It was decided that after the chaos that unfolded the day before the twins needed their own scrolls if for no other reason then so everyone could stay in contact or call for help. To prove a point though Eda made them pay for their own scrolls. It didn't really bother the girls, and the first thing Kim did after setting hers up was send a friend request to Willow and Gus. To Luz's surprise a few minutes later she received requests from Kim's friends.
Over the next week everyone fell into a new routine. During the day, Luz would explore the wilds looking for new glyphs or ingredients for potions, and running errands for Eda. While Kim went to Hexside and learned 'proper' magic. Luz always walked Kim and sometimes their friends to and from school, and a couple times Willow and Gus even hung out with the twins while they did their potions selling. Luz and Kim fully moved into the basement so that Kim could study and the girls could practice their magic without disturbing Eda or worrying about being too loud. One morning though both girls were woken up by something odd. Eda was brewing up a gold colored elixir, but refused to talk about what it was or allow them to help. All she would tell them was it was personal. The girls sideyed the whole process though, and when Eda left to allow it to simmer Kim gave her sister a smile, "I think I know what that is. It's an advanced healing potion. I recognised a lot of the ingredients, except that odd toothy flower."
"That's odd. Eda doesn't seem sick or hurt though, and I know Eda can be cagey sometimes but she seemed almost scared to tell us about this. Weird," pondered Luz as she got a closer look and accidentally spilled some Firebee Nectar into the potion. "Crap, crap, crap."
Kim gave a slight chuckle, "Calm down Lu. It was just some nectar. The worst thing that could happen is it being a bit stronger than normal. I've got to head off to school soon, but if it's really bothering you we can ask Willow about that one plant I couldn't identify or even the Potions teacher. While they seemed disappointed I wasn't in their track, they still seemed really excited to swap notes."
Luz sighed, "Ok K. We should probably warn Eda though just in case we are wrong. Remember that incident with the shimmerscale polish?"
"In my defense, that lady was only invisible for half an hour," snorted Kim. "I get your point though."
After finishing getting dressed the girls found Eda putting the last touches on some lunches for everyone. "You know at first I wasn't sure we could trust you Eda. You're a weird old bird, but I'm really happy we did. The last few weeks have really felt like spending time with a cool aunt," smiled Luz at Eda.
"I agree. You've been so nice to us, and helped us so much. I'm not going to lie, we definitely can't wait to see our mom again, but if we had to be stuck somewhere… I'm really happy it was with you. I guess you're our crazy old bird now," said Kim with a warm smile.
Eda just looked at the pair stunned before looking ashamed, "Ya kiddos, I appreciate the thought, but I don't think I deserve them. The portal door is taking a lot longer to mend than I thought it would, and there are still a lot of things I haven't told you about."
The duo just walked over and gave Eda a hug, and Kim said softly, "We trust you Eda, and we understand that you keep your secrets close to your chest. We will be here when you're ready, but I really need to get going."
"Ya can't have the top student in the healing track be late now," Luz teased. "Oh ya. We are really sorry, but some Firebee Nectar fell into your potion. Kim said it shouldn't matter, but we decided we should warn you anyway just in case. Anyway, we got to go. Bye Aunt Eda," and the pair rushed away.
As the pair made their way to Hexside they heard the occasional roll of thunder overhead and Luz couldn't help but crack a small content grin. When they finally caught up with Willow and Gus the twins noticed they were on edge. Luz let out a friendly snort, "What's got your tights in a twist? You not a fan of rain? I guess not everyone finds it relaxing." Willow and Gus just looked at her horrified. "Ok clearly I'm out of the loop here. It's just rain, how bad can it be?"
Gus gave Willow another look before saying, "Luz we know you're tough, but the boiling rains aren't a joke. We need to hurry to cover before it starts."
"Boiling rains!? Why does everything here have to be so dangerous? Lu you better head back now. Even with your shield we don't know how bad it could get," gasped Kim, and Luz nodded dashing back home. "I miss the rains back home."
