AN1:
This chapter is much shorter than the others because I had to cut it in the right place. In exchange, the next one will be super-long :)
Enjoy your angst :)
The Heiress is gone! The Heiress is missing!
These were but a few pieces of gossip that have been running across the Boiling Isles in the past few months.
After the infamous mob attack, the youngest Blight disappeared. Some thought she was hurt enough not to live another day, while others believed she ran from her responsibility.
The brave journalists of the Daily Isles found out the truth!
The Heiress disgraced her family's name by accepting a proposal from her human girlfriend. While many believed it to be a fling or a romance, the Blight Heiress proved to be particularly fond of the subspecies, using a loophole in the law for her benefit.
While Miss Blight's mysterious condition held her incapacitated in her sister's Clinic, she finally returned to the Hexside Academy. Dean Bump was not kind enough to share any information, but the brave students told us that, once again, special treatment was reserved for the Blight Heiress.
Amity stopped reading at this point, knowing it was just a pile of gossip. The Daily Isles was a newspaper owned by Adrien Grey, who diminished everything that happened during the trial for Odalia's benefit.
The large picture that took up most of the front page caught her attention. The witch did not stop to think about how it was the last thing that drew her attention, not recognizing the person, when she noticed strangely familiar golden eyes glaring at her.
Amity blinked rapidly. She was ashamed it took her so long to realize it was a picture of herself. But it was not the face she recalled. The witch looking back at her was malnourished, starved, weak, scared, and… Scarred. A sudden memory of Boscha throwing a magical whip at her flashed before her eyes. She stiffened in panic.
"Pathetic!" Odalia's voice echoed in the Heiress's head.
"I need to go," Amity said absentmindedly, leaving the chair.
"Amity," Luz tried to stop her, but the witch was already gone.
Amity did not realize she had left her fiancée and mother alone. She did not know where her legs were taking her. The image of her portrait was burned behind her eyes. She knew that she was hurt and scarred while regaining her memory, but she did not expect to have half of her immaculate face degraded.
She felt the wound on her face every day, but since she could not muster the courage to look at her reflection, she did not dare imagine her new appearance. What she saw in the picture shocked her, bringing out the part of her that she hated.
"How you look is how people perceive you, Mittens," Odalia's wisdom echoed in her mind again. Her intrusive thoughts were on the loose.
The witch walked forward, step by step. A hurricane of thoughts and self-doubts flooded her while she was unaware of her destination. People tried to approach or call for her, but her empty gaze and lengthened nails drove them away.
"She still loves me, still wants me… The profaned monster with a defiled face and a broken mind…" Amity thought, lost in her self-consciousness, "Thatʼs not right… Is it real? Is she real?" A doubt appeared just in time when Amity reached the Bonesborough suburbs.
"A Blight is always presentable," Odalia's voice haunted the Heiress's mind again.
"Shut up!" Amity thought as fury entered her heart.
She did not hear or see anything around her as she stomped forward. She would expect to have the most unfriendly expression if only she could see the fear on the faces of people passing her by. She was almost by the Blight Manor grounds when Ghost appeared before her, hissing at her in frustration.
"What!?" She snapped at her Palisman.
"Meow!" Ghost said before hissing a curse, snapping her witch out of the stupor.
"Oh, no," The Heiress swallowed hard. Her ears slanted, and her expression softened.
Amity just realized where she was or that she had left her fiancée without a word of explanation. Ghost meowed at her loudly, clearly in distress. The witch blinked blankly, finally comprehending what the Palisman had just told her.
"¡Mamá!" She exclaimed in a panicked whisper.
Ghost immediately turned into a staff, and Amity hopped on, taking a secure position. They hurried as the Palisman took her witch to where she was currently needed, hoping they were not too late.
When Danielle realized what breakthrough Amity was forced to experience, she did not think twice. She ran out of the magic-restricting room and tried to find her daughter, knowing this kind of revelation did not come without a price—not for someone as conditioned to be perfect as the witch.
Danielle bumped into different people. Once she accidentally made a flush with her girlfriend, she asked Eda to care for Luz, briefly explaining what had happened. The witch only nodded.
"I need to find Amity," Danielle said, rushing forward.
Eda knew better than to question that by then. She watched Danielle disappear. She may have been circa fifty years old, but she was no old, helpless biddy — woe to those who thought of her that way.
"Amity, wait!" Danielle called behind her daughter, but the witch seemed deafened by her distress, disappearing into the crowd.
"Dang it, she's too fast…" Danielle thought, realizing that people avoided the witch while she had to fight through the crowd.
"Ghost?" She called for her daughter's Palisman.
"Meow?" A sudden weight appeared on the human's shoulder as the cat appeared out of nowhere.
"We need to find Amity," Danielle explained. Ghost nodded and led the way.
When they finally reached the outskirts, Danielle began to tire of pushing through the crowd to get to her daughter. She was sure she would be unable to catch up with the witch and help her calm down when a young, strange-looking man stopped her.
She looked at the dark-haired, blue-eyed young man questioningly. He could not have been much older than Luz and Amity, but his gaze held back something sinister as he looked at Danielle from six feet or more.
"Excuse me," The human tried to pass him by politely, but just as she expected, he was not about to let her go quickly.
"Oh, no, no, no, darling," He whispered sweetly, stepping before her, "I need you to stay with me," He added, grabbing Danielle's arm.
"Oh, boy, you did not just touch me…" The human whispered venomously. She glanced around and realized they were alone in the clearing.
"I have no time for this! Amity needs me!" Danielle's mind roared furiously. Yet, she remained calm, knowing no one could help her.
"I will do much more if you won't cooperate!" The young man suddenly grasped the tan neck, squeezing it powerfully, making Daniele choke and gasp in shock and distress.
The green orbs widened in shock as she spit on her chin, coughing in an attempt to breathe. Suddenly, her brows tied in determination, and the pupils in her eyes widened. She was not about to be manhandled.
It had been years since the older woman felt her body act instinctively and decades since she needed to fight for survival. Yet, her body acted automatically when she felt the lack of the precious, life-giving gas in her lungs. The tan hand quickly traveled to her pocket, and she was never more glad she listened to Eda.
Danielle retrieved a baton, and, with one swift move, she extended the metal weapon. The man had no chance to act when the folding rod made contact with his elbow, forcing it to bend. His hand let go of the human's neck, and before he could have thought his actions through, he felt a pounding ache on the side of his face.
"You bitch!" He roared, spitting up blood to the ground.
"Out of my way," Danielle said in a voice so cold that no one who came to know her as a warm, mother-like figure would recognize her, "Last warning," She hissed when the man did not move.
"You humans are pretty feisty. I like that," The man whispered sinisterly as he drew the greenish spell circle in the air, "It's not going to help you, though," He added, cracking a smile and showing off his fangs.
A puddle of abomination slime on the ground slowly crept in on the older woman. She finally understood what was happening. The green eyes locked on the blue ones with determination and fury.
"You must be Harvey," Danielle whispered in realization, trying to control her anger, recalling what Amity told her about him. She glanced at Ghost, hoping she would understand her plea and the Palisman disappeared.
The man's smile widened exponentially. He looked proud to be recognized. His blue eyes glowed as he manipulated the abomination to change its shape and density. Heavy, two-foot-tall cylinders surrounded him before he threw them at Danielle. The woman dodged the first two, but the third hit her in the face, cutting her brow and making her lose balance.
"Fuck…" She hissed under her breath, wiping the crimson fluid off her face, "So what's your great idea?" Danielle asked when the fourth cylinder hit her stomach, sending her to the ground. She coughed hard, struggling to breathe, trying to regain control of her diaphragm.
