Looking for a Home

by MrSova

The sequel of: "The Entanglement" Luz and Amity take their well-deserved vacation in the Human Realm. They were supposed to rest and find closure but the long-forgotten past caught up with them.

14. Chapter 14 - The Real Home

Luz felt an overwhelming pain, paralyzing her body. Her sweat rolled down her face while feverish shivers rummaged through her muscles. She had trouble breathing and all sounds were fuzzy. She could hear her mother's muffled voice, instructing everyone about what to do.

"Amity…" Luz thought, hoping to receive an answer but only the Demonʼs trill echoed in her head.

"They need help," Eda's voice trembled with fear.

Luz did not see her motherʼs panicked expression. It was so similar to the one she wore when her daughter fought for her life, scratched by the Owl Beast. The older Clawthorne blinked rapidly, chasing her tears away.

"Go!" Willow ordered in a calm voice, "Hunter and I will take them to Lilith and we'll join you shortly," The short witch added, pointing at the unconscious, tied-up witches. She then walked over to Danielle whose gaze was fixated on the unconscious lavender-haired woman in her arms, "Emira will save her, donʼt worry," She tried to reassure the worried human but to no avail.

Danielle nodded in understanding. She was too anxious to look away, counting breaths Amity let out, watching her aorta pulsate on the side of her neck, making sure the woman she came to care for was still alive.

"Meow?" Ghost scared the older brunette, jumping onto her shoulder.

"Sheʼs right," Eda agreed once Owlbert told her what the Palisman said, "Come on, Dani, we need to fly," She added, leaving the house and that was what dragged the human from her worried counting.

"F-fly?" She stuttered nervously, following the tall witch outside.

Danielle was too nervous to look at the surroundings and comprehend the new Realm. Ghost transformed into a staff and hovered beside her. The human did not want to cause a scene or disappoint Amity by endangering her more than she already was, taking too long to agree to fly.

"Just find your balance and focus on keeping Boots secure, her Palisman will do the rest," Eda instructed while she was already keeping Luz secure on Owlbert.

Danielle glanced at the witch who sat on her staff and mimicked her pose. She then looked down at Amity and pulled her closer, ensuring the young witch would be safe.

"Okay, Ghost," Danielle's voice shook with hesitation, "Take us to Emira," She added and off they went.

The whole flight took them less than a few minutes during which Danielle could have sworn she did not breathe, too scared to move a muscle, afraid to fall. The human did not take in the shimmering rooftops, she did not notice a blueish moon on the ultramarine sky or the strangely shaped birds, passing her by. The only thing she could focus on was Amity and her safety.

"Weʼre almost there," She heard Eda's warning.

Danielle's body stiffened when she felt Ghost lowering her flight. She let out a small squeak at the sight of the ground approaching her rapidly. When she was certain they would crash, the flight slowed down and the Palisman let out a quiet meow, letting the human know it was safe to get off.

"These things need seatbelts…" Danielle whispered in a quivering voice before she noticed the building they arrived at, "Wow…" The human whispered with Amity in her arms, looking up at the massive Clinic.

"You can do sightseeing later, Dani," Eda dragged her out of her thoughts.

"No need to be an ass, Marilyn," The brunette replied with venom but followed the gray-haired witch inside, hearing her scoff.

Eda guided Danielle upstairs to the Clinic's first floor where the main area was. They passed the Nurses' Station and moved toward the Intensive Care Units. Eda stopped a Demon Nurse who was doing her rounds.

"Get Emira, we'll be in the ICOR One," Clawthorne paused for a moment, "Tell her Amity is hurt," She added. The Nurse looked at the witch in Danielle's hold and nodded before leaving in a hurry, "Come on, Dani," Eda addressed the human who did not argue.

The witch seemed to be familiar with this healthcare establishment and its staff. Danielle hoped it was a good thing. Then she recalled what Amity told her about the time Luz spent unconscious in the Clinic.

"This must be this place," She thought while she followed her ex into a large room.

The large operating table was surrounded by many lights directed at the spot where Eda put down her daughter. She drew a spell circle and the lights turned on, illuminating Luz's shivering figure, and blinding Danielle in her attempts to see more of the room.

"Wait here for Emira," Eda said, strapping Luz to the table, "Iʼll take care of Boots in the Operation Room on the other side of the corridor," She approached the brunette who held Amity even closer.

"W-why?"

"Luz is my Kid, I'm emotionally compromised, I cannot… I shouldn't heal her," Eda tried to explain calmly, "But I can help Amity," Danielle looked into Clawthorne's golden eyes at the sound of Blight's name, "I promise, I will keep her safe," She added in a reassuring whisper.

"O-okay…" Danielle finally agreed and her gaze returned to Amityʼs form.

The young witch was still breathing harshly, gasping for air, struggling with every raise of her chest. Her brows were tied in a pained frown while her ears twitched so slightly one could mistake it for a tic.

"Dani?" Eda urged the woman.

"S-sorry…"

"I know you care about her, Luz does too, and her sister will be here shortly," Eda reasoned, "I promise to take care of her," She added. Danielle looked at the witch with teary eyes.

"Save her…" She said with a quivering voice, "Eda…" She added, using the Owl Lady's real name for the first time, and the said witch nodded, scooping the unconscious body, and leaving the room.

Danielle felt empty without the weight of the witch in her arms. Hoping for the best, she needed to do something. She cleared her throat and approached the table where her friends' daughter was lying unrestfully.

"In case you can hear me, Eda is caring for Amity," Danielle whispered. She was shocked to hear Luz's strained whimper, trying to speak. The older woman noticed sweat rolling down Clawthorne's forehead, "Whatʼs wrong Luz? You never hurt like that before," She wondered out loud. She found a basin with some gauze.

"H-hur-hurts…" Luz gasped with great difficulty.

"I know, Luz," Danielle spoke softly, cleaning her face with a wet towel, "Stay strong, everything will be alright…" Her words were interrupted by the sudden sound of the doors opening.

"Luz, what did you get yourself into… And who are you?" The green-haired witch, in a long blue robe and familiar-looking golden eyes, entered the room and looked at the human.

"Iʼm Danielle…" The doctor said, her gaze transfixed on the witchʼs eyes, "You must be Emira, Amityʼs sister," She added.

"You got that right, mysterious human, Danielle," Emira said with a tease, approaching Luz.

"Um, sorry… I'm Luz's guardian… At least in the Human Realm," She added and noticed how Emira's expression faded when she noticed Luz's pained expression. She approached the hurt woman.

"Hey, Luz, long time no see," Emira tried to joke, "I'm going to check you out now, okay?" She then looked up at the unknown human.

"She looks kinda Luz-like… Maybe she's family?" The Healer thought.

"You need to tell me what happened. I know that Luz has all that Harpy thing going but every piece of information could be useful. You talk and I'll analyze her wounds," Emira explained and Danielle told her everything.

It took around fifteen minutes. Danielle talked. She let out word vomit, telling everything about her crush on Camila. She then told Emira how she dated Marylin who broke her heart, how Luz and Amity came into her life, and how Odalia returned until the very end where she killed Emira's mother to protect her sister. It helped her a lot. By the end of her story, the human was pacing nervously around the OR, mumbling to herself.

"I meant for you to tell me what happened to Luz but it seems like you needed to vent," Emira teased, making Danielle realize how much she let out, "Don't worry, I'm glad to know you helped my sister," Emira smiled at the woman, "Also now I can see why Luz is so broken," She added dropping the spell.

"Whatʼs wrong with her? Why is she so feverish?" Danielle asked and Emira sighed at that.

"I thought that this unbelievably powerful transformation, which indeed crushed many of her bones, was what hurt her," Emira started, removing the blanket from Luz's body, "However, thanks to your venting, I know that Luz is hurt because of whatever Odalia did to Amity," She added and Danielle nodded in understanding.

"How can I help?"

"Well, you have no magical ability so keep her hydrated. We have the IVs from the Human Realm and make sure you calm her down once she wakes up, okay?"

"You don't keep patients under?" Danielle could not contain her shock.

"We'd rather know our patients are safe," Emira replied with a smile, "But I still have to look into your anesthesiology or whatever you call it," She added before focusing on her patient.

Danielle nodded with a small smile. She watched the witch draw a Healing Spell circle after they draped Luz's body together. She noted how the witch worked similarly to her sister, making her think that Emira taught Amity the Healing Magic. The younger brunette whimpered in pain when the procedure had begun.

Luz's brows frowned and she let out a weak whimper. She could feel every part of her body hurt. It let her know she was indeed alive, yet she also knew she was hurt badly. Again.

"Am…" She tried to call out for her fiancée but it felt like her lips were not working properly.

"Fuck, not again…" She thought, angry she could not control herself when the memories of the other night flashed before her eyes.

"Ami…" She tried again and finally, felt a chill palm on her forehead.

"Shh, shh, Kid," Eda cooed quietly, "Amity is safe."

"W-where…"

"Don't force yourself, please," Eda asked, soothing the curly hair, "Amity is safe in the other room, try to sleep. You need to regain your strength," She added and was relieved when Luz's features relaxed.

"O-Odalia?" Luz fought hard against the overwhelming exhaustion.

"Dead, Kid," Eda connected their foreheads when she stopped the soothing caresses, "It's over, she's finally safe, you're both finally safe," She added and Luz could finally rest.

The human closed her eyes and let out a delicate sigh. She knew she needed to focus on her health before helping Amity. She just hoped she would not be too late by the time her body would let her out of bed.

Danielle was sleeping in the chair by the Clinic's bed. She tried to watch the witch like a hawk but could not fight the need to rest. Every moment she opened her eyes Amity was still asleep, still in the transition, and still… Still.