"What do you mean?" asked Gus with a hint of excitement.
Her friends gave Kim an awed expression as she said, "In the Human Realm the rain doesn't boil."
Luz almost made it back to the house, but then the sky opened and it was everything Willow and Gus had warned her about. She did her best to run the last couple yards to the house, but even after she created a shield of hard light to use as an umbrella she could still feel numerous burns and welts popping up on her previously exposed arms and face. When she finally arrived Luz dove through the open doorway, and just laid on the cool floor for a few moments before using one of the weaker healing spells Kim had shown her on her sore skin. When that was done Luz finally took a minute to take in the room around her and let out a gasp. There were deep trenches dug into the floor and walls. The door hadn't been left open. It had been torn open and Hooty was currently laying in the discarded door covered in similar gashes and very unconscious. At least Luz hoped he was only unconscious. She really had no way of checking since no one really knew what would be considered normal in his case or where to begin in order to check on him. After taking a couple breaths to steady herself she thought, "Ok Luz assess the situation like Mom always said to. Hooty is out. Power is out. Deep gashes on the floor, door, and walls. Some kind of beast has to have broken in to escape the storm. Most likely it's still here because that stuff is no joke, and I'm not that lucky. I have two options. I can look for Eda and King now, and hopefully I can find them first. Downside, if I run into whatever broke in I'll be in a rough spot. Between maintaining that shield and the healing spell I'm already short on magic, and I only have my bare minimum in terms of glyphs and potions on me. My other option is to rush to the basement and stock up from our emergency stash. Downside, it's going to take a minute to get there and stock up, and without knowing everyone's condition I might end up too late to help. Mama perdoname. Ok… Option one it is." Luz reached into her bag and pulled out a hockey stick, and started quietly creeping upstairs to start her sweep. The rain proved to be her greatest advantage and disadvantage as she did. The occasional roll of thunder and pounding of rain helped cover the sounds of her sneaking around, but it did the same thing for everyone else as well. After clearing the spare room, bathroom, and closet Luz made her way toward the only other room, Eda's room. Its door was destroyed, and there were more deep groves dug into the floor.
"Luz is that you," asked a quiet whispering voice from the ajar door of the closet. When she checked inside Luz found a shaking and terrified King.
Luz immediately reached out and swept him into a comforting hug, and whispered, "It's ok buddy. It's ok. I'm here. I'll protect you, but I need to know what's going on. Did you see whatever broke in?"
King looked up at Luz and for a moment he seemed to be debating if he should speak, but with tears in his eyes King said, "No one. No one broke in… it's Eda. She made me swear not to tell anyone, but we are in danger. You have a right to know." King looked away in shame. "When she was young someone cursed her. She says she doesn't know who did it, but I'm not sure. Either way this is what happens when she doesn't take her elixir or doesn't have enough. She turns into a beast, but this time is different. I only saw it once before, but I know this time something is wrong with her. She's bigger, stronger, and has more wings than before. Please Luz. You have to help me." King begins to quietly weep, "She's the closest thing I have to a mom, or any kind of family. I can't lose her."
Luz pulled her friend into a warm hug, and comforted him as best she could while whispering, "It's ok buddy. I understand. I promise I'm going to do everything I can to help her. Luz then pulled out her scroll and started shooting off messages.
(Luzura) Emergency. I figured out what Eda's elixir was for and now I need your help.
(Kim_Hex1923) Shoot.
(Luzura) She's cursed and out of her mind. Need solutions that won't hurt her.
