Bonesborough was unlike anything Luz had ever seen before. She'd barely walked a few blocks in and seen children playing with magic, making illusory monsters to chase each other. A street vendor selled "not-dogs", some kind of hairy meat in a bun. And the people walking down the street… well.
Most of them were witches, looking mostly like humans but for pointy ears, fangs, and weird eye and hair colors. Various ethnicities mingled on the streets of Bonesborough without the slightest awkward glance. But then there were those who weren't witches.
Hulking, misshapen figures plodded down the streets of Bonesborough, each a different shape. Their skin was sickly: some were moist, raw, and red, like an open wound, others covered head to toe in crisscrossing purple veins, and others a deep, crusty black like walking scabs. Spikes burst out of their body in irregular places, and some of them had their mouths (full of fangs) covering their entire face. But nobody gave those creatures a second glance as they went about their business. Smaller animals, resembling varying crosses of rats, wolves, and worms, crawled across the street too, and some stopped to pet them.
"What are they?" Luz whispered to Monarch, still perched on her shoulder.
"Ah! I see you've discovered the most beautiful species on the Titan: demonkind!" said Monarch proudly.
"Those are demons?" Luz realized. Her hand rose to her back and gripped her bat a bit tighter.
"Yes, we are!" said Monarch. Then they saw her expression and added, "Don't worry, Luz, you have nothing to be afraid of. They're just going about their day. Just treat them like you would a normal person, and remember everything you learned about us is wrong."
Luz lowered her hand. "Right, then. I've been called unholy a couple times anyway. What's the worst that they could do?"
"That's the spirit!" said Monarch. With that, they continued walking through the streets of Bonesborough.
"So Monarch, tell me more about demons," said Luz.
"There's two types: beast and biped," said Monarch, gesturing to a rat-worm hybrid being ridden by a grotesque figure with red skin like meat at a butcher's. "Witches evolved from scavengers that ate the Titan's flesh when they died, but not us demons! We evolved from the Titan's antibodies! And that kinda makes us… variable, in regards to appearance. But that's just what makes life interesting!"
Luz smiled, doing her best to pay attention and not get distracted by the miracles going on around her. "What are you, Monarch? Beast or biped?"
"Neither!" Monarch declared. "I'm the Prince(ss) of Demons, remember? My parent used to rule all these guys back in the Savage Ages. I am both beast and biped! And when my parent comes back, I'm gonna rule 'em again! ESPECIALLY YOU, NOT-DOG JOE! YOU HEAR THAT!? I'M GONNA OWN YOU ONE DAY!"
Monarch continued screaming threats at a biped demon with crab claws who was working a not-dog stand. Luz playfully scratched behind Monarch's antlers. She didn't think that they had ever really been some kind of demon lord, but from what she knew of the little demon, they were basically a little kid. It couldn't hurt to let them have this.
Luz noticed an empty dais and started walking towards it, only to jump back, startled, when a figure in a blue robe appeared in a flash of light alongside a younger witch. Luz watched as the witch handed the robed one a sack of coins, then walked off. Another witch quickly stepped up to the dais, and the robed one traced a large circle of light in the air before they, too, vanished.
"Did they just teleport?" said Luz, looking at Monarch.
"Telekine Coven," said Monarch lazily. "They can move stuff around with their minds and poof around. They handle construction and public transport in the Empire."
"Think they could take me back to Earth?" Luz asked.
"Ha! No," said Monarch. "Earth is… in space, right?" Upon Luz's nod, they went on, "These guys can only make short-distance teleportations to either places they can see or places they've memorized. It's super boring."
Luz sighed, and moved on. As she walked down the streets, she saw a crowd gathering by an alley. She headed to the back, peering over tall shoulders to see the center of attention.
"The eyes of the Titan are the eyes of the Emperor!" shouted a voice, fervent in its declaration. "Report all signs of suspicious activity to the Imperial Coven immediately! Wyld witches seek to destroy our lives and families. The Almighty Emperor keeps us safe in unity!"
Luz managed to get a look at the figure. They wore a raggedy white cloak that looked like it had been made out of a blanket, and a white crow mask. "Oh, great," said Monarch, quieter than usual. "Let's get outta here."
"Who is this guy?" Luz asked.
"Street priest," said Monarch. "Not strong enough to make Imperial Coven, so he shills for them. Luz, can we just go?"