"Oh, I'm just having fun," Harvey smirked.
"Yeah? Me too," Danielle growled, coughing slightly again. Her smile shocked the man.
He did not notice when the human drew a strange symbol on the ground and activated it with a tap of her foot. A large fireball flew at the young man, forcing him to jump back to dodge the attack.
"You bitch!" Harvey roared at the woman, creating a swarm of abomination spheres no bigger than tennis balls.
Danielle paled when she realized there was no way for her to dodge this attack. Not with the way she slouched in the dirt. She readied herself for the pain when suddenly a fast, fuchsia blur circled her, protecting her from the impact.
"Mija…"
Everything happened so fast that no one could react. Ghost took her witch to where she left Danielle. Amity gasped when she noticed her mother had fallen to the ground, blood trickling down her face from the recent impact. A tan hand held the hurt stomach. A sudden fireball erupting from the ground positively shocked the Heiress, making her smirk with pride.
"Thatʼs mi Mamá," Amity thought, glad the woman took time to learn Glyphs from Luz.
"You bitch!" Harvey's voice dragged the golden gaze to him.
"Oh no, you don't!" Amity thought when she noticed the multitude of abomination spheres directed at the fallen human.
The pointy ears twitched and slanted in determination. Ghost growled in agreement, and they darted downward at a speed they had never achieved before. Amity let go of her staff as they approached the ground and stood up on it the way Gus taught her.
Ghost evened the flight level two feet above the ground and changed direction to circle the human. The witch used centrifugal force to lower herself, reaching for the ground. The Palisman flew so fast that Amity crouched on the staff parallel to the ground. Her pale fingers lifted the dust, and for a mere second, the golden eyes made contact with the shocked green ones.
Amity smiled, noting relief in her motherʼs gaze. She focused on closing the perfect, twenty-foot-wide circle before she jumped off her staff, shielding Danielle from Harvey, who stared at her in shock.
Ghost immediately returned to her witch's hands, her eyes illuminated by fuchsia light. Once the Heiress hit the edge of the circle with her staff, it glowed powerfully, blinding everyone for a moment as the heat of the spell embraced their bodies.
When Danielle blinked the blinding light away, she realized she was surrounded by a powerful, flame-like shield that swirled around her and Amity like wildfire, protecting them from any outside attacks. The witch quickly turned around and approached the fallen woman.
"¡Mamá! Are you okay?" Amity asked, trying to remain calm. Her shaking voice betrayed her worry.
"I'm okay…" The human tried to dismiss her daughter's worry.
"Let me check you," The witch interrupted.
Danielle smiled softly, understanding how worried for her the witch was. Amity drew a spell circle, and a blue light surrounded the tan face before moving toward the stomach, making the human wince.
"Youʼre bruised, and I'm not sure I can heal your laceration…"
"Amity, stop," Danielle interrupted, taking hold of the magic-engulfed hand. The golden eyes looked up, and the witch froze in fear, "It's okay, Cariño. I'm okay," She added softly, cupping her daughterʼs right cheek. The witch immediately looked away, her self-consciousness returning with all its might, "Youʼre gonna be okay, too, prometo," She promised, and the lavender head nodded reluctantly.
"Thatʼs not gonna stop me, you fucking slut!" Harvey's voice made it past the barrier.
Danielle could feel her heart rate increase at the insult. Amity released a low growl, and Ghost hissed in fury. The witch helped her mother to her feet. The pale face turned into a mask of a vengeful punisher.
"Ghost, get Danielle to safety," Amity ordered in a low voice before turning around to face her opponent.
"Amity, no! Don't!" Danielle tried to argue, but the witch's staff was already forced underneath her hips.
"Go, Mamá," Amity looked at the woman from above her shoulder, trying to send her a reassuring smile, "I'll handle him, and I'll see you at dinner," She added before refocusing on the target before her.
Danielle watched her daughter lift her hands. The human may have been a new denizen in the Boiling Isles, but she had plenty of time to read and learn about this world. She knew that casting spells without her Palisman would take a toll on her strained bile sac and that it mainly was Ghost's help that created the powerful fire-like barrier.
"No, Ghost! Stop!" Danielle exclaimed when she was taken at least a quarter mile away, "You can feel how weak she is! She needs our help now!" She added, and the Palisman stopped their flight, "I know she wants to keep us safe, but we can't let her do it alone!" She argued.
"Meow?"
"I donʼt know what that means, but I know you can help me help her," Danielle said, glad that Ghost gave her a chance to explain.
"Meow!" Ghost added with clear determination in her voice and turned around with a sense of urgency.
Danielle grabbed the staff and realized the Palisman allowed her to steer. A strange tingling sensation coursed through her hands and entered her chest. She understood that Ghost allowed her to use her power and make the decisions. The human smiled slightly, and she quickened the flight.
Amity slightly relaxed when she saw Danielle fly away. The witch gulped when she felt something squeezing her chest. She lifted her hands and focused on the barrier, forcing it down. She glared at the man before her, feeling her self-control slip away when she realized he had dared to attack her mother.
"Attacking defenseless people is low, even for you, Harvey!" She hissed, trying to remain calm. Her opponent laughed wholeheartedly, infuriating the woman.
"Oh, it's cute how you consider humans people," Harvey said, forcing his laughter away, "Anyway, now that I have your attention, I can prove that you should not be allowed to Hexside anymore," He added, and Amity scoffed.
"Is this what this is about? Proving yourself? Satisfying your ego?" She asked, hoping it would not come to fight him.
"Oh, no, no, no," Harvey said with a strange maniacal expression, "It's so much more than that. But for now, it will do. I hate nepotism, among other things. No one should be privileged by their heritage. Just because your family…"
"You know nothing of my family!" Amity roared, interrupting Harvey's rant. Her aura left her body in a swirl of fuchsia glow around her ankles.
"I know enough!" He roared in reply, "You get away with everything while people are left with nothing!" He added, lifting his hands and summoning an abomination that rose beside him like a wave, waiting to be directed into attack, "You take money and don't keep up your side of the deal," He hissed, confusing the Heiress.
Amity gulped, worried if she was already strong enough. Still, she was not about to back down. She was so focused on her opponent that she did not see Danielle land at the edge of the clearing from where she was in a safe distance to watch the fight and support her daughter.
"What is it really about, Harvey?" Amity asked, "I know people suffered because of the Industries closure, but it wasn't my fault! And what deal are you talking about? A Blight always upholds their end of the deal," She added.
"Of course, and people believe that," The man scoffed, "It never is your fault, Miss Blight," He hissed in disgust, confirming Amity's suspicions - she must fight him.
Harvey's eyes were illuminated with a green glow. He forced the abomination into round objects of different diameters and directed the hardened slime at her. Amity reacted as fast as she could, lifting her hands and trying to take control of her opponent's spell.
"Oh, fuck…" The Heiress thought in distress, groaning in struggle, feeling the pain emerging in her chest.
Amity's eyes were delicately illuminated with fuchsia glow, and she directed more energy, pushing the abomination away from where she was standing. She did not notice how Harvey forced one sphere away from the group, directing it at her stomach.
"Gah!" Amity exclaimed, losing concentration for a moment.
It was enough for Harvey to regain control of his spell. The spheres started flying at Amity. The witch rolled aside to dodge one attack after another. She tried to push back, but it was not working anymore.
"Oh, having trouble there, Miss Blight?" Harvey taunted, "Have your accident left you defenseless? Too many stabs to your chest?" He asked faux innocently. Amity growled, breathing heavily.
"Maybe it has! But then how pathetic are you that you can't best me at my worst?!" She asked, and her hair ruffled wildly.
