. It was not like she did not want to snuggle to the human again but it was very sudden and unplanned. Luz placed a hand on the witch's cheek. "Thank you for saving me… again…" Luz added and looked deeply into Amity's eyes. "Oh, Titan, why is she so wonderful?" The human thought not noticing how the witch melted into the touch. Just like she did so unconsciously a few hours ago.

"It's not a problem, Luz." Amity said softly, forgetting her panic for a moment. "How are you feeling?" She added, turning the focus away from her weird and very unBlightly behavior. Luz just smiled softly.

"Much better, all thanks to you." She said, sitting back on her bed. She helped Amity up who sat in the chair in front of the human. "See? Almost as good as new." She added lifting up her shirt. Amity blushed bright red and looked away for a second while her ears slanted down in embarrassment. Her mind was racing.

"May I?" Amity asked, recomposing herself while she drew a blue spell circle. Luz shook her head in agreement and allowed the witch to inspect her injury, watching her closely. "You'll need some healing glyphs but you're not in danger anymore… I'm sorry I couldn't help more." Amity finally spoke up and Luz could not believe her own ears.

"Are you kidding me?" She exclaimed "You saved my life and you apologize?" Once the human pointed it out Blight realized how illogical that was.

"So… Do you want to tell me what happened yesterday?" Amity tried to change the topic. "What was that with the Beasty?". She added seeing that Luz did not know what she had in mind.

"Oh, now it has a nickname?" The human asked mockingly "Well might as well have…" She sighed in defeat and told Amity everything. Including how she threw up the potion, how she could not hear or see anything because it was too loud in her head, how the Owl Beast communicated with her by showing her images Luz missed by living through them.

"That would explain why I heard the chirping while I carried you here…" Amity concluded and Luz smiled viciously. "You could've summoned an abomination…" Amity heard Willow's words and needed to act quickly before Luz would pick up on that as well. "How about some breakfast?! You must be famished!" She said a bit too loudly, standing up suddenly, letting the human know how stressed she was. Luz just laughed delicately and got up from her bed.

"Whatever you say, Blight. Let's go." She said, guiding Amity downstairs. "Saved…" Amity thought with a slight relief. Eda and King were waiting for them downstairs with a big breakfast that was a fusion of human and witches food. When the young adults entered the kitchen Eda walked over to the young Blight and looked at her from above. Amity looked into the older witch's eyes not understanding her intentions. "Titan, she must be furious with me!" Young Blight thought. Suddenly she was wrapped in a warm motherly hug. Amity froze. She had no idea how to react, how to breathe, what to do with her hands, she never experienced anything like that. The time has stopped but at the same time the world was spinning faster than ever for the young witch.

"Thank you…" She heard Eda whisper into her hair and that was something new. As if one of the hundreds of walls of her defense against the emotions broke down. Amity felt herself return the hug, not wanting to let go. She closed her eyes, melting into the embrace and a sole tear escaped her eye. A moment had passed when Eda realized what she did to the young witch. She forgot who her parents were. "Oh, that poor witchling. She probably has never been held before… Maybe that's why she didn't want to be touched when we first met?" Eda thought and decided to not let go until the young girl lets go first.

"I-I'm sorry…" Amity mumbled when she realized what she was doing. She pushed away scared of how much she was enjoying the hug. "First you snuggle with Luz, now you hug Eda! Pathetic!" Her face was blushing. King and Luz exchanged a look and Eda placed a hand on the witch's shoulder.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Boots." She said with the most nonchalant smile she could have mustered. Her golden fang showing from underneath her lips. "You saved my kid." She said and then she turned to Luz "AGAIN!" The human gulped loudly.

"Please, don't be angry with Luz. It was not her fault. She was ambushed…" Amity pleaded with Eda as if she thought the older witch could ever hurt Luz. Everybody was surprised by Amity's reaction. "If you want to be angry with someone, be angry with me." She grabbed her arms, clenching her fists on her shirt "I wasn't fast enough. If you want to punish someone, punish me…" Amity kept rambling and everyone was just surprised at her fearful expression and willingness to take the punishment herself. Her golden eyes were almost tearing, filled with fear.

"Boots, calm down!" Eda said in a calm but stern voice. "No one is going to punish anyone." She said and Amity's face showed confusion. "Listen, I don't know how things are done in the Blight Manor but here we are happy and grateful everyone is safe. We may taunt each other a bit or be a bit mean to each other, but only in a joking manner where no one is hurt. Do you understand that?" Eda tried to explain to Amity. The golden eyes were completely full of confusion. "Sit, eat, drink, calm down…" Eda guided young Blight to the breakfast table. Amity followed the recommendation like an empty vessel. Her eyes were looking into nothingness.

"No punishment?" Amity whispered to herself. "No confinement?" She continued. Eda and Luz exchanged looks. "No obedience spells?" Amity kept on rambling, not believing that other people lived lives without those forms of discipline. Her golden orbs shone with tears. "N-no f-forcing e-emotions away? No m-masking your personality…" Luz decided to interrupt Amity's train of thoughts when she noticed a stressful stutter. She placed a tan hand on her pale palm rubbing another one in stress. Amity jumped a bit, dragged out of her thoughts.

"Hey, Amity…" Luz started with a pure, innocent smile "What do you say we'll have a stroll over the Sea after breakfast?" She asked and Amity's face lit up. Said witch just nodded with hidden enthusiasm. With that they all sat down to eat breakfast. Amity was shocked how good the human food was and she kept asking about the ingredients or what they used to make it here in the Boiling Isles. Luz was happy to see the witch taking interest in her human heritage but still exchanged knowing looks with her mother. She knew Odalia was controlling but the more she learned about the Blights the more she feared for Amity's safety.

It has been a while after midday when Luz and Amity made it to the cliffs above the Boiling Sea. The warm wind surrounded them, tickling their skin. Luz looked at Amity who enjoyed the feeling of the breeze in her long hair.

"Do you enjoy the view?" Amity asked and Luz was a bit hesitant whether she meant the Sea or Amity herself. Either way the answer was the same.

"I adore the view…" Luz admitted but was too scared to say anything else. Her mind was racing. Those months spent with Amity in secret, the way the witch was always there to save her… well from herself. Amity sat down on the edge of the cliff and patted the space next to her. Luz did not need any further encouragement.

"Do you mind if I ask you a rather personal question?" Amity started, looking at the horizon. Luz just smiled.

"You should know by now I'm an open book. Ask anything you want." The human said with confidence. Amity took a deep sigh and looked into the human's brown orbs.

"How were you cursed?" Amity asked straight forward. "I heard rumors that Eda, the Owl Lady, was cursed but apparently the rumors were wrong." She clarified. Luz just bit down on her lower lip in hesitation. "Open book my ass, you idiot…" Luz scolded herself but was not about to back down now.

