Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Luz Noceda woke up to the sound of clattering pots and pans. She rubbed her eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep, and sat up in her “bed”. Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the wooden walls of the Owl House, casting golden beams across her room. The familiar craziness downstairs meant one thing: Eda was attempting to cook breakfast.

With a yawn and a stretch, Luz slowly crawled out of her “bed” and slipped on her favorite hoodie. She smiled, staring towards the door, 

“Today is gonna be another great day!” She said aloud to herself.

As soon as she said it, Hooty burst through her window.

“HOOT HOOT YOU SAID IT LUZ TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY DO YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE RATS I ATE THIS MORNING???” Hooty said loudly, startling Luz.

“AAAA Hooty!!!! You can’t keep doing that!” She yelped.  “No, I do not want to hear about the birds you ate!, I have to go and save Eda from whatever she is trying to cook down there!” She continued, heading towards the door to leave.

“Hoot Hoot… WE CAN CHAT ABOUT IT LATER THEN!!!!!!! OOOOOO A FLY!!!!” Hooty said, darting out the window to chase a fly that had just darted past him.

“One day I am going to have a heart attack because of him.” Luz thought.

She opened up her door, heading downstairs towards the kitchen to confront whatever Eda was trying to cook for breakfast. At the bottom of the stairs she could see King across from her in the living room, curled up on the couch taking a nap. How he could sleep through all this ruckus was something Luz could never figure out. Scooping King up into her arms she snuggled him.

“Good morning my little snuggle muffin!” Luz said grinning.

“WAH! Oh, good morning Luz.” King said, yawning.

Luz heard a crash from behind her and swore she was able to see a pan fly across the room in the kitchen.

“How do you sleep through all this ruckus in the morning little guy?” Luz asked.

“I am the King of Demons! The King of Demons can sleep through anything!” King pridefully exclaimed, raising his paw. And then just to prove his point he settled back into Luz’s arms and passed out.

Luz laughed at his antics, setting him back down on the couch and heading towards the Kitchen. As she rounded the corner she started to open her mouth to say good morning to Eda. However, as soon as she looked into the kitchen she saw it.

“EDA WHAT IS THAT!” Luz yelled.

“BREAKFAST!”   Eda shouted back, throwing another pan at the giant bird flapping its wings in the living room.

“HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE BREAKFAST!” Luz responded, slowly backing up to grab some glyphs from the table behind her.

Eda threw another pot at the bird, “WELL IT WAS AN EGG A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO, BUT NOW IT’S THIS GIANT BIRD”

As Luz went to shout another response at Eda, she had thrown another pot at the bird, which nailed it right between the eyes. When the pot hit, the bird shrieked, running out of the kitchen and straight towards Luz. Luz jumped to grab her glyphs off the table, but the bird was faster, and as Luz turned around to use a glyph, the bird was already on top of her. 

However, Eda was even faster, basically teleporting in front of Luz quickly rattling off a spell that knocked the bird out instantly. 

“You okay Kiddo?” Eda said, turning around to check on Luz.

Luz stared at the glyphs in her hands blankly for a moment, and then at Eda. “Yes Eda I’m fine, but why does our breakfast always try to kill us!

“Sorry Kiddo, just a perk of the boiling isles!” Eda joked. “Are you really okay though, that was kind of close I’m sorry” 

Luz slowly got up from the floor, turning around to see King still sleeping on the couch. Laughing that he could still be sleeping through all of this, she responded “Yes Eda I’m good. Now can we have some breakfast that won’t try to eat me?”

Heading back towards the kitchen, Eda reached into one of the cabinets, pulling out an old box of human cereal and shaking it. “Well this is all we have right now, but at least it won’t kill us!” 

As if the box was a magical item, King magically appeared in the Kitchen. “OOO Human food GIMME.” He said, reaching his paws out to Eda.

Eda poured a bowl for all three of them. Handing the last one to King she said “So kiddo, any plans for today? Are the Hexnerds going to be around here again (Willow and Gus)?”

Luz and King both gobbled up their cereal, spookily mimicking each other.

“Yeah! Willow and Gus will be by later to pick me up so we can head to a Grudgby match! Then after that I’m heading to the library to hangout with Amity!” Luz said excitedly. 

“You better be back early tonight for our comedy show!!” King said, cereal still stuck all over his face.

Luz wiped the cereal off his face, “Of course I will be home for it you messy little goober!”

“That’s good Kiddo, I have some errands to run today anyways so it’s good that you're busy.” Eda said “And King, you’re coming along with me.”

King groaned, “More errands? Didn't we just do that like yesterday?”

“If by yesterday you mean last week, then yes… yesterday.” Eda responded, throwing a piece of cereal at him.

Getting up from the table Luz said “Well thank you for another amazing breakfast Eda, but is it cool if I just go and chill out in my room for a bit? Want a bit of time by myself before Willow and Gus get here.”

Eda looked at Luz with a bit of concern in her eyes “Yeah kiddo of course that’s fine. Are you sure you’re okay though?”

Luz stopped right before leaving the kitchen “Really I’m good! We always have close calls like that and we always are there to save each other! I swear I’m good.” 

“Okay kiddo, Just come and see me before the nerds get here later.” Eda responded, walking over to Luz and rustling her hair.

“I will Eda.” Luz said.

Luz left the kitchen, heading up the stairs and back to her bedroom. As she got back she grabbed a notepad and flopped down on her bed. She flipped to the next blank page and drew a light glyph. She activated it, watching it float up to the ceiling. She continued staring at it for a short while before bursting into tears, putting her head in her hands she whispered, 

“Will I ever be a real witch?”

Chapter Text

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Owl House. Luz leaned against her window sill, her eyes scanning the twilight sky, a sense of calm washing over her. The last two days had been peaceful, a rarity in the Boiling Isles. There were no more killer breakfasts from Eda, she had gotten to spend time with Willow and Gus at the Grudgby match, studied with Amity at the library, had an amazing comedy night with King, and even tagged along with Eda and King on some of their errands. It was a surprisingly normal weekend, considering how it started. She yawned, deciding it was probably a good time to get into bed. She had classes tomorrow after all. However, as she was about to get into bed she stepped on something, it crinkled underneath her foot.

“Huh?” Luz thought, bending down to pick up what she stepped on.

It was her glyph notepad. Luz frowned, she hadn’t drawn another glyph since the giant bird incident. She clenched her hands together, turning and throwing the notebook out the window. She stood there for a second with her hands still clenched. She wanted to punch something. After a minute she unclenched her hands and sighed. She crawled into bed, curling up and hugging herself. She didn’t want to cry again, but she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

Why did she feel like this?

Luz woke up the next morning to a gentle knocking on her door. She sat up groggily, her body fighting her as she did. She stared at her hands, still red from clenching together so hard as she cried the night before. She tried not to think about it as she wiped some dried tears off of her face.

“Come in.” She choked out, trying to sound like her happy, optimistic self.

The door opened, and Eda entered, a concerned look on her face. She took a quick look at Luz and that seemed to make her even more concerned. 

She took a seat in front of Luz and said, “Hey Kiddo? You okay? You have to leave to go to school soon, how come you’re still in bed?

“Oh… I must’ve just overslept! I couldn’t really sleep last night, I guess I was just too excited for classes again.” Luz responded scratching her head. “ Guess I should get up and head out then so I’m not late!”

Luz started to get out of bed but Eda grabbed her arm.

“Kiddo… Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been a bit off ever since the other day. You know you can talk to me… Right?” Eda said, staring at Luz with concern in her eyes.

Luz looked at Eda, trying her best to put on a fake smile. “Eda, really I’m okay! And duh I know I can talk to you, I would come to you if anything was actually bothering me.”

Eda let go of Luz’s arm, sighing, “Okay good, I just wanted to make sure.” Eda stood up offering a hand to Luz, “Well let’s go, I'll fly you over to Hexside so you’re not late.”

Luz took Eda’s hand, getting out of bed. “Thanks, I’m just going to use the bathroom real quick and then we can go.”

Eda nodded, rustling Luz’s hair, turning around and leaving Luz alone in her room. Luz sighed, threw on her Hexside uniform, and then walked across the hall into the bathroom. A couple of minutes later, Luz headed down the stairs, ready for another day of classes. She quickly said goodbye to King, who was napping on the couch, gave Hooty a boop on the nose, and then left the Owl house with Eda and Owlbert, flying their way to Hexside.

The wind whipped past them as they flew over the sprawling landscape of the Boiling Isles, the sights and sounds of the magical realm stretching out before them. Before long, they arrived at Hexside, the towering spires of the castle-like building looming in the distance. Eda gracefully descended onto the school grounds, floating a few inches off the ground. Luz hopped off of the staff, landing on the ground with a soft thud.

“Thanks for the ride Eda, and you too Owlbert.” She said, reaching her hand up to scratch Owlbert on the top of his head. Owlbert cooed, acknowledging Luz’s thanks. 

“Have a good day at school Luz. I’ll come by and pick you up later and maybe we can head by one of your favorite shops on the way home?” Eda offered, a slight bit of concern still visible in her eyes.

“Thanks Eda, that sounds n-.” Luz facepalmed. “ Oh! I actually have plans with Willow and Gus after school today. Sorry Eda, I completely forgot!” Luz said, scratching her head.

“It’s okay kiddo… Have a good day at school then!” Eda said, slowly levitating back into the air waving at Luz.

“Thanks Eda I will! Cya later!” Luz said, waving back.

Eda and Owlbert took off, vanishing over the horizon as Luz watched them from the grounds of Hexside. Letting her smile drop for a second, Luz sighed. She really didn’t want to go to school today, but she was sure she would at least have a good time with her friends. 

Quickly, she turned around, slapping her face and putting on a smile. “Today will be a great day of learning and friendship!” she said loudly, walking towards the front entrance of Hexside.

The rest of the day went as per usual. She had her usual classes, had lunch with Willow and Gus, and even got to see Amity at the school library for a little bit. It was honestly a pretty good day and she was already feeling a lot better. As she left her last class she bumped into someone outside the door.

“Hey! Watch where you're go-.” Amity started, “Oh, Hi Luz!” She said blushing once she realized who she bumped into.

“Hi Amity! Didn’t mean to bump ya like that.” Luz laughed, a slight blush creeping onto her face as well.

“It’s okay, I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going anyways.” Amity responded, shuffling her books in her hands. 

“Where are you going in such a rush anyways!” Luz questioned, raising an eyebrow..

“Oh, I have to go home. My Mother needs help with one of their “projects.” Amity sighed.

“Oh…” Luz said, frowning. She knew that Amity didn't have a great relationship with her parents, they had talked about it before. In Luz’s honest opinion, they were shitty parents. “Do you want me to walk you out? Give you some company before you have to go home? I’m heading that way anyway to meet Willow and Gus.”

Amity smiled and slightly blushed at the offer. “That would be nice Luz, thank you.”

Luz smiled back, and with that decided they started to walk towards the front doors of Hexside. They chatted about a couple of things; new books, how classes were today, their Good Witch Azura book club, and etc. As soon as they got outside, they spotted Gus sprinting towards them, waving his arms in the air. Amity and Luz looked at each other, concern raising in their eyes.  They started to run towards him, meeting him at the bottom of the front steps.

“Gus??? Is everything okay???” Luz asked, going to put a hand on her friend's shoulder.

However, her hand passed right through Gus, and as it did he started to speak. “It’s Willow! She’s hurt! We need to get help! We’re in the woods behind the Grudgby Field. I don’t know what happened to her! I was looking for her after classes since she said she would be here and I found her all bloody. I sent one of my clones to find you Luz, please come quick!”

Luz and Amity stared at the clone of Gus, and then at each other.

“Go Luz!” Amity said. “I’ll go and find Principal Bump or one of the other professors and try and get some help!”

Luz nodded, started to freak out. “Thanks Amity.”

She turned, staring at the clone. “Lead me to them.”

The clone nodded and started to run towards the Grudgby field. Luz and Amity took one last look at each other and then ran in opposite directions. After a few minutes of running, the Gus clone disappeared into the bushes behind the Grudgby field. Luz followed after him, coming into an empty clearing. As she looked around, she heard a whooshing sound, and all of a sudden she could see Gus and Willow.

“GUS! WILLOW!” She shouted, sprinting over to them.

She crouched beside them, staring in horror at her friend. “Gus, is she alright??? Amity is going to get help from the school.”

“Luz! Thank Titan you’re here. I’m not sure what happened! I tried to patch her up to the best of my ability. I just found her like this.” Gus said, shaking as he was holding onto Willow’s arm.

Luz looked at Willow, she was in really bad shape. There were multiple lacerations on her body, and she was bleeding pretty bad. Luz felt tears come to her eyes and she put her hand next to Willow’s face. Her eyes opened at Luz’s touch.

“Augustus? Luz?” Willow said, weakly. “ Where are we?”

“Shhhhh Willow, It’s all going to be okay.” Luz said, crying now. “Just rest, help is on the wa-.”

It took her a second but she had gotten a weird feeling in her gut after Willow spoke.

“Willow, what did you just say?” Luz asked.

Willow stared at Luz. “What do you mean?” She coughed out, confused.

“What did you call him?” Luz said, pointing at Gus.

“Augustus? What about him?” Willow responded, still confused.

Luz backed away slowly. Something was wrong here.

“Willow… You haven’t called Gus his full name since we met. We’ve always called him Gus since then because he loved the human nickname so much.” Luz said, her heart starting to beat heavily in her chest.

Willow and Gus looked at each other, and then all of a sudden Luz heard someone say…

“CUT!!!!” 

All of a sudden a ton of Coven Scouts popped up, surrounding Luz and her friends.

A man walked through the group, he was a thin, fairly tall witch with light skin, pointed ears, cornflower eyes, thick eyebrows, and curled, slicked-back teal hair. He has a long, teal prehensile tail with a tan fur tuft at the end. 

“C’mon guys! That was terrible acting, how could you mess that up so bad? We almost had her!” He said, pointing at Willow and Gus.

Luz stared at him confused, but as soon as he said that, she heard a quick popping sound. As Luz looked back at Willow and Gus, she now saw 2 Coven Scouts. Luz gasped. 

“This was a trap?” She thought to herself. 

Slowly, she reached into her pockets, going for her glyphs to defend herself. However, she quickly realized that she had no glyphs on her. She had thrown her notepad out the window last night, and she hadn't drawn herself any new glyphs since then. She looked around, she was entirely surrounded. Even though some of the Coven Scouts were holding recording equipment? she knew she still had a very low chance to escape this. She was glyphless and alone to defend herself. Well not entirely glyphless… 

As the Man continued to give “Notes'' to his Troupe of Scouts, Luz slowly started to draw a glyph with her foot. If she could set one off as a distraction, maybe she could escape and run back towards Hexside and get away. Luz had only let her eyes leave the Man for a second, but as soon as she looked back up he was there, only inches from her face.

“A-Ah-Ah.” He mocked, “You have to act better than that to get the jump on me. ”

And before Luz could do anything, her vision went black.

Chapter Text

As Luz sprinted towards the Grudgby field, Amity turned and ran in the opposite direction, her heart pounding in her chest. Panic threatened to take over, but she forced herself to stay focused. Willow needed help, and she had to get it quickly.

Racing through the halls of Hexside, Amity barely noticed the curious looks from her classmates. Her mind was laser-focused on finding Principal Bump or one of the professors. She rounded a corner and nearly collided with Professor Hermonculus.

"Amity Blight!" he exclaimed, steadying her. "What's the rush?"

"Professor Hermonculus, it's Willow!" Amity panted, trying to catch her breath. "She's hurt, badly. Gus sent a clone to get Luz and it told us to get help! We need to find Principal Bump and get help immediately."

Professor Hermonculus’ face grew serious. "I'll come with you. Let's find the Principal."

Together, they hurried through the corridors, finally locating Principal Bump in the staff room. He looked up in surprise as they burst in.

"Principal Bump, we need your help!" Amity cried out. "Willow's hurt in the woods behind the Grudgby field. Gus found her and sent a clone to get help!"

Principal Bump stood up immediately, his expression turning grave. "Lead the way, Amity. Professor Hermonculus, alert the infirmary and have them prepare for an emergency."

Amity nodded and turned to lead Principal Bump through the school and towards the Grudgby field. The two of them moved swiftly, Principal Bump's imposing presence parting the sea of students like a ship through water.

As they neared the edge of the field, Amity's anxiety grew. She hoped Luz was okay and that they weren't too late to help Willow. When they reached the clearing, Amity saw no sign of Luz, Gus, or Willow. Her heart sank.

"Luz! Gus! Willow!" Amity called out, her voice echoing through the trees.

