Hi, everybody! Welcome back to We Wear the Mask! I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long. Thank you for reading my story!
Real quick. Before the three-episode finale of the Owl House aired, I wrote an Owl House fanfic about how Caleb and Philip first came to the Demon Realm. If you haven't read it, go ahead if you want, it's called My Name is Caleb. But if you have read it, you might notice that I've recycled a few things from the story to this one.
Anyway, please enjoy the chapter!
I do not own 'The Owl House.'
Chapter 7
Beware the Luz
"Thanks again for this, you two."
"Hey, anything for you, Owl-Cat," Edric said. "I mean, hex, after that whole thing with the dragon, I figure we kinda owe you a few solids."
"And if it means getting under Mittens' skin," Emira grinned. "Well, you hardly had to beg."
"I don't wanna get under Mitt–under Amity's skin." Uzi looked up at the library nervously. "I'd honestly prefer if she didn't see me at all."
"Well, if she does see you, we've got your back, don't worry," Edric assured Luz.
"I'm actually sort of surprised you came to us for backup, of all people," Emira admitted.
"I figured you two are the only people on the entire Isles who are capable of negotiating with Amity," Luz said. "You know she doesn't particularly like me."
"She's not gonna kick you out, if that's what you're worried about," said Edric.
"But, you're not entirely wrong to be worried, I doubt she'll be all that happy to see you back in the library," said Emira.
"So you'll talk her down if she tries to get me to leave?" Luz asked.
"Absolutely," said Edric.
"No problem," said Emira.
Luz let out a sigh. She raised her hands up and readjusted her owl mask and the hood of her cloak before heading into the library, followed by the Blight twins.
"I appreciate you putting on the owl mask, by the way," Edric commented. "It justifies our nickname for you."
"Speaking of nicknames, why do you call Amity 'Mittens'?" Luz asked.
"That's a downright adorable story that Amity would never forgive us if we told you," said Emira. "We'll tell you it later."
The three of them walked into the library. Luz looked around, relieved that she didn't see Amity anywhere, before continuing through the library.
"So, what is it exactly that you're looking for?" Emira asked.
"I'm actually looking for information about any humans that came to the Boiling Isles before me," said Luz. "More specifically, a guy called Caleb Wittebane."
"Never heard of him," said Edric.
"He was from the Human Realm, like me, who came to the Demon Realm hundreds of years ago," Luz explained.
"Oh, I get it," said Emira. "You're interested to learn about the only other human who came to the Boiling Isles."
"But if he came to the Isles hundreds of years ago, what makes you think the library has anything on him?" Edric asked.
"They've gotta have something, he was the first human to ever come to the Boiling Isles," said Luz. "Where do I go if I want to find something?"
"Oh, just use one of those crystal balls on the table." Emira pointed over at the line of tables with the crystal balls on them.
"Cool." Luz walked up to the table and tapped the side of a crystal ball. "Waddya got on one Caleb Wittebane?"
Mist swirled within the crystal ball, then words appeared in the smoke.
WHO DAT?
"A human who was brought to the Demon Realm hundreds of years ago by a witch named Evelyn," said Luz. "Does the library have anything about him? Maybe a journal or a news periodical or something?"
Mist swirled inside the crystal ball once more, then more words appeared.
NOPE
"Oh, come on," Luz complained. "You really don't have anything?"
I SAID NOPE, DIDN'T I?
"Well, you're no help," said Luz. "Can you at least show me where you keep whatever you have on humans?"
I THOUGHT I WAS NO HELP?
"Well, then, be help," said Luz.
BUZZ OFF
"Oh, screw you, ya dang orb!" Luz turned to the twins. "Well, that didn't work."
"Yeah, those things tend to be touchy," said Edric.
I DON'T TAKE SHIT FROM NO WITCHES
"You gotta respect them for it, though," said Emira.
"I guess I'll go ask the front desk where they keep their stuff on humans," said Luz.
"I wouldn't," said Edric.
"Why not?" asked Luz.
"Because Mittens is at the front desk right now," said Emira.
Luz looked across the library at the front desk, disquieted by the sight of Amity standing behind the desk.
Amity wrote a call number down on a piece of paper and handed it to the patron looking for a book. "It'll be in the cooking section. Have a nice day," Amity said with a kind smile.
"Ah, dangit!" Luz complained. "...When does she normally take her lunch break?"
"Lunch break, smunch break," said Edric. "Just go ask her to do her job and tell you where to find a book."
"But look at her, she's actually smiling," said Luz. "As soon as I walk up to the desk, she's just gonna scowl at me until I leave."
"Oh, please," Emira said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Mittens is more bark than bite, you have nothing to worry about."
"Can't you guys just cast an illusion on me?" Luz pleaded. "You're both in the Illusion Track, I can't imagine it would be much of a chore."
"Oh, no, don't you let Mittens win." Edric and Emira both placed a hand on one of Luz's shoulders and led the human girl toward Amity. "We're doing this."
"You guys enjoy tormenting your little sister, huh?" Luz asked.
"You never tease your little sibling?" Emira asked.
"All the time."
"Exactly."
Amity was doing homework to pass the time when Emira and Edric herded Luz up to the front desk. Luz dug her heels into the floor, but to no avail against the twins as the three of them approached the youngest Blight.
"Welcome to the Bonesborough Library, how can I–Oh, for the love of Titan! You again?" Amity exclaimed angrily upon seeing Luz, not fooled for a second by the mask.
"...Amity," Luz greeted with a nod. "...How's it going?"
"Don't even. And before anything else; Stop hanging out with my siblings!" Amity demanded. "Don't you have Willow and the Parker kid to hang out with?"
"They are my go-to, yes." Luz looked at the twins. "No offense."
"None taken." Edric looked at Amity. "And come on, Mittens, don't be mean. She's just looking for a book."
"Anything you have on a guy called Wittebane," Emira specified. "Or anything you have on humans in general."
Amity narrowed her golden eyes at Luz, looking like she was using all of her willpower not to growl threateningly at the human girl.
"Uh, look, Amity," Luz began nervously. "I know you and I haven't exactly…gotten along. But, I'm only here as a patron. A patron who is curious about the possibility of other humans who have lived on the Isles."
Amity's nostrils flared as she exhaled through her nose. "...We don't really have a lot on humans," she said, keeping her voice neutral. "Except for a collection of books that describe humans and the Human Realm based on stories and myths. Nothing that I can promise is accurate, no documents or official records, if that's what you're looking for."
"You know that without even looking at the library's inventory?" Luz asked.
"Your friend Augustus comes in here all the time to check out books about humans," Amity explained. "He finds you humans fascinating to learn about…for some reason."
"Well, do you have anything about a guy named Caleb Wittebane?" Luz urged. "He was a human who was brought to the Demon Realm…I'd have to say during the Deadwardian Era. He was brought to the Isles by a witch named Evelyn after he tried to kill her in the Human Realm."
"There's a book I'd like to read," Emira commented.
"There's a spin-off I'd love to watch," said Edric.
"Come on, doesn't the library have anything?" Luz pleaded. "If a human was brought to the Demon Realm, back then, it had to have been a noteworthy event, something worth writing down in a news article or something."
"If this Evelyn chick brought Caleb here against his will, wouldn't she have tried to keep it a secret?" Edric asked.
"If I brought a guy home from my trip, I'd probably try to keep him a secret," Emira commented. "Or a girl, for that matter."
Amity rolled her eyes before looking over at the crystal ball on the desk. "Do we have anything about a human named Caleb Wittebane?" she asked the ball.
Mist swirled in the crystal before the words NO DICE formed in the ball.
"Yeah, I already tried that," Luz said. "Do you guys have, like…an ancient archive room, or something I could look through?"
"The Forbidden Stacks are not open to the public," Amity said bluntly. "Only Master Librarian Malphas is allowed access."
"Can I talk to him?" Luz asked.
"No you cannot."
"Because I'm not allowed to or because you don't want me to?"
"Pick one."
Luz's eyes narrowed through her mask's eyeholes.
Amity sighed. "Look. Only the museum historians, the three school principals, and the Emperor's Coven are allowed access to the Forbidden Stacks. Master Malphas isn't gonna let some human walk in and browse through some of the most irreplaceable writing material on the Isles."
