As their eyes recovered from the flash, the twins found themselves in an unfamiliar slightly aged room. Behind them they hear a faint crack before they see the door they came through fold up in three parts and disappear into thin air. While the girls stood in wonder of their new surroundings, and slowly recover from being blinded. They are too stunned to notice as an alabaster skinned woman came down the nearby staircase. Her gray and white mane of hair and pointed ears being two of the first things they noticed, along with her gold fang and maroon dress. That being said, as soon as they saw the woman Kim immediately did what she always did when new people came up to them. She hid behind her sister, only barley poking her head around to see, and for Luz's credit her first instinct was to do something similar. But instead of hiding, she stepped in front of her sister and did her best to look intimidating to attempt to protect them both. On the woman's shoulder sat the thief and in her left hand were the twins lost belonging.
"I don't know what's going on but you'd better give us back our stuff Lady, and send us back home right now," Luz stated in mock courage to the unknown woman.
"Please," added Kim while peeking around.
The woman laughed, " Wow you kids must not be from around here. I am Eda the Owl Lady, the Most Powerful Witch on the Boiling Isles, and I have to admit I like your moxie kid. It's not every day someone manages to break into my home, and make demands of me to my face. Ha. You know what here," Eda said while handing back their stuff. "For giving me the entertainment you can have 'your' stuff back." As Eda got closer to the twins, she started to get a better look at them and began to smile. "Well well well. You two are humans. This is beginning to make more sense now. As a matter of fact I'll make you a deal. You help us with a problem we are having and I promise I will send you home."
Luz looked at her suspiciously, "Ok, but how do we know we can trust you? Also 'us' who else is here? What would we need to do?"
As Luz started asking questions she heard someone else come down the stairs. It is a little black furred creature with a bone mask and tiny claws. "Eda what's all the commotion down here? We need to get back to planning how we are going to get my- WEH!!" it said before being nearly tackled and lovingly embraced by the twin girls as they said together, "Ay Que Lindo. Whose a precious little guy?" As they continued to hug and cuddle the creature, Eda looked on, finding the scene hilarious.
"Omg Ms. Eda what's his name? What is he? Does he have all his shots cuz Mom could…" Kim started asking positively giddy before getting sad upon thinking of her mother back home.
Seeing Kim's face Luz released the creature and gave her a hug.
After being released and moving behind Eda's leg they heard him speak, "I am The King Of Demons not your 'precious little guy'. If you must, you may call me King… and what shots."
Eda looked at Kim and gave a fifty/fifty gesture, "He probably does," and shrugged. "Ok. So here's the situation. My roommate King here had his Crown stolen…"
"The symbol and source of my power," King interrupted.
"Ya sure. Anyway, we are going to go get it back. Problem is it's protected by a magic field. We can't cross it but a human can. In short we get the crown, you get to go home. Simple trade, what do you say?" asked Eda.
Luz and Kim share a look. "¿Qué opinas K? No confío en ellos, pero podrían ser nuestro único camino a casa. Tu el inteligente. Respaldaré tu juego, y tengo tu respaldo de cualquier manera," asked Luz. (What do you think K? I don't trust them but they might be our only way home. Your the smart one. I'll back your play, and I've got your back either way.)
Kim put on her best confident face, and said, "Yo tampoco confío en ellos, pero tienes razón, Lu, pero esta podría ser la única forma. Sin embargo, mantente atento. Pase lo que pase, lo enfrentaremos juntos." (I don't trust them either, but your right Lu, but this might be the only way. Keep an eye out though. No matter what happens we will face it together.)
With a nod both girls look at Eda and say, "We're in."
Eda shrugs, having understood nothing of their conversation, but, "They are only kids, what did she have to worry about?" she thought as she pulled out her staff and indicated for everyone to get on.
It took them about half an hour of flying to reach their destination. (An experience that neither twin would ever forget.) Before them stood a terrifying structure. By the light off the moon, all they could see was cold stone and black iron. There was an open courtyard in which cloaked figures shuffled about in white white bird masks, and behind them was a single set of double doors that looked like the only entrance into a massive cylindrical tower. There was no doubt in either twin's mind. This place was either a fortress or a prison, and they honestly couldn't decide which one sounded worse.
Upon seeing the worried faces of the twins, Eda laughed, "Don't worry kids. You're with me and this isn't my first time breaking in. Just follow the plan and you will be fine."