Guided by fury, she drew a large spell circle, ignoring the pain in her entire body. For the first time since her death, she summoned an abomination of her own. Danielle watched with awe how her daughter pushed through.
"AAAAA!" Amity roared, fighting through the agony.
The pale hands shook deliriously, and the nails lengthened while the witch snarled, showing off her fangs in a furious roar. She forced the abomination at the man, who easily dodged the attack. Amity howled in frustration, and without realizing her hands were engulfed in flames, she started throwing fireballs and infernos at her opponent.
"That all you got?" He taunted her with a smirk, "Time to end this!" He added and took an offensive stance.
Harvey summoned a wave of abomination, forcing it like a tsunami at the witch. Amity fell to her right knee as she pushed the slime away, holding her hands above her head in an Atlas-like position. They powered through. The man applied more power, and the Heiress cried in pain as her body was pushed into the ground. Her magic, erupting and circling her body, created a small recess as she kept fighting.
Danielle gasped, understanding this was the moment to intervene. She retrieved her Glyphs and momentarily paused to decide the best approach. Ghost urged her to act when Amity's whimper attacked their ears. They looked up at the Heiress, frozen in fear.
"See, not so powerful after all," Harvey laughed under his breath, clearly strained. He forced a small part of the abomination wave to change its density, turning it into a glass-like oval, "Just look at yourself," He hissed venomously, "You have no family, no magic, no company. You are all alone, and no witch could love a disgusting freak like you!" He added and laughed at his opponent's expression.
Amity looked at herself for the first time since she died. Her face used to be immaculate. Her mother made sure of it. It was supposed to be the face of the Blight Industries. Now, her face was proof that she was broken — not just on the inside but also on the outside.
The scar may not have been the widest. It started in the middle of her forehead, traveled toward her right eye, and down to her cheek. It was the widest in the middle of her nose before ending above her lips, slightly the right edge, disfiguring them.
"Youʼre not broken!" The witch heard Luz's voice, recalling when the human assured her of her worth after learning she was violated.
Amity blinked and realized Viney worked wonders, considering she could not operate on a fresh wound. Once again, the witch realized she was marked by her devotion to the woman she loved. Without remembering who Luz used to be for her, she sacrificed herself to save her fiancée.
The golden eyes sharpened, glowing with determination and power. Amity clenched her jaw, and despite the paralyzing pain erupting from her chest, she focused on the abomination above her. She smirked devilishly when she realized she could straighten her back slightly.
She glanced one last time at the mirror, noting a nosebleed before Harvey gasped in shock that his opponent was not giving up. Amity growled, forcing the abomination away and slowly standing up. She tasted blood and understood she may have gone slightly overboard.
"Stay down where you belong!" The man tried to sound intimidating, but Amity heard his voice shaking.
"Oh, you played with fire, and you got burned?" Amity hissed venomously, letting out the side of her that Odalia shaped into her image, "How pathetic," She added coldly when she finally got to her feet.
Danielle watched her daughter and realized something clicked in the witch's mind. She did not look like the self-conscious woman who ran away after seeing her picture in the newspaper. That was Amity, who was whole with herself —her trauma and joy, her good and bad days, her anger and composure.
"I donʼt think she needs our help after all, Ghost," Danielle whispered in awe, and the Palisman returned to her animal form, meowing in agreement, resting on the human's shoulder.
Amity extended her hands and pushed Harvey's abomination away, shocking the man who was sure he was for a quick win. He could not be more wrong. And yet, he decided to deepen his own grave.
"Enough!" Harvey roared, drawing an additional spell circle. Then, he shocked everyone by extending his hand toward Danielle, "You better stay back!" He warned the Heiress.
"Wha-?!" The human exclaimed in shock when she felt an invisible force pull her toward the young man. Ghost disappeared from her shoulder, "Get off…!" She added when he took hold of her jaw.
Danielle's back was flush with his torso as he hid behind the shorter woman, keeping her close. The green eyes roamed the woman before her, and she could see that the Heiress was on the brink of collapse.
"Shh, shh, don't struggle," Harvey cooed as he forced an abomination onto his free hand, turning it into a sharp blade that made contact with the tan neck, nicking it.
Danielle tried to grab his hand and free herself, but he just tightened the hold. Harvey's cold gaze never left Amity as the witch froze at the sight. Her hands shook, and her breathing hitched. The Heiress gulped, trying to calm her heartbeat.
"Amity, no," Danielle begged, noting how the pointy ears twitched, "Cariño, please. Stay calm," She added, worried about her daughter.
"Mamá…" Amity whispered, trying to regain control of her emotions.
"Oh?" Harvey giggled, "You consider that animal your mother?" He taunted, smirking with superiority.
What a mistake.
Amity's expression hardened in an instant. She lowered her posture and snarled, growling lowly. Her hair ruffled again, her eyes shone with her magic's glow, and uncontrollable embers shimmered above her lengthened fingers. Danielle would be frightened if she did not know the witch wanted to protect her.
"You dare…" Amity hissed in a voice so sinister even Odalia would cower in fear, "Offend my mother!?" She roared, and Danielle noticed the aura circling her daughterʼs feet gained power, "You dare attack me and hurt people I care about?!" She stepped forward.
Amity did not stop when she noticed how the abomination blade was forced onto the tan neck, widening the cut. Danielle's whimper added to her fury. The pale hand rose, and Harvey shook, realizing his abomination stopped listening to him.
"You dare mention my birth giver in front of me?! Pretending you know anything about my life?!" Amity continued.
Danielle gasped when she noticed the blood escaping her daughterʼs eyes, slowly trickling down the cheeks. Amity's aura circled her form more fervently, raising dust, and as she took another step forward, she disconnected from her pain, having only her motherʼs safety in mind.
"I have to stop her somehow," Danielle worried.
The human's attention was diverted when she saw a gray and gold blur in the distance, rapidly approaching them. Amity's aura grew in force. Danielle could feel the oxygen leaving her lungs as her daughter began to lose control.
"Stay back!" Harvey exclaimed, finally understanding he should not have threatened Amityʼs loved ones.
"Let go of my mother," The Heiress hissed, but the man did not move, thinking the woman in his grasp was his only protection from Amity's righteous fury.
"Let go!" Danielle growled and hit the man with her elbow directly into his diaphragm, "Now, Eda!" She exclaimed, extending her hand.
In a matter of milliseconds, she felt a chill hold on her forearm, and she was whisked away to safety. Eda pulled her girlfriend into a tight embrace, glad Danielle was safe. It was not until they landed a few dozen feet away that the Owl Lady realized something was wrong.
"Danielle!" Eda exclaimed, alerting Amity. The two sets of golden eyes met in a short glance of understanding, "It's okay. I'm gonna help you," She added, refocusing on the human in her hold.
Amity froze. She watched her mother lose her balance as Eda slowly lowered her to the ground. She could not focus on anything after she noticed crimson blood on the Owl Lady's pale hands. The Heiress's furious look returned to her opponent, and she saw the same colored liquid on his abomination blade.
"You…" Amity growled, losing control of her emotions, "Hurt… My mother…" She hissed.
"I…" Harvey froze when he noticed his opponent's expression.
"It's okay, Dani. Stay still," Eda whispered, applying a Healing Spell, "It's nothing serious," She added, and the cut closed nicely.
At the same time, Amity could not banish the image of Danielle covered in her blood. The fear of losing her mother, the real mother who was there for her in joy and grief, who supported her and advised her, took the better of her.
"You…" Amity growled again, her heart pounding hard in her chest.
