Chapter Text
Lilith stood by her desk, and the crow with a ribbon on its head cawed again. This was the most it got used in a month. And it better not be Her somehow. She picked it up. “So I know you said that you didn’t set up the Emperor's Coven Child Protection Services for one witchlet,” Luz’s voice cut through. Lilith had her staff instantly in her hands. “But my friend needs your help.” Oh. Okay Edalyn was still a safe (enough) person.
“What’s your friend’s name?” Lilith asked calmly, someone needed to be calm while holding this crow. “And are they safe at this moment?”
“She’s with Eda right now,” so that was a no. But also a probably yes for now. “Amity and her siblings are in danger!” Amity?
“Amity Blight?” Just to be sure.
“Yes!” Luz sounded desperate.
“Alright we’ll gather our forces and be over to Blight Manor as soon as we can.” Which would be soon.
“Who’s going to be where?” Edalyn’s voice came over the crow.
“We’re going to beat up the Blight Adults!” Luz exclaimed. “But we could use the help of Lilith’s whole, protective stuff.” There was murmuring on the other side.
“Please Miss Lilith,” Amity’s voice came over. “They damaged my arm. Permanently.”
“And Edric and Emira have nasty scars from their parents!” Luz exclaimed.
“I will meet up with you all soon,” Lilith said. “I need to evaluate the situation.
“Scouts!” Lilith called. “We have a very important mission. We’re rescuing a set of three witchlets from their rich abusive parents.”
* * * * * * *
Blight Manor was as imposing as ever. And as stupid as ever. Eda glared at it. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” Boots said.
“We absolutely should be doing this,” Luz replied. “It was a mistake to let you three back there.” At least her apprentice was loyal to her. “Oh! Eda look what I can do!” She breathed in, and out, and in, and out. “WEH!!” And the doors blasted open.
“My kindred spirit!” King leapt onto Luz’s head. “WEH!” He cried too.
“Abomination,” Alador’s voice echoed, “seize.” Eda spun a spell circle and his abomination guard exploded. Heh. Still got it.
The wall exploded. Violently. “Alador and Odalia Blight!” Lily exclaimed. “You are under arrest!”
“For what Head Witch?” Odalia stepped down the stairs. And was as awful as Eda remembered. “We’re law abiding citizens who have done nothing but support the Empire in our adult lives.”
“Law abiding citizens don’t almost kill their children!” Luz exclaimed. If Lilith wasn’t getting rid of them, Eda sure was. And her old bird brain headache agreed with her.
“Hush brat,” Odalia glared at Eda’s apprentice.
“I don’t appreciate you calling my niece a brat,” Lily said coolly. “Especially not when she has a brilliant future ahead of her.”
“Unlike you,” Eda growled.
“Lilith,” Alador said, “why is your sister not a statue yet?”
“Because I believe in second chances,” Lilith held her staff high. “For almost everyone.” Odalia tapped her necklace and Boots flinched. Hard.
“It would be a shame if you arrested us,” Odalia grinned, “after all where would the Isles get their security from?”
“Head Witch Deamonne. Blight Industries is a subsidy of the Abomination Coven after all.”
“That walking carpet?” Alador muttered. “He doesn’t know what makes a good abomination.”
“Actually,” Luz said, spinning a spell circle, “I dare think the dude in charge would know.” Luz’s firework spell went off and the ceiling exploded. “Bring out Edric and Emira and we won’t kill you painfully.”
“Now now,” Lily said, “we don’t threaten death. But if they don’t cooperate I will make them wish death was coming for them.”
* * * * * * *
The first thing Ed heard from his study was an explosion. The second thing he heard was the floor collapse near the door. The third thing he heard was his parents. He moved towards the hole in the floor. “Now now,” Head Witch Clawthorne’s voice came up through the hole, “we don’t threaten death.” What? “But if they don’t cooperate I will make them wish death was coming for them.” Okay. Head Witch Clawthorne was terrifying.
“But you don’t have grounds to be here,” Mother said. “Guards?”
“Ma’am,” a scout said, “we have orders from his Majesty, the Messenger of the Titan, the Bringer of Unity, the Officer of the Order of the Boiling Isles, Archbishop of the Rot, The Infernal Judgment, our Master and Savior, His Lordship Emperor Belos himself. that all witches who endorse child abuse must be treated as wild witches.”
