Chapter Text
On a hill, there was a huge manor made from stone, decorated with beautiful glass windows and a big spire. It stood on the top of the hill, surrounded by gloomy forest and located just outside of the town of Bonesborough. The wealthy Blight family lived there. Blight Manor was a place not many could visit, as its owners would be very picky of who they associate themselves with.
At the Blight Manor, Odalia Blight, wife to Alador Blight, the owner and master of the manor, had a visitor from the Emperor's Castle. It was one of the masked members of Emperor's Coven. Servants whispered with each other, wondering what was the purpose of the meeting.
Edric and Emira Blight, twins and oldest children of Mr and Mrs Blight, snooped closeby their mother's work room, which was more of a place where the lady of the house would meet important visitors. They saw one of the servants leave Odalia's room, after serving refreshments, and tried to question her.
“Heeyyy did you see who mother was seeing?”
“Did he have a similar mask than those like a billion members of Emperor's Coven? Or actually someone important?”
“Edric, there isn't a BILLION members in Emperor's Coven. There isn't even that many people in the whole Boiling Isles.”
“It is just a figure of a speech... Amelia, back me up!”
Amelia, an older servant, smiled at the mischievious twins, already accustomed to their antiques. Holding an empty serving tray with only one hand, she patted the top of Edric's head. She had known the twins from since they were small, and Edric was in good terms with the lady.
“I'm afraid I cannot tell you anything, young master and mistress. You will have to ask your mother yourselves.”
Edric pouted.
“As if she would tell anything to us!”
“For once he speaks the truth”, Emira said, defeated.
“Not to you anyway...” a new voice chimed in.
Twins and the servant looked to their side, seeing the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Blight, Amity. Young witch shook her head to her siblings, with a smug smile on her face, green hair moving in the air.
“Mother knows you two - if she told you anything high of value, you two would most probably babble about it by yourself and soon everyone would hear”, Amity continued.
“Wait”, Edric opened his mouth, tilting his head, “did you just call us babblemouths?”
Amelia bowed and left with her tray.
Emira sighed at her twin. “She did, Edric, she did."
Suddenly Mrs. Blight's room's door opened. Edric and Emira were quick as cats and ran away the very second the door was opening, leaving Amity to stand there, right next to the door.
A tall fellow, no doubt a member of Emperor's Coven, marched out. Odalia Blight followed him.
“The plan will continue then. I will succeed where Lilith seems to be failing. I knew that Clawthorne would be too soft to carry out Emperor's will”, Mrs Blight said while moving. Then she noticed Amity, her eyes opening wide.
“I will take my leave. I will go report to the Emperor”, member of Emperor's Coven said, bowed to Mrs Blight and walked down the hallway, towards the exit.
Odalia's eyes were still on Amity.
“Amity. What the damned are you doing here?”
The young witch tried to remain calm while getting red of anger, angry towards the twins for deserting her like this. Then she breathed calmly and curtsied to her mother.
“Dear mother, I was coming to tell you how I got a high grade in Abomination test, yet again. I was not aware you had a visitor.”
Odalia's glare softened, followed by her normal stern look towards her child.
“That's all? You have always gotten high grades. And that is how it is supposed to be. We do not want that one scandal to repeat itself, when that Park girl got a better grade. By cheating, however, I heard...”
Amity got a little nervous.
“Yes, mother, of course, mother. But that incident was because of that human though. The pet of that Owl Lady... I will keep an eye on her. I will not delay you any longer, I will take my leave...”
“Wait.”
It was as if Mrs Blight had an idea. The woman had a wide smile creeping to her lips – a rare feat, usually she kept herself calm and neutral.
“Amity, my dear, do come inside, tell me about your last test, and of the school...”
Amity was practically pushed inside of her mother's work room, then ordered to sit on a simple chair in the middle of the room. Odalia Blight sat at her high chair next to her, dark wooden chair with high back, with red silk cushions for back, seating and hand rests.
“Do tell.”
Amity took a moment to gather her thoughts. Not often her mother would ask about her day, only if there would be something of benefit behind the query. Something told Amity that would be the case now – as usual.
“Well you see, mother, no one is better at the Abomination track than I am, I made my abomination to do a double pirouette when it was rising. Our teacher gave me extra credit...”
Mrs Blight poured herself red liquid from a carafe left by the older servant. She took a sip and looked at her daughter.
“What about that... human?”
“Luz? She got banned from Hexside but somehow got in as a student, she just started recently...”
Odalia Blight's eyebrows raised a little.
“Student, hmm?”
“Yes, it is stupid, but that Owl Lady somehow got her in, and now she is in the school, somehow studying all the tracks...”
“She is associated with Edalyn Clawthorne?”
“She lives with her in the Owl House”, Amity replied. She was trying to remember how it looked when she was there to help with Willow's lost memory. “Very odd place to live in, when I last saw the place...”
“You... have been there?”
Amity winced, realizing she had talked out of turn. She panicked.
“No! I mean, once I saw the outside of it when on completely different business!”
Mrs Blight's eyebrows raised more. She stood up, walking close to where Amity was sitting.
“Amity, Amity, Amity... I have eyes everywhere. I know you are acquainted with that human, Luz. It is very bold move of you, after your father and I told you to stay away from that Park girl. I am very surprised at you...”
Amity trembled under her mother's gaze. Mother and daughter looked at each other for a moment, Amity shivering and panicking internally, Odalia with a fixed gaze. Suddenly the older Blight's stare softened.
“However that connection can be used”, Odalia Blight said and smirked.
“Huh?” Amity managed to blurt out.
“You must have heard what I said to our guest before he departed from our manor”, Mrs Blight said while getting seated again. “And as my most trusted child, with greatest accomplishments, with best loyalty... you will hear something marvelous.”
Amity leaned forward, curiosity taking over her.
Odalia Blight smirked.
“As you know, I have clawed my way up. Getting the best grades in Hexside. Being the most trusted student. Then getting the eye of your father, the heir to the Blight family, then getting name for myself. But I never got into the good grades of Emperor Belos. Ever since helping that wretched Lilith Clawthorne to curse her sister – albeit without her knowing - I thought I could get into Emperor's Coven myself... but Lilith has thwarted my plans all over and over again.
Now, Emperor Belos is getting tired of Lilith failing at every opportunity. He wants his target, making Lilith to retrieve it, but that Clawthorne witch is too soft.”
“What... what is she trying to accomplish for the Emperor?” Amity asked very carefully.
“To capture Eda Clawthorne, the Owl Lady – and get her portal to the human realm.”
Amity gasped.
“I know, I know, getting her own sister to do it, even the Emperor should see Lilith doesn't have what it takes”, Mrs Blight said and took a sip from her glass. “That is why I am going to succeed where she fails!
And this is where you can help me, my dear Amity... your connection to that human, it could be the key. You could get closer to her, and get the portal when they last expect it!”
“To... to trick Luz?” Amity sounded like she struggled for air. She knew it wasn't right, but she has never said no to her mother. And the woman's facial expression wasn't hard to read: disagree with me and I will make you regret it. “I... I will try, mother”, she said, defeated.
The grin on Odalia Blight's face widened. She was one step closer to her goal.
"You are dismissed, child."