Eda wrapped up the Healing Spell and helped Danielle sit. The tan neck would bear a small scar before it faded, but she was safe. The older women watched the Heiress and knew they should intervene before she pushed herself too far. At the same time, they were hesitant to do so. Even Amity's Palisman was reluctant to act, perching on Danielle's shoulder.
"No, stay away!" Harvey begged when he noticed Amity's fury.
"Oh, he has no idea that the Boiling Isles have 'Boiling' in the name for a reason," Eda whispered, confusing Danielle before the young woman roared animalistically again. Her entire body was engulfed in flames.
Amity growled again. Her ears were slanted, lips snarled, fangs threatening, eyes shining with magic. The aura and fire circled the pale form while loads of abomination left the Heiress's body with her every step. The lengthened nails shone ominously as the witch ignited her hands for the first time since straining her bile sac.
The pain in her chest would have paralyzed her, incapacitating her, if she had not been so angry her physical sensations were unnoticeable. She stepped forward, and Harvey immediately stepped back, falling to his back. Amity was slowly approaching him, taking control of his abomination, leaving him defenseless.
Neither Eda nor Danielle reacted, watching the young woman with awe. The power of her fire was only growing, circling her body with more intensity in both heat and color. Another step made the heavy boot break into pieces as the temperature was too high.
"Eda…" Danielle gasped, feeling less and less oxygen in her lungs.
Amity took another step toward her attacker, and her second boot fell to pieces. Eda understood that while the witch was forcing through pain summoning powerful magic, she could not fully control it as it would not usually affect her garments.
"I gotcha, Dani," Eda whispered, releasing a delicate wave of magic, shielding them from Amity's powerful outbursts.
"You have no idea…" The Heiress hissed at Harvey, who was helplessly gasping on the dusty ground, "Who you've messed with," She continued. A tall twister-like inferno surrounded her pale form, "My life is my own. Don't pretend you know anything about me," She lifted her hands, and the flames burned off her sleeves and trouser ends, revealing her calves and scarred arms, lifting her ruffled hair in the swirl, revealing her auburn undercut, "You will stay away from my family. I'll make sure of it," She added, and the way she said it raised all red flags in Eda's mind.
It was the last understandable thing she said before she roared in pure rage that consumed her whole. Amity shrieked like a hurt Stonesleeper before she went berserk for the first time since she had protected Luz. She was too far gone to see the pattern of her protective behavior.
"Amity…" Danielle whispered in fear when she saw her daughter's stance.
The human was not afraid of the witch but was scared for her when she noticed that nose and eye bleeds were now complemented by delicate drops exiting the slanted, pointy ears. She rushed forward.
"No, Dani, stop," Eda tried to keep her girlfriend in the protective field of her magic, but the human was too stubborn.
Danielle shrugged off the witch's hold, and despite fear of being hurt, she ran toward her daughter. She saw the pale hand rise as the Heiress was ready to cast another spell, hoping to break her opponent, when the human stopped before her.
"Ah!" Danielle cried, realizing how much the heat hurt her, "Amity!" She exclaimed. In a matter of seconds, Ghost appeared before her, using the Palisman magic to protect her, "¡Mija!" She yelled, and with that, Amity blinked rapidly.
The young witch looked shocked to realize Danielle was there, despite the fact she lost control to save her. The fuchsia glow slowly disappeared from the golden eyes, which blinked rapidly. The pointy ears fluttered in confusion, slanting and perking up again. Harvey used this moment to run for his life, leaving the three women alone.
"¿M-má?" Amity gasped in shock.
"Sí, Cariño," Danielle confirmed and was relieved to see the powerful aura die down. She could finally breathe without the Palisman's assistance.
"Wh-what…?" Amity stuttered confusedly. The golden eyes roamed the field, and she looked shocked to find herself in the middle of it, "Ugh," She groaned in discomfort, grabbing her chest and tugging what remained of her burned tunic, "Ah-AGH!" Another pained roar escaped the pale womanʼs lips.
"It's okay, Amity," Danielle approached her daughter, taking hold of the bony shoulders.
"Boots, easy," Eda joined them. She looked at the young Wild Witch, her lips twitching in a sad smile.
"She would have killed herself to protect either Luz or Danielle…" The Owl Lady thought, understanding how much in common they had.
"AGH!" The pain was returning to the pale body with a vengeance. Suddenly, Amity missed the adrenaline the fight brought her, "N-no…" She groaned, feeling lightheaded.
"I'm here, Mija. You're safe," Danielle reassured, trying to calm her daughter.
The human's heart stuttered and skipped many beats over, watching the confusion on the blood-covered face. The image of the nose, ears, and eyes releasing the crimson liquid was devastating and worrying.
"I…" Amity tried to speak. She lifted her hand to her temple. The lengthened nails were not retracting, and her chest expanded more often in shallow gasps, "H-hurts," She gasped weakly, accidentally stepping backward, "M-Mamá…" She groaned before shaking her head in an attempt to control her body, "Má…"
"Dani, what can I…?" Eda tried to ask, but the human lifted her hand.
"Shh…" Danielle interrupted, focusing on Amity's state, "She's gonna collapse," She added, whispering more to herself than anyone else.
"Ayúdame…" Amity gasped, begging for help.
The golden eyes rolled up, and finally, her actions caught up with her. The slanted, bleeding ears twitched before relaxing as the entire hurt body was cut off her senses. Her golden eyes rolled weakly, showing whites, and her pink lips parted as her jaw slacked. Her stiff hands fell to the sides, and her knees buckled. The human acted as fast as she could.
"Amity…" Danielle gasped, pulling the weak woman into the safety of her hold.
She guided the witch delicately to the ground and watched her reactions. Her eyelids fluttered, and her parted lips released uneven gasps for air. Her face was covered in smeared blood. The lengthened nails scratched the ground while the shoulders and knees twitched irregularly in jolts of pain.
"It's alright, Cariño," Danielle cooed, "We're gonna take care of you," She said, caressing the lavender hair, which finally started to slick down, losing the wild ruffle, "Youʼre safe, Mija," She added, hoping to calm the nerves of the woman, whom she suspected to be still aware of her surroundings.
"M-Má…" Amity let out a pathetic, weak whimper, which only warmed the human's heart, confirming her suspicions.
"Shh, Cariño. Relax," Danielle cooed in a breaking voice, "Let Mamá take care of you," She added. The witch stopped struggling to stay awake, feeling safe in her mother's hold.
The twitching limbs relaxed, slacking by her sides. The nails stopped scratching the ground, and they partially retracted. Danielle sobbed shakily, and she pulled the unconscious woman into a tight embrace, rocking slightly. Eda knelt beside them, and Ghost perched on the human's shoulder again, bumping her head affectionately against the brunette one.
"Let's take her to Viney," Eda offered.
Danielle nodded, pulling away and wiping her eyes. She looked at the unconscious witch, strengthened her hold, and slowly stood back up, holding her daughter in a bride-like embrace. The Heiress whimpered slightly, and her nails lengthened again.
Ghost transformed into a staff, and the human sat on it without hesitation. Eda watched her girlfriend with awe, realizing how much the Demon Realm had changed the human. She summoned Owlbert and followed the other woman to the Clinic.
When Luz convinced Eda to leave and help Danielle, she forced herself out of bed, took an elixir, and changed into something more comfortable. She had a very bad feeling that she could not rationalize. The image of Amityʼs frightened face burned in her memory.
"Viney!" Danielle's voice shocked Luz, who was just about to put on her shoes.
