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Azura leaned against the cauldron, the murky contents swirling together to create a marriage of emerald and ruby liquids. The wooden spoon was gripped tightly in concentration, the endless spiral of bright colors unable to hypnotize the witch who peered beyond the contents to see an image take shape at the bottom of the cauldron. An image of a raven taking flight appeared before Azura’s eyes. The raven was practically invisible against the night sky. Only a few visible stars in the sky could briefly illuminate the feathery creature, its eyes carved from the blackest of stones. The raven continued to fly and Azura watched it settle atop a tree with faded grey leaves, many of which had fallen to the ground. The raven let out a pained cry and the image rippled once, then twice before fading away.
Azura stood back and smiled to herself before she crossed over toward her bedroom window. The stained glass captured the bright light of the full moon and her heart swooned as she thought back to her encounter with the wizard who called himself Kestrel. The good witch Azura and the silent wizard Kestrel had fought together to vanquish a dark and powerful enemy that threatened them both. But now Azura found herself missing her temporary companion and prayed that their stars would shine together again soon. As the witch gazed into the abyss, a glittering star arched across the night’s sky and she knew in her heart, their reunion was soon to come.
All she could go for now, was return to bed. Beside her, were six golden marbles, a gift from Malin Gael. Their significance would someday reveal themselves to her. For now, rest summoned her and she fell into a deep, comforting slumber.
The page of writing had been typed and in the bottom left corner there was the number: 17.
Hunter reread its contents, aware of the subtle clues and their meaning, as written by Luz to appear like a stray page from a fictional novel. The past few weeks, he and Luz had been stashing these pages around Bonesborough and Latissa, alternating to ensure no one got too suspicious of them. Hunter and Luz had teamed up to bring an end to Belos and his iron grip held upon the Boiling Isles. He and Luz had been corresponding through hidden messages and exchanging information that seemed of value. It took time to gain both her and Eda’s trust but Hunter felt it had been worth it as he could now consider them both allies and friends, something he wasn’t exactly accustomed to having.
According to Luz, the note had been written yesterday as indicated by the ‘page number’ in the corner of the page. And that in six days, he was to write something for her as well. He had already begun writing about his character, Kestrel, and what he had to offer Azura. He also had included some extra information about Kestrel’s backstory, letting Luz know about his own upbringing without having to fully expose his heart to her. At first, the idea of using a fictional book to disguise their letters was absurd but the more they had exchanged the notes, the more Hunter felt like he could escape the rotten reality he had been living in for long.
It was all he knew.
And yet meeting Luz, he felt as though there could be more to his life and his place within the greater world itself.
Hunter returned to the typewriter in front of him as it remarked about how he better hurry with his love letter before he had to report for duty. He glared at the machine and smacked the side of it, not wanting it to blow his cover with a few careless comments. Hunter typed a few more lines before he stopped and thought about how tense everything was with the Day of Unity fast approaching. Hunter had managed to uncover a few off-site locations that had recently been constructed under the order of Emperor Belos. He had hinted at that in his current note to Luz and hoped that Eda and the others might be able to help him investigate.
When it was time to leave, he fastened the typewriter shut, ensuring it didn’t get too chatty while he was off on patrol.
Hunter slipped on his gear and headed down the stone corridor before a shrill voice called out to him. He paused and turned to see Kikimora behind him. “Emperor Belos is requesting your presence, brat.” She chirped, a tone of disdain mixed with amusement behind her curt demand. Hunter nodded and readjusted his movements but it alarmed him that the short creature was continuing to trail behind him. His gut told him this summons was unusual but he had no other choice but to comply and hope that he was worrying over nothing.
Upon arriving at the large throne room, he spotted Belos flipping through several sheets of paper. Hunter’s jaw tightened. “I have brought the traitor to you.” Kikimora cackled. Hunter’s first instinct was to flee but his feet stayed rooted in place. “We found your notes from that human girl who has been meddling in our affairs, the one associated with the Owl Lady.” She said as Belos approached the pair. Hunter realized all other guards and staff were dismissed. It was just the three of them. His throat closed and he wished he brought L’il Rascal with him and now felt foolish for leaving his companion behind. His mind had been elsewhere, wherever Luz happened to be this dismal afternoon.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Belos asked Hunter.
“I don’t know what is going on here. I am not a traitor.” Hunter protested.
