Thanks to Them (Part 1)
"Luz...Bij...I'm so happy I had you as big sisters. And I would say the same for Haze. You're the best little brother I could ask for" King screamed, sending the group flying into the Human Realm, where they all landed on the ground as it rained.
"NO!" Luz and Bijou exclaimed, sprinting up to the door. "King!"
They saw him for a few seconds before the door closed in front of them. Luz opened it, but there was no trace of the Boiling Isles. It was just a regular room. The others looked on, realizing they had no way home.
"No...!" Bijou began to cry, concealing her eyes with her hands as she lowered her knees to the ground. Luz said nothing as just rain and thunder could be heard. Gus and Jackie started crying as well.
At the Noceda house...
Camila was preparing in the kitchen while a tablet nearby displayed headlines about four children (2 boys and 2 girls) who were lost in a frog world. She was stirring a pot of stew while Vee waited for her to finish. The door knocked, and Camila carefully opened it. She gasped, covering her mouth, when she noticed her daughter and six friends standing in the downpour.
Luz gave her mother a faint grin. "Hey, Mom...I'm back..."
Camila hurried forwards to hug Luz. They both shed tears because they were overjoyed to be together again. But, at the same time, Luz was still dealing with the aftermath of what had transpired.
With Bijou...
Bijou was still running along the street to her house, with streetlights illuminating her path. After a period of running, she arrived at her house, which still appears the same as when she went for the Boiling Isles.
As she approached the door, she took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell.
Inside the house, Axel lay down on the living room floor. Susan and Florian were preparing dinner in the kitchen, and Quinton and Elle were arranging the table, when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Elle replied.
She changed into her human disguise and dashed to answer it. Elle burst into the kitchen a few seconds later, her eyes wide.
"Guys, you might wanna see this," she remarked.
Susan, Florian, and Quinton exchanged bewildered looks before the man moved to the door. When Florian answered the door, he was faced with the sorrowful face of their daughter and firstborn child, dressed differently and covered in scars and bruises.
"Hey, Dad..." she said, her voice faltering.
Florian drew her into an embrace, delighted to see Bijou again. Quinton and Susan noticed this and participated in the hug, while Axel and Elle observed, the dog barking joyously at seeing his owner after being gone for months.
Following this, the entire family returned inside to eat dinner, especially since Bijou hadn't eaten in a while. Bijou even told them about her recent activities, which included making new friends and fighting the evil emperor in the Boiling Isles.
"And that's what happened," Bijou concluded her tale. "I know it sounds crazy but I'm telling you the whole truth. And now because we're stuck here, we can't do anything to get back. I wouldn't blame you all if you didn't believe us, it does seem..."
"We believe you," Florian replied. Bijou looked at him, surprised.
"Really? All of it?" she asked, aghast
"Of course we do! We're your family, remember?" Susan reminded her, and Florian nodded. "Besides, why would you ever come up with a crazy story like that? "
Bijou sighed and said, "But we still need to find a way to get back to the Boiling Isles and help everyone."
"And you will, sis," Quinton told her. "But right now, you've been through a lot so you need take a breather, maybe even introduce us to your new friends."
"You're right, Quin," Bijou said. "I was gonna introduce you guys to them anyway. Mom, do you have Dr. Camila on chat."
"I think so. Let me get my laptop," Susan answered, heading to her and Florian's room to retrieve her portable personal computer. Sure enough, Camila appeared on Susan's chat list.
At the Noceda house...
Camila and Jackie placed some dishes in the sink. Gus approached, circling a finger and picking up a plate and sponge. She smiled gratefully at him, but was also impressed by how he helped her. Amity handed her a cup of tea, which she accepted with a smile and a pat on her shoulder.
Luz reached up to open the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. She sighed and took a box of bandages.
"Hey," someone said, and she looked to see Hunter leaning against the doorway. He looked back to the kitchen. "Thanks for not telling them that I'm..."
"A Grimwalker?" Luz concluded bitterly as she removed a bandage.
"Shh! Don't say it out loud," He admonished them both, edging forward with a worried expression. Luz turned away in disappointment.
"Well, what about you?" he inquired, Bijou looking at him. "How have you and Bijou been since...um...?"
"Since we were in Belos' mind?" Luz repeated his query before looking away. "Since we found out we helped him meet the Collector?"
She pressed her eyes shut, causing tears to form.
"Oh my gosh, Hunter...they're all gonna hate us."
"What? Psh," Hunter said as Luz dried her eyes and Bijou swirled her side tail around. "No, of course they won't."
She smiled at his confidence.
"They won't hate you more than me when they find out that...I might be the clone...of someone who was a witch hunter...with Belos."
Luz and Hunter looked at Gus, Hazel, Jackie, Willow, and Amity. They both expressed sadness for having to keep this a secret from Bijou, especially since Bijou is not one to keep secrets.
"...We'll tell them," Luz said with a wan smile. "When we're ready. And I have a feeling Bijou told about us when she got home."
The former Golden Guard nodded quietly in agreement with her.
"Okay," Camila said, as the three approached to take their seats. "So in the Demon Realm, you fought the evil Emperor Belos who turned into a monster..."
Luz bandaged Amity.
"Well, he started out human," Gus explained for her.
"Right. But he was defeated by a...newer smaller bad guy?"
"The Collector," Willow explained to the woman. "We don't know what he is or how Belos found him."
"And we don't even know if he's evil or not," Jackie added.
Luz flinched, then shrugged. "Who knows if we'll ever figure that out? They're creating a lot of chaos..."
"We have to do whatever it takes to get back," Amity remarked, concerned about her father and siblings, and whether or not they were okay. Or anyone else, really.
"And you will," Camila reassured them. "But for now, you should all rest. You're safe here. Now, I wonder where your other friend Bijou is. I hope she is okay."
"She is, ma'am," Hazel answered. "Bijou went back to her family."
Camila's tablet just started beeping. She took notice and realized Susan was calling.
"Hmm...I wonder what she's up to tonight," she said as she took the call.
The Adams family appeared on screen.
"Dr. Camila," Susan greeted her.
"Bijou? Wait. Are you here to talk about the same thing?" Camila was confused. "If it's about Luz's adventures in this demon realm-"
"It's fine. I've already told my family," she reassured.
"Mom, was that Bijou?" Luz inquired.
"Oh, hang on, let me just," Camila said, turning her tablet to face the teenagers so they could see Bijou.
"Hey, guys," she said to them.
"Bijou," the teenagers said back.
"Good thing I reached out to you in time. I was planning to introduce to you guys to my family."
She turned the camera on her family.
"Guys, these are my parents Florian and Susan, my younger brother Quinton, and, to those who haven't met her before, my basilisk friend Elle. Mom, Dad, Elle, Quin. These are the other friends I met in the demon realm. Willow Park, Gus Porter, Amity Blight, Jackie Watson, Hazel, and Hunter."
The Hexsquad waved at them.