The younger human stepped out of her room and froze instantly. The image of Amity's unconscious form in partially burned clothes, barefoot, with lengthened nails and a bloodied face paralyzed her with fear. A loud hoot dragged Luz out of her stupor, and she darted forward, grabbing the closest gurney and pushing it ahead.
"What happened?" She asked tremblingly while Danielle placed the hurt witch on the portable bed, pushing her toward the Operating Room.
"That man, Harvey, attacked me," The older woman said in time for Viney to join them, "She protected me, and they fought…" She paused. Luz suspected the woman was replaying the situation in her mind.
"Why are her clothes burned? Where are her boots?" Luz asked, and Viney butted in, seeing the struggle on Danielle's face as they kept rushing to the Operation Room.
"She used Fire Magic and couldn't control it, right?" The Healer asked, and the older woman nodded in confirmation, "Okay, I'll help her," She vowed, "Help me move her to the table," She added, making Luz and Danielle realize they had made it to their destination.
They worked harmoniously, moving the injured woman and strapping her to the table. Luz noted that despite her burned clothes, her fiancée was not hurt. Amity released a weak whimper when Viney delicately lifted the table.
"I want you to stay," The Healer said, drawing a blue spell circle.
"But the new regulations…" Danielle pointed out.
"Screw regulations. We have a very powerful and distressed Wild Witch on the table," Viney argued. Her stern voice was underlined with fear, "I need you to calm her down if the need arises," She explained and, without further ado, applied the Healing Spell to her sister-in-law's chest.
"AAAAA!" Amity's back arched as she roared in pain, waking up.
The golden eyes shot open and roamed the room frantically. Luz could feel the panic and fear, understanding the witch was unaware of what was happening to her. The pale hands tried to break free, tugging on the restraints.
"Amity, Baby. You're safe," Luz whispered, taking hold of the smaller hand, "Viney is healing you," She added to explain the pain.
"It's okay, Honey. You're gonna be alright," Viney said, dropping the spell for a moment before adjusting the energy type, "Just hold on a little longer," She added and, after letting Amity catch a breath, applied the spell again.
"NOOOO!" Amity roared with a shaking voice.
The golden eyes released a waterfall of tears, which mixed with the dried blood on her cheeks. The pink lips snarled weakly as her chest chook in shallow sobs. Her slanted ears twitched slightly.
"No, please, I can't…!" Amity cried weakly, "I… I…" She could not speak between sharp gasps of breath.
"Shh, Cariño, you're doing so well," Danielle said, joining Luz in an attempt to support the witch through the experience, "You were so brave. Now, let us take care of you," She added, grabbing the free, restrained hand. Her daughter desperately returned the affection.
"Just a little more, Amity. I'm almost done," Viney informed, breaking a sweat.
The Healer raised her hands and directed more energy into the spell. She was glad to see that Amity's bile sac was not severely hurt. Her heart seemed a little strained, but, all in all, she needed to apply more force to jumpstart the regeneration.
"No, please…" Amity gasped, feeling increasing discomfort. Her breathing was getting more shallow and more panicked, "N-no! A-ah!" She cried, throwing her head back in pain.
Danielle heard Luz groan, and she looked up at her ward. The younger human was shaking and sweating as she stubbornly helped her fiancée relax. The green eyes widened in realization.
"She shares her pain!" Danielle thought, understanding how much Luz wanted to be there for her fiancée.
"Viney…" Luz groaned hoarsely, "She's…" She winced in pain, grabbing her chest, "Odalia…" She added, shaking her head to recompose herself.
"What?" Viney asked confusedly, but she did not stop the spell.
"No! Mother! Please!" Amity roared, tugging the binds, and everyone understood what was happening, "I tried! Don't…!" She begged, reliving her trauma.
"Viney, stop!" Danielle called, trying to secure her daughterʼs thrashing head.
"Not yet," The Healer replied with determination, "Titan, Amity, keep fighting," She whispered more to herself. The young witch roared, snarled, and presented her fangs, "Thatʼs it," She added, surprising the humans with her smile.
"Viney, what is it?" Danielle knew the Healer would not endanger her sister-in-law.
"Sheʼs getting better," Viney said with a strained voice.
"Sepleah! Ma'ahtra!" Amity repeated the same plea in Demonic, overwhelmed by the sensations in her chest.
"Ami…" Luz groaned, approaching her fiancée, "Youʼre doing great, shh, shh shh," She cooed, pushing through the shared discomfort.
"Hoot?"
"I can do it. I can be there for her," Luz assured the demon.
"Yes, that's it," Viney smiled through the spell.
"AAAAA!" Amity roared, and a small trickle of abomination slime escaped her eyes, worrying Danielle.
"Perfect!" Viney exclaimed with excitement despite breathing heavily in exercise.
Suddenly, everything stopped. Luz took a deep, calming breath. Amity's mumbling and begging disappeared just like the bright blue light of the Healing Spell. The Healer let out an exhausted exhale, and the lavender head fell forward.
"You did well, Cariño," Danielle whispered, trying to clean the pale face before returning the table to its horizontal position.
"Ngah…" Luz gulped, finally feeling the pain disappearing, "What the hell, Viney?" She asked, shocked by the wide smile on the Healer's face.
"Luz," The witch said, dipping her fingers in the purple slime smeared over her sister-in-law's cheek, "She's finally producing her magic bile," She explained, "Titan, I'm gonna sleep for a week," She added, wiping the sweat off her face. She drew a spell circle and cleaned Amity, too, "You can take her upstairs. She doesn't need to be admitted," She added with a smile, removing the restraints.
"Youʼre very confusing, but okay," Luz whispered weakly before turning to her fiancée, "Come on, Baby, let's go home," She added, bringing the witch into a secure, bride-like embrace.
"I'll help," Danielle offered, and her ward nodded.
They went upstairs. Luz was still weak from strain but felt responsible for the woman in her arms. Amity kept whimpering in discomfort, and her nails constantly lengthened and retracted.
Once they reached the studio, Luz limped toward the bed where she placed her fiancée. Danielle grabbed spare pajamas and returned to her daughter. The younger human investigated pale hands, calves, and the rest of the unconscious body before changing Amity into pajamas.
"Luz, she's safe," Danielle whispered, seeing how worried her ward was.
"But she wasn't," Luz said with a breaking tone, "She was attacked. You were attacked. Why does this keep happening?!" She exclaimed in a whisper.
"It's okay, Luz," Danielle smiled mischievously, "Harvey has some personal vendetta against Amity, but we'll deal with him later. Try to rest now. I know you're still hurt from your semi-transformation," She said, caressing the scarred cheek, "Call me if you need me. I'll be staying with you tonight," She added before leaving.
Luz could not pretend anymore. She was exhausted. It may have been the middle of the day, but she was on the brink of collapse. She changed into her pajamas and closed the blinds, covering the studio in darkness before crawling into the bed with her fiancée.
Amity sniffed delicately, making Luz smile when the hurt witch snuggled close, releasing a pained whimper. The human pulled her into the delicate embrace and pecked the crown of the lavender head. Once the brunette's head rested on the pillow, she was out like a light.
One ear twitched under the lavender hair. A delicate groan escaped the pink lips. Something warmed the pale body. The memories from the previous day flashed before Amity's closed eyes, and the witch immediately sat up in bed with a wheezing gasp.
"Whas goin' on?" Luz mumbled confusedly, still half-asleep.
Amity looked around, and her breathing calmed when she realized she was back in her studio with her fiancée sleeping beside her. The witch looked at her hands and was relieved to see her nails fully retracted.
"Danielle!" Amity thought worriedly, recalling her mother was hurt.
"Sleep, Luz," She whispered to her fiancée, "I'll be back," She added, pecking the brunette's head and slowly removing herself from the covers.