"Whatever Eda did, must have helped. Her breathing and heartbeat are much calmer," She thought and restlessly fell asleep again.

The brunette did not realize when someone covered her with a soft blanket. Danielle let herself relax, pulling the material closer. Suddenly, she sat up, startled when she felt an all too familiar scent by her side.

"Shh, it's okay, Dani," Eda whispered, trying to support the woman watching the sleeping Blight.

"Leave me be, Eda," Danielle snapped quietly, not wanting to wake the young woman, "I've had enough of…"

"I know, I know…" Eda whispered in understanding, "I left you, I broke your heart…"

"I thought you were going to propose not ghost me…" Danielle growled angrily.

"That was my plan," Eda confessed and that made the human finally look into her eyes.

She was so confused, heartbroken, cheated on, and most importantly she was furious. Danielle was so confused. She wanted to punch the witch into oblivion but at the same time, she wanted to feel her comfort once again.

"I'm so sorry, Danielle," Eda said with all honesty in her voice. She hesitantly sat by Danielle's side and was encouraged by the fact that the human let her.

"Tell me what happened," Danielle sighed, resting her head on Eda's shoulder, allowing the witch to comfort her. She watched Amity's unconscious form breathe soundly.

"It was our anniversary and I was so happy…" Eda looked to the side shamefully, looking back at her memories, "I was about to tell you I'm not human, if all went well I was hoping to propose…"

"So what changed?" Danielle wondered, hoping to get an answer to a question that brought her insomnia for the past three years.

"You showed me your pictures… You showed me Luz. I panicked. How could I ever explain that I was raising a kid that was supposed to be yours? And in the Demon Realm at that?!" Eda exclaimed with frustration, "Iʼm sorry… I still regret that. Please understand that Luz was always my priority…"

"I get it…" Danielle whispered, not removing her head from Eda's shoulder, snuggling closer in, the exhaustion finally getting the better of her, "I would do anything to protect them too…" She whispered tiredly while the witch strengthened her protective hold on the human, ensuring she was securely covered by the blanket she brought, "I just wish you told me, Cariño," She added warmly, surprising the witch with the pet name.

Once Eda started purring, Danielle was out cold, sleeping soundly for the first time since the police found Bergstein's body. The witch looked at the shorter woman and tightened her embrace protectively.

"I too wish I wasn't a coward," Eda replied and let herself close her eyes as well, finding joy in the dreadful situation.

The next time Luz woke up she heard not-so-muffled voices in her room. While her body was still sore, she felt much better than the last time she tried to talk to Eda. The said witch was loudly arguing with two other people. It took Luz a moment to recognize the additional voices.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, donʼt you dare to put it on Luz, she's been through enough shit already!" Eda growled angrily.

"Well, she bonded with my sister who's still not waking up…"

"Just calm the fuck down!" Danielle interrupted.

"Don't you yell at me, human…"

"Don't you 'human' her! She's the one who saved your sister's life!" Eda opposed.

"Who the hell you think you are to stand up for me?!" Danielle hissed angrily, "I can tell this child to BACK OFF myself," She added glaring at Emira.

"SHUT UP!" Luz could not take it any longer.

"Luz!" Everyone called out in unison, instantly forgetting about their fight.

"How are you, Kid?" Eda asked, caressing her daughterʼs hair in comfort.

"Headache… Thanks to you…" Luz murmured grumpily, tying her brows.

"Sorry," Both Danielle and Emira whispered.

"Why are you arguing… What's wrong with my fiancée?" Luz asked, opening her eyes which roamed the people in her room.

Her sight was still blurry. She blinked rapidly and she soon started to see everything more clearly. She focused her gaze on the Healer, noting her anxious expression, filled with fear hidden underneath the anger.

"Thatʼs the problem, everything seems perfectly fine with her, Luz," Emira said, "Also congrats. It would be nice to have you in the family," She added and Luz cracked a small smile, showing off her white-gold fang.

"Please, rest some more, we'll take you to her shortly," Eda added and Luz did not need any further encouragement, falling asleep immediately. The other three women shared looks with each other.

"Sorry," They all said in unison, understanding how their worry got them on the edge.

When Gus was brought to the Demon Realm for the first time in years, Luz was still weak. She understood that her weakness was coming from the fact that Amity was still unconscious.

This situation was unprecedented so they all speculated if it was the Bond that kept Amity alive or was the Bond that weakened the human. Nonetheless, Luz knew she had to find a way to save the love of her life.

Eda helped Luz into her favorite, comfortable house clothes before she helped her daughter into the wheelchair. Danielle could not believe how weak the young human looked. She was pale and still feverish. Her scarred brow twitched nervously but she was determined, never losing hope.

"Take me to Amity…" Luz asked with an exhausted voice, "Please," She added.

"Sure thing, Kid," Eda said and pushed the wheelchair delicately.

When they rolled into Amity's dim-lit room, Luz could feel a surge of strength. She wanted to get up, run toward her fiancée, and save her from this unknown, incomprehensible situation. Danielle approached the unconscious witch and brushed her lavender hair away, clearing her face.

"Amity," Danielle whispered softly, "Luz is here," She added. Everyone noticed a delicate flutter of her ears, "This happens every time she hears your name," The older brunette addressed Luz with a gentle smile, "She's not gone…" She turned back, facing the unconscious witch again, "Luz," Another ear flutter made Luz believe her guardian's theory.

"I…" Luz tried to move closer to the lavender-haired witch but she was not strong enough.

"We got you, Kid," Eda whispered and with Danielle's assistance, they helped her sit close by the unconscious Blight.

"Amity," Luz whispered, placing her hand on the pale one. The witch's ears fluttered again but nothing changed, "Baby, I don't know what she did to you…" She had to pause to regain her breathing, exhausted with this small exercise, "But I'm getting you back even if that's the last thing I do," Luz vowed, caressing the pale hand, rolling the engagement ring with her thumb, "Thatʼs a promise," She added and suddenly shook her head.

"Luz?" Danielle approached the younger human.

"I'm okay…" Luz whispered before her eyes rolled up.

"Sure you are," Eda teased, catching her daughter before she slipped from the wheelchair to the floor, "You're so okay, Kid," She added, taking Luz back to her room.

"Stop!" Emira entered the room with Viney in tow.

"Sorry about that," The brunette Healer spoke softly, "I talked with friends in the Oracle Coven and we shouldn't separate them… At least not when their well-being seems to be in some way connected," She explained, everyone nodded, and she left.

"You know, she's not witch heavy, she's human…"

"Average, Eda…" Danielle interrupted.

"Still heavy, Dani," Eda teased.

"And here I thought witches are stronger than humans…"

"Keep teasing and I'll show you just how strong…"

"GUYS!" Emira interrupted, "Have some decency to spare us this marital spat," Emira said with a mischievous smirk.

"We're not…" Danielle and Eda squeaked in unison.

"Put Luz in that bed," Viney ordered when she returned to the room, pushing a new bed and blocking its wheels with a small spell, "Now, what the hell are you waiting for?!"

"Oh, the things you missed, Honey," Emira chuckled.

Eda placed Luz in the new bed and tucked her in safely. At the same time, Danielle approached Amity, making sure she was warm enough and sleeping calmly. Both Emira and Viney watched the older women care for their family.

"The hell did I miss?" Viney asked in a whisper.

"Let's just say you owe me fifty Snails," Emira chuckled.

"No way!?" Viney whispered with a widening smile, watching the older women interact.

When Luz woke up the next day she felt better, stronger, and more determined to bring back her fiancée. She was surprised to realize she was sleeping in the bed next to Amity. She sat up and her expression faded when she realized the witch was still unconscious.

"Dang it, Ami… What should I do?" Luz thought, rubbing her temple with the heel of her palm.

"Chirp…" She heard a voice of support.

Knock, knock!

Luz was dragged away from her thoughts by a delicate knock. Gus entered the Recovery Room, looking at his friend with worry. Clawthorne smiled, despite her helplessness. She was glad to see the young witch who approached her with the food tray.

"So good to see you, Gus," Luz whispered, trying to smile, "Whatʼs all that?"

"Breakfast," He said, placing the tray on Luz's bed which forced the woman to sit back up against the pillows, "I know what you're planning so you're gonna need your strength," He added with a smile.

"Oh? And you're going to avoid the Selkidomus in the room?" Luz smirked, poking the eggs, taking a bite of the buttered bread, "Have you met your father yet?" Gus looked away, "Yeah, though so…" She added with a low voice, "I get it, Gus. Amity would too… We both avoided certain… Confrontations…"

"It's not that… It's just…" The young witch hesitated, "I know he would be thrilled but he'd want me to come back 'home'..." He said shyly, "How do I tell him that the Demon Realm is not my home? Not anymore?"

Luz continued her meal while she digested everything her friend told her. It was understandable Gus came to her with this confession. Who could have understood him better than the human who considered the Demon Realm her one true home?

"I get it, Gus," Luz said downing her elixir with a shudder, "Let's deal with everything one step at a time," She added and the witch smiled warmly.

"Of course," He agreed, "Let's start with getting your fiancée back," Gus added and helped Luz up.

"Get Eda while I get ready," She added and the man nodded in agreement before leaving the room.

"Just wait for me, Amity…"

Luz was hovering above her fiancée, waiting for her mother to come. She could not tear her eyes away from the unconscious witch. This was not how she imagined the first days after her proposal. This was not what she imagined in her worst nightmares. Yet, she was not about to give up. Over her dead body.

"Kid, are you sure you want to do this?" Eda asked and Luz nodded without uttering a word.

