Luz's eyes fluttered open as the morning sun peeked through her blinds. A small part of her wished to stay wrapped up in the comforting embrace of her blankets and sleep the day away, but the responsible part of her mind quickly overpowered it. Gently tossing the blankets to the side, Luz slipped out of bed and, with a quick stretch, began her day (just after making her bed of course.)
"Ahhh, Good morning world!" Luz happily sang out as she skipped over to her closet, grabbing and swapping out her pjs for her favorite yellow shirt and blue jacket (alongside their other accompanying clothes.) before continuing on out of her room.
Luz whistled a little tune to herself as she walked to the bathroom (which strangely felt like it was further away than normal for some reason.) Stepping inside, Luz grabbed her comb, ran some water on it, and began to tame the wild bush sitting on her head she called hair.
For some reason, as she gazed into her reflection, Luz couldn't help but notice a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, whispering to the young girl that something wasn't right. Shaking off the feeling, Luz splashed some water on her face and finished combing and putting her clips into her hair.
Continuing her morning routine, Luz approached the stairs where the sounds of a conversation between her mother and someone else she couldn't quite make out, but could tell they were very excited, landed upon the young girl's ears. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Luz began to ask "Hey Mami who are you talking-" she choked on the last word as her eyes fell upon the subject of her question "t- too?"
Next to Camila was her daughter Luz, who stared back at her copy "Mom, who is that?" she asked, an expression of confusion and disgust painted across her face.
"I- I don't know mija." Camila stammered out as she stared fearfully at the girl who had been occupying her home for the past month.
"Wait I can explain?" Luz began, approaching the pair only to be stopped by the other Luz quickly moving defensively in front of Camila.
"Stay away from my mom!" she yelled at her doppelganger, and with a yelp 'Luz' stumbled back, tripping over herself as her legs fused together into a slug-like tail with cream color splotches forming on her cheeks.
"M- mija what is that?" Camila questioned, watching in horror as her 'daughter' continued to morph into a serpent-like creature, "It- it looks like one of the monsters from your books."
"It's a Basilisk." Luz plainly stated, staring the creature in question down as she finished reverting to her natural form, "She must have snuck over here from when I went to the Demon Realm and took my place."
Camila gasped and covered her mouth, her expression painted by a mix of shock and shame, as the Basilisk tried to explain "Mom- I mean, Camila I didn't mean to trick you, but I had no choice!"
Unfortunately for the creature, Camila was more focused on her own perceived failings as a parent "Oh mija, I should have known." she muttered out in shame, eyes wet with tears.
"It's not your fault." Luz gently placed a hand on Camila's shoulder as she comforted her mother "Now, let me take care of this."
The Basilisk watched in horror as the portal that had taken her to the Human Realm appeared and unfolded behind her. The door shot open to let a group of Coven Scouts, led by the Golden Guard, pour into the room.
"Thanks for finding our little runaway here citizen." the Golden Guard stated as the Scouts surrounded the trembling Basilisk.
"Don't worry Mami," Luz reassured her mother while shooting the Basilisk a hate-filled glare "They'll make sure this thing is never seen again."
"That's right!" the Golden Guard excitedly declared "We'll be throwing it into a deep dark hole that it won't ever be able to sliver out of ever!"
"W- wait!" the Basilisk called out as the Scouts locked a heavy metal collar around her neck "Just let me explain, please!" she begged, shooting a pleading look to Camila.
However, it was a fruitless endeavor as she was already preoccupied with real her daughter "Oh mija I'm so glad to have the real you back." Camila sighed out in relief, if she even heard the Basilisk's pleas she paid them no mind, as she pulled Luz into a tight hug.
The Basilisk desperately clawed at the collar as the Coven Scouts dragged her towards the portal "Camila! Please don't let them take me back!" she pleaded out, reaching towards the human as tears poured down her cheeks.
"CAMILA!" She let out a final sorrow-filled cry as the portal slammed shut.
With a flash of lightning, the fake Luz woke with a start; breathing heavily she glanced down at her hands seeing they had reverted to her natural sickly green shade. "No not again." the Basilisk muttered out, already shifting her form back to Luz's as she mentally thanked the fact that Camila didn't check in on her daughter in the middle of the night.
Taking a quick glance in the window to confirm she had Luz's face again, Number 5 released her breath "She's not coming back," the Basilisk reassured herself as tucked back in "if she wanted to she would have by now."
With one final sigh, Luz's eyes shut and their borrower hoped for dreamless rest.