Mentally and Physically Tearing Him Apart

Chapter 6

The group had gone back to the Owl House after the fight and were exhausted. On the way, Eda had told Hunter that they really didn't know about him being wanted by Belos, and didn't want him to leave only because they were worried about him. Hunter had raised his eyebrows up in surprise,

"Really? You were worried about me?" He had asked looking up at her.

"Yeah yeah, don't look so surprised kid." Eda said, chuckling.

"...Thank you Owl Lady. And you all." He thanked them again. It was then and there he had realized that they had risked a lot to fight for and with him.

"You can call me Eda kid, and really it's alright." She reassured him.

They got back home late in the evening. Everyone started getting ready for bed. And now that Lilith was here visiting them for a few days, she would be taking the couch. Leaving Hunter to have to stay in the same room as Luz. Hunter internally groaned as soon as he heard that. He'd have to share a room with her? Seriously? He knew they could be considered friends now but wasn't this going a bit too fast? He then thought it over, Hunter rarely got a decent sleep anyway, being an insomniac. Nightmare's almost always plaguing his slumber.

Hunter now felt more confident in facing the Emperor's coven again if they had to ever, but that still didn't erase the fear he still had of his uncle. He had lived with him for so long, he wasn't sure if his fear of him would ever go away. He still remembered the way Belos looked at him when he took Rascal away from him, squeezing it in his hand. How Hunter had begged for him to let his palismen go. And how excruciating it felt when Emperor Belos blasted magic from his staff at him. He could feel himself tense up whenever he thought about it.

Eda had handed him a pair of folded-up clothes to replace his tattered uniform for the night. Hunter scowled slightly at the large clothes he had been given. It was a large, pale yellow t-shirt and a light brown pair of shorts that hung just a bit under the knee. He looked back up at Eda with a raised eyebrow,

"Sorry but I think those beat wearing that torn-up outfit." She said as she gestured to the clothes he was wearing. Hunter sighed and nodded. He went into the spare bathroom upstairs to change into them and got back out. Once he did he saw Luz standing outside the hallway talking to King. She was wearing the same pajamas he saw her wear back in their encounter in Latisa. When she saw him she walked up to him with a smile plastered on her face and her hand pumped into fists.

"I guess you can call this a sleepover!" She said brightly to him.

Hunter couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh, "Haha yeah, how fun."

Luz said goodnight to the rest of the residents of the house and led Hunter into her room. It was fairly messy, dusty portraits and paintings were leaning against the wall, with a large green chest sitting off to the left corner of the room. There were yellow fairy lights hanging under the ceiling. Hunter noticed two sleeping bags on the wooden floor in front of him, only about a foot apart. He grimaced at the thought of sleeping on the floor with someone. But he supposed it was better than nothing.

Luz climbed into her blue and white sleeping bag after turning off the lights. Hunter followed and crawled into his sleeping back as well. Rascal, who had been sitting in the room waiting for them, was already dozing off on the ledge in front of the window. Hunter folded his hands and put them under his head as he looked up at the roof. His mind started to wonder. Hunter rarely got any sleep, he either tried to avoid it or was just unable to get any shuteye. Hunter was almost always restless, always fidgeting and wanting to do something rather than rest. That was the mindset he had formed while being the Golden Guard. When you are one of the highest commanders, you always have something to do. Sometimes it involved missions requested by Emperor Belos, or completing jobs around the castle. The point was, he was always busy and was always needed. But now? Now he doesn't have anything to do at all. No goal to achieve for a higher purpose, no commissions to complete. Nothing.