"Edric!". My voice was sharp with urgency. "Edric, please!".
The witch didn't respond to my voice or my shaking. The only noise he made was his heavy raspy breathing.
He couldn't die, not now! I had just learned the witch was my sibling! I had so many things I still had to say to him, to ask him! He always used to be a huge pain in my side. I always thought he hated me. But it turns out he actually did care, and he was trying his best to be a better brother!
I held the bottom of my shirt against his ear, trying my best to stop the bleeding. In the meanwhile, I tried my hardest to get him to open his eyes.
"Edric!" I cried again. "Wake up!".
Once again, no response. His breaths were becoming fewer and farther between by the minute.
The hotel owner pushed me to the side and crouched down in front of my brother. It took all of my strength not to hit him with another ice spell. He had just cut Edric's ear off a moment ago, and now he was acting like he gave a shit about him.
"I'll get the healers" he shouted as he sprang back up. "Watch him. Make sure he doesn't stop breathing".
I had no time to object. The witch was already rushing away when I pulled my full attention towards him. My grief and fear were squeezed inside of me by my anger. He was probably going to lie to the healers about what actually happened. That's why he was in such a big hurry to get to them.
On the other hand, him leaving the three of us alone was a good thing. That gave both of us the chance to escape, at least from the basement.
"Skyler," I growled. "Get upstairs as quick as you can".
"You want me to leave?".
"One of us needs to remember what we saw down here, and I'm not leaving Edric behind. Get to the third floor. Dusty and Emira will protect you".
My fellow bear didn't wait a moment longer. She nodded to me and turned to run away at the same time. As she sprinted away, I gave her one more urgent message.
"Write this all down!".
At that moment Edric slightly jolted. A large gaspy breath came from him before his breathing went shallow again.
"Hang on, Mar" I called out before I realized the mistake I made. "Ah…I mean…argh!".
No. Now wasn't the time for technicalities. Whether I called him Omar or Edric, it didn't matter. What mattered was that the person in front of me was my family.
"I don't know what happened when we first got here. I don't know why you suddenly started caring about me, or if you always truly cared about me. It's just that, you always did everything you could to frustrate me, and I always thought you saw me as some angry nerd who you hated living with. For years I only saw you as a nuisance instead of a brother, but now… don't die Omar. I want a chance to be your sister".
Rushed footsteps broke my quiet mourning. The killer came back into view. Two other witches trailed behind him.
"He's over here" the grizzled witch hollered. "Be careful with him. His ear is also injured".
"Because you injured it!" I snapped as the healers slowly lifted Edric off of me.
"I told you; these weapons are dangerous. Accidents are bound to happen when you aren't careful".
"Accident?" I howled. I went to shout at the hotel owner more, but a black spotted witch briskly shoved her way into the conversation.
"We need to get this boy to a clinic right away," she urged. "He is in critical condition".
That news made the killer go rigid. The thought of letting Edric leave the building was poisonous to him.
"Isn't there a way to treat him here? Does he really need to leave?".
"He has a very severe mold that has developed into pneumonia" the other healer huffed. His white eyes gave the hotel owner a warning. "His lungs are full of fluid, and he also has lost a majority of his earlobe. If he doesn't go now, he dies".
It took a moment, but the killer finally gave in.
"Fine, but he is to come straight back here once he is well".
"That's not up to us" the pale witch gruffed. "We always release our pediatric patients to their parents".
As the two witches bickered, I slipped away. My brother was with someone who could help him, and the killer was preoccupied. I knew what had happened placed a huge target on my back. I had to get back to Emira. She was the only reason I got to live on the third floor instead of waiting to be slaughtered on the first.
Something deep inside of me knew that wasn't always true. I had already died once before as Amity. How many times after that was I murdered and brought back afterwards? How many times had what little real memories I had been erased?
A thousand questions fought for space in my mind. How could they not be? My worry for Edric aside, I had just learned everything I knew and believed was a lie in one way or another.
Once I was inside the stairwell, I ran for it. I didn't want to be alone for another second.
I had to sit there and catch my breath before I looked around the hotel room. Emira was in bed like she always was. Skara and Dusty were both beside her. The look of frightful confusion on the former's face mirrored mine.
"Mittens,". The hopelessness in Emira's voice made it sound exhausted. "He's gone, isn't he?".
"He's alive" I answered while composing myself. "The killer released him for the time being. He's going to a hospital".
The word made the witch tilt her head in confusion.
"Healing clinic?" I tried to correct.
"He survived?". Emira lit up like the sun. Her relief welled in her watery golden eyes. "And you know the truth?".
"Yes," I sighed. "I'm your sister, Amity Blight".
The bedridden teen literally sprung to life. She leapt across the bed, letting out a happy cry, and slammed into me. Had the door not been behind me, I would've been tackled to the ground.
