Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Boy, nothing like the holidays to remind you how mentally exhausting your family can be. That actually ties in pretty well with this chapter, I hope you enjoy it.

Anyway, here's a quote because I like putting quotes in my fanfics.


"Blood makes you related. Love and loyalty make you family."

Katie Reus

I do not own 'The Owl House.'


Chapter 6

Aunt Lily


"Luz, we've known each other for a very long time," King said. "You've always been like a big sister to me, and I've always loved you for it."

King blinked his eyes innocently and spoke sweetly to Luz. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…I love and appreciate you so…so much. Like…more than anybody else in the entire world aside, possibly, from Eda."

King then held up his container of chocolate pudding to Luz. "Now open this pudding cup for me."

"No," said Luz. Seated on the couch, she continued to scroll through Penstagram while ignoring King's request.

"Come on!" King complained. "I just said all of that nice stuff! Now open this pudding cup! I command it!"

"I thought what you said was really sweet," Luz said without even taking her eyes off of the Penstagram scroll. "But command all you want, I'm not opening that pudding cup for you. You know what too much sugar does to you."

"But I can't figure out how to open it!" King started gnawing on the top of the container, but still couldn't open the pudding cup with his dull teeth. He let out a frustrated whine upon his failure. "Why are you using Eda's Penstragram scroll anyway?"

"I'm thinking of starting an account of my own," Luz said.

"Oh, because you finally have friends?" King asked.

"Yeah, basically," Luz admitted. She was checking Penstragram out on Eda's account, whose Penstagram name was THEOWLLADY. She was also part of a group profile called BADGIRLCOVEN, and the only existing member of the group profile, as it would happen.

Luz's eyes widened. "Hey, here's Amity Blight's profile."

"I'll pretend to show interest in who that is and why it matters if you open this pudding cup," King offered.

Luz checked out Amity's profile. Under the name WITCHCHICK128, she didn't really have a lot of her own posts, aside from photos of her and her friends and one or two with her and the twins. Mostly, Amity just had advertisement for Blight Industries posted on her account.

"Man, even her Penstagram account is no fun," Luz said. "Honestly, I know she's kinda mean, but I feel sort of bad for her."

"Why bother feeling bad for her? If she's just some mean girl, then maybe you should just stay away from her and keep to your own group of outcasts," King suggested. "Now open this pudding cup."

"No. And I don't think she's just some mean girl." Luz said. "Her siblings are kinda cool, how bad can she possibly be deep down?"

"I'll answer that question if you open this pudding cup."

"I'm not opening that pudding cup for you."

"And you think that Blight girl is mean," King grumbled. "Why are you so interested in this girl anyway? You met her, like, what, once or twice?"

"Three times actually. I talked to her at the Blue Moon Sabbath," Luz said. "She didn't know it was me, we started chatting, and…"

Luz shrugged. "I don't know, I think she pretends to be meaner than she really is."

"Why would anyone pretend to be mean? Either you are or you aren't," said King. "And what do you care? You barely know her."

"I don't have a lot of friends. And making friends is relatively new to me." Luz smiled. "But I kinda like it."

The front door flew open and Eda shuffled into the living room with a slight hunch. Her long face looked currently incapable of expressing anything but exhaustion.

Luz cringed at the sight of Eda. "Eesh, Mom, you look awful."

"...Well, gee, I love you too, kid. You also look like crap today." Eda tossed her staff aside and placed her hands on her lower back, popping her back with a sound like a crumbling rock. "Can't quite run from the authorities like I used to."

"We should've gone with you," King said. "How come you had us stay home all day?"

"Ah, the Emperor's Coven has been hounding me pretty hard lately." Eda took a bag of snails out of her hair. "I guess they're still kinda ticked at me for illegally gathering all those potion ingredients for my Blue Moon Brew."

With a grin, Eda tossed the bag of snails on the living room table. "Worth it though."

"How's that Dragonfire I got you working?" Luz asked.

"It's working great! The potions we're brewing are selling!" Eda cheered. "You know, to the people who are actually willing to buy from me. Although, I'm thinking of handing the stuff over to Morton. His business could really use it."

"Good to hear," said Luz. "I'm almost glad that I was nearly burned to a painful crisp like a slice of bacon by a giant, terrifying dragon."

"Hey, how'd it go with that Boscha girl, by the way?" Eda asked. "She owes you a life debt now, right? And her family is rich. So, you know…money money, honey honey."

"Actually, I don't think she's all that grateful," Luz said. "She didn't like me before, but now, whenever Boscha sees me, she gives me the evil eye. And she has three eyes. So when she gives the evil eye, she gives it in extra."

"Eh, for what's it worth, her mom was a complete B-word too back in the day." Eda walked over and sat down on the couch with her two kids. "Not her other mom though. Her other mom, I could hang with." Eda frowned. "Hey, what are you doing on my Penstagram account?"

"I'm thinking of starting an account of my own," said Luz. "Maybe I can make more friends that way."

"Eh, good thinkin'," Eda said. "The dweebus and the four-eyed one are just–"

"Hey, you got a notification," Luz said. "Hello_willow and THEGUSMAN just followed you. They even joined your BADGIRLCOVEN group profile."

"Ah, they're such good kids," said Eda. "With friends like that, who else could you possibly want in your cliche? Aside from literally anybody?"

"Amity Blight?" Luz suggested. "She seems ni…she seems frien…she seems oka…she seems like a decent individual."

"Amity Blight?" Eda asked. "I'm all for befriending a rich kid, but I think you're better off trying to be friends with that triclops girl you ticked off."

"Open this pudding cup for me."

"No."

"You stink!"

"Luz, let me tell you a little something about the Blights," said Eda. "They suck butts. And they always have. And they don't particularly like us Clawthornes. In fact, back in the ye olden days, it was sort of a blood feud. Nothing too ugly, just us honorable and likable Clawthornes having to constantly put up with the crooked Blights and their crap."

"Aren't the Clawthornes related to the Blights?" Luz asked.

"No, we're related to the Ghuls. Alador Blight's side of the family," said Eda. "From what I can tell, they've always been decent people."

"Okay, so, maybe the newest generation of Blights are more Ghul than Blight," said Luz.

"Listen, kid, I like that you're trying to make new friends, I really do." Eda snatched her Penstagram scroll from Luz. "But you need to stay away from the Blights. Especially that cold, greedy snake, Odalia. Stay away from her, stay away from her kids, it ain't worth the risk. You read me?"

"But, Mom–"

"'But' nothing," Eda said sternly. "It was a mistake to send you to their place to deliver Alador's order, and that's where it stops. I don't want you to have anything to do with the Blights. Understood?"

"But–"

"Understood?"

Luz flinched, then hung her head. "Yes, Mom."

"Good." Eda placed her hand on Luz's shoulder. "Kid, I hate telling you to avoid trying to make friends, I know it makes me sound like a hypocrite after trying to get you to actually make friends in the first place. But you need to be careful, okay? Not everyone can be trusted. In fact, most people can't."

"Is that really true?" Luz asked.

"In our situation, yes."

Luz sighed. "Is it safe to go out yet? I wanted to visit the Bonesborough Library."

Eda raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess: You want to look for any history of humans visiting the Demon Realm."

"Grandma said–"

"Your grandma has a million tall tales to tell," Eda interrupted. "Luz, a human wouldn't even survive here on the Boiling Isles."

"I did," Luz pointed out.

"You were raised on the Isles with me as your caretaker," said Eda. "You're accustomed to the Isles. But to suddenly throw a human in the Demon Realm? They'd be dead in minutes. How could one even get here?"

"Through the portal?" Luz guessed. "Maybe its previous owner liked to bring humans to the Boiling Isles. You never really told me where you got that thing."

"I found it," said Eda. "Completely by accident, believe it or not."

"How do things normally get into one world or the other?" Luz asked. "You once told me that all of the weirdness of the Human Realm is just a little bit of this world leaking into the other world. well, how does it happen?"

"Our worlds, in a sense, are like floating continents," Eda explained. "And between those two continents is a strait of crashing, violent waves of pure chaos and magic. Every now and then, something, be it alive or inanimate, manages to somehow find a way to slip between the cracks into the strait from their world. It gets caught in the waves, and assuming it survives the journey, it winds up in the other world."

Luz blinked. "Are you…talking about the In-Between Dimension?"

