Yesterday's Lie (Luz and Vee's Side)
A/N 1: And now for Luz and Vee's part of Yesterday's Lie.
Luz's room at the Noceda residence had a bed covered in stuffed animals, a computer with a desk, a bookshelf, and figurines...all of which were shoved to the side. 'Luz' examined a photograph of her younger self. Even that was dumped into a box, and she exhaled with relief, stretching her arms.
"Much better," she said as she bent down and picked up the package. She approached her mirror and stared at her reflection.
"Mm," she fixed the loose strand of hair in front of her, which also had a yellow barrette on the sides.
"What are the boxes for, Mija?" Camila said as the girl came out of the house.
"Just...cleaning up a little," 'Luz' grinned, looking down at the box.
"Even this?" Camila displayed a tinfoil swan. "You used to love making me tinfoil swans."
"Oh, I'm, uh, just looking for a fresh start," 'Luz' informed her mother. "Camp taught me a lot, you know?"
Camila looked apprehensive as she placed the boxes beside the trash.
"Yes...it sure did," she replied, placing a palm on her cheek. She couldn't help but feel something was off.
Camila gasped when she heard the squeak. She looked to the side and saw an innocent bunny's foot being held by thread from a slingshot trap. The woman let out a piercing gasp.
"Luz, grab the pliers."
She dashed off to fetch the necessary goods, Camila donning gloves. 'Luz' handed her the pilers.
"Okay, okay, little bunny. You'll be fine," she said as she carefully snipped the string. "There we go."
The rabbit shook its leg before scurrying back into the forest.
"That's the fifth trap this week," 'Luz' said, shifting his gaze away.
"If I ever catch who's responsible, I'll-pow-pow!"
Her 'daughter' laughed at her.
"Let's go back inside. I'll make maduros," she said, booping her nose as she went away.
'Luz' followed her into the house, returning to her bedroom. She smiled as she gazed at the mirror.
"A new life..." She took a white and purple striped shirt.
She closed the doors and noticed that their reflections had shifted. Instead, the real Luz faced them, and she did not appear happy.
"You!" She yelled fiercely, the doppelganger shrieking.
A few hours earlier...
Outside the Owl House, Luz and Bijou stood in front of a homemade portal entrance. Eda, King, Hazel, and Hooty stood in front of them.
"So, according to Philip's instructions, the hardest part to making a portal was finding someone who knew how to build it," Luz went on to add. "But a lot of the ingredients are pretty easy to find."
"Well, it appears the items you have hoarded in your shed have finally come in handy, Eda," Bijou grinned, turning to face the Owl Lady.
Eda clicked her teeth and winked.
"Don't forget this," King said regretfully, handing over Amity's ruined glove.
"Titan blood..." She gently rubbed her thumb against it. "I can't believe something this powerful was in the old key this whole time."
Luz had already been told what happened at Eclipse Lake and that the key contained Titan blood, but she was not upset. If anything, she wished she had found out sooner. King, Eda, Bijou, Hazel, and Hooty exchanged mournful glances as they realized they had lost to Belos. They had no idea what that meant for the human world...
"It's okay," she said, holding up Amity's glove. "If Belos is still trying to get to the Human Realm, he'll have to beat us to it."
"Yeah," Bijou smiled as she heard the crow phone cawing in the living room.
"Can you guys give me a minute? I've gotta take this, and I'll make it quick," Bijou rushed inside the house.
"Take as long as you need!" King cried, not wanting her or Luz to leave them.
Hazel reassured him by patting his back.
Bijou scooped up the crow and placed it next to her ear. "Hey, whoever this is, can we make it quick? I'm kind of in the middle of-"
"Hey, Bij."
She flinched as she recognized the voice, "Oh, hi, Edric. What's up?"
"Amity told me about your expedition at Eclipse Lake and the portal door. Is it true? You're really leaving the Demon Realm?" Edric asked, his voice wavering.
"Sadly, yes. And as much as this hurts me, I would never get the chance to date you if I ever go through with this. I'm sorry, Ed," Bijou apologized through her tears.
"It's okay, Bij. Even if we might not see each other again, I just wanted to say that you are an amazing girl for me to be with. I would remember all the good times we had when you were around. You really made my day, Bijou."
"Thanks, Eddie," Bijou replied as she wiped her eyes. "Anyways, bye."
She hung up the phone and went back outside.
"Who was it?" Luz inquired, and Bijou froze a bit.
"...I'll tell you later," she said, avoiding bringing up her phone talk with Edric right now.
Luz pulled off a piece of the glove and taped it to the door. She took a step back and stared at the portal's components. Some of it, needless to say, frightened Bijou, but it was the only way to see their families. Eda sat in her flying bathtub.
"Are you sure this isn't gonna, like, blow our faces off?" Eda inquired.
"Nope," Luz replied, hands on her hips.
"Welp, here goes something," Eda pedaled, and magic was ignited, moving towards all of the portal's components before stopping at the blood. It leaked inside the patched-up door, and the two watched in astonishment as they all blended into a crooked but functional portal door. It opened up, revealing a dimension that was not their own.
"It...worked."
"We actually made a portal door!" Bijou exclaimed as they approached it.
"Did it? That looks very different from the old door," King observed as the others joined them.
"I don't know, you guys. That door's shape can't be trusted," Hazel admitted grudgingly.
"Maybe so, Hazel, but what other options do we have?" Bijou rhetorically inquired.
"Yeah," Luz replied as Eda handed the two their cloaks. "This is my one chance to see my mom."
When they were handed two coils of rope, one girl knotted one around each of their waists.
"We have to let Dr. Camila know what's going on, and my family needs to know too," Bijou mused, concerned about their reactions.
"If it looks like it's closing, pull," Luz instructed them, Eda narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Girls, as impressive as this is, I don't want either of you getting hurt."
"Don't worry, I'll be with her the entire time, and we have to do this," Bijou said to herself and her companion.
"Once we make sure our families are okay, we'll be right back," Luz promised Eda.
"Just be careful. The Human Realm's filled with some real weirdos," she smirked at them, Luz pulling everyone into an embrace.
"Don't forget to mention me!" King added, wagging his tail, as they let go.
"And me," Hazel said, twitching his ears.
"How could we?" Bijou asked, winking at him.
"Okay," Luz breathed deeply as they approached the gateway entrance. They clasped each other's hands and stepped back. They then jumped into the door, where a glow appeared. The next thing they knew, they were lying down in black-green water. Luz sat up with a quick gasp and cough. Bijou sat up later, gripping her wet hair and coughing.
