The Angel of the Owl House
Season 2: The Human Realm
Chapter 9: Cauldrons and Creeps
Only two days had passed since Luz, Lilith, Hooty, and Matt went with Mason to free his petrified mother, and already a lot had happened. Directly after the adventure had concluded, the CATTs had a big meeting to discuss what had happened and how to move forward with the other petrified victims, and solutions were quickly found. Mason was immediately inducted into the CATTs and became the third Coven Head to betray the Emperor and join the fight against him, though due to the secrecy he'd kept while rising through the ranks of the Coven System, he didn't have any subordinates ready to follow him into the rebellion like Darius or Eber had, but he was confident he knew his people well enough to know who might be willing, so he set about beginning recruitment within the Construction Coven.
Luna was placed in the care of the CATTs healers, and was found to be in near perfect physical health, though she still suffered psychological damage from her long petrification. A therapist, recommended by Steve, agreed to join the CATTs and move to Digale Village to help her work through the trauma she'd experienced, while Luna also devoted herself to spending time with her son, mourning her departed husband, and using her Potions expertise for the CATTs.
With Mason's help, Darius and Alador were able to retrofit several airships into submersibles, and with Luz's new mastery of wind magic, they could actually fly the airships out of Digale Island, through the hurricane wall, and to the Metatarsal Reef, where Mason (with some help from several other Merrows and Aquatic Bipeds from the CATTs and the city of Talus) were able to fish out the petrified victims and transport them all back to the Island. Luz took the day off school the day after her big adventure so that she could de-petrify them one by one, and then watch as Eda gave them Blabber Serum to confirm whether or not they were genuine criminals.
As it turned out, Belos only used petrification against Wild Witches and his personal enemies, so even those few who really had committed crimes had only done so in rebellion against Belos and the Coven System. As such, every single petrified Witch and Demon was freed and given sanctuary on Digale Island, receiving therapy like Luna and helping out where they could. There were a few who strongly distrusted Luz, but the young angel took Blabber Serum herself to prove that she had no ill-intentions towards them or the Isles, and that she was nothing like the angels they'd feared.
On a more personal note, the day after the adventure had also been when Luz sat King down and talked to him about her vision, and revealed that Digale Island truly was the right arm of his mother. King had already felt in his bones that this was the truth, but the confirmation still made his chest ache, and he ended up crying while held between his Mom and Big Sister. However he didn't allow himself to stay depressed for long; his Mama and Papa Titan wouldn't want that for him, so instead he focused on the positive, and gushed about one day being as big and cool looking as Luz had described his Dad!
That had also been the day that Luz had sat down with Eda and carved her Palistrom Log into a polished blue egg, which she spoke to often, keeping it nestled nice and warm in a little nest in her room, or in her satchel. Matt showed off Pebbles to the rest of the Hexsquad, who congratulated him on their bonding, then he spent the day with Steve on Titan Cradle Island, letting BQ know what had happened to Pebbles and beginning work on repairing King's Nursery Tower. BQ was happy for Matt and Pebbles, and while she still distrusted Steve, seeing him react positively to Pebbles getting a new partner did a lot to endear him to her.
The second day following the adventure was Willow's 15th Birthday, so the entire Hexsquad threw her a huge party at the Owl House (they'd have done it at Digale Island, but some of Willow's plant track friends, like Amelia, weren't members of the CATTs). Willow's parents and friends showered her with gifts and attention, with Skara and Luz performing a mini-concert for her and Eda and Raine gifting her with some rare seeds Eda had stolen from Spriggan Manor during the heist. Comparing it to her 14th Birthday, which had only been her Dads and Gus, Willow felt so overwhelmingly blessed to have so many friends and people who loved her that she ended up crying happy tears and accidentally covering the Owl House with flowers (which Eda struggled to convince Hooty to let her remove). And to top it off, Steve (who'd been part of the team investigating the heist) had revealed another surprise; Willow's wanted posters were being rescinded. Apparently the Latissa Gardening Club, headed by someone who liked Willow more than the Plant Coven, had claimed Willow had spent the whole day at the club and thus couldn't have been involved in the heist, and none of the Scouts or Servants at Spriggan Manor would answer the investigator's questions. Even Terra had become reclusive and refused to answer questions, so the bounty had to be retracted due to lack of evidence, meaning Willow was once again free to roam beyond Bonesborough without fear.
Eda had booed playfully, but everyone else had been relieved that it meant Willow was safe… though she did keep a copy of the wanted poster framed in her bedroom.
But while Willow and her friends were enjoying the party over at the Owl House, someone else was sitting at home feeling frustrated…
Boscha found herself laying on her bed and staring up at the ceiling, feeling listless and conflicted. She'd been like that ever since coming home from school alone… she'd been alone most of the day, since Skara and Amelia had been hanging out with Willow all day, and Cat was hanging out with Bo and doing healing track homework.
The fact Skara was once again hanging out with Willow, and was currently off at her birthday party, made Boscha's stomach churn uncomfortably. Things between her and Willow had been… civil at best, since Boscha's big screw up at the start of the Grudgby season; the two would either ignore each other or exchange mild barbs whenever they saw each other. Boscha had stopped bullying her just like Skara wanted, and had actually gained some respect for Willow and the backbone she'd grown. But the more she thought about it, the more Boscha realised that Willow wasn't the part that made her stomach squirm… it was the fact that Skara had once again gone off somewhere that she couldn't follow.
Skara was Boscha's best friend! The girl that made her willing to try and be nice to people and all that mushy junk! But ever since the Petrification Ceremony, Boscha felt like she was seeing less and less of her best friend. Sure they'd still hang out at school, but half the time the Bard girl would want to hang out with the "Hexsquad" too, where Boscha wasn't really welcome. Oh Luz was more than happy to encourage her to stick around, and even Amity and Willow seemed to accept the idea of Boscha hanging out with them from time to time, but conversations were always awkward between them when she was there, and it was all because of the CATTs.
Thanks to the oaths of secrecy they'd all taken, they couldn't talk about anything CATTs related in front of Boscha, and a big part of the Hexsquad's hangouts and adventures revolved around the rebels. Boscha hated it, and had gotten into an argument with Skara just the previous day at lunch…
"I want to tell you all this stuff, Boscha! Really I do, I hate keeping secrets from my best friend!" Skara had said, "But even though I trust you, and Luz does too, the oaths we took stop us from telling you! Why don't you join the CATTs? You wouldn't need to do anything dangerous; you could just hang out with us and brew potions for the cause!"
"I'm not interesting in joining the rebels! My family is loyal to Belos, and I don't want to throw myself into the beef between him and Luz! Besides, I shouldn't have to join a rebellion just to spend time with my best friend! I hardly ever get to see you any more!" Boscha had retorted, exaggerating quite a bit.
Skara had frowned miserably; "I don't know what you want me to do, Boscha! I can't just turn my back on my other friends! You're important to me, but I really believe in what I'm doing! I'm trying to hang out with you as much as I can, but I've got responsibilities now!"
Boscha had responded with a huff and stalked off, saying; "Fine, be that way! I'll just go and be alone… again!"
