"Hunter! Hunter!" Luz sprinted through the halls calling out her brother's name. She wanted to talk about her end of year project. So, she knocked on his clubhouse door, too fast, too hard, in excitement. But Hunter wasn't the one who opened it.
"Oh, hi, Selene. Is Hunter around?"
Selene shook her head, "I haven't seen him in two days"
"Wait what?"
"Yeah, some guy told me his uncle wanted to talk to him. I-I assumed you knew"
Luz thanked Selene before she walked over to the cafe. Even if Belos had taken him, by some miracle, she hoped he was there. He wasn't. So, she just sat down and read the book for her assignment.
- - -
Gus could picture it now. The set, the lights, the storyline. He could already picture the perfect Caroline, if she would audition, Selene. But she was part of the ODIN track and no doubt, they got their last assignments too.
He shook his head. Luz hadn't even started with script yet. She said she was almost done reading and she wanted to get an outside perspective on her vision before coming to him, so Gus didn't stress about it. He was sure she'd start at least tomorrow and be finished in like a week. He was so ready
In the meantime, though, it was Mattholomule's turn to cook and he just texted him saying dinner was ready. Despite Gus absolutely hating Matt, he could acknowledge that he was an amazing chef...surprisingly. So, he went looking for Luz before Edric could eat it all, eventually finding her in the cafe, which was completely empty save for her with her head rested on the forearms.
"Hey, Luz, are you ok?"
Luz looked up but Gus was shocked to find that tears streamed her face. She was worried to Titan for Hunter but she couldn't say that. So, she wiped her tears and mustered a "Yeah, I'm ok"
"You don't look—"
"I'm gonna go finish the book, ok?" And with that she left Gus in a hurry.
- - -
This book was actually really good. However the only thing on Luz's mind was where her brother was. She hadn't seen him in a week. Not in any class, not in the cafe where he usually was, even Edric hadn't seen him. Sure Hunter was closed off, but it was like he disappeared. She searched everywhere, even got the police involved. This is not a coincidence. Not anymore. First Camila's Death, then Eda in a coma, now Hunter's gone? She had no proof, but she was sure Phillip was doing all of this. But for what? How did this connect to the EI?
And she told all of this to the one person she trusted. Amity
"That would make sense" Amity muttered "I just don't know what to do with all this information"
"I just feel like I should do something about this, but I don't know anything about anything" Luz groaned
"I don't think there's anything we can do but wait right now" Amity put her hand on Luz's knee.
"I hate that"
"I know," Amity looked at the clock. It may not be relevant right now, but Luz had a meeting with the producers of the project her track was working on right about now. At least, to keep her busy, she should go. "But we don't have a plan, we don't have enough evidence to go to the police, not that they can help right now. But while we do come up with something, don't you have to be somewhere?"
"You're right" Luz sighed "thanks Amity"
Luz left Amity wondering the same thing, with almost the same type of despair. " I wish I had answers for you, Luz. But I'm going to find out what I can, I promise you that"
- - -
"Phillip Wittebane, the Belos of the Wittebane family" Phillip waved at the crowd that cheered and stood up to walk to the stage. He looked elegant in his white suit, decorated with gold highlights. Perhaps that was why so many people respected him. He looked the part he played.
"Good evening members of the court" the room was silent "tonight, I come to you with a plan for the betterment of our future. As you know, the Emperor's Initiative had come to a hold after the death of my brother and disappearance of my dear nephew, but now, with Hunter's return, we can now proceed with the next step to our mission. I'm here to announce the inheritor to the Belos, my nephew, Hunter Wittebane"
The crowd cheered once more, louder than it had been, as Hunter walked to the stage. His head couldn't fathom what he meant by the Belos. He never knew what it meant.
Phillip placed his hand on Hunter's shoulder, leaning to whisper into his ear, "I let you live your live for ten years, nephew, but now it's time to come back to the light"
Hunter was forced to kneel on a red cushion, anxious, he waited for whatever was to happen next. The honor of the Belos. He never knew what it meant!
Even so, he was handed a cup with a strange purple liquid inside.
After drinking, Hunter's mind went blank. No thoughts. "My name is Hunter Wittebane, and I possess the power of the Belos. Let my service to this island...be forever undying"
~~~
And that is the last chapter. Oops, cliffhanger. I will not be answering any questions about what will happen in the next book, Titan Masking—name drop, but I wanna know what you think is going to happen. What exactly do you think is "the Belos?"
Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed the first book. The first chapter to the second book will be updated on Friday
Sincerely, Arthur
YOU ARE READING
Owl Masking
Fanfiction**This is Book 1 of the 'Masking' series** After the death of Camila Noceda, Edalyn Clawthorne is now the legal guardian of Luz and Hunter Noceda. These two complete opposites now have to move to Bonesbourgh, the city known for its "leaders-in-tra...