"The rumors weren't wrong." Luz started, looking away from Amity and into the horizon as well. The waves crashing at the base of the cliff were calming her nerves. Her hands clenched in fear of being rejected. She took a deep sigh and continued. "I was living with Eda for a while when I learned that the Owl Beast's curse was latched into her bile sack. It was draining her magic away. It would either kill her or turn her into the Owl Beast forever." Amity has never seen Luz's face so serious. The thought of losing Eda was more painful than anything she has endured. "She's my family, the only person I have… She's my mother. So you must understand. I found a way to take her curse. I thought that I don't have a bile sack so that was not as dangerous to me as it was to her…" Luz was talking faster and faster, visibly stressed out about Amity's reaction. She looked at the witch, her golden eyes shining with pride, she smiled showing off her fangs, and scoffed in a slight disbelief, shaking her head slightly.

"That is so 'you' Luz. Cursing yourself to help someone you care about." Amity said and looked back at the horizon. "I wish I was as brave…" She added and her face went serious again. It took a lot of courage but this was a moment when Luz decided to stop holding back. She placed her hand on Amity's smaller one.

"You know… a lot of courage comes from support. You are not alone anymore." Luz said and smiled delicately when she noticed Amity's shocked expression, ears slanting down. A faint blush creeped on both of their faces but the witch entangled their fingers not letting go of the hold Luz initiated.

"I'll keep that in mind…" Amity said, placing her head on the shoulder of a taller girl, ignoring her sprinting heart. She decided to enjoy every moment given to her. Just like Luz.

They have been sitting on the cliff until the sun was about to set. Luz decided she should walk Amity back to her house. She did not want to part with the witch but unfortunately it was upon them.

Since Amity learned the reason behind Luz's curse she looked at the human differently. She was so selfless. Helping wherever and whenever she could. Supporting everyone she met. It was something she has never encountered before. On the other hand she was so closed off from the world… how could she encounter anything like this before?

Luz on the other hand began feeling differently about Amity as well. She was finally understanding what Willow has been trying to explain for the past couple of months. Amity was controlled, brainwashed and stripped of all will to fight. She had no idea what the witch had been through but as far as the human understood she was forced into submission. Amity was cut away from people important to her, her family has never shown her any emotional support, and she was just as good as she behaved according to expectations. Luz had an urge to steal her away and let her know she is better than that. To show her how lovable she is. "What the hell? Lovable?" Luz asked herself but just smiled when she looked at the green-haired woman by her side. "Fine… maybe a little…" She admitted and kept walking with Amity through the forest. Suddenly the witch stopped, turning in place, stopping Luz with a palm on the human's chest. Without thinking Luz placed her hands on Amity's waist and held her close. It was an automatic motion that surprised both of them. But neither moved away. They shared a long look filled with hesitation, passion, fear, longing… everything that lingered between them for the past couple of months, everything that was left unspoken.

"This is as far as you should go…" Amity finally broke the silence but she never broke eye contact. Their faces were slowly getting closer. Amity wanted to run away but her body was longing for the touch. The touch she always feared, despised, hated… She noticed Luz's eyes darting from her eyes to her lips.

"It's all right, Amity…" Luz whispered in a low voice. The witch felt a jolt of electricity when her twitchy ears processed the sound. "I understand…" She added and pulled away with all might and self control she had. "I guess… I'll see you at school?" She added with a dorky smile and turned away. Amity was left alone, frozen, her eyes still watching the human walk away. The ghost of the human's touch was still lingering on her body. She was surprised and ashamed, realizing she wanted more. "Shut it birdbrain!" She suddenly heard Luz in the distance. The witch just smiled, now that she knew about a weird connection the human had with her curse. "Oh, oh, oh… so very clever!" She bantered with her demon, probably thinking she was too far for Amity to hear. Yet, none of them knew Amity had oversensitive hearing even for a witch which often caused her trouble. "You go ahead and kiss her yourself if you're so brave!" Amity heard and her expression faded, ears slanted down, blush creeped on her face. The witch felt her heartbeat increase and her fists clenched on her clothes.

"She wants to… kiss me?" Amity could not believe it. She stayed put, having no idea how to move after the argument she just heard. This was a first in her life. Someone liked her for her. The real her.

As soon as the morning approached in the Boiling Isles both Luz and Amity were running to their respective support people. The sun was not even making it to Willow's bedroom window when Luz bashed in through it. Her best friend was snoring, sleeping in the weirdest position possible. Her feet on the pillow, her arms stretched out, and drool escaping her snore.

"Will! Wake up!" Luz screamed and shook her friend.

"Whaaaaaa…" Willow did not know what was happening. She looked up and fell off her bed when she noticed Luz's frantic eyes. "Luz! What the fuck!? We talked about sneaking into my room!" She grumbled, starting to understand what was happening. She looked up and noticed Luz passing her glasses and then sitting in front of her on the floor. The tan hands were impatiently tapping her shoes. "Good to see you feel better. So Blight actually managed to patch you up, huh?" She added, looking at her friend. She then yawned, covering her mouth and scratched her unruly hair.

"More than that… But I worry… I mean she's scared most of the time, touch-starved, overly controlling…" The human said with a worried expression. "So I need to know, Willow. What the hell did Odalia do to her?!" Luz exclaimed a question that bothered her for a while now.

"Oh boy…" Willow said, now fully awake. "Where should I start?" She asked, standing up to grab her long forgotten photo book from the bookshelf next to her bed. "You really want to help Amity?" She asked looking down at the human on her floor who just nodded vigorously. "Well then you need to understand that Amity is not like any other witch on the Boiling Isles. At least I haven't met anyone like her." Luz just shot her brow up not understanding what she had in mind. "Amity was born a bit more… attuned to her surroundings if that's the right way to say it." Willow started while she popped her photo book open sitting down next to her friend. Luz looked down and noticed a photo of young Amity who was still having her natural auburn hair. "But Odalia… Well, she was not accepting anything that was not following her path… The only right path." She turned to another page of the photobook "She always displayed Amity like some sort of… trophy. Forced her to entertain the guests, not caring what it did to her daughter. There were days when Odalia woke Amity up in the middle of the night because Odalia's guests needed entertainment." She added and Luz unconsciously placed a hand on her mouth. She looked down at the photo and saw an eight year old witch surrounded by poshly dressed adults. Amity's eyes were distant, as if her mind was in a place far, far away from her body. "How could anyone do something like that?" Luz wondered but did not interrupt Willow's story. It was interrupted by the knock on the door. A head of one of Willow's dads popped in.

"I heard you were awake. Here's some warm black bean brew and fried griffin eggs." He said and placed a tray on the floor. "There's some for you too, Luz." He added with a warm smile.

"Oh, Titan! Thanks Dad! You're the best!" Willow said gratefully accepting the nourishment.

"Wow, thank you, sir!" Her father left just as suddenly as he entered the room so the young witch could go back to her story. He was too used to Luz's strange visits, to even make a remark on it.