The human straightened herself and turned around. Luz smiled when she noticed Gus with Willow and Hunter standing by the door. Danielle was right behind Eda and Emira who held Viney's hand. The young Clawthorne smiled at the people who were there not for her. They were there for Amity.

"I told you you are not alone anymore," Luz smiled, looking down at the sleeping figure.

"Okay, let's get to work," Eda said sternly and everyone paid attention to her, "Bring Boots to the center of the room, Luz get over here," She added.

The young human approached her mother and was surprised to see that Eda held another elixir in her hand and an old, long-forgotten radio. She had not seen it since her first year in the Isles when she played with King.

"Take the walkie so we can be in constant contact," Eda passed the radio, "Take another elixir so Beasty can help you while in Boots' head," She added and smiled warmly, "You're gonna be fine, Kid…"

"I really don't give a damn about me anymore, Mom," Luz said honestly and the older Clawthorne's expression faded.

"Luz, Cariño, it wasn't your fault," Danielle interrupted. The young Clawthorne looked away, "Listen," She cradled Luz's face, "I know for a fact that Amity wouldn't want you to blame yourself for her motherʼs…"

"Nobody moves!" Viney startled everybody, getting their attention, and making them freeze, "Look!" She pointed to Amity's hands where her suddenly elongated nails were slowly retracting.

"Huh…" Luz scoffed with a small smirk.

"Seems like calling Odalia her mother is still angering her…" She thought with hope.

"Bring her back to us," Danielle said with a smile and Luz felt more confident.

Luz downed her elixir and Willow retrieved the empty vial. She tested the radio, hid it in her trouser pocket, and nodded at Eda.

"I hope you're ready because we're not coming back without her," Luz thought with a confident smile.

"Bring it, Kid," She heard the Demonʼs voice echo in her mind.

"Off… You… GO!" Eda's exclaim brought Luz back from her thoughts just in time for her to realize she was surrounded by gold-yellow energy and transferred into her fiancée's mind.

Luz felt hard ground on her cheek. She coughed hard when the sensation of her body started coming back to her. A delicate purr made it to her ears and she felt a small bump on her head.

"Ugh…" Luz groaned, smacking her lips.

"Kid, talk to me!" She heard the radio go off with a static at the end of the message.

The brunette groaned again and she turned to her back. She opened her eyes and realized that everything was incredibly dark. She turned her head toward a purring noise and noticed a small Owl Demon was sitting by her side. They were both connected by a crimson-red thread, tied to their ankles.

"Kid?!" Luz finally grabbed the radio and brought it to her lips.

"Iʼm here, Mom," She groaned. She let go of the button and the static followed.

"Shouldn't it be brighter?" She thought, trying to distinguish shapes around her.

"Good to hear you made it," Eda's voice replied, "Tell us what you see," She added and Luz forced herself to sit up.

"Nothing. Everything is super dark… And my body is so heavy," Luz whispered, "Beasty is here with me… Though their form is not bigger than the baby King," She described and the Demon hissed in irritation.

"You need to get used to the density of your consciousness. Keep going and let us know once you find something," Eda instructed.

"Got it, over," Luz said. She hid the radio in her trouser pocket and gathered strength.

Clawthorne let out another groan and forced herself up. The Demon flew up and sat on her shoulder, purring in encouragement. The human nodded in agreement, fought against the weight of her body, and walked forward.

After a few minutes, she finally noticed a delicate purple glow in the vastness of thick darkness. The surroundings slowly started getting brighter and soon enough the human could distinguish the shapes around her.

"I guess we found her," Luz whispered as she kept pushing forward.

The Demon let out another purr, and the human, who wondered why they could not talk, retrieved her radio. Her lips parted when she noticed tall doors, richly decorated with engine parts and abominations.

The doors were located in two rows, guiding into the garage-like sheds. Each one had a brass frame with an oil-like painting presenting the memory that shaped the witch Luz was looking for.

"I found her Mind Scapes," The brunette informed and let off the button.

"What do you see?" Eda asked, "Is Amity there?" Luz heard Danielle's voice before the older Clawthorne let go of the radio button.

"Don't worry, Dani. I'm gonna find your Hija," Luz teased with a smile, trying to deal with stress before she addressed Eda, "Mom, her memories seem to be blocked, covered with a wide stripe of glowing… Something," Luz explained looking at the doors closest to her, "It's like there's a lock so there should be a key too, right?" She wondered out loud and finally let go of the button.

"Remember Luz," Gus' voice came from the radio, "Even burned-down memories can be restored if you do it in time," He spoke softly.

"Keep going, Kid," Eda encouraged Luz.

The woman hid the radio before moving forward, passing the next doors, and walking deeper into Amityʼs Mind Scapes. She watched the paintings she passed by, hoping she was not too late to save her fiancée.

Luz was finally regaining the normal feeling of her body. She walked past the doors containing Amity's memories, watching each painting with awe. She smiled widely when she realized how many of those core memories consisted of her.

The first time their eyes met, their first meeting at the Academy, the first time Amity healed her, the time when Luz asked the witch out, their first kiss in the Library, their first time being intimate…

It was all there and it was exceedingly important to the unconscious witch. Luz could not help but smile, knowing how much she meant to the woman she loved. Yet, Clawthorne felt more anxious than ever, knowing she still could not find the Inner Amity.

Finally, she approached the end of the Mind Scapes. This was where the largest, most secure, and most richly decorated door with a large round, cylinder lock was located. It made Luz think of the Human Realm treasury.

"H-h-help…" She heard a weak, delicate whisper from the small area in front of the vault.

"Holy shit, Ami!" Luz roared, rushing forward when she noticed the Inner Self.

Amity was kneeling on the floor. Her whole body shook with sobs, convulsions, and panic. Her torso was pierced with dozens of bright, purple, magenta-colored energy sword-like rods. Her golden eyes were tearing down with soul-shattering fear while her slanted ears twitched in agony.

Luz slid down to her knees to get closer to her fiancée when she finally took the sight in. What she noticed from that perspective was that Amity was impaled to the floor, fully immobilized by the energy stuck in her body.

"H-h-help…" The witch repeated and Luz cupped her face, wiping her tears away.

"Shh, shh, shh, Amity, Baby, I'm here," Luz comforted the witch. She noticed it did not matter what she did or said. There was no change in the response. Amity kept repeating the same words over and over again, "Mom, I found her!"

"Talk to me!" Eda ordered and Luz painted her the best word picture she could.

"Luz, are the swords ended with keys?" Gus took over the radio, making Luz inspect the rods.

"Y-yeah… Can I unlock her memories?" Luz asked and heard Eda, Gus, and Hunter hum in confirmation, "I'll keep you posted!" She added and decided she needed to keep working.

The human hid the radio and cradled the feverish, tear-stained face, making the pointy ears twitch at the delicate touch. Amity repeated her plea for help again until Luz decided it was time to move forward.

"Listen, Baby," She said softly, "I need you to stay strong for me. I will need to remove those rods… I will take out one after another so try to stay with me," Luz explained her plan. When Amity still did not say anything, she decided to act.

"Okay, here we go…" Luz thought and she placed her palm on the rod closest to her.

"H-h-help…" Amity repeated and Luz could not hide how strange it felt.

She slowly pulled the rod from the witch's chest and was almost deafened by the animalistic scream of agony. The moment the sword-like rod was out of Amity, the end of the handle created a bright, purple ribbon that helped guide Luz to the correct door.

"Kid! What's going on?! She's screaming and seizing," Luz heard from the radio but she could not even think about answering.

She followed the ribbon-like energy and when she was right in front of the doors, the rod left her hands. It seemed to be magnetically attached to the magical lock, merging with it, freeing the memory.

Luz cracked a smile and watched the young Amity and Willow in the strange ball pit where they seemed to have the time of their lives as the memory played out before the lock disappeared into nothingness and a small fuchsia flame ignited above the doorframe.

"It's working…" Luz whispered, smiling to herself.

She quickly returned to the Inner Amity and noticed the witch had finally calmed down. Luz caressed the pale cheek and whispered soothing words before she pulled out another sword. She quickly followed the magical thread and unlocked the memory of Amity's Grudby Championship. She watched the memory play out and could not be more proud of the witchlet from the past.

"Luz, talk to me, now!" Danielle said sternly through the radio, "¿Qué le pasa a Mija?" Luz chuckled at the womanʼs worry.

"It's alright, Dani. I'm bringing your daughter back…"

"What?! She's not my daughter…" A snickering laughter from everyone by Danielle's side made Luz smile even wider and her guardian returned the radio to Eda.

"So I take it that unlocking the memories is working?" The older Clawthorne asked.

"So far, so good, Mom," Luz confirmed.

"Good, keep us posted," Eda added, the static of the radio followed, and Luz continued her work.

Luz was taking her time. After each unlocked memory, she ensured that the Inner Amity was stable and safe like her body in the outside world. Once the number of swords was down to five, Luz noticed that the witch's eyes seemed more responsive, more aware of her surroundings.

What did not skip Clawthorne's attention was that the entire Mind Scapes seemed brighter and warmer. All unlocked memory doors were illuminated with an intense magenta flame that looked so familiar to Luz.

"L-L-Luz…" The Inner Amity gasped in a strained voice, her eyes roamed the void before her, blinking rapidly.

"Shh, shh, Baby, you're gonna be alright," Luz cooed, trying to calm the witch down, "Just a few more, Ami," She added and grabbed another sword, "Stay with me," She pleaded and unlocked another memory.

"N-n-no…" Amity whimpered with a pained voice, "You need to stop," She added. That made Luz hesitate before removing the last rod.

"What are you talking about, what's wrong?" She asked hesitantly, studying her fiancée's face.