Luz sighed and turned away. Monarch and Eda's dismissiveness of Bonesborough was getting a bit grating. She could barely walk by something without them having an opinion.
She began walking away from the crowd, but a warm body collided with her. Luz stumbled back and took in who she had bumped into. It was a tall figure wearing a pristine white cloak with a hood and a jeweled crow mask of the finest silks. Two points rose from the hood. The rest of their outfit was padded black leather, leaving no part of their body uncovered, and they held a dry white spear. Monarch let out a squeak and buried their snout in Luz's jacket.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" said the figure in a growling voice that seemed vaguely feminine. That was new. Luz was usually the one obliged to apologize for any accident, being the Latina girl.
"COVEN SCOUT!" shrieked Monarch. "Luz, run! She's going to turn us to stone and then feed our palismen to the Emperor! And eat our books!"
"Is your… jacket talking?" said the Coven Scout. "Because if it is, you might want to get a trainer. You don't want jackets to talk for you and all- unless that's your thing! Sorry!"
Luz sighed and yanked Monarch out by the scruff of their neck. "My jacket is not talking, it's just this little crazy gremlin." The demon squealed and desperately tried to twist out of Luz's fingers.
"Oh, they're so cute!" squealed the Coven Scout, grabbing Monarch by their chin. "Who's a little guy? Who's a little guy?!" Luz gave her a dead stare befitting only someone without sense.
The Coven Scout suddenly let out a cry of pain and jerked back. "They bit me!" Monarch's fangs were indeed bloody, and the demon seemed to have a proud expression.
"You are going back in the jacket if you don't behave," said Luz.
"Fine by me! Then we can get away from this bird-faced enforcer of tyranny!" Monarch declared. "The only person who gets to tyrannize around here is me!"
Luz promptly stuffed them back in her jacket. "I don't know how Eda puts up with you," she said, then to the Coven Scout, "Sorry to get in your way, and that my demon is a brat. We'll be going now."
The human turned to leave, but the Coven Scout darted in front of her. "Wait! Wait wait wait, um… I'm Severine!" she said, extending a hand. "Is there… anything I, in my duties as a member of the Imperial Coven, can assist you with, good citizen?"
"Unless you know a way to make a portal to Earth, no," said Luz as she tried to skirt around Severine.
"I can do that!" said Severine.
Luz stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait, seriously? You mean it?"
"Sure!" said Severine. "The Imperial Coven has a ton of resources. Just need to reconvene to the local Chamber and I'm sure we can figure something out."
Luz spun back to Severine. "We have to go, now!"
"Alright, cool your jets, little fella!" said Severine. "We just have to go to the Titan's Cathedral, which is…"
"The biggest landmark in the entire city," Luz deadpanned, gesturing to the towering cathedral behind Severine.
"...oh yeah," said Severine. "Well then, off we go!"
Severine held out her hand, but Luz shook her head. "I'm not singing We're Off to See the Wizard with you."
"I don't know what that is, but okay," said Severine brightly as they headed towards the Cathedral.
Monarch whispered into Luz's ear, hanging from her shoulder. "Luz, no! Don't trust her!"
Luz pinched their antler. "If she can help me, I need her. And Severine seems nice."
"She's evil! Never trust the Imperial Coven!," Monarch hissed.
"Oh, yeah? Well, I don't see you guys being all that helpful with making a portal!" said Luz. "I've already been gone a month, I need to get home. If Severine can help me, I need her!"
"Fine, then leave me out of it!" said Monarch, jumping off of Luz. "I'm just… gonna hang around here." They sounded choked up. Luz paused.
"Monarch-"
"Just go with your new Coven Scout friend!" said Monarch. Luz sighed, and walked away.
Luz stood before the stairs leading into the Titan's Cathedral. Despite herself, she couldn't stop a sense of wonder from filling her. Severine stood back, generating a sense of pride through her mask.
The Cathedral was made out of the same dry white substance as Severine's spear. The stained-glass windows could be seen from far away, but up close, they were so much bigger. The biggest one, in the central tower, showed a gargantuan skull the size of a mountain with huge antlers, numerous witches in multicolored robes bowing before it. A huge cross was inscribed below the window with a bird face etched into the intersection. Smaller windows showed people in bird masks battling monstrous humanoid figures, and huge buildings being constructed over forests.
Seven symbols were carved into the walls, door, and stairs, over and over again. A horned demon face, a flame surrounded by snowflakes, a flower, a fading silhouette, a mirror casting a shadow, and a bottle releasing bubbles. Always in that order.
