The trip back up to the Bonesborough Library was awkwardly silent. Amity sat with her legs pulled up to her chest and her face buried in her knees, separated from Luz, who sat on the opposing corner of Malpha's giant floating book. Amity was angry, sad, disappointed, terrified. She was feeling everything, all at once. Her new job that she had only had for a week was very likely to end, as well as her study room and even possibly access to the library itself; her only sanctuary. She wanted to be angry at Luz. To cast blame on the girl that had talked her in to entering the Forbidden Stacks, but she knew it was her own fault. Luz had understood Amity's reluctance and the risk she was taking, and had given her ample opportunity to turn back despite this being her best chance for getting home. As miserable as she might be at home, Amity couldn't imagine being locked away from it for months without warning.
She could feel Luz looking at her intermittently, but she couldn't even guess what she was feeling. Was she disappointed with her? They had gone through all this trouble only for the journal to be destroyed. Maybe she regretted getting Amity involved at all and would push her away now that the library was no longer a source of information. How could she be so stupid as to think that they wouldn't be caught and that there wouldn't be consequences? When her mother heard that she had been fired, she would likely be grounded again.
Amity wiped her eyes on her leggings, frowning at the make up that rubbed off on them. Her body shook as they passed through the entrance to the stacks and back into the Library. They glided silently over the patrons and bookshelves, and she could hear familiar voices comment on the display. Skara, Solis, Prentiss, and Matt all had something to say as they recognized her being escorted to the front door. The book slowed and Malphas set down, waiting for them to disembark onto the front step. He let out a breath, ignoring Luz and looking regretfully at Amity. "I'm just, like, super disappointed in you. Like, I can't even process these feelings right now. Gosh, it's so hard for me to say this, but like, you're fired."
Malphas drew a small, fluorescent purple spell circle that connected to Amity's Staff Identification card. It unclipped, and slid from around her neck as he magically pulled it to his hand, turned away, and re-entered the library before the massive double doors closed behind him. Amity felt them rumble, but couldn't hear them. Her senses were dulled, her point of view frozen on a random point in front of her as the realization of what had just happened sank in.
"Amity, I am so…"
"Not right now, Luz." Amity interrupted, her shoulders raised as she tried to hide within herself. She could feel hot tears on her cheeks again and she shook herself out of her stunned condition. "Everything's changed since you came here. Being around you…" She turned to face Luz, her chest and throat tight as she spoke. "It makes me do stupid things and I wish it didn't."
Luz, too, had tears shining on her cheeks and despite her crooked smile, she sniffed in an effort to hold herself back from breaking down. "It's okay." she choked out, wiping her cheeks. "I, uh… I do stupid things around you too, Amity."
Amity sucked in a breath at hearing Luz's words. What did she mean? She was tired of hiding her feelings from Luz. She wanted to tell her everything and finally put it behind her but she couldn't bring herself to say anything amidst her confusion. She needed time and space to sort out her thoughts and feelings. "I think I need to go home." she whispered. Hesitantly, she turned and stiffly descended the stairs, leaving Luz standing where she was.
Small, overweight dragons wheezed as they flew overhead, being chased and scattered by gryphons. Demon Hunters fought a shurtle just down the street, it's maw of multiple rows of teeth gnashing at them as they tried to subdue it through its tough shell. The not-dog vendor was getting into a brawl with the eye-scream cart for consuming one of his customers. There was chaos in Bonesborough, but Amity didn't notice. She was moving from clenching the hem of her shirt to folding her arms to running her fingers through her hair until her hair tie fell out. Before long, she found herself on the steps of Blight Manor, confused as to how to even operate the door of her home until it opened of its own accord.
"Amity? Are you okay?" Emira asked, standing in the entryway.
She looked up into her sister's eyes, tears threatening to fall again before she nearly fell forward and wrapped her arms around Emira and buried her face in her shoulder. "I got fired from the library." she said once she could get the words out passed the lump in her throat. "I was helping Luz find a book and like an idiot, I lead her into the Forbidden Stacks and we got caught and now I'm probably banned from the only place I feel safe anymore." she cried, letting her body shake.
Emira pat her little sister's head, letting out small noises of discomfort. "Uh, okay… this is new. Uhm, why don't we go upstairs and talk?"