Before Luz could get an answer, King and Luz heard the distinct sound of claws clicking on wood, and it was getting closer. Luz put King on her head, and indicated for him to get a good hold in case they needed to run. When the clicking entered the room Luz pulled out some glyphs from her bag and looked out a crack in the doors to get a look at what they were dealing with. What she saw made her blood run cold. The beast was huge. Even though it currently had them held close to itself Luz could see two distinct pairs of feathery black and gray wings, and it still had trouble squeezing through the doorway. It was easily the size of a large van or bus, and walked on all fours. It's back legs looked like normal clawed bestial legs, but its front legs looked like Eda's arms only partially covered in feathers and ending in claws. The beast had Eda's face and an exaggerated pair of her pointed ears, but her eyes were completely black and she had an insanely wicked grin plastered on her face. None of the kind women was present in this beast, and more than anything that terrified Luz. She watched as it sniffed the air curiously, hungrily. It continued to stalk around the room until it was just past there hiding place, and then in one quick motion it kicked the closet and sent it flying across the room throwing both occupants away with it. The beast then rounded on them and prepared to attack only to have a light glyph go off inches from its maw. While it reeled in pain and tried to shake off the accompanying blindness, luz scooped up King, and after activating a pair of plant glyphs to bind it up for as long as possible she ran as fast as she could. Even as she ran she could hear the beast tearing itself free, and by the time she made it to the stairs she knew it was chasing her. Luz released a couple flash bomb glyphs behind her, and while they succeeded in stunning the beast for seconds she knew she was just fighting the inevitable. Thankfully she managed to hide under the overturned couch. After a minute of angrily searching for it's lost meal, the beast stalked off to keep searching. Once Luz's heart rate finally slowed to only a slight flutter, she directed King to follow her and they headed to the basement to plan. Once they arrived Luz found one of King's plushies that he had left behind by accident and gave it to him to cuddle while she formed a plan. Luz found multiple messages awaiting her on her scroll.
(Kim_Hex1923) Our supper sleeper could work, but I wouldn't suggest it. We don't know if it will make it worse. Need more details on the type of curse.
(Kim_Hex1923) Lu?
(Kim_Hex1923) Luz!
(Kim_Hex1923) TITAN DAMMIT LUZ YOUR SCARING ME.
(Luzura) Sorry Kimmy. Got found, saved King. Hiding in basement. It seems sensitive to light, very strong, ripped through 2 plant glyphs of vines in seconds. Size of a bus. Claws big enough to sever limbs. Upside she's a beast, not Eda so no brain only instinct. Suggestions?
(Kim_Hex1923) Inviting willow…
(Hello_willow) Hiya. Plant was a Crimson Fanged Titansbane. Nasty and rare. No idea what it does in the potion, but in the wild it hunts lost witches or sources of powerful magic and devowers them. Hexside doesn't have any, and I wouldn't even know where to find some. Sorry I can't be more help.
(Kim_Hex1923) Actually that helps alot. It must be the curse canceling component. Ok I think I know what happened. We unbalanced the brew. Normally the bane would eat the curse and the rest would recharge her magic. Instead we caused a bile overload and the bane to eat at that instead of the curse. Any elixir left?
(Luzura) Not much. Looks like the pot fell over when she started changing.
(Luzura) rino sloth spit and what else?
(Kim_Hex1923) take no chances. I hid the Tentacular Thorns in a container behind my pillow.
(Luzura) Kim I said I was sorry, but that jerk had it coming. How was I supposed to know they would cause lucid dreaming.
(Hellow_willow) not the time. Luz brew this new potion quick.
Luz got to work after that. She combined the old elixir with the spit and thorns causing the previously gold concoction to turn silver. By the time she was done Luz noticed that King had passed out from exhaustion while still clutching his plush. Luz quietly snuck back upstairs with most of the new elixir, a couple left over blue potions Eda had given them the week before, and all the spare glyphs she could find. Finding no sign of the beast on the main floor, Luz kept moving and soon she found it sleeping on Eda's nest. As she walked closer down the hall she released light orbs periodically so that if she had to run she could detonate them one after another to buy herself time to retreat. Before she entered the room she prepared a light glyph shield and plant hammer if it turned into a fight. Which proved a good idea, because as soon as she entered the room the beast stirred and stood up making a low hooting growl. The fight was fierce even after catching all four blue potions with it's face the beast barley staggered, and even managed to pin Luz beneath one of its claws. Luckily Luz could still move enough to slam her hammer against her shield causing it to shatter and detonate in an intense flare of light that made the beast scream in pain. With its mouth open Luz flung the new elixir into the beast's mouth causing it to rear back and struggle for a moment before collapsing on its side. The last thing Luz saw before passing out from exhaustion was Eda's form beginning to shrink and return to normal.
