Sorry for the late post... I want it to be good and not rushed. Enjoy.
*****
Luz started to get into a routine these past few weeks. It would be school then tutoring with Amity, or goofing off with Willow and Gus. So far Luz has yet to reveal any of her background information to anyone. As far as anyone knows, she's just a human who found a way to perform magic.
Willow and Gus have been starting to ask questions, but Luz always finds a way out of them. Amity, however, doesn't ask questions because she knows all too well how complicated families can be.
Strangely enough, Boscha is the most curious out of all the witches. She always snoops around Luz whenever she can. Every chance she gets, she tries and interrogates Luz, but is always interrupted by Amity saying it's none of anyone's business.
Luz is talking notice to Boscha and is getting annoyed. Luz lets Steve know about Boscha, and he just says that they will have to be cautious.
One time Boscha went a step further and went through Luz's locker. Luz caught her in the act and used an ice glyph on her. Boscha broke out and the two girls started arguing in the halls of Hexside. Principal Bump broke the two apart and sent Boscha to detention. With Luz's strange connection to the emperor's coven, Bump tries to steer clear of getting her in trouble in general and lets her off on a warning.
On the weekends, Luz mostly hangs out with Willow and Gus, including today. It was midday, and the three friends made plans to hang out in the town of Bonesburrow.
Luz and Gus would spend a lot of time together, learning about human stuff. Finally, Luz convinced Gus to take her to his source of human items. Gus doesn't like to talk about his 'source' considering she's the most wanted criminal on the Boiling Isles. Luz promises not to say anything about it because if she was caught with a wanted criminal, she would be in just as much trouble.
"Finally you're taking me to see the... bird... lady?" Forgetting her name, Luz looks to Gus to see if he'll remind her.
"The Owl Lady. And that's just her nickname. Her real name is Eda." Gus says in a serious tone. "Now Luz, she's..... different from all of the witches you've met. How do I put this nicely."
Willow cuts Gus off "Oh Eda's a con man. No other explanation."
Luz is now extra paranoid, constantly looking to see if there are any of the emperor guards around the market. If Luz got caught with a wild witch, who knows what Belos would do to her.
The human and the two witches near a stand, which seems to be piles of random junk. Suddenly, a figure pops out in all kinds of crazy clothes. "Heya Augusto! You back for more supplies! OO and you brought more customers... I mean friends with you! Tell me are you ready to experience life like a human." Eda now pointing at Luz and stops her whole pitch. "Wait... Antonio, did you bring me a real human?"
Gus facepalms his forehead "Eda this is Luz the human. And for the 20th time, it's Augustus. But I go by Gus now."
"Yeah yeah, Anton, whatever. So Luz the human, how did you end up here in the Demon Realm?" Eda's attention is directed towards Luz and nothing else.
Luz looks around once more for any signs of a roaming guard "I'm not really sure how I got here. I grew up here apparently since I was two."
Eda now very intrigued "Fascinating! You know what I find interesting? How did you make your way through my portal? You see I'm the only witch on the Isles who possesses a portal to the human realm."
Luz's eyes open wider than they ever had before "Wait. You have a portal to the human realm?? How is that possible? Can you take me there?"
Suddenly a lightbulb went off in Eda's head "Sure I can take you there. But you got to do something for me first." Eda now smiles waiting for Luz to agree to go over her plans.
Luz narrows her eyes "What were you thinking of."
Gus and Willow, now standing to the side, pull Luz over for a quick word before Eda can continue "Luz we want you to find a way to the human realm, but we're not sure you should do it through Eda. She's a really nice witch, but she's also the most wanted criminal on the Boiling Isles."
Luz ponders what her friends just stated, but also questions what the human realm is like and if there are people there who are like her. She turns away from her friends and towards Eda "What were you thinking of?"
Eda now looks both ways to make sure no one is listening in "I have this friend, and he just had something stolen from him. You see, if someone steals from my friends, they're also stealing from me. So my plan is to get it back and I need your help to do so."
"Why me? You're already a criminal. Why not just steal it yourself?" Luz now puzzled, looks at Eda like the worst criminal ever.
Eda rolls her eyes "No duhhhh. If I could I would but only a human can walk through the barrier, where my friend's treasure lies."
"Wait." Luz thinks because this sounds like a place she already knows "I overheard something about a barrier that can only be accessible to humans. But where?" "Remind me, where is this barrier located?"
A nervous smile appears on Eda's face "Don't worry about it. No one will ever know we were even there. Trust me. So are you in?" Eda now holds her hand out for Luz.
Luz is hesitant. She looks back at her friends, who are shaking their heads no. Luz then looks at Eda's hand "this could be my only chance to ever see where I really come from." Luz reaches out and shakes Eda's hand "Deal."
"Wonderful! Meet me at the Owl House at 8:00 pm. There we will grab my friend and get his crown back!" Eda now packing up her stand.
Luz cuts in "8:00 pm? Can we do it later than that? 8:00 pm seems wayyyy too early for a heist. Think about it, if we do it later, then people will be more tired and less likely to catch up." Luz hoping she agrees, knowing she can't miss dinner. She would just figure she'd tell Belos she was going to have a sleepover with a friend.