"Wait, those ears. Are you guys...witches?" Florian asked, noticing the ears.
"We are," Jackie replied.
"And is Hazel a bunnycorn?" Quinton asked.
"Close, he's an almiraj," Luz said.
"And I talk, too," Hazel added.
They talked for a while before deciding to get some rest. There wasn't enough space in Luz's room for Luz, Amity, Jackie, Willow, and Vee to sleep in, so Jackie elected to stay with the Adamses for the time being. Hazel also decided to stay with Bijou's family because he wanted to get to know them better.
Meanwhile, outside, the green blob that was once Belos slithered out of the bushes and into the rain...
At the Adams residence...
Jackie was put in Bijou's bedroom to sleep in. Bijou has even prepared a sleeping bag for Jackie to sleep on.
"Wow, Bijou. Your room looks amazing," Jackie complimented as she gazed around.
"I'm glad you liked it, Jackie. I even have some clothes you could wear."
Susan entered into the room and asked, "So, are you feeling comfortable over there?"
"Thanks again for letting me stay here with you, Dr. Susan," Jackie thanked her friend's mother before she opened the closet to find anything she could wear.
"Anything to help a friend of my daughter."
Susan then left Bijou's room and then peeked in Quinton's room. Her son is playing a video game on his bed while Hazel is lying on a basket on his nightstand.
"Wow, this basket is great. Thanks for letting me sleep in this, Quinton," Hazel said.
"I'm glad you liked it, Hazel. Besides, I know how much you and the rest of Bijou's friends mean much to her," Quinton replied.
Susan then headed back to the master bedroom to rest. But before she opened the door, she glanced back to see Bijou exiting her room to get some water. She saw her mother and approached her.
"Mom, I know I shouldn't have left without telling you, Dad, and Quinton. I'm sorry that my disappearance made you all worried and...and I-I hope I can make it up to you...I promise."
"It's okay, Bijou. It's not your fault," she said as she placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "What's important is that you're safe and back home."
Bijou shed a tear as she let out a slight smile.
"Yeah, it is good to be home again," Bijou said before looking at Jackie, looking at one of the drawings hung on her bedroom wall.
'Can't say the same about the others...'
Back at the Noceda residence...
Hunter and Gus were put in the basement with fairy lights and sleeping bags. Gus gasped sharply when he opened an umbrella. Hunter prepared his sleeping bag.
"Whoa-ho-ho!" He threw it away and dashed to the opposite side. He laughed as he experimented with different things.
"Hunter, look at all this awesome human stuff!" he shouted, sporting a little swimming tube. He took some bubble wrap and began busting it, but it knocked over something.
"Whoops."
"I think it's just stuff here," Hunter said, glancing around.
"It's not much, but I hope you two are comfortable," Camila murmured as she laid down the covers on the couch.
"We will, Luz's mom!" Gus exclaimed excitedly.
Hunter cleared his throat and slid forward, blushing shyly as he bowed before her. "Thank you, for providing us with shelter, ma'am."
"Please never do that again," she said, stepping back with an uneasy smile. "And you can call me Camila. Buenas noches."
She winked at them as she left the basement. Upstairs, Camila looked in and saw Vee walking up to Amity and Willow in Luz's room.
"In the morning, instead of screaming, it'll do this," she exhibited the alarm clock, which began to beep. However, the girls mistook it for a bomb, and they gasped sharply.
"Don't worry, Vee!" Amity exclaimed, elbowing it into the air.
"We'll keep you safe!" Willow summoned a vine from the floor and threw it at the ceiling, breaking it. The two smiled brightly.
"Good work, it's dead."
They fist-bumped each other.
"Uhh...thanks," Vee said, looking down at the floor, which had a vine growing from it...
Camila cried slightly as she closed the door. Vee herself had left a welcome return letter next to the door. "I'll figure that out later..."
She cast a sidelong glance, noticing Luz herself among the Noceda family photos. She approached her, frowning.
"Mama, I...I know I shouldn't have left. I never meant to lie, but I had to stay a-and it wasn't because I-"
"Hey, hey," she interrupted Luz while hugging her daughter. "We'll have time to talk later. I'm just so happy you're home..."
"Yeah, I'm home..." Luz gazed up at Amity and Willow. Willow wiped her sleepy eye and Amity undid her hair. "But they're not..."
Montage Time!
The Hexsquad opened the door to the house from whence they had come, seeking around for anything that could help them get back. Gus closed and then reopened the door with a frown. Luz gave off a determined expression.
She opened her laptop and pressed a key on it. 'Lumity Studios Presents' appeared on a blue screen, with images of Grom, her in front of Amity, them gazing at the stars, and the two hugging each other. Luz smiled at her mother, and Amity blushed. Lucila and Hunter grinned at her. Camila stood up and gladly cuddled the couples. Illusions of Gus appeared as he waved flags, a rainbow passing across the group.
At the same time, Bijou demonstrated her own presentation to her parents. The first slide said, 'I finally have a boyfriend!'. The following slides depicted Bijou and Edric, with an arrow pointing to Edric to emphasize that he was the boyfriend mentioned in the previous slide. Even though Susan and Florian were unhappy that Edric could not meet them, they were relieved that their daughter had discovered her special someone and hugged her. Jackie, Hazel, and Quinton all applauded.
The five palismen observed Flapjack pecking on the floor.
Something was being sketched, and Gus, Willow, Jackie, Amity, and Hunter displayed photographs of their loved ones from home. Hunter had posted a picture of Darius. Bijou glanced at Amity's drawing of Edric and the latter already knew that the former missed Edric. Luz was studying the construction of the portal door when a possum flew through it, the palismen chasing it.
Dana and Tyson knocked on the door. When it opened, they were overjoyed to see their classmate return home, lunging forward and knocking her down in a hug. They also welcomed everyone else with open arms.
They also went shopping, with Gus, Willow, Jackie, Amity, Hazel, and Hunter all showing off their clothing. Luz and Bijou clapped enthusiastically, particularly since Hazel was wearing a black fedora and Hunter was costumed as Flapjack.
Vee and Elle shapeshifted to showcase their own new looks. Elle's hair was now layered and matched the hue of her basilisk form. She was now dressed in a black shirt under a black jacket lined with white on the front panel and sleeve ends, blue capri pants with small slits on opposite sides, a black belt with a butterfly clasp, white stockings, and black heels. Camila and Susan hurried forward joyfully.
Bijou opened the door to her home first, followed by Florian, Hazel, and Quinton. They all turned to see the others waiting patiently. Bijou smiled and held up her new driver's license, which they all cheered for.
Hunter picked up a book titled 'The Witch Hunters of Gravesfield'. He gazed at his longer hair, which reminded him of Belos in the reflection. He recoiled in dread, gripping his heart. Willow passed by and peered at the restroom door. She opened it to discover Hunter attempting to trim his hair, but it was a complete mess. Willow offered to cut his hair, and he reddened. He discreetly hid the book below the toilet seat.