"You okay, Bijou?"
"I'm fine," she coughed, patting her hair dry. "But this isn't Gravesfield...is it?"
She looked about, perplexed.
A cube floated out of the water nearby, and they watched it rise. Other cubes floated around.
"Did we...do something wrong?" Luz worried, knowing this wasn't Connecticut. "Eda, King, Hazel, Hooty? Can anyone hear us?"
Bijou saw one cube had stopped and blinked before getting up.
"Luz, look," she said, pointing up ahead. One side changed color. They glanced at it, and then they were back in the Owl House. Luz was in front of one window, while Bijou was in front of another on the far left.
"Are we back at the Owl House?" She looked about, perplexed.
"But that'd be too easy," Bijou said, shaking her head. "There's something strange here."
And she was correct as the wind blasted through both windows, carrying them along with it.
"Whoa! I think we're...in the reflections. And we can hear each other even though you're over there!"
Luz looked over at Bijou. They looked up ahead and saw their friends standing in front of the gateway.
"Do you think they're safe?" King asked, worried.
"They've made it this far," Eda said, looking down at him. "We just have to trust them."
"Luz and Bijou are strong. They can go through this bravely," Hazel told his companion beast.
Suddenly, the girls' reflections vanished and they were back in the cube realm. Luz gasped as she let go, allowing the cube to float.
"Whoa...so these strange cubes...show other dimensions through reflections! And we can summon any world we want!" Bijou gasped in surprise as she gazed around.
"I wonder if I could see...Amity!" A cube began to raise up.
"Luz, focus!" Bijou admonished her, and she knew she was respecting boundaries.
"Right. You're right!" Luz pressed it down, pinching her nose. "Come on, Luz. You're on a mission. Camila! Camila Noceda of the Human Realm?"
"Susan Adams of the Human Realm," Bijou announced.
The two girls stared up as the sides of two cubes illuminated all the way to the ceiling. "Got ya! Ice platform!"
Luz hammered down an ice glyph, but the paper faded away.
"I guess magic doesn't work here," Bijou said, frowning. She didn't dare to cast a spell in this realm or bring Ruby along because she didn't know what effect it would have on a palisman. And even if they had returned home, there was no magic in the human realm.
"Fine, then! We'll do this the hard way!" Luz waited for a cube and leaped upon one. Bijou realized what her companion was doing and leaped onto another one...but they ended themselves upside down, screaming as they lost their grasp and plummeted back into the water. They looked up and noticed another two cubes before snatching them.
"Mom!" Luz said as she appeared in a phone's reflection, gasping. "It's my house!"
Music sounded from the phone Luz was looking through, with Camila singing and dancing to it. She stood up to close the fridge.
"Mom!" Luz yelled at her, but she didn't notice her because her back was turned. She danced to the counter, picking up some bananas in front of a photo of the entire Noceda family, including father, but the light from the frame obscured his face. Luz looked younger in the photograph.
"Mo-"
"Mom?" She trembled as she recognized the voice of an impostor. Luz looked in.
"Do you need any help?"
The girl gasped loudly at her impersonator, wondering who she was and how she got there.
"Oh, are you two done cleaning your rooms?" Camila inquired.
"Almost! With all that old stuff gone, I feel like a whole new person," 'Luz' said the woman, smiling.
"Evil doppelgangers! Mom! Mom!" Luz banged the glass, but Camila, who was slicing the bananas, didn't hear her. "Mom! Mom!"
"I can finish up here, mija," Camila said, smiling at the girl.
"Thanks, Mom!" 'Luz' raced down the corridor.
"A new life..."
"Follow her!" Luz encouraged, holding the cube. "Luz Noceda 2.0. Doppelganger!"
However, nothing occurred. "Why won't you work?!"
She sighed in irritation, "Okay, Luz. Calm down. Just breathe and count to five."
A splash was heard close, catching her attention. Another cube appeared and lit, and Luz approached it.
The doppelganger noticed her as she closed her closet. Luz blinked in surprise before becoming angry.
"You!"
The doppelganger shouted from her bedroom, startling Camila in the kitchen.
"So you can hear me," Luz said, narrowing her eyes.
"You're both from the Demon Realm." 'Luz' flinched.
"Listen, we just wanna-"
"I'm not going back!" 'Luz' insisted, her eyes blinking vertically. "I-I won't go back!"
'Luz' snatched up a baseball bat, ready to destroy the mirror.
"Luz, esta todo bien?" Camila inquired from outside the door.
"Sí, mama," Luz replied. "I just saw a spoiler for Monster Slayer Academia."
"I will never understand anime," she said to herself before leaving. The imposter turned to the real Luz.
"Huh?" Luz said with a shrug, as the imposter fled. "Wait!"
'Luz' jumped out the window. She landed safely on the grass and jumped over the fence.
Luz attempts to find another cube to talk to her imposter.
"Luz!" She heard Bijou calling out to her. "There's an imposter in my house and I need to follow her."
"You too?" Luz gasped shock, Bijou nodding in response. "Come on. Let's follow them!"
At the same time, 'Luz' continued running into the forest until she met 'Bijou.'
"Don't tell me..." 'Bijou' said to 'Luz', not needing to expect an answer.
"Yes. The girl I'm impersonating... She's onto me! We better hide" 'Luz' said as they ran into the forest, where they ended up in the abandoned house, the same place that Luz and Bijou went into before they landed in the Demon Realm.
The two opened the door, and Luz appeared in the reflection of a compact mirror. Bijou emerged in the reflection of a small hand mirror.
"So this is it," 'Luz' said to 'Bijou', passing by the artifacts. "We're gonna have to run...again. Why couldn't this just work OUT?!"
She kicked a rock, which triggered a trap that captured her leg. Her cheeks and ears became beige, with tufts of blue hair at the tips. She had markings on her face, and her eyes were pale blue with yellow and black pupils.
'Bijou' gasped and dashed over to help, but she unintentionally set off another trap, tying both her legs up in rope. They both transformed into basilisks because they were afraid. 'Bijou' was an azure-blue basilisk with orange markings on her head, tail, belly, and back. Her face was partly sky blue, and the hue extended throughout her tummy. Her ears were azure blue, with indigo tufts of hair. She had crimson eyes, black irises, and cream-colored sclera. Her tail has mint-colored fins on the sides and tip, as well as a black beaded bracelet at the tip.