"I can pay him."
"Can you, though?"
"...No."
"Sorry, human, you're out of luck," Amity said with an unbothered shrug. "Now, go away. Go grill some owls or whatever it is you do in that hovel you–"
Amity suddenly formed a startled, almost scared look on her face. Her expression then immediately began guarded and poker-faced.
The twins looked behind them and their faces went through a similar process as Amity's when they saw what she had seen. Curious, Luz turned around to see what the Blights had seen. She suddenly became even more grateful that she was wearing a mask.
With a straight posture and her hands folded professionally behind her back, Odalia Blight walked past the twins and up to the front desk.
"Mom?" Amity asked. "What…are you doing here?"
"I was just passing by. I thought I'd bring you lunch," Mrs. Blight replied innocently, taking a paper bag out from behind her hand and presenting it to Amity. "There can't possibly be any good places to eat around here. I figured you might appreciate this."
"Oh." Amity blinked in surprise before taking the bagged lunch from her mother. "Um…thank you, Mom."
"Phoenix salad with toasted toadstools," said Odalia. "It's important for you to keep your figure in good health. You have to look impressive in addition to being impressive."
"...Thanks, Mom." Amity kept her voice and her face completely neutral as she set the bagged lunch down on the desk. "I appreciate you bringing me lunch."
"My, it truly has been a while since I came here." Odalia looked around the library with a reminiscent smile. "Ah, this takes me back."
"Yeah, I really like working here," said Amity.
"You honestly do?" Odalia asked skeptically. "We're Blights, Amity dear. Working as a circulation clerk is somewhat…beneath us, don't you think?"
"I get school credit for this, Mom." Amity's eyes looked away, avoiding the sight of her mother. "I've already explained this."
"I know, but I can easily get you an internship with our company or with one of our subsidiaries," Odalia tempted. "You would get just as much school credit, and you wouldn't have to deal with…all these people."
"I earned this internship, Mom," said Amity. "And there's nothing wrong with working at the library. This is where we house the history of the Isles."
"I know what a library is, Amity." Odalia looked around again. "And come now, there has to be a better fit for you than a public library of all–"
Odalia finally noticed Luz standing next to the twins. She frowned and furrowed her brow at the masked girl.
"You again?" Odalia demanded. "Why are you anywhere near my children?"
"I was just looking for a book," Luz said.
"Well, then you should continue your search, don't you think?" Odalia suggested.
"Our material on humans is that way," Amity said, pointing her finger in the intended direction.
Luz looked up into Odalia's ice-blue eyes as the Blight matriarch glared down her nose at the human girl. She held Odalia's gaze for a second to show defiance before walking away to search for books on humans. Odalia narrowed her eyes as she watched Luz leave.
"You should keep away from that girl," Odalia bluntly said to Amity.
"Believe me, I try," said Amity. "But that's getting harder to do ever since she started going to Hexside."
Odalia raised an eyebrow. "She goes to school with you now?" she asked.
"Hexside's first-ever human student," Amity confirmed.
"She's a human?" Odalia asked in incredulous surprise. "Principal Bump let a human into Hexside?"
"She passed the placement exam. Somehow," said Amity. "And human or not, her mentor is a Clawthorne."
"Her mentor is a trash collector who never finished school," Odalia replied dismissively. "What exactly was the girl looking for, a handbook on teen emancipation?"
"She was looking for anything the library had on a human who came to the Boiling Isles before her," said Edric.
"A guy called Caleb Wittebane, who was brought here from the Human Realm hundreds of years ago," said Emira.
"Wittebane?" Odalia asked.
The twins nodded.
"Wittebane." Odalia stared down at the floor thoughtfully. "...Wittebane…"
"Do you know that name?" Amity asked curiously.
"...I believe I do." Odalia looked around the library. "Where did that human girl go?"
Luz took a book from the shelf and read the title on the cover. How the Humans Hailed from the Sea. The Amphibians of the Other World.
"I should tell Gus to stop reading these books," Luz said to herself. "If he wants to learn what humans are all about, I'll introduce him to TikTok. That'll show him the jist of what humanity's got going on."
"Excuse me, human girl?"
Luz turned around and mentally sighed when she saw Odalia walk up to her.
"Now what?" Luz put the book back on the shelf. "Do you really wanna belittle me just a little more before I leave? Don't you have anything more important to do?"
"Several things," Odalia replied. "But it can wait. I wish to speak with you."
"About what?" Luz asked, an edge in her voice.
"Please. I mean no hostility." Odalia offered a smile. "I apologize to you for my previous behavior."
"Um…" Luz narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "...Okay, apology accepted."
"Let's start over, shall we?" Odalia raised a hand to her chest. "Odalia Cordelia Blight."
"...Luz Clawthorne."
"Ah, so you use the Clawthorne name," Odalia noted. "An official member of the clan?"
"Does that bother you?" Luz asked. "I know the Blights and the Clawthornes have some bad blood."
"I'm hardly one to let ancestral feuds get in the way of opportunity," said Odalia. "You should know that above all else, I am a businesswoman."
"I believe you," said Luz. "Wait. What 'opportunity' are you after exactly?"
"Well, my children told me that you were looking for information about a human named Caleb Wittebane," said Odalia. "Brought to the Boiling Isles during the Deadwardian Era, yes?"
Luz's eyebrows raised behind her mask. "That's right," she replied cautiously.
"Well, as it would happen, I've actually heard that name before," Odalia said. "Or at least the surname is familiar to me."
"It is?" Luz's eyes widened. "How?"
"I believe I read the name in one of my ancestor's old diaries," Odalia explained. "It's been a while since I've read those dusty old things, so I don't recall exactly what my ancestor wrote about this Wittebane fellow. Although I do remember it wasn't anything particularly friendly."
"What can you remember?" Luz asked eagerly.
"Intrigued?" Odalia asked. "I would like to make a proposition."
"What makes you think I have anything you could possibly want?" Luz asked. "I own more masks than I do outfits. I haven't even washed this one in a week."
"Oh, no no no–I didn't need to hear that, by the way–my intention is not to charge you for information, not at all," said Odalia. "I propose a peace between our two families. I would like to invite you to dine with us tomorrow evening at our manor. It would be the first time in centuries a Clawthorne broke bread with the Blights."
Luz stared at Odalia in confusion. "You're…inviting me to dinner?"
"Invite your, eh, caretaker as well if you like," said Odalia. "You come over, enjoy a good meal with my family, make peace with Amity even, and after dessert, we'll read the old family diaries together and see if I can't recall where the name 'Wittebane' popped up."
"I know you don't like me, you don't have to pretend you do," said Luz. "So if you're a businesswoman above everything else, then what exactly are you getting out of this?"
"Although the Blight family reigns supreme in the industry, people still remember and respect the Clawthornes. Their name and their reputation still wield a great influence on the Isles. Very much so ever since Lilith Clawthorne's rise through the ranks in the Emperor's Coven," Odalia said. "The way I see it, an entente between our families would benefit the both of us."
"Okay," Luz said carefully. "I guess that makes sense."
"And for your information, my dear, I actually admire your tenacity and the progress you've made," said Odalia. "The first-ever human to be accepted into one of the Boiling Isles schools. Quite the accomplishment."
Luz blinked. "Well…thank you," she said. "So…tomorrow evening?"
"Yes, be there by six and please wear something more presentable than…" Odalia waved a hand at Luz's attire. "this. Something washed, if you don't mind. And I'm going to have to ask that you don't wear a mask either."
"I'll talk to Eda and see what happens," Luz said.
"I do hope you can make it." Odalia smiled and nodded her head. "Have a nice day, Luz."
Mrs. Blight walked away. Luz looked over at the shelves and took another book off the shelves.
Humans: The Evolved, but Still Somehow Unevolved Species
"This one sounds depressing, but not entirely inaccurate." Luz put the book back on the shelf and walked away.
"For the last time, drop it," Amity demanded. "I'm not interested."
"Come on, Mittens, she's single, she's sweet but tough, she's at the top of her class at St. Epiderm, I think you'd really like her," Emira tempted.