"No, that's something completely different," Eda said. "The In-Between is just a myth."

"Dragons were supposed to be a myth too," said Luz.

"Kid, when it comes to myth and legend, there's what has been found, what can be found, what doesn't want to be found, and what can't be found," said Eda. "And what can't be found…doesn't exist."

Luz appeared unconvinced.

"Anyway, the most common thing to survive the journey across the Strait of Chaos, as I'm just now deciding to call it because it sounds awesome, are trinkets and tools and other such objects. It's why we're always finding human junk inside those garbage slugs we harvest."

Luz shuddered. "That is hands down the most disgusting job ever. Doesn't anything living ever make it to the other side alive?"

"Demons and beasts sometimes survive the trip, but not always. That's how Human Realm superstitions start," Eda said. "But a human would be killed almost instantly upon entering the Strait. It's just not possible for a human to survive the journey."

"So how does the portal work, then?" Luz asked. "Who built it?"

"No idea," Eda admitted. "All I know is that it works, and I love that it works."

"Well, it has to be some kind of, I don't know, bridge or something, across the Strait," Luz said.

"Like I said, I have no idea," Eda repeated.

"Well, then can I go to the library and try to find an idea?" Luz clasped her hands together. "Pretty please?"

Eda sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. I guess a quick trip to the library can't hurt. Just come back home once you're done."

"Thanks, Mom!" Luz dashed upstairs to grab her cloak.

Eda scrolled through Penstagram for a little. She then frowned down at her scroll. "Owlbert, have you been using my Penstagram scroll again?"

Owlbert hooted down from his perch up on the shelf.

"Oh, yeah?" Eda asked. "Then how come I have four new photos posted on my account of you wearing a scarf and a pair of round glasses pretending to read a book with a cup of tea nearby?"

Owlbert hooted down at her again.

"Of course I'm not gonna take them down, they're really good pics."


Luz fell in love with the library as soon as she saw it.

As a fan of fantasy and adventure novels, the Bonesborough Library almost resembled Luz's dream home. It looked like a wizard's Victorian mansion, made from mauve brick in the fashion of medieval architectural designs. Resembling a castle, the shingle-roof building was built into three sections, with the large main section in the middle. Luz counted six windows in the front of the building, not including the large, round, intricately designed stained glass window fixed into the face of the main tower.

Luz looked excited, but you couldn't tell behind the mask she was wearing. This time, instead of her owl mask, she wore the wooden mask she had carved to look like the Deku Mask from Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. It took her three days to carve, and it ended up looking more like the face of the Wood Man from Netflix's Hilda.

Wearing her witch's wool cloak, Luz walked up the steps and entered through the main door. The inside of the library was even more amazing than the outside. Books literally flew through the air, hovering above and between the high bookshelves lined with various novels. The building was illuminated quite well by the torches on the wall. At first, it seemed to Luz like a bit of a fire hazard to keep torches in a place with so many books and paper things, but she couldn't deny how cool they looked.

Her eyes shone with wonder through the eyeholes of Luz's Wood Man/Deku Scrub mask, and she walked to the front desk of the library. The man at the front desk had short, pale hair and a pointy nose. He wore a black cloak over his red shirt and a pair of round glasses.

The librarian raised an eyebrow at the strange, masked, cloaked child walking up to the front desk. "Can I help you?" he asked.

"Do you have anything on the Human Realm?" Luz asked. "Specifically, anything about humans being brought against their will to the Human Realm to live out the rest of their lives in utter torment or as an eternal servant or possibly as a loanable love slave?"

The librarian gave Luz a blank stare. "...Remind me to never let you read to the children on weekends." He picked up a stack of papers. "Speaking of, one of our staff is reading to the children right now. She should be finished soon, so find her in the kid's section and she can help you find what you're looking for."

"Can't you?" Luz asked.

"Yes, but I really don't want to."

Luz narrowed her eyes at the librarian before leaving to find the kid's section.

"Next in line, please," said the librarian.

Luz walked through the library, frequently getting distracted by what there was to find in the extraordinary building. She made it her mission to get a library card for this place. There were tombs, scrolls, books on potion brewing, cookbooks, works of ancient demonics and necromancy, all available for loan. And Luz was willing to move into the library if it meant reading each and every one of them.

"I know it's a long shot, but I wonder if they have the Percy Jackson books here." Luz arrived at the kid's section. A group of snot-nosed, filthy little brats (hey, we all know it's true) were politely sitting in a circle around the girl who was reading to them. Luz quickly hid behind a bookshelf because, wouldn't you know it, the girl reading to the kids was someone she knew.

Luz's eyes widened. "Holy shite, it's Amity Blight." She quickly took out a pen and paper. "I'm writing that one down, I am so reusing that someday."

Seated on a wooden tripod, Amity Blight herself was reading a children's storybook to the kids surrounding her. To Luz's surprise, Amity actually looked kinda happy as she read to the kids. Heck, she even sounded, well…genuinely nice.

"'We're your friends, and we wanna help,' said the Tin Boy with a yelp." Amity flipped to the next page. "Otabin smiled and paced the floor. 'I've never had real friends before'."

The kids all seemed really invested in the story. Some of them scooted just a little closer to Amity, eager to hear the rest of the story.

"'Then we'll be your first,' the Chicken Witch clucked. Otabin couldn't believe his luck." Amity smiled at all of the kids, showing them the pictures in the book. "So Bookmaker Otabin, surrounded by friends, bound a book of friendship, and that's the end." Amity closed the book for emphasis.

The kids all clapped and cheered for Amity as if she were a celebrity. Luz observed all of this from behind the small bookshelf that was honestly a very poor hiding place.

"Okay, kids, that's it for the day," Amity said to the youngins. "Next time, I'll read you guys 'The Mean Little Mermaid.' But only if you all promise to be good for the rest of the week."

"We promise," the kids all replied in unison.

"Wonderful. Have a great day, everyone." The kids all got up and hurried out of the reading area. Amity put the book away and calmly followed them out of the kid's section.

"That was so sweet of you."

"What the?!" Amity jumped back and recoiled when she suddenly noticed the person in the wooden mask and dark blue cloak standing there. "Who the hex are…"

Amity narrowed her eyes. "Wait…" Her eyes then widened in outrage. "Oh, you gotta be kidding–you're that freakin' human! You're not fooling me with that stupid mask again. How many of those do you have?!"

"More than any mentally stable teenager should have," Luz confessed. "I'm still not getting rid of any of them though. Well...maybe the clown one."

"What are you doing here?" Amity demanded. "Are you stalking me or something?!"

"No, no, I swear!" Luz said. "I didn't even know you worked here. How long have you been reading to kids? That was super adorable to see you read to them like that."

She tried to just look angry, but Amity's cheeks reddened.

"You know, I think I might've been right about you," Luz said. "You act a lot meaner than you really are. I think, deep down, you're a real sweetie, aren't you? Those kids seem to straight-up adore you."

"I-I just read to them, big whoop," said Amity. "They don't adore me."

A cute, little witch girl came up and hugged Amity's leg. "Thank you for reading to us, Miss Amity," the young girl said. "I'm sorry for not saying 'thank you' right away."

"Awwwwww," Luz gushed. "Little girl, would you say you adore Amity?"

"Don't answer that, don't you dare answer that, shoo shoo shoo," Amity said as she ushered the little girl away.

"I totally do!" the girl said before running away giggling.

"Ah-ha!" Luz exclaimed. "Adoration!"

Amity's whole face tinted red, as if she were gonna explode. "Why are you trying so hard to embarrass me?" she demanded. "First you become friends with my siblings, and then you trick me at the Blue Moon Sabbath, and now this? What is your problem with me?"

"Amity, I don't have a problem with you." Luz lowered her hood and took off her wooden mask. "But why are you always so mean-spirited? You've obviously got a sweet center beneath all that sour."

"Please do not compare me to a candy," Amity replied flatly. "Just...please."

Maybe you oughta stop hanging out with Boscha, I think she might be a bad influence," Luz suggested. "Still can't believe you traded being friends with Willow for being friends with the meanest girl in Hexside."

"Willow told you about–" Amity shook her head. "I am a Blight. We only associate with a select few."

"Yeah, and who gets to pick that select few?" Luz asked. "Your mom?"

Amity's face darkened. The source of her anger didn't appear to be embarrassment this time. "Excuse me?"