"So, a controlling mother of a sensitive witch…" Luz stated. Willow sipped her black bean brew, groaned in satisfaction while the drink slowly woke her up. The witch looked with the most serious look she had at the human.

"Controlling doesn't even start to describe it. She's an Oracle. She manipulates minds, forcing into submission. Half a year before Amity was sent away Odalia pushed Emira's twin brother to suicide. That was the reason why Amity started getting more 'rebellious'." She air quoted "She could not deal with that change. Losing a brother is tough. But knowing it was all your mother's doing…" She looked into her cup. "Emira had Viney but still it was her twin for Titan's sake. So she moved out. Ran from all that Blights represent. I always had a theory that was one of the reasons Em became a healer. But losing both siblings, one way or the other… I could never imagine the toll it took on Amity, especially that Odalia's focus was now directed at her. The changes she had to deal with… she's very bad with changes." Willow added and looked up at Luz whose eyes were glistening with tears. "See! This is the reason I never talked about it!" She added seeing how Luz's emotions were all over the place.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Luz exclaimed with a red face forcing her tears back, wiping them away. "I just had no idea Em had a brother. Wouldn't you want to punch Odalia into oblivion?!" The human asked.

"Ooooh, you have no idea." Willow admitted with a chuckle. "You remember how broke I was when we met. She broke me and yet I have never met the woman. The woman I have never met is the reason I have severe abandonment issues. And that's with great dads and you as a friend." She added and Luz sent her finger guns whilst clicking her tongue.

"So how was Amity handling that? I mean…" Luz asked, getting serious again, not knowing if it was her place to bother her friend. Willow just smiled.

"It's funny to see you care for her." She said, sipping her drink. "But it was not pretty." Willow went back to the story and her serious tone returned. "Amity often visited me on the brink of falling apart. She could never show her emotions at home or in public places like school… But she felt safe here. Whenever her senses were overwhelmed with sound, light, touch, and emotions she came here. Cried, hit random stuff, rocked herself, jumped, let her primal witch's instincts take over… She looked for any way to ground herself… She told me that at home she was closed in a separate room to 'bleed out' as Odalia called it." Willow continued and Luz felt anger rising in her system. The human could not imagine depriving someone from something as basic as support. And a child at that.

"Huh…" Luz started but got lost in her thoughts. "That would explain why she was so patient with me at school. She helped me like no one helped her." The human offered an explanation. When she noticed her friend's look Luz realized she had yet to tell how she and Amity started to talk, hangout, and get friendly with each other. It took a while but Willow just smiled at the end of the story.

"That would explain a lot." Willow agreed "She called her senses and behaviors a curse on many different occasions..." She added and took another sip of her drink. "I'm not even mentioning that you kept it a secret from me." Willow said and raised her eyebrow teasingly.

"Everyone has different demons…" Luz said ignoring that last remark "You don't have to have an Owl Beast living inside you to be haunted." She added and heard a faint chirping in her head. If she did not know any better she would have thought the Beast was offering her some sort of support. She still did not understand most of the random chirps and hoots in her head. Some were very clear but most of them made no sense to the human.

"Yeah… I know you haven't told me everything but I know you've been through a lot." Willow offered with a smile "I mean, who leaves their world and takes chances in a place where everything wants to eat them? I'm guessing someone with some serious baggage." Willow added, trying to make a joke out of it. Luz looked away and her mind raced, flashing childhood memories.

"I just…" She hesitated. "I lost everyone." She gave a half baked explanation. Willow was not about to force the confession out of her. She knew her best friend all too well. She will talk to her when and if she will be ready.

Back on the other side of Bonesborough Amity was banging at the door of a living quarters above the Healer's Clinic. The first light had barely made it to the building but she was desperate. She could not sleep anyway so here she was. Frantically banging at a door. The doors creaked open and she noticed a sleepy brunette with a fish hook in her ear.

"Hi Viney! Is Em awake?" Young Blight asked, walking past the woman in her pajamas into the apartment.

"I'm not even awake!" Viney opposed closing the door behind her sister in law. "What are you doing here?" She asked but noticed that Amity was already missing. "Ugh… Blights!" She grunted while the young witch ran upstairs to her sister who was still in bed.

"Em! Wake up!" Amity said, taking off her boots and joining her sister in bed.

"This better be important, Mittens. It's our day off…" Emira grunted, hiding her head under a pillow.

"So… It's about Luz…" Amity began hesitantly and started rubbing her palms nervously. She heard Emira chuckle while the Healer glanced at her younger sister's red face from underneath the pillow. The older Blight sat up in front of her sister with her unruly dark green hair all over the place, and they both sat cross legged.

"Okay, this is going to be good. Spill." Emira said with a wicked smile, her ears slanting down, and Amity blushed. She told her sister what happened yesterday, and the day before hence she explained how Luz was cursed, and how they kept their friendship secret for the past weeks. In the meantime Viney brought some snacks, drinks, and a very strong black bean brew for her wife. "All right, and she doesn't know you have your 'super hearing'." Emira summed it all up with a wicked smile as she was now more awake.

"But I'm scared Em…" Amity confessed, hugging her knees and looking away. "I have never been close to anyone besides…"

"Na-ah! Nope! Stop! That doesn't count!" Emira interrupted her sister, lifting up her index finger. "It was wrong and Odalia forced you." Viney did not ask about the details. She learned pretty early on that whenever Odalia is mentioned she should not ask about details unless she is ready for some serious trauma.

"What if Luz will…" Amity started but Emira stopped her.

"Listen, Sis. She would never hurt you like that. From what you've told me about her we're talking about a person who cursed herself to help someone she cares about!" Emira pointed out and young Blight looked down. "Even if that person is a wanted crimi- I mean her mother!" She added with a smile trying to lighten up her sister's mood. "And that's just from what you've told me. From what I remember from the year we attended Hexside together she was always helping everyone in any way she could." She said with a smile. "She still does that." Amity thought.

"If I may…" Viney interrupted the silence. "I've known you for like… five or six years now?" Amity nodded in agreement "Even though four of those years you've been away I need to point out that I have never seen you look at anyone with care. Not to mention that I have never seen you touch anyone. Especially not like that." The brunette pointed out. Young Blight blushed in deep crimson, looking away with shame. "Amity, there's nothing to be ashamed of. Do you feel safe around her?" Amity nodded "Like no one is forcing you to do anything?" The young witch nodded again. "Does she make you feel like you want to be the best version of yourself?" Another nod. "Doesn't that say enough? I was told you were forced to push your feelings away but it seems to me that this feeling may be worth keeping, not pushing it aside."

"Thank you Viney." Amity whispered, allowing one teardrop to roll down her cheek. "I'm just scared, memories of being… violated will destroy everything." She hugged herself while the flashbacks attacked her mind. Viney looked at Emira.

"Listen… you are not responsible for what has happened to you back then. But you are two years wiser now." Viney told Amity "He was not supposed to do that… and Odalia… she had no right to trade you like…" She was interrupted by Emira's hand rising in the air.