"What makes you think I'm into girls anyway?" Amity demanded.
"Come on, little sis, I think we know you well enough to know what you're into," said Edric.
Amity groaned miserably and ran her hands down her face. "I am trying to work, you two."
Luz returned to the front desk. "Hey, waddup, Blights?"
"No! No! Go away! The three of you, scram!" Amity exclaimed. "I've reached my daily limit of family members and humans."
"Your mom invited me to dinner at your place tomorrow evening."
Amity stared hard at Luz for what seemed like minutes. "...Hah?"
"Yeah, say what now?" Emira asked.
"I am also surprised by this," said Edric.
"Your mom knows something about that Caleb guy I've been looking into, so she invited me over to show me what she knows," Luz explained. "Dinner at that big-ass house you live in, followed by showing me your old family journals to see where she saw the name Wittebane."
"No no no no no no no no!" Amity practically jumped out from behind her desk and stomped right up to Luz. "You are NOT going to that dinner!"
"Why not?" Luz asked.
"Because I said so!" Amity almost screamed. "I don't care if you have to poison yourself to make up a good enough excuse! Tell my mom you can't make it! I'll tell her myself for you!"
"...Maybe I wanna go." Luz crossed her arms stubbornly. "Maybe I am gonna go. So you, Miss Mittens, can suck on that."
"Ooooooooooooooo," went the twins.
Amity's face turned red as she clenched her jaw to the brink of breaking her mandible. Her hands shook at her sides as she glared at Luz. Then, she closed her eyes and took a really deep breath, calming herself down and letting her face return to its normal color.
"Listen to me, human," Amity said. "And listen carefully."
"My name is Luz," said Luz. "You know that."
"Do not come to dinner tomorrow," said Amity. "Whatever my mom wants from you, it's not as innocent as you think it is."
"She just wants to–"
"It doesn't matter what she said she wants," Amity interrupted. "My mom will say whatever she needs to say in order to get what she wants. You didn't exactly make a good impression on her the last time she saw you, so it would be smart to be cautious. I'm not sure what she could possibly want from you, but she obviously thinks she can get it from you. And believe me, it's not something you'll want to give up. But my mom is…" Amity's frown deepened. "persuasive."
"You seem strangely concerned for me," Luz commented.
"I couldn't care less what happens to you!" Amity snapped. A little quickly, for that matter. "I'm mostly trying to warn you just so I don't have to have you in my house again."
Luz looked over at the twins. "What do you guys think?"
The twins looked at each other, coming to some unanimous, twin-powered telepathic agreement before looking back at Luz.
"Let's talk in private." Emira placed a hand on Luz's shoulder and she and Edric guided her away from Amity, who watched them leave with a suspicious look on her face.
The two Blights guided Luz behind a bookshelf to hide from Amity's sight. They double-checked to make sure that Amity wasn't trying to hear what they were saying before turning to Luz.
"We think you should come to dinner tomorrow," said Emira.
"Wait, for real?" Luz asked in surprise. "But, what about what Amity said about your guys' mom?"
"Oh, she's probably right, Mom is manipulative like that," said Edric.
"But, we still would like for you to join our family for dinner tomorrow," said Emira.
"Um…why?" Luz asked.
"We like to see Amity squirm, and we think having you at dinner would be really funny," said Edric.
"Seriously?"
"No, of course not," said Emira. "Well, a little bit. But mostly…call it an experiment, I guess."
"You're not really selling this," said Luz.
"Look, here us out," said Edric. "Although I totally agree with Amity that our mom wants something from you, I doubt she's willing to cross the Owl Lady. You'll be safe under our roof under the protection of Wiccan Hospitium."
"Amity will throw a fit," said Luz.
"Not in front of our mom she won't," said Edric. "So waddya say? If our mom asks anything from you, you can just tell her no. It's not a word she likes to hear, but, I feel like you won't submit."
"I'll…think about it," Luz said. "Should I…RSVP when I make up my mind, or–"
"Nah, just show up if you wanna come and don't bother if you don't," said Emira. "Any dietary concerns, by the way? Being human and all?"
"Oh, I have a list of all of the things I can eat on the Isles." Luz pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and offered it to Emira. "It's a short list."
Emira took the list and raised an eyebrow curiously as she read it over. "You…carry this wherever you go?"
"I've been going to cafes and bistros with Gus and Willow, it pays to remember what I can and can't eat," Luz explained. "I keep forgetting what agrees with me, and I've been poisoned several times."
"Ouch," said Edric.
"Yeah, it was painful…and gross…no more questions." Luz turned around and walked away. "Byeeeeeee!"
Once Luz was gone, Edric looked over at his sister. "Are we doing the right thing here?"
"Look, this is for Mittens' sake, alright?" said Emira. "So be cool."
"But what could Mom possibly want from her aside from getting even for the last time she was at our house?" Edric asked.
"It'll be fine," said Emira. "If Luz can face down a dragon, she can face down Mom."
"Me personally, I'd rather face down the dragon," Edric muttered.
Hooty opened the door for Luz and she walked into the living room, lowering her hood and taking off her owl mask. "Mom, King, I'm home!"
"Oh, welcome back, kiddo!" Eda greeted from the coffee table. "How's that scrape on your leg doing?"
"All healed up." Luz lifted and shook her leg just for emphasis. "That spell you used is pretty cool."
"Hey, if I catch a cold or something, can I use that spell to pass it on to Luz? Or at least half of the cold?" King asked, sitting across the coffee table from Eda. "Because I think I feel one coming on."
"Not how it works, King Cutie."
"Don't call me that!"
Eda chuckled. "The spell can only take half of someone else's pain, it can't give somebody any pain," she explained. "The spell is powered by sacrifice."
"Hey, what're you guys doing?" Luz asked curiously. She walked up to the coffee table and looked down at the rods of copper, metal cutters, and engraving tools on the table. "Are we designing belt buckles?"
"We're counter-fighting!" King cheered. "Fighting the system!"
"Wait, you mean counterfeiting?" Luz asked. "That's illegal!"
"Oh, don't think of it as counterfeiting, think of it as arts and crafts, you and King used to love those," Eda said. "Now join in on the fun and make 'em realistic. I've got my eyes on a pair of high heels that're a little more than what we've got in the savings."
"Mom, that's terrible!" Luz cried.
"Hey, I've done worse for less," Eda argued.
Luz sighed. "Yeah, that's true," she admitted. "So, hey, listen, Mom. Let me throw a quick hypothetical your way."
"This oughta be good," said Eda. "Alright, shoot."
"What would you say," Luz began carefully. "...If one of the Blights invited me over for dinner."
"I'd say tell whichever one of them that invited you to stick it straight up where the sun don't shine," Eda answered.
"Where doesn't the sun shine?" King asked.
"I'll tell you when you're older."
"How much older?"
"I'll let you know." Eda narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Luz. "And why are you asking me this?"
"No reason," said Luz.
"Don't you lie to me," Eda scolded. "You can lie to the government and maybe your teachers all you want, but don't you lie to your mom."
Luz sighed in defeat. "...The Blights invited me over to dinner tomorrow."
"No," Eda replied immediately.
"But, Mom–"
"I said no."
"Mom, come on," Luz complained. "You can come with me if you're worried about me going alone, Mrs. Blight said it was okay."
"Odalia invited you?" Eda asked. "Okay, nope. If that snake wants something from you, you don't give it to her."
"You're judging what a criminal Odalia is when you're sitting here literally making counterfeit money?" Luz asked.
"Hey, there's a world of difference between me and Odalia."
"Odalia and I."
"Oh, can it, schoolgirl," Eda replied sourly. "Look, I live for the thrill, sure, but Odalia lives for the gain. She's a greedy blight of a crypt-wight who manipulated that poor sap Alador into marrying her."
"She knows something about that guy I've been looking into. Caleb Wittebane," Luz said. "I might be able to finally learn something about the only other human to ever live on the Boiling Isles."
"It's not worth it," said Eda.
"Yes, it is worth it," Luz stated. "It's worth it to me."
"Luz, you've met the Blights, you know what they're like," Eda said. "Is finding out more about this Caleb guy really so important that you'd willingly walk into the wolf's den for it?"