Eda looks at the human with a proud smile "You know what, you're right. Good thinking kid. How about you come tonight and we'll go from there."
Willow and Gus are now extremely nervous. Willow turns to Gus "this isn't going to end well is it..."
Gus, now in shock "Oh not at all. I'll make an illusion spell for Luz when she gets arrested. I'll go practice now."
"Oh and one more thing." Luz stops all three witches "why not celebrate our victory tonight after the heist with a sleepover? How fun would that be?"
"Oh no no no no. Not in my house kid." Eda not breaking a sweat, waves her hands showing there's no way she's letting three kids spend the night at her house.
"Come on Eda. How fun would that be? We could celebrate the great and powerful criminal you are." Luz is now using Eda's ego and pride to her advantage.
"Hmmm. Kid just because of that, I now respect you. This is one night only." Eda now packed up, grabs her staff and turns to the three friends "see you for the heist kid. And see you, two witches, for this weird sleepover." Eda flies away, leaving Luz in awe.
"Luz my dad's will never allow me to sleep at the Owl Lady's house!" Willow yells
Gus follows Willows yelling with his own "Yeah. She's a criminal! And we hardly know her."
Luz thinks of a way to convince the two that it will be a good idea "Guys relax. First of all, tell your parents you're sleeping over my place, they wouldn't mind that. And second, we do know her, she's just a witch that wants to sell junk to willing customers and con whoever she can. What's the worst that can happen."
8:00pm
"So. How were your friends today?" Belos awkwardly making conversation.
Luz looked up and laughed at her father's uncomfortable manner "Dad. I know you don't care about that. What you're really wondering is what I did today. Well, we just went to Bonesburrow and shopped all day."
Belos is very relieved at his daughters comment. On some rare occasions, Belos would be 'normal' with Luz. "You know me all too well child. And are you enjoying school?"
"I love school. It's really fun and I've met a lot of amazing people there." Luz says as she thinks of one particular witch.
Belos notices and disapproves "Luz, what have I said about showing emotions. It's a weakness. Love is no exception. In fact, Love is the weakest emotion of them all." His voice growing a little aggravated.
Luz jumps at this and fixes his comment "Oh dad no! Not like that. I've just made really great friends. One of them wanting to be in the Emperors coven. She's the top student at Hexside."
"Oh good. Love is the worst emotion, Luz. Do not fall to its prey. And I like how you make friends with the strongest witches. I have taught you well." Belos says.
Luz now feeling proud to receive a compliment about making the right friends "Father, speaking of friends." Luz plays with her food, nervous to ask "May I have a sleepover tonight with them. Their names are Willow Park and Augustus Porter."
"Your request is acceptable. I'm glad you came to dinner and asked. It shows you take my lessons very seriously." Belos says very casually.
Luz felt a shiver down her spine, reminded of that night she was late to dinner. "Thank you." Not wanting to talk deeper about that dinner, Luz continues to eat her dinner. The two eat in silence for the rest of the dinner, until they both finish and say their goodbyes.
Luz is now packing an overnight bag when Steve walks into the room. "Do you have everything? PJs, normal clothes, toothbrush, shoes?" Steve is very nervous, this being Luz's first time sleeping out of the castle.
"Yes, Steve. I'll be fine don't worry. You've met Willow and Gus. You trust them, right?" Luz not making eye contact continues packing for this fun night.
Steve is about to shut up until he notices something in Luz's bag "wait. Why do you need all black clothes? What are you planning kiddo? Nothing stupid I hope."
Eye wide open now, Luz thinks of something she can say to cover her "NOTHING! Why would you think that? I just wasn't in a colorful mood..."
Steve narrows his eyes and examines his human "You weren't in a... colorful mood... I've been through vigorous training to reach where I am today, and you expect me to believe... that?"
Luz smiles gaining more confidence "It's not like you have a choice. Your job is to just protect me, not interrogate me." Using the hierarchy to her advantage once again.
Steve raises his eyebrow "Kiddo, I don't believe. And I have the power to keep you here all month. So I'm going to ask again, what are you planning on doing at this sleepover." Steve is not playing around anymore. In fact this serious tone gave Luz chills.
Luz now losing all confidence, breaks. She tells Steve everything. Luz pleads for Steve to let her do this, no, that she has to do this.
Ever since Luz told Steve everything, he's been silent. No reaction could be seen on his face. This was making Luz frantic. "Steve, please just say something."
Steve stands up and walks to her bedroom door "The place you're going to is the conformatorium. Warden Wrath is in charge of the place. If he finds you.... let's just hope that doesn't happen. I don't want to think what Belos would do." Steve now turned, doesn't dare to even look at Luz "I don't agree with any of this but I know that when you put your mind to something, you won't stop till you get it. Wear a mask or something so no one recognizes you. That's the last thing you want." Steve leaves Luz all alone in her room.
Luz is disappointed in herself when she sees the position she just put Steve in. She takes a deep breath and gets ready for the heist. "Please Titan, be on my side tonight." Luz closes her bag and heads out to the Owl House.
*****
I have a busy week so I don't know if I'll keep up the daily updates. I'll do my absolute best but I want this to be a good fic and not rushed. Trust me I got plans.