The two hadn't spoken since then, though Skara had sent a message on Penstagram saying she was sorry for making Boscha feel neglected, but she really couldn't tell her more about what she was doing, even though she wanted to. For her part, Boscha had felt like smacking her head against a wall; she'd let her temper and pride get away from her again and said cruel things to Skara… Deep down, she knew she was being possessive and unreasonable; Skara had a pretty dang good reason for keeping secrets, but Boscha hated the growing feeling of distance between them.
"Ugh, why did everything have to be so complicated!" Boscha groaned covering her face with a pillow.
She heard a snipping and rolled over to see her Palisman, Maya, snipping her claws at her from the floor. Boscha lowered an arm down for Maya to skitter up, then held the little Crab Palisman to her chest.
"Hey Maya. At least I've still got you, huh?" Boscha allowed herself a small smile. Maya had become a great friend and close confident since bonding with Boscha, and since she understood her partner so well, Boscha could open up and be more outwardly emotional with her.
"I don't know what to do, Maya. Ever since Luz came to our world, things have changed… Amity stopped hanging out with me, Willow became a real witch, and even Skara feels like she's drifting away to bigger and better things." Boscha sighed; "But everyone also seems so much happier… it's just me whose stuck feeling miserable, and I hate it. I want to hang out with Skara like I used to! And I want to be friends with Amity again too… the three of us always had it figured out. We were the ABCs of Hexside; Alembic, Blight, and Cadence!"
Boscha lay back on her bed with a nostalgic smile, before it fell from her face; "But I guess I was the only one who was really happy with that."
Maya listened to everything she said, then snipped her claws a few times. Unlike other Palismen, Maya didn't like to talk in Boscha's head, instead preferring to directly transmit her thoughts and feelings to her partner. As those feelings entered Boscha's mind, the three eyed girl sighed.
"You think I should apologise to Skara and try to arrange more times to hang out with her?"
Maya snipped her claws affirmatively, and Boscha groaned; "Ugh, I suck at apologising. Mommy always says apologising is declaring that you were wrong, and "An Alembic is never wrong!" But I guess I was kind of cruel yesterday. Alright, I'll send her a message after Willow's party is over." Boscha decided.
Maya sent feelings of pride to Boscha as she happily blew bubbles with her mouth, making Boscha laugh and hug the little Palisman; "Heh, I never knew a crab could be cute! Anyway, let's go talk to Daddy; I've got no idea how to properly apologise, but they'll know!"
Getting to her feet, Boscha placed Maya on her shoulder and left her room to begin the search for Morel Alembic; her Daddy. In reality, Morel was gender-neutral, but had accepted being called Daddy since Callisto was Mommy, and a young Boscha hadn't known what else to call them. Morel was just as dedicated to their daughter as Callisto was, but was also the more reasonable one; they didn't spoil Boscha like their wife did, and sadly didn't see her anywhere near as much as both wished they did, since they were an important researcher in the Potions Coven and was frequently kept busy.
After not finding her Daddy in their lab or any of their other frequented spots in the manor, Boscha headed to her parents room and knocked.
"Come in!" sang her Mother.
Boscha opened the door and immediately smiled upon seeing her parents together, getting ready for something. Callisto was dressed in a fancy yellow gown, while Morel had opted for a very dark red tux with a yellow shirt and tie, and was currently having their messy plum red hair pulled back into a tidy bun by Callisto.
"There's my Fire Honey!" Morel greeted with a smile.
"Hey Daddy! Are you guys going somewhere" Boscha asked, seeing them dressed up.
"Oh yes, I tried to tell you when you got home, but you rushed off straight to your room!" Callisto said, pouting at the memory; "Daddy and I were invited out to dinner by Head Witch Vitimir. We're going to Titania in Manubrium."
Boscha whistled; Titania was the most high-end restaurant on the Boiling Isles! Even nobles like the Alembics and Blights rarely got to eat there due to how exclusive it was!
"That's cool. But before you go, I was hoping to talk to Daddy. You see, I kind of got in a fight with Skara yesterday and I wanted to apologise…" Boscha began.
"Now now, my darling; an Alembic is never wrong and thus we don't apologise! Your friend should apologise to you!" Callisto said snootily.
Boscha rolled her eyes; "She did apologise but I was wrong. I was mean over something she didn't have any control over; that wasn't fair and I don't want to hurt our friendship! I already don't see her as much as I'd like…"
Morel saw their daughter blush slightly at those final few words, making them smile; their little Fire Honey probably cared for Skara more than even she realised. They put their hand on Callisto's arm before she could argue with Boscha, then said; "I'm proud of you for wanting to make amends, Princess. I've been wondering why you've been down in the dumps recently. The best way to apologise is to just talk to Skara and tell her what you did wrong and then say sorry. Skara's a nice girl; a simple sorry and acknowledgement of what you did wrong should be enough."
Boscha smiled; she could do that. Callisto pouted, but decided not to argue this time; she didn't want to fight with her beloved or her baby right before their big dinner! Though the thought of their dinner gave Callisto an idea for how to cheer her daughter up!
"Honey, why don't you worry about talking to Skara tomorrow? For tonight, you should come with us to Titania and meet Head Witch Vitimir!" Callisto suggested with a bright smile; "You're a potions genius just like your Mommy and Daddy, and you're bound to end up in the Coven when you graduate! Perhaps you'll even be the next Coven Head! So you should meet Vitimir now and make a good impression." she suggested.
Boscha blinked in surprise; "Meeting Vitimir sounds cool…" she admitted, "… but is it okay for me to come along? This is a super exclusive place, right? I can't just show up uninvited."
Morel smiled; "Actually, the invitation was for "the Alembic Family" and did include you. We just hadn't told you because we know you don't normally like formal dinners."
"But obviously getting to go to a fancy restaurant and meet one of the Coven Heads has got to lift your spirits!" Callisto added.
Boscha held back a snort; her Daddy's logic was closer to the mark than her Mommy's. Normally Boscha hated going to these stuffy formal dinners and only went to make her parents happy, but getting to meet Vitimir could be interesting! He was the Isles' foremost genius in potion brewing and Boscha would love to pick his brain a little, and maybe get in on the ground floor in the Potions Coven!
"Alright, I'll go. Give me a minute to get dressed." she said, turning to head back to her room. Callisto tutted.
"A minute? You'll need more than that young lady! Come on, Mommy will get you all glammed up!" she said, rushing after her daughter and leaving Morel to finish getting ready by themselves, which they did with a smile and a shake of their head.
About twenty minutes later, Morel found themselves waiting in their manor foyer for the ladies in their life to finish up and come down. When they finally did, Boscha had been dressed in a plum red dress in a similar style to her mother's, though a tad more conservative since Callisto liked to flaunt her looks a bit (she thoroughly enjoyed teasing Morel). She'd also had her hair pulled out of its usual bun and allowed to flow naturally down her to her shoulders, which was a surprisingly cute look for the sporty girl. The girl's expression was also mildly annoyed, and her face lacked any kind of make-up; clearly Boscha hadn't allowed her mother to go that far.
"You look beautiful, Fire Honey." Morel complimented.
"Thanks Daddy." Boscha blushed, "Let's go, before Mommy tries to give me eyeliner again."
She summoned her staff as Callisto pouted and summoned her own. Morel followed suit, and the three got on their staves and began to fly to Manubrium, enjoying the brisk early evening air as the sun was just beginning to set. Morel's Palisman was an orange coloured snail with a black cauldron for a shell, whom Morel had named Tink, while Callisto's Palisman was a pink Galago with three tails and four arms, whom she had named Ellie. Both had become close friends with Maya since she'd bonded with Boscha.