"Yes," said Luz. "Mom, he was a human who lived on the Boiling Isles, just like me."
"Wasn't he brought here against his will?" Eda asked. "In order to be a…servant?"
"Maybe he decided that he really liked it here. Maybe he was able to make a life for himself in the Demon Realm," Luz suggested. "If that's the case, then we're talking about a guy who was able to figure it out."
"Figure what out?" Eda asked.
"How a human can make it in the Demon Realm," Luz said. "Mom, I want to be a witch of the Boiling Isles, and I'm learning a lot about how to do that from you and from school and from the glyphs. But there's gotta be…I don't know, some kind of trick to it. If there's anything that I can learn from Caleb, something that he was able to figure out, then I need to know."
Eda sighed. "Okay, look, I get why finding out more about this Caleb guy means so much to you. But you're not going anywhere near Blight Manor."
"But, Mom–"
"No buts," said Eda. "I'm sorry, Luz, but I'm putting my foot down on this one. You don't know Odalia like I do, you have no idea how much of a cold, conniving witch she is."
"If she wants something, I can just say no," said Luz.
"The word 'no' is not a word she accepts with dignity," Eda replied. "I'm done arguing about this with you, Luz. You are not going to dinner with the Blights. End of discussion."
"But–"
"End of discussion," Eda said with a harder tone. "If four-eyes or dweebus wanna invite you over, that's fine, but you stay away from the Blights."
Luz made a frustrated noise in her throat before storming off to her room.
Eda let out a sigh before continuing her work on the counterfeit coins. She picked up the tools and the copper, but instead of making more coins, she just stared down at her handiwork.
"Ah, you know what, King?" Eda put down her tools. "Maybe this is crossing a line."
"That's fine by me." King showed Eda all of the coins he made, and they looked terrible. "Turns out, I'm not really good at...ACHOO!...Ah, dangit!"
(5:30 PM)
The door to Luz's bedroom opened and Eda peaked her head through the door. "Hey, kiddo?"
Sitting at her desk, her back toward Eda, Luz silently continued working on her new mask. It was a simple, but strange design; four equally sized holes for the eyes and mouth carved into an arrow-head-shaped wooden mask. Without even looking behind her at Eda, Luz continued to coat the mask in wood polish.
Eda sighed. "Look, I know you're still sore at me for not letting you go to Blight's place. If it were any other family, maybe, but not the Blights. Anybody but the Blights."
Luz didn't reply, stroking the brush along the wooden mask in silence.
"Titan, I wish you'd find a different hobby," Eda muttered as she looked at Luz's wall of masks. "I'm heading to bed. I left your dinner in the fridge for when you get hungry. Goodnight, little owlet." Eda closed the door.
The real Luz snuck away from the Owl House as the sun began to set, dressed in black jeans with black high-tops and a black blazer over a sapphire-blue shirt. An outfit she kept for special occasions.
"Boy, I owe Gus big time for this one." Luz checked the time on her Pikachu wristwatch. "Come on, where da griffin at?"
Almost immediately after she said that, a griffin came soaring down from the sky, landing in front of Luz.
"Hey, Luz," Viney greeted from atop the griffin. "You look nice."
"Thanks, Viney." Luz came up and stroked the feathers along the griffin's neck. "Hey, Puddles."
Puddles cooed gently and nuzzled the side of Luz's head, earning a delighted giggle from the human girl.
"Okay, hurry, let's go." Luz hopped onto the griffin and grabbed Viney's waist. "Thanks again for this, by the way."
"Well, you're lucky my Aunt Thelma is staying with us for the week. I was happy for an excuse to get out of the house." Viney shuddered. "I just cannot stand my family sometimes."
Viney flew Puddles into the air.
From the front door, Hooty watched as the two girls were flown away on the back of the griffin.
"...I should tell Eda, hooty hoot." Hooty looked at the ground thoughtfully. "But if I do that, then I'm a snitch, hoot hoot… I gotta think on this one, hooty hoot hoot."
Puddles landed at the front gates of Blight Manor. Viney didn't want to land her griffin any closer than that, as the family that owned the building made their fortune off of producing top-notch security measures.
"You really sure you wanna dine with these people?" Viney asked. "Rich folks think it's funny to toy with people…who are beneath them."
"I need to know what they know." Luz hopped off of the griffin. "And eating some rich people's cuisine to get that information hardly seems like an unfair trade."
"If you say so." Viney handed Luz a corked bottle made of purple glass. "Here, take this flare potion. Signal me when you need an escape."
Luz pocketed the bottle of potion. "Thanks."
"And, uh, just for me, itty bitty favor…spit in Mrs. Blight's drink if you can get away with it." And with that said, Viney flew away on the back of Puddles.
Luz blinked. "...Not a fan of the one percent it seems," she muttered before pushing the gates open and heading up the walkway to the manor.
Luz knocked on the door and waited. The door opened and the Abomination butler from last time answered.
"Oh, hey. Manfred, right?" Luz reached her hands up to the golem's face. "Hold on, there's something I wanted to do that I didn't get the chance to do last time."
Luz moved around the goop that the Abomination's face was made of, reshaping it into the face of a cat.
"Meow," went the golem.
"Perfect," Luz said before walking into the manor. She straightened out her outfit as she walked through the hallway.
"Hello?" Luz called. "Anybody home? It's really unsettling to walk into a large, expensive-looking house and not find anybody. I've played a lot of the Resident Evil games, even the freaky-as-shit original ones. Someone living please reveal themselves!"
"Welcome."
"HOLY HELL!" Luz jumped right on top of a decorative cabinet and got in a defensive pose. "Don't eat me, zombies!"
Amity blinked up at Luz with a tired expression on her face.
"I am…not of the undead," said Amity.
"Well, you're not exactly 'full of life' either," Luz argued.
Amity frowned a little more and narrowed her eyes. "Get down from there."
"Oh, sure. Sorry." Luz hopped down from the cabinet.
Amity looked at Luz's clothes. "You…definitely stepped up your attire," she commented. Amity herself was wearing her usual black dress and maroon pants.
"What, am I overdressed?" Luz asked.
"No, it's fine," said Amity. "...That being said, if you would like to leave, then you should go while you still can."
"I'm not going anywhere," Luz said defensively. "I don't care if you don't like me, I'm not letting you bully me out of this."
"I'm not trying to 'bully' you out of anything," said Amity. "I'm trying to–"
"Amity dear?"
As if acting out of instinct, Amity's posture immediately straightened. She took a deep inhale before putting on a blank mask and turning around.
Odalia approached Amity and Luz, hands folded professionally behind her back.
"Ah, Luz, you made it." Odalia smiled. "Welcome back."
"Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Blight," Luz said.
"But of course," said Odalia. "Amity, don't be rude. Show our guest to the parlor."
"She's been here before, she knows where it is," Amity said.
"Amity," said Odalia. Her smile dimmed and a bit of an edge sounded in the single word.
"Yes, Mom," Amity immediately replied. She began down the hall. "Follow me, please."
"I'll be with you shortly," said Odalia. "Make yourself at home, dear."
Luz followed after Amity. As Odalia watched them leave, a smile gracing her lips, Manfred the Abomination walked up to the mistress of the house.
Odalia recoiled in surprise and confusion when she saw the golem's new face.
"Meow."
Odalia rolled her eyes. "What a joy it is to have guests over," she muttered bitterly.
Amity led Luz into the parlor room, where the Blight Twins were sitting on the dark magenta couch, both of them looking bored.
Hey, twins, what's up?" Luz greeted.
"Luz, you came!" Emira cheered as she hopped off the couch.
"I love what you're wearing," Edric said as he stood up from the couch. "Amity, doesn't she look nice?"
"I'm not answering that." Amity turned to Luz. "And as for you. Well, like my mom said: make yourself at home. Dinner starts in twenty."
Luz sat down on the couch. The twins came up and took a seat on either side of her. Amity sat down as far away from Luz as she could and crossed her arms sourly.
Luz looked around the parlor room. "...You ever play Luigi's Mansion? That's my dream house. Right down to the spooky atmosphere and dark clouds with lightning."
