We were at the stand today. Eda was dusting the table, I was sitting in a chair, leaning back against the wall, Luz was reading to King. "Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, "I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!" And look! I drew a flip book!" Luz said, where she flips between two pages. "Pew, pew, pew!"
"Show me the picture!" King said, peeking over the top of the book.
"What?" Luz asked, confused.
"Show me the picture!" King repeated, where Luz showed him the picture. "Hah! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists." King said as he turned around and crossed his arms, holding his head up high.
"I thought you were the King of Demons?" I said, where King turned to face me. "Are you just making things up now?" I asked with a smirk.
"Doesn't matter." King said as he turned to face Luz. "What's important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me!"
"Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book." Luz suggested as she wiggled the book a bit.
"Ugh! Please stop reading that." Eda said with a groan. "Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all of our serious customers!" She said as she rolled her eyes, with me looking around at the empty street.
"Um, Eda? What customers? There aren't even any other stands around." Luz said, with me standing up as this was unusual. "What's going on?" She asked as she looked at Eda.
"This is a bad omen." Eda said as she narrowed her eyes. "There must be something horrible happening today."
"Luz!" Gus called out as he and Willow run up to the stand. "Something amazing is happening today!" He said in excitement.
"Gus, Willow! Hey!" Luz called out as she waved at them.
Willowholds up a flier. "It's the annual covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year!" Willow said as she pointed to the bottom.
"A job fair for witches! Eda, can we go?" Luz as as she leans into Eda, with me getting interested as well and doing the same from the other side, but not touching her.
"Absolutely not." Eda said as she crossed her arms and pushed us away, where both Luz and I let out a groan and dropped to the ground. "I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system. And you acting like Luz there is weird." Eda said as she looked down at me as I stood up. "Eh, but, you know, no judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls." She said, gaining our attention.
"We?" I asked as she looked at me.
"I—the—I mean—"
"Who's "we"?" Luz asked as she stood up. "You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!" She said as she got even more excited.
"No." She said while shaking her head and looking away.
"Okay. Then you leave me no choice." Luz said as she looked at King.
King grabs the book and opens it. "You shall not shan't doeth no more harm," Azura callethed out..." He said as he continued to read.
"So flowery, so awful." Eda said in annoyance as she walks away, opening the Portal Door and stepping through it, where Luz picks King up.
"Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseneth." He read as Luz tosses King through the portal as it closes. It opens a second later, Eda coming back through with King sitting on her head.
"Stop it! Stop it! I will literally do anything to stop this!" Eda said with a groan, where Luz and I fist bump, using my wooden hands.
Later, Witches Convention
I watched as Eda and Luz pushed Eda's hair into her hood. "Gotta keep a low profile." She muttered as she finally gone half of it in.
"Is this cowl really necessary?" Luz asked with a grunt as she pushed against the hair.
"Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" Eda said just before numerous small objects fall out of her hair. "Partly." She corrected as she scoops the things back into her cowl. "But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again." She said while turning a side eye over to one of her posters.
Approaching one of Eda's wanted posters, Willow looked it over. "Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven." She suggested as she looked back at Eda.
Eda traces a spell that pulls Willow's cowl over her face. "Let's just get this over with." Eda said in annoyance.
Walking inside, we couldn't help but feel amazed by it. "Whoa. Was I even alive before now?" Luz said as she spun around. Several booths are set up inside, each with a sign for one coven or another. From the ceiling hangs nine large colorful banners. Two student witches fly by on broomsticks.
"Those are the main nine covens, but there are hundreds of other ones you can join." Gus said as he pointed to the banners as we walked.
"There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven—" Willow counted off as Eda let out a groan. "Also the Grumpy Coven." Willow whispered.
"What was that?" Eda questioned angrily, making Willow yip as the kids and King all run off.
"Uh, excuse me, ma'am, but you look rather familiar." A man said from behind us, with us looking at him, now seeing him looking at the wanted poster.
"Uh... No, I don't." Eda said as she reached into her cowl.
"Distraction spell!" I said as I punched him in the face, grabbed Eda's arm and ran off laughing.
"At this point you're going to get your wanted poster sooner or later!" She said with a laugh as she looked back at the guy on the ground, holding his eye.
Catching up to the kids, we came to a stop as Luz points. "Ooh, what's that?" Luz asked as she looked at Willow.
"That's the Construction Coven." Willow informed as a bearded witch in a hard hat and a small rounded nose witch were standing next to a pallet of wood and a pallet of bricks. The witch grabs both pallets from the bottom and tosses them in the air. The materials fall down to perfectly construct a small house. This made me clap as that was impressive, but because there wasn't anything holding it together properly it was terrible work. "One of the main nine. They use power glyphs to increase their strength." Willow informed as we looked back at her and then at the construction.
The witch removes his hard hat to pull of a power glyph from a stack atop his head. He peels the adhesive off the back of one and puts it on the nose of the small witch. Her pupils constrict. She screams and picks up the witch, throwing him in the air. "Ha-a-a! I'm the destroyer of worlds!" She yells as she grabs the Construction Coven sign and tosses it.