"This whole building is a symbol of the power and unity of the Coven System," said Severine. "All of witchkind united in the Titan's path under Emperor Belos."
"Well, I'm going to be gone the second you show me a portal, so…" said Luz.
"Right," said Severine. "Then let us enter!" Throwing her cape in a manner that was probably supposed to be dramatic, she strode up to the massive doors and swung it open.
The inside of the Titan's Cathedral was dry and stale, bathed in multicolored lights from the stained-glass windows. Each section of the Cathedral was painted in different colors: yellow, cyan, purple, green, blue, and dark red. Witches wearing robes of the corresponding color sat in the sections on pillows, praying or meditating. A couple white-robed Coven Scouts strode through the Cathedral, occasionally stopping to tell a couple witches something.
Severine quickly guided Luz through the halls, leading her through a side door and into a staircase. It was not lavishly painted, but the bare, dry, white substance. "What is this stuff?" Luz asked, tapping on a wall.
"Titanbone," said Severine.
"I'm sorry, what?!" exclaimed Luz, jerking back from the wall.
"Oh… don't you have Titanbone on Earth?" said Severine. At Luz's frantic headshaking, she said, "It's a holy substance! The Titan's, well, bones! We harvest shavings from ribs, from the Skull Mountains… anywhere we find it, it's the property of the Imperial Coven. We use it for sacred items, like cathedrals or our spears." She held up her own. "It's more durable than the hardest wood and allows a connection to the Titan. How do you not have it?!"
"Earth doesn't worship your Titan," said Luz. "Our gods… aren't on the world."
"Really? Then how do you know to worship them?" said Severine.
Luz didn't respond for a couple seconds, then said "It works for us, alright?! Can we keep moving?"
"Sorry!" said Severine. They walked in silence for a couple minutes, descending the stairwell under the illumination of orbs of light.
Severine broke the silence. "I really am sorry. I've devoted my whole life to the Titan, and hearing about different ways… it just took me a minute to wrap my head around. I didn't mean any disrespect."
"Eh, it's alright," said Luz, flashing a brief smile. "Doesn't matter that much to me." They arrived at the bottom of the stairwell, face-to-face with a wall of Titanbone. Severine tapped her spear to the wall and several runic designs appeared on it in red light. The wall vanished, revealing a small room with a table covered in various scrolls and potion bottles.
Severine traced a circle of magic, and a flower the size of a barstool grew in front of the table. She took a seat and began surveying the scrolls. "So… do you know some of the local stars around Earth? I need to know where in the universe I'm sending you."
"I could draw out some constellations, would that work?" Luz suggested, grabbing a blank scroll.
"T-that'll do," said Severine. Luz started sketching. It had been a while since she drew anything, and it was nice to get back in the habit.
Eda's lips pressed together in concentration as she added three drops of slitherbeast spit- no more, no less- into the tiny vial. With all the ingredients assembled, she traced a magic circle, imbuing the potion with power and drawing the spirit of the Titan out from within each of the ingredients.
It crystallized into a clear orange liquid. Eda smiled with satisfaction and proudly inhaled the acrid scent. Making her elixir wasn't easy, but it was certainly worth it, and made for a good brag among other wyld witches.
Her pocket vibrated with force. Eda sighed and pulled out her scroll, a purple rectangle made from Titan vitreous humour. She wasn't sure about the Imperial technology, but it made keeping an eye on Monarch much less of a hassle.
Speak of the adorable devil. "EEEEDAAAAAAA!" squealed Monarch's voice from the scroll.
"What is it, Monarch?" said Eda, aggravated.
"Luz went with a Coven Scou-how-houuut!" Monarch wailed. Eda sat bolt upright. "She thinks she's gonna get a portal to Eeaar-her-herth! But she's gonna get eaten by Emperor Beell-lell-loooos!"
"Alright, Monarch, try to calm down! I'm on my way!" said Eda. "Try to go to her and get her dumb human ass outta there! Be there soon!"
"I AM CAA-HAA-HAAALM!" Monarch whined.
Eda closed her scroll and twirled a magic circle. Telekinetic energy in yellow seized her cloak, breastplate, and potion sash, which hurtled across the house into her lab and assembled on her body. She felt Owlbert's presence at the back of her mind and reached into him through their connection, sending an order. Come.
The little owl was fluttering towards her as she threw the door open and burst out of her lab. She felt his mind questioning her urgency. She hastily thought at him Luz in trouble. Help.