"Well, whoever this Luigi is, I'm afraid his mansion does not have this same historical value as Blight Manor." Odalia entered the parlor. "This estate has existed since the dawn of the Deadwardian Era. Our family has lived in this house for generation after generation."
"...Neat," said Luz.
"It is indeed neat," said Odalia. "I am glad that you were able to make it, Luz. Was Edalyn not able to come?"
"She…didn't think she should come," Luz said.
"Ah. All the better, honestly," said Odalia. "Back in the day, we weren't exactly…how do the kids say it…BFFs."
"Oh, yeah," said Luz. "You guys didn't exactly get along in school, right?"
"That's putting it gently," Odalia replied softly, glancing to the side for a moment. "Eh, children, where is your father?"
"Heck if we know," said Emira.
Everyone heard the sound of opening and closing doors.
"Up, there he is," said Edric.
With oil and Abomination goo covering his work clothes, Mr. Blight walked into the parlor, cleaning his hands off with a handkerchief.
"Odalia, the new prototype won't be ready until next week," Alador said. "And that's if I rush it, but believe me, you don't want me to rush it." His gaze landed on Luz. "Oh, hello. Are you with the charity group? How in the hex did you make it past the security measures, I thought we set them to keep out charity groups?"
"Alador!" Odalia scolded. "We have company, I told you about Edalyn's girl coming over yesterday!"
"Oh, right. That. Didn't recognize her without that mask on." Alador looked over at Luz again. "Welcome back. Eh, Loos, was it?"
"Luz," said Luz.
"Luz, right." Alador looked back at his wife. "When's dinner ready?"
"Soon, so go upstairs and get cleaned up, for Titan's sake!" Odalia demanded.
"Alright, alright," Alador relented tiredly, sounding a bit annoyed as he headed back out of the parlor. "I won't be long."
Odalia sighed and shook her head. "I apologize for my husband," she said to Luz. "He doesn't come from the same…social class, as I do. I have always appreciated his abilities as a, oh, what's the term…coppermonger. However, his family were hardly the kind of people to acknowledge the grime beneath their fingernails."
"Oh, that's alright," said Luz. "You're talking to a girl who's been rummaging through the insides of garbage slugs and bathing a house demon who loves to play in the mud since she was five. I ain't afraid of no grime."
"...Yes, quite." Odalia's smile became somewhat strained. "Let us adjourn to the dining room, shall we?"
"What about Wittebane?" Luz asked. "What do you know about him?"
"Patience, dear, patience," said Odalia. "After dessert, if it's all the same to you. Enjoy our hospitality before we delve into our business."
"You still haven't mentioned what 'our business' is exactly," Luz said.
"Just as restive as Edalyn. After dinner, dear." Odalia headed to the dining area. "Come, children. You too, young Miss Clawthorne."
"Best do as she says," Edric said as he stood up off the couch.
"Like there's any other option," Emira commented sourly but quietly as she stood up.
Amity sighed as she stood up and headed to the dining room. "Let's go, human."
"You know my name, come on," Luz complained as she stood up from the couch.
"Don't mind her, Owl-Cat," said Edric.
"I'm trying not to." Luz followed after Amity. "Let's eat."
"Good idea," Emira said before the twins went after Luz.
The dining room was even larger than Luz thought it would be. The walls were painted burgundy red and decorated with paintings and candle mounts. A large candle chandelier made of gold hung from the ceiling above the dining table. On the wall at the back of the room, behind the head seat of the table, the room was dominated second only to the table itself by a large, gold filigree artwork of the Blight family crest–a large, fancy, cursive 'B.' Luz found it somewhat…daunting, to say the least. No doubt that was the intention.
The dining table was a twenty-foot long slab of dark, almost black, polished wood, decorated with candelabras and flower bouquets. Odalia sat at the head of the table, posture straight and hands folded together on the table. The smile on her face and the way she surveyed the rest of the room made it seem like she saw herself as the ultimate authority.
To Odalia's left sat Emira, then Luz, then Edric. To her right, skipping a chair, sat Amity, directly across from Luz. The mint-haired girl gave Luz the best stinkeye she could while keeping on her blank mask.
Luz awkwardly took a sip of her drink. It was some kind of fruit juice with a sort of…electrical tang to it. It left the inside of her mouth tingling. "This stuff is good, what is it?"
"The nectar from a zojz dahlia," Odalia said. "A rare but tasteful drink. It's actually quite lethal unless processed properly."
Luz had to put in a lot of effort not to do a spit-take. Her eyes bulged and she carefully set the glass down. "...You brought out the good stuff just for me. I'm flattered. I figured you only brought out the good poison for special occasions."
Amity rolled her eyes.
"Sorry I'm late." Alador entered the dining room, now goop and oil free. "Dinner hasn't been served yet, has it?"
"Alador!" Odalia scolded as her husband took the seat to her right next to Amity. "Why are you still in your work clothes?!"
Alador sighed. "Kids."
The twins both drew a magic circle and in a burst of blue smoke, Alador was suddenly wearing dinner suit trousers and a clean, white, button-up shirt.
"Better?" Alador asked.
"It will suffice," said Odalia, still frowning.
"Wow, I gotta learn how to use illusion magic," Luz commented. "Seems like a handy little trick."
"Oh, my dear, if you're looking for a Coven to join, it's oracle magic you should really invest yourself in." Odalia waved her hand through the air in front of her, and a purple, ghoulish spector appeared along the trail of her hand for a brief moment. "Dominion over the mind and a mastery of foresight can grant you nearly unlimited success."
"...Groovy," Luz said.
A group of classy-looking Abominations entered the dining room pushing some carts carrying everyone's dinner.
"Ah, finally, dinner's ready," said Alador.
The Abominations began laying out trays of food and appetizers and refilled empty drinks. Luz felt somewhat worried by the fact that golems made of goop were handling their food and drinks.
"So, Luz," Odalia inquired as an Abomination laid out dinner in front of her. "You do in fact go by the Clawthorne name? You are a legitimate member of the family?"
"I am," Luz said. An Abomination placed a plate of food in front of her. "Ooo, dinner omelet."
"Made from griffin eggs and moccus ham. Farm fresh. Please enjoy." Odalia took a drink from her wine. "And, while you do, perhaps you could sate my curiosity. How did you become the Owl Lady's ward? If you knew the Edalyn Clawthorne that I remember, you'd understand my surprise."
"Oh, well, I was adopted by Edalyn when I was baby." Luz picked at her omelet awkwardly. "She found me in the Human Realm and took me in after, uh…after my birth parents died."
"Wait, what?" Amity almost dropped her fork in surprise. "...Oh."
"Do you…follow any human traditions?" Odalia asked. "Eh, holidays or rituals of any kind?"
"I try to," Luz said. "The Human Realm calendar is a bit different from the Demon Realm calendar, so it's sometimes tricky to remember the holidays. I know my parents were Hispanic, so I taught myself how to speak Spanish."
"Spanish?" Odalia asked.
"One of the languages spoken in the Human Realm." Luz cleared her throat. "Eh, creo que eres un reptil de sangre fría de mujer, no me siento completamente segura en tu casa, y planeo hacer dibujos de ti con orejas de burro y cuernos de diablo."
"Wow, I didn't catch any of that," said Edric.
"Although I can't shake the feeling that she's talking smack about me," said Emira.
"Oh, you're bilingual. Very impressive," Odalia acknowledged. "You know, I really should consider signing Amity up for a class to learn a second language. Learning Vampiric would look quite impressive on a resume. Or perhaps Dwarvish. There's good money in authentic Dwarven craft."
Amity gave Luz a look that seemed to say 'thanks a lot,' in a very bitter and sarcastic manner.
"And, as a human, are you…actually capable of performing magic?" Odalia asked.
"As a matter of fact, I am," said Luz.
"Care to demonstrate?" Odalia asked.
"I'll need a pen and paper," Luz requested.
Emira pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and Edric pulled out a pen. They handed both to Luz.
"Um…thanks." Using the pen and paper, Luz drew her light glyph on the paper and tapped the image. The glyph glowed, and the paper folded in on itself into a ball of light that rose into the air.
"...Huh." Alador blinked in surprise at the ball of light. "...You ever consider a career in cartoons?"
