Chapter Text
As if Darius wasn’t already worried about Hunter, it only got worse when the head witch wasn’t able to find the boy in the morning. Hunter was supposed to have a sewing lesson with Darius but since the boy didn't show up Darius decided that it would be best to go the Hunter's chambers to find the little prince.
Darius knocked and knocked but Hunter didn't answer, maybe he's just sleeping, Darius thought to himself, that boy deserves more rest. Darius sighed and pulled out the master key that was given to him when he became a coven head. Darius hated unlocking people's doors without good reason, it made him feel like he was invding their privacy, but he needed to make sure that Hunter was okay. Darius worried that Hunter may had done someting to himself, Titan knows the boy was been in a terrible mental state. Darius inserted his key in the locked and twisted, obviously it worked.
The covenhead pulled the door and stepped into the teenager's bedroom. "Hunter?" Darius called out, there was no answer. Darius noticed that the boy's bed was empty and that his blankets had been thown into the floor, he moved closer to inspect the bed. Darius placed a hand on the middle of the boys bed, cold. Hunter hadn't been in bed for a while, and most likely never had been to begin with. Darius, now suspicious, quickly checked the boy's personal bathroom and his closet, but there were still no sign of Hunter.
This couldn't be good. Darius left the room quickly, he thought of alerting Belos, but he stopped himself. That witch was the reason Hunter was so screwed up, and if Belos found out that Hunter went AWOL... things would only get worse for the boy. Darius decided on Raine, they and Darius were some of the closest people to Hunter, if the two of them couldn't find the prince then no one could.
Darius navigated the halls of the castle, combing through stairs, doors, and people before he got to Raine's chambers. He knew the bard was in there, he could hear the music they were playing. Darius knocked on the other coven heads door and the music ceased. Raine was quick to answer the door. They were dressed in their usual attire except they weren’t wearing their vest, only their red leggings and a white shirt.
Raine smiled at the other witch, “Good Morning, Darius, I didn’t think I’d be seeing you until tonight, come in, please.“ They allowed Darius to enter their chambers. Darius realized that this was the first ever time that he’d actually stepped into the Bard’s private quarters, the thought almost made him flustered. “Do you require something, or are you just here to see me?”
Darius shook his head. “I wish I was just here to see you, it’s about Hunter. I couldn’t find him in his room this morning, I think he’s gone somewhere.” Darius looked Raine in the eyes. The other coven-head seemed skeptical of Darius’ worry. “I think he left in the night, his bed is cold… and I couldn’t find his staff, he takes that thing everywhere.” Darius didn’t like talking about Hunter’s palisman any where were he might be overheard, but Raine already knew and it could be crucial to finding the boy.
Raine thought for a moment, “He couldn’t have left the castle, Belos would know by now and would’ve sent out a search party. Is it possible that he’s just hiding out somewhere, or maybe he’s with the Emperor? Or that he got up early to do something and lost track of time?”
Darius bit his lip. Sure it was possible that Hunter was with Belos or just off doing something else, but deep down, Darius knew Hunter was in trouble. “No, I don’t think so. Hunter was ecstatic when I told him that I would give him sewing lessons, I don’t think he would shirk them.” The abomination witch felt a knot in his stomach. “Raine, I think we really shouldn’t have opened that door. I think something could’ve happened to Hunter.”
Raine considered this, “I know, I don’t think we should have opened that door either, but what’s done is done and there’s no going back to fix it.” Raine reached out and took Darius’ hand into their own. “We’ll find him, where do you think he might be? He couldn’t have gone far.“
Darius took a breath, he tried not to be distracted by the bard taking his hand. “I’m not sure, I think it’s worth looking in the gardens or the training halls.”
——————
Darius and Raine made their way to the training halls first, neither of the two were able to spot Hunter in the crowds of scouts. Darius grabbed Steve to see if he knew anything about the boy’s whereabouts.
”Um, I don’t think he’s been in here today,” Steve took a looked around. Darius couldn’t see the expression in his face because he was masked, due to him overseeing the new recruits training. “I mean, I guess I could have missed him, but it’s been kind of slow today, I think I would have seen him.”
Darius clicked his tongue, he didn’t want to give away too much to Steve, but he needed to get information from the scout. “Are you sure? You didn’t see him at all? Think hard, please.”
Steve hummed, “No, I definitely didn’t see him. Why are you asking anyway? Did something happen to Hunt?” Steve crossed his arms. “I clock out at four, I can help you look for him if you need?”
Raine shook their head, “That won’t be necessary, nothings happened but Darius had a lesson with him and Hunter didn’t show up.” Darius nodded along with Raine, “It shouldn’t be long before we find him, I think he just forgot about the lesson.”
”Ah,” Steve jerked his head up. “I know what you mean. Well I hope you find him, I know he’s been struggling lately.”
Raine and Darius made one final sweep of the training hall with no luck. Darius began to sweat. The pair made their way to the gardens.
The gardens were empty as well, Darius felt as though a rock was sinking in his gut. “… I think we should check the door… I know it was sealed off when we opened it… but strange things happen all of the time.”
Raine nodded. “Maybe, but I think we should go to the throne room or the covenhead room first, Hunter could be on duty or talking to the other covenheads.”
Darius bit his tongue, he didn’t want to offend Raine by correcting them, but he knew Hunter wasn’t on duty, if he was on duty everyone would know. “Alright, but let’s be quick about it, I’m very worried about the door.”
——————
The door, despite its small stature, looked like a dark cloud in Darius’ mind. A reminder of uncertainty and dread as he and Raine approached it. “I don’t know if I have the strength to unlock it…” Darius’ heart clenched, he looked at Raine who recognized his pained expression. “I knew I shouldn’t have opened it… Belos gave me the key for a reason, now Hunter is missing, it’s all my fault!”