Principal Bump scanned the area, his eyes sharp. "This doesn't look good. We need to find them immediately."

Amity's mind raced. Where could they be? She looked around, trying to find any sign of her friends. All of a sudden she spotted something purple off to the side of the clearing. Slowly walking up to it, she gasped. It was Luz’s backpack. There was also half of a glyph drawn into the ground next to it. Amity looked around frantically, trying to find anything else that could point her towards her friends. Amity felt a sense of panic taking over her mind and body. However, she was quickly consoled by a strong hand on her shoulder.

‘Miss Blight, there is no need to panic just yet. Luz and her friends may still be close by.” Principal Bump said, trying to calm Amity down.

Even though Amity could see the worry in his eyes, she decided to trust him. If something happened they couldn’t have gone far. Amity used her abomination magic, creating as many abominations as she could.

“Search the area, we need to find Luz, Willow, and Gus.” she commanded.

The abominations began to move in multiple different directions, starting their search for her friends. Principal Bump had even created his own abominations to help aid the others. Amity and Principal Bump also continued to scan the area, looking for any other sign of Luz, Willow, or Gus. Eventually, other students and staff who heard about the situation from Professor Hermonculus joined them. Hours and hours went by, the search expanding far into the woods, and even back towards Hexside, yet there was no sign of any of them. Amity just kept pushing, she couldn’t think that something terrible had happened to her friends, she just couldn’t. She would search the entirety of the Boiling Isles to find them if she had to. As she was about to push deeper into the woods, she saw a flare go up into the sky. 

“They must have found them!” Amity thought, the constant sense of fear she had been pushing down, finally starting to reside.

She rushed back through the woods towards the flare. They had come from the Grudgby field itself.

“That’s a little weird…” Amity thought to herself as she ran. She expected the flare to come from deeper in the woods.

She continued to run, eventually getting to the field. There was already a pretty big crowd huddled in the middle, and there were a few more students and staff still making their way towards the group from the woods. As Amity got closer the group began to part, leaving room for her to walk towards the center. Once she got there, she saw them. Willow and Gus! They were okay! The infirmary staff had them on stretchers, but they were sitting up, blankets wrapped around them. They were talking to Principal Bump and the other professors that had helped out on the search. As Amity went to approach them, the infirmary staff began to push Willow and Gus towards the school. Amity went to say something, but then she looked around, trying to see where Luz was. However, she couldn't find her. That sense of fear and panic began to rise in her mind again. Principal Bump noticed her, a grim look falling across his face. 

He walked over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Miss Bl-... Amity. There is something we need to talk about. If you don’t mind joining us in my office.”

Amity was scared, but she nodded. As they walked back towards the school, Amity tried to ask questions about what had happened/what was happening. All Principal Bump would say however was; “It will be much better if we all talk about this together.” That sense of panic and fear was eating away at Amity, but she kept pushing it down. She was sure everything was fine, she just had to wait a tiny bit to hear the whole story. As they got close to the school, Amity heard a whooshing sound behind her. Turning around she saw Eda and King approaching them.

“Hey Boots.” She said, resting a hand on Amity’s head. She turned to Bump, “I got your message, what happened.”

“Let’s all go inside and talk.” Principal Bump responded.

Eda seemed as pissed off about that response as Amity was, but she nodded. They all continued through the hallways of Hexside. It was dark and quiet, the moon had cast a glow through the windows of the school. After a few minutes, they had finally arrived at Bump’s office. Waiting there for them was Willow, Gus and Boscha. 

Amity ran over to Willow and Gus, enveloping them in a hug. “Thank Titan, I’m glad you guys are okay.” She pulled away, taking a look at Willow. “It seems like the infirmary healed you up quick, I thought your injuries would have been a lot worse? And also why is Boscha here?” She questioned.

Willow shared a glance with Gus, and then looked at Amity. “Well, actually I-.”

Principal Bump interrupted, clearing his throat. “Eda, King, Amity, you all better have a seat. I want to start this off before Willow and Gus tell their stories.”

They all took a seat, looking at Bump in concern, waiting for him to give them any piece of info about the situation.

Bump sighed. “Well, first things first. Willow was never actually harmed, and neither she nor Gus were in any danger. Boscha is here because she accidentally found them, they were knocked unconscious, hidden behind the bleachers at the Grudgby field, covered by an illusion spell.”

“It must’ve been a weak spell if accidentally spilling some Grudgby balls on it broke it.” Boscha scoffed.

“Yes. Thank you Boscha.” Bump said. “Once we found them, the infirmary staff took over and made sure that they were not harmed. After that, the flare was set off and we all gathered at the Grudgby field.” 

“What does this have to do with Luz??” Eda and King asked at the same time, both sounding very concerned.

“Yeah, what does this have to do with Lu-...” Amity began to put the pieces together. “Wait, so if Willow and Gus were never there in the first place, then who did Luz chase into the woods?”

“That’s what we are going to try and figure out now.” Bump responded, sadness in his voice. “Willow and Gus, please, tell us what happened to you this morning.”

Willow and Gus shared a look, then stared at the others and began to speak…

Chapter Text

Willow began, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her unease. “Today honestly started off pretty normal. I got to school, went to my classes, and even met Luz and Gus for lunch.”

Gus nodded, picking up the story. “Yeah, it was the same for me. We all met for lunch to discuss our plans for after school. Luz asked if we could head into town together and grab some things to have a nice little picnic together or something like that. She said that she wanted to talk to us about something, but she wouldn’t say what though.”

“Yeah, she looked a bit sad. It made me worry about her.” Continued Willow. “We all agreed that we would meet outside the front doors after our last class and then head into town. After lunch, Gus and I walked towards our next class together while Luz went to hers.”

“But then something super weird happened.” Gus interrupted, getting him a glare from Willow. “Once we left the cafeteria, the hallways started to warp and all of a sudden we were on the Grudgby field. We stood there confused for a few moments wondering how we got there, but then we put our guards up, preparing for an attack or something.” Gus said, a bit of fear lingering in his voice. 

“Yeah it was very weird, but after a minute or so we heard a voice calling out to us.” Willow continued. “We turned around and saw Luz, she was at the other end of the Grudgby field. She was running towards us and shouting our names. We started to run towards her because we thought maybe she had been brought here with us, but as soon as we took the first couple of steps we were knocked out by somebody behind us.”

“After that, all we remember is waking up under the bleachers, surrounded by Grudgby balls, with Boscha standing above us. Once Willow and I came to, we kinda realized that it was some sort of illusion or teleportation magic… as well as a trap.” Gus finished with a sigh.

Everyone shot reassuring glaces at them, very glad they came out of this situation unscathed.

“Well, we are all glad that you both are okay.” Principal bump said. “Now Amity, if you may, can you tell us what happened on your side. Just to make sure everyone gets the full picture.”

Amity looked around the room, clearing her throat she said. “Well, once the last bell had screamed for the end of the day, I rushed out of class. My mother had sent me a message to let me know that I was to come home right after school to help on one of their projects . I was pretty frustrated about it and wasn’t paying attention to where I was going so I wound up bumping into Luz. We talked for a bit and she offered to walk me out since she was already heading that way to meet Willow and Gus. Once we got outside, we saw Gus running towards us. It actually wound up being a clone and it told us about Willow. Luz ran after the clone while I ran back towards the school, I wound up bumping into Professor Hermonculus and then the both of us found you Principal bump. I’m sure you know the rest.”

“Thank you Amity.” Bump said. “Yes, once Amity found me, we ran to the woods, but were unable to find Willow, Gus, or Luz. We did however find Luz’s backpack and half a glyph drawn next to it. Once that was found, we began to search the rest of the woods. Others began to join us after hearing about the situation from Professor Hermonculus. Once Boscha found Willow and Gus, the flares were sent off to get everyone to come back. Now we are all here, and that is what happened today.”

Eda and King sat in silence, a grave look on their faces.

“So where is Luz?” Eda asked, a very angry tone in her voice.

“We are unsure sadly, but from what I can conclude, it seems that she has been kidnapped.” Bump said sadly.

“KIDNAPPED? How could you let this happen? Luz was supposed to be safe here!” Eda yelled, gripping the arms of her chair with enough force that Amity thought she would break them. King looked very sad next to her.

“Edalyn, I am still trying to figure it out myself. We have no clue who it was or how they even were able to operate in the school without detection.” Bump replied, raising his hands up.

“Well I’m not going to sit here while Luz is in danger out there! I am going to go find my kid.” Eda said, standing up and leaving the room with King in her arms.

“Edalyn wait!” Bump called after her, but the Owl Lady was already far gone.

“Curse the Titan.” Bump said. “Well, I guess it is up to us to figure this out, students.”

“Shouldn’t we go with Eda? Isn't it best to keep searching for Luz?” Amity said, fear in her voice.

“Amity, I am sure Edalyn has her ways, but we won't get far without figuring out how this happened.” Bump responded.

“Well it had to be someone who is extremely talented in illusion magic, right?” Gus asked. “With what they did to Willow and I, the illusion spell that Boscha broke, and the clone that was sent to Luz and Amity, I think that would make the most sense.”

“Yeah, but who would have the kind of power to get past all of the school's guards and use powerful magic without setting off any of the security systems.” Boscha scoffed.

“Maybe the head of the illusion coven?” Willow said. “He would be the best fit for the job with how strong he is. Plus, with the help of the Emperor, he could have had more strength than usual.”

“Also, doesn't the Emperor's coven have access to all our school files? If they do, they would've known about our magic and stuff. Would have explained why they sent a clone of Gus instead of someone disguised as him.” Amity said.

“Also, hasn't the Emperor been after the Owl Lady for a while now? Maybe he is trying to get her to turn herself in.” Gus said, scratching his head. “Also Amity, what do you mean they sent a clone? They should have sent a person if they were trying to mimic my magic. My clones are tangible after all.” 

Amity’s eyes raised in fear. “Oh Titan, how could I have forgotten… Luz and I must have been so freaked out that we didn't even think about that when Luz’s hand passed through the “clone.”

Willow shared an empathetic glance with Amity. “Don't beat yourself up Amity. If Luz didn't recognize it, how would you have?”

Amity appreciated the comment, but she began to feel that self doubt and panic eating away at her more and more now.

“Well if they made that mistake, it must be the Emperor's coven.” Bump began. “Our school records just have basic details of our students' magic, they wouldn't have known if Gus’ clones were tangible or not.”

“Well at least we know where to look next!” Willow said optimistically.

“Yes, but for now you all must go home and get some rest, it has been a long day.” Bump said. “I will try to reach some contacts in the Emperor's coven and see if they know what is going on. I will also send Edalyn another message and let her know who we think it is.”

Amity, Willow, and Gus shared a look.

“But sir, Luz could be in trouble! How could we go home and sleep when we know that she’s in danger!” Gus said.

“If Luz is in the Emperor's castle, there is nothing we can do right now.” Bump said sadly. “I will start to make a plan and we shall continue our search tomorrow. Now, one of the professors will accompany each of you home.”

They all began to complain, they needed to save Luz after all. However, they were all slowly dragged away and guided back to their houses.

Amity was a mess. As she walked home accompanied by Professor Hermonculus she felt like she was going to collapse. She was filled with fear, panic, anger, sadness and a bunch of other feelings she couldn't describe. How could she have let this happen? She should've noticed the mistake they had made with Gus’ clone. How could she be so stupid. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she almost headbutted her Mother who was standing on the front steps.

"AMITY BLIGHT WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!” Her mother yelled. “You were supposed to be home hours ago to help us with our project! It was a big failure because you did not come home when you were told. You are in BIG trouble young lady.”

Amity shook on the steps, trying to choke out a response. However, Professor Hermonculus stepped in.

“Mrs.Blight, it is not Amity’s fault she was late today. There was a kidnapping that happened on school grounds today.” He began, but was quickly cut off.

“And why should I care? My business is more important than one student at Hexside. Amity should have been home on time no matter the circumstance and she knows it.” Odalia said, glaring at Amity.

Professor Hermonculus gasped. “Mrs.Blight, the lives of all our students should be of the highest priority. Also, this student was a close friend of Amity’s. It was Luz the Human.”

“Oh that wretched human? Good riddance. Amity dear, you need to watch the company you keep. Friends? With that human? Don't make me laugh.” Odalia said, half-laughing with a hand over her mouth.

Amity couldn't take it anymore, she pushed past her Mother and ran towards her room. She could hear her mother shouting after her. Once she got to her room she slammed her door, throwing her backpack across the room and face planted into her bed. She began to sob. Luz was gone. She could be hurt or in very bad danger, and all Amity could do about it was wait. She felt her breath starting to get heavier and heavier, the tears flowing more and more, her body started to feel like it was made of stone. She was about to have a panic attack. However, before it could begin, something hit her window. She jumped, nearly falling out of her bed. Rubbing the tears away from her eyes she slowly got up, moving towards the window. When she looked outside she saw 2 figures. Once her eyes cleared she saw who it was. It was Willow and Gus. She opened the window.

“What are you guys doing here?” She said, trying to be quiet.

“We are going to the Owl House! We can’t wait, we need to find Luz ASAP!” Willow said. “We figured you would want to come along so we came here to pick you up first.”

Amity sighed, she couldn't leave now, she was sure her Mother would be up here any moment to yell at her.

“I can’t. My mother was pissed that I was home so late. If she sees I snuck out, she would actually kill me” Amity said.

“I have you covered!” Gus exclaimed. “Watch this.”

Amity watched Gus as he cast an illusion spell. Nothing happened at first, but then slowly something started to form next to her. She moved back in shock and all of a sudden she was staring at an identical copy of herself.

“This clone isn’t tangible and won't last too long, but it can pretend to be asleep and hopefully your Mom will just leave it alone after a bit.” Gus said.

Amity stared at the clone and then back at Willow and Gus. “Okay. I will be down in a few.” After all, Luz was more important than her Mother.

Amity turned away from her window, grabbing her backpack and a few other things. She used her abomination magic to conjure up a rope and used it to slide down to the ground below her. Once she was there she gave Willow and Gus a hug.

“Thank you guys for coming to get me.” She said with a smile.

They smiled back. “Of course, we know how much you care about Luz.” Willow said.

Amity slightly blushed at that.

As the moon crossed through the sky, the trio began their walk towards the Owl House.

Chapter Text

Eda stormed out of the school, her mind a whirlwind of worry and fury. King clung to her shoulder, his small form barely a comfort against the storm brewing inside her. She had to find Luz. She couldn't stand the thought of her being in danger, not after everything they had been through together.

“Eda, slow down,” King pleaded, his voice tinged with concern. “We need a plan. Running around blindly won’t help us find Luz.”

Eda barely heard him, making her way towards the woods behind the Grudgby field. "I should've been there," she muttered angrily. "I should've protected her."

“It wasn't your fault! There’s no way you would've known that this would happen.” King said.

Eda didn't pay attention to his words, pushing into the woods. She quickly found the glyph that Luz had begun to draw. She sat down next to it. “I haven't used this spell in a while, but let's hope it still works.” Eda said

“What spell is it?” asked King.

“You'll see soon enough.” Eda began to open up a very large magic circle, channeling as much of her magical energy into it as she could. Suddenly the area began to glow around them, a blue mist starting to form. Figures started to appear around them. They slowly started to take form, becoming more human-like as time passed. As Eda continued to cast the spell she felt a strong pain in her chest, her curse was starting to act up.

“King, I need some elixir, hurry!” Eda shouted at him.

King dove towards her bag, fetching out a bottle of elixir. “Eda, it's empty! You drank the last of it before we got here.”

Eda grunted. She knew she couldn't hold this spell for long, but maybe she could hold it long enough for her to get something out of it. She pushed through the pain, continuing to cast the spell, her gem quickly getting blacker and blacker. She was close to her breaking point, she began to feel the owl beast slipping out, feathers growing on her arms. She quickly scanned the clearing, looking for any sign of who these figures were. She saw something, a sigil on one of the figures arms. She could barely make it out, but she could tell that it was the Illusion coven sigil. Seeing this, she let go of the spell, collapsing on the floor as the figures around her started to disappear and the mist starting to fade away.

King ran over to her in worry. “ EDA ! Are you alright!! What in Titan was that spell? Your gem is almost fully black and you’re full of feathers!” 

Eda sat up, groaning and clutching at her chest. “I’ll explain later. We need to get back to the Owl House now… Or else my curse is going to take over.”

King looked worried, handing Eda her staff. “Okay, let’s head back and get you some elixir.”