"Say it again!" my older sister cheered. "Say it!".
"I'm your sister?".
The witch began to weep and laugh at the same time. Her overwhelming happiness clashed with the mood swings caused by her hurt head. At first, I stayed rigid in surprise, but I soon melted and hugged Emira back.
"What do we do now?" Skyler carefully prodded, hesitant to break up the sweet moment. "After he's done with the healers, he'll be after us".
"He's not allowed to hurt Amiyah… er, Amity? Which one do you prefer?".
I, honestly, didn't know. Amity was my actual name, but I'd just learned that. I was a lot more used to people calling me Amiyah. But now that name just felt like a giant lie. Hell, it was one giant lie.
"I know" Emira sympathetically soothed. "You're Amiyah. You always will be, even if you were Amity first".
"Just call me Mittens, please" I softly murmured.
"Well, you're safe here, Mittens. The killer and I are at a stalemate. He doesn't want word of Dusty here to get out, and he also doesn't want people knowing what happened to my head".
"What happened to your head?" I sheepishly asked, bracing myself for a very interesting answer.
Emira's glee faltered. I could tell by the way she quickly tensed that memory was as painful as her injured head.
"Ed and I tried to speak to the hotel owner about you. Mom foresaw trouble and wanted you out of the hotel. But then the two gargoyles guarding the door jumped us. We got into a fight that ended up killing one of them. That's why the killer insists we stay. He wants us to make up the work he lost with the death of his employee.
But it was a fight to the death. The gargoyles themselves said they were going to take our souls just like they took yours".
"They wanted to turn you into bears," I concluded. "Is that why you killed one of them."
"Edric was already trapped behind the barrier and the guards were damn determined to get me behind it too. So, King did what he had to".
"King? You mean you're not the one who killed him". Emira carefully nodded.
"If the news got out, King could get into some serious trouble. So, we're keeping our mouth shut about the whole incident, and so is the killer and the other gargoyle". My sister read both of our reactions and added, "The hotel owner getting in trouble wouldn't free you all anyway. The only thing that can do that is fire".
"Like committing arson…or?". The confusion in the air seemed thicker where Skyler stood. Not only had she just found out what a bear was, but now she was stuck on the outside of mine and my sister's discussion.
"No. That's a bad idea…Though none of us know exactly what it means for sure". Emira huffed in frustration. Irritation suddenly flickered in her eyes. "The ghosts that speak with me never like to clarify. You know, unless they want me to see something traumatizing before it even happens".
"Do I wanna ask?".
"Basically, I saw your death right before it happened".
"Oh…okay…".
As if she hadn't said anything disturbing, my sister continued to simmer in her bubbling annoyance.
"I don't see why mom ever chose to be an oracle. No magical power or future knowledge is worth having to deal with the bunch of stupid dead people in our family".
Skyler leaned over to me and quietly whispered, "Aren't you one of her dead family members?".
"Mittens is nothing like them," Emira spat before I could answer. "She actually knows how to hold a conversation". The witch's ear flicked a bunch of times as her attention moved somewhere we couldn't see.
"Speak of the demons. Don't give me your snake-horse shit, most of the time you're too busy being ghostly to be helpful".
Silence filled the room as the sickly witch listened to the phantoms' responses.
"Oh, now we're telling headache jokes, huh? How about I tell the one about my great great grandfather and his five iron".
My sister suddenly jolted, then began to rub her arm.
"You know, maybe I'd be nicer if you guys were actually useful".
A rushed knock on the door led Skyler and I away from Emira's taunting. She was heavily out of breath, sweat dripping from her forehead, but it was still nice to see Luz on the other side.
"Hey" she panted. "I just heard about what happened in the basement. Are you two alright?".
"We're fine," Skyler answered. "We were able to escape before the killer harmed us".
I, on the other hand, stayed quiet. Physically I was alright but…
Luz noticed my emotions were tangling together into one huge knot. Her brown eyes buried deep into mine.
"Can I talk to you…". The brunette quickly glanced over at Skyler, acknowledging her for just one second. "...in private".
"Yeah, I'll just stay here with Emira then" the other bear awkwardly mumbled. She turned towards the injured Blight to find her shouting at the ceiling. With her arm, Luz delicately guided me out the door and into the hallway. When the door behind us shut, she let her fervor show.
"Do you know?".
I sadly nodded. I didn't share the human's excitement.
Luz held my hands in hers. Her grasp was tender and warm. It was strong enough to ground me yet delicate enough to soothe me.
"Do you remember me?".
It was painful to answer.
"I still don't remember anything about being Amity. I just know that I am her. I'm sorry, Luz".
"Oh…I…er… never mind then". Without her noticing, Luz moved her hand over her sweatshirt pocket.
"What is it?" I pressed.
"It's nothing. I was just…whatever. Are you doing okay? You seem upset".