Amity used the bathroom and eyed herself in a tall mirror for the first time in weeks. Her long-sleeved, black pajamas contrasted her complexion while she focused on her face, recalling her realization from the day before. The pink lips cracked a smile, and still barefoot, the witch rushed downstairs.
She could not understand her excitement but could have sworn everything seemed better that day. The world regained colors, and she felt electrified. Amity found Danielle sleeping on the couch and knelt by the knocked-out woman.
The witch smiled widely, showing off her fangs. She watched the older woman murmur something incoherently in her sleep, feeling restless under the intense golden gaze. The green eyes cracked open before Amity could decide how she wanted to act.
"¿M-Mija?" Danielle whispered in shock. Amity's smile widened even further, her ears perking up.
"Hi, Mamá," The witch greeted the woman, who quickly sat up on the couch.
The blanket rolled off the tan body, dressed in the same clothes as the previous day. The green orbs roamed the woman before her and tried to analyze the witch's expression. She looked so different.
"Are you okay? How do you feel?" Danielle asked, wiping sleep from her eyes. She was shocked by a powerful hug as the witch threw herself at her.
"I'm just glad you're safe, Mamá," Amity whispered into the embrace, desperately balling Danielle's clothes. The human returned the affection, reluctantly at first, before melting, knowing how difficult it was for the witch to be open with her emotions, "Iʼm sorry for scaring you," She added, and her mother tightened the embrace.
"I was afraid you hurt yourself…" The human whispered.
"No," Amity interrupted, pulling away and looking aside in shame, "I mean…" She hesitated, "The way you looked at me…"
"Cariño," Danielle understood. Caressing the pale cheek, she encouraged the witch to look at her, "I wasn't scared of you. I was scared for you," She explained.
The pointy ears fluttered in reluctance, but the witch believed her mother. How Danielle spoke warmly about her made her feel the trust, warmth, and honest-to-Titan care. It was new and scary, but Amity had to admit it felt damn great.
"Thank you," The witch whispered, smiling with gratitude, "Do you want some breakfast?" Amity asked, trying to change the topic.
"I'll make something…" The human said immediately, wanting to care for her daughter.
"Rest," Amity interrupted, smiling warmly, "I'll make pancakes for everyone," She added, confusing the woman.
"You seem different," Danielle noted, massaging her face, slowly waking up, watching the witch enter the kitchen.
"I feel different," Amity admitted, her grin widening, "Better," She added, getting started on breakfast.
Danielle watched the young woman, and all her worries slowly started to disappear. Amity bossed around the kitchen, making dough with roarberries, which her mother called blackberries. It was not long before Viney and Emira joined them, lured by a delicious smell.
Danielle fetched Luz before they shared a meal, and everybody could see how Amity looked and behaved differently. It took the young Clawthorne a moment to wake up. A freshly fried food with jam worked wonders.
The atmosphere at the table was so calm, serene, and wholesome that everyone feared to break this perfect moment. Amity overlooked everyone from the kitchen counter, offering more food, glad she could do something nice for the people she cared about.
"So what now?" Emira asked, satisfied with her meal, "Do you have any plans for today?"
"Yeah," Amity nodded, washing her mouth with a sip of Brew, "Firstly, Iʼm going to put Luz in bed…" Everyone looked at the human, who was still clearly exhausted from everything that had transpired in the past two days.
"Huh? Wha…?" Luz asked confusedly, feeling people stare at her. The human looked half asleep.
"Eat up, Baby," Amity smiled warmly, caressing her fiancée's back before looking back at her sister, "Then I want to go to the Industries Lab Facilities. I want to see if there's anything to work with…"
"Are you sure?" Danielle interrupted worriedly.
"I was thinking about it for a while, Mamá. And with what Harvey said yesterday about not keeping our part of the deal…" Amity paused, biting her lip anxiously, "I can't fix the past, but I can do something about the future. I have an opportunity to turn all the bad Odalia did into something positive," She explained.
"How would you even fund it?" Danielle asked, trying to wrap herself around the idea.
"Um… I have the money…" Amity answered sheepishly, "But the problem is really the facility and regaining the brand's good name," She added.
The room was silent, and Danielle tried to understand what was happening in her daughterʼs head. She glanced at Viney, who felt just as an outsider as she did. The human sighed heavily before speaking up.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" Danielle asked, and Amity looked up in shock, "It's my day off, so…"
"Would you want to?" The young woman asked in disbelief.
"I'd love to come and help if you wouldn't mind," Danielle said, smiling softly. Emira and Viney shared a glance, and they smirked knowingly.
THUD!
Luz's head fell to the table, ending on her plate, scaring everyone. The curly locks spread across her meal while the human let out weak whimpers. The tan face rolled aside, smearing jam on her cheek.
"Luz!" Amity exclaimed in distress. She quickly got to her feet to help her fiancée up.
"Easy," Emira whispered, joining her sister immediately.
"Luz, Baby, look at me," Amity said softly, ignoring her surroundings.
Danielle and Viney were close by. Emira cast a small spell circle, cleaning the human's face, and they all exhaled in relief. Luz was deep asleep, too exhausted to stay awake once the food lulled her.
"Titan, don't scare me like that," Amity whispered, her lips twitching in a hesitant smile.
"Sheʼs exhausted," Emira explained after dropping her spell.
"To be honest, she didn't have time to rest after her semi-transformation and your Healing Spell," Viney added, addressing her sister-in-law.
"At least she ate all of her pancakes," Amity pointed out, "Iʼm going to take her to bed," She said, noting that Luz was unaffected by all the attention around her, sleeping deeply, "She needs her rest…" She caressed the tan cheek with care, lost in thoughts, "She might need even more of it as the years go by," She added absentmindedly.
"Youʼre gonna be fine," Viney said, trying to support the younger witch.
"I know," Amity said dryly, pulling Luz into a bride-like embrace to carry her up to their studio, "I'm gonna make sure of it," She added before leaving the living room and the dining table.
Emira kissed her wife goodbye and headed to work, while Viney went to bed to rest after her night shift. While waiting for her daughter to come downstairs, Danielle cleaned up after breakfast before readying herself to leave, suddenly feeling anxious about learning about the Heiress's past.
Ghost helped Amity and Danielle to one of the most remote Blight Industries Lab Facilities. They landed in front of the enormous building. The gate was broken, and the large sign 'Abomination Coven Subsidiary' was covered in graffiti. The young woman stiffened when she took in the view.
"Are you alright?" Danielle asked worriedly, noting her daughterʼs anxious behavior.
"Yeah…" Amity replied softly, "I haven't been here in a looong time," She said. Suddenly, she chuckled, "Well, except for the time I helped Luz escape here in the Everlasting Dream," She added, smirking slightly, trying to humor her fear away.
"It's okay to be scared, Amity," Danielle stepped closer, "I can't imagine going back to my family home, taking over the role of…" She paused, realizing what she was revealing, "Never mind," She cut her story short, looking aside sheepishly.
"Má," Amity looked at Danielle, "Iʼd be glad to learn more about your past…" She added, a blush covering her cheeks, "I feel… I mean…" The human snorted.
"Yeah, I get it," The human giggled, "It's the first time we get to do something together with your mind and body intact, and it feels awkward," Danielle added, making her daughter chuckle shyly.
"To say the least," Amity agreed, "Let's move forward," She added, trying to ignore her shameful sensations.
They did just that, passing by the broken gate and carefully entering the main hall of the Blight Industries Laboratory. Danielle followed Amity carefully, taking note of how much her daughter was nervous about returning to the place that caused her so much pain.