"Stop moving. You'll make it tighter," Luz told them, and they looked up to see the two. "We didn't mean to freak you out. We just wanna figure out what's going on, okay?"
"We can't do much like this anyway, after all," Bijou said to herself as she reflected. "There's no magic here where Luz and I are. But don't worry, we won't hurt you."
"You two are demons from the Boiling Isles, aren't you?" Luz said, and the two nodded. Bijou took a closer look at them.
"Mm-hm." They changed to resemble the two, but their ears, eyes, and spots remained. The person who posed as Bijou had two spots beneath each of her eyes, a spot on the back of each hand and ankle, and three spots around each ear.
"They're basilisks...just like the one we saw on our first day at Hexside. Only normal-sized and nicer," Bijou muttered, looking at Luz, who nodded in recognition.
"What are your names?" Luz questioned them.
"We're Number F-" Her pal gestured for her not to say the numbers because they no longer went by those designations. "I-I mean...I'm Vee."
"And I'm her friend Elle," the other said to herself, struggling to free herself but failing.
"Okay, Vee, Elle, we're gonna help free you," Luz stated calmly, exactly as their mother had said to the rabbit before. "You're gonna be alright."
Vee looked to Elle, who nodded, confirming that they could be trusted.
"Now, back up a bit. Give the wire some slack." The two backed away, peering at them. "Now look for a little metal thingamabob. Uh...sorry, I don't know what it's called."
"I think it's a clasp, and it should be near your shoes," Bijou said, pointing ahead. The two looked down and saw the clasps, which they released to free their legs.
"There you go. Nice and easy."
They sighed with relief as they backed away from the traps.
"Thank you..." Vee sniffled. She clutched herself and stared at the two. "You must be Camila's and Susan and Florian's real daughters?"
"We are. But right now we're trapped in the Boiling Isles."
"It's...a long story," Bijou said, rubbing her nape and turning away.
"Who are you guys, and why are you pretending to be us?" Luz asked them.
"And how did you end up here anyway?" Bijou asked, raising her eyebrow.
"We're...just looking for a place to belong," Vee said softly, looking away.
"To survive. Or better yet, to continue living," Elle continued as she rested her hand on Vee's shoulder. Their gaze softened as the two girls exchanged knowing glances. They understood what it was like...
"You guys were missing, and Mom—I mean," she sighed and corrected herself. "Your families seemed so kind, so I stayed with Camila while Elle went for Susan and Quinton. B-But, uh, we'll go if you want-"
"W-W-Wait!" Luz interrupted her. "Maybe we can help each other. Today we were gonna tell our families where we've been, but because of you two she hasn't realized we've been missing."
The two bent down to the mirrors.
"So, keep living in our place. For now. When we get back, we can introduce her to the Demon Realm and help you guys find a place to live."
"The same goes for my father, Florian. He is also unaware that I have left and that I am still pursuing my aspirations. He means so much to me, so don't tell him anything; I'll handle it myself," Bijou stated, Elle's eyes widening. She winced and shifted her gaze away slightly. The older human girl looked puzzled at that reaction.
"There's one problem," Vee said, holding up her left ear. "We need magic to transform and, we, uh...just used the rest of it."
She blushed, embarrassed.
"Hmm," Luz said, looking aside in thought. They couldn't use magic where they were to help, so how could they offer them magic? She suddenly noticed something nearby.
"Oh! That's where we can get some magic."
Elle looked for a newspaper and took it in her hands.
"Secrets of Gravesfield?" Vee asked, perplexed. It had been penned by Jacob Hopkins.
"No, no. That's junk. Turn it over," Luz said.
"That guy running that facility is such a whackjob," Bijou scoffed angrily; she'd heard of him several times since moving to Gravesfield, and his stories were generally more complicated than The Good Witch Azura. Elle turned the paper over.
"Strange woman banned from café," Elle read, recognizing Eda from the photo.
"That's Eda," Luz said, and they pushed the paper away to focus on the two. "The Owl Lady."
"We've been staying with her ever since we ran into her," Bijou chuckled.
"She's been coming here for years. She might've left some magic stuff behind."
"Okay," Vee said, picking up the compact, while Elle took the handheld mirror. "We can try..."
She and Elle walked out the door, unaware that their entire chat had been recorded on video.
Vee and Elle strolled by the 'Welcome to Gravesfield' sign while wearing hats over their heads. Vee wore one with cat ears, whereas Elle wore a white hat with a black band that concealed her ears beneath it. They both put on huge sunglasses and approached Robin's Roast Café.
"Is this it?" Vee questioned quietly, looking around nervously. "W-We just go in and ask about that witch from the paper?"
"Yes! Maybe they still have one of her enchanted pastries," Luz said, returning her gaze to the area.
"And it's the only lead we've got," Bijou said, and they both gasped.
"Ears, ears!"
Vee whined at her ears, gripping the hat, as Elle pulled her ears back behind her hat.
"Shouldn't be too hard," Elle said confidently. "Come on, there might be people who know this Eda person."
They went inside, Vee sniffing the air for magic.
"Hello." Vee said, covering her mouth. Thankfully, the barista didn't see her sniffing because she had just finished serving a customer.
"What can I get ya?"
"Well, this question isn't something people ask you, but have you seen a gray-haired woman leaving something behind here?" Elle replied with her hands clasped together.
"Ugh," she scratched her temple at the inquiry, her eyelids drooping. "You're not friends with that witch-obsessed guy, right? I told him to stop leaving pamphlets here!"
Vee looked up and saw something on the wall.
"A-Actually, we're asking about her," she said, pointing up.
"The one with the green headscarf," Elle said, as a 'banned for life' sign hung above them, with the largest image showing Eda holding a wild raccoon.
"Oh, Marilyn? Yeah, she tried to pay for a latte with a live raccoon a couple of months ago. But when I called the cops, she did something weird to the croissants," she gestured to a croissant. "We threw 'em in the trash, but, well...hmm, now we have a whole new problem."
They went outside after she recounted what happened and sniffed the alley.
"I don't smell any magic..." Vee exclaimed, then startled as they heard something up ahead. Elle took a protective step in front of her friend.
"Bread of wisdom grants us speech," two talking rats with red eyes appeared from behind the garbage. "We desire more!"
"Cool! Talking rats," Luz smiled as she saw them. "Maybe they know something."
"I'm not sure if they'll give you any clues," Bijou replied, concerned.