Amityʼs expression was strained, pained but the witch was still fighting against all odds. She seemed like she wanted to speak up but Luz's delicate touch to her cheek stopped her. The human could not believe how strong her fiancée was.

"Luz, whatever you're doing you need to stop for a moment!" Eda's voice came from her pocket.

"Whatʼs wrong, Mom? The Inner Amity can't seem to tell me…"

"She has a very high fever, she's shaking and talking nonsense…" Eda tried to explain.

"Don't let her out!" Amityʼs pained gasps came from the radio, confusing everyone.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah…" Luz confirmed and looked at the last sword.

The human analyzed the symbol at the butt of the handle and then looked around the Mind Scapes. The sudden bite on her round ear made her hiss in pain. She was ready to snap the Owl Demon off her shoulder when she realized she had seen that symbol before.

"That bitch…" Luz whispered in awe before quickly turning back to face the Inner Amity, "Baby, talk to me, what will happen if I set you free?" Amity scoffed with a small smirk.

"What Odalia molded into her own image is still living inside me, waiting for a moment of my weakness to break free…" The witch gasped and Luz recognized this description.

That was what Amity told her during their time spent on the cliff above the lake. The sudden, loud pounding rattled the giant, abomination vault door, making the dust lift and Luz felt a strange shiver run down her spine.

"Amity…" Clawthorne whispered just as scared as she was worried for the witch.

"N-no… I'm not worth it…" Amity whispered. The tears rolled down the pale cheeks, "Forget about me…" Luz turned back violently at those words and frowned at the witch.

"Amity, are you serious?" Luz spat angrily, "I came into your Mind Scapes to find you!" She said and watched the trembling woman still impaled with one, last rod, "Whatever is hiding behind that door we can handle it…"

"T-t-t-together," Amity choked out, her quivering lips finally cracked the tiniest of smiles while her eyes closed tiredly.

"Exactly," Luz cupped her face and wiped the tears away, "Always together, my Love," She added and kissed the pale cheek right in time as she grabbed the last key.

"Do it!" Amity ordered. Her eyes snapped open and she braced for the pain.

"Mom, how is Amity doing?" Luz asked through the radio. Her intense gaze never left the frightened golden eyes.

"Sheʼs still feverish…"

"Do it! Fucking do it! Do it!" Luz heard Amity's voice on the radio, growling in unison with her Inner Self.

"Whatever you did, Luz, made her change her song… You say that's the last key?" Eda asked, her tone serious like never before.

"Yes, behind me there is a giant vault-like door. The symbol on the door matches the last key and the Inner Amity is frightened to have that removed," Luz described her situation. She did not know that Eda shared a knowing look with Gus and Hunter, "Mom!?"

"Iʼm here, Luz," Eda confirmed, and hearing her name made her realize the situation was serious.

"Mom?"

"Listen, Kid… Everyone has an Inner Demon… Whatever is hiding behind that door, will not go down peacefully. You will have to help Amity fight it. She'll be weakened but I know you can handle it," Eda spoke softly, hoping to calm Luz down, "I trained you well Luz, since the day we dealt with Adegast, through the Boiling Isles education system… I believe in you… Mi pequeña Búha…"

"Easy there, Owl Lady. Donʼt go soft on me now," Luz joked, nervous hearing her mother so stressed, "I'll see you in a bit," She added and hid her radio before refocusing her whole attention on the Inner Amity, "Now listen Baby, we're getting you free, and you'll be alright. You'll look great in a white dress… Or a suit… It doesn't have to be white…" Luz started to stumble on her words.

"D-Dork…" The Inner Amity chuckled, slightly showing off her fangs, "Do it, Luz… Mi pequeña Búha," She added, smirking.

"That definitely sounds better coming from you…" Luz teased.

"Corazón," Amity added with a wider smile, regaining her confidence a little.

Danielle sat by the side of Amity's bed. She was changing the cold compress, one after another. She was soothing her in Spanish, humming, and singing 'La Bruja' which the young witch came to love since the day she heard it for the first time. Eda could not concentrate on the problem at hand and supported Luz. She wanted to comfort the older brunette as well.

"We have time before Luz makes contact again, Eda," Willow said with a small, supportive smile, "Go, help her calm down too," She added. Clawthorne nodded, handing the radio to the short witch.

Eda walked toward Danielle and froze when she thought about the best approach. Her mind was unforgiving, replaying the day she left and never returned. Then she recalled the days when she came back to check in on the human only to witness her cry her eyes out, struggling to get back to her life. Eda meant every word when she said she knew she broke Danielle's heart. How does one come back from this?

"D-Dani?" Apparently, that was how. Stuttering nervously.

"Not now, Eda…" Danielle could focus only on Amity's well-being. She was glad the witch seemed more responsive even if she was still trapped in her mind, "I can't afford distractions…"

"Danielle," Eda took another step closer, her gold eyes roaming the human and her actions, "Tell me about you and Amity…" Danielle scoffed angrily.

"Tell me about you and Luz," The doctor replied angrily.

"You know how it is… A lost kid followed me to a strange world, and I let her stay with me so nothing would eat her… Before I knew it, she grew on me like a fungus and I adopted her legally," Eda tried to joke.

"Amity and I had the same mother…" Danielle replied dryly, brushing the stray lavender lock away, and the witch did not need any further explanation.

"Don't worry, Luz is a Clawthorne… Which means she's too stubborn to give up," Eda took another step forward, and put her hand on the brunette's shoulder, trying to support her.

"Iʼm scared, Eda… The first time I opened my heart in years I had to find a daughter I didn't expect… And now she's fighting to live another day because of her birthgiver…" She explained, placing her hand in Eda's, and resting her head on the witchʼs shoulder. Danielle turned around and looked sternly into the gold eyes, "Don't get me wrong, I hate what you did. I'm still furious… But I'm glad you're here…" She whispered and Eda tightened a hold on the tense human whom she once loved with all her heart.

The massive vault door shook with another loud bang. Something was smashing it from the inside, making Luz increasingly scared of Amityʼs Inner Demon. She was a powerful witch so how powerful were her Demons?

"Baby, look at me…" Luz asked, addressing the Inner Amity. The witch looked up weakly but complied, her ears twitching nervously, "Iʼm gonna take the key out so you need to fight the weakness. We can beat anything as long as we're…" Another loud bang interrupted Luz's speech, making her look back at the vault nervously.

"T-together…"

"Exactly," Luz agreed, returning her gaze to her fiancée, "Now brace yourself…" She tightened the hold on the sword, "One…" She placed another hand on Amity's waist to keep her steady, "Two…" Their eyes met in unspoken communication.

"Do it…" Amity gasped weakly.

"Three!" Luz pulled out the rod and she was immediately dragged toward the last, closed door.

"Luz, what's going on!" Emira's urgent voice came from the radio.

Luz looked back at the Inner Amity. The witch was screaming her lungs out in pain. Her chest faced the ceiling as she released an enormous wave of magical power from her body, circling around her like wildfire.

"We can't contain her magic!" Eda's voice came from the radio in time for Luz to stop at the vault.

Luz looked up and gulped. The last lock disappeared along with the sword in her hand. She stepped back and the giant lock turned anticlockwise with a loud clicking noise. The doors creaked open, letting out a dark purple fog. Everything fell silent. The banging, the screams, everything stopped in an instant.

"This can't be good…" Luz thought, taking more steps back, until she was by Amity's side, helping her up.

The witch leaned heavily on the human's frame, and Luz held her close, helping her maintain an upright position. Finally, they heard someone's steps, and pale fingers with black nail polish were visible on the edge. They grabbed the side of the door and pushed them further open.

"Mmm…" A low hum echoed through the Mind Scapes, "Iʼm gonna like it here…" The malicious, feminine voice added with a low, ominous cackle that sent shivers of fear down Luz's spine.

Emira had Danielle, Hunter, and Gus removed from the Recovery Room. Viney, Eda, Willow and she tried to contain the surge of magic erupting from Amity's body. Their combined energy was carefully releasing the power in a controlled manner.

"Sheʼs… Too…" Viney gasped and Eda recognized her behavior.

"Dani!" Eda screamed at the top of her lungs, calling for the doctor. The human entered the room in no time, covering her lips when she noticed Amityʼs body convulsing in the bed, releasing an indescribable amount of magic, "Get Viney out of here before she faints," She ordered and Danielle compiled without a question, trying to ignore how difficult it was for her to breathe.

"Wow…" Danielle whispered when she left the room with Viney on her arm.

"She was always powerful but damn…" Gus whispered, catching a glimpse of what was happening in the room.

"Sheʼll be fine," Hunter added, "They both will be fine. Those are the most powerful witches of two generations," He said with a comforting smile, hoping Danielle would believe him.

"Let's take care of Viney in the meantime," The human said, worried about the Healer, and they both agreed to help.

Luz could not move. Her whole body froze with fear. She held the weakened Inner Amity tightly, afraid she would get hurt. Her hazel-brown eyes were fixated on the figure exiting their cell.

The pale body was dressed in burgundy trousers and hid in heavy boots with metal buckles. Her black tunic fluttered ominously on the wind that came from the inside of the vault. Her wide, maniacal smile showed off her long fangs, peeking underneath thin, pink lips while her golden eyes glowed eerily.

The green mane of fluffy hair, kept in a half-ponytail, bounced with each step and surrounded the pale face illuminated by a bright magenta light erupting from the orb attached to her choker.

Luz tried to take another step back which only made the piercing, golden eyes gaze through her soul, making the Bizarro Amity smile wider as if she was hunting for her prey. With another blink of an eye, the green-haired witch was right before Luz, gripping her chin painfully.