Taking a few more ragged breaths, Amity stood and rubbed her cheeks. She sniffed and sobbed again before looking up at her sister. "Sorry." she said, then nodded. She entered the house and began climbing the stairs to her room, Emira closing the front door behind them and following. Edric was already in the hall, having heard the commotion downstairs, and shrugged at his twin sister before following them both into Amity's room. Amity shakily sat herself down at the end of her bed and hung her head. "What's wrong with me?"
"Did you want a list, or…?" Edric asked, earning himself an annoyed punch to the arm from Emira. "Ow!"
"There's nothing wrong with you, Amity." Emira assured her, picking up a hairbrush from the desk. It was, like most of the possessions in the Manor, abomination themed, and let out a soft groan as she handled it. "Turn around. This used to calm you down, remember?"
Amity sighed, then after blowing a lock of green hair out of her face from her fallen hairstyle, nodded and turned so her sister could kneel behind her. "I mean, why am I being so stupid lately? Why can't I think straight whenever Luz is around?"
The hairbrush began making calming, cooing noises as Emira ran it through Amity's hair, cleanly separating it down the middle and exposing her auburn roots. "That's just how things are. When you love someone, it just kinda makes your head a jumbled mess."
"Totally." Edric said, sitting himself down at Amity's vanity and peering into the mirror, looking for skin blemishes. "It makes you do all kinds of dumb things."
Amity bit her lip. Talking with anyone, let alone her family, felt uncomfortable and exposing. She felt her cheeks redden and she looked away. Was she in love? She thought she had been, watching Luz escape the Emperor's Castle during the Petrification Ceremony on the crystal ball, but was it real? "But these dumb things are, like, dangerous things. I don't do stupid things. That's your guys' expertise."
"Hey!" Edric and Emira said in unison, though they all shared a chuckle.
Again, Amity sighed. "Ever since Luz came here, things have just gotten confusing. I'm thinking things I've never thought before. I'm feeling things I never used to feel!"
"Is that so bad?" Emira asked. "You weren't happy before… Ed, don't pick. You'll only make it worse." she added to her brother, who was checking his complexion in Amity's mirror.
"Too late!" he replied.
Emira ruffled Amity's hair with a concerned smile. "Hey, your roots are growing out. Do you wanna dye your hair again?" she asked, holding up a vial of green hair dye.
Amity took a lock of her green hair and held it up to inspect it. At first, she had dyed it as a way to gain her mother's favor, but it had soon become an insisted upon feature that she keep it such a color in order to match both her and the twins. She often wondered if her father had felt insulted or perhaps left out as she was the only one to share his particular shade of hair, though she wished she could have rid herself of his complexion as well. "Y'know what? Yeah. But maybe we'll try something new." she said, standing.
If she was going to make a change, it would be based on her interests. Her wants and desires. Maybe it would be one more stupid idea to add to her repertoire, but at least it would be up to her. "What are you doing?" Emira asked.
Amity took the vial from her sister and gave her brother a playful shove to get him to move away from her desk before sitting down herself. With a flick of her thumb, a small purple flame ignited in the palm of her hand and she held it under the vial until it began to bubble and clear, the green color fading. Next, she drew a small spell circle that materialized a marble sized spot of abomination goo, and dropped it into the still bubbling potion bottle, turning the fluid inside a soft lavender color. "I want this." she said, handing Emira the bottle. "And bangs."
Emira shook the bottle, and Amity could see her hesitation through the mirror. Shrugging, Emira nodded. "You got it, baby sister. Edric, scissors."
"Can I get a makeover too, while you're at it?" Edric asked with a grin, earning him a growl from both girls. "Just asking!"
Emira went to work, using her Illusion magic to slowly draw the green color from Amity's auburn hair. "Maybe leave the undercut." Amity said with a smile.
"And done." Emira said, brushing off Amity's shoulders before circling around to stand with her brother. She sighed, realizing they no longer had an abomibutler to clean up the mess of hair and dye on the floor.
Amity felt nervous. She hadn't changed her hair in years, and knew that her mother wasn't going to approve. For once though, she didn't care. This was all for herself. She brushed her new bangs to the side with a hand and sat straight, feeling an unfamiliar smile appear on her face. "So? How's it look?"