They hissed, and Vee screamed and fled. Elle hissed back at them. They came to a halt in the park, Vee returning her gaze to the alleyway before departing.
"Vee, is everything all right?"
"Oh," Vee giggled uneasily, facing Luz. "Yeah. I, uh, just—oh, don't like confrontation. Heh..."
"That's why I handle all the hands-on stuff," Elle said, looking at her pal.
"Oh, that's okay; I'm sure someone else has seen Eda," Luzassured her while Bijou glanced around for any clues.
"Look. Over there," she pointed to something behind the two basilisks. "I see some Hexes Hold'em cards."
Three kids were sitting under a tree, one of them was holding Hexes Hold'em cards.
"Eda got rid of all her decks. I was wondering where they went," Luz said.
Vee smelled the air.
"Well, they must've ran out of magic. I don't smell anything," she said.
Elle inhaled the air. "Me neither."
"But maybe they know where to get more," Luz said to her, and Bijou agreed. "Okay, we gotta be careful approaching high schoolers. Mark all your exit routes-"
However, Vee simply laughed it off. "Actually, these guys are cool."
"Really?" Elle asked, astonished that she recognized the card players nearby.
They approached the group, scaring Luz.
"Wait! Hey!"
"A past connection that left its mark on your soul has reappeared, asking you to abandon your old ways and undergo a metamorphosis," the person holding the cards remarked, closing her eyes. "Becoming the spiritual leader you're meant to be."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," the boy almost scratched his stomach. Vee sat in front of the girl.
"Hello."
"Oh, they're gonna embarrass themselves," Luz said, hiding her eyes with her hands. "I can't watch."
"Oh, hey, Luz!" the girl with the cards said, startling both of them. "Good to see you outside of prison. I see you even made a new friend here."
"Hey, there," Elle said. "I'm Elle."
Vee only chuckled, as Luz and Bijou looked on in confusion. "I did. And come on. Camp wasn't that bad."
"Camp?" Luz inquired as they took a closer look.
"We did have the best cabin," Vee said, smiling at them.
"Cabin seven. Hoo-ha-ha!" Everyone laughed, and Bijou turned to face Luz.
"I believe she went to camp in your place, but what did Elle do while I was away?" She pondered.
"Cool cards," Vee smiled at them. "Where'd you get 'em?"
She reached out for one, but the girl grabbed it.
"Uh-uh. Let me give you a reading first. I wanna practice," she smiled at Vee as she laid down three cards. One depicted a crescent moon, another a skeleton holding a golden chalice, and the final one a fish with arrows.
"Whoa!" Luz took a closer look.
"You're running from your past," Vee and Elle exchanged anxious glances. "From previous lives that were not kind to you."
The two began shaking their mirrors, and the two human girls looked up, concerned.
"However, the guilt and fear you carry will eventually catch you in a self-fulfilling prophecy that you won't be able to escape from."
Vee uttered a terrified squeak when Elle squeezed her shoulder.
"...You're gonna need some bath bombs, girl. Anyway, I got the cards over at the Gravesfield Historical Society," she said, pointing to the building across the street.
"Thanks. I'll see you around," Vee rose up dejectedly and left. Elle followed her friends, who stared after her.
"Did you see the look in her eyes? I gotta find out where she bought those contacts!"
"Bijou!" Elle looked to the side and saw a boy and girl approaching on their bikes.
"Dana, Tyson." She greeted them. "How were your vacations?"
"Sports clinic was amazing, Elle. Sooner or later, I will finally join the basketball team once school starts again," Tyson replied as he dribbled the ball between his legs.
"And my time at the resort at the resort is great. The pool, the buffet, the karaoke lounge, they weren't kidding when they said they have everything there," Dana added.
"No way. She became friends with them?" Bijou was surprised that Elle made friends in her stead.
Luz turned to Bijou in surprise and asked, "You know them?"
"Dana Sanchez and Tyson Garcia. They are in my class. Dana's mother is a member of the school board and Tyson is good at basketball."
"So you wanna come to my house and watch movies later?" Dana asked.
"Oh, uhh...I-I'll get back to you on that one," she said nervously as she looked into the hand-held mirror. "Okay?"
"You okay?" Dana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm fine, just...just sometimes I could let people understand me sometimes," she said with a sheepish grin.
"Suit yourself girl," Tyson said with a shrug before he and Dana headed for the latter's house. He turned for a bit and winked at her. She blushed in response, which Bijou notices.
Vee and Elle rushed to the building. Vee sniffed around before sneezing.
"Is it that dusty in here?"
They looked up as a man strolled in with a broom.
"Welcome to the Gravesfield Historical Society." He adjusted his glasses. "Let me guess. You're here to buy those weird cards, right?"
Vee gasped as they moved forward. "How did you know?"
"Well, they've been really popular with high schoolers. Yeah, saw an old lady try to dump 'em in a river a while back, but I bought 'em off her instead." He rested his chin on the table. "It was really odd though. She kept asking for snails."
Luz grinned and looked up at her companion, "This is it, Bij."
"Finally. We're one step closer to getting home," Bijou exclaimed.
"You want a set?"
"Yes, please!" Vee replied, smiling at the man.
"Make that two, sir," Elle added.
"Well, I'll be in just a minute, so feel free to look around," he said, entering the staff room. Elle's smile fades to a small frown.
"Something tells me that this man is not to be trusted," she thought to herself as the two undercover basilisks entered the exhibit room and looked at a painting of a flag. Both Bijou and Luz appeared in the reflection, and they could tell that their friends' words were still fresh in their minds.
"Are you okay?" Luz said.
They didn't respond.
"Hey, forget what that girl said. Bij and I know what it's like to wanna run away from home. I did the same thing."
Bijou frowned as she stared at her friend. Technically, Luz was the one who intended to flee; Bijou merely went impulsively because she was astonished by Owlbert's abrupt appearance.
"I wouldn't say the same thing from my perspective," Bijou added.
"You and I are not the same," Vee said angrily. "You had a mom who loved you, a home, a life, and you still wanted to run away. I didn't have a choice. And so did Elle." Vee cried a little, Elle placing a hand on her back, and then she let out a sigh. "Our real names are Number Five, and Number Fifty. We're basilisks."
The two removed their disguises.
"And technically we...we shouldn't exist."
Flashback - several weeks ago
Vee and Elle grimaced regretfully as they held the bars of their cages. Their limbs were likewise chained.
"Our kind went extinct a long time ago, but we were brought back."