Jackie and Hazel are in the forest, enjoying the cool breeze and warm sun. The Bard student whistled as the almiraj foraged for nuts and berries to gift Eda and King when they returned. Once Hazel returned with what he could find, he was surprised to see that Jackie was able to get nuts and berries herself because her whistling was able to catch the attention of the birds and squirrels.
Hunter gave Gus a thumbs up, his hair shorter and no longer with a forelock. Gus stared down at the palismen, who were all running on hamster wheels and staring at a makeshift gateway. However, it caught fire, sending Hunter reeling back in shock. Gus hurried forward with three fire extinguishers. He flailed one of them, but Vee grabbed it and extinguished the fire, with Elle and Bijou doing the same thing with the remaining two. Luz slumped down, disappointed by their failed attempt, and Amity consoled her.
Tyson and Elle had a double date with Luz and Amity. They first headed to Robin's Roast Café for drinks and food. Next, they went to the fair and won numerous games, including Tyson winning a stuffed teddy bear for Elle.
Hazel, Jackie, Willow, Amity, Gus, and Hunter prepared...Boiling Isles food for the Nocedas and Adamses, with Vee and Elle suggesting that they should not eat it. The two families exchanged uneasy grins and glances.
Another rainy day, Bijou, Jackie, Hazel, Quinton, and Elle walked outdoors carrying umbrellas. As they walked near the Noceda residence, they noticed Luz delicately touching the rain. She stared at Amity, who stepped forward nervously. She steered her girlfriend's hand as the water hit it. Amity opened one eye and looked up in surprise when she discovered it wasn't hot. Luz drew her out, and they twirled about gleefully. Vee peered outside, jumped out, and transformed into her new form. Hunter hesitated to go outside until Gus ran out and tackled him into the mud. Willow looked outside, joined by Camila, who held a camera.
Bijou, Jackie, Elle, Hazel, and Quinton jumped in neighboring puddles, all giggling. Luz and Amity held each other in the rain, with Amity creating a light glyph. They released it into the sky.
Luz sketched a light glyph and touched it; nothing occurred. She ripped up the page and looked at her egg palisman, which had yet to hatch. She looked outside and noticed the school bus standing up and leaving. She dashed to the bus and sat next to Bijou as it departed.
End Montage
Everyone, except the human girls, was conversing in the room they had made up from the old shack from which they had emerged. Jackie was busy crafting a necklace, and Willow snapped a photo with the camera as they were gazing at a tablet.
"Am I doing this right?" Gus pondered, looking at Vee, who was speaking in Spanish alongside Elle.
"Tres tristes tigres comen en tres tristes platos de trigo."
"Perfecto! You're our top students!" the tablet announced, displaying a cartoon owl on the screen. They were learning Spanish using a translation app. The two basilisks smiled as they fist-bumped each other.
"Hmm. I was the top student once," Amity said, turning away. She didn't mind; she couldn't care less about it just now. Gus and Hunter observed Flapjack pecking at the floor again.
"He's still doing that, huh?" Gus questioned, perplexed.
"He won't tell me what he's looking for. Not even Ruby knows," Hunter grumbled as Ruby observed his fellow avian palisman with concern. He approached the door as Camila and Susan emerged, peeping inside.
"Hi. Ooh! I like what you've done with the place," Camilla said, admiring the setting. It was definitely less eerie. "No more exposed nails or possum nests, but this still confuses me."
She pushed open the door, showing a painted symbol that resembled Hooty.
"Yeah," Willow said, looking away briefly. "He still confuses us too."
"Luz drew that because she missed Hooty a lot, and so do I," Hazel explained.
"Well, that explains it," Susan said as she recalled Bijou showing her what the Owl House looked like.
Gus stood up and waved. "Hola, Camila and Susan. We're learning Spanish from this scary owl app."
Gus held out the tablet.
"Hoot, hoot! Practice every day, or I'll appear in your nightmares!" The owl's eyes turned dark, with red pupils.
"That still scares me..." Jackie said, looking away from the virtual owl.
"Hmm... Well, Camila is going to pick up Luz from school while I head back to the hospital. Bij has been looking for a job, but it hasn't worked out to get her own car. Oh, and pop quiz. ¿Cómo se dice eso en español?"
"Oh, oh! Uh..." Hunter got up and took a long breath. He tried, but failed.
"Voy a recoger a Luz de la escuela," Vee answered.
"Voy a volver al hospital." Elle finished the last one. Hunter dropped his shoulders with disappointment.
"¡Muy bueno!" Camila excitedly clasped her hands. "Keep it up."
The two women waved goodbye, sighed, and Camila placed a palm on her temple.
"I never expected to be a mother of seven," she muttered as she walked away.
"At least, I got the better end, having to take care of 3 kids and 1 almiraj," Susan said with a laugh.
While the others practiced their Spanish, Amity sighed and looked up.
"Maybe we should take a break," she said to the others.
"A siesta," Willow said, pointing at her.
"Siesta!" Gus exclaimed cheerfully.
"We've been here for months, and we've made no progress on the portal door," she reminded them, frowning. "We can't expect Camila, Susan, or Florian to take care of us forever."
"In the meantime, we could pull more weight around the kitchen," Gus said, sitting between Vee and Ivy. "My mustard ravioli did bring tears to her eyes."
"Those weren't the kind of tears you're thinking of," Vee said gently as Elle sighed.
"You did put in too much mustard there..." She mumbled, glancing away because it didn't taste as nice as it sounded to Gus.
"I can help fix damaged clothes," Hutner said, holding out a sweatshirt with several patches.
"I'll handle the busking," Jackie said, reaching for her flute.
"I can spruce up the garden!" Willow said with a smile, carrying a huge plant that snapped at the two basilisks. Elle pushed it carefully away from Vee. Flapjack continued pecking as wind and leaves swept in. Amity gasped and looked behind her, getting a clue.
"Maybe we need to look elsewhere," she said to the gathering. "There's an entire Human Realm to search."
She flinched when Willow took a picture of her.
"But Luz and Bij have school for most of the week," Willow reminded her.
"So? Let's explore the town ourselves. After all, they went into the Boiling Isles on their own," she said, gesturing to the forest in the doorway.
"If Eda came here before, maybe there were others," Gus mentioned to them. "Maybe they left behind something we can use."
"Maybe but we still need to be more careful. This world is different from the one we're used to," Jackie said.
"Yeah," Hazel confirmed. "This world may be less threatening but there are still dangers lurking around."
"Yes! That's the spirit! Together, there is no challenge that can hold us back," Amity said, tripping since her leg was now stuck in a hole that Flapjack had pecked at. "Ow."
"It's a sign. We're doomed!" Gus exclaimed, slightly terrified.
"Come on, Flapjack. This isn't funny anymore," Amity said, taking out her foot. She peeked inside the hole and gasped when she noticed anything. "There's something in here."
