Total Eclipse

Chapter 3

Amity Blight. She looked so much like her mother, yet so different. Her hair was grown past her shoulders, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her green locks were no more. She had beautiful brown waves, tired half up and half down, with curtain bangs framing her face. She had dark black eyeliner with sharp wings reaching the edge of her face. Black lipstick was put around her blinding smile. Emerald eyeshadow was placed around her golden eyes like an aura, its shade matching her dress and jewelry.

She had on a high-cut but short jade dress with flared sleeves. It was cinched at her waist with some sort of corset that converted into an a-line skirt. It acted as a sort of overcoat, having a triangular cut that showed off the bottom of her dress. It flared around her hips. She had an emerald ring with a dark silver band on her middle finger and a matching bracelet and dangling earrings. She had a long necklace on, a black chain with a circular locket. It was glass, filled with tiny green gems, and had a crescent moon painted over the fragile glass. Its phase-matched perfectly with the moon hanging overhead.

She waved towards the crowd, her smile brighter than any of the spotlights.

"How is everybody tonight? We've got a great show for you all, so many great products for everyone to try." Amity exclaimed, oozing with enthusiasm and insincerity that only Luz could hear.

Luz knew damn well that's not what Amity wanted. What could have changed?

"Abomination: rise!" Amity yelled as a huge, monstrous mess emerged. Luz looked on, impressed and terrified all at once. She could not do that the last time she was here. Amity went on to duel the monster with an artist's and performer's flair and style.

She looked beautiful and powerful and intimidating. She was about to dodge the monster's fist when she saw Luz cheering her on, whistling and jumping up and down. She froze and destroyed the abomination without thinking, staring at Luz with her golden eyes. She only now realized how tired they looked.

"Luz." the gloop of the monster was everywhere and Amity wiped some away from her face. Luz gave a shy wave and a smile. Amity started and paused for a moment. Her smile flicked for a second, but she hid it.

"You're all in for a treat tonight. If I may..." Amity leaped off the stage, her jacket floating. She took a few steps towards Luz and reached out her hand. For a fleeting moment, Luz could truly recognize her. An abomination lifted them gently to the stage and Amity pushed her to the center.

"May I introduce... Luz Noceda! The human!"

There were some hushed murmurs. A human, once again!

Amity lowered her voice to a sickeningly sweet whisper. "Put on a show. Give the people what they want." She strutted gracefully to the wings of the stage. But as Luz trailed behind, unsure of what she meant, she stage trembled. She turned and looked at the abomination in front of her. Larger than the one she had struggled to defeat years ago.

And this time, Amity wasn't going to help her.

She tried to evade it, running back and forth from corners of the stage. Its fists slammed down, causing her to jump and the floor to quake, trembling as much as her heart. Her thoughts were tangled and this thing was no help with making sense of it all. And Amity was simply smirking from the sides.

Luz hated how intimidatingly attractive she looked.

She was out of breath by the time that she had escaped its grip for what seemed like the hundredth time. It cornered her and it seemed hopeless.

The glyphs.

She scrambled through her pockets but pulled out her leaves, slamming her palms upon them. Ice shot up and she leaped over the abomination. Some in the crowd cheered, others were disappointed in the lack of bloodshed. Luz turned her head and Amity's amused smirk had disappeared. She looked angry but intrigued.