Total Eclipse

Chapter 5

Luz told Eda everything that happened with heaving breaths and jumbled words. All she could do was facepalm in response, King snickering behind her.

"Are you old enough to drink alcohol? There's no way you'd do something that stupid sober."

"I just wanted to talk to her! I didn't realize she hated me!" Luz exclaimed.

"And now you have her expensive-looking earring and I'm guessing you're going to go on some crazy quest to give it back to her?" Eda said dryly, but unable to resist a smile at Luz's flustering.

"...yeah," she said meekly. Eda gave a loud cackle and slapped her knee and shared a glance with King.

"Am I that predictable?" Luz groaned, covering her face. Eda simply looked at her, enough to give her answer.

"Look, you know where the manor is. Just draw up some glyphs and deliver the earring to the fair maiden." Eda said.

"You make me sound so desperate!" Luz complained, more and more embarrassed by the minute.

"Would a desperate person chase after someone in the middle of a city?" Eda snickered and patted her head. "Your conviction is endearing."

Luz found herself blushing almost as much as Amity. She looked down at the palm and the ichor from the earrings, watching the moon change phases slowly but surely. She knew she had to get it to her, but she didn't know why it was so important. She just felt it in her heart.

Maybe Amity felt it too.

Luz jumped up and exclaimed.

"I gotta go!" before blushing at the stares from the bartender and running out. She could hear Eda chuckling as she left.

"That's my girl," she said and Luz found herself smiling like a goofy kid who just got told how good their book report was.

Luz continued on, avoiding pickpockets and demons trying to sell her witchy junk. She was easily distracted and kept shaking her head and struggling to move on. Magical brooms and cursed necklaces were probably common items to regular witches, but Luz was still a curious human at heart.  She kept walking, trying to not to stray until one vendor caught her eye.

She was an old witch, fitting the stereotype perfectly. She had a hunched back and wrinkles but kind eyes. Her crooked nose scrunched when she smiled at Luz. She stopped to look at her wares and was instantly enchanted. She sold handcrafted jewelry that sparkled in the harsh light.  There were golden chains with dangling jewels, bracelets that twinkled when she touched them, and metals and lockets that were polished enough to reflect Luz, staring in wonder.

"This is all so beautiful..." Luz said as she reached out to the gems. The old woman smiled at her.

"They're all made from glass and metals from the human realm and infused with water from the boiling sea and my magic." she said proudly, straightening her back slightly as she spoke. Luz browsed through the jewelry until a pair of earrings caught her eyes. They were a beautiful shade of lavender that reflected Luz's creamy brown eyes. She touched them gently and picked them up. They were small purple, amethyst, butterflies that fluttered slightly when she held them.

"How much for these?" Luz asked. Maybe they could replace the broken moon earrings.

"Twenty snails. But fifteen for you." She said with a smile. Luz scoured through her pockets and found just enough for the earrings. The woman nodded and took the money, counting it before carefully putting it in the pouch that acted as a register. She tenderly grabbed the jewelry and carefully wrapped them up in shimmering paper before delicately placing them in a small box with an iridescent purple wax seal on top.