Eda climbed on her staff, picking up King and telling Owlbert to get them back to the Owl House quickly. He cooed in understanding. lifting them up into the air and quickly flying back in the direction of the house. Eda was lost in thought the whole flight back, ignoring King’s questions and concerns. She kept thinking about Luz. How she had come into Eda’s life and completely turned it upside down. She never pictured herself as a mentor or a mother figure but now she was one. Eda started to tear up. How could she have let this happen? As they got back to the Owl House, Eda pushed through the door, ignoring Hooty on the way in. She fell, trying to crawl her way to her room, thinking about Luz and the elixir.

“Eda! I'll get your elixir just stay put!” King said in concern, scampering up the steps.

But Eda knew it was too late, she began to feel the Owl Beast taking over, her vision slowly fading to black.

As the trio approached the Owl House they heard a loud shriek.

“What in Titan was that!” Gus asked, fear entering his eyes.

“I’m not sure, but we’re going to have to go and find out.” responded Amity.

Amity ran towards the Owl House, Willow and Gus not far behind. As they got close, they saw that the door had been ripped off its hinges, Hooty laid on the ground unconscious below them. The trio shared a scared glance with each other, slowly stepping over Hooty and entering the Owl House. They entered, taking a quick glance around. Everything was a mess, there were scratch marks on the walls and things had been thrown around everywhere. They slowly walked around the house, looking for any sign of Eda or King. Then they heard a loud crashing noise from upstairs.

Gus gulped. “Guys, what was that?”

Amity and Willow shared a look and as Amity was about to say something, King came running down the stairs, bumping into her leg and falling over.

“WA, don't hurt me!” He said, raising his arms over his face. 

“King calm down, it's just us.” Willow said, picking King up and giving him a squeeze.

King calmed down a bit when he realized who it was. “You guys have to help! Eda turned into her Owl Beast form and I can't get her to drink the elixir.”

“Owl Beast form?” They all asked confused.

As if on cue, the Owl Beast came crashing downstairs, staring at all of them. After a second of silence it shrieked, pouncing towards them.

“WHAT IN THE TITAN.” Gus yelped, summoning an illusion in front of them to distract Eda.

Amity and Willow followed Gus’ strategy, starting to use their own magic, Amity used her abomination magic to hold Eda down, while Willow wrapped her up in her vines. As Gus continued to distract Eda with an illusion, King quickly ran towards her, putting the potion in her mouth. After a few moments Eda returned to normal, panting and clutching her chest. 

“Eda are you okay??” King asked in concern.

“Yeah I’m alright now, thanks King. Thank you guys for helping as well. Would you mind helping me over to the couch?” She asked the trio.

They all helped Eda over to the couch laying her down, King sitting on the couch beside her. After that the trio sat on the floor and looked at Eda.

“What happened Eda? What is that form?” Amity asked.

“I did some magic I shouldn't have and my curse took over. I was looking for Luz and I overdid it.” Eda said, groaning. “As for my curse, that's a story for another time.”

The trio shared a glance at each other.

“Speaking of Luz… We think we know who kidnapped her.” Willow said.

Eda bolted up after hearing that. “ WHO! ”

“Well we think it was either the Illusion Coven or the Emperor's Coven. It would make sense considering all of the Illusion Magic, plus how they knew about Gus’ magic and stuff like that. Considering the Emperor's coven has access to all of those files.” Willow continued.

“ Lillith, ” Eda said growling. “If I know my sister this is probably some sick ploy to get me to turn myself in to the Emperor's Coven and get a sigil.”

“That would also make sense with the sigil I saw before.” Eda thought to herself.

They all looked at Eda in surprise. “Lilith's your sister?”

Eda groaned in frustration. “Yes she's my sister. She has been trying to get me to come to the Emperor’s Coven so she can get Belos “Heal my Curse” but I know that's a bunch of Titan crap.”

The trio looked at each other in surprise.

“So what do we do now?” Gus asked.

“Well for now I am going to take a nap kiddos. We will make a plan to get into the Emperor’s castle or something in the morning. This stupid curse drains the energy straight out of me I swear to Titan.” Eda said, getting up and heading upstairs. “You kids can sleep down here tonight, but can you please put Hooty back up. Thanks!”

As the trio watched Eda head upstairs, King following her, they looked at Hooty and groaned. After a few grueling minutes they had finally gotten Hooty back into place, even though he was still unconscious. Willow and Gus went off to get some blankets and pillows, they said Luz had shown them where they were last time they slept over here, leaving Amity alone. Amity stayed outside, trying to see if she could wake Hooty back up. After poking him for a while, she decided to walk back inside, but something fell, hitting her in the head.

“OW.” She yelped, clutching at her head.

She looked down at the ground, looking for what hit her. It was a notepad. Confused, she reached down and picked it up. It had been crumpled a bit, but Amity recognized it instantly. It was Luz’ glyph notepad. 

“That’s weird, Luz never goes anywhere without this.” Amity thought.

Heading back inside, she saw Willow and Gus setting them up some makeshift beds.

“Any luck with Hooty?” Willow asked when she saw Amity enter the room.

“No, he's still out cold. However, I did find this.” Amity said, showing them Luz’ notepad.

“Hey, that's Luz’ notepad. Where did you find that?” Gus asked.

“It hit me on the head outside, it must have been on the roof outside Luz’ window. It's also all crumpled up.” Amity responded, handing the pad to Willow. 

“Oh yeah, that’s weird,” Willow said, looking through the pages. “Hey, look. The last page is stained with something. It looks like water drops?”

“Huh that's weird.” Amity said, taking the pad back and running her fingers over the page.

“I wonder why it was here, I feel like Luz always has it with her.” Gus pondered. 

“Yeah, that's what I was thinking.” Amity responded. “I guess we will have to ask Luz when we get her back.”

The trio shared scared glances.

“I hope she’s alright.” Gus said.

“I’m sure she is.” Willow said, wrapping Gus in a hug. “Luz is super strong!”

Gus laughed, tears forming in his eyes. “Yeah. Remember when she and I escaped detention, that was so crazy.”

Willow laughed. “Yeah! Remember when she took on Boscha and her friends when they were bullying us.”

Amity shared in their laughter. “Remember when she took on Grom, just because she wanted to help me out.”

The trio continued to reminisce on their times with Luz, talking into the night about how much they missed her.

“We will find her guys, no matter what it takes. But for now, let's try and get some rest. We need to be energized to come up with a good plan for tomorrow.” Amity said, getting into her makeshift bed. Willow and Gus agreed, also crawling into their beds. As they began to fall asleep, Amity made a promise.

“I will find you Luz. I promise.” 

Amity was woken up by someone shaking her arm. She groaned, opening up her eyes.

“Wuazzit?” Amity questioned groggily. 

“Amity, wake up, we need to go now! Eda is already gone!” King said, shaking her arm.

Amity shot up, seeing that Gus and Willow were already awake, getting ready to leave. 

“Where did she go!” Gus asked frantically, throwing on his shoes.

“She probably went to the Emperor's castle!” Willow said in concern. “Probably to find Lillith or Luz!”

Amity got out of bed, also throwing her shoes on. Once they got ready they all bolted out the door, racing as fast as they could to the Emperor's castle. Once they finally got there they saw them. It was Eda and Lillith. They were fighting on the bridge in front of the castle. 

“ WHERE IS SHE? ” Eda screamed, throwing spell after spell at Lilith. 

“Edalyn, I told you I have no idea what you are talking about!” Lilith responded, trying her best to defend against the barrage of spells Eda was throwing at her.

“ MY KID GOT KIDNAPPED AND THAT IS ALL YOU CAN SAY? I KNOW YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.” Eda continued to yell, throwing even more spells at her.

AS the trio got closer to the bridge they started to yell towards Eda, asking her to stop. However, Eda ignored them, continuing her barrage on Lilith. 

“Edalyn please! I don’t know where Luz is! There were no plans to kidnap her or anything!” Lilith said, trying her best to reason with her sister.

“ I KNOW YOU’RE LYING. YOU’VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ME TO COME TO THE EMPERORS COVEN FOR A WHILE NOW. BUT THIS WAS TOO FAR. IF SHES HURT I'LL ACTUALLY KILL YOU.” Eda said, casting a large spell.

Lilith’s concern grew in her face, as the spell approached her she used a large burst of energy to deflect Eda’s spell. However, this sent the spell back towards King and the trio who were watching from the end of the bridge. Eda saw what was about to happen, throwing herself into the deflected spell, falling to the ground after being hit. 

“EDA!” King shouted, running towards her.

The rest of the trio followed him in concern for Eda. As they approached her, they found her unconscious on the ground. The group started at Lilith, waiting to see if she would make a move towards them. When they realized that Lilith was as shocked as they were, they slowly picked Eda up and carried her away.

“WAIT!” Lilith yelled. “I didn't want any of this to happen. I will try to see if I can find anything out about Luz.” As the group left, Lilith turned back to the castle. With a sigh she said.

“Well, let us see if we can find out what happened to the human.”

Chapter Text

Lilith stood at the edge of the bridge, watching as the children carried Edalyn away. Her heart was heavy with guilt and confusion. She hadn't intended for any of this to happen, she had no knowledge of any plans of Luz’s kidnapping or anything of the sort. If that was to transpire, Lilith felt like she would be the first one to know about it since she was the head of the Emperor’s Coven. Sighing, she turned and walked purposefully towards the grand entrance of the Emperor's Castle. She couldn't get the sight of Edalyn lying there like that out of her mind. Shaking her head, she approached the doors and they swung open with a creak, the cold, sterile air of the castle washing over her. Coven Scouts nodded respectfully at her as she passed, but she barely noticed them, her mind racing with thoughts and questions about what had occurred. She needed to find answers and fast. She made her way through the winding corridors, her boots echoing off the stone floors. The castle was a labyrinth, designed to be imposing and disorienting to those who were not familiar with its layout. But she knew every twist and turn, having spent years within these walls. Her mind raced as she made her way to the lower levels of the castle. She needed to find any information on Luz's whereabouts without drawing too much attention to herself. The archives were her first stop; if there was any record of unusual activity or orders that involved Luz, it would be there.

The archives were dimly lit and silent, rows upon rows of scrolls and books lining the walls. Lilith moved quickly, scanning through records of recent missions, magical artifacts, and personnel files. She found several references to increased activity in the Illusion Coven but nothing concrete. 

Frustrated, she decided to try another approach. She knew that some of the guards and lower-ranking members of the coven were often privy to gossip and rumors. If Luz's disappearance was orchestrated by someone within the castle, word would have spread.

Lilith made her way to the scouts quarters, where she found a group of them playing cards and chatting. She approached them with a calm, authoritative air.

"Gentlemen, I need to ask you a few questions," she said, causing them to look up in surprise.

One of the guards, a man with a pinkish complexion, pointed ears, blue eyes, thick eyebrows, and dark purple hair, also having a short, bone-white horn sticking out of the right side of his forehead, stood up and nodded. "Of course boss. What can we do for you?"

"Have any of you heard anything about a human girl named Luz Noceda?" Lilith asked, watching their reactions closely.

The guards exchanged glances. "Not that I can say." one of them admitted. "We know about her though. Her and the Owl Lady have been a pain for awhile now."

"Anything recent in specific?" Lilith pressed.

The guard shook his head. "Nope. Just usual things of what they are up to in the isles. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering." Lilith asked, trying to not put too much attention towards it.

Lilith thanked them and left, her mind racing. If no gossip had been spread through the castle, what could have happened? She needed to think like her sister, to be as cunning and resourceful as Edalyn would be. As she walked through the castle, she considered her next move. She didn't want to have to do this, but it seemed like she had no other option. She had to go to the Emperor.

After walking for a bit, she finally arrived at the door to the Emperor's study. Taking a deep breath, she knocked firmly.

"Enter," came the cold, authoritative voice from within.

Lilith pushed the door open and stepped inside. Emperor Belos was seated at his desk, surrounded by scrolls and ancient tomes. He looked up, his mask giving him an air of inscrutability.

"Ah, Lilith. To what do I owe this visit?" Belos asked, his tone measured.

"Emperor Belos, I need to speak with you about Luz Noceda," Lilith began, choosing her words carefully. "She has gone missing, and Edalyn believes that someone within the Emperor's Coven may be involved."

Belos tilted his head slightly, feigning interest. "Missing, you say? And why would Edalyn think that our coven is involved?"

"Because of the illusion magic used during her disappearance and the knowledge required to capture her," Lilith replied. "It points to someone with advanced knowledge of magic, someone who might have access to the resources within this castle. As well as the fact that we have been after my sister for a while now."

Belos leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. "And what do you believe, Lilith?"

Lilith hesitated. "I don't know, my lord. But I intend to find out. Luz is important, not just to Edalyn, but to all of us. She has potential ."

Belos nodded slowly. "Very well, Lilith. You have my permission to investigate. But tread carefully. We wouldn't want any... misunderstandings."

Lilith bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, my lord. I will be discreet."

As she turned to leave, Belos spoke again. "And Lilith, do keep me informed of your progress."

"Of course, my lord," she replied, exiting the study.

As Lilith exited the study, she smiled. She knew that the Emperor's Coven couldn't be behind it. If they were, certainly Lord Belos would have told her. However, who was behind it then. If not the Emperor’s Coven, who would want to capture the human? Or get back at Edalyn? She needed more information. Sadly Edalyn had not given her much of the story when she came to fight, she just started screaming and throwing spells. Lilith pondered for a moment. She had to go to the Owl House and talk to her sister. She made her way back to her quarters, grabbing her staff as well as some other small things she would need. Leaving the castle, she hopped on her staff and made her way towards the Owl House.

Chapter Text

Emperor Belos watched Lilith leave his study, her determined stride echoing off the stone floors, a stark contrast to the eerie stillness that pervaded the room. As the heavy door closed behind her, he leaned back in his chair, his mask concealing the subtle smile that played on his lips. Lilith's loyalty was beyond question; he knew that she would never betray him or the Coven. However, her blind spots were numerous, particularly when it came to her sister Edalyn and the human girl, Luz. Her emotional attachments made her predictable, a tool he could manipulate as easily as a puppet.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the polished surface of his desk. His gaze drifted to the flickering candlelight that cast dancing shadows across the stone walls. He had always been acutely aware of Lilith’s deep-seated love for the Owl Lady. After all, one of the main reasons she had joined the Emperor’s Coven was her fervent hope to heal her sister’s curse. If Lilith was investigating this matter more closely, they might have less time than he originally anticipated.

Rising from his chair, Belos picked up his intricately carved staff and headed towards the ornate doors of his study. With a flick of his wrist, the room darkened slightly, casting elongated, menacing shadows that seemed to creep along the walls. Exiting his study, he moved with purpose, his robes whispering against the cold stone floor as he made his way through the labyrinthine castle. He knew he had to stop Lilith from discovering the truth, and he knew exactly how to do it.

After Luz had been kidnapped and brought back to his castle, Belos had decided to keep Adrian Graye Vernworth and his fellow coven scouts in a secluded chamber deep within the castle’s confines. He had no interest in letting any of the scouts spread rumors about what had transpired that fateful night. The echoes of his footsteps accompanied him as he descended deeper into the fortress, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step. The corridor eventually opened up into a large, dimly lit chamber.

As he approached the chamber door, he pushed it open with a decisive motion. Immediately, the scouts within dropped to their knees, their voices rising in a chorus of reverence. “My Lord!” They chanted in unison.

“Where is Adrian?” Belos enquired, his voice slicing through the room's tension.

One of the scouts hurriedly responded, “Oh… He’s in the back, giving notes to some of us about our performance during the kidnapping.”

Belos strode through the assembled scouts, his presence imposing and undeniable. He finally found Adrian in the back of the chamber, meticulously reviewing with one of his scouts.

“We almost had them, if you had done it-” Adrian started, before seeing him enter the room. 

Adrian shooed the scout from the room, turning towards him.

"Emperor Belos," Adrian greeted, bowing, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Belos waved a hand, dismissing the formalities with an air of impatience. "Adrian, we need to discuss the matter of Luz Noceda."

Adrian stood up, clasping his hands behind his back. "What specifically are you concerned about, my lord? Aren't we the only ones who know about what happened to her?"

Belos paused, his gaze shifting to a narrow window that overlooked the Boiling Isles. The chaotic beauty of the landscape served as a reminder of the delicate balance he maintained. "Yes. However, it seems that Lilith has decided to launch her own investigation into the girl's disappearance, particularly due to the Owl Lady."

Adrian raised his eyes in concern. “Does she know anything my lord?”

“No, her unwavering loyalty to me blinded her from my lies. However, it seems that we will not have much time. Lilith is cunning and intelligent, she is likely to figure it out within the next few days.” Belos responded.