By air, it didn't take long to reach the bustling capital city of Manubrium, located in the dead centre of the Titan's chest, only a short ways south from the Emperor's Castle. They landed in the upper class part of the city, where the buildings were noticeably fancier and cleaner looking, and walked the short path to Titania. The restaurant was constructed to look like a crystal spire, with its surface looking like it shone in all the colours of the rainbow, and atop which sat a giant crystal figurine of a beautiful woman with fairy wings. The building alone looked ludicrously expensive, and Boscha was almost afraid to touch anything as she walked inside with her parents.
The interior was just as fancy; everything hard was made from gold or crystal, and everything soft was made from red velvet or pure white silk. The staff (all of whom were beyond beautiful or handsome for their species) were dressed in the finest of butler-style attire, and practically waited on the guests hand and foot. The crystal walls of the spire were also completely transparent from the inside, giving the guests a view of the city as they ate.
A heart-rendingly handsome waiter stepped forward and greeted them with a bow; "Good evening, Fair Folk. Welcome to Titania. Might I see your reservations?"
Morel handed him the invitation from Vitimir and the waiter smiled and thanked them, taking a quick look. The waiter's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, before handing the invitation back and nodded. "Right this way, Fair Folk. Head Witch Vitimir has reserved a private table in the Crown Room. Also, might I take your staves? Your Palismen will be well taken care of."
Morel nodded gratefully, and the Alembics handed over their staves (with some reluctance from Boscha). The waiter took them and then handed them to another waiter, who was stood beside a door marked; "Palisman Lounge". The waiter saw Boscha eyeing the door and reassured her; "We take excellent care of them. They get to enjoy their own Titania restaurant experience, and enjoy fine food, massages, and entertainment."
"Good. I haven't had Maya for long; treat her well." Boscha said imperiously. The waiter, used to such tones after working for rich people for so long, just took it in stride and nodded politely.
The family then followed the waiter through the restaurant to a golden platform surrounded by railings on the far wall. As they passed one of the tables, Boscha peeked at the menu and blinked upon seeing no prices listed…
"Guess this is the kind of place where if you have to ask for the price then you probably can't afford it…" she thought as she stepped onto the platform.
Once they were onboard, the platform began to rise up through the spire's floors until it reached the very top, appearing outside a pair of large gold and crystal doors with an image of the Titan carved into it. The waiter approached the door and it opened on its own, with the waiter stepping aside and bowing as he showed the Alembics in. They walked through the door and found that the entire top floor of the spire was reserved for a single table that had an excellent view of the city of Manubrium. A grand piano was off to the side with a pianist sat there playing, while an open kitchen was on the opposite side of the room, with chefs ready to personally cook for them.
"This is insanely fancy…" Boscha whispered under her breath as she followed her parents towards the single table, where Head Witch Vitimir was already seated. Unlike the Alembics, he hadn't dressed up for the occasion and was instead dressed in his usual attire; a long black robe with a dull yellow belt, and matching cuffs on his short sleeves. He also kept his mouth covered by a matching yellow cloth, though he had at least taken off his tall black hat and set it down atop the chest of drawers he usually carried on his back, and which was now beside his chair.
He stood up when he saw them, his red eyes narrowing slightly on Boscha. "Ah, you've arrived. I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Callisto, Morel." he said, his voice low and rasping, as if he had a sore throat.
"Thank you for inviting us, Head Witch. We truly appreciate it." Morel bowed politely.
"The Alembics have done good work in my coven. Such things should be rewarded. And you brought your daughter after all; I had wondered if you would. A pleasure to meet you, young Boscha." Vitimir said, pointing one of his long arms towards the girl for a handshake. Boscha accepted the handshake, though had to suppress a shudder at how cold and clammy the man's hand felt.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Boscha replied.
Vitimir nodded and gestured for them to take their seats. Boscha made sure to sit opposite Vitimir, with her parents on either side of her so she'd have a buffer between her and the Head Witch, who seriously gave her the creeps. She'd seen him before (though not this close up) and had even heard him speak once at a Coven Event she'd been invited to with her parents, but something about him today was making her skin crawl… He was watching her; not overtly, but enough that whenever Boscha looked directly at him, he was always looking at her already.
Boscha listened as her parents made small talk with Vitimir (mostly about their current research projects), and he in turn replied with some of the goings on at the castle. It was fairly run of the mill, and nothing Boscha found massively interesting. When the waiter handed them menus, Vitimir told them to order their fill, as the meal was being paid for by the Emperor himself. Boscha picked out the dishes she found most appealing, then couldn't help but ask;
"Why would Emperor Belos pay for you to take us out for a meal?" she asked, barely keeping her tone civil. Her Daddy gave her a warning look, but Vitimir didn't appear offended.
"I enjoy a few special privileges with the Emperor. I performed some vital tasks for him in the past, when I was only a bit older than you in fact. I've enjoyed his favour ever since, and even rose to become Head of a Coven before I was out of my twenties. Though officially, I didn't take the title until I was 30, I basically ran the place for my predecessor before his passing." Vitimir boasted, "Not that my rise can be attributed to nepotism; I am still the finest brewer of potions in all the Boiling Isles."
"Oh, no one can doubt that!" Callisto laughed, in full flattery mode; "There's not a soul on the Isles who can match you! Though our Boscha may well surpass you once she graduates!"
"Truly now?" Vitimir raised an eyebrow and looked from Callisto to her daughter; "Your parents are certainly proud of you… I assume that pride is deserved?"
"I'm the top potions track student at Hexside. Even the higher years are no match!" Boscha said defensively.
Vitimir hummed; "I see. And do you have many interesting classmates?"
Boscha frowned; she didn't like where this was going. Vitimir was probably fishing for information about Luz and her fellow rebels; Boscha may not know what they've been up to, but she did know who among Skara's friends were rebels too! She'd learned from her mistake with her diary and Luz's secret, so she hadn't written the information down anywhere, and she had no intention of spilling the beans.
"Not really. Most are just amateurs. No one really worth mentioning." Boscha sniffed, being as dismissive as she could.
It appeared to work too, as Vitimir lost interest in talking to her and switched back to discussing some new compound he had been having her Daddy work on. Boscha only half listened as she stared out the window and admired the view of the city as it got darker outside and the city lights came on. The meal arrived soon after, having been cooked up by the silent chefs off to the side, and it was just as luxurious as everything else in the place. An appetiser of Orichalcum Roc Eggs and Dire Mammoth Cheese made into a souffle, and an entrée of Silver Bicorn Steak were delivered to the table for Boscha, and it was without a doubt the greatest meal she'd ever tasted. Even her dining company couldn't put her off, but seeing Vitimir finally pull down his mask to eat his own food did make her pale slightly.
Beneath his mask, Vitimir's mouth was large and lined with thin, razor sharp, needle-like teeth that poked out of his lips even when they were closed. The skin of his throat and around his mouth were also tainted by mottled green spots that looked like he'd been injured in some way. Boscha wanted to ask about it, but didn't dare for fear of what Vitimir might do. He was her parents' boss after all!