Vee clutched a rat and drained it, reluctantly, as tears streamed from her eyes. The warden and two scouts were observing her.
"They wanted to know how we drained magic."
"We met a basilisk once. She hurt a lot of people," Luz said of their first day at Hexside.
"That...was a long day," Bijou sighed lightly.
Vee stood guard in front of the rats, with Elle peering at her from across her cage.
"For many of us, all we knew how to do was feed. Some of us escaped..."
The troop looked up to see Emperor Belos standing on a cliff, hidden.
"But we knew it was only a matter of time before he caught us again."
"So I took Vee with me the first chance to escape. After I saw her bravery, she inspired me, and...well, I felt a need to become like a true friend to her. We had both been through a lot..."
They heard someone approaching, and Elle stood in front of Vee while they were deep in the woods. Vee hugged her pal as a rustle came from the bushes...but Raine emerged, shocked to see them. They were dressed in BATT regalia. The two drew away slightly, but Raine took a step forward, smiling and offered a hand. Elle cautiously grabbed their hand and led them out of the thicket. After they arrived in a safe spot and the two basilisks explained themselves, Raine gave Elle a guitar and two cloaks before leaving. Elle sat down and plucked a finger to play a note. She began to play the instrument, finding it pleasant after everything else they had been through.
The two of them looked at Luz and Bijou through the crowd in the Boiling Isles. The two human girls had just arrived from their hometown and greeted Eda with a smile.
"That's when we saw you and...and realized there might be a way out of this."
They sunk past the tent and went through the same door as Bijou and Luz. They opened the door and slithered onto the grass.
"Luz, where are you?" Camila shouted out. The two gasped and turned around. Elle slithered into the forest, while Vee took Luz's appearance.
"Luz!" said the woman as she emerged from the forest. "There you are."
Vee chuckled uncomfortably as they confronted her. "Hello, fellow human. Um, skin's sure weird."
She pinched herself.
"Very funny," Camila chuckled as she approached her. "But I was thinking, instead of taking the bus to camp, why don't we drive? I got the day off from work, and you'll have full control of the playlist."
She offered her hand. Elle slithered out silently from behind her, making certain no one was following her. She wandered for a time before arriving at Bijou's house. She then assumed Bijou's shape and appeared at the door, knocking.
"Bijou, what took you so long. Lunch is almost ready," Florian said as he opened the door to let the undercover basilisk in.
"We didn't mean to keep playing these roles, but Camila, Susan, and Florian were nice to us..."
The two joined their respective family and friends.
"I resent you for running away," Vee said, closing her eyes as Elle frowned deeply at Bijou. "But we're also thankful that you did. I don't know. It's confusing."
They put their disguises back on.
"You had a loving family, potential friends, and a good career path," Elle said to Bijou. "Why didn't you approach them the first time?"
The girl's eyes softened as she spoke.
"Why did you refuse to follow what your dad said to you?"
She glanced angrily at the girl.
"Okay, for the record, you're putting this the wrong way," Bijou explained gently. "One, I barely had time to make friends since our move from Miami 3 weeks ago was sudden and unexpected. Two, being an engineer is not what I wanted. That's what my dad wanted. I want to become a fashion designer. And three, which is unrelated to the previous two, I noticed you blush when you glanced at Tyson. Do you have a crush on him?"
"Aww!" Luz exclaimed, clasping her hands together.
"Of course, I like him; he's sweet, funny, and athletic...but I guess we wouldn't work out," Elle replied sadly, looking away. "He'd call me a freak if he ever found out that...I'm not really human."
"You've known him for quite a while now." Bijou said softly. "If anyone's going to accept you as you are, it's him."
"I'm sorry I snapped at you..." Elle scratched the back of her neck.
"It's okay," the older human girl said quietly. "I just...didn't want him or anyone else to get dragged into my problems. Even with my...relationship drama."
She averted her gaze, remembering how difficult her own romantic relationships had been. Luz nodded in agreement.
"He's a really nice guy. He'll understand once you tell him the truth."
Elle argued, "I can't just tell him! It'll really mess him up."
"So is faking for someone when you don't want to," Bijou said with a sigh. "Do you really think you could live without telling Tyson that?"
Elle had a mournful expression, as if she couldn't do that to him any longer. But she didn't want to...
Vee suddenly scented the air, catching their attention.
"Do you smell something?" Luz asked Vee as he walked away. Elle and the other two followed as they entered the dark staff room.
"Where's the light...?" She turned it on, gasping in surprise to see a variety of instruments, photographs, books, and other items related to magic or witchcraft.
They delved deeper, discovering a luminous deck of Hexes Hold 'em cards. A conspiracy wall was posted on the bulletin board, with some of the photographs featuring Eda, though they had no idea how he knew her name. There was even a picture of Owl Beast Eda, and Bijou suspected that she hadn't carried an elixir on one of her travels to the human realm, so she didn't shift back until she returned.
"What is all this...?" Vee backed backward against a computer, and they turned around as the screen lit up. Two recordings were playing, one of which included the two basilisks in the trap.
"Have we been followed this whole time?!"
"Someone's onto us. We've gotta get out of here, NOW!" Elle yelled, as they both dashed away, only to step on a trip wire and get caught in cages. The mirrors tumbled and broke upon impact, cutting off Luz and Bijou.
"Vee? Elle?" Luz inquired, alarmed.
As they received no response, Bijou yelled, "Are you guys okay?!"
"GUYS!" the two screamed together.
A thunderstorm occurred, causing the two to shake in their cages. Two human girls emerged in a picture frame in front of them.
"Vee. Elle," Luz exclaimed with relief, but the two frightened out and returned to their basilisk forms.
"Let us out!" Vee cried out, weeping.
"Whoa, calm down. You've got to change back!" Bijou said in surprise, but then the man walked in, wielding a stick.
"Whoa...it worked?"
Bijou and Luz gasped and ducked down. He approached the frightened basilisks. "I can't believe it. Are—are you real?" He tapped Vee with the stick, and she swatted it away.
"Back off!" Ivy snarled at him. "Set us free right now!"
"After all this time, after setting up all those traps, I...I finally caught living, breathing demons!" He said joyfully, while Elle stared at him. "Oh, don't be surprised. A few years back, I had a chance encounter with another one of your kind."
He held up an image of Owl Beast Eda.
"Yeah. A-At first, I couldn't believe what I saw, but...after watching a few Mew-Tube videos, I learned the truth." He crossed his arms and smiled smugly. "Witches and demons are real."
