Philp stood up and placed a book on a shelf before continuing his volunteer work at the library, putting books and other reading materials on their proper shelves while reading a few of the titles.
"How to Romance the Love of Your Life, A Wizard's Guide to Potions, Twenty days a prisoner: A true story." He shrugged at the last title before putting it on the shelf as he got down from the ladder sat on a desk and began looking into a crystal ball as he looked at news articles when a voice spoke.
"Are you using that? All the other ones are taken." Philp turned around and saw Luz staring at him as he left his seat.
"No, go ahead what are you doing here?" He asked.
"Well, it's kind of a long story." She replied. "It started when..."
A few hours ago
Eda was in the kitchen with Camila and Lilith as they talked about Luz.
"So you're saying that Luz is a..."
"Basilisk, Yes Lily we told you ten times already, it's time to get your nerd brain intact," Eda remarked.
Lilith paused for a bit. "But they've gone extinct for almost hundreds of years how is that possible!?"
Camila responded. "All I know is that I cared for her all her life, yet I still feel... ashamed about it."
"What's to be ashamed about that?" Eda asked as the door to the house opened, Hooty entering with a large basket in his mouth. "Hooty for the last time no bringing in random baskets that are dropped in front of the door!" She said taking the basket and reading the note that came from me. "Blah, Blah, Blah, please take care of them for a while and you'll be greatly rewarded, signed the bat queen."
"Bat queen, the supposed queen of all palismen?" Lilith asked as Eda lifted the sheet to reveal a small group of tiny winged babies with large heads who quickly flew up and began screaming.
"Why are they so cute and terrifying at the same time!?" Camila yelled out while covering her ears with two pillows as Luz came downstairs plugging her ears.
"What is that noise?" She asked before looking at the flying creatures. "Yeah no I'm not dealing with this today." She said before taking her bag and walking out the door with a few library books in her hands.
"And that's the reason." Luz finished as Philp had a look of confusion.
"I can see why, but what are you looking for anyway?" He asked while taking a few books off the shelves.
"Anything about taking care of those things." She asked as Philp paused for a second.
He then gave her an answer. "Closest thing would be Palisman care taking near the children's section unless the signs were switched again." Luz thanked him before running off as he went back to work.
Luz looked around opening and closing books till she stopped and sat on the floor. "At this rate, they'll probably be chew toys to those things." Luz thought to herself as a familiar voice came from around the corner. Taking a small peak she looked and saw Amity sitting in a chair surrounded by a group of children they all sat down while she opened a book and began telling the children around her the story as Luz watched from around the corner.
Soon after finishing and being thanked by one of them, Amity started to leave as Luz approached her.
"Ugh! You," Amity said with a bit of annoyance.
Luz then coughed before speaking to her. "Reading to kids didn't take you for the soft type. Maybe I could help with the kids. We could take turns reading. And do voices, Mama said I was always born an actor. more in the literal sense." She said while leaning next to a stack of books then fell to the floor. "Oops."
"You got me in trouble with my teacher and nearly cost me my chance of joining the emperor's coven during the convention! And he made me write an apology to you out of all people!" Amity shouted as a few people shushed her as she then talked in a whisper. "Just stay away from me." She finished before storming off.
Luz sighed, it wasn't her fault that her father just happened to be the head coven leader, or was it?
"You gonna let her get to you like that?" A voice spoke startling Luz seeing two teens with green hair both wearing school uniforms of the illusion track.
"Who are you?" Luz asked. She saw them from time to time at Hexside but never knew them personally.
"Well-wishers on a mission." The green-haired boy said.
"A noble quest." The girl said before seeing Amity nearby as she nudged the green-haired boy who shouted out. "Hey, Mittens. Amity then turned bright red before looking at them as the boy held up a bag.
"Mom, says stop forgetting your lunch. And stop being a jerk to your friend." Amity simply snatched the bag from the boy's hands before storming off without saying a word.
"So, you're the human we've heard so much about." The boy said.
"I'm Emira. And this is Edric. We're Amity's older siblings. We heard how you embarrassed her at the witch convention. No wonder she hates you." Emira said.
"She almost hurt me But, uh, I didn't mean any of it. I thought we were coll after that, guess not."
Emira laughed. "Don't waste your time with Mittens. Me and Ed, we're way more fun." The twins then led her around while starting a few pranks around the library.
Philp was looking at shelves of books when he stopped and grabbed one of the shelves. "The old ways of Elixers, medicines, and other cures for ailments. This is it." He said before taking it off the shelve and reading it. "First step is to get 1/4 of... har.. nel." He stopped after seeing that it was a bit worn with a few pages unreadable.
