Whatever it takes

Chapter 4 - Explanation

Imagine a large cave. Now imagine that cave was filled with hundreds upon hundreds of screeching bats. Now imagine you were inside that cave with the bats, trying to hear your thoughts among the echoing high-pitched screams of the night-time aviators.

Perhaps that's not the greatest metaphor; the point is that Amity couldn't focus on anything that day. She couldn't help it, she just couldn't wrap her head around why Luz hadn't shown up that day.

Amity couldn't focus on Luz right then, though, she had to pay attention to the lecturer. "...although it is still unclear exactly how the titans went extinct, despite the many, many specialists and scholars and available samples to work with." Maybe Luz wasn't there that day because something had happened. Well, duh, Amity, she scolded with a facepalm, of course something happened!

The question, though, was what happened? Maybe Luz was sick, or perhaps she was still in a vulnerable state after what happened with Eda and the Emperor's coven...

The Emperor's coven! Maybe that's it.

Amity scowled. Maybe, she thought bitterly, someone decided to turn Luz in to the Emporer for a chance to get their job back. I swear, if Lilith hurt Luz again-- No! Stop it, Blight! You're spiralling.

Amity growled like a brown bear into her elbow; if she couldn't even pay attention in class, how was she supposed to sleep soundly tonight knowing Luz was potentially in danger?

Answer: she wouldn't.

And so, it was right then and there that Amity resolved to pay a visit to the Owl House directly after school. Surely Luz or Eda or... Lilith... would be able to explain Luz's absence from school. Hopefully.

.   .   .

The final bell of the day screamed at last, which meant it was time to head over to the Owl House.

"Good afternoon, class. Remember to..."

Amity didn't wait to listen to the last part of the teacher's sentence; she was already halfway out the door by the time he started talking. Racing through the hall, she dodged classmates and teachers, friends and foes, paying no attention to the small jabs of aches that hit each time Amity took a hard step. Aches stabbed at her feet with each step, but she did not stop, she would not stop, not until the light of her life was in sight.

Amity practically sprang out of the gates in her mad dash to go check on the girl of her dreams. Her race came to a halt, however, when she crashed into Emira, who was waiting on her broom for her little sister.

"Hey, what's the rush, Mittens, " Emira asked, rubbing her head, "You look like you just remembered that you left the stove on at home."

"Sorry, Em," apologized Amity, who got up and dusted herself off, "but I'm gonna be a little late, I have to go check on Luz."

Emira cocked an eye at Amity. "What, why? Is she okay?"

"Yes. No. I don't know, okay?" Amity said those words with a crack in her voice as she rubbed her right arm with her left hand, worry scrawled all over her face like a rushed letter.

Emira's expression softened seeing the state Amity was in over the human. "Well, okay then. Edric and I'll just be at home if you need us." She ruffled Amity's hair. "Don't come home too late, 'kay?"

The youngest Blight blushed and smiled, "Okay, thanks, Em."

Why she didn't just ask Emira for a ride, Amity did not know, but she was sort of glad she didn't: the path on the road to the Owl House was surprisingly serene for the front yard of a fugitive. The trees provided the pathway with a natural feel, the leaves gently swaying with the wind. The bird's happy melodies came together with the chirps of the area's bugs to form a calming orchestra conducted by nature. Heck, the sky's pastal blue, overcast image was yet another added bonus.

Maybe, in the future, if Eda retires, she'll move out and me and Luz could move here. I'd love to wake up to these sights and sounds every morning, not to mention the sight of her gorgeous hazelnut eyes. Oh, how I love her eyes...

Amity shook her head to clear it of her thoughts. If Luz is not around, she reminded herself, you won't have a future, and that was all the motivation she needed to continue walking, or rather running, since all patience was now gone.

Eventually, the trees parted to reveal an opening overlooking a large, open mountain view. Perched a fair ways away from the edge was a large white-colored brick cottage. The roof was painted royal blue. The upper center of the cottage had a large stained glass window embedded in its surface. They window itself was in the shape of a large eye, as if the house were alive and enjoying the surroundings just as much as Amity had.

The Owl House, she realized, I'm here.

In truth, Amity despised visiting this place, not because it was now home to her mentor-turned-enemy, not because it was the home of a fugitive, and not because she was jealous of the beautiful environment in which it was situated. No, the only reason she hated visiting this place was--

"Heey, Amity," squawked the bird-tube house demon known as "Hooty".

Sigh, why now?

"Hi... Hooty," Amity greeted half-heartedly, not in the mood to speak to the annoyingly intrusive living house, "I wanna talk to Eda, is she home?"

As if to answer, a loud slam sounded from the upper floor of the cottage.

"Lily," a voice yelled, sounding annoyed, "you got your hair dye all over my sink! If you're gonna insist on dying your hair, at least clean up afterward!"

"I always clean up afterward, Edalyn," another voice responded, "maybe it was King; you know how he likes to eat blueberry pie in the bathroom."

"She's lying! I only do that in your room!"

"Look, I don't care who does what where, just clean up after your done, got it?"

"Got it," the two other voices responded in unison.

Yup, that's the Owl Lady, Amity thought.

"Hey, do you mind getting her? Just don't..."

"Got it, hoot, hoot!"

His owl face backed up into and merged with the door until there was just a gold-colored circle where Hooty's body had been.

Amity waited nervously for whoever was to come walking through that door. She was hoping it was anyone else. She was hoping for it to be the Owl Lady, she would be able to give Amity the straight truth. Or Luz, at least Amity would know that she's alive.

Please don't be her, please don't be her. The door swung open--

--and it was her. Typical Amity Blight luck.

"Oh, hello, Amity," Lilith greeted, sounding genuinely surprised, "pleasent to see you here." She gave a little wave with a small smile.

The pleasent tone was not returned. "Where's Luz? I wanna talk to her."

Lilith's smile gave way to a confused glance. "'Where's Luz'? Amity, she was at school the whole day. Didn't you see her?"

Now the confusion spread to Amity. "No, Luz wasn't at school. I thought she was sick."

Just then, a female voice sounded from within the house: "What's this about Luz?"