Adrian knelt on one knee. “Is there anything I can do to help my Lord?”

Belos gave a menacing smile. “Yes, I need you to keep a close eye on the situation. Ensure that we remain one step ahead of Lilith's investigation. And if necessary, take measures to control the outcome."

Adrian bowed deeply, his demeanor one of unwavering loyalty. "As you command, my lord. Will I also be able to take my scouts with me."

Belos pondered for a second before responding. “No, they must stay here, I know how much the scouts like to spread rumors and such.” He then placed a firm hand, digging into Adrians shoulder. “Also, you can handle this job alone, correct?”

Adrian furrowed his eyes in pain but spoke. “Of course my lord, she will be none the wiser and I will make sure to give you as much time as you need.”

“Good, now go follow Lilith before she gets too far.” Belos commanded.

As Adrian left the room, he turned to the scouts and said “None of you are to leave this room, you are to wait until you receive orders from me or my Golden Guard.”

“Yes My Lord!” They chanted in Unison.

Satisfied, Belos left and began descending further through the castle, his mind now focused on the next part of his plan. He moved silently, his footsteps barely making a sound on the ancient stone floors. The corridors grew darker and colder as he ventured deeper into the bowels of the fortress, a place where only the most trusted and loyal were permitted.

At the far end of the castle, he reached a heavily fortified door guarded by his Golden Guard. He bowed and said “Uncle, there has been no activity down here. Nothing strange to report either.”

“Good Hunter, I am glad to hear it.” Belos responded, reaching his hand out.

The Golden Guard reached into his robes and pulled out a Palisman, holding it out to Belos. Belos took it, snapping it in two and draining the power from within the Palisman.

Belos stood for a second, holding onto the wall. “Thank you Hunter. Go and see if you can find any more, I am going to need them for tonight.

The Golden Guard bowed, leaving his post and heading upwards into the castle.

Belos pushed open the door. Inside, the air was frigid, and the walls were lined with enchanted restraints and barriers designed to contain the most powerful of captives. The room was dimly lit by torches that cast a cold, bluish light. In the center of the room, a figure lay motionless on a stone slab, bound by chains that shimmered with a dull, magical glow. The figure was unconscious, but Belos could sense the power radiating from her.

He approached the slab, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. This individual could hold the key to furthering his plans, to ensuring that the balance of power remained firmly in his grasp. The future of the Boiling Isles depended on the careful manipulation of such pawns, and Emperor Belos was nothing if not a master strategist.

Chapter Text

Luz Noceda’s senses gradually returned to her in pieces. The cold, hard surface beneath her sent shivers through her bones, and a dull ache throbbed at the back of her head. Her eyelids felt heavy, resisting her attempts to open them, but she forced them apart, blinking against the dim, bluish light that flickered from the torches lining the walls.

“ Where am I? ” Her thoughts were muddled, memories scattered. She remembered being captured, the struggle, and then darkness. Now, as she took in her surroundings, a wave of dread washed over her. Chains bound her wrists and ankles, the enchanted restraints glowing with a faint, ominous light.

She struggled to sit up, the chains clinking softly. The room was cold, colder than any place she had ever been. It was also eerily silent, save for the occasional drip of water echoing in the distance. The stone slab she was on felt like ice, and the air was thick with an oppressive weight that made it hard to breathe.

“Hello?” Luz called out, her voice trembling. It echoed off the stone walls, but there was no response. Panic began to set in, her heart pounding in her chest. She pulled at the chains, but they held fast, the magical glow intensifying with each tug.

Think, Luz. Think. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. Eda, King, and everyone must be looking for me. They had to be. But the uncertainty gnawed at her. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious or how far she was from them.

As she tried to piece together a plan, the sound of footsteps reached her ears. They were distant at first but grew steadily louder, more defined. Whoever it was, they were coming closer. After a moment they stopped, and then she heard quiet whispers from outside the door. Luz’s heart raced, and she tried to brace herself for whatever was coming.

The heavy door to the chamber creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. The bluish light of the torches cast long shadows, making it hard to see clearly. But as the figure approached, Luz recognized the silhouette—tall, imposing, and cloaked in dark robes.

“Belos,” she whispered, a mix of fear and defiance in her voice.

Belos stepped into the light, his mask hiding any trace of emotion. He observed her for a moment, his gaze piercing through the slits of his mask. “Ah, you’re awake,” he said, his voice calm and measured. “Good. We have much to discuss.”

Luz glared at him, anger bubbling up despite her fear. “Let me go!” she demanded, pulling at the chains again. “You have no right to keep me here!”

Belos tilted his head slightly, as if amused by her defiance. “On the contrary, Miss Noceda, you’ve become quite the interest to me. A human in the Boiling Isles, and one with such… potential.”

“I’m not your experiment!” Luz shot back, her voice shaking but resolute. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I won’t help you.”

Belos took a step closer, his presence looming over her. “You misunderstand,” he said softly. “Your help is not something I require. Your existence here, however, poses an interesting conundrum—one that must be carefully managed.”

Luz’s mind raced, trying to think of a way out, a way to reach Eda and King. She needed to stay strong, to not give in to the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. “Eda and King will come for me,” she said, her voice firm. “You can’t keep me here forever.”

A cold, mirthless chuckle escaped Belos. “Ah, the Owl Lady and her pet demon. I’m counting on it,” he said cryptically. “But for now, I have a little story for you.”

Luz looked at him questioningly. “I don’t want to hear your stupid stories! Let me go now!”

Belos sighed, turning around to summon a chair. He sat in it and said, “Did I ask what you wanted to hear? No. Now shut up and listen.”

Luz went to argue with him but suddenly her mouth was glued shut. She started to freak out but Belos interrupted her.

“No need to panic, this spell doesn't block your breathing, it will just make it easier to talk without your… interference .” Belos said, chuckling a bit under his mask.

Luz glared at him for a minute, she had no way to escape but maybe she would think of something while Belos was telling his story. So she turned her whole body towards him, waiting for him to tell his story.

“Ah, that's better.” Belos clapped his hands together. “Now, let me tell you the Tale of the Brothers Wittebane.”

A Swirl of magic enveloped them, and figures began to pop up in the air surrounding them, a whole scene being portrayed out before them as Belos told his story. 

“The year is 1613. Two orphaned brothers arrive in a place named Gravesfield. Their names? Philip and Caleb. Caleb, the elder, took it upon himself to care for his younger sibling. They endeavored to integrate into the peculiar town and its distasteful customs. Eventually, the brothers adopted the role of witch hunters. Local legend whispers of the Brothers Wittebane encountering an actual witch from another realm, named Evelyn. Torn pages from Philip’s journal hint at the older brother being ensnared and taken away. Evelyn would send Caleb enigmatic symbols, drawing him unwittingly to her witch's lair. Driven by determination, Philip embarked on a quest to vanquish the malevolent witch. Neither brother was ever seen again…” Belos sighed, finishing his story, the magical scene around them disappearing. 

Luz’ eyes shot up in surprise. Gravesfield? That’s where she was from! And Evelyn? That had to be Eda right? In between her shock and thoughts Luz went to ask Belos something but her mouth was still shut. She pointed to her mouth and made a rude gesture towards Belos. She received a stare from Belos but after a few seconds she was able to talk again.

“Why are you telling me this story? What does it have to do with why I am here?” Luz questioned. 

“Because,” Belos started, taking off his mask.

“I am Phillip.” He said with an Evil grin on his face.

With that, he turned and walked back towards the door, putting his mask back on. “Rest, Luz. You’ll need your strength for what lies ahead.”

The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving Luz alone in the dim, frigid chamber once more. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She was so confused. Belos was a human? He came from Gravesfield? He had an elder brother and they met Eda? THEY WERE WITCH HUNTERS??? There was so much going on and she still had no clue why she was here or how she was going to escape. She laid back down on the cold stone slab and curled up into a ball.

“Please get here soon Eda…” She said quietly, the cold room enveloping her.

Chapter Text

Luz had no idea how much time had passed. The cold and silence seemed eternal, each second stretching into minutes, each minute into hours. She had tried to sleep but found no comfort on the stone slab. Her mind kept racing, replaying Belos's words and the story of the Brothers Wittebane. She shivered not just from the cold, but from the revelation of Belos's true identity.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor. Her heart rate quickened, a mix of fear and anticipation filling her chest. The door creaked open once more, and Belos stepped into the room. His presence was as imposing as ever, his mask hiding any hint of emotion.

"Did you enjoy your rest?" Belos asked, his voice dripping with false concern.

Luz glared at him, her defiance undiminished. "What do you want now?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at her.

Belos approached her, his movements slow and deliberate. "You have many questions, I'm sure. And I have answers. But first, let’s make sure you’re more... cooperative."

With a flick of his wrist, the chains binding Luz's wrists and ankles got tighter, binding her to the stone slab.

Luz grunted in surprise, glaring at Belos. "I'm not going to help you with whatever evil plan you have," she spat.

Belos chuckled, a low, mirthless sound. "I don't need your help, Luz. I need your understanding." He pulled a small vial from his robes, filled with a swirling, iridescent liquid. "This potion will allow us to share thoughts, memories, experiences. You will understand my motives, my vision for the Boiling Isles."

Luz recoiled, struggling against her chains. "I don’t want anything to do with your twisted visions!"

Belos sighed. "Your resistance is commendable but futile. This is not a request." He uncorked the vial, grabbing Luz by the mouth and tipping the liquid down her throat.

She tried to shake him off or spit the liquid out, but he held her in place, forcing her to consume the potion. The liquid slipped down her throat, cold and invasive, and she felt her consciousness being pulled into a whirlwind of images and sensations.

Suddenly, Luz was no longer in the chamber. She stood in a bustling village, the air thick with the smell of wood smoke and the sound of laughter. She saw two young boys, one older and protective, the other wide-eyed and curious. Philip and Caleb Wittebane.

Luz watched as the brothers grew, their bond deepening. She felt Philip's fear and anger when Caleb was ensnared by the witch, Evelyn. She experienced Philip’s desperation, his descent into dark magic, and his transformation into Belos.

The visions shifted, showing Belos's rise to power in the Boiling Isles. His ruthlessness, his manipulation of fear, his quest to eradicate all wild magic that did not align with his own rigid beliefs. Luz felt his twisted sense of purpose, his belief that he was saving the world from chaos.

Luz's eyes snapped open, her heart racing. She was back in the chamber, Belos standing over her, his expression unreadable behind the mask.

"Do you see now, Luz?" Belos asked, his voice softer, almost coaxing. "Do you understand why I must do this?"

Luz shook her head, tears of anger and frustration welling in her eyes. "I understand that you're a monster," she said, her voice trembling. "You’re blinded by your own fear and hatred. You’re not saving anyone, you’re destroying everything!"

Belos's eyes narrowed. "You still don’t see the bigger picture. But you will, in time." 

He raised a hand, and the chains binding Luz glowed brighter. Pain shot through her wrists and ankles, and she gasped, struggling to stay conscious.

"I can make this very unpleasant for you," Belos said softly. "But it doesn't have to be. Answer my questions, and this will go much smoother."

Luz bit back a cry of pain, focusing on staying strong. "I won't tell you anything," she said through gritted teeth.

Belos sighed, as if disappointed. "Very well," he said. "We shall do this the hard way."

He waved his hand, and the chains tightened further. Luz screamed, the pain unbearable. But she refused to give in. She had to hold on, to find a way out of this.

Belos leaned in closer, his voice a whisper. "Tell me about the human realm. Tell me about the portal. Tell me where it is."

Luz shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No," she managed to say.

Belos straightened, his eyes cold. "Then you leave me no choice."

He turned and walked towards the door, pausing to look back at her. "Remember, Luz. This pain is your own doing. You can end it anytime by cooperating. When you do, we can talk about The Day Of Unity."

With that, he left, the door closing with a heavy thud. Luz was left alone, her body wracked with pain, the chains burning against her skin. Why did he want to know about the human realm and the portal? And what was this Day Of Unity he mentioned before he left? The pain shot through her body again and she screamed, losing her train of thought. She had to focus on staying strong. She couldn’t let Belos win, no matter how much he tortured her. 

“Please help me.” She screamed as the chains got even tighter, causing her to pass out from the pain she was in.

Chapter Text

Lilith’s heart raced as she flew on her staff toward the Owl House, the wind whipping past her face, carrying with it the mingled scents of the Boiling Isles. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, fears, and doubts. The urgency of the situation gnawed at her, but she steeled herself. This was no time for hesitation.

As she neared the Owl House, its familiar, eclectic shape standing out against the sky, she felt a pang of sadness. Memories of her and Edalyn’s childhood, of laughter and mischief, flooded her mind. But she pushed them aside. There was no room for sentimentality now.

Lilith landed gracefully in the yard. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and approached the front door. Before she could knock, she was swooped into the air, caught by Hooty.

“HOOT HOOT! Lilith you’re not supposed to be here!” Hooty said, concern in his usually playful voice.

“Hooty! Let me go! I need to speak with Eda. It's urgent. It’s about Luz.” Lilith said, trying to push her way out of Hooty’s grasp.

After hearing Luz’ name, Hooty slowly let go of her and placed her back on the ground. Lilith grunted in annoyance as she saw Hooty turn and push his head back into the house, whispers coming from within. After a moment he flew back to her.

“You can go in… Is Luz okay?” Hooty said, sadness in his voice.

Lilith gave the house demon a rub on his head. “I’m not sure Hooty, but I hope I can find out soon.”

Lilith walked up to the door of the Owl House, Hooty by her side. She quickly took a breath and walked through the door.

Lilith entered the house, the familiar clutter and oddities of Edalyn’s abode surrounding her. She found her sister laid down on the couch, an ice pack and a few potion vials surrounding her. King was there, by her side, worry clouding his eyes. On the floor next to them were Amity, Gus, and Willow, caught up in a quiet conversation about something. All eyes turned toward her as she stepped inside, tension crackling in the air.

Eda sat up, wincing in pain. "Lilith," she said, her voice cold. "What are you doing here?"

"Edalyn, I need to talk to you," Lilith began, taking a step forward. "About Luz."

Eda’s eyes narrowed. "What about her?"

Lilith glanced at the others, noting their worried expressions. "I know you said that she was kidnapped, and I understand why you came to me, looking to pick a fight. But I need to know what you meant. I need to know the full story behind this.”

Edalyn glare turned icy. “I didn't come to you to pick a fight. I came to you because I thought you would know what happened to Luz, especially since it was the Emperor Covens fault.”

Lilith started to speak, she wanted to tell her sister what Belos said… But she would never believe that. "Start from the beginning," Lilith said, her tone softening. "Please."

Edalyn sighed and gestured for Lilith to sit. "Alright kiddo’s, tell Lilith what happened that day."

Lilith sat there in silence, listening intently to their story. Amity did a lot of the talking, she was the one who experienced most of it, but Willow and Gus also spoke on what happened to them. After a while, the story concluded and Lilith sat there, thinking about what they told her.

Lilith was trying to piece together the details. "Did you find anything? Any clues as to who took her?"

Amity, Willow and Gus shook their heads. "No. The only thing we found was Luz’ backpack and a half drawn magic glyph.”

Lilith was about to ask another question, but was interrupted by Eda.

“I actually was able to find something.” Eda said, sadness in her eyes. “After I left the school that night, I went back to the forest. After using a spell I was able to see that one of the group that was there had an illusion coven sigil on their wrist.”

"A Sigil and illusion magic," Lilith mused. "That means it is definitely someone within the Illusion Coven or with close ties to it.”

“Well we figured it was someone within the illusion coven, but we also figured out it must be someone who’s under the command of the Emperor’s coven.” Gus said.

Lilith scoffed, taken aback by his words. “It can’t be the Emperor’s coven, Belos told me that he was not involved and there were no records in the archives about any plan involving Luz.”

Eda growled. “And you seriously believe that? You seriously believe he wouldn't just lie to you about it?”

Lilith raised an eyebrow. “Belos would never lie to me, I am his right hand and also the leader of the Emperor’s coven. If something like this happened, I would be the first to know.”

Eda groaned in frustration. “Well who else would have access to Hexsides files besides the Emperor’s coven?”

“What do you mean?” Lilith asked.

“Well, they had to know about our magic.” Gus responded. “If they didn’t they would never have known to send a clone of me to get Luz.”

“Yeah, and also how easily they were able to bypass the school’s security systems.” Willow chimed in.

Lilith thought for a second. “Could Belos be behind this? With the illusion magic and everything…”

Lilith gasped aloud. “Adrian Graye Vernworth.”