She brought it out, and everybody surrounded her since it resembled a little box. Everyone let out a gasp. She opened it and took out a scroll with symbols and designs on it.
"Hmm," Gus said, inspecting it briefly. "Looks like a map?"
"Or a secret code?" Willow stroked her chin.
"Maybe a message," Hazel said.
Flapjack chirped, then landed on Hunter's shoulder.
"Flapjack, is this what you've been looking for? What does it lead to?" He inquired, while Jackie and Amity took a look.
"The symbol here looks oddly familiar," Jackie pointed to the eye-like symbol as she pondered.
"That eye..." Amity indicated the symbol. "I-it kinda looks like the old portal door."
Hazel, Jackie, Gus, and Willow let out a quick gasp. "The portal door! Portal door! Portal door! Portal door!"
They cheered enthusiastically, grinning widely.
"Let's tell Bijou and Luz," Vee grinned slightly.
"Yeah, I'm sure they'd be thrilled," Elle agreed.
"What if it's just another dead end?" Amity asked, causing frowns. "Luz already feels responsible for our failed attempts. And Bij's got enough things in her life to deal with. She still hasn't told her parents about not wanting to study engineering..."
"Then let's not tell them until we figure it out," Willow advised Amity, smiling. "Using our buff brains!"
"Buff brains!" the others exclaimed, as Hunter chuckled.
"Yeah," he said, feebly.
At Gravesfield High School...
The school bell rang, and Luz sat in English class near the window, behind her classmate, who is a cheerleader. Bijou was also in English, albeit in a different class.
"Foes vanquished, he trod the shores of his fatherland," the teacher told them, but Luz didn't pay much attention. She clutched her egg palismen, which had yet to hatch, in her lap. "Family by his side, finally at peace. This epic ends with the homecoming of just not a man, but a hero."
"Hero?" Luz questioned in surprise. "Everywhere he went, people ended up suffering."
She tightened her fist.
"It does get bleak, but no one said his mission would be easy," the teacher smiled as he held out a winder. "And when you take into account the ripple effects of his actions..."
"Who cares about the ripple effects?" she threw her palm down, drawing everyone's attention to her. "He was just a pawn in someone else's game."
She gestured to herself, and it became clear that the conversation was about her rather than the character they were discussing.
"A-and he was never smart enough to realize it!" She stood on her desk, eyes squinting shut. "If his friends and family knew about his mission, they'd know that their lives would never have been in danger if it weren't for him. They should hate his guts, and it would be better if he literally never existed!"
Everyone stared at her in silence, and she looked about, realizing she had been very emotional. A few minutes later, the school bell rang, and everyone exited the classroom. Her hands were in her pockets as she strolled down the hall. Luz walked passed a classroom, staring at a sign that read 'no taxidermy, spiders, snakes, animal parts, or fireworks'. She looked up at the teacher, who had been in the class where Luz performed some of those things, while sipping her coffee. She sighed and walked away.
Bijou emerged from her classroom, gripping her shoulder bag strap and groaning to herself. Another day of school...
"Bijou?" Mr. Sandoval asked once the students had cleared out in front of her. "A word, please."
"Sure," she whispered to herself when she recognized him as Luz's teacher and entered uneasily.
Bijou sat at the front desk, worried. "Look, if this is about the mess in the cafeteria, I had already taken care of that."
"I know but what we're gonna discuss right now is about your friend."
"Luz?" Bijou quickly figured it out.
"Yes. For the past few weeks, I noticed that you started befriending her, despite her being 2 years younger than you. A while ago, we were talking about a poem, and...she seemed to be taking it a bit too far."
Bijou bit her lip and looked away.
"I wanted to know beforehand if there's anything else I should expect from her. These past few months with her...she's been a bit on edge."
"I'm sorry for her if she did something wrong," the girl murmured, placing a palm on her brow. She had watched every shenanigan committed by Luz since she moved from Miami to Gravesfield, but she had never been invited to speak about Luz by proxy.
"She and I are going through a lot. For her, it's...puberty?" She grinned awkwardly, as if she was making an apology. But she couldn't be that honest, either; he'd think she was insane.
"Hm," he stroked his chin at her response. "Well, as a teacher, it is my job to wonder about the well-being of my students. And as her friend, well...it would be in one of our best interests to know if something's wrong. You don't seem to be as stressed as she is."
"Trust me, Mr. Sandoval, you don't know the half of it," Bijou said quietly to herself.
Luz opened her locker, which contained sketches of King and Eda, a photo of herself and Amity, a sculpture of King, and so on. She also had some glyphs on the wall. She placed her book in her locker, closed it, and was approached by two students who smiled at her.
"Hey." She exclaimed, startled by their sudden entrance. "You're Luz, right?"
"Uhh..." the girl said as no one spoke to her or approached her freely.
"Nice to meet you. Oh, and there's the other guest of honor," the one with the shaved head motioned to Bijou, who approached from behind. She lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"Do I know you?"
"You were right in class," the boy agreed, referring to Luz's previous statement in English class. "We read about too many crusty old dudes. Give me books about crusty old women!"
"I used to know one," Luz said warmly, looking away, while Bijou gave a wan smile of her own. "I've never seen you two around."
"And how do you know about me?" Bijou asked, tilting her head. "We barely even met."
"We're new, but we've heard a lot about you," the pierced boy said, smiling.
"Are you going to make more crazy costumes for Halloween this year?" the other lad with glasses said enthusiastically. "Or maybe see you perform for the occasion, Bijou?"
"Umm..." Bijou looked away hesitantly, since that could be how they found out about her. She busked for money during the summer, and everyone enjoyed her act. She didn't anticipate to be performing for a larger audience.
"'Cause if you guys are, we're volunteering at the Haunted Hayride," the first student stated as the other handed them flyers.
"Old Gravesfield is the most haunted place in the state."
"Yeah, you guys gotta come," the first one said, as the two stared at the poster, hesitant.
"Guys!"
They turned around and saw Tyson and Dana. "What's up?"
"Everything," Bijou murmured, twisting her finger through her hair. "Mr. Sandoval called me to talk about what Luz did in his class. He mentioned your outburst in class?"
She lifted her brow, and Luz stiffened and looked away. She sighed and looked down at Luz.
"I know you've been through a lot, but school's not the place to take it out on, okay? I'd at least appreciate not having all the teachers asking about your behavior."
"I'm sorry, amiga," she said, looking away from Bijou, who shook her head swiftly.
"It's okay. I'm not mad. I just...don't want you to do anything you'll regret...eventually."
She turned away because Luz had always gotten into problems for her own decisions. But she didn't want Luz to hint at what happened and make others suspicious.
"We had the Jacob incident, remember? You never know if there's anyone else like him."
The four of them shuddered at the thought of him.
"How about we get some ice cream with everyone? Maybe that'll do the trick," Tyson offered with a tiny smile.