Luz blinked. "Uh…well, uh…I-I mean…" Luz backed up as Amity approached her. "It's just that, last time I saw her, your mom didn't appear all that…pleasant, I guess?" Luz shrugged innocently. "And, you know, it…makes sense that a little bit of that would rub off on you. Nothing particularly against you, it's just that–"

Luz backed into a wall. Amity stood right in front of her and glared directly into Luz's eyes.

"...You don't know me, human," Amity said in a chilly tone. "Don't pretend to."

"...Uhhhh…" Luz gulped. "...You have…really pretty eyes? They're just like my mom's eyes and I instantly regret saying that, I am so sorry."

Amity turned her head away from Luz and groaned in irritation, running a hand down her face. Luz thought she saw Amity's cheeks glow for just a second before it was gone.

"I don't have time for this." Amity headed away. "I need to get going if I'm gonna make it to the Covention in time."

"Isn't it pronounced convention?" Luz asked, daring herself to follow after Amity. "Also, convention for what?"

"The annual Covention. The Coven Convention." Amity turned around and looked at Luz. "How do you not know this?"

"Oh, Covention," said Luz. "Coven Convention. I get it, it's a play on words. That's actually really clever. What's a Covention?"

"It's where you check out all of the Covens to see which one is right for you." Amity gave Luz a bewildered look. "How are you not aware of this? Especially with the Head Witch of the Emperor's Coven making an appearance?"

"The Emperor is coming to this thing?" Luz asked. "Wow, it really must be a big event."

"What? No. How…how do you not…?" Amity blinked. "Your last name is Clawthorne, isn't it? Aren't you part of that clan? You of all people should be aware of this."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Luz.

"You're seriously telling me you don't even know who–" Amity shook her head. "You know what? Your ignorance is hardly any of my concern. I gotta get going."

"Can I come with?" Luz asked. "This Covention thing sounds cool."

"No, you cannot 'come with'," Amity stated. "Listen, human."

"Luz."

"Don't care. Just because you saw me reading to a bunch of kids, that doesn't make us friends." Amity narrowed her eyes. "We're not friends."

"We could be," Luz offered, giving Amity a smile. "You say I don't know you. And, that's fair. How about we go to the Covention together? Give us the chance to get to know each other?"

Amity stared at Luz with a mostly blank face.

"No." Amity turned around and walked away. "Stop following me."

Luz watched as Amity walked away. She then pulled up her hood and put her mask back on.

"I'm going to that Coven Convention," Luz stated. "Wow, try saying that five times real fast."


"Alright, spit it out."

"Uh-uh!"

"I said spit it out."

"Hoot!"

"Hooty, I'm gonna count to three." Eda held up three fingers. "And if you don't cough it up, you're in big trouble."

Hooty shook his head. "Mm-mm."

"One."

Hooty lowered his head just a little bit.

"Two."

Hooty's beak quivered.

"Hooty, if you make me say 'three,' you're gonna be in for it."

Hooty whimpered, then he puked up all of Eda's mail, expelling all of it onto the floor.

'Thank you." Eda began gathering her mail up off the floor. "Now stop eating my mail!"

"Isn't it mostly junk mail anyway?" Hooty asked. "And bills and fines that you're never actually going to pay, hoot hoot?"

"Mostly, yeah. Still though, stop eating my mail." Eda sat down on the couch and leisurely crossed her legs. "Alright, let's see here." She began sorting through her mail. "Fine. Bill. Ticket. Advertisement for Blight Securities, yeah, as if. Coupon for apple blood, I think we all know I'm hanging on to that one. Hate mail, hate mail, death threat, hate mail, why can't I ever get any fan mail? Oh, what's this?"

Eda tossed aside the rest of the mail and lifted up the flier she had gotten.

"'Pick a future that's best for you. Don't miss out on this year's COVENTION!'" Eda read aloud from the flier. "Oh, that's right. The Covention is today."

"Wazzat? Hoot hoot?" Hooty asked.

"It's where kids in school go so they can feel better about their lame, crappy futures," Eda said. "You're supposed to pick a Coven that 'appeals' to you or whatever. All of the Covens, even the minor Covens that nobody really gives a crap about, are going to be there to try to lure in some flies into their webs. All it really is though is the Emperor trying to make his bogus Coven System seem cool and systematic. He might as well be saying 'Hey, there's nothing wrong with being shackled to a dead-end of your choosing, don't forget to take a free tote bag!' Titan, I hate that guy."

Hooty stretched his face up to the flier. "'Featuring a presentation on the benefits and prestige of the Emperor's Coven by the renowned and esteemed Lilith Claw–" Hooty blinked. "Oh, hoot! Eda, do you know this person, hoot hoot?!"

"What?" Eda read the name that Hooty had read, and her eyes went wide. "Oh, no freakin' way, she's gonna be there? Titan, she really will do anything to feel like a big shot."

"You know, this Convention, or Covention, or whatever it's called, hoot hoot, sounds like something Luz would really like," Hooty commented.

Eda's face became filled with panic. "Holy shite, you're absolutely right. Ooo, I gotta remember that one." She reverted back to panic. "Luz will be drawn to that Covention like a moth to a flame. And if Lilith is going to be there–Oh, Titan!"

Eda shot up off the couch and grabbed her cloak. "Hooty, I gotta go." She pulled her hood over her hair. "Hold the fort while I'm gone."

"Now that you're done with it, can I eat your mail now?" Hooty asked.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Eda whistled, and her magic staff flew into her hand. "Back in a bit."

Eda hurried out of the house. King walked into the living room as Hooty ate all of the mail.

"Was there anything in there for me?" King asked.

"No, I don't think so," said Hooty.

King sighed. "Yeah, I figured."


The Convention Center where this year's Covention was being held was a large, rectangular building with a red, arched roof and more than a dozen windows. Following the rest of the crowd, Luz headed through the entrance and went inside. There were groups of witches in the main foyer. Mostly teen witches from one of the three schools. Luz looked around, hoping to spot Amity, who she had been tailing. However, the mint-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.

Mask on and hood up, Luz followed a crowd of students into the main hall. Her eyes widened behind her mask. Hanging from the ceiling were the nine banners of the nine Covens, each one bearing its own color and sigil. About a hundred different stands had been set up in the hall, and even more students were checking the stands out, looking for a Coven that seemed right for them.

Luz ventured past the students around her and started checking out some of the stands herself. Luz didn't recognize many of the Covens being represented. The Baking Coven, the Flower Coven, the Stylist Coven, the Tiny Cat Coven. Luz made a quick, mental note to check out that last one.

"Luz?"

Luz spun around, taken off guard from being recognized, but was delighted to see Willow and Gus walking up to her.

"I thought that was you," said Willow. "Boy, you got a mask for every occasion, don't you?"

"I've decided to mix it up a bit. Iconic can get boring if you overdo it." Luz lowered her hood and lifted up her mask. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Same as you, I guess," Gus said. "Checking out the Covens."

"I thought there were only ten Covens, including the Emperor's Coven?" said Luz. "What's with the other hundred Covens?"

"Officially, there's the Emperor's Coven, who govern and police the Boiling Isles, and then you have the nine main Covens, run by the nine Head Witches," Willow explained. "But there are dozens and dozens of minor Covens you can join, although you still have to pick a brand from one of the main nine."

"You two seem pretty set on the Plant and Illusion Covens," Luz pointed out. "Why bother coming to this thing?"

"You kiddin'? These things are always super cool!" Gus said. "And besides, I don't wanna miss out on seeing this year's guest speaker."

"Who's the guest speaker this year?" Luz asked.

"You didn't know?" Gus asked. "I figured that was the only reason you even came to this thing."

"I came to this thing because I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn more about magic," said Luz. "Well, that, and, I sort of followed Amity Blight here from the library."

"Amity's here?" Willow asked. "Huh. Yeah, I guess she would be. She's probably here for the presentation on the Emperor's Coven. Amity's been gunning for a position in the Emperor's Coven for years now. Her family even got the Coven Leader to mentor her."

"The brand you get from the Emperor's Coven allows a witch to perform all types of magic, right?" Luz asked. "It doesn't stop you from performing any kind of magic?"

"Well, yeah, but only members of the Emperor's Coven are allowed to wear that sigil," Willow said. "Everyone else has to pick one from the other nine."