Eda snorted. “Who’s that Lily? A new boyfriend?”

Amity and Lilith both groaned. “No, he is the head of the Illusion coven, and I know that Belos has a tight grip around him. Ugh why didn’t I think of that as soon as you said something about illusion magic!”

“So do you think he was the one who did it?” Willow asked, perking up knowing they were getting closer to the real answer.

“It would make sense.” Lilith responded, “While I was in the archives, I did find some paper’s about increased activity within the Illusion Coven, but I did think it was a bit weird since I haven’t seen them around the castle.”

Eda let a slight grin go. “Well Lily, it seems your precious Emperor has lied to you after all.”

Lilith groaned. “I guess you are right dear sister.”

“But why kidnap Luz?” Amity asked. “I know she is the only human on the isles and everything, but she is just learning magic and she just started to perfect her glyphs.”

As if to answer the question, Hooty popped through the door holding someone in his grasp. “HOOT HOOT! I caught an intruder, Eda! He was using some sort of disappearing magic but I was able to catch him.”

Everyone stared at Hooty, and then at the man he was holding. 

Lilith let out a gasp and then slapped her forehead. “Adrian, what a coincidence.”

Everyone stared at Lilith for a second, taking in what she said and then turning back to the man Hooty had captured.

“WHAT!!!!” They all shouted in unison.

Adrian struggled in Hooty’s grasp. “GET THIS STUPID THING OFF OF ME” He yelled.

After a few minutes, they were able to get Adrian out of Hooty’s grasp, bounding him with magical chains of their own.

“Ah Lilith, it must make your blood boil that the Emperor went to me with this mission and not you. He knows you are a terrible performer” Adrian said, smirking.

Lilith's blood did boil a bit, she thought the Emperor had trusted her. She thought they had a bond unlike any he had with his other servants.

Lilith pointed her staff at Adrian’s neck, her anger getting the better of her. “Well, it seems like you have failed him anyways. Now, you are going to answer our questions or I am going to send you back to Belos in a bodybag. Understand?

Adrian’s eyes raised in surprise but he nodded. “Fine, what do you want to know?”

Lilith smirked, she knew that he would do anything to save himself. “Well first tell us, it was you who kidnapped Luz the human, correct?”

Adrian nodded his head. “Yes, Lord Belos sent my top scouts and I on a mission to secure the human and take her back to the castle.”

“And did anyone else know of this mission?” Lilith questioned.

“No. Just the Emperor and us.” He responded.

Lilith raised an eyebrow. “And is she still at the castle?”

Adrian nodded again. “I am not sure exactly where within the castle. All we were just told was that she would be somewhere deep in the dungeons.”

“And why did Belos take her?” Eda asked angrily, getting in Adrian’s face.

Adrian scooted back in fear. “I don’t know. Belos just told us what to do and we did it.” He glared at Lilith. “You know him, if he gives you an order, you do it and don’t ask any questions.”

Lilith sat in silence for a few moments pondering. “Okay. We can let him go.” She said after a few moments.

Everyone looked at her in surprise.

Eda growled. “What? There is no way we are letting him go, he would just go back and tell the Emperor that we know what happened and where Luz is!”

“Eda, if we keep him here, it will only tell Belos the same thing.” Lilith said. “I’m sure he was the one who sent you to follow me, correct?”

Adrian nodded. “Yes, he told me to keep an eye on you after your conversation with him in his study.”

Eda growled again, but finally relented. “Fine, let him go. But he is going to have to deal with Hooty for a bit longer before he does.” Eda whistled.

Adrian looked gray in the face, his chains disappearing and suddenly being swept up again by Hooty.

“HOOT HOOT! HEY DO YOU WANNA HEAR ABOUT ALL THE BUGS I ATE TODAY?” Hooty asked.

Adrian screamed as he was dragged outside, Hooty rambling about all the bugs he had consumed so far that day.

Seeing this, the whole group burst out into laughter.

“Well,” Amity said, rubbing her eyes. “At least we know where Luz is now.”

Everyone smiled at each other, a new found sense of urgency in their hearts to save their friend.

“Well Kiddos. Let's go save our Luz.”

Chapter Text

Luz awoke with a sharp intake of breath, her entire body wracked with pain. The chains binding her wrists and ankles still glowed faintly, their magic keeping her restrained on the cold stone slab. Her throat was raw from screaming, and her muscles ached from the strain. She tried to remember how long she had been in this dark, oppressive chamber, but the days and hours blurred together into an unending nightmare.

The door creaked open, and Luz's heart sank as Belos entered once more. His imposing figure seemed to suck the air from the room, and the cold mask he wore only added to the sense of dread that filled her. He moved with an unnerving calm, each step echoing ominously in the chamber.

"How are you feeling, Luz?" Belos asked, his voice laced with mock concern.

Luz glared at him, summoning what little strength she had left. "What do you want now?" she spat, her voice hoarse but defiant.

Belos's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Still so stubborn," he mused. "But that will change. You will give me the answers I seek, one way or another."

With a flick of his wrist, the chains tightened, sending a fresh wave of agony through Luz's body. She bit down on her lip, refusing to cry out, but the pain was overwhelming. Every nerve seemed to be on fire, and her vision blurred with tears.

"You can end this suffering at any time," Belos said softly, stepping closer. "Just tell me about the human realm. Tell me about the portal."

Luz shook her head, gasping for breath. "Never," she managed to say through gritted teeth.

Belos sighed, as if disappointed. "Very well. We shall continue."

He raised his hand, and a whip materialized out of thin air, its barbed end glinting in the dim light. Luz's eyes widened in horror as Belos approached, the whip trailing behind him like a snake ready to strike.

"Do you know what this is?" Belos asked, holding the whip up for her to see. "It's a relic from a time when discipline was... less forgiving."

He brought the whip down with a swift motion, and it struck Luz across the chest. She screamed, unable to hold back the sound of pure agony. The barbs tore through her shirt and into her skin, leaving deep, bloody welts.

Belos continued to lash her, each strike more brutal than the last. The pain was unbearable, and Luz felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness. She tried to focus on something, anything, to keep her mind from breaking, but the relentless assault made it impossible.

"Tell me about the portal," Belos demanded again, his voice cold and unyielding.

Luz gasped, trying to draw breath into her burning lungs. "No," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Belos's eyes flashed with anger, and he lashed her again, harder this time. Luz's scream echoed through the chamber, a sound of pure, unadulterated torment. She felt her skin tear, the blood pooling beneath her, and she wondered how much more she could take before her body gave out entirely.

Belos leaned in close, his mask mere inches from her face. "You think you can defy me forever, Luz?" he hissed. "You think your pain means anything to me? You are nothing. A tool to be used and discarded. But you will tell me what I want to know. Everyone breaks eventually."

Luz looked into his eyes, filled with a mix of hatred and determination. "You... will never... break me," she managed to say, each word a struggle.

Belos straightened, his expression unreadable. "We shall see," he said, raising the whip once more.

The torture continued, each lash of the whip sending fresh waves of agony through Luz's broken body. She lost track of time, her world reduced to a haze of pain and blood. But through it all, she clung to one thought: she could not let Belos win. She could not give him what he wanted.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Belos lowered the whip. Luz lay on the slab, her chest heaving, her body a mass of bruises and bleeding wounds. She was barely conscious, but she still held on to that spark of defiance.

Belos looked down at her, his eyes cold and calculating. "You are stronger than I anticipated," he admitted. "But this is far from over. I will be back again soon."

He turned and walked toward the door, leaving Luz alone in the darkness once more. As the door closed with a heavy thud, Luz let out a shuddering breath, her body trembling with pain and exhaustion. She knew that the torture would continue. But she also knew that she could not give in. She had to hold on, to find a way to escape, to stop him.

Chapter Text

The living room of the Owl House buzzed with tension and determination as everyone gathered around Eda's cluttered table. Maps, potions, and various magical artifacts were spread out, creating a chaotic yet purposeful scene. There were many people crowded into the living room of the Owl House. Principal Bump and the rest of the professors stood together on one side, Boscha and the other students standing near them. Edric and Emira had also come, sitting next to Amity on one of the couches, messing with her. Willow and Gus talked with King, who was laying on Eda’s lap. Lilith stood at the head of the table, her expression serious as she began outlining their plan.

“Alright, everyone, we need to approach this carefully,” Lilith began, her voice steady. “The castle is heavily guarded, and we can’t afford any mistakes. Here’s what we know: Luz is being held somewhere deep in the dungeons. Adrian confirmed this. Our task is to get in, rescue her, and get out as quickly as possible.”

Eda nodded, her eyes sharp. “We need to use stealth and strategy. No charging in headfirst. This is the Emperor’s coven we are talking about, and if the illusion coven is stuck there then we could be facing traps or even false paths. We need to be prepared for anything.”

Lilith nodded. “Like Edalyn said, we must be prepared for anything. Now, let’s talk about who is going to be doing what.”

“Amity, Willow, Gus, King, Hooty,” Lilith continued, “you five will be joining Eda and I to help find Luz. All of our magic and combined skills shall let us get through the castle with ease hopefully.”

They all nodded, determination etched on their faces.

Lilith took a deep breath. “I’ll handle any members of the Emperor’s Coven that we encounter. If Belos is involved, I’ll try to confront him directly and buy you all some time to find Luz.”

Eda smirked, grabbing her sister around the shoulder. “I’m coming with you, Lily. I’m not letting you face him alone.”

Lilith hesitated but nodded. “Alright, but we need to be careful. He’s dangerous, and we can’t afford to get captured.”

Eda scoffed. “I know, sis. We’ll be smart about it.”

Principal Bump stepped forward, his gaze firm. “The staff and I will create a distraction at the main entrance. We’ll draw the guards’ attention while you all slip inside.”

Boscha, leaning against the doorway, added, “The rest of the students and I will be on standby outside. If you need backup or an escape route, we’ll be ready.”

Edric and Emira, still teasing Amity, paused to listen. Emira spoke up, “We can create some illusions to confuse anyone who tries to follow you guys once you rescue Luz.”

Edric grinned. “Yeah, we’ll make sure they’re chasing shadows.”

Eda nodded appreciatively. “Thank you, everyone. Your help means a lot.”

Lilith cleared her throat. “So, here is our full plan.” She points to the map of the castle. “First, Principal Bump and the staff will cross the bridge and attack the front entrance, creating a distraction. Our group will sneak through the back of the castle through an entrance that is not well guarded to my knowledge. Boscha and the students will follow us, but stay out near the back entrance just in case we need a quick escape or backup. Once Amity, Willow, Gus, King, Hooty, Edalyn and I get into the castle, we will use our magic to sneak around, looking for Luz somewhere near the dungeons. Hopefully we will not run into Belos or be seen by any of the Emperor’s scouts since they should be distracted by the attack on the front entrance. Once we find Luz, we will quickly rescue her and leave. Once we are out, Edric and Emira, you will both use your illusion magic to distract the scouts so that the professors can escape without being caught. Does that sound good to everyone?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. They spent the next few hours further going over the exact plan, making sure that their route was clear, and preparing their supplies. 

“Okay, now everyone go and get some rest, our plan begins before sunrise. We will all meet back here at 3AM sharp.” Lilith spoke over the commotion.

Eda glanced around at the group. “Alright, everyone. Like Lily said, get some rest and make sure you’re ready. We’re bringing Luz home.”

The group dispersed, each person heading to get rest for the mission. After a while, everyone had left, except for Amity. Willow and Gus said they would have stayed longer, but they figured that they should go home and tell their parents what was going on. 

Eda sat down on the couch next to Amity. “Hey Boots, where’d your siblings go?”

Amity scoffed. “They went home, they didn't want my Mother to find out that they were here. They'll for sure be back in the morning though.”

Eda frowned. “Well shouldn't you have gone with them then?”

Amity rubbed her eyes. “No. They said my Mother still thinks that I am locked up in my room. She grounded me the other night when I got home late after searching for Luz.”

Eda raised an eyebrow. “She grounded you?”

A few tears formed in Amity’s eyes. “Yeah… She said some really horrible things about Luz too, just because I missed one of their stupid work presentations. I just… I can't go back there right now.”

Anger started to boil in Eda, but she pulled Amity into a hug. “Hey kiddo, it's going to be alright, you don't have to go back there. You are more than welcome to stay here. Also, I will personally hex your mom the next time she says anything bad about Luz again.”

The hug startled Amity, but she leaned into it. “Thanks Eda, I get why Luz always talks so highly of you… I really hope she's okay.”

Eda thought about Luz. “Don’t worry, she’s stronger than we know, and by this time tomorrow she will be back on this couch with us. I promise. Now why don't you head upstairs and get some sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Amity stood up and wiped her eyes. “Thank you Eda, I can’t wait to see Luz again.” She turned and headed up the stairs.

Eda watched her go, poking King who decided to hop back into her lap. “Mind going up there with her? She could probably use the company right now.”

King got up, stretching out on Eda’s lap. “Yeah, it seems like she is going through it. Maybe I can cheer her up with some bread puns!” King said, chasing after Amity. 

Eda smirked at his response, jumping a bit when she realized that Lilith had joined her on the couch.

“Oh Lily. I thought you had already headed upstairs?” Eda asked.

“No, I was just making some potions in the back for tomorrow, but I overheard your conversation a bit. Is Amity alright?” Lilith asked, an eyebrow raised.

Eda frowned. “It doesn't seem like it. Between her Mother and Luz getting kidnapped, I'm sure she is going through a lot.”

Lilith mirrored her frown. “Ah yes, Odalia Blight. She definitely has not treated Amity well from what I have seen. I'll make sure I go and check on her before I go to bed.``

“Thanks Lily. I’m glad you‘re here with us, it's been nice to do stuff with you again. Even under the circumstances” Eda smirked.

Lilith rubbed her head sheepishly. “It has been nice. I’m sorry I couldn't stop what happened to Luz, I should have never trusted Belos so much.”

Eda nudged into her sister. “It’s not your fault Lily, he is a manipulating son of a bitch.”

Lilith laughed at that. “Yeah, you’re right. I can’t wait to see his face tomorrow when we attack the castle.”

Eda joined her. “It is going to be amazing, and we will make sure we get Luz back.

“Yes we will.” Lilith said standing, “Goodnight Edalyn.”

“Goodnight Lily.” Eda responded.

The time had come and everyone had gathered again, ready and equipped. They sat in the forest outside the castle, staring at the bridge to the front entrance.

“Okay, everyone remembers the plan?” Lilith asked the group.

They all nodded, looks of determination on their faces. As they finished, Eda headed over to everyone, holding a pouch of potions. “These are for emergencies. Healing, invisibility, and a few offensive spells. Use them in a pinch where you can't use your own magic.”

Lilith handed out small communication devices. “These will help us stay in touch. We need to be coordinated at all times.”

Everyone took the potions and the communication devices, making sure that they were on and working.

“Alright, then let's get into our positions. Good luck everyone, let's bring Luz home.” Eda said.

Everyone quietly shouted in agreement. Principal Bump and the staff wished the other groups luck, starting to make their way towards the bridge to the castle. Edric and Emira razzed Amity for a bit, before running off to join Bump and the others. Eda and Lilith led their group, as well as the students. Their expressions were set with determination. Once they had made their way to the back of the castle, they heard Bump from the communication devices.

“We are ready when you are.” Bump spoke in their ears.

“Roger that.” Eda responded, “Let’s get Luz back.”

The plan to save Luz had finally begun.

Chapter Text

Luz awoke to the familiar creak of the chamber door, her body instantly tensing with the anticipation of pain. Belos entered the chamber, his presence suffocating the air around her. His mask gleamed in the dim light, hiding any trace of emotion, but Luz could sense his sadistic delight in her suffering.

"Good morning, Luz," Belos said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I trust you had another restful night?"

Luz glared at him, her throat too raw to respond. Belos’s eyes narrowed as he approached her, his steps measured and deliberate.

"We have much to discuss," he said, raising his hand so that the chains tightened once again. “Are you finally ready to tell me what I want to know?”

Luz let out a yelp for the pain, but shook her head. She had been through enough torture, no way was she giving up now.

Belos sighed, raising his hand. The whip materialized again, and without warning, he brought it down across her chest. Luz tried to scream, but all that came out was air, her throat too raw to make a sound. The pain was unbearable, each strike tearing at her already wounded flesh.

"Tell me where the portal is," Belos demanded, his voice cold and unyielding.

" Never, " Luz thought, shaking her head..

Belos’s eyes flashed with anger, and he struck her again, the barbs of the whip cutting deeper into her skin. Luz’s world dissolved into a haze of agony, her mind struggling to hold on. He kept striking her for a few minutes, eventually stepping closer to look at her wounds.