"What Viney is trying to say, in a very Viney way, is that your past doesn't define your future." Emira said with a smile. "You've been given a chance to be happy. You were even brave enough to talk to Willow…" She pointed out and Amity smiled.

"Luz had a lot to do with that, actually." She added with a sheepish smile. "But I still am frightened, Em." The young Blight looked at her sister "What if she'll hurt Luz?"

"I will help you. You know you don't have to live there anymore. You're an adult." Emira understood that Amity was scared of her mother.

"It's not that easy…" Younger Blight said, touching her choker. Emira looked at Viney.

"Don't tell me…" The older sister started and young Blight looked away with shame.

"After you left she made sure it would not be so simple for me to follow you. Despite my hate of change…" Amity explained with a shaky voice.

"That bitch…" Viney stated, getting up. "Don't worry, Honey. I have powerful friends in the Oracle Coven. We will find a way!" She exited the room leaving the Blight sisters. Her curses were still echoing while she walked further and further away from the bedroom.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Emira asked.

"I was too ashamed of being too weak… and after Ed…" She choked and started rocking forward and backwards, her hands clenching her trousers. "You had enough to worry about. I didn't want to burden you." Emira understood and did not force anything else out of her sister.

"Mittens, do you want to stay here for the night?" The older sister offered. Amity just nodded in confirmation. She had her school work with her anyways. She was happy to stay the night even if the day had just begun.

The beginning of the next school week came too quickly in the opinion of many students. However, Luz and Amity could not wait to meet again. Since Boscha already knew they were talking they did not feel the need to be so secretive anymore. Even though in Luz's opinion it had its charm.

"Hey, Luz!" Amity said cheerfully, scaring the human girl. "Oh Titan, she's actually smiling! At school!" Luz was shocked but happy and returned the smile.

"Amity! How was your day off?" The human asked, smiling back, closing her locker.

"Oh, it was actually nice. I spent the whole day and then the following night with Emira and Viney. We finally had a chance to catch up." The young witch said but Luz just lifted her scarred eyebrow in confusion.

"Wow, so spontaneous, Amity." Luz chuckled, smiling warmly, and enjoyed the witch's flustered expression. "So is it safe for me to walk you to the class, Blight?" The human asked with a cocky smile while looking at the shorter girl teasingly.

"Only if you promise to have lunch with me afterwards, Clawthorne." Amity replied with a low, dramatic voice, pretending to threaten the human girl.

"Ha!" Luz laughed out "It's a deal!" She agreed and they walked together toward the Abomination Homeroom.

Willow watched them from a safe distance of her locker and shook her head in disbelief, while smiling at the sight. She did not feel left out, she did not feel threatened by her abandonment issues. She was happy her best ex-friend and current best friend found each other despite the most ridiculous circumstances. Even if they were both too shy to admit their feelings to one another. But whilst watching Luz and Amity she also noticed Boscha glaring at them. The triclops then yelled something at Skara who left huffing angrily. "Oh, that does sound like trouble." She thought and left for classes. She felt she will be needing to keep a close eye on Luz and Amity in the next few days.

"Next few days my ass…" Willow murmured when she heard a commotion in the corridor right before the lunch break. She pushed through a small group of students. Her strength was compensating for her height and she finally made it to the front of the ruckus. Boscha was standing in front of Amity's locker, tormenting the girl. Everybody surrounding the scene was shocked with the sudden turn of events.

"What are you gonna do? Run to the Healer again!?" The pink haired witch taunted her ex-accomplice. She kept pushing Amity who did not fight back. "Stop being a coward!" Amity scolded herself. She was supposed to take her vengeance for hurting Luz afterall. "Why can't I do anything? Fight back!"

"Don't touch me!" Young Blight yelled, overwhelmed, her voice going an octave up in distress.

"Oh, yes! I forgot that you cannot be touched! No one is good enough for you, huh? Somehow you had no issue touching the filthy human!" Boscha exclaimed and sent several punches toward Amity's body. Her arms, ribs, knees. She even snapped fingers at the Blight's sensitive earlobes. Not to hurt her. No. Willow knew what Boscha was doing. She did that years ago. She was overstimulating Blight's senses and that could end up only in one way. "Here's a funny trick I picked from our Bard friend." Boscha added, sending a look at Skara who apparently did not want to comply and was watching the whole scene from a distance. The triclops drew a red spell circle in the air and a loud high pitched noise went through the corridor. Most students winced when they heard the sound but Amity dropped her bag and brought her hands to her ears, screaming her lungs out, her knees barely holding her up. That was when Luz arrived. Boscha did not notice what hit her. Literally. Luz's punch sent her flying back into the gathered students, rupturing her lower lip.

"Get the FUCK away from her!" The human growled in anger no one had witnessed before. The usually cheerful human lost all self control when she heard Amity's scream. She had no idea the sound of the witch's distressed voice would trigger her so much she would run fists first without thinking. "Wow!" Willow thought in shock. "Amity, are you okay?" The brunette, whose voice was now soft and calm, turned to a witch who was still hearing ringing in her ears, covering them, with tears glistening in her golden eyes. The sight broke Luz's heart at the same time filling it with a Boiling Sea of rage.

"Oh, this is fascinating!" Boscha laughed when she got back on her feet, cleaning the blood off her face. "Hey, Amity!" The triclops exclaimed, getting Blight's and Clawthorne's attention "This one may remind you of a certain friend who was expelled because of you." She added and the next spell circle created bright flashes of light. The spell was so quick no one had a chance to react. Amity yelled again in pain when she felt her eyes burning, ears ringing, her skin felt like it was peeling off. "Too much, too much!" The green haired witch could not control herself, growling, baring fangs, breathing heavily through teeth while drops of saliva left her mouth. She was shaking her head, trying to get rid of those feelings. "I will kill her!" Amity swore but could not move. Boscha laughed in satisfaction, not noticing that Willow's vines creeped on her. Willow lifted up her body.

"Not cool mentioning Gus, Boscha." The Plant witch said in a low, cold voice. "Do you think you'll be able to play next season if I snap all your joints?" She asked and nodded at Luz, letting her know to go and take care of Amity.

The human helped the hurt witch move away from the crowd. Blight was barely breathing surrounded by everyone. Her eyes were tearing and she could barely see what was in front of her. Everything was still too bright. By muscle memory and with Luz's help with moving people off their way, she made it to the remote bathroom.

Amity fell onto her knees in the middle of the floor, too tired to stand. She placed her hands on her head, trying to compose herself. But it was not that easy. She kept hands on her head, tugging hair, panting, sobbing, then screaming while her body rocked. She heard a lock click behind her. It echoed painfully in her head, making her turn toward the sound, hissing in fear with bared fangs and shrank pupils. "Oh, Amity…" Luz thought when she noticed how the witch lost her self control. She has seen Eda go primal once before so she was not shocked. It was still a heartbreaking view. Amity punched her own arm, then started hitting her head with a first.

