Chapter 19
Amity woke up with a start, her eyes wide as she looked to see Luz was asleep beside her with their palismans also sound asleep. She then heard the door open and looked up to see it was Bootstilla, who looked grim. "Amity, awaken Luz," she said. "There's a storm coming and it's coming our way fast."
The purple-haired girl nodded and gently shook Luz awake. The brown-haired girl woke up and looked at Amity, who looked worried. String Bean and Ghost woke up too and immediately became staffs which the two women grabbed. Nabo met them in the hallway with Mila and Solana in his arms, both holding their palismans. "She's moving much faster than we thought she would," he said.
Calabaza looked grim as he came up to them, Bootstilla beside him and she looked hurt and angry all at once. "We just got word from the blacksmith that is one of Blossom's contacts and he said Odalia attacked the village," he said.
"Everyone managed to escape injury, but their homes are damaged or destroyed," Bootstilla said. "She threatened to turn the children into worms if the townspeople didn't tell her where we were."
"Of course no one could tell her since we never mentioned where we are," Calabaza said. "But the blacksmith said she suddenly muttered 'Alador' and then left. He immediately came to warn us."
"I'm glad he did," Alador said. "I've allowed him refuge here until the battle is over, but he said he'll fight beside us. The other townspeople agreed too, saying this is now their fight too."
"Odalia destroyed their homes," Luz said. "They want justice."
Amity gripped her staff. "The moment I see my mother, I'm banishing her," she said. "This has gone far enough."
"I sent word out to Eda and she's on her way," Bootstilla said. "Everyone, stand ready. Odalia's going to strike fast. We have to be faster and counter her attacks."
Batty transformed into a staff and the bounty hunter grabbed it firmly, standing beside Calabaza and Nabo, the three of them standing right beside Luz, Amity, and their two daughters.
Odalia suddenly burst into view, her eyes wild and her hair a tangled mess. "The kids at the school weren't kidding about her appearance," the bounty hunter muttered to herself.
"AMITY BLIGHT!" Odalia yelled. "You thought you could leave me in the dark?! You thought I wouldn't find you?!"
"I was aiming for that outcome," Amity said angrily. "Leave now, Odalia. You're not welcome here."
"She's right, Odalia," Alador said, glaring at his ex-wife. "Leave now."
"Oh, you think you can get rid of me so easily?" She sneered before she began throwing out magic attacks.
"Look out!" Calabaza call out in warning, quickly pulling Amity back as an attack landed near her feet, the ground sizzling and an acrid smell filled the air.
"Sulfer!" Nabo called out in horror.
"It's a highly unstable form!" Alador said as he saw the ground burn rapidly.
Luz began throwing out ice attacks and Amity threw out Abomination attacks, both glaring at Odalia, who looked to see Mia and Solana standing to the side, ready to use plant magic. Smirking, the woman threw an attack at the girls.
"NO!" Amity screamed in horror.
"Girls, run!" Luz cried out.
Bootstilla began running towards the girls just as Nabo threw up some vines to absorb Odalia's attack, but the attack ate through the vines. Just as it was about to hit the girls, Bootstilla jumped between the attack and the girls, her hidden armor absorbing the magic.
As soon as she saw that her girls were not hurt, Amity turned to her mother angrily. "HOW DARE YOU!" She screamed, throwing an Abomination punch that Odalia tried to block, but she ended up getting knocked back a bit.
"This has gone too far, Odalia!" Luz cried out, also quite angry.
Both girls threw attacks at her, but Odalia seemed unfazed. Bootstilla turned to the girls behind her and they looked afraid. "Girls, I want you two to hunker down and stay put," she said before turning to her staff. "Batty, stay with the girls."
Batty transformed to his animal form and squeaked. "I know, but I think I may know how to stop Odalia," she said.
The palisman nodded and Mila and Solana hunkered down while Nabo, seeing this, quickly formed a wall of vines around them to protect them. "It'll be okay, girls," Bootstilla said.
Mila suddenly hugged her. "Be careful, Auntie Boots," she said.
Solana hugged her too. "Please be careful, Auntie," she said tearfully.
The bounty hunter hugged her nieces tightly. "I will," she said. "Don't worry. We'll stop Odalia."