After they ate their main courses, expensive wine was brought out (including an alcohol free glass for Boscha) and Vitimir proposed a toast to the upcoming Day of Unity. The Alembics shared in the toast and drank the offered drinks, then ordered desserts to finish off the meal. However it was at that moment that things took a turn…
As soon as the waiter took their orders to the chef, Vitimir turned his attention back to Boscha.
"Forgive me, young Boscha. I've been neglecting to speak with you much this evening." he rasped, his eyes narrowing on her; "It must be boring to hear adults prattle on about things you don't care about."
"That's true." Boscha blurted out before she could stop herself. Her parents looked shocked by her bluntness, but Vitimir just chuckled.
"Yes, I don't blame you for thinking so. Let us discuss something you might be interested in. Your achievements perhaps? You said earlier that you were the best Potions Witch attending Hexside." Vitimir said.
"I am. My grades are the best in the school in the potions track." Boscha replied without hesitation.
"You truly have no rivals?" he pressed.
Boscha frowned, but before she could stop herself, she found herself speaking again; "In potions, I only have one. A kid in the year above me; Barcus. He's the second best, though he's the top oracle student."
"Ah, one of the famed Multi-Trackers. I was surprised when Lilith allowed that little scheme, before she turned traitor of course. Do you have rivals outside of the potions track?" Vitimir asked.
Boscha tried to say no, but when she opened her mouth the words came tumbling out; "Three, really. Willow Park is my biggest rival, then there's Amity Blight, and of course Luz Noceda-Clawthorne."
Vitimir grinned, and Morel looked surprised that Boscha would been so forthcoming about something like that; she usually preferred to deny anyone was a rival to her. Morel looked at her suspiciously.
"Boscha dear, are you feeling alright?" they asked.
"No!" Boscha replied, again before she could stop herself; "I can't stop myself from answering!"
Morel and Callisto both went wide-eyed, before the former grabbed her empty wine glass and cast a spell on it. The result made them angry.
"Someone spiked that alcohol free wine with Blabber Serum!" they growled, turning to glare at the waiter and chefs. They all looked away in shame, causing Morel to then glare at Vitimir; "What is the meaning of this!?"
"Head Witch Vitimir, did you truly spike our daughter's drink!?" Callisto cried, completely aghast.
Vitimir just smiled and snapped his fingers, causing the pianist to stop playing. They, the waiter, and the chefs then hurried out of the room, leaving the Head Witch alone with the Alembics. Vitimir then folded his hands together and rested his chin on them as he stared fixedly at Boscha.
"Indeed I did. In truth, this dinner had another purpose. The Emperor has noted that people in close proximity to Young Luz have a habit of turning traitor. You have been noted to have spent a lot of time around her… as your family are members of my coven, I was told to investigate and make sure you don't become turncoats like the Blights." Vitimir confessed.
Morel grit their teeth; "So this was just a set-up!?" they growled.
Vitimir glared at them; "Mind your manners. I could have done this investigation by having you both seized, dragged through the Coven HQ, and forcibly dosed and questioned while sending people to retrieve your daughter by force. Instead I treated you to a nice meal. It's not too late to try it the other way, if you'd prefer." he threatened.
Morel and Callisto exchanged worried looks, realising they were stuck in an impossible situation. The former turned to their daughter and said; "I'm sorry Boscha. Let's just cooperate for the time being, alright?"
Boscha, pale and shaking, had no choice but to nod and obey. Vitimir smiled in response and said; "Perfect. I only have a few more questions. First, are you or your parents members of the CATTs?"
"No. I was offered a position, but refused." Boscha replied, a quiver to her voice.
"Good girl! Now tell me everything you know about the recent raid on the Plant Coven. Leave nothing out." Vitimir ordered.
Boscha felt a little bit of relief; she'd heard of the raid and its purpose, but not who was involved! "I only know it happened and it was to steal Palistrom Wood for Luz to make a Palisman with."
"And did she succeed?" the man asked.
"I-I don't know? I think she carved it into an egg. I only saw it for the first time today, at a distance."
Vitimir stroked his chin; "An egg you say…? Fascinating. Do you know anyone related to my coven who might be a member of the rebels."
Boscha tried to keep her mouth shut, but the Blabber Serum compelled her to answer; "N-Not exactly. I only know someone in the potions track who is a member."
"Oh? Tell me about them."
Again Boscha resisted, but to no avail; "H-His name is Barcus, the Multi-Track student I mentioned before. I know he is a member of the CATTs too; I see him hanging out with Luz sometimes."
Vitimir hummed with interest; "Does this Barcus have any other connections to my coven?"
"He has a part-time job at the Mr. Elixir apothecary and potions shop in Bonesborough." Boscha confessed miserably; "He sold me ingredients when I last went there to stock up. The owner, Morton, is in the Potions Coven."
"Morton, hmm? I've spoken to him already; he isn't a member of the CATTs. Still, this information could be useful. Alright, I think I have everything I need from you." Vitimir said, standing up and pulling some kind of card out from his pocket. He opened it up out of Boscha's view and scribbled something down inside it, then placed it in an envelope and sealed it with some transmuted wax, that he stamped it with a ring that bore the Potions Coven Sigil. The letter flashed yellow, then Vitimir turned and handed it to Boscha.
"This is an invitation to a meeting with me. Give it to Young Luz no later than tomorrow morning." he ordered. "And don't bother opening it; if you do, I'll know."
The unspoken threat made Boscha gulp, and she took the letter in a shaky hand. She felt compelled to say; "Luz will never agree to show up, not without all the CATTs behind her. She'll know it's a trap."
Vitimir just laughed as he put his face mask back in place, and grabbed his hat and chest of drawers. "Oh, I'm sure she will. But she'll come anyway, I know it." he put his hat on and put the chest on his back, then clapped his hands, causing the pianist, waiter, and chefs to come back into the room and take their places.
"I must leave now that my job is done. Fancy places like this always make me uncomfortable. But you can stay and enjoy some dessert on the Emperor's snail." Vitimir said, beginning to head towards the door; "Oh, and Young Boscha? Play your cards right, and the Alembic Family will find their status massively increasing. Farewell until tomorrow."
With that, he walked out of the room, the golden doors slamming shut behind him and leaving the Alembics in stunned silence. Boscha's mind was racing as the letter in her hand felt as heavy as lead. What had she just done!? What was Vitimir planning!? What did he mean by "until tomorrow"!? Did he plan on coming back for her!?
The three-eyed girl began to shake, and immediately snapped her fingers to summon her Palisman to her. Maya appeared on her lap and began to make calming snipping noises while sending soothing emotions into the girl's mind. Seeing their daughter in such distress made Morel furious, and they stood and glared at the Titania staff; "We are leaving!" they declared.
The staff bowed their heads meekly and made no move to stop them. The waiter tried to offer a bottle of expensive wine for their troubles, but Morel refused, not wanting a single thing from the same people who'd spiked his 15 year old daughter's drink! The Alembics marched out in tense silence, stopping just long enough to pick up Tink and Ellie from the Palisman Lounge. The instant they were outside, Morel exploded.
"How dare he do this to our daughter!?" they fumed, pacing in the streets in an effort to calm down; "We've served loyally, and he has the Titan-damned nerve to drug our daughter and interrogate her like some common criminal!?"