"So, let's say you get a brand from the Plant Coven one day, Willow," Luz said. "You're really fine with only being able to perform plant magic for the rest of your life?"

"It would hardly make a difference, honestly," Willow admitted. "I'm not exactly a jack of all lanterns."

"Yeah, same here," said Gus. "If you put a magical brand that limits the type of magic you can perform to just illusion magic on a witch who can only perform illusion magic…who's it hurting? At least I'm still obeying the law. No offense intended toward your mom. Please don't punch me again."

"I'm not going to punch you again, you don't have to keep asking me not to punch you," said Luz. "But what if you were talented in literally all kinds of magic? You can only perform all kinds of magic if you join Belos' club, end of story? That's pretty lame."

"Maybe if you see the presentation with us, your opinion will be less negative," Willow offered. "Besides, you've gotta be excited to see the guest speaker work her magic."

"Heh. Work her magic."

"Yeah, 'cause we're witches."

"But, why would I be excited to see the guest speaker?" Luz asked.

"Aren't you related to the Coven Leader?" Willow asked.

Luz blinked in confusion. "I…have no idea what you're talking about."

Willow and Gus glanced at each other. "Uh, maybe you'll recognize her when you see her," said Gus. "Come on, let's go. I think the presentation is about to start."

Luz shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She headed through the building. "This way, right?"

Gus looked over at Willow. "I thought her last name was Clawthorne?"

"Eh, maybe it's spelled differently." Willow went after Luz. "Let's hurry, I wanna get good seats."


"Come on, kid, where are you?" Eda muttered to herself as she made her way through the crowd. "Please tell me I don't have to go looking near the stand for the Tiny Cat Coven to find you."

Wrapped in her cloak with her hood over her head, as well as a red head wrap and a pair of reflective shades for good measure, Eda made her way through the crowds and booths of the Covention.

"Uck," Eda said sourly, sticking her tongue out. "Enough positive thinking and vocational desire to make me wanna puke."

Edalyn looked around. "Let's see, if I were Luz at my very first Covention, where would I go…? Literally everywhere." Eda shook her head. "Titan, I haven't been to one of these things since I was a kid. Lily was crazy for these things."

Eda's eyes widened behind her shades. "Oh, crap, I know where she probably is." She walked up to the nearest witch, a teen demon girl with a white, crescent head and one eye. "Hey, kid. Where's the Emperor's Coven presentation being held?"

"In the auditorium." The witch pointed in the right direction. "That way."

"Thanks, one-eye." Eda went off to find Luz.

"That was a bit insensitive," the demon girl complained.

Eda made her way through the collection of booths, representatives, and attendants, giving somebody a disapproving scowl every couple of seconds as she did. If there was one thing that Edalyn had always hated, it was limitations. That, and people telling her what she could and couldn't do, as Principal Bump would have been more than happy to confirm. That was all the Coven System was really about–putting a permanent limit on what your average witch was capable of doing and giving the real power to the ones who were allowed to be in charge. And in Eda's opinion, letting people pick which wall to be chained to seemed like nothing more than a mean joke. What exactly gave Belos the right to tell witches what kind of magic they were allowed to perform?

"Nothing more than a cult leader is what he is," Edalyn grumbled to herself. "Can't believe I was ever stupid enough to want to be a part of this sheep herding shit."

The flow of the crowd helped Eda find the entrance to the auditorium, as did the Emperor's Coven members flanking the entrance and the large banner above sporting the sigil of the Coven. She headed into the auditorium with the rest of the witches and began looking around, trying to find Luz in one of the descending rows of seats.

"Come on, come on. Where are you? You're probably the only one wearing a mask, how hard is it to spot you?" Eda said to herself. "...Aha! There you are."

Meanwhile, Luz, Gus, and Willow were seated together in the middle row, eagerly waiting for the presentation to begin. Luz had her mask on and her hood up. Even among her friends, being surrounded by so many people made keeping her face hidden an almost instinctive defense mechanism for Luz.

"So, this Coven Leader," Luz was inquiring. "She's like, the Emperor's second-in-command or something?"

"Technically, I think she's just the lead historical scholar for the Emperor's Coven," said Willow. "The Emperor's official right hand is normally a guy called the Golden Guard, a powerful and skilled warlock and the only being in existence who the Emperor fully trusts. But the last Golden Guard died, like, twenty years ago I think, and Lady Lilith was talented enough to take the position of the Emperor's Head Witch since the position needed to be filled."

"I actually heard they just recently hired a new Golden Guard," Gus said. "You know, they say–"

"Wait, wait, hold on. Lilith, you said?" Luz asked, growing evermore curious. "I know that name."

"Oh, so you do know her," said Willow. "I figured the two of you were related."

Luz blinked behind her mask. "Related?"

"Well, yeah," Gus said. "Aren't Lady Lilith and your mom–"

"Zip it, dweebus."

The three of them turned their heads to see Eda, wearing her cloak's hood over her head and a pair of reflective shades over her eyes.

"Mom?" Luz asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Leaving with you, that's what I'm doing here." Eda grabbed Luz's arm. "Let's go."

"But Mom, I wanna see the presentation." Luz pulled her arm out Eda's hand. "And for crying out loud, who the hex is Lilith? How do you know her?"

"I don't. I mean…I do, but…I…" Eda bit her lip. "It's complicated."

"Complicated?" Gus asked. "Isn't Coven Leader Lilith–"

"You want your lips burned off or frozen over? I'm creative enough to try both."

Gus and Willow both decided to zip it.

"Good." Eda pointed a thumb over her shoulder. "Now let's get out of here before they start this this–"

"Hello, Bonesborough!"

As the audience cheered, Eda looked down at the main stage, which looked more like a gladiator pit than an actual stage. She saw that Principal Bump had been selected to host this year's Covention.

"Students ask me all the time; Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?"

"Is it this?!" One of the students in the audience drew a magic circle and cast a spell that made his head inflate to ten times its normal size. His heavy head fell over onto his friend sitting next to him.

"No, not even close. That's just sad and severely disappointing to me as an educator," said Bump. "I'm talking about joining the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the Coven System. The enforcers of the Titan's will. The Emperor's Coven!"

Four Coven Scouts emerged around Bump from magic portals out of the ground and rose to their feet without flaw and seemingly without effort. Dressed in their uniforms, they stood at attention with their hands held professionally behind their backs.

"Okay, time to leave." Eda looked back over at Luz. "Come on, kid, we're–"

Eda blinked and her eyes went wide. Luz, Willow, and Gus had all disappeared. Their seats were empty and they were nowhere to be found.

"Freakin' Titan, I'm gonna wring all three of their necks, starting with the dweebus." Eda walked away to continue her search for Luz. "His neck would probably be the easiest to wring."

Once Eda was gone, Gus let the spell drop and the three of them became visible again in a puff of blue, magic smoke.

"Pretty sweet invisibility spell, Gus," said Luz. "I seriously gotta learn how to do that myself."

"Your mom's not actually gonna wring my neck, is she?" Gus asked.

"Nah," said Luz. "...Well…don't let your guard down."

Gus gulped.

"Feast your eyes on this elite magical force," Bump was saying to the audience. "Hand-picked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic."

The four Coven Scouts put on a show, shooting fire and lighting into the air and summoning a small hurricane to send it flying all around, ending the performance with two giant, stone thumbs-ups erupting out of the ground.

"Whoa," said Luz. "Maybe there's more to the Emperor's Coven than I thought."

"See, I told you," said Willow. "They're not the bad guys. They enforce the law and keep us safe from harm. All in the name of the Titan."

"Plus, those guys are like, wicked good with magic," Gus added. "Imagine being able to do the things they can do."

"Quite the display of power and skill, wouldn't you say?" Bump asked the audience. "Only the best can ascend to these ranks. And someday, that could be one of you!"

"Even me?" the kid with the inflated head asked.

"I highly doubt it, but keep those hopes up all the same!" The Coven Scouts disappeared into the ground through their portal magic and Bump cleared his throat. "And now, I am pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this Coven."

Excited murmuring suddenly filled the auditorium. Luz looked around curiously, and saw that Willow and Gus also looked pretty excited.

"You know her! You love her! I give you the one, the only," Bump raised his hand to the ceiling. "Lilith Clawthorne!"

Luz gasped. "Clawthorne?"