"Get out! OUT!" She cried out while she punched herself again, then hissed again, her hair ruffled, her primal instincts surfaced "Need to… Too much!" She rambled, distressed, overwhelmed, and hurt.

"Amity, it's me…" She heard Luz's whisper. Amity's ears twitched to adjust to that sound, but the human's voice did not hurt her. It gave her a sense of safety and comfort. Just like warm hands on her own, forbidding herself from further harm. "Will you allow me to help you?" Luz asked to be sure she is not doing anything a green-haired witch would not wish upon herself. Amity nodded, her growl died down a notch. She stared blankly into the emptiness, not able to say a word. "It's okay… Willow told me that some things are too much for you. It's really alright. Will you mind if I come a bit closer?" She asked and Amity shook her head, allowing the interaction while her hair went back to normal. The young Blight sat on the cold bathroom floor, exhausted, with the human's hands still covering her pale ones, making sure the witch would not hurt herself. Luz looked at the smaller figure in concern. Her eyes were still tearing down uncontrollably and her sobs were interrupted with angry growls. She could not scream anymore. The human could have sworn Amity's pink marble shone for a second. Or maybe that was just the brunette's imagination. "I will now close us in vines to close off the light. Is that okay?" Luz asked and waited for permission before retrieving a plant glyph. She did not know how grateful Amity was for that. Her eyes burned her unspeakably, tired from the light and the tears. When the witch nodded in consent they were both surrounded in complete darkness. The vines additionally tuned out most of the sounds of the school. "Amity, will you mind if I hug you?" Luz asked before realizing she could not see Amity's nods or shakes.

"N-no… I w-w-won't… m-mind." The witch managed to choke out in between sobs and soon she felt Luz's warm body on her back. The human took the witch in between her legs, surrounded her with long arms and squeezed Amity, applying comforting pressure. Luz's head was resting on the smaller girl's shoulder. The brunette slowly started to rock them back and forth. "I-I'm s-s-sorry…" Amity started but Luz interrupted her.

"Shhh… Don't be. It's okay. What's not okay is Boscha's behavior. But now you're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you…" Luz said more to herself than to Amity and she kept on rocking them in slow calming motion. The last sentence made Amity cry out again. She was wailing hard not accepting someone would actually be there for her, someone would like her for her in her lowest moment. Luz moved her hands, keeping her tight hug with her left hand while she moved the right one to rub Amity's back in long, slow, calming strokes that applied pressure to tensed muscles. "Try breathing with me, Amity." Luz offered when she noticed the witch was rasping hard between her cries. She hugged the witch tightly again so she could feel her breathing "In…" She took a slow breath in "And out…" Luz exhaled. Amity tried to mimic her breathing. At first with difficulty but with each cycle it became easier. They both lost sense of time, not knowing how long it lasted but with time the witch's cries started to die down and her breathing evened out. Luz felt Amity's hands shifting to the human's forearms squeezing her in gratitude.

"I'm sorry I hissed at you…" Amity whispered, breaking the silence, ashamed of herself.

"Shh… It's okay, Amity. You don't need to apologize." Luz assured her. Neither of them knew how much time had passed but after a while Amity was regaining her calm and her body stopped being so tense. It relaxed into the warm touch. Luz realized she could stop rocking when Amity turned around and wrapped her small arms around the lean human. "I thought you don't like being touched…" Luz wondered.

"With you… it's different…" Amity said, making Luz realize her question was asked out loud. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" The witch started when she felt Luz stiffen underneath her touch.

"No, don't apologize… I just sometimes don't control what I think and what I say." Luz explained letting herself relax again and Amity heard that her lips were curved in a smile. "And that was supposed to be a thought."

"I understand." Amity said and she kept on hugging, snuggling closer to Luz's neck. "I often think I said something out loud that never left my lips."

"Well, aren't we two sides of the same Snail?" Luz laughed and she could feel Amity's body was now relaxed. They held each other tightly in the darkness, enjoying the closeness. "So what do you say we skip the rest of the day? Maybe have lunch somewhere else?" She asked, hoping Amity was ready to get out of the vines.

"Sounds like a plan." Amity agreed and Luz retracted the vines surrounding them slowly. The human looked at how Amity's eyes reacted to the light. Said Blight could not believe there was anyone caring for such inconvenience as her oversensitive sight. She was still sitting in between Luz's legs and holding her close. The human watched with awe how the light slowly started shining at the witch's porcelain-like, tear-stained face, shrinking the pupils in the golden eyes. She was in awe noticing how Amity's ears twitched while the witch was adjusting to the surroundings. Luz found all these things so beautiful, mesmerizing, simply magical.

"Hi guys…." They heard a familiar voice behind them in a singing manner. Amity jumped away from Luz in panic. The human turned around to face Willow.

"Please, tell me you dismembered her?" Luz asked with cockiness in her voice, getting up from the surprisingly clean bathroom floor.

"It took all of my self control but unfortunately no… she'll live." Willow said with a chuckle. "Good to see old methods work well, Blight." She addressed the green-haired witch who blushed in an instant.

"Yeah…" She rubbed her palm again "Thank you Willow." She added sheepishly, looking away.

"Don't mention it. Let's get you two out of here." She added, turning around to leave. Luz offered Amity her hand. Said witch accepted it with gratitude and felt strange warmth spreading across her body. It was so confusing. From such strong emotional breakdown to happy warmth associated with the human girl. It was exhilarating but also exhausting at the same time. She hoped she could have just fallen asleep in the human's arms.

It was not long before Willow bid them farewell and Luz left the Academy with Amity. They walked through the forest toward the downtown of Bonesborough. It was until they made it to a small restaurant when they noticed they were walking hand in hand since leaving the bathroom with Willow. "Oh my Titan, she will totally think I'm some clingy disaster!" Amity thought and blushed, quickly retrieving her hand. Meanwhile Luz's mind was racing so fast she could not create any coherent thought.
"Yeep!" The human made a weird sound, blushing as well and heard her heartbeat pounding in her head. "Oh, Titan! I've been holding her hand all the time? Shit, shit, shit! Abort, Luz!"

"Amity!" They heard a cheerful voice from behind. They turned around. "Oof… saved by the… Blight?" Luz thought when she noticed a green haired woman coming toward them.

"Em!" Amity exclaimed blushing as if she was caught red handed during a crime. If the crime was holding the hand of the particular human.

"Good to see you conscious again, Luz." Emira said with a teasing smile. "And once again holding my sister's hand." She added with further tease.

"Yeah…" Luz said with a laugh "Forgive me but I don't really remember our last meeting. That is since you graduated from Hexside." She added scratching the back of her neck with an embarrassed smile.

"Oh, no worries. I suppose you were focused on something more important." Emira taunted, looking at her sister with a wicked smile. The young Blight burned bright red and hugged herself in embarrassment.

