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"YOUR FRIENDS ARE GONE AND youwill never find your father or your way home." Belos cackled. Ember flinched in her sleep, her hand brushing Luz's as she rolled onto her side. Her head tormented her as her slumber dragged on, until she saw Luz and Amity, both on the verge of dying.
"You either save the human, or the little witch. Your choice, hybrid." Belos stated calmly, both of Ember's friends bruised and dangling over spikes. "Tik-tok..."
Luz looked desperate, and both of the girls looked horrified as they wiggled in the magical grip Belos cast over them. "Don't do it, Ember! Just walk away!" Luz begged and Ember's breathing began to speed up, she whimpered.
"I can't leave either of you here! I-I won't!" She shouted, fists clenched as her eyes welled with hot tears.
Amity began to cry. "I'm so sorry! This is all my fault. If I had never—"
"No, Amity. Don't blame yourself, this was out of our control!" Luz exclaimed, turning her head back to Ember, who's usual warm and comforting eyes were filled to the brim with an overwhelming amount of tears. Luz and Amity hated it.
"Times up." Belos whispered, releasing the two girls and letting them fall. Ember screamed, tears fell as she squeezed her eyes shut. But she suddenly jolted awake.
The usual stench of the Owl House grounded her back to reality, before she looked to Luz. Her eyes were shut, and christ, she looked very pretty. Ember blushed, quickly shaking those thoughts out as the nightmare flooded back to her.
Ember clutched at her chest and hair. Her breath came in short puffs, and tears spilled over her eyes, streaking down her puffed cheeks. King heard sniffs and stirred awake, ready to complain and scold Ember for being so loud, but softened immediately upon seeing her curled into her knees, shoulders shaking with cries.
"Ember?" He whispered, walking from Luz's mat over to her as he rubbed his sleepy eyes, Francois dragging along. Ember quickly rubbed her eyes and looked up, smiling softly at King's adorable sleepiness. "What's wrong?"
Ember shook her head, chuckling dryly. "Just a bad dream. I'm okay, King." She patted his head, ready to lay down again, but King leaped on her, hooking his little paws onto the back her neck in a warm hug. Ember sighed shakily, gently hugging King back, but not with as much ferocity as she used to before getting captured by the Emperor's Coven. King really missed it.
Everyone had noticed it — even the oblivious Hooty, and the new addition, Lilith. Ember had been... off, ever since what happened at the petrification ceremony. Luz had been the first to approach her about it, but Ember avoided any questions about the situation at all costs, which, when it came to Luz, wasn't normal.