The women entered the main hall. Amity summoned the Light Spell, and the human immediately noted it seemed like an official part with the large, wooden scene in the middle. The witch froze momentarily before she gathered strength to climb up the wooden elevation.
"What is it?" Danielle whispered, climbing the stage to join her daughter before using a Light Glyph to shed more light, "¿Mija?" She asked worriedly, noting how Amity stared at the recess in the middle of the floor.
"I thought it was a dream…" The witch whispered absentmindedly.
Amity approached the large recess and directed the Light Spell into a place beside which she knelt. A few strands of long green hair were still stuck between the floorboards. The pointy ears slanted, and Danielle watched the woman learn that her visions turned out to be her memories.
"Is that…?" The human wanted to ask.
"I remember Odalia punished me by performing in front of the investors. I had to be brought down, on the brink of life and death, proving Abomatons' effectiveness. I've seen it in my dreams. I lived through it in the Everlasting Dream, and it turned out to be true once I woke up…" Amity explained. She seemed to be talking more to herself than Danielle, but the human was glad to understand what was happening.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
A sudden sound of echoing footsteps dragged the witch from her stupor. She glanced at Danielle, and they nodded with understanding. Ghost perched on the human's shoulder while Amity rushed, following the sound.
"No, wait!" Amity exclaimed, "Ghost, don't let Dani out of sight!" She ordered before disappearing into an adjoining corridor.
"Well, great," Danielle whispered sarcastically in defeat before she rushed behind the witch.
The human did not take long to catch up with her daughter. They followed the quick, echoing steps until they reached the production line. Amity glanced at Danielle, afraid to be judged for her inheritance, but the older woman did not comment on the half-assembled weaponry.
"There!" The Heiress exclaimed when she noticed a small figure in the distance.
They both rushed forward and soon caught up with the young girl. Amity cast a little light on the figure, and Danielle gasped in shock — those eyes, hair, and mischievous grin.
"I know you!" The human exclaimed, "I treated you in the Clinic a few weeks ago," She added, and the child stopped running away, "Amelia, right?"
"Your daughter had an accident at school," The child confirmed. Amity stiffened when she learned that Danielle called her a daughter outside their personal conversations.
"Sheʼs not faking it… She really thinks of me as her own…" The witch thought, and a warm feeling spread in her chest.
"Can you help her?" The child asked, and Amity realized she had missed something, zoning out, "Please, help her!" She added more forcefully.
The Heiress's attention moved from the child to a figure hidden underneath the bridge connecting the two factory lines. A large cloth was thrown over it, creating a tent-like hideout where the person rested on a bundle of quilts and blankets. Amity hesitantly entered, and she immediately gagged when the stench of rot and pus entered her nostrils.
"Here, this helps," Amelia offered the witch a mask filled with strong-smelling herbs that blocked the stench.
"I'm sorry," Amity apologized, accepting the cloth.
"Don't apologize, child," The weak feminine voice spoke calmly, "I know I'm a living dead body, but my daughter's too stubborn to let me go," She added.
Amity summoned the Light Spell to illuminate the hurt woman. Her golden eyes widened, and her lips parted in shock. The Heiress froze in her position. Danielle passed her daughter by, and she approached the older witch without covering her face with the mask.
"Eliza?" Amity asked in a high-pitched whisper.
"You know each other?" Danielle asked when she realized how shocked her daughter was.
"Good to see you, Miss Blight," The woman said tiredly, smiling weakly.
The Heiress stood frozen, watching the first woman who had been so kind to her, supported her, and listened to her. With Odalia's spell cast upon her, she was unsure if she existed. Even after she regained her memories, she did not consider what might have happened to the woman.
"Titan, what happened to you?" Amity finally snapped out of her stupor. She fell to her knees and directed light at the hurt leg. Ghost perched on her shoulder and meowed worriedly.
"Ah, good to see you found each other," Eliza whispered, making Amity freeze mid-movement again. The pointy ears twitched in confusion, and the golden eyes looked at the tired ones.
"You knew we were separated?" The Heiress asked in shock.
"How do you think I found myself in this mess?" Eliza replied sarcastically, smiling weakly. Her eyelids fluttered, and she craned her neck to look at the human, "I was the Woodcarver who helped Amity carve her Palisman," She explained weakly.
"I thought Ghost was taken away from you the very next day?" Danielle asked her daughter in shock.
"At the break of dawn," Eliza whispered, closing her eyes as if recalling something.
"Can you please help her?" Amelia asked, dragging the adults from the conversation.
"How old are you?" Amity asked, tying her brows suspiciously.
"Amelia's eight," Eliza said.
"Mommy, let them help you!" The girl exclaimed with frustration.
"Easy!" Amity exclaimed, immediately calming the girl, "Iʼm not going to leave your mother without help," She added in a much softer voice, sporting a small smile. The golden eyes quickly glanced at her mother, and the human nodded with understanding.
"Amelia, come here, Cariño," Danielle addressed the child, "Mija, don't overdo it," She begged her daughter, who nodded nervously.
"Eliza, I'm going to examine your leg," Amity informed, "Would you do us a favor and tell us how you got yourself into this mess?" She added before focusing on the wound.
"Titan, you grew up so much," Eliza whispered with a smile. Amity's lips twitched, but she focused on her task, "Once Odalia learned I encouraged you to follow your instincts, she paid me a visit…" She said bitterly.
The lavender-haired woman gagged when she removed the pus-soaked dressing. Danielle noticed how her daughterʼs ears fluttered, and even the human was starting to get bothered by the stench of rot. What worried her further was that the hurt witch seemed unaffected, not feeling her pain.
"She tied my bile sac and made me one of those hard-to-resist offers," Eliza continued. She finally groaned, making Danielle look back at what her daughter was doing.
"Amelia, Honey, come over here to help your Mom," The human called the child, seeing that Amity was getting paler with each passing moment.
"What was the offer?" The Heiress asked, trying to keep her voice calm. However, a quick glance at her mother showed how severe the wound was.
"That bad that you need to distract me?" Eliza knew what was happening.
"It will hurt, Eliza," Amity confirmed, her voice underlined with fear, "And I'm just trying to secure your leg so I can transport you to the Clinic," She explained.
"N-no, I can't afford…" Eliza paused, wincing in pain.
"You don't have to worry about it anymore," Amity said, drawing the blue spell circle, illuminating her masked face eerily, "My family harmed you enough. This ends now. I'll take you to the Clinic, where my sister will heal your leg and fix your bile sac," She added sternly before facing the leg.
"Amelia, come here," Eliza extended her hand, understanding she needed to brace for pain.
"Mamá, hold her, please," Amity whispered as she calmed her breath and concentrated on the spell.
"Take it easy, Cariño," Danielle replied, but her daughter was not hearing her anymore.
Amity directed the spell into the infected leg. Maggots partially ate the muscle, which helped clean the wound. However, it was still too risky to move the woman. The blue glow entered the golden orbs, and the witch could see how the tissue was really damaged.
"Aaah! Shit! Titan!" The hurt woman cried out, arching her back and squeezing her daughterʼs hand, "Good to see—Aaaah! You learned how to let go—Fuuuu-uck!" The woman kept talking.
Amity was glad she did. That was one way to keep herself conscious. The Heiress knew that Eliza was not staying awake to revel in pain. It would be so easy to let go. She did not want to worry her daughter. Amelia watched her mother with worry, stifling her cries and trying to support her.
"Hold on, Eliza. I'm almost done," Amity said weakly, applying more power to the spell.
"Amity…" Danielle whispered worriedly, noting how the young witch wobbled in her kneeling pose, "Cariño, don't force yourself," She added, knowing by now that her daughter felt responsible for what happened to the hurt woman.