Callisto, usually loving the sight of her meek partner all fired up, fidgeted uncomfortably. "I-I'm angry too, but what can we really do about it? Our sweet Boscha isn't hurt, and we aren't in trouble. Our family's loyalty has been confirmed!" she said. She really was inwardly furious about the situation too, especially since her previous baby was obviously upset, but she was also conflicted; Vitimir said himself that this could lead to advancement for their family! She hated how it had happened, but it could have been worse!
Morel glared at their wife; "She was hurt though! Maybe not physically, but still! When I see Vitimir tomorrow, I'm going to have some stern words with him!"
Boscha, recovering a little from the shock of the situation, just shook her head; "Don't, Daddy. It'll only get you in trouble. I-I need to go see Luz and deliver this letter right away."
She prepared to fly off to the Owl House, hoping Willow's birthday party was over so she didn't intrude and make Skara mad at her, but Morel put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "No, it can wait until morning. I want you to come home with us for now and let me ensure you've got no more potions in your system!"
Boscha felt it was unlikely, but Vitimir had broken her parents trust with this stunt, so she wasn't going to argue. The Alembic Family flew back to their manor, with Boscha holding Maya in her arms as she rode with her Daddy on Tink. Once they got home, Morel tested Boscha for other potions by having her put a special tab of paper on her tongue, which would change colour if she'd ingested a potion. When the tab changed colour, as they all knew it would, Morel then placed the tab into a clear vial of liquid, which dissolved the tab and turned black, after which Morel poured it onto a sheet of parchment. The black potion immediately formed words like ink, to list all the potions in Boscha's system. Thankfully, aside from the Blabber Serum that they already knew about, the only potion in Boscha's system was a minor pacifying potion, which weakened her magic slightly and reduced her aggression to ensure she didn't get violent against Vitimir. Both would have worn off within an hour, but Morel gave her antidotes for them anyway.
Once her system was clear of potions, Morel and Alembic sat their daughter down and apologised for letting her get involved in Vitimir's schemes, even if they hadn't had any control over the situation. They'd taken Boscha with them to cheer her up, but only ended up making her feel worse… Though on the bright side, it did take her mind off of her argument with Skara! By the time they'd gotten home and finished testing her for potions, Boscha's parents declared it too late to be rushing over to the Owl House, so the three-eyed girl was ordered to stay home and deliver Vitimir's invitation tomorrow.
That night, Boscha tossed and turned as she struggled to sleep, dreading what would happen when she saw Luz tomorrow… She'd already screwed up and gotten Luz captured once; she was terrified what would happen when Skara found out she'd messed up again!
[The Next Day]
Boscha awoke bright and early, having finally gotten to sleep shortly after midnight when she gave up trying to sleep naturally and brewed herself some tea with Sleeping Nettles. She practically raced to shower and dress in her school uniform, eager to finally get to the Owl House and get this whole ordeal over with! Grabbing her school bag and loading both Maya and Vitimir's invitation into it, she practically fled the house, stopping only to shout a good morning to her Daddy, who was drinking coffee in the kitchen alone (her Mommy was a late riser).
She then ran out of the house and into Bonesborough, heading to the Owl House. She could have flown with Maya, but she was still trying to decide exactly what she'd say when she arrived… Boscha eventually made it all the way to the Owl Lady's infamous home, and was mildly surprised to see a lot of party decorations still up outside and the evidence of Willow's 15th birthday party everywhere. It was enough that Boscha had to give the girl props; her friends knew how to throw a fun party!
Boscha walked up to the front door and knocked on it, at which point the bizarre owl face carved into it came to life and spoke to her.
"Hi there new friend! Are you here to visit me, Hoot?" Hooty asked, stretching out of the door a little.
Boscha yelped and chopped Hooty's face with her palm, making him yelp and retreat back into the door; "Ouch! Geez, I was just asking! Ow! Hoot!" he said indignantly.
"Uh… sorry? I forgot you were alive." Boscha said, having only been to the Owl House a couple of times, and never really interacting much with Hooty.
Thankfully the House Demon took it in stride; "I forget I'm alive too sometimes… Hoot! What do you need, new friend?"
"I'm here to see Luz. It's urgent." Boscha answered.
Hooty twisted his face around until he was upside down, going "Hmmmm…." as he thought, before twisting back around again and saying; "Okay! Luz is eating breakfast with everyone! Go right on through! Hoot!"
The House Demon swung open and allowed Boscha to walk inside, which she did quickly so she didn't have to spend any more time around Hooty! She hurried straight through the living room until she heard the sound of laughter, and followed it to the Owl House's kitchen. Walking into the room made her heart sink, as not only was Luz sitting at the table with her Mom and little brother, but also with the entire Hexsquad!
"Boscha? What are you doing here?" Luz asked.
Everyone turned to face the girl, with curious looks or frowns (in the case of Eda, King, and Willow). Boscha also saw that Raine Whispers and Luz's strange friend Rasiel were present too, stood by the stove cooking up the food. Seeing Luz surrounded by all her friends made Boscha gulp; this could end badly!
"Hey Boscha! Did you come to walk to school with us?" Skara asked with a hopeful smile.
"No, I came to talk to Luz about something. I wasn't expecting the whole Hexsquad to be here!" Boscha said, putting on her tough girl act and crossing her arms.
"Willow's party went on long, so we decided to have a sleepover." Amity explained.
"Oh. Uh… happy birthday Willow? I guess?" Boscha said awkwardly.
Willow was still frowning, but her eyes were no longer narrowed; "Thanks, Boscha." she said neutrally.
An awkward silence followed, until Luz finally said; "So… what did you want to talk about, Boscha?"
The three-eyed girl cringed and took the invitation from Vitimir out of her bag; "I-It's a long story. I sort of messed up really badly."
Willow snorted; "What, did you go and spill some of Luz's secrets again?" she asked rhetorically. Boscha could only respond with a wince and a lowering of her head, making everyone frown.
"You did!? Again!?" Eda snapped, getting to her feet; "I swear if you've put my Owlet in danger again, I'll feed you to Hooty!"
"Wait! Please let me explain!" Boscha begged, backing off a step; "It wasn't on purpose, I swear!"
She then looked to Skara, who had an upset expression; "Honest, I really didn't mean to! I was forced!"
Luz put a calming hand on her Mom's shoulder and said; "Let's give her a chance to explain. After last time, I don't think she'd rat me out… besides, what secrets does she even know about us that she could spread?"
That was a fair point, so the others decided to sit back and listen as Boscha explained. Once she was done, Luz and her friends were both relieved and irritated. On the one hand, Boscha's name was cleared; she'd been literally drugged into giving up the information she had, so even Willow couldn't hold it against her. But on the other hand, whatever Vitimir was planning was obviously bad, especially since Boscha had told the others about his apparent close connections with Belos. However, the information he'd actually gotten out of Boscha raised questions for Raine.
"Vitimir has always been creepy; after Terra, he's probably the shadiest of the Head Witches, but he isn't stupid. Why didn't he ask Boscha if she knew any members of the CATTs?" they wondered aloud.
"Maybe because she'd already said she'd refused to join the CATTs, so Vitimir assumed she wouldn't know any more?" Matt suggested.