"It looks like you're about to be in big trouble with mom." Edric said, earning him another backhand to the chest from his twin. "Ow."
"I think it looks great!" Emira said before sheepishly looking away and hiding the scissors on her fingers behind her back. "But yeah, maybe don't tell her I helped."
Amity was about to speak when a knock on the door sounded. Edric moved to answer it, but Amity lifted a hand. "You get to keep cleaning, I'll get the door. Time to take this out for a test flight."
She descended the stairs and opened the door to find Luz standing on the doorstep. Her clothes were torn and dishevelled, there were sheets of paper stuck to her hair and skin, and she was covered in dust from head to toe. She stood there, eyes closed, holding out Amity's Library Staff Identification card in apology. "I'm sorry about everything! I understand if you never wanna see me again…" she said quickly, then opened one eye to confirm who she was speaking to and paused, her eyes growing wide and shimmering in the light from the setting sun. "Uh… it's different…"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah…" Amity said, self consciously running a hand across the back of her neck to feel the recently cut stubble. "Mom always liked it green. I thought I could use a change." Luz was staring, and Amity couldn't tell if it was for positive reasons or not. Taking her staff card, Amity added, "How'd you get this back? And what happened?"
Luz shook herself out of her stare, tossing debris that was still holding onto her. "Well, to convince Malphas to hire you again, I had to go through some trials. And categorize some man-eating books, and tame something called a paper dragon? That guy was not fun." she said, then looked passed Amity and waved. "Oh, hey guys!"
Amity turned to see Edric and Emira peeking out from the dining room to spy on her and Luz. She let out a sigh as the twins disappeared from the hall, and stepped outside to close the door behind her. Luz stepped away to make room, jostling a tiny echo mouse that had hidden itself in her hood and was scurrying down her torso. "Oh, looks like you made a new friend."
"Ugh!" Luz growled, shaking the rodent off of her leg out of reflex, then leaping after it. "You're the one who ate the diary!" she shouted, catching the echo mouse before it could escape. "I hate you."
Amity descended the steps and laughed at Luz's awkward state, offering a hand to help her to her feet. "Wait, this is an echo mouse. It consumes knowledge through writing and can play back anything it eats. We dealt with them a lot at work. Watch." she explained, taking the mouse from Luz and gently rubbing the creature's skull with a finger. With a quiet chirp, the echo mouse's eyes lit up, projecting a scene upon the Manor's front door.
"My journey through the Demon Realm is far from over. But today I humbly donate my journal to the ages. Entry one: May 21st... I think." a voice said as an image of the diary appeared in sepia tones. The image morphed into a view of the Boiling Isles before a man with long hair pulled back in a pony tail was shown. "My name is Philip Wittebane, and I found myself in a world so horrid, yet so fantastic, few minds could have dreamt it." The projection swirled and formed into a slit-pupil eye that zoomed out into a familiar looking door. "If only those at home could see what I have, and perhaps they shall. For the more I learn about this realm, the more I am certain I can harness its strange powers to return home. Today I begin recording my journey to create a portal back to the Human Realm."
The projection faded and the echo mouse shook its head, it's eyes returning to their normal inky blackness. Luz held it up and smiled. "Thank you, little mouse. I hope you and I can become good friends." She touched her nose to the mouse's for a soft nuzzle.
Amity watched as the wind swept through Luz's consistently mussed hair and clothes. She had once accused Luz of cheating in her efforts to become a witch and to learn magic, but since the Covention, she realized that maybe Luz was working even harder than she was, not just to learn magic, but now just to get home. She rubbed a finger along the burned, ragged edge of her staff card. Even when Amity had given up and walked away, Luz had gone back and faced Malphas, convincing him to hire her back despite her transgressions. She smiled, knowing Luz was the only person she had ever known that would have done such a thing for her.
"Don't worry. You always have a way of sneaking into people's hearts." Amity assured her, stepping forward and touching her lips to Luz's cheek.