"Dad said he needs this for something, yet this book should be on the other side of the library, guess they forgot and now there's no way I can..." Philp stopped before looking at a poster for the Wailing Star. "Yes, that's it!, I'll just wait till the star and it'll show me the recipe for it." He said before putting a reminder in the book to keep track of it.
After a series of pranks such as switching the signs between fiction and non-fiction, placing books back in the sorting pile, and causing notecards to fly around the room until being kicked out by the librarian as the three of them laughed together as they placed a KICK ME sign on the back of the librarian's back.
"Amity's even madder at me now. I didn't think that was possible." Luz said.
"No, when Mittens gets mad, she looks like this." Edric then began to hold his breath as he turned bright red before breathing out and coughing. "Ok, that was harder than it looked."
The two twins then looked at each other before nodding as Emira turned to Luz. "So, hey, we're coming back tonight. There's a certain book we forgot to... check out."
"And bonus, rumor has it the Wailing Star's supposed to unlock some rare magical event. You in, friend?" Edric asked.
"Sure!" She said.
"Great. Meet back here at midnight. See you, Luz." The twins then chuckled as they left the library and Luz walked back home.
The screams of a child burst out as Eda, King, Camila, and Lilith tried their best to calm down the bat-children to no avail. "I was head coven leader for years and can't even put a child to rest!" Lilith exclaimed while dodging a kitchen knife that one of the bats had thrown as Eda and King hid behind the couch.
"No amount of money is worth this much torture!" King said as Eda plugged her ears with her hands Camila grabbed one of the bats and began comforting it.
"Shh, it's alright calm down." She hushed as the baby slowly began to quiet down. "I think I did it!" Camila started only to be hit by a kettle causing the sleeping child to start screaming again as Luz entered.
"I just had the best day. Cool teens like me. Call me a library book 'cause they were checking me out." She stated before looking at the chaos around the house. "It's a bit calm for now, it's just screams we can handle that right?"
Soon one of the babies spurt out a burst of fire and began flying around as Lilith dunked her hair in the kitchen sink. "Parenting sure looks rewarding. Enjoy your life lessons. Bye!" Luz said before quickly slamming the door.
"Mija get back..." Camila was cut off as she hid behind a wall to avoid a ball of flames.
"For the money right?" King asked.
"YES." Everyone else started.
At night Luz was waiting for the twins while leaning next to a pillar while practicing a few poses. "This is cool, right? No what about about... no that's not cool either."
"This is fun to watch," Emira said as she leaned on the pillar next to Luz who was startled a bit as Edric joined in.
"You ready to bring this whole, uh, whatever you're doing, inside?" He asked Luz nodded as the three of them walked to the door.
The twins then pulled out a piece of paper on the door as the lock grew till the three of them slid through it before it shrank to normal size.
Luz looked around. "So what are we looking for?"
"That." Edric pointed at the ceiling the glass showed a star wailing as it passed by and all the books around them began to glow green. "Huh, something should happen?"
"It did." A voice spoke as the three of them turned around to see Philp holding the keys to the library. "Watch closely." He picked up a book and opened it the contents of the book came to life with several pictures jumped out and began to roam around. "You see it's because of..."
"Yeah yeah magic books, we get it," Emira said interrupting Philp.
"Just please don't make a mess while you're here, I just do something I'll be right back you can promise me that right?" He asked the twins nodded while crossing their fingers. "I meant Luz, I helped you so I hope you help me in return."
"I promise," Luz said as the two shook hands as Philp walked towards another section of the library the twins and Luz began running around opening several books from a large pile of snow, comic-style quotes, and other childish fun as Luz wandered around before stumbling on the same book the Amity had read to the children in the morning.
She looked at the book and opened it.
At the Owl House, the residents had barricaded themselves upstairs as they tried to figure out a plan.
"What silences children? What if we invent a TV network for ages six to 11—" King suggested.
"And where would we find the time and money for that?" Camila stated.
"Aah, there's only one way out of this," Eda said as she pulled out a knife from her hair.
"Sister you can't be thinking of that!" Lilith said as Eda began cutting an apple and took out a book.
"Apple slices and story time is the best way for this, Lily what did you think I would do?"
Liltih stayed quiet as they went downstairs to see most of the babies asleep as Eda held a plate of apple slices and a book in her arm. "All right, brats. Let's do this. Ugh. Being parental is making me sick."
"I think it's doing wonders for you," Camila said as Eda sat next to the bats and placed the plate on the floor before opening the book and started reading.
