Luz B. Noceda: The Next Belmont

Chapter 8: Research Gone Wrong

"The world is in chaos. The second world war has claimed millions of lives, leveled cities, destroyed nations. The souls of the war's dead blanket the planet, lost, hurt, and angry. Their anguish summons an accursed castle of legend. It has appeared many times throughout history, bringing with it evil and darkness. The castle of the lord of evil. It arrives in man's darkest hour, to push us over the brink, into ruin." Luz read from her journal. She had written it down from one of her dream memories about a warrior who lived in 1944, after WW2. Reading it aloud though did nothing to amuse King.

"Luz, you're getting too swoony with this kind of stuff."

"Shut up, King." Luz said. "This stuff is important to me."

"Yes, I know." King whined. "You've said that like 27 times already...but keep reading. These stories always get me sucked in."

Luz chuckled a little as she continued to read. "Anyway, two heroes arrive at the doors to the abandoned demon castle, which swing open..."

"Ding‐dong. Ding. Hoot! Hoot!" Hooty said as he swung open and shows a basket at the doorstep.

"Ah! The book has come to life!" King screamed. "Burn it!"

"Would you relax, King?" Luz said as she walks up to the door and sees the basket. She feared that they have been storked and that this was baby a selfish person left at their doorstep. She then takes the basket, feeling that it was in fact as heavy as a baby as she carries it over to the kitchen, where Eda was.

"Eda! We got storked!"

"Aw, not again." The witch says. "It's hard taking care of one baby."

"I am not a baby!" King yells.

"Well, let's see what this beast looks like." Eda says as she pulls a blanket off the top of the basket, revealing a snoring baby bat.

Luz then said "Aw, it's actually pretty adorable."

"And delectable." King said in a creepy tone and while licks his lips under his skull of a head.

"We're not eating it, King."

"And the good news is we're not taking care of it permanently either." Eda said while holding a note that was next to the basket. "Seems as if the Bat Queen wishes for us to babysit her child until the next day."

"Bat Queen?" Luz said with suspicious concern.

"Relax, Luz. She has zero relation to the creatures of the night." Eda explained while also taking some snails from the basket. "She's the wealthiest demon on the Boiling Isles. Get in with her and you're set for life. So, we keep this thing alive for a few hours and we get paid. Pfft. Easy."

"Well, you're gonna have to do that without me." Luz said. "I'm supposed to meet up with Amity at the Library for research. So, I'll see you guys when you're done."

"Just a minute, Luz." Eda said right before handing a large stack of books over to the girl. "I need you to return those for me."

"Oh, joy." Luz said as makes her way out.

"Well, this shouldn't be a problem." Eda said confidentially. "Now, let's take a look at this little darling."

Taking the blanket off completely, the Baby Bat began to screech a loud and it made Eda and King begin to panic. As soon as the baby flew right at Eda's face, making her fall down, did the two realize that they had their work cut out for them.

Cutting back to Luz, she had no problem carrying the load of books in her hands, as she tapped into her family's supernatural strength. She saw Tiny Nose pass by with a book that was the same size as her as she continued to walk down the street towards the library. The building itself was impressive, Luz thought, as she heads inside and the books glowed green before floating out of her hand. They flied through a red spell circle, which beeps as the Librarian marked them as late.