“You have been much like a son to me.” Belos said quietly, reaching out to place a hand upon the young man’s shoulder. The grip was not fatherly but forceful. Hunter tried not to wince but without his helmet, his plight was written all over his face. “Because up until recently you have been loyal to my cause and the people of Boiling Isles, I will grant you five minutes to flee.” Belos said quietly. “Flee and know it is futile to escape your punishment. Flee to the ones who poisoned your heart, and you can all burn together.” He leaned in, whispering the final words into Hunter’s ear.
“You are far too generous, Emperor Belos.” Kikimora lamented.
Not waiting any longer, Hunter turned and ran back down the hallway, making a few quick turns before he arrived back at his private quarters. Being the Golden Guard offered him much privilege and now he was on his own, cast out for being the snake Kikimora accused him of being on a regular basis. Hunter grabbed a leather bag and began to stuff it with clothes and items, though personal items were minimal for the young man. He noticed the pages from Luz he his under his mattress were gone and he knew someone must have found them and given them to Belos. He glared and whistled, a red bird fluttering from within his closet. “We have to go. Now.” He told his Palisman.
The red bird chirped and followed Hunter back out into the hallway as he ran for the main gate. Panic had set in and he wondered who he should turn to, if anyone. Belos knew about his connection to Luz and he couldn’t risk involving her. But then again, she already was involved. He gritted his teeth and made a run for the Owl House, his heart hammering into his chest. He banged on the door and Hooty was less than friendly to see Hunter in his uniform. “I just gotta talk to Luz or Eda.” He insisted, panting.
After some prodding, Hooty opened the door and found Amity, Willow, Gus, Eda, King and Luz getting ready for some kind of feast.
“Hunter?” Amity squinted and stood up, about to conjure up a fireball.
“Wait Amity.” Luz jumped up and put herself in front of the blond. “He’s good. He’s my friend.” She said and looked over her shoulder to Hunter. He offered Luz a smile before he fell to his knees, his legs too tired to keep holding him up. “Hunter!” Luz crouched down beside him. “What’s going on?” She could tell something was wrong.
“They know about me working with you guys.” Hunter muttered.
“But how? We were so careful.” Luz frowned, rubbing his back with her hand.
“They found where I stashed the notes.”
“Oh.”
“I’m so sorry, Luz.”
“What? Don’t be! I’m sorry you got caught.” Luz shook her head. “You can stay here as long as you need to. Right?” She looked to Eda who grumbled. “Eda.” Luz’s tone sharpened. “He put his life on the line to help us.”
“I know, kid.” Eda held up her hands, still not thrilled about another guest staying with her for what she assumed to be like Luz, indefinite. “Fine.” She sighed heavily after another moment, knowing damn well she couldn’t kick the guy out.
“It’s not that simple. Belos is coming for me, for all of us.” Hunter looked to the group. “What exactly is going on here?” He then asked, still a little puzzled.
“It’s a potluck.” Luz grinned and helped Hunter to his feet and then to an empty chair at the kitchen table.
“A what?” Hunter frowned.
“It’s where everyone brings an item of food to share as a group.” Gus said. “Luz can only eat certain foods around here so we’ve all been trying to offer her different foods to eat.” He lifted up a dark brown baguette. “I brought this!” He waved it around. “It’s like a long club to hit your mortal enemies!” Hunter smiled at Gus as Eda left the kitchen to go talk with Hooty about their defenses. If Belos was coming, then they had to be ready.
Amity cleared her throat, still standing. “You guys are really friends?” She asked Luz. “You didn’t tell me.”
“It’s news to us.” Willow spoke up and shrugged. “But it kinda makes sense.” Though Willow was a little insulted by the secrecy, she could see why the less people knew of Hunter’s shift in alliance, was better for everyone involved and those left unaware, like her and Gus. “You know I saw Luz giggling in the library writing something, I guess now I know the reason.” Willow smiled. Amity remained unsettled and headed to the living room. Luz looked to her friends and ran after Amity but the purple haired witch had already flown out the front door.
“What’s with her?” Eda asked Luz.
“I don’t know.” Luz sighed and went back to the kitchen, having not expected such a strong reaction from Amity.
A sudden explosion knocked Eda sideways. Another followed and Hooty alerted the occupants of the Owl House that troops had arrived and were launching attacks. “No kidding.” Eda snapped and grabbed her own Palisman. “Owlbert, let’s go.” She stepped out the front door. “Kids, go out the back!” She called out as she hopped on her staff and flew into the air. From then on, it was chaos as fireballs and lightning and other spells rained down the area as Belos unleashed wave after wave of soldiers. The group had become fractured, with Willow and Gus fighting on their own. King and Eda were kept busy with Hooty. And Hunter and Luz were trying to find a way to evacuate anyone in town while defending themselves from spells and attacks.