"Thank you for letting me out… human," She whispered in a malicious purr, rolling the tan face from side to side, analyzing it with sick satisfaction, "I promise… I will have the time of my life," She added, pushing Luz away like a lifeless, rug puppet. The Inner Amity was sent flying across the Mind Scapes along with her.

Luz could have heard the laughter that sickened her, too similar to Odalia's. The lavender-haired Amity started screaming and writhing in pain and agony, confusing her even further. Before Luz could react, the woman she loved began to seize.

"We won't be needing this," Luz heard in the distance and a scratching sound echoed through the Mind Scapes, "This is also useless…" Clawthorne looked up and noticed the Bizarro Amity was scratching Luz's face off the memory paintings she was in, making the flame above the doorframe change its color and dim.

"Amity, look at me!" Luz tried to help the Inner Amity focus on her.

"L-Luz…" Amity gasped, sending a small smile, "She's erasing you…" Another scream erupted from the witch's throat, deafening the human.

"Stop that! You're hurting her!" Luz tried to reason with the Inner Demon.

A tiny hand pulled her down and the human's heart almost exploded when she looked into the golden gaze. Amity's pupils were dilating and shrinking, twisted in agony while the ears twitched unevenly.

"I… I love you…" Amity gasped as if she was trying to breathe, "Before I forget…"

"Aww… So sweet," The green-haired witch appeared above them, watching them with amusement.

"W-why are you doing this?" Luz asked, barely controlling her anger, ravaged with sadness, looking up at the wild, maniacal smile.

"Oh? We need to set ourselves straight, human," She explained, "And you were the one who destroyed everything…" She added and grabbed Luz's shirt, "Thatʼs why you have to go," She said and tossed Luz into the farthest corner of Amity's Mind Scapes.

"No, no, no, no… This cannot be happening!" Luz panicked, sitting up, ignoring her pain, hoping to get back to her fiancée in time.

"As for you," The Bizarro Amity said with a never faltering, wide, lunatic grin, "I can't have you interfere anymore… Didn't Mommy tell you to keep your emotions in control?" She asked in faux care, tilting her head.

"L-let me… Go!" Amity tried to fight.

"Oh, donʼt worry… You know I can't hurt you," Her Doppelgänger replied.

"Let her go!" Luz stumbled toward Amities as fast as she could, watching the green-haired one dragging the real one toward the vault, "Don't you dare!" She tried again.

The Bizarro Amity suddenly hit her other self, sending her to the ground, keeping her barely conscious before she appeared in front of Luz, using abomination slime to teleport herself from one place to another.

She grabbed Luz's hair, tugging it painfully, and she hit the tan, scarred face time after time, letting out her emotions, yet her smile never faded. When she was done, she moved toward the human's stomach, releasing her fury, bruising the organs.

She then summoned an abomination staff, hardened it, and hit Luz's right leg, crushing the recently healed femur and her knee with sadistic satisfaction before she straightened herself up and eyed her handiwork.

"What did I say, human? Are you deaf or dumb?" She growled, pulling Luz's beaten-up face close to her, "Stay, the fuck, away!" She added and let go of Luz, making her fall to the floor before returning to the Inner Amity.

Luz coughed heavily, letting out a generous amount of blood from her stomach. Everything was turning fuzzy and blurry. She was afraid that this time she was not about to win. She panicked that this time, Odalia won.

"Luz!" The human heard her fiancée's fear-filled voice, calling for her.

"No!" Luz frowned and had no idea when the Owl Demon bit her earlobe, reminding her of its presence, "Stop!" Luz got to her legs and wobbled toward the witch.

"We need to help her… Beasty…" She thought and a small trill let her know they could not share their magic while in someone else's Mind Scapes as easily as when back in their ones.

"Can you just finally fuck off?" The green-haired Amity growled in irritation when she faced Luz, standing with the lavender-haired witch in her grasp, holding her hair tightly.

"Don't you dare touch my fiancée!" Luz jumped at the murderous witch. The golden energy surrounded the human but her opponent was faster.

"Fiancée?!" If that version of Amity could smile any wider she would tear her lips. The Doppelgänger laughed out loud, wholeheartedly mocking their relationship, "That will not stand, oh, not on my watch!" She added and sent a powerful surge of magic at Luz and the Owl Demon, sending them flying away, hitting one of the Memory Paintings painfully.

Luz looked up and noticed her face scratched from the picture presenting her and Amity's first kiss. She turned to the side and inspected another memory. Clawthorne's face was clawed out from the picture of their first breakfast together when Amity learned it was okay to mess up occasionally.

"You better disappear, human, before I'm done with this sad excuse of a Blight…" The witch instructed, hitting the lavender-haired Inner Amity time after time again, "Oh, that feels good! I've waited too long to do this!" She whispered, hitting the hurt witch again, letting out a sinister giggle, "Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch you fornicate with an animal and do nothing?!" She asked, "Now off you go!" She added, throwing the real Amity toward the vault.

"Luz!" Amity screamed, "Run! You'll find a way!" She fought against being locked inside, "I know you will find me but you need to live…" A loud smash echoed through the Mind Scapes.

The rolling sound let Luz know that the vault doors were locked shut. The powerful, emerald flames ignited on both sides of it, sealing Inner Amity inside. Luz realized the whole Mind Scapes hue turned more green. She looked around and noticed all the Memory Doors that the Doppelgänger interacted with were now illuminated with mint-colored and emerald fire.

"Geez, what a drama queen…" The green-haired woman whispered, shaking her head in disbelief, placing her hands on her hips, "Now… Where was I?" She wondered, turning around, and facing Luz.

The human noticed the sick, mad look in the witchʼs eyes. She had a murderous intent and, as her fiancée pointed out, Clawthorne knew she needed to live to fight for her. She retrieved her radio and quickly found the speaking button.

"M-mom!" She whispered in a pained voice, the feral Amity walked toward her, approaching her slowly and victoriously, "M-mom! Now! Get me out of here!" She let go of the button and heard nothing but static as she started to crawl away, scared for her life while she looked at the witch coming closer.

"Oh? Did they leave you here to die? Oh, boo…" Amity teased, her ears slanting in fake care while her head tilted to the left. Her wide smile never let Luz think the witch ever meant her words.

"MOM!" She roared and suddenly felt a powerful pull, her whole body was surrounded by a warm, blinding, golden glow, making her disintegrate, escaping Amity's grasp.

Luz felt the hard surface of the Clinic floor hit her forcefully when her body was thrown from Amity's mind. Her mind could not comprehend outside stimuli. She noticed feet by her face, dim lights and she heard muffled yells.

She turned to the side and realized her racing heartbeat was deafening her. She tried to calm her rapid and raspy breathing but the moment she turned to the side she vomited a hearty amount of blood.

"Luz! Talk to me!" One of the voices made it to her ears.

Luz's shaking hand made it to the floor. She did not realize she put it in the pool of bloody vomit, trying to push herself up but her hand slipped, making her head hit the hard floor almost knocking her out.

"Cariño, calm down, you're safe now!" Another voice made it to her.

Luz tied her brows and let out a pained groan. She rolled to her back again and tried to sit up. Someone's hands touched her, scaring her, and making her panic. She tried to speak, call for Amity but only a pathetic whimper escaped her lips while her eyes rolled up.

Luz tried to yell when she noticed a green-haired witch smiling widely, standing by the lavender-haired sleeping one. The emerald flame ignited above her palm, threatening to kill her.

"Do something, Eda! Her heart rate is skyrocketing!" Someone yelled and suddenly everything went dark, leaving Luz with the image of Bizarro Amity in her memory.

Danielle held Luz's head and brushed the sweaty hair away from her face which was covered in the remains of her blood, hoping to comfort the human. She watched Eda and Viney work on the Healing Spells, trying to control the damage in the human's abdomen.

"Hang on, Luz… You can do it!" Danielle whispered, unsure if she was trying to convince Luz or herself.

"A-A-Ami…" The younger human whimpered, her head lolled to the side and the excess of blood mixed with saliva escaped her lips while her eyes rolled up.

"Eda!"

"Not now, Dani!"

"Eda!" Dani repeated.

"WHAT!?" Eda growled. Her expression faded when she noticed what the human had in mind, "Oh, no…" She whispered when she noticed feathers sticking out of Luz's body and a delicate yellow glow erupting from her eyes.

"We need elixi..."

"She can't have elixir with a ruptured stomach, Em!" Eda interrupted while she continued her spell, knowing she should not be the one healing her daughter. The doctor noticed how Eda's mind worked overtime, trying to find the solution.

All of a sudden, Danielle started singing. Eda and Emira shared a confused look but did not stop their efforts to save the young human whose head was still held close by the older brunette.

What shocked everyone was that Luz's transformation stopped. Her breathing slowly calmed down, her feathers started to retract, and her heartbeat evened out, making Eda and Emira's job easier. A low owlish trill escaped the full lips.

"What kind of spell is that?" Emira wondered in a whisper, slowly bringing the Healing Spell to a close.

"I… I…" Eda could not tear her eyes from Danielle's worried expression. The human's melodic voice cast a different kind of spell on the witch, "I need to focus!" She suddenly exclaimed, refocusing on Luz's stomach while her golden aura erupted.

Willow and Viney who watched the scene from afar could not describe how confused they felt. While Eda and Danielle's chemistry made them tease and laugh at the older women's stubbornness, they could not deny how worried they were about their friends.

Everyone kept wondering what happened inside Amity's Mind Scapes. Why was Amity still unconscious and why was Luz beaten up, barely hanging onto her life? Yet, they all needed to wait before receiving any kind of answer. They just feared how long it would take to get those answers and what they would bring.