Owlbert shifted into his wooden staff form and Eda quickly dropped onto him, sidesaddle. She sent the image of Bonesborough into his mind and he took off like a rocket. Palismen weren't smart enough to grasp the whole situation, but Owlbert was smarter than most and protected Luz once already. Eda hoped he'd get there in time.
Severine's mask made it difficult to tell where she was looking, but right now, Luz was pretty sure that the Coven Scout was staring at her. "What?"
Severine took a moment to respond, as if she was thinking over her words."So… you said you've been here a month. How'd you manage to survive?"
"I had help," said Luz. "A wyld witch named Eda took me in. She's weird, but nice." In the corner of her constellation map, she began to absently sketch out a light glyph.
"Really? And where did she live?" said Severine quickly, almost tripping over her words.
"Out in the forest," said Luz absently. She held up her paper, having sketched out Orion and Hydra on it. "Think this is good enough coordinates to get me home?"
"Sure, but where in the forest?" said Severine.
Luz's heart leapt at the confirmation, thinking about hugging her mami again, but something stopped her. "Why do you care about Eda anyway?"
"I- uh- no reason," said Severine "Just- just asking aboooouuut your experience in the Isles…"
"You're stammering," said Luz cooly.
"Well, YEAH!" said Severine, much too loudly. "I do that when I'm nervous!"
"And why are you nervous?" said Luz.
"I-I-" Severine took a moment to collect herself. "Luz, look. Let's move on. I can try to make your portal now, and-"
"Yeah, see, thing is… I'm starting to have my doubts about that," said Luz, slowly reaching for her baseball bat. "I don't know this place, but I know people. And a cop actually helping someone? Someone from another world? I should've guessed something was up."
"You're overreacting!" said Severine.
"Oh really? Then why do you care about Eda?" Luz challenged.
"The Owl Lady is a wyld witch!" Severine shouted. "She's a threat to our way of life! She can't be trusted with an unarmed, naive human! For your own good, you have to help us arrest her!"
"There it is," said Luz bitterly.
She sprinted towards the door, but the humming of a magic circle echoed through the small room and a sudden force gripped hold of her legs. Luz struggled against it, trying to move forward, but it was as hard as iron.
Severine slowly walked towards her. "The first human to make it to the Boiling Isles doesn't just get to walk away. Emperor Belos will be very interested in finding you." She leveled her spear at Luz. "Now. Where is the Owl House?"
Luz struggled against Severine's telekinetic grip, but couldn't escape. "Fuck you," she spat.
Severine glared, traced a circle, and suddenly vanished. Before Luz could process it, the rest of the room suddenly went dark, leaving Luz floating in a black void. Tiny stars suddenly began to pop up on the black walls. Her sketches of Orion and Hydra floated by, lines connecting them. "What is this?" Luz gasped.
"It's your home," came Severine's voice from all around her. Luz looked down to realize her feet were standing on green grass. "Here you are, back on Earth, Luz."
Luz shook her head, trying to dispel the images, but they remained. "No! This isn't real!" she shouted.
"It's as real as you'll ever get," said Severine. "You're never getting back there. It's not possible. So why not just spend the rest of your time seeing it? I can make that last forever." Luz opened her eyes to find rain falling from the void- probably meant to be the night sky. It touched Luz's hands, bringing cold, refreshing, relief. "All you have to do is tell me where the Owl House is."
Luz shook her head, desperately refusing, when suddenly Severine let out a cry of pain. The illusory Earth and telekinetic bonds vanished, giving way to the room. Severine was crying out in pain as Monarch latched onto her shoulder, the demon sinking their teeth into her flesh.
Seizing her chance, Luz sprinted to the door and flung it open. "Monarch! Come on!" she yelled. Monarch let go of Severine and ran towards Luz, jumping up onto her shoulder. They sprinted up the Titanbone staircase, but suddenly, in a burst of blue light, Severine appeared in front of them. Her mask fell off, revealing a hairy feline face with bone spikes emerging from her neck.
"I'm not letting you get away that easy," Severine snarled, lunging with her spear. Luz's bat slammed into the spear shaft, knocking the tip into the wall. Severine advanced, thrusting out repeatedly as Luz barely deflected the attacks.
Monarch leapt off her shoulder and bit Severine's ankle. She let out a cry of pain, and Luz, seizing her opening, lunged and slammed the Coven Scout into the wall. Luz and Monarch shoved past Severine and ran up towards the door.