"Alador," Odalia scolded. "That's quite incredible, Luz. I've never seen magic performed in such a manner. It's like you're not so much as performing magic, but writing it. A writer instead of a performer."
"I can also do fire, ice, and plants," Luz stated proudly. "I'm still learning what else there is to learn from these glyphs."
"Could you show me that light spell you just did again?" Odalia asked. "How exactly did you do that? What was the strange symbol you drew?"
"Oh, um." Luz picked up her silverware and took a bite out of her omelet. "My glyphs are sort of a…trade secret. Mmm, that's good."
"Ah, of course, I understand. I have a few trade secrets myself." Odalia picked up her fork and took a savory bite of her own dish. "...You know, Luz, I have to say, I am honestly impressed by you. You're only a human, and yet you have a powerful witch for a mentor, you got accepted into a school for witches, and you even learned how to perform magic."
"I'm also not half-bad at brewing potions," said Luz.
"All of which is why I wish for you to reconsider my offer to hire you into Blight Industries."
"Wait a minute, what?" Luz stared at Odalia in disbelief. "Is that really why I'm here? You still want to hire me? Even after, eh, last time?"
"I won't deny that I am indeed still a bit…peeved from that little performance of yours," said Odalia. "But, your loyalty to your mentor is entirely understandable."
"Then you'll understand why I am going to say 'no' again," Luz said.
"Here me out," said Odalia. "You wouldn't just be a sales girl. I can give you a paid internship with my husband in the innovations and productions department. You seem quite creative for your age, I think you'd be an excellent addition to the team." Odalia turned to her husband. "Right, Alador?"
Alador shrugged. "I can always use an extra pair of hands. For an internship, we provide dental and vision coverage."
"And the compensation you'd earn would no doubt help out around the Owl House," said Odalia.
"But…why would you want to hire a human?" Luz asked. "Even if you think I might have a few tricks up my sleeve that you can put to use?"
"You're the Owl Lady's ward. The youngest of the Clawthorne Clan. Those tricks up your sleeve are no doubt quite advantageous," Odalia said. "And that paper magic of yours could be put to great use. I can lead you to success, my dear. And all you have to do is…contribute."
Luz stared at Odalia. "...You want whatever Clawthorne secrets I might have. And you want whatever can allow a magic-less human like me to perform magic," Luz realized. "And you also want to rub it in Eda's face when you steal her apprentice from her."
Odalia's smile became closer to a thin line.
"I am offering you a very generous deal," Odalia said, keeping her voice level. "I am offering you a path to a decent and successful life in exchange for your services. That's more than the Owl Lady can offer you, and you know it."
"I am not going to sell out to you," Luz said. "I'd rather be a deep-sea diver. And in the Demon Realm? That is an especially dangerous job."
As Luz and Odalia stared each other down, an air of tension suddenly filled the dining room. Keeping silent, Alador and his three children glanced back and forth between Luz and Odalia nervously as if expecting one of them to die. Guess which one.
"You should know that this is not an offer that I offer to just anyone." Odalia's tone was a touch chillier than before. "Many would murder for this rare opportunity which I am offering to you on a silver platter. Now, think very carefully about your future, and answer this question, dear: Do you want this job?"
Never breaking eye contact with Odalia, Luz set down her silverware and pushed her chair back, standing up and pressing her hands down on the table.
"No."
Odalia frowned and narrowed her eyes at Luz.
"You know what? I think I'm gonna call it a night. I'll show myself out." Luz headed out of the dining room. "Que tengas buenas noches, carámbano con tetas."
Odalia calmly raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Before Luz could walk out the dining room doors, a giant Abomination formed out of the floor, blocking the way out. Luz recoiled and stepped back in panic, staring up fearfully at the large golem that loomed over her menacingly.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Amity asked.
"Hush, princess, this won't take long." Odalia put down her fork and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "I tried to help you, Miss Clawthorne. I offered you a more than decent position in my company. I attempted to extend an olive branch to the Clawthorne family through you–the first Blight to do so in centuries, mind you. You could have put your talents to great use for us and become very successful for it. But, you are clearly just as foolishly stubborn as Edalyn. A shame, really."
"Call off the goo-man," Luz demanded. "I'm leaving."
"Not yet, you're not." Odalia whistled a bird call and a Crow came flying to her, landing down gently on the table in front of her. "Now, stay put while I make a call."
"You're calling Eda?" Luz asked.
"Of course not." Odalia picked up the Crow. "I'm calling Lilith Clawthorne."
"What?!" Luz shouted.
"Why, yes. I imagine your, eh, aunt, will be quite grateful to me for calling her. The Emperor's Coven would no doubt benefit from having the Owl Lady's ward in their custody," Odalia explained. "Take a seat, why don't you? She may take a while to get here."
"Fuck you, ya hag!" Luz ran up to the Abomination and did a baseball slide across the floor between its legs, escaping into the hall.
Odalia grumbled under her breath as she released the Crow and stood from the table. "Perhaps she is Edalyn's daughter after all."
Luz ran as fast as she could through the manor, making her way to the exit. She ran into the parlor room in order to get to the hall that led to the front door.
"Why do rich people always turn out to be nightmares?!" Luz cried as she ran through the parlor. She bolted down a hall and sprinted toward the exit.
Another giant Abomination golem formed out of the floor, blocking Luz's way out. She slid to stop as the Abomination let out a zombie-like groan and knelt down to grab the girl. Luz retreated before the golem could grab her and ran back to the parlor room.
Back in the parlor room, Luz rapidly checked every end table and side table drawer. When she found what she was looking for, she pulled out a notepad and pen from the drawer.
"Thieving now, are we?"
Luz spun around and saw Odalia standing at the entrance to the hall that led to the dining hall. Her ice-blue eyes glaring at the guest who had apparently worn out her welcome.
"The stationary, hmm?" Odalia asked. "I figured the silverware would be the first thing you'd swipe."
"You'll never take me alive!" Luz shouted.
"Truth be told," Odalia gave Luz a rather chilling smile. "I'm half-hoping it comes down to precisely that."
Odalia grabbed her pendant with one hand and used the other to draw a magic circle. From her pendant, like a genie escaping its lamp, a large, purple phantom emerged. With a luminescent glow on its immaterial body, the specter was a ghoulish creature wrapped in bandages like a mummified pharaoh.
Although the bandages wrapped around its head kept one eye hidden, the other eye glowed with a blue, otherworldly light. A light that focused on the frightened Luz. The Phantom spread its arms and reared his head, letting out a blood-curdling howl.
"Oh, snap," was what Luz had to say.
"You really should have accepted my offer, Luz," Odalia said. "In fact, if you're still interested, I am willing to forgive the insults and hire you. Last chance, girl. It's either an application with me, or a confrontation with Lady Lilith. Which shall it be?"
"I've read enough stories to know not to sell my soul to a devil," Luz said. "You can go burn at the stake."
Odalia frowned and narrowed her eyes angrily. "The same breed of fool as Edalyn," she stated in irritation. "You think yourself untouchable just as she always has, don't you, human? But now you face the wrath of a Blight matriarch."
Odalia snapped her fingers and her Phantom charged after Luz.
Luz dashed away as the howling Phantom pursued her. She chose a hallway and sprinted through the manor, having no general idea of where she was going but knew only enough to run. The Phantom chased her with the same dedication as a foxhound, sailing through the air after Luz and howling like a vengeful banshee.
As she ran, Luz used the pen and drew some of her glyphs on the notepad. Which, by the way, is ridiculously difficult to do when you're running through an unfamiliar manor being chased by a terrifying wraith summoned by a total bitch.
Luz ripped out a section of notepad and tossed it over her shoulder as she ran, activating the light glyph which exploded in a blast of light.
The Phantom shrieked horribly and recoiled, halting its pursuit of Luz. Blinded by the light, the Phantom covered its eye with its hands and shook its head as if trying to dislodge something, giving Luz enough time to give it the slip.
Once the Phantom recovered, it looked around angrily for its quarry. It narrowed its eye before taking off down the hall to find Luz. The human was nowhere to be seen. Growing frustrated, the Phantom rounded a corner to an adjoining hallway.