"No, it's okay," Luz said quietly to them. "You've already done so much for all of us. I just wanna go home and think about some things."
She then moved forward and hugged Bijou, who looked down in astonishment. "I'm glad you're doing okay, Bij."
She smiled softly, rubbing her friend on the back to soothe her, as Luz mentioned...what happened to Belos. The others smiled, but they couldn't help but feel concerned for Luz, who still appeared to be insecure.
Camila drove Luz home after collecting meals for Gus, Amity, Willow, and Hunter. Luz peered out the window, clutching the poster.
"Do you two think this food is okay? Ah," Camila replied, clicking her tongue. "I wish I knew how to make demon food for your friends. Would they, um, prefer to drink blood?"
"Mom," Luz looked up ahead, but Camila perceived it as an insult.
"Ay, I'm sorry. I'm just saying if we need to find a way, we'll find a way."
"No, look out!" Luz cautioned, and the two gasped as Camila screeched to a halt in front of a police officer. They looked to see a small girl and her mother, whose car had gone off road and slammed into a tree.
Meanwhile, as Bijou headed back home, her cellphone vibrated to alert her that her father was calling.
"Hey, Dad," she began the call.
"Bij, I'm going to order some food on my way home. Do you think witches and almirajes can handle human food?" Florian said from the other end of the telephone.
Bijou snickered faintly as she responded. "I'm sure witches can eat any food humans can. Hazel, on the other hand...I think he might have the same diet as any normal rabbit."
Just then, she observed a police officer standing in front of the same car that had gone off the road and slammed into a tree. Thankfully, the woman driving the car and her daughter were unharmed.
"Oh, it was so scary. It just came out of nowhere. That deer really spooked us. And there seemed to be some woman chasing after it. Will my insurance cover this?" the mother asked, as the small girl looked up.
"But Mommy, it wasn't a deer. It was a monster! And that lady looked like she knew who it was!" she argued as Camila and Luz continued down the road while Bijou skirted around the crime scene to avoid becoming involved. As she walked past a deer skeleton, a familiar green goop dropped from the antlers of the skull.
•°•°•○•°•°•
Camila drove Luz home after collecting meals for Gus, Amity, Willow, and Hunter. Luz peered out the window, clutching the poster.
"Do you two think this food is okay? Ah," Camila replied, clicking her tongue. "I wish I knew how to make demon food for your friends. Would they, um, prefer to drink blood?"
"Mom," Luz looked up ahead, but Camila perceived it as an insult.
"Ay, I'm sorry. I'm just saying if we need to find a way, we'll find a way."
"No, look out!" Luz cautioned, and the two gasped as Camila screeched to a halt in front of a police officer. They looked to see a small girl and her mother, whose car had gone off road and slammed into a tree.
Meanwhile, as Bijou headed back home, her cellphone vibrated to alert her that her father was calling.
"Hey, Dad," she began the call.
"Bij, I'm going to order some food on my way home. Do you think witches and almirajes can handle human food?" Florian said from the other end of the telephone.
Bijou snickered faintly as she responded. "I'm sure witches can eat any food humans can. Hazel, on the other hand...I think he might have the same diet as any normal rabbit."
Just then, she observed a police officer standing in front of the same car that had gone off the road and slammed into a tree. Thankfully, the woman driving the car and her daughter were unharmed.
"Oh, it was so scary. It just came out of nowhere. That deer really spooked us. And there seemed to be some woman chasing after it. Will my insurance cover this?" the mother asked, as the small girl looked up.
"But Mommy, it wasn't a deer. It was a monster! And that lady looked like she knew who it was!" she argued as Camila and Luz continued down the road while Bijou skirted around the crime scene to avoid becoming involved. As she walked past a deer skeleton, a familiar green goop dropped from the antlers of the skull.
Later that night, at the Noceda residence...
Hunter sat at the sewing machine in the basement. "Thanks for your help, Gus," Camila said sincerely.
"Anytime. Good night!" He turned out the upstairs light and dashed down the stairs, leaping around before landing on the couch. "Whoo! We've got a big day ahead of us, so I'm gonna buenas this noche."
"Mm-hmm. Ow!" Hunter exclaimed in pain, shaking his hand and narrowing his eyes to the sewing machine.
"You good? That sounded painful."
Hunter only scoffed at the boy.
"I've been training in the Emperor's Coven for as long as I can remember. I think I can handle a little-" He sweated slightly at the following one, which sounded more painful.
"Pain," he winced with anguish.
"Oh...that went clean through," Gus said, disgusted. He twirled a finger to get some tape and used it to bandage Hunter's cut.
"Camila taught me how to use this sewing contraption, and even Darius' stitches have never been this neat!" Hunter smiled, intrigued. "Oh, and look at what I made!"
He held up a t-shirt with wolves sewn on it.
"These are mystical beasts called wolves, and I love them," His eyes shone with admiration.
"That looks great," Gus said, smiling at him. "You know, you've been smiling a lot more since we've been here."
"I-it's not like I don't want to return!" Hunter mumbled to him. "I just, uh...need a way to pass the time. That's all."
"No. It's good to see you happy," Gus said, pressing his cheek against his pillow. "One of us might as well be."
Hunter frowned, knowing that while Gus appeared to be joyful on the outside, he was worried about his father. Not to mention everyone else on the Boiling Isles, because they had no idea what they were going through right now...
"What was it like to be in the Emperor's Coven for so long?"
Hunter shifted to his side and pulled his blanket over himself. "I trained a lot. I...studied a lot. I wasn't really allowed to be around the other scouts. But weekends were nice. I got to leave the castle for missions," he smiled blissfully. Over time, the two had told their friends the complete story of their...eventual romance.
"Do you miss it?" Gus asked him.
"I miss...knowing who I'm supposed to be," he said softly, as the boy looked away. He then reclined on his back, and Hunter followed suit.
"I miss my dad."
"We'll find a way back," Hunter said, folding his hands together. "We have to."
"Oh, my Titan!" Gus sat up in surprise. "That's a line from this book I found," he said, reaching over and pulling it out. "Cosmic Frontier! It's a story that takes place in...the stars."
"Why would anyone wanna go up there?" Hunter inquired as he took the book.
"I don't know. Humans like spreading their junk everywhere. But it's a story of people trying to get back home, like us." Hunter hummed as he flicked the book over. "We got Captain Avery, Security Officer Quando, and a Chief Engineer O'Bailey who's hiding as a clone from the enemy planet."
Hunter flinched at the final one because it summed up his personality perfectly.
"What, uh...happens to him?" he asked nervously, hoping for a hint as to where he would wind up.
"I guess you'll have to find out," said Gus, pushing open the door to expose Cosmic Frontier stuff.
In Luz's bedroom...
Luz stared up at the ceiling, caressing the glowing sun sticker before moving her hand. She approached her egg palismen underneath the lamp and picked it up. She walked away, knocking away some papers in the process. Amity sat up and watched her leave, her gaze fixed on the crumpled poster advertising the Haunted Hayride. She grabbed it up and examined it.