"That would be true." Luz admitted, being too oblivious to understand what Emira was implying. "Oh Titan, they are just made for each other." The Healer thought and laughed a bit.

"Well, don't let me stop you. I was just getting back to the Clinic." Emira said, trying to find a way to leave the two girls alone. "Feel free to come over on our day off again, Mittens." She addressed her sister and waved them goodbye as she left.

"It was nice seeing you again, Em!" Luz exclaimed, waving goodbye as well. She then turned to Amity. "Still hungry?"

"Actually, would you mind taking me home? I am not feeling so well…" Amity said and Luz looked at her with concern. The witch's eyes were indeed red from the burning light and tears, she must have been really exhausted from everything that happened at the Academy.

"Oh, not at all. Let's go." Luz said and guided Amity to the Blight Manor. They walked the rest of the way in silence. The human was just making sure Amity was feeling alright and did not force any conversation on the green-haired girl who looked extremely tired. As soon as the Blight Manor was visible in between the trees Amity stopped and placed her hand on Luz's chest to stop her again. Even though it happened before the human was still taken by surprise. She placed her hands on the witch's lower back and held her close. She looked down into the golden eyes not realizing how much she wanted to be close to Amity.

"This is as far as you should go…" Amity finally spoke up using the same familiar words "For the sake of your safety, please." She added in a whisper and Luz just nodded, not looking away from Amity's irises. "How is it that looking into her eyes doesn't bother me? I could just drown in them." The witch thought. She could feel Luz's increasing heartbeat under her pale hand.

"Amity…" Luz whispered while she slowly started to lean closer to the witch. Amity's ears slanted and her cheeks blushed a bit. "I know you had a very eventful day today but there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while now and there never seems to be a good moment." Luz said, fighting the urge to kiss the pale girl who was on the verge of trembling in her arms.

"Don't let that stop you." Amity said quietly "What is it?" She asked, looking hungrily at the human's lips. She did not recognize herself. She never wanted to kiss anyone so badly. Or ever. Full stop. Despite mental exhaustion she could not stop yearning for the human's affection.

"Would you…" Luz paused to bring Amity's chin up and look into her eyes once again. "That was a bad idea! Her eyes are so beautiful! She's so amazing! Abort mission!" Luz thought in panic. The witch could feel electricity emanating from the place where Luz touched her. "Come on! Just get it over with!" The human yelled at herself mentally. "Would you like to go out with me?" Luz asked, scared of the answer. She knew that their current position suggested the answer would be positive, yet she has experienced too much of loss and rejection in her life to be sure. Amity gulped and her pupils shrank in her eyes.

"As… friends?" She needed to be sure what Luz had in mind. Said human paled down a tone.

"I was hoping not…" Luz said, looking away. She felt that was the beginning of a rejection speech.

"Thank Titan!" Amity exclaimed with a smile and a relief in her voice while her ears perked up "I'd love to go out with you!" She added a confirmation and Luz's shocked expression made her laugh despite overwhelming exhaustion. They hugged tightly and none of them could believe the happiness they were experiencing.

Luz entered the Owl House later that day with an uncontrollable grin on her face. Eda looked at her from above the newspaper she was reading and then glanced at King.

"Weh?" He shrugged looking at Eda with confusion. Luz went to the kitchen humming happily. Her bangs were strangely bouncy when she came back with a snack and sat in the armchair next to Eda.

"Okay… I will regret asking." Eda started, rolling her eyes but Luz interrupted her as she could not wait any longer.

"I asked Amity out!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air and sending finger guns to her mother. King just rolled his eyes and went back to sleep. Eda folded her newspaper and placed it on the low table in front of the couch.

"I take it she accepted?" Eda asked, tying her arms on her chest and raising her eyebrow. Luz looked at her mother with slight confusion. Her expression faded.

"I really hoped you'd be a tad more excited for me…" The human confessed, sitting back in the armchair and continued with her meal.

"Don't get me wrong, Kid." Eda said raising her hands in defense "I'm very happy you found someone you like and who likes you back. No doubt about that. I mean, Boots was practically spending every possible moment with you anyway." She said hoping Luz will not take it personally "I'm just worried about you." Eda added and Luz looked at her with a questioning gaze. "Ugh… fine! What I mean is I worry that you will be hurt. Both of you for the matter of fact! Amity is a fine girl but her mother can make both your lives difficult." She added.

"Okay… Here's a thing." Luz said, placing the empty plate on the table in front of her. She sat back in the chair cross legged and looked at her mother. "Why the hell does everybody keep shitting their pants about Odalia? I know she did terrible things to her kids but strangers? And if she did hurt strangers, why didn't anybody stop her?"

"Snails, Luz…" Eda explained. "She was always rich and was out of reach of any legal system. The moment she realized Alador was a fine inventor she made sure he would be working for her benefit. Talking about him makes me wonder why no one has seen the man in years." Eda said, her voice getting a bit louder than it should. Luz's knee started to bounce while she tried to calm herself down, her face showed she was not happy with Eda's reaction. "Kid…" Eda said with a calm voice, placing her hand on Luz's bouncing knee, steadying it down. "I want you to hear me as clearly as possible." She continued and looked into the human's eyes "I am very happy for the both of you. To be honest I wondered what took you so long…" She remarked with a joking mannerism "But I will still be worried. You are my kid. My cursed, human kid." She emphasized "Just promise me that if you sense even the hint of trouble you'll come to me." She asked, hoping Luz would listen to her. The human's expression softened and she nodded in agreement. She moved forward to hug Eda.

"I promise, Mom." She added a verbal confirmation. The witch smiled and hugged her daughter back.

"Besides, I still have an unsettled score with Odalia…" Eda added and they both laughed.

"Of course you do." Luz laughed knowing what a troublemaker her mother was in the past. Actually, scratch that. She still was an agent of chaos.

The next day Luz bolted out of the house hoping to get to the Hexside Academy as fast as possible. She could not sleep that night thinking about the best first date scenarios for Amity. She was so caught up in her plans she did not realize she did not take her potion in the morning. She could hear a noise in her head but it was not that bad. More like a buzz of many thoughts at the same time rather than the Owl Beast. She still could focus on her work and had no trouble with emotion control. When lunch time dawned upon the Academy Luz joined Willow in the cafeteria.

"Have you seen Amity today?" The human asked as she started munching her omelet.

"Why hello to you too my best friend, yes I have missed you, thank you for helping me out the other day…" Willow mocked Luz, looking at her from underneath her glasses. But Luz did not react. "Oh, that's serious," Willow thought.

"That…" The human agreed, pointing a finger at Willow "And have you seen Amity?" Luz asked again, dead serious.

"No." The witch replied plainly "But also she may have been too exhausted after yesterday and she needs a day off…" Willow proposed a rather logical explanation. Too logical for the human. Luz's eyes went wide in fear.