“Luz,” Belos said in a soft, almost comforting tone. “Your wounds are getting infected and you’re losing a lot of blood. You can die because of injuries like this. We can stop this and get you all healed up, all you have to do is tell me what I want to know.”

Luz’ mind was blurry, she felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness, but she shook her head once more. She knew that she could outlast this, even if it was the last thing she would do.

Belos stepped forward, anger entering his voice. “I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice Luz.”

He grabbed Luz’ hand, slowly wrapping the whip around one of the fingers. “Now, this is your last chance. You can answer my questions… Or, I will start taking your limbs away.”

Luz sucked in some air, the whip already piercing into her finger. She shook her head again. She wouldn't let him find the portal, she wouldn't let him get to the human realm… She wouldn't let him hurt her mother… Even if she lost her fingers or even her head, she would stop Belos.

Belos' eyes flashed with more anger than she had seen from him before. However, before he could do anything, the door burst open, and Adrian rushed in, his face pale with fear. "Your Majesty, I have terrible news to report."

Belos swiftly turned towards Adrian, the whip disappearing from his hands. “Adrian, who said you could come down here? Let alone enter this room. I am the only one who is supposed to be down here.”

Adrian shrank back in fear, looking at Luz and gasping. “My lord, what are you doing to her?”

With a swift motion, Belos cast a spell sending Adrian flying into a wall. “What I must.” Belos slowly walked towards him. “Now. Tell me why you are down here before I do even worse things to you.”

Adrian groaned, sitting up against the wall clutching his head. “I came back to tell you that Lilith found out what was going on. She found out we kidnapped Luz, and that I am sure they will be launching an attack on the castle to get her back.”

Belos sent another spell into Adrian’s chest, making him cough up blood. “And how did that happen?”

Adrian tried to regain his breath. “They… They caught me, and I told them what they wanted to know. They were going to kill me.”

Belos swiftly walked across the room and picked Adrian up by the neck. “You did what ?”

Adrian gulped. “My lord, I can fix this, I will make sure my scouts and I add protections to the castle so that they never find her, please forgive me weakness.”

Belos threw him across the room. “You are lucky that I am desperate Adrian, or else I would have killed you for just walking into this room. Now, go and prepare this castle. Also, make sure no one else comes into this room, I need as much time as possible.”

Adrian shot up, sprinting out of the room. “I won’t let you down My Lord.”

Luz watched him go, staring back at Belos who was muttering curses under his breath. A new sense of determination had entered her. She let out a grin through the pain. Eda and everyone knew where she was, and she knew they wouldn't stop until they had rescued her.

Belos noticed her grin and turned towards her in anger. “Fine, it looks like we are running out of time… Looks like I will be using more desperate measures.”

Belos started to draw on the floor with his staff, the floor beneath him being consumed by a large range of glyphs. After a while he turned to Luz, smiling mischievously. With a swift motion, he smacked his staff against the floor, igniting the glyphs. Luz watched as he was surrounded in golden light, which then shot towards her. She gasped in surprise and tried to duck out of the way, but her injuries and the chains stopped her. The golden beam hit her right in the head, knocking her unconscious.

Belos awoke with a start, his mind still reeling from the incursion into Luz's memories. He found himself in the clearing outside the accursed Owl House, its twisted architecture looming in the dim light of dawn. The house was a grotesque testament to the chaotic magic he despised. He walked towards the house. He had never actually been here before, but he had heard of gossip from scouts in the castle about it. As he approached the door he realized that there was no sign of the house demon that they had mentioned. However, there was a little girl sitting in front of the door holding some sort of action figure in her hands. Belos had studied mindscapes before. He knew that the inner self of the person's mind was usually a younger version of themselves, and also that they were the ones who possessed the mindscape.

Belos slowly took off his mask, approaching the small girl in front of him. “Luz? Is that you?”

At the sound, the tiny version of Luz shot up and after taking one glance at Belos, ran inside the house.

Belos let out a huff of anger. “Of course she would run.”

Belos chased her inside the house, seeing her disappear up the stairs. He quickly navigated around the messy living room, chasing the child up the stairs. As he got to the top, he groaned. The hallway looked never ending, bedrooms on each side of the hall were lined with pictures of Luz’ memories. He had lost the girl, and having no other choice he walked forward and opened one of the doors.

Belos was sucked in finding himself in a chaotic swirl of memories and emotions. As he went between each door, he navigated through scenes of Luz’s life, each one revealing fragments of her struggles and triumphs. He saw her as she grew up, her troubles at school and in the human realm. But then, he found it. The day she arrived in the Boiling Isles.

Belos smiled. “Finally, maybe this can show me where the portal is.”

Opening up the door, he stepped onto a sidewalk, seeing Luz standing across the way. The area around her looked blurry, but also strangely familiar to him. He looked around, but the feeling slowly faded away. With a shrug he turned back to Luz, who he saw was now chasing a tiny owl. He smiled and chased after her. Eventually he came upon a cabin. Hearing Luz yelling from the inside, he followed in and spotted the door. He let out a smile, but as he went towards it, he was kicked out of the memory.

“Curse the Titan,” Belos swore. He needed to know where the portal was in the demon realm, not the human realm.

Belos opened the next door and watched Luz’ first meeting with Edalyn the Owl Lady, and this told him what he wanted to know. As he watched the Owl Lady close the door, trapping Luz in the demon realm he smiled. The Owl Lady had the key to the portal, and she was on her way to the castle right now. 

Belos continued through the doors, searching through her memories for more clues of where the Owl Lady might be storing the key, but he was unable to find anything. As he pushed deeper, he stumbled upon a particularly raw memory. As he opened the door he saw her. Luz sat alone in her room, tears streaming down her face. "I’ll never be a real witch," she sobbed, clutching a glyph tightly in her hand. "I can’t do magic like everyone else."

Belos’ lips curled into a sneer. This was what he needed. Her self-doubt, her weakness. He latched onto this memory, feeding on her despair.

"You are nothing without these glyphs," he whispered into her mind. "Just a human pretending to be something you’re not."

As he pressed further, intending to unravel more secrets, he was met with a powerful force. Memories of Luz’s friends surged forward—Eda’s unwavering support, King’s playful encouragement, Willow, Gus, and Amity’s tender affections. Their voices echoed in her mind, drowning out Belos’s insidious whispers.

"You are a witch, Luz," Eda’s voice rang out. "You’ve always been one."

All of a sudden, an older Luz popped out from behind Belos. She was dressed in some ridiculous costume, but as Belos turned around to try and block her, she hit him in his chest, forcefully ejecting him from her mind.

Belos's eyes snapped open, his face contorted with rage. He turned to Luz, who was slowly waking up herself.

“You insolent fool,” he yelled, summoning his whip again. “You dare kick me out of your mind?”

He struck Luz again, grinning in satisfaction at the pain he was causing her. He wrapped one of her fingers in the whip, pulling and ripping it off. The scream Luz finally let out was more than satisfactory for him.

“So Luz, one finger down. Now, where does the Owl Lady hide the portal and the key?” Belos asked, slowly wrapping another finger in the whip.

Luz raised her eyes in surprise, eventually being able to croak out a single, “What?”

Anger boiled within Belos, ripping another finger off, blood slowly pooling on the floor below them. After she had finished screaming, Belos continued.

“There is no need to lie Luz, I have been in your mind, I have seen the Owl Lady with the key, I just need to know where she hides it.” Belos said, anger in his voice.

Watching Luz shake her head again threw Belos into a fury of rage. He wrapped her whole hand in the whip, ripping the whole thing off. Belos expected a scream of pain but heard nothing. Looking up at her face, he realized that her eyes had rolled back into her head. Quickly he checked her pulse. It was still there, but it was faint.

“Curse the Titan,” He gritted. He didn’t want to kill Luz, he still needed her as leverage over the Owl Lady to get the key and portal from her. He quickly walked outside of the chamber spotting the Golden Guard.

“Golden Guard, I need you to run and quickly get as many healers as you can.” Belos commanded.

The Golden Guard bowed and started to leave. “As you wish Uncle.”

A few moments later, the Golden Guard returned, the castle's healers following in his tracks. As they all entered the room they gasped, seeing the condition in which the Emperor had left Luz. 

“Uncle, what did you do to her?” Hunter croaked.

“What had to be done.” He glared at the healers. “Now get to work and stop the bleeding, I don’t want this one to die.

As the healers worked on stopping Luz’ bleeding, Belos paced the room, getting even angrier by the second. The Golden Guard tried to calm him down, but after a while, Adrian burst through the door.

“My Lord, the attack has started on the castle, it seems likeLuz' professors are attacking the front entrance. We haven't been able to locate the rest of them, but the castle has been laced with traps and illusion magic.” Adrian said, bowing in front of Belos.

Belos’ anger boiled over, and he turned on Adrian, who was kneeling next to him. "You failed to keep this contained," he hissed. "You brought this upon us."

Before Adrian could react, Belos raised his hand, and a burst of dark magic enveloped the unfortunate subordinate. Adrian's scream was short-lived as his body crumpled to the floor, lifeless. Belos stared at Adrian’s corpse, a blank look on his face. He heard the gasps of the healers and the Golden Guard but ignored them. After a while of staring at the corpse below him, he turned and looked back at Luz, a memory coming back. 

Belos let out a mischievous smile, her words ringing in his ears. 

"I’ll never be a Real Witch.”

Chapter Text

Leaving Boscha and the rest of the students behind, the group moved silently through the forest, hearts pounding as they approached the castle's rear entrance. The oppressive silhouette of the Emperor’s Castle loomed against the night sky, its towers piercing the darkness. With the distraction at the front underway, they expected some resistance. Yet, as they slipped through the entrance, they were met with eerie silence.

The group crept through the empty halls, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone. No guards, no traps—nothing but the flickering blue torches lining the walls.

"This is too easy," whispered Gus, his eyes darting around nervously.

"I don't like it either," Lilith replied, her grip tightening on her staff. "Stay alert."

Amity, walking beside Eda, couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. "This isn’t right," she muttered. "There should be guards everywhere."

Eda nodded grimly. "Maybe Adrian didn't come back here, or he didn't give Belos enough time to prepare."

Lilith scoffed. “Adrian definitely came back, it’s who he is. However, I agree, there is something wrong here.”

“Maybe they are too focused on the attack on the front entrance?” Willow said, fiddling with her hands. 

“Possibly, but knowing Belos he would have had a few guards stay behind… Maybe we missed them, but stay alert everyone.” Lilith responded. 

“Yes, even if this is a trap, we can't stop here.” Eda said, pushing forward through the castle.

The absence of guards unnerved them, but they pressed on, attributing the lack of resistance to the diversion at the main entrance. Still, a gnawing sense of dread began to creep in. As they advanced deeper into the castle, the air grew colder, and an unsettling quiet settled over them.

They finally reached the massive doors leading to the dungeons. Eda and Lilith both took a deep breath and pushed them open. The group stepped inside, only to hear the heavy doors slam shut behind them, the echoing clang sending shivers down their spines.

Amity shivered. "This place gives me the creeps."

King, perched on Eda's shoulder, growled softly. "Stay close, guys. There is someone here with us."

More torches flickered on, bathing the room in an eerie glow, and from the shadows emerged Emperor Belos. His presence was chilling, his eyes cold and calculating.

"Welcome," he said, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. "I've been expecting you all."

"Where's Luz?" Eda demanded, stepping forward, prepared to fight.

“Patience Edalyn, you will see her in all due time.” Belos said, raising his hands.

Eda raised her staff, ready to cast a spell, but before she could Lilith stopped her.

“What are you doing Lily?” Eda said, pulling her staff back.

“We can’t win this fight.” Lilith said, putting her own staff on the ground.

The group stared at her in confusion, but from down the hall, Belos laughed maniacally.

“Lilith is right.” Belos flicked his hands and suddenly an army of scouts appeared, materializing from the shadows and encircling the group.

Eda raised her staff again, ready to fight. "You think a few of your scouts scare us? We’ve dealt with them plenty of times already."

Belos smirked. "Brave words, but futile. I believe we have some… negotiations to conduct."

With another gesture, the door behind them reopened, and even more scouts flooded in. The group watched in horror as the students and professors were dragged into the room, many of them were severely injured. 

“Now, I think it is time to lower your staff, Edalyn. You cannot win this fight” Belos mocked.

Eda growled, but slowly put her staff on the ground, kicking it away from her.

“Good.” Belos said, looking at Eda and Amity. "Now. You two, follow me."

“Why would we ever follow you?” Eda growled.

Belos smirked. “It is not like you have much of a choice.”

Reluctantly, they complied, leaving the others under the watchful eyes of the scouts. Belos led them through dim corridors, the oppressive silence amplifying their anxiety. They finally reached a room, deep in the dungeons. There, Luz lay unconscious, her body, covered by cloth, her face, pale and still. Standing over her, the Golden Guard held his staff ready to strike.

Amity's heart raced, starting to run towards them. "Luz!"

"Not so fast," Belos said, stopping her. "I have a proposition for you Owl Lady."

Eda glared at him, and growled. “What is it?”

“I want the key and the portal to the human realm, I know you have it.” Belos smirked.

Eda tried to act confused. “The human realm? Where Luz is from? How would I have a key to it?”

Belos gestured to Luz. “I have already been in her mind, I have seen you use it.”

Eda stepped toward him, anger in her eyes. “You’ve What?”

“Ah ah ah.” Belos mocked, “There is no need for violence.”

Eda glared at him. "No way. That’s Luz’ only way back home."

Belos laughed. “Well, it's either you give me the key and the portal and you get back your precious human, or I kill the girl and take it from you.”

Eda stepped back, getting closer to Amity. They stood back to back, prepared for a fight. “Or we take Luz from you and leave with everything.”

Belos gestured to the Golden Guard. “Ah, but we have hostages. You really want to risk her life and those of the others?”

The Golden Guard lowered his staff, a spell crackling ominously over Luz. "Don’t make this harder than it has to be, just listen to Belos." he warned.

Eda's mind raced. She couldn't risk Luz's life, or the lives of the others who had been captured. Hell, even if they all fought back, they would be overwhelmed by all the scouts Belos had brought here. With a heavy heart, she reached into her hair and pulled out the portal and the key. "Fine, but step away from her.”

He gestured to the Golden Guard, who stepped back, allowing Amity to rush to Luz's side. Amity gently lifted Luz, tears streaming down her face. "I've got you, Luz. We're getting out of here."

Belos walked over to Eda. “Now, the portal and the key if you may.”

Eda handed them to him, growling. “This isn't over Belos, not by a long shot.”

Belos watched them with an unreadable expression. "You may leave now, I have no use for the human anymore. I hope you're happy with her… new self."

“ Her new self? What does that mean?” Eda thought, but before she could question Belos, the Golden Guard was there, pushing them out with his staff.

Eda and Amity headed back to the group, the Golden Guard followed behind, his staff at the ready. Luz was cradled in Amity's arms. As they approached the rest of the group, the scouts parted, allowing them to pass. The scouts freed the rest of the group and let them go, following them through the castle. 

Amity's heart pounded in her chest as she held Luz close. She whispered reassurances to her unconscious friend, praying that they would make it out before Belos changed his mind and decided it would be better to capture them.

They finally reached the exit, the night air a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere inside the castle. As the scouts closed the castle gates behind them, everyone came over to look at Luz.

"Is she going to be alright? Why did the Emperor just let us go?" Bump asked, concern etched on his face.

Eda had a grim expression on her face. "We have Luz. That's all that matters."

Slowly, the group made their way through the forest, the sense of relief was almost overwhelming. The lights of the Owl House came into view, a beacon of hope in the darkness.

Inside, the group tended to their wounds, both physical and emotional. The tension of the mission had taken its toll, and exhaustion was etched into every face. Luz was taken upstairs by Amity, she definitely needed to rest.

Eda slumped into the couch, her mind reeling from the encounter with Belos. "We got Luz back," she murmured, "but why did he want the portal?"

And then she heard screaming from upstairs.

Chapter Text

Amity’s heart pounded as she carried Luz away from everyone downstairs, her footsteps echoing softly against the floor of the Owl House. The winding staircase seemed to stretch on forever, each step a battle to keep her composure. The dim light from the flickering sconces cast eerie shadows on the walls, dancing in unsettling patterns that would have unnerved her at any other time. But now, all of her attention was focused solely on Luz, who lay limp and unconscious in her arms.