Luz woke up sore and hungry, but mostly unharmed. As she moved to sit up an old threadbear blanket fell off of her, and she saw a distrute Eda sitting in the corner looking like she'd been crying. "You feeling ok now Eda? I hope I didn't hurt you?" said Luz sincerely.
Eda just looked at her and gave an incredulous laugh, "I keep secrets from you and almost kill you, and you're worried about if you hurt me. Titan dammit. You kids deserve so much better than to be stuck here with a monster like me."
As Eda looked away and seemed about to cry again Luz quietly made her way over to the older witch and wrapped her arms around her. In the same soothing voice she had used with King earlier Luz said, "Quiet now. None of this was your fault. You didn't ask to be cursed. You didn't ask for the responsibility of looking after two hyperactive witchlings. You aren't a monster. You're our Aunt Eda, The Most Powerful Witch on The Boiling Isles, Potions Grandmaster, and Wildest of Wild Witches. You are my mentor and if I can be even a quarter the badass you are I will consider that win."
Eda looked at Luz and smiled, "Dam kiddo, you put me on any higher of a pedestal I might start getting light headed from lack of air, but thanks. Honestly having you two around has been the best thing to ever happen to me since…" Eda stopped herself and looked away again.
"It's ok. I know what it's like to have regrets or things you're not proud of. Back home I didn't really have any friends or anyone to talk to. It was just Mami, Kim, and I against the world, and it's kinda my fault that Kim didn't either. Sure we are both weird, but Kim isn't as weird as me. She's a little shy, but she's so smart. If she didn't constantly have to deal with me, I'm sure she could have made friends. What's more, I scare people sometimes. I know you heard about it from Bump, but I get overprotective of Kim sometimes. I fight and I yell, and it only isolates us more. Then Mami has to try to smooth everything over. She tries so hard to keep us blended in and unseen, and we finally know why. If anyone had known we were witches people may have tried to hurt us, and I made it so hard on her. I never belonged there. I won't lie there is a part of me that just wants to get Kim home, and then run away into the woods here and never go back. It would probably be best for both of them if I did, but they would never let me." Luz cracked a small grin, "Mami would hunt me down and give me a taste of la Chancla and then hug me so tight I'd never be able to run away again."
Eda laughed, "The more you talk about her the more scared I get of when I have to meet her. She clearly loves you both with all her heart, and looking at you two she's a hell of a good mother too. You should feel blessed to have them… not everyone is so lucky."
"If it's too personal I get it, but you never really talk about your family. If they're anything like you they must be extraordinary," asked Luz.
"Ok kiddo. I guess I owe you that much. My mom Gwen is a beast keeper. Not the strongest mind you, but she's up there. I know she loves us, but ever since I got cursed, curing it has become her obsession. She stops by once a year with a new cure, but none of them help. She can't see how it hurts me. I almost feel like I'm not even her daughter anymore sometimes. I'm just a problem she has to fix. Dell, my dad was always my idol. He was the greatest palisman carver ever, and he often went on adventures to find rare and exotic types of wood to carve. I haven't talked to him in a long time." Eda let one more tear escape as she continued, "I hurt him. He came back early from one of his trips and surprised me. I was young and had no control over my curse, and I hurt him. I clawed out one of his eyes and scared up his hands. After that he couldn't carve anymore, and it's all my fault. I ruined his life." After a minute filled with hugs from Luz, Eda started in again, but this time with a conflicted sour tone, "I have an older sister named Lilith. Not that you'd be able to tell thanks to the curse making me look so much older. We used to be so much like you and Kim. She was my best friend. We even dreamed of joining the Emperor's coven together to help support Belos and later Cammy, but she betrayed me. I worked so hard to be as strong as I could be so I didn't get in her way, and she betrayed me. When we tried out to join the coven there was only one spot open. We were supposed to duel for it. I forfeit in front of everyone. I was prepared to let my only chance slip away for her, but that wasn't enough. The night before, she found some way to curse me. I didn't put it together until about a year ago, but she's the only one who could have done it. I don't even understand why. Now she's head witch of the Emperor's Coven, and I can't even leave to go into town most of the time. I can't ask her because if she sees me she is duty bound to try to capture me, and if she succeeds I have no doubt I'll be petrified. I can't take that chance with my curse eating away at my strength. I'm a lot of things, but suicidal isn't one of them. So ya. Congrats kid, now you know why I am the way I…" Eda fell silent as she felt the air grow warm and she looked at her young friend.