Up above, blue lights formed the large image of a raven sitting on a branch, like some kind of living constellation. Then the raven flew from its perch and descended down onto the stage. The raven landed on the stage and then, in an amazing display of blue light, a cloaked, masked woman appeared.

The woman smiled. The mask she wore floated up off her face, revealing her green eyes, and she threw her white hood back, showing off her dark hair. Wearing a black, regal dress, she spread her arms in greeting to the audience that was now cheering for her.

Luz blinked down at Coven Leader from her seat.

Eda, on the other side of the auditorium, stopped her search and stared down at the guest speaker with wide eyes. "...At least she finally started wearing contacts."

"Thank you, all." Using her magic, Lilith lifted her cloak off of her and it and the mask floated away. "It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top."

"Here we go," Eda said with a roll of her eyes.

"I started from humble beginnings," Lilith went on. "Now, I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will."

Eda made a gagging motion.

"So be more!" Lilith raised her fist dramatically. "The Emperor's Coven awaits!" She cast a spell and created a giant raven of light, which let out a proud caw and blew up in a dazzling display of light.

The audience cheered. Eda, however, did not. She simply stared down at Lilith with a look on her face that was hard to read. It might've been anger, or maybe sorrow. Possibly regret.

"If you would like to know more, I'll be signing autographs in the main lobby," Lilith announced. "No pictures."

With that said, Lilith disappeared in a blast of blue smoke. A basic but classic method of magic, and a good end to a great presentation.

Luz and her two friends looked at each other and nodded, all coming to the same unanimous agreement, and then got out of their seats and followed the crowd of students out of the auditorium.

Eda spotted Luz from the other side of the auditorium, knowing full well where she and her friends were heading. "There you are, get back here!" Eda started after Luz, but got blocked by the traffic of exiting witches. "Get out of my way," she grumbled as she tried to maneuver through the crowd.

Luz, Gus, and Willow were already out of the auditorium, heading for the hall where Lilith had said she would be. A bunch of the other students were heading that way as well, so it was easy to find the way.

"Okay, so, do you know Lilith Clawthorne or not?" Gus asked. "I mean, the Clawthornes are a really old and respected family. It's hardly a secret that both the Owl Lady and Head Witch Lilith come from that family. I just figured you already knew that."

"I didn't know that," Luz said. "Furthermore, I'm kinda ticked that I didn't know that. I can't believe my mom never told me that we're related to one of the most important witches on the Boiling Isles."

"Luz, how could you not know that you were related to the Lilith Clawthorne?" Willow asked. "Haven't you ever heard her name or at least seen her on a poster or something?"

"I don't get out much," said Luz. "And when I do get out, I'm normally in a hurry."

"Well, now you get to meet her." Gus laughed. "Ah, man, this must be exciting for you. Meeting your, I guess, cousin or aunt, who happens to be a celebrity?"

"Big deal. My mom's a celebrity," Luz said.

"Uh, yeah, but," Willow shrugged. "Lady Lilith is famous. Your mom is…well, infamous."

"I don't even care that she's famous, I care that she probably knows more about my mom than I do," said Luz. "Do you have any idea how frustrating it is knowing so little about the woman who freakin' raised me? I just want to know more about Eda, and I'm certain that Lilith has answers."

As promised, Lilith was in the lobby signing autographs for eager fans and excited students. Feeling nervous, Luz walked up to the Coven Leader, Gus and Willow flanking her sides. Even with Luz's unusual mask, Lilith apparently didn't even notice the three friends approaching her. She was too busy writing on the back of the front page of a book.

"Reach your peak and achieve greatness," Lilith said aloud as she wrote it down. "Lilith Clawthorne."

She handed the book back to the young witch who had given it to her. The student squealed excitedly before rushing away.

Willow cleared her throat. "Lady Lilith?"

Lilith turned toward the three of them. "Yes?"

Luz was at a loss for words as she stared up at the Emperor's Coven Leader. Luz had expected her to bear some family resemblance to the two Clawthornes she already knew. But Lilith looked familiar in a way that almost stunned Luz. Her facial profile, her body frame, the tone of her skin, even the way she held herself and the very look in her eyes. The hair was wrong, and her eyes were green instead of gold. But still…

Gus broke the silence, bravely stepping forward and offering Lady Lilith his hand. "Augustus Porter, it is very nice to meet you, Ma'am."

"Ah, yes. Your father is Perry Porter, the newsman." Lilith smiled and shook Gus's hand. "I went to school with your dad, you know."

"This is Luz," Gus pointed at his masked friend. "She really wanted to meet you."

Lilith's gaze moved onto Luz, and for a brief moment, it felt like Grandma Gwen was staring at her with those eyes of hers.

"Is that so?" Lilith tilted her head, seeming confused by the odd mask that this hooded kid was wearing. "Luz, you said? What is that, Vampir–?"

"Do you know Edalyn Clawthorne?" Luz interrupted her. She was incredibly nervous, but too eager for answers to back down. "The Owl Lady?"

Lilith frowned. Her eyes widened but became guarded. "I…knew her, yes," she replied carefully. "I'm sorry, but…who are you?"

"About that." Luz twiddled her thumbs. "Um…well…I'm actually–"

"No one." Eda suddenly appeared from the crowd and grabbed Luz's shoulder. "She's no one."

Luz looked up at Eda in surprise and confusion. Lilith, however, seemed far more startled to see Eda.

"Sister?"

Luz spun her head back toward Lilith. "Sister?" Luz looked back up at Eda in utter shock. "She's your sister?!"

"Oh, snap!" Gus exclaimed.

"Honestly though, at this point, we really should've seen that coming," said Willow.

Lilith stepped toward Eda. "Edalyn, is that really you?"

Eda groaned miserably. "Yeah, hi, Lilith. How ya been? Good? Good. Well, see ya." She turned around, pulling Luz along with her.

"Now wait just a moment." Lilith hurried around to move in front of Eda, blocking her way, much to Eda's chagrin. "By the Titan, it really is you. Goodness, there's not a single strand of red hair left on you, is there?"

"Well, some of us aren't willing to dunk our heads in a bucket of blue paint. Nice dye job, by the way, Lily." Eda took off her shades and shoved them into her hair. "Good to see you finally took my advice and got contacts too. The dark dress is a bit much though, don't you think? Really going for the Vampire Queen look, huh?"

Lilith narrowed her eyes at her sister. "What are you even doing here, Edalyn? I didn't think you would ever go near one of these things again…unless…"

Lilith gasped. "Could it be?" To Luz's confusion, she suddenly looked overjoyed. "It must be!"

Eda flinched as Lilith came up and happily took hold of her sister's hands. "You've finally decided to end your foolish roguery and you've come to me to join the Emperor's Coven at long last!"

Eda stared at Lilith for a solid second, then she snorted out a laugh. Lilith frowned as Eda pulled her hands away from her.

"You honestly think I came here to join you and your legion of suckups?" Eda asked. "No no no, Lily, I would sooner join the Tiny Cat Coven before I sell my integrity and freedom to Belos like you did."

Lilith glared angrily at Edalyn. "I'll have you know, sister, that while you're stealing from and ripping off the people of the Boiling Isles, I'm leading the current generation of elite witch authority and training the future generation. For example."

Lilith clapped her hands twice. "Amity. Front and center."

From the crowd, Amity emerged. Head held high with flawless posture, the youngest Blight walked up to Lilith's side. But not before giving Luz a dirty look, possibly an accusation for following her to the Covention after all.

"Odalia's brat?" Eda asked with a grimace. "Seriously? I knew you were a sellout, but come on, Lily. You even got the kid to dye her hair like you do. Your roots are showing by the way, mint chip, find a better cosmetologist."

"Under my mentorship, Amity here has become my most promising apprentice," Lilith stated proudly. "She's one of the top students at Hexside in the Abomination Track and I see a promising future for her in the Emperor's Coven."

Eda looked down at Amity. "Must be nice to come from money, huh?"

Amity frowned sourly at Eda.

"At least she has a respectable and honorable career ahead of her." Lilith smirked smugly. "I am the Coven Leader of the Emperor's Coven, as will she be someday, no doubt. You, on the other hand, little sister, are a trash collector. A coven-less crook who's too stubborn to get a real job and have an actually meaningful career. Like the one I have, and like the one I've been trying to get you to become a part of."