Raine placed comforting hands on Darius’ shoulders, they pull the abomination witch into their arms. Darius wraps his arms around Raine and clings like his life depends on it. “Hey, hey, nothing is your fault, we don’t even know if Hunter is missing. He’s probably just hanging out alone somewhere, or with some buddies, you know, shirking responsibilities. All teens do it.”
”Hunter is not like other teens though!” Darius says defensively. “He doesn’t have friends in the castle, he doesn’t slack off, and he definitely doesn’t sneak off.”
Raine shushed Darius. Darius felt himself sink into Raine’s embrace, his worries starting to dampen. “… I… could you open the door for me… I know there’s likely to be nothing behind it, but I just can’t.”
Raine gave Darius a small, forced smile, Darius could tell they were trying to be as comforting as possible. “Of course, and I’m sure there’ll be nothing there.” Darius broke their embrace the take the key from around his neck and press it into Raine’s palm. Raine went to the door, ready to end this nightmare.
Raine slotted the key into the lock.
The bard turns the key.
And a blue light seeps from beyond the door.
The next morning
When Hunter woke he was delighted to be back in his own bed. He stretched and figured that it must have been a bad dream. Hunter reached under his mattress, where he hid his Penstagram Scroll, and pulled up Willow’s profile. It’s been a while since he’d been in touched.
RULERZREACHF4N
Hey, I think I can sneak off for a day, any chance you’d be down for some Flyer Derby?
Hello_willow
Possibly :)
What day?
Hunter looked over at his calendar, not sure what day it was. Based on the calendar, and the fact that it have been a while since his last meeting with Belos, he figured it was Wednesday.
RULERZREACHF4N
How about Saturday? I think I have a therapy appointment so it’ll be a good excuse to be out of the castle.
Hello_Willow
It’s a date! :3
Hunter’s cheeks grew warm when he read the word “date.” He could wait to tell Darius and Raine, they would be proud of him for making plans with a girl he liked.
Hunter turned over in his bed only to be met with the golden button eyes of the doll that looked exactly like him. He jumped, nearly throwing his scroll, “Titan!” He exclaimed. He turned away for a moment until he had the courage to look back, he grabbed the doll and threw it under his dresser.
His morning was usual, he brushed his teeth, did some stretches, and then put on his Golden Guard Uniform. He looked into the mirror, more confident than usual. He heard a strong knock on his door, when he answered Steve was there, looking worried. “Hey Hunt, can I come in?”
“Yeah, sure?” Hunter answered, his mind raced, wondering what Steve had to say. Steve entered the room, Hunter watched him as he surveyed his surroundings. “What’s up?”
Steve shut the door behind him and quickly rounded on Hunter, Steve had a stern expression and spoke in a hushed voice. “Look Hunt, I know life has been tough for you lately, but you can’t just run off, especially when people are expecting you. What you did yesterday was dangerous, what if the Emperor had found out you snuck off?”
Hunter’s stomach drops. “I- I never left? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Steve scowls. “Cut the crap, Hunt, you were gone all yesterday! Darius and Raine were looking for you and now no one has seen them!” Steve sighs, “Look, I’m not trying to tell you off for finding a bit of freedom, but witches are talking.”
I was gone for a day..? Hunter thinks to himself, he thinks about the other realm… if he was gone then it must be real. And how does time pass there if it had been a whole day? How long had Hunter been asleep? “… I’m serious Steve, I never left, don’t you remember training with me yesterday?”
Steve takes on a perplexed look. “We trained together on Tuesday, Hunter, it’s Thursday.”
Hunter’s mouth is left ajar, “I, uh, look Steve, I, um, I’m not feeling well. Can you put in a sick day for me?”
Steve eyes him skeptically and pitifully. “Are you sure? Hunt, you know you can talk to me if something is wrong, right? Please don’t isolate yourself.”
Hunter laughed nervously, “I’m not! I promise!” Hunter begins to try and hurry Steve out of his chambers. “I just need a day to, um, get myself together. Thanks for your concern though!”
Steve stops at the door and looks back at Hunter. “Okay Hunt, I’ll leave you alone, but don’t forget you have a therapy appointment on Saturday, and I’m always here if you need me.” Steve shuts the door behind him.
Hunter’s stomach sinks, he feels gross for shooing Steve off, but how could he tell Steve that he’s been sneaking into a different realm? He would think that Hunter was loosing his mind. Hunter lets out a breath and sits on his bed, and what was that about no one seeing Raine or Darius? What did Steve mean by that? How could no one know where they are?
Hunter’s mind immediately went to the ‘other realm,’ could Darius and Raine be there? But why would they? Unless they went looking for Hunter and found the tunnel… Hunter had a feeling that the other-uncle wouldn’t be good to them if he found them there.
Hunter had maybe ten minutes before Steve put in his sick day and he would be quarantined in his bedroom, he had to act fast and get to the tunnel quickly.
Sometime during the night
The Beldam smiled when it sensed two witches enter its domain. It would have fun tormenting these ones.
Raine didn’t know where they were. When they and Darius came out of the blue portal it looked like they were in the same place they’d come from. It was eerily quiet, and Raine immediately felt like they were being watched.
Back to the present
Hunter hurriedly crawled through the tunnel, determined to face the ‘other-uncle’ and get Raine and Darius back. When he emerged his courage was tested, the ‘other-castle’ felt even bleaker than the real one. Hunter took a deep breath and began to walk towards the throne room, where he assumed the ‘other-uncle’ would be.