In Camila's bedroom...
Camila was conducting research on what Hunter, Gus, Amity, and Willow might want to have for their next supper.
"They don't hate garlic like vampires. But they weren't entirely against eyeballs when we were watching that zombie movie. Gus said I could get apple blood from the apple butcher, but..." She let out a big yawn. "Until I find one of those...I'll have to use food coloring..."
She lay down and fell asleep, only to awaken to find herself in complete darkness.
Camila's dream
A younger Luz dug in the ground with a shovel. She gasped hard as she spotted something and dashed over to some children with her fists closed. "Look what I found!" She opened it up, revealing a snake skin.
"Ew!"
"Gross!"
"Gross, don't touch that dead thing."
"It's not dead," she attempted to reassure them with a smile. "This is the skin of a garter snake. They shed their pajamas as they grow. It means there's a snake near us, and it just got a lot bigger!"
They rushed away screaming, with Camila smiling as she watched her daughter. She giggled at how adorable her daughter was behaving.
"She called them pajamas."
"Ugh," one of the mothers nearby exclaimed in disgust. "So unhygienic."
"That girl must've been raised by wolves."
"Hey!" Camila said in defense, as Luz ran up to hug her sister. "Wolves are actually great parents, and-"
Suddenly, she found herself in the audience for the high school play.
"Oh, happy dagger! Give me death!" Luz kneeled and opened her dress, revealing sausages. Everyone on stage screamed, and Camila laughed.
"Her dad taught her that one."
"Ugh, gross," someone said, waving their hand behind her. "Now everything smells like lunch meat."
"Yeah, she's such a try-hard."
"Excuse me?" the oldest daughter asked, annoyed.
"Oye!" Camila spun around to face them. "What did you just say?"
She plunged into darkness and arrived in front of the principal on the day Luz was in trouble for the snakes.
"I said, grief can manifest in different ways," He told her, hovering over her. "Like how Luz has been acting out for attention."
"Losing Manny was difficult for both of us," Camila said, looking away quickly. "But Luz has always done things differently."
"Didn't you say you were bullied in high school, Mrs. Noceda?"
Suddenly, water appeared at her feet and began rising. "Uh, yes, but-"
The principal displayed Luz's school record. "Luz hasn't made any friends, her grades are inconsistent, and I heard she brought a live snake to school? Take this," he said, passing out a Reality Check Camp flyer. "It could help her."
"Reality Check Camp?" She was submerged in the water as the shadow gazed down at her.
"You don't want your daughters to struggle like you did, right?"
"Mom?"
Reality
Camila gasped hard as she regained consciousness, sitting up and panting.
"Luz?" She adjusted her glasses. "What time is it?"
Luz entered the room and looked at her palisman. "Mom? Why aren't you mad at us?"
She sighed and slid back. "Oh, baby. Come here."
Luz sat in bed beside her.
"I've been terrified, sure. But believe it or not, I do understand what it's like to want to run away."
"I'm so sorry," she hugged her mother and closed her eyes.
"But the point is, you came home, and everything is okay now."
"But it's not!" Luz let go and looked up at her. "It's my fault everyone's trapped here."
She started crying while holding her head.
"And that Bij got hurt and almost got killed because of me! A-And I don't even know if King and Eda are okay. I wanted you to meet them so bad,"
She rubbed her eyes with the back of her arm.
"But I keep messing up."
"Hey, everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that you learn from them."
Luz glanced aside, clutching the blanket, as she reflected on her mother's comments.
"Can I sleep here tonight?"
Camila smiled as she put her kid in, kissing her forehead.
"Give the palisman a kiss too."
She did so, putting the egg and glasses away. On her nightstand was a picture of the snake skin Luz was holding. She switched the lights out.
Later that night...
Bijou was back in her bedroom, sitting at her desk and drawing something on her sketchpad as Jackie and Hazel climbed upstairs.
"Thanks for your help, Jackie and Hazel," Florian said sincerely.
"No problem, sir," Hazel replied as he hopped inside Quinton's bedroom.
"You're welcome. Good night!" Jackie said as she entered Bijou's room and sat down in her sleeping bag. "Looks like we've got a big day ahead of us, so I'm gonna hit the sack early."
"Uh-huh," Bijou said without looking.
"So...what'cha doing over there?" Jackie asked, standing up and strolling over to Bijou.
"I've been working on some new fashion designs for quite a while. I got this from this game called Genshin Impact," Bijou informed me.
"What's that?" Jackie inquired.
"It's an an open-world, action role-playing game. I played that and I still occasionally do," Bijou informed her. "It's about this traveler who journeys through a mystical region, searching for clues to find their long lost twin sibling."
"Oh, sounds interesting," Jackie commented as she became intrigued by the game.
"There are a lot of characters in this game. My personal favorite is Lumine herself. She is the one I picked as the traveler. And that's what the design I'm currently sketching is based on."
She showed Jackie the rough sketch, which indicated that it was based on Lumine.
"That's amazing, Bij. And you know, when I heard that about Lumine being separated from her sibling, it made me remember my own."
Jackie wiped a tear as Bijou paused her sketching after hearing that.
"What was your sibling's name?" she inquired.
"His name is Nick, and he's an Oracle student at Hexside," Jackie explained. "He is always the center of attention in my family and my parents often had their eyes on him, calling him 'the superior one.' He often gets good grades and is one of the top Oracle students in the school. Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous of him. I'm just mad at my parents for not giving me enough attention, that's all. And when they do, they always scold me even for the smallest mistake."
"Oh, I'm...so sorry you had to go through that," Bijou said. "Must be hard."
"It's okay, I just wanted someone to hear me out and I'm glad I did when I told our friends and you," Jackie reassured her friend as Bijou smiled.
"Well, hey, you'll get to see your brother again when we get back to the Demon Realm. Heck, maybe your parents will finally realize that they have been wrong seeing you as inferior and make amends with you."
"We'll just have to wait and see," Jackie finished.
In Quinton's bedroom...
Hazel showed Quinton a picture of his family. His parents were taller than him or siblings. The mother has a more white on her ears while the father has a notch on his horn. Fiver, Hazel's younger brother, has a darker brown fur, a more yellowy horn, and less spots.
"Wow, Hazel, you really miss your family," Quinton said.
"Yeah," Hazel replied, his ears drooping. "I just hope they are doing okay. The Collector is still out there and I hope he doesn't anything bad to my family."
"Don't worry. I'm sure your nest will pull through," Quinton replied as he patted the almiraj on his head. Hazel smiled in reply.
In Florian and Susan's bedroom...
Florian was attempting to conduct research on what the Hexsquad would want to eat for the next dinner.
"So they don't react badly on garlic like vampires. But they weren't entirely against eyeballs when we were watching that zombie movie. Gus said I could get apple blood or apple juice from the store, but..." He let out a big yawn. "Until I find one of those...I'll have to save up..."