Bijou and Luz let out quick gasps. Until now, Luz was the only one who believed in them, but someone had developed an addiction! She was just grateful she never descended to his level...
"And they're all sent from Mars to harvest human teeth to power their time machine!"
Luz inhaled sharply, and Bijou lifted an eyebrow in bewilderment. Elle lunged forward, snapping her teeth at him, and he yelped and recoiled.
"You...don't actually know anything about us, do you?" Vee asked.
"Oh, I know enough," Jacob scowled at them. "I'll expose your vile plans on Mew-Tube and finally...get my account verified. Get comfortable, demons, because you'll be in cages for the rest of your lives," He then exited the rooms, leaving Vee in dismay.
"Don't worry, Vee, Elle. We can get out of this," Luz sought to reassure them.
"Go back to the Demon Realm, girls," Vee instructed, puzzling the pair.
"Even if we get out, he knows what our disguises look like," Vee told themselves. "He'd out us to Camila, Bijou's family, as well as Dana and Tyson, and it would cause them more trouble than if you just disappeared."
"Vee, you're giving up too quick!"
"Elle, you're not gonna let her say that, are you?" Bijou said, as Elle silently looked away.
"We're being...realistic. It's okay. We're...used to living like this. Goodbye, girls," Vee looked away and swung her tail.
"Wait, don't!" Bijou exclaimed as she destroyed the picture, causing the cube to break as well.
"Vee! Elle! Uh, Five, Fifty! N-Numbers Five and Fifty!"
However, nothing happened, so Luz slammed into the water in frustration. Bijou closed her eyes, sadly.
"Noceda..." Luz heard an eerie whisper. She stood up, heeded that mysterious voice, and began looking.
"Camila Noceda."
A cube appeared before her, enveloping her in orange light.
Camila was in the kitchen, and happily, she preserved Luz's old belongings while holding up the tinfoil swan.
"Boop," she giggled as she prodded the beak. Luz emerged in the phone's reflection.
"Mom, are you there?"
"Huh? Luz?" She smiled as she looked at her phone. "I didn't even hear you call."
"Mom...it's so great to hear your voice," Luz exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Oh," Camila answered the phone. "It's great to hear you too? What's wrong?"
"We found out who's been setting up those traps, and he's...hurting a friend of ours."
"We?" The woman blinked.
"I have to tell you the truth...about the last few months. Let me tell you about a place called Boiling Isles." Camila sat down, eager to hear what her daughter had to say.
A while later...
After Camila listened to what Luz informed her, she was asked to go to the Gravesfield Historical Society, where Elle and Vee are captured. Stopping there, she parked her car near the entrance.
"I understand you made a friend with this Bijou girl since she is in the same school as you but you know, if you wanted me to pick you and your friends up, you didn't have to make up this elaborate story about the Demon Realm," Camila remarked with a smirk.
"I'm not making this up, Mom!" Luz exclaimed, eliciting a laugh.
"Don't worry. I'll play along," she said, waving it aside.
"Camila?" Susan called out to the veterinarian.
Camila turned to face the Adams, who arrived minutes after her, with their car parked behind hers.
"Susan? You're here too? And when did you get back here, Florian?" she asked.
"A while ago," he replied.
"Our daughter Bijou told us to get here. Did someone told you to go to this place as well?" Susan asked.
"Sí. Luz asked me to come here and save her friends."
"And is Luz with you?"
Camila showed her phone to reveal Luz.
"Hey, Adamses," she greeted.
"And what about Bijou? Is she around?" Camila asked back as Florian showed his daughter through his phone. Bijou waved at her.
"Okay..." Camila trailed awkwardly.
Soon enough, Tyson and Dana appeared across from Camila and the Adamses. The two teenagers parked their motorcycles, and a woman approached them.
"Oh, has Luz has gotten you all in on this game too?"
They exchanged confused looks, with Bijou peering at her buddy in the cube world. Luz simply shook her head, indicating that Camila did not believe her.
"Umm, no, Dr. Camila," Dana replied. "But it's not your daughter who told us to get here."
"It's our classmate Bijou. Mr. Adams, is she still here?" Tyson inquired before asking Florian.
The man nodded and presented his phone, revealing Bijou on the screen.
"Oh, you kids are still playing your role-playing games," she smiled as she climbed up the stairs.
"What? No, Dr. Camila. This is-" Tyson attempted to contradict, but Bijou interrupted her.
"Just let her think this way for now. She'll grasp it in a few minutes..." she added.
"I know this stuff made school difficult, but I'm glad you're still being creative," Camila told Luz as she entered the facility. "And I'm glad you're friend Bijou decided to play along."
Bijou could only shake her head in disdain before an ax was flung at a witch statue. Jacob emerged from behind the desk.
"Are you the curator here?" Camila inquired curiously.
"Who's asking?" he inquired, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"A little birdie told us you caught two demons," Camila smirked at the man. "We would love to see them."
"Wait! How did you know? Do you work for the government?"
"Oh, I'm a veterinarian, actually," Camila explained. "Susan here is a neurosurgeon while her husband is a businessman."
"And we're still students," Tyson deadpanned, gesturing to himself, Dana, and Quinton. "We're-"
"So, the president sent a vet, a businessman, a neurosurgeon, and three undercover agents to study the demon's anatomy, huh?" He rubbed his chin as he circled the three. "Sure, I'll show you. But first, I'll need verbal confirmation that I'm allowed to publish my findings..."
He pressed record on a voice recorder.
"Uh...kay," Camila replied, bewildered.
"Whatever floats your boat, sir," Quinton said, uneased.
"Good. Now you're bound by law. Follow me." He walked away, leaving the woman smiling at her phone.
"You two even made us a part of your game. Oh! This is so fun."
Bijou tried to say otherwise, but she had to remain silent because she didn't want that nutjob to hear her. He opened the door, allowing the five inside.
"Ooh! Is this one of those escape rooms?"
Vee and Elle were wearing cloaks.
"Or, um...what do you call them? A LARP? Oh, sorry. Don't wanna break the illusion."
Dana, Tyson, and the Adams exchanged glances, wondering how much she was willing to put up with.
"Let me start by telling you the secret history of Gravesfield," Jacob said, placing his arms around the three, who pushed him away, already uneasy. He stood in front of the bulletin board.
"In the 1600s, this was a peaceful colony until tragedy struck."