Luz’s face, usually so full of life and warmth, was now pale and expressionless, a stark contrast to the vibrant girl Amity had come to know and love. The cloth of the Emperor still covered her, a chilling reminder of the horrors they had just escaped. Amity hadn’t let go of her since they fled the castle, her arms trembling not from exhaustion, but from the fear that if she loosened her grip, she might lose Luz for good.

As they finally reached Luz’s room, Amity hesitated for a moment outside the door. The familiar wooden surface, once a gateway to countless moments of joy and laughter, now felt like a barrier to the unknown. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and gently nudged the door open with her foot. The room was just as they had left it—the bed made of Luz's favorite blankets, the floor cluttered with half-finished glyphs, and magical trinkets scattered about in disarray. Normally, these sights would have brought a smile to Amity’s face, but now they felt like distant echoes of a happier time, a painful reminder of how much they had gone through.

Carefully, Amity laid Luz down on the bed, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she were handling the most fragile of glass. She knelt beside her, her eyes scanning Luz’s face for any sign of life. There was nothing—no flicker of the eyes, no faint smile, just the cold, unmoving expression of someone who had endured too much.

With trembling hands, Amity slowly began to peel the cloth away from Luz’s body. Her breath caught in her throat as the extent of Luz’s injuries came into view. Bruises marred her skin, dark and angry against her pallor. There were cuts and scrapes, some shallow, others deep and jagged, each one a testament to the brutal treatment she had suffered. Her wrists bore the telltale marks of restraint, raw and red, as if she had fought desperately to break free.

But it was the sight of Luz’s missing hand that sent Amity over the edge. She gasped, the sound strangled and pained, as she turned away, bile rising in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she fought to keep herself together. The room seemed to spin around her, the weight of the moment crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

She heard footsteps coming up the stairs, the sound growing louder with each passing second. Panic surged through her—she couldn’t let anyone see Luz like this, not without preparing them for the horror. With shaky hands, she hurriedly covered Luz’s injuries with the cloth again, her heart racing as the footsteps drew nearer.

Amity’s heart pounded even harder as the door creaked open, revealing Eda standing in the doorway. The usually formidable witch looked more vulnerable than Amity had ever seen her, her face lined with worry and exhaustion. Behind her, King peeked in, his eyes wide with concern, and the others—Lilith, Willow, Gus, and even Hooty—crowded into the room, their expressions a mix of fear and dread.

“Amity, what happened? I heard you scream,” Eda asked, her voice laced with urgency. She crossed the room in a few quick strides, her gaze locking onto the cloth covering Luz.

Amity tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat, her emotions too overwhelming to put into words. “Eda, it’s bad. Really bad. Luz... she’s...” Her voice cracked, and she looked away, unable to finish the sentence.

Without waiting for an explanation, Eda gently lifted the cloth to see for herself. The moment her eyes fell on Luz’s injuries, her face paled, and her breath hitched. “Oh, Titan...” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she took in the full extent of the damage. Her hands trembled as she reached out to touch Luz, but she pulled back at the last moment, as if afraid that her touch might cause more harm.

King, who had been hovering nervously by Eda’s side, took one look at her and quickly stepped back, his small body tense with fear. “Uh, guys… I think we should run,” he said, his voice trembling.

Amity, confused and on the verge of panic, was about to ask what he meant when she saw Eda’s eyes begin to change. The familiar gold irises began to darken, shifting into the deep, ominous black of the Owl Beast. The transformation was happening faster than Amity had ever seen before, spurred on by Eda’s overwhelming emotions. Eda’s body began to contort, her features twisting into the fearsome form of the Owl Beast, the curse seizing control with terrifying speed.

“Eda, no!” Amity cried out, reaching out instinctively as if she could somehow stop the transformation. But it was too late. Eda let out a low, guttural growl, the sound reverberating through the room, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.

Lilith, who had been lingering at the back of the group, quickly stepped forward, her staff at the ready. “Everyone, step back! We need to contain her!” she commanded, her voice firm but tinged with fear. The professors, who had arrived with her, drew their staffs as well, preparing for what was sure to be a difficult struggle.

Amity scrambled to her feet, backing away as Eda’s transformation completed. The Owl Beast roared, a sound that shook the walls of the Owl House, and lashed out with its claws, knocking over furniture and scattering Luz’s belongings across the room. The once cozy space was now a battleground, filled with the chaotic energy of Eda’s curse.

The group moved quickly, casting spell after spell in an attempt to subdue the Owl Beast. Amity watched in horror as the spells barely seemed to slow Eda down, her strength fueled by a combination of rage, fear, and grief. The Owl Beast was relentless, its eyes filled with a wild, uncontrollable fury as it fought against the magical restraints being placed upon it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lilith managed to get close enough to place a binding spell directly on Eda’s chest. The Owl Beast let out a final, defiant roar before collapsing to the ground, the magical restraints finally holding it in place. Eda’s body was still, the transformation halted, but the tension in the room remained thick and suffocating.

Lilith, her breath coming in ragged gasps, approached her sister with a mix of determination and sorrow in her eyes. She knelt beside the Owl Beast, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch its head. “Oh, Sister... I should have done this a long time ago,” she whispered, her voice filled with regret.

She pressed her forehead against the Owl Beast’s, her voice soft and full of resolve as she began to chant, “With this spell declared, let the pain be shared.”

As the words left her lips, a blinding blue light erupted from the point of contact, enveloping both sisters in its glow. The light was brilliant and warm, filling the room with a sense of peace that contrasted sharply with the chaos that had just unfolded. Amity watched, her heart in her throat, as Eda and Lilith began to levitate off the ground, suspended in the air by the sheer force of the spell.

The light pulsed once, twice, and then split into two distinct beams, one flowing into Eda and the other into Lilith. Slowly, the Owl Beast’s form began to fade, the monstrous features receding as Eda’s humanity was restored. The sisters hovered in the air for a moment longer before the light began to fade, and they gently floated back to the ground.

Eda’s body slumped, the strain of the transformation and the spell evident in the way she barely managed to stay upright. Lilith reached out to steady her, her expression one of deep concern and lingering guilt. “Eda... are you alright?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Eda nodded weakly, but there was no mistaking the exhaustion in her eyes. “Yeah... I think so. Thank you, Lilith,” she murmured, her voice hoarse but sincere.

Amity, still reeling from the events that had just transpired, finally allowed herself to breathe. She looked back at Luz, who remained unconscious and battered on the bed, and felt a fresh wave of despair wash over her. The battle with Eda’s curse might have been won, but the fight to save Luz was far from over.

As the others began to tend to Eda, Amity quietly returned to Luz’s side, her hand gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. She leaned down, her lips brushing against Luz’s forehead in a tender, almost desperate gesture of love and hope. “Please, Luz... please come back to us,” she whispered, her voice breaking as tears slipped down her cheeks.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sounds the soft sobs of those who cared too deeply and had been through too much. Amity held Luz’s hand tightly, refusing to let go, as she silently vowed to do whatever it took to bring her back.

No matter the cost.

Chapter Text

The quiet of Luz’s room was a stark contrast to the rest of the Owl House, where preparations for the next strike against Belos were in full swing. Amity sat by Luz’s bed, as she had every day for the past few weeks, her hand gently clasping Luz’s limp one. The room, once a chaotic haven of half-finished glyphs and scattered trinkets, now felt frozen in time. Dust had begun to gather on the edges of the bookshelves, the room eerily untouched since that fateful night.

Amity’s gaze drifted to Luz’s face, her features still pale, her body still unmoving. The only sign of life was the faint rise and fall of her chest, a cruel reminder of how close she hovered between here and somewhere else entirely. Amity swallowed hard and tightened her grip on Luz’s hand.

“Good morning, Luz,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from a night of little sleep. “Willow and Gus are out scouting again. They think they’ve found a weak spot in the Emperor’s defenses.” Her words hung in the air, met with the same silence that had greeted her every morning for weeks. “And Eda… well, she’s being Eda. She’s determined to find some ancient curse-breaking spell. You’d probably laugh if you saw her poring over those dusty old scrolls.”

Amity’s voice cracked, and she looked away, tears threatening to spill. “I just… I wish you’d laugh. I wish you’d say anything .”

The sound of footsteps in the hallway made her quickly wipe her eyes. Eda appeared in the doorway, her wild gray hair even more unkempt than usual, dark circles etched beneath her eyes. She carried a tray with a bowl of steaming soup, the scent of herbs and spices filling the room.

“How’s our sleeping beauty?” Eda asked softly, setting the tray on the small table beside the bed. Her usual sarcastic tone was absent, replaced by a gentleness that had become rare since the battle at the castle.

“The same,” Amity replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated saying it, hated acknowledging how little had changed.

Eda sighed, pulling up a chair beside Amity. “Kid, you’ve been sitting here all morning again, haven’t you?”

Amity didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.

“You’ve got to take care of yourself too, you know,” Eda said, her voice firm but not unkind. “We need you out there. Luz… Luz would want you out there.”

Amity shook her head, her green eyes blazing with quiet determination. “I can’t leave her. Not until she wakes up.”

Eda leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “I get it. Believe me, I do. But sitting here isn’t going to bring her back faster.”

“I know that,” Amity snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. She immediately regretted it, her shoulders slumping. “I know that, but… it’s all I can do. I failed her, Eda. I couldn’t protect her. How can I fight Belos when I couldn’t even save Luz?”

Eda reached out, placing a hand on Amity’s shoulder. “Listen, Amity. What happened to Luz wasn’t your fault. Belos… he’s a monster. He’s done this to so many people. But sitting here, letting that guilt eat you alive—that’s exactly what he’d want. And Luz wouldn’t want that.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Amity looked back at Luz, her expression softening. “I just… I’m scared,” she admitted. “What if she never wakes up?”

Eda didn’t have an answer for that. No one did. Instead, she stood and gave Amity’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be downstairs if you need anything. But think about what I said, okay?”

Amity nodded faintly, though she wasn’t sure if she believed Eda’s words. As the older witch left, Amity turned back to Luz. “She’s right, you know,” she murmured. “But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on you.”

Meanwhile, in the Owl House living room…

Eda joined the others, who were gathered around a crudely drawn map of the castle. Gus and Willow were deep in discussion, their faces tense with focus. King stood on the table, pointing at a section of the map with his tiny claw.

“I’m telling you, if we can get through this passage, we’ll have a straight shot to Belos’s inner sanctum,” King said, his voice unusually serious. “But we need a distraction big enough to keep his forces off our backs.”

Lilith, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, shook her head. “It’s not that simple. Belos knows we’re desperate. He’ll be expecting a frontal assault.”

“Then we make him think we’re desperate,” Willow interjected, her voice steady and confident. “We fake an attack here”—she pointed to the outer gate—“and use it to draw his forces away. Meanwhile, a smaller team sneaks in through the passage King found.”

“Sounds risky,” Lilith said, frowning. “If he catches on, we’ll be trapped.”

“That’s why we can’t afford to wait,” Gus added. “Every day we delay, his power grows stronger. We have to act soon.”

Eda sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Alright, I’ll bite. Who’s on this ‘small team’ of yours?”

Willow hesitated, glancing toward the staircase. “Amity should be one of them. She knows glyph magic better than anyone now, thanks to Luz. And… I think she needs this.”

Eda raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “Fine. I’ll talk to her. But if she’s not ready, we find someone else. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

The room fell silent at her words, the weight of their situation pressing down on all of them. They had already lost too much. Too many friends. Too much time.

But as Eda looked back up the stairs, she felt a flicker of hope. Luz’s fight wasn’t over. And neither was theirs.

Back in Luz’s room…

As night fell, Amity sat in the dark, her hand still clutching Luz’s. The shadows grew longer, the room quieter, and the ache in her heart heavier.

“Good night, Luz,” she whispered, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. She stayed there for a moment, her eyes closed, her tears falling silently onto the blankets.

And then—just as she was pulling away—a faint, almost imperceptible twitch of Luz’s fingers stopped her in her tracks. Amity froze, her breath caught in her throat. She stared at Luz’s hand, willing it to move again.

For a moment, nothing happened. And then, ever so slightly, Luz’s hand squeezed hers.

“Luz?” Amity’s voice was barely audible, a mix of hope and disbelief.

But Luz didn’t respond. Her eyes remained closed, her body still motionless.

Still, it was enough. Amity’s heart soared, her tears now flowing freely. “You’re still in there,” she whispered, clutching Luz’s hand tightly. “I’ll wait as long as it takes. I promise.”

Downstairs, Eda and the others were finalizing their plans. The fight against Belos loomed large, but for the first time in weeks, a spark of hope flickered within the walls of the Owl House.

Chapter Text

Luz was falling.

The sensation dragged her down into a chasm of blackness, her arms flailing in the void. She tried to summon a glyph, but her fingers wouldn’t respond. Her chest ached, each breath coming heavier than the last, as though something deep inside her was fighting to escape.

She hit the ground, though it wasn’t ground at all—just an endless expanse of shimmering obsidian. Luz groaned, forcing herself upright, and as her eyes adjusted, she realized she wasn’t alone.

A figure stood a few paces away, their back to her. Their silhouette flickered, indistinct, as though they were barely holding together.

“Hello?” Luz called, her voice echoing unnaturally.

The figure turned, and her stomach dropped.

It was Adrian Graye Vernworth, but not the dramatic, theatrical figure she remembered from their encounters in the Boiling Isles. His clothes were tattered, his hair disheveled, and his face gaunt. Shadows clung to him like oil, seeping into the cracks of the strange world around them.

“You,” he said, his voice cold and low. His eyes locked onto hers, and she felt an odd pull, like a thread connecting them, invisible but undeniable.

“What is this?” Luz demanded, stepping back. “Where am I?”

Adrian’s lips curled into a bitter smirk. “You’re asking the wrong question, Luz. The better one is: Who are you now? ”

“What are you talking about?”

He laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. “Don’t play dumb. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The changes, the cracks forming inside you. Something new, something… foreign.” He gestured toward her chest. “I know because I feel it too. You think it’s yours, but it’s not. It’s mine.”

Luz blinked, confused. “What are you talking about? What’s yours?”

“My magic,” Adrian hissed, stepping closer. His presence felt suffocating, like a storm cloud pressing down on her. “It’s inside you now, and it doesn’t belong to you. It never did.”

“That’s not true!” Luz said, summoning a glyph with trembling hands. But when she activated it, the magic sputtered and fizzled out, as though something were siphoning it away.

Adrian tilted his head, his smirk widening. “You feel it, don’t you? The tug, the mismatch. It’s because you’re not supposed to have it. You’re an intruder, Luz. A thief.”

“I didn’t take anything!” Luz shot back, though doubt crept into her voice.

Adrian’s expression darkened. “Belos did this. He ripped something out of me and shoved it into you. And now…” His voice grew sharper, his eyes glowing faintly. “I’m here to take it back.”

The shadows around him surged, coiling into jagged shapes that lashed out like whips. Luz barely had time to dive out of the way, her heart pounding in her chest.

She scrambled to her feet, summoning another glyph—this time a shield. The shadows struck it with a deafening crack, sending vibrations through her entire body.

“Why are you doing this?” she shouted, her voice trembling. “This isn’t my fault!”

“You think I care?” Adrian snapped. His movements were erratic, his form flickering like a flame about to go out. “You’re standing in my place. My power, my essence—it’s mine ! And if you won’t give it back willingly…” He raised a hand, and the shadows converged on Luz, swallowing her shield whole.

“…then I’ll tear it out of you myself.”

The shadows constricted, pressing against Luz’s chest, and for a moment, she thought she could feel two heartbeats—one steady, one erratic, like a bird trapped in a cage. Her vision blurred, the world tilting as Adrian’s voice echoed around her.

“This is my domain, Luz. You can’t win here.”

Gritting her teeth, Luz slammed her fists together, activating a glyph she’d drawn beneath her. A burst of light exploded outward, scattering the shadows and sending Adrian reeling.

“This isn’t just about you!” she shouted, standing tall despite the ache in her chest. “I didn’t ask for this, but I’m not giving up, either. If you want to stop me, you’ll have to try harder than that!”

Adrian growled, his form flickering more violently. The void around them began to collapse, fragments of memories bleeding into the darkness. Luz saw flashes—moments from Adrian’s life, his rise to power, his desperation to prove himself, and the moment Belos struck him down.

“You don’t know what it’s like,” Adrian said, his voice quieter now, tinged with something Luz couldn’t place. “To have everything taken from you. To be left with nothing but a hollow space where your heart used to be.”

Luz hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. “Adrian…”

“Don’t pity me!” he snapped, but the fury in his voice was weaker, fading.

The void around them warped, the shadows growing stronger around Adrian yet again. Luz stepped closer, her hand reaching out instinctively.