Belos hadn’t made an appearance yet but Hunter was expecting the worst, at this point.
A stray chunk of ice forced him to roll over to his side, colliding with Luz who had been trying to get off the ground, having been knocked back as well. “I’m sorry about everything, Luz. This is all my fault.” Hunter said as they got to their feet and moved so they were standing back to back. “Your friends are hurt because of me.”
“No, this isn’t your fault.” Luz said as she held a stick in hand, beginning to draw on the ground in front of her. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” There was a pause and she held back a giggle. “Well you know.”
Before Hunter could share his same feelings, a purple wave of goo crushed into the pair and glued them to the ground, it shook as the battle raged around them. Hunter could hear cries of people running, of Kikimora barking out orders to burn every building and traitor where they stood. Hunter and Luz struggled to move as a voice called out to them.
“It didn’t have to be this way, Luz.”
“Amity?” Luz struggled to raise her head.
The smoke cleared as Amity stepped closer and glared at the two she had trapped with her obedient abomination at her side.
“What are you doing?!” Luz cried out.
“You are way too trusting.” Amity shook her head. “I’m a Blight. You’re a human. This outcome should have been obvious to you.” Amity said, her voice cold, her tongue sharpened. “I wished you had come around to our way of thinking but Emperor Belos knows what is best for us and that requires eliminating you. You don’t belong here. You aren’t special. You’re a nuisance.”
“I thought we were friends.”
“I know.” Amity smiled, glad to hear her plan had been executed perfectly. “It’s a shame you couldn’t join us on better terms. But if you are not a willing prisoner then you’ll just have to die.” She raised her hand but before her abomination could smoother the two and finish them, a large thorn erupted from the ground and coiled itself around Amity and squished the abomination in one final motion. Amity cried out as the vine covered in spikes dug into her body. Though the white uniform gifted to her from Emperor Belos had provided her with some layering for added protection. “Damn you.”
“Leave them alone!” Willow called out as she and Gus ran toward Amity who was trapped. Gus pulled Luz free of the goo and then Hunter. “Run.” Willow told the pair. “We’ll take care of her.” Willow then commanded her plant to pull Amity down to the ground, keeping her pinned. Amity growled and countered, her hand still free to move and cast a fire spell toward Willow and Gus.
Rather than trying to help her friends or flee, Luz was frozen as she tried to accept the fact that Amity had not been her friend for the entirety of their time together. Over the last four or five months, Luz had thought she had been able to befriend an enemy like Azura. But Luz had to accept that she wasn’t Azura and might never be. “She’s right, I don’t belong here.” Luz said quietly though over the fighting, Hunter couldn’t hear her. All he could do was grab her hand and pull her towards somewhere safe. “Coming here has caused so much trouble for everyone. I was too dumb to realize it.” She muttered, beginning to drag her feet.
Hunter stopped and pulled them behind a small building that seemed to be one of the few still standing. “Luz, I have a way to the Human World.” He said, putting his hands on her shoulders.
“So you don’t think I belong here either?” She asked, not realizing her words had not reached his pointed ears.
“What?”
“You want me to leave.”
“No. I mean, it’s safer for you there.” Hunter had no idea what Luz was talking about. “Azura misses her mom right?” He thought back to one of the first pages he had gotten from Luz, several weeks ago when she wrote about Azura’s mother who was in another kingdom, far away.
“I guess.” The fire had faded from Luz’s eyes and Hunter found himself worrying for her. His heart ached. L’il Rascal chirped and sat on Luz’s head, trying to offer her some comfort. “It’s obviously better for everyone anyway.”
“I’m going to miss you.” Hunter said before he could stop himself. His face turned a slight red as he looked down. “I don’t feel like I belong here either.” He admitted though he felt guilt for saying so as he knew how badly Luz wanted to be a real witch living in their world. “But since meeting you, I felt like I belonged for once.” His face brightened. “So I’m going to miss that part of me when you’re gone.” He let go of her, wanting to go back to fighting for his life. At the moment, he felt like he was in a far more dangerous situation now than he was a few minutes ago with Amity threatening them.
A first behind her eyes flickered, an ember of ambition sparking.
“I’m going to miss you too.” She smiled slowly.
“Can I go with you?”
Her lips met his with an unspoken answer.
“Is that a yes?” He asked softly when they parted. She laughed and nodded, prompting him to smile sheepishly. “Good. Cause we don’t have much time left if we’re going to escape. I made a portal but I’ve never tested it before.” He held out his hand to Luz. She took it and smirked,
“Let’s go.” She said.