Luz was shaking. Pure barely contained rage was coming off her in waves. Through the window that had broken at some point during her time as a beast, she saw the storm clouds begin to swirl with the house at its eye. Lightning forked along the sides as the storm gained more and more power. Eda rushed over to Luz and tried to shake her out of whatever was happening to her. When she got close Eda heard Luz whisper, "She was her sister. Her own older sister did this to her. How could she do it? It's our responsibility to help and support our little sisters. How could she? We are supposed to be there to protect them. Shield them from pain, but she does this." Luz's eyes snapped open and Eda saw that they had gone completely black except for her glowing amber pupils. If Eda hadn't known better she would have sworn she saw fangs forming and her hair begin to slowly grow. "When I find her I'm going to rip her apart, and then put her back together before I do it again," Luz growled.
Eda, without any other idea of what to do, rushed forward and wrapped Luz in her arms. Despite the palpable heat radiating off her young charge, she held her close and begged, "Please Luz, you need to calm down. I appreciate where you're coming from, but she is my responsibility, my sister. If you do this, what will happen to Kim? She needs you. She needs her big sister. You can't abandon her like Lily did me. Please Luz." After a couple minutes the storm dispersed again, Luz was back to normal, and had even passed out again in Eda's arms. Eda carefully placed Luz into her nest and covered her again in Eda's blankets. Once Luz was as comfortable as Eda could make her, Eda went to leave and find King. As she searched Eda thought to herself, "I've never seen magic like that before. It was like she was connected to everything around her in a way even I can't be, and my magic is supposed to be a direct gift from the Isles. It was almost like she wasn't borrowing power, but it was already hers to use as she saw fit. Almost like she was becoming the Titan itself. I'm going to have to keep an eye on her. She could hurt herself if she sinks too deep into that power." After finding and reassuring King, and putting an unconscious Hooty back in his frame, Eda reached out to Kim.
(THEOWLLADY) Hey kiddo. Don't know how in the loop you are but there was a small incident at the house. Everyone is fine. Luz is sleeping it off, but I thought I should reach out and let you know.
(Kim_Hex1923) A small incident. OMT Eda are you serious. You have a curse that you kept quiet about and nearly killed my sister and King. I'm happy to hear everyone is alright but we need to have a conversation about not hiding potentially dangerous information from each other.
(THEOWLLADY) I'm sorry Kim.
(Kim_Hex1923) Not yet you aren't. When I get home we are having that discussion, and after that we are going to make sure you have everything you need.
(THEOWLLADY) I'm confused.
(Kim_Hex1923) Dammit Eda. I've been sitting here for hours worried that I might have lost my sister or you. So help me Titan this is never going to happen again. We are going to find a way to beat back your curse more reliably, and I'm going to make sure you take your medicine even if I have to force it down your throat. We finally found a cool role model that isn't Mami, and I'll be damned if we are letting anything happen to you now.
(THEOWLLADY) Ok kiddo. Thanks and I love you too.
(Kim_Hex1923) Good to know we are on the same page Aunt Eda. See you soon.
Eda couldn't help but give a soft chuckle as she read their conversation back. She had forgotten how good having a family could feel, and maybe this was even better. They chose to stick by her. No one but King had done that in years. Today might not be such a bad day after all.