With that, she moved away, seeing Eda flying around Odalia in her owl form, screeching angrily and annoying Odalia. Everyone else threw in their powers too, but all it did was annoy Odalia more.
Which gave Bootstilla a perfect opening.
The bounty hunter ran up to Odalia, dodging the attacks before she jumped, grabbing Odalia and knocking her back. "That's enough, you witch!" She yelled at her.
"Let go, you stupid girl!" Odalia said before she began attacking Bootstilla, but the armor she was wearing took the brunt of the magic, shocking Odalia. "I'll destroy you!"
"Go ahead and try," the bounty hunter said.
Odalia screamed and tried zapping Bootstilla, but the young woman didn't flinch, holding firm until finally, the evil woman stumbled a bit. "What?!" She asked. "What are you doing to me?!"
"Nothing," Bootstilla said as she saw the power in Odalia's hands become smaller and began to flicker before fading away and the bounty hunter stood up. "You used your powers all at once on someone who had the ability to absorb that power."
The woman's face fell before a cracking sound filled the air and the protective armor flickered into view before falling off of Bootstilla, falling into pieces at her feet.
And Odalia collapsed on the ground, drained of her power.
"No," she said in realization. "What did you do?"
"My armor absorbed all your attacks," the bounty hunter said. "You're finished, Odalia."
Amity came up to them and she glared at her birth mother, pointing her staff at her. "You have hurt me and my family for the last time," she said angrily. "I will not forgive you for this."
Bootstilla placed a hand on Amity's shoulder. "Amity, you know what you must do?" She asked.
"Yes," the purple-haired woman said without hesitation, taking a deep breath. "Odalia, I hereby banish you from my life and from the lives of my family," she said. "You will be sent to a place where you will never be able to gain magic again."
Nabo created a travel pod and some vines scooped up Odalia, putting her inside the pod. "Amity, you can't do this to me! I'm your mother!" She said.
"Yes, you are my mother," Amity said. "But you're not my mom. Camilla and Eda are."
Odalia's face fell as the pod closed and soon vanished into the ground. Eda came up to them. "She can't come back from where I asked Nabo to send her," she said before seeing Amity looking about ready to cry. "Hey, it's okay, kiddo," she said, her voice soft. "You can let it out."
Amity fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she cried. Luz immediately ran to her side to comfort her and Nabo made the vines around Mila and Solana vanish so the girls could hug Amity too. "Mommy, it's okay," Mila said softly.
"We're here, Mommy," Solana said.
Luz hugged Amity close. "I've got you, Sweet Potato," she said.
Bootstilla moved away discreetly and went to stand by Nabo, Calabaza, and Eda, who had also moved back. "Those were some really powerful words she spoke to Odalia," the Owl Lady said.
"Words born from pain hurt the most because they often speak the truth," Nabo said quietly.
"A truth I know too well," Bootstilla said softly as Calabaza placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
Alador came up to them. "Thank you for keeping Luz, Amity, and granddaughters safe," he said.
"We were glad to do so, Alador," Calabaza said.
After a bit, Amity stood up with Luz's help and the family moved towards the scarecrows, bounty hunter, Owl Lady, and inventor. Luz looked worried. "Luz? Are you okay?" Eda asked in concern.
The brown-haired woman shook her head. "No, I'm not," she said. "I don't think any of us are okay right now."
Bootstilla nodded. "I know how you feel," she said softly. "I felt the same way long ago when I last dealt with my horrible foster family."
Mila and Solana looked up at their grandfather. "Grandpa, can we do a sleepover in the living room?" Mila asked.
"Please?" Solana asked.
Alador nodded as he looked at the time. "It is nearly dawn, but since we were so rudely awoken, I think a few more hours of sleep is something we all could use," he said.
Luz carried Amity as Calabaza and Nabo scooped up Mila and Solana. Batty flew to Bootstilla's shoulder and squeaked softly. "Yeah, it is a bittersweet victory," she agreed softly. "Poor Amity. This affected her so much."
They went inside and the Abominations made quick work of getting blankets and pillows for a sleepover in the living room. No sooner was the room ready, the group all collapsed into the pillows and blankets, falling asleep from exhaustion from the battle, not moving an inch even as the sun began to rise.
Odalia has been defeated in an emotionally draining battle.
Next chapter will be full of comfort and be a bit lighter.
Please leave a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418