Grim, Speak the Shadows

Part 10

Willow found herself texting Hunter soon after he'd left.

Hello_Willow: Hey Caleb!🌱

Hello_Willow: Let me know when you get off work!

She sent him several pictures of Clover too. For the past few days, it became a thing for the two of them to send pictures of their palismen to each other. Willow's favorite photo of Flapjack so far was the one of him curled up in Hunter's cloak--the cardinal just looked so little and cozy! Clover seemed happy whenever Willow showed her a picture of Flapjack. From what Willow understood, the two palismen had been friends while under the care of the Bat Queen for all those years.

It was really nice seeing him again today, especially since she wasn't sure if she'd see him again for a while. She was hoping she could get him to loosen up a bit more--he seemed awfully uptight about anything coven-related. It was incredibly unfair how he was only 16 and carrying so much weight on his shoulders. It was also frankly a little sad how worried he was about taking a five minute snack break with her and Gus earlier. Not wanting to ditch work out of fear of getting in trouble was completely viable, but Willow knew for a fact that Hunter didn't get any real breaks during the day; he was only free when all his work was completed, and that would often take him into the hours of the night to finish. She genuinely thought a short snack break with a couple of his friends would be good for him, and judging by how much he'd been smiling and even laughing with them, it was.

---

The morning of the Emperor's Coven tryouts, Hunter was heading towards one of the briefing rooms to give the coven scouts their orders, when he was stopped by a large and stout scout.

"Golden Guard, Emperor Belos requests your presence at once," they said in a low voice.

Hunter, his mask securely on his face, nodded. "Thank you, you're dismissed." The scout walked away, and Hunter was left to wonder what his uncle wanted as he changed directions to go to the throne room.

As soon as he entered, Hunter suddenly felt a shiver run through him. Belos' mask was off (he'd been taking it off more recently ever since revealing his face at the Coven Day Parade), so the Emperor's displeased expression was on clear display.

"Hunter," his uncle began before the young witch had even knelt to the ground. "Kikimora told me a strange thing very recently, do you know what it was?" His tone was calm, almost eerily so. It didn't match the stern expression on his cursed face.

Hunter was very grateful for his mask at that moment. At the mention of Kikimora, his eyes widened slightly, and a slight grimace came to his face. That little snitch. "N-no, I--" he started to say, but Belos quickly cut him off. That wasn't good. That meant that his patience was very thin right now, and it was moments like those that Hunter feared the most.

"She told me that you've been distracted lately. How you were late to the meeting I entrusted you to lead."

"Uncle, I--"

"Not only that, but it seems as though you've been ignoring your duties to the titan to mingle with friends." The Emperor's expression tightened. "The Titan has such high hopes for you, nephew. You don't have time for silly things like friends, especially not ones who've been distracting you. Not until the Day of Unity has passed."

Hunter gulped and lowered his head, choosing to stare at the ground instead of the disappointment in Belos' eyes. "I-I understand, Lord Belos." He had to force his voice to work, as panic rose up his throat. "It-it won't happen again. I promise."

"I should hope you keep that promise, for this is your final warning." Belos' eyes narrowed. "The titan will not stand for any delays in preparations. Now leave, there is much I have to do."