“Maybe… maybe it doesn’t have to be like this,” she said. “I don’t know what Belos did, but I know we’re both his victims. We don’t have to keep hurting each other.”

Adrian stared at her, his expression unreadable. The world around them grew darker, washing over them both, and for a moment, Luz thought she saw him smile—just barely.

Then everything went black.

Chapter Text

The moment Amity felt Luz's fingers twitch, a breath of hope rushed through her—only to be violently ripped away.

Luz’s body jerked, her back arching off the bed as if some unseen force had taken hold of her. A sharp, crackling sound filled the air, like glass fracturing under immense pressure. The very space around her seemed to distort, warping in unnatural waves. Amity’s heart pounded as she tightened her grip on Luz’s hand.

"Luz?" she whispered, but there was no response.

Then, the room erupted.

A pulse of raw, unhinged magic blasted outward from Luz’s body, sending Amity sprawling to the floor. The force rattled the Owl House, shaking its very foundations as wild, chaotic energy burst in every direction. Furniture splintered, books flew from shelves, and the very air shimmered with an unnatural light.

Amity scrambled to her knees, watching in horror as a storm of illusions began to swirl around Luz. Shadows stretched unnaturally, morphing into familiar yet twisted figures—faces Amity recognized but distorted into something unholy.

Eda’s wild laugh, warped and hollow, echoed from the corner of the room as an illusion of her grinned with too many teeth. Gus’s voice, normally warm and playful, fractured into static-filled whispers, overlapping and incomprehensible. Even Amity’s own voice rang out, taunting and cruel, as an illusory version of herself stepped forward, golden eyes gleaming with something inhuman.

"You couldn’t save her," the illusion sneered. "You let her become this. You failed."

"Shut up!" Amity snarled, summoning her abomination magic in defense, but the moment she did, the false Amity dissolved into inky mist, reforming behind her with a ghostly whisper of laughter.

Luz’s body continued to convulse, her hands clawing at the air as more illusions erupted from her—visions of the Boiling Isles, twisted reflections of the castle, the Titan’s skull cracking open as shadowy figures poured out. The ground beneath her glowed with unstable glyphs, flickering erratically as if unable to contain the surge of power within her.

Then, from the chaos, a new figure emerged—one Amity recognized instantly.

Adrian Graye Vernworth.

Or rather, what was left of him. His image flickered, barely holding together, the shadows wrapped around him like a second skin. His face was gaunt, his smirk replaced with something hollow, something desperate.

"You see it now, don’t you?" his voice rang out, though his lips barely moved. "She was never meant to hold this power. It’s tearing her apart."

Amity’s breath hitched. Adrian’s presence shouldn’t be possible. He wasn’t here—this was all part of Luz’s mind, a nightmare bleeding into reality. But the illusion was too strong, too real.

A deep, guttural scream tore from Luz’s throat—though her lips never parted. Her eyes snapped open, glowing a blinding gold, burning with the sheer force of the magic inside her. The shadows around Adrian thickened, twisting unnaturally as he reached toward her.

"Give it back, Luz! It was never yours!"

Luz’s body seized, the space around her fracturing as golden cracks split through reality itself. The entire room flickered between two states—one moment the Owl House, the next a shattered reflection of the void Luz had fallen into. The same place Adrian had been left to rot.

Amity forced herself forward, shielding her eyes from the relentless light radiating from Luz’s body. "Luz!" she shouted, pushing against the gale-force wind of her magic. "Listen to me! You’re stronger than this! You’re still here!"

But Luz wasn’t listening. She couldn’t.

Another explosion of energy rocked the house, shattering the windows and sending cracks racing up the walls. The illusions intensified—Adrian’s form growing more solid, his outstretched hand almost reaching Luz’s chest, as if to rip something from her.

"No," Amity breathed, realization dawning like ice in her veins. "He’s trying to take it. He’s trying to take her."

Steeling herself, Amity lunged forward, grabbing onto Luz’s shoulders. The instant she touched her, agony seared through her hands like fire—magic, raw and violent, rejecting her presence. But she held on, even as her body screamed in protest.

"Luz! Fight it!" Amity shouted over the roar of magic. "You are not his! You are not this!"

Luz’s body trembled violently, caught between the forces threatening to consume her. Adrian’s illusion flickered, his expression twisting into something desperate. "She can’t fight it. It’s already begun."

"Then I’ll fight for her!"

With every ounce of strength she had, Amity pressed her forehead to Luz’s, forcing through the blinding light, the deafening chaos. She focused on Luz—not the magic, not the illusions, just her.

A whisper. A heartbeat. A flicker of something beyond the storm.

Then, everything exploded into white.

Chapter Text

Amity had barely a second to breathe before the world around her changed.

One moment, she was gripping Luz’s hand in the real world, their foreheads pressed against one another, feeling the last traces of magic ripple through her skin from Luz’s sudden, violent outburst. The next, she was falling—no, being pulled—into an abyss of blackness. A weightless, endless drop.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, it ended. Amity landed on solid ground, but it wasn’t ground at all—just an expanse of shimmering obsidian stretching infinitely in all directions. The air felt thick, humming with energy she didn’t recognize, as if the space itself was alive. Her stomach twisted with unease.

The endless void stretched before her, a vast expanse of gleaming darkness that pulsed and shimmered like the surface of a deep ocean reflecting an unseen moon. She had read about places like this in ancient texts—pocket dimensions, dreamscapes, and realms between realms. But she had never experienced one firsthand, and certainly not like this.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Somewhere ahead, barely visible through the shifting shadows, was Luz. She lay on the dark floor, unmoving. Amity’s breath caught as she ran toward her, kneeling at her side.

“Luz,” she whispered, reaching out, fingers trembling. She was still breathing. But something was wrong. Luz's body flickered—her form solid one second, transparent the next, as though reality itself was undecided about whether she belonged.

“She doesn’t,” a voice cut through the void, low and sharp. “That’s the problem.”

Amity whirled around, magic crackling at her fingertips. Adrian Graye Vernworth stood a few feet away, his form as fragmented as the world around them. Shadows coiled at his feet, creeping outward like ink spilled into water.

“You,” Amity snarled, rising to her feet. She knew Adrian, had fought against him before. He had been a manipulator, a liar, an illusionist who thrived on deception. But now, he looked different. Gaunt. Hollow. A specter of his former self.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Adrian continued, his mismatched eyes glinting as they locked onto her. “But then again, neither is she.” He gestured toward Luz, his lips curling into a bitter smirk. “Not really.”

Amity clenched her fists. “What did you do to her?”

Adrian scoffed. “What did I do? You really think this is my fault?” His smirk faded, replaced by something darker, something exhausted. “No. This is Belos’s doing.”

Amity stiffened. “Explain.”

Adrian tilted his head, studying her. “You think you want the truth. Fine. But you won’t like it.”

He took a step closer, and the void shifted, reality warping around them. Images flickered into existence—memories playing out in the darkness like scenes from a broken mirror. Amity watched, frozen, as the truth unraveled before her.

It started with Belos. Of course it did.

Adrian had once been a rising star in the Emperor’s Coven—a master illusionist, a tactician who knew how to bend perception itself. He had worked his way up, sharpening his craft, making himself indispensable. He had earned his place.

But he had made a mistake. And there was no room for mistakes.

The memory unfolded in the darkness.

Adrian knelt before the Emperor’s throne, his forehead nearly pressed to the cold stone floor. The torches lining the chamber flickered erratically, casting jagged shadows across the walls. The scent of burning incense curled through the air, thick and suffocating.

"My Lord, please," Adrian said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. "I can fix this. I can still be of use to you—"

"You’ve already been of use, Adrian," Belos murmured, his tone almost gentle. Almost amused.

A flick of his wrist. A pulse of dark magic.

Adrian barely had time to register it before the magic struck his chest.

It wasn’t a grand display, no prolonged agony—just a single, precise burst of power.

His breath hitched. His body seized. Then, nothing.

He collapsed, limbs going slack, his last thoughts dissolving into darkness before they could even form.

A heartbeat later, the room was silent.

Belos stepped forward, standing over Adrian’s lifeless form. The healers who had started tending to Luz gasped in horror, and the Golden Guard took an instinctive step back, his gloved hands clenching at his sides.

Belos paid them no mind.

His focus was elsewhere.

He knelt, his long fingers pressing against the center of Adrian’s chest. Dark, ancient magic coiled around his hand, seeping into the corpse like ink in water. The flesh beneath his palm shuddered .

Then the real horror began.

A sickly glow spread from the point of contact—deep purple and silver veins of light crackling through Adrian’s body, making his limbs twitch as though trying to escape. Then, slowly, something began to rise .

Not flesh. Not bone. Something more .

A heart, shimmering with pure illusion magic, lifted from Adrian’s chest, warping the air around it like a mirage. It pulsed weakly in Belos’ grip, the light dimming, desperate, barely clinging to existence.

Belos studied it, unimpressed.

“Pathetic,” he muttered, then turned toward the altar.

Luz lay there, motionless, her skin pale, her breathing weak. The sigils binding her to the stone glowed faintly, the magic thrumming beneath her like a pulse.

Belos extended a hand and pressed Adrian’s stolen heart against her chest.

The reaction was immediate.

The heart sank into her , magic crawling through her veins like wildfire. The sigils shattered, unable to contain the raw force flooding into her.

Luz’s body arched violently, a choked gasp escaping her lips as the power latched onto her like a parasite sinking its claws into flesh. Her fingers twitched. Her eyelids fluttered.

It was done.

Adrian's magic, his very essence— it was inside her now .

Adrian took a step back, and the illusion shattered like glass, peeling away to reveal the endless void beneath. The world around them twisted, shadows unraveling as reality bent to his will. 

Amity’s blood ran cold. “No…” she whispered, staring at Luz, unconscious, glowing with stolen power.

“Yes,” Adrian said. His voice was flat, but his eyes burned with something she could only describe as grief. “He used her as a vessel. My heart—my life—my magic—was forced into her, and now it’s tearing her apart.”

Amity shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. Luz’s magic comes from the glyphs. She doesn’t need—”

“She doesn’t need it,” Adrian cut in. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s inside her. That it’s not hers. That it’s consuming her.”

Amity turned back to Luz. The flickering, the instability—it all made sense now. She wasn’t just unconscious. She was fighting a battle inside herself, her body rejecting magic that didn’t belong to it.

“And you…” Amity turned back to Adrian, her voice laced with anger. “You want it back.”

Adrian’s expression darkened. “It was mine.”

“Was.” Amity raised her hands, summoning a pulse of abomination magic between her fingers. “But now it’s hers.”

Adrian sighed, shaking his head. “I was hoping you’d understand. But if you’re going to stand in my way…”

The shadows surged around him, twisting and writhing. The illusions intensified, and suddenly Amity wasn’t in the void anymore.

The Owl House.

She gasped, spinning around. It looked real. Every detail was perfect—the scent of Eda’s potions, the flickering candlelight, the scattered books and papers on the table. But something was wrong.

Luz sat on the couch, smiling at her.

“Hey, Amity,” Luz said brightly, her voice warm and familiar. “What’s wrong?”

Amity took a step back. “You’re not real.”

Luz’s smile faltered. “Amity, what are you talking about?”

The illusion was too perfect. Too cruel.

Amity clenched her fists. “You’re trying to trick me.”

The room shifted, the walls stretching, twisting. Luz’s expression melted into something else, something sinister. Shadows dripped from her form as her grin widened, unnatural and eerie.

“You’re too late,” the not-Luz whispered. “She’s already gone.”

Amity didn’t hesitate. She threw out her hands, sending a wave of magic surging forward. The illusion shattered like glass, the Owl House crumbling away, revealing the void once more.

Adrian stood before her, unfazed. “Not bad,” he admitted. “But you’re still outmatched.”

Dark tendrils lashed toward her. Amity dodged, rolling to the side, summoning a shield just in time to deflect another strike. She was fast, but Adrian’s magic was relentless, shifting and adapting with every move she made.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luz stir. A small movement. A flicker of awareness.

Hope ignited in her chest.

She just had to hold out a little longer.

The battle raged on, Adrian’s illusions growing more nightmarish, more overwhelming. But Amity refused to fall. She fought with everything she had, not just for herself, but for Luz.

For the chance to bring her back.

And as the void trembled around them, as Luz’s fingers twitched and the shadows wavered, Amity knew one thing for certain:

This fight wasn’t over yet.

The void trembled with energy as Amity staggered back, panting. Her hands burned from the last spell she cast, the glow of her magic already fading. Adrian loomed before her, his form flickering with darkness, his illusions warping the space around them into a nightmarish battlefield.

"You’re running out of tricks, Blight," Adrian sneered, his voice laced with venom. His eyes burned with a deep, eerie glow. "Did you really think you could fight me here? This is my domain. My power. And you? You’re just a girl playing hero."

Amity gritted her teeth, her mind racing. The air around her twisted, shifting between moments that weren’t real. One second she stood in the endless expanse of obsidian; the next, she was back in Hexside, then in the Owl House, then in the Emperor's Castle, then in her own home. The illusions assaulted her senses, her head spinning as she fought to stay grounded.

But she wouldn’t let him break her.

“I don’t care how many illusions you throw at me,” Amity growled, planting her feet. “I’ll fight through every last one of them to get to Luz.”

Adrian’s smirk widened, and the shadows surged. Dozens of copies of Luz formed around her, each sneering, each whispering words she didn’t want to hear.

"You can't save me."

"You're weak."

"I’m already slipping away."

Amity squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to focus. But then, the ground beneath her disappeared, and she was plummeting, falling endlessly through darkness. Her breath caught in her throat, panic rising, and then—

A hand caught her wrist.

Light flared, golden and brilliant, slicing through the illusion like a blade. The darkness shattered, and suddenly, Amity was back in the void, gasping for air. And standing beside her, steady and strong, was Luz.

Her eyes glowed with golden light, the raw energy of Adrian’s stolen magic radiating from her in pulsing waves. She was still weakened, still barely standing, but somehow, someway, she was able to control what had been stolen.

“Luz?” Amity whispered, hope swelling in her chest.

Luz didn’t speak. She simply turned to face Adrian, her expression unreadable, but her stance firm.

Adrian’s smirk faltered. “You—”

Before he could finish, Luz moved. The air crackled as she raised her hand, and a wave of raw, unrestrained magic exploded outward. Adrian barely had time to react before the force slammed into him, sending him skidding across the obsidian ground. He snarled, flickering like a candle in the wind.

“You think you can control it?” Adrian spat, his voice tinged with something almost desperate. He threw up his hands, and the shadows obeyed, forming jagged spikes that shot toward Luz. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with!”

Luz didn’t flinch. She raised a single glyph—a fusion of light and shadow—and slammed it into the ground. A massive barrier of golden energy erupted before her, swallowing the dark spikes whole. The sheer force of it sent a shockwave rippling through the void.

Adrian staggered but quickly recovered, his illusions shifting. The world around them became a storm of broken memories, images of Adrian’s past flashing in distorted fragments. Luz and Amity were bombarded with visions—Adrian as a child, desperate for power; his rise within the Emperor’s Coven; the moment Belos took everything from him, ripping the very essence of his life away.

Amity’s eyes widened as she saw the truth laid bare before her. “He used you,” she murmured. “Just like he used everyone else.”

“Shut up!” Adrian bellowed, his voice cracking. He thrust his hands forward, the illusions turning violent—blades of darkness, walls of shifting nightmares, waves of overwhelming sorrow. He was throwing everything at them, every last bit of himself, because he knew.

He was losing.

Luz pressed forward, her body trembling but her determination unshaken. She moved like lightning, her glyphs weaving together in dazzling combinations—light against dark, chaos against control. With each strike, she broke through Adrian’s illusions, tearing them apart one by one.

Adrian screamed in frustration, lunging at her with everything he had left.

And then—Luz caught his wrist.

The world froze.

Luz’s golden glow flared brighter, overwhelming the darkness, drowning out the last of Adrian’s illusions. He gasped, his form flickering wildly, unstable. He looked at her, truly looked at her, and in that moment, he saw not an enemy, not a thief—

But someone just like him.

Someone who never asked for this.

Someone who was trying to make things right.

Adrian let out a shaky breath, his strength fading. “It’s not fair,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the crackling magic.

Luz held his gaze, her expression softening. And then, slowly, she reached out her hand.

Adrian stared at it. His body trembled, caught between anger and exhaustion, between holding on and letting go. He could fight, he could keep struggling, but deep down, he knew.

It was over.

With the last of his strength, he let out a shuddering sigh—and placed his hand in Luz’s.

And then the void collapsed into light.