When Luz woke up she could not help but loathe herself. She felt she failed the woman she loved. She could not save her from her Inner Demon. Clawthorne's brows tied in a frown and she let out the tears of frustration.

"Luz?" The familiar voice surprised her. She blinked a few times and turned her head while the pain erupted in her face, "Talk to me, Luz," The human blinked and she noticed Willow, sitting by her bed.

"H-h-hey… Will…" Luz tried to speak, her jaw was clenched and her head was killing her, "Everything… H-h-hurts…"

"You stubborn…"

"A-Ami?" Luz interrupted her friend's tease and her expression faded.

"Sheʼs still asleep…" Willow's voice shook, "At least she's not seizing anymore," She tried to lighten up the mood. She regretted it in an instant when she noticed Luz's expression.

"G-get me…" Luz started nervously trying to sit up, "Get me to Amity…" She gasped a demand in a tired and strained voice.

"Luz, you need to calm down," Willow got up and pressed the human back onto her bed, "You can't help her if you're not feeling well yourself," She reasoned, "I promise, she's not going anywhere and she has the best care possible," She added. Luz finally calmed down, looked into the green eyes, and listened to her friend, "Danielle is not leaving her for a moment, watching her like a hungry Griffin. Eda and Emira keep trying to make sure she's healthy and sustained. Trust us, we would care for her while you heal, okay?"

A longer silence occurred. Luz's hazel-brown eyes roamed her best friendʼs face. She took in everything the witch said and after a pause, that seemed to last an eternity, she nodded in agreement.

"Good," Willow said with a smile, "Now rest… I, or someone else, will be here once you wake up. Neither of you is alone in this," She vowed.

That promise made Luz finally close her eyes and rest, falling into a nightmarish slumber. Willow watched her best friend sleep restlessly, thinking about how her friends were hurt again.

The next time Luz woke up she could feel a strange, warm sensation erupting from her right leg. She groaned and her face contorted in pain. It took a moment but Clawthorne finally blinked and her eyes roamed the room. After a while, she managed to focus on the figure standing by her bed.

"M-mom?" Luz whispered weakly when she noticed Eda casting a spell on her right leg.

"Hey, Kid," The witch dropped the spell and faced Luz, "How are you? I was trying to speed up your healing… Whatever happened, your leg is a disaster," She explained, hoping to lighten the mood with her teasing tone. She was surprised to see her daughter tearing down.

"Thatʼs bad, she never was the one to turn down a good tease," The witch wondered and caressed the brunette hair.

"Luz, talk to me… What happened?" Eda asked and sat by her daughterʼs bed.

So Luz told her everything about the keys, the vault, the other Amity, and the broken memories. It was not long before Emira and Willow joined them. They listened carefully to their friend's story, getting increasingly worried about the unconscious witch sleeping in the room next door.

By the end of the story, Luz was gasping for air, on the brink of a panic attack, and crying hard. She tugged her hair, trying to ground herself with no success. All she could think about was how she failed the woman she loved.

"It's not your fault, Luz," Willow said quietly.

"You fought for my sister until the very end… You always did," Emira added and they all wondered why Eda remained silent, "Eda?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry… I just think I read about something like that…" Everyone looked at the older witch, hoping to get some answers, "We need to wait for Amity to wake up before any wild guesses," She added. Willow and Emira nodded in agreement, "In the meantime, let's focus on your health, okay?" She addressed her daughter and despite the overwhelming urge to run to her fiancée, Luz nodded in agreement.

It had been another two days until Luz was finally allowed to eat and take her elixirs. Most of the time Eda was working on healing her leg, knowing her daughter had no patience to let it heal by itself. Not when her fiancée's life was at stake.

Luz's room was never empty. If Eda was not healing her, Danielle made sure she was eating. If Willow was not coming over to play Hexes Hold'em, Hunter visited to talk about Cosmic Frontier.

If Lilith did not drop by with Grandma Gwen, Gus brought Albert over to get some encouragement before meeting his father for the first time in years. Yet, the room was missing Luz's positive energy.

Everyone noticed that the human had not asked about Amity since the day she woke up after the trip to the witchʼs Mind Scapes. They guessed that what she had experienced, left her broken and guilt-ridden.

The third morning came and Luz was already anxious to do something. She used the rare moment between rounds where no one was with her in the room. She sat up and while standing on her left leg, hopped toward the wheelchair. After making sure all brakes kept it steady, she took a seat.

After putting on a fresh pair of socks and covering her legs with a blanket, she rolled out toward Amityʼs room. She peeked around the corridor and once she was sure no one would stop her, she pushed the wheels. Despite weakness in her arms, she rolled into her fiancée's dim-lit room within seconds.

"Titan…" Luz looked at the lavender-haired woman, breathing calmly.

Ghost sleeping between her witch's legs brought her head up and meowed at the sight of the human. The Palisman stood up, stretched, and jumped into the blanket-covered lap. The cat bumped its head on Luz's chin and purred loudly in support.

"I missed you too, girl…" Clawthorne whispered and petted Ghost's head, "Thank you for keeping her safe when I couldnʼt," She added and rolled a few inches closer before blocking the wheels.

Ghost lay in Luz's lap and started purring, calming the human down. The Palismanʼs purr sounded painfully like Amity's, in Clawthorne's opinion, but she decided to disregard it. The brunette leaned forward. She took hold of the pale hand, caressing the knuckles, and occasionally rolling the engagement ring on the witch's finger.

"Hey, Amity," Luz finally spoke up, "I don't know if you can hear me but I want you to know everyone's here waiting for you," She continued, not knowing that she was being watched, "Danielle's going crazy… You may have lost a biological mother but you got a real one in return. Those ones are better, trust me, fair deal…" She chuckled bitterly, chasing tears away from her eyes, "I…" She hesitated, "I don't know how the events from your Mind Scapes affected you but I just want you to feel better…" Luz added and she was startled with a delicate, warm hand of support on her shoulder.

"We got you too, Luz," Danielle's voice warmed Clawthorne's heart, "But you are right… If that would be up to me, she'd be López by now…" Luz scoffed with a smirk.

"If that would be up to me, she'd be Clawthorne by now," Luz replied and they shared a bitter chuckle, hiding their worry behind the humor.

Suddenly, a delicate flutter of Amityʼs ears got their attention. Luz felt a delicate squeeze on her hand and Ghost sat up, feeling her witch stir in bed. The dark brows scrunched and the pale face contorted in discomfort.

"Get Emira," Luz asked Danielle in a whisper, before she leaned closer to the witch, "Take it easy," Clawthorne addressed Amity and she heard a low growl.

It did not take even ten seconds before Danielle returned to the room with Emira, Viney, and Eda. They noticed Luz holding the witch's hand, gazing at the hurt woman with fear. Eda held Danielle's shoulder nervously, trying to comfort the human while the Healers approached the bed.

"Luz, I need to move you away, Emira needs space," Viney whispered, unlocking the wheelchair's brakes. She did not wait for Luz's response when she pulled the human back.

"N-no…" The young brunette gasped but Danielle's hand on her shoulder grounded her while Emira passed them by and approached her sister.

"Hey, Mittens, can you hear me?" She asked, drawing a spell circle to inspect her sister who let out another growl, "Calm down, you were hurt pretty badly but you're safe now," She added.

Luz watched the unconscious witch stir with fear, her throat was tight and she could have sworn she had lungs squeezed in her chest. A delicate hoot of encouragement echoed through her mind but she could not focus on anything but Amityʼs well-being.

"W-where…" Amity whispered with great difficulty. Her tongue was still stiff.

"Shh, don't force yourself," Emira tried to calm her sister down.

"E-Emira?" Everyone held their breath when they watched Amity interact with her sister.

"Yeah, it's me, Sis…"

"You shouldn't be here…" Amity whispered hoarsely, "You… You know we can't…" She tried to speak up and Emira dropped her spell, her expression faded. She looked at Viney, Luz, Eda, and Danielle before facing back her sister.

"Amity, you're safe here," Emira tried to reassure the weakened witch, taking hold of her right hand but Amity did not give up. She opened her eyes and roamed the room.

"Blurry…" She gasped and squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again.

"It'll pass, don't worry…"

"Who… Who are these people?" Amityʼs question interrupted Emira's words of encouragement. Luz felt her heart drop all the way to the Boiling Sea to be consumed by sulfuric acid.

"Well…" Emira hesitated, "You remember Viney, my wife, right?" Amity let out a low growl, letting everyone know she recalled the brunette witch, "And these are…" She wavered, trying to come up with a believable lie.

"Thatʼs our new personnel," Viney offered. The glare Amity sent her was more than deadly, "The new Healer," Emira's wife chose to ignore the lavender-haired womanʼs reaction and continued, "This is our Nurse and…" She hesitated, looking at Luz, "Our Volunteer," She thought quickly.

"Y-yeah!" Emira agreed, loving Viney all the more for her creativity, "Thatʼs a new thing where Volunteers keep patients company, talk to them, help them recover…"

"That explains the headache," Amity spat venomously, glaring at Luz's blurry figure with disgust, "Call Mother to get me and I'll be out of your hair," She growled with a clenched jaw and everyone held their breath.

"Amity…" Emira whispered so seriously that her sister did not risk interrupting, "I think it would be best if we talk…" She said before facing the rest of the people in the room, "Alone," She added and everyone understood what Emira was responsible for.

"How do I tell her that Mother is dead?" Emira gulped before taking a seat by Amity's bed.

Luz was taken back to her bed. Danielle and Eda watched her closely. The young brunette could feel Amityʼs emotions ravaging her body. She was on the brink of a panic attack, breathing heavily, sweating, and afraid for her future.