Rasiel, who saw where Raine was going with this, pointed out; "But he asked her about CATTs members specifically related to the Potions Coven, and Boscha outed Barcus as a result. Doesn't that prove she knew at least one of the members? Surely Vitimir would have noticed and asked about others she knew. It was like he was focused solely on his coven and didn't care about the CATTs beyond that."
Luz frowned; "That's a good point. I wonder if Vitimir only cares about his own Coven? But then why ask about the heist and my Palisman?"
"Considering this…" Boscha held up the sealed invitation, "…maybe he was trying to make sure he knew what you were capable of before whatever event he's inviting you too."
Everyone turned to look at the invitation, and Luz reached for it; "Well we won't find out more by just sitting here. Let's see what he wants." she said.
Eda intervened and snatched the invitation away before Luz could grab it; "Hold it right there, Owlet. Vitimir was willing to spike a kid's drink; who knows what magic he'd put on this thing! He could have soaked the paper in a potion, or mixed something into the wax! I'll test it first."
Luz didn't argue, and everyone backed away from the kitchen table as Eda put the invitation on it and began shooting spells at it, trying to scan it for magic. The envelope and its contents came back clean, though the wax seal did trigger a reaction, so Eda shot another spell at it, then smiled with relief; "Well, no death hexes, no weird curses, and no potions. The seal just has an alert on it, so the guy who mixed the wax will sense the magic of whoever opens it. Must be a fail safe so Vitimir knows Luz got the letter before someone else could tamper with it."
She picked it up and handed it to Luz; "It's safe though."
Luz carefully broke the wax seal (causing a faint flash of yellow magic), then pulled out the card Boscha had seen Vitimir writing on. The front was decorated with a bubbling cauldron, with the Potions Coven Sigil being formed out of yellow foam on top of its contents, and the words "You are cordially invited to visit the Alchemist Atelier" written in fancy calligraphy beneath it. Luz opened the card and cleared her throat as she began to read it out loud.
"Dear Luz, I am inviting you to have dinner with me at my Coven HQ, the Alchemist Atelier, this evening at sundown. Undoubtedly you would normally decline this invitation due to our differing sides in the current civil war, however I have taken the liberty of ensuring your compliance. By the time you read this, I will have acquired a friend of yours by the name of Barcus. If you do not attend this dinner, I will ensure his last moments of life are agonising." Luz had to stop reading there as her throat filled with bile and she covered her mouth. Her friends looked just as horrified, and Boscha looked almost catatonic, realising that it was the information she'd been forced to give that painted that target on Barcus' back.
"What have I done…!?" she said in a haunted whisper.
"It's not your fault, Boscha." Skara put a hand on her back to reassure her; "You didn't have a choice."
King, who'd been quiet thus far, clambered up onto his sister's shoulder while Eda was rubbing her back. He finished reading the invitation to everyone; "To put your mind at ease, I will swear not to hand you over to Belos, nor do I have any nefarious intent. I will not harm you, and to ensure your comfort, I will allow you to bring someone with you. However they must be a fellow student, a member of the potions track, and someone who is not a member of your rebel group. Do not keep me waiting, Luz; young Barcus' life depends on it. Sincerely yours, Head Witch Vitimir."
There was a moment of silence as everyone registered the invitation, before Gus said flatly; "So we're all in agreement that this is an obvious trap, right?"
Everyone nodded, and Willow crossed her arms with a frown; "But this is weird; Vitimir claims he isn't going to hand Luz over to Belos? That's either a stupidly obvious lie, or he's got something else planned."
"Maybe he wants angel ingredients?" Luz suggested; "My blood, tears, and feathers are all valuable ingredients in potions. Though unless he plans to threaten Barcus to get them, he'd have to harm me."
"I'm more confused as to why he'd give such specific requirements for bringing a friend with you." Matt frowned.
"He wants me to be the one Luz picks." Boscha said miserably; "He said he'd see me tomorrow, or today now I guess… I didn't realise what he meant until now."
"But why you? You're not actually a traitor, right?" King asked, eyes narrowed.
Boscha shook her head rapidly, and Amity gave a possible answer; "We know from Willow's encounter with Terra that being close to the Emperor meant she got to know privileged information, like Luz's known friends. And Vitimir mentioned that part of why he interrogated the Alembics was because he thought they might have turned rebel. So he probably knows Luz hangs out with Boscha from time to time. She's also the best potions student and now he knows that she's not a rebel, he probably figures Boscha is a strong ally Luz would be willing to bring along, but who he can make sure doesn't actually help her."
"So the conditions for bringing a friend are a trap too." Rasiel frowned; "How should we handle this?"
Raine and Eda exchanged looks, nodding to one another as they guessed what their partner was thinking. Raine then said; "We need to look into this more and weigh our options. The dinner isn't until sundown, so we have all day to investigate and plan. Leave that to Eda and I." they then leaned in to whisper to Boscha wouldn't hear; "We'll talk to Darius, Eber, and Mason, and probably Luna too. She may have insight on the Alchemist Atelier. In the meantime, you kids should go to school as normal."
"You want us to go to school while Barcus is in danger!?" Luz exclaimed; "I love Hexside, but this is more important!"
"We don't even know if Barcus really has been captured! From what Boscha said, Vitimir wrote this card right after learning about him, so he couldn't have caught him before writing it. There's a chance he hasn't actually kidnapped him yet! We'll go and find out, then we can plan." Raine reassured her. "The best thing you can do right now Luz is let the adults work things out."
Luz, the Hexsquad, and Boscha all looked ready to protest, but the adults weren't going to budge. They were also correct; they couldn't exactly do much right now, especially Luz. She'd promised her Mami that she'd maintain her grades, and she'd already missed two days at school this week…
"Fine… but I'm coming home right after school! If Barcus hasn't been kidnapped yet, then please protect him!" Luz pleaded.
Raine nodded, and Eda ruffled her hair; "Easy, Owlet. If Vitimir did kidnap Barcus, then he broke the treaty too; this could be an opportunity to nail Belos and his creepy cohorts."
Luz dearly hoped Barcus was safe, being the closest to him out of the Hexsquad. After agreeing to let the adults handle the situation until there was no choice but to involve her, Luz and the rest of the Hexsquad (plus Boscha) headed off to school. Luz's very first classes of the day, the bard track classes with Skara, made her heart sink when she spoke to Jerbo and Viney. The first thing she'd done was ask them if they'd seen or heard from the Canine Demon, and their frowns had made both Luz and Skara pale.
"Actually, we got calls from his parents this morning. He never went home last night and they thought he might have slept over at one of our houses." Viney said worriedly, "But I haven't seen him since school ended yesterday."
"I saw him working at Mr. Elixir. I was trading some plants I'd grown for abomination ingredients. But that was probably mid-afternoon?" Jerbo added, looking just as concerned. "I didn't see anything weird with him or Mr. Morton."
The girls had worried about that answer and sent messages to Eda and the others. At break time, Luz had tried to call Barcus on her scroll while going to meet the others, but got no response, then once they met the others, Amity and Boscha had delivered more bad news.
"Barcus wasn't in the oracle track classes." Amity frowned.
"He wasn't in the potions track classes either. If his parents haven't seen him either, then there's only one possibility left…" Boscha said guiltily, cursing herself. If she'd ignored her Daddy and delivered the invitation straight away last night, then maybe they could have acted fast enough to make sure Barcus wasn't taken!