Severine's head rang and her ankle and shoulder were bleeding, but rage was rushing through her as she focused on the two fleeing convicts. She punched the air, then swung her arm in a circle, tracing a massive spell circle with a great ringing chime. A huge blue fireball rushed up the stairs, slamming into Monarch and Luz's backs. They were flung forward and slammed through the door.
Luz moaned as she struggled to her feet. The flames had vanished as fast as they had been conjured, but her body ached with heat. Severine strode out of the staircase, brandishing her spear. "Ready to come quietly, human?" she snarled.
An idea popped into Luz's head. She drew her sketch of constellations from her pocket, then tapped the light glyph she had drawn in the corner. The paper crumpled into a globe of light, which floated into the air. Severine's eyes widened at the human's display of magic. Her hesitation was her fatal error.
Swinging back her bat, Luz slammed it into the globe of light, sending it flying into Severine's face. Severine cried out in pain, her hands flinging to her eyes. Luz grabbed Monarch and sprinted away, running through the halls of the Titan's Cathedral. As she ran, Luz noticed that everyone was asleep, even the Coven Scouts and priests. A strange scent carried in the air.
As she drew towards the doors, she stopped short. Eda Clawthorne was standing before them, several broken potion bottles on the floor around her. "Eda! You came!" cried Monarch happily, jumping into her arms.
"Okay, fumes should be clearing up," said Eda. "C'mon, kids, let's skedaddle."
Luz hung back. "Eda, I…"
"Whatcha waitin' for, kid?" said Eda.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" came a cry. Luz spun around to see Severine staggering towards them, her eyes bloodshot and white robes stained red. "You won't escape, human! Tell me where the Owl Lady is, or I'll-"
"Or you'll what?" Eda challenged, walking around Luz to meet Severine dead in the eye.
Severine staggered back as if Luz had punched her again. "You… Owl Lady… Clawthorne…"
"I don't appreciate people fucking with my apprentices," said Eda. She calmly took the last unbroken vial off of her sash and tossed it at Severine's feet. A cloud of orange smoke rose into the cat demon's face, and Severine's eyes rolled back into her head. She fell backwards, snoring.
"Sleeping nettles!" shouted Eda triumphantly. "Put everyone here right to sleep. Potions are fun."
"Eda, I'm… sorry I trusted Severine," said Luz. "I was just so desperate to get home, that I-"
"Don't worry about it!" said Eda. "Ya got to see Bonesborough and run around like crazy, and that's what counts, right?" At Luz's expression, she said, more softly, "The Imperial Coven has everyone in the Boiling Isles buying into them as great heroes. Including me when I was younger. I ain't gonna fault ya for making a mistake that everyone here has made. Especially since you made up for it and punched a Scout in the face!"
"Yeah!" said Luz.
Eda summoned Owlbert, who turned into a staff. Monarch quickly climbed on, and Eda took a seat sidesaddle. "C'mon, Luz. Let's go home."
Luz carefully climbed astride Owlbert, and the palisman took off. They flew through the air over Bonesborough, the setting sun painting the city in gold and orange. Witches and demons made their way through the streets. Steam was released from a factory composed of endless gears and rotating globes.
They passed a massive dirigible, its rudder composed of countless gears and steam-spitting motors, and the balloon made of a purple, semi-solid substance. Luz waved to the windows. Eda flipped it off.
Exiting Bonesborough, they flew over the red-leafed Intestine Forest. Owlbert suddenly shot upwards. Luz let out a cry of surprise, clinging to the staff as they climbed higher and higher. Eda let out a woop of glee as they passed through a cloud, which was steamy and hot. Owlbert eventually came to a glide, high in the air. Luz looked down.
The Boiling Isles stretched out beneath her, wide and vast. A gargantuan ribcage the size of several mountain ranges enclosed red ground. Bonesborough was barely a blip on that expanse. The Titan was everywhere Luz looked. An immense mountain in the far distance was a raised leg. Tiny cities dotted the body of the beast. Miles away, Luz could barely make out what looked like arms, stretching out into the sizzling, boiling, ocean. And up ahead, Luz could barely make out a vast shape like a skull, two antlers raising from it into the heavens.
"Welcome to the Boiling Isles, kid," said Eda.
Luz smiled. "Maybe this won't be so bad."
With that, they dove towards the ground, flying towards the Owl House.