Chapter 12

Mila and Solana had just gotten out of school and were waiting for their parents when suddenly they saw someone flying in on a staff, which transformed into a bat and the dark-haired woman landed in front of them. "Are you two Mila and Solana?" She asked.

Solana gently pushed Mila to stand behind her, standing in front of the younger girl protectively. "We don't have to answer that. Our mom told us not to talk to strangers," she said.

Bootstilla smiled at that, proud that the girls were being cautious. "Good, you two are cautious," she said, which confused the two young girls, which the young woman noticed. "Always be cautious until the danger of that evil woman passes, little ones. She is getting more desperate and I fear she may try to send someone to kidnap you two."

Batty turned into a staff again and Bootstilla climbed on. "Be careful, young ones," she said before flying away. But just as she was about to fly towards her camp in the forest behind Luz and Amity's house, lightning hit the ground near the school, scaring the kids and startling the teachers. Bootstilla turned sharply to see Odalia appear from an open portal just as Luz and Amity's car pulled into the parking lot of the school.

Both women jumped out in alarm, calling up their staffs and glaring at Odalia. "What are you doing here?!" Amity yelled in anger.

"Oh, Amity, how long did you think you could hide my granddaughters from me?" Odalia asked, smirking. "I have a right to know my grandchildren."

Solana and Mila began trying to creep over to their parents' car and Bootstilla quickly landed behind Amity and Luz, glaring at Odalia before turning to look at the girls. "Keep moving to the car," she said to them. "I'll help your folks keep you safe."

The girls did just that, noting that the bounty hunter moved with them, acting like a shield. Odalia noticed. "You!" She growled out. "You traitor! I paid you to bring my granddaughters to me!"

"You did," Bootstilla said, not denying it. "But you should have known better than to pay with fake money."

One teacher, recording the incident, gasped in shock, but no one noticed. Amity growled and called up a few Abominations. "Get out of here, Odalia," she growled, not even calling her 'mom'. "And leave my daughters and Luz alone."

Odalia grit her teeth. "How dare you, you insolent girl!" She said, sending an attack towards them.

Bootstilla jumped in front of the two women, facing Odalia and the attack struck her, but to everyone's surprise, the bounty hunter didn't even flinch, the attack not affecting her. Luz was surprised. "Guess the story was true about her having immunity to magic," she said.

Bootstilla turned to the two women. "Get to your daughters and go to the abandoned mall in town. My friends and I will meet you there," she said urgently. "Go, now!"

Solana and Mila jumped into the car and Amity and Luz were right behind them, Luz putting the car in gear and driving off quickly. "No!" Odalia screeched angrily, but Bootstilla moved fast and sent out a kick that knocked Odalia back into the portal she had come out of.

"Batty! Destroy that device!" She said, pointing to the device keeping the portal open.

The palisman flew into the portal and began attacking the device, biting it and clawing at it, cutting wires. "No!" Odalia cried out, running up to the device just as the palisman took off through the rapidly-closing portal, making it to Bootstilla just in time. She held him close as he rested.

"She knows where their school is," she said in realization. "We have to get them all somewhere else."

With that, she began walking to the old mall, letting her palisman rest on her shoulder. It wasn't a long walk and she arrived in time to see an adorable sight.

Nabo, having a huge soft spot for children, was showing Mila and Solana how he could create and control vines while the girls sat in his lap, watching in awe. Calabaza was nearby with Amity and Luz, who were watching to make sure their daughters were alright before Amity looked away, saddened and Luz, noticing this, hugged her.

The bounty hunter entered the old building and saw them look up at her. "I sent Odalia back into the portal and Batty destroyed the device controlling it, but if she knows where the girls go to school, it might only be a matter of time before she finds out where you're living."

Amity growled right then, forming a fist of purple goop and punching a nearby wall that crumbled as she did so. "Why?!" She yelled. "Why can't she just leave us alone?!"

"Sweet Potato!" Luz said, quickly grabbing Amity around the waist and hugging her. "Amity, stop," she said, keeping her voice down. "You're scaring the girls."

Mila and Solana, having never seen their mother react in anger, clung to Nabo, who held them comfortingly and reassured them that their mother wasn't angry at them but rather at their evil grandmother.

Seeing her daughters' scared faces, Amity calmed down but then broke down into tears, to which Luz held her and Calabaza came over, hugging the two of them. "Why?" Amity asked tearfully and they knew what she was asking.

"She doesn't know when to quit," Calabaza said gently.