The rest of the school day was an anxious time for the Hexsquad and Boscha, as well as Viney and Jerbo once they'd been told what was going on. As soon as the school bell rang for the last time, every single one of them high-tailed it out of the school, with some of them literally jumping out of their classroom windows and flying as fast as they could back to the Owl House. When they arrived, they were stopped by Rasiel at the door.
"We have some guests related to the CATTs, so I'm afraid Boscha can't come in without an oath." he said sternly. "Raine said she doesn't need to join, she just needs to swear an oath not to reveal any of what she learns today."
Luz and the others figured this was the Coven Heads, so they nodded and headed on inside, except for Skara who remained outside with Boscha. Once the others were gone, Skara held Boscha's hand; "I know you don't want to join the CATTs, but it'll be a lot easier if you at least swear an oath of secrecy. Blabber Serum can't force you to break an Everlasting Oath, so anything you learn will be safe!
Boscha nodded; "I don't need to be convinced. That jerk Vitimir used me and made me a lousy pawn! I want to get my own back!" she growled, punching her palm. She was telling the truth, but Skara could also see Boscha felt guilty for what she'd done. Ever since the incident with Luz getting arrested, Boscha had grown a proper conscience. She been trying to be a better person to make Skara happy, and while she still enjoyed teasing people and her caustic barbs, the moment those barbs actually hurt someone, she'd begin to feel rotten. Part of it was Skara, who she knew would be disappointed in her, and part of it was the voice in her head that said; "Why are you hurting this person? What do you gain?"
Boscha cared about being the best she could be and beating her rivals; bullying people didn't achieve either goal.
Skara hugged her best friend proudly, and Rasiel watched with a knowing smirk as the three-eyed girl went bright red. Once they separated, the Ancient Angel had Boscha take a modified oath that Darius had prepared, in which Boscha swore not to reveal any CATTs related information she learned. Once the oath was made, he finally stepped aside and allowed Boscha into the Owl House again, followed by Skara. The trio walked into the living room and Boscha promptly gaped at the people present. Not only was everyone from that morning present, but so was Lilith, Barcus' parents, and the three Coven Heads of the CATTs; Darius, Eber, and Mason.
"Whoa! Now I get why I needed to swear an oath! You've got a third of the Coven Heads on your side!" Boscha exclaimed.
"Yep! These guys all hate Belos and his cronies as much as we do." Eda smirked, before becoming serious; "But forget that for now; we've been planning all day and pretty much have all the intel we need."
Boscha nodded curiously, then noticed Luz wasn't in the room; "Where did Luz go? Isn't she important for this?"
"She's gone to our hideout to get someone who knows a lot about the Potions Coven." King answered simply; "She'll be back in a minute."
"In the meantime, why don't you fill us in on any new information you got at school." Darius chimed in, looking at Jerbo and Viney specifically.
The two told them the same thing they'd told the Hexsquad, which wasn't a lot. Barcus' Direwolf mother; Howlena, snarled and her husband and Barcus' Dog Lycan father; Rom translated.
"Barcus didn't come home from school last night. We thought he'd gone straight to his shift at Mr. Elixir then to stay at a friend's house; he's done it before without calling us. But he always calls home if he hasn't seen us for 24 hours." Rom said, crossing his arms worriedly.
Rom was a Dog Lycan that resembled a German Shepherd; his body was human-like, but covered in brown fur with black fur on his chest and abdomen, while his head was that of a German Shepherd, who wore a simple vest and baggy cargo shorts without shoes. His wife Howlena was a large Direwolf that basically looked like a regular wolf, though her fur was the same shade as Barcus' and she had a long mane of hair running down her head and neck, which she'd had braided with bone beads. Her only clothing was a long robe of dark brown, and beige bandage wraps around her ankles.
Before they could go further in their investigation, Luz returned from her quick trip to Digale Island with Luna, who had shrunken herself to normal witch size with a potion, allowing her to fit into the Owl House living room. Mason took the liberty of introducing her to Boscha and Barcus' parents, the former of whom once again found herself gaping. Luz had saved another person from petrification!? And a former Potions Coven Head at that!? Just how many crazy adventures had Skara's friends gotten up to without her knowing!?
"I'm starting to understand why you were so secretive…" Boscha muttered quietly to Skara. "Sorry for being such a jerk over it."
Skara beamed and held Boscha's hand, squeezing it a bit; "Thanks, Boscha!" she whispered back.
Oblivious to their interaction, Luna looked around and said; "Luz filled me in on a bit of what's been going on. The current Potions Head is luring her into a trap, using a kidnapped boy as bait, right?"
"Correct. We've already looked into the matter and the boy is indeed missing." Darius said; "His parents have checked out the Mr. Elixir shop he was working at, and found no sign of struggle, nor any signs of the owner Morton."
Luna hummed; "Could this Morton have handed the boy over to the coven then skipped town? If he lured him out of Bonesborough first, it wouldn't have broken the truce."
Eda shook her head vehemently; "Not a chance! Morton and I go way back; he supplied my Elixirs until Luz and King figured out how to grow Goldwort with their glyphs. There's no way he'd do something like that. Not willingly anyway."
"We can find out when and how from Barcus himself once we rescue him! That's what we should be working on right now!" Luz said impatiently; "We need a plan to bust in and get Barcus out!"
"Dangerous." Eber barked; "One wrong move and rescuers caught; Barcus dies. Potion Nose not make idle threats."
Darius translated for her, then said; "Vitimir is extremely cautious. He has back up plans inside back up plans. He's annoyingly meticulous about that, and his Coven HQ at the Alchemist Atelier has state of the art defences and security, meant to shut the place down in the event of a catastrophic accident with a potions experiment. Getting in without his approval is going to be next to impossible, and he'll almost certainly keep the boy with him at all times."
"So what are our options? This is obviously a trap." Lilith said.
"Simple answer; spring the trap." Rasiel said; "I suggest that Luz and Boscha actually go to this meeting, that should hopefully keep Vitimir busy and away from Barcus. While he's distracted, a second team could infiltrate and rescue him."
"Just like we did at Spriggan Manor!" Willow grinned.
Rasiel nodded; "Exactly. Once the second team has rescued Barcus and got him out, they can cause a ruckus to let Luz and Boscha escape."
Everyone nodded in agreement; that was the best plan they could come up with on such short notice. There was only two issues with it, which Mason pointed out.
"How is the second team supposed to infiltrate the place, or get passed all the hidden security?"
"The Alchemist Atelier has been the Potions Coven Headquarters since the founding of the Empire, so it used to be my HQ too. I made a few hidden passages that I never told anyone about; they'd be perfect for infiltrating the place." Luna smiled.
"And my spirit form can pass through walls and other physical obstacles without triggering any traps, so I'll be able to scout ahead." Rasiel added.
"Great! Then this is what we'll do…" Eda began with a mischievous grin.