A minute later, Luz and Kim were quietly floating up to one of the windows about halfway up the tower with King hanging on Luz's back. Below them they saw Eda calmly stroll into the middle of the courtyard and immediately start firing blasts at guards and overall being an amazing distraction. Once the trio made it inside through the window, they found a spiraling set of stairs that led in both directions and a room with one wall covered in wanted posters and another poster sitting alone next to the door going up. In the middle of the room was a single switch. Among the wanted posters, largest and in the center was one of Eda, the Owl Lady, with a depiction of King beside her. Again the twin's wondered if they were doing the right thing but after sharing a glance they decided it was too late to turn back now, but before they could go through the door they found themselves captivated by the poster next to the door. It was a simple image, but it was clear that whomever had made it cared immensely about the subject. It was of a silver feminine bear mask and the words 'Never Forget' was above it. For some reason they felt they couldn't look away from it. King looked at them and sighed at the pause. In one swift motion he ripped the poster off the wall and stuck it in Luz's hoodie. "Less stopy, more findy minions," was all King said as he pushed them forward. As they moved higher up the tower they passed row after row of caged inmates. No two looked the same, and while some could pass for human easily, others came in varying flavors of odd or unusual. Beaks, tentacles, one eye or all the way up to dozens, tails, fangs, gills, and more, all were visible through the bars.
King noticing the girl's stares, answered the unspoken question, "These are all the people the Emperor wants rid of. Worst part, most of them haven't even done anything wrong. Sure a few refused to join a coven like Eda, but most are just odd balls that don't fit in." He started pointing out a few as they passed, "That one spreads conspiracy theories. That one kept writing stories where food had feelings and fell in love. This big guy likes eating his own eyes. It doesn't hurt him, it's just really unsettling to watch. Over there, she ignored a sign and walked on some grass. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. The isles weren't always like this according to Eda, but this is all I've ever seen." King sighed, "It doesn't matter. Lets just hurry to the contraband room and get my crown."
Eventually they found the room and King moved over to Kim's shoulder so the two could keep watch. Once they were sure it was safe, Luz quietly slipped into the room. In the center of the room stood a massive pile of stuff. Luz couldn't make much out through the milky golden field that surrounded it, but clearly a pile of something was there. As she approached it Luz whispered to herself, "Man I hope Eda was right about this," and shot her hand through the glowing field. To her surprise it felt like putting her hand into the flow off a fountain, except warm, and as she watched in wonder it suddenly shattered like glass, and an alarm went off. Looking frantically around she saw what they had come for and with an annoyed sound she said, "Youve got to be kidding me." All the same she grabbed it and rushed back outside.
"Did you get it Lu?" Kim asked.
Luz just sighed and put a Burger Queen crown on King's head as he beamed and let out happy noises, but before anything else could be said a large burly figure appeared from the stairs going further up.
"So Eda, you've fallen for my trap. After all these years, finally I, the great Warden Wraith, have captured… Excuse me? Who are you and where is Eda?" Wraith asked, confused.
"Down stairs, big guy. As a matter of fact, give us a minute and we will go get her for you," Luz said, pushing her sister and King along.
"Thanks kid, that would be great… Wait a minute. GET BACK HERE YOU PUNKS," Wraith yelled as he began chasing them all the way back to the room they entered in though.
As they entered, King quickly threw a heavy bar over the door and backed up. It only took a few seconds before loud pounding could be heard on the other side of the door. As he looked around and saw the switch. He yelled, "You two. Pull the switch. It's the master release for all the cells. Nothing better than a jailbreak to hide an escape."
Not liking their current situation, they decided to do as asked. It took both of them and a lot of grunting but eventually the switch released, and all over the tower cell doors opened with a cacophonous slamming sound. After that the three jumped on Eda's staff and flew down to the courtyard where Eda was waiting, sitting on a pile of unconscious guards.
As they touched down and prisoners started streaming out of the double doors, Eda smiled and congratulated them, "Nicely done you three. Were there any problems?"
Before they could answer though a large dark figure slammed into the ground behind them. Wraith stood up, apparently jumping down a few hundred feet only slightly bothered him, and as he stalked up to them he morphed his one arm into a sickle and removed his mask with the other. After letting out a spray of fire, he bellowed out, "Finally Eda the Owl Lady, you kept me waiting all night. I knew if I took your pet's little toy, you'd come running. I'll admit, I've enjoyed our little chase. Hell I'd probably even be sweet on you, but after what witches like you did… Enough, tonight you get your own cage, and soon it's petrification for you and everyone like you."
At Wraith's words Eda just smiled and pushed the three kids behind her, "Get out of here. I'll catch up in a minute."