"OR! She regrets agreeing to go out with me?!" She said, grabbing her bangs and pulling them down. "Of course!? She was in a vulnerable position yesterday, she didn't think this through and now she doesn't…"

"LUZ!" Willow interrupted. "You're rambling…" She added and looked into her friend's eyes which were a bit too dark in the witch's opinion. "Also, congrats!" She added with a smile, punching the human's arm. Luz chuckled nervously. The human's face was painted with delicate blush but her mind was racing. Willow noticed she was losing the attention of her friend. "Did you take your potion today?" She changed the topic when she noticed that human's eyes were getting darker than usual. "She didn't let herself slip like that before Amity returned." The witch thought but did not consider it a bad thing. She was happy to see the human embracing the emotions of care and vulnerability. Luz looked down at her friend with a hint of panic in her eyes.

"Oh no…" The human mumbled and she looked down into her satchel. She found one half-a-dose vial and drank it rapidly. "Bleh!" She exclaimed and Willow just smiled at the expression. The human's eyes returned to normal light brown with a joyous spark.

"To think I have missed those eyes before…" Willow said, shaking her head. "Does it make me a bad friend?" She asked looking at Luz and the human was extraordinarily confused.

"What?!" Clawthorne exclaimed "Are you blaming yourself for not noticing I was cursed? I was hoping I was just hiding it so well…" Luz said and her face suddenly saddened "That would make me a bad friend, right? I should have told you. I was just scared of losing you…" She admitted and Willow just scoffed.

"We're so worth each other." The witch exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. The school bell yelled marking the end of the lunch break. "Don't mention it and don't worry about Amity. I'm sure she'll be here tomorrow." Willow added with a smile and got up to head back to class. Luz finished off her apple blood box and followed her friend's example.

But Amity did not show up the next day. That made Luz's mind start to race into very weird theories of what may have happened. She knew education and being the best student was extremely important to the Blight so it was not like her to skip a day of classes. Especially not two days in a row! By the end of the second day of Amity's absence and hundreds of theories, Luz made it to the Library in search of distraction. She was hoping to find some explanation on what might have happened. If there was anything she recalled from her education in the Human Realm it was to understand your opponent. Luz found a few books on Oracle Track. "Are you sure Odalia's your opponent?" She heard her inner voice of reason asking herself. "Better to have knowledge and not use it than to need knowledge and not have it." She told herself with determination. "Don't you think you are just overthinking?" She heard Eda's voice. "Ugh, just shut up everyone!" She scolded her racing mind and took a place in the far corner of the library hiding behind books.

"Conjuring, telepathy, animation of the objects…" Luz was murmuring to herself while she went through the books. Most of the stuff was basic.

"Can I help you with that?" Luz heard a female voice and looked up. She was looking at a young demon with pale yellow skin.

"Celine?!" Luz said a bit too loudly considering being in the library. "What are you doing here?" She asked with a smile.

"I could've asked you the same thing." The girl said, looking down at the books Luz chose for her research "I didn't know you were into Oracle Track." She added with a smile. Luz sighed and realized something.

"Hey! You are in OT! Maybe you can help me?" The human said as she looked at the so-called Moon Girl.

"Sure, what interests you?" She asked innocently. "Perfect!" Luz thought and smiled happily.

"Riddle me this, if you as an Oracle would want to hurt someone so no one would know you are hurting them what would you do?" Luz asked and the pale girl lost the last of her yellow tint.

"Who do you wanna…" The demon started but it made Luz realize how that question sounded.

"Oh, Titan! No! I don't want to hurt anybody." Luz said in a serious tone. "I'm worried an Oracle is hurting someone I care for…" The Moon Girl's eyes went wide in realization.

"Oh, hell no!" She said loudly and quickly got up "I'm not getting involved in the Blight drama!" She added and was about to leave. Luz stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Please… what if you were in my position?" The human said in a low voice. The soft and concerned look in human's eyes was too convincing. The demon girl sighed in defeat.

"It's not like I know anything. For the record."

"And off the record?" Luz removed her hand.

"There are rumors in the Oracle Coven…" She paused, clearly afraid to say too much "Check the chapter on Entanglement…" She added quietly and left quickly, leaving Luz alone with her research. "Entanglement? Doesn't sound very… Oracly…" She thought but was not about to ignore the advice.

She found two books on the topic, borrowed them and headed to the Owl House to continue her research. "This is sick! Not good sick!" She thought while she went through the tome. She lied on the couch in the living room and read the heavy book whilst eating some Hex Mix. King was sleeping at her feet and Eda was visiting her sister for the mid-week apple blood. Hooty accompanied them as he could not resist a chance to meet 'his Lulu'.

"Oracle Magic can be used to form and modify thoughts. It can be used to help people reexperience their trauma again. It was often used to heal trauma in a slow, controlled way especially with battle survivors." Luz read the chapter. "On special occasions Oracles may choose to conjure the Entanglement spell. It is often used to control emotions for later analysis and dealing with bad experiences… Bla, bla, bla… Only allowed for consensual witness questioning… Bla, bla, bla…" She skipped a few lines "It was forbidden after cases of misuse of the spell, difficulties with breaking its prolonged exposure, and emotional hurt, dependency, and deepening of the past trauma." Luz read and closed the book not understanding why Celine told her to research that spell. "Seems like stuff for the Healing Coven." She thought. But then again, everything could be used to hurt people if you are twisted enough.

"Hey, King!" Luz woke up her half-brother. "You are ruling Demons with an iron fist, right?" That question woke the fluff ball up and the glow in his eyes appeared.

"Of course! No one is more fearsome than me!" He exclaimed and Luz was happy he caught the bait.

"So tell me, oh King of Demons." Luz started with a joking tone "What would you do if you could control someone's emotions or show them their worst experiences?" She asked.

"Ha!I'd trap a person in their mind showing the images of their worst days for all eternity! Forcing them to relive the trauma over and over again, driving them crazy!" He blurted out and Luz paled "Oh, I came to the right address for crazy." She thought. "Luz are you okay?" He asked, noticing her expression "I thought we're just joking around, what happened?" King added as Luz was not responding, staring blankly through him.

"Um…" She hesitated and the demon placed its paw on her hand for support. "Amity didn't show up in classes for the past two days and I got worried…" She explained, hanging her head down. King sighed.

"So you came up with some conspiracy theory and went into the ratworm hole?" He asked, knowing Luz all too well. The human just puffed her cheeks and blushed a bit.

"I did not…" King gave her a stern look and Luz felt ashamed. "Okay, maybe a little!" She admitted, throwing her hands into the air.

"Just calm down." King said, returning to his sleeping spot. "I'm sure she'll be in class tomorrow." He added and started snoring before Luz could have added anything else. She bit her lower lip and hoped the demon was right.

