The Sketchbook

Eda and the not-so-good Spy

I am so sorry for the people who know Spanish. I am using google translate for this and my keyboard wouldn't let me put the lines above it. I don't know their name so please don't chew me out. These -> () <- are what is the translation for different languages.

Luz POV

Once I had found someone willing to take me home and I was greeted by a concerned Camilla. "Mija estas bien? ¡Estaba muy preocupado! ¿Por qué tienes marcas de quemaduras en el hombro?" (Honey are you alright? I was worried sick! Why do you have burn marks on your shoulder?) Camilla said in a very rushed tone. " ¡Estoy bien mama! Me cai y golpee la estufa." (I'm alright mama! I just fell and hit the stove.) I lied. I felt bad for lying but knew she would freak if she knew the truth...

"I know what happened Luz. Don't lie to me. What happened to your arm." She said in a stern tone. She rarely calls me by my first name. I told her what happened.

"He did what?!" She yelled out in anger. She started to cuss him out in Spanish and I couldn't help but laugh. She smiled a bit seeing me laugh. "I just want you to be safe Mija and I couldn't even save you from him..." She said looking away from me in shame. I ran up to her and hugged her as my life depended on it. "No mama you tried your best... It was his fault, not yours... I love you so much and you never forget it." I said. 

We just sat there in each other's arms for a while until she got a scroll call. "Hmm, it is the Emperor's Guards... They are asking for you..." She said handing me the scroll. I took the scroll. "Hello is this Luz Noceda?" The person on the scroll said. "Yes?" I said. "Emperor Belos requests your presence in an hour. You may bring one person with you." They said then hung up before I could respond. Mami and I practically ran out the door. She summoned her staff and hopped on it. 

We arrived an hour later. Guards surrounded the front door with Kikimora. We landed and Kikimora suddenly stopped talking. "Welcome Luz and Camilla. The Emperor is waiting." Kikimora said motioning us inside. 

After walking for a bit we came upon the throne room. "Now make sure not to anger Belos or he will have your head." Kikimora said then opened the door. We walked inside and kneeled before the Emperor. "Luz Noceda, Rise. Guard, please escort her mother out of the room for some privacy." He said looking at a scared guard. The guard complied and rushed to escort Camilla out. 

Once Camilla left Belos appeared in front of me. "I saw what happened with your father and I saw how you took him out. I want you to be my little spy." He said. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience but I didn't want to do it. 

"Thank you for this grand opportunity but I have other plans," I said and turned to walk out but was frozen by a painful red aura. "I said I wanted you to spy on someone." He said, appearing beside me and speaking in my ear. He released me and went back to his throne. I kneeled "I-It would be my honor to serve you, Emperor Belos." I said, my voice shaking. "Good. Now I need you to spy on a powerful witch, Eda the Owl Lady. She is one of the last wild witches left on the Boiling Isles." He said, summoning a wanted poster. 

It was of the woman I saw the other day. "Thank you Emperor Belos. I will find her. And may I ask, what do you wish me to do once I find her?" I said waiting for a response. "I want you to attempt to either bring her here, harmed or unharmed, or eliminate her." He said. "And don't tell anyone about this or I will have your head." He said and waved me off.

I walked out of the throne room and my mind was racing. I saw Camilla and tried to remain calm. "What did he say to you Mija?" She asked me, her voice laced with worry. "Nothing Mami," I said and gave my regular goofy smile hoping she would buy it. "Hmm, alright Mija. But if he hurt you I will go back in there with the chanclas." She said eyeing the door. I laughed and started walking the other way.

We arrived home 20 minutes later. We ate dinner and went to sleep.

{Next Day}

It was Monday and I didn't feel like getting up. So I faked sick. Camilla bought it and left for work. I jumped out of bed and threw on my 'Be Happy' shirt with some jeans, and a black hoodie. I remembered what Belos had said and got to work on finding Eda the Owl Lady.

It wasn't that hard to find her. I put the hood over my head and kept a distance. I text Camilla and found out she wouldn't return home until 3 days. She was going on a business trip. 

It was now getting dark outside and Eda started packing up. I followed her from a distance until she reached a house. She poked the owl's eyes in the doorway and walked inside. I maintained a distance until the owl on the front door became an owl tube. It came around the other way of my hiding spot and yelled "Ooo a new friend! Hoot!". It wrapped around me and I yelped in surprise. 

The owl tube thing brought me inside and didn't let go until Eda came into view. "Now he is sending kids after me? Good grief." She said rubbing her temples. What Belos had said rushed back into my mind. "Eda the Owl Lady, by the Emperor's command I demand you come with me," I said standing up.

I drew a binding spell and shot it at her which she dodged. "Oh please kid. I don't want to hurt you so... SLEEP SPELL!" She yelled and shot an orange-looking spell at me and I instantly fell asleep.

{A while later}

I woke up tied to a chair. "Dangit not again," I said struggling against the restraints. Memories of my so-called father flashed in my mind and my breathing quickened. I saw a small demon with a skull on its head looking at me. I took a moment to look at my surroundings.

I started to hallucinate from the memories. I saw him walking up to me and my breathing quickened even more. My heart was pounding in my chest. Someone was talking but I couldn't make out the words. 

A shake took me from the memories. "Hey, kid are you okay?" Eda said looking at me with worry. I couldn't do or say anything. I just looked around frantically trying to remember where I was. I remembered a trick my guidance counselor taught me. 

I named several things I saw out loud. "Couch...chair...table...door...wall..." I mumbled and started to slowly calm down. I named a few more things and finally calmed down. Eda looked concerned and so did the little demon. "You freaked out their kiddo you alright?" She asked and I didn't respond. 

I stared at the ground not doing or saying anything. "Maybe she's scared." The little demon noted. "Kid why did the Emperor send you?" She asked in a calm voice. "H-he wanted me to either bring you to him or... or kill you..." I mumbled. She looked shocked and mad.

"He sent a KID to come and either KILL me or take me to his castle." She said and sighed, rubbing her temples. She untied me from the chair and I just stayed there. "Come on kid, get up." She said motioning for me to follow her. I stood up and one thing sped through my mind.

The shock of realization hit me like a wave and I held onto the table to my left and tried to balance my weight as I was having a panic attack. "Kid! Hey, kid are you alright?!" Eda said worriedly. 

I only croaked one thing with my last bit of energy before I passed out. "B-Belos is my father...".

Yay cliffhangers! To be continued...