"Luz, look at me," Eda tried to ground her daughter.

"Sheʼs freaking out, Mom," Luz whispered, "It hurts," She pointed to her bite mark, "She feels abandoned, rejected, alone, forgotten… I don't know words for other emotions," She tried to explain while her breathing increased.

"Meow!" Ghost rubbed her forehead on Luz's chin and Owlbert peeked out from Eda's hair before hooting quietly.

"Sheʼs right," Eda chuckled, "You will find a way. We know that your fiancée is still in there…" Luz huffed and threw herself back on the pillows.

"Inside a vault in the deepest part of her subconsciousness," Luz groaned and turned her back to everyone. It did not take half a second before she turned back to everyone with frustration, "How do I bring her back?!" She wondered out loud.

A delicate knock on the door stopped everyone in an attempt to speak. Luz looked up and her eyes met with the golden ones. Emira had never looked so pale. It took her a moment to compose herself. With a heavy sigh, the green-haired witch walked over to Luz. Her hands were clenched nervously.

"Luz…" Emira pulled a chair, sat down, and cleared her throat. Viney recognized that behavior. It was 'my Mother wants us dead' kind of nerves, "Listen, there's no easy way to say this…"

"Just tell me," Luz insisted, anxious to hear what Emira had to say.

The Healer rubbed her palms, took a deep breath, and looked away to gather her thoughts. She then locked her eyes with the hazel-brown ones. The doe-like gaze was not helping her bring the news.

Emira watched everyone leave the room. She shared a worried look with Viney before she noticed Luz's devastated gaze. The hazel-brown eyes were still, fixated on the lavender-haired witch who had no idea how she unknowingly hurt the young human.

"What is it?" Amity growled, trying to sit up. She gave up after two attempts when she realized she was weaker than she could have thought, unable to move, paralyzed.

"It's about… Well, everything," Emira admitted, "Thereʼs a reason why you're in my Clinic…" She bit her lower lip hesitantly, "Whatʼs the last thing you remember?" She asked, sitting in the chair by the bed, and realized her sister understood the gravity of the situation.

Amityʼs gaze roamed the room, her pupils dilated just to shrink again. She tried to speak up a few times but no words came out. Her ears twitched unevenly. Emira waited patiently, giving her sister all the time she needed.

In the meantime, the Healer thought about everything her sister went through. From living under the obedience spell, mental and physical abuse, sexual violation, and finally how she started to truly live when Luz came into her life. The human gave her not only joy but also taught the witch how to live her life happily, and how to find her true self.

"What if that's gone?" Emira thought with fear.

"I was…" Amityʼs gasped, dragging her sister out of her stupor, "I remember St. Epiderm…" She whispered, tying her brows, "I was supposed to study at Hexside Academy… Did I study at Hexside?" She was not sure and her breathing increased. She tried to move away but her body was still stiff in a paralysis-like state. Her eyes roamed the room and finally stopped on her sister's face, "Emira, tell me what is wrong with me!?" The older Blight took a deep calming breath and pulled the chair an inch closer to the bed.

"Amity. You need to stay calm," Emira whispered, trying to sound reassuring, "I know this is a lot to take in. It seems you have gaps in your memory. Mind Gaps, as we call it," She said.

Amity fixated her gaze on her sister. The golden eyes roamed from one golden orb of the Healer to the next one. She was confused and scared. The younger witch hoped it was a prank but realized she had difficulty recalling anything.

"You did come to study at Hexside. You finished the first year of Abomination Engineering," She said. Amity's gaze traveled elsewhere as if trying to remember the events Emira told her about.

"Whereʼs Mother?" Amity interrupted her sister after a while, and the green-haired witch fell silent.

"Both Mother and Father are dead, Amity," The older sister admitted with a heavy heart.

Even though Emira was relieved to know of Odalia's demise, she knew, that in her current state, Amity would be devastated. If the lavender-haired woman had no recollection of her Mother's abuse it would be grievous news for a person so young.

"N-no…" The younger witch shook her head frantically, "It can't be… H-how!?" She kept shaking her head, "I… Who will take care of the company?"

"Oh, Mittens…"

"Please, Amity, take it easy…"

"Easy for you to say! You left the family!" Amity snapped, tying her brows, "You left us for that… Vet!?" She added venomously, mentioning Viney.

"Keep it cool, Em, she doesn't know what she's saying…" The Healer took a deep, calming breath.

"You were living with us for almost half a year so maybe she's not that bad once you give her a chance, hmm?" Emira smiled, trying to hide her discomfort.

"Well, I'll be going back to the Manor as soon as I can move," Amity replied and her sister's expression faded.

"Thereʼs more to everything I just told you. While in the Healing Coven, the Mind Healers told us that you should let your mind heal on its own… It's not my specialty, so I would like to wait for the Mind Healer's opinion," Emira said sternly, a little bit fed up with the version of Amity she hoped to never have to experience ever again, "In the meantime, we will continue to provide the best care possible…" She stood up to take her leave.

"At least have the decency to move me away from the commoners…" Emira froze at the comment which sounded a lot like her late Mother.

"We kept you here because it is the closest room to the Nurses' Station, to ensure that in case of an emergency, there would be the highest response rate…" Emira hesitated, faced her sister, standing halfway to the exit, "But you should have known that from your Healing Classes…"

"W-what?" Amity huffed in shock and disgust at the mere suggestion, "Iʼm the Abomination Prodigy and I have never had a class of such lowly kind of magic as Healing in my entire life…" She hissed with a strained voice.

"Mmm," Emira hummed in understanding, nodding in defeat, "Iʼm glad to see that lowly type of magic saved your life, Sis," The green-haired woman said with a heartbroken whisper, "You better get comfortable, Mittens, because I'm not risking your safety. You will be staying here until you are cleared to leave," She added, leaving the door ajar, knowing how her sister hated it.

"This isn't happening!" Both sisters thought at the same time with the same amount of panic.

"She can't NOT remember what Odalia did to her, how she was abused… That's the Amity from when she was fully under Mother's control!" Emira panicked, thinking what she was about to tell her newfound family, "Her future wife…" She realized when she opened the door and her eyes met with the hazel-brown ones of the young Clawthorne.

"Why can't I remember my life? How could everything turn so bad?! Mother was the hero of the Isles!" Amity panicked, left alone in her room. She felt the tears prick her eyes but knew she was better than that, "Emotions are for the weak! I need to get out of here! I need to… I need to…" She gasped time after time, unable to get her panic under control, her body still as stiff as the moment she woke up.

The door suddenly opened and she noticed a dark-skinned, short brunette with warm, green eyes. The woman was dressed in the Nurse's robe, her hair covered with a matching cap, covering the top of her ears. Amity's brows tied in a frown and she immediately got herself under control, not wanting anyone to see her like this.

"We were informed you are still in discomfort, Amity…"

"It's Miss Blight, to you…" Amity hissed through a clenched jaw.

"Nice to make your acquaintance, Miss Blight," The woman spoke softly. The golden eyes blinked at her, shocked by the kindness she received in return, "Iʼm Danielle López, and I will take care of you," She approached the IV drip and as per Emira's instruction she added an anti-anxiety potion to it, "You should feel calmer after this," She informed, leaning forward with a warm smile.

"You have a nice smile…" Amity slurred and her eyes rolled up while her ears twitched.

"And now I know the medicine is already working," Danielle tried to joke despite being fully aware her fosterling was not inside that familiar-looking body, "Sleep tight, Cariño," She added and left the Heiress to the Blight Industries alone in her room.

"Please, try to remember us, mi precioso bebé…" She added and covered her lips to stifle a pained sob, ignoring the looks of other staff members and patients roaming the halls.

Emira took Luz's hand into her own and could not find the strength to tell her what she learned. The human could feel her nerves, despite having a lower body temperature, the witch's hand was warm. The minutes of silence passed by and finally, Eda approached them, supporting them in this situation.

"Luz…" Emira whispered before looking away sheepishly, "Um… I talked to Amity…" She had no idea how to start. She looked back up into the hazel-brown eyes and swallowed hard, "She doesn't remember much of the life she had…" Her lips quivered, ears slanted, and Viney came over to support her wife.

"Emira, just tell us," Luz encouraged the witch watched intensively by everyone including Ghost.

"She doesn't remember living with us, or studying Healing Magic… She barely remembers Hexside, and she's…" Emira took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself down, "She's back to the 'Blight Industries Heiress' kind of Amity…" She coughed, clearing her throat, and taking a moment to recompose herself.

"How is she feeling?" Danielle interrupted, worried about Amity.

"Um," Emira turned around, facing the older human, "She's still in discomfort. Her body's stiff and I'm sure she's freaking out with everything I told her…" She added.

"Can we help her somehow?" Danielle asked and the green-haired witch smiled and the woman her sister considered her real mother.

"You can borrow Nurse's Robes from the main station. You know… To cover your ears," Emira said with a soft smile, "Viney, show Dani the way and give her the anti-anxiety potions that Mittens used to take," She added, making the women leave the room.

Eda and Luz watched the women leave and they refocused on Emira in an instant. The older witch knew that approach. The Healer had something more to say. Something she did not want other people to hear. After regaining her courage, Luz felt the golden gaze on her, and the green-haired witch retrieved something from her pocket.

"Luz… Amity should be asleep by now. I need you to be aware of how your Bond affects either of you, please try to stay calm," Emira whispered, afraid of Luz's reaction, "I hope that's not permanent, but, um…" She hesitated and Luz gulped, frightened of the next words coming from Emira's lips, "I think you should have it back for now…" She added, presenting the engagement ring she slipped off her sister's hand.