He showed them a book that depicted a burning structure.
"Two brothers were lured into a realm of evil by a real witch, never to be seen again."
Bijou gasped, remembering that Philip had been transported to the Demon Realm during that time period. But she thought it was odd that a sibling was never mentioned; if that explanation was the same as Philip's, why hadn't they heard about his brother before now?
"People have stopped believing in the horrors of witchcraft, but...I know the truth!" He slammed his fist against the table.
"Whoa!" Camila looked back at her phone. "Luz, this is quite a detailed story."
"I would say the same thing, too, Bij," Florian said, looking at his phone.
Susan, Quinton, Dana, and Tyson bit their lips anxiously when they realized how much he knew.
"But now I've got proof that otherworldly beings exist," he said, marching up to the curtains and standing between the cages. "Behold!"
He pulled back the drapes to expose a scared Vee and Elle, both with their mouths taped shut.
"Oh, wow!" Camila exclaimed, only to observe Vee nervously picking at her skin. "Those are very, uh, convincing...costumes?"
Her expression dropped as the Adamses, Dana, and Tyson gasped at what they had just witnessed.
"Costumes?! These are real, live demons!" Jacob exclaimed, pointing at the two. "Come here. Watch this," he said, approaching his monitors. He showed the footage of the two being trapped in the traps, and Camila, Dana, Tyson, Susan, Quinton, and Florian gasped in fear.
"More vile beings will probably come to their rescue. But I can protect humanity! I-I even had some custom gear made at the renaissance fair." He gestured to a glass cage containing a suit of armor. "Usually I don't take it out for just anyone, but what the heck! If I'm gonna be working with the government, I might as well show off a little."
He went over to take it down, laboring to get it onto the hook.
"All right. Let me just—uh..." He struggled to get it, and the other people present gave him a worried look.
"Girls, come on. I don't like this game anymore," Camila admitted.
"That's because it's not a game, Dr. Camila," Bijou said with concern. "What Luz told you and what I told my family, Dana, and Tyson are true."
"She's right," Tyson murmured, placing his hand on her shoulder. "They really are trapped there, Camila."
"So that thing has been living with me the entire time, and the other one was with the Adamses?" Camila asked, looking behind. "I-It's just a lot to believe."
Her eyes saddened slightly as she realized her daughter and a friend were confined.
"Their names are Vee and Elle, and they may look different, but they're not bad. Please, you gotta help them!" Luz said.
"Bijou already told us who Elle is but you need to understand everything that is happening, Camila," Dana stated.
"We know it's a lot, but you understand that we can't just leave them here," Bijou implored. Camila and Susan looked at the two basilisks and saw their terrified expressions. They whimpered as the two women stood between them, then bent down at eye level with Vee.
"Hello. This is all so confusing, but...who knew we had such strong girls living under our roofs this whole time?" Camila replied.
"Oui. They are amazing in every way possible," Susan said, nodding.
The two burst into tears, relieved that she was not furious with them or intending to harm them. Tyson, Dana, Florian, and Quinton crept over to sit in front of Elle. She looked at them before Florian held out his free hand, which Elle touched in response.
"And...I sort of thought something was off when we met; I didn't think much of it, but now that I know everything...I hope we get to know each other better," he said with a slight smile, Elle's eyes softening.
"So, how do I look?"
The three stared at Jacob, who had put on his armor. "Maybe we can collaborate on a version that can survive the battles on Mars," he said, gasping when he saw Florian and Camila's phones. "Wait, what are those?!"
The two girls flinched, and he stomped over.
"Are you recording this?"
"Uhh..." Camila gave an uneasy face, and the Adamses, Tyson, and Dana all winced.
"Wonderful! I was gonna wait until after the press tour." He drew out a huge knife from his armory. "But let's begin our live dissection of these demons right now!"
"Stop!" Camila and Susan yelled at him.
He turned around.
"Uh, the—the president just called," Camila said. "Yeah. And, uh..."
Luz urged her to continue, but she had nothing.
"Uh...you know what? I don't have the imagination for this," she stood up and approached the cages. "We will be taking these innocent children with us, and you will never bother us again!"
"Yeah! And you'll never kidnap them again," Will snarled his teeth at the man.
"What? No, absolutely not. We made a verbal agreement!"
"That's enough!" Florian screamed at Jacob. "I don't know what you are gonna do with them but we can't let you harm these innocent kids. Not now, not ever!"
Camila pulled out a slingshot.
"So you better back the heck down, or we will tell the police you have been illegally setting up traps and cameras on private property!"
She threw down the slingshot and stood in front of Vee and Elle, alongside Florian. Susan, Quinton, Dana, and Tyson followed suit.
"And don't think you'll get a slap on the wrist for that either," Dana hissed.
"I won't let you take away my discovery! I'm the good guy here."
"Yeah...a lot of bad guys say that. Florian?" Camila asked, pulling out a flip flop. Florian grinned knowingly and undid his belt. He and Camila both attacked Jacob, and then everything went black.
As the group was leaving, the sky began to rain. Vee was wearing Camila's coat, while Dana and Tyson helped Elle down.
"Is it okay to leave him in there?" Vee couldn't help but inquire.
"Yeah, what happens next?" Elle asked them.
"Don't worry," Florian said. "He'll never mess with us again."
"He can use the time for some self-reflection," Camila said, as Jacob lay unconscious in Vee's cage, his wrists and feet tied, with marks on both cheeks from Camila's flip-flop and Florian's belt.
The cars and bikes arrived at the Noceda home, and Vee and Elle crawled out into the rain. Camila got out of her car as the Adamses did in theirs. Dana and Tyson got off their bicycles. The gang exchanged smiles before Luz and Bijou appeared in the headlights of Camila's automobile. Luz gasped at herself, as Bijou looked at her arms.
"Look what we can do with the rain!" Luz smiled as the basilisks approached the two. "Vee, Elle, we're so happy you're okay."
They attempted to high-five, but their hands passed right through them.
"Whoa," she giggled, and Bijou smiled.
"Yeah. Thank you, Camila, for everything," Vee replied, smiling at the woman. "And you too, guys."
She looked at Tyson, Dana, and the Adamses.
"We're very grateful to everyone," Ivy told the group.
"Vee, Elle," Camila grabbed each of their hands. "You each have a place in our homes for as long as you need. And take these."
She went inside her purse and took two decks of luminous Hexes Hold'em cards from Jacob.
"Luz said they might be helpful for you both."