“You have no evidence of child abuse,” Father said. “Now leave before I invoke right of conquest and tear you all apart limb from limb.”
“Threatening officials,” Luz said, “that can’t look good.”
“It really doesn’t,” Lilith agreed. What. Edric summoned a path of hard light and walked out of his room and over towards Emira’s.
“Hey Em?” he said, knocking on her door.
“Ed?” she replied opening the door a crack. “What’s going on?”
“The Emperor's Coven is here, and they’re talking to Mother and Father about abuse.”
“We should go investigate. Wait. Where’s Mittens?” That was a good question. “I don’t know.”
* * * * * * *
“It doesn’t matter,” Mother said, “what is stopping us from hitting you with a false report.” Amity flipped her hood up over her ears, while everyone’s attention wasn’t on her. Another win of her uniform. And slid the ring off.
“I think this,” Luz said, “is more then enough proof.” She carefully laced her fingers around Amity’s fingers. The human felt her cheeks flush a little over the gesture.
“And there is no proof where she got those injuries.” And there will be no proof of where you go those injuries, Mittens.
Oh there’s plenty, Evelyn shot back. For Amity’s benefit. And not at all heard from Odalia. Stay the course.
“Evelyn says there’s plenty,” Amity said. “And there’s a quick fix, Odalia.”
“Of course,” Ms Lilith smiled, “and I should have done so right away.” She twirled her staff and the room glowed blue.
“And how is that going to help?” Alador asked.
“ By utilizing her measures.” Luz flinched at that. What a pair the two of them made. Both utterly traumatized, and needing each other’s support. “Now, what happened to Amity Blight?”
“I simply taught her several lessons she will never forget,” Odalia said.
“And what did that entail?” Steve asked (Amity was pretty sure that scout was Steve, anyways). A cloak wrapped around both co captains. Eda put her arms protectively around the two of them.
“Things no child forgets.”
“Which is?” Ms Lilith asked, her voice going dangerously cold. “Don’t run around the truth Mrs Blight, you will regret it.”
“Punishing them for behaviors I deemed unacceptable. The Coven allows children to be punished as the parent deems acceptable.”
“The Coven does not permit a child getting her hand broken so she can’t hold a pencil!” Amity exclaimed. “Not for saying she likes hanging out with her friend and not the weird bullies!”
How dare you Mittens.
“Nor does it make one child have burned ear tips,” Emira said from the stairs. “Nor does it make a child prefer to wear armor in her own house.” Edric was standing next to her.
“And what are you two talking about?”
“We’re answering Ms Clawthorne’s questions.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Ms Lilith said. She spun her staff and disappeared in a wall of blue flame and she reappeared forcing Odalia and Alador to the ground with vines keeping them in place. “Bring out the rebrander.” The scouts brought in the Rebrander. “Rebrand them.” The scouts nodded and Ms Lilith ushered everyone else out of the room.
* * * * * * *
Amity had placed her ring back on, and so had the twins. “Now,” Lilith said, “in ordinary circumstances we’d put you three in the care of a trusted adult.” Luz nodded. That made sense really. “However, anyone on their list of emergency contacts is obviously not someone I can trust.”
“Yeah they let this happen!” Eda exclaimed.
“Silence Edalyn.” She pulled something out of a bag. “Anyways, I have a few contacts to try and get in contact with.” She walked off.
Amity leaned into Luz’s shoulder, and clung the cloak tighter around her. Edric and Emira were pacing around, and Luz had a pretty girl on her shoulder. And a reminder of that witch who tried to ruin her life. Focus on the pretty girl, Luz. Eda and King sat down on the floor. “Careful with that cloak Boots,” Eda said gently, “I need it for my Owl Lady work.” Amity nodded and fiddled with something. A piece of jewelry perhaps?
“You’re one impressive kid,” a scout said, walking in. “You should totally join the Emperor's Coven when it comes time.” Who were they talking to?
“Kindly not try and recruit my pupil while she deals with a stressful day.” Oh. Guess they were talking to her.
“Sorry ma’am. You should join the Emperor's Coven!” Eda merely growled in response. “Alright you’re under the ‘tolerated’ list right now, so I’ll leave you alone.” The scout left the room. Tolerated list? Luz tilted her head at Eda who merely shrugged in response.