"I'm supposed to take this from the girl who literally wet herself when she went to her first Covention?" Eda asked. "No joke, kids, she totally peed her pants when she saw the Emperor's Coven."

"I did not–I–...it was just a little…" Lilith's face flushed red with anger and embarrassment as the kids around them giggled. "You think you're so much better than us, don't you? You think refusing to join a Coven makes you the smart one? The respected one? The successful one?"

"The free one," said Eda. "Admit it, Lily, you're whatever the Emperor wants you to be. I serve no one. And if your master doesn't like it, then he can shove it up his gilded ass."

Some of the students surrounding them actually looked kind of impressed by the Owl Lady's audacity. Amity looked over at Lilith, as if expecting her to come up with an effective comeback. But the Coven Leader simply glared daggers at her sister as her fists shook down at her sides.

"I swear to Titan, sister," Lilith hissed.

Eda grinned. "You really wanna try something, sis?" she mocked. "We both know you could never beat me, even with that fragile temper of yours."

"Do you have any idea who you're even talking to?!" Lilith demanded. "Unlike you, I have made something of myself! Meanwhile, you peddle garbage and thieve around the Isles with that small demon dog thing and," Lilith raised a hand toward Luz. "Whatever and whoever this is!"

"Her name is Luz," said Amity. "Luz Clawthorne."

Lilith's eyes went wide and the anger on her face was replaced with confusion and surprise. "Clawthorne?"

Eda's smug face immediately melted away. "We're leaving." She began quickly leading Luz away. "Goodbye, Lilith."

"Now hold on." Lilith drew a magic circle and Luz was pulled out of Eda's grip. Luz panicked a little bit as she was magically pulled up to Lilith, who stared down at her curiously.

"Lilith," Eda growled in warning.

Ignoring her sister, Lilith narrowed her eyes at Luz. "Who are you?" She drew another circle and Luz's mask floated up off her face and her hood was pulled down. "And where do you get off calling yourself by our family name?"

"She's the human that Principal Bump let into Hexside," said Amity. "She works for the Owl Lady."

Luz, feeling somewhat naked without her hood and mask on, shrunk under Lilith's gaze. "Uh…hi?" she said nervously. "I'm Luz. And, well…I'm actually your niece."

"Luz!" Eda scolded.

Lilith's eyes shot wide open. "WHAT?" She looked back at her sister in bewilderment. "You…you have a kid?! When did this happen?! And why is she a human?!"

"That's none of your damn business," Eda snapped. "Luz, we're leaving, let's go."

Luz made to turn around, but Lilith grabbed her shoulder and kept her where she was, further raising Eda's ire.

"...You're the assistant that's always seen at Eda's stand," Lilith said. "The one who normally wears an owl mask with a cat hood."

"I…have a lot of masks, actually." Luz shrugged. "That owl one is my favorite one, but I like to mix it up sometimes."

"I don't care even slightly." Lilith looked up at Eda. "Be that as it may, human or not, she's still a juvenile. And because of this, I am removing this child from the 'care' of the notorious criminal known as the Owl Lady and placing her into the custody of the Emperor's Coven."

"No you're not."

Faster than anyone could blink, Eda drew her magic staff and launched at Lilith in a trail of blazing gold light.

Perhaps she had been anticipating the attack, but Lilith only barely managed to summon a shield against the attack. The sudden assault on the Coven Leader by the infamous Owl Lady left everyone who bore witness quite astounded and a bit shell-shocked. Eda's strike sent Lilith sliding her heels across the floor. Before she could get on the offensive, Eda fired a barrage of lightning bolts at Lilith, who had to keep on her toes to deflect each of the attacks with her own magic.

"What's the matter, sis, the new desk job making you rusty?" Eda mocked as she sent bolt after bolt shooting at her sister. "Hanging out with all these blue bloods has made you soft, ya suckup!"

With a loud and enraged yell, Lilith drew her own staff and jabbed at the nearest bolt of lightning, sending a chain of her own blue lightning bouncing from bolt to bolt until it struck against Eda's staff, nearly blasting her off her feet.

With an angered expression of hard resolve, Lilith slammed her staff onto the ground, creating a shockwave of blue power. Her palisman staff was white, with an almost regal appearance with its figurehead. Resembling a white raven, its underbelly and eyes were a soft golden color. Being inanimate in its staff form, it somewhat resembled a two-pronged pitchfork as if it were being wielded by a she-demon of some kind. All things considered, and especially with that name of hers, Luz found the comparison suitable.

"You have no idea how wrong you are, sister," Lilith said in a tone as cold and sharp as a knife carved from ice.

Edalyn grinned wickedly. "There she is," she said. "Now break off your chain, bitch. And show me the real you!"

Lilith screamed with rage as she blasted toward in a trail of lapis lazuli light.

"Go home, Luz." Eda met her sister's attack in a beam of gold.

The two of them met in a dazzling explosion of gorgeous colors. Those who were too close got tossed off their feet, the rest watched as the Clawthorne sisters, the two most powerful witches of the Boiling Isles, exchanged blows and traded spells.

Both of them showed evident talent and skill in staff combat. No matter how much they danced the impressive dance, neither of them could land a hit on the other. All they could do was let each strike create a light show that looked as dangerous as it did stunning. So Eda resorted to trickery, her favorite tactic, if you can believe it. Feigning with an opening that she knew Lilith would be eager to take, Eda spun on her heel as Lilith flew past her, barely missing her target. Eda tossed her staff in the air, where it floated in the air and spun like a fan, then grinned as she drew a magic circle with each hand and made an 'X' with her arms.

At either side of Lilth, the ground erupted and out came five earthen creatures resembling Hooty. The ten creatures hooted before wrapping around and pecking at Lilith, keeping her where she was. Using her hands as if she were controlling finger puppets, Eda smirked as she controlled the Hooty Clones, taking satisfaction in her big sister's growing anger and irritation.

"Enough!" Using her staff, Lilith sliced one group of Hooty Clones down at their bases, and then swiped at the other five, cutting them down with a wave of energy. She drew a large magic circle and sent a giant raven of blue light soaring straight at Eda.

Eda quickly drew two magic circles aimed at the ground and launched herself on twin jets of fire into the air, jumping above the raven of light as it extended its claws and flew underneath her instead of shredding her to pieces. She grabbed her staff in the air and kept it spinning, sending it flying toward Lilith like an iron propeller.

Lilith raised her staff and held against Eda's spinning staff as it pressed against her like a saw blade. Eda took the opportunity to shoot two balls of fire that made a curved trajectory at both of Lilith's sides.

Lilith saw the attack coming and, with a strained effort of power, spun her staff in a 360 degree of blue magic energy, extinguishing both of the fireballs and sending Eda's staff spinning right back at her. Eda caught her staff just in time to block Lilith's charge. Staff in hand, the two of them glared into each other's eyes as they pressed against each other like two meteors that both refused to break, back down, or change course. The power they both exerted began to create a lapis and gold display of sparks and light, as if they were about to explode and take the Convention Center out with them. Those who had already taken cover from the fight backed away even more.

"You are a criminal! You have nothing to be proud of!" Lilith shouted into Eda's face. "I deserve my rank and my title! I have earned what I've become!"

"I'll buy that last part," said Eda. "Suckup."

Lilith let out an enraged roar as the two of them launched straight up, forced skyward by the very nexus of energy they had created. They crashed straight through the ceiling, letting pieces of broken building rain down onto the ground.

Everyone waited until the count of ten before emerging from wherever they had taken cover. The viewers of that fight came up to observe the damage done by the Clawthorne Sisters' brawl, in awe at the raw power displayed by both of the witches.

Luz approached the rubble on the floor and looked up at the hole in the ceiling. Gus and Willow walked up next to her and observed the damage done as well.

"...So, yeah, maybe there's a reason Mom doesn't ever talk about her sister."

"That was…absolutely insane," Gus remarked with eyes wide with awe. "I mean…wow, coven magic versus wild magic at its flippin' peak."

"Is Eda gonna be okay?" Willow asked.

"I'm not worried about her," said Luz. "...That much, anyway."

"Yeah, well, you should be." Amity walked up to Luz and her friends, looking in shock at what had just transpired, but still managing to keep looking angry. "My mentor is the most respected and skilled witch in the Emperor's Coven."

"Eh, she's still probably gonna lose," Luz replied calmly and casually. "Lunch, anyone?"

"I could eat," said Gus.