"You seem upset, Luz" I hushed back. I slightly pulled Luz closer to me. My bright amber eyes pinned her in place. "Are you alright?".
"Why wouldn't I be? You're the one who just found out they were dead". My stare didn't let up. "Seriously, Amity, I'm fine. I mean! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to–".
"It's okay". I took a deep breath. The air had gotten really heavy all of a sudden. "I just wish I could be what you want, Luz".
I could practically hear Luz's heart crack.
"Agridulce," Luz softly cried. The human then paused a moment before freeing her heartache. "I just want you to love me again".
I didn't think about it for a second. I didn't need to. I may not have remembered falling in love with Luz the first time, but she was one of the only people who made me feel safe. She was so kind and caring, and she had given every bear there something truly amazing: hope.
"I do love you" I murmured, before pressing my lips to Luz's cheek.
My face turned beat red. I couldn't believe I just did that. I mean, did I really just do that? Did I just kiss Luz? It felt more like a good dream than reality.
Apparently, I did, because Luz's face was just as flushed. Stars shimmered in her eyes. Her mouth gaped open while she searched for something to say.
I spoke first, though only after I soaked in the moment for a little bit.
"So, um, there's something you wanted to say?" I asked, my voice shaking while I continued to drown in my shock.
"Oh! R-right!". In a frantic scramble, the bellhop pulled something golden out of her pocket. A round pendant donning a crescent moon, a small, linked chain supporting it. It was a necklace. "This used to be yours. And now it's yours again".
"It's beautiful".
"So are you—ah! I–! I'm just gonna go check on Skara now. Make sure her and Emira haven't gotten into too much trouble". Luz quickly swung open the door and bolted inside, squeaking, "see you later, bye".
"Bye" I squeaked back.
I had so many questions. What the hell just happened? What did that mean? Were we dating now? Did we technically ever stop? Did Luz think I was taking things too fast? Was I taking things too fast? What the hell was all that?!
My stress pushed me forwards. Without thinking, I began to walk down the hallway. The more I slowly lost my mind the faster I went.
I was nearly running when I rounded the corner and rammed into the person in front of me. I staggered back as I was thrown from my thoughts. I then went to apologize but stopped when I noticed who I bumped into.
"Mom?".
Said witch looked distraught. The wrinkles near her eyes were twice as thick. Her minty hair almost completely out of her bun.
"Mittens" she greeted, her voice partially hoarse. "I didn't see you there".
"You're still here? I thought you'd go with Edric to the hospital".
"His father went with him, but I'm staying here. Somebody has to keep an eye on Emira". As soon as she finished her eyes lit up in realization. "You called me mom".
"I know about Amity…er me".
Unlike Luz and Emira, my mother showed no emotion at the news. She simply flicked her ear in acknowledgment.
"It's about time," she hmmed. "I see your sister is getting better at interpreting visions. She is a fine illusionist, but she'd also make a good oracle".
The look in my mother's icy eyes was odd. There was a hint of fondness in them. She'd been acting very strange throughout the entire ordeal, or at least everything I remembered from it. The only acknowledgement both I and my siblings have ever gotten was when she was bragging to other people about us, or she praised us for behaving. But now she was genuinely admitting that she thought her daughter was talented.
Of course, the compliment had to go towards Emira though. She was a part of mom's perfect little pair while I was just the adequate one. Not to mention, Emira was still a witch who could do magic. I could technically do magic too, but I wasn't a witch anymore. I was a human. Well, I wasn't actually a human. I was a ghost who used to think they were human…wait.
An idea struck me like lightning. I was a ghost, and my mother was a witch who talked to ghosts.
"Mom," I began. Nervousness welled in my chest. I didn't know how she would react to what I was about to ask, and I definitely had no idea if she'd say yes or not. "I'm dead, aren't I?".
She hid it well, but I could see the older witch lightly flinch at that question.
"You have a vessel. It was not the one you were born with, but you have a body" she explained. "Make of that what you will".
"But I'm a spirit, right? Like the ones you and Emira talk to?". My mother slightly chuckled.
"I do much more than simply talk to spirits, Mittens. My abilities span far between looking into other witches' thoughts and using spirits for combat".
Her answer made me light up. That was exactly what I wanted to hear.
"Spirits can fight? Can they do it without magic?".
"Magic is simply used to connect them to the material world. Their power comes from the soul itself. Now, what are you getting at, dear?".
"Does that mean I have that power too? Do you think I could use it, even if the barriers are up?".
My mother's eyes went wide while she scanned her thoughts. The more time went on the more she started to consider the possibility.
"If you can somehow break from the confines of that skin you're wearing yet stay connected to this world at the same, then yes. It is possible".
"Then teach me," I urged.
"Teach you what exactly, Mittens?".
"Everything" I answered confidently. "Teach me everything I need to know about being dead".