Luz did not sleep well that night. Again. She remembered being chased by a figure. Everything was surrounded by darkness but one thing was bright as day. Golden eyes of her favorite green-haired witch. "Amity!" She tried to yell but her voice was stuck in her throat. She tried again and only a screech escaped her lips. She tried to catch the young witch but when she thought she was just about to approach her a giant mirror appeared in front of her. Luz looked at the reflection and noticed her own black eyes, deformed body and feathers sticking out of it. "Who could have loved you!?" She heard a long forgotten voice, a bully from a Human Realm. "Not only were you a weirdo back home but now you are a cursed monstrosity with no control over her own life!" The voice continued and Luz screamed. She grabbed her head and tried to fight. "I'm not a monster! I helped my mother! I am wanted by a girl I… like…" She argued but the voice of her childhood bully yelled louder. Luz fell to her knees in the darkness of her mind. When she looked up she noticed a blonde girl with a pink stripe. "Your mother is dead, Noceda. And a girl you like is deranged as fuck!" The blonde spoke up and that was it. "I'm a CLAWTHORNE!" Luz yelled and noticed the image of the girl being torn to pieces by the Owl Beast. Luz took a step back in fear but the feathery figure slowly walked forward and chirped quietly. Luz mustered all her courage and hugged the figure. "We're not monsters…" She mumbled into the feathers, hugging tightly the long neck of the Owl in front of her. "Luz…" She heard a voice somewhere in the distance.

"Luz! Kiddo!" She heard her mother's voice, her eyes snapped open and a growl escaped her throat. "Luz, look at me! Are you okay?" Eda's hands were holding her face, forcing her awake. The witch's face was scared, her eyes were running from one eye of the human to another.

"What… What happened?" The human asked, finally realizing what was happening. Eda hugged her, confusing Luz. "M-mom?" The witch pulled back and looked at her daughter.

"You were screaming in your sleep so I went to check in on you. But then I noticed you were feathered up so you got me worried…" Eda said rapidly, trying to explain what she had seen. "I don't know what happened but you didn't change. You just covered in feathers and then they disappeared and you mumbled about not being a monster…" Eda rambled and Luz's sleepy mind was hardly making any sense of that. She had a flashback of the dream she just had.

"Huh…" Luz smiled as she started recalling more of her dream and Eda was even more confused. "I guess, I'm starting to slowly communicate with the Beasty."

"Beasty?" Eda repeated in confusion.

"It started a while ago. But I don't think it's a bad thing though…" Luz admitted and smiled at her mentor who ruffled her hair.

"Huh… If you say so then I trust you." Eda concluded. Her face was not entirely on board with the message but it was not a time for this discussion.

"If something wrong is happening, I promise I'll tell you" Luz promised with a smile.

"Huh… sure, Kiddo. Sorry for waking you up." Eda said, getting up from the floor. "Sleep tight" She added and left the room. Luz fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

King was right. The next day Amity was back at school. Luz did not notice her until the second break. The human was talking with Willow while they retrieved their books from their respective lockers. Luz noticed a green mane in the corner of her eye. Her heartbeat increased rapidly in happiness. But only for a moment because when she looked at the Blight witch she noticed her face was paler than usual, her eyes were underlined with dark shadows, her face was lacking any kind of emotion and she did not even look toward Luz's direction. Something she did not do even when they were sneaking around in secret.

"Hey! Amity!" Luz called to her in a joyous manner when the witch passed her and Willow. "Amity?" Luz asked again when she did not receive any reaction from the pale girl. Willow's face saddened but before she could say anything Luz moved forward and touched Amity's arm delicately. Said witch reacted immediately as if someone burned her inside out. She turned around, pushed Luz toward the lockers with surprising strength and placed her forearm on the human's throat, choking her slightly. "Was she always that strong?" Luz's mind raced.

"Don't you fucking touch me!" She yelled, baring her fangs in a growl, igniting her left hand, and bringing the attention of the witches in the closest proximity. Luz could feel her throat being squeezed painfully, she looked down at the girl she asked out just a couple of days ago. Her golden eyes were cold, not even looking at Luz. More like looking through her. Before the tan human could think of anything to say the young Blight let go of her, turned around and walked away quickly. Luz's eyes started glistening with tears, her breathing increased, she felt all different emotions washing over her.

"Luz…" Willow approached her friend. The human looked down at her with a face showing she was about to lose control of her emotions. "Calm down…" Willow tried to approach her friend but Luz only turned around and hit the locker with her fist. Again and again. The pounding died out when the human's knuckles were bleeding. Hard.

"I should have known…" Luz said softly, her voice trembling, fist pounding with dull pain.

"No, Luz!" Willow interrupted her and she forced her friend to turn around. Luz's back hit the lockers behind her and the short witch put her hand in the human's flannel shirt pocket. "While you were too focused on being slammed at the lockers I noticed something." Willow said as she retrieved a pink piece of paper and gave it to Luz. The human's eyes went wide in shock and excitement. She looked down at the paper and read aloud.

"The Lone Witch and Secret Room…" Luz said and hugged Willow in excitement. "Of course!" She exclaimed, finally letting her friend go. The positive emotions ruled over the negative ones.

"Care to share?" Willow asked not understanding what was happening.

"She wants to talk and the Library is the only building that, as a safety measure, counteracts all spells!" The human explained and Willow's eyes widened.

"Color me impressed…" The short witch said but she did not realize she was talking to herself as Luz had already bolted to the Library. "Oh, Luz…" She whispered in amusement.

Luz carefully slipped inside the secret room, looking out the corridor leading to it until she was sure the bookshelf was closed shut. She then turned around to face the rest of the room but was immediately attacked with a strong hug by a seriously longing green-haired witch.

"Luz!" Amity cried and hugged the human even tighter. "I'm so sorry for that ruse…" She apologized but was content to feel that Luz returned her hug. "I had to, I couldn't let anyone know…" They melted into each other's embrace. Luz hid her head in the green mane and felt an overwhelming scent of flowers.

"It's all right…" Luz soothed the witch. "Good thing Willow noticed your message." She added and smiled lightly. Amity pulled back and looked at the brown eyes looking down at her with care and concern. "Do you want…" Luz hesitated. "Can you tell me what happened?" She asked and noticed how Amity's sight moved away. As if she was embarrassed. The witch's eyes started filling up with tears. Luz's arms were still holding the smaller figure while she looked at her with concern.

"When I returned home the other day… I was just so happy… Despite breaking down at school… But Mom… Odalia…" Amity corrected herself "She was waiting for me." The witch looked up at Luz and the human's heart felt heavy when she noticed fear in the golden eyes. "I can't live like this anymore. I'm… I'm scared, Luz." She admitted for the first time ever. "Will you help me, please?" She asked with a trembling voice, holding back her sobs.

"Of course, I will help you, Amity." Luz agreed immediately while caressing her cheek in reassurance. "But please, tell me what happened? That would help me understand." She asked again, guiding them both to the couch. Amity took a deep, shaky breath and forced her tears back. She looked up at Luz who held her hand in comfort. She drew a Healing spell to fix the human's knuckles and distract herself while she gathered the courage to tell her story.

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