"Otabin spent his days alone amongst the many books he'd sewn. With needle and thread..."
"...the pages he'd mend. But all the while he longed for a friend." Luz said reading the book as Otabin looked at her as the twins arrived.
"Luz, check this out," Emira said as she opened a children's book as a duck swam out of the pages and waddled around.
"Aw, how adorable." She stated as she began to pet it Edric took a pencil and began drawing on it as the duck then spouted human legs and began running around in terror. "HEY! You can't do that, Philp said to be careful about..."
Emira shushed her. "Who cares what that geek thinks if a few books are hurt, they don't have feelings."
Edric then handed her a pencil, "Come on try it." He said while holding the Otabin book open. Luz struggled to put the pencil tip on the page. "Let me help." Edric then took her hand and began scribbling on it as Luz then pulled away and shut the book close.
"I don't wanna see it." The twins shrugged.
"Whatever. We didn't come here just to doodle. Come on." Emria said as she pulled Luz along with them the book slowly began to open as a massive clawed hand popped out.
Philp struggled to find the section where he found the book he turned a corner and found it he quickly opened it as a large chemistry set came out and it began to watch closely. "One of the earliest forms of elixir, why would dad want to..." He stopped after he noticed the beakers shake a bit followed by a bookshelf falling next to him. "HEY! I told you guys not to..." He stopped as a massive shadow towered over him as he let out a scream.
"Oh, wow. Boiling Isles romance. That's lame. I mean, unless you guys are into it? Luz said as they entered the romance section of the library.
"I think I'm into this one," Edric said as he grabbed a book titled The Lone Witch and the Secret Room and pulled on it as the shelf moved back showing a secret room as they went inside.
"Your clubhouse is like my ultimate secret hideaway," Luz commented as the twins chuckled.
"We don't hang out in a library. "Uh, teacher, I'm in love with a dictionary," Emira said almost mockingly.
"I'm studying the dark arts." This is Amity's secret hideaway. Edric revealed, as Luz then had a sense of worry. "Mittens has gotten too... full of herself. She keeps tattling on us when we cut class."
"She needs to learn not to mess with people like that. So, we're going to find her diary." Emira added.
"And then post the pages all around the school for everyone to see." Edric finished as the two twins laughed.
"What? Isn't that taking it a bit too far?" Luz asked.
Emria responded "No. See, we're her family. It's tough love. She needs to learn to lighten up." She and Edric began looking around.
"Maybe we should just leave and..." Luz stopped and saw a small shelf of books that she recognized. "Good Witch Azura books one through four! Do you get these on the Boiling Isles? I had to bring my copies from home." She grabbed one of the books before noticing the cover was hand-drawn as she opened it a small projection of Amity arose from it and spoke.
"Saw that... human girl again."
Luz then realized that she was holding Amity's diary as another entry spoke.
"I may have overreacted. I don't wanna come off as cruel. I just can't show weakness, especially not in front of... him"
Luz then closed it shut as Edric approached her. "What've you got there, Luz?"
"Oh uh, it's Azura 5, the one where she goes goth for a few chapters." She said as the dairy floated out of her hands Emira then handed it to Edric who opened it.
"It's not fair. I'm the only one who knows Ed and Em isn't perfect. Why do they keep getting away with things?"
"This is it," Edric said.
"And you were hiding this from us?" Emira said.
"You see how she treats people. How she treats you.." Edric stated,
"I know Amity can be kind of cold but no one deserves this. These are private thoughts. Let's put it back." Luz said as she grabbed the diary and began to pull it away the twins held onto it until the book tore open sending pages flying around as various entries began speaking out loud Luz began to grab them only to stumble into Amity who had entered the place.
She then spoke in an angered tone. "Really?"
"It's not what it looks like," Luz said handing the pages to Amity as the twins laughed.
"You two are the worst, But you.." She then looked at Luz. "I've been trying to figure out what your deal is. Are, are you a poser? A nerd? I know. You're.." Amity was then cut off by a bloodcurdling scream.
They all ran towards it and stopped in terror as they saw a monstrous Otabin with the book he came from on his chest, pin Philp to a large book before taking out a sewing needle and thread as he began to sew Philp's leg into the book.
"Otabin?" Amity said in horror as the large monster then looked at her seeing the others.
"With claws and fangs and breaking bones, I found a friend to make my own." He said before dropping Philp to the ground.
Amity then looked at her siblings. "What did you do!?"