She pulled back, and Luz turned to meet her eyes, remaining quiet save for a quick gasp of breath. Why didn't she say something? Did she not like it? Did she just ruin their friendship? She could feel her face start to blush, and she couldn't decide whether to smile or frown, instead revealing an awkward grimace. She stepped away, hiding her face in her hands before turning to the door. "Uh, okay… Good to see you! Farewell forever!" she exclaimed, dashing through the door and slamming it behind her. "Why'd I do that?" she repeated to herself, over and over.
Racing upstairs and into her room, Amity dived onto her bed and pressed her face into her pillow, screaming "Why?!" in embarrassed frustration. Why did she have to kiss her? Why couldn't she have just shook her hand or something? How was she supposed to face Luz at school in the following days?
"Uh oh." Edric said, apparently still in her room.
"Mom and Dad are here." Emira added, also still in Amity's room.
Amity pulled herself away from her pillow and rolled off of her bed. "Were you guys watching from my window the whole time?" she asked between panicked breaths.
"Only since you embarrassed yourself." Edric continued. "Mom's not going to like finding Luz…"
"Wait, she's still here?!" Amity asked, slowly approaching her window in order to peek outside. The Blight Industries airship landed in the yard, empty aside from their parents that were disembarking. "Why is she still here?" she whispered.
"She just kinda… fell." Emira said.
"And you're just watching like a couple creeps?"
"Mom just spotted her."
"C'mon Luz, get out of there." Amity whispered. As if on cue, Luz climbed clumsily to her feet on wobbly legs.
"What are you doing here, human?! Get off of our lawn!" Odalia shouted. "Alador, deal with this intruder."
Luz let out a shout of surprise, finally getting her legs to move as a giant abomination grew out of the yard and roared at her. Amity watched as Luz sprinted to the fence, pulling out a glyph and using an ice pillar to leap over the wall and into the horizon. "Yeah!" Amity cheered, attracting her mother's attention.
"Amity? Why did you let that… what did you do to your hair?!" Odalia shouted back as Edric and Emira stepped away from the window, out of view.
"Good luck, sis." Emira whispered, backing away and out of the room with Edric following close behind. Amity backed away from the window as well, becoming acutely aware of the front door opening and her mother's heeled footsteps on the stairs.
"Cowards." Amity said under her breath as her heart began to pound. She knew facing her mother would be difficult, but at least she had gotten her job back, thanks to Luz. She began to pace, wringing the hem of her shirt in her hands, listening to each foot fall as they approached from the staircase until her bedroom door opened.
Odalia gasped at the sight of Amity, but she remarkably kept her calm. "Amity. What have you done?" she asked in suppressed rage.
"I… I changed my hair." she stammered. "Do you like it?"
Odalia hesitated a moment. "It's lovely, Mittens. But now that you've had your fun, it's time to change it back."
"No." Amity said reflexively, and she struggled to keep herself from covering her mouth. "No. I like it. It's me."
Odalia narrowed her eyes and took hold of the Oracle gem on her necklace, causing it to glow. "Nonsense. We can't have you standing out like that among your family. You're my daughter, and you will array yourself appropriately for a Blight."
Amity shrunk away from the glowing pendant as she felt her glimmer of confidence under her mother's glare begin to slip away. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus on something good to take her attention away from Odalia's Oracle magic. In her imagination, she was outside again and leaned in to leave a peck on Luz's cheek and she opened her eyes. "No!" she replied. "It's time I start living for myself."
Odalia looked at her in surprise and paused. "Very well. If you wish to learn independence so desperately, you will go somewhere where you can."
"What?"
"We will be sending you to your Aunt and Uncle's in Scapula City. Maybe there you can learn some real discipline."
"What?! What about school? My job at the library?! We're supposed to be getting our palismen at school!"
Odalia's lips curled in the hints of a smile. "I'll be speaking to Principal Bump about sending you your homework and no child of mine will be getting any sort of hand-me-down palisman. As for your job at the library, I suggest you learn your lessons before next weekend so that you can return."
"What does dad think about this?" Amity asked, growing desperate. She wasn't sure if she could face Luz tomorrow, but at least she had thought she had the option.
"Your father is going to be busy for quite some time building Abomitons for the Emperor, and does not need you distracting him." Odalia replied, making her Oracle gem glow brighter. "Now, I suggest you pack. Your Uncle Faust will be here first thing in the morning to pick you up. Let's hope you learn something about obedience."