"Oh, okay, I see," said Amity. "You're immediately gonna side with the wanted wild witch instead of the highly respected law enforcer because you were brought up to hate authority and order."

"Maybe you don't have a mind of your own, but I do," Luz said defensively. "You told me not to pretend to know you, well, how about you don't pretend to know me or my mom?"

"Your mom, huh?" Amity asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, sure, the resemblance is quite obvious."

"Let me ask you something, do you automatically go into bitch-mode as soon as you step out of that library?" Luz asked. "And, FYI, I'm not about to dye my hair and wear a scrunchie in order to look more like my mom's mini-me. If you are, then that's on you."

"Watch it!" Amity snapped.

"No wonder you wanna join the Emperor's Coven so badly, you'd make the perfect puppet, ya spoiled, dress-up doll."

Amity drew a magic circle. "Human, I swear to Titan, I will–"

"I am interrupting something?"

Amity immediately canceled her spell as Principal Bump approached the four students.

"Uh…n-no, Principal Bump," she replied nervously.

"Good," said Bump. "For a second there, I thought I was going to have to intervene."

Amity shot Luz a dirty look before retreating down the hall. Luz watched as she left, then looked at the Principal of Hexside.

"I could've handled that myself," said Luz.

"I have no doubt you would have fought the good fight," said Bump. "But I would advise against angering the girl. She's one of Hexside's top students for a reason, and she comes from powerful bloodlines."

"That's no excuse for her to be so awful for no reason," said Luz.

Bump tilted his head at Luz. "...You know, I still remember having Amity's mother as a student. She has…improved little as a person, to say the least. But I'm sure Amity would know more about that than you or I."

Luz blinked. "What…are you trying to say?"

"I don't approve of Amity's behavior, not at all," Bump stated. "Be that as it may, there is always more than one side to every story."

Bump walked up and placed a hand on Luz's shoulder. "Keep that in mind, before you decide to be the judge or the jury. Not everyone is an executioner."

As Bump walked away, Luz looked down at the floor, considering the principal's words. Before he could get too far, Luz spun around toward him.

"What happened between Eda and Lilith?" she asked.

Bump stopped, but didn't turn around. Instead, he let out a sad sigh, shoulders hunching just a little more.

"Even the closest of ships can drift apart when the currents prove strong enough."

Bump left without another word. Luz stared at Bump as he walked away for a minute before looking up at the hole in the ceiling.


The sound of thunder could be heard up in the sky, but no lightning was seen. Then, in an instant, a comet of gold and blue light crashed into a vacant, Bonesborough alleyway. As cobblestones were torn out of the ground, two witches appeared out of the light, both of them tattered and tired from the ongoing battle between them.

Refusing to yield, Eda and Lilith came at each other once more. The close quarters of the alley made staff combat the best option for further fighting. Locked in a battle of honed skill, lights flashed and danced off of the witches as they continued to prove their superiority over one another.

Eda finally managed to catch her sister off guard and land a swipe to her shoulder. As Lilith yelped in pain and recoiled from the blow, Eda raised her staff for a more effective strike.

But then the Owl Lady suddenly cringed and grimaced as if in pain, and bent over like she was about to puke.

Lilith let out a merciless yell as she sent a powerful jab of her staff into Eda's midsection, sending her painfully flying backward and crashing into the stone ground. With Eda down on the ground, Lilith came up to her and raised her staff with a cold fury burning in her eyes.

"Lilith, wait," Eda pleaded weakly, raising her arm up defensively.

An arm that had grown feathers and blackened claws.

Lilith's fury was suddenly replaced with shock, all anger quickly ebbing away. She stood there, frozen in place, staring down at Eda with her staff still held above her head.

As if forgetting Lilith was even there, Eda reached her good hand into her hair. She was beginning to get the shakes, and the bottle of golden elixir she pulled out of her hair trembled in her grip. Using her teeth, with some difficulty, she pulled the cork out of the bottle, wax seal and all, and downed the whole thing. Her shaking stopped and her arm turned back to normal, much to Eda's evident relief. She tossed aside the empty bottle, but didn't get up. Instead, she took deep, exhausted breaths as she sat there on the cobblestone ground, one arm propping her up as the one that had grown feathers sat cradled in her lap.

Lilith continued to stare down at Eda. Sorrow and guilt had replaced her fury, and silence now filled the alleyway instead of the sound of magic combat. For a long time, the two of them remained that way. It was unclear what needed to be said, and who needed to say it first.

"...GAAAH!" Breaking the silence, Lilith began pacing back and forth in front of Eda in a frustrated manner. "Why are you like this, why do you have to be like this?!" Lilith stopped pacing and looked down at Eda. "Can you not see that I'm just trying to help you?! Why won't you just let me help you?!"

"Help me? Help me?!" Eda shot up onto her feet and glared directly into her sister's eyes. "You abandoned me!"

Lilith's eyes widened. "What?" She blinked. "I…I did not–"

"You did, though!" Eda yelled. "When you got into the Emperor's Coven, and I first got this curse, what did you do?!"

She jammed a finger into Lilith's face. "You avoided me like I was a fucking plague. It was one thing when you began hanging out with me less when I started dating Raine, but when I got this curse, you acted like you didn't even know me. And on the rare occasions you did come back to visit the family, all that came out of your mouth was 'Emperor's Coven' this and 'Belos' that."

"We were supposed to join the Emperor's Coven together!" Lilith cried. "That duel, that curse. None of that was supposed to happen! I wanted you to join the Coven with me! I was trying to get you to join the Coven! Why couldn't you ever just listen to me?!"

"I was scared!" Eda shouted at Lilith. "I was terrified! I was a kid, and I had no idea what was going on with me, no one did! For the love of Titan, I was turning into a feathered monster and running off into the woods to tear apart whatever I could get my claws on! You're my big sister, you were supposed to be there for me! To just give me a shoulder to sob on or something! But I got nothing from you."

Eda narrowed her eyes. "When everyone saw me turn into that thing. No one wanted anything to do with me. None of the schools. None of the Covens. No one. Not even you, Lilith. And that hurt the most."

"You had Raine–"

"Don't dump this on Raine!" Eda hissed. "This is about you, being a coward, and being a crappy sister!"

"I've been trying to help you, you idiot!" Lilith shouted back. "You're the one who has refused to join a Coven! You're the one who would rather be a crooked cheat and a petty peddler!"

Lilith grabbed Eda's arm. "Listen to me," she pleaded. "I can get you a position in the Emperor's Coven. Despite your reputation, you're powerful enough and talented enough to earn a place of high rank there. Belos can even cure your curse, Edalyn. I have the solution to all of your problems, so why won't you just let me help you?!"

"Lilith. When I got this curse, and when I saw how everyone, even you, turned their backs on me, I saw the Coven System for what it really was."

Eda pulled her arm out of Lilith's grip. "The Covens don't want to help anyone. They just want to help themselves by collecting the most talented witches and adding them to their ranks. The rest can go fuck themselves for all they care. Plant Coven, Abomination Coven, Healing Coven, Emperor's Coven, they're all the same! Except Belos convinced everyone to put him at the top and give him all the power while he keeps everyone else on a leash, only letting them reach as far as he allows them to reach. Grandad was right, that creep is nothing more than a con man adding to his own power. And you're helping him do it, that's the saddest part. Boy, would Grandad be disappointed in you."

"The world has laws. And the world isn't always fair. Get over it!" Lilith said. "The Coven System gives the Boiling Isles order. It gives us purpose. Something to strive for, a peak to climb to. All you do is burrow further into the ground."

"I don't regret being coven-less, Lilith. I live freely, I always have," said Eda. "But, you. Titan, look at yourself. I barely recognize you. You used to be an innocent history buff and an annoying teacher's pet. Now you're the one making sure everyone's collars are on tight enough to the Emperor's liking. How much of your own freedom and your own self are you willing to sacrifice in order to reach the only peak that people are allowed to reach for?"

"Don't act like I'm the one who wasted her life!" Lilith snapped.

"Maybe you didn't waste your life," said Eda. "But you certainly invested it in the wrong thing. You're really gonna tell me you don't regret any of the things you've done to be where you are now?"

Lilith's nostrils flared, but she didn't have it in her to respond.

"...Hmm." Eda picked up her staff and walked past Lilith, heading down the alley. "See ya later, sis."