* * * * * * *
This was not how she was planning her contacts to respond. Lilith punched in the second to last number of her contacts list. After this one she’d have to reach out to Raine Whispers, and she’d rather leave them alone. Best case scenario, she’d reunite Luz with her other parent, worst case scenario, Raine would fall for Eda again and there would be two agents of chaos running wild again. Only this time with all the protection of the Bard Coven. It was better off to contact Bump instead. She hit the caw button and handed the crow to Joe to explain the situation.
“ Amity, Emira, Edric,” Lilith called over to the three children. “We are getting Principal Bump to us to discuss,” she paused, “a lot of things. Now the question I have for you is, where did you wish to meet?”
“What are our options ma’am?” Emira asked.
“Well there is Hexside, the Precinct, The Jasmine Dr agon , to name a few places.”
“ How about Stumpy’s Diner?” Edric asked.
“How about not there, they might be improving, but I do not want to eat fly slop in a bowl.” It was vile.
“Aw…” Why did he even know it existed in the first place?
“There’s the Morning Star Inn?” Amity suggested. “Hippaul’s pretty understanding of things.” True. Lilith remembered what it was like when she was a kid, it was awful. Cyrus didn’t know how to run an inn, but at least Hippaul was a good egg.
“Is everyone in agreement then?” The Blight children nodded. Lilith gestured for the crow. “Hieronymus Bump,” she said into it, “please arrange to meet us at the Morning Star Inn.” With that she let the crow fly off.
“Can Luz come?” Amity asked. Aw, it was nice to see people so attached to her niece.
“If you all agree, and think she would help, then absolutely.” They split into a huddle to discuss. Lilith strode back into the foyer.
“You will never get away with this!” Odalia exclaimed. “We will make the Emperor see how foolish it is to trust you.”
“Are you implying that the Titan is a fool?” Lilith’s voice went cold. “I achieved my position because the Titan himself said I was destined for leadership.”
“And you’re a traitor.” Oh? “I know all about the rules concerning Palisman.”
“The rules clearly state that Coven Scouts are not allowed Palisman, as someone who worked as a bureaucrat for the coven, there were different rules.” She moved closer to Odalia. “But I know what you want, you wish to spread dissent in the ranks. I’ve seen it plenty of times when wild witches do it, but you doing it? I naively thought better of you.”
“You are a sentimental fool who brings the offspring of wild witches with you.”
“I brought my niece, who has great potential and will be an excellent member of the Emperor's Coven one day, here. Because she’s friends with your daughter. Not that you’d understand loyalty to kin.” Lilith understood it all too well, and that was why she felt it mattered more to her when others violated that bond.
“As a parent I want what is best for my children.” Odalia picked herself up. “Not that you’d understand that.”
“I understand,” Head Witch Clawthorne said as coldly as she could, “that that is something abusive parents say. A lot. To justify almost killing their children.”
“Ah but the key word is almost,” Alador said.
“You aren’t helping,” Odalia replied.
“No,” the Head of the Emperor's Coven answered, “he helped a lot.”
— — — — — — —
Amity sat at a table in the Morning Star Inn, Luz was enjoying one of the drinks, and Edric and Emira were busy playing with illusions. This is your fault Mittens, Mother’s voice rang in her ears, when your father and I get out of this you will wish you were never born. Right. Because Amity Blight was never going to be free. There was a loud screeching sound and then a pressure she didn’t even know was there lifted.
Well that went well, Evelyn muttered. Could’ve gone better had I been allowed to deal with them, but avenging the living is not my priority.
“We aren’t murdering my parents,” Amity muttered.
“Aw,” Luz pouted, “and I had a whole speech prepared to eviscerate them with words and everything.” She paused. “What caused that?”
“Evelyn has been mad at my parents for most of our time together.”
“I’ve been mad at your parents for most of our time together!” Luz slammed her head into the table. “Weh, okay don’t do that.”
“I’m with her,” Emira said. “Mother has been atrocious to you since you came into our lives.”
“Also us,” Edric added.
“ Then it is a marvelous thing she isn’t going to affect you anymore,” Principal Bump’s voice said. He walked over. “Hello children.”
“Sir Bump,” Luz muttered from the table, “what are you doing here?”
“Head Witch Clawthorne requested I be here for reasons I am still not fully sure, other than to give my reports on observations from Hexside.” The door opened. Ms Lilith strode through.