Bootstilla nodded sadly before looking at Nabo. "Nabo, I think we need to take Luz, Amity, and their daughters somewhere else other than their home," she said. "The danger is too close to home now."

"You're right, Little Pumpkin," Nabo said, standing up with the girls in his arms. "Somewhere Odalia will not expect them to go."

Luz perked up as she thought of a place. "Sweet Potato, what about your dad's house?" She suggested. "Don't your siblings live in the same house too?"

"It's a double house where Dad lives in one half and they live in the other half, but essentially yes," Amity said before nodding. "It would be a safe place. Dad did say the security is tight."

"And the girls can meet their grandpa, aunt, and uncle."

"Would your dad be alright with you guys suddenly showing up?" Bootstilla asked. "Because I don't think we can get a message to him in time without Odalia possibly finding out."

"She's right," Calabaza said. "Not only that, we'd have to move out late tonight."

"I know the way we can take, but it would require traveling underground," Nabo said.

Luz blinked. "Um, is it safe?" She asked.

"Yes and you wouldn't be underground for long," Nabo reassured her.

"Nabo would grow what I like to call traveling pea pods," Bootstilla said. "Each one fits one person and what belongings they bring. And the trip is actually really quick. Five minutes tops."

Solana and Mila looked interested in what Bootstilla said and Luz nodded before looking at Amity, who nodded too. "Okay," the purple-haired woman said.

A quick trip by staffs, which Solana and Mila always loved, while the two scarecrows traveled underground, the group was soon back at Luz and Amity's house. Luz called her mother to let her know what was going on and Camilla told them to be careful and promised she'd kick Odalia out if the woman dared to show up at her house. Vee promised the same.

It didn't take long for Luz and Amity to pack their suitcases and backpacks, doing the same for their daughters, who helped out. Soon, the family was in the backyard, ready to go. Nabo placed a hand on the ground and five pea pods large enough to hold one person popped out of the ground.

"Alright, hop in," he said.

Amity set Mila in one and kissed her forehead. "It'll be a very quick trip, sweetie," she said. "Think of it like that roller coaster ride you liked at the park."

Mila nodded and watched as Luz put Solana in another pod. "It'll be okay, Mija," she said soothingly.

Solana nodded before looking over at her sister, who smiled. "Love you, big sis," the little girl said.

"Love you too, little sis," the older girl said.

Bootstilla climbed into another pod while Luz and Amity climbed into the last two. "Ready?" Calabaza asked once they were all settled in.

"Ready!" The girls called out excitedly, making the two scarecrows smile.

"Ready," the bounty hunter said with a nod as Batty settled in beside her.

Luz took a deep breath. "Ready," she said, holding String Bean close.

Amity hugged Ghost, who purred happily. "Ready," the purple-haired girl said.

The pods closed and moved fast. Luz was shocked at how fast it was going. "How fast are we going?" She asked aloud.

Amity shrieked a little at how fast she and Ghost were traveling, having not expected that. Solana and Mila were giggling and laughing, enjoying the ride.

Bootstilla smiled as she noted how fast the pod was traveling. "Nabo really didn't want Luz, Amity, and the girls to be scared of this," she said to Batty.

Five minutes after the pods began traveling, they paused and burst out of the ground. Nabo and Calabaza popped up out of the ground at the same time and the pods opened up. Bootstilla, more than used to traveling by the pea pods, jumped out first and went over to help Luz out.

"Whoa, that was fast," Luz admitted.

"Nabo never goes back on his word," Bootstilla said before helping Amity out, the young woman looking like she'd rather not go through the experience again. "You okay?"

Amity let out the breath she was holding, taking a few deep breaths. Nabo came up to her and hugged her. "Shh," he soothed her. "It's alright, Amity."

She began to calm down as Bootstilla and Luz helped the two young girls out of their travel pods. "That was fun!" Mila said excitedly.

"Can we do it again sometime?" Solana asked hopefully.

"Maybe once Odalia is taken care of," Luz said to her daughters.

Just then, Bootstilla noticed they were inside a gated area and there was a massive house in front of them, like a mansion. A door opened and a brown-haired man wearing a dark lab coat came out to see them. He looked wary but his eyes lit up at seeing Amity. "Mittens?" He called out.

Hearing her dad's affectionate nickname for her, Amity turned to him. "Daddy?" She asked before running up to him, hugging him tightly.

Alador hugged his daughter before seeing Luz come up with two young girls, two scarecrows, and a dark-haired girl he recognized as Bootstilla, the bounty hunter. He looked worried then.

"It's Odalia, isn't it?"


Holy cow this chapter took off on me. :)

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GoldGuardian2418