"And don't worry if you run out, either," Tyson said, pulling out a sizable collection from his pocket. "That guy had a LOT of those."
"Magic!" the two exclaimed, devouring the cards and heading over to the house.
"Mom, you were awesome back there!" Luz remarked cheerfully.
"You, too, Dad!" Bijou said, as Susan kissed him and Florian hugged him.
Bijou then looked across at Tyson, Dana, and Elle.
"Excuse me?" she shouted out, and they approached her.
Bijou looked across at Elle and asked, "May I?"
The long-haired basilisk nodded, understanding that Tyson deserved to know.
"Tyson, I know this sounds crazy and a little awkward, but Elle here has a crush on you," Bijou remarked, scratching her neck.
Hearing this made Tyson blush and Dana gasp excitedly.
"She...does?" Tyson repeated in question.
"It's true. Tyson, you're an amazing guy. You're sweet, friendly, athletic, and considerate. I wanted to tell you about this but I was afraid that you would reject me if you learned about what I am: a basilisk from another world, living the life of someone else," Elle said.
"Well, it's a little weird," he admitted to her before taking her hands. "But...I think I'm quite used to it by now. And...if you want...we could...you know" He reddened, and she blinked in astonishment. "Go on a date sometime?"
After some contemplation, he realized he genuinely liked Elle, and he wasn't upset because he was glad to still have her with him. He didn't care if Elle pretended to be Bijou anymore. He admired the basilisk for who she was on the inside.
She looked at Bijou.
"Go for it!" she said gently, with Vee, Dana, and the Adamses nodding in encouragement.
"...Yeah, I'd like that," Elle said shyly, as Will grinned at her.
Bijou smiled at the two, certain that she could finally begin her relationship with Edric. It would take some work, but she hoped for the best.
"You okay, Bij?" Luz inquired.
"...Yeah. It's just that...I think I'm ready to ask Edric out, you know?" She grinned, and Luz gasped, knowingly.
"So...when are you gonna start?"
"Oh, you'll know soon," she chuckled nervously and waved her hand.
The Adamses, Dana, and Tyson noted Camila had been unusually quiet, and they cringed as they realized why.
"Thank you for being cool about everything, Mom, Dr. Susan, and Mr. Adams," Luz said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Hey, we're just glad that our daughter is safe. And she's lucky to have a friend like you, Luz," Florian responded.
"And thank you for understanding what has happened in the past few months. It means a lot to me," Bijou added.
Camila gently turned towards them. She cried as she looked at them.
"I'm trying to hold it together..." she confessed, crying. "I really am, but I have never been this scared before. The Demon Realm? Magic?"
Luz frowned slightly, apprehensive.
"How are you both gonna get back here? Is this the only way I can touch you?"
Mother and daughter touched hands, but Luz could not feel her.
"W-We need a little more time, but if we keep working our hardest, w-we will make a working portal, we promise!"
"As scary as this is...it really does seem like you've matured," Camila smiled at her daughter.
"Yes! I have learned so much. Staying here was the best decision I've ever made."
Camila narrowed her eyes.
"You...chose to stay there?" She sounded angry now, and Luz realized what she had said.
"Oh, uh..."
"Were you trying to live out your witch fantasies? Did you...did you hate living with me that much?"
"Mama, no!" Luz argued with her.
"Camila, wait. It wasn't like that!" Bijou defended her friend before turning to her family and new friends. "And guys, I agree with Luz. The Demon Realm isn't as bad as anyone would think. That place helped me change for the better and I wish I could tell more about it but-"
"But what?" Quinton asked. His question is immediately answered
A snap was heard, and they peered down to see the ropes pulling them back.
"No! Not yet! Not yet!" Luz attempted to pull them down, but it was ineffective. They grasped the cube but were unable to hold on as they were hoisted up. "Mom!"
"Guys!"
They saw the six in the reflections of the cubes surrounding them.
"We're being pulled back!" Luz cried, as Camila and Susan rushed out to help. Tyson and Dana rushed over to the girls.
"We don't have much time left," Bijou explained.
"Just a few more seconds!" Dana exclaimed.
"Baby, no, no, no, no. When you come home, promise you'll stay here?" Camila cried, clutching their hands. "I didn't mean to push you away. I swear things will be different."
"Mom, it's not you. It never was."
"Promise me, Luz," Camila said, a tear running down her cheek. "Please."
"...Okay, Mom. I promise," Luz said.
"Mom, Dad, Quin. I'll tell you everything once I get back home. I can guarantee you that," Bijou said to her family.
"Okay, dear. We just hope you get back safely," Florian said.
The two let go and slowly vanished.
When they left, Camila and Susan began crying again, with Dana, Tyson, Florian, and Quinton cuddling them for comfort.
"MOM!" Luz yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she and Bijou were pushed further away.
"And pull, and pull!" The gang fought to pull both ropes because the portal was leaking. "And pull!"
The two girls blasted through the portal, landing violently on the ground.
"Whoa!" Hooty screamed, as everyone looked down to see Luz and Bijou on the ground.
"Luz! Bij!"
They all helped them get up. "I'm sorry. We had to pull you out," Eda told them. "The portal was closing."
They stared up as the portal creaked and then collapsed, dissolving into smoke. If they had been one second off, they would have been imprisoned inside for an unknown amount of time.
"Tell us what happened back there," Hazel asked.
"Did you talk to your families?" King pounced on Luz's shoulder. "Did you mention me and Hazel?"
"Yeah," Luz replied faintly, caressing the side of his head. "Mama...Mom can't wait to meet you guys."
"Yeah. My family and some new friends too," Bijou added, the two girls chuckling uneasily.
"Well, just rest up now, okay?" Eda patted both of their heads. "And don't you worry, kiddos. With everything we've learned, we'll have a real working portal in no time."
"I'm gonna eat human snacks!" King exclaimed, with Hooty joining in.
"I really want to see what plants and animals are like in the Human Realm," Hazel exclaimed, jumping up with excitement.
"I can't wait to share parenting tips."
"Who dubbed you a parent?" Eda taunted, and the two girls exchanged anxious glances while Eda, Hazel, and King laughed.
A/N 2: Whew! Finally finished this two-part chapter. The first part took me several days to complete so this chapter is done in a snap since most of the chapter has Luz and Bijou on the same scene and the same goes for Vee and Elle. Anyway, now that the first half of Book 2 is finally finished, it's time to go to the second half. Stay magical, readers!