"Hey, that's the opposite of construction!" A witch called out as two witches run in to stop her as she grabs a giant hammer and starts to fight.
"Cool, a fight!" I said as I ran forward as she knocked both witches away with one swing. Seeing me, she threw the hammer at me, with me catching it, spinning around and bringing it down on her hard enough to send her into the ground. Pulling the hammer back, I ripped the tag off, with everyone clapping.
"You should join the construction coven!" One of them said as he walked over to me, with me looking at him.
"I destroy, not build." I said as I walked away as they now had a depressed aura about them. Returning to the others, I placed my hands in my pockets as I had a hint of pride at taking the mini witch down.
"Yowza-wowza!" Luz said, with me looking behind her at the light blue double of Luz that ducks out from behind her.
"Yowza-wowza!" It repeated as it walked in front of her.
"Yowza-wha-a-a?"
"Neat." I said as I watched it walk over to two Illusion track witches. It waves at her and disappears.
Gusruns over to the other witches. "Ah! You've been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven. We like to magic with a hint!" He said as he disappears in a cloud of smoke, reappears a few feet to the right. "Of showmanship!" He said as he bows as the other two appear next to him.
"Wow! Acceptance? Comradery? A sense of belonging? Covens sound incredible! Eda, why haven't you ever joined one?" Luz asked, with me slightly knowing why? I had a feeling on why but I wasn't sure.
"Watch closely, Luz." Eda said as she placed her arm around said girls shoulder and turned her to face what was going on. Another illusion track witch was standing with one of the other ones. "When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed away." She said as we watched as they placed a seal in the shape of a mirror on the witch's wrist, light blue lines running from it up his arms and face. He pales slightly as the lines fade. "From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions. Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic." Eda said as she creates a fireball in one hand and a ball of water in the other, then makes both disappear. "That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles." She said as she walks away. Willow, Luz, and Gus hurried after her, amazed.
King and I start to follow, but is stopped when a hand on our shoulder. "Excuse you?" I questioned, glaring at the person who dared place their hands on me.
"The tea leaves foretell that this!" She said as she pulls out a pen. "Will lead you to your destiny." She said as she puts the pen in Kings hand.
"Fuck you're false destiny!" I said as I smacked the pin out of her hand as she tried handing it to me. "There is no such thing as destiny!" I said as I got into her face. "If I had it my way I would rip the heads off of everyone here so BACK OFF!?" I yelled, narrowing my eyes at her as she backed up while holding her hands up.
"You ok there?" King asked as he looked up at me. "You're eyes are all... purple like?" He said, where I closed my eyes.
"Yes... I just... don't know where that came from." I said as I turned around to follow the others. "Go do you King, go get more offerings." I said as I waved over my shoulder at him.
Later
Catching up to everyone else, we were looking at a doorway flanked with guards. "That panel looks popular." Luz said, with me scuffing at them.
Gus gasps. "It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?" He questioned as he turned to us while pointing at his forehead.
"Only one way to find out!" Willow said as she and Gus run inside.
Luz starts to follow them, but stops when she realizes we didn't move. "Aren't you coming?" She asked, with me shaking my head.
"No way. Of all the covens, they're the worst. I'll wait out here." Eda said as she crossed her arms, with me doing the same.
"They locked me away for no reason other than existing. I would rather kill them than go inside." I said, where they both looked at me.
"Your eyes are purple." Luz said as she looked from me over to Eda. "I get it, Eda. Covens: bad. Individualism: good. But I'm still figuring this world out, so I'm going to go in there and make up my own mind, okay?" She said as she walked into the coven doors.
"I just saw her, and her friend punched me!" The man from earlier said, with me turning around to look at them. "They are over there. I that's them!" He said as he pointed me out to a guard, where I turned to face them, cracking my neck.
"Uh-oh." Eda said as she grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me away. "Luz, wait up!"
"Let me kill the snitch!?" I yelled as I tried and failed to get out of her grip.
Later
Eda sat me down before sitting between Luz and I. "You have anger problems, and need to get them settled! Threatening to kill a snitch." She muttered as she crossed her arms, with me sticking my tongue out at her. "All right, let's see this mess." She said as she rolled her eyes at me.
The lights dim. Principal Bump rises from the floor with spirals of green magic, a spotlight illuminating him. The audience applaudes and cheers as he summons a mic. "Hello, Bonesborough!" He called out in excitement. "Students ask me all the time, "Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?" He said before a kid speaks up.
"Is it this?" He questioned jokingly, before he Increases the size of his head greatly, which falls over and crushes the student next to him, making me laugh.
"Wow. I failed you as a principal." Principal Bump said as he grabs the mic, with some feedback. "It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the coven system He said as three witches appeared out of thin air. And the enforcers of his will, the Emperor's Coven!" He said as I rolled my eyes.
"Whoa." Luz said as she looks to the side and waves at Gus and Willow.
"Luz!" Both said while pointing to Gus' forehead, which has been signed.
"Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic." Principal Bump said as each coven guard traces a white spell circle above their head. One produces a jet of flame, another water, and the third lightning. The three elements come together in a firework that turns to confetti, which Luz grabs.
"When does that "elite force" get here?" Eda said with a chuckle.
"The coven guards are now holding the same elements in balls between their hands. Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all—yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah." Principal Bump said as he wanted the audience to do the same. "But... only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!" He said as he points directly at Amity, who brightens and squeals.
"Lame." I said as I rolled my eyes.
The three guards grab their capes and disappear in flashes of white light. "And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!" Principal Bump said, with me feeling rage build up at the name that dropped.
"Huh?" Eda asked as she stopped her laughing, even looking at me as I stood up.
A bright flash of light near the ceiling turns into a blue raven sitting on a branch. It flies off the branch to the stage, landing to reveal Lilith. Lilith is a tall, slender, middle-aged woman in her mid-to-late 40s. She has ivory skin, pointed ears, black lipstick, and mint green eyes. She also has dark claw-like nails. Lilith has long straight hair. She wears a long-sleeved two-tone dark gray dress and dark gray laced boots. She also has an inverted kite-shaped sky-blue gem located on her sternum, which was attached to her dress. The bird disappears with a screech as she lifts her arms and sends her mask flying. The audience applauds and cheers, while Eda is looking at her speechless.
"You!" I said in a low hissed tone as I clinched my fist, my finger nails digging into my palm, blood dripping from my hands.
"You know her?" Luz asked as she looked at me.
"You could say that." Both Eda and I said as one, hers wasn't of anger but surprise.
"Mysterious past!" Luz said, with me glaring at her as this wasn't the time.
"Hey, sit down!" The person behind me ordered, with me grabbing them by the face, preventing them from screaming as I ended them. Seeing as no one was taking notice to it, I left him there as I sat back down, glaring down at Lilith.
"We are going to have a serious talk after this!" Eda said as she looked over at me, with me nodding my head in agreement.
"Thank you, all." Lilith said as she magically sends her cape and mask back into Principal Bump. "It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings. Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will." She said as she made a fist. "So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" She said as she spins, creating the raven illusion again. It spreads its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith poses with her arms out, smirking, while Eda and I glared at her.
Later
"Where are you going?" Luz questioned as she followed Eda and I, who was dragging me with her.
"First Dakota and I are going to have a Private conversation, then I'm gonna head home and wash the con funk off my skin." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven type!" Luz said as she pulls out a thick magazine out of her pocket, flipped to a quiz named "What Coven Are You In?", and holds it above her head. Eda doesn't even look as she casts a lazer beam through it and walks away with me.
Once we were alone, she turned to face me. "You need to calm down!" Ed's ordered as she turned to face me.
"You have no idea what it's like, Eda!" I said, my voice echoing in the hollow hallway that we stood in. "The thirst... it's not just physical, it's a gnawing, incessant hunger in my soul that cannot be satisfied. I didn't choose this life, it was forced upon me!" I yelled as I gritted my teeth.
"I understand, Dakota." Eda replied, her voice steady. "But what you're feeling, it's not just about the thirst, is it?"
I narrowed my eyes, with me seeing them glowing with an ethereal violet light in Eda's. "Lilith. She locked me away, kept me from the world. She knew what I was, what I was capable of, yet she showed no mercy." I said as I rubbed my chin as I remembered her kicking me in the face.
Eda sighed deeply, her eyes reflecting the worry etched on her face. "I know, Dakota. Lilith has made mistakes, just as we all have. But seeking revenge won't end your suffering. It'll only add more." She said with me getting into her face.
"But it's my right, Eda!" I exclaimed, my voice echoing sharply off the stone walls. "My right to seek justice for what was done to me. I shall wait no more." I said as I could see my own reflection in her eyes.
"Dakota, don't throw away the good in you." Eda pleaded. "Revenge won't satisfy your thirst. It'll only consume you." She added, with me spitting to the side as she said this.
I turned away from her. "It's not your decision to make, Eda. It's mine." I said, my voice cold, devoid of the warmth.
"Dakota..." Eda's voice trailed off, her heart heavy with worry and regret. I left her there as I went to hunt down my prey.
Later
Finding my prey, I crawled on the ceiling above, my fingers now claws that helped me crawl without detection. Holding on with one hand, I turned my free arm into a spike. Sending it down at her, I ignored the children who were next to her. The last second, she was pushed out of the way, my spiked hand stabbing into the ground. Pulling it back up, I glared at the person who was holding onto Lilith.
"Sister?" Lilith said to Eda, with me now getting the story behind the two. Sisters, be it twins or older and younger. Eda looked older, so that made Lilith the younger sister.
"Lilith, hey!" Eda said with a forced smile as she looked up at me as I now used both hands to hold onto the ceiling before flipping myself forward l, now using the claws in my feet to hold myself, still looking down at her with a glare.
"It's been so long since I've seen you last!" Lilith said as she reluctantly pushed Eda off of her. "What are you wearing? You look like some sort of trash collector." Lilith said before she let out a small laugh. "Oh, right. You are." She said, where I turned my arm into a scythe.
"Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action." Eda said as she knelt down to the kids, where I stopped as I didn't want to take them out. "You know, when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven, she peed a little." Eda said, making the kids laugh while making Lilith blush.
"That—That's all for today." Lilith said as she ushers them off. "You shouldn't even be here. You're a wanted criminal! Unless..." Lilith said in thought before she gasps. "I don't believe it! You are here to join the Emperor's Coven!" Lilith said in excitement.
Eda laughed at her remark. "In your dreams." She said as she looked up at me, then back at Lilith. " Lilith, I need to talk to you about something very important." Eda said with a serious expression on her face. "Dakota, the boy you locked away five years ago, he is out for revenge against you for locking him away." Eda said, with me getting ready to take them both out with my scythe arm.
"Eda, I understand your concern, but there was a reason behind locking Dakota away." Lilith said, gaining my attention. "It wasn't done without purpose. Emperor Belos revealed to us a prophecy." Lilith said, with my putting my weapon away as I wanted to learn more.
"A prophecy? What did he say?" Eda asked as she was as interested in this as I was.
"According to the prophecy, Dakota is destined to either be the key to Unity or the bringer of Death to Emperor Belos. Emperor Belos believed that locking Dakota away was necessary to ensure the Day of Unity goes as planned. It was a precautionary measure to prevent any potential disruption or disaster." Lilith informed, where I wondered what this Day of Unity was.
"So, you're saying that Dakota's release could potentially be catastrophic?" Eda asked as she crossed her arms, not buying it.
"Exactly. I must admit that he had a reason to take such drastic action. If Dakota were to take revenge on anyone, it should be Belos himself. But I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Belos has taken precautions to protect himself." Lilith said with a smirk.
"Precautions? What kind of precautions are we talking about here?" Eda asked as she wanted answers as much as I did.
"Belos himself removed Dakotas heart, to protect himself. He's aware of the danger Dakota poses, and he won't let himself be an easy target. We can take some solace in that." Lilith informed, with me placing a hand over where my heart would be.
"Wait, hold on. You're telling me that Belos actually removed Dakota's heart while he was imprisoned? Are you serious, Lilith?" Eda questioned with a horrified and angered expression.
"Indeed. Belos went to extreme lengths to ensure that Dakota couldn't pose a threat to him. Removing his heart was one of those measures. It's a cruel and brutal act, but necessary." Lilith said with a smile.
"I can't believe it! Dakota was just a child, Lilith! How could Belos do something so monstrous? He didn't deserve that kind of treatment!" Eda yelled as she got into her face.
"Why are you so angry, Eda, it's not like you have anything to do with the boy... sorry, he would be considered a man now as he is in his twenties now." Lilith said as she placed her hands behind her back as she held her head up. "I may not agree with all his methods, but I believe in the vision of Unity he has for the Isles. Dakota's potential for destruction was too great to ignore." Lilith said, with me gritting my teeth at her.
"I don't care about Belos and his vision! No child deserves to be treated like that, no matter how dangerous they might become! This is unforgivable!" Eda yelled as she grabbed Lilith's robes and held it in a grip.
"Eda, please try to understand. Belos believes that the safety and unity of the Isles are paramount. He saw the potential danger in Dakota and took drastic measures to prevent it. It may be hard to accept, but it was necessary." Lilith defended, with me making the scythe once more.
"Necessary? There is nothing necessary about it, Lilith! I watched as he came to the Isles, how he wanted to protect his best friend! He did not deserve to have his heart ripped out! I can't believe you're defending Belos in this!" Eda yelled as he was fighting back tears.
"It's a complicated situation, one that we both don't fully understand." Lilith said as I wanted Eda to move so that I could kill this Woman.
"Understand? How can you understand Dakota without knowing the suffering Dakota went through? That you put him through!? He was innocent, Lilith! I thought you had more compassion than this!" Eda said as she pushed Lilith away.
"Eda, it's not that simple." Lilith said as she stood up straight.
"Well, I can't accept it, Lilith. I can't accept that you're willing to overlook such cruelty. Dakota deserved better than this. He is my kid, Lilith, and I will fight for him where he can't." Eda said as she summoned her staff, shocking me at her words.
"Your... kid?" Lilith said in shock. "I... I understand your anger, Eda. I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that you had a kid. A Human none the less." Lilith said as she placed a hand over her mouth, looking away from her sister.
Luz pops up between them. "Eda, I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel, and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead!" Luz said as she slumps to the ground, making me groan as she got herself into trouble.
"Mmm, it seems your student has met my strongest protégé." Lilith said as she kneels down. "And look at those ears!" Lilith said as I jumped down, grabbing her arm as she reached for said Ears, with Luz covering them.
"Back the fuck off, Bitch!?" I said in a harsh tone as I squeezed her hand, making her groan.
"Easy kid, I know you're livid, but you need to calm down!?" Eda said as she grabbed my arm, with me looking at her.
"You heard what she just said!?" I yelled, where Eda looked away. "I want her to pay, be it in blood, or death!" I said as Lilith grabbed my hand, trying to break free.