It didn't find the human, but what the spector did find on the wooden floor where the carpet ended was a line of strange symbols drawn on the floor in pen. Rounding the corner from another hallway, each of the symbols in the trail of glyphs were drawn inside a circle the size of a dinner plate and connected by a line like a string of beads, until the trail reached a glyph much larger than the rest of them, as big as a table.
The Phantom leaned down and examined the large glyph in front of it curiously. His gaze then followed the trail of smaller glyphs connected to the large glyph that went down the hall and around the corner.
And then, starting from the corner, the glyphs lit up with golden light one by one, until they reached the big one.
The Phantom's eye went wide with terror.
The large light glyph exploded with the power of the sun itself, tossing the Phantom back down the hall. It landed on the floor and began wailing and writhing in pure pain and agony.
Luz peeked her head around the corner. "Woah. I can't believe that actually worked," she marveled. "...So they can connect, huh?"
"Human?!"
"Oop." Luz retreated.
Odalia calmly walked through her home, traveling down the hall to the Phantom she had conjured, which was still wailing and writhing around on the floor miserably.
"Pathetic ghost," Odalia snarled. She grabbed her pendant and drew a magic circle. The Phantom was absorbed back into her pendant with a regretful howl.
Odalia sighed. "Like Mother always said: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." She started down the hall, but stopped when she saw the trail of circular faded spots on the wooden floor where the glyphs had been.
"Why you little—" Odalia glared down the hall. "You'd better pray this can be polished out, human!"
Odalia followed the trail of faded spots on the floor around the corner to the adjoining hallway. She narrowed her eyes and looked for any sign of the human she had invited into her house.
"I truly do wish you had been smart enough to accept my offer, dear. We could have helped each other," Odalia called out as she walked down the hallway. "Think about it, Luz. Edalyn is the Isles' most wanted criminal. She can't give you a decent future in the Demon Realm. But I can. You'll never be a Blight, but I could have still made you rich and successful."
Odalia came upon one of the manor's closets. It was the one door in the entire hallway, and didn't deserve to be overlooked.
Odalia grinned as she approached the bi-fold doors. "Did you know, human, that I graduated at the top of my class in the Oracle Track?" She raised her arms to her sides and her entire body became decorated with an ethereal, ghostly, purple fire. "For a time, I even considered the possibility of myself becoming the Head Witch of the Oracle Coven. In summary, Luz,"
Odalia grabbed the door's handles. "Your mind and your future are mine to control and ruin."
Odalia threw the closet doors open.
A narrow pillar of ice shot from the floor and struck against her forehead with an audible thunk.
Odalia's eyes rolled up into her head and she slowly fell backward, crashing down onto the floor. Her head hit the wooden floor and she laid there still and unconscious. A trickle of blood trailed down her face from the gash in her forehead made by the ice pillar.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Luz dashed out of the closet and stared down at Odalia in absolute panic. "Oh my God, did I kill her?! Oh my God, please tell me I didn't kill her! Her head is bleeding, that can't be good! Oh my God!"
"Ahem."
Luz looked over to see Alador standing in the hallway.
"Oh crap! Mr. Blight, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to kill your wife!" Luz cried desperately. "I didn't think that would happen, I thought it would, like, hurt her a little bit and then I'd make a run for it! Oh shit, she's still bleeding! Please don't have me arrested!"
Alador walked up to Odalia and knelt down beside her. He used some Abomination goo to clean the blood off of her and cover the gash on her forehead. He then placed his finger over Odalia's nostrils and mouth.
"Relax. She's simply concussed," Alador explained.
"Oh, thank Christ and Titan," Luz breathed in pure relief. "Thank 'em both. Thank 'em both so, so much."
"I'll bring her to bed and have Emira take care of her, she knows enough healing magic to fix Odalia up. She'll be back to her old self before you know it."
"...Whoopee," Luz replied in a tone as flat as paper. "...You sure she won't, like, lose her memory and become a better person for it?"
"Doubtful." Alador drew a magic circle and an Abomination formed out of the floor next to Odalia. The golem gently lifted her up off of the floor and held the unconscious woman in its big, goo arms.
"I…sincerely apologize for…all of this, Luz," Alador said. "But, you should probably leave."
"Oh." Luz nodded. "Right, yeah, good call." She hurried down the hall away from the woman she knocked unconscious.
"Wait, hold on."
Luz stopped and turned around. Alador walked up to Luz and took out a checkbook. "Do you have that pen you used to take down Odalia's Phantom?"
Luz handed Alador her pen and he wrote something down on the check, ripping it out and handing it to Luz.
"Here," he said. "For your troubles. This should help out expenses for Edalyn. I know things have been tough for her these past few decades. I wish I had done something sooner to help her out."
Luz stared at the check. "Um…thank you, Mr. Blight."
"Have a good night, Luz. Give my best to Edalyn." Alador walked away down the hall, and the Abomination carrying Odalia followed after him. "I'll see if I can't convince Odalia that she just slipped and fell, but no promises."
Luz watched as Alador left. Once alone, she took a deep inhale, then exhaled.
"...This is literally the first time that anybody has ever invited me to anything," she said out loud before pocketing the check and walking away.
Luz walked out the front door and took out the flare potion that Vinnie had given her. "Welp, goodbye rich people. It has not been a pleasure."
"You're leaving?"
Luz turned around and saw Amity staring at her from the door.
"Yeah, don't worry, I'm leaving." Luz continued away from the house. "See you at school."
"Wait."
Luz sighed and turned back around to face Amity. To her surprise, Amity actually looked…somewhat remorseful.
"I'm sorry about my mom." Amity looked down to the side. "She's…she's always like that."
"Uh…don't worry about it," Luz said.
"And, I'm sorry about…" Amity awkwardly cleared her throat. "...about your birth parents. I…I didn't know."
Luz's eyes widened just a little bit, surprised by the amount of sympathy she was getting from Amity.
"To be honest, I thought you were, like…a runaway or something." Amity finally looked directly at Luz. "I'm sorry you lost your parents. That must…that must be difficult."
"...Sometimes, it can be," Luz said. "I…I don't really feel comfortable talking about it."
Amity blushed a little in embarrassment. "Right, right, of course."
"Did you want something?" Luz asked.
Amity sighed. "Look, I just…" She moved her hands around a lot as she tried to figure out what to say.
"...I'm not my mom," she said at last. "...Please remember that."
Luz blinked. "...Uh…okay."
"...Goodnight, Luz." Amity quickly went back into the house.
Luz's eyebrows went up a bit. "She actually called me Luz," she realized. "...How about that." Luz turned around and raised the flare potion into the sky.
"Wait, Luz, hold on!"
"Oh, come on, just let me leave," Luz muttered before turning back around once more. The twins came out of the manor and walked up to Luz. Emira had a leather-bound book tucked under her arm.
"Shouldn't you be tending to your concussed mother?" Luz asked. "Sorry about that, by the way."
"Believe me, you don't have to apologize," said Edric.
"And Mom can wait, she'll be fine," said Emira.
"What do you guys want?" Luz asked tiredly. "You two are the ones who convinced me to come to your house for dinner, what the hex did you even want from this? Did your mom make you convince me or something?"
"No, of course not," Edric said. "And we're really sorry about what happened."
"Luz, convincing you to come to dinner wasn't for us, or for our mom," said Emira. "It was for Amity."
"What?" Luz blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Look, for the love of Titan, don't tell her we said any of this," Emira said. "But the whole reason we invited you was to give you and Mittens a chance to be friends."
"...But…why?" Luz asked. "Amity doesn't like me. Not even a little bit. All I do is make her angry."
"You don't anger her, Luz, you frustrate her, you irritate her, you even fluster her," said Edric. "You're the first person in years to get her to actually emote in any way other than anger or just a blank poker face."
Luz stared at the twins suspiciously. "I…I don't understand," she said. "You want me to be friends with your sister?"
"She talks about you more than you think," said Emira. "I mean, she just complains about you, but that's only because you're the only person who can really slip through the chinks in her armor and slip off her mask."
"Something about you just really brings something out in Amity," said Edric. "And, we think it's good for her to finally…feel something."