True to her word Kim rushed back to The Owl House after school with Willow following close behind. When she arrived Kim found Hooty sleeping peacefully in the door, and Luz sitting on their repositioned couch drawing in her sketchbook looking a bit banged up, but mostly unharmed. At seeing her sister Kim gave her a flying tackle hug, and cried into her hoodie, "OMT Luz I'm so happy you're ok. I thought I might have lost you a couple times there."
Luz warmly hugged Kim back and whispered reassuringly, "I know I'm sorry. We both know I'm too stubborn to die that easily, and you're not getting rid of me yet. I'm not going anywhere until I get to see you find that special lady. Which reminds me, how's that going? Did you manage to find yourself a cutie yet? Maybe a certain mauve haired bard I've been hearing about."
Kim blushed while trying to hide her face, "No. None of that right now Lu. I almost lost you today, and you have no right to judge. At least I didn't think Amity Blight was cute."
Willow had been looking at Luz's drawing until then, but then gave an incredulous look at Luz. "Really Luz? Of all people you think Amity is cute. I never really took you for the type."
"What do you mean Willow? Ya I know she can be a bit rough around the edges, but from everything I've heard she has been doing a lot better since separating from Boscha. Maybe that sour lemon drop has a sweet center, and I'm not going to lie, she's cute," shrugged Luz.
Willow just gave a resigned sigh and asked, "What's this? I've never seen anything like it."
"Owl beast Eda, or that's what she called it. Don't worry she's back in control of herself and next time I'll be prepared," smiled Luz.
"There won't be a next time. You and I are going to fix her elixir so it won't happen again. It shouldn't be that hard. We are the three best potion makers around. We got this," said Kim confidently.
"Don't get ahead of yourself Kim. I've been trying for years to make a better brew, and you saw how that panned out," chidded Eda as she came into the room from the kitchen with a couple glasses of orange blood, one of which was in her other hand and was a slightly different color.
Upon seeing Eda Kim rushed to her next and wrapped her in a hug, "You stupid grouchy old buzzard, don't you ever scare me like that again."
"Ya kiddo. I know. I'm sorry. What's specs here for? Knowone told me we were entertaining," huffed Eda clearly faking her annoyance.
Willow couldn't help looking a bit spooked at being in Eda's presence but she choked out, "Kim and I have a gift for you."
At which Kim separated herself from Eda and made her way over to the table with Willow while pulling out a plant glyph. "Luz if you would be so kind," Kim said, gesturing to her sister. The three girls joined hands and together they activated the glyph. When they were done a perfect bunch of Crimson Fanged Titansbane sat in the glyphs place. "There you go, Eda. We can make an unlimited amount together so you have no excuse not to take the elixir we come up with together later," Kim beamed, and Eda just looked at her kids in shock and pride. Willow had to leave soon after, but before she left she did make sure to remind Kim that it was a four day weekend. She even invited Kim and Luz to join her and Gus at the Covention on Monday. Eda, Luz, and Kim then spent the rest of the night experimenting and discussing how to make Eda's elixir better. Everyone woke up late the next day, and while Eda slept Kim and Luz went to make everyone breakfast. When they were done the twins shared a melancholy smile and wished each other a Happy Birthday.
Author notes time again. Almight Titan this chapter gave me trouble and it's not even for a good reason. I've had this chapter and the next one planned out for weeks, but everytime I sat down to write it it felt like my brain got tongue tied. Any other writers out there please tell me you know what I mean because ugh. Thankfully I took a break and read some chapters from some of the other awesome people I follow (OwlHouseAngel, 77xfire, and The Sentient Duck yall are life savers), and I was finally able to break through. Next chapter is going to be big (I think). We finally might get to meet our favorite snek cinnamon roll and a radically different version of someone who might become very important to them. I'm really looking forward to it. Matter of fact I'm going to get started on that right now. Grom is coming and we have a long way to go before we get there. Till then, bye.