"Let me go, Monster!?" She yelled, with me tightening my grip, followed by a cracking sound. She screamed as she fell to her knees, now holding her wrist.
"KID!?" Eda yelled as she removed my hand from the wooden hands, freeing Lilith's hand in turn. "Are you ok, Lilly?" Eda asked as she made a circle over her wrist, with us watching her broken wrist fix it's self.
"Is she ok? Why are you worried about her!? You heard what she did, what Belos did!? I died because of them!?" I yelled, with Eda looking at me with wide eyes.
"What are you talking about? You're not dead!" Eda pointed out, where I put my wooden hand back on.
"Tell that to the Blight who cut me open. He confirmed it. I'm an Undead, not amongst the living, departed, passed on, at rest, unalived, stiff, bitten the dust!" I yelled as I pointed where my heart should be.
"A zombie?" Luz asked, with me looking at her.
"Try a Vampire with no heart because some freak decided to remove it!?" I said before yelling the last part at Lilith, with glared back at me. Looking at Luz, I looked back at her. "After Luz has her fight with your so called student, Me and you are entering the ring, Monster Vs Witch, to the death, and we will see who walks out alive! "I said as I got in her face.
Lilith traces a spell circle. Around the building, Eda's wanted posters burn. "For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good a teacher you really are." Lilith said as she started walking away, but stopped after a few feet. "I... do feel sorry for you... having taken your life away." She said as she looked back before walking away.
"Come on, kids. Time to prepare for bloodshed." Eda said as she placed her hands on our shoulders.
"But... whose blood?" Luz asked as she looked at Eda.
"Anyone's guess!" She said, with me looking at her.
Later
Leaning against the wall, I watched as Eda put on a headband. "All right, Luz. Let's start your training. Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What do you do?" Eda said as she made a attacking pose while getting closer to Luz. Luz pulls her hood up and leans off of the box she was sitting on, landing on the floor in fetal position. "Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?" Eda said as she backed off with a thinking pose.
Luz shakes her head, where I pushed myself off the wall. "And she needs glyphs in order to do magic." I said as I looked at Eda. "Speaking of, I'm taking over." I said as I looked over at Luz. "Because you don't have any magical attacks, you need to focus on your physical abilities." I said as I took off my wooden hand. "Dodge!" I yelled as I threw it at her, smacking her in the face with it, watching her roll over in tears. "She's useless." I said as I looked back at Eda, who facepalmed.
"Boy, I hope you didn't make an everlasting oath to stop learning magic or anything. You'd be toast." Eda said as she crossed her arms.
Luz sits up. "I-Is there a glowy hand thing that happens, or, uh—"
"Abomination. Rise." We heard, with us looking over at Lilith and some girl that were standing nearby. An abomination that comes up to the girls shoulders rises from her spell circle on the ground with a groan. It twists its head off and throws it, hitting a bakers coven witch in the face.
"Ooh, boy." Eda said as she rubbed her face.
"I can't believe I'm gonna have to stop learning magic!" Luz said in disbelief.
"You aren't." I said as I looked at her. "Dodge the monster, get to the witch. Beat her down. Hell, create your magic glyphs and use them up close as distractions. From there, throw punches. She will be too shocked at what you are doing to counter." I said as I poked her most and throat with my wooden hand. "First, punch here, then with a chop aim for the throat. When she goes to look to see if there is any blood." I said, with Eda giving a thumbs up, where her headband snapped due to her hair.
"Listen to him, Luz. We are not gonna let those snobs win that easy! We are not gonna let them win at all." She said as she got a mischievous expression on her face. "I've got an idea." She said as she whispered into my ear.
Later
Lilith and Amity are standing on the dais, while Eda, Luz and I are standing opposite them. "Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight." Lilith said as she held one hand out to Amity, who I recognize from the school. The Crowd cheers, with me yawning as this was already boring. "Versus... some human girl." Lilith said in disgust.
Applause stops, everyone looking and talking amongst themselves about said girl. "Give her a pep talk." I whispered to Eda as I stepped forward. "Then after worlds, you all will bare witness to Lilith the Witch go up against me! Anorev Dalv, King of the Monsters!?" I introduced, with everyone looking at me in silence.
"Anorev Dalv?" Eda questioned as I turned to face her. "Why didn't you use your real name?" She asked, with me shrugging my shoulders.
"Honestly don't know, I've used the name twice now. The first time was at the school." I answered as I crossed my arms as Luz walked forward.
A bell rings and screams. Luz, still nervous, and Amity, confident, approach each other as the audience cheers. Amity cracks her knuckles. Luz waves. Amity starts tracing out a large spell circle. "Abomination. Rise!" She commanded, where an abomination that towers over the two girls groans as it rises out of the spell circle. Luz whimpers while Amity gasps. "Whoa. Show me what you got, human!" She said, with me grinning as I knew she was cheating. Of course, so were we. I knew she was cheating as earlier she couldn't summon one taller than herself and now she was summoning a giant.
"I'm not good under pressure!" Luz yells as she runs away, with me facepalming as she wasn't going to dodge or counter.