"N-no…" Luz choked, the tears immediately pricked her eyes, and she shook her head frantically, "H-how…"

"I slipped it off as soon as she said I shouldn't be there…" Emira admitted.

"You… Did she…"

"Kid, you need to stay calm…" Eda whispered, rubbing her daughter's shoulder in comfort.

"NO!" Luz roared and tossed the ring across the room. She grabbed her hair in a strong tug, let out a pained roar, and started crying.

Eda could not imagine what Luz was going through. Her heart broke into a million pieces when she watched her daughter cry her eyes out, breathing heavily, gasping for air, while her mind was slowly comprehending the fact that the love of her life was gone.

"She… She was happy!" Luz choked, through clenched teeth, "Happiest ever! We were flying together… The three of us!" She added, her sight diverting to Ghost, "Gus helped her restore her memories… She was whole… I…" She shook her head in defeat, her face contorted in emotional agony.

Until the last possible moment, she believed that what happened in the Mind Scapes had no impact on her fiancée. She hoped, until the very last possible moment. Now, that Amity was awake she knew a stranger was living inside the body of the love of her life.

"Luz, please…" Eda whispered, still rubbing her daughter's shoulder.

"I know that's difficult…" The Healer whispered.

"Difficult?!" Luz roared, her eyes pitch-black, glowing with golden energy, interrupting Emira's comfort, "A four-year-old is difficult! My fiancée's gone!" She added and her voice turned into a distorted growl, "Destroyed by her own Mother in her last dying breath!" Luz hollered and a loud snap of her shoulder echoed through the room, "And I couldnʼt do anything to stop that!" She snapped, her fangs growing out.

"Kid, don't!" Eda tried to calm the human down but her daughter was too far gone.

Luz's hands elongated, and her fingernails broke, lengthening into long talons that grew out painfully. She rolled to the side and her spine cracked time after another. Her nerves, bones, skin, and muscles enlarged rapidly. Excessively quick for either Emira or Eda to react. The young woman turned again and fell off the bed with a loud thud and pained whimper.

"LUZ!" Both witches exclaimed, hurrying toward Luz.

The young brunette was gasping hard. Her body stopped mid-transformation, making her breathe hoarsely through her fangs. Eda had never seen Luz like that and only supposed that was how Amity had seen her almost a year ago when the young witch saved her.

"C-canʼt… Control…" The human choked.

Her ribs were expanded unevenly, one side was still human while the other was too large for her skin to cover. One of her legs was covered in feathers and was much larger than the other, human-like. The same ordeal was present at her arms and shoulders, her claw-like hands shook like in a delirium.

"¡Ay, Dios Mió!" Danielle's voice surprised everyone, "What happened," She ran toward Luz, ignoring the danger she could have been in.

"Sh-she's gone…" Luz gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks, yet she still managed to contain her transformation. A loud, pained owlish trill escaped the human's throat.

Danielle understood in an instant. The emotions roamed rampant and for people living with a Demon inside, it set them free. The older woman knelt down and approached her ward, feeling just as devastated.

"Listen to me… Both of you," Danielle said softly, lifting her hand above her head in a grabbing manner, asking Eda to pass her the elixir, "I was just in her room. I have the strongest feeling, she's not gone," She placed the vial by Luz's lips, helping her drink, "Not really," She added and caressed her ward's hair and feathers trying to soothe her nerves.

Luz's body snapped back, making the young woman whimper and gasp in pain. An owlish purring trill of gratitude accompanied the change. What shocked Eda, was a bright light that erupted from her daughterʼs body, blinding everyone for a moment.

Emira immediately drew a spell circle and was shocked to realize Luz was not hurt. The Demonʼs magic healed her every injury, including the femur Eda worked on for the past few days.

"Thatʼs it, Cariño," Danielle cooed, "Now sleep, get some rest…" With Eda's help, she tucked Luz under the covers, and Emira dimmed the lights, "Nothing's gone forever…"

"Only out of place…" Luz murmured weakly and slept soundly within a moment after her head touched the pillow.

Eda picked the ring up and placed it on Luz's nightstand before leaving a delicate caress on her daughterʼs head. She sighed heavily, knowing the real fight was just about to begin. She knew her daughter was too stubborn to give up on the witch she loved.

The three women shared the knowing looks and quietly exited the Recovery Room, letting the hurt human rest. Emira guided them to the personnel room, where Eda stayed the last time Luz was in the Clinic, letting them nap.

Neither of them even mentioned the single bed in the room. Emotionally and physically exhausted from the events that transpired, they cuddled together, feeling safe in each other's arms, they fell asleep almost immediately.

When Luz woke up before the morning rounds, her eyes immediately shot wide open, recalling the previous day. She noticed the ring on her nightstand and her brows tied in determination. A quiet hoot echoed in her head and she slowly sat up.

"Meow?" Amity's Palisman purred, tilting her head, making Luz smile.

"Hey, you stayed?" The human asked and the cat glared at her with a Blight-like disapproving look, "Yeah, right… I guess she doesn't remember you either," Luz guessed and Ghost looked away sheepishly, "Don't worry…" Luz whispered, sitting on the edge of the Clinic bed, "We're getting her back," She vowed.

"Meow?"

"Huh, yeah…" Luz chuckled, packing her belongings, "Or die trying," She agreed and hid her Motherʼs engagement ring in the black velvet box.

The human changed into clean clothes and left a small note on the nightstand so neither Eda nor Danielle would worry about her. She sneaked out of her room exactly when the rounds started and headed out of the Clinic. Ghost did not leave the human's shoulder, wanting to help Clawthorne save her witch.

"Okay, we need to repack at the Owl House and we'll be back," Luz said when they exited the building.

Ghost purred with a loud meow and jumped off Luz's back. She transformed into the staff and hovered by the human's side, encouraging her to sit. It was uncomfortable for the human to fly on her fiancée's Palisman, knowing Amity was unaware of this.

When Luz took off, Danielle noticed her ward flying off into the sunrise while she held a note the younger brunette left. She looked at the disappearing figure with a small smile, wondering about Clawthorne's plan.

"Whereʼs my Kid?" Eda joined the human who only lifted her hand, passing the paper. Eda recognized the handwriting immediately. She looked at the note, and snorted, shaking her head with amusement.

"I'll be right back. I need help from the Warrior of Peace!"

Amity felt heavy and stiff, not understanding why she could not move her body. She could not open her eyes while all the sounds surrounding her were muffled. Her ears twitched and excruciatingly slowly the sounds started to clear out.

The drip of the IV, the steps outside her room, the buzzing of the dim lights, and something else. Something she did not expect in her wildest dreams. Something she decided to hate in an instant.

"Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseneth," Amity frowned and forced her head to roll to the side, her ears slanted. She let out a low growl that made the voice disappear, "Oh, you're awake?" The same voice asked and the witch forced herself to crack her eyes open, "Hiiiii," The young woman, sitting in the wheelchair, greeted her in an irritating singing manner.

"You…" Amity tried to speak but she was still too weak. She let out a pained groan and shut her eyes again for a moment.

"Me," The other woman confirmed cheerfully, sending her a wide smile, showing off her white-gold fang.

Amity blinked twice and scrunched her brows to focus her sight and get the whole image of the woman before her. The witch noticed that she wore worn-out shoes made from a strange material. The dark trousers covered long, lean legs.

She was reclining, watching the witch with an intense gaze of her hazel-brown eyes hidden underneath thick brows. The left one wore a long, thin scar ending on the cheek. A delicate, leather necklace with a crimson gem hung from her neck, lying comfortably on the torso covered with the black tee.

She looked up again and noticed a matching red beanie covering a mop of messy, brunette, curly hair with side bangs framing the smooth tan face. Her hands with long fingers held the book in a hardcover that she had not seen since childhood.

"Are you alright? You're either checking me out or you have trouble focusing your sight…" The woman teased with a hint of worry.

"Don't…" Amity gasped heavily, "Flatter… Yourself…" She added grumpily which made the other woman smile wider.

"Anyway…" Luz said, rolling the wheelchair closer to the witch, "Iʼm Luz Clawthorne…"

"I donʼt care…" Amity interrupted, facing the ceiling again, waiting for the woman to leave, "Just go," She added when the other woman did not budge.

"Well I don't care that you don't care, Blight," Luz replied with a smirk, "Iʼm a Volunteer assigned to you so you have to deal with me…"

"It's Miss Blight to you…"

"Yeah, whatever, Princess," Luz teased, worried about how she enjoyed pushing all the buttons. She considered it unfair since she knew how to anger the witch but she thought of a plan and was about to get through with it, "Iʼm here for you whether you like it or not. Nurses and Healers have their hands full so they rely on people like me to deal with people like you," She explained and leaned back in the chair, "Now where was I?" Luz opened the novel and found the page she was reading, "Oh yes, screeching…"

"Youʼre screeching," Amity spat and Clawthorne chuckled at the witchʼs defensiveness.

"I know for a fact you love my reading voice."

"As if," The witch huffed, making Luz smile widely.

The brunette cleared her throat and started reading again. She had yet to tell Amity she was a human but she was happy the witch was resting, catching up on sleep before the next rounds.

Luz recited the next chapter from memory, her eyes never left the sleeping woman's form. She knew that her plan was not going to be simple. Yet, the human was determined to bring her Amity back, free the witch locked away in the vault in her Mind Scapes.

A flash of Bizarro Amity haunted her and Luz felt Ghost nestle on her lap, watching the sleeping witch along with the human. She petted the cat and sighed heavily, falling silent, looking at the witch with undying love.

"Don't give up. People are waiting for you Amity, people who love you," Luz thought and let the book down, making sure the witch had a chance to rest in silence, "I love you…"