The trio tried to leave, but after a few steps they stopped and watched the fight going on behind them. Eda was putting up a good fight. She formed circle after circle in the air and out of them shot golden beams, owl constructs, gusts of wind, and many others. In the end it didn't matter, although the blasts seemed to slow him down, Wraith just kept coming. Until with a back hand he smacked Eda to the ground.
In fear and desperation the twin's looked at each other and together they used the staff to try and draw a circle in the air. To everyone's surprise it worked. Out of the large circle shot a massive blast of radiant magic, blasting Wraith back fifty feet though the double doors and into the wall behind. Before they could celebrate their victory, both girls wobbled and passed out.
An hour later the girls woke up on the floor of The Owl House. At their stirring Eda sat forward on the couch she and King had been waiting on.
"So you're awake kiddos. First, let me say thanks for the save. I didn't really need it, but thanks all the same. Second, and excuse me, but WHAT THE HELL," Eda yelled. "I don't know why you were parading around as humans or why you lied to me, but…"
Kim looked at her confused, "What are you talking about Ms. Eda, we didn't lie…"
"... And we are human," finished Luz.
"Really? You're going to stick with that lie. Come on, You're caught. Humans don't have pointed ears and they certainly can't do magic, much less a blast that big," Eda said clearly annoyed.
Luz and Kim just looked at each other and slowly reached up to each other's ears… pointy, and they started spiraling. Kim started crying in fear, while Luz started yelling, before wrapping her arms around Kim, "Is this some kind of joke? What do you do to us? Fix it. FIX IT NOW."
At this display, Eda's annoyance melted away. It was obvious to her that whatever was going on, they were as clueless as she was. After the twin's had calmed down, Eda spoke up, "Ok whatever is going on, clearly you both know less than I do, and that's saying something cuz I got squat. Somehow you two turned into witches, or maybe you always were and something was hiding it. Heck if I know. What I do know is that you and I made a deal, and if nothing else; 'a deal is a deal' so I'll open the door and let you go home. Maybe once you're back there your ears will change back. You said your mom was back there, maybe she'll know what's going on." With that she reached into her hair and pulled out a key and clicked the eye. Before them the door unfolded, but it seemed to shudder as it did so and there appeared to be a crack in the crystal eye on it. Hesitantly Eda tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. "Great, now there's something wrong with the door. This is just great. Sorry kiddos, looks like you're stuck here for a while," Eda frustratedly sighed.
"What do you mean we're stuck? Open the door. Let us go. You promised we could go home if we helped you," Kim yelled, clearly terrified.
"Relax. This kind of thing happens every once in a while. Give it a week tops and the door will fix itself. In the meantime you can stay here. Heck I'll even throw in a few magic lessons as an apology for the wait, just in case you actually are witches. For now, there's a spare bedroom up stairs. Feel free to rest up and we'll figure out what to do next in the morning," reassured Eda.
With no other choice Luz glared at Eda, grabbed her sister under her arm, and together they followed King to the place they were told they could sleep. Now alone, Eda looked back at the door and tried it one more time. It wouldn't budge. She sighed to herself. She hadn't lied to them, but she hadn't told them everything either. The last time this had happened it was because the door had been struck by a huge lightning strike and before that it was a powerful spell hitting it as she was escaping pursuit. Whatever was going on, it made Eda's feathers ruffle. She didn't like this, not one bit.
In a large mostly empty room sat a man on his throne. He had been taking a few minutes to himself to center himself and prepare for the next act in the performance that was his life. In the half-lit room one can just make out a titanic swamp green heart and feel its power as it slowly beat behind the throne. When suddenly he raises his head, and had anyone else been there to see, they would have seen his eyes glow blue behind his golden stag deer mask. They would have heard his breath catch followed by his mad laughter, "Finally they have returned. After so many years I can finally correct the mistakes of that night… This is perfect. I do not sense little Cammy with them. They came alone… Soon girls… soon…"
Ok that's it for chapter 2. I'm taking my time and allowing for a slow burn. To anyone worried Luz is acting out of character, kinda. I ask you to remember that this Luz is slightly different from canon. She has been a big sister all her life and with that there are a few changes that would occur. Don't worry though I can assure you at her core she's mostly unchanged and the next chapter is going to be big. I've dropped some hints but lots of revelations for us are on the horizon, and a lot of the changes for this story will finally be revealed. Until I can manage to iron it out, thanks for the read. Hopefully it won't take too long cuz I am vibrating with excitement to share what comes next.