The abomination groans. It twists its head off and throws it at Luz. Its head just misses. Luz is backed against the wall by the advancing abomination, its head regrown. She sinks to the ground in fear, whimpering, and grows nervous when she realizes she's right in front of one of Eda's mounds. She braces as the abomination steps on it. The abomination looks down as a towering jet of fire erupts from the mound.
"How did you do that?" Amity questions in shock.
"I, uh—" She does jazz hands. "Magic?" Luz said as she gave a fake grin. The steaming abomination steps onto another mound, this one producing a current of air strong enough to launch it and Amity into the air. She screams as The abomination grunts as it lands on its back. Amity lands, kneeling.
"I-I saw you that time!" Amity said while pointing at Luz. "You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?" She questioned while standing up.
"Not dying!" Luz called out while cupping her hands over her face. The abomination sits up with a groan, then stomps toward Luz again. Luz screams and runs.
The abomination, which sets off an explosion as it steps on a mound. "How are you doing that?" Amity questioned as she walks forward.
Luz see a mound. "No, Amity, don't step any closer!" She warned, with me crossing my arms.
"Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?" Amity said as she looked down and then back up at her. King suddenly lands on said mound, where spikes rose out of the ground, stabbing into all of his shirts. Luz turns to face us. "Spikes?" She questioned in shock, making me shrug my shoulders as I had nothing to do with it. Eda gives her two thumbs up.
"I knew it! You were cheating!" Amity yelled while pointing at Luz.
"Amity—No!" Luz called out while holding her hand out to her. Lilith walked over, touching the top of a shorter spike, making it crumble.
"Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!" Lilith said as I stepped forward as Eda groans.
"It wasn't her idea to cheat, but little miss perfect isn't so perfect either." I said as I spun Amity around and removed a power glyph from the back of her neck. Lilith's eyes widen as I held it up to her face. The abomination shrinks until it's about the height of Amity's knee, though it crumbles completely when its head crushes it. I then held it up for everyone else to see. "A power glyph from the Construction Coven!" I yelled as I crumbled it up and threw it in Lilith's face as everyone gasps.
"Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes! You cheated. Perfect, prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love convention's!" Eda cheered as she started dancing over to us.
"I only did that because I knew you would cheat!" Lilith defended, with me getting in her face, watching as she backed away with a look of horror as I grinned.
"Doesn't matter, our fight begins NOW!?" I yelled as I threw a punch at her, my arm getting coated in the black blood and hardening. It extended and hit her square in the face, sending her flying across the field and into the wall.
"Hold on Dakota!" Eda called out as she got in front of me, but I smacked her away with my tendrils as I charged after Lilith. Lilith summons her staff and hits me with a blast of energy, throwing me into the spikes. The audience gasps as some of the spikes stabbed into my body. I still got up, grinning as blood dripped from my wounds.
"Lilith, this isn't a fight you want!?" Eda called out as she stood between us.
"Maybe not, but it's one that I want!" I yelled as I charged at Eda. She summons her own staff and spins it in a circle, only for it to fly out of her hand and clatter on the ground. I smacked her aside as I continued towards Lilith, who fired a vortex of fire at me, burning me. "With how many times I've been burnt, IT NO LONGER BOTHERS ME!?" I yelled as I continued running at her while on fire, laughing at her terrified expression. Right when I reached for Lilith's face with my own hand, I was hit from the side and knocked away.
"Lilith, don't let him make skin contact!? You will die if he gets his hands on you!?" I heard Eda, with me looking up at her as I got up and faced the both of them.
"Going to help me, Sister?" Lilith questioned as she stood next to Eda, both of them getting a spell ready. "Once we put this Monster down for good we can finally get you to join the Emperors Coven." She said with a smirk.
"Sorry, Sister, but I can't let you kill him either. He's my kid, and you hurt him." Eda said while looking away. "But I can't have him killing you either." She said as she looked back at me.
"So, you would prefer to protect her than help me get Justice?" I questioned as I stood up and charged, getting pushed back by both of their spells, where I now found myself sitting in the wall. "I see, so you've made up your mind." I said as I looked up at them, blood dripping down from my head. "The only way you will stop me from killing your sister." I said as I looked from Eda over to Lilith. "From killing you... Is to kill me." I said as I looked towards the ground, really only wanting someone else to do it.
Still, I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement. It was as if I were a cat toying with two mice, watching them scurry and scheme in futile attempts to end my immortal life. "Don't make me, I don't want to hurt you!" Eda proclaimed, her voice laced with confidence.
Lilith, standing beside her sister, cast a spell, summoning a swirling vortex of dark energy. "We shall rid this world of your presence once and for all!" She called out as it came at me, hitting me.
I chuckled, my voice echoing through the arena. "How delightful. Two witches eager to challenge me." I said as I got back up, grinning at them.
With a swift motion, I pulled out the gun, loaded my blood inside and pulled the trigger, watching as it flew towards them as speeds that they couldn't follow. It missed, and the wall behind them was completely destroyed. They both turned to look at it, seeing the destruction. My eyes, glowing Violet with unholy power, pierced through them as they looked back.