He lay back and dozed, and she found herself in complete darkness.
Florian's Dream
Florian was working in the office when the PA speaker was turned on.
"Mr. Florian Adams, please come to the manager's office; thank you very much," the secretary asked through the speaker.
Florian arrived at the manager's office as instructed and opened the door to see the manager at the desk.
"Welcome, Mr. Adams. Have a seat," the manager said, pointing to the seat in front of the desk.
"You wanted to see me, Mr. Howell?" Florian inquired.
"Yes. And I've got some bad news," Mr. Howell replied sadly as Florian frowned.
"Don't tell me you're laying me off. I'm doing a decent job in the firm," Florian protested.
"No, no. It's not that. It's just your work has been more proficient than all the other employees here, I had the thought that I could transfer you to our branch in Hartford, Connecticut. There you will have a higher pay thanks to your efforts," Mr. Howell promised him. "And you will be transferred there tomorrow."
Florian was startled. Transferred to Hartford the next day? What will he say to his wife and children about the sudden transfer?
Suddenly, the entire place spun around him like a hallucinogenic spiral, and he found himself in front of Gravesfield High School.
"Dad, I'm not so sure about this." He turned to see Bijou, who was nervous about her first day at her new school.
"Don't worry, kiddo. I'm sure you'll have a great first day at Gravesfield High," Florian remarked reassuringly, petting Bijou on the head, which did not assist her at all.
Bijou tightened her grip on her sketchpad, holding it close to her body. She took a deep breath and stepped inside the school.
As Florian watches her leave, he is abruptly engulfed by a wave of darkness and finds himself in the principal's office.
"Mr. Adams, it has occurred to me that your daughter Bijou hasn't been doing relatively well for the past few days. Her grades are fine though, but she hasn't made a single friend. All she did was engross herself in her sketchpad," Hal, the principal, said me.
"I can assure you, Principal Hal, that our move here from Miami has been difficult for me and my family," Florian said, taking a moment to reflect. "But sketching is her current way of saying that she's still getting used to a new environment. Plus, with her skills, I am certain Bijou will be a good fashion designer someday."
"Didn't you say you had financial struggles in high school, Mr. Adams?"
Suddenly, vine began snaring around his feet; "Uh, yes, but-"
The principal displayed Bijou's school record. "Bijou hasn't made a friend since her first day. She spends most of her time alone, engaged on her sketchpad. Her grades are good, but I don't believe they will be enough to boost her academic performance. And, as you mentioned, she wants to be a fashion designer, which I'm not sure will be conventional or gratifying. She also needs to use her drawing skills to other professional prospects, such as engineering. That one appears to be very normal and reasonable."
"Engineering?" Florian was cocooned in the vines, and the shadow gazed down at him.
"You don't want your daughter to struggle like you did, right?"
"Dad?"
Reality
Florian gasped hard when he awoke, sitting upright and panting.
"Bijou?" He rubbed his forehead. "What is it, kiddo?"
Bijou entered the room, Ruby on her shoulder. "Dad? I expected you to be mad at me when I got back but you're not? How come?"
Florian grinned and motioned Bijou to sit alongside him. And she did so.
"I'm more worried than angry, sure. And of course, I do understand what it's like to struggle adjusting to a new environment. But everything is okay now, since you're back."
"I know," Bijou answered through tears. "But we still need to find a way to bring my friends back home. Their friends and families must be worried about them. What's more is that everything started falling apart on me. Luz got hurt and I don't even know what Eda, King, and Edric are doing. I wanted you, Mom, Quin, and Elle to meet them so badly. And yet, it all went wrong. And it's all my fault."
"Hey, everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that you learn from them."
Bijou smiled as she and Ruby left the room. A scary shadow appeared in the nearby woodland, morphing into a little animal with blue eyes that fled. A woman in a cloak dashed after it.
The next day...
"Alright," Amity announced to the others. "Luz is at her mom's vet clinic, putting tiny little bandages on..."hedgehogs" and Bijou is helping Dana, Tyson, and Mr. Garcia with the bake sale at the market. So today, we're going into town to solve this code!"
"Ears," Gus adjusted his to disguise them, while Willow and Jackie used their hair to do the same.
"Routes!" Vee held up a map, while Elle held the scroll.
"Snacks, check," Willow smiled, revealing that her bag was filled.
"Beverages!" Jackie said, revealing water and juice from her own bag.
"Human disguise, check," Hunter announced, as everyone turned to find him in a Cosmic Frontier suit. He grinned broadly and waited for a reaction.
"Oh, that is a look," Willow snapped a photo of it, Jackie nodding in agreement, and Gus grinning broadly. Hunter moved forward, smiling and clutching the book.
"According to Cosmic Frontier, this is what the modern, human male wears," he said to himself, smiling. Ivy shook her head as Vee held the book he had picked to reference.
"This was written in the 90s about the year 2008," she said with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah. Can't wait for that New Year's party," He smiled and shrugged it aside.
"And did you get to the last chapter?" Gus inquired eagerly.
"O'Bailey is still hiding the fact that he's a Duplicant in hyperdisguise. But Captain Avery is figuring it out," he admitted with a little grin.
"I think he already knows-"
"Ah, buh, buh!" Hunter grabbed his ears. "No, no, no, no, no spoilers!"
"Hunter, I don't think the world is ready for the brave fashion choices of the year 2008. Please change."
Willow covered Amity's mouth.
"Don't listen to her!" Amity sent her a sneer.
"Aw, geez, we're gonna miss the bus," Vee frowned as she and Ivy transformed into their human forms.
"Oh, it's okay! I'll catch up. There's a transport worm every half hour," Hunter said, smiling at them.
The others nodded as Vee and Elle dashed out of the house. Jackie, Amity, and Willow gathered their palismen, the former leaving the house with Gus following them. Willow gazed at Hunter.
"I'm gonna borrow that book when you're done with it," she added, winking and closed the door.
Hunter smiled, blushing. He removed his artificial eye as Flapjack approached him, twittering. Hunter peered into the mirror.
"You know, maybe you're right, Flap. Even if I'm not who I'm supposed to be, I like who I am right now," he remarked with a wink.
Flapjack then spotted something on the floor and pecked at it. Hunter crouched down and pushed Flapjack back to look at it. He touched it with his finger and looked up to see familiar blue eyes staring at him. Hunter gasped and glanced around.
With the others...
The bus dropped off the six at a magic shop.
"First stop, the Magic Circle," Amity said as they peered up at the store sign. Willow and Gus investigated all of the products for sale, while Jackie, Amity, Vee, and Elle spoke with the cashier. Gus and Willow ran forward, thrilled, as they noticed something. Amity passed the scroll to the cashier before looking up, her eyes narrowing.
"HEY!"
Willow and Gus were fiddling around with things, with Willow poking someone with a devil's trident. They hurried out of the store, the clerk waving his fist fiercely. She took out her phone, and Willow returned to offer her a gold coin.