"So, please, do us a big favor," Emira requested. "Be patient with Amity and try to be her friend."
"Even after what happened tonight?" Luz asked.
"Don't be mistaken, she was impressed by how you stood up to our mom like that," said Emira.
"And so were we, for that matter," said Edric. "Seriously, that was awesome. You're my freakin' hero."
"...Uh…" Luz rubbed her arm anxiously. "Okay, fine. I'll…see what I can do."
"That's all we're asking." Emira offered Luz the old book she had with her. "Here."
Luz took the old book and looked at the cover. The intricate 'B' of the Blights decorated the leather. "What's this?"
"What you were promised," said Emira. "The journal of our ancestor, Archibald Blight, written during the Deadwardian Era. Flip to page twenty-four."
Luz's eyes lit up with excitement. She eagerly flipped to that page and began reading the old-school cursive with some minor difficulty.
"Curse that wretched, round-eared vermin!" Luz read aloud.
"Sounds like you found your guy," said Edric.
"The fool dares to insult me?" Luz continued. "He was a speck of dirt in his world, and is even less in this world! He is fortunate to be under the protection of that obnoxious minx. Evelyn rarely lets her new pet stray too far from her. What she sees in that freak is beyond my understanding."
"I'm already kinda rooting for this guy," said Emira. "Keep reading, keep reading."
"I swear to the Titan, I shall make that human rue the day he stepped foot onto these Isles. I am a Blight! I will not let some yellow-haired foreigner get the better of me!" Luz continued. "If only the Clawthornes hadn't taken such a shine to the dog. Those self-righteous palisman carvers have begun putting the ratworm to work. I hope old Hector breaks his back with labor!"
"Woah, hold up." Edric stared at the book in Luz's hands curiously. "Your family took this Caleb guy in when he came to the Isles?"
"I…I guess so?" Luz blinked at the pages in surprise. "Grandma didn't mention that."
"What else does it say?" Emira asked.
Luz cleared her throat and read a later passage in the journal. "Oh, fantastic. Now there are two of them," she read. "There's a smaller one following Evelyn's pet around. The hair is different, but they look enough alike to no doubt be siblings. The little bastard must have followed his brother here from the Human Realm."
"Two of them?" Emira asked.
"Yeah, I learned about this in the Human Realm," said Luz. "Caleb had a little brother who disappeared some time after Caleb did. He must've found a way to follow his brother to the Demon Realm."
Luz read another entry from the journal. "He can perform magic!" she read, coming immediately intrigued. "How is this possible?! The human blasted me with a ball of fire! Did his friends teach him?! But how?! Does that idiot think crafting palismans and throwing a fireball or two makes him a witch? Preposterous! Madness! No matter what it takes, I swear, I will see to it that the name Wittebane is wiped clean from history! Damn the Wittebane name! Damn Evelyn! And damn the entire Clawthorne family!"
"Keep going! Keep going!" Edric urged. "I am so invested!"
Luz flipped through the pages, searching for more about Caleb. "...That's…sort of it, really," she said. "The rest about Caleb is just your ancestor writing down really mean–and very racist–things about him. He writes about how Caleb became friends with Archibald's sister for a little bit here, but after that, he suddenly stops mentioning Caleb at all."
"Aw, man," Emira complained. "Well, I hope you found what you were looking for."
Luz closed the old book and stared at the cover, an unreadable look on her face.
Then she smiled. "You know what?" She offered the book back to Emira. "I think I did."
Emira took the book back. "How do you mean?"
"Well, think about it," said Luz. "Aside from Archibald, Caleb seemed to have a pretty good thing going here. He had friends, he had his brother, he had a job working for the Clawthornes, he even learned how to use magic." Luz's smile grew. "...Maybe…maybe I don't have anything to worry about. Maybe I'll be just fine."
"Hey, good to hear," Edric congratulated.
Luz took out the flare potion and aimed it at the sky. She popped off the cork and a blast of red light shot out of the bottle like a roman candle. The flare exploded in the sky, and a moment later, Puddles came flying down from the darkened sky and landed in front of Luz and the twins.
"Hey, Luz! Good to see you survived," Viney said from atop Puddles. "How'd it go?"
"She gave our mom a concussion," said Emira.
"Holy shit," Viney marveled. "...Luz, you're my freakin' hero."
"Yeah, well, get me out of here before Mrs. Blight wakes up and I become a martyr." Luz climbed onto Puddles' back. "Away, Puddles! Away!"
Puddles and Viney both gave Luz a flat stare.
"...Please?" Luz asked.
Viney patted Puddles' neck. "Let's go, girl."
Puddles took off into the sky. The twins waved them goodbye as the griffin carried the two girls away.
"You know, it's always nice to have a friend who has a ride," Edric commented.
As quietly as she possibly could, Luz slowly tiptoed up to the Owl House. Thankfully, Hooty was asleep, hooting softly in his slumber. Luz couldn't see any lights through the windows, so she could only assume that everyone had turned in for the night.
Luz let out a relieved breath. 'Success,' she thought to herself before quietly reaching for the doorknob.
Hooty began to stir in his sleep, hooting just a little bit louder.
"Shhhhhhh," Luz said softly, placing a kiss on Hooty's face.
Hooty grinned in his sleep, falling back into a blissful slumber.
Luz smiled, then reached for the door knob again.
The door was thrown open, revealing Eda with a ticked-off look on her face.
Luz yelped and jumped backward. "MOM!"
Gripped in Eda's hand was the neck of a frightened, sweating, Luz look-alike. Eda lifted up her free hand and flicked the look-alike's nose.
"Ow!" the look-alike cried before the spell dispersed in a cloud of blue smoke, revealing Gus.
Luz's panicked eyes glanced back and forth between Eda and Gus. "...Oh, you invited Gus over?"
Eda narrowed her eyes.
"By the way, Luz, I really gotta ask…" Gus grimaced. "How the hex do you get any sleep with all of those masks on the wall staring at you? Especially that clown one?"
Eda snapped her fingers and Owlbert flew to her hand, extending into a staff that she grabbed out of the air.
"Take him home," Eda ordered Owlbert. The staff flew out of Edalyn's hand and went underneath Gus. With a startled yelp, Gus was lifted up and carried away.
"Sorry, Luz!" Gus called as Eda's staff flew him off to his house. "By the way, I think it's adorable that your mom calls you 'little owlet'!"
Edalyn crossed her arms and glared down sternly at Luz.
Luz gulped. "Uh…um…I…I knocked Mrs. Blight unconscious," she offered.
Eda's eyes widened and she almost smiled.
"A-and Mr. Blight gave me money." Luz reached into her pocket and showed Eda the check that Alador had written her.
Eda took the check and read it over. This time, she did smile.
"And, I did find out more about Caleb Wittebane," Luz stated. "And, to be honest? I feel a lot better now. For the first time in a long time…I'm not that worried."
Eda raised an eyebrow at Luz.
"I mean, that's not entirely true, I'm still pretty worried," Luz confessed. "But, now…I have hope, I guess."
Luz looked down at the ground and smiled. "Human or not, I can still have a good life on the Isles. I'm part of a great family, I have good friends, I'm even in school. If Caleb could make it work, I don't see why I can't. Sure, we have to deal with the Archibalds and the Odalias and the Evelyns and the Amitys in life, but, that's just life. I can deal with that. And, I will." Luz looked back up at Eda. "I'm…I'm not afraid. Nervous as hell, sure. But not afraid. Not anymore."
Edalyn didn't offer up any kind of response.
"...I'm grounded big time, aren't I?"
"Oh, 'big time' doesn't even begin to accurately describe it." Eda stepped aside and pointed into the house. "Upstairs. Your room. Until I say otherwise."
"Yes, Mom." Luz hung her head and walked inside.
Eda watched her go, then looked at the check again, smiling once more.
"Now that's how you disobey your mother," she said before closing the door.
"Hoot-hoot-hoot-hoot-hoot," Hooty snored away. "...Hoot-hoot-hoot-hoot-hoot."
Remember, kids. If you're going to sneak out at night against your parents' wishes, it helps to bring back a lot of money. Pretty solid advice right there.
Until next time!