I let out a whistle as Eda and Lilith exchanged a glance, their determination unyielding. They knew they were going to be facing a formidable foe. Eda took the first step, shooting bolts, and mystical projectiles surged forth, each aimed with precision. I took each attack, not moving from my spot as they tore through my body.
Lilith, not one to be deterred, joined the assault. She channeled her magic, summoning dark tendrils that snaked towards me, aiming to ensnare him. I danced through the shadows, my movements as graceful as they were deadly. I was untouchable, an entity beyond mortal reach.
As the sisters continued their relentless assault, I reveled in their futile attempts. I allowed myself to be struck by their spells, merely absorbing and shrugging off the damage. I was toying with them, a predator playing with its prey.
"You fight like children, sisters." I taunted, my voice dripping with mockery. "Sadly, I am beyond your feeble attempts to vanquish me." I said as I bit down on one of their spells, destroying it.
Eda and Lilith exchanged a glance, their faces filled with frustration and determination. They refused to be discouraged. They had faced countless challenges before, and they were not about to back down now. They were sisters after all.
With renewed resolve, Eda and Lilith unleashed their most potent spells, combining their powers in a last-ditch effort to overpower me. Bolts of lightning intertwined with torrents of dark energy, converging upon me. But even their combined might was not enough. I stood amidst the chaos, my form closer to that of a red dark fire. I was amused by the sisters' tenacity, so I decided it was time to up the stakes.
With a sinister grin spreading across my face, I placed my hands beside my face. "Discharging Restrictions for Imagination Construction Rule!" I said as my body was covered in bugs. "Consent of stage 'A' found." I said, watching Lilith's eyes widen in fear while she put up a barrier in front of herself and Eda. "Opening Verona Command. Power Restraints Lifted for Short Term use or until Target has been Terminated." I said as thousands of eyes opened up on my body before spewing all over the place, where hounds came out of the darkness and started eating the ones who were watching, tearing them to shreds.
"What the hell is that?" Eda questioned in fear as she backed away.
"That is Verona's Spell." Lilith informed. "Verona Vlad. Or as he called himself, Dalv Anorev. She said as she let it sink in. "A Vampire from the Human World. The first time I came across her, she was locked away by Belos for eating his previous Golden Guard. I don't know how this monster learned her spell, but if he goes even further down the hole he has dug up, then there is no coming back." She said, with me swiping the bugs off, now completely covered in darkness.
"Where is she now?" Eda asked, looking from me over to Lilith.
"Missing, three years ago. She escaped the confirmatory." Lilith informed, narrowing her eyes at me.
Eda looked back at me, then down at the ground. "Dakota kills whatever he touches... but what if that's not the case. "Eda said as she looked at Lilith. "What if he absorbs the life force of whatever touches him, and this Verona somehow wound up inside, fighting to get out?" Eda asked as she looked back at me as I started walking towards them.
"A sad end to a Vampire, and a horrific rise of a Vampire God. Because as long as there is one drop remaining, then it's possible for them to come back, though the less there is the longer it takes." Lilith said as she bit her lip.
"Well, it's been good knowing you, but we might be dead. He has us completely surrounded." Eda said as she took notice to the hounds that were on top of them, walking around the barrier. Reaching them, I gripped the barrier, with it flickering.
"He can absorb magic!?" Lilith questioned as she and Eda both fought to keep the barrier up. With a single motion, I shattered the barrier watched as they fell to their knees. The hounds danced around us, coalescing into grotesque forms.
Eda and Lilith, momentarily frozen by the display of raw power before them, quickly regained their composure. They knew they had to act swiftly if they were to stand a chance against my unleashed might. They channeled their magic, pouring their energy into one final, desperate assault.
The sisters unleashed a devastating combination of spells, a culmination of their most potent and forbidden magics. Eda summoned a cyclone of arcane energy, while Lilith conjured ethereal chains, attempting to bind me and prevent me from retaliating.
With a wave of my hand, I dispersed the cyclone with a mere flicker of my fingers, scattering the magical tempest like dust in the wind. The chains that sought to imprison me disintegrated upon contact with me. "You underestimate my power." I sneered, my voice resonating with a chilling undertone. "You cannot fathom the depths of my pain." With a burst of supernatural speed, I closed the distance between us in an instant. I pushed Eda towards the hounds, but instead of devouring her, they moved around her and got closer to Lilith and I.
"Dakota, no!" Eda yelled as she got up and tried pushing her way through the hounds.
"Come on! Face your creation!? FACE YOUR DEMONS!?!? FACE ME!?" I yelled as she aimed her staff at me, shooting me over and over again with whatever spell she could, each spell doing some serious damage, removing limbs and chunks of flesh.
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME YOU MONSTER!?" Lilith yelled. The onslaught seemed to take its toll on me. My body weakened momentarily, giving the Lilith a glimmer of hope at killing me. But just as she thought victory was within her grasp, I remerged. From the depths of the shadows fire, I produced a gleaming, silver gun.