While rushing into the park, Jackie, Gus, and Willow came to a halt and looked up at a statue of two guys. The two males depicted were Caleb and Phillip Wittebane, who were unaware of this. They couldn't help but notice that Phillip, in particular, seemed familiar. They exchanged glances, unsure what to make of the situation.
They consulted the town librarian, who took her own look at it. Meanwhile, Amity touched the file cabinets, believing that they were alive and would react to her movements. Even though she bowed, nothing happened. She then brought out some candy to offer, but a little child ran up and opened it, shocking Amity. Everyone looked at her, and she blushed in embarrassment, dropping to the ground.
The five came to a halt, winced, looked at each other, and nodded. They locked arms as they entered the giraffe exhibit at the zoo. Gus bowed before it, but the giraffe appeared bored. He looked at the others, who shrugged and then went. Willow, on the other hand, snapped a photo, leading it to panic out and reveal itself as a monster! They all shrieked at the sight, and Elle led them to safety.
After that, they congregated near the food court, with Gus approaching with some nachos.
"I don't blame our ancestors for banishing those guys. Yeesh," He shuddered slightly.
"He's lucky he's standing behind a fence; otherwise, I would've clobbered him," Elle muttered to herself.
"Dad, can we go to the bird hall?" a youngster asked his father, who was carrying his brother on his shoulders.
"Ha ha, in a minute. How about we eat first?"
"Yeah!" the other two kids exclaimed. Jackie, Amity, Gus, and Willow were sorrowful now, thinking of their parents...and how much they must miss their children right now. Vee and Elle exchanged frowns while glancing at them. Even the Boiling Isles, where they grew up, seemed terrible to them. Vee sighed hesitantly and closed her eyes.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but...I think Elle and I know where to go next..."
They stood across from... the Gravesfield Historical Society. Because of what transpired, the two had not visited in months. The sign had a new piece of paper that read 'under new management', whatever that meant. The others left, except for the two former hostages, which Willow noted.
"You can wait here if it's too scary," she said gently. "Luz and Bij told me about that creepy witch-hunter wannabe."
"It's okay," Vee assured her. "We just faced down a giraffe. We can do this!"
"Yeah! And if Mr. Hopkins is still there, I have a few choice words to say to him," Elle snapped her knuckles. "It's about time he got what's coming to him."
The two screamed as they kicked open the doors, looking perplexed when they stared up front. "Huh?"
"Hey, Vee and Elle," Dana and Tyson greeted them as they exited the storage room.
Vee's friend looked up, alarmed, and their nameplate read Masha. They had trimmed their hair into a pixie cut.
"You're not Jacob," Vee remarked, perplexed.
"We can all thank goddess for that. He got fired after he started making edits to the exhibits," they said, pointing to a cardboard cut-out of Jacob promoting himself as a hero.
"Good," Elle said to herself, as the item flopped over. "Dana, Tyson, I didn't know you work here."
"It's only for a few weeks," Dana replied.
"We're saving some money to help Bijou buy a car," Tyson added in as he put a box in the corner.
"Dana, Tyson, and I work part-time now. Say, have we met?" Masha looked at Vee and Elle, both of the disguised basilisks flinching in surprise. "Something about you guys seems familiar."
"Uhh, no, m-my neighbor and I are new in town," Vee looked away sheepishly, Elle smiling because Vee didn't need to mention that. But in retrospect, the two were virtually neighbors. "I just have one of those faces. J-But just the one. The normal amount of face."
"Ha ha!" Masha laughed as they leaned back. "What a coincidence, me too! If you ever need a tour guide, hit me up."
They handed Vee a map, and she reddened. Elle, Dana, and Tyson smirked as she noticed the two sharing a little something.
"We're actually here to ask about this old puzzle," Amity said, revealing the scroll. "do you know how to decode it?"
"Ooh, a rebus," Masha enthusiastically accepted it from her. "They dug up a lot of these in Old Gravesfield."
"This is a rebus?" Gus inquired, perplexed. Normally, a rebus did not appear to be all over the place; people simply assumed it was a scroll.
"Yeah! It's like a riddle where pictures and symbols build up a word," Masha explained to them. "Come here," they pointed to the letter H right next to an ear. "What do you think they were trying to say here?"
"Chop off an ear!" Gus yanked at his beanie.
"No. See the H that comes first? Then combine that with the ear and maybe it means 'hear' like, to listen. Or 'here' as in a place," Masha said as they stroked their chins. "Maybe something is waiting somewhere."
The telephone rang from inside the staff room.
"I'll be right back," Masha said, leaving to go inside.
"If this is a portal door, what about these?" Amity inquired, glancing to the bottom of the rebus. "A ribbon, and tanning a hide?"
"That ribbon is tied together," Willow said, pointing at it.
"Next to that hand with a cut," Gus pointed to the hand sign.
"There's a drop of blood near it, too," Jackie observed before gasping in realization.
"You don't think..." Willow began.
"This is leading us to..." Gus explained.
"Tie Tan's...blood?" Amity exclaimed with surprise.
"Titan's Blood!" the three exclaimed together.
"Titan's Blood?" Dana and Tyson repeated in question and they looked at each other in surprise.
"It's like you're reading each other's minds," Vee exclaimed, shocked. "You must have been friends forever!"
"...It wasn't always like this," Amity remarked nervously, as the other two turned aside. Elle cocked an eyebrow, as she and Vee were unaware that Amity used to bully Willow, and she usually avoided Gus and Jackie. Before she got kinder, she wasn't particularly pleasant to Gus and Jackie.
"These past few months have been weird, but look at all of the new memories we have now," she said, holding up her scrapbook, which contained photos from their summer together. Amity accepted it with a smile, flipping through the book.
"It's been nice to finally spend some time together."
She flipped to the last page, which included a group photo of all of them, with Amity kissing Luz on the cheek.
"Yeah," she replied, hugging the book to her chest. "I can't wait to show everyone at home."
"Maybe the scrapbook could use two more?" Vee approached, Willow handing her the camera.
"Aww, come here, Vee and Elle!" Willow embraced them tightly.
"Everyone say 'giraffes are still terrifying~!'" Gus sang, and they laughed as the photo was taken. Vee grinned, then spotted something in the backdrop.
"Hey," she said, turning around to run up. "That map of Old Gravesfield looks exactly like this!" She held the rune up to the map. "Do you think it's a map to a stash of Titan's Blood?"
"With that, we could actually create a portal!" Willow cried to the others.
"I can't wait to tell Luz and Bijou!" Amity retrieved the poster from Luz's room. "And I know just how to surprise her."
She grinned cheerfully as she looked at the poster for the Haunted Hayride.
A/N: Finally finished the first part of the first chapter of Part 3. I decided to divide each of the chapters into two because the specials they are based on are 2 episodes in 1. More secrets will be revealed in the second part so stay magical, readers.