"I didn't think he'd look like that!" Edric said as he turned and began to run only to be lassoed and pulled towards Otabin followed by Emira, Philp then took out a horn from a book and blew into it as Otabin yelled in pain holding his ears as they all split and ran as Luz was grabbed.
"LUZ," Philp yelled before being swung onto a shelf which fell on top of him the Blight siblings split into different directions as Otabin held a tight grip on Luz who looked around before opening her mouth a small amount of magic began to drain from Otabin who dropped Luz who took the chance to shift forms and slithers away before dragging Philp out of the shelf as Otabin yelled before stomping away looking for the others.
"Come on wake up!" Luz said before opening a book which splashed Philp with water causing him to cough and wake up Luz began eating a card and turning human before Philp woke up.
"What happened? I saw I giant Otabin and he tried to sew me into a book 'cause he wanted a friend?" He said confused.
"Edric and Emira started drawing in the books, I tried to get them to stop but they wouldn't listen."
"And now a giant children's book monster is rampaging in the library and I trusted you to watch them." Philp sighed. "It's alright they can be fixed with... that's it!" He said standing up.
"What is?" Luz asked as Philp pulled an easer out of his pocket. "That?"
"If we erase what they drew in it, then he'll be back to normal! Now we need a way to get that book in his chest without him catching us..."
Luz then grabbed a book. 'I think I have an idea.
The Blight siblings were all slammed into a book by Otabin's foot as the monster began to sew near Edric's legs before pulling the string as his legs folded into the book while he screamed in terror. "I can't feel my legs!" He exclaimed as Otabin then turned to Emira.
"No, I'm too young to be published!" She yelled as her arms were sewn into the book Amity looked at her siblings in worry.
"Otabin please this isn't you, I read you when I was a kid."
"You squirm and fight, and scream and shout. But friendship always will win out." He said as he began to sew over Amity's body and stopped as he was hit by a swarm of snowballs causing the large book to fall back as Philp held a book.
"He's down, Luz now!" Luz ran towards the large book and began to cut the thread with scissors freeing Amity she began to free the siblings when a large needle pulled the book away as Otabin stood up and threw a shelf at Philp who ducked before searching through the books.
Amity stood up before seeing a cart and quickly grabbed it before using magic to make a large slingshot as pulled the cart backward before letting go it flew straight at Otabin knocking him on the floor and a few bookshelves fell on top of him. Philp rushed towards the monster and tried to erase the drawings.
"I need something large to get through the pages!" He shouted as Amity looked at the large book took out a pencil and quickly began writing in it. Luz has a wrong to right. Soon a large eraser appeared and Amity caught it.
"Luz catch." She yelled tossing it to Luz nearly stumbled as she quickly began erasing the drawing Edric made Otabin then turned to normal as the large book disappeared and the twins fell to the floor. Otabin then stood up and looked at Amity
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me." The story character said.
"Hey, it's okay. We're still friends." Amity said as Luz closed the book and Otabin disappeared. Edric and Emira then stood up as they looked at their wrists.
"Look at the time we should get going now..." Emira said as Philp stood in front of them.
"You will after you clean this whole mess." He said before making two brooms appear and handing them to the twins who groaned in defeat.
It was day by the time they had finished cleaning up as Luz dumped some snow into a trash can. "What an adventure. Thanks for helping clean up."
Amity looked at her. "This never happened." She said as Luz lifted her hand.
"I swear to never tell a soul and it doesn't make up for reading your diary but would you wanna borrow this?" She asked taking out a copy of Azura book 5. " I noticed you only had up to four."
"Thanks," Amity said as she took it and began to leave with her siblings she turned to Luz and said to her. "Maybe you aren't a bully. I haven't exactly been the friendliest witch either. I'll think about that." She said before leaving as Luz left in a different direction.
Luz opened the door. "Sorry I was out all night and..." SHe stopped and saw Lilith, King, Hooty, Eda, and Camila as well as the babies all fast asleep with each other.
She kept quiet until there was a knock at the door, she opened it and was greeted by a giant woman's head with bat wings who crawling inside.
"You must be the momma."
"Yi Yi. Mama is I. And I am the Bat Queen" The creature said before whistling as the flying bats landed on their mother's head the bat queen then threw up a large pile of money and a whistle. "For troubles. Eda is owed one."
The bat queen then went out and flew off as everyone else began to wake up.
"Where are the children?" Camila asked.
"They flew with their mom," Luz replied.
"Oh. And I just taught Junior how to pick locks too." Eda stated.
"Of course you would," Lilith commented as Hooty entered. "Anyone want to hear about my night?"
"NO!" They all shouted.