With lightning speed and deadly accuracy, I began firing my weapon at Lilith. The bullets tore through the air, leaving trails of destruction in their wake. Lilith's survival instincts kicking in, dodged and weaved, narrowly escaping the hail of gunfire.
Eda knew she needed to find a way to stop me before I could delivered the final blow. Gathering her remaining strength, she summoned a protective shield of magic, shielding herself and charged threw the darkness that I had created. Taking a moment of respite behind the shield, Eda stood in front of me, looked into my eyes, desperately searching for any shred of humanity left within me. She spoke with a voice filled with compassion, hoping to reach the remnants of the man I once was.
"Kid, remember who you are!" She pleaded, her voice laced with empathy. "You were not always consumed by this darkness. There was a time when you were more than this." She said as she placed a hand on my chest, where my heart was supposed to be.
I paused, my glowing eyes narrowing as I stared at Eda. I watched as my mother stepped around Eda and stood next to her, followed by my father. Looking over my shoulder, I saw my sister crawling up. I aimed my gun at her and pulled the trigger, then my mother, and father, but Eda stood strong, unflinching.
"You were a protector, Kid. You protected Wanda, you vowed to be her protector. Remember your purpose." She said as the hounds now surrounded her.
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, the arena fell silent even from the hounds. My gaze shifted between the two sisters, a battle raging within me. The darkness that had consumed me clashed with the remnants of his former self. And then, with a sigh that seemed to echo through the arena, I lowered my gun. The shadows that encased me began to recede, the hounds returning to the shadows, turning me back to what I was before activating that so called spell, my eyes reflecting a mix of sorrow and confusion.
"I... remember." I whispered, my voice heavy.
"I can help you find your way back, kid." Eda assured, her voice filled with sincerity. "Together, we can conquer the darkness that consumes you." She said as she held her hand out for me to take.
I hesitated for a moment before finally accepting her outstretched hand. "Fine. I wont kill her... for now." I said, looking over at Lilith, watching as she was huffing and puffing, a hand on her chest as she leaned forward to get some air. "I will never forgive her for what she has done." I said as I turned around and walked away.
Later
Watching Eda, King and Luz walking over to the front door, I sat there, watching as Luz and King stop as Ed's continued on. She took notice to this and turned to face them. "There is no need to fear, he just has a lot on his plate right now." Eda said as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
"It's over flowing is what you mean to say." I said as I looked up at her and then down at the ground.
"Kid, you have to tell them. Because as much as you are a protector, you're also a destroyer. They need to know just incase something like this happens again." Eda assured, with me nodding.
Taking a deep breath, I looked up at them. "Luz, King, I know you both have a curiosity about my curse. I said as they stepped forward and sat down. Allow me to share my story. See, I was once human, like you Luz, but one day I woke up a Mutant. I didn't know it at the time and during a family hug... I learned that my power was the touch of death." I said as I saw the fear in their eyes. "My mother, Father... and baby sister." I said as Luz covered her mouth. "I killed them, and then some police officers, and that was when I decided to burn my house down along with me in it." I said as I rubbed my head. "I somehow survived and was placed in a coma. I ended up in an asylum and met Wanda. It was there that I broke us out and vowed to be her protector." I said as Luz reached into her backpack and pulled out a poster. "At the time I still didn't know what Mutants were and just kept calling myself Cursed. We eventually found our way here and fought Eda, and lost. You know the rest." I said as they nodded. "Only... you don't." I said, confusing them. "Eda's sister imprisoned me, and because of that, she caused my death." I said, shocking King as Luz heard out talk earlier. "Yeah, I'm not alive, and all of my organs are dead, my blood is blackened and I'm missing my heart. From what Lilith has told us, Belos has it, and I can't do anything to him because of it. I don't know if it's keeping me alive, I don't know if him crushing it will kill me, I am in the dark and I hate it!?" I yelled as I balled my my fists.
"Wow, that's intense." Luz said, with me nodding as it was.
"Yeah, you're like a hero with a tragic twist. Do you wish you could break the curse?" King asked, with me nodding.
"It's a complex question, King. On one hand, I yearn for release from this existence, longing for the peace of oblivion. But on the other hand, I still have a purpose to fulfill. I have to protect Wanda, but at the same time I hate Wanda for leaving me." I said as I balled up my hands as I held them to the side as to show them the scales of things.
"I've known about his curse for a while. It's a heavy burden to bear, but I think I learned something from today." Eda said as she sat next to me. "See, I don't think you kill with your touch... well, you do but that's not the point. I think you absorb their souls inside of you, their life force. Which is where most of that anger of yours is coming from." She said, poking my heart.
"You know, even though you're cursed, you're still a pretty cool guy. I'm glad got you back, if we didn't, I wouldn't have my sidekick at my side." King said with a laugh as he stood up and placed his paws on his hips.
"Yeah, me too. It's important to understand and support each other, even when we're dealing with our own struggles." Luz said as she hugged King, who just accepted it.
"Agreed. Bonds forged through empathy and understanding are powerful indeed." I said as I looked up at the sky. 'Still, I wonder what you are doing... Wanda.'