Lilith blinked, then turned around toward Eda. "Where do you think you're going? You can't leave, we are not done here!"

"Yeah, we kinda are," Eda replied nonchalantly.

"So you're just going to turn down my offer to fix everything that's wrong in your life?" Lilith demanded. "You're just going to go back to that dump you live in with that furry dog and that…human?! Where did she even come from?!"

Eda stopped. She closed her eyes and let out a silent sigh through her nose. "...She's my daughter, Lilith. And whether you like it or not, she's family."

"I'm family!" Lilith cried, walking up closer to Eda. "Edalyn, I am your family, not that human you adopted for whatever unfathomable reason! I am the one you should be counting on, I am the one you should be siding with!"

"I wish I could count on you, I really do." Eda turned around to face Lilith. "But I won't ever take your side, Lily."

"So everything we ever dreamed of as children is now meaningless to you?" Lilith asked. "That human you brought into your home is more important to you than I am? Your own sister, who only wants to help you? She's not even an actual Clawthorne!"

"Mom says otherwise," said Eda. "She loves coming over to see Luz."

"She met…Mother said…?" Lilith blinked. "R-regardless! You are the last person who should be caring for a child! I have half a mind to arrest that girl and–"

Before Lilith could make another sound, Eda had a knife made from pure energy held up against her startled sister's throat. Eda glared straight into Lilith's eyes with a dead-serious look in her irate gaze.

"Listen to me very carefully," Eda said in a tone without emotion. "If you go anywhere near that kid. If you attempt to hurt her, arrest her, question her, pressure her, if you so much as shout mean things at her from the nearest hilltop," Eda leaned her face a little closer to Lilith's. "...Mom and Dad won't be able to forgive me for what happens next. Understand, sister?"

Lilith grit her teeth and averted her gaze.

"I'll take that as a 'yes.' Because you're the smart one, right?" Eda's energy knife vanished, then she turned around and walked away. "It's been fun catching up with ya, sis. See ya 'round."

Lilith checked to make sure Eda hadn't cut her before shooting her sister a harsh glare. "Indeed you will, Edalyn," she told her. "And mark my words, next we meet, I shall–Ahh!" She tripped and fell forward as she tried to step toward Eda.

"By the way, I tied your shoelaces together while you weren't looking," Eda said before taking off on Owlbert. "Byeeeeeee!"

Lilith let out an angry and frustrated growl as she lifted herself up on her arms and glared after Edalyn, who flew away and out of sight.

"Irritating little," Lilith moved into a sitting position and glowered down at her tied-together shoelaces. "Why do you insist on acting like a child, you insufferable, stupid…Grrrrrrrr!"

As she angrily attempted to undo the complicated knot that Eda had made with her laces, Lilith began to think. This human that Edalyn called her daughter. She cared enough about the girl to bring her into her home, get her into Hexside–Titan only knew how that was working out, and even bring her to a Covention with the risk of being spotted by Coven Guards and arrested. Edalyn was willing to fight to the death for the girl.

What else would she be willing to do for the girl?

Lilith finally undid the knot in her laces and stood back up. She snapped her fingers and her staff flew back into her hand.

Lilith drummed her fingers along her staff thoughtfully. "...You may very well be exactly what I needed…Luz."


Eda landed in front of the Owl House and walked up to the door, where Hooty the house demon was eagerly waiting for her.

"Eda! Eda! I finally solved it!" Hooty exclaimed "That bossy, shadowy lady who was here the other day was your sister, wasn't she?! I totally guessed it right, hoot hoot! I bet you two were, like, super close when you were kids, but then, you drifted apart when your sister went on to be a bigshot and you went on to be a wanted criminal who sells garbage to make ends meet–"

Eda froze his head in a block of ice on the door before Hooty could continue.

"Really should've made a house demon that didn't have a mouth," Eda commented before opening the door and walking inside.

Luz and King were sitting on the couch when Eda walked into the living room. As soon as Eda arrived, Luz hopped up off the couch.

"Mom, you're back!" Luz hugged her arms and looked away. "I…was a little worried."

"Ah, Lilith could never beat me," Eda replied smugly. "She's a powerful witch, but more of a geek than a jock, you know?"

"So that vampire-looking woman who came to the Owl House to arrest you is really your sister?" King asked. "Wow… Luz, I suddenly appreciate you a lot more now as my sister."

"Mom, how could you not tell us that you had a sister?" Luz asked. "Your sister is one of the most important witches on the Boiling Isles, a Head Witch in the Emperor's Coven, and you never told us this?!"

"Okay, look, maybe it wasn't clear when we blasted each other through the ceiling, but Lilith and I don't exactly have the best relationship as siblings," said Eda.

"But, why?" Luz asked. "Were things always that terrible between the two of you?"

"Luz, there's a lot you don't know–"

"And who's fault is that?!" Luz demanded. "Why is it that I know so little about you? I'm fifteen, and I'm just now figuring out that I have an aunt?"

"Okay, fine, you really wanna know why I never told you about your aunt? Because she's not your aunt." Eda pointed at Luz and King. "As far as the both of you are concerned, Lilith is nothing more than another Coven Guard looking to either brand me or lock me up. I don't want either of you to go anywhere near her, you got it?"

"But she's your sister, she's family!" Luz said. "Isn't she?"

Eda sighed. "...She wants me to join the Emperor's Coven. And she'll do whatever the Emperor tells her to do. I don't like it any more than you do, believe me. But you can't trust her, Luz. Family or not, she serves the Emperor and his Coven. I need you to promise me you won't go anywhere near her. Don't try to talk to her, don't try to reason with her, avoid her like you would any other Coven Scout."

"But, Mom–"

"Luz, I'm being serious," Eda said sternly. "Promise me. Now."

Luz sighed in defeat. "Okay, fine. I promise I'll try to avoid her."

Eda looked over at King.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I promise too, I guess," said King. "Evil sister, bad relationship, opposite teams, yadda yadda yadda."

"Good." Eda took a deep breath. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

"Okay, Mo–ow."

Eda frowned. "Luz, you okay?"

Luz looked down and saw that her leg had gotten scraped. A small piece of her pants was missing and revealed a pretty ugly-looking scrape on her leg. The cloth around her scrape was red with her blood.

"Huh. I guess a piece of rock or something must've grazed me during your fight with Lilith," Luz said. "Dangit, these were my best pants."

"Oh, no, I'm sorry Luz," Eda apologized.

"It's fine, it's not even that bad," said Luz. "I'll just put a band-aid over it, no big deal."

Eda stared down at Luz's scrap for an oddly long time.

"...Let me try something."

Edalyn walked up to Luz and lowered herself a bit. Then, to Luz's confusion, Eda closed her eyes and gently pressed her forehead against Luz's.

"With this spell declared, let the pain be shared."

Luz's scrap glowed, then began to rapidly heal. It didn't heal all the way, more like the injury healed itself fifty percent of the way. Eda looked down at the half-healed scrape and smiled.

"Woah, how'd you do that?" Luz marveled. "Can you do it again?"

"The spell shares the pain, it doesn't take it away." Eda pointed at her own leg. Although it was difficult to tell with the burgundy pants she wore, Luz could see the red stain of blood on her leg in the same location as the scrape on Luz's leg.

Luz's eyes widened. "That's incredible! But, you didn't have to do that, Mom."

"Ah, I just…wanted to see if I could still do it." Eda looked to the side. "I…haven't actually used that spell in a while."

"Well, on the plus side," Luz gave Eda a cheeky grin. "We get to be boo-boo buddies now!"

Eda frowned. "Ah, geez, do I really have to wear those silly band-aids? You can't even see the scrape through my pants."

"I'll wear one!" King offered. "Even if I don't have any boo-boos!"

"Great! I'll go upstairs and get them!" Luz hurried up the stairs. "Mom, you have to wear one too!"

Eda smiled and shook her head. She then looked out the window and frowned.

Lilith knew about Luz now. One of these days, she would be coming back for Eda to bring her to the Emperor as either a new recruit or a new prisoner. And Eda highly doubted that Lilith was above using Luz as leverage to get to her. Things had changed. The Emperor's Coven wasn't just gunning for Eda now.

They would have their sights on Luz soon enough.

Eda sighed. '...For Luz…I'll do anything,' she reminded herself. 'You made that promise a long time ago.'


"Broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves."

Richard Paul Evans