Work Text:
The slowly setting sun lit up the horizon in bright amber hues as a weary Raine slowly trudged up the stairs to their second-floor apartment. With their hushed promotion to Head Bard right around the corner (and all the tasks they'd need to have completed beforehand) it was no surprise this was the third day in a row they'd gotten home so weary they could hardly remain upright. It didn't help any that it had been a particularly grueling day.
Raine had been with Head Witch Crane when a guard from the Emperor's Coven rushed in and spoke to the retiring bard in a hushed tone. With a grim nod from Crane, the scout snatched the crystal ball from the worn desk and took off as quickly as he'd first arrived. Raine had been positively terrified, convinced their undercover subterfuge against Belos and the coven system had been discovered. A fear that only escalated tenfold when Crane informed them of a petrification ceremony to be held later that evening - the first of its kind in many years. The old man staunchly refused to elaborate further when Raine questioned who it was for or why, gruffly reminding them it was unbecoming of a future Head Witch to question the authority of the Emperor or his representatives. After the reprimanding, Crane just told Raine to be ready to rush to the petrification grounds at a moment's notice, should the usual ceremonial drumline director be unavailable.
Raine spent the rest of the day so on edge, their usually keen perception managed to overlook the lack of crystal balls or penstagram scrolls that would be practically everywhere on a normal day; and the pitying glances sent their way from former Hexside classmates only made them fear the worst. Raine was thoroughly convinced they'd been caught and they feared, not for themself, but for the fate of their BATT kids. From the very beginning they'd regret knowing the youngsters' involvement may have dire consequences should their involvement with Raine's plans be discovered. It came as a startling surprise when they were released for the day with no guards or EC scouts present to cart them off into the shadows. The only thing Raine heard again from their Head Witch was to go ahead and take tomorrow off to 'deal with the emotional turmoil of today's events' which was odd, but Raine chose to worry about deciphering that particularly cryptic message once they were safe inside their home, protective wards in place.
As Raine finally makes it through the door into their apartment, they quickly lock all three magicked deadbolts behind them before slumping against the nearest wall and releasing a long drown-out groan. "Titan's armpit! What a hellish day that was!" They hiss angrily.
They needed to check in with the kids, but fear that they may still be under scrutiny keeps their hands far away from either scroll or crow. Their stomach growls angrily and they realize they'd managed to completely skip lunch. Again. Raine groans before shucking off their boots, slowly plodding their way into the kitchen. As they pass by the crystal ball on their counter, they pull up the newest episode of 'The Haunted Lutist' set to be recorded early that day. The intro theme song blares out as they meander to the fridge and pull out a ceramic dish filled with leftover dire squid calamari. They're rummaging through the silverware drawer for a fork when the crystal ball makes the "Emergency Announcement" chime and they glance over their shoulder to see Perry Porter's face fill the screen, prepped to relay a message from earlier today.
"so much for my recorded episode" Raine sighs forlorn, turning back to the task of acquiring a fork while the projection of Perry prattles on about some hours-old news; the bard more focused on finally shoveling the first few bites of food into their mouth they'd had in hours.
" -in front of the Emperor's Castle. Edalyn Clawthorn-"
No.
Raine's blood runs cold as they spin on their heel to face the ball, heart hammering so loudly in their ears they miss Perry's next words. Surely they misunderstood the illusionist.
No. Not her. Never her.
Kikimora then appears on the screen and then they hear it: the news that would shatter their world. News that would take a decades old wound and drive it right through their heart with renewed vengeance. News, that they would later realize, everyone at work had been ordered to keep from them.
"Edalyn Clawthorn's body shall be petrified in stone today at sundown, here at the conformatorium!"
Ceramic fell from unfeeling hands and shattered across the floor, bits of squid and spicy sauce dousing the nearby cabinets and walls as Raine's body seizes before going limp.
"I... this can't... no!" Raine mumbles as they fall to their knees amidst the broken remains of their dinner, heart plummeting to their stomach. "Eda..." her name falls from their lips for the first time in years, followed by a broken whine.
Suddenly, as if jolted with a bolt of lightning, Raine lurches forward. Snatching up the crystal ball, they switch it to a current news broadcast. As the screen loads the bard's eyes flicker to the windows, realizing with growing horror it was already sundown which meant...
"No!" They snap loud and firm. "No! Not Eda! There's no way she's... it's not possible!" but as the crystal ball lit up with the newest feed, there in a cage right on the petrification platform was a hulking shape covered in silvery feathers. The creature bore an unmistakable resemblance to their beloved, and captions below described the scene as 'the Owl Lady in her terrifying owlbeast form'.
A pained sob tore its way from Raine's chest as they clutch the ball to their chest, once again slumping to the floor. Heated tears fall from their eyes and splatter on their glasses before trailing down the orb's glossy surface. "Oh Eda!!" they cry helplessly as they stare at her trembling form behind those cold iron bars. "What have they done to you?!"
Part of Raine itches to leap up and rush to Eda's side; to come crashing down right in the middle of the damnable ceremony for all to see. They want to pull Eda from that cage and set her free - whatever happened to themself be damned; but they knew, they mourned, knowing even if they that very second, no shoes and the door still ajar; even if they risked exposing Fiddlestick's existence, there was no way they'd make it there in time. All they'd manage to do is put themself and their BATTs under scrutiny (or worse) and risk having their palisman taken away forever. It would undoubtedly also ruin their plans to try and dismantle the whole broken system altogether, and right as they were about to make Head Witch and have the chance to make a real difference. So instead they sat there on the kitchen floor, weeping helplessly as they watched the woman, who still held their heart after all these decades, stared down a fate worse than death.