The Two sides

|The Golden Guard|

"Yeah... She'll be fine." I shook my head to get myself out of the flunk. A smile formed on my lips when my eyes met his. "Let's continue our hang-out session, Shall we?"

"Is there anywhere you wanna go?" Hunter asks. I looked around, hoping to find somewhere interesting, but the scouts didn't go. I pointed at a little shop. "What about that Cafe? It seems nice, and I doubt anyone there would recognize us." 

"Sounds like a plan." Hunter's face lit up. He took my hand, and we quickly went to the Cafe. "Welcome!" the lady behind the counter called out, a smile that was obviously for customer service painted on her face.

Hunter and I walked up to the counter. His hand released mine. Hunter's eyes were fixated on the menu. "See anything that sounds good?" Hunter's eyes moved to look at me. I was taking out some money to give to the Cashier.

"Apple Blood, please." I hand the money to the Cashier. "Seems like you do. Ghoul-Aid" Hunter did the same. I looked at him with a mixture of disgust and shock. "What?" Hunter asked, his tone confused.

"You want Ghoul-Aid?!" my expression remained the same. "Oh, come on, it isn't that bad," Hunter rolled his eyes. I huffed out a laugh. "Isn't that bad?! It's terrible!" I looked at Hunter like he was crazy.

Hunter and I grabbed our drinks and went to sit at a table. We chose a booth in the back corner, far from the window. "So, you realize that once the Coven that we were gonna deal with Eda and the Human instead of the scouts, but come back with neither, we're gonna be in deep trouble, right?" Hunter couldn't help but laugh while speaking.

"Oh, 100 percent. I'm sure you have already planned to get us out of it, so lay it on me." I smirked. I took a sip of my Apple Blood. "Obviously, and I think I have a rather convincing story. Eda has gotten away repeatedly, so saying she just got away again won't be unbelievable." Hunter shrugged, a cocky smirk on his lips.

"Have you made a lie like this about Eda before?" I tilted my head. Hunter looked away. Perhaps." A laugh escaped my lips. Hunter can never make eye contact when he's lying. Well, what about Luz? What's the lie for her?"

Hunter thought for a moment. "Easy, anytime Luz has been in trouble, Eda hasn't been close behind, there for! Eda grabbed her, too." He clapped, laughing slightly. "It's a foolproof plan!" I rolled my eyes, a smile fighting for dominance on my lips. "Okay, no need to get cocky!" 

Hunter was quick to put his hand on his chest and drop his jaw "Cocky, Me? Never! I'm offended you would even think such nonsense!" A dramatic tone in his voice. I tried to keep a straight face but failed in the end. "Look who's the dork now," I mumbled. I hid a smile while I was sipping my Apple Blood.

"Did you say something?" Hunter turned his head, placing his hand on the cup behind his ear. "Nope, not a word," I smirked, using his phrasing against him from the day on the roof.

Hunter gave me a suspicious look. I could tell he was piecing everything together, taking him a little longer than most. After we had finished our drinks, I stood up to throw mine away, and Hunter followed suit. 

Hunter whistled, his staff speeding towards him. "Are you not coming?" I shook my head. "I'm going to go spritely; that way, we can discuss splitting up and meeting back at the palace."

I drew a circle over my mouth and said, "Owlbert!" Eda's staff flew into my hands not long after the circle disappeared. "When did you get a staff?" Hunter was understandably confused.

"It's Eda's," I clarified and got onto the staff. "Are you sure? Thats a Palismen staff... It's wild Magic. You know how Uncle Belos is about that..." Hunter looked a little worried as he got onto his staff.

I stared at Hunter, unable to hold back my laughter. "You need to learn how not to follow Belos' rules! Live for yourself sometimes!" After the laughter stopped, a smile remained on my lips. "But-" I lifted my finger to cut him off. "No, but's start flying!"

"What if he finds out you were on that?" I started flying off when he began speaking. I yelled back, "Trust me, Hunter! It will be fine!"

Time skip | Back at the castle

I landed at the front of the castle, where Hunter was waiting for me. I let go of the staff, which remained where I was holding it. "Go back to the Owl House, Owlbert." Colbert was quick to fly away; I turned back to Hunter.

I returned to the castle, but Hunter grabbed my arm, stopping me. "I have something to show you before we return to our room." I stood there for a moment before speaking. "I mean, yeah, we have some time."

Hunter led me into the castle and up to two tall wooden doors. Hunter stopped outside the doors. I gave Hunter a confused look. "You took me to a room?" Hunter took a deep breath. "Before we go in, I need to confess something..... I know about your curse."

My eyes widened, and Hunter fell to the ground. "How..." Hunter lifted his eyes slightly. I saw the box of Elixirs you keep under your bed." Hunter's face was sympathetic. "You went through my stuff?!" I looked at him with an annoyed expression. 

"No, it's not like that! I had walked back into the room before we left today and saw you filling the tube around your neck. I left before you noticed..." Hunter was quick to answer. I took a deep breath. "Fine, I believe you, but what does that have to do with this room?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I think... No. I know how to remove your curse." Hunter gave me a slight smile while looking into my eyes. I perked up slightly hearing that. I couldn't deny that I was curious. "The healing hat, it's known to heal curses—" I cut Hunter off.

I shook my head, my eyes closed, and my head tilted down slightly. "What?" Hunter was confused. "I already tried; the hat in that room is fake; the real relic went missing years ago." I looked back at him.

"I didn't...." Hunter looked at the ground with a guilty expression. "It's alright; I'm managing the curse, but promise me something." I stepped close to him and took his hands on my own. "Yes?" Hunter is looking into my eyes.

"Now that you know about this curse, don't treat me differently. Like I'm weak." I held eye contact with Hunter. "I won't. I promise. You are one of the strongest witches in the coven. If anything, your curse knows just how strong you are, not weak!" A contagious smile formed on Hunter's lips, also causing me to smile. "Thank you, Hunter." 

"We should head back. We have an early morning tomorrow," Hunter said, letting go of my hands while heading down the hallway. I watched as Hunter walked down the hallway, a thought running through my mind: 'Was what Luz told me about him right?'

I shook my head, quickly catching up with Hunter. 'No, Hunter is simply my partner. Nothing more than The Golden Guard.'

A/n - Yet another chapter has been rewritten! I think I'll be able to get back on a regular writing schedule soon and finish the updating so I can continue to publish NEW chapters. I know it's been a while since that's happened. Word Count 1294