For the next hour, the CATTs (and Boscha) worked out a full plan to infiltrate the Alchemist Atelier and save Barcus. At sundown, Luz and Boscha would show up for the dinner Vitimir had invited them to, and once he was definitely away from Barcus, Rasiel (who would be hiding in Luz's oracle stone ring) would then sneak away through the walls and find where Barcus was hidden, then find the shortest and safest route between his location and the secret entrance Luna had told them about. From this entrance, he would then guide a team of Eda, Howlena, and Rom to the boy so they could bust him out. Howlena and Rom would then evacuate with their son while Eda began causing a huge mess and Rasiel returned to Luz, ensuring Vitimir was distracted so she and Boscha could escape. In the meantime, Raine and Lilith would be meeting with the Bonesborough Council in an attempt to convince them that this kidnapping was against the truce between the CATTs, the EC, and the town, in order to either weaken the Emperor's Coven's remaining influence in the city, or force them to disavow Vitimir in response. Darius, Eber, and Mason would naturally be staying out of it to avoid being exposed as traitors, and Luna wouldn't be helping out so the Emperor didn't discover the petrified victims were still alive. The other Hexsquad members were also being kept out of it, much to their chagrin, but despite their accomplishments, they were still just kids and too many people would make stealth difficult.
Once a plan was decided on, they began to prepare.
"Are we sure we have to send the real Luz?" Amity said worriedly, not liking the idea of sending her girlfriend into a blatant trap.
"We don't have a choice. Vitimir is too cautious to be fooled by an imposter. Our best bet would be to have Treble disguise himself as Luz, but if he was caught, he and Boscha would be killed. We can't put it past Vitimir to drug the food or drinks at this little dinner party, and I'll remind you that this is how we caught Treble to begin with." Darius said with a severe frown; "At least if the real Luz goes along, she'll be able to fight back and defend herself. Vitimir is crafty, but he's not as powerful as Belos, so if it came to blows, Luz should be able to win."
Luz grinned; "Is it bad that I kinda want the plan to go awry once Barcus is safe, just so I can beat up this creep?"
The others chuckled, while Amity shook her head; "I want to do that myself just because he's forcing my Batata to go out to dinner with him and Boscha."
Luz blushed and Boscha rolled her eyes; "I'll be sure not to put the moves on your girlfriend, Blight. She's not my type anyway." she snorted.
Amity raised an eyebrow, and upon seeing Skara distracted by talking to Raine, she leaned in and quietly retorted; "Really? I thought pale haired girls with musical skills was just your type."
Boscha promptly blushed and shoved the smirking witch away; "S-Shut up!"
"To think that Boscha Alembic would have a cute side… Oh well, at least now I feel better about leaving you with my girlfriend." Amity giggled. Her smile then dropped and she looked seriously at Boscha; "And look… I know we may not be friends any more, but please take care of Luz."
The three-eyed girl nodded in return; "I'll make sure your girlfriend comes home safe and sound." she promised. "Skara would never forgive me if I didn't."
Amity smiled and accepted that answer.
Shortly thereafter, it was time to head out and begin the plan. Luz and Boscha were both dosed with an antidote for Blabber Serum, just in case Vitimir tried that trick again, and they were also made to swallow a bezoar; a little stone that formed in the stomachs of certain herbivorous beasts around the Boiling Isles. These stones served as a general cure for most weak, naturally occurring, or simple poisons, and were formed when beasts ate medicinal herbs and fossilised them together in their stomachs instead of digesting them, which allowed the same beasts to then survive off of poisonous plants and creatures in the wild. They looked like slightly oily marbles in an unappealing shade of mossy green, and they weren't pleasant to choke down, but they'd keep Luz and Boscha safe from most harmful poisons.
"Alright, we'll fly on ahead." Eda said, getting onto Owlbert while Rom and Howlena climbed onto Rom's staff (the Palisman being a Tabby Cat, ironically). "Good luck Owlet. King, you're in charge of the house while we're away."
King saluted and grinned at the Hexsquad, Jerbo, and Viney, who'd be remaining with him at the house while the others were on the mission. Eda and the rescue team flew off, soon being made invisible by an illusion, while Raine and Lilith then headed off into Bonesborough on their own mission.
"Ready to go, Boscha?" Luz asked, wings out and her Holy Raiment in place.
"As I'll ever be." Boscha replied, twirling Maya's staff idly.
"As am I." Rasiel said, now in spirit form as his body was resting in his bedroom.
Amity came over and gave Luz a big hug and kiss, while King clambered onto her back for a hug. Skara approached Boscha and gave her a big hug too, and whispered a "Good luck! I know you'll succeed! You're a winner, Boscha! And a better person too!"
That made Boscha smile and feel all warm on the inside… but then Willow approached her.
"We're putting a lot of trust in you. Are you really going to have Luz's back?" she asked, arms crossed sternly.
"Yeah, I am." Boscha huffed; "I'm awesome; there's no way this plan will fail with me there." she added haughtily.
Since starting to turn over a new leaf, Boscha acting haughty would normally make her rival smirk and give a mildly insulting retort, but this time Willow's expression remained stern.
"I'm not playing around Boscha. I still haven't forgiven you for the last several years of torment. You've been better; arguably even becoming a kind of decent person, but this isn't school or Grudgby. Lives are at stake. If you screw up, someone could die. Don't screw around or get cocky! If anything happens to Luz or Barcus and it's your fault…"
Willow didn't need to finish the sentence; Boscha understood her threat loud and clear. She was tempted to scoff or dismiss the plant lover's words, but this wasn't just Willow standing up to an old bully and current rival; this was an act of concern for her best friend. Boscha would have said the same to Willow if it was her and Skara heading off into danger.
"Got it." she answered simply.
Between Boscha and Willow, that was probably as sincere an answer as she could give. Willow recognised that and nodded in return, then reached into her uniform pocket and pulled out a small pouch that contained various dried leaves, seeds, roots, petals, and other plant parts and herbs.
"Take this. A Potions Witch should know how to use them." Willow said, tossing the pouch at Boscha. The three-eyed girl caught it easily, then looked inside, finding quite a few basic, but useful ingredients. She couldn't make anything game-changing with it, but it might give her an edge if things go south.
Boscha nodded her thanks and stowed the pouch in her pocket, then got on her staff. With a nod to Luz and one last wave to Skara, she then took off and began flying eastward, with Luz right behind her, making their way to the Alchemist Atelier, which was located on the Titan's left shoulder.
The Alchemist Atelier took the form of an ornate castle made of black iron and tempered glass, with many of its old spires replaced by giant black iron chimneys that frequently belched out smoke in all the colours of the rainbow. It had quite a detailed and bloody history too; it had been constructed about 3000 years ago by a warlord from another continent, who built it as a base for himself and his army in the location he'd made port. His reign had been short and he'd been crushed by Boiling Isles natives, who turned the black iron structure into a grand Temple of Worship to a Leviathan; a breed of Grand Dragon that was monstrously huge, but unintelligent. When the Leviathan moved on, the cult worshipping it did too, abandoning the citadel and leaving nothing but the tempered stained glass that they'd made to honour the Leviathan. Then in the Savage Ages, it had been converted into the finest Academy of Magic in the Boiling Isles; Clavis Academy of Magical Excellence. Generations of nobles (including the ancestors of the Alembics, Blights, and Cadences) had attended it, but shortly after Fibul Academy was brought down by Hexside, Glandus had similarly brought down Clavis Academy (with some help from Belos, who saw the academy as a font of wild magic). Finally, it had been claimed by the first Head of the Potions Coven, who found the place's black iron foundations to be very sturdy and resistant to potions residue and fumes, making it the ideal place to research new creations. It had been renamed to the Alchemist Atelier, and had remained such for over 50 years.