"Ahhh, fuck! AaaaAAAAA!" Eliza roared, arching her back. Amity slowly turned down the spell to not overwhelm the woman or scare her daughter, "Shiiit…" The witch gasped heavily.
"We're going to move you now, Eliza," Amity whispered, carefully dropping the spell.
The older witch moaned weakly and nodded, closing her eyes while her daughter watched her anxiously. Danielle found a piece of cloth to wipe the womanʼs face, pretending she was not eyeing the lavender-haired witch with worry.
"Mmm," Amity cleared her throat, "Is your Palisman around?" She asked, but the woman was barely conscious.
"Randall is still around, but since Mom has been weakened, their connection has been severed," Amelia explained, looking at her mother with tears-filled eyes.
"Ghost, can you sense them?" Amity asked her Palisman as she sat on her heels, shaking her head weakly.
It did not take even a minute before a dragon-like Palisman entered the tent. Amity sighed deeply and shook her head slightly again before looking at Danielle. The human understood why her daughter asked for Randall.
"Amelia, you need to let go of your Mom. We're gonna get her to safety now," Amity said with a small but weak smile.
"Amity?" Danielle asked worriedly.
"I'm okay, Mamá," Amity faked a smile, "Let's take her back to safety," She added.
They worked together like a well-oiled machine to change the Palismans in their staff form into a provisional gurney, knowing Amity was in no shape to use the levitation spell all the way to the Clinic. Once they secured the hurt woman, they slowly guided the levitating gurney toward the exit.
"Amity, are you sure you're okay?" Danielle asked worriedly, eyeing the witch.
"Mmm," Amity nodded, unable to speak. The golden eyes locked on the hurt witch, her mind lost in forgotten memories, "Just…" The Heiress suddenly said, "Shocked…" She tripped, and Danielle caught her just in time.
"Mija, are you sure?" The human asked more sternly, helping the taller woman regain her balance.
"No, Mamá," Amity admitted sheepishly, "Iʼm sorry, but she…" The witch paused when they exited the building. The light blinded the Heiress for a moment.
"She was important to you…" The human guessed, and the Heiress nodded, "I understand, Cariño," Danielle said, soothingly caressing the pale back. Let's talk about it later," She added, and they walked the rest of the way in silence.
Amelia did not let go of her mother's hand. The older witch mumbled words of affirmation, proud of her child. Amity walked slowly beside her old teacher, clenching her chest and wincing in discomfort, while Danielle ensured her daughter felt safe and supported, seeing how the witch became weaker with every step.
Once they reached the Clinic, Emira quickly admitted the patient. Danielle explained what had happened, and they acted as fast as possible. Amity leaned weakly against the wall, watching the hurt woman being taken away for the Healing Spell. She did not notice someone approaching her until she felt a delicate hold on her arm, guiding her to the Personnelle Room.
"Come on," Viney's soft voice reached Amity's sensitive ears, "Are you hurt?" She asked, and the younger witch nodded slightly.
"Are you gonna be fine?" Danielle's head popped into the room. She eyed her daughter worriedly.
"Y-yeah…" Amity replied under her breath, still holding her chest while her gaze was frozen.
"Ooookay," Danielle replied hesitantly, glancing at Viney, who nodded in confirmation, "I'll keep an eye on Amelia. Let me know once you're done," She added before leaving.
"Let's get you comfortable," Viney whispered softly, helping Amity lay on the bed. The Healer drew a spell circle, and the lights dimmed a little, "So you healed the woman despite the workout you had yesterday, huh?" She asked, and the lavender head nodded hesitantly.
"Y-yeah…" Amity whispered shamefully, "She was in no condition to transport her otherwise," SHe added.
"Do you know what that means?" Viney asked, smirking at her sister-in-law.
"I'm gonna die?" Amityʼs voice shook, confused by the Healer's expression.
"No," Viney giggled at the fearful expression, "Youʼre regenerating faster each day, Honey," She explained with a wide smile. Amity's eyes widened in shock, "Yesterday, you strained yourself, but after a full night's sleep, you could stabilize your old teacher. Can I see how that affects your heart?" She asked, and the Heiress nodded.
"Is it going to hurt?" Amity asked worriedly.
"It might be uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be too painful," Viney said reassuringly.
"Okay," The golden eyes bore into the green ones, "I… I trust you," She added, making the Healer smile at her.
"Let's take a quick peek," Viney said, drawing a spell circle.
The blue energy surrounded the Healer and entered the green eyes. The heat of the spell entered the scarred chest, and Amity whimpered in discomfort. She grabbed the edges of the bed and took deep, calming breaths.
"Sh-shit," The Heiress hissed, arching her back.
Just as she was ready to start begging Viney to drop the spell, the discomfort disappeared. The Healer smiled, softly decreased the power, and dropped her hands. The bright blue glow disappeared.
"W-why are you…?" Amity gulped, still recomposing herself, "Why are you smiling?"
"Youʼre back, Amity," Viney said with relief and joy, "Your bile sac is regenerating. Not as fast as it did before the curse, but you're getting there," She added.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Amity stuttered in confusion, slowly sitting up.
"That means we can try lowering your pain meds and see how it goes from there…" The Heiress's ears perked up in excitement despite the pained expression, "That doesn't mean you're cleared!" The Healer said sternly. Amityʼs expression faded, and her pale face turned crimson-red, making Viney burst into laughter.
"Shut up!" The younger woman hissed shamefully, her ears slanting again as she sat on the edge of bed, "Ugh…" She grabbed her chest and let out a small groan.
"Thatʼs why I'm not clearing you just yet," Viney's playful expression faded, "If you feel that you still need pain medication, you know the safe dosage," She said worriedly. The lavender head nodded.
"Luz and Danielle know, too," Amity confirmed.
"Okay then," The Healer smiled softly, "Go and rest," The younger witch nodded, standing up and wobbling a little, "Remember, you may feel discomfort since you've been taking those elixirs for quite a few weeks now, so if it's too much…"
"No more drugs," Amity whispered sternly, "No more…" Her voice exhausted, "No matter how much it hurts," She added determinatedly. Viney looked at her worriedly, keeping a warm expression.
"Go rest, Honey," The Healer urged, and her sister-in-law did just that.
Amity exited the Personnel Room and slowly headed to the living quarters. She walked close to the wall, her hand trailing the surface, feeling the lack of medicine and the Healing Spell getting the better of her. She passed the examination rooms and smiled weakly when she saw Danielle caring for Amelia while her mother was being healed.
Getting to her studio felt like climbing the peak of the Titan's Knee. She could hardly breathe when she entered the room. Amity closed the doors behind her, which made Luz stir in her sleep. The witch stumbled slightly, slipping off her boots and struggling to remove her socks before falling face-first to the bed.
The force of her fall caused her to bounce off the mattress and hit the floor, where she rolled onto her back. Luz remained unfazed, mumbling something incoherent in her sleep. Amity realized she must have been running a fever. With one last sober thought, she pulled her fluffy, weighted quilt over her body.
The heavy material barely slipped onto her torso and thighs. The pointy ears slanted and fluttered as the witch felt guilt creep over her. Her forehead was covered in a bead of cold sweat while shakes ravaged her body.
"I should have told Viney…" Amity thought, whimpering in pain, unaware of how her nails lengthened in discomfort, "Dammit, Blight…" She closed her eyes, and her body became limp.
Everything turned dark.
AN2:
Do tell, what do you think? I keep worrying about plot holes. Having no beta for the first time in 2 years is anxiety-inducing :P