“Hello children,” she said, “hello Principal.” She pulled up another chair. “How are all of you?” There were various nods and mutters of fine. And Luz gave a thumbsup.
“Head Witch, I have Hexside’s reports.” Bump handed her a pile of papers.
“Hmm as I thought,” Lilith said, reading through it, “concealment stones, strange movements, not having seen a healer for their entire times there.” She set it down. “Rot, even I wound up at the healer’s wing once or twice for utterly mundane reasons .”
“ I did find it suspicious.” Amity glanced at Luz. Who was staring at her. Luz glanced away hurriedly and then offered Amity her hand. Amity wrapped her arm around Luz’s arm, for comfort and support (and no other reasons. Yes even if Evelyn was laughing at her for this). “ Now here is the primary issue,” Lilith collected the papers, “these three have no place to go.” It was true. It was. That hadn’t been something Amity processed.
“Yes I see, and it would be beneficial for them if they were still at Hexside, transferring after going through something like that might be upsetting. And they have friends there.” He leaned forwards. “ I can certainly ask around.”
“You do that, in the mean time if you could take them under your wing until you find a person for them?”
“What?” Bump seemed shocked. “Ms Lilith, I have made it a matter of principle that no student should know their principal’s address, and I prefer to keep it that way.”
“Do you have anyone else immediately available?”
“There’s Malphas?” Amity suggested. “Head librarian in Bonesborough?”
“And we come down to the same problem,” Bump muttered resting his head in his hands. What?
“The Coven would reward you handsomely if you do,” Lilith added. “There’s only one person I have to contact, and everyone would be better off if I didn’t.”
“Who?”
“Raine Whispers, frequent accomplice of my sister.” Lilith spun a spell circle and the stack of papers vanished with a flash of blue light. “And also they are an emergency option if for whatever reason my sister is no longer available for caring for her children.”
“How are they the only other alternative option? Well I suppose I should take them then.” Bump grinned. “That being said if there are pranks concerning my home I will have to reevaluate this position. Come along children.” With that he stood up, and started walking towards the door.
* * * * * * *
Luz started to stand up to go home. “A moment Luz,” Lilith said. She sat down across from Luz. “I want to thank you for your service helping your friends so much.”
“Oh it’s no big deal,” Luz replied. “Anyone would do it.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” But anyone would? Right? “I want to stress how incredibly noble and brave it was that you not only stood up to two of the most powerful civilians on the Boiling Isles, but also were willing to call the coven on them.”
“Again, anyone would do it.”
“Most people would have been bribed to keep silent. Or would have gone and demanded a bribe. You went and forced us to work alongside Edalyn as you said you two were just going to be there and that you would appreciate the help.” Well okay. Maybe most people sucked.
“Alright maybe most wouldn’t, but I still did what I had to.”
“ On no measure did you have to be there, many caws the cawwer doesn’t show up until afterwards. You have a brilliant future awaiting you, and I am proud to call you my niece.” Oh. That was a first time someone had said that. Sure they were basically a cop, and cops weren’t trustworthy (especially with how Eda was treated) but it still. Wow. “ If you wanted I am positive you could join the Emperor's Coven in a few years.” What? Oh right. Duh. Of course Lilith would want to have her there.
“Wow. Um, wow. Thank you. That’s an honor. But also. I don’t think I want to join a coven early?” Or ever. “It seems like I might be missing out on some core memories or something. And then I’ve got to talk it over with Mom regardless.”
“Of course.” Lilith stood up. “I am proud of you regardless of how long you wait to join a coven, and I will see you again.” With that Lilith walked over to some hippo demon guy (Luz supposed that must be Hippaul) and was talking. Luz stood up. She needed a King and Ivy and Luz day. A sibling day for lack of a better word. She felt bad Lilith kept seeing her as her niece, but that was a different day’s conversation. Or… maybe she could don her shipper goggles and try some little match making. She already saw Eda as another mom, maybe it wouldn’t be that hard to convince her to start flirting with Mom? There was a bi magnet on the fridge back home and Eda had mentioned an ex girlfriend a few weeks ago. She fished her phone out and checked the date. Still 4 months left.
“Have I been here two months?” she wondered aloud. It didn’t matter